Welcome Sweet Baby Brooks

Brooks Clayton Wood

November 18, 4:27 pm

7 lb 13 oz

19 3/4 inches

"All the days ordained for you were written in His book before one of them came to be" Psalm 139:16

We are so in love.

 

 

 

Fun at the park

We are loving the cooler temps! This morning was what I want to remember about this season. Caleb went running, brought me home a pumpkin spiced latte and pumpkin bread for boys, then we spent a good 2 hours of carefree family playtime at the park. Caleb even got in on the playing with his ripstick. Fair opened yesterday, Football on with pumpkin candle burning, all 3 boys "resting"....ahh, this is fall! And maybe the calm before the storm?!

Bathroom demo starts Monday. Baby (nowhere close to a name!) coming in t minus 7 weeks! 

2nd broken arm

Carter boy keeps us on our toes. Last Fri, 9/5 he had a fall at jump street. After seeking advice from a pedi friend, we went for X-rays. Unfortunately, the on call dr missed the fracture on X-ray and assumed it was nursemaid elbow, so she attempted to "pop" the elbow back in place 3 times. Sweet boy was not in much pain until these maneuvers. The radiologist called the next day and said it was a fracture. Boo. Left distal tibia. So...ortho on Monday and arm was too swollen for cast so he is styling the soft cast to the elbow for 2 weeks. He is such a trooper, really doesn't complain and loves to tell everyone about what happened....whether asked or not. Have I ever mentioned he loves attention and chatting it up with anyone who will talk to him? Love him and just glad this happened now...should be all healed by the time baby bro arrives! 

School has started!

We are all excited that "fall" is here....back to school and back to routines! We had a great summer of trips and unstructured fun, but this mama thrives on routines and lets just say the 100+ days at home were wearing me thin. The boys are 2 weeks in and both doing great! 

18 mos stats

Weight- 28 lb 12 oz (93%)

Height-33 1/4 in (75%)

Head-15 in (75 %)

Love our little linebacker baby!

Isaac is 18 months

Oh this boy has my heart. He is a Mamas boy and although at times the clinging can get old, I really do love the snuggles and burying head in my legs/chest. I know it won't last long. 

So what is he up to?

Wakes up around 7-730 am and stands up in crib. Will play around until someone comes to get him ( usually Caleb). Will put his arms out and reach for his milk--really milk trumps everything in his world right now. Eats breakfast with the family, reads and plays with Daddy, then besos at 8. He then goes down for morning rest time for 45ish mins. Will play in crib and talk to himself--does not want any toys or books with him. Rarely sleeps, maybe 1 or. 2 days a month will actually fall asleep. Gets up around 9 and we usually have an outing--pool, gym, play date, errands till noonish. Lunch and naps from 1230-230 or 3. Wakes up wanting milk then play or another outing. The last month or so I've "locked" the boys upstairs around 5:30 so I can cook dinner in peace. It's glorious. The boys actually play pretty well together and if there is screaming it's typically a "he took my toy thing" and they have to work it out. Baths around 6, daddy comes home at 645 and we have family dinner, then daddy time (wrestling, playing outside, toys) until bed around 730-745. We are just starting to put the boys to sleep in same room, but typically Caleb does bedtime routines. Isaac loves to brush his teeth and then they rock and sing songs before bed. He still requires his sleep sack--I tried weaning which resulted in inconsolable screaming for over an hour so gave up--and white noise. 

He is in the middle of a language burst right now. He says mama, dada, a word for carter that sounds like dad but different intonation, dog, yeah, no, night night, uh oh, milk (meh), water. Mama is "I want" and nana pretty much is all food. He just started woa for yogurt.

Have I mentioned how much this boys loves his milk and food? It's really a little crazy how excited he gets about food and he is never done. We have to stop him. He is a great eater and will pretty much eat anything if it's dipped in ketchup. I do limit snacks to 1/day. 

He is definitely a little climber. Will pull toys around to stand on to get to what he wants. Carter now wants to eat all meals at the high bar bc Isaac will climb on top of a chair and onto the middle of the kitchen table to get food. He loves being outside but poor guy has an awful reaction to Mosquitos and scratches them like crazy so we're doing less outside time these days. He loves the pool and has no fear. Will walk right in--not jump just step in and fall. He does both the blue and red slides at the kc pool and can even keep his balance going solo on the blue. He is no longer content swimming in big pool at kc though--he wants to be "jumping" or sliding at all times.

He loves Carter and follows him around, imitating everything. They wrestle and Isaac really will hold his own well, and many times is the initiator. He prefers playing with older kids and is not intimidated at all--if someone takes his toy he will fight to get it back! 

