The Zou Crew

So, I love shopping at Target-for everything. I found these great t-shirts for Brooke yesterday for $5.00 each and was a little disappointed when the 24 months didn't' fit me. They are cotton stretch and who doesn't love that?? Anyways, we got a white one, blue and white stripe and a gold one because it will be her MIZZOU shirt for the summer. Sorry, no red or navy Tracie.

So, can you tell Brooke is teething?? She is getting some molars in and it is all that I can do to try and get her hands of her mouth. I think that I got one good one, though.



FYI-for those of you following our sleep training, we started last night and Brooke was a rockstar! She went down at 7:30 and didn't get up until 9:18. I went in the room once and then not again until 10:30. By 11:30 she was down for the night. I only had to go in a total of 5 times. Don't get me wrong-GF was not happy to see me and not Dad. By my 3rd visit, she would not even stand up to try and get out of bed...it was a, 'oh, it's you I am not going to even try because you SO DO NOT GET IT." She had a brief wake up at about 3:45/4:00 that required one visit and then back to sleep IN HER BED until 7:30 this morning!! So, we are back on tonight for round 2. Gary still has to be MIA tonight, but tomorrow he should be able to rejoin the party.

She's all done

Brooke has been obsessed the last few days with the phrase, "all done." She uses it constantly! What impresses me, though, is that she has been using it correctly and, at times, humorously. Yesterday when we were at the sleep doctor, Brooke was ready for a nap (good timing huh?). She was getting pretty cranky so she walked right over to the door, put her hand up to the knob and said, "all done." Repeatedly. Girl was ready to go! While I cannot catch her at the doctors office, I did get her at home. Enjoy :)

My daughter has never been one for sleeping. Just like me, she likes to stay up later and will still get up on the early side in the morning. Maybe she thinks that she is missing out on something if she goes to sleep or maybe she just has her dad and me wrapped around her darling little finger :) Either way, no one in our house has gotten a solid nights sleep in the last 16 months. Brooke goes to sleep like a champ every day at nap time. She also gets into her crib wide eyed every night just about 8:00. Brooke can fall asleep on her own in a good 10 minutes-not a problem. Like clockwork, though, between the hours of 10:00 and 11:00 she wakes up and she wants OUT! Brooke knows what she wants and that is to lay with mom and dad and perhaps have a glass of water. After accomplishing this goal she is sound asleep until the next morning...with mom and dad.

Although we love our cuddle gal, we also need some rest. That is why Brooke and I met with a sleep specialist today-yes, they have those :) After talking with our specialist for a little over an hour, I was handed a 'plan of action' that we will start tonight. I have never been one who likes to hear Brooke cry. I was never able to follow the 'cry it out' method. What I like about this plan is that it offers reassurance to the child while still standing your ground that she needs to sleep in her bed. Without going into too many details (as I do not aim to bore you all to death) we are hoping that miss Brooke will be snoozing the night away in her bed within a week. Wish us luck?!?!

Debt Collectors

Seriously-I walk in the door tonight from work-hungry and screaming child in tow-and the phone rings. I mistakenly believe that it will be my husband letting me know that he is on his way home. NO. I answer the phone to be met by an evil woman letting me know that FYI this call is being recorded. I am then verbally attacked for not paying my Shell CC since 2005. I was completely caught off guard by this accusations since I have NEVER owned a Shell Gas CC. This 'lovely' lady then decided to yell at me that she couldn't even hear what I was saying (ie. my screaming child) and she was just going to call me back. NO. I will pacify my child. We were going to deal with this little situation here and now. I kindly let her know that I (again) had never had this card. So, what does she ask me to prove that this card was not mine? My last four digits of my SSN. No honey-I am not going to give you private info for something I know NOTHING about. That pissed. her. off. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?" she says. "I DIDN'T ASK FOR ALL THE DIGITS." "GIVE ME THE 4 NUMBERS!!" Yea...no. Then it clicks. "When did you say that I owned this card." 2005 she says. "Well," I say, "my name was not Kelly Fleming in 2005. I could not have had any CC that said Kelly Fleming in 05." "That is when you were Kelly Coragan then weren't you??" No-evil woman-I was not. "Well, you were born on June 2, 1965 weren't you?" No-I am not 44 years old, but thanks. "Thanks." Dial tone.
This, my friends, is not how you want to start your evening at home......LOST better be good tonight.

Side note-I do sometimes receive phone calls at our house for a Kelly Fleming nee Coragan. Never have I been contacted for money she owes, but she must have lived in our house, had our phone number, whatever. What went wrong for Kelly Coragan......

