Grammy Sue's, Trip Number 2

At the end of March, Brooks and I flew back to NC to be with my Mom for her last round of chemo. We stayed for a glorious 14 days. This time we flew to Asheville, and had one stop each way. Brooks continued to be an exceptional traveler. Mom and Victor picked us up at the airport and mom showed off her driving skills (first time driving since November!).

Balloon Party for Owen

The weekend was spent celebrating cousin Owen's 1st birthday.Everyone showed up for the occasion, so Brooks got to see Big E (my dad and his grandfather), his great grandmother Nenie, Great Aunt Cindy, Great Aunt Lori, cousin Ali, plus Laura, Matt, Levi and Owen. There was great food, kids to play with, dirt to dig in, slides to slide down, and of course the highlight of the party - balloons.

Owen and Brooks

Playtime

Jedi warrior

Loving the balloon chair

Juice is good

The celebrating ended at the start of the week as Grammy Sue began chemo again. We weren't allowed to sit with her because they had a strict rule that children could not be in the treatment rules because of safety.. So while mom had her treatments, we hit every consignment store in NC and stocked ourselves for Spring. In fact, we had to do some immediate springtime shopping because it was so hot in NC! After the third day of treatment, Mom was finished and we celebrated both the end of her treatment and the fact that she never lost her hair. :)

While Mama enjoyed seeing everyone and grabbing up cheap but cute kids clothes, Brooks was enjoying running up and down Grammy Sue's wheelchair ramp, playing with the ball in Grammy Sue's yard, going to the playground everyday (except on the days it rained), pizza from the flat rock bakery, seeing the goats at the Carl Sandburg goat barn, and the library. In fact, Grammy Sue and all of the grandchildren went to the Carl Sandburg goat barn, so that we could see the baby goats that were two days old. Grammy Sue has been a volunteer there for over 10 years, and it was the first time for her to visit since her surgery in October. It was a perfect day indeed.

Baby Goats at Carl Sandburg House

Hugs from Levi

Brooks enjoyed helping Grammy Sue in so many ways, from sweeping the floors while Mama vacuumed, to driving the grocery cart while Mama shopped for Grammy Sue. Brooks ate his first blackberry and loved it. And he learned how to slide down the smaller slide on his own. He was ecstatic that we got to eat under "umbeba's" (umbrellas) for several meals, including Easter Brunch. And by the end of the trip he was able to say "Sue." Well, a variation of that at least.

Mmmm Blackberries

I'll just help myself

Playtime!

Grammy Sue's Yard

Climbing

Love that face

At the playground

Slides are fun

We love you Grammy Sue!

March = Spring Break

In March, Brooks spent almost the whole month with his Dada. That's right, Daddy was on a much deserved Spring Break and the two just loved every minute of it. In fact there were hardly cries for "Mama," and there were many many many cries for Dada!

Dada Love

Kisses

Dada had the brilliant idea of putting Brooks in his walker for a little joy ride. Very cute, I must say. Although it became a much demanded indoor activity as well, and so many days have been spent hunched over wheeling my little honey bee around and around and around our house, sound effects and all.

Dada also took Brooks out for real walking practice, while letting Mama get her booty back in shape. Nothing is sweeter than going for a run and seeing your husband and son in the distance running around baseball fields laughing up a storm. Dada used Brooks' love for "ball" to help with his walking, we have them in all colors, sizes, and even textures!

Spring Break brought sun, and thus there were daily adventures to the playground, and one fun day on the tree stump. Brooks began as a swinger, and then became a slider, then a sandbox digger, then a sand eater. Fun times.

As a gift to Brooks, and because we love him, we bought him his own green little reader chair. Seriously, that's what it's called - The Little Reader. It has side pockets on the outside of the arms so he can tuck his books in them. We also bought an orange table and chair set for him, and we have visions of him playing, drawing, snacking on it for years to come. The chair was an instant hit, and the excitement was only partially captured on camera. He loves his little reader. Of course, then he also loves his books.

The end of March, also the end of Spring Break, Brooks had a visit from his Papa. He got to show off his new skills and words, and he even ate his first restaurant grilled cheese. Now he's in the big leagues when it comes to dining out - crayons, place mats, kids menu and sippy cups. Did I mention he is a master with a straw?!

