Brooke’s Birthday

Since Erica’s birthday is one week from today, I thought I’d better grab a quick minute and finish Brooke’s birthday post, as promised.

Although it’s been 8 years, there are many details about Brooke’s birth that I remember very clearly.  I remember going into labor around 11:00 the night before.  I had fallen asleep on the couch and woken up to contractions.  I spent the next several hours laboring, alternating between walking around and rocking in the rocking chair.  It was a pretty typical labor for me, except that my water broke.  Out of all the kids, this only happened during my labor with Brooke, so that lent an extra bit of excitement to everything (as if labor and delivery isn’t exciting enough!).  Our neighbor came over very early in the morning to watch the kids and we got to the hospital around 7:00.  We called the family to let them know and Mom and Dad came to the hospital.  I remember Jennifer and Steve were out and about because Jennifer had an OB appointment that morning (she was pregnant with cousin Erin), so they headed over to the hospital. Things were progressing well, I was chatting with the family when I suddenly felt the unmistakable feeling of downward movement.  That completely changed the atmosphere in the room:  everybody rushed out (Steve had barely stepped inside the door in the first place ;-), the nurses came in for a check, and we got the green light for delivery!  At the last minute, my OB came sprinting in yelling “Wait, wait, wait!” and a short time later, Andrea Brooke was born … at 11:11 to be exact.  :-)

I’ll never forget my first look at our new little girl. So many similar features we’d seen before; same mouth, same eyes, very similar in size, but BLONDE hair! Erica had blonde hair as a toddler, but it was pretty dark at birth and lightened over time.

Being so close in age to Sarah (21 months), Brooke has been her little shadow, and they have always been very close.

And then there are the cousins.  Brooke was born in the middle of the great Griffin Baby Boom of 2003-2004.  First there were the twins in December, then Brooke, then Mason in February, then Erin in March! This picture was taken when they were all about 1 year old.

Brooke and Sophia and Isabella

Brooke and Mason

Brooke and Erin

If I could sum up Brooke’s personality in one word (which is difficult, she’s many things!), I would say “cheerful”.  She has a very sunny outlook and loves to laugh.  Happy Birthday, Brooke!