Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanksgiving

Brynleigh's first Thanksgiving!!

it was so important for me to have Bryn's first Thanksgiving at home.
important enough to where I made such a big deal months in advance!
what was I thinking??!!??
yes, we had a great time ... yes, it was a lot of work!
oh, did I mention I had spent the week prior to Thanksgiving trying to get the house in order to put it on the market... de-clutterizing (apparently that's not a word... but it should be!) and moving quite a bit of crap... I mean stuff... to storage.
needless to say I've had a hectic few weeks... but that did not stop us from celebrating everything we are thankful for... family, friends and of course... our Bryn!!!


of course... the day started with bloody mary's and Bryn helping us cook...


and thanks to Aunt Mandy... Bryn got to enjoy a little meal of her own




of course we had to get a few up-close shots...




it was great having us all together - Bryn sure does love her Nana, Grandpa and Aunty M!!
I do wish we all would've gotten to do more - we did meet up with more family for dinner... it was great to see Rob, Janette, Alyssa and little Robbie!!  
I think I made it more stressful than it should've been but what's thanksgiving without a little stress... right!!??!!
I'm thankful for my mom & dad - I'm thankful for my sister - I'm thankful for my friends - I'm thankful I get to spend each and every day with my little one - I'm thankful I have such a wonderful and caring husband - I'm thankful we all have our health ...
and I am truly thankful for my family - Bryn has brought so much joy to us and I am thankful she's a beautiful caring happy baby!!!



seriously... does she not look just like Dray!!  she is her fathers daughter!!
she is my heart... my everything!!



Wednesday, November 16, 2011

five months

where did the time go???

it seems like just yesterday she was here...


she's getting so big - coming into her own - my little sweetie



I can't even remember what life was like before her... and now I can't imagine my life without her.
I've always been a writer - it's always soothed me and in the past, it's helped me get through some tough times.  It's funny really - something has to be happening in my life... whether good or bad... to make me want to start writing.  the last time I wrote anything was for my wedding - I wrote my mom, dad, sister and future husband a poem.  since then - I've thought about it - but just never really dug deep.  
my daughter brought back my inspiration (wow - I think that's the first time I actually said 'my daughter' and I'm not gonna lie - got a chill!!)  here's to the first of many...

Miss B

I loved you before I saw you
dreamt of holding you before you were born
this precious gift from heaven
a single rose without a thorn

When you came into our lives
our world became complete
your tiny little fingers
and those tiny little feet

the day we brought you home
you were perfect from the start
so peaceful and pure
you brought joy to all our hearts

you grow so much each day
and you smile with your eyes
love to giggle, love to play
it's amazing how time flies

infancy to toddler to teen
your journey has just begun
always know I'm here for you
a mother's love never undone

I hope all your dreams come true
you have the whole world to see
and thanks to your loving Nana
you will always be known as...
... Miss B
  


Tuesday, November 1, 2011

one moment...

there's nothing like that one moment... 
the moment you share with your little one - just the two of you - so peaceful
Bryn woke up early from her nap today... she's been really tired for the past few days but this afternoon she just wasn't having it - so - I went and got her.  normally I wouldn't do that - I would just let her fuss for a little bit and fall back to sleep - this time it was different...
so - I brought her downstairs and sat in the chair with her.

she just cooed and cooed - then... she turned her head towards me and just... smiled.  for no reason at all - I wasn't making a funny face or sticking out my tongue - just a simple smile.
that, my friends, is heaven.
(Halloween night - in her Halloween night gown and momma w/ no makeup!)
speaking of Halloween...
her all ready for the trick-o-treaters...
she lasted for about 20 minutes...


so... where are we - we are 19 wks 4 days.
being pregnant - everyone went by weeks... 'how far along are you?'  'I'm 9 weeks.'  
being a new mom I'm not quite sure what's correct.  she turned 4 months on
october 17th.  where did the time go?
schedule - we are on a 3 hour 15 min schedule... for now.
wake time is 7am
8:45 nap
10:15 feed
Noon nap
1:30 feed
3 nap
4:45 feed
bedtime feeding is between 7-8 (depending on how tired she is)
and yes... sleeps through the night!
she's been sttn since about 2 months - we were very blessed!

eventually we'll move it to 3.5 hours and then to 4 hours -
it's worked best to gradually change the times due to her clock is right on the money!!

food - she takes 7oz now... I first thought this was way too much but she takes it all and is very happy!  after our 4 month checkup our doc said we could start on rice cereal - if we felt comfortable with it.  so... we tried.  we've tried twice and I'm not sure how much she actually got in her tummy!  I think we'll wait a few more weeks and try to introduce it to her again.

activity - our schedule is really redundant.  lots of repetition.
after feeding we go straight to the floor - we practice rolling over - sitting up - sitting in the bumbo - she grabs her toys (which I love) and her newfound favorite toy is her feet!
at 4 months where should a baby be?  I've read lots of stuff and at first it was really disheartening... then (after crying to my husband) I realized that it will all be in due time - when she's ready.  so - I called The Little Gym to get some info.  they have classes that start as young as 4 months - not sure what to expect but I'm hoping to go to our first class next week.

who is Bryn?  she's a lover - a cuddler - an extremely happy baby.
she knows how to work her momma - already!!
she's a talker - I've learned that if I make strong gestures with my mouth using words she'll try to copy me - of course, she's got the tongue thing down!  she loves her hands - her butterfly - and believe it or not - she loves, loves, loves old Friends episodes.  I've started collecting Disney movies - the lion king being the first last week - so I put it in for her... she watched for a split second then lost interest - when I turned it off it was on Friends and she just cooed, laughed and giggled.  she's her fathers daughter!!!
she's rolled over once by herself - it was actually my first day as a sahm - I was in bed with strep throat and mom and Dray came in to show me - sure enough the little cutie had rolled over on her belly and was sound asleep!  we then started putting her on her tummy for naps - that is until I went to her 4 month appt and the doc said not to do that - so we're back on her back or as Bryn likes to sleep - on her right side - just like her momma!

how am I doing?  I'm not gonna lie - I've been in a slump over the past few weeks.  why?  not sure.  maybe it's losing the rest of the baby weight (I say that - I weigh less now then I did right before I got preggers but none of my old clothes fit... yet... I'm on a mission!) - maybe it's wondering if I'm doing everything I can to promote her development - maybe it's due to I feel alone sometimes... we don't have anyone here we can pick up the phone and call to come help - or come over - let's just be honest here... dray and I are pretty much loners.  I use to be very outgoing... it's still in me I just have to bring it out... that's why I'm hoping joining the little gym will do both me and Bryn wonders!  it is pretty sad that I have to call me mom (3 hours away) to come in to town so I can go get a root canal... dray's been traveling quite a bit lately... he left for Chicago today and won't be home till late Friday night... but... I do feel blessed to have a mom that is willing to drive the distance to help out!!!  thanks mom!

motherhood = sacrifice!
a sacrifice I'm willing and able to make!  I chose this - for me, for Bryn, for our family - and I know it will pay off - watching her grow each and every day and seeing her do new things it amazing - there's nothing like it.

there ya have it - she's changed SO much in just 4 months...


my little cutie - my world!