Oktoberfest

I think the definition of Oktoberfest is something along the lines of a debauchery of beer drinking, brat-eating, carnival riding, chicken dancing fools!  It's a different kind of experience when you're sharing your body with a little resident that prevents a lot of these activities. But we still headed out there with some friends for a bit yesterday. And Brooklyn seemed to enjoy the singing crowds!

She's leading Daddy to the announcer to teach him how to do the Chicken Dance.

 She clapped to the songs...

And even met this guy, greeting him with a big huge smile!

Her curiosity of him drew a crowd. We were all a little surprised that she was interested, and not scared! 'You silly chicken', she seemed to be saying! It was pretty cute!

And she even got to ride the merry-go-round with Daddy!

 At the end of all the festivities, she was wiped out and succumbed to sleep...in the tent of chicken dancers!

Outdoor play

Brooklyn logged some hours outside today, playing with her Grandmommy, Granddaddy, and Aunt Anna!

Here she is cheesing with her Granddaddy...

 And cheesin with her Aunt Anna...

And the slide! omg, what fun that was! Look at that big grin...you can almost hear the giggles through the pictures!

She crashed almost immediately after her company left! She was wiped out.

Yay! Here's the footage of her fancy feet!

There's a longer one with more footwork, but it took 30 mins to load this 30 second video, and at this rate, I'll be up past my bedtime...so this is it for now! :)

 

She's a teaser

My hope was fading. Dreams of a walking baby for her 1st Halloween & birthday had diminished, and the reality of lugging her around with my growing belly had turned back into reality. I was still working on accepting this reality. (Accepting anything outside of my control is a process, so my hesitation was to be expected...)

Brooklyn was eating her blankie and playing with toys while at a friend's house for dinner last night. My friend and I were stationed on the floor, as requested by your heiness.  As she rose up from her catcher's stance, no heads turned, because this was an old act by now. Then, as if in an attempt to demand our attention, she cautiously advanced in my direction. "Whoa, did you guys see her?" Their eyes were still fixated on the tube. Sunday night football had stolen her audience.  Another step. And another! "Hey guys, she's walking!!", I gushed. A few small steps later...boom! Down for the count. Oooor, maybe not. Pop! She's up for Round 2! Whitney broke out the camcorder & captured some triumphant steps for our blog audience to 'oooh & aah' over.  Enjoy it, because we never know when she'll do it again! 

Okay, well, after 2 days of trying, I can't get the video to load for some reason...I'll give it another shot tomorrow. Sorry...

Fall has arrived!

 

Brooklyn's been busy these first few weeks of fall! With a new wardrobe for the cool season, I'm proud to report that she's learned to keep her shoes on! (Not to say that they may or may not venture into her mouth from time to time, but regardless, they're still on at the end of the day!)

After strolling through the Art Festival in Jenks, eating some finger foods (like mashed potatoes!!) at KFC, and waving at everyone in sight at Lowe's, Brooklyn visited her first Pumpkin Patch!

The Fam







Daddy & Me



It was a day full of curiosity and giggles! Every day with Brooklyn seems to get more & more fun...



The cutest pumpkin in the patch!



 

She's been spending her Saturdays keeping a close eye on her cousin Ella's cheerleading skills. 

Here they are taking a breather during Canon's football game:



 



And last but not least, we've been logging lots of hours practicing her strut! She still lacks the confidence to venture off on her own, but she maneuvers around support structures like a pro. No telling when she'll be an independent walker, but it's sure fun watching her learn!



I'm calling to report my daughter's absence today.

In between my days at Union and Bixby, I endured a year at an anonymous private school.  I wasn't happy with my parents' decision to change my schools. After all, I was revelling in my awkward tween years and relating to others when I was barely comfortable in my own skin was difficult, to say the least. It was during this year that my mom recited the sentence above quite often. My attendance was horrendous that year! I'm surprised I passed. Sorry about that, Mom & Dad!

