It's been a very fast few weeks, with both kids growing in different ways. Keaton, very obviously, is getting bigger by the minute! I cannot believe the difference in him from just a few short weeks ago. He is filling out so quickly, and looks less and less scrunched up every day. His umbilical cord fell out on his two week birthday, and his circumcision has been healed since he was about 10 days old. So all of those brand new baby things are quickly falling away. And although he is still so small, and I love watching him grow, it breaks my heart that it all happens so fast. Couldn't time stand still for just a moment?
Branigan is growing as well, but more in the sense that she's growing up. She is such a good big sister! She really just goes about her own business for about 95% of the day, but when she does pay attention to Keaton she is so incredibly sweet. It warms my heart. She is getting better and better at holding him and is improving her "soft touches" all the time.
Branigan is also doing some new stuff. She can pronounce almost every letter of the alphabet, including vowels and is learning more signs all the time. I almost have her signing I Love You. I can't wait for her to get that one, she will be spoiled for sure after she signs that to her Dad the first time! :) Branigan has also been loving playing with jewelry, still loves her books, and has been dying to get outside more to play with her sidewalk chalk. She is really at a fun age, even though she can be very challenging as well.
There are several things that make Keaton happy. Firstly, he loves to be held up on your shoulder, and just like Branigan, he likes to have you run your finger along his jaw line. He is moving lots more every day, and is really gaining some volume on his cries. He loves the giraffe that plays "Rock a Bye" in his crib, and is happy to just lay and watch it move and play for him for several minutes at a time. I always wonder if he recognizes the song from hearing me sing it to Branigan so much when I was pregnant. He also doesn't mind doing tummy time at all. In fact, he often falls asleep there he is so comfortable!
Our days are now pretty crazy busy. The other morning I spent a full hour after I got up feeding Keaton, changing diapers and getting Branigan dressed. My definition of productive will have to change! Whole afternoons disappear between feeding the two of them and taking care of naps. Its crazy, but I feel very lucky to get to be at home with the two of them. I couldn't ask for better natured kids. Keaton only cries when his tummy hurts or he is hungry, and as long as you pay some attention to Branigan, she is pretty content as well. Lets hope it stays this way!!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Changing so quickly
I swear that Keaton has changed in front of my eyes over the past two days. His face and trunk are filling out so much, and he is uncurling more and more all the time. His jaundice is also clearing up really well, revealing skin that is as fair as his sister's. Keaton is a great eater, helping him to fill out all the more quickly.
Branigan is handling her new little brother so well! She gets to hold him once or twice a day, and other than that really just pursues her day like she would any other. She is extremely busy, and is always up to something. I know I better be on my toes when things get quiet!
Things are changing for Jamie and I as well. We are both busy. Even though he is technically "off" right now, he has been to the store everyday. Its sort of annoying, but I know that is just part of it for us. I'm feeling much better, although I'm still extremely tired. I'm averaging around five hours of sleep at night, all broken up, so my brains are sort of turning into scrambled eggs. Physically I am better, but the stitches from an episiotomy are no fun to heal. That will just take some time - there will be no bike riding in my near future! Other than that, I can honestly say that I feel way better than I did pregnant, so I will complain no more!
Branigan is handling her new little brother so well! She gets to hold him once or twice a day, and other than that really just pursues her day like she would any other. She is extremely busy, and is always up to something. I know I better be on my toes when things get quiet!
Things are changing for Jamie and I as well. We are both busy. Even though he is technically "off" right now, he has been to the store everyday. Its sort of annoying, but I know that is just part of it for us. I'm feeling much better, although I'm still extremely tired. I'm averaging around five hours of sleep at night, all broken up, so my brains are sort of turning into scrambled eggs. Physically I am better, but the stitches from an episiotomy are no fun to heal. That will just take some time - there will be no bike riding in my near future! Other than that, I can honestly say that I feel way better than I did pregnant, so I will complain no more!
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Fastest 10 Days Ever
The past ten days have to be the fastest of my life. Keaton is changing so quickly! He fills out and uncurls more and more every day. He has already brought so much to our home. Branigan loves him, and I'm truly amazed each time she looks at him with this absolute excitement in her eyes.
We came home last Sunday, and immediately Keaton got to meet his sister. She was SO excited to see him, and immediately wanted to get to know him. It really warmed my heart; I was so nervous that Branigan would not like having a younger sibling. But she surprised me and took to Keaton right away. We spent the afternoon just hanging out as a family of four, and then had my parents over for dinner. It was a nice homecoming for Keaton.
Monday we had both sets of Grandparents over for dinner, and Tuesday brought Keaton's first weight check at the doctor's office. I knew he had been eating well, but I was still nervous. Branigan's first visit was such a nightmare, and I just worried that Keaton was still losing weight. As it turns out, Keaton had not lost weight, and in fact he had gained 6 oz since leaving the hospital! Yay for Keaton and Mommy! The nurse said that he looked perfect, so what a relief! Branigan was really good on this outing. That afternoon Grandma and Grandpa Varner came over and watched Keaton while Jamie, Branigan and I went to get our double stroller.
