Last Day of School

Today was the last day of preschool for this year for Brooklynn.  I can't believe another school year is over - crazy how fast time goes.  It was a bittersweet day - excited b/c its the summer and our vacation up north is just around the corner, but sad at the same time b/c we have loved every minute at her school and her teachers and her classmates.  They made a little memory book for each child beginning with the 1st day of school and all the fun times they had during the year.  I love it - I love these kinds of things and I know Brooklynn will enjoy it when she is older.   I had no idea what to expect last August when we first started.  I was a little bummed b/c this school didn't have the internet viewing that I had grown used to at her old daycare to just watch her whenever I wanted during the day so once I dropped her off each day, that was it.  However, I quickly got over that once she started going - she LOVED her school and her amazing teachers.  She was always so excited each night when I would tuck her into bed and tell her that she got to go to school in the morning.  There were a couple times where I couldn't take her b/c I was too sick to drive and she let me know it!  She was so sad and would cry like you wouldn't believe. 

She has also made some of the cutest little friends at school this year too.  We are all hoping that next year several of them will be in the same class again.  We are even going to try to have some playdates over the summer too with a couple of them - I know the kids would be thrilled to see each other again.

Brooklynn has learned so much this year - more than I ever imagined.  Like I said - her teachers were amazing.  They are some pretty incredible women to be able to deal with 10+ 2 year olds on a daily basis - I don't know how they do it - dealing with my 2 year old can be enough some days to make me want to run and hide.  She has learned to count to 10, all the colors, animals, part of her ABC's, how to drink from a regular cup, and the most important thing - potty training!!!  They continued pushing on with her when she had her setback after Cannon was born and got her back on track and into big girl panties.  She has also found an appreciation for music and LOVES to sing - she is always singing America the Beautiful - it is hilarious!  There have been many times where we are walking around in a store and she is singing at the top of her lungs, "America....America..."  she is so patriotic!  She loves to hold our hands or hold up something to act like she is holding a flag while she sings too.

So while we are sad this year is over, we are looking forward to the fall when she gets to go back.  Then next fall Cannon will get to experience all the fun at school.  I have already warned her teachers that they have a year's break to recover before the next Crow baby comes into their class!  hahahaha!

Here are some pics of Brookie on her last day of school....its amazing how much she has changed!

1st Day of School - August 26, 2009

Last Day of School - May 28, 2010

Fun Times with Brooklynn

Ok ok.....I know I haven't updated much on Miss Brookie and I have heard about it from several people...believe me - its not that she doesn't get any attention anymore - its more like when she isn't at school, I have my hands full and taking pics of them is pretty much the farthest thing from my mind - bad mom!  Add to that, she is at the age where getting a cute picture is next to impossible - she will do everything but what I ask of her so we get some interesting pics to say the least.

Hmm....so lets see whats going on in Brookie's life that I can update everyone on.....

• We are back in full potty training mode again - yay!  2 weeks ago her teacher at school told me to start sending her in real panties and I was a little concerned since she only had stayed completely dry that day in her pull ups...but she has been doing really well and staying dry all day in her big girl panties too.  Of course the 1st day that we sent her she had a rough day - went through 4 changes of clothes.  We quickly found out what the problem was that day so since then she has been perfect (knock on wood - ha!)

• We have such fun drives each morning/afternoon when I take her to school and pick her up.  I love that time alone with her.  She has found her favorite song on the radio - Lady Antebellum - 'Need You Now' and we sing along with it together.....makes my heart just melt!  I told my mom about it and she heard her singing one day in the car and she bought us the cd, so now each morning, Brookie asks for "her song" as soon as we start driving and we belt it out.....so fun!  People must think we are nuts b/c we are just singing away and laughing our heads off.....Its these little things that mean the most.

• She is talking SO MUCH now.....its not always clear and understandable, but wow - she has just exploded in the last few months.  I'll admit I was a little concerned for awhile....she just wasn't talking much and it scared me, but her Dr kept reassuring me it would happen and she would just wake up one day and start saying sentences....and I just kept hoping she was right...and it finally happened.  Its so much fun to just have real conversations with her - we can talk about her day and what she did at school and what she wants to do tomorrow....so neat!  Of course with her talking so much - we really have to watch what we say with her - she imitates EVERYTHING!  Even times where we don't think she is paying attention - she really is!  Could be scary...lol!

• She is such a big help to me and a wonderful big sister to Cannon.  I can ask her to bring me specific things and she runs and gets them and brings them to me - such a lifesaver.  And she LOVES her baby brother and is always going up to him and giving him kisses - such a sweetheart!  Especially when he is crying and I can't get to him right away - she will go to him, kiss him on the forehead and tell him its ok....wow!  Makes me so happy that she has learned from us how we take care of her when she is sad and then turns around and does the same to Cannon.  She has adjusted really well now with Cannon being here - and is completely back to her normal, happy self.

• She worships the ground Andrew walks on.  Poor kid....he walks in the door from school and she is just all over him and will not leave him alone for nothing.  Anything he does, she wants to do too.  She loves playing outside with him and is heartbroken when he doesn't want to play.  Andy and me just aren't as good in her mind to play with and are second choice.  We try not to take it too personally ;)

Ok - managed to get a few pics of Brookie today after I wrote that post.  They are all of Brookie & Cannon together - that is the only time she wants to be in picture lately and then of course as soon as I take one - she wants to see it.  Lol - she will never have to learn the patience of waiting for a whole roll of 35mm film to be finished and then developed - ha!  I don't think I will get a good pic of them together until they are both in their 20's!  Take a look at these and you will see what I mean.....and I know it will only get worse before it gets better - oh well....all part of the fun!

