Woah! Where has the time gone? Here we are, over half way there. The baby is certainly growing, and so am I. My center of gravity is changing everyday I think! I feel like I'm starting to get to know the baby more and more all the time. What a blessing.
Here is what is going on with Baby Frederes this week from http://www.babycenter.com/:
Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thanksgiving 2010
We have so much to be thankful for this year, starting with our wonderful families who help and support us always. Last weekend Branigan and I travelled to Illinois to visit the Varner's, and help my mom prepare for Thanksgiving with the rest of the family. We had a great time, and I couldn't believe how Branigan remembered exactly where all the toys were when we hadn't been home since August! It was funny, as soon as we got there she headed for the corner with the toys as well as the singing/dancing stuffed animals that she played at the same time, constantly. She loves those things, but I'm sort of glad we don't have that many here. My patience can only take so much!
As with everyone, Branigan took a few minutes to warm up to the group. She was running to both my parents for hugs within about 30 minutes of being home. She had never gotten to meet my Uncle David or Aunt Grace before, but by the time they left she was giving them kisses good-bye. So it was really nice. Friday I cooked while Branigan and Grandma Varner played away the day. I was so glad to see my mom doing so well! She has a little bit of stamina to get back, but otherwise has rebounded from surgery really well. Saturday we went to Olney and visited with Branigan's Great Grandma Varner, which was also a nice visit. The rest of the day we played more and cooked more so that we could have a small Thanksgiving dinner together on that evening.
Sunday was church, and then back on the road. Ugh. It was a long trip, but Branigan was so good both ways, sleeping almost the entire trip! What a great gal. We really had a lot of fun.
This last week we've been busy catching up and getting ready for Thanksgiving day as well as our trip to Phoenix. Branigan stayed the night with Grandma and Grandpa Frederes on Wednesday night, so I got the pies made and Jamie, Jamie and I all got to go see the new Harry Potter movie! It was a great movie, and we all look forward to the next one in the summer.
Thanksgiving day we spent at Fred and Shirley's in St. Joe, having quite a feast! Branigan fell asleep just before lunch, but was up before we finished lunch, so didn't have a very good nap. But still she was happy to get to play all afternoon and then nap on the way home. Boy did she throw a fit when we got home! I've never seen her like that. But, once she calmed down, she went to sleep and stayed in bed until 7am this morning. Whew. We all needed the extra sleep!
Tomorrow we leave for Phoenix for a week. We can't wait! Hope the weather holds, as we'd like to do some swimming and hiking. Once again, we have so much to be thankful for. Our families, our beautiful daughter, and a healthy baby on the way. We are so blessed.
With Aunt Grace and Uncle David
Lounging watching Sesame Street
As with everyone, Branigan took a few minutes to warm up to the group. She was running to both my parents for hugs within about 30 minutes of being home. She had never gotten to meet my Uncle David or Aunt Grace before, but by the time they left she was giving them kisses good-bye. So it was really nice. Friday I cooked while Branigan and Grandma Varner played away the day. I was so glad to see my mom doing so well! She has a little bit of stamina to get back, but otherwise has rebounded from surgery really well. Saturday we went to Olney and visited with Branigan's Great Grandma Varner, which was also a nice visit. The rest of the day we played more and cooked more so that we could have a small Thanksgiving dinner together on that evening.
Warming up to Great Grandma
Someone remind me to NEVER wear horizontal stripes :)
Four generations
One of Grandma Varner's singing dolls - this one sings "When I'm 64"
Sunday was church, and then back on the road. Ugh. It was a long trip, but Branigan was so good both ways, sleeping almost the entire trip! What a great gal. We really had a lot of fun.
Grandma, Grandpa and Sadie
Is that a rare smile caught on film of Grandpa Varner????
So she may not know the difference between a toothbrush and hairbrush yet...
This last week we've been busy catching up and getting ready for Thanksgiving day as well as our trip to Phoenix. Branigan stayed the night with Grandma and Grandpa Frederes on Wednesday night, so I got the pies made and Jamie, Jamie and I all got to go see the new Harry Potter movie! It was a great movie, and we all look forward to the next one in the summer.
Bran was playing with her puzzle, and I asked her to give me a smile. This is the silly look I got. :)
She really loves playing outside, this winter could be hard on her!
She has also learned to like playing in the sink...:)
Watching some Barney
Thanksgiving day we spent at Fred and Shirley's in St. Joe, having quite a feast! Branigan fell asleep just before lunch, but was up before we finished lunch, so didn't have a very good nap. But still she was happy to get to play all afternoon and then nap on the way home. Boy did she throw a fit when we got home! I've never seen her like that. But, once she calmed down, she went to sleep and stayed in bed until 7am this morning. Whew. We all needed the extra sleep!
