Father's Day and Pearly Whites



 I Love Dad

 Happy First Father's Day, Dad!!!

Dad spent the week before Father's Day at Williams College working at a squash camp, but was able to come home for the Father's Day weekend. Brooks made Colin the sweetest mug but it broke in shipping, which left Mom very mad at the company. But Colin was happy nonetheless and said his present was Brooks. (A replacement mug was sent fyi.) Brooks and Dad spent quality time together before having to part ways once again for the second and final week of squash camp. In the meantime, Brooks got Daddy another father's day gift - his first tooth!  



whoa!



This is not a real surprise since he has been drooling, gnawing, and sucking for some time. It all started, however, last Tuesday when he woke up with snot streaming out of his nose and sneezing constantly. Mom thought Brooks had gotten his first cold, and even called the Dr to tell him this was going on. Like always, Brooks didn't really complain, just smiled and drooled and sneezed and basically looked like a liquid factory from his neck up. The next day it was all over, no snot, no sneezing, and Mom was left completely puzzled until someone said "he may be getting his first tooth." By Friday the tooth was peering through just below the gum. By Saturday, it had broken through and today is slowly growing, with it's partner coming up just behind it (I think).



Let us pray





With teeth comes food! Brooks has made it very clear that he is ready for some real food. Not only does he stare intently at Mommy when she eats anything, but he has now practiced chewing, and finally made it very clear one night when Mom was eating a cookie. Brooks reached out and grabbed Mom's arm and pulled that cookie almost straight into his mouth. Luckily Mom was quick and Brooks was spared having chocolate as his first real food. Once Dad gets home from squash camp, we will be breaking out the baby spoon.      

And yes, Dad has been away at squash camp, which means Mom, Lila and Brooks have spent the past two weeks trying to pass the time until Dad would be home for good - as in for the whole summer!!! We went to the Camp Ramleh sale and bought some rugs for our new place (we move in July), and we attempted to go strawberry picking with Margaret but it was raining. We saw many friends and smiling faces as we ate with friends almost every night. And then we had some quiet nights at home watching movies and listening to the rain fall.







With Mommy



The Chair Project: 5 months

I can't believe we are at the 5 month mark, while many people can't believe Brooks is ONLY 5 months! He is a bruiser and as dense as can be, but his smile and heart are light and happy and as sweet as honey. And we wouldn't want him any other way...

First In Flight

Brooks took his first trip to the Carolinas at the end of May, and to get there he and Mommy boarded a US Airways flight from Providence directly to Charlotte.Mommy was nervous and had never put so much thought into which seat to pick, aisle or window. The aisle won. Everyone told Mom to nurse during takeoff and landing for the little ears. Luckily we sat next to a very nice lady who wasn't at all weirded out by me nursing practically in her lap, and after takeoff Brooks fell fast asleep for the majority of the short flight.

Grammy Sue and Victor met us at the airport and drove us to the house where Brooks became acquainted with new surroundings, extremely warm weather, and a spunky dog named Amelia.After two nights at Grammy's, Brooks and Mom moved over to the rambunctious Belanger household, which frightened Brooks tremendously that first night. He wasn't used to so many people and energetic little kids, he cried and cried. But soon he calmed down and came to love his sweet and terrorizing cousin, Levi. Brooks got to share the activity gym with his other new cousin, Owen, who Mommy met for the first time too! For the next couple of days Brooks enjoyed lounging at the pool, grabbing yummy treats from the Flat Rock Bakery, and hanging with his peeps. Uncle Mattie met Brooks for the first time and Aunt Laura (Goosey) marvelled at how BIG Brooks was, as she hadn't seen him since right after he was born.

Mommy and Goosey rented a van since no one's car could fit three car seats, and looking like the soccer Mom she might become, Mommy drove the kids and Goosey to Columbia so that Laura and Owen could watch cousin Ali graduate high school, and Brooks could meet his great grandmother, Nenie, and his great Aunt's and Uncle. Mommy got to experience what life would be like with two kids for a couple of hours, as she watched Brooks and Levi during the graduation.Mommy decided one was plenty for now.

Back in the van, the A-team continued the journey down to Charleston to spend some time with Big E and Paula. Big E basked in the glory of having three grandsons together at once! Everyone got a tour of Big E's company, Terressentia, and got to see the newest employee and recent college grad, Uncle Daniel.After two nights at Big E's, which included an evening celebrating Paula's birthday, the crew headed over to Mimi's for a fabulous brunch. Uncle James was there to meet the herd, as well as Daniel. Sadly, we all missed Uncle Paul and Aunt Ann. With belly's filled we loaded back up for the long drive back to NC, 4 hours total. In all of our driving, the children to remarkably well together, despite the occasional screaming episodes from Levi and Owen, crying of Brooks, chucking of rainbow colored goldfish by Levi, projectile vomiting from Brooks, and a dumped out crumbled up scone in a lap! 

Back in NC, Brooks continued to enjoy his cousins, the pool, shopping with Mom and Grammy Sue. After ten days of family we headed home, another successful flight and the warmest of welcomes from Dad who missed us SOOO much! Brooks even brought home a souvenir - the new sound of Baa!