Trentadue's Tidbits: October 2009

So, I got another freelance photography job where the client needs pictures of kids doing different things that depict a certain word. It was borderline torture for us all the first time around. The boys hated it, I found myself barking orders trying to get them to suddenly become models and actors overnight... and they would literally run away from me when they saw me pick up my camera and my "list" of words! "No more words!" they would yell!

So now that we're doing it again, they were a little less then pleased! Well, yesterday, they actually did great and we got a lot of words done! Here are a couple of my favorites... some of them they didn't even know they were "working"... because they were just having fun! But they were very cooperative and agreed to help me! And the bonus part is... they're actually getting better! They listen to what I say, and they actually do it! Maybe I could hire them out after all!

"swing""squat"
"swing"
"hug"

This is one of his tricks that I hate! He's like Houdini!

It's amazing even after 3 boys... to see the similarities and differences between all three! And it's been fun to watch our little Brooks develop his personality by watching his 2 older brothers, as well as the things that he completely invents on his own! Here's a few of our favorite things about Brooks, in honor of his 1st birthday!

Brooks is quite the character, and has a pretty mature sense of humor for his age... at least we think he does! He seems to know when things are funny, even though you think it's something that would be completely "over his head". He basically loves to laugh, and make other people laugh too... and he's willing to do almost anything... including funny, weird noises... spitting and weird laughs are his favorites!

He recently started walking, and is pretty good at going slowly from one piece of furniture to the next. Although he has a tendency to get too excited when he realizes how far he's gone without help, and gets going too fast only to crash! But he likes being upright... and I like it too... he doesn't collect as much dust that way! But we do love a particular "Brooks move" when he crawls... he swings his head from side to side as he goes... and he looks like a little horse!

Our boys are also known for their lovely locks... and Brooks is no different! I've cut his hair so many times, I've lost count! We know it's time to cut his hair again when he starts to get little knots in the back, from shaking his head back and forth in his car seat!

When Brooks gets mad, he lets you know it! He loves the remote control, or other technological devices, and can spot them from a mile away, and he does not react kindly when you take it away. In fact, many well-meaning people have offered to let him hold their cell phones, keys, blackberries, etc., but we have to politely decline because once he gets a grip on any piece of technology, he doesn't want to let it go! It doesn't matter whether you're holding him, he's sitting down, laying down, or standing up... he will throw his head back and arch his back and scream! Luckily he's received no head injuries as a result of his temper!

He also knows where he's not allowed to go. Every time he gets near the open bathroom door, he will pause and look back at me and smile, as if he's giving me a fighting chance to close it before he enters. If I don't take that chance to close the door, he will bee-line it for the toilet as fast as he can...but thank goodness the other 2 boys have almost learned to put the lid down!

And he's very photogenic... from at least 6 months of age (or maybe even a little sooner), he would stop and smile whenever we pull out the camera! He loves to be the center of attention, and he literally lights up whenever he sees his big brothers! You can't help but smile when you see his little face!!!

For his birthday "party", we invited his little friend, Marshall, (and his family) to come eat some cake! Marshall and Brooks share the same birthday, so we thought it was appropriate to have them eat cake together too! When Josh and Caleb turned 1, they were a little leery of the cake... and it took them a few minutes to figure out that it was something they wanted to eat... but not Brooks... as soon as we set the cake in front of him, he knew exactly what to do and started taking big handfuls of cake and shoving it in his mouth! He sure loves food!

Brooks is the man of the house these days, and pretty much gets whatever he wants! We just love him to death... so much in fact, that we just chew on him all the time! It's just too hard to turn down those yummy rolls on his arms and legs... And even after the 3rd time around, we're amazed at all the fun things that he's learning to do... it just doesn't get old to just sit and watch him discover everything around him! Here's to you, Brooks! We love you!!!

Another poor attempt at my cake decorating skills.... but hey, this is pretty good for me! :)

This is our Birthday Buddy, Marshall!... they were born on the same day, so they're destined to have b-day parties together!!! hehehe!

It's hard to tell from this picture, but Brooks just grabbed the entire piece of cake, and held it to his mouth... he was literally sucking the sugar out of that cake!