The Cooper Family: July 2013

6 Months Old - Brooklyn Louise

I will probably say this every month, but I really can't believe that you are already 6 months old baby girl. You are such a joy and sweet blessing in our life. I can't imagine my days without you! Although your brother may not always want to hug you and cuddle, he really does love you to pieces. Brayden loves to get toys for you, give you your paci, help give you a sippy cup of water, run to your room when you wake up from naps, help change your diaper, and pick out your outfits. He also loves to hop toward you to make you laugh and he gets upset when you are sad or cry.

Right now you just love to sit up! You will sit and watch your brother for a long time. You also are getting really good at holding, grabbing, playing, "eating", and passing toys from one hand to the other. Just like your brother, you also love the Johnny Jump Up! You really get going sometimes and I think that you look like a little ballerina jumping. Brooklyn, you also like to lay on your playmat with your toys. You can roll, however typically you choose not to. As long as you can see Brayden playing, you will just hang out on your side and watch.

You continue to be a very content, happy, smiley, laid-back baby! You are starting to babble and say "dada". You also started to laugh this month and we are all addicted to trying to make you laugh. Although you won't take longs naps on-the-go anymore, you will still catnap when we are out and about and usually will stay asleep when we carry you in from the car. This is wonderful, because unlike when Brayden was a baby, we can't plan all errands and events around your naps and Brayden's nap, or we would never make it out anywhere. You usually take great naps - right now, one long (2 - 2.5 hour ) morning nap and then two average (1.5 hour) afternoon naps. Bedtime is around 7pm every night and you usually sleep till around 4 or 5am, feed, and then go back to bed till 7:30am. You dropped your last nighttime feed this month, which used to be around 10 or 10:30pm. Brooklyn, you still take a paci at nap and bedtime and love your little security blanket with silk around the edges. When you are trying to fall asleep you make the sweetest cooing sound and rub the silk on your face. It is so precious!

We started some baby food the week before you turned six months and so far we have not found a food that you don't like. Although you do not eat too much at one time yet, maybe 2-4 tablespoons at most. We are also starting to introduce a sippy cup to you, since we have never given you a bottle.

6 Month Stats: Weight - 18lbs 3oz (85th percentile); Height - 25.25cm (50th percentile); Head - 43cm (70th percentile)

We love you Brooklyn Louise and are not in a hurry for you to grow up! You will always be our little sweet pea, baby girl!

Fourth of July - 2013

We had a low key Fourth of July weekend spent enjoying patriot themed meals and treats, and BBQ'ing with Nana and Pa.

Enjoying his red, white, and blue themed treats.

Pretty eyes.

Nana and her grandchildren

After naps, we got the baby pool out to cool off and enjoy the sun on the deck.

Brooklyn Sweet Pea hanging out in the pool.

Brooklyn's Baptism

Brooklyn was baptized at church on the last Sunday in June. It was a very special ceremony and then we had our parents, brothers, and my GG (who was still in town visiting) back to our house for pizza, cake, and to celebrate. It was a small gathering, but very blessed day!

So blessed.

Attempt #1 at a family photo

Attempt #2 at a family photo

And of course I had to get pictures of everyone dressed up with Brooklyn on this special day! :)

Nana and Brooklyn

Nana and Pa with Brooklyn

Nana and GG with Brooklyn

The Louise's

MomMom and PopPop with Brooklyn

Uncle B and Brooklyn

Uncle Chris and Brooklyn

Uncle B and Brayden relaxing

Nana and Brayden reading.

Dress Up

We received a box of costumes from Cousin Lori the other week and Brayden has had a blast dressing up and playing pretend with them!

Baby Bop

Boxer

Peter Pan

Pirate

Just hanging with the kiddos :)

Brooklyn's First Foods

Just before Brooklyn turned six months, we decided to start her on a little baby food. It started out slow, but she now seems to enjoy eating some food. We really have not come across a food that she won't eat (yet), and so far she has had bananas, avocado, sweet potatoes, peaches, green beans, prunes, and peas. She has also had a little rice cereal too. I would probably say that her favorites are bananas and sweet potatoes, although she does seem to really enjoy green beans too.

First bite of baby food.

Brayden wanted to try too.

We have been trying to teach Brooklyn to use a sippy cup too.

Beach

Our last little road trip was at the end of June. We traveled down to Dewey Beach to spend a few day's with Dan's parents, Grandparents, and the rest of the Cooper Family. We had a really nice time relaxing, playing on the beach, going for walks, spending time with family, and going to the boardwalk! I think the best part of the trip was watching Brayden have a blast playing on the beach, rolling in the sand, and running in the waves with Daddy! He played all day and then crashed! We also made a trip down to the boardwalk one day and went out to lunch and then took Brayden to the arcades and rides. He was a little tentative at first, but loved all of the rides!

Brooklyn with Great MomMom and PopPop

Brayden pushing his sleeping sister in the stroller

The Boys taking a break on boardwalk

First ride

Ms. Brooklyn hanging out while her brother goes on the rides

Driving the boat.

So serious...

Expression aside, he really did enjoy himself.

Favorite ride - equipped with a horn

Somehow ended up with both Mommy AND Daddy's ice cream cones!

Dillon Family Reunion

Mid-June we traveled to West Virginia for the Dillon Family Reunion and cousin Heather's surprise 30th birthday party. It was another quick trip, but great time visiting with all of our family! Almost everyone was able to attend this year, which was such a sweet blessing! Two of my cousins even flew our Grandmother ("GG") in for the event, and then she ended up staying on the East Coast for about a month! There is nothing like spending time with family! We are already looking forward to the Dillon Family Reunion next year!