A new car

I got Isaiah this little car for $1.50 at a yard sale. It was a lady that my mom works with. We also got a bunch of little girl clothes for little sister. Isaiah thought this car was so cool, but wanted Nana to push him around in it, which she did. He started to get the hang of using his feet, but it is harder in the grass. So he had fun pushing it around himself.

He made sure that he always shut the door after getting in or out. It was so funny!

Just being cheesy

Isaiah has this new thing of shutting his eyes when he gets his picture taken, so I have to remind him to keep them open. These are pics from just being silly the other day.

New PJ's

Isaiah is modeling his new PJ's that Auntie Joy got him when she was up. He loves them. He points to the truck all the time and gets all excited. So thank you again Aunt Joy!

Baby girl 19 weeks

Here are the promised 19 weeks pictures of our baby girl. I am now 22 weeks so we are chugging along. This pregnancy is much faster than Isaiah's. She is becoming more active, but still not as much as her brother was. Maybe she will be calmer! But she is moving at 11p, 2a and 5-6a. I hope she changes that around soon!

4th of July fun

This is a little pool that we got for Isaiah, so we put it up today for him. He had so much fun. Daddy put warm water in it from the house instead of all from the hose. We had a hard time getting Isaiah out of it when it was time to come in for lunch and a nap. He was shivering and turning purple, but he didn't care. It has 2 pool parts, a palm tree that squirts water, a flower with jingle bells in it, a turtle, a fishing pole with 2 fish to "catch", a slide and a dolphin to throw rings around his nose. It only holds about 3 inches of water for safety. It has a drain that lets it out so you can't over fill it. Momma was hoping she could enjoy it on hot days too!
What a fun slide! Isaiah giggled whenever he went down. Sometimes he went on his belly, face first and sometimes on his butt.
Keeping all his fish in the little pool. He thought it was fun to step over the wall continuously!
Hey momma, come on in! This is fun!

Growing up

Isaiah has grown up into a big boy bed. How sad and exciting! I finally got his room ready, except for a few things that need cleaned out and toys put in. But his bed is ready and he couldn't wait to sleep in it. He always wants to be in it and he is so proud! He can't wait for nap time or bed time. He wants me to lay with him, which I did for 2 days, but am trying to get away from. I know I could eventually and I will miss it when he doesn't want me to tuck him in, but with the baby coming, I know that will be a lot on me if I keep it up. Tonight we shed some tears, but finally gave in when momma just stood by his bed. Showing off how much room he has. The blanket on the window hopefully won't last, but he doesn't sleep well unless the room is dark, dark except for a little night light.
Bear and teddy are much needed bed time pals!
This is my big boy pillow!

I can't believe that he is in a big bed already. July 1st was his last night in his crib. I've been thinking how we as parents always remember the first time our kids do something, but do we remember their lasts? This is something I have been trying to do. I don't remember the last time Isaiah woke up during the night as an infant, the last bottle he drank, or the last time he ate baby food. I want to remember the last time he brings me a flower, the last time he wants me to tuck him in bed, and the last time he wants a kiss from me. I want to remember them so I don't suddenly wish for them and feel sad for wanting it one more time. So I can see how he is growing and developing. I love my sweet baby boy with all my heart. Somedays I long for his sweet baby breath and the hours of holding him. I cherish the very few times he may still fall asleep in my arms. I know it won't last. So love your kids with all that you are!

Fun with sand

Isaiah has a little sand pile at the end of our brick walkway in the backyard. He loves it! We are going to build one, but think it will be a project for next summer. For now, this pile works for his trucks. Tonight, Isaiah and daddy built a bridge for all the trucks. Isaiah carried all the bricks to daddy. About 12 in all. He is such a little worker and loves to help. Even when daddy said he didn't need any more bricks, Isaiah brought them until the pile was all to daddy. Even dropped one on his foot, but picked it up and kept trucking.
I thought this bridge was for me to sit on daddy!
Who can resist this cuteness??
He was a mess by the time he was done. Good thing it was bathtime. The water was yucky, dirty until he was done in the tub!

Pure sweetness

My sweet baby boy always picks me flowers when he is outside. Sometimes with help from daddy. Especially the roses with thorns. Tonight was no different and I thought it was such a beautiful rose. I love to see the joy, pride and love that Isaiah has as he runs to me with his outstretched hand, holding a flower. I hope it never ends!

Lizards

Yesterday I went to our local re-run store, which is secondhand stuff that is very nice. Some is even brand new with tags still on it. I wanted to look for some things for the baby and they start putting winter stuff out in July. Isaiah was so good while momma shopped and shopped. (I got 12 outfits for $40!) He saw these lizards and wanted them. They are stretchy and weird feeling. Since he was so good I told him he could pick out a toy and he picked the lizards. The whole way home he studied them and squeezed them and at some points, I would see him shiver and shudder. Made me crack up!
Anyways, this morning, he couldn't wait to play with his lizards. He was up a little earlier than usual and ran to the lizards. He was so proud to show them to me, so I told him I needed his picture. This picture just captures the pure pride he has in these lizards. He even sleeps with one or two of them. As long as there are never real ones!

