Meeting Santa Claus!

Farrah and Kylie met Santa Claus!  He was visiting at my work and me and the girls went to go meet him.  I never know how Farrah will react.  Last year she cried when seeing Santa so I expected the same.  However, Farrah acted like...well, like she was meeting Santa and it was beautiful to me.  She was truly excited, happy to be wearing her Santa Claus dress and black boots with her hair up and pretty bows in it.  She asked to put on her red lipstick before we left home.  She kept singing, "Santa Claus is coming to town" and asking me to sing it.

The whole way there Farrah was happy and excited.  There wasn't a line so we got to see Santa right away.  Farrah sat on Kylie's lap right next to Santa and Farrah's eyes just gleamed with excitement.  It was really him.  Santa Claus!  He asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she shyly shrugged her shoulders.  He asked if she liked princesses and babies, and said he would bring her some of those.

Ever since meeting Santa, Farrah will tell you that Santa is bringing her a baby.  She got a plush Christmas toy after meeting Santa and at first picked a monkey with a Santa hat that was at the top of the stack.  A little later she announced, "I not want this monkey no more.  I want a Santa."  I hadn't even seen a Santa when we first looked, but sure enough, Mrs. Claus helped us find a plush Santa - a perfect reminder of Farrah meeting the real Santa Claus!

It makes my heart smile, the whole experience.  Seeing Farrah's face when she saw Santa sitting in a Christmas-decorated room full of lights and Christmas spirit, waiting to speak directly to her.  She didn't take her eyes off him and she gleamed with pride the entire time we were there.

It truly is a very Merry Christmas this year.

Merry Christmas from the Brooks Family!

Dear Baby - 17 Weeks

Dear Baby,

Your daddy and I discussed in bed this morning how our favorite place to be is warm and cuddled up in our bed together with the kids all tucked and sleeping soundly in their bed.  Your daddy also mentioned you, baby girl, and he rubbed my belly and said he can't wait to meet you.  It really warmed my heart.  I feel the same way.  It's hard to imagine what another girl will look like.  Will you look just like your sister?  When Farrah was born she looked just like me, and now she looks just like Daddy.  Will you have light brown hair and blue grey eyes, too?

Names are harder this time.  My two favorites were Scarlet and Indiana "Indie" Joy, but your dad vetoed Scarlet and wasn't sure about Indie.  Then we had a family discussion about names but it only discouraged me.  The kids came up with name suggestions like Macy, Malia, Kyla, Martha, and many others, even Balsy...?  Ha!

So, we are far from choosing a name at this point.  It has to be the right name, the perfect fit.

Farrah likes to talk about " the new baby."  She wanted you to have a pink piggy like hers so we bought you one.  She also pretends that you want her things sometimes and tells me to tell you no, that they are Farrah's things.  I have to reassure her that she will still have dominance and importance after you arrive.

I have to pee all. the. time.  I don't remember being quite that way last time, especially at this stage.  I am starting to feel more comfortable showing my belly, or realizing I can't cover it much longer.  I'm looking forward to your ultrasound in 3 weeks, and I have some plans in mind to spruce up Farrah's bedroom to make it more ready for you to join her.

You got a good dose of laughter last night.  I laughed so hard at your three siblings that my stomach muscles ached.  Farrah was basically fake crying when it was bedtime and was sitting on Daddy's lap rubbing the items on his tshirt, so he started doing the same thing back to her.  Kaden was laying on the floor and started to join in with a fake cry, and eventually Farrah said, "Taden, we rubbing our shirts.  You rub your shirt."  Kaden continued a loud fake cry while rubbing his shirt.  Before long, Kylie who was sitting on the couch, started fake crying as well.  This went on for so long, while the fake cries got louder and more obnoxious.  I laugh each time I replay it all in my mind. 

Keep calm and grow on healthily, baby girl.

Second Time Around (up to 16 Weeks)

Things are very different this time around; however, I have been dealing with all the similar things I was last time I believe.  At around 7 weeks pregnant, if I don't suck in, I already look pregnant.  I am extremely bloated and once I have a couple bites of food, I am stuffed!

