5 years ago today.....

the world lost a great man, my dad. I don't want to go on and on, although I could! I just want to recognize that on this day 5 years ago, my dad went to Heaven. I truly believe that he is a guardian angel looking over my family. I know that he watches over my little Brooks, and Brooks already knows him from all the stories I tell him daily....we call him Poppy:)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!!!!!!!!!!

A weekend getaway with the girls can do a new mommy good! My college friends and I took a short trip to Austin for a girls-night-out......man, we had fun! It was nice to relax, have good conversation, eat well, sleep through the night and not make bottles all day. I missed the little guy, but he was in good hands with his Great Aunt Rhonda.

We thought we were "big time" in the Cattle Baron Suite!

Nice dinner at Eddie V's

Our Little Firecracker......

Brooks and I traveled to Lubbock over the 4th to see family and friends. My little guy did great on the plane. He slept the entire trip AND even slept through the night while we were there. Of course, he didn't keep that up once we got home!

We were able to see several friends and family and even made it out to Levelland to visit Nana and Gonky.

Uncle Ralph and Aunt Nelle.....a.k.a. "Parents-to-Be"

Brooks and me on the 4th

Brooks likes to style his hair like Gonky

Started to suck his thumb occasionally

Watching Nana cook

He loves the Baby Bjorn

Do I look like my daddy or what?!

Has it already been 9 weeks?

It actually feels like every bit of 9 weeks! Needless to say, Trent and I are still adjusting!!! Brooks is settling into a schedule, but I will tell you this............that "Baby Wise" book may work for a minute few, but NOT for us! I specifically recall reading that if we followed the rules of sleep, eat, play (in that order), we would have this perfect baby that slept through the night at 8 weeks. Seriously? I don't see that happening anytime soon. Not only does our little guy wake up 2 times in the middle of the night, he wakes up SCREAMING! But.....he is sooooo cute! Brooks is smiling more and slowly beginning to chuckle. He is definitely going to be a mover. We can put him on one end of the crib and within 2 minutes, he has scooted his way to the other end. Yes, Brooks sleeps on his stomach. I definitely leave this out when the pediatrician asks how he is sleeping!

I am still trying to get out of the house...at least one "activity" or errand on the days I don't work. He loves being in the water, so we got to go swimming twice this weekend. At this point, we haven't taken him to many restaurants for dinner. We may tackle that this Friday and introduce him to Lopez (our fav). Oh, and prays are welcomed as Brooks and I travel to Lubbock this weekend! Prayers not for us, but for the guy sitting next to us!

I started work 3 weeks ago and am slowly getting back into the groove. I actually enjoy getting away but can't wait to get home at the end of the day. Brooks seems to really like Berta. She is definitely patient! You can hear her singing in Spanich "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" from outside the house all day! The heat doesn't bother Berta as she takes him on strolls throughout the day. This is one of the only things that will calm him while he throws a fit.....the kid has some lungs and is relentless with his screaming if he doesn't get whatever he wants. However, we never really know what that is!

My Hugh Hefner robe for the ladies!

Lounging by the pool

Mark practicing his daddy skills

Brooks getting a lesson from daddy on how to sleep through the night

I can sit in this chair and look at the fan for hours

Jake giving Brooks a bath

Awwwww!

"I want you to stand when you hold me, Red" (he loves to be held only when you stand and bounce)

FINALLY..............

"Brooksy B" got to meet MY FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!! We made our first family road trip to Dallas.........per Trent, it won't happen again for quite sometime! After we packed everything in our house except the refrigerator, we made the 5.5 hour trip (add 1.5 hour for screaming and feeding) to Frisco. However, we can both honestly say that it was all worth it!

Brooks meets Nana and yes, she did sing her favorite song, "Little Brooks Booher went to town. Riding a billy goat, leadin' a hound. The hound dog barked and the billy goat jumped and down fell Brooks on a stump." You have to see this to understand!

Brooks meets Gonky. "Please Brooks, be a sweet as Gonky!"
Brooks sees his Aunt Kim again.....Rob is next!

Brooks meets Alex.....Reagan is next! Sharon, my mom's best friend

Larry, one of my dad's best friends

The fam...

thanks Jack Dee for coming!

Guess who retired after more than 30 years! Congratulations Mom! Now you can fly to see us ALL the time!

61 years for Nana and Gonky. It was their anniversary weekend and we surprised them with cupcakes and singing. Again, 61 YEARS.........WOW!

We missed you Reagan and Rob!

"The Man," just chillin!

Oh, and by the way, my mother has made the executive decision that she is going to be called Nana. So much for Kasey and me coming up with an original name! She won:0) Her argument is actually very sweet. It is important that she be called nana because my mom loved her Nana and we love ours. Therefore, it is fitting that she is also a NANA!

6 weeks went by............

slow at first, but now the days are flying by! Brooks is growing like a weed! He is now 10 lbs and still looks long a lean. Each morning Trent and I look at him and say, "wow, you look different today!" At this point, he doesn't resemble Trent or me................he just looks like Brooks! Other than our TERRIBLE week (the one were he cried non-stop), Brooks is a very easy baby:) He loves being outside, car rides, his "Around the World" play mat and sitting up on his daddy's lap. Each day he smiles more and more, which I LOVE! It may just be luck, but for the past 3 nights he has only woken up once.....knock on wood.



We had a fun Memorial day weekend with the Cook's, Dickey's and Gearing's. Brooks got to meet his friend Chase for the first time, and Mommy got to have fun with all her girlfriends. Thankfully, I am able to take him most anywhere as long as I have a bottle handy!



I am slowly catching on to this "mommy thing" just in time to return to work, of course! I am going to miss my little man, but have faith that if I can get through the first two weeks, I'll be okay. Bizzie will be here to help for the first week and then Berta, our wonderful nanny, will be here after that. This has been such a great learning experience, and Trent and I are enjoying each day we have with Mr. Brooks. I never knew that I would learn so much from this, and I know that I have much more learning in store!



Just a few things I've learned in the past 6 weeks:


1. The most miraculous machine in the world is a women's body.
2. I never knew just how much toots, burps and poop can make me smile.
3. Don't be too prideful to listen to others with experience.
4. No book can prepare you for EVERYTHING....it's all about experience.
5. Patience, patience, patience...........and I still need more!
6. Mom's deserve more credit.............this &*@* is hard!
7. I should have and still do need to tell my mom thank you more!
8. Marry well............a good husband makes all the difference, and I am blessed to have mine!
9. You think you worry now...........just wait! I probably look at the baby monitor 600 times a night to check on him!
10. Don't take sleep for granted!
11. I now understand the need for "mom bathing suits." They are needed so don't judge!


Brooks loves to sit up and look around. I know he is too young for the Bumpo, but he is holding his head up well and loves it!



"My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!"



Sleeping at the pool party on Mandy's shoulder. Mandy....what a natural!



My double chin is growing!


The boys (Chase, Eli and Brooks)