3 Months

Today, Brooklynn is 3 months old. When we look at pictures from when she was just born, we're reminded of just how much she's changed. Yesterday, she weighed in at 12.8 pounds. Almost 13 pounds at 13 weeks.

Brooklynn starts her morning with breakfast and much conversation. She has so much planned for the day and wants to tell us all about it. While Nancy is at school teaching, Brooklynn and I play for an hour or two before nap #1 comes around. She enjoys sitting in her bouncing seat, kicking the toys or lying on her exercise mat, swatting and tugging at the toys suspended in the sky. During the day, Brooklynn takes 2 or 3 bottles. This past week, she worked up to 3 ounces in each bottle. Quite the accomplishment considering it was like pulling teeth just to get her to take an ounce 6 weeks ago.

Brooklynn is always excited to see Nancy come home and we get a few hours of family time in before it's time for her to go down for the night around 9:30. She still wakes probably about 3 times or so during the night to feed, but is quick to go right back to sleep once she's finished. All in all, she's good for staying down about 10 hours before wanting to get up and be active. I think once Nancy is home during the day and Brooklynn is getting more to eat then what she's currently getting from the bottle, she'll probably drop some of her feeding during the night.

Well, here's a sampling of some photos we took of Brooklynn on her 93rd day with us at 3 months of age:

4th trimester

Yes, I know, the word "trimester" is defined as only having three parts, but the first 12 weeks after birth is quite significant as Brooklynn, Nancy and I adjust to our new lives. It's with this in mind that I thought I would mark these first 12 weeks as the 4th part of a journey Nancy and I started a year ago.

After two miscarriages and difficulty getting pregnant a third time, there were moments when my faith was definitely challenged to believe I would be holding my child in my arms. And now, it takes an effort to recall a time in our lives when Brooklynn wasn't a part of it and we weren't totally focused on her. And that's only after 12 weeks of her being here!

Our friends and family have been such an encouragement and blessing to our lives. It's you who genuinely love us, pray for us, and read our blog! So, thank you for supporting us through all 4 trimesters!

Here are some photos of Brooklynn after a recent bath with her Pooh robe on. Precious!




And here's a short video of Brooklynn talking and almost touching her feet!

Nancy's First Mother's Day

Last Sunday, Nancy was blessed with her first Mother's Day celebration. I surprised her with a corsage and another willow tree angel, this time one with a mother holding her baby. After church, we took some pictures with everyone dressed up.



My parents were in town as well over the weekend and so I was able to spend Mother's Day with my Mom as well!



Later in the afternoon, we drove to the house of Nancy's parents where my sister and her family met us. It was Kimberly's first Mother's day as well! Here's a picture with all the mother's and their children.

Taking family photos takes a lot of preparation. You've got to make sure everyone's hair is fixed and noses are clean...

Shake, Rattle and Lean

Another week has already passed. They just seem to go by quicker and quicker.

On Monday, Brooklynn had her first pediatric appointment. Everything checked out great and she's fit as a fiddle. Brooklynn started out in the 25th percentile in weight when she was born and has moved up to the 75th percentile at a whopping 11 lbs. 5 oz. Brooklynn also started out and maintained in the 50th percentile in length. She's now 22.5 inches long, almost 3 inches longer from when she was born. Finally, Brooklynn maintained in head circumfrence with 36.7 cm., landing her in the 10th percentile.

Brooklynn's bottle taking took a couple steps back on Monday after unrestricted access to Nancy over the weekend. But, she picked back up much quicker by midweek, so all in all this week has been more successful then last week was.

Brooklynn has started to hold objects longer now. She's shakin' and rattlin', but not quite rolling over yet, but she is starting to lean to the left. I've included some pictures of her shaking her rattle.

2 Months Old

Brooklynn turned 2 months old today. She weighed 11 lbs. 3 oz. on the home scale. That's a 61% increase from her birth weight in just 2 months!

It takes a considerable effort now to remember what it was like to have a day where we weren't caring for her. Life is even more special now that she's here.