Wednesday was a beautiful day, and we spent most of that time engaged in a little R&R. I took the kids on a short walk in the stroller in the afternoon, but other than that we tried to get some rest in. Thursday was a busy day of trying to clean up the house since it had been sorely neglected for the better part of a week, and then going shopping - our first shopping outing all four of us - for baby shower gifts for my friend Michelle. It was a challenging trip, as its a lot of work to get out of the house with two kids in diapers! But we all survived.
Friday my body told me that I had been seriously overdoing it, so I spent most of the day relaxing. Fred and Shirley came and picked up Branigan on Friday afternoon, and she spent the night at their house. Jamie, Keaton and I spent the evening catching up on old Glee episodes.
Saturday Keaton and I made our first solo outing, to my dear friend Michelle's baby shower. She is due May 23, and doesn't know yet if they are having a boy or girl. I'm so happy for her and her husband Steve - they deserve nothing but the best. Keaton was a little angel while we there. We got to see Michelle, her husband and her mother Kathy, who I hadn't seen in nearly a year. So it was a great first trip out with my son.
Sunday and Monday were finally uneventful. Jamie had to go to the store a few times, and was actually there for much of the day on Monday helping out an employee. But it did give me a chance to see how I'd do with two kids alone for much of the afternoon. It was busy, but kind of fun as well. In the end we all survived.
It really has been the fastest ten days of my life. Keaton is a wonderful little boy, and Jamie and I are really savoring our evenings of just sitting around and cuddling him. Branigan is such a joy as well, and gets most of our attention during the day, so all this works together to make time move quickly. Oh, to be able to stop time, or maybe just pause?
We came home last Sunday, and immediately Keaton got to meet his sister. She was SO excited to see him, and immediately wanted to get to know him. It really warmed my heart; I was so nervous that Branigan would not like having a younger sibling. But she surprised me and took to Keaton right away. We spent the afternoon just hanging out as a family of four, and then had my parents over for dinner. It was a nice homecoming for Keaton.
Monday we had both sets of Grandparents over for dinner, and Tuesday brought Keaton's first weight check at the doctor's office. I knew he had been eating well, but I was still nervous. Branigan's first visit was such a nightmare, and I just worried that Keaton was still losing weight. As it turns out, Keaton had not lost weight, and in fact he had gained 6 oz since leaving the hospital! Yay for Keaton and Mommy! The nurse said that he looked perfect, so what a relief! Branigan was really good on this outing. That afternoon Grandma and Grandpa Varner came over and watched Keaton while Jamie, Branigan and I went to get our double stroller.
Wednesday was a beautiful day, and we spent most of that time engaged in a little R&R. I took the kids on a short walk in the stroller in the afternoon, but other than that we tried to get some rest in. Thursday was a busy day of trying to clean up the house since it had been sorely neglected for the better part of a week, and then going shopping - our first shopping outing all four of us - for baby shower gifts for my friend Michelle. It was a challenging trip, as its a lot of work to get out of the house with two kids in diapers! But we all survived.
Friday my body told me that I had been seriously overdoing it, so I spent most of the day relaxing. Fred and Shirley came and picked up Branigan on Friday afternoon, and she spent the night at their house. Jamie, Keaton and I spent the evening catching up on old Glee episodes.
Saturday Keaton and I made our first solo outing, to my dear friend Michelle's baby shower. She is due May 23, and doesn't know yet if they are having a boy or girl. I'm so happy for her and her husband Steve - they deserve nothing but the best. Keaton was a little angel while we there. We got to see Michelle, her husband and her mother Kathy, who I hadn't seen in nearly a year. So it was a great first trip out with my son.
Sunday and Monday were finally uneventful. Jamie had to go to the store a few times, and was actually there for much of the day on Monday helping out an employee. But it did give me a chance to see how I'd do with two kids alone for much of the afternoon. It was busy, but kind of fun as well. In the end we all survived.
It really has been the fastest ten days of my life. Keaton is a wonderful little boy, and Jamie and I are really savoring our evenings of just sitting around and cuddling him. Branigan is such a joy as well, and gets most of our attention during the day, so all this works together to make time move quickly. Oh, to be able to stop time, or maybe just pause?
Saturday, April 9, 2011
A Proud Mama Again - Keaton Andrew Arrives
Well, its been a wonderful, long, short, scary, and perfect day. We have once again been blessed with a beautiful and healthy baby - this time a boy! He is perfect. I can't believe it, and have been laying here saying my prayers and counting my blessings. How fortunate we are!
I started the day early, as I woke up having contractions. Since we were scheduled to come in at 7:00 am, I decided to just wait it out. As it turns out, Keaton was determined to enter this world today, one way or another. We checked in at 7, and once we were hooked up to the monitors, it confirmed that the contractions were coming every five minutes. They were not very strong, but the pitocin soon changed that!
Dr. Martin (my OB) came in at about 7:45 and found that I was dilated to 3, so she broke my water. That really got things going! I got my epidural at 8:30, as the contractions were already coming every three minutes, and were getting stronger all the time. By 9:45 I was dilated to 7, and by 10:10 we were fully complete. At this point, it got pretty intense. I really had a ton of pressure, and felt like I needed to push. But Dr. Martin was back in her office! So we waited about 20 minutes for her to get in, and then started pushing right away. Three short pushes later and we had ourselves a little boy!