Pancakes

Isaiah had chocolate chip pancakes ( a special treat) for breakfast one morning. He looked so cute eating them.
But Momma, I would love to have some more!

Silly boy

Isaiah decided to put on my fancy shoes the other week when I was getting ready for a wedding. Nana came and stayed with Isaiah while daddy did the wedding and momma helped out. These shoes went great with my dress, but knowing that I am clumsy (and pregnant) I took them along just to wear for the ceremony. Isaiah played with them until he went for his nap. I'd have to say that his little feel fot so perfectly in the toes that he walked like a pro in them. He even danced and jumped. I would have broken my neck!

Pampered

Meredith got me a gift card for a French Manicure for Christmas and since we had a wedding the other week, I decided to let myself be pampered. It was a nice time to get away and sit and talk with some ladies, so thank you Meredith!

Bath fun

Daddy gave Isaiah his bath one night and they played with bubbles. Isaiah loves when daddy gives baths since the water is high and filled with bubbles. He was giving himself a beard from them.

It's a ...

Well we had the ultrasound and had a hard time figuring out at first. The baby was a little balled up, but finally the sonographer said it was a baby GIRL!!! We are excited and shocked. After having a boy, I just figured we'd have another one. So now we have to get a new wardrobe, which is fun, but not fun. We have so many boy clothes!!

So now we have to decide on a name, which will be kept secret to everyone, even family! I have one that I love and Andy is thinking about it. So hopefully we both equally love the name we find for our little princess. Isaiah is going to be such a good brother. I will try to post u/s pics later, when a little boy isn't clamoring for my attention.

Big news

Today is the big day for the ultrasound to hopefully, find out if baby Brokopp #2 is a boy or a girl. I am so excited and I know daddy is too. Isaiah doesn't fully comprehend yet, but we tell him he gets to see the baby today. So at 3:30 we are praying that baby cooperates and shows us some parts! Tune in later tonight for the results!

Also, lots of love to Andy, who is a wonderful daddy to Isaiah. I can't wait for him to meet this next little one. Even though Father's Day was hectic, (preaching, church and so forth), daddy is so special to us and we hope to take him to Outback (his fav) sometime this week to celebrate! We love you lots Andy and thank God for you!

Also, to both our dads, we love you and appreciate your love to us and especially Isaiah.

Winding down

Isaiah watches a show called Hi-5 everyday before nap time. It is real people with singing, dancing, story-telling and using their imaginations. He loves it! He dances and does high 5's when it comes on. Today, he was getting pretty sleepy and lounging. I use this as wind down time before nap time. He actually isn't sleeping in the bottom picture, but it looks like it and is so sweet. He just closed his eyes when I snapped the picture. But I thought it was so precious since he would never fall asleep if not put in his bed.

Big Boy Shoes

This is Isaiah wearing daddy's sneakers today. He actually walked across the living room with them and was so proud of himself.

I asked Isaiah to smile for me and he was totally into posing in these next 2 pictures. I thought they were too funny! He is such a pleasant little man and is growing up so fast. He still doesn't talk, which doesn't concern me, since he is learning english, sign language and french. He responds to us in all 3 languages when asked or told to do something. Such a smart little man!

Our dear Bruno

As many of you know, Bruno has had some health issues in the past 6 months with diabetes and then going blind as a result. He had been doing well with the blindness though, until yesterday. We have a fire pit in our yard for cookouts and my parents were here for dinner. Andy had a service to attend, but had just gotten home, so my dad was cooking his hot dogs for him. We are unsure if Bruno smelled the hot dogs and wanted them or what, but he stepped into the fire pit with both front paws. Miraculously, he was not hurt. We can only contribute that to God. We know Bruno is only an animal, but an animal that God made for us humans and he is so special to us and Isaiah. After pulling Bruno out, Andy ran for the hose and we doused his feet for a while. He has a lot of singed hair, but we only found one little spot on the side of one pad that was red and not even blistering. Isaiah became distraught but soon calmed. Bruno had a stuffed animal in his mouth that I threw into the yard a few days ago after Isaiah dunked it in Bruno's water dish and it was soaking wet. That was a good thing because I think that saved his mouth and face from getting burned. So he is fine and walking without problems and no swelling, blistering, etc, so we are very thankful. Bruno is our first baby and Isaiah's greatest pal. We thank God for every day more that we have with him. We are praying that Bruno stays healthy enough for the next baby to love him as well.

"I am so cute!"

Just Isaiah

Just some more pics of our sweet, adorable little man, who is getting too big, too fast!

Some Cuteness

Just had to post this adorable pic of my sweet little boy. We got a new camera and I love it as far as picture quality and all. He was too cute yesterday in his Tonka bibs and truck. I knew his Aunties would love to see some pics of him. I just love this little guy!

