Santa is Coming to Town!

My how the time flies! It has been 3 months since our last post! Christmas is fast approaching and I'm not sure where the time has gone.

Family news, nothing really too exciting to report. Charlotte is being a great little peanut, eating, sleeping, crying, doing all the fun baby things everyday. Hugh was in China for most of November and returned just in time for Thanksgiving and all the wonderful foods and holiday preparations. I sure was glad to have him back!

Here is a picture of Grammie with Great Auntie Janny at Thanksgiving!

The dogs are still being dogs, currently destroying our yard as fast as we can repair it!

Christmas cards are on their way, it took a little longer this year to get them out...hmmm...not sure, but I think Charlotte has something to do with it!

We've been bombarding the grandparents with pictures and videos, but after much request, here are a few that everyone can enjoy!

We send lots of love and hugs this holiday season! Here is to a happy, healthy, and propserous 2010! We love and miss you all!

Merry Christmas!

XOXOX

Brooke, Hugh, Charlotte, Ace & Belle!

Three Months!

Hello Family & Friends!

Charlotte is now three months old! We can't believe how time flies!

We are very lucky parents. She is making this job a lot easier than we expected. Charlotte is a super eater (just like her mom) and a wonderful sleeper (just like her dad). She has been sleeping through the night for about 2.5 weeks. I forgot what it was like to not get out of bed three times and sleep until morning.

Charlotte has been having fun with her cousin, London this summer. She loves to watch London play and walk about. She now has another cousin, Baby Farah, who arrived on September 4th. She is adorable and will have more pictures soon! Since Farah and Charlotte are three months apart, we have no doubt that these two girls are going to be fast friends and get into lots of fun adventures together!

London, who just turned 2 yesterday, is going to show these girls everything she knows! It will be such a blast watching the three girls, appropriately nicknamed: Tall, Grande & Venti grow up together!

Here is a video clip from this morning. She is really starting to chatter and giggle. It sure melts your heart when you hear her little voice!

Sending lots of love to everyone! Brooke, Hugh & Charlotte

Three weeks later...

The word is out - Charlotte is here! We've survived three weeks of being parents and Charlotte is teaching us a lot. Although I can't differentiate between cries right now. Everything seems pretty important and the only thing we can identify is the volume. Louder obviously indicating importance and requiring fast action.

A huge thank you to our Moms, Dads and siblings! Everyone has made our transition to home so easy. Thank you for all the babysitting, helping with feedings, grocery shopping, chauffeuring the Mama with the bum knee (me) and all the support. Its been a lot easier with everyone's extra hands.

Charlotte definitely loves the extra hugs and cradling too!

So let's see. We've fumbled around figuring out likes and dislikes, changed a hundred plus diapers, I made a bottle and forgot to put the formula in at a late night feeding, and are getting the hang of working on little sleep. Thank goodness for Caffeine.

We've also realized that we couldn't love anything more! She is perfect and we love to sit and stare at her. Here's a clip to see her in action!

We hope everyone is doing great and enjoying the summer! More posts to follow! This is definitely more interesting than reading about Hugh and I :)

Lots of Love
Mama & Papa Bear

Extra Innings Sportsfans!

Well, June 7th has come and gone...

Just a quick update, we are heading into the positive direction for the countdown at +3 days now. We had our last check up yesterday and she is doing great, running out of room, but everything seems to be happy and healthy. So happy, that she is pretty content to hang out for a while longer. Our doctor will plan to induce us on Wednesday June 17th. We head to the hospital on Tuesday night at 8pm to get things rolling along and on Wednesday we will meet our Baby girl!

Unless she decides to make an appearance this weekend. Until then, still working along, resting when I can, reading a bunch of books, and spending time with the family. The big O'Neill Clan Gathering is this weekend and we get to see Em & Ollie all weekend which will be a lot of fun! Along with other activities planned that we can now take part in. This will make the time fly by!

Here's a picture from Monday on site at one of my jobs. I also learned a new spanish word for the day. Gordita - short and fat. Hopefully, the guys were referring to the boxwoods and not me.

Next post, we should have a lot to report on! Keep thinking baby thoughts! Anyone up for a run? :)

Love and Hugs,

Mama & Papa Bear

Memorial Day - Adventure at Chagrin River

T-minus 11 Days and counting. We are really coming down the finish line here and just in time too! The weather is getting really warm in Cleveland. I don't know how all you mom's were pregnant through the heat of July and August! My hat goes off to you!

We spent an hour on Memorial Day with the Dogs at the Chagrin River. It was Belle's first swim and I think she did pretty great, although she mostly just followed Ace around and tried to keep up with him. There is video footage below, only about a minute, but just testing the blog and video uploads so we can give you all some video of BGS when she arrives!

We then headed over to my Mom & Dad's for a Memorial Day Cookout and JD's Birthday Dinner (as Monday marked the beginning of the Drcar Birthday Week - a tradition carried on to our house as well)

It was a gorgeous day for relaxing, playing bocce, and spending time with the family before the baby arrives. Even the "Daddy-to-be" caught a few minutes of nap time in the shade with the pups. Also, a rare occurance, a profile picture of the "Mommy-to-be" AKA "Pumpkin Belly."