Going Old School

So we have decided to take a que from others in our lives that are trying to save money in this economy and we are cutting back. Previously, cutting back meant not going out to dinner, switching from my canned Diet Pepsi to a 2 liter of Diet Pepsi and not buying the named brand items from the store but knowing that the Target brand dish washer detergent was going to do just fine. This round, we are getting more serious-today I got rid of caller id (feel free to prank call me now, I will have no idea) as well as cable. Can you believe it? Brooke and I are dropping the cable boxes off at Charter today-and right before the digital transition-we live on the edge. Good thing Brooke has a techy Dad who knows how to make an antenna at home out of some wire in the basement (who knows how to do that??). We are strictly on an ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS plan and I think that we are going to be ok. Oh-and no DVR...will it be The Bachelor or Hereos?? I think that we all know the answer here....I think that I have grown up thinking that cable was a utility-not a luxery. Thanks mom & dad-just kidding. It is time to start doing other things with our time and get ready to have a lot more blogs coming at you :) Now, lets get the warm weather to come so that we can get outside!

She's Engaged! A post for my friend Katie :)

I didn't think that it was gong to happen in Africa. My friend Katie just texted me this morning from South Africa to share the news that she and her boyfriend had gotten engaged! I am so, so happy for them!! I totally didn't think it was going to happen there since her boyfriend kept saying that it wouldn't-he totally fooled me!!! They are an amazing couple, though, and Gary, Brooke and I couldn't be more excited for them!! I don't know if she will even get to see this post, but if so CONGRATS! We cannot wait for them to get back in town to celebrate...and check out her bling bling! Let the wedding planning begin!!

15 Months & Counting!!

We had our 15 month check up today and Brooke did a-o-k. Besides the massive tantrum she threw in the room (she doesn't like strangers ok?!) and the huge breakdown following the three shots-she was a trooper! She weighs in at 22 3/4 lbs and she is 29 1/2 inches tall. 40% for both. I don't bring much to the table in the height department so I have a feeling chicky is going to be a short one! Nothing wrong with that :)

The weather today was amazing! After our doctors appointment and a few errands we decided to hit up the park near our house. Brooke loved it! Mom forgot the memory card to her camera-go figure. She was so excited about the slides and was totally in love with walking across the bleachers-so cool. It was nearing nap time, though, so I had to ruin the fun and bring her home. We did decide to go in our back yard when she woke up, though, but it is so far from a park. We totally are going to need to get a swing set for this summer.

The ladies. Brooke had to climb up where Bella was to check out the view.

Examining her hands after a run-in with dirt. Not a fan of the mud underneath the finger nails. I thought that she was going to dive in-no, walked away from that asap.

I guess I don't let her outside enough! Girl was impressed with everything! Checking out the tree she was so excited!! I hope this warm weather stays!

Catching Up

So we went for it-pig tails! Yes, I know that my last update was about hair, but I couldn't resist uploading these pictures from this morning! While we were getting ready today, I thought we would give the pig tails look a shot and I think that it works for her! We also love the adorable outfit that Grandma Mary Anne gave us for Valentines Day-she is the best!

Brooke is also starting to ham it up for the cameras! One of the new words that she is loving on is "Cheese!" We say it almost as much as "Teeth" but now quite as much as "Jack."

So, what else have we been up to??

Loving to climb up on the fire place but to my displeasure. I am not sure how to get her not to be interested in this 'toy.' Thoughts, suggestions?

If Brooke is not trying to kiss Bella or feed Bella her bottle, she has to get Bella a toy, let her inside the house or feed her a treat. Bella is in for it! Wait till she asks me if Bella can sleep in her crib...

This weekend we all spent at home enjoying the warmer weather that has continued on this week. Tomorrow-the DR update! Our 15 month check up...wish us luck :)

Girls & Bows

I love bows. I may have said it before, but I will say it again-if socially appropriate, I would even wear one. There is nothing cuter...and Brooke and Lily reap the benefits of my bow obsession!



In other news, Brooke has become way more articulate and even said teeth last night-as we were brushing hers after the 2nd round of crayon eating. She is also obsessed with dolls. Today, we stopped by my work and she discovered that we have dolls in the store. They are dressed in local school uniforms for young girls that want their American Girl Dolls to match them in their uniforms. Brooke had to have one. I tried to put it back when we left but she wouldn't have it. I will have to sneak it back to work with me tomorrow. She even picked the right plaid for our parish-as Grandma said, "well, she is a genius..." True that...