I have extremely sore breasts.  It don't mean that they're more tender than normal, but they hurt in a way that I did not want to even think about touching them.  Also, nausea.  Almost every day, and pretty much all day.  Knock on wood, it subsided starting at 7 weeks.

A lot of food sounds terrible, at different times.  My mind drifts to food often, but very seldom can I think of a food that sounds good.  I have been drinking water, milk, and tea only, and finding the one thing that sounds decent to eat when I can.

I have been craving salads, broccoli, green beans, and mashed potatoes and gravy.

My starting weight was 120 lbs.  I am fluctuating between 118-120 lbs. currently.  At 12 weeks, I am 120-122 lbs. and I certainly have a little stomach that I cannot hide, even if I suck in.

I have been extremely tired through this pregnancy, wishful that my energy will return in the second trimester, and hopefully remain.  It's hard to feel up to playing with Farrah, but I'm finally able to feel like myself for the most part, just very ready for bed each evening.

Without insurance, I was extremely stressed.  I began by seeing what options we had through the Marketplace.  When I submitted my application online, it was automatically transferred to Mo Health Net to see if we were approved for Medicare for Pregnant Women.  We weren't, but my application was then sent to see if we qualified for Show Me Healthy Babies, and after weeks of deadlines and documents sent and phone calls made and getting proof of pregnancy and copies of everyone's birth certificates and documentation on the big kids school, etc., we were accepted!  This program is new and covers all costs that promote a healthy baby, pregnancy, and delivery!

I was finally able to get into the doctor feeling confident about finances.  When I called the doctor's office saying I was (to my calculations) over 12 weeks, they wanted to see me right away and I was scheduled for the following day.

I weighed 122 lbs and my blood pressure was 106/62.  I got to see the baby through ultrasound but forgot what the heart rate was.

At 15 weeks, I can't even suck in my belly if I try.  I think I look closer to last time's 17 or 18 weeks!  I have a tightening at the top of my stomach that my doctor said was far too high to be my uterus and may be a ligament stretching.

At 16 weeks, I feel huge.  I feel like I look huge.  Wearing sweatshirts and hoodies are starting to not even hide the belly any longer, and I am so ready to put on comfortable clothes as soon as I get home.  I am able to eat normally for the most part, trying hard to focus on healthier eating like fruits and veggies and no processed meats, plus a lot of water.

We are almost halfway there and I don't feel like there's nearly as much to prepare for this time around besides getting a crib for the baby (either Farrah's and get her a toddler bed or borrow my mom's crib for the baby) and some baby clothes since we gave all of Farrah's first year clothes to a niece and friend of mine.

164 days until our due date!

 

(13 weeks)

(15 weeks)

(16 weeks)

Sharing the News (Baby #2)

At four weeks along, your dad and I found out about you.  We were a little scared and confused about how another person will fit into our family.  There is no doubt that we have the capability to love and care for you, but an adjustment indeed.

We wanted to wait to tell people about you until after we went to the doctor.  However, we had a long road ahead of us regarding insurance before I felt comfortable going to the doctor.  Without having to work more (and pay out more) to get insurance through work, I applied for insurance through Missouri Health Net (Medicare).  We did not qualify.  We attempted to get Medicare for Pregnant Women...our household income was too high.  However, we finally were approved for Show Me Healthy Babies, a Missouri program through Missouri Health Net that covers anything that promotes a healthy pregnancy and baby!

We were finally able to call the doctor for an appointment, and they wanted to see me right away, as soon as the next day!  We were 12 weeks, 5 days at that time.  However, you measured 6 days ahead.  We got a few photos of you (the ultrasound tech was not the best), and heard your heartbeat!

I felt much better after getting into the doctor.  She let me know that she would agree to a regular delivery if you were in the correct position if I wanted to.  I don't think I want to risk it.  I am perfectly okay with another c-section, at this point in time at least.

We scheduled a regular check-up appointment in 4 weeks, and our 20-week ultrasound 8 weeks out!

