Uncle David Comes to Visit

Uncle David came for a visit, and I think Brookelyn has found a life long playmate! He was totally amazing with her! David played Legos with her after the babies got their Christmas pictures taken (read the funny story below about that), cooked in her Dora kitchen, took her in and out of her carseat (at her request), held her hand across the streets, and yes, even WIPED HER NOSE! I laughed and told him when he first arrived that Allen and I were going to leave the kids with him and go to dinner, but by the time he left I think that he would have been fine if we left! Here are a couple of pictures from Uncle David's visit:

Isn't he a natural? All you single ladies out there or married ladies with single friends, TAKE NOTE!

*Funny Christmas Picture Story:

Allen was carrying Braedyn as we walked into the studio to begin taking Braedyn and Brookelyn's Christmas pictures. The photographer turned to Allen and asked him if Braedyn was sitting up yet, and he looked at her, pointed at me, and said, "You will have to ask her; I am not sure." The photographer looked at Allen and said, "Oh. Are you the friend?" Poor Daddy!

Black Friday!

On Friday morning Allen and I woke up at 4 am (actually Braedyn already had woken us up at 3:30 am), got the kids in the car, and headed to Walmart. We were on a mission! However, we did not realize what we were in for. When we got to Walmart the lot was PACKED. Allen dropped me off, so I could run in and claim our list of goodies. I grabbed a cart and rushed inside. It was literally insane. People were running with their carts, grabbing stuff off the shelves, pushing, hitting my heels with the wheels of the carts, yelling, and just acting like crazed animals. However, we were able to get everything we wanted and make it out of the store with both kids in good moods.

Here is Brookelyn and Allen standing in line. Both babies were still in their PJs. What you cannot see are all the people in line both behind and in front of us!

This was just the beginning though. We stayed out until 1:30 in the afternoon! And, Brookelyn and Braedyn were angels! Neither fussed or complained. We think this might become a Bates Family tradition!

Brookelyn's Thanksgiving Music Program

Brookelyn's school put on a music program before Thanksgiving Break. It was absolutely adorable! Here's Braedyn and I waiting to see our little star perform.

And, here is Brookelyn performing "Miss Suzie". I know the quality isn't very good (sorry), but she is the fourth from the left.

Her next big performance is her ballet recital on December 11th. Stay tuned...

2 going on 20

Brookelyn has been quite the little stinker lately! The other day she asked me to throw something in the trash for her. I looked at her, told her no, and made the mistake of asking if her arm was broken. Well, since then, almost every time I ask her to do something (regardless of whether it actually involves her arm) she will look at me and tell me no, her arm is broken. Of course she has the cutest little look on her michevious face as she says it. However, after the fifteenth time, it has begun to lose its cuteness! Case in point, this morning (after yet another sleepless night) Braedyn was wailing in his crib, so I asked Brookelyn to sing to him. She started in on the ABC's, the Brookelyn rendition that usually lasts at least 10 minutes, but after only 30 seconds, she stopped and turned to me and said, "Mommy I am out of gas." Now, I know Allen and I have never said that before, so who knows where she heard that? When I gave her a crazy look, she proceeded to then tell me that her arm was broken. Now why that prevents her from singing I am not exactly sure, but if I have learned anything over the past couple of months, I have learned to pick my battles, so I didn't push her. Later on this morning we were having our daily dance-a-thon before taking her to school. Yes, Brookelyn loves to dance and will even request a certain artist. Her current favorites are Beyonce, Pink, and Rhianna. And yes, she can tell you who is singing when their songs come on! Anyway, while we were dancing, I told her, "Look, mommy can do a pase (a ballet move)." She flipped her little blown out hair around, looked and me, and told me, "No mommy! We only do pases on Thursday at ballet!" Well, who knew she what days of the week her activities were on?!

Braedyn's Latest Photos

While Honey and Sashi were in town, we took Braedyn to get his pictures made. Take a look at Mr. Handsome...

Allen thinks this whole helmet thing is good practice for Pee Wee Football. I am not so convinced yet, but it sure makes a cute picture!!

Also of note, Braedyn went for his 6 month check up today. He passed with flying colors; here are his stats:

WEIGHT: 16.141/2 (25%)

LENGTH: 27 (80%)

HEAD:17 1/2 (65%) This was actually an inch increase from 2 months ago--it shows how well his helmet is working by filling out his flat area!

I really like our doctor here. She chatted with me for almost an hour! Her only point of contention is Braedyn's weight. He is a little low for his height, which is actually suprising with all that he is eating. So, we started adding in lunch today (he had pumpkin in honor of Thanksgiving coming up). She said that we would look at his weight again next time, and hopefully he will have gained a bit more and be more balanced with his height.

And also important news: Last night Allen and I found TWO TEETH poking through his little gums (which explains our sleepless nights)! Yea Braedyn!!

Allen "Relaxes" and Reads the Paper

Some argue that men can't multi-task, and I must admit I have made a snide comment to that effect a time or two. But, I may be wrong. Here is Allen doing his best to "relax", read the newspaper, and parent (dad's don't babysit) Brookelyn this morning.

Around the House Today

Today we stayed around the house and enjoyed a (somewhat) relaxing day watching football. Here is Daddy and Braedyn, The Kings of the Couch. Braedyn was channel surfing. His little shirt is in honor of Grandpa Bates--and NO he does not need a drum set while he is living in our house!

Brookelyn also wanted in on the action. She got all dressed up (thanks for the outfit Grandma and Grandpa), and was cheering for the Razorbacks; she didn't understand that they didn't play today. This was actually a good thing in our house because it meant we didn't have to walk lightly around Daddy because he was in a bad mood from a long game in which the Razorbacks ultimately lost after a really long miserable battle.

Brookelyn Goes to the Dentist

Today Brookelyn headed to the dentist (her second time--not including when she went for the chipped tooth as a baby, or the many trips to Dr. Travis--the oral surgeon down the street in San Antonio). Dr. Sandy said that everything looks great. Surprisingly enough the little tendon she severed that connected her lip to her gum has even grown back (Dr. Travis said it would but my mom and I just couldn't imagine that it possibly could--I guess that shows you should trust a doctor with years and years of experience in his field).Here is the doctor counting her teeth--which Brookelyn loved!And here is the doctor rubbing in her Princess paste (aka Flouride).Brookelyn was very proud of herself after it was all over! Before we left, we made a potty stop and look--they had a mini potty that was "Just her size!"

Brookelyn the Ice Princess

Here she goes folks! Honey and I didn't know how this whole experience would play out, but our money was on the probablitity of Brookelyn not being able to balance for her life...
But we were WRONG! All that practice strutting around the house in her princess high-heels has paid off! Brookelyn was not only able to walk in her ice skates, she actually did a pretty good job skating in them! The only way were able to get her to leave was to promise to have her Daddy come back and go with her soon!

Check out our little ice princess in action!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM DORA, BOOTS, DIEGO, ALICIA, AND ABUELA!