He has a rough and tumble personality but then has such a sweet spirit that loves to be held, have his hair stroked, and he will just snuggle up and cuddle. He will attend to books for 20-30 mins and loves rocking and singing before bed.

He's starting to push boundaries and exerting his independence. Typically this comes in the form of yelling "no" and throwing himself on floor. Ha. We're working on distractions--unfortunately no comfort items so many times will just tantrum it out.

He loves exploring and figuring out how things work. He is determined and "opportunistic" as Caleb says. Oh, we love him!

Dear my sweet Isaac,

This stage is one of the hardest but also one of the sweetest. You know what you want and will do anything to get your way--that will take you far in life, my son.

As your Mommy I'm seeing more and more of who God created you to be--and  daily asking for wisdom in how to grow you in your gifts but teach you control and boundaries. You remind me so much of me. You love to go, but thrive on alone time. You love to read. You love to sit and cuddle. You love to be told what's going to happen--you're a planner it seems. You like things to be in their place and will throw items in the trash or laundry hamper just to get them out of the way. You love your Daddy and get the biggest grin on your face when you hear the back door open. You don't like to share Mommy or Daddy--and when I'm holding another baby or kid, you will try to push them out of my lap or arms. Oh how I'm praying for you and that you will feel special and loved when baby arrives Ina few months. You are the one and only you and I am so so so blessed to be your Mama. Love you darling. 

Grateful for the mundane

The whir of the washing machine, the babbling over the monitor, the little baby movements in my belly and hearing "Elmo the musical" in the other room. Packing up a swim bag to head to the pool. Such a "mundane" summer morning...Jesus thank you for these gifts and this season. 

Summertime

Isaac these days:

Loves balls and dogs, going down blue slide at kc pool, and any and all food. As long as he has his ketchup dipping bowl, he will eat everything--from brussel sprouts to peas. He's pretty shy and gives unfamiliar people a state down. Will answer y/n questions "yeah" and "no" with a head shake. He really has no down. He loves to wrestle and tackle, climb, and be outside. He claps or bounces his legs when he hears music and says "yea" when a song has finished. He adores Carter and follows him around the house. He loves to read and will sit in your lap and read books as long as you will read. He hates loud sounds and is super scared of vacuum. He continues to be a sensitive sleeper, but when all crutches are in place--sleep sack, white noise--he sleeps 730-7 at night, has a rest time from 815-9 am, and naps from 12-230. He definitely prefers being with older kids vs kids his own age, and he holds his own I must say!

Carter these days....

Loves all things music and rockstar, especially singing with his "music radio" on his "stage" ( the stairs). His imaginary friends Tooby and Toomy are becoming very convenient playmates and a part of our daily life. We live in a pretend world that is full of baking, taking orders, and constant "working"--as a lifeguard to firefighter to trashman to worker of any store we enter. He is learning time and keeps me accountable "mommy, we don't eat lunch when the first number is a 10. It's normally a 12." Ha. He is giving up naps but has to stay in room a good 1-2 hours for alone time. This usually ends in a disaster of a room but so much creativity over monitor as he does all of his "work". Caleb is teaching him the states, I'm working with him every morning doing a preschool curriculum called Gods little explorers. He loves quality time so it's great to get that 1-1 time. He's getting more independent at pool and even doing red slide solo, but now thinks he's "too big " for baby pool. He's my social butterfly that is constantly talking and creating.

Some pics from last couple of weeks (bc I know myself well enough now...I'm not back tracking!)

Easter!

We left Thursday and headed to Tyler to visit Great Nana and Papa Burl. They spoiled us all with yummy food and lots of treats for the boys. 

Easter egg hunt

Helping Papa Burl "work" in his shop 

Loving the preschool Easter crafts this year:

We came back from Tyler Friday and went to Aunt Emily's on Saturday. Here are the cousins making birds in a nest, a Wood family Easter tradition

Sunday morning we awoke to Easter treats!

Remembering the real meaning of Easter--Jeaus is alive! Carter kept saying "that stone got rolled away by angels"....he's getting pieces :). Making resurrection rolls for breakfast, Isaac loved the marshmellows!

A "special treat"---getting to ride the shuttle bus to church!

He was in awe if the orchestra on stage at church!

Family photo 

Brothers photo. Carter is definitely not singing "what does the fox say?" In this pic :)

Easter egg hunt in the backyard!

Isaac discovered goldfish in the egg, so he plopped

Down and just snacked his way through the hunt!

Carter insisted he needed 2 baskets since one was his hat