Valentine's Day 2012

On Monday evening, February 13, after putting Brooklyn to bed, I laid on the couch next to Ben and said "It's weird tomorrow is Valentine's Day...it's funny how I don't care about that 'holiday' anymore-now that I have a baby and we have been together for almost 5 years, it doesn't really matter to me..."

Basically, Ben and I had nothing special planned for Valentine's Day.  We were planning to go out to dinner the Saturday after to celebrate, I guess, but nothing was planned on actual Valentine's Day.

Monday night, the 13th, my brother's girlfriends water broke, so I knew I would become an aunt soon-didn't know if it would be that night or the next day.

Aaron and Mallory's little boy, Jaxson, was born on Valentine's Day at 10:05am.  So that made Valentine's Day special and eventful.

My sister, Megan, drove down to KC from Maryville, where is goes to school, and hung out with Brooklyn and me while we waited for Ben to get off work so we could all go to the hospital together to see baby Jaxson!

We stayed at the hospital until around 6:45pm, I knew we had to get home soon to get Brooklyn in the bath and stay on bathtime/bedtime routine.  I had tacos planned for dinner, but obviously I did not cook.  I told Ben to run through taco bell on his way home and I would head home with Brooklyn and get her in the bath.  I was planning to just eat after I got Brooklyn out of the tub and fed.

Ben got home and I decided I was hungry, so I had him bring my taco bell up to the bathroom-I ate taco bell and watched my baby play in the water! Pretty romantic Valentine's Day, huh?! It gets better...as I was enjoying my taco bell (wondering if it would disagree with my daughter's tummy) Brooklyn all of a sudden pooped!! I screamed for Ben.  He ran up, took my taco bell to the other room and we began panicking rinsing Brooklyn off and doing clean up of the bathtub so we could bathe her.  Exhausting!

After everything was clean, I quickly bathed Brooklyn and got her out of the tub and ready for bed and feeding.  I fed her real quick and Ben came upstairs to hold her (we are still holding her upright for 30 minutes after every feeding because of her reflux) so I could run downstairs and finish my  warm taco bell.

I went back upstairs to continue holding Brooklyn, swaddle her and get her to bed.

After she was sound asleep, I came downstairs and laid on the couch next to Ben to enjoy each others company for Valentine's Day.  When I laid next to him he asked me "why are you acting like you didn't see your flowers over there?" I was confused and surprised and said "What flowers?" He thought I saw them when I came down to eat my taco bell-but I didn't! So, we went to the kitchen and he had beautiful flowers, a card and a little box wrapped up for me.  I was very surprised as I thought we weren't doing gifts for Valentine's this year.  I had a card and a bag of chocolates for him, nothing special at all!

Ben told me after I made the comment about not caring about Valentine's Day, he wanted to do something special for me! How sweet! He also got Brooklyn a gift too-an adorable dress from Gymboree!

Now that I gave you a written play by play of our Valentine's Day, enjoy the day via pictures:

Brooklyn meeting Jaxson!

The Brunker Family with baby Jaxson

Me with baby Jaxson and his proud daddy (my brother, Aaron)

Jaxson!

the new family!

Uncle Aaron and Brooklyn

Daddy and Brooklyn hanging out at the hospital

my surprise gift!

inside the small box were these gorgeous Pandora earrings! They are a flower with a diamond in the center!

close up of earrings-beautiful!

Ben's cards and chocolates!

so pretty!

 Brooklyn was already in bed when Ben and I were opening gifts-he wanted me to open Brooklyn's so I could see what he got her.  The next day I put her back in her Valentine's Day outfit so I could get some pictures! I loved this onesie-found it at Old Navy!

smelling mommy's flowers

back of shirt! chubby legs!

this is the face Brooklyn makes when she is 'talking'

Saturday night, February 18, was Ben and I's first night out without Brooklyn.  We have gone to dinner without her but that was just a quick go to dinner and come home. This was going to be a long evening out.  My mom watched Brooklyn for the evening.  I wrote down step by step instructions for my mom ( I think she thought I was crazy, but I was having her give Brooklyn a bath and do the nightime routine just like we do it to hopefully keep Brooklyn on track and sleep well at night).  

Ben and I had planned on Houston's for dinner-so yummy! We knew they didn't take reservations so we didn't know what to expect when we got there.  We walked in and it was packed.  The wait was 80-85 minutes! wow! We grabbed a beer in the bar and watched the KU basketball game until our table was ready! We enjoyed our dinner and time spent together without the baby.  Every other sentence was about Brooklyn in someway, which I thought was funny! I also got texts from my mom every 30 minutes with an update and a picture of what Brooklyn was doing! So sweet! 

