What's New With Brock

Well Mom and Dad have been home from Florida about two weeks so life is nearly back to normal. Brock continues to learn new things all the time - the latest is making fish lips. His fish lips were a big hit with his Aunt Heather and his Aunt Joanna! Brock has also continued to work on sitting up by himself - which he's doing great. This week Brock has experienced something new that is not so fun though - he has rotavirus. Which means he's not feeling well from his rooty to his tooty! Anyway - we are keeping him well hydrated and he's been getting lots of cuddling from his daddy. We will probably have a quarantined weekend - so take care all and Happy Birthday to Uncle Ross!

A Week Without Mom and Dad

Well Brock is experiencing his first week without mom and dad! Mom had a work conference in Key West, Florida and dad went with. So Brock has been staying with Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa Tom since Tuesday 1/31 and will then stay with Grandma Linda and Papa Damon beginning on Friday the 3rd. Mom and Dad have checked in many times and it sounds like Brock is doing fantastic - while mom and dad are missing him greatly! Here are a couple of photos taken a week ago. We love you Brock, and are so grateful that you have such wonderful grandparents who also love you so much!

Brock Hanging out at Home

Here is Brock hanging out in his rocking chair. This is a rocker that my parents gave me when I was little.The booty shot - cute from the back......and the front!!!!!


Brock has had a very good week Jan 15 - 20, he saw his Dr. yesterday and weighed in at over 14 pounds!!! He is also working on sitting on his own - getting stronger each day. Last weekend Brock got to spend time with his Uncle Ross and Ross' friend Laura while mom, dad, Aunt Heather, and Sandy went to Joanna's going away party. Brock also got to go out dinner on 1/13 to Joe's Crab Shack - he can't wait to go back when he's a bit older so that he can dance with the waitresses.

Brock's Many Activities

Brock is working on sitting by himself - showing a bit of independence already!


Here is Brock in his Baby Einstein Activity Center - a very intense mind and body work out. What he's really thinking is "How do I get this thing in my mouth?" as that is where everthing seems to go these days!


Well it is about half way through January and Brock is already keeping all of his New Year's resolutions - growing bigger (into about 6 month clothes now)!; getting a tooth - we're working on it! Dad's on Tylenol patrol and Brock lets us know when he needs it...; and working out - Brock is putting all of his Christmas excercise equipment to good work, are any of you!!!!

Great Grandma Jemima Jermeland Johnson January 25, 1912 - January 3, 2006

Brock's maternal Great Grandma Jemima Johnson passed away on January 3, 2006. Brock got to meet his Great Grandma a few times, and on each occassion she remarked about what a cute boy he was and what a strong grip he has!

We are glad that we have some special photos of Brock with his Great Grandma Jemima, a wonderful caring person. She was a talented seamstress and a wonderful cook, and she enjoyed laughing, spending time with family, and shopping (like her daughters and granddaughters do)!

A poem for Grandma - author unknown - "Legacy of Love".

A wife, a mother, a grandma and great grandma too, This is the legacy we have from you.
You taught us love and kissed us good night, You gave us strength, you gave us might.
A stronger person would be hard to find, And in your heart, you were always kind.
You loved us all in one way or another, Not just as a wife not just as a mother.
For all of us you gave your best, Now the time has come for you to rest.
So go in peace, you've earned your sleep, Your love in our hearts, we'll eternally keep.

Brock and Grandpa Tom playing with his new flying bug book from the Okie's and the Scot. Grandma Linda and Great Aunt Jeanie


Brock chilling with his snowmen friends.


Brock had a great first Christmas spent with family and friends. He got to spend time with the Harbison's (Grandpa Tom, Grandma Jeanne, Aunt Heather, Uncle Ross and Vonz and Merle) at our house on the Friday before Christmas. We then made a trip to Harcourt for Christmas with Grandma Linda, Papa Damon and Aunt Marilyn. The Douglas' and Cormack's also came to celebrate. Brock also made a special trip to the Gowrie Care Center where he got se spend some time with his Great Grandmother Jemima and friend Lucille Peterson.


We then came back to Des Moines and spent the week having fun with Grandma Jeanne, Grandpa Tom, Aunt Heather, Uncle Ross, the Jackson's from Denver (Aunt Jane, Uncle Russ, cousins Adam and Ben), Aunt Sue from Oklahoma and cousins Aaron, Addie and their significant others Katy (thanks for the fruitcake from Scotland!) and Michael from Switzerland and California respectively. Brock had a great time and loved all the attention and wonderful gifts he received.

Now that everyone has gone home Jay and I think Brock is probably experiencing socializing withdrawal!

Anyone in Need of a Secretary?????

Brock may only be 5 months, but he's already looking for work (we've tried to explain child labor laws to him, but he insists that he have his own money to buy more toys!!!).He types no words, doesn't anwer the phone, needs assistance with eating and diapers, and requires long naps. If you are interested in hiring him contact his dad or mom.

All kidding aside, Brock is enjoying his Bumbo and his Early Access team provided him with the desk for therapy.

Here Comes Santa Claus, Here Comes Santa Claus..

Well only being 4 1/2 months old (5 by Christmas!) Brock hasn't quite gotten into the whole Santa thing yet...but we're making sure that he dresses the part anyway!

Above are a couple of pictures of Brock in his Christmas attire. The first is of Brock in his Christmas romper from his Aunt Michelle, Uncle Gary, and cousin Indy and in the second one he is wearing his Christmas robe and slippers from Grandma Linda and Papa Damon.

