Brooklyn's New Year's Resolutions

Being that Brooklyn is now 2, and it's the new year, we've decided it's time to help her set some New Year's Resolutions, or rather goals to strive for in 2008.

Losing Pappy
Pappy is Brooklyn's coined phrase for her pacifier. They have been together since Brooklyn was really little, like 2 weeks old. It is by far her most precious and treasured thing. She has gone through a lot of pacifiers, due to size, them getting old or losing them. This past Easter, she had an Easter egg hunt, and four of the eggs were filled with new pacifiers. She loved them all! She loves to carry them around with her, one in her mouth, and one in each hand. She swaps them out almost every other minute. She sleeps with it, rides in the car with it, plays with it, goes shopping with it, she has even showered with it...the only thing she doesn't do with Pappy is eat with it, and that's because Daddy and Mommy ask for it before she gets her food. She has become a bit addicted to Pappy, so much so that we really feel it's time to start breaking her of the habit. We started yesterday, only allowing her to have it during naptime and when we put her to bed. She asked for it a couple of times, had a couple meltdowns, but then with our fast redirection of her attention, all was forgotten. She even went to bed without it last night. She slept almost 9 hours before waking up to realize she needed it. Daddy gave it to her, but this morning Mommy asked for it back, explaining that she is indeed a big girl now! It went with a few tears, but she was and will be okay without it.

Potty Training
Brooklyn has become the all-too-predictable-go-to-the-potty kind of girl. Potty in the sense of her diaper. She is very private about this matter, and will most of the time go under her new Dora tent, under the dining room table or in a closet to take care of business. But, before she does, she says "I poopy." She has been doing this for some time now, and in fact, I know when she has to go before she says anything because I'll ask her and she'll run to a spot and take care of business. Now, I don't have a clue when she goes Number 1, and she doesn't make any kind of announcement, so we'll learn together how that will work. The question has come up if I am going to buy a potty chair, one where she can watch TV in the family room while drinking her "bucha" aka milk, and my answer has been "No." I want her to learn to use the real toilet. They have those little kid toilet seats that you put on the actual toilet seat, and I think that is what I plan to go with. I know my mom used the potty chairs, and there is really nothing wrong with them, I just feel like potty training has to be right for the family for it to work. Brooklyn knows that Mommy and Daddy go to the bathroom to take care of our business, and I want her to learn the same thing. I don't want her going poop in the kitchen while she's eating crackers. That just seems yucky to me. Maybe I'm wrong and will change my mind when we actually cross that bridge, who knows!

Getting Dressed & Undressed
Brooklyn is quite the fanatic of checking for toe jam, and has become all too interested in pulling up her pants after I change her diaper, or when they are falling down a bit. So, this last resolution/goal should be fun. She loves to pick out an outfit to wear, and loves to get all dressed up in it. And, as I have said before she loves the prospect of being independent and doing things all on her own, so I think she will love learning to undress herself before bed or a bath, and getting herself all dressed again. She knows how to work a zipper, can put her own shoes on - even on the right feet some of the time - and definitely knows how to take off her own socks, so learning this skill should involve some fun and laughter on all parts.

Here's to 2008!! Happy New Year everyone!!

This gave me a chuckle!

Merry Christmas to All!

Brooklyn turns 2!!!!!

We had an a-DORA-ble party for Brooklyn on Sunday. She had a wonderful time and got a ton of presents! Here are the photos from her party.

Yesterday, Kevin and I took the whole day off. We went to Chuck E. Cheese's with her. She had a great time watching the Make Believe Band playing and dancing in the booth with her pizza in her hand. As long as she didn't have to get too close or touch them, she was okay. She loved to climb into all the cars and ride for a bit and then she was done. She just kept running around playing. Last night, I made her favorite - shrimp - for dinner and finished it up with white chocolate pudding with whipped cream and shaved chocolate on top. She dove right in! Here are some pictures from the festivities yesterday.

And now, for the finale...

Just minutes after she was born
Monday, December 19, 2005 at exactly 1:00 p.m.,
weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces, 19.5 inches long...

And, yesterday she turned 2!
Where does the time go??

Brooklyn has changed our lives so much and we couldn't imagine anything without her. She is the most precious, beautiful, loving, gentle, feisty girl in the world, and I can safely say that Kevin and I wouldn't want her any other way. She completes our life and our family! I am head over heels in love with my lil' girl - my lil' best friend!!!

Merry Christmas to Mommy!

