Daddy & Mommy's Day Out

My mom kept Brooklyn after church. John and I drove all over Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach trying to find a great water-front resturant for lunch that wasn't swarming with kids on summer vacation. Oh how I envy kids on summer vacation. But hey, I had my turn. And they can't drink THESE!....



We settled on Sunset Cafe, overlooking the Banana River. It was hot. It was sunny. It was awesome. The perfect Florida day. I felt like we were doing what tourists fly many miles to come here to do. Something that we don't do enough of...kick back, relax and enjoy our lovely state.



Added bonus: We saw a dolphin swimming not far from the little dock we had lunch on. Can you see his fin in the water on the lower right side of the rocks?

Get your swagger on!

So how can I make this my new ringtone??

Underestimating Cheerios - never do it!

I never thought much of them. As a kid they lack that sugary deliciousness that you find in most kid's cereal. As an adult they lack the nuts & chunks that you grow to love in most non-kid's cereals. But to babies.....wow! We are talking about a good 20 or more minutes of pure eating entertainment. I mean, she's eating them now and I'm able to write this post!

So yep, we gave Brooklyn cheerios last night. We sat with her while she chased them around her high chair tray with those tiny uncoordinated fingers. It was so cute to see her focus. We've given them to her before and she could grab them but would always lose one on the way to getting it to her mouth. That was frustrating for her. But last night = SUCCESS. Her motor skills and coordination are getting so good! We celebrated with her as she was able to put the first one in her mouth. Then another. Then another until she ate them all.

I'm so proud of our big girl. I took for granted what Cheerios have to offer. They aren't sugary. They are small enough for little fingers to practice grasping stuff. They get soggy so that a toothless baby can gum them with no problems. AND they will lower her cholesterol. Who doesn't want a baby with a healthy heart? They are essentially awesome.

And now that Brooklyn is finished eating the handful I just gave her, she wants some attention. Gotta go!

Enjoy your Saturday!

Mommy, look what I made!

Brooklyn came home with the cutest thing that "she" made at daycare. To me it's the most precious craft ever. And I'm so sentimental about stuff like this that when her life of school is over, I'll have had to buy a storage unit to keep all the precious things she brings home for us. John, we are going to need a bigger house.

I give you permission to rock that baby!

As I rocked Brooklyn to sleep last night I thought about how all the parenting books say to not do that. They suggest that children will become dependent on the rocking to fall asleep and that parents shouldn't shackle themselves to this routine. Um, huh? What kind of black-hearted fool writes these books anyway? I can tell you the author has never rocked a baby to sleep. If they had, they'd know how precious those few minutes are. They'd know that there's no better way to recharge after a long day. They'd know that babyhood is so brief and valuable that parents should take full advantage of any time you get to cuddle in the quiet of the evening, stroking baby's hair and rubbing her back, listening as her breathing grows deeper, smelling all her sweet babyness as she slips into slumber. If they had ever rocked a baby to sleep, they know they wouldn't trade these moments for all the Powerball winnings in the world.

In fact, I declare today "Rock A Baby" day. So tonight when you get home and are thinking about how frazzled you are and hear the news tell you how crappy our world is, take a few minutes at the end of the day and rock your baby. Live on the edge...ignore the experts. Allow yourself to enjoy the tender moments I'm talking about. If you don't have a baby, borrow one. You will feel so relaxed and refreshed. Well, until the kid's parent shows up and beats you to death.

Baby Medicine Recall

Click HERE to see if your medicine is on this list.

Hi. My name is Rebecca and I am a bragger.

I've got to say, I don't hate that the photo studio is calling us to use Brooklyn again. I can't help but beam when the photographers say how easy she is to work with and how every picture is a keeper. I do realize they are trying to sell pictures and are probably just preying on us as new parents they know will buy every picture ever taken of their kid, but I ignore that as the proud mother side of me kicks in. "Why yes, she IS awesome. Thanks for noticing."