Update!

So, Gordon, Brooke and I have moved into a subsidized apartment that is dirt cheap. However, we do not have an internet connection! It sort of sucks. So, until we can get some wireless, my sister's computer will have to do. I promise to upload lots of video and photos once we can use our computer to blog. Our sweet baby Brooke is doing well. We went to the doctor's office today and she weighs 8 pounds, 14 ounces and is 21 inches long (she gained 1 pound, 2 ounces and grew 1 1/4 inches). Everything looks good and the doctor said she is healthy! (He even said she was a "beautiful child" like 3 times......although come to think of it, he probably tells that to everyone) Brooke still gets her random hiccups and gets a little angry at the burps she just can't seem to get out, but I notice she is doing a lot better. She now is getting into a pattern of sleeping for 4-5 hours and then 3 hours at night which I think is pretty awesome. It sure beats those nights where she woke up 4 times. Glad she grew out of that (for now). She doesn't ever really cry unless she is over tired or famished (when she wakes up after sleeping for 5 hours). She grunts a lot, but thats usually because she has a few bubbles in her belly. We absolutely adore her and think she is the cutest child of all time.
Gordon is in Seattle visiting companies for internship opportunities. Boeing, Microsoft, T-Mobile, and Costco were some of the places he went. Although Boeing was the one he was going for, Microsoft seems to be a little more promising. He gets back late tomorrow night. I've been a little lonely without having Gordon around and will be happy when he comes home. All I've been doing is taking care of the baby, unpacking boxes, and cleaning. It also helps that my sister is only a few blocks away. She has been coming over in the mornings to watch Brooke so I can shower with some peace of mind.
We have an interview with homeland security in Boise March 17th for my permanent residency! FINALLY! This is one of the last things that needs to happen before I am an actual permanent resident! So, we're going to travel to Boise for a day trip. I hear they're going to separate Gordon and I, ask us the same questions, and then compare the answers to make sure we married for love. I'll keep you posted. I'm a little glad that this whole permanent residency saga is coming to an end. A light at the end of the tunnel. A glimmer of hope. Hurray. Praise the Lord.
I'm really hoping to get some internet soon! I feel like a hobbit in recluse without cable or internet. Its probably good for me that I don't have direct access to it all, but going cold turkey without it is a little tough. I'm hoping by monday we will have it all set up.
I ALMOST FORGOT----My Dad is coming to visit in less than a week to meet his newest grand child. So are Gordon's parents and David, Gisela and Hyrum! Our baby Brooke is getting blessed at church on March 8th, so they all will be here for that! We are so excited! Lots of pictures and more blogging to come! I promise!

One week old today!

Hello family and friends! We just can't stop taking pictures of and recording Brooke. She is one week old today and everything she does is adorable. She is sleeping a little less, which means that she is doing a lot more. Her eyes are open more frequently and she is always looking around at new things. Lauren is doing well at getting her on somewhat of a schedule: keep her awake during the day and sleep at night (easier said than done). Here are a few of her looks and fun times that we've been having over the past week.

I think she figured out that we were video taping her and decided to give us a smile.

Mommy and daddy spending some time with little Brookie.

After her bath. She didn't even fuss or cry.

After being fed by mommy.

She's wearing one of the head bands that her Aunt Emily made her.

She is sooo cute! I can hardly stand it!

Brooke's first days

This is her hiccuping. She's so cute! Wish you all could see her in real life.This is Lauren today after feeding Brooke and before eating her lunch and napping. Below is our favorite picture of Brooke so far (she's yawning). She gets so tired sometimes that we can do whatever we want and even have the lights on and she still can't stay awake. It makes it hard to feed her sometimes.

Her name is Brooke Elizabeth Brennan. She was born 7 lbs 12 oz. and was 19 3/4 in. As you can see she has tons of hair. She is very cute and gets the hiccups a lot-That's especially cute. We were able to get some rest last night because she was taken to the nursery between feedings. I know it's hard to believe but she is even cuter in person. She also has a little birth mark on her left knee.

Budgets work!

I just wanted to write a quick little blurb on how grateful I am for a budget. Since the new year began, Gordon and I have talked about different resolutions we wanted to accomplish for the year and this was one of them. It was a little hard to get used to, especially because we don't have a lot of money to begin with, but it keeps us honest, and believe it or not, healthy! We also were trying to figure out a way to allow me to stay home with the baby while Gordon was finishing up with school without getting any student loans. Quite the feat to accomplish, let me tell you. In my mind, I either would stay home with the baby and we'd get loans, or I'd go back to work part time so we could afford things. I never thought we could do both. But, lucky for us, we got subsidized housing and an extra grant that will allow us to stay within our tiny little budget and not get any loans (at least for now). Seriously, we are so grateful for all of these different programs through the school or the US government that allow us to stay debt free. I'm also grateful for the knowledge we both have about money and budgets!

Oh, and I am also extremely thankful for tax returns! Because we're getting lots of money back, we'll be able to fly a lot this year: Oregon in March and May, Utah in April, Ottawa in July, and hopefully Seattle for the fall! I'm so excited to travel with my little family!

And, just as a side note, my due date is on Sunday, February 8th. I get induced Monday morning if I haven't had her by then!