A Note for Santa. Already.

Dear Santa,

Today I went to my cousin Marlee's 2nd birthday party!

I had the best time playing with my cousins!

But most of all, I LOVED this big car!

Zoe took me for lots of rides and I just laughed and laughed!

The car went really fast!

We drove up and down a big hill and said "WHEEEE!!"

That Zoe is a great driver!

CHEESE!

and CHEESE some more!

Mommy let me drive the car - but she said that she isn't quite ready for me to be 16 yet!

I took a short break from the awesome car to celebrate Marlee's birthday! We ate cake and ice cream and watched Mars open her presents! Mommy says it'll soon be MY birthday!

So, Santa...

How 'bout that car??!!

"So...are you ready to go back?"

I just HAD to post a few pictures from LONG LONG AGO...

Take a look at my baby girl on the very first time she rode in the stroller - as a BIG GIRL!

She still looked so small...

And I'll never forget putting those tiny size 2 Nike's on her...because, well...we were going for a walk! She needed her walkin' shoes!

Was she ever REALLY this small???

Because I'm only remembering THIS HUGE GIRL in that same stroller...
Size 7 sneakers.
Almost too big for the darn thing!

We've been enjoying every last second of the summer!
No matter where I go these days, people are saying the same thing..."So....are you ready to go back!!??"
Truthfully...I really am ready!
God knew what he was doing when he led me to be a teacher! I love the first day of school! I love the drama and the stress of the first few weeks! I love meeting new kids and their parents and forming relationships with families that will last a lifetime!
This time LAST YEAR, I wasn't so excited to get back...it was about to be the first time that I actually left Brooke...Remember?
I'm so lucky to have my parents keeping my daughter...it makes my life so much easier!
I know it makes theirs a whole lot more chaotic - but I'd be lost without them and their love for Brooke! I know she'll enjoy being with Nana and Pap again... Oh the fun you have at Nan's!

As much as I love my family at home and spending every waking minute with Brooke, I AM ready to get back to the regular grind...
But, I sure will miss these days....

The pictures above chronicle our last 'summer walk' with Amanda and the kids!
Brooke ADORES Halle and Max and talks about them all of the time!

I had to laugh when I shared a few stories with Amanda on our walk...
Ever since we spent 4 days with the Hertzler clan at the beach, Brooke talks about Halle and Max constantly! Everything she does, she refers back to whether or not Halle and Max have ever done it!
Like, when she doesn't want to ride in the cart at the grociery store. I will say, "But Halle and Max LOVE to ride in the cart!" Brooke will quickly smile and say, "Ok!"

I'm so glad that Halle and Max are so well behaved! Since I'm pretty sure they are Brooke's role-models!

Today, we enjoyed one last summer play date with Monster Caleb and VERY PREGGERS Leah!
We met for some play time at the park!
The kids bounced from the swings...

...to the slides...

...to a different slide...

...up the steps!

...and back down the steps!

They played and the Mommies talked!

Leah won't be joining the other teacher Mommies as we head back to work on Monday, so it was great to spend a little more time with her before the madness of Fall begins!
I can't believe, that the next time I'll see her, she may have newborn TWINS!

I'm DYING to know their names - believe me, she won't crack! This girl means business when it comes to keeping a secret!

We finished playing at the park and took the kids to McDonald's for Happy Meals!

We talked some more, laughed about how funny these little 2 year olds have become, and giggled about the fun that we'll have to come as we raise these kids together!

I'm so thankful for Leah's friendship!

(We missed Michelle and Malaina at this playdate - love you girls!)

Brooke's love affair with lolli-pops has not dwindled even a little bit...she just can't bear to be away from them!

This one?

She dropped it. Sat on it. Became a permanent fixture.

Happy Friday!

BIG GIRL STUFF!

Since our baby girl is officially no longer a BABY, we've been enjoying a few 'BIG GIRL' changes around here!

No, Brooke has not joined the Burnham Fire Company as a junior fire fighter, but we DID take her to her 3rd Penny Bizarre on Friday night! Brooke has been to this small festival in my belly, last year right before she turned 1, and now again this summer. We enjoyed yummy food, placed our tickets in lots of (unlucky) prize jars, and visited with lots of Zig's family!

Brooke decided that, even though she was terrified of the screaming fire truck sirens all evening, she wanted to take a ride on "Daddy's truck."

She proudly pronounced that she wanted to 'try it,' so Daddy and Chief Matt took her on her very own private ride around Burnham - lights, sirens, and all!

On BIG GIRLS get to do something so special!

I snapped this picture of Zig's fire gear. If you look closely, you can see our last name on his tag, but even cooler...his helmet says "Zig." We're proud of you Daddy!

And on Saturday...

After more than a week of ALL SCREAMING, ZERO NAPPING, and EARLY RISING...

We decided it was time for another BIG GIRL CHANGE!

Bed rail for conversion crib. Check.

Door knob safety device. Check.

Brand new Dora pillow. Check.

My almost-2-year-old no longer in the crib. CHECK!!

Since Brooke hasn't been sleeping well, I've really been trying to find ways to make sleeping a positive thing for her. I don't want her to associate sleeping with screaming...and frankly, they've been one in the same lately.

During scream-fest 2010, one of Brooke's favorite things to do is throw every bink (normally only 2 or 3) out of the crib, then scream when she awakes to NONE.

So, we're trying the BINK MADNESS strategy...millions of special binks that ONLY come out at nap/bed time! This way, she always has binks, and it seems extra special to her to have this colorful array found only in her big girl bed!


...and how cute is Dora!!??

I'm not sure at what age kids are supposed to start using pillows, but she loves this one and seems to figuring out how to use a pillow at night time...

Night #1 was a success!

Aunt Meg talked me through my stress and fears of what COULD happen on this first night...

She COULD get up and wander around.

She COULD fall out.

She COULD still scream for hours.

But, she didn't!!

After a long talk about bed and how special this new change was, she layed her little head down with Dora and fell asleep. All night. Not a peep. No wandering. No falling. No screaming!

And this is how we found her Sunday morning!

We celebrated her full night's sleep in the big girl bed with dancing, singing and clapping as a family of 3!

Can you picture that! HA!

A serious case of bed-head, but a well-rested Brooke!

To celebrate this huge accomplishment, we took Brookie on an adventure perfectly suited for a BIG GIRL!

We spent our day in Hershey yesterday, visiting Chocolate World, Zoo America and the outlets!

I'd say this BIG GIRL was sufficiently WORN OUT!

Her nap was spent in the car, but she spent night #2 in the BIG GIRL BED last night without any problems at all!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

This morning, Brooke packed up a few binks and a cup of milk to take along with Mommy to school! How cute is she!!?

We spent the morning in my classroom finishing up a few last details before 6th grade orientation on Wednesday night...

And this afternoon - Brooke took her first nap in the big girl bed and slept from 1:20-3!

She's happy and rested and said that her nap was "good."

I'd say it's safe to claim victory! At least for today!

Happy week, everyone!