We've officially started dance classes

Brooke had her first ballet/creative movement class on Monday morning. Her stuffed animals have been going to their imaginary dance classes (completely unprompted by us) for a few months now, so I thought we'd give it a try. She did well other than being in her own little world and not following directions a few times. We found out that 45 minutes is a pretty long time for a 3 year old to consistently follow directions and pay attention. We also found out that it's a pretty long time for mom to entertain Clayton in a small area with a water fountain, stairs and uncovered electrical outlets (I too got a workout during the class!) The class is set up so that Clayton and I are in a waiting room area and Brooke goes into the studio with the teacher. I was able to get a picture through the window although it's not the greatest. She seemed to have fun and wants to go back to see Miss Megan next week.

First Brewer's Game

Mike had some tickets available to him for our family to go to the Brewer game. We knew Clayton was too little but thought we'd give it a shot. SO...while Mike enjoyed walking around with Clayton the majority of the time, Brooke and I enjoyed the game.

Brooke definitely has her mom's aptitude in sports. We were trying to teach her about the game - pitcher, batter, bases, home run, foul ball, etc. Anyhow, at about the 3rd inning a foul ball was hit and Brooke yells, "fumble." - that sounds about like her mom. ("Go-Al" for those that still appreciate hearing that story.)

We stayed until about the 5th inning and headed home for bed. It was a good game and Brewer's ended up winning.

What a difference time makes...

As Brooke ended the official school year of preschool at the CCC and began her summer session I've had the opportunity to look back at how much she's grown. I took the first picture on her first day of school in September and the 2nd one this past week. Even her poses say so much about how she's changed....from someone who couldn't stand still to save her life to a specific pose with ta-da.

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On her first day of school I was told by Brooke's teachers "WOW! She really is into everything. We're working with her on how to play in the different areas." (i.e. she made the room look like a tornado had gone through) She took her clothes off on the playground because they had sand on them and the teachers could really only understand Brooke's speech when they knew the specific content that she was referring to. By the end of the year she was interested in mastering each of the different activities on the table, her speech was understood most all of the time, she loved sitting still for "group time" and learning about different things. (So much so, that she'd come home and announce to Mike and I that we needed to sit down for group time because today we're going to learn about "_______".....and who knew what would come out of her mouth!) And, her imagination has grown exponentially - I think I'm thankful for that! I just am continually in awe of how little minds work and how much difference even a few months makes. Preschool was such a good decision for us and she loves it so much.

So back to the imagination thing...Brooke got the snake on Monday from zoo day with daddy. Well she was playing too rough with him and ripped the felt tongue off. (By the way Grandma Nancy, Brooke thinks you'll be able to fix that.) Daddy came home and noticed at bedtime that the tongue was gone. So he asked Brooke and I what happened. I made Brooke tell him that she ripped it off on accident. To which Mike says, "Brooke, why would you do that to your snake?" Her reply...."OH...no, no...I mean it um...a TRAIN. I think maybe a train came by and ripped it right off (she then opens her mouth in shock that something so terrible would happen.)" "Brooke," daddy says, "are you being a truth teller?" Brooke then said no, it wasn't a train she did it on accident. But it was too funny to watch her little brain go as soon as she thought she might be in trouble.

Zoo day with Daddy

Mike finished his exam on Saturday - yeah!! We don't find out the results until the end of August, so that gives us the summer to play and catch up. (For those wondering, Mike feels like he gave the test a good shot, but it's not a test designed to give you warm fuzzies as you turn in your exam.)

To celebrate having daddy's time back, Mike took off the day yesterday and we decided to go play at the zoo (actually Brooke decided and had quite the list of things we needed to do there.) Daddy did his best to meet her list and the weather cooperated. The kids and I go to the zoo almost once a week, but we definitely have more fun at the zoo when daddy's there. Brooke got to feed the giraffes. She wasn't scared at all - I was kind of surprised. We also rode the train and the merry-go-round. At the end of our visit both kids got a stuffed snake (Brooke's bright pink and Clayton's blue striped) Brooke couldn't wait to get home to take a nap with her new friend.

The rest of the weekend wasn't as exciting...digging dirt so our back tree can come down, cleaning the garage, etc.