Although Jamie and I both guessed that the baby was a boy, I was still shocked when Dr. Martin made the announcement. As soon as she said "It's a Boy!" I was crying, and Keaton was peeing! In every direction possible. It was so cute.
Overall, he is absolutely perfect, and I have fallen in love again. He makes lots of beautiful little noises that are music to our ears, and he smells amazing! I could snuggle him 24/7. He is a super good eater, and was nursing within 15 minutes of being born with a great latch! Bran took quite a bit longer to get the hang of nursing, so this is a big relief for me.
I'm also so happy for my husband. He loves Branigan like no other and has never acted like anything but a proud father to his beautiful little girl. But I know that a big part of him wanted a son, and since this is our last child, I'm so glad we will both get to experience a boy as well!
We both miss Branigan like crazy right now, but I don't think we are going to have her come visit us at the hospital. Although we both miss her, and we know she misses us, we are not going to have her visit us here. We think it would be too hard on her to leave us, and these rooms are not exactly set up for curious toddlers.
I'm 100% more sore than I remember being after Branigan. There is something to be said for taking your time in labor - going quickly causes pains in all kinds of new places. Plus the anesthesiologist who put in my epidural was a resident in training - and she definitely roughed up my back a little. But, the epidural worked, and I'm sure that I'll feel much better even tomorrow. All of these things seem so small in comparison to what I have gained today. A brother for my little girl, a son for my husband and I, a nephew for my sisters, and a grandson for our parents.
April 8, 2011. What a special day. Thanks be to God.
I didn't look this calm for very long :)
Just out and saying hi to Mom
I started the day early, as I woke up having contractions. Since we were scheduled to come in at 7:00 am, I decided to just wait it out. As it turns out, Keaton was determined to enter this world today, one way or another. We checked in at 7, and once we were hooked up to the monitors, it confirmed that the contractions were coming every five minutes. They were not very strong, but the pitocin soon changed that!
Love at First Sight
Baby's first bath
We have a picture of Branigan after her first bath that looks nearly identical to this!
Dr. Martin (my OB) came in at about 7:45 and found that I was dilated to 3, so she broke my water. That really got things going! I got my epidural at 8:30, as the contractions were already coming every three minutes, and were getting stronger all the time. By 9:45 I was dilated to 7, and by 10:10 we were fully complete. At this point, it got pretty intense. I really had a ton of pressure, and felt like I needed to push. But Dr. Martin was back in her office! So we waited about 20 minutes for her to get in, and then started pushing right away. Three short pushes later and we had ourselves a little boy!
I'm calling this perfection
Although Jamie and I both guessed that the baby was a boy, I was still shocked when Dr. Martin made the announcement. As soon as she said "It's a Boy!" I was crying, and Keaton was peeing! In every direction possible. It was so cute.
I love feet :)
At first, I didn't think he looked anything like Branigan. But the more he pinked up it was obvious - he's a clone! There are several pictures we took that are very similar to ones we took of Bran, and I'm not sure I'd be able to tell the difference up next to each other. He does have some hair, and it looks to be a very soft brown and dark blonde-ish color. Although its not much, its probably as much as B had at six months! His eyes are that blue-ish grey color that signals it will be a little while before we know what color his eyes will be. 
Overall, he is absolutely perfect, and I have fallen in love again. He makes lots of beautiful little noises that are music to our ears, and he smells amazing! I could snuggle him 24/7. He is a super good eater, and was nursing within 15 minutes of being born with a great latch! Bran took quite a bit longer to get the hang of nursing, so this is a big relief for me.
I'm also so happy for my husband. He loves Branigan like no other and has never acted like anything but a proud father to his beautiful little girl. But I know that a big part of him wanted a son, and since this is our last child, I'm so glad we will both get to experience a boy as well!
We both miss Branigan like crazy right now, but I don't think we are going to have her come visit us at the hospital. Although we both miss her, and we know she misses us, we are not going to have her visit us here. We think it would be too hard on her to leave us, and these rooms are not exactly set up for curious toddlers.
I'm 100% more sore than I remember being after Branigan. There is something to be said for taking your time in labor - going quickly causes pains in all kinds of new places. Plus the anesthesiologist who put in my epidural was a resident in training - and she definitely roughed up my back a little. But, the epidural worked, and I'm sure that I'll feel much better even tomorrow. All of these things seem so small in comparison to what I have gained today. A brother for my little girl, a son for my husband and I, a nephew for my sisters, and a grandson for our parents.
April 8, 2011. What a special day. Thanks be to God.
Keaton Andrew Frederes
Born at 10:52 am
April 8, 2011
7 lbs, 11.7 oz
20 inches long
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Things to Remember about Pregnancy
Good things to remember about being pregnant:
1) Being a part of a miracle that you get to watch happen over months
2) Feeling your baby move and grow inside you
3) The anticipation of seeing that little face for the first time
4) The overwhelming love you begin to feel, even early on
5) Creating a life with your spouse - nothing more special than that in this world
6) In the end you receive the greatest reward
The other things to remember about being pregnant in case I ever get baby fever again:
1) You spend months getting bigger and bigger by the day
2) Constant fatigue
3) Constant moodiness
4) Constant hormone rushes (see number 3?)
5) Irritability (see numbers 3 and 4?)
