The Brooks Blog

From My Journal

2012-02-10T19:59:00.002-06:00

Just wanted to share this little excerpt from my journal tonight. I feel like if I blog about this, I am more likely to remember these sweet moments years later.

"Father,
I feel so richly blessed. Callie was so sweet tonight as I was putting her down, blowing kisses and catching mine. She said, "I love you" over and over, then she told me I was her "best girl." I had recently told her the same. Coleman had the sweetest smiles for me after I nursed him. I put him down, he inserted his thumb, and sucked his way off to sleep. Lord, thank you. Thank you for all your gifts...all your "blood bought gifts." Anything that I get to enjoy in this life and in the eternal life to come, is a gift from you Lord Jesus...a gift I can enjoy because you purchased it for me on the cross. Would you keep us to the end; keep us for eternity with you."

3 Months

2012-02-07T20:26:00.002-06:00

Coleman is officially three months! So, to celebrate, we pulled out the bumbo. It was around three months when Callie started sitting in the bumbo. He is doing ok with it. He doesn't want to sit in it for super long stretches. Now at three months Coleman smiles a lot, babbles, reaches for things, is starting to grab onto my shirt when he nurses or reach towards my face. He's not showing any major signs of being ready to roll over. If I remember correctly, Callie was about 3 1/2 months before she started rolling over. I'm guessing he'll be a little longer. In fact, I've heard that on the whole boys develop slower than girls. I'd love to hear any thoughts/comments about others' experiences if they would agree with that statement. He is sleeping longer at night and lately has only been waking up once to eat. I have this funny feeling that now that I said that he'll go back to waking up twice a night. Hope I'm not about to eat my words.

Love this picture. It looks like Callie is teaching him all he needs to know and he's just soaking it in.

Watching tv.

Buddies

2012-01-31T15:07:00.002-06:00

I realized that I forgot to post these pictures that I had taken over Christmas. This is Coleman and his little buddy Hayes. Hayes is my dear friend/college roommate's baby. We were due about 2 weeks apart and Coleman and Hayes ended up being born 12 days apart. It's been fun to be walking through things at the same time. Unfortunately Kaye and I live 1000 miles away right now, so these little guys won't get to play together much. Maybe one day we'll live closer! Until then, we'll be seeing them at Christmas and in the summer. (sorry about the grainy pictures)

This is the latest of Callie and Coleman, playing under the jungle gym.

Lately

2012-01-24T15:59:00.002-06:00

I've been wanting to do a blog post lately, but couldn't come up with anything to post about. We havn't been doing much around here. Winter has completely set in. We've already had plenty of days that it didn't get out of the single digits. Plus, I'm realizing that it does take longer to get out of the house with two kids. Getting out about once a day is plenty. Here are just a few pictures from over the last few days.

Callie walks around the house looking like this all the time. She is an accessory girl. She loves scarves, necklaces, headbands. She likes to deck herself out with these things. Callie has been going through a bit of a whiny streak, although this week has been much better than the previous week. She was sick the previous week and naturally that upped the whining. Lately, she's been loving dressing up like a princess in her rappunzel dress and working puzzles. She got a United States puzzle for Christmas. She's going to know all the states by the end of the semester with how much she's working the puzzle. We are also working on phonics this semester.

Getting ready for church. I thought Coleman looked like a little man in his sweater vest. Callie was ready to walk out the door. It's been so helpful now that she's old enough to get her own coat, shoes, and hat on. It really helps, especially on Sunday mornings when Charlie is already at church and I'm trying to get us all out the door.

Coleman has been such a delight. He really has been such a sweet, easy baby. I am so thankful. I mean he has his moments but overall he is so easy and content. Lately he has been sleeping, laying under his jungle gym, sitting in his bouncy seat, smiling, or swinging in his swing. That pretty much sums up his day. He is grabbing at the rings in his jungle gym. He's also started grabbing at my face and mouth when I hold him. He babbles and smiles a lot until he gets tired and then he spaces out/sucks his thumb. He is a big time thumb sucker. He gets swaddled with one arm out so he can suck his thumb. He easily puts himself to sleep each night. Nightimes are usually pretty good with him. He'll wake up once or twice (mostly still twice) at night to eat, but he goes back down easily. We finally caught a good picture of him smiling.

Running Outside in January?!

2012-01-17T11:23:00.002-06:00

Had you told me I would be able to jog with our new (used) double jogger outside in January I would not have believed you. But, the week after we got back, we had a day where the high reached 50 degrees! I don't think that has ever happened in January (at least not since we've lived in Minnesota). So, the kids did pretty well and I was able to get an outdoor jog in. It was nice.

