Let it