Reading Curious George's Happy Thanksgiving with Daddy
Yay! Styrofoam to tear up!
The Frederes
Grandma and Grandpa Frederes
With Mom and Dad
Again
Branigan had blackberries as part of breakfast this morning - she looks like a little vampire here!
Then we had pumpkin pancakes (which were awesome) with whipped cream and syrup. She definitely had a sugar buzz from all that!
20 Weeks Pregnant
Yay! Half way! Still feeling really well, just tired. Baby must be having a major growth spurt, because I sure am! I didn't really start showing until about three weeks ago, but now there is not much mistaking the bump. :) We had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday, where everything looked great. It was so nice to get to see our little tiny miracle moving around and playing peek-a-boo with us. He/she is very shy, and would not open his/her knees for anything, so we will definitely be having a surprise in April. We were planning to be surprised anyway, so this just confirms for us that we made the right decision there. :)
I remember when I was pregnant with Branigan that she would always wake up and move around alot when there was lots of music (which is the same today, she loves music and dancing). This baby isn't quite the same as that yet, and I love how different this pregnancy is. One time that the baby always does seem to wake up and move around is if Branigan is snuggling on my lap. I think it must warm things up, because he/she always starts moving around, as if he/she knows that Branigan is there too. It always makes me smile.
Here's what is going on with baby Frederes this week from http://www.babycenter.com/:
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)
He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).
Our baby actually weighed in at about 13 oz per the sonogram - so glad to see that everything is on track!
Baby's Foot
Baby's Profile
Here's what is going on with baby Frederes this week from http://www.babycenter.com/:
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)
He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).
Our baby actually weighed in at about 13 oz per the sonogram - so glad to see that everything is on track!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Catch-Up on Pictures
I've been behind for a while, but here is a picture catch up for November.
Playing in the kitchen
In the "fort" Jamie made, door closed
Door open
With Dad, going to dinner with his family
With Mom, on our way to church
Riding her tricycle (she can't reach the petals yet), I was pushing, and this hand gesture is to tell me to stop taking pictures, and get back to pushing!
She loves to sit and snack
Lounging in the flower bed
Cozy in the glider with Scout
Running in the leaves at Aunt Robin's
Buried!
A trip to Aunt Robin's
Last weekend Branigan, Aunt Jamie and myself went to Branigan's Aunt Robin's to celebrate Robin's birthday. We had a great time, and Branigan was really a good girl. She got to spend lots of time with her Aunts, and she obviously like playing with their dogs. :) She also had never seen leaves all over the ground before, so she had an absolute blast playing outside in the leaves - can't wait to see how she likes snow!
Branigan and I leave tomorrow for Olney to help Grandma Varner get ready for Thanksgiving. She is healing well after back surgery, but could just use a hand getting things ready for the big meal. :) We come back on Sunday, and will have a VERY busy week. I have a sonogram and Dr.'s appointment on Wednesday (yay, can't wait to see baby again!), Thanksgiving Thursday, and then we leave for Phoenix on Saturday for a week. We are looking forward to the time away!
Branigan and I leave tomorrow for Olney to help Grandma Varner get ready for Thanksgiving. She is healing well after back surgery, but could just use a hand getting things ready for the big meal. :) We come back on Sunday, and will have a VERY busy week. I have a sonogram and Dr.'s appointment on Wednesday (yay, can't wait to see baby again!), Thanksgiving Thursday, and then we leave for Phoenix on Saturday for a week. We are looking forward to the time away!
Branigan at 16 Months Old
November has been nothing but a flash so far, with time moving at record speed. Unfortunately, I think that is how the rest of 2010 is going to go. But, we've had lots of good things going on. Branigan has gotten to go to the park several times, to the zoo with Grandma Shirley, and this last weekend to Aunt Robin's house for a visit.
Branigan has been such a good girl lately! The poor thing has several teeth coming in, and has a cold but she is a real trooper! She still loves Sesame Street, and anything Elmo, but has added a real passion for building blocks. :) She does a really good job building things, grouping the colors and shapes together, even putting alternating color patterns into her towers. Sometimes I can't believe she did it by herself. So smart. Branigan still loves bath time and to read, and playing with dolls. She can be a good eater, but generally is pretty picky. She loves fruit, fried potatoes (not mashed), cottage cheese, cheesy puffs (cheetos), graham crackers, cereal, cheese and yogurt. She'll eat mac & cheese, hot dogs, ham, quesadillas, pizza, and grilled cheese once in a while, but generally won't eat them often. She'll eat some sweets, but I always joke that she did not inherit my sweet tooth, because she will turn down sweets more often than not.