After dinner we met up with Kim and Murry.  We were going to go to The Faloon, but we just decided to go over to Kim's place and hang out! I had Kim take a picture of Ben and I on our night out without the baby! We left Kim's around 11:00pm, I was very ready to get home and see my baby (even though I knew she was sleeping!) It was a great night out and I was surprised that I felt decent the next morning after having several beers the night before! It helped that Brooklyn didn't get up until 5am, then went back to sleep until 8am! 

Sorry for the long, winded post! I guess I had a lot to share!

Pictures taken at Kim's:

Brooklyns First Snow

On Monday, February 13 we got our first measurable snowfall in KC.  I was excited! This has been a very mild winter compared to last year.  I was very excited to be having a baby in November, because I had envisioned sitting on the couch drinking hot cocoa, cuddling with my baby and watching the snowfall all winter.  Well, that has yet to happen.  Instead this winter we have been on several walks and have ventured out of the house more times than I thought we would. 

Monday afternoon I wanted to dress Brooklyn up in her snowsuit and take pictures with her outside.  I called Ben to see if he could be home before it got dark so he could help me take the pictures-he obliged.  When he got home I had Brooklyn all bundled up and ready for the photo shoot.  We went outside and I was planning on holding Brooklyn and Ben taking the picture.  Well, Ben had a different idea.  He wanted to lay Brooklyn down in the snow and take her picture.  So, that's what we did.  I felt like we were abusing her, but she never cried and actually seemed to enjoy being outside all bundled up-she was falling asleep-ha!

We tried to move her arms and legs to make a snow angel but it didn't work too well.

Her snowsuit is a size 6-9 months, but it looks like it could be a 3T or so.  Enjoy the pics of Brooklyn's first snow!

My snow bunny!!

Brooklyn 2 Months!!

Month 2: 12/26/11-1/26/12

• Rolled over from tummy to back (1/2/12) I think this was a fluke as she has not done it again
• Slept 8 hours straight through the night 9pm-5am (1/2/12)
• Celebrated her first New Years Eve!
• We finally went to the doctor on 1/12/12 for acid reflux-started on baby Zantac and it has been amazing! She sleeps better and does not make the gurgling, groaning, clearing the throat noises! She is very dependent of the medicine-if for some reason we forget to give it to her before her last feeding at night, it is a rough night of loud noises!
• I hold her upright for 30 minutes after every feeding-this makes the bedtime routine very long
• We have started a bedtime routine that we do every night-bath (even though she isn't dirty to need a bath every night we still give her one, music, lights dimmed, feed, rock and bed. It has worked so we keep doing it.  
• Brooklyn still sneezes all the time-they are cute sneezes!
• She gets the hiccups all the time too-Mommy's Bliss Grip Water is amazing-anytime she get the hiccups we give her some of that and they are gone instantly! Amazing!
• She will sleep for 7-8 hours at night, wake up to feed then back to sleep for another 2-3 hours!
• Naps during the day are short, cat naps.  Seems to be 40 minutes on the dot and she is awake!
• She is the happiest in the mornings-all smiles from ear to ear-melts my heart
• Brooklyn has found her hands! She loves putting them in her mouth-it is nice when her paci falls out her hands replace her paci (most of the time)
• She is sleeping in her bassinet now, no more rock n play
• Brooklyn still loves laying on her changing table
• She is starting to talk and coo-sweetest sounds ever!
• Brooklyn attended her first birthday party-Stella turned 2.  She had fun! She had a blowout in the first 15 minutes we were there, glad mommy remembered to pack an extra outfit!
• When we took Brooklyn to doctor for her reflux at 6 1/2 weeks-we were told to cut back on feedings, so yes, our baby girl is on a diet! At 6 1/2 weeks she weighed 12 pounds 11 ounces! 
• Brooklyn loves:
• to eat
• bath time
• her mommy
• being held and carried around the house
• loud noises 
• her hands in her mouth

• Brooklyn hates:
• tummy time
• being alone
• quiet rooms
• Her umbilical hernia is getting smaller every day! So excited! Some days it is all the way in when she is laying down and it looks like a real belly button!
• Very predictable-when she wakes up she will only be up for an hour before she is tired again and goes back to sleep
• Very alert and starting to interact so much more
• She is very aware of her surroundings
• Started losing her hair on top of her head
• We still don't know what color her hair is going to bed.  Some days it looks reddish/auburn in certain light, some days it looks blonde and other days it looks brown
• Her eyes are changing-the doctor says he thinks they are going to be light blue-I still think they are going to be green.  Ben and I both have green eyes and both of our moms have blue eyes.
• She is changing so much each day.  She is so fun to be around and I know each day will just keep getting better and better and more fun!!

