My 1st Booby-Do Picture

27 weeks pregnant. (6 mo. 3 weeks) Last week my uterus measured 24cm. Right on for growth. (Your uterus should measure in cm close to the # of weeks you are pg.) I bought myself a stethoscope at Walmart last week. It's really cool to listen to baby. So what are baby’s stats this week (which, coincidentally, is the end of the second trimester)? Fifteen inches — more than a foot long — and triple what it was in week 12. Baby's weight is creeping up the charts as well, coming in at just over two pounds. Just 10 weeks to go until your baby reaches full term! From now until about week 30, Baby goes through a very active phase.

SOLD! One bike, one truck, and a free chair

This week we sold the truck, bike, and freecycled a chair...actually all in one day. If you need to sell anything, try Craig's list. It works!

This Week in Brooks' Debt-Free History

Thursday we celebrated David's birthday. What we were really excited to celebrate was "We're debt free!" Thanks to the wisdom of the Dave Ramsey plan, David was debt free before turning 32. Yeah! Like Ramsey says, we're changing our family tree. We're "weird"! Snoopy dance.

Good Bye Keewatin House

Making Memories: We sold the Keewatin house today (finally!). After waiting ever so patiently since May, we finally signed off on the house and sold it today. PTL! (This post was actually supposed to be dated Tuesday, 07/27/2010. Internet screwed up my sale date.)

2010 at Candise's Cabin

2010 Party at Candise's cabin last night. OMG I laughed so hard last night my belly hurts today. Those girls are just too much fun. I look forward to this every year, and I get more educated every year as well. This year I learned about licking eye balls, Turtle days, and Judy's new catch phrase, "Shut the back door". Ahh, making memories. Good company, good food, good friends, good times. Thanks girls. (Mom not picture b/c she's going Sat night.)

Lexie's Sore Foot

Lexie had been licking her foot for a few days. When it started getting sore looking, we called the vet. He shaved the hair from between her toes (as I had to hold her and coo to her) and discovered an infection between her toes. He said it looked as though she got stabbed w/ something and it got infected. We got a Rx for an anti-inflammatory and an antibiotic and also have to put Neosporin on the wound daily. After the Neosporin, she has to wear a sock for 15 min so as not to lick the medicine. She's still doing her 2 mi/day walk without limping or wining. Here's a pic of my little trooper.

David's New Toy

David got a "new" toy from his parents house a few wkends ago. I'll let the picture talk for itself. :)

Girl Time

Kari Z. and I finally met up for coffee after work on Wednesday. We've been promising to do this for the past year or so, but we finally said, screw the schedules, lets just get together! I forgot how much a woman needs her girlfriends. Life is just too short for excuses. Take the advice of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and phone a friend. You'll feel like a millionaire at the end of the day when you have friendships this good!

Last Weekend's Project

I forgot to post last weekend's project. I keep this online journal so that I can remember when we do things. It helps when I remember to post what we did. Our shed was just east to the garden, sitting on rotting boards and slowly sinking (thanks to previous owners). We tag-teamed it so that Dave would lift a corner and I would slide a cement block under it, doing one corner and one block at a time...praying the entire time the thing wouldn't fall on my husband or my dog. The next day we backed the trailer under the shed, put some 12' 2x4s on the trailer, and took the blocks out, one at a time, one corner at a time, to lower it onto the trailer. Drove the trailer w/ the truck onto the cement slab David poured when the garage slab was done (Aug '07). Did the block thing again, said prayers again, pulled the trailer out, and lowered it to the slab. Good teamwork, Babe! Now lets never move that thing again. (Funny, with the shed up on blocks, it looks like one of those redneck pictures you get on email. This would be labeled "redneck A/C". Not that there's anything wrong w/ rednecks.)

Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration

I just finished the book Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration by Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger). Fr Gabriel lent it to me from his personal collection. I would highly recommend this book. He writes very elegantly, but doesn't write over your head. For example, he breaks down the Lord's prayer...each sentence and its meaning, how it became, and how to reflect on it in our lives. It is beautifully written to read cover to cover, but is also a great reference book. What does it mean to be transfigured anyway? Why does God choose mountains to speak to His people? What "daily bread" are we asking for anyway? I would highly recommend this book.

Makis Back in Goodland

Troy & Heather are moving to Goodland today. They packed up the kids and the dogs, and left behind their life in Dexter. A huge decision and a huge change, but may God bless them with His path and His direction towards His will. Good luck guys and welcome home!

6 Month (24 Week) Ultrasound

3D image of Baby Brooks. Last time the little bugger wouldn't wake up. This time, it wouldn't hold still! Luckily the tech got this picture before (s)he started martial arts in my tummy again. A few more 3D foot pics and then the regular ultrasound pictures. So far, so good, except BB1 is breech right now. 16 weeks left to flip. The other night, the head was poking up and the feet stretching on the other side. I could actually cup the head in the palm of my hand.