The next step was to share the news!  Farrah was starting to say things at daycare about a "new baby coming home," so we thought we better tell the kids before they found out through the grapevine.  Keane just casually told them one evening, "You're going to be a big brother and sister again."  They didn't believe us, at all.  They continued on with whatever they were saying before.  I went and got the ultrasound photo and handed it to Kylie.  She said it was Farrah's.  When they finally studied the date, they were in shock.  As soon as it sunk it, they started to show their excitement, and truly excited they were!

I baked several dozen oatmeal cookies that day and on the following day, I took both our parents a plate of cookies, with a secret message written on the plate, and the ultrasound photo taped to the bottom!

These may have been some of the most anxious days!  I took them the cookies on Thursday and Karen finally called me on Saturday after finding the message on the plate, and my parents called me on Sunday afternoon when my mom was flipping the plate over to put the remaining cookies onto the plastic wrap to wash the plate to return when she saw the ultrasound photo!  It was a fun way to share the news; I just wish I would have made a more popular cookie or put less on the plate!

The following Thursday was Thanksgiving so I ordered shirts for the three kids to wear to share the news.  I had them put them on while everyone was eating and act casual.  People started noticing slowly and my Aunt Kathy saw Farrah's shirt that said "Big Sister" and said "Awww, look at your shirt----Huhhh!!! Ahh!"  It was fun!

We let all of our close friends and family know and then shared photos of the kids in their shirts on Facebook.

And that is the first step of many in sharing this new adventure in our lives!

Meet Willa

After Tanner passed away almost exactly 2 years ago, I didn't think I ever wanted another dog.  Tanner was the only dog that has ever been mine and so much weighed on my heart and mind when it came to him.  I was always worried about him in bad weather, and always felt I needed to spend extra time with him.  However, we are a very active and outdoor family and a good dog was certainly needed.  We've had Rudy for 7+ years now, but she's a little...lazy for our liking.

Kaden was reading Where the Red Fern Grows in school and decided he wanted a coon dog.  We discussed options and decided maybe a bloodhound would be a good dog.  I've always loved them and they are good hunting dogs.  The more I read about them, though, I realized that they sniff about and sometimes travel far when smelling trails.  I was afraid we would encounter issues with this having our farm nearby, so we looked at alternate options.

A weimaraner was our next choice.  They are also good hunting dogs, but I think they stay put a little better, and they are easily maintained.  I started searching for them but they kept selling out quickly, especially the females, and they were pricey.  I finally was able to make contact with a breeder family in Illinois who let me claim a female from their next litter, and I talked them down $50.  We put our down payment in and waited for her to be born, and then get old enough to be separated from her momma.

Keane and Kaden made the 4 hour drive to pick up Willa - the name we decided on.  I made a list of many interesting town, county, street, and creek names on the map between home and where Willa was born.  One of them was Willow Creek.  When I read it aloud, Keane thought I said Willa, and we both instantly liked it.  Kaden's vote was Tia, and Kylie couldn't come up with a girl puppy name because she had her mind set on Copper if it was a boy.

I wasn't quite prepared for a puppy!  She was a bit of a pain to begin with.  The very first day, she jumped off our couch and hurt her front paw, but after an hour or so it seemed to get better.  On the third day, I was off to work and the kids to school, so Keane put Willa in the laundry room when he went down to the farm (that is where we kept her the previous two nights).  He decided to come home and check on her a couple hours later, and he couldn't find her anywhere.

There isn't a way to escape from our laundry room so he was very perplexed.  He hollered her name and heard nothing.  Finally, after quite some time he heard a small whimper.  He looked behind the washer and dryer and deep freeze, but saw no dog.  Out of desperation, he pulled out the deep freeze and noticed a hole in the back that leads to the compressor.  He found that Willa had crawled around and behind the deep freeze, into this hole, and was wedged around the compressor.  Keane couldn't grab her because the compressor that she was laying against was too hot for him to touch.  He found a panel on the side that he unscrewed and was able to get Willa out!  He immediately took her outside to see if she was able to walk, and he sighed a huge sigh of relief.

