Tales of a Big Sister

With all the excitement of having a sweet 5 1/2 week old in the house, let's not forget the precious angel who came first.

Brooklyn has adjusted quite a bit better than I thought she would to having a baby in the house. As I brag to people, she does GREAT with Jake- helping feed him his bottle on occasion, finding his paci (and holding it in his mouth), entertaining him at the changing table, and showering him with kisses and hugs every chance she gets. She is so animated with him, and I love hearing her speak to him in the same "high pitched mommy voice" that I use. I mean, who wouldn't be entertained by this face?


But alas, she is human, and having had ALL the attention from 2 parents and 4 grandparents her entire life, she struggles sometimes with not getting what she wants exactly when she wants it. When that happens, we get this:

We are working on reminding her everyday that starting your sentences with "please" and ending your request with "thank you" is the way to go. We are encouraging "yes, ma'am" and "no, sir." We are sending her to time out when she sticks her tongue out at us or yells at us. 5 weeks ago I would have burst into tears when punishing her just thinking that "she's adjusting to her new life...cut her some slack." Now, I am trying to work with Chad on a united front knowing that we have to nip this attitude in the bud NOW before she grows up into a spoiled brat.

Overall, she is a good kid. She's just sometimes too smart for her own good....and has learned a thing or two watching Jon and Kate (again, glad that show is OVER).

Brooklyn is doing sooooo well at school. She has been ready for Kindergarten since she was three, so I have never been worried there. She knows all her letters- upper and lower- how they sound and how to write them. She counted to thirty this week. She knows the days of the week and the months of the year. She spells September and October....I forgot to ask her about November. :-) She can write her full name and the first name of all her friends in her class, knowing how to spell most of them herself. She learned her phone number this month, too.

She loves watching "18 Kids and Counting" and anything on Nick Jr. She is growing her hair out and it's beautiful. I will NEVER forget that it took her 2.5 years to even get hair. She has amazing blue eyes and still has the chubby cheeks that we noticed on her prenatal ultrasound 5 years ago. She is so excited about Christmas...especially the candy she gets from her countdown Advent calendar. She is still shy with adults and does not like to have her picture taken by anyone other than me. Though quite outgoing at home, in public she stays pretty close to us and doesn't bring attention to herself.

I must have done something right to have been blessed with Brooklyn as my daughter. I hope we continue to have our special bond in the years to come, and I thank God everyday that He chose ME to be her mommy.