11 Weeks! Discovered Hands...

I can't keep Brynnie's hands out of her mouth :) yesterday I was trying to take come pictures of her and she kept putting her hands in there. Before, they would end up in her mouth every now and then... I think accidentally. Now, she puts them there on purpose! I can't believe she is already 11 weeks old tomorrow...


On Saturday, I went out with a group of friends from college. It was nice. One of my friends, Jodi, asked me how life is different since having a baby. I sat and had to think about that for a second. I know life is a lot different, but how honest did I want to be when asked that question? Everyone talks about how life is different when a baby comes. So how did I answer? I fore-warned them that my answer was going to sound really corny, but I truly meant what I was about to say.

Life, now that I have Brynn, has so much more meaning. Not that life didn't mean anything before she was here, but I wake up every morning excited to see her, and excited to spend time with her. She gives life so much more purpose and it is almost as though I am "reborn" again. It is so fun seeing her grow and seeing things in the world for the first time. I look forward to things that I never thought I would look forward to. I remember before she was here, being worried that I would be sad when she wasn't a baby anymore, and thinking I wasn't going to enjoy her as much when she was like 4-9 years old. I feel embarassed admitting that but I had no idea. Now that she is here, I can't believe I EVER thought that would be the case! I look forward to every phase in her life! Especially those years when she will be a little girl and still love her mama... before the pre-teen and teen years come. Don't get me wrong, it will be hard seeing her grow up and become less dependant on me, but I will so enjoy it at the same time.

It is funny how pregnancy quickly becomes a distant memory. Last night, I told Dan "Let's start trying for a second!" haha. I was kidding... but we had talked about spacing our kids 3 years apart... but I am thinking more like 2. Just a month ago I was telling him maybe I am so content with her as an only child (I knew that feeling would change). Now, I am wondering if I want 3! I know we have a lot of time, but time will tell. It is funny how those thoughts are already coming into my head. But for now, I am completely soaking up everything about Brynn.

Anniversary Weekend in Duluth

Well, we survived a weekend away with a 2 month old! We are so lucky Brynn is such a good baby. Friday night we had dinner at Pickwick. It was Friday (and lent), so we each had seafood. I had a crab po boy.... it was so good! Dan had a dish that had mussels, crab, squid... a mish mesh of seafood. He loved it! Brynn was good through dinner. She didn't cry, but didn't really sleept either. I am getting really good at eating with one hand!

One thing that you need to realize is Dan and I LOVE eating... specifically when we go out of town. We both look forward to trying new restaurants and food. So, when we go to Duluth, we look forward to eating out :) After dinner, we went back to the hotel and went to bed. Brynn slept very well-- so that was good.

Saturday we slept in a bit, and was out the door around 11. It was sunny and really nice out... probably upper 40s. We went to a a few shops in Canal Park, and then we walked through the Maritime museum. All the times we have been up there, we have never done that. We then had lunch at Little Angie's. Dan and I really like that place... and they have Lake Superior Oatmeal Stout on tap-- a favorite beer of ours. After lunch, we went into more shops. One thing I got pretty good at this weekend was figuring out places to feed Brynn when we are out and about. We found a few nooks and cranies that were quiet and had benches, and was able to feed her. I was very self-concious at first, but feel so much more comfortable with it. With a nursing cover-up and a blanket... it really isn't a big deal.

After we shopped a bit more, we walked back to the hotel. Brynn slept a bit, and Dan and I relaxed. Then, around 6:30-7, Brynn became super fussy!! She started crying and would settle down a little bit, then start screaming again. She gets like that when she is overly tired. We had to call and cancel our reservations at Blackwoods because she wouldn't settle down. Eventually she did, and we had a late dinner at BlackWoods. She slept the whole time! :o)

Sunday's weather was terrible. Rainy, foggy, and cold. Dan and I went out for breakfast in the Fitger building, and did some more shopping! We then headed home around 1 or so.

Onto other things.. Brynn's baptism is going to be on May 15th. I am looking forward to it. Dan is even giving up fishing opener up at Vermillion, so that is a big deal. From now until July, with Easter, Mother's Day, Baptism, Memorial Day weekend, Weddings, I have a feeling time is going to fly. I can't wait for Shannon's wedding, it is going to be such a good time.

Tomorrow I am going to treatment with my dad at the U. All the nurses hear him talk about me -- when I was pregant-- and Brynn, so I think he is looking forward to showing off his granddaughter. Thursday Brynn and I have a lunch date with Cassie at Big Bowl, so I am looking forward to that, too. Other than that, I hope to get a lot of housework done this week. I can't WAIT until it is warm out, though, and we can hang out at my parents house at the pool.

Well, working out tonight when Dan gets home, last week I over did it :( So hopefully I feel better than I did last time. No Bachelor tonight... and I am really not that excited about this season of Dancing With the Stars. We will see, I might give it a chance. Hope everyone has a good week!

Here are a couple pics of Brynn on St. Patrick's Day!

Celebrating Three Years of Marriage

Another Monday, another week beginning. I continue to feel so blessed that I am able to take so much time off to spend with Brynn. She changes so much so quickly, and am so glad I am here to enjoy that. Lately I have beginning to feel anxious already about going back to work in the fall. I know it is only going to get worse as summer approaches and we get closer to the next school year. I keep putting off making phone calls about daycare. I for some reason thinking that maybe, just maybe, I won't have to. Ha. That is unrealistic, but I can dream.