As many may know, I started my part time job a week ago today. Being that it's part time, today is my 4th scheduled day.  But instead of working away in the office, I'm back in my recliner blogging. "Why?", you may ask.  I guess it's my turn.  I recited the sentence above just 30 minutes ago...for the first time! :(  Poor Brooklyn is fighting a fever and runny nose in her crib as I type.  It started last night, after waking from her 4:00 nap. She was piping hot and crying for no apparent reason. After a cool bath and some time to cool off outside, the thermometer read 102.8.  I started the timer, alternating between Tylenol & Ibuprofen every 4 hours throughout the night, hoping that the fever would diminish in time for school/work today. The 101.0 reading from a smiling face this morning delivered a dillemma: maybe they won't notice she's running a fever and I can avoid calling in to work! But if they do notice and send her home, she has to be fever-free for 24 hours without medicinal assistance, meaning they won't take her back tomorrow!  Besides, will she get the rest she needs, if she does go to school?  "Yes, she'll be fine!", I convince myself. Into the car we load up, and down the road we drive. One mile exactly.  It's there that my conscience pulls the car onto a side road, and forces me to make the necessary phone calls, turn the car around, and pull back into the garage. We're going to double up on her rest today, and hope that she wakes up smiling and fever-free soon. 

Productivity: gotta love it

When living in my first apartment (a decade ago, omg!!) I remember taking note of how many cars sat in the parking lot all day on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It boggled (and bothered) me. Why is everyone home and inside on such a beautiful day?, I wondered as I ran out to my car in a rush to be somewhere, or to see someone. I guess I didn't consider that on the other side of the door to their home, they may be raising a child, which requires a lot of inside time. You've got nap time, snack time, play time, crawl time, tantrum time...all kinds of inside time when you have a baby!  Of course I realize this now, when it dawns on me that the wheels on my car haven't gone round and round in two days. Don't get me wrong, we play in the yard, go on lots and lots of walks, but yes, we also spend a lot of time inside...even on the sunny, sultry days of this Oklahoma summer.  But this was a tough adjustment for me!

Now, if you know me at all, you should know that I'm a pretty active being.  For the last several years, while Jackson & I were establishing the life that we now share, I was balancing a full time college schedule with a full time job (in addition to moving, changing jobs, getting hitched, moving again, getting pregnant & bearing a child!).  So when I completed my degree requirements this summer, shortly after quitting my awesome job at ONEOK to be at home with Brooklyn, I found myself in an odd state of monotony.  More free time than I knew what to do with! My daily objectives went from staff meetings, lunch appointments, seminars, and exams to playing with Brooklyn and keeping house!  Sounded like a dream come true in the beginning!  But there are only so many days that I can kick my feet up at the end of the day, look at my straight vacuum lines, clean kitchen, and busy daughter and feel accomplished.  I was seriously lacking the sense of accomplishment that I had come to know so well in the past years at work.

So I'm thrilled beyond words to report today that 6 months and 3 days after putting my career on hold, I've reconnected with the professional world!  I'm now the proud employee of a part time job!  And tonight, as my body becomes one with my recliner after overeating and blaming it on the starving baby in my belly, I will not only admire my straight vacuum lines, clean kitchen, and reflect on my busy happy daughter, but I will also possess a sense of accomplishment for a job well done at my new J-O-B today!  It feels GREAT! 

Because the focus of this blog is Brooklyn (not me!), I'll end with a story of her day. I went to pick her up from 'school' only to find her playing solo in the kitchenette at the back of the classroom. So, unbeknownst to her, I sneaked in, gathered her things and talked to the teacher.  Then I approached Brooklyn with my arms out, offering to pick her up. She looked at me. Looked at her hands (which were full of toys), and crawled away, as if to say "sorry, Mom, but my hands are full, and I'm a busy woman.  Peace."  I think today was a good day in her world, too. :)