6) Sore hips and back
7) Insomnia
8) By 34 weeks, constantly uncomfortable
9) Heartburn
10) Leg cramps
11) The difficulty of sitting on the floor
12) The difficulty of getting up off the floor
13) Swelling
1) Being a part of a miracle that you get to watch happen over months
2) Feeling your baby move and grow inside you
3) The anticipation of seeing that little face for the first time
4) The overwhelming love you begin to feel, even early on
5) Creating a life with your spouse - nothing more special than that in this world
6) In the end you receive the greatest reward
The other things to remember about being pregnant in case I ever get baby fever again:
1) You spend months getting bigger and bigger by the day
2) Constant fatigue
3) Constant moodiness
4) Constant hormone rushes (see number 3?)
5) Irritability (see numbers 3 and 4?)
6) Sore hips and back
7) Insomnia
8) By 34 weeks, constantly uncomfortable
9) Heartburn
10) Leg cramps
11) The difficulty of sitting on the floor
12) The difficulty of getting up off the floor
13) Swelling
My Only Child
Dear Branigan,
What a strange time for me. I'm so excited to welcome your new little brother or sister into this world, but a very big part of me can't help but think about how wonderful its been to have so much time just the two of us. You get my undivided attention everyday, and its been both my pleasure, and my honor, to watch you grow up.
99% of this won't change with the addition of a sibling, but my attention will be split. I hope that you understand quickly, as its going to break my heart if it hurts your feelings to see me holding another baby. In time, I know you will love the baby and this is by far the best gift we can give you - a friend and playmate. I just hope that you aren't too mad at Mom for leaving you for a few days and then coming home with a baby!
You are such a good girl! You start our day with a smile everyday. You always give us a huge smile when you get up. Mornings are probably your best time. You are well rested and ready for the day! You usually eat a good breakfast and then start dragging out the toys for the day. You do not like putting your clothes on or getting your hair brushed. At all. But we usually just save these activities for when Sesame Street comes on and you are distracted. I generally try to get any errands run in the morning and get home by 11:30 or 12 so that we can get to your lunch on time.
You take a nap around 1:00, usually for around an hour and a half. Naptime is not easy, as you don't like to be left alone during the day. But you feel better when you get up and we go ahead and play the rest of the afternoon. Since its getting nicer, we go outside and play until dinner time most days. You still take a bath at around 6:30 or 7, but we have added "spa time" to our nightly routine. So we put lotion on your hands and feet and give you a good foot rub (which you seem to love) while we brush your teeth. You have decided that you love the sprayer in the shower, and always want us to hold it over your head so you can play in it, so most nights we go ahead and blow your hair dry as well. After that we read books and you go right to bed, most nights around 7:45 or 8:00.
Its interesting to see you interact with other kids. You really LOVE playing with other kids around your age, and watching the bigger kids. You frequently try to get other children to follow you and do the same thing you are, the way you do us here at home. With us, you grab our fingers and pull us to go with you wherever you want to go. With kids, you try to tell them what you want, but if they don't listen you are still happy to follow them. I was cracking up last week as you were playing with a little girl who only spoke Spanish. This actually worked out fine as you don't really speak English either, so you were on the same page. :)
You are very glad that the weather is warming, and really love to play outside. We play with sidewalk chalk, take wagon rides, go for walks, play on the slide and the swings, and explore nature. You are loving the flowers, and make a point to smell every flower you can while we are outside. I can't wait until the baby is a little bigger and I'm feeling better so that we can walk to the park. I know that you are going to love the woods we walk through to get there.
You also love to get out. Whether we are going to Sam's club, Toys R Us, or a play group, you are always excited to get out. You like new people for the most part, as long as Mommy is near. You are getting good at saying "my ma ma" and "my da da". This is how you address us and how you look for us. For instance if I leave the room that you are in, I might hear "my ma ma?" like a question asking where I am. A quick word from me so that you know where I am calms you down. This is also a time you get anything you want; it touches my heart and makes me smile every time.
Bath time is a big part of the day for you. Most nights your dad and I are both able to sit down and play with you while you bathe, making it the most consistent family time we have. As I said, you love the shower head and playing under it (which has made washing your hair infinitely more enjoyable). You also love bubble baths, bath toys, bath tub crayons and splashing in general. This is one of our favorite times of the day as well.
Your coordination is improving every day. Sometimes I watch you and am shocked at how you manipulate small objects and how quickly you figure new things out. You are getting better all the time at coloring and drawing and seem to be "pretending" more all the time.
You are a smart and expressive little girl, and are very outspoken (wonder where you got that). If you like something you let us know, but this also works for your not liking something. You are very stubborn. There are times that I will tell you "no" at least 20 times in a row about the same thing. I have to really check myself during these situations, as you usually know that you are doing something you are not supposed to, and the ornery look on your face as you continue to do it actually cracks me up.
You are very tall for your age, and make a lot of kids much older than you look short. You where a 2T size in pretty much everything now, and have almost outgrown your size 7 shoes (Nora, 3, who lives next door just now wears a 7). Your hair is the prettiest color of red! People just love it. It also curls all over your head. The back is actually longer than your shoulders, but you'd never know it as it curls up to looking like it doesn't hang down at all. You really are a beautiful little girl. Your eyes are pretty much just like mine were. They look pretty dark, almost brown, but are actually hazel. I predict that your eyes will get more and more green the older you get.
