Brooke: 4 months

Height: 23.75 inches

Weight: 11.59 lbs

Brooke has found her voice and has been yelling/growling of late. Strangers often mistake these noises for signs that she is angry or upset but in reality she just likes the sound of it. She is rolling around and even starting to pivot on her tummy! It seems to all be happening so fast! Where does the time go! Some of my favorite moments are when I catch Brin and Brooke playing together and Brin makes Brooke break into full belly laughs. I have yet to catch it on video, they stop when they see the camera. We love our little girl!

Playtime

Being in a tiny place you learn to be creative with space.  When Brin was a baby I didn't bother with a baby gym but instead hung toys from a broom stick suspended between two chairs; it did the trick. I have tried that twice with Brooke. The first time was fine, Brin was excited to lay down by her baby sister and help her play with her toys hog all of the toys. The second time ended as Brin tried to take the broom stick from between the chairs, causing one end to fall millimeters from Brooke's face. So that is how Brooke's new play station ended up under Brin's highchair. No one seems to be complaining...

Just 'cause she's cute

Jeremy is always telling me we need to post more pictures of the two of us because our blog looks like a shrine for our children. I think it would be easier if we were as cute as our kids.

Jilly Comes to Beantown

We were so lucky to have this pretty gal come hang with us for the week.  I know we all enjoyed her company and showing her around. It's always great to have family around! Thanks Jill!

Brooke: 3 Months

(So, I took the usual pictures with her in a onesie with the blanket as the backdrop, but somehow I lost them. I thought I had uploaded the pictures so I deleted them from the memory card. I went to view them later and no pictures were to be found. If only she didn't have a space cadet for a mother... The picture below is of Brooke at three months, we'll just have to make due with what we've got.)

Brooke is such a sweet little thing and such a good sleeper! She smiles and gives full belly laughs and often finds Brin particularly funny.  She isn't the biggest fan of tummy time but loves swatting at her toys. Her newest trick is blowing bubbles, which of course leaves a huge puddle of spit on her chest. Brooke is a joy to have around and we are so blessed to have this little bundle in our family.

Tuckered Out

We just had a fun and busy week and I think everyone was just a little bit tired. Brin even tucked herself in for an earlier-than-usual nap.

  

Her most recent best friend "Ducky".  He's snugglier than you might think. 

Brooke: 2 Months

 Height: 21.25 inches

Weight: 9.69 pounds

We haven't had any cooing yet but we get lots of grinning, especially just after eating. She will often sleep through the night but we do get the occasional 3 am feeding. She has improved her eating skills, but hasn't quite perfected them; we still have to pause several times if I don't want to wear everything she's just put down. She does a great job lifting her head but hates tummy time. Other than that, she is still just "a boring baby" -Dad. I threw in some comparison pics of her and Brin at this age for all of you that keep asking.

Brin's hair

Brooke's hair

 

Brin                                                              Brooke

We sure love our little Brooke.

Brooke: 1 month

Height: 20 inches

Weight: 9.12 pounds

Brooke has been a great baby, she usually sleeps most the night with one or two feedings. Eating isn't coming quite as easily; she likes sucking in big gulps of air as she goes so we have to stop frequently to get out a burp every couple of minutes. Brin loves having her little Bookie around and stops mid play to rush over and give her a kiss.

Sweet girls 

An Empire State of Mind

Over Valentine's Day weekend we headed out to see out good friends in New York. It was so much fun to spend time with them and relax. Thank you again Joanne and family!

The Weather Outside is Frightful

This winter has been quite an adventure! It seems like each week we get a new batch of snow. This has made for some fun evenings making snowmen, or as Brinley calls them "snowies," sledding at the only hill in the South End, or--Jeremy's favorite--commuting back and forth to work. 

Brooke: 1 Week Pictures

Merry Christmas from the Koontz's!

Brooke made sure to make it home for the holidays. She joined us December 21st, weighing 7 lbs 1.6 oz, and 19.25 in long.

Quite possibly Brinley's favorite part of Christmas morning--using the remote to trigger the camera.

...quite possibly her least favorite.

In case your were interested, here is Brinley's meeting with St. Nick last year.

Merry Christmas

Our Last Two Years

Coke nailed it in this 60 second TV spot. The Argentine depiction of early parenthood perfectly describes the the last two years for Rachel and I. From the positive pregnancy test, to the explosion of Toys R' Us in our little apartment, to the second positive test--complete with feelings of pure excited and terror--and all the mischief in between. And as I look back, I wouldn't want it any other way.

Film

We went out to the theater this morning to see Disney's Frozen with Brinley. She was mesmerized by the screen!

After walking around the city we came home to find lighting crews, actors, and production staff swarming our apartment. Just a couple weeks ago they were filming an HBO movie, "Olive Kitteridge," one blocks down the street. The filming at our apartment will be in a Dell commercial. Since this doesn't happen everyday we decided to take a couple photos.

Our apartment building!

They spread snow around our apartment and used "snow candles" to make it look like it was snowing.