Oops! Brookie's Real Birthday

I guess those last pictures of Lake Mary were from an Family Home Evening out at Lake Mary another time. Here's Brookie's real birthday.

Our friends (Scott's old mission companion and roommate from BYU) Nate and Kristen came to visit us because they love us so much! It had nothing to do with the fact that Nate was teaching for the summer camp Especially For Youth at NAU... did it? We were so glad Nate got assigned to teach at NAU so we could visit with them. It was great to see them after a three year hiatus. They breezed into town in enough time to hit Lake Mary for a fun and birthday-filled night. Thanks for coming, guys! We miss you!

Here we are post-ski/wakeboard trip

Kristen and Alisa on the boat
Jake the flag man
Nate was like a little boy on Christmas morning. He was thrilled to be out boarding again.
Brookie was feeling sick but we decided to celebrate anyway. It was not quite the big "to-do" that was Jake's first birthday... I guess that's just what happens when you are a third child. Pobrecita!
Brookie telling us she's one! Funny how she didn't grow that last bottom incisor until three of her four molars were in.

I know this is two months late but just thought I'd record that she is finally learning to "watt" (walk) and it is now her favorite thing to walk around holding onto my fingers. She is a great talker. She repeats like crazy. Some of her words are "miwt" for milk, "babew" for bagel, "onge" orange, nana for banana, "Jate" for Jake, "Lala" for Alisa, "down", "bay bo" for belly button, "ush" for shoe, "mo" more, "tay-too" thank you (she says this after everything. It's so cute.), "wa-wa" water, "juice" (discovered on vacation), "ut" up, and the usual papa, bamma, mama, dada, etc. She is such a crack up and will repeat almost anything I say.

I'm so glad she started picking her feet up. She used to scream when I'd try to make her walk and I'd have to pull her arm up and force the opposite leg off the ground. I'm betting she'll walk around 16 months. Crazy. Not like my other kids. In a way, it's been really nice to have a non-mobile baby. She has a weekly visit from an occupational therapist who gives us things to do and ideas for play that will strengthen her muscles for walking and crawling.

Brookie has opinions and will let you know just what she's thinking. If anyone, including her daddy, tries to take her from me, it is an immediate "no-no" from her as she shakes her arm at them to get them to go away. She is 100 % a mama's girl. Sometimes she'll talk to herself saying "no-no... yes" as she shakes then bobs her head. It's pretty funny. We had a problem for awhile where she'd snuggle in to my shoulder, then bite me. I think she just wanted a piece of my shirt, but I got bit quite a few times. Now she snuggles in and says "bipe! no-no" every time. I guess she's learning.

I LOVE my little Brookie! Even though life with her has been a bit rough--for both of us--I wouldn't change it for anything. She is a sweet spirit and that sweetie is finally starting to come out. Jake and Alisa can make her laugh like no other.