Your smile lights up the room, and you are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. You have helped me to grow up and see the important things in life, and have brought joy to my life that I never imagined was possible. I hope you never doubt how important and how loved you are. You are my pride and joy, and I feel so honored to get to be a part of your life. I hope you always know how much I love you.
All my love,
Mom
What a strange time for me. I'm so excited to welcome your new little brother or sister into this world, but a very big part of me can't help but think about how wonderful its been to have so much time just the two of us. You get my undivided attention everyday, and its been both my pleasure, and my honor, to watch you grow up.
99% of this won't change with the addition of a sibling, but my attention will be split. I hope that you understand quickly, as its going to break my heart if it hurts your feelings to see me holding another baby. In time, I know you will love the baby and this is by far the best gift we can give you - a friend and playmate. I just hope that you aren't too mad at Mom for leaving you for a few days and then coming home with a baby!
You are such a good girl! You start our day with a smile everyday. You always give us a huge smile when you get up. Mornings are probably your best time. You are well rested and ready for the day! You usually eat a good breakfast and then start dragging out the toys for the day. You do not like putting your clothes on or getting your hair brushed. At all. But we usually just save these activities for when Sesame Street comes on and you are distracted. I generally try to get any errands run in the morning and get home by 11:30 or 12 so that we can get to your lunch on time.
You take a nap around 1:00, usually for around an hour and a half. Naptime is not easy, as you don't like to be left alone during the day. But you feel better when you get up and we go ahead and play the rest of the afternoon. Since its getting nicer, we go outside and play until dinner time most days. You still take a bath at around 6:30 or 7, but we have added "spa time" to our nightly routine. So we put lotion on your hands and feet and give you a good foot rub (which you seem to love) while we brush your teeth. You have decided that you love the sprayer in the shower, and always want us to hold it over your head so you can play in it, so most nights we go ahead and blow your hair dry as well. After that we read books and you go right to bed, most nights around 7:45 or 8:00.
Its interesting to see you interact with other kids. You really LOVE playing with other kids around your age, and watching the bigger kids. You frequently try to get other children to follow you and do the same thing you are, the way you do us here at home. With us, you grab our fingers and pull us to go with you wherever you want to go. With kids, you try to tell them what you want, but if they don't listen you are still happy to follow them. I was cracking up last week as you were playing with a little girl who only spoke Spanish. This actually worked out fine as you don't really speak English either, so you were on the same page. :)
You are very glad that the weather is warming, and really love to play outside. We play with sidewalk chalk, take wagon rides, go for walks, play on the slide and the swings, and explore nature. You are loving the flowers, and make a point to smell every flower you can while we are outside. I can't wait until the baby is a little bigger and I'm feeling better so that we can walk to the park. I know that you are going to love the woods we walk through to get there.
You also love to get out. Whether we are going to Sam's club, Toys R Us, or a play group, you are always excited to get out. You like new people for the most part, as long as Mommy is near. You are getting good at saying "my ma ma" and "my da da". This is how you address us and how you look for us. For instance if I leave the room that you are in, I might hear "my ma ma?" like a question asking where I am. A quick word from me so that you know where I am calms you down. This is also a time you get anything you want; it touches my heart and makes me smile every time.
Bath time is a big part of the day for you. Most nights your dad and I are both able to sit down and play with you while you bathe, making it the most consistent family time we have. As I said, you love the shower head and playing under it (which has made washing your hair infinitely more enjoyable). You also love bubble baths, bath toys, bath tub crayons and splashing in general. This is one of our favorite times of the day as well.
Your coordination is improving every day. Sometimes I watch you and am shocked at how you manipulate small objects and how quickly you figure new things out. You are getting better all the time at coloring and drawing and seem to be "pretending" more all the time.
You are a smart and expressive little girl, and are very outspoken (wonder where you got that). If you like something you let us know, but this also works for your not liking something. You are very stubborn. There are times that I will tell you "no" at least 20 times in a row about the same thing. I have to really check myself during these situations, as you usually know that you are doing something you are not supposed to, and the ornery look on your face as you continue to do it actually cracks me up.
You are very tall for your age, and make a lot of kids much older than you look short. You where a 2T size in pretty much everything now, and have almost outgrown your size 7 shoes (Nora, 3, who lives next door just now wears a 7). Your hair is the prettiest color of red! People just love it. It also curls all over your head. The back is actually longer than your shoulders, but you'd never know it as it curls up to looking like it doesn't hang down at all. You really are a beautiful little girl. Your eyes are pretty much just like mine were. They look pretty dark, almost brown, but are actually hazel. I predict that your eyes will get more and more green the older you get.
Your smile lights up the room, and you are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. You have helped me to grow up and see the important things in life, and have brought joy to my life that I never imagined was possible. I hope you never doubt how important and how loved you are. You are my pride and joy, and I feel so honored to get to be a part of your life. I hope you always know how much I love you.
All my love,
Mom
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Waiting for Baby
I think this is the point we are at now, just waiting for baby. The house is as ready as its ever going to be, the car seats are installed and our bags are packed. I've had some more contractions, but nothing with any regularity, so this is "false labor". Just enough to freak me out :) My feet and legs are starting to swell up (which never happened with Branigan), so I'm going to start resting more - with the exception of trying to keep the entire house cleaned everyday so that its done when baby comes home. Hmm. Seems like I'm going to fail somewhere. :) Only 2 1/2 weeks to go!
