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!