St. Patrick's Day is this week, and also mine and Dan's 3rd wedding anniversary! (However, we have been together 8 years:0) I am really excited about the gift I got him this year :) I will share after I give it to him. Here is a picture of us on Trunk Bay Beach at our wedding!



On our anniversary night, Dan and I have a baptism class at our church. Brynn will be baptized HOPEFULLY May 15th, however, that is fishing opener weekend... so that is something Dan and I have to figure out. Our other option is June 12th, and that seems so far away. Brynn will be 5 months already. In the Catholic church, they don't have baptisms during Lent, so that is why we have to wait until May. My sister and Dan's brother will be Brynn's Godparents.

Brynn has continued to be a happy baby (for the most part) during the day, and tends to become fussy in the evening... which is too bad for Dan. Around 7pm... it begins. I have began to notice that it seems to be due to her being overly tired. If I am able to rock her to sleep, this helps a lot and she will sleep pretty much the rest of the night. White noise helps a lot too.. so between the vaccuum cleaner and a white noise app on my phone, they have been life savers!

Dan and I have celebrated our anniversary up in Duluth since before we were married... then it was our dating anniversary, now it is our wedding anniversary. We look forward to it every year. Last year when we were up there, I was pretty down in the dumps. It had only been 2 months since we lost Elizabeth, I had a horrible self image of myself, carrying the weight I had gained, with nothing to show for it. When we were up there, the weather was so nice, and I swear, everyone up there had a baby in a stroller. It was really tough on me. I NEVER would have thought that the following year, we would have a beautiful baby joining us to celebrate. I feel so blessed and thankful. I am excited to bring Brynn on her first "trip." I am also looking forward to just a weekend with the 3 of us... no visitors, no dogs, just us 3 as a family! Of course we also look forward to the food :) Blackwoods is a must. Hopefully Brynn will be a good little traveler. I hope it goes smoothly!

Dan and I had been planning on trying to get down to Uruguay this summer, as I have mentioned in other posts. We decided not to go. Dan only would have a week off of work, it takes a whole day of travel, and apparently Montevideo, which is where the embassy is and where we would be staying, doesn't have much for tourists. We would have to take day trips places... with an infant... and that would be hard and spendy. So, for about 4.5 days, we would spend about $4000 alone on airfare, we decided it might not be worth it. SO onto planning another trip for the summer... I will be sure to share when we decide what to do!

I joined Anytime Fitness last week. I have been to the gym 2 times, and plan on going tonight. I am having a hard time with it. 1- I feel so down about myself, looking in the mirrors that they have and seeing all the work I have ahead of me 2- I know what I used to be capcable of. I ran a half marathon 1.5 years ago! I hurt when I try to jog... and it may be something I need to go to the Dr. for. I had complained about pelvic pain during my pregnancy, and it has gotten better since I had Brynn, but it still acts up. I don't think that is normal. If that continues, I don't know how I could play soccer this summer. I am hoping with some strength training and continued exercise, it gets better.

And finally... looking forward to the warm temps this week and getting Brynn out for another walk!!

Here is my favorite picture of Brynn from last week. It was taken 3.11 (Brynn was 2 months!)


Here is a picture of me and Brynn at the Wild game!

Two Months!

Well... as you can see it has been a while since I have updated the blog :) As Brynn is getting older, she is not sleeping as much during the day and is a lot more alert! I am LOVING that... and I take complete advantage of it when she is. I love to play with her and make her giggle. She loves standing up on my lap and looking around. She is so strong! Especially her neck muscles. So, needless to say, while she does sleep during the day, I am trying to get house work done. Today, I decided to take some time and blog! Sometimes I may not get as much done during the day that I would like to... but will I regret that?? No. I would regret not playing with Brynn as much while she is so little.

Brynn will be 2 months on Friday! I can't believe it! She is 8 weeks old today. She had her 2 month appointment yesterday... which brought shots :( She now weighs 11 pounds, and they said 23.5 in long.... I think they measured her wrong. I don't think she is that long. So, she is measuring in the 60th % for weight, and 90th for height (if that measurement was correct). She screamed and cried so hard when she got her shots... I felt so bad. I got teary eyed and maybe one tear fell down my cheek, but I managed to control myself. We came home and just cuddled all afternoon. I was really tired, and she was sleepy, it was perfect.

Onto another subject... dirty diapers. I know a lot of you may not care about them, but one of the purposes of this blog is to document things. If we deicde to have another baby, I can come back here and remind myself of what was "normal." Brynn consistently had a poopy diaper every time I changed her! Recently that has stopped. She has had a couple of big blowouts.. and gone a couple of days without going. I have read that is normal... so I will just keep an eye on that. It truly is amazing how much stuff and noise that little girl can produce. Sometimes when she toots... Dan and I look at eachother wondering if it was her, or whoever was holding her!

On Saturday, Dan, me, and Brynn had our first weekend day all to ourselves with no visitors or family. It was nice and needed! We love our family... but hadn't had a chance to just relax at home for a whole day. We really didn't do much, but having Brynn around makes everything more fun. We are going to the Wild game tonight, and it will be Brynn's 2nd time going. I hope she does well again! Lately she has been getting fussy in the evening.

Here is a video of Brynn :)