Branigan has been such a good girl lately - with the exception of screaming all night on Monday night. She has never done in 20 months, and now today her ear is looking pretty yucky. I'm wondering if the two are connected. But mostly she's just been wonderful. Fred and Shirley are back from Florida, so she has had fun playing with them, and has been playing a lot with Aunt Jamie as well - in fact yesterday we were at her house, and Branigan pointed at the door and waved good bye to me. I think she was kicking me out! LOL. Today my friend Joyce came over for lunch, and although B was a little shy to begin with, she ended up giving Joyce a hug and a kiss good bye. It was adorable!
B has a couple of other new accomplishments as well. She knows the colors red, green, blue, yellow and orange, and will point to squares, circles or triangles. Its amazing how all these little things make you so proud as a parent! She has also progressed from just scribbling lines on paper, to drawing in circles, which is apparently a significant developmental milestone. She loves crayons, and has stopped eating them for the most part. I consider this to be a much bigger developmental milestone. :)
This Friday I have another Dr.'s appointment so we will see how things are coming along. Last week I was dilated to 1 and 80% effaced. I'm hoping I didn't gain much more weight - ugh. We had Branigan at exactly 38 weeks, which would be Monday this time around. I don't think it will be that early this time, but we will see! Baby needs to wait until at least Sunday, when our shift supervisor Jenn gets back to town so that all our shifts are covered. :)
I'm calling this progress - rather than just throwing all the containers on the floor, she is putting the lids on them and stacking them. Still a mess, but not nearly as much so!
Branigan has been such a good girl lately - with the exception of screaming all night on Monday night. She has never done in 20 months, and now today her ear is looking pretty yucky. I'm wondering if the two are connected. But mostly she's just been wonderful. Fred and Shirley are back from Florida, so she has had fun playing with them, and has been playing a lot with Aunt Jamie as well - in fact yesterday we were at her house, and Branigan pointed at the door and waved good bye to me. I think she was kicking me out! LOL. Today my friend Joyce came over for lunch, and although B was a little shy to begin with, she ended up giving Joyce a hug and a kiss good bye. It was adorable!
This kid loves to have her snacks outside
Going down all on her own!
Scaring her mom....
B has a couple of other new accomplishments as well. She knows the colors red, green, blue, yellow and orange, and will point to squares, circles or triangles. Its amazing how all these little things make you so proud as a parent! She has also progressed from just scribbling lines on paper, to drawing in circles, which is apparently a significant developmental milestone. She loves crayons, and has stopped eating them for the most part. I consider this to be a much bigger developmental milestone. :)
Jamie's birthday cake on Saturday
She REALLY wanted a piece of cake :)
She got a little camera shy
Helping Dad blow out the candles
This Friday I have another Dr.'s appointment so we will see how things are coming along. Last week I was dilated to 1 and 80% effaced. I'm hoping I didn't gain much more weight - ugh. We had Branigan at exactly 38 weeks, which would be Monday this time around. I don't think it will be that early this time, but we will see! Baby needs to wait until at least Sunday, when our shift supervisor Jenn gets back to town so that all our shifts are covered. :)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
36 Weeks Pregnant
Whew. Well we are probably getting close to the end of my pregnant postings, and there are certainly a few key things I want to remember about this pregnancy, so here goes.
Firstly, this baby behaves much differently than Branigan. You could always see Branigan's feet moving around on the outside of my tummy. She moved alot, and was always kicking the same place on my right side. It was easy for other people to feel her kick as well. That is not the case with this baby. It always has its back out, and kicks me inside. This is not always the most comfortable, but it is interesting. Jamie has been able to feel the baby push out with its back or bottom, but not the same way with his/her feet. I do get kicked a lot, but I can also feel the baby move its head and hands around, which is pretty neat, although fairly uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel like the baby is trying to claw its way out. :)
This pregnancy is different in lots of other ways as well. The doctor says that it is because my body knows what it is doing this time, but I feel like the baby is going to fall out of me at least once per day. I've already had some contractions, although they were very far apart. I'm so curious to see how things will progress; I doubt that I'll be lucky enough to have my water break in the middle of the night again. So, we'll see how things go.
I will go ahead and make my prediction, I think this baby is a girl as well. Not much to base this on, just a feeling. We are still picking out both girl and boy names of course, but I think its a girl.
The nursery is basically ready for baby, and Branigan is fully settled in her new bedroom. I've got outfits picked out for baby whether its a girl or boy to come home from the hospital in, and our bags are packed and ready to walk out the door. I'm definitely a plan ahead type of person :). The car seat is being put in the car on Friday, and we have pretty much picked out the double stroller we want (the only "big" item we need for a while). So all in all, I feel as ready as you ever can.
At this time I am just praying for a healthy baby, no matter how it comes. Labor is called that for a reason and I'm not exactly looking forward to it, but I can't wait to see this little baby and give him or her tons of kisses. What a small sacrifice to make for the privilege of becoming a parent again.