2 Month Stats:

Weight: 13.2 pounds (94th percentile)

Length: 23 inches (75th percentile)

Head Circumference: 15.25inches (43rd percentile)

Clothes: Size 3 months
Pajamas: 3 months
Diapers: Size 1

Comparison: Month 1 and Month 2

Random Pictures from December 26, 2011-Januray 26, 2012.

New Years Eve party dress!

Brooklyn got dressed up on NYE but mommy and daddy stayed in their PJ's all day!

Champagne!!

Hanging out in my swing!

Midnight kisses!

Yummy pink champagne!!

I like my play mat (some days)

I love my swing!

Brooklyn and Nana

Modeling!

Sleeping in her bassinet (I put bassinet in her room for nap time to see if the darker room would help her sleep longer than 40 min, but that didn't work)

My mommy dresses me weird sometimes...

Taking my evening nap on daddy when he got home from work!

Talking with daddy about his day! LOVE!

I love bath time and my hands!

My friend princess rubber ducky!

bald and chubby baby girl!

Chubby!!

relaxing!

I hate tummy time!!

Brooklyn's First Month

Month 1-

• The first day home Brooklyn gave us a scare, she was choking/not breathing-scariest moment for Ben and I EVER! 
• First doctors appointment was on 11/29-she weighed 6 lbs 15 ounces (she was 7lbs 8oz at birth)
• Second doctors appointment was on 12/6 and she weight 7 lbs 15 ounces-gained 1 pound in 1 week-little did we know this would be the start to having a chunky baby!
• She nursed every 2.5-3 hours-I felt like all I did was nurse for a full month!
• When she was 6 days old we ventured out to Nebraska Furniture Mart and bought a new couch!
• Had newborn pictures taken-that was a struggle as Brooklyn wanted to be awake for the pictures but the photographer does 'sleeping newborn pictures' but we finally got some cute ones!
• At 3 weeks she had her first bottle and did well
• She has an umbilical hernia and it seems to be getting bigger, but doctor says that is normal and should be gone by 1 year (I hope so-I hate looking at it and hate touching it-we are supposed to push it in daily to make sure we can push it in and make sure that when we do it does not cause any pain to her-this is daddy's job as I do not touch it)
• Started to stick her tongue out at you if you would stick yours out at her-so cute!
• We have had lots of visitors-Larry, Michelle, Spinis, Minders, Barbosas, Schnabels, Orths, Caseys, Kim, Nancy, Murry, Hartungs, Carissa, Laura, Kara, Watsons, Moylans ( I am sure I have forgotten some people-sorry!)
• Celebrated her first Christmas
• She will eat 5 oz from a bottle-but we can't do that anymore, doctor put her on a diet!! This girl loves to eat
• Hates tummy time, I try to make her do tummy time twice a day for 5 minutes.  
• Sleeps in our room in Rock N' Play
• She loves her swing
• She loves bath time
• She loves to lay on her changing pad and look around in her room
• She has acid reflux
• She is the noisiest sleeper-grunts, groans, moans all because of the acid reflux
• She has wonderful head and neck control 
• Started wearing newborn diapers and after about 3 weeks switched to size 1 diapers
• Takes a pacifier pretty well-she doesn't keep it in for very long but she enjoys sucking on it
• Has bad gas-I am a mean mommy and won't give up certain foods-so Brooklyn gets mylicon drops before every meal and it really does help. She doesn't seem uncomfortable when trying to pass gas!
• Gets the hiccups all the time
• Sneezes all the time

The entire family is smitten by her and we all love her very much! We can't wait to watch her grow more and more each month! I hope times slows down a little bit though!

Have I mentioned she is super spoiled already.  Our parents are divorced and our dads are remarried-so that means Brooklyn has 2 grandpas and 4 grandmas! There is a lot of love for this little girl!

We love you Brooklyn!

Random Pictures from Brooklyn's 1st month:

Future rock star..I hope NOT!!

So many pictures of my sweet little girl, but I won't bore you any longer!