We will keep you posted on the next couple of weeks. Due Date: June 7th

Any takers for guessing actual delivery date?

Sending Lots of Love and Hugs!

Brooke & Hugh

Homestretch!

Hugh and I are on the final approach to June 7th! We are pretty much set with our "nesting" phase. The Nursery is ready, the House is set, the Yard is complete. All we need is our little girl to come home and check out her home!

We were lucky to have an additional ultrasound on Friday, May 8th. Our Doctor was concerned because I am measuring about 2 weeks behind. She will certainly be surprised to hear that we are right on target. We are 35 weeks and 4 days. Only 3 days behind the original "Guesstimate"

She is 6 lbs. 0 oz. currently and we got a few good profile shots and one really good front view of her face. She looks a little alien-esque, but you can make out a few great facial features.

We will keep you posted on our progress! The official countdown begins now!

We hope everyone is off to a great spring! We love and miss you all!

xox

Mama & Daddy to Be

Go Pink or Go Home

Well, let's hope the doctors are right and its a girl, otherwise, we are gonna need an emergency painting session post baby!

The motto is Go Pink or Go Home! And boy, did we go pink! We installed a chair rail around the room and painted two pinks for Baby Girl Slater. The furniture is in! A surprise, since they said it would take 10 weeks. Luckily, we can schedule delivery when we are ready. It's white and should really pull the room together. We are using Lime Green as an accent and can't wait to see the finished product!

Not too much else to report, we have another doctor visit next Tuesday. 30 weeks! We start going twice a week after March.

I know we've got our brackets filled out for March Madness. Anyone up for a due date bracket?

Happy Spring!!

Lots of Love,

Brooke & Hugh

95 Days Left!

Well, hard to believe another month has gone by! Time sure if flying! We took our last solo vacation before baby! We headed to Vero Beach and stayed with Tom & Anna Bain. It sure was a nice break from the cold weather! This picture is the new John's Island Beach Club and we can't wait to spend some more time by the pool and beach next year!

Back in Cleveland, on this third day of March, a Balmy 16 degrees, we had our 6 month Doctor Appointment. All is well and the baby is the right size, heartbeat is great and we are feeling fantastic! The bump is growing, clothes are transitioning to the Maternity Wear! A huge thank you to Kate & Piper for their generous donation of Maternity Clothing! If it wasn't for them, Hugh would see me in sweats 7 days a week.

We have been getting the house ready for a few projects in the coming months and readying the nursery. I am also wrapping up my office space in Chesterland to move back home.

The Slater Adventures continue! In Family News, our Sister-in-Law, Anna Bain AKA Brownie, recently got engaged over the Valentine's Day Weekend! We are so happy for her and Brooks! We can't wait for their wedding! Congrats Guys! We love you!!

We hope everyone is doing fantastic and is getting excited for the Spring Warm Up!

Hugs & Kisses,

Brooke & Hugh

January 2009

More than halfway! We are currently at 23 weeks, but due to popular request, here is a picture of me at 20 weeks. Little bump starting to show! Just in the past three weeks, the belts are off and the Bella Band is on!

There is much to do still, but first up on the agenda is our last vacation before our Baby Girl arrives! Heading down to Vero Beach this Saturday for some sun, golf, and tennis. Hopefully some fishing too! We just had our 5th month appointment and everything is going along smoothly. She is quite active and seems to have inherited Hugh's dance moves.

We are doing great, staying warm, eating lots of apples (currently the craving of the week) and starting to think about the nursery! When we get back into town, its full steam ahead in preparation for the baby!

We think Ace knows something is up, he wakes up each morning, comes upstairs to check on mom, and then once I say "Good Morning" he heads downstairs for his breakfast. He is glued to me all day, and loves to rest his head on my stomach while watching T.V. I think he also enjoys his other "Snuggle Buddy" Belle. They aren't spoiled at all....

That's about it for January! Bitter Cold and not a whole lot of adventuring...

Until next month, we hope everyone is doing great and having a great start to 2009!

Sending lots of love,
Brooke & Hugh

2009 - The year of adventures!

As we enter 2009, we thought it best to start a blog for our growing family! This will help keep our family and friends updated on our adventures and keep in touch with everyone! Its also a great way to keep everyone updated on our latest adventure, preparing for the arrival of Baby Girl Slater!

Only 22 more weeks to go and the Slater Family can add one more female to the list! Here is our latest picture of her, waving hello to Mom and Dad! She's growing fast, and so is Mom...the pants are a little snug right now!

We are having fun with the Snow and Pups this Winter! Ace and Belle love the winter hikes through the woods. We hiked for an hour yesterday and I think they could have gone longer! Everyone was ready for a snack and a nap when we got home!

That is pretty much it for now, just figuring out the blog system here as we type. We will keep you updated with more after our next appointment next month!

Love to everyone!

xox, Brooke & Hugh