Brooklyn's One!!

It's amazing how the first year of a baby's life happens in the blink of an eye. . . Nate and I really weren't able to enjoy the boys' first year (I wonder why?).  Sleepless nights, crying babies, and exhaustion kept us wanting to move forward to a time when all of the hard stuff would be over.  Our tunnel vision prevented us from living in the moment and really enjoying Ryan and Brandon as infants.  With Brooklyn, we've been able to relish "baby moments" and it's gone by far too quickly for both of us. 

Now, we're heading into the toddler years and more fun is headed our direction. . .

So what has Brooklyn been up to?

• She's walking.  She still enjoys having a finger to hold onto when she's outside on the cement or on the hardwood, but she's loving her independence.
• She has 8 teeth, four top & and four bottom and it looks like a molar is on its way.
• She LOVES dogs. . .this is very sad considering we are not an animal family.  Anytime she sees a dog at the boys' football practice or at the park, the girl goes crazy.
• Her favorite foods are cheese and yogurt.  She tends to like salty food more than sweet food.
• She's still working on growing her hair. . .Mommy desperately wants to put ribbons, barrettes, and ponytails in her hair, but I'm going to have to wait a looooooong time before that happens.
• She hasn't said one word, yet. We squeal, talk gibberish, and say "Oi,Oot, and Uh-Oh" a lot. I keep telling myself she'll do this in her own time, but I really would like her to at least say momma and dadda. . . Actually she says, "dadda" but she says it about everything.
• She loves to drink out of a straw.  (Thank you, Auntie Angie!! Brooklyn learned this trick from Auntie on our trip to Minnesota).
• She really likes her binky during naptime and bedtime.
• She likes to do things herself! If she could talk she'd probably say in a sassy voice, "I can do it myself!"  Daddy thinks she got this trait from Mommy :)
• She is happiest when her brothers are at home playing with her.  Ryan and Brandon get better and better with Brooklyn the older she gets.  They give her rides on her toys, wrestle with her, chase her around the house, give her loves, and will do ANYTHING to make her laugh.  When they are all playing together and happy and laughing, my heart is so full of love that it seriously hurts!! 
• She loves attention. . . she will smile at anyone with her big toothy grin and immediately people come up and start talking to her.  She's an attention hog!  Ryan and Brandon think it's so funny and of course they think they have the cutest sister ever.  They are very proud of her and love having her with them.  I know this won't always be the case so I'm relishing it now.
• She hates being strapped into anything including her carseat, stroller, bike carrier, etc.
• She still takes two naps during the day and sleeps through the night.  MIND-BLOWING!! 
• She LOVES being outside. . .she'll stand by the front or back door and cry until she gets to go out into the sunshine.  Not sure what she's going to do when it gets super cold out.
• She is a happy, HAPPY, baby.  If Brooklyn is crying, it usually means something is wrong because she has the sweetest disposition.
• She's 30 inches long and weighs 22 lbs.