If she had been in there much longer, she wouldn't have made it.  She ended up with a small burn on her knee and cheek, but for the most part that was it.  Keane even found one of Lenox's old collars and name tags in that hole in the deep freeze, so I guess Willa wasn't the first to explore that area!

We let Willa inside quite a bit in the beginning, especially when the big kids were home to cuddle with her, but she soon began to poop and pee too often, even right after letting her out, and she was bothering Farrah a large amount, so we slowly started letting her stay outside while we were home.  When we are not home, we leave her in a pin that Keane built from wooden crates, or we tie her onto a chain.  At night, we put her in a kennel in the garage where we know she's safe!

She is growing quite a bit.  She absolutely loves Rudy and plays with her constantly.  Willa went fishing with us the other day and jumped right into the water when Keane caught a fish!  She jumped around and explored and rolled into the water, loving every bit of that adventure.

She seems to be a little scared of loud noises, so the boys are going to work with her on hunting and gun sounds.  I think she's a perfect fit for our family!

My Girl

I don't feel like my last post really wrapped up the Farrah that she is right now.

She calls herself my baby constantly.  You not have you baby? when she's standing and I'm not holding her.  You got you baby's milk? last night before bed.  You cover you baby up?  You baby make you happy?

She is really good at pretending with her 'tend Willa and 'tend babies.  Her imagination surprises me for how down-to-earth and particular she is.  She likes to make us food or get us drinks from her 'tend kitchen, and she likes to 'tend put us to sleep by patting our butts.

She randomly says things like Beat it, Willa or Suck it, Mommy.  She had my back the other day, though.  She rode in the tractor with Keane for a trip to get hay bales at the lake, and when he brought her back home, the first thing she tells me was, "Daddy said 'Mooo-ma.'  I told him, "No! I not like that. Daddy, you say 'Mama!'"

She takes the "I have your nose" game very seriously.  Keane takes her nose or ear or anything, and she has to have it back.  She takes really good care of her baby dolls, seriously. She's always checking on them, putting them to bed, and giving them kisses.

My favorite of her sayings right now is I not hear you-What?!  

She adds though to her sentences appropriately.  And either.  She says I got it! every time you ask if she needs help with anything.

She is really testing my patience with her independence lately.  She is wanting to do everything on her own.  A trip to the bathroom now consists of: Farrah grabbing her stool and turning on the bathroom light, moving her stool to the potty, closing the door, pulling her shorts down, pulling her panties down, stepping onto the stool, turning around, slowly sitting on the potty, going potty, standing up, wiping, pulling up her items of clothing one at a time, stepping off her stool, moving her stool to the sink, going back to flush the potty, waving bye to her pee and saying I see you next time, going to the stool at the sink, climbing onto the bathroom counter while grunting and wiggling and holding onto the faucet, moving the soap dispenser close to her and slamming it down loudly, pumping soap into her hand, moving the soap dispenser away from her, turning the water on, rinsing her hands, turning the water off, drying her hands several times on the towel,  sliding back down onto her stool, sliding her stool a foot over closer to the light switch, turning the light off, asking Mama, you not see me now? then turning the light back on and giggling and saying You see me now?  I finally have to talk her into opening the door back up so I can finally get out of the bathroom.

Last night I rocked her to sleep again and after much talking, cutting her toenails (fingernails), her drinking her milk, choosing which song I'll hum, covering up her feet several times, grabbing Lambie and Piggy after they fall, and quite a bit of time, she was quiet and started drooling on my arm and I knew she was asleep.  I moved her to her bed but on my first attempt to escape, she popped her head up and said Mama?!  I told her I was just turning her fan up, and I returned to pat her butt for a short period of time before I knew she was asleep again.

I looked at her in the dark and her little sleeping face and squished lips reminded me exactly of her baby days.  She has grown so, so much, and changed a lot over these 2 years, but yet, she is still my little baby Farrah, my little baby girl who I stared at for many hours for many nights when we were learning so much about each other.