Grace

Grace...That is not the name of our next baby, but the name that Andy calls me because I am so, well, graceful! These are pictures of our next little bundle. We are still unsure of the sex. In another 3-4 weeks we will know. On Sunday evening, I fell out of Andy's truck, backwards. I know, graceful! In my defense, the running boards were wet and I was wearing dress shoes, so my shoe slipped when I stepped up and down I went. The only thing hurting is my tailbone. I hit the running board and then Wegman's parking lot. My OB wanted to be safe and have an ultrasound, so these are it. The baby was bundled into a little ball, so even if the sonographer could tell the sex, he wouldn't have been able to since the little one wouldn't cooperate. Of course, Andy's response was that s/he is afraid of getting bounced around again. Anyways, we are doing fine. I am very sore, but know it will pass in time. Please pray that the little one cooperates when we do have the ultrasound. I really want to know the sex of this little one. So enjoy our bundled ball, who weighs a whopping 5oz! Yeah!
P.S. The name will be kept a secret until s/he makes their grand entrance into this world. Just in case anyone was wondering. It sure made it fun with Isaiah. No one guessed even though they knew it was a Bible name. We are not even sure yet with this one. I have names, but daddy doesn't want to talk about any until we know the sex.

Saying goodbye

Goodbyes are never easy. Saying goodbye to family is something I have learned since joining Andy's family. It was foreign to me growing up since all my family is close. We thought that my aunt who lived 30 minutes away was so far. Now I know how close that really is. Africa is far and Tim & Meredith went off to there this week. On May 1st, I had to say one of my hardest goodbyes. (I think for everyones sake it was a good idea that I was not at the airport!) Maybe in part to pregnancy hormones, but mainly in part to love. Tim and Meredith have been a very important part of our lives and Isaiah loves them dearly, especially his pretty Auntie Mer, who he loves to stare at, hug and send smiles to. She is the great Aunt who sustains the energy to hug, kiss, throw in the air and do flips with Isaiah. And she is tall enough to walk under, which is great fun for Isaiah. So with great sadness, but extreme joy in their new walk of ministry, we bid them farewell, for a time.

Tim and Meredith headed to Gabon, Africa, where Tim grew up, to start a short term mission center with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Here is a small "blurb" from their newsletter.

Our purpose is to launch and run a short-term missions center in Libreville, the capital city. While the teams are here, we will be transporting them, housing them, feeding them, and determining what projects and ministry opportunities they will be partnering with within the Gabonese churches. Essentially, we are the liaisons between North American churches and the Gabon National Church. Our goal is to “connect God’s people to God’s work”. This will be the C&MA’s first short-term missions center in Africa, so we are excited and honored to be the “pioneers” who will begin this ministry!

While we will miss them greatly, we will get to talk often over skype, (with the added bonus of web cams so we can see them,) we know that they are exactly where God called them at such a time as this. We pray that their ministry to the Gabonese is at the core of God's heart. While it will be difficult bringing a new niece or nephew into this world who won't immediately be showered with Auntie Mer's kisses and Uncle Tim's hugs, we wouldn't want them anywhere else than where they are, the center of God's will. So while our love and missing each other grows, our worship and praise of an awesome God also grows as he protects them in their obedience to Him.

If anyone is interested in learning more about their ministry or even partnering with them, (yes, they have to raise their own support), please contact me and I can get you all the proper information.

So Tim and Mer, it is with great honor that we send you to Gabon in God's hands to do His work. And to sweat a little in the horrid humidity! We love you!

Outside fun

Isaiah LOVES to play outside. I am so thankful that it is warmer now so we can. These are some cute pics of Isaiah. They are the last ones my mom's camera will ever take. Bruno ate it that night. We aren't sure why, but my mom needs a new one now.

Easter

This was Easter time. Isaiah wore his African outfit that Aunt Mer got him. He was so adorable in it. He hunted eggs at my parents and had a blast. His "basket" was a John Deere wheel barrow filled with goodies. He has fun with that!

First hair cut

This was Isaiah's first hair cut back in March. He has actually had it cut again since then. He was so good and sat very still. He even laughed!

Tagged

I was tagged by Jamie, so here are some things about me.

I am : tired
I think: my house should be cleaner
I know: I am a child of the King
I want: to know if this baby is a boy or girl. It is driving me nuts already! :)
I have : the best family
I wish: I could provide more for my husband
I hate: ignorance
I miss: being a paramedic and hanging with my guys
I fear: losing my kids
I feel: for hurting people
I hear : my dryer running
I smell: spring air
I crave: banana cake (so I made myself one, YUMMY!)
I search: for truth
I wonder: what I'll die from
I regret: not meeting Andy sooner
I love: tight hugs and sloppy kisses from Isaiah
I ache: for the hurts he will go through in life
I care: too much
I always : want to be right
I am not: an organizer
I believe: in an Almighty God
I dance: with Isaiah
I sing: all the time
I cry: at anything
I don’t always: do my devotions
I fight: for what I believe in
I write: less than I should
I win: at nothing
I lose: at everything
I never: give up
I confuse: lots of people
I listen: to those around me
I can usually be found: playing with Isaiah
I am scared: of moving away from family
I need: to be shown love
I am happy about: my life
I think: I'm glad this is over. Way too much thinking!