I Am Brooke

Brooke is home from school today because she has a cold.  I guess it was only a matter of time before she got hit with school germs, but I was not expecting it to be two weeks into the school year.  Brooke regularly plays with kids at the gym and barely ever gets sick with anything, so I have to admit this came as a bit of a surprise.  Brooke insists that she is not sick but then tells me that she needs to go to the doctor.  Hopefully a day at home is all she needs and she will be able to go back to school tomorrow.  I know she is going to miss seeing her teachers and classmates and having lots of fun.

Favorite Movie: Toy Story 2

Favorite Book: Pinkalicious

Favorite TV Show: Backyardigans

Favorite Toy: Any books

Favorite Food: cupcakes and PB&J sandwiches

Other cool things about me: I like to read books to Mommy and Luke as well as have Mommy and Daddy read books to me.  I started school this month and love it!

Today when we picked Brooke up from school she told me that she didn’t want to go home.  School is now officially more fun than home.  I’m happy that she loves it so much, but I am sad that she doesn’t want to hang out with me more.  Of course, when Brooke then had to drop me off at school she cried.  She didn’t like the idea that I was going to school and not taking her.  I assured her that my school did not involve playing outside and singing songs, but I am not sure that she believed me.

Today when it was time for Brooke to get dressed for school, she told me she wanted to wear a dress.  I showed her the shorts and shirt I had set out for her, and she told me “I don’t want to wear shorts. I want a dress.”  So, we go into the closet to see what dress options we have (she has church dresses, but we only bought one school dress).  She picks out her blue dress.  I thought it was funny that she was so vehement about wearing the dress, and I am not sure why she was.

When I picked her up today, one of her teachers told me that they get a kick out of all faces that Brooke makes (she is very expressive with her face).  She said it is particularly funny to see the face that Brooke makes at other kids when they are not doing what they are supposed to be doing.  I guess that is one thing other than her hair color that she inherited from her mommy.

Monday was the open house at Brooke’s new preschool. She is going to the preschool at our church, Kiddie Kollege. Brooke was so excited about going to school Monday morning. When I got out of the shower she came in and told me that she had to go brush her teeth for school. Once we had brushed her teeth she told me that she had to get dressed for school.  We were finally ready to leave, and she told me that she needed her lunch bag.  I explained that we were not staying for lunch but that she would take it tomorrow.  She seemed to be very comfortable with her teachers and enjoyed playing at the open house, but she was more interested in playing with me than with any other kids.

Today was the first official day of school.  Brooke was excited to wear her special first day of school outfit and to pack her lunch in her Buzz Lightyear lunch bag.  She also has a Buzz backpack with her name monogrammed on it.  She did great when we got to school and she had to walk in with one of the teachers.  She got out of the car, got her bag, and walked into the school like she was a pro.  Mommy, on the other hand, cried the whole way home in the car for no particular reason other than being so proud of her baby girl and a little sad that she would not be around in the mornings.  When we went to pick Brooke up after lunch, she said that school was fun and that she played.  She talked a lot about what she ate for lunch, but we could not get much more out of her about what she did at school.  All we know for sure is that she did not color.  She said that school is fun and she wants to go back tomorrow.  Could you really ask for a better first day of preschool?  I don’t think so.  We are so proud of Brooke.

Brooke has started telling us stories.  They all start out with “once upon a time” and involve three of something.  For example, “once upon a time there were three mamas”, “once upon a time there were three daddies”, “once upon a time there were three babies”, “once upon a time there were three cars”.  The story often ends there unless you press her to tell you more.  Sometimes the mamas come over to our house to eat, the daddies come to our house to play, the babies drink milk, etc.  The plot may be rather bizarre, but it is always fun to see her creativity at work.

Brooke usually refers to Bella (our 80 pound Doberman) as her best friend.  Actually, the conversation usually starts with Brooke telling Bella to go away because Bella is trying to steal her snack.  In the next breath Brooke will go hug Bella and say something like “I love Bella.  She’s my best friend.”

Today Brooke decided she had a new best friend.  She gave Luke a big hug and kiss and proclaimed that Baby Luke is her best friend.  So, how long do you think that will last?  My guess is not very long because a few minutes later she said that Mommy and Daddy were her best friends.  I am sure she will be back to having Bella as her best friend soon enough.

And before you worry about my child who only has a dog who merely tolerates her as a best friend, I thought I should mention that Brooke does have two friends at the gym (Emma and Gloria).  So, I am not too worried that she won’t grow up to have normal friendships with human beings.  Hopefully Luke will be one of them.

Today we finally got our act together and took the kids out to Lake Lurleen for a picnic.  Why we decided to do this on the hottest day of the summer is beyond me, but it was fun anyway.  We really didn’t know what was out there and thought we should check it out.  There was actually a pretty nice breeze coming off the lake every now and then to make the shaded picnic bearable.  Then Brooke wanted to walk on the beach and dip her feet in the water.  Fine, it was hot.  We did not plan on swimming in the lake, but Brooke had other plans despite my telling her she was not supposed to swim in the lake.  She dove in all the way up to her neck.  How was I supposed to pull her out when it was so hot and she was enjoying it so much?  Hopefully she is not sick with lake bacteria tomorrow.