I thanked God for her, like I do daily.  I am one lucky Mama.

Farrah Update - 2 years, 3 months!

Farrah is changing daily, and my list of all her changes grows exponentially!  She has so much personality, and she is starting to come out of her shell and be more friendly to those who speak to her.

She has learned to Pray Jesus and it's really something sweet.  Her daycare teacher texted me the other day saying that she heard Farrah praying before they ate lunch and she asked Farrah what she was praying for and Farrah said, I pray for Mommy.


She asks Kaden and Kylie Good day? when we pick them up from school.  She smiles back at us and winks back (with both eyes).  She gives a few random hugs and gives amazing hugs upon request. She loves to wipe off our kisses and laugh when we say "Hey!"



There for a couple weeks she was saying "yes" with such a southern slang, and when I picked her up from daycare one day I heard her teacher, Emily, say yes like that.  It was the cutest thing, but it didn't last very long, even though I asked Farrah to say it like that forever.  When she's sad or someone else is sad and we wipe tears off, she calls it wiping sad off.  Sweetest thing ever.

Here are a list of sayings I wanted to remember:

"Oh! Charge my phone?  Thanks, Mommy.  Hi, Farrah phone!"
"Oh, dosh."
"Where milk go? Farrah see ice. I not see milk."
"Baby doll, you not have shoes on. Haha. You too wittle! You too wittle have shoes on!"
"Y'elcome."
"Thanks putting my milk in your work!"
"Thanks taking me down farm, Daddy!"
"Farrah silly.  I silly now."
When I picked her up from daycare..."You sweet girl?  You sweet girl in her car seat?"
"I be fine!"

When she looks for something, she will hollar it in the tune of "Oh, Toodles" from Mickey Mouse, but she says Umm instead of Oh.  One day it was Ummm....Nabi?

She asks permission to do all things, like eat the udder side of her gummy worm, or if she could greet Daddy after he pulled into the driveway.

She tells random stories.  I told her I liked her dress that she got changed into at daycare and she said Wyatt did it, and one time she told me she napped outside at daycare.

She totally outsmarted Keane about holding Willa and he said he couldn't even be upset about it.  When we first got Willa, our new puppy, she came inside a lot, but she would perturb Farrah by getting close to her or any of her toys.  Farrah was on the couch and wanted to get down but didn't want Willa to bother her.  I was in the kitchen and she asked, "Mommy, you hold Willa?"  I told her I couldn't and she would be fine.  Farrah said, "Daddy, you hold Willa?"  Keane also replied that he wasn't going to hold Willa but that he would watch Willa if she got down.  Farrah sat there for a little bit and asked, "Daddy, you sit by me?"  Keane said, "Sure!" and sat next to Farrah.  Farrah then asked, "Daddy, you get Willa?"  Keane said, "You want me to get Willa so you can pet her?"  And Farrah said yes.  Keane got Willa and Farrah petted her for a second and then said, "Daddy, I get down now?"

As I was listening to Old Dominion's song, No Such Thing as a Broken Heart, on the radio, I wanted to teach Farrah some of the meaning of that song:

Cry when it hurts, laugh when it's funny.  Chase after the dream; don't chase after the money.  And know we got each other.  Because you can't keep the ground from shaking... You can't keep the sunsets from fading... You gotta love like there's no such thing as a broken heart.

Farrah is our whole heart.  She loves to play baby dolls and time-out and night night game with Kylie.  She loves to feed Willa and Rudy by hand feeding them dog food piece by piece.  She loves to help in all ways possible.  When she wants a popsicle, she will then open the drawer and get scissors for you, then open the trash can for the plastic piece you cut off, then she will close the trash and put the scissors up.

As of last week, she now wants to do everything on her own, like getting dressed (pants at least), going potty and washing and drying her hands and turning the light off (she drags her stool around all over), and even getting into the bathtub!  When she plays in her room, she likes to close and lock the door so nobody not come in.

(She got stung by something while jumping on the trampoline.  Three days later it swelled up so we went to the doctor and got on some antibiotics that cleared it right up!)