I am in love. I'm in love with Freecycle.org. My cousin Shelley told my Mom about it, who then told me. They are, and I quote, "made up of 4,225 groups with 4,384,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills." I'm a stay-at-home mom, obviously on a tight budget, so this is a wonderful thing. Especially in our area, which is rather affluent, where a lot of things are barely used, if at all. They offer way more than just baby things, pretty much anything you could think of, but they have baby items GALORE.
On the first day, I got a feeding seat, the booster seat kind that converts from infant to toddler. It was perfect timing, as Brooke is starting solids. I also got a sealed box of Gerber rice cereal! On the second day, I got a BRAND NEW (still sealed in box) inflatable whale pool for Brooke. We're going to get a lot of use out of this thing come summertime! Here's a picture of it: On the third day, I got several basic, white onesies, 18-24 month sizes. I also got three Carters sleepers, two pink, one yellow, in 12 month size. All three are SO CUTE!
Lastly, I got a BRAND NEW Yankee Candle wax warmer with an included tealight and Yankee Candle tart, still gift wrapped. It's beautiful, and it made our house smell delicious! So, needless to say, I definitely think you all should check out Freecycle!
In other news, BROOKE HAS CUT A TOOTH! The tip of one of her front bottom teeth has cut through the gum line as of this morning! She'll be 5 months on Friday... is that early? Anyway, she hasn't even been fussy because of it. Brave girl!
She is quite the little gymnast... hasn't completely figured out the rolling over thing yet--she gets stuck on her shoulder, so it'll happen soon I'm sure--but she is forever grabbing her toes! She is the happiest baby ever, constantly babbling and very easily amused. I'm so in love with our little girl! I took new pictures of her today--in one of her new adorable 9 month size onesies from Grandmom--so enjoy!
Happy baby! Playing on Mommy & Daddy's bed
"No photos, please" -- she's my little thumb sucker! :)
MY TOES!!!
Sweet girl... be still my heart
Lastly, a picture of our latest snowfall (last Wednesday? I think?) It was still snowing at the time, and we ended up with 5 inches!
As some of you may already know, Becky and her hubby, Casey, drove down from PA (3 hours!) to see us on Saturday! The last time we saw them was during our trip to Baltimore in which Becky, Ashlee and I, along with our spouses/soon-to-be-spouse in Ashlee's case, finally were able to meet! (Incidentally, I was also 6 months pregnant at the time.) This time was a little different, and they were able to meet the newest member of our family. In fact, Brooke was the main attraction for seeing us, but don't worry, we're used to that by now. ;-) In all seriousness, they are probably the sweetest couple you will ever meet, and even after meeting little miss Brooke, I still don't think we convinced them into having a baby just yet. ;-) Then again, Brooke did spit up all over Becky almost immediately after they arrived, so who can blame them?! :)
We went out for a delicious meal at Clyde's, swung by to let Becky meet my Mom, (since they have "talked" for a while now!) and hung out at our home watching football and playing Phase 10. They didn't end up leaving until about 8:30, and still had a 3 hour drive home!
Of course I have pictures to share! Lots, actually. But first, I wanted to share a picture especially for Amanda. Does this look familiar? :)
Brooke in her (albeit, drooled on) princess onesie from her honorary Aunt Amanda!
Now, onto Becky & Casey pics. :)
Becky and Brooke strategizing over Phase 10...
Posing for the camera!
Casey & Brooke ~ she was fascinated by him!
Awww, Becky & I (aka - the Amazon Woman)
Brooke playing coy with Daddy -- classic Brooke!
After Becky and Casey left, we decided to introduce Brooke to the world of solid foods for the very first time. I had wanted to hold off until she was closer to 6 months, even though they say you can start at 4 months, but Brooke has been acting a lot hungrier lately in spite of feeding her between 8 and 10 times a day. She has even been waking in the middle of the night again just because she's hungry. So, we decided to give it a shot, not expecting her to actually get much food down at first. She's used to nursing, which is a completely different experience from taking food from a spoon!
So, I mixed her rice cereal, and set her in her Bebe Pod chair on the sofa.