Coleman is sporting his little dog slippers he got for Christmas

Some smiles from the big boy

2012-01-14T11:47:00.002-06:00

Coleman had a check up the other day and is somehow in the 75% of weight and the 81% of height. Callie was never close to that. We're thankful for our healthy baby.

Christmas Pictures

2012-01-11T17:43:00.004-06:00

We really enjoyed being down south for an extended Christmas this year. Our conference with students was in the south, so we were able to stay down longer which was nice. I don't know where to begin with a post, so I'm basically just going to post a bunch of pictures.

The birthday girl. On Christmas Eve we celebrated Callie's birthday with family.

Christmas Tree

2011-12-21T08:47:00.001-06:00

We were reminded by Aunt Jane that we hadn't posted any picture of our tree after we decorated it. So here it is:

Purple Party

2011-12-15T14:41:00.006-06:00

Last Saturday we had Callie's birthday party. The theme was "purple" so all the girls dressed in purple, we had purple flowers, balloons, grape kool-aid, etc. Callie loves the color purple so we felt that it was appropriate. We played games with all her friends (pin the tail on the donkey, bean bag toss, and drop a clothes pin in a glass jar). After that we ate some food and Callie opened her presents. It was a fun party. Callie, before her party.

The Spread

Callie with her cupcakes (they were made into butterflies with m&ms and pretzels).
Callie and her friends eating
Maddux, Annie, Sophie, Callie, Evey, and Lucy
Video of us singing happy birthday: Pin the tail on the donkey:

A few of the latest of Coleman

2011-12-14T20:59:00.001-06:00

Holidazzle Parade

2011-12-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

Every year in Minneapolis they have a parade that runs every night throughout the Christmas season. Lots of Minneapolis residents participate in the parade. They had lots of cool floats: Wizard of Oz, Hansel and Gretel, Peter Pan (Callie's favorite), and of course Santa Claus. All 4 of us bundled up and braved the 20 degree weather to watch this parade. Callie enjoyed herself while we watched the floats, but she was miserable for the two block walk back to the car.

First Real Snow

2011-12-08T15:54:00.001-06:00

We had our first snow of the season a week ago. Callie got real excited to go out and play in it. We built snowmen: And I taught her how to make a snow angel: Coleman didn't make a trip out into the snow yet. We'll probably wait until next year.

Thanksgiving and 1 month photo

2011-12-06T08:52:00.002-06:00

I think this first picture of Coleman is before Thanksgiving. I can't remember. I just like it because I think his outfit is cute!

Aunt Laura came to visit us for Thanksgiving. It was fun to have her here and see her meet Coleman and play with Callie. Wish she could have stayed even longer.

This is the most recent picture of Coleman and Callie. I took it yesterday on his one month birthday. Can't believe he's one month already!

Similarities?

2011-12-03T16:11:00.002-06:00

So, do you all think these two look at all alike? Can you tell which one is Callie and which is Coleman? Sorry that one of these pictures is grainy looking. Scroll down for the answer.

The first picture is Coleman the second is Callie. Callie and Coleman both are about 2 weeks in these pictures.

Christmas Tree

2011-11-28T16:13:00.002-06:00

It has become our family tradition to get our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. There is a tree farm that we love to go to about 30 minutes from our house. They provide saws and let you cut down your own. It was especially fun this year. We had Charlie's parents here to help and it was a balmy 50 degrees!

Here are a few shots of the kids. So funny to me that we now say "the kids"!

Family pic

2011-11-15T20:26:00.002-06:00

Here we are. We're a family of four!

Callie Singing to Coleman

2011-11-10T08:57:00.002-06:00

"i love you Coleman, oh yes I do..."

Some of the first days with Coleman

2011-11-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

Callie checking out her little brother

Getting ready to leave the hospital - sporting his Braves hat.

First picture of Coleman and his mama.

His first outfit at home

First family outing to McDonald's

Coleman Matthew Brooks

2011-11-06T08:07:00.005-06:00

Coleman was born yesterday morning at 10:38am. He weighs 8 pounds and is 20.5" long. So many prayers were answered through the labor and delivery. He has done well in his first day outside of the womb. Callie got to meet him and hold him yesterday and it was a lot of fun for the whole family. We know these days ahead will be full of challenges, but we're praying that God will use it to grow us closer to him. Here are a few pictures from yesterday. Right after he's born

The whole family

Callie holding her brother for the first time

sleeping

Coleman meeting Gami and Papa Phil

Falling asleep watching his first football game

Princess Party

2011-10-30T09:30:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Annie and Maddux's birthdays, and we did it princess style! Annie and Maddux were born six days apart, so it's been fun for them to have a couple of birthday parties together. This party was really fun. The girls had matching princess dresses and there were extra princess dresses for party attenders to put on when they arrived. We even had a couple of princes in attendance.