3 Generations of Morts

Sweet Little Sleeper

Dada and B with the walker

Boxing plus one GREAT video

(February to March)

Box, basket, basket, box.
Brooks loves to climb in, around, on top of boxes. And laundry baskets. But the diapers.com box proved to be so much of a hit that it has become a permanent toy in our kitchen for mister B. It serves a dual role of toy storage, and play area/container for Brooks in the mornings while Mommy is making breakfast. A win-win if you ask me!

Brooks continues to share a love of books with his dad, and has his favorites that he will gladly pick out for you and insist that you read. And of course he has his favorite pages of the books too. A few favorites are: Where the Wild Things Are, I'm a Bunny (especially the page with the butterflies) and his peek-a-boo flap books, of which he is learning all kinds of words - ball, dog dog, shoes, and bird to name a few. 

Reading with Dada

Kissing the pictures

When not sitting in a box, or a basket, or on a lap for reading, Brooks is now often found sitting on his "stoop." The first and second stair from the landing of our stairs. He has found a dot on the wall that he insists is a "ball" and is fascinated by two dents in the wall from when the previous tenants were moving out.

Finally, Brooks and Mommy went to March Into Reading, a book fair for kids, and here Brooks made his first craft. A Moose hat. Can't you tell by the picture that he loves it!!!??? Ha ha just kidding. But hopefully some day this event will be a winner for our little book worm.





Ready for the one grrrrrrrreat video?!?!?!

Here it is......for the first time ever....Brooks is walking on his own :)

Grammy Sue's, Trip Number 1

In February, Brooks and Mommy flew to NC to be with Grammy Sue to help her after her first round of chemotherapy and to assist with ongoing radiation appointments. While it was a short ten days, it was a great trip for all of us I believe.

Posing

Silly face

On the slide

Brooks was again, a great flier, especially considering our arrival day was completely turned upside down with a cancelled flight, re-routing, and our first experience with a layover. We also rented a car, which meant, renting a car seat, and that I'm afraid I will hopefully never do again. At least not with the Charlotte Budget rental service. But, we made it in one piece and for that we were grateful, and really, that was all that mattered. Plus, I learned that Brooks (and me really) can handle flying with stops after all.

During the week, we took Grammy Sue to her last three days of  radiation and watched Grammy Sue begin to make progress with her hip. She demoed her wheelchair skills, and was literally doing wheelies around her house! Seeing her and how strong she is physically, mentally, emotionally, helped make the trip fun and easy and made me feel so proud of her. I would also like to think that Brooks added some fun to the week as he was dancing up a storm and learning how to stand on his own two feet without any help.

Levi, Brooks, and Owen

Each day we attempted an outing of some sort to help give Grammy Sue some rest. Several trips to the park and playgrounds were had, as well as a rainy day trip to the library. Although Brooks climbed around on the animal chairs, and played with puzzles rather than the books. A few play dates were had with his cousins, Levi and Owen, plus a couple of dinners with the whole family. And a sad goodbye was said to their dog Indy who had to go to doggie heaven during our stay. We love you and miss you Indy!

Indy Belanger

Life at 1 is fun, fun, fun

(January to February 2012)

Life at one is fun, fun, fun. That's what Brooks thinks, at least. And why shouldn't he? So much happens so fast. Walking, talking, and trouble, oh my oh my. Here's a quick catch up on life for Brooks at 12 months:

First snow!

After Brooks's birthday, he got to experience his first snow. Well, that's not true. It snowed the day he was born. But he didn't really experience the snow that day, you know. It was fun dressing him up in his snow jacket and letting him see the seasons, even if it was one of the few snow days of the year.

Brooks's play drawers

Brooks quickly began exploring his world, mainly, the world of the kitchen. Opening doors and drawers. Mommy had to bust out the drill and child proof the necessary cabinets (anything with cleaning products and medicine!) And she learned that the best way to teach Brooks while saving her sanity was to make fun drawers for Brooks. So, all the toys found homes in little drawers and cabinets that were safe for B to explore. Mommy loved picking up all the parts and pieces at the end of each day too!

Discovering the Linen Closet

Better to wear the food than to eat it!

Papa gave Brooks a walker for Christmas, and well, Daddy whipped that out one day and thus began Brooks's first steps. You would have thought the child had discovered the moon he was so excited!

And a post would not be complete without mentioning his hidden love for music. I say hidden, because he doesn't dare show his love for music in music class. No. He waits until in the safety of his home to bust out the rattles and shakers.