Wow, it's 2016 already? That means that our baby is almost not a baby anymore! Brooklyn is 11 months now. She weighs 20lb 5oz and is 28" long.
It seems like things are moving quickly with her. Her little personality (and cute dimple) is shining through more and more these days. We are loving life with our sweet (still baby) girl and our growing 2.5 year old boy!
Brooklyn is quite the smiley girl. It's so fun to play and chat with her. She doesn't have much of a vocabulary, but she sure babbles a lot (mostly "Dada" and blowing raspberries).
She now blows kisses. As usual, she only performs when she's in the mood...and her sense of anatomy isn't quite perfected yet. My favorite kisses from her are the ones she blows from her forehead instead of her mouth. :)
Brooklyn is getting closer to walking. She's still pretty wobbly and needs more confidence, but she walks around the house holding on to just one of our fingers. She does the token stand-into-a-slow-squat move when she realizes we are trying to trick her into walking on her own.
She also learned to point with her finger (rather than entire hand, which she still also does) when she wants something. It's confusing when she points with both index fingers in opposite directions!
She points to noses (whether a person's or a snowman's), the clock, her baby doll, family members and a handful of other things.
Brooklyn has just begun to enjoy reading. She will grab a book and either hold it out toward someone or crawl it over and hand it to us to read to her, then she sits down in our lap and flips some of the pages.
She and Landon were both spoiled over Christmas with many new fun toys. They are still discovering toys each day that they haven't played with, and they really enjoy playing with each others' toys (surprise, surprise).
They are having so much fun together these days...aside from toy stealing here and there.
Landon has learned some new tricks this month. He counts to nineteen (minus thirteen much of the time) in German, thanks to Uncle Matt Matt.
He has also continued his speech development and says things such as, "Mama, I'm just disappointed because I wanted to push the button and you didn't let me push the button." (following the tantrum). He's also started independently problem solving, which is really fun to watch.
Landon learned a few Christmas songs but still prefers 'Dashing Through the Snow' (NOT "Jingle Bells"). Top requests this month include 'Vogue by Madonna' and 'Hi' (Adele's "Hello").
Landon also continues to dance. He's picked up some new moves from his cousin, Jacob, and has also studied the "Whip and Nae Nae" dance moves.
With the holidays this month we had some fun outings...
We were able to attend Temecula's annual Santa's Electric Light parade for the first time. Landon had a blast dancing in the street before the parade began and watching the vehicles, bands, characters, horses and lighted floats pass by. Brooklyn was a good sport after her bedtime and played peek-a-boo for a good portion of the parade.
Daniel's annual employee holiday party made for another fun family day. The kids got to sit on Santa's lap. Landon also rode the little train, high fived the costumed characters, ate treats, got his face painted and refused to go on any of the bounce houses.
We had a night planned to have the cousins over for a sleepover while Peter and Amber had a night away, but due to Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease we kept the kids separate. Daniel watched Jacob and Zoe while I stayed home with Landon and Brooklyn. We all had a great time AND survived...separately.
Landon enjoyed the Advent Calendar again this year. He looked forward to counting the days, opening the door and listening to the music...and, secondarily, the activity that came from it. Brooklyn liked being held up to watch the characters move to the music as well.
I hurt my back in November, and it got much worse at the end of the month. I didn't believe the doctors when they told me not to lift the kids until it got to a point where I couldn't help but walk at a 45 degree angle. We got the MRI results back showing a couple of herniated discs along with a recommendation for Daniel and I to not go on our planned 7 day getaway to Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. We were extremely disappointed to not be able to enjoy our vacation, but we still sent the kids to Grammie and Papa's house, since their days were already packed full of fun planned activities. There was one good thing that came from this...all of the assistance we have received from family and friends to help care for our kiddos (as well as for what would have been an even messier house than it is), ESPECIALLY Grammie and Uncle Matt Matt. I don't think we would have survived had it not been for them! The downfall to everyone's support is that I haven't picked up either of the kids in a month, and, boy, do I miss it!
While Landon and Brooklyn were on vacation in Mission Viejo, they had many visitors and activities. One day they went to We Play Loud! We heard that Brooklyn's favorite apparatus was the baby merry-go-round and that Landon was a lot more adventurous this time.
