Ready or not . . .

Today when I picked up B from daycare I was shocked to find her standing up and holding on to the bookshelf.   Her teacher said that she pulled herself up all day long from a sitting position and seemed quite surprised that we have never seen her stand up on her own!  I can't believe she is already standing up when she hasn't even mastered crawling yet!  I don't know if we are ready for a crawling Brooklynn, much less a Brooklynn who can now stand!  Ready or not . . .

Funny Hair

Not a very exciting video but Nick and I enjoyed laughing at Brooklynn's funny hair.  

Playstation

Brooklynn just cannot seem to stay away from Nick's Playstation.  No matter how we block it she always finds a way to get back to it.  

Presents

B's new toys

Loves her walker

B's new dress that Jessica made!  We love it.  Thanks Jess!

Standing like a big girl

Brooklynn is 8 months!!

Yummy peaches!

Crawling around with Daddy's Playstation game!

Checking out those new pink shoes.  

Daddy says my outfit looks like a cartoon character.

On the way to go pick out a b-day present!

I can't believe our sweetie pie is already eight months!  It is amazing to see how much she has grown since December.  Here are a few pics of B this morning as we headed out to buy her a present! 

More pics and a video on the way this weekend.    

Silly Girl

B loves Nick's Playstation and can't keep her hands off of it.  No matter how we try to block it, she always finds a way to get back to it.  Today Nick walked out of the living room, came back in and B had ejected his Playstation game, taken it out and was sucking on it!  Silly girl!

Today Nick walked in B's room and she was sitting up in her crib with a pacifier in her mouth and one in each hand.  She was trying to figure out how to get all three pacifiers in her mouth!

SLEEP!

Brooklynn is doing so much better with her sleep.  She has realized that when we put her in her crib, she isn't coming out.  Her cry time is almost down to nothing.  Even her teacher at school has noticed a difference.  Ms. Kathy was bragging at how well B is now doing with naps and holding her bottle.  B has been fully capable of holding her bottle for awhile now, she just would rather someone hold it for her!  Luckily, we have broken her of that habit as well.

Last night

Brooklynn did much better last night after she finally went to sleep.  We put a sleepy B to bed about seven and she fussed for an hour before giving it up.  Our power went off about nine, but luckily it was back on by the time she woke up at 12.  Nick gave her a bottle and put her back in her crib and she only fussed for about 1o minutes. She went right back to sleep until 6.  This is a huge improvement.  Hopefully, she is starting to realize that crib = sleep!

Sleep

Brooklynn had a horrible night last night. Quite possibly the worst night she has ever had.  She is determined to not sleep in her crib.  After listening to the advice of other parents who have suffered through the same long nights, we have decided to let her scream it out.  We have tried this before on numerous occasions and most of the time she will go to sleep after about ten minutes of waking up the entire apartment building.  As hard as it is to listen to her SCREAM, and I do mean SCREAM, we know that she has to learn to sleep in her own room or things will only get worse.  

The picture above is of B getting ready for bed tonight.  Don't let that smile fool you, she was sound asleep when I put her down and has currently been yelling for about ten minutes.  We are hoping that sleep is on its way!  Our neighbors are probably wishing the same thing!

New Clothes

Thanks Poopa and Gram for buying Brooklynn some new outfits for the fall! She is quickly outgrowing all of her clothes.  She also got a much needed bottle carrier to take to daycare!

So Close

Brooklynn is so very close to crawling.  

Fussy Pants

Playing instead of napping

B's mad face

Brooklynn has had a tough time going to sleep the past few weeks.  She loves to be rocked to sleep, but as soon as we put in her crib she wakes up and SCREAMS.  She just isn't happy by herself in that crib and she sure lets us know about it.   Nick and I are holding strong through all the fussing and she is starting to figure out that crib = sleep.  Hopefully this phase will pass soon!

Thanks Jessica!

My college roommate, Jessica sent B three bibs and a burp cloth that she made!!  We LOVE them and miss you Jess!!

No time to blog!

Quality time with Daddy

This is what happens when Daddy feeds me!

I've been really bad about updating the blog the past two weeks.  I started school and have been busy trying to get my classroom ready for the first day of school!  Luckily, I am finally finished and I was able to spend most of today at home.

Brooklynn has be able to spend lots of time with her daddy since we have been back in Chapel Hill.  She is definitely a daddy's girl and is always looking around to find him in the room!  She's been spending some days with Nick and going to daycare 2- 3 days a week for a few hours.  We have decided to keep B at The Goddard School because no other place seems to compare.  We figure it is worth the drive and money since we know she is being well taken care of, learning, and having fun with her friends and teacher, Ms. Kathy.  

I promise to do better updating the blog and I'll add lots more pics and hopefully a video over the weekend!

Little Swimmer

Brooklynn fooled us this summer into thinking that she wasn't a fan of water.  She wasn't crazy about the beach and wouldn't crack a smile at the pool.  Since we've returned to Chapel Hill, Brooklynn has REALLY enjoyed her bath time.  She will not sit right in her tub because she prefers to look at herself in the mirror as she splashes around!  It is pretty funny how excited she gets.

Tomorrow Nick and I are touring a daycare that is right around the corner.  They have an opening, so we are hoping that we like the place!  We'll see!

Dada

Brooklynn has spent the last two days rolling from one side of the living room and then back again!  Although rolling is her preferred method of movement, she is able to get in the crawling position on her own now.  Once she moves her first arm though she usually tumbles over and starts rolling again!  Nick and I are a little nervous about her crawling because she is already into everything!  She can't seem to stay away from Nick's Playstation and the tv speakers.  Needless to say, we are enjoying the time we have left of not having to chase her all over the place. Along with her rolling, Brooklynn has spent the past two days constantly saying, "Dada!"  Above is a video we took this morning. 

Thanks

Well B and I are headed back to Chapel Hill for the last time this summer!  I start back to work next week and Brooklynn is headed back to daycare for a couple hours a day.  Nick doesn't start classes until the end of August, but we want to transition B back into a routine.  I'm sure she has missed all of her friends and her teacher!  Nick and I are beginning to search for another daycare that isn't quite as expensive. We love the Goddard School, but it is completely out of the way for both of us and we figure if we are already paying an arm and a leg, we might as well find a daycare a little closer to home and work.  Next week we will be touring new places in hopes of getting B into one.  However, the waiting lists are long so we may have to continue at the Goddard School for the time being.  

Nick and I would also like to say a BIG thank you to our parents for all they have done this summer.  Giving us a place to stay while Nick interns, feeding us, buying diapers, formula, baby clothes, wipes and food.  Taking us on vacation and volunteering to get up with Brooklynn countless nights so we could sleep. Thanks also to Nana for helping to buy my textbooks for fall semester.  We are truly blessed with loved ones who go out of their way to help make these years while Nick is in school a little easier for us. 

Uh Oh!

This morning I put Brooklynn in her crib so that I could dry my hair.  Mimi walked into B's room and found her trying to pull herself up over the side of the crib.  Not good!  Time for Pops to lower that mattress!

Dora!

Brooklynn and I are back in Greenville for a few days while Nick is in Columbia.  Mimi and Pops have tons of channels for kids and Brooklynn has discovered her favorite cartoon, Dora the Explorer.  She gets so excited!  Here are a few pics of B watching Dora this afternoon.  

I've also started an August Album.