Ylsned: Microwave your sponge/dishcloths

They say you learn something new everyday. Dish sponges are often the dirtiest pieces in a kitchen. They often live next to the sink, the germiest place in the kitchen, and hold onto those germs and dirt creating a real health hazard. Sponges need to be sanitized at last every other day, and replaced every week or two for best protection against germs. Now, I don't know if Heloise knows this one or not, but at the end of the day, after washing your dishes and wiping down your counter tops, zap your sponge/dishcloths for 30 seconds in the microwave. This kills the germs and helps dry out the sponge/cloth before hanging it up for the night. BUT, be careful, it will be hot! :) This is a safer alternative to my favorite germ killing solution to my sponges...bleach.

Movie: Grown-Ups

We went to the movie "Grown-Ups" with Jer & Stacey and Lenny & Jodi last night. It was surprisingly clean and it had some pretty good one-liners. It also has a few big names from the old Saturday Night Live Show. I'd definitely recommend seeing it, but wait until it comes out on DVD. Afterwards we went for beers (pass the Shirley Temple please) and pool. All in all a good night with friends and a great chance to catch up.

Happy 4th

I forgot to journal what we did for the holiday. Now lets see if I can remember... Friday...I don't remember. Saturday we celebrated Mark turning 6 with the Brooks Family. I supervised Gary & David installing Jackie's air conditioner. hot and humid that day. Went home to nap before heading off to Nashwauk for some gyros and mini donuts...oh and visiting w/ friends and family. We reconnected with Jer & Stac & Brekken (oh those kissable cheeks), David & Kacey, and Lenny & Jody. We found our way to Auntie Ann & Uncle Bob's and caught up with them. We watched the awesome fireworks show with Grandma Angie, Bob, Mike, Cheryl, Ann, Kim, Jeff, Josh, Matthew.
Sunday we went to church, walked the dog, and headed off to Ely. We enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and the Ely parade with Mom & Earl, and even got some Butterfinger bars and pepper from the candy throwers in the parade. (The pepper was Durkee brand, so I can't sniff, sniff at that, LOL!) Afterwards we found some food stands and bought some cotton candy for Earl's son who is serving his country overseas. (He sends him care packages of junk food he can't get over there...and Spam, as a joke.) After some good conversation in the back forty and Kirby doing laps around the table, we headed off to check out Mom's knee-high-by-the-fourth-of-July corn and surrounding gardens and say hello to the rest of the Bulinski clan. Dave & I get such a kick out of Earl's parents that we always like to be able to say hello when we can. They were excited about our expected blessing and told us stories of how their 6 kids were born. Huh. Is it too late to turn back now? :)
We made it home by 830 since I had to work Monday.

What changes when you have a baby?

What changes when you have a baby? A better question may be: What doesn't change? Here, writer and mom Rebecca Woolf lists her most notable post-baby observations.
1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.
2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid.
3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.
4. You respect your body ... finally.
5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.
6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.
7. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.
8. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.
9. Your heart breaks much more easily.
10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.
11. Every day is a surprise.
12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)
13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.
14. You become a morning person.
15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

Happy 4th of July

This was what Fr. Ryan's Homily was on today.
The 1st fold of our American Flag is a symbol of life.

The 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrances of the Veterans who have departed their prospective ranks who gave a portion of their life for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world, not to have been in vain and shall never be forgotten.

The 4th fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, for it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for his divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of the immortal Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right or wrong".

The 6th fold of our flag represents where our hearts lie - andn it is with our hearts that we pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of American, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The 7th fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through these same armed forces that our country is protected and our flag protected against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, that we might see the light of the day, and this fold is made to honor a Mother, for whom it flies on Mother's Day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, for it has been through their faith, love, loyality and devotion that the characters of men and who have made this country great have been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to fathers, for they too have given of their sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were his first born.

The 11th fold of our Flag , for in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, this represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies in their eyes the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

The 12th and final fold, for in the eyes of a Christian Citizen, this represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies in their eyes God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Ghost.

When our American Flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, which reminds us of our national motto, "In God We Trust."
When the American Flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on an appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, and they, followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, have preserved for us the rights, Privileges and Freedoms that we are enjoying today.

Wednesday Night Lessons

Last night we started a 6 week series at our church and each week contains a different topic. The RCIA candidates of the church wanted more and so both priests opened it up to everyone. I couldn't believe the people that showed up. What a blessing to have such a large group. This week's topic was the Mass. Why do we do what we do? I remembered a lot from RCIA, but it was still a good refresher. One thing Fr Ryan said was that people complain that they don't get anything our of mass. That's not why we go. We don't go to get...we go to give. Give thanks to our God for all He is and all He has done. Kinda makes it easier to go now, doesn't it? Afterwards we met up with some acquatances of ours, wonderful people we hope to get to know better, and picked at their brains for another hour afterwards along w/ the priest. Truly genuine people who are on fire for the Lord, who also had some great child rearing advice. And I may have a babysitter already!