Brooklyn

Our sweet Brooklyn has brought us so much joy over the last year. The first born of the foursome, she was also the first to accomplish several other milestones such as bottle feeding and coming home (though she did come home with a buddy). Since the day she came home (Sept 23, 2010) she has been a soft, sweet sack of cuddles. She has her naughty streak for sure, but no one snuggles like Brooklyn.

Brooklyn in her Texas Tech shirt . . . a friend gave us the idea when Jackson was little to get an adult sized Tech t-shirt and put him in it each year to chronicle his growth, so of course we have to do with these guys too.

There are so many first year memories that I want to document and cherish. Where to start . . . when Brooklyn was born, the left side of her precious head was a little flat and smooshed. I knew this was going to be the case because she was at the bottom of the heap on the inside! It didn't take long for her little head to become symmetrical, but not before she gave me a brief scare when the doctors were evaluating her for cranial synastosis which would have a required a surgery I did not want to put her through. Fortunately, everything was fine and the bullet was dodged. Since then, she has been just perfect.

Brooklyn spent the beginning of her first year seemingly sweet and quiet and good all the time. But with time, her true colors began to show. She started taking things from her siblings (especially Kynlee) and showed no remorse. I swear you could sometimes see the mischeivious look in her eye. But with her sweet disposition, it was (and still is) sometimes hard to believe that she could be naughty (I think she took lessons from her Aunt Kiki). I have a feeling that she is going to manage to get away with some things as she gets older by hiding behind that sweet hug.

THE HUG . . . this will always be my favorite Brooklyn baby memory that I will cling to forever and ever. She gives the best hugs. Sometimes they almost bring tears to my eyes because I know that even though she may always be a hugger, one day I will wake up and that baby hug will have turned into a big girl hug over night! When you pick her up, she often just lays her head on your shoulder and opens her tiny little arms as wide as they will go to wrap them around you. It is the BEST and she will hold a hug for a long time. Sometimes I think it might be a ploy to keep from being put immediately into her crib in the evening and I'll admit that it works for her. I hug her just a second or two longer when she is doing this. When you do lay her down though, she goes immediately for her "blankie pal" and snuggles up. I think this is so sweet and it is one of the ways I can tell she is tired. If she lays down on it right away, you know it is only moments until she is asleep.

Last night Brooklyn found her "blankie pal" and laid down on the kitchen floor. She was one tired girl!

While she is the best hugger that ever graced the earth, she is not a kisser. Everyone else gives kisses, but not Brooklyn. Often when you try to kiss her, she pushes you away or bats her hand back and forth to get you out of her face. Silly girl. She's a funny one that's for sure!

What physical characteristics make Brooklyn unique? Definitely her red hair (that is getting redder by the day) and her crooked little grin. I love that when Brooklyn spots me, she breaks into her crooked grin without delay and then either rushes for me or does the Brooklyn fake out where you think she's coming to you, then she bypasses you at the last second! I couldn't be more in love with the smile or the hair if I tried. I can't wait to see that beautiful hair start growing (maybe eventually).

I look forward to discovering more about Brooklyn in this next year as she really comes into her own. On a side note, she took her first steps on Sept 13 (exactly one year after she took her first bottle), but hasn't really tried it again yet.

I love you my sweet, sweet Brooklyn and hope you always grace and bless me with your hugs and that winning smile. We are so blessed to be your parents and we can only hope that we are able to live up the job the God has given us in the blessing that is you!!