So today - back to routine. Brooke is continuing with preschool through the summer on Tuesday's and Thursday's (it's good 1-1 time for Clayton and I & she loves it and comes back with the best stories). Her new teacher is Ms. Stephanie - Brooke is thrilled because that's the same name as one of my cousin's in Florida that Brooke has a ball with! (I was also recently informed that Little Pooh's teacher for the summer is Ms. Amanda...one of my other cousin's in Florida.)

Purple, purple, purple

As the weather has warmed (finally!) we are once again finding ourselves stocking up on age-appropriate outdoor toys. Tonight Brooke was in purple heaven - we stopped at Menards to get a sandbox, but of course forgot the sand to go with it. We then went to Walmart to pick up a plastic pool - they of course had a purple one right on top...and as we were standing there noticed that Crayola makes sand that is...you guessed it...PURPLE! Oh if you could have seen the excitement in Brooke. The man that checked us out even made a comment about how he'd love to be 3 again and SO excited about plastic pools that hold 2 feet of water and purple sand. He's right - it's a lot of fun to watch the world through our children's eyes. Our backyard looks like a plastic playard, not a garden oasis as I'm sure Mike would prefer, but he'd agree that it's worth all of the smiles and memories for a time that passes so quickly.

Clayton at 18 months

It's hard to believe that Clayton is 18 months old! We went in for his check-up and he weighs 24 lbs (25%ile), height was 33.5" (80%ile) and his head...you guessed it...just above the 97%ile.

And here's my current list of "Oh, the things I love about you, Clayton!"

• I love that you love to laugh. If you see anyone laugh, you'll join right in. You are so ticklish and have an infectious laugh.


• I love that you could eat pretzels all day long and still ask for more. As soon as you are buckled into your carseat you start chanting for pretzels...or if you forget to do that - you start chanting as soon as you hear the bucket of pretzels roll in the car.


• I love your obsession with balls - and that you're starting to identify the difference between basketball, football, baseball, etc.
• I love that when I change your diaper you pick up the dirty one and make a mad dash for the kitchen to throw it away.
• I love that you laugh hysterically when you are washing your hands and I turn the bathroom sink on and off.
• I love that you can finally lay still for a diaper change!
• I love that when I sing to you at night you "sing" along with me.
• I love that you try to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star but only sing "Up above the world so high" over and over and over and over - getting louder each time.
• I love that you get excited to hold my hand. Or to hold Brooke's hand when you're sitting next to her in the car or stroller.
• I love that you request a spoon at every meal - even though you don't really know how to use it yet and usually have food that doesn't require it.
• I love your own little language you've developed; "abba da ba da baba" and you'll say it while pointing at something in complete confidence that I know what you've just said.
• I love your curly, curly hair and blue eyes.

Little Girls and Boys DO play differently

Anyone who claims that boys and girls don't play differently than each other has either never had kids or never had one of each! Clayton has the car "garage" toy that has a place to race the cars, wash them, fill up the gas tank, etc. And Clayton will play with his cars on it with sound effects and all. The other day I found Brooke playing with it, but she had a very different idea...it was her Barbie's water park. The car ramps became water slides and the tower became the high dive. Here's a dated picture of the toy (October '07)...

I am just amazed at how different boy vs girl is! Brooke plays with dolls, likes to pick flowers, etc. and Clayton enjoys balls, throwing anything he can and eating the occasional rock on the playground.

And of course...a Brooke story. We (just Brooke & I) went to Sendik's grocery store on the way home from BSF yesterday. As we are checking out (by the way I'm standing by the checker and Brooke is down at the end of the aisle on the other side of the cart) Brooke says, "Mommy, is that a boy or a girl?" She was referring to the checker. So I did what any mother would...I pretended I didn't hear her and she got louder..."MOMMY, is that a BOY or a GIRL?!" I shot her a look and gave her a shhhh....and she got louder..."Mommy I want to know if it's a boy or a girl!" To which I replied, "Brooke, this is a nice lady that is helping us today." In the parking lot I explained to her that people don't like being asked if they are a boy or a girl. "Why?" she asks. "Because it's just not nice" I told her, "But why mom?" "I don't know, Brooke, some people just don't like being asked if they are a boy or a girl." I'm sure this is just a taste of what's to come...and remind me again why I was so eager for her to speak clearly!!!