Here's what is going on with baby Frederes this week from http://www.babycenter.com/:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
36 Weeks Pregnant
This pregnancy is different in lots of other ways as well. The doctor says that it is because my body knows what it is doing this time, but I feel like the baby is going to fall out of me at least once per day. I've already had some contractions, although they were very far apart. I'm so curious to see how things will progress; I doubt that I'll be lucky enough to have my water break in the middle of the night again. So, we'll see how things go.
I will go ahead and make my prediction, I think this baby is a girl as well. Not much to base this on, just a feeling. We are still picking out both girl and boy names of course, but I think its a girl.
The nursery is basically ready for baby, and Branigan is fully settled in her new bedroom. I've got outfits picked out for baby whether its a girl or boy to come home from the hospital in, and our bags are packed and ready to walk out the door. I'm definitely a plan ahead type of person :). The car seat is being put in the car on Friday, and we have pretty much picked out the double stroller we want (the only "big" item we need for a while). So all in all, I feel as ready as you ever can.
At this time I am just praying for a healthy baby, no matter how it comes. Labor is called that for a reason and I'm not exactly looking forward to it, but I can't wait to see this little baby and give him or her tons of kisses. What a small sacrifice to make for the privilege of becoming a parent again.
Here's what is going on with baby Frederes this week from http://www.babycenter.com/:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
Branigan at 20 Months Old
Well time is flying faster than ever, but we are very fortunate right now to get to be spending more and more time together. Things at the store are going well, and although there is always tons of work to do, we've got some very good help now. Quite a relief. And thank goodness, it is good timing with the baby coming soon and being able to spend lots of last minute time with our little B.
Wow. What a little girl she is becoming. Yesterday the neighbor girls Avery (6) and Nora (3) came over to play, and Avery helped Branigan go down the slide time and again until she was doing it on her own. She's gone down the slide a lot, but always holding our hands. By the time Avery and Nora left, Branigan was going down the slide very fast on her own and loving it. B had such a good time with the older girls, and was laughing and giggling along with them while the three of them were in the swings. It was fun to watch.
Branigan is growing up in a lot of different ways. She is talking more and more, although you have to really know her to understand what she's saying, as she doesn't use real words yet. :) But you can tell that she's trying to use sentences, and is structuring her "gibberish" into phrases. I can understand what she needs and is getting at about 90% of the time, and anyone who is around her much can figure it out pretty quickly. She says a lot of "da da" or "dad", "ma ma", "ya ya ya ya", "la la la", "ba ba ba" "fu fu", "bleb", and "up". There are many more sounds that she makes that sound like she's trying to say the right word, so we are making progress. She has also expanded her sign language to include different waves for hi and bye, as well as thank you and we are working on excuse me. She has decided that burping is pretty funny, so we are thinking that her learning to say excuse me needs to come next :).
Branigan is becoming more and more social all the time, and is not nearly as scared of new people as she used to be. She likes playing with children, and often approaches other kids at open gym to play with them. She is also getting better at sharing. She loves balls, and has hoarded them a bit in the past when we are out playing. The last few weeks she has been giving balls to other kids when they come over rather than taking a "mine" attitude. There are many other things that she doesn't share at all, but at least we are making some progress.
Branigan is a very busy little girl, and I joke that you can't take her out in public. She is fine while you are shopping, or if you are somewhere she gets to play. So she does great in places like Carter's or Gymboree where they are set up for children playing, or at the grocery where she can stay in the cart. However, restaurants are a different story. We are now "those" people. The ones with the kid who screams to get what she wants, and so they let her climb all over the booth or table. She pounds the windows (better than licking them I suppose), tries to dump any and all condiments that might be around, throws napkins and silverware, and is always trying to get the attention of the people at the table behind us, even if she has to throw something at them. We love her with all our hearts but have decided that we will be doing a lot of carryout for a while rather than going places for food.
I would say that Branigan's eating habits have gone down hill a bit. She has started eating a bit more meat, but still won't touch veggies and is getting pickier about fruit. Her diet is very limited, so I'm thinking we are going to start some vitamins.
Most of the time Branigan is just a typical toddler, who is into as much as she can get into. There are a lot of things she knows she is not supposed to do though, and although this knowledge does not stop her, she does know when she has done something wrong a lot of the time. Lately she has started slapping her own hand when she does something wrong. I was laughing my head off at this, and then I thought, hey, where did she learn that? I don't slap her hands because I don't think it does a bit of good at this point, so I asked Jamie. Apparently he does slap her hands sometimes (not hard). I'm not sure if this is effective or not. She does relate it to things she shouldn't be doing, but it doesn't keep her from doing it, and she laughs out loud when she slaps her own hand. Time will tell, but anytime she does this or points her finger at one of us, I have to leave the room to keep from laughing out loud.
Branigan's playing habits change all the time. She LOVES basketball, and runs to play with her little goal everyday. She likes anything and everything outside, as I think she has spring fever like the rest of us. She likes to explore, which is nice as I get to go on walks as well. She doesn't have much patience right now for her blocks, and typically only goes into her kitchen to throw everything on the floor or to poop (not sure why it has become her little outhouse but I may have to bring her potty chair in there when its time to potty train). This will evolve back around, but for now she likes more active games like swinging, sliding, running or being pushed on her tricycle and big wheel, and chasing balls.