Say 'cheeeeese'....lol - this is the face when we tell her to say cheese....

Such sad faces.....poor babies :(

Finally a 'decent' pic

Again...say 'cheese' - see what I mean??

Leg up in the air...why?? Just because!

First Cannon smiles.....

And then Brooklynn smiles....

But the sweetest of all - sibling love :)

Climbing the Charts

Yesterday we had Cannon's 2 month appt complete with multiple shots and everything.  He didn't do too bad - I think he cried more when she was trying to measure his (big) head and look in his ears...lol.  He did a little screaming after the first prick but the nurse did all 3 of them really fast and by the time she was putting the bandaids on him he was settling down.  He did his usual scream-which turned to holding his breath-which then turned his face beet red before he finally came up for air and then he was done.  I remember with Brooklynn, the older she got, the worse it became - they are more aware and react to it much worse.

Anyway....its official Cannon is growing like a weed and climbing the charts....and we have the numbers to back it up. 

Here are his stats from his 2 month visit:
Weight = 11 lbs 5.5ozs = 50th percentile
Height = 22.75" = 50th percentile
Head = 41cm = 75th percentile

compare those stats to his last appt at 2 weeks:
Weight = 6 lbs 14.8ozs = 10th percentile
Height = 19.75" = 25th percentile
Head = 36.75 cm = 50th percentile

Poor guy had no idea what was about to happen to him...here are a couple pics I took while we were waiting for the nurse to come in to give the shots - he was just all laid out on the exam table completely relaxed - very unusual for him....

Needless to say, by the time he got home, he was worn out and slept most of the evening and then thankfully went to bed like normal and slept 6 hours straight!  You just never know what different experiences/ events will do to their schedule, but luckily he is doing just fine today :)

2 Months

A little someone is 2 months old today!  Crazy to think how fast he is growing up - and I thought the pregnancy went fast....lol!  He's changing so much everyday and getting bigger even faster.  I think we have gotten ourselves into a pretty regular routine now.....but of course there are some days that goes completely out the window with 2 little ones and we just do what we have to do to survive - ha!  Overall, things are going pretty well and the days seem to be getting a little less fussy.  I was re-reading the 1 month post I did and that was just the beginning of some very fussy days.  Cannon definitely found his fussy side - but luckily it was during the day.  As hard as some days have been, it has been much easier to deal with it during the daytime hours vs at night when all you can think about is passing out from exhaustion.  Plus the 2nd time around you know its only temporary and there is light at the end of the tunnel - you can see that a lot more clearly.  I remember with Brooklynn, I never thought we would have a normal life again...but it did get better and this time will too.  I am starting to see him being more interested in things and being content for longer periods of time.....even its its just 10 mins under the floor activity mat or in the bouncer...hey its a start right?  But of course I wouldn't trade any of it in for anything...he really is such a sweetheart and we are enjoying every moment with him - they are only this young once!

Here are a few little tidbits about Cannon at 2 months old:

• 
  
  Weighs in at 11 lbs (according the bathroom scale)  We go for his 2 month check up on Monday so we will see how acccurate that is
• 
  
  Wears size 1 diapers - although they are starting to be a little snug around the tops of his legs so we might have to look into the next size
• 
  
  Still wearing newborn size clothing but they are definitely getting snug - now 0-3 months are fitting the best.  There are a few things in 3 month size that fit too
• 
  
  Still has pretty blue eyes
• 
  
  Great eater - now eating about 5 ozs every 3 hours during the day - we were hoping once we upped his ozs that he would go longer but so far...no such luck.  During the night he is doing great - I feed him around 10:30pm for the last time before bed and then he doesn't wake up until about 4-4:30am which is WONDERFUL b/c Andy gets up with him at that time and feeds him and then heads to work - so I haven't had middle of the night feedings for about a week now....very excited about that!  Then he usually wakes up for the day around 8am.
• 
  
  Loves to be held & cuddled
• 
  
  Sleeps in his own bed and has been since around 1 month - doing great!  We bypassed the cradle in our room and went straight from sleeping on me to sleeping in his crib in his room - we are all sleeping much better now.
• 
  
  Not a big fan of the swing lately...but loves his bouncy chair.....takes most of his naps during the day in there and just chills out at other times
• 
  
  Starting to enjoy his floor activity mat a lot more and likes to kick at the different toys and watch all the lights flashing
• 
  
  Had a few little smiles here and there - but today while taking his 2 month pics he flashed the biggest smile.....and I actually caught it on camera!!!  I was so excited!

• 
  
  Loves to be outside - but now we are limited to the evenings b/c the Houston heat has arrived and is here to stay for the next 5-6 months....

Anyway.....here are some other pics I have taken over the last few weeks...enjoy!!

These next few pics cracked my mom and me up...I had been trying a cute outfit on Cannon and decided to take some pics and I guess he got tired and just rolled (fell)over and went to sleep right then and there...lol - he was OUT!!!