It's a ...

GIRL!!!

We could hardly believe it last night when we opened our "famous" envelope to find out the gender of baby fuq #2.  we were both picturing a little boy for some reason but are thrilled to know it's going to be a little girl.  i am finally not going to be so outnumbered by the boys!

the envelope please

we were both pretty surprised when it was pink!  daddy is a little nervous about a little girl but as mimi said..."he will be putty in her hands."

does this mean i get to start shopping?

what a day!  january here we come!

18 months

and the months just keep flying by!
i wanted to get down some of the highlights of Brooks at 18 months before i forget what fun things he is doing right now.
the details:
26 pounds - 52%
34.74 inches tall - 97%
walking for sure and starting to "run"
still sleeps 8 to 8 and takes 2 naps for a total of 15-16 hours sleeping a day! 
when he's not sleeping he loves to eat, kick balls, play outside, ride in his new wagon, swim and do puzzles.

favorite foods:  animal crackers (he woke up one night from a dead sleep and this is what he wanted!), soy milk, blueberries and all kinds of fruit.  he goes in and out of loving his "little green trees" (broccoli).  as we get better at using the fork and spoon, dinner time is getting very messy (especially with pasta!)

brooks doesn't have too many words at the moment - still says "yeah" to almost everything - he has learned to make a frowny face and shake his head emphatically when he wants to say no.  everything else pretty much sounds like dada and the occasional mama.  
we have definitely entered into the early stages of independence - brooks wants to do everything by himself first - get to the car, climb out the front step, carry things, put on his shoes...it is certainly a lesson in patience.

and finally, i hope we always remember how sweet he still is at this age.  he "gives kisses" to mommy and daddy before bed, loves to lay down on the floor with dirk dog and gives richard a running hug when he gets home from work.  we are so thankful for our happy little boy!

i couldn't resist putting in this pic of brooks making himself comfortable in the baby seat. 

he has another thing coming in january!

Summer Fun

This summer Brooks is really enjoying all his new favorite "sports."  He is getting so active and animated.

Basketball is still the #1 sport of choice.

Swimming is coming in a close second.  After 3 straight days at the pool last week Brooks likes to dunk under the water, "jump" off the side into my arms, and "swim" around kicking his legs while I hold him up.  After a little while in the big pool though, he likes to go back to the baby pool and just play with the toys.

"Golfing" - aka swinging clubs around like crazy in the backyard and hitting any ball that's available - is also a daily activity!  We are working on keeping the clubs on the ground, but i think we have a long way to go until he is ready for the course!

Yesterday, we went with some friends down to Garden of the Gods Park for a little bit of hiking and touring.  Richard was a trooper carrying Brooks on his back for 2 hours! 

Happy 4th Everyone!

For the fans

and by fans, i mean our parents. more walking video - back by popular demand

Not Crawling to College

well folks, he finally did it! all it took was mom going out of town to get our little man to start walking. funny, that's what it took to get him to start crawling too!?! we are so excited for brooks - he is very nonchalant about it, but i think he can tell we are very excited about his new skills. in a week, you can all remind me that i was so eager for the walking to start! here is a glimpse - i hope the video isn't too big.

15 months

a little late, but since we haven't given a true brooks update in 3 months, better late than never.  we were in dallas last week, so this is not the "famous" chair, but it does show that brooks is not a baby anymore - he's a big boy!

At 15 months, Brooks...
...weighs 24lbs 3oz - 46%, is 32 inches tall - 79% and still has a big head!
...is still cruising and crawling incredibly fast - no walking yet.  we keep saying it's going to be anyday, but we've been saying that since january!
...sleeps about 12 hours at night (8 to 8) and is still taking two naps.  we figure the amount he sleeps is at least double what Richard sleeps on a daily basis.
...has been diagnosed with allergies to milk, eggs and nuts :(  we have been to a special hospital for skin allergy testing (National Jewish Hospital - the best in the nation)  this week he even did a 7 hour food challenge to test him with the milk, and after just 1 teaspoon he broke out in hives and we were done.  so, his diet is ever changing.
...still loves to eat! (despite the allergies)  he loves oatmeal, blueberry waffles, fruit, avacados, soy milk, soy yogurt, bread, all veggies, turkey dogs, chicken and especially animal crackers.
...has a few "words" (more like sounds that mean words and we understand)  they include, "dir" for Dirk, "duh" for Duck, and "ba - be" for Baby.  sometimes we even get a "mama" or "dada"
...loves to point to body parts when you ask him.  he knows Ears, Eyes, Nose, Hair, Head, Toes, Hands, Feet, Belly and cutest of all, Tongue (he sticks it out!)
...enjoys going to Gymboree, the church nursery and the playground.  He is showing a little bit of separation anxiety when we drop him off with someone but soon forgets and starts having fun.

...his favorite toys at the moment are his rocking "horse" (really a snail), reading books, trains and all the "Little People."   He is totally adorable when he stands in our front window and watches us in the front yard and smiles through the glass. other favorite things to do: play in the grass and dump out the dirt in mommy's flower pots.