Hope the Holiday Season is treating all of you well, whether you've been naughty or nice!!!

Brock's fun weekend with Dad

Brock had a good weekend (mostly hanging out with his Dad). On Friday night it was mom's Christmas Party and aunt Sandy Gallentine came to babysit - all the way from Kansas City!!! Mom and Dad had a good time out, and on Saturday Brock spent the day with Dad watching movies and sports. On Sunday Mom had another Christmas party, so Brock got to watch football with Dad and then had got to see Lucy and Liam Buckley.

Brock is gearing up for his first Christmas - although he seems more excited by the ceiling fan then the Christmas tree! But that's ok -

The first photo is Brock in his bumbo - a seat to help infants learn how to sit upright. Pretty cool!

Up With Down Family Support Group Christmas Party

These our pictures of our friends Ian Kastner and Zach Sabus. I call Ian's picture Cookie Monster as I captured him on film while he was enjoying a treat.- Ian is all boy and was enjoying eating, wrestling, and playing. The second photo is of our new friend Zach Sabus -he's checking out the presents at the Kastner's. Zach celebrates his 5th birthday on December 6th.




















Brock getting attention from Carol Peterson at the Up With Down party.

On Sunday Brock and I attended the Up With Down Christmas party in Des Moines (Jay was home with the flu - he even missed out on most of his deer hunting trip, but was there long enough to shoot a 3pt 1/2 antler deer - anyone want sausage????).

With over 80 people in attendance the Christmas party was quite an event! Brock was the youngest person in attendance with Ds, but we met three other babies born this year. We also had the chance to meet Mia Peterson who now lives in Des Moines. Mia is 32 and is the Chair of the National Down Syndrome Society's Self-Advocate Advisory Board and works for Iowa Protection & Advocacy. While I learned just a bit about Mia at the meeting, I've read a lot about her on-line by googling her name and Ds. It is awesome to know that such a fantastic role model like Mia lives in our neighborhood!
We are looking forward to the next Up with Down event.

Busy busy busy- over the weekend we also got together with our neighbors Michael & Nadine Kastner, their boys Joe & Ian (6), and Andrea, Kevin and Zach Sabus. Nadine & Michael live down the street from Jay and I, and their son Ian also has Ds. They were the first family to reach out to us when Brock was born. Andrea and Kevin's son Zach (5) also has Ds. It was fun to get together - Ian and Zach enjoyed wrestling with Jay, while Brock just had to watch (soon Brock soon!)

Brock and Harvey

Brock's friend Harvey stopped by to see him on 11/27. Harvey's mom and dad are Letitia and Hugo Kenemer (Jen went to high school with both, and lived with them in college). Moose (another high school friend and college room mate) and his lovely wife Diane also stopped by. Brock and Harvey had fun hanging out. Ironically they have similar fashion styles - or maybe that's their mother's???

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from the Harbison's
Wow, who's the brunette???

Brock celebrated his first Thanksgiving by traveling to Harcourt to Grandma Linda's and Papa Damon's on Thanksgiving Eve, and spending the day at Grandma Jeanne's and Grandpa Tom's. Fun was had at both locations. In Harcourt Brock got to see Aunt Karen from Oklahoma (Ken and Chris too)! At the Harbison's Brock got to hang out with Uncle Ross, Aunt Heather, the Wrights, Joannie and Joanna.

In other news.....Brock's pediatrician gave him the go-ahead to eat veges, yum squash :), and rice cereal!

Brock the Cyclone - Go Clones!

Thanks to Tallman's for decking me out in Cyclone gear! I'm looking forward to a great season of Clone basketball.

Got to love that smile!

Brock has become quite the comedian lately - giggling at everything. It is amazing how quickly he changes expressions - from pure joy to his more serious side.

Brock's Travels

Brock has become quite the traveler. This past weekend was his first trip out of state, ok so maybe we only made it to Nebraska. But, the land of Cornhuskers seems like a foreign country! We made the trek with Grandma Jeanne, and went to stay with Aunt Heather. Dad and Grandpa Tom were "hunting" although I'm not sure there is any proof, as they didn't shoot anything! While in Omaha, we shopped, ate and ate some more. We can't wait to go back to Aunt Heather's.

Brock then made a mid-week trip to the Harcourt/Fort Dodge area - where we got to see lot's of relatives (Aunt Marilyn, Aunt Jean and Uncle Roger and cousins Brady, Annie, Joey and Aydin; Aunt Michelle, Uncle Gary and cousin Indy, Uncle Don and Aunt Gayen and met some new friends too (Sue Tallman and Rae Heggen). We had a good time, and Brock liked sleeping by Grandma Linda and Pappa Damon's fireplace.

Brock the Halloween Giraffe

Brock celebrated his first Halloween as a scary giraffe, ok so maybe not too scary. Brock had a fun weekend - He spent Saturday day with Grandma Jeanne and Saturday night with Grandma Linda and Papa Damon.

Bundle Up!

It was cold in Iowa over the weekend (10/22 - 10/23), so Brock had his first stocking hat experience!

Brock Doing Great!

Brock had his monthly visit with his team on 10/17/05 (the OT/PT/and Early Access teacher). They all gave him wonderful reports. He impressed them with lot's of smiles and held his head up high while on his tummy and looking at himself in the mirror. It is so awesome to see him smile!

Brock Smiling

Brock is now 11 weeks old and is really starting to smile and coo! He is so much fun, and such a good baby!

Meeting Uncle Ross

Uncle Ross is back in Iowa! He got to meet Brock on 10/1/05.