We shouldn't be surprised...

..by the things that Brooke says, but we are. She definitely makes me laugh. Here's our latest stories:

• I was "yelling" at Brooke to do something (who knows what, but I had told her several times and she wasn't doing it) She finally looks at me and says "HEY! Settle down." Exact tone that Mike and I use when she's out of line.
• We were picking up toys today and I was just randomly putting all the Lego's into the box rather than lining them all up as Brooke does. So Brooke comes over and says, "HEY! You know better than that, mommy."
• Courtesy of Grandpa Ken, we have huge blow up snowman as part of our lawn decor this year. Brooke loves it, but we only inflate him after nap time. She'll come down in the morning and he'll be deflated, so she yells out the front window - "HEY, wake up!"
• Tonight we asked Brooke what song they are singing for the Christmas program at church. She rushes to her closet to pull out this horse made of an old wrapping paper tube and construction paper. She started galloping around singing, "This little horse eats apples and hay, apples and hay, apples and hay." (Tune of wheels on the bus) Apparently her zoo class and Sunday school class are taking notes from each other =)
• I was finishing up my quiet time/Bible study when Brooke woke up from nap (Clayton was still sleeping) She wanted to come do her Bible study too - so she brought down her Bible. I told her she needed to read quietly while mommy finished. She flipped through a few pages and then looks up, "Mommy, I don't know the words." I told her to just read the pictures then....here's what I heard. "A friend falls down, you help them up... Jesus loves the little children... Mary had a baby."
• Last night when we were praying: I always say thank you Jesus for... and Brooke will finish the sentence. She says, "thank you Jesus for Jesus." I said, "yes, thank you Jesus that you came to save us." And her response was "mommy, Jesus lives in my heart." Oh...I wanted to cry - I know she doesn't understand what she's saying, but I hope that even if I mess up everything else as a mother that she clings to that as her truth.

As for Clayton - happy as a clam....as always. He laughs so much and it's infectious. Still a great eater, sleeper, etc. And walking a few more steps every day - he can do about half of a room. We just had his one year picture taken (a little delinquent on my part.)

It's officially a tradition

For the second year now we made a trip to Riehle's Tree Farm in Dousman to cut down our Christmas Tree. Brooke picked out a good one...

First words...and more stories

Clayton has a few words - up, da-da, hi and uh-oh. You'd be amazed at the amount that he can get accomplished from us with just those few words! He's still only taking a few steps, but able to balance much longer in one place. Balls have become the best toy ever and are a constant source of entertainment. He's gotten pretty good at "throwing" them in our general direction to play - definitely a boy.

And Brooke's recent stories...

• We were driving to Grandma Denyse's for a visit this morning and Clayton decided to pull of his socks. Brooke yells, "Clayton, no taking off socks - you making me nervous!"
• When Mike and I are working with Clayton on standing and walking, we'll say "good job balancing Clayton." Brooke will stand next to us and say "I'm balancing good too!"
• New rule - We've decided that Brooke is now old enough to be negotiated with what she will and will not eat. (She's a VERY picky eater and always has been.) Most of this was able to come about because Clayton is an awesome eater and doesn't care what you put in front of him - he'll eat it. So most of the time we only have to say, "Your brother ate it" and that's plenty of encouragement (or competition?) to eat it! Whatever works...
• Brooke tends to require a bit of "prepping" before we change activities so that she can have time to finish up what she's doing and to know what to expect. So she and Mike were driving home the other night and Brooke takes her index finger and shakes it at Mike, "Daddy, when get home, first we will put on pajamas" She then holds two fingers up. "THEN, we will say our prayers and read our Bible." Three fingers go up. "Then, brush teeth, then night music on and go to bed." (she's always listening...)

Enjoy the fall picture!

Clayton's First Birthday

My baby isn't so much of a baby any more! He took his first steps this past Thursday (2 days before his birthday) and today we went to the Dr for his checkup. He weighs 21 lbs 7 oz (30th percentile)and is 31.5 inches tall (95th percentile) - and yes, his head circumference is still in the 95th percentile. He's healthy and developmentally right where he should be.

On Saturday, we had some family over to help him celebrate his big day. I don't think he knew what to think of 20 people singing Happy Birthday to him! He swiped a big chunk of frosting off the top of the cupcake before I could even get the candle in it, but then was a little shy to dig in - he eventually did.