Brooks Family: January 2009

We've been very busy the last few weeks....I couldn't really tell you why, but we've been busy just the same. Two great visits from our parents (Lito and Lita one weekend, Grandma and Grandpa the next).

Leila Joy has NOT been sleeping well (at least for naps) the last week and a half....she is only taking one 1 hour nap a day, which really isn't enough. Because she takes only a morning nap, she gets tired in the late afternoon. We don't want to force her to stay up, so she ends up having her bath at 4:45 and asleep around 5:15pm. She ends up waking up around 5:30am---way too early for mommy!! So we are working on trying to get that 2nd nap back. Which leads me to something big...

Most of the books/articles I've been reading say that naps will be negatively affected any time the baby is sick, teething or developing a new milestone; then they usually return to their usual routine once the excitement has passed. Well she hasn't been sick so we thought it might be teething (although she doesn't seem to teething any more than she has in the past few months) but she did just get a third tooth in about 5 days ago (bottom right) so we thought that could have been it. But that didn't really seem to change anything, so I guess that leaves the third idea about learning a new skill/milestone....hmm...well I think that must be it because...(drumroll!)

Leila Joy started WALKING today!!
I came home from work today on my lunch break and just as I was about to leave Ryan put her down and she stood there, looked at him and took a step...then another...then another....then she kind of ran/stumbled into his arms. I was in shock! Even though she has been taking 1 step on her own for a while, she didn't seem too interested in going any further than that.
I was so surprised; I laughed, I cried--Ryan and I hugged---and needless to say I was late getting back to work :)

So our 10 mos, 2 day old baby girl is walking...at least to me she is.....check out the video and see what you think. Either way, we better make sure the house is babyproof ASAP! She is going to be a handful, that's for sure....but maybe walking will tire her out and we'll get that second nap back? A mom can dream can't she?

Back home and getting back to our usual routines and day to day business after all the holiday festivities. Some how our schedule has gotten a little shifted: our little Leila Joy is now going to bed at 6:15 (that's in bed, asleep at 6:15) and she is up about 6:15-6:30am. Can't complain--she's a great night sleeper...just wish she woke up at 7 like she used to...that really worked well for me. But I guess it's not about me....are we starting to sense a pattern here?

Anyway, were all doing well. I have started this new walking regimen....my final attempt to work in some sort of exercise; the gym was just not happening--we'll see how this works. Leila is starting to go into the nursery at church; this last Sunday she only cried right when Ryan left but stopped right away (at least that's what they told us!). But she is definitely not comfortable yet, because the nursery workers said she just sat in one place and smiled and watched the other kids. We told them to enjoy it while they can!

More to come (I'll try to be better about updating)....here are some christmas picks and Leila enjoying some of her presents.