A typical day starts for Branigan around 6:30 am, with a quick diaper change, washing her hands and then brushing her teeth. We then head for the kitchen for a banana and cereal. She is getting a little more experimental with breakfast, as she will eat bacon and pancakes once in a while. After breakfast, she plays upstairs while Jamie and I get the day started, usually with TJ's stuff. At 9am, its time for a snack and Sesame Street. She watches the entire episode, which is all her TV for the day normally. After snacks, she usually plays wherever I am working until around 11, when it is lunch time. After lunch, we go straight to nap time, generally between 11:40 and 12.
Branigan sleeps anywhere from one to two hours, and is in a much better mood with the two hour time frame. :) After lunch we usually either go out and run errands, or work outside to get the house ready for winter. We have an afternoon snack between 2:30 and 3, and then we start planning dinner. I'm not very good at planning ahead for dinner for some reason, so generally Branigan is stuck waiting for me. After dinner she goes back to playing until bath time. She takes a bath around 6:30 or 7pm, and then we brush her teeth, get on pj's, read some books and head off to bed.
We are so proud of our little girl, and thank God everyday for our many blessings. How I came to be so lucky I'll never know.
Branigan has been such a good girl lately! The poor thing has several teeth coming in, and has a cold but she is a real trooper! She still loves Sesame Street, and anything Elmo, but has added a real passion for building blocks. :) She does a really good job building things, grouping the colors and shapes together, even putting alternating color patterns into her towers. Sometimes I can't believe she did it by herself. So smart. Branigan still loves bath time and to read, and playing with dolls. She can be a good eater, but generally is pretty picky. She loves fruit, fried potatoes (not mashed), cottage cheese, cheesy puffs (cheetos), graham crackers, cereal, cheese and yogurt. She'll eat mac & cheese, hot dogs, ham, quesadillas, pizza, and grilled cheese once in a while, but generally won't eat them often. She'll eat some sweets, but I always joke that she did not inherit my sweet tooth, because she will turn down sweets more often than not.
A typical day starts for Branigan around 6:30 am, with a quick diaper change, washing her hands and then brushing her teeth. We then head for the kitchen for a banana and cereal. She is getting a little more experimental with breakfast, as she will eat bacon and pancakes once in a while. After breakfast, she plays upstairs while Jamie and I get the day started, usually with TJ's stuff. At 9am, its time for a snack and Sesame Street. She watches the entire episode, which is all her TV for the day normally. After snacks, she usually plays wherever I am working until around 11, when it is lunch time. After lunch, we go straight to nap time, generally between 11:40 and 12.
Branigan sleeps anywhere from one to two hours, and is in a much better mood with the two hour time frame. :) After lunch we usually either go out and run errands, or work outside to get the house ready for winter. We have an afternoon snack between 2:30 and 3, and then we start planning dinner. I'm not very good at planning ahead for dinner for some reason, so generally Branigan is stuck waiting for me. After dinner she goes back to playing until bath time. She takes a bath around 6:30 or 7pm, and then we brush her teeth, get on pj's, read some books and head off to bed.
We are so proud of our little girl, and thank God everyday for our many blessings. How I came to be so lucky I'll never know.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
19 Weeks Pregnant
Well, we've been busy and I forgot to post last week. :( But hopefully this post will make up for that. Things have been going really well. I've been getting lots of sleep, although it never seems to be enough. We are almost to the half way point, which seems unreal! Time has really sped up. My belly is really starting to reflect the progression of the pregnancy as well, and I am wearing all maternity pants now. I don't really need maternity shirts yet, thank goodness!
I can feel the baby moving more and more all the time, which is a lot of fun. That definitely helps to make up for the back and hip pain that gets me each evening and the never ending fatigue. :)
Here's what is going on with the baby from http://www.babycenter.com/:
Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.
I can feel the baby moving more and more all the time, which is a lot of fun. That definitely helps to make up for the back and hip pain that gets me each evening and the never ending fatigue. :)
Here's what is going on with the baby from http://www.babycenter.com/:
Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Halloween 2010
Halloween was really fun this year. Branigan was a tiger, and she really enjoyed not just dressing up, but also going trick or treating and handing out candy to all the kids that came by. We went to three houses last night here in the neighborhood, just so she could get a taste of trick or treating. It was funny, as soon as we handed her the candy bucket, she just walked off like she knew what she was doing. It was really fun! Then she helped us to hand out candy here at the house, and really had a blast giving the kids handfuls of candy.
Branigan looked just adorable in her costume, and I really underestimated how much we would enjoy watching her have fun. It was definitely the best halloween that I can remember. What a joy to be able to experience it with her.
Prior to putting on her costume
I dressed up (a little bit) as a cat as well
On the loose
GRRRR
On the way to Dan & Loretta's, our first stop
Checking out her candy from Loretta
Knock, knock
Starting to wear out a bit
Who is out there?
Being silly
Helping hand out the candy
She "sorted" the candy for us
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