5 Months Old!

Another month bites the dust! SLOW down time!

Say Cheese!
Weeee! I can slide!
Not much room left for Brooke & the monkey!


Quick recap of the month:

*** Brooke has TWO teeth! On April 18th, she woke up with her two bottom teeth! EVERYTHING that goes into her hands now go into her mouth!

*** Tummy time is still not a favorite, altho she is getting stronger and more tolerant. She is also getting really good at sitting. She can sit unsupported, but her posture stinks (she leans forward). It seems Brooke's favorite thing to do is stand! She needs someone to help her balance, but she holds her weight on her own for a few minutes at a time! Will she walk before she crawls?

*** Brooke is still a GREAT sleeper. She goes to bed somewhere around 10:30pm and typically wakes up around 7:30am. She also typically takes 2-3 naps a day, that last anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours.

*** Brooke still LOVES to eat! Now that she has started solids, her bottle intake has drastically reduced. She is now getting a solid in the morning and in the evening. To date she has tried... rice cereal, oatmeal, peas, green beans, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, apples and peaches. If I has to guess, I would say her favorite so far is apples! Brooke now weighs 20.4 pounds and is wearing 9-12 month clothing and size 3 diapers.

*** She is starting to have fussy moments, don't get me wrong, she is still a GREAT baby, she just isn't boring anymore! lol I think she is just getting frustrated that she can't get up and go! Plus, she has been fighting a cold and teething.

*** She has really gotten the hang of her "jumperoo". She loves playing with all of the toys, jumping and of course smiling the entire time!

*** Her hand-eye coordination is really impressive! I'm also noticing that she is starting to have favorite toys.

Happy Easter!

On Saturday Brooke, Ashley, Darren & I joined Auntie Aunt Jean at her Country Club for a Kids Easter Party. After breakfast was served, there was music, dancing, pictures with the Easter Bunny and an easter egg hunt.

Brooke meets the Easter Bunny!

We took Brooke outside to get a few eggs before the actual "hunt" began.

Next year the hunt will be on when Brooke can walk!

On Sunday, we went to Liberyville to celebrate Easter with Nana, Aunt Pam and Uncle Tan. Below are a few pictures of our little bunny!

Jump!

The past week, Brooke has been getting some playtime in her "jumperoo". The first one or two days, she was intriqued with the music, lights and toys to play with. By the third day she figured out how to jump. She LOVES it! Unfortunately the doctor only wants her in it for 10 minutes at a time, 3 or 4 times a day. I have a feeling she'd jump herself to sleep if we'd let her.

Little Ladybug Goes to the Doctor!

Brooke had her 4 month doctor appointment today. Being that Brooke has a reputation now at the doctor's office, for "best dressed baby", I had to make sure she wore something special. Normal moms take their children in something simple to take on and off and I take Brooke in outfits from Gymboree and the like with a million pieces. Who would have ever thought I'd be the girlie girl mom? LOL

Tada! Thank you Katie for this great outfit!
Our cute little lady bug all ready to go to the doctor!

As soon as we walked in, a few of the nurses came running over to see what she was wearing today. Then the camera phones came out... mission accomplished, they loved her outfit!

Her check up went great! She weighed in at 19.9 pounds (99th percentile), was 26.5 inches long (98th percentile) and head size was 16.5 inches (92nd percentile). The doctor isn't the least bit concerned about her size, especially because she is so proportionate! She gave us the OK to start giving Brooke "Stage 1" fruits and veggies, along with the rice cereal and bottles she is already currently getting. She also gave us the OK to start letting her play in her "jumperoo"! There should be some fun pictures to post in the near future of Brooke trying out new things!

The doctor was very impressed with her strength, her ability to sit up on her own and especially her eye-hand coordination! She commented that Brooke is doing things 1-2 months ahead of schedule. Way to go Brooke, an over-achiever already! The visit ended with another round of shots, which she handled like a champ! Only 1 little squawk and that was it! We'll see how the next 24 hours go... (fingers crossed!)

In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle...

After Brooke was done with her "sailor" photo shoot the other day, the photographer asked me if I would bring her back for a special "safari" event they have going. The set-up was designed more for a toddler than an infant, being that there was nowhere to "hide" mom behind a drape. But because she had done such a great job the other day, they wanted to give her a shot. I'm not sure how many kids they invited back, but they are looking to use a photo for advertisement for their portrait studio.

Brooke did a great job, she always seems to make her parents proud! We'll see if she gets a call back... worst case scenario, she got some free photographs for her scrap book!

One of my favorites!
My other favorite!
Shhh... I hear something!
Such a cutie!
A little doll in the jungle!
So Serious (but the photographer's favorite)!