Brooks: Week 42-43

Another two weeks have flow by for the Batia’s…and boy were they eventful and full of changes! Brooks continues to grow like a weed but I just think he is getting taller and not any bigger around! It must be because he is SO active these days!

We had a great visit with my dad the week before last. He was in town for a conference and we all got to meet up for dinner. Brooks loved seeing his PopPop and we all enjoyed our time together.


That weekend we took a trip up to Perry to see all of Brooks’ aunts, uncles, and cousins. We had a great time except for the trip up there and the trip to and from Tallahassee. Brooks was miserable the entire time and just fussed and fussed…no fun for any of us! This is SO not like our little world traveler and we had to do something drastic…we turned his carseat around to face forward. We’ve not heard a peep from him since! Halleluiah! We were not suppose to turn the seat around until is first birthday but for all of our sakes a month early won’t hurt…besides that he is WAY over the weight requirement so we feel safe with our executive decision.

We had a great time with all the family and Brooks. He just loves all of his cousins…especially Julie…he wouldn’t stop giving her kisses…I know…kissing cousins…and at such a young age! He loved hanging out with Fletcher and the other boys too…he just thinks he needs to get up and go after them! That time will be here sooner than later!

Here are some cute shots of Brooks playing with his ball...he was being so silly!

So what new with big boy Brooks? Well how about walking! Yes, we officially have a walking baby!!!!! It is so crazy how fast it happened! It took forever for him to catch on to crawling but walking was a breeze! He was has been stepping between the furniture (or furniture surfing as I like to call it) for a few weeks now but last week I went to a consignment store and bought him a fun little push toy. After that it was all she wrote! Boom! He was off! He loves his “baby walker” and here is a cute video to prove it! Just watch the way he lets me know that he is stuck and needs some help! So cute!

Here is an action sequence of Brooks figuring out the "baby walker". He'll fall down but he won't let it stop him from getting right back up and trying it again! What a tough guy!

This week, after much practice with the “baby walker” and scaling walls (see the pictures below of our little Spiderman!) he has mastered his balance and is taking steps on his own!

It is so much fun to watch him succeed! He has the biggest smile on his face and he just loves his new independence! Watch out world…here comes Brooks! Check out this adorable little video clip of him taking a few steps on his own! Our lives are never going to be the same!

This past week Brooks and I went to Epcot with Ny and Ella to celebrate Ny's birthday! We had a great lunch in Mexico and we even got to ride a couple of rides with the kids. They loves it! We couldn't even get their attention to look at the camera for pictures. They were SO mesmerized by it all...those Disney folks know what they are doing...it was like baby crack!

Brooks got his very first birthday gift in the mail this week from his buddy Brady Hart! It is an adorable bath towel that is an alligator and is embroidered with his name! We both love it! So cute right? We’ve already christened it at the pool this week!

Don't you just love baby bums? I sure do! What do you think Brooks wants to be when he grows up? On this day I think he wanted to be a plummer! Ha!

Brooks is also getting to spend some fun times with his GJ (Mark’s mom). He just loves playing with her and riding up and down the hallway on his little red Mini Cooper she gave him! She has even been babysitting some so that Mark and I can go out on dates! Woohoo for date night!

Brooks continues to be an adventuresome eater. As of this week, he is totally weaned and takes formula from a bottle morning, noon, and night! This is a good thing for ALL of us…he now gets to have some special one on one time with his daddy when he wakes up and at bedtime and it’s also a nice break for me! He loves almost anything that you put in front of him…especially if he sees you eating it first! Here are some mealtime pictures of all the fun new foods he’s been trying lately.

Mmmm...goldfish and raisins!

Brooks' loves his PG's spaghetti and meatballs...there ended up being EVERYWHERE!!!! I think it would have been easier to throw him away and start all over that day!

He loves peas and carrots...who knew so many yummy things come in a can!

This is Brooks and Mark chillin on the couch last Saturday morning...nothing like dad and son watching a little hunting and fishing on ESPN...ahhh...the good life! Mark was trying all morning to get Brooks to say "big buck"...too funny!

Here are a couple of shots of Brooks and Mark working on thier tans...the pool has been SO great this summer and believe it or not Brooks is sporting some pretty impressive tan lines! Don't worry...I am a good momma and slather him down with 50+ sunscreen each and every time we are in the sun...who knew you could still tan through baby sunscreen!

The highlight of this week (besides spending time at the pool and PG’s house) was going to the movies for the very first time! Brooks and I were brave and decided to take in a matinee with our friends Ny and Ella and Rachel and Andrew. The babies were FANTASTIC!!!! We saw Julie & Julia (a 2+ hour movie!) and both the mommy and babies enjoyed it! Brooks just sat in my lap and ate snacks and either played with his “quite book” (ps…the best invention EVER) or he watch the movie. He loved the parts with music! There were a couple of jazzy tunes and he just danced and bobbed! So fun! I was super impressed with all three kids…it is definitely something we’ll do again sooner than later…don’t want to push my luck! This is Brooks totally absorbed in his "quiet book" he loves it and it keeps him so...QUIET!

So here is the status update on Brooks’ development. He now has 7 teeth; four up top and three on the bottom. According to the Publix scale he is 24 pounds (two weeks ago so who knows now) and he is definitely getting taller and leaner! It has to be from all of those extra calories he is burning learning to walk! It is so cute…he works up a sweat toddling around the house! He is trying to repeat anything you say to him…it is so cute. He will say “yes” and nod his head when you ask him a question and he will say “up” when he wants out of his car seat/highchair or to be picked up in general. He is throwing a ball now…with both hands! Mark is thrilled! And like I mentioned earlier he is WALKING! We are so excited for this new stage! I think we are going to go out and buy him his first pair of “walking shoes” this weekend to celebrate! Brooks is truly growing up SO fast…I can’t believe that it was almost 11 months ago that he joined our family. I can’t remember what life was like without him!

Look at our little smarty pants reading a book! He just loves his rocking chair that my dad got him in Nicaragua last year...

Brooks had a new friend come into the world this past week! Kyla and Matthew Kelly welcomed little Owen Blake Kelly a few weeks early but both mom and baby are doing great! Owen is still in the NICU but we are sure that he will be home before we know it!