Pretty Girls

Our new neighborhood is so beautiful in the fall... especially "Coney Island" (the bushes and trees in the cul-de-sac in front of our house).  Just a few poses of the big girls... and of course, Ms. Brooke, with her stroller!  She loves to "give her baby love" and push the stroller... She also enjoys saying "Shhh...." back to you... she's growing up way too fast for Mommy!

 

Brooke's 1 Year Stats

Brooke had her one year doctor appointment on September 27th (so a few weeks after her birthday).  She weighed in at 28.2 pounds, and measured 31.5 inches long.  Her proportions are still in the 99th percentile for height, weight and height-to-weight ratios.

She also hit every developmental milestone dead on - so she's big AND smart!

Go Brooker!

Happy 60th Birthday, Papa Pizza!

Papa Pizza turned 60 on September 27 -- and we helped him celebrate!  We got him a funny hat, balloons, a banner and an ice cream cake (his favorite - mint and chocolate!).  We colored him some pretty cards - and got to go have breakfast with him at McDonald's. 

Kylie & Papa

Brooke loved Papa's Hat!

Where's the cake?

BLOW!!!!



Where did that come from??

Brooke got a toolbox from Kylie and Neela for her birthday.  A day or two later, Kylie started to carry it around the house.  She told Mom, "Mommies and Daddies work.  They go to meetings and the fire station - and sometimes they go to long meetings - and to the fire station for meetings!"  (Translation -- every time Mom & Dad leave them with a babysitter, they are going to a "meeting".  A long work trip is a "meeting".)

It continued... "I'm an architect.  I have to bring my toolbox to work, and put it in a safe place when I get home."  "I bring my lunch to work.  I eat cupcakes so I have a full tummy and don't need to eat lots of snacks.  My tummy is full and big like Mommy's."  (Sure hope that was when Mom was pregnant -- not NOW!!)

Another day, driving home from Little Gym, here's the backseat conversation about Handy Manny (on the Disney channel):
"I am a tool.  I like to screw, screw, screw at Daddy's house!"

Where do these imaginations come from???

Here we go, Steelers!

Before everyone headed home from the birthday party, we had to watch the first game of the Steelers 2010 season.  We were all dressed in our Steelers - Daddy downloaded some Steelers songs - and jamming out every time ANYTHING good happened during the game!

Big Papa & his Girls

Two Polamalu Fans

Big Papa & Kylie

Kylie's Favorite...

Singing Papa Happy Birthday!!

Brooke's 1st Buggy Birthday Party

We hosted parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins and friends for the celebration of Brooke's 1st Birthday party!

The theme was ladybugs -- and Big Papa bought the "little red dress" with ladybugs all over it!

Neela was the tattoo queen -- she tattooed everyone who walked in the door with a ladybug tattoo. 

Brooke LOVED her cake.  She dove right in - and then convinced Uncle Chuckie to give it back to her when Mom said she was done!  Grandma E. and Papa Pizza even thought beer went well with the cake :-)

Brooke had lots of helpers opening her gifts -- she liked the boxes and the paper, everyone else wanted to check out the toys and clothes!

Finally, we had a small toast to congratulate Uncle Tony & Aunt Chelsea on their engagement!  Kylie & Neela bought them each a bottle of champagne - and they toasted using Mommy & Daddy's crystal wedding glasses (Uncle Tony was scared he break them!!).

It was a wonderful day!

Brooke's 1st Birthday

Our baby is a year old - and what a year it's been!  In the last month, Brooke has started to wave "hi" and "bye" at almost everyone (even cars at the grocery store).  She laughes with you... she tries to say "Tickle, tickle, tickle" to her toys - and you... she will drop her toys and say "Uh, oh"...  she will "Ooooo" like a cow, and she loves to be tickled!  She is walking everywhere, and tries to go up and down the stairs standing like her big sisters.  She imitates them -- ALWAYS!  She is doing awesome with a sippy cup, and has had her first whole milk at Tracy's (Mommy just doesn't want her to grow up yet... the milk is in the fridge!)

On her big day, Brooke got to ride home from Grandma and Papa's farm.  Then, she played with her sisters all afternoon, before heading to Las Margarita's for dinner.  Brooke enjoyed the beans and rice -- and wanted to feed herself!

The big girls wanted pictures with their baby sister - one year after they first met her - here are some of the great pictures!  They were all looking!

It was bath time - and more imitation time!  Brooke loves to brush her teeth when her sisters do!

We tried to take a picture of Brooke in her "coming home from the hospital" outfit, but this was the best we could get!  Some very proud - and helpful - big sisters!

Baby Bear, we love you!  Happy 1st Birthday!

A Big Labor Day Announcement!

Last year, the big Labor Day announcement was the arrival of Brooke!  This year, the big Labor Day announcement came from Tony & Chelsea!  Tony asked Chelsea to marry him on Friday, and they told everyone in person on Labor Day!!! 

A Concrete Proposal!!

Daddy sent Kylie out to ask Chelsea, "Are you going to marry Tony?" -- and Neela asked Tony, "Are you going to marry Chelsea?" (bonus points for Daddy!) 

Then, Uncle Tony surprised us even more -- he asked if ALL of us would be flower girls!  (Remember all the things we learned at Amy & Jeff's party????)  We are so excited to be flower girls, we wish the wedding was tomorrow.  Mommy said we can ask Tony & Chelsea all of our questions at Brooke's birthday party -- we hope they're ready!

We love you both, and can't wait to have Chelsea as a sister/aunt!

Labor Day Weekend - The Farm & Papa Pizza's (& Grandma's) Pumpkin Patch

After the wedding, we drove out to Papa & Grandma's farm to visit the pumpkin patch, play in our playhouse, and do all kinds of fun stuff we don't do at home.

Brooke finds her Pumpkin

Kylie's Pumpkin

Neela's Pumpkin

Picking Little Pumpkins (the one in her left hand was for Brooke)

Can you see Neela?

Brooke loves the little pumpkin - it's just her size - and went EVERYWHERE with her!

Grandma's New Fall Photo

After we finished in the pumpkin patch, Kylie went back to her playhouse and worms.  Neela and Brooke helped Grandma and Papa with the corn (Brooke swapped her pumpkin for corn - but only for a few minutes). 

When Grandma and Mommy went in the house, Neela helped Papa pick pumpkins, and Kylie helped Papa pick worms!  Then, it was to the house for the hot dog roast -- and S'Mores (nope, we didn't eat them this time either!)

Later, Neela tested out the tire swing, too!

The next day, it rained all day - but that didn't stop us from having lots of fun!  We helped Grandma in the kitchen.  We made bacon and eggs for breakfast, and the frosting for Brooke's cupcakes.

While Mommy, Grandma & Daddy made chili, soup, meatballs, mashed potatoes and pizza... we helped Papa and Uncle Cory make a new door for the barn.  When Uncle Tony showed up, he had to help us finish!

Finally, we did a little early celebrating of Brooke's birthday -- she opened her first gift from Heidi & Cory.  Her big sisters definitely thought she needed more help than she did!