Sun, Sand and Camping in January

We did it... our first camping trip with Brooke! We spent 5 days (Jan 5-9, 2011) in Pismo camping on the sand. The weather was nice and sunny, a change from foggy Fresno. It would get cold when the sun went down, so Brooke looked like a little burrito every night to keep toasty! We played volleyball, went ridding on the dunes and had some good laughs with friends around the campfire at night. Brooke enjoyed watching from her ocean themed swing (see last picture).

This is a shot of our camp set up - 5 trailers and 2 tents! We had a perfect view of the ocean!

Our first family camping trip!

Brooke relaxing!

Brooke chillin' at camp! She kept smiling and laughing at the orange fish.

Happy New Year!

Even Brooke was awake to welcome in 2011!

YES, Brooke has arrived & is 2 months ALREADY!

I know, Brooke is 2 months old and I am just now blogging about her for the first time. What can I say about our daughter... She is WONDERFUL!!! I love being a Mommy and James is enjoying Fatherhood. Brooke had her 2 month appointment this week and weighed in at 11 lbs 3 oz and 21 3/4 inches long. She has been steadily gaining since she was born. She also had her first round of shots since the hospital and Brooke was not happy about them at all. She screamed so loud the nurses heard her at their desks down the hall. Her tears made me want to cry. I could not wait to scoop her up and console her once the doctor was done. She is a very alert and active little girl. The doctor said she holds her head like a four month old. We are already proud parents as we watch her grow, learn and achieve new skills every day. Here are some picture of little Miss Brooke over the past 2 months...

Our 1st Christmas!

My silly Auntie's Lisa & Lora

We're waiting for Santa!

Brooke with her Wonderful Grandma's!
She loves her Grandma Bern & Grandma Dee

Mommy & Brooke on Christmas Eve

2 Months old

Brooke's Baptism 12/19/10 - held on her Grandpa Mike's birthday

Pictured with her Godparents Aaron & Loni and Parker too

The best Christmas gift ever!

Brooke and Daddy doing sit-ups

Brooke's 1st Thanksgiving

4 Generations - Nanna, Grandma, Mom, Me, Auntie Lora, & Auntie Lisa
Thanksgiving Day



1 Month Old - Nov 24, 2010

Me & Auntie Crystal - I'm so cozy...

My Birthday Buddies, Landa and Steve!

Happy Halloween - 7 days old

5 days old

Brooke's friend Gracie! I love this picture of her!

Stephen & Brooke - He was so excited to meet her.

Brooke, all ready to go home!

Brooke Noelle Perkins - October 24, 2010 / 12:43 pm / 7lbs 4oz / 20 inches

Brooke's Birth Story

I went into labor with Brooke at 12:30 am on October 24, 2010. She was determined not to be born on her due date! After laboring at home for 1.5 hours, James and I loaded our bags and headed to the hospital. James' Mom was down visiting from Oregon and hoping Brooke would arrive while she was here. Denise decided to stay back at our house until we made sure the hospital deemed I was in active labor and was going to admit me. My Mom and sisters decided to waste no time and started their 3 hour drive from the Bay Area. On our way to the hospital we called our close friends to inform them. With contractions 3-7 minutes apart the hospital admitted me at about 2:30 am. Laboring while standing and walking felt a lot better then when sitting, so with James' help I walked the halls until 4:15 am. At this point I had to head back to my room so that the nurse could check me. She hooked me up to fluids and told me I was about 2 cm. Around 7:30 I had progressed to 4 cm and was given an epidural. Wow, epidurals are fantastic!!! I felt great and without pain once on the epidural constant drip, however it slowed down my labor to contractions every 10 minutes apart. To help speed things up they put me on pitocin and broke my water. At about this time, 9:30 am, I began to feel discomfort again. I mentioned it to the nurse, thinking at first it may have to do with the pitocin and breaking my water. It did coincide with these two things, but also had to do with the fact that my epidural had COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING! They tried everything, including giving me other drugs, which only made me drowsy but did not kill the pain. They were contemplating re-doing the epidural when i told the nurse that I felt like I needed to push. She checked me and I was at 10 cm, Woohoo! I pushed for about 20 minutes and Brooke was born! In the end it was well worth it!

Count Down - 9 Days From Due Date

With only 9 days till my due date, when do you think I will go into labor? I am taking a poll, just for fun, to see when YOU think Brooke will arrive. Just so you know I had an appointment this past Monday (10/11/10) and my doctor informed me that I was "almost at 1 cm." I think he was just being nice. So... take the poll at the right of the page and let us know when you think our little girl will be gracing us with her presence!

More Preggo Pics

October 12, 2010 - 38 weeks & 4 days / 9 months

Only 11 days till my due date!

I'm carrying a "pumpkin"!

September 11, 2010 - 34 weeks / 8 months

September 11, 2010 - We just returned from a 9/11 memorial that was held in Fresno

Luncheon Baby Shower

Natalie, Me, Jean, & Amanda

The 3 women I am sitting with are wonderful friends that I came to know during my time working at the preschool. They were so kind to throw me a little get-together at Red Robin's on Saturday, September 25, 2010. Yummy! When I arrived the table was cutely decorated with balloons and "BABY" blocks. Our waitress had planned some fun Red Robin games for us to partake in while there. The first was to find the one and only picture in the restaurant that is turned completely upside down. I guess every Red Robin has one picture this way. It is not the same picture at each location. This challenge turned out to be harder then we thought it would be and ended up having to ask which one it was. The other game she had us play was diapering a stuffed animal. The "diapers" were the triangle paper sleeves that they wrap their hamburgers in. Apparently these are called "diapers" for the hamburgers. Who would have thought!?!

It was great to see these friends and get to catch up. The next time we get together I will be a Mommy and they will get to meet little Brooke! Thank you ladies, it was a lot of fun!

Bay Area Baby Shower

My amazing Mom, wonderful friend Loni, great cousins Kathryn and Koryn, and terrific Aunt Liz threw me a beautiful baby shower on Saturday, September 18, 2010. The shower was held at my Mom's house, which was the perfect location. It felt so nice to be back "home," celebrating with those I care about. The sun shined threw on us (it even turned out to be a little on the hot side) as we ate a fabulous brunch, played a few games, opened gifts, and guests decorated scrapbook pages for Brooke. I felt very loved and truly lucky to have such wonderful family and friends surrounding me, and supporting James and I in our next adventure in our life together... having a baby! Brooke doesn't know it yet but she is entering into two large families!

This was the favors handed out at the shower. There was a total of 8 different designs on the handmade soaps.