Week 1 of Life with Brooke

Brooke at 1 Week Old.

It's been a busy and fun week. Coming home from the hospital last Sunday, we enjoyed a homecoming with both grandparents. Jennifer's parents arrived from Cinci and Scott's parents from Chicago. We celebrated and toasted our new family addition.



The grandmother's were quite amused by all the books Jennifer has been reading and the new "theories" on baby care.
Otherwise, between lessons in calculus and biochemistry (Brooke is very advanced) and dodging tornadoes (one went right by our neighborhood Saturday night), the week was filled with learning (for the new Mom and Dad) about when Brooke wanted to eat and sleep (and therefore when they could eat and sleep).

On her 1 week birthday we ventured out to begin the daily walks routine. The first trip was a new experience for Maddie, figuring out what this stroller thing was. After one "brush of the wheels," she learned to not stop directly in the path of the moving stroller.
Another first was her a "manicure,"

...and her first sponge bath. Not a happy time...

In the end, it's been a very fun week, we're having a great time and appreciate all the well wishes from everyone!

Day 2 at home

In her chair.

May 30, 2008 -- Welcome to Brooke Ingrid Steeves!!!

We are proud to introduce Brooke Ingrid Steeves! She was born Friday, May 30, 2008 at 4:27pm. She weighed 6 lbs 4 oz and was 19 inches long.

Here is a picture with our wonderful delivery nurse Corie.
Scott the proud father holding Brooke.
Jennifer with Brooke.

Week 40 + 5 days

No news to report from here. Just passing the time...my floors and baseboards are now very clean as I look to find things to keep me busy!

I am excited to announce that my friend Katherine had a baby girl Monday (5/26) morning. Katherine and I worked together, had the same due date, and therefore shared our pregnancy experiences thoughout the past 6 months. Congratulations on their arrival!

Week 40 -- "Overdue" by 2 days

Happy Memorial Day!

No baby news to report. Our due date has come and gone and we're still waiting for Maddie's friend to arrive. We've spent the holiday weekend relaxing and fielding family and friends' phone calls inquiring on baby updates.

Here's the weekly paparazzi shot, starring Scott and Maddie as "stand-in's" for the missing baby.
Of amusement are the wide range of tips we've received to nudge the baby to show up. I think I'm going to wait a little longer before considering the castor oil...yuck!

Week 39 -- Still Waiting

No baby news to report -- 5 days until the due date... My doctor goes on her maternity leave on Wednesday and will probably have her baby before me!

Taking an idea from another friend's blog, I plan/hope to post weekly pictures of the baby to track its growth. This weekly paparazzi session will take place in the glider with his/her stuffed bear to mark the its size.

As the weather turns nicer (and not knowing our availability for a Memorial Day weekend BBQ) we had friends over Saturday night for a casual BBQ. I was betting on a little of Murphy's Law to kick in...plan an "event" and the baby will decide to show (no luck obviously).

Week 38 -- The Waiting Game

Happy Mother's Day!

No Baby news to report in the past couple weeks. We're just waiting now and taking friends' advice to enjoy these last weeks of quietness (sleeping in on the weekends, taking afternoon naps, going out to dinner, etc.).

In the meantime, during a little exploration, we happened upon a local butcher just up the road. Looking for some fresh meat? You can bring your own farm raised animals here for, well, you know...

The flowers are blooming...

And the tulips are still trying to come up (I swear I planted like 30 bulbs, so far only see about 5 flowers). Last night we had a very bad wind storm, thus why all these guys are tilted to the side. Doubtful they'll straighten up.

Week 36 (9th month begins!)

The week started off with some baby news! Our good friends Sarah and Michael welcomed a daughter into their family, Taylor Jane. I hear her older brother Eli is both excited and nervous of this new little person. Congrats to them!

As we await the arrival of Maddie's friend, we also await the arrival of Spring. One day it is 75 degrees and beautiful, the next it is 35 degrees with snow showers. Keeps you guessin'! This weekend Scott and Maddie got out to do some yardwork. Here is Maddie keeping guard over the lawn and her ball-on-a-rope (her favorite toy in the world!), while Scott tends to something in the back corner (sorry the picture is so far away).
Not the best shot, but the tulips are trying to come up. They're already looking pretty wind blown. Maybe next week there will be actual flowers to show! ;-) (for a little "where's waldo", find Maddie in the front door holding her bone) (yes, still the same bone from February)
Here's a closer shot of Maddie, in the house with her tennis ball.
Saturday night our friends Erin & Greg and Julianne & Craig threw a little baby celebration for Scott and I. It was a great time with great friends! Julianne and I fired it up with strawberry daiquiri's in our "pimp cups." (virgin of course!)
The night got interesting with the "guess what's in the diaper" game. Here's Scott and another Scott smelling "mini diapers." (mushed up candy bars look gross, but really do smell good!)
Check out the beautiful cake Julianne's friend Nikki made for us.
Thank you again to Erin and Julianne for a wonderful night!

Week 35 -- More Signs of Spring & Nursery Furniture

Spring is showing more promising signs in the Heartland. Perhaps next week the tulips will be up for posting, as they're coming up a couple inches a day! Hopefully I can catch some pictures before the wind blows them away.

As we wait for our big spring arrival, Scott and Maddie have been doing more bonding. Here is a picture from Saturday morning, before we went out to watch him play in another softball tournament.

The nursery is about ready to go. Here is the crib and glider (aka rocking chair, where many hours will be spent feeding our little friend). Thank you again to my parents for the gift of the crib and dresser! We still need a mattress and sheets for the crib and the nightstand will arrive in another week or two.

On the other side of the crib is a dresser.

And lastly, all the feeding will need a place for all the changing, so we have a smaller dresser for the changing table.

Week 33 -- 1st Weekend "Outside"

The nursery furniture arrived this weekend, but we haven't set it all up, so stayed tuned for pictures!

Otherwise, nice weather brought the start of Scott's softball games for the season. He played in a tournament Saturday and Sunday with guys from work. Here he is up to bat (sorry so far away).

And Maddie saying hello in between games.

Lastly, my sister Kathleen and her boyfriend Matt got engaged this past week while skiing in Colorado. Congratulations! We're very excited for them! (this is a picture of them in Maine last summer)