The next day they went to the Irvine Park Railroad to ride the Christmas Train to see Santa. It sounds like they had a fantastic beginning of the trip, and we're so glad they were able to ride the train and see Santa before Landon's flu symptoms emerged. Poor guy. Luckily his sickness didn't last too long.
They were out and about 2 days later to Zoomars for petting zoo fun as well as pony and train rides for Landon. Brooklyn (and Uncle Matt Matt) loved being in the front pack on these outings!
Daniel and I headed up to Mission Viejo so that we could spend faux Christmas Eve with the Zimmerman family. What a fun time we had! And, oh my, were there presents for the kids!
We then headed out for a day/night in Huntington Beach. It wasn't quite a week in Mexico, but we could almost see the beach sunset through the grey clouds.
While we were away, Grammie, Papa, Landon and Brooklyn went to Auntie Gail and Uncle Fred's house for dinner, putting and holiday fun.
Christmas Eve is cousin Jacob's birthday, so we headed down the street for his birthday dinner and gifts. When we came home Landon helped us set the cookies he had decorated out for Santa. We had planned to let him eat cookies, stay up late and have a little Christmas Eve fun, but....once we put the cookies by the fireplace Landon thought he heard something in the chimney. I suggested that it might be Santa so we should probably get to bed soon. He hopped up right away, started running to the stairs saying, "Gotta go to bed...to bed...to bed....going to bed." and went right up the stairs to sleep. We think he might have been a little more scared than excited, but we sure wish going to bed every night was that easy!
Christmas morning we woke up and found that Santa visited and left a few gifts for the kids. We had a great time being lazy in PJs, opening gifts and playing with new toys. After each gift he opened Landon took it to the playroom and put it in it's new place. He's our little organizer! AND he got everything he asked Santa for, "Presents...A red one and a white one. And green. And chocolate." Hopefully, for Santa's sake, his requests remain low maintenance over the years.
Once we opened presents, the Zimmermans arrived with the gifts that Santa delivered to their house. More toys! Landon's favorite gift of all seemed to be the pair of Crocs he got from Grammie and Papa...over all the toys. Go figure!
Then dinner back at Peter and Amber's house with the Zims and Amber's family. We had a great time, and, yes, there were MORE gifts.
Papou and Babcia came to visit the day after my family left. Unfortunately, the kids were sick most of the time they were here. We even spent an evening at the ER with Landon. Luckily, it turned out to just be a bad virus, but it gave us quite a scare!
Sadly, Landon was still sick on New Year's Eve, so we canceled our fun plans with friends and went to a quiet-ish dinner with the other Kelepouris' then home and to bed. We definitely didn't make it to midnight!
We wish all of our friends and family health and happiness in 2016!
December Bloopers:
It seems like things are moving quickly with her. Her little personality (and cute dimple) is shining through more and more these days. We are loving life with our sweet (still baby) girl and our growing 2.5 year old boy!
Brooklyn is quite the smiley girl. It's so fun to play and chat with her. She doesn't have much of a vocabulary, but she sure babbles a lot (mostly "Dada" and blowing raspberries).
Brooklyn is getting closer to walking. She's still pretty wobbly and needs more confidence, but she walks around the house holding on to just one of our fingers. She does the token stand-into-a-slow-squat move when she realizes we are trying to trick her into walking on her own.
She points to noses (whether a person's or a snowman's), the clock, her baby doll, family members and a handful of other things.
Brooklyn has just begun to enjoy reading. She will grab a book and either hold it out toward someone or crawl it over and hand it to us to read to her, then she sits down in our lap and flips some of the pages.
She and Landon were both spoiled over Christmas with many new fun toys. They are still discovering toys each day that they haven't played with, and they really enjoy playing with each others' toys (surprise, surprise).
They are having so much fun together these days...aside from toy stealing here and there.
He has also continued his speech development and says things such as, "Mama, I'm just disappointed because I wanted to push the button and you didn't let me push the button." (following the tantrum). He's also started independently problem solving, which is really fun to watch.
Landon learned a few Christmas songs but still prefers 'Dashing Through the Snow' (NOT "Jingle Bells"). Top requests this month include 'Vogue by Madonna' and 'Hi' (Adele's "Hello").
