officially a toddler!

Brooks is officially a toddler!
You may be thinking- wait, wasn't Brooks' birthday in June? Well, you would be right, but in June he wasn't toddling! On July 15th, Brooks took his first steps while I was on the phone with my mom. Since then, he would take 3-4 steps if where he wanted to go was close enough to go step, step, step, lunge/fall onto. Other than that, he wasn't gaining confidence or trying anything further.
Well on Wednesday night, 8/4, my mother and sister were sleeping over- they came down for a visit- and we wanted to show them his 'steps. Eric took out his cell phone- aka baby crack- and held it in front of him. Well Eric kept backing up, and Brooks kept stepping, and he must have taken 10-15 steps. When he woke up on Thursday- he was step, step, stepping everywhere! Now he walks until he falls no matter how far he is going. It is funny because he has the cutie frankenstein walk, and if anything is in his way (toy, dog, ledge between different types of floors like wood and tile, etc) he more often than not falls, but it seems as though walking is his preferred method of travel!
I have not seen him get from sitting to standing without using something to pull up on yet- but I don't know that that is cause he can't or just because he knows how to pull up and never thought about trying it with nothing. That will come though. He is so frigging cute when he walks :)

It has been a very busy week. As I mentioned, my mother and sister visited. They stayed over and we had a girls night out while Eric stayed home with Brooks- that was Wed & Thurs. I was really bad and didn't take too many pictures- we were just having fun and it was super fast and busy. We did walk up to the Eastern State Penitentiary (old prison that looks like a castle and is open for tours or haunted houses) and put B in a cell LOL.


Friday was our 5th wedding anniversary! WOW. Eric was AMAZING- seriously. We never do gifts for anniversaries or valentines day- those 2 events have always been a night away or a fancy dinner or something (plus flowers LOL). Well Eric surprised me! He took the afternoon off of work to hang with B while I was sent off to a spa for a mani/pedi/facial/massage package. It was HEAVEN. Now you must be thinking- wow that is great- but wait! there is more!

At dinner he gave me my card- which made me cry b/c he wrote such a sweet message- and in the card was a map of the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Yes- the Bahamas! We are going for a 3 day weekend, just the 2 of us, and he already arranged it with my parents (yes MY parents- good boy Eric) to watch Brooks while we are gone. WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO. Happy Anniversary to my love!

5 yrs ago vs our date night on Friday!



Saturday we met up with friends of ours at a place called the Little Treehouse. This place is awesome- adults are free, kids are 8 bucks, and it is just an all wooden toy indoor playground. This was our first time going but definitely not our last- Brooks had a ball!

Here he is walking around- and you can kind of see what this place was like!


They had a fun kitchen area!

What can I make you?

Working in the kitchen is fun!


I need to pick up some ingredients to make that!


Cutest chef ever!


Pictures with Dad & MOM (and yes- I am in love with this pic of B and I- we are both actually smiling and looking at the camera- a rarity since I am usually behind the camera)


He really had so much fun

I got chocolate ice cream and this is what I turned around to (Eric was in charge of my cone!)

Here he is with our friends son- this is Zach- who is 7 weeks older exactly and the son of Eric's best man from our wedding.


On Sunday we hit the road for the shore- We went to the Ocean City NJ boardwalk (I had to specify NJ b/c B and I are actually heading to Ocean City MD this week to visit with my parents who are there for vacation.
Fortunately, going down the shore isn't too bad b/c we time our drives with his naps


We took B to the boardwalk and he got to ride a bunch of rides- he was wiped out by the end of the day. But did he sleep on the ride home? HECK NO- I was upset. He fell asleep for 10 minutes as we walked to the car, and would not go back to sleep for the 90 minute ride. Same thing happened Saturday- he fell asleep for 5 or so minutes on the way home from the treehouse, and would not take a nap. WTF?!?!?! I now know we must keep him up until he is somewhere he is going to be able to actually rest- I seriously could not believe he didn't zonk out in the car. ughhh

Boardwalk rides!






And- last thing- we did an old fashioned photo at the boardwalk! I think it came out great. It was hysterical though, he pooped right as we were waiting, and we figured it was our turn and we would change him after. Well you can't see, but some guy who works there is hidden in the tub. I guess it's his job to keep the little ones up to make it go faster. The guy was DYING from the stink, seriously- hahahahaha. Eric tipped him 10 bucks :)


So yeah, it has been busy. This weeks schedule includes Ocean City MD, my birthday, and my OB appt for squeaks. (My NT was supposed to be my bday but they backed it up to the 20th- don't get me started on that!).
Hope everyone is doing well! :)
<3 Car