Spring is Springing

sort of...

we have had a few nice days in Denver these past few weeks (although it was hailing and 40 today) and we are enjoying every minute of sunshine after the long winter.

can't wait to plant flowers, bbq and enjoy warmer weather in the weeks to come

Happy Easter

Just a few fun pics from our Denver 2010 Easter celebration.
Richard was able to switch work with a friend to get the day off and we enjoyed morning church and a great afternoon meal and games with friends.  the Lewises always throw a great Easter complete with a kids and an adult easter egg hunt.  this year we also played "battle of the sexes" family fued, Spring/Easter addition!  congrats to the boys and especially Richard who pulled out two key answers!

get your hands off my eggs!

Turks & Caicos

Brooks and I just got back from a great week aboard Infinity in the Turks & Caicos Islands.  What a beautiful place!  http://www.turksandcaicostourism.com/virtual-slide-show.html

My parents have been sailing through the islands for about 5 months on and off.  We were able to meet them in Providenciales (Provo).  First, we took a red eye flight from Denver to Atlanta and then had  4 hour layover in ATL before flying to Provo.  Brooks was such a trooper and handled the travel like a champ!

First stop - "The Anchorage" for a festive welcome drink

The boat is just off the left of this deck!

Brooks loved playing the cockpit with toys and buckets of water.  This is the safety harness we used so he couldn't get anywhere!  Thankfully, he is not walking yet - one less thing to worry about.

Brooks building his first "sand castle" - he loved the sand and the water - his favorite was when the waves would rush up over his toes.

The beaches were so beautiful and we were able to visit many of the beach resorts for lunch and dinner.  We stayed on the boat in Turtle Cove and it was perfect.  We went to the same beach a few different days.  It had a children's park with swings and a big playgrond and just a little off the shore was an awesome reef.  Phil and I enjoyed two snorkling trips - we saw lots of fish and coral as well as a sea turtle and even a sting ray!

We had a rental car and drove around the whole island one day.  At the south end we found this incredible house that we thought was a hotel until we drove up to the front door.  Definity a private home!

Walking to dinner at the Tiki Hut, just around the corner from the boat.

Thanks Nana and Grandpa Phil for a great vacation - now we are going home to rest!

a new adventure

last week Brooks had a fun new adventure at Gymboree - he loved it! 
while the weather is snowy and cold outside, we will be playing at gymboree. 

Olympic Fever

I don't know about anyone else, but the Fuquays have Winter Olympic fever and we've got it bad!  (or good, depending on how you look at it!)

In our American/Canadian household, we are having fun cheering for both teams (as least I am, not sure about Richard).  Watching the Canadian mogle skier win the first home gold the other night was spectacular!

Last night, we got together with friends for an Olympic/Fat Tuesday/Valentine's party, and Brooks and I decided we should go as team Canada (richard had to work).

Here is our yummy dessert!

and this morning, Brooks was still wearing his maple leaf shirt so we thought we should get some more pics.

Here is Brooks preparing for his first winter Olympic sport...standing in snow!

Our future Olympian!

(but not in luge, hockey, skeleton, or any dangerous winter olympic sport - we may have ruled them all out!)

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Brooks!  You are ONE and we can hardly believe it!

while the weekend and the party were not exactly what we had expected, you were such a trooper and loved the little celebration we were able to have.  After getting sick on Wednesday night, you gave your bug to mommy (thursday), daddy (friday), nana and grandpa phil (saturday) and scared away mimi and grandad.  Luckily, uncle neill was able to escape without harm.  what a weekend! 

with such a "memorable" weekend, what we will remember most about Brooks at his first birthday...

- your cheeks!! they are incredible and everyone talks about them.  you are an adorable chubby baby with a big belly and great rolls in your legs!

- you are such a fast crawler and love leaving the room on your own and going exploring around the house

- you love opening and closing doors (until you get your toes or fingers caught!)

- you love playing peek a boo around doors, walls, and especially with your "lovie"

- you love sitting on the big bead and having daddy come and pounce near you - you have the best laugh!
- you just started pulling up on the furniture to your feet and will cruise around if the incentive is good enough, cheerios usually do it!
- while you haven't eaten much this week, you are enjoying mac & cheese, blueberries, banana chunks, and all sorts of gerber 3rd foods.
- you are working on your sippy cup but mostly like to pretend to take a drink and then drop it on the floor.
- you are testing us when you are in your highchair, dropping food to see what we will do (we know your games!)
- you love going to the church nursery on tuesdays for mom's MOPS group and bible study.  the ladies say you are such a ham and are always so good. 
- you are also a great sleeper - 8pm to 8am and still take 2 naps too. 
- at your doctor appointment today you weighed 21lbs and 14oz - just the 36%, but i think you've lost some weight being sick.  you were in the 93% for height and head size.  Tall, Lean & Smart - just like daddy.