Here's a cute outfit we picked out for her on the 2 month anniversary of her birth.




Life with the paparazzi is hard...

Mr. Mom

Two days ago, I embarked on a 6 week expedition as a stay-at-home dad. Nancy's maternity leave ended with 6 weeks left in the school year, so I jumped at the opportunity to let her go back and teach for the rest of the school year while I stayed home with Brooklynn. Most likely, this will be the most amount of time I'll ever get to spend with her and I want to make the most of it.

Day 1 went better then I could have planned. Nancy left for work around 7:30 after nursing Brooklynn one last time. We decided that I'd bring Brooklynn up to see her during her break since this would be the longest they had been apart since Brooklynn was born. Brooklynn and I played a little bit after Nancy left and then she settled down for a morning nap which allowed me to get ready for the day. I was scheduled to leave to take Brooklynn at 10:30, but by around 10:00 it was obvious that she wasn't going to make it that long without having something to eat.

Well, this was going to be the true test. Up to this point, Brooklynn has not been happy about taking a bottle. I can count on one hand how many times we've successfully given one to her and I don't have enough fingers to count the number of times we've tried.

I held Brooklynn in my sling while I warmed up the bottle. I figured I'd start with 2 oz so as to not waste much if she didn't take it. Brooklynn watched with intent as I ran hot water over the bottle in the sink. After 4 or 5 minutes, I tested the milk and was ready to give it a go. We sat on the couch, she looked up at me and I proceeded to ask her the loaded question... "Does Brooklynn want some milk?" Well, let's just say she took to it like she's been doing it all along. About half way through, she stopped to catch her breath so I took the bottle out. She looked up at me, grinned, then let out a bit of a chuckle as if to say, "I was just pullin' your leg all along".

I wish I could say that now those problems are behind us. But as I continue to be reminded about children, nothing is ever over. The past couple days, the protests have started to return. Today, in fact, Brooklynn has taken only a single ounce of milk (spread across two feedings) since Nancy left for work at 7:30 this morning. Fortunately, Nancy is expected home in about an hour, so Brooklynn will get the good stuff soon enough.

Hunger strike aside, I wouldn't trade this time with her for anything. Brooklynn is still a very happy, playful and amiable baby. Right now she's asleep in my sling as we both wait for Nancy to get home. Yeah, she's a little hungry probably, but we're getting along just the same.

Yesterday was the first time we noticed that she's started being aware of her hands and feet. She was looking at them with curiosity and intent. It won't be long before she's stickin' that foot of hers in her mouth. Tomorrow Brooklynn turns 2 months old. Next Monday we'll have her first pediatric appointment. My how the time flies. Has it really been 2 months since I caught her being born? And now, here she is sleeping in my Darth Vader sling, clinching my shirt which I always interpret as her attempt in giving me a hug. :)

Long Time No Post

Has it really been a month since we last posted anything? Spare time comes sparingly these days. Nancy and I are settling in as parents and have now spent more time at home with Brooklynn without company than with. Don't get me wrong, we've loved the help and visits we received, and always look forward to anyone who wants to visit us and our precious daughter, but it's definitely a different experience (and much more real) when it's just the three of us.

Since I last posted, Brooklynn was about to turn 1 month old. Here's a picture of her on April 1st (No fooling! )


She's alert much more often now and her motor skills are beginning to develop. Not only has she started cooing quite a bit, but her grasp has significantly improved!


It won't be long before I'll be fighting someone else for the remote.



In the middle of April, my mom came for another visit and brought my Granny down with her. While they were here, they made a bonnet for Brooklynn out of a handkerchief that was my great-grandmother's. A poem goes with it that we'll put in her baby book. Then, if Brooklynn gets married, she'll have "something old" on her wedding day.

Four generations

Brooklynn with her parents and her great Granny Helen.

Brooklynn has been laughing a lot more and so I thought I'd conclude today's post with a couple examples. With smiles and laughter like these, it's easy to forget everything else that's going on.