Branigan at 19 Months Old

Branigan is getting so grown up.  Every week, and sometimes even daily, I am astonished at the things she is doing, and the way she is thinking.  Her rationality is ever progressing, and her cognitive processes are obviously becoming more complex.  She plans her actions so much differently than she did a month ago.  Sometimes, it is so adorable, like when she decides what to eat first on her plate or which books she wants to read before bed.  Sometimes, it is challenging, as she strategizes her next ornery move.  This happens quite frequently :).

Branigan's hair is really getting thick now, and it is still very red and curly.  She is absolutely beautiful.  She had her first 4 molars come in last month, and this month got her 4 canine teeth making for a total of 16 teeth now!  She has a mouth ful of chompers now, and it is making a difference in how she is eating.  She even ate part of a cheeseburger today - a real first!  I'll keep trying with hamburger and other easy to chew meats, and maybe we'll even get her to try some chicken someday! :)

She is also so funny!  She loves to play and giggles more and more all the time.  The other day I went to the bathroom and forgot to put lid back down on the toilet afterwards (a rule around here because we have both a toddler and a chocolate lab - toilet water seems to be very exciting to them both).  Branigan went in the bathroom after me and put the lid down then yelled "AAHHH" and wagged her finger at me.  It was hysterical!  She loves to wag her finger at us and the dogs now, giving us orders :).  I had no idea that I point my finger so much, but I must!  Branigan also loves to "help" me cook or bake things.  She's definitely not much help, but she enjoys it so much that I can't help but let her watch.

One big development over the past month is that Branigan has moved out of her nursery and crib and into her own "big girl" room and toddler bed.  At first the transition was rough.  Branigan liked to play in her new room, but was not at all interested in sleeping there.  Then she would sleep in there, but got up and came to our room several times per night.  So we had to make the tough decision to just put her in bed and shut her door.  Although it feels kind of mean to shut her in there, it has worked.  She has slept in there the past two weeks with little interuption.  I am so proud of her, but it also just breaks my heart to see how grown up she is. 

We aren't quite finished decorating her new rrom, but for now we've painted it yellow, and added Curious George, Elmo, and Abby Cadabby wall decals.  We have painted some letters and a mirror, and just need to get those up on the walls.  Next I want to get some wall shelves to put up some of her more "keepsake" items (where she can't reach them), and probably order some more decals - either Sesame Street themed (she loves the ones that are up) or something with her name.  We'll see as it comes together.

Another fun development is that Branigan seems to love playing basketball!  Yay!  We got her a little goal and she loves dunking the ball.  She is also really good at catching the ball, although she thinks it is hillarious when the ball bounces off her face. :)  She also really likes other kids more and more all the time.  This morning we went to an open gym, and she openly interacting with a lot of the kids; smiling and laughing.  She's not very much into sharing yet, but we are working on it.  She's also just beginning to really like dolls and changing their clothes. 

Branigan still loves Elmo and Sesame Street.  We allow her to watch the program in the morning, and then the opening skit to one of them while she has dinner at night.  Her new room has a tv in it, and she is really enjoying getting to watch "The Street" in her bedroom while she has her morning snack. 

We have been very busy lately, and sometimes it worries me that we are taking this time for granted, and missing too many little things that we can never get back.  But we are trying hard to savor the moments we can, and make Bran feel like she is the center of our world - which she is.  We are so fortunate to have such a little beauty in our lives!

30 Weeks Pregnant

My First "Baby"

Well, time is absolutely flying by now.  We have been swamped at the store, which doesn't help.  But here we are, 30 weeks along.  I'm really praying we'll get Bran's room done this weekend so that we can get her moved in!  Even if we aren't done painting, I'm still setting her room up next week.  We've got to get her used to this new bed!

We started our every-two-week appointments this week, and all is still good for baby although Mom is a bit anemic this time around.  Bring on the iron supplements. :)  Today is honestly the first day where I really felt like I was in the third trimester - tired, huge and clumsy.  Although the post office hasn't issued me my own zip code yet, I can see it coming. :)  I am growing every day; but that is just good news for baby.  I really can't complain though, God has blessed us with another "normal" pregnancy - what more can we ask for?

Here is what is going on this week with Baby Frederes from http://www.babycenter.com/:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

I love mornings :)

Mornings are a great time of day around our house.  Jamie and I typically get up around 6:30, and while we are getting ready for the day, we attempt to figure out what all will be going on that day and formulate a plan of attack.  Branigan gets up between 7 and 7:30, and is such a sweetie first thing! This morning she was holding onto the side of her crib, and bouncing on the mattress.  She immediately looks for the dogs, to say hello to Sacha and Lacey.  She gets so excited seeing them - every day. 

Watching Elmo in a "Big Girl" chair

Soaking herself in the sink :)

We get up for a quick diaper change, brush our teeth (Branigan is still learning, so I brush mine with her) and head out to the kitchen for breakfast.  Branigan immediately wants her "ba-ba", or cup of milk, as well as a "na, na, na, na, na", or banana.  She won't let Jamie get the banana, open it or hold it.  I have to do all of that for her.  Then we pick out our cereal for breakfast - she gets a choice between Kix, Honey Nut Cheerios or Rice Krispies.  The krispies tend to be her favorite, but the cheerios are quickly catching up.  We then sit down and Bran feeds herself the first bowl, all by herself.  Then she'll ask for "More Please" using sign language.  She usually wants me to feed her the second bowl, with bites of banana in between.  She is a really good breakfast eater.

Daddy giving her a ride in a basket

Attempting to return the favor!  The best part of this was watching Jamie get back out of the basket :)

Breakfast is a lot of fun.  Branigan is in such a great mood, and does lots of dancing in her chair, and other silliness in order to keep our attention.  Jamie is also typically still home during this time, so its really a great time of day for us.  After breakfast, it is PLAY time.  For instance, this morning we went to an open gym, where Bran played with toy cars and wagons, played basketball (I was shocked as I didn't know she'd ever seen any play - but she grabbed a ball and ran for the basket!), went down multiple slides, bounced on play mats and ran down the big trampoline.  She had so much fun!  After Branigan plays for a few hours, we usually have snack time while watching a little Sesame Street. 

Eating a Jello Cup on her own! 

Helping Mom make chocolate chip cookies - don't mind the mess :)

Its not that I don't enjoy the rest of our day, but mornings are my favorite.  Its so simple and predictable, but I love it.  Everything will change for us soon, with another baby coming.  We are all excited and looking forward to the arrival of baby #2, but we are also savoring this time together just the way things are now without looking ahead too far.