By the time that Branigan is 21 months old, odds are good that she will be a big sister. I have such mixed feelings about this. I'm so excited of course to meet our new little one, but I know that I will miss the time I've had alone with Branigan as well. It also feels like so much responsibility for her. I know that it won't acually change that much about our relationship, but I can't help but feel a little guilty. She knows nothing but being the center of our world, and although that will not change, she will have to share the spot light a bit and at her age there is no way to explain to her what is coming up. She'll be fine, but I can't help but be anxious for her and the transition. I just remind myself to focus on how fortunate we are - a beautiful and healthy little girl, with a sibling for her on the way. We couldn't be luckier.
Loves coloring!
And she loves cupcakes :)
Poor Sacha - but Branigan loves her too!
Wow. What a little girl she is becoming. Yesterday the neighbor girls Avery (6) and Nora (3) came over to play, and Avery helped Branigan go down the slide time and again until she was doing it on her own. She's gone down the slide a lot, but always holding our hands. By the time Avery and Nora left, Branigan was going down the slide very fast on her own and loving it. B had such a good time with the older girls, and was laughing and giggling along with them while the three of them were in the swings. It was fun to watch.
Branigan is growing up in a lot of different ways. She is talking more and more, although you have to really know her to understand what she's saying, as she doesn't use real words yet. :) But you can tell that she's trying to use sentences, and is structuring her "gibberish" into phrases. I can understand what she needs and is getting at about 90% of the time, and anyone who is around her much can figure it out pretty quickly. She says a lot of "da da" or "dad", "ma ma", "ya ya ya ya", "la la la", "ba ba ba" "fu fu", "bleb", and "up". There are many more sounds that she makes that sound like she's trying to say the right word, so we are making progress. She has also expanded her sign language to include different waves for hi and bye, as well as thank you and we are working on excuse me. She has decided that burping is pretty funny, so we are thinking that her learning to say excuse me needs to come next :).
Branigan is becoming more and more social all the time, and is not nearly as scared of new people as she used to be. She likes playing with children, and often approaches other kids at open gym to play with them. She is also getting better at sharing. She loves balls, and has hoarded them a bit in the past when we are out playing. The last few weeks she has been giving balls to other kids when they come over rather than taking a "mine" attitude. There are many other things that she doesn't share at all, but at least we are making some progress.
Running through the ramps at the mall
Branigan is a very busy little girl, and I joke that you can't take her out in public. She is fine while you are shopping, or if you are somewhere she gets to play. So she does great in places like Carter's or Gymboree where they are set up for children playing, or at the grocery where she can stay in the cart. However, restaurants are a different story. We are now "those" people. The ones with the kid who screams to get what she wants, and so they let her climb all over the booth or table. She pounds the windows (better than licking them I suppose), tries to dump any and all condiments that might be around, throws napkins and silverware, and is always trying to get the attention of the people at the table behind us, even if she has to throw something at them. We love her with all our hearts but have decided that we will be doing a lot of carryout for a while rather than going places for food.
My personal doll baby
I would say that Branigan's eating habits have gone down hill a bit. She has started eating a bit more meat, but still won't touch veggies and is getting pickier about fruit. Her diet is very limited, so I'm thinking we are going to start some vitamins.
Hanging with Grandma Varner
Most of the time Branigan is just a typical toddler, who is into as much as she can get into. There are a lot of things she knows she is not supposed to do though, and although this knowledge does not stop her, she does know when she has done something wrong a lot of the time. Lately she has started slapping her own hand when she does something wrong. I was laughing my head off at this, and then I thought, hey, where did she learn that? I don't slap her hands because I don't think it does a bit of good at this point, so I asked Jamie. Apparently he does slap her hands sometimes (not hard). I'm not sure if this is effective or not. She does relate it to things she shouldn't be doing, but it doesn't keep her from doing it, and she laughs out loud when she slaps her own hand. Time will tell, but anytime she does this or points her finger at one of us, I have to leave the room to keep from laughing out loud.
She looks like such a big girl running around!
Almost ready to pedal
Branigan's playing habits change all the time. She LOVES basketball, and runs to play with her little goal everyday. She likes anything and everything outside, as I think she has spring fever like the rest of us. She likes to explore, which is nice as I get to go on walks as well. She doesn't have much patience right now for her blocks, and typically only goes into her kitchen to throw everything on the floor or to poop (not sure why it has become her little outhouse but I may have to bring her potty chair in there when its time to potty train). This will evolve back around, but for now she likes more active games like swinging, sliding, running or being pushed on her tricycle and big wheel, and chasing balls.
So excited to get to play
She can find a lot of uses for balls :)
I have to admit, this picture makes me pretty proud :)
By the time that Branigan is 21 months old, odds are good that she will be a big sister. I have such mixed feelings about this. I'm so excited of course to meet our new little one, but I know that I will miss the time I've had alone with Branigan as well. It also feels like so much responsibility for her. I know that it won't acually change that much about our relationship, but I can't help but feel a little guilty. She knows nothing but being the center of our world, and although that will not change, she will have to share the spot light a bit and at her age there is no way to explain to her what is coming up. She'll be fine, but I can't help but be anxious for her and the transition. I just remind myself to focus on how fortunate we are - a beautiful and healthy little girl, with a sibling for her on the way. We couldn't be luckier.
Friday, February 25, 2011
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!
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!
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