With the holidays this month we had some fun outings...
We were able to attend Temecula's annual Santa's Electric Light parade for the first time. Landon had a blast dancing in the street before the parade began and watching the vehicles, bands, characters, horses and lighted floats pass by. Brooklyn was a good sport after her bedtime and played peek-a-boo for a good portion of the parade.
Daniel's annual employee holiday party made for another fun family day. The kids got to sit on Santa's lap. Landon also rode the little train, high fived the costumed characters, ate treats, got his face painted and refused to go on any of the bounce houses.
We had a night planned to have the cousins over for a sleepover while Peter and Amber had a night away, but due to Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease we kept the kids separate. Daniel watched Jacob and Zoe while I stayed home with Landon and Brooklyn. We all had a great time AND survived...separately.
Landon enjoyed the Advent Calendar again this year. He looked forward to counting the days, opening the door and listening to the music...and, secondarily, the activity that came from it. Brooklyn liked being held up to watch the characters move to the music as well.
I hurt my back in November, and it got much worse at the end of the month. I didn't believe the doctors when they told me not to lift the kids until it got to a point where I couldn't help but walk at a 45 degree angle. We got the MRI results back showing a couple of herniated discs along with a recommendation for Daniel and I to not go on our planned 7 day getaway to Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. We were extremely disappointed to not be able to enjoy our vacation, but we still sent the kids to Grammie and Papa's house, since their days were already packed full of fun planned activities. There was one good thing that came from this...all of the assistance we have received from family and friends to help care for our kiddos (as well as for what would have been an even messier house than it is), ESPECIALLY Grammie and Uncle Matt Matt. I don't think we would have survived had it not been for them! The downfall to everyone's support is that I haven't picked up either of the kids in a month, and, boy, do I miss it!
They were out and about 2 days later to Zoomars for petting zoo fun as well as pony and train rides for Landon. Brooklyn (and Uncle Matt Matt) loved being in the front pack on these outings!
Daniel and I headed up to Mission Viejo so that we could spend faux Christmas Eve with the Zimmerman family. What a fun time we had! And, oh my, were there presents for the kids!
We then headed out for a day/night in Huntington Beach. It wasn't quite a week in Mexico, but we could almost see the beach sunset through the grey clouds.
While we were away, Grammie, Papa, Landon and Brooklyn went to Auntie Gail and Uncle Fred's house for dinner, putting and holiday fun.
Christmas Eve is cousin Jacob's birthday, so we headed down the street for his birthday dinner and gifts. When we came home Landon helped us set the cookies he had decorated out for Santa. We had planned to let him eat cookies, stay up late and have a little Christmas Eve fun, but....once we put the cookies by the fireplace Landon thought he heard something in the chimney. I suggested that it might be Santa so we should probably get to bed soon. He hopped up right away, started running to the stairs saying, "Gotta go to bed...to bed...to bed....going to bed." and went right up the stairs to sleep. We think he might have been a little more scared than excited, but we sure wish going to bed every night was that easy!
Once we opened presents, the Zimmermans arrived with the gifts that Santa delivered to their house. More toys! Landon's favorite gift of all seemed to be the pair of Crocs he got from Grammie and Papa...over all the toys. Go figure!
Then dinner back at Peter and Amber's house with the Zims and Amber's family. We had a great time, and, yes, there were MORE gifts.
Papou and Babcia came to visit the day after my family left. Unfortunately, the kids were sick most of the time they were here. We even spent an evening at the ER with Landon. Luckily, it turned out to just be a bad virus, but it gave us quite a scare!
Sadly, Landon was still sick on New Year's Eve, so we canceled our fun plans with friends and went to a quiet-ish dinner with the other Kelepouris' then home and to bed. We definitely didn't make it to midnight!
We wish all of our friends and family health and happiness in 2016!
December Bloopers:
 |
| Afternoon... |
 |
| ...evening. |
 |
| "She's not letting me put my arm on her!" |
 |
| Sleeper hold? |
 |
| Everyone look over here! |
 |
| Daniel didn't see much of the parade. |
No comments:
Post a Comment