"What's this? Can I stick my hand in it?"
Her very FIRST bite -- she opened her mouth and everything
"Whooa! Is this stuff even edible?!" --- Her face says it all
"Maybe this stuff isn't so bad... I'll think about it"
"OK, Mom, I'd like more!"
Mmmm, rice cereal!
I was completely blown away by how well she did! She got used to it very quickly, and would make noises for more in between bites. She pushed some of it out early on, but eventually was swallowing it down, and getting the hang of it. She ate the WHOLE BOWL (1 tablespoon rice cereal mixed with 4 tablespoons breast milk, so, not a lot) and most likely would've eaten more. Needless to say, I think she was more than ready to start with real food! :)
So, it was absolutely a fun, and eventful weekend! Hope you all had as great of a weekend as we did!
It was in the mid-60's yesterday--heatwave!--so Brooke and I enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine by taking a 4 mile walk. I'm not sure who was happier about it--she was smiley, and babbling away, while I enjoyed the sunshine and exercise. We really, really had a fun time. As much as I adore the winter season, and couldn't be more thrilled when it snows, I realized, surprisingly, that I wouldn't mind if we just skipped winter completely this year, and went straight to spring. It's just so enjoyable when we can spend time outdoors!
Brooke had her 4 month check-up at 9:15 this morning. I felt so bad, because she was SO HAPPY while we were waiting for her doctor to come in, and she had no idea that she was about to get shots. Poor girl. She was a trooper, though! She only cried briefly, and was perfectly content after I let her nurse immediately after it was done.
So! At 4 months, 2 weeks exactly, she is... 16 lbs, 6 oz, (95%) and a whopping 26 1/2" long! (97%) She's definitely happy and healthy. :) She's going to be a tall one like her mama. I was curious to know how much she had grown, because she has been sleeping a lot recently, and can reach the floor a lot easier when she's in her Jumperoo. (her favorite thing in the world!)
I was given a prescription because the "diaper rash" she has had since Friday, in spite of my constant efforts, is actually a yeast infection. She also told me to try Cetaphil wash, and Aquaphor cream for her dry skin on her face/head. I was so glad that she had some good recommendations, because I felt like I had tried EVERYTHING!! I took Brooke in her stroller into the grocery store to pick up the prescription and the two other products on the way home, and you never would've guessed she had just come from the doctor's, complete with shots! She was smiling coyly at me, (a total Brooke thing) and talking away to her little Carebear, like she hadn't a care in the world. Such a sweetheart!
She fell asleep during our 3 mile drive back home, and I think the shots must've made her sleepy, because she allowed me to take her out of her carseat, wrap her up in her swaddle me, and lay her down in her crib without waking up. :) If she's still in a good mood when she wakes, I think we just may take another walk today!
2008. Where on earth did you come from? New Year's was nice, but a lot different for us. Being the parents of a 4 month old baby is bound to change some things, including ringing in the New Year in the comfort of our own home. It was actually really nice, too! I can't remember the last year I stayed home for it. After I put Brooke down for bed, we had some good snack foods, and drinks, and watched the New Year's Eve coverage live from Times Square (including a snippet of my cousins Stephanie and Brad, and Brad's wife Liz, among the million+ crowd. Imagine!) while playing a favorite card game, Phase 10. Happy New Year!
Brooke is due to wake up from her nap anytime now, so I'll just skip ahead to what you guys really want to see... the pictures!
First, here are the two pictures of her taken at the JCPenney Portrait Studio when she was 3 months old. Finally!
We gave framed pictures of this shot to both sets of grandparents and great-grandparents for Christmas!
We had to get this one, because it showed her entire outfit AND had the added bonus of her NOT crying
Then here are the two taken from New Year's Eve...
Ah, one of the best things about baby girls... the clothes! :)
Adorable winter dress courtesy of Krissy, cardigan courtesy of Tiff, and adorable, mini Ugg-like boots courtesy of Trish!
Girlie girl. For real.
Makin' her Daddy proud in this Nike track suit, courtesy of Needa
My gosh, she is getting SO BIG! 4 months, 10 days old!