Here they are slaying the dragon! Matt was a trooper.

Here are all the party attenders (minus Evey who was napping and came late and Owen who didn't make the picture). Note Callie's expression, she should have napped like Evey. She was a "crankster" the whole party...no fun. From left to right on the couch: Lily (church friend), Callie, Josiah, Maddux, Annie. Left to right on the floor is: Sophie, Carson, Coleman (the Mathis twins), and Lucy.

We even had some grown up "princesses" make an appearance.

Apple Orchard

2011-10-26T20:48:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago we visited an apple orchard. This is probably my favorite thing we do as a family each fall. This was our third year going to an orchard. We've been to different ones each year. This particular one was really geared towards kids.

They had goats

and chickens

a little train the kids could play on

and, Callie's favorite thing...a big pile of hay to climb on. I seriously think we stood there for 30 minutes while she climbed up and down. The weather was gorgeous. It was a great, family outing.
Here is a video of her climbing:

Callie

2011-10-21T10:03:00.003-05:00

Callie, I wanted to write this post about you right before your baby brother gets here. You are over 2 1/2 now, and I wanted to remember the things that are uniquely you. Here goes...
-you sure have personality, you are dramatic with high "highs" and low "lows"
-you are so excited to be a big sister and you talk to the baby in my tummy all the time
-you want to do EVERYTHING yourself and unfortunately you tend to whine if every detail doesn't go your way
-you are, and have been since you were little, such a clear talker. you have a big vocabulary and say surprising things all the time
-you love playing w/ your friends
-as of late you love babysitters. the past couple of times, you've basically pushed us out the door
-you can initially be shy in unfamiliar settings
-we know you are comfortable when you start talking a mile a minute
-you are basically either whining (which is no fun) or talking non-stop. I'll take the talking!
-you love being a helper and I think you'll be a great one w/ your brother
-really good at remembering names and faces
-oddly enough you're really good at recognizing mini-vans (or any car for that matter). You can tell the difference between a toyota sienna and a honda oddessy from a long way off and you point out every single one we see on the road!
-you love dancing w/ daddy to christian rap
-you always remind me to pray for daddy and other people
-you are not a tough girl
-you are detail oriented and particular
-you still don't sleep in a predictable way
-you still love to sleep w/ your lovey

I could go on and on. I just wanted to jot these things down to help us remember what you are like right now. We love you so so much and are thankful to God for the gift you are to us.

My discipleship group and "K" is for Kite

2011-10-14T16:18:00.002-05:00

We took the girls to the park the other week to attempt to fly a kite. It was our day to talk about the letter K. There was absolutely no wind, so our attempts to fly the kite were in vain. I don't think the girls knew the difference. They loved running alongside Samm as she ran with the kite. It was still a lot of fun, plus we had kiwi fruit and kool-aid for lunch. Also, note how warmly everyone was dressed. We have had perhaps the nicest fall ever in Minnesota. The weather has been amazingly warm (well that is until 2 days ago). It's been chilly and windy for the past couple of days, but we cannot complain. We had so many days in the 80s in October and that just never happens. We'll take it.

Just thought I'd throw up a picture of our d-group this year. It has been such a privilege to be able to lead these girls (along with Holly) two years in a row. From left to right it's Brittnee,me,Emily,Brielle, Allie, and Holly.

H is for horse!

2011-10-05T20:18:00.002-05:00

It has been so fun getting together with all of Callie's friends once a week to do a "letter of the day." About 2 weeks ago we were scheduled to do the letter H. Annie's Grandma has a friend that has a horse. Her friend graciously agreed to let us bring the girls out to their house (about 20 miles out of the city) to see the horse. All of them were a little shy at first to ride the horse, but when Annie's Grandma offered to ride with them, they all wanted to give it a try. Today Callie and I went on a scavenger hunt in the yard, looking for things that start with the letter L. The most exciting thing from that was collecting leaves. Too bad every "letter" day can't be as exciting as H was!

Baby Lucy's Party

2011-09-30T17:27:00.002-05:00

Annie's sister, baby Lucy turned one a few weeks ago. We had fun celebrating her party with all the kids. It was a great day, the last hot day of summer (side note, we've been having gorgeous weather and are due in for some more through the week, so thankful). Hard to believe Lucy is already one!

Here are a couple of shots of all the c.o. little ones. Josiah and Owen were even able to come! Lucy is standing down front. I love the second picture of her. She is so happy and seems to know that the party is for her!