Brooklyn

Wow, my babies are two years old!  I really cannot believe this.  Obviously I knew it would happen, but I kind would like a little bit of a rewind!  But since that's not possible, I figure I should document some of my favorite things and memories about each little "angel."

Brooklyn (a.k.a. Brooklyn Bear) is still a fiery little redhead.  She masks it with a sweet, angelic face and demeanor and the BEST, widearm hugs known to man, but don't let her fool you . . . under that sweet, soft face with the endearing, crooked smile (that still melts my heart), there is a naughty (though quietly so) little imp that causes her share of mischief!

Brooklyn Elaine, 2 years old!  This is her annual picture in her Texas Tech shirt to show how she is growing (we do this with every kid, every year!)

I do not have a recording to play for everyone, but in my head there is a permanent recording of the precious way she says "Mom-mee,"  It couldn't be cuter if she tried!  In the last few weeks she is starting to talk more and more and I'm hearing whole sentences now.  She still occasionally does this conversational babble thing that is hilarious, but that is becoming a little less frequent as real language takes center stage.  Her voice is kind of high-pitched and sing-songy and I love it.  I think my other favorite thing that she says is "Kook-key" (i.e. cookie).  But believe me, if she says it and she doesn't get one, the sing-song quickly turns to high pitch yelling.  Yikes!

"Brookie" (as she is sometimes called), is the queen of diaper removal!  If she is put down for a nap without pants or bloomers on, you WILL find her without diaper when you get her later!  Yesterday morning, she actually managed to get diaper off while wearing zipped up, footy pajamas.  The pajamas were still on and the diaper was in the foot of them!!  I have no idea how she did that.  She has also been known to remove a one-piece outfit with buttons at the shoulder, so she could then remove her diaper!  Not even kidding!

Brooklyn loves hugs and snuggles, but she's also adventurous.  She has been my most avid climber this year and the one to get into the most scrapes.  Her uncle Jacob (who watches the kids when I work) said the other day that since he has started keeping them at the beginning of the summer, it's been pretty uneventful except for: the mild concussion, the hand stuck in the play kitchen ice maker, the poop all over the crib due to a diaper being taken off, the broken marinara jar and the broken wine bottle . . . ALL BROOKLYN!!!  She's super brave when it comes to adventures, but a huge scary-cat when it comes to loud noises (car engines, the vacuum cleaner, daddy pretending to growl at her like a wild animal, etc.) 

Her naughty streak is sometimes so cute, you just can't stand it.  She is the one who smiles when you tell her no or when you get on to her for being mean to a sibling.  She worships the ground Jackson walks on (scary), she loves her family (Kiki may be her favorite, but Jacob is a close second these days I think) and she is always a ray of sunshine.  She is defiant in an almost sweet way, if that's even possible.  Recently I have also seen the beginnings of a couch potato in the making (she's an odd combo of couch potato and extremely active, just like her big brother).  She is obsessed with shoes and picking out her own clothes (I'm not kidding and usually tries not to wear pants, I think maybe she thinks every shirt is a dress) and she loves to put a purse on her shoulder and tell me "bye-bye."

I cannot put into words how much I LOVE this beautiful, soft, sweet, naughty, defiant little redhead.  I can't imagine a life or a family without her!