Belated update

Brooklyn is doing well these days. We recently had an eye appointment down at Primary Children's and it went well.

At this point, Brooklyn says some words and says hi to everyone. Jenny has been good to get her going on sign language and Brooklyn seems more open to learning new words through sign language than voicing new words.

As for interests, she continues to love people and is very social. She also loves carrying around a doll, a bag, and a toy phone. She is good with her hands and is walking pretty well, although we're planning to get her some braces to straighten our her feet while she walks.

Long story short, she is happy and healthy and we have much to be grateful for. Here's are some quick pictures:

At the annual pumpkin walk in North Logan

Holding her new cousin Sadie!

Using a cookie cutter for unintended purposes....

Stepping up!

Brooklyn has gained some confidence and is now taking more steps during many of her walks. This is so exciting and we are grateful for her progress as she continues to be a joy each day. I just can't imagine life without her sweet presence here with us! These videos were taken about 11 days apart - the first one is her first real day of walking and the latter is from today.

Standing Tall!!!!

Brooklyn has begun standing on her own. We are all so proud of her and hope that she will begin walking sometime soon. Here is a quick video of her standing a couple of times that I think you'll enjoy...there's even a small step in there...

Walking?

Brooklyn continues to make progress over time. We were excited that she took her first step today! (to her brother Collin) and then took a few more to her dad. She has been using her walker some, and does pretty well walking along couches or other structures. She also does just fine walking while holding someone's hand.

She is also able to understand a lot of things, including looking around for people that she is asked about. She has not lost her enthusiasm for people (HI! to so many new faces she encounters), says mama and a few other words (I'm pretty confident she even said Gra Ma Ma after talking on speaker phone with Grandma Young). She is very good at getting what she wants and is able to go down stairs very well, and even does pretty well going up them too. Her peek-a-boo is flat out adorable and she has NO personal space issues (she is very comfortable putting her face right next to another person's).

It was two years ago this week that she received her current shunt, and words can't express how nice it is that she has not had to have a surgery in some time.

In short, life has become pretty normal for her and we are grateful for the joy she brings into our life. So much has happened over the past two years, with so much to be grateful for.

Long-overdue Update

I apologize that I have not posted any updates on Brooklyn for the past months. While I do not have a lot of time, I will say that she now has an interest in walking and received a walker yesterday that should help her progress. When Jenny sent me the picture below it was enough to get me to finally put up a new post!! I will look to post a more in-depth post soon. Enjoy!

Little Scooter

Brooklyn has begun to scoot around rather than crawl. She moves much faster and we are so proud of her.  Here is a video of her getting around.

She has not had any seizures of late and she continues to do a nice job interacting with others. She does not yet speak at this time, other than an occasional version of dadda or mamma, but we are hopeful.

Here's also one of her standing...

We continually hear of so many who are experiencing health challenges in their families. It seems as though these are very common in these current days and our prayers and thoughts will be with those who are going through these trials, including their family members.

Swinging along

I recently introduced Brooklyn to our swing set....I think she likes it.

Also, here are some more of the thoughts I wrote down before Brooklyn was born:

September 8, 2013

We had a great day at church today.  The Jossie family spoke about grace and agency and did a wonderful job.  We are certainly in need of the Savior’s grace at this time. 

In priesthood, one of the high priests gave the lesson and it centered on priesthood blessings, including an experience where President Snow was opening the work in Italy and gave a blessing to a little boy there who was healed and that helped lead to opening the work successfully there.  There was then a short DVD about his grandson, Elder Schenk (sp?) who had tragically been hit by a bus during his mission to Brazil.  The video showed his miraculous progress through this difficult time of physical healing and speech/motor skill re-learning and this boy then stood and testified of priesthood blessings....

I also had a realization that it could be Heavenly Father’s will that she come home early or have a tough mortal experience to ensure she receives exaltation.  So many  possibilities, but I know He is in charge, and that is what matters.

I also love this quote from President Packer, which I read in an Ensign article today:

“Faith, to be faith, must center around something that is not known. Faith, to be faith, must go beyond that for which there is confirming evidence. Faith, to be faith, must go into the unknown. Faith, to be faith, must walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness.”