8 weeks...and growing!

Another week has passed, and the journey continues to be full of smiling, giggling, sleeping, eating, and pooping...SO MUCH POOPING! I truly am suprised at how many diapers an 11 pound baby can fill in a day. Unbelievable! But, we love every minute of it (ok, maybe we don't "love" the REALLY dirty diapers...but we're hangin' in there). This week, Brooks has even ventured into a wider spectrum of his wardrobe. I was so excited when he could finally fit into his "daddy rocks" t-shirt (below). I bought this for him with my mom on our very first shopping trip for the baby when we found out he was a boy. I think the sonogram technician's exact words were, "It looks like there is a weiner-wacker." We couldn't have been more excited!

I noticed that the dogs were getting a little too hairy this week. So, what did I do? I gave them the worst possible haircut a dog could receive (seen below). I tried my best...I really did. I just kept cutting and cutting and before I knew it, the boys looked like they had some kind of disease that makes their hair fall out in chunks. I guess it will grow back...eventually!

We received a visit from our real estate agent and friend, Sharon, this week. It was so good to see her! Before we bought the house, we got to see each other all of the time. But, then we bought the house and had a baby and hadn't seen her in awhile. She hadn't even gotten to meet Brooks yet. So, this truly was a special visit. Thanks for lunch Sharon and we look forward to seeing you again soon (preferably before two more months pass)!

Of course, every week I put a section of pictures in the blog with Brooks playing under his activity gym so you can see how much he is growing and changing. As you can see, these playtimes are usually full of smiles and giggles. It is so amazing to see his little personality emerging daily!

And, yes, this week was even colder in Michigan than the week before! We are bracing ourselves for what is to come. :(

The big milestone that we reached this week was Brooks sat through his first Led Zepplin jam session. Daddy put him in the Bjorn and was going through the old records. Before I knew it, the house was vibrating to the tune of Led Zepplin. Brooks didn't really seem to care one way or the other, but I guess Daddy believes in starting him out early!

I am very excited because I joine a group called Macomb Mom's Meetup. It is a group of women that get together weekly to play with their children and socialize. This week, I attended my first meetup. It was at the Macomb County Library for Teddybear Storytime. I was a little hesitant to go because I didn't know how much a two month old would get out of "storytime". But, I was very excited when we got there and Brooks just loved it. He stared with wide eyes at the women reading The Three Bears. And, he couldn't stop giggling when we were signing songs like, "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes...". It was also great for me to get plugged in to some other women in the area. I'm definitely very excited to have found the group. (I owe this to Kari Tovar back in Wichita. She joined a meet up group in Wichita and told my mom about it. That's how I was able to find the group. I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart, Kari, for helping me to find some women here in Michigan that I can lean on while growing up my son. I owe you one!)

Well, Grammy, you will be happy to see that your grandson has finally started wearing his sunglasses. Although, as you can see from the progression of pictures, he didn't last too long. But, he sure did look cute and that's what matters, right? ha ha

We have definitely been working quite a bit on tummy time. He does pretty well, I just can't put him down after he eats or he ends up lying face first in a puddle of milk. But, he already pushes himself up onto his back legs. It won't be long before he is crawling all over...I imagine my life will change quite a bit when that time comes!

The next two pictures are of our photographer, Lois, of Photography by Lois who took Brooks' newborn pictures. They turned out amazing and we can't wait to show you all the outcome. Lois was wonderful with Brooks and loved to make him smile.

Things are changing weekly here in the Blankenship household. We are learning new things every day on what it truly means to be a parent. It is such a wonderful blessing that we will never take for granted. Of course, some things are a little more difficult than they used to be...take for instance cooking dinner with a child strapped to your chest. Don't worry all of you grandma's...I'm very careful!!!

As another week has passed, we miss you all even more than the week before. But, Brooks and I are so excited to come home to Kansas next week so he can meet the rest of the family. We are so sad that Daddy can't come along this time, but he will atleast be back next month for Christmas. Hope everyone is doing well...just know that although we are pretty far away, you are always in our thoughts and prayers. And, we look forward to the time when we are all together again. God Bless until then...