Since I was absent last week from my blog and from work, I can safely say it's good to be back. Where was I? Terribly, terribly sick. Kevin came down with a nasty cold after Thanksgiving that was transferred to Brooklyn the first week of December. Last Monday (Dec. 10), after I realized she really wasn't getting a whole lot better, I took her to the doctor. She had conjunctivitis in her eyes due to the cold she had and everything draining. The draining part though went to her ear and created a mild ear infection. She didn't mention her ear hurt and the doctor said that it probably didn't. He gave us antibotics to knock out the infection. However, after she took her first round of Amoxicilin, she broke out into hives. It freaked me out really bad, and after I called the doctor and explained what was going on, he directed me to get her some Children's Benadryl and he prescribed a new antibotic to start the next day. After several doses of Benadryl her hives went away, and the eye drops were helping her conjunctivitis to get better as well. So, as she was on her way out of the illness, I was just on my way in. I started with a scratchy throat on Saturday, December 8. Of course that was the same night as our junior youth group Christmas party. After a while, I went home because I was feeling so achy and my throat was hurting even more. Sunday, I woke up and was feeling about the same minus the aches and pains. And, Monday when I took Brooklyn to the doctor I was feeling a little better, but more tired. Then Tuesday night, I realized I was getting worse, so I decided I should go to the doctor to see what was going on. My appointment was Wednesday around noon, and before I went, I was sitting in our chair in the family room with Brooklyn in my lap watching a movie and snuggling, and I was crying and moaning and in so much pain. My voice was gone for the most part, and I think that was in large part to my terribly sore throat. When Kevin picked us up to take me to the doctor, I was feeling terrible. Finally after I got in to see the doctor, and having to wait for 30 minutes in the actual room, the doctor diagnosed me with a double severe ear infection and a bacterial virus. The doctor asked me if I had my tonsils taken out because she couldn't even see them. I told her no, and she said that everything is just so swollen she couldn't see them at all! As she was writing me a doctor's note to stay home the rest of the week to get better, I started to cry again for like the hundredth time since Tuesday night. She asked me if I were alright and I told her I just am emotional. She told me that I was really, really sick so it's okay. She even gave me my prescription of antibotics right there so I didn't have to go to a pharmacy or pay extra or anything. As Kevin got us lunch and drove us home, I realized that this is the sickest I had been in like five years. Kevin took the rest of the day off so I could rest, and Thursday my grandma came up as she always does to watch Brooklyn. I stayed in bed most of the day and relaxed. I couldn't sleep because my ears were pounding so hard and hurting. I didn't even realize how bad they hurt because I really thought it was my throat that there was something wrong with. I have only had one ear infection my whole life, so I guess I made up for all the times I could have had one as a kid. I can say I am not a fan!

I started to really feel better Friday and then Saturday and Sunday, I was feeling much better, which is a good thing! Brooklyn's 2nd birthday party was Sunday, and we pulled it off, and had a lot of fun! I will post on that on Thursday complete with pictures. Brooklyn's actual birthday is tomorrow, and Kevin and I have the day off to spend with her all day!!

Playing Santa

Now I know how Santa feels, minus the whole sleigh and eight reindeer thing. I just finished playing Santa to a few of my favorite clients. Our company sends around a Christmas list in November. Everyone gets a chance to put down clients, contacts, or organizations to give Christmas gifts to and what we would like to give them. The first two weeks of December we hand deliver all the gifts. This year I had five people/companies that I love working with and wanted to give them a gift to thank them for their business, and to let them know I love working with them. Now, for those that don't know, I work at a newspaper in the advertising department, so when I say thanks for the business, I mean thanks for using our newspaper for advertising.

So, yesterday I started out meeting a gentleman who does carpet installation and sales. He works out of Parker, which would have been a long drive, but instead we met in Denver where he was working that day. We had never met face-to-face, but have talked over the phone dozens and dozens of times. The minute I introduced myself, he said, "Oh, honey, let's hug!" and gave me a big hug. I gave him his gift (a gift bag full of Mountain Man goodies) and told him that we really appreciate his business and that he's a real pleasure to work with. He thanked me, offered the same to me, and told me I am SO young! Not sure how to respond to that (I didn't want to say, and you're SO old!) I said thank you. We chatted for about 10 minutes and then we said our goodbyes and I was off to my next stop.

I pulled up across the street from the Brown Palace Hotel in Downtown Denver, paid my parking fees, and made my way into the lobby of the hotel. The first thing I noticed was the Christmas Tree, so beautiful! As I made my way down the employee staircase, lowering my head so I didn't hit in on the low ceilings, winding past the kitchen, I came to the Human Resources office. I entered the office with the gift, a lovely red poinsettia, and was greeted by all the people that I had talked to on the phone. They thanked me profusely for the gift and gave me a behind-the-scenes tour of the Brown Palace. Much like any other hotel, but since the building is old and has history, it was fun!

My next stop was an advertising agency. These two ladies that own the agency used to work at a daily newspaper and opened the agency after they left the daily. It's only the two of them in the office, and the minute I walk in, they are all smiles and waves. I have met them before, so I know who they are and apparently they remembered me. We chatted about holiday plans, business and what the impending snow storm would do for the ski slopes. I got two hugs from these neat ladies, and was off again.

This morning, I drove to Brighton to meet the Human Resource Manager at United Power. As I walked into the building, I immediately wanted to work there. What a very cool green office! The lights turn off when you walk out of the room and turn back on when you go back into the office. When I met for the first time the HR Manager, she shook my hand and looked into my eyes and said "I have a personal question to ask you...are you Kevin's wife?" When I said yes, she immediately turned on this beaming smile. She said she loves his writing and finds herself laughing at all of his columns. She knew all about Brooklyn too. We talked for quite a while about Brooklyn, Christmas Day plans and life in general. What a wonderful woman! So down-to-earth and a true genuine person. We hugged before I left.

My final stop was to ITT Technical Institute to meet with the executive secretary. When I got there, she wasn't in yet, but I got to leave her gift outside her office door. I was a bit bummed I didn't get the chance to meet her.

The experiences I have had meeting people for the first time, getting to thank them for all they have done this past year, and to chat with them like we are old friends, was truly special. I look forward to next year's visits. But, until then, I have to finish my Christmas cards for the rest of my clients and get them sent out real soon!

It's about the Cross

Pause my song list, as you listen to this! It's really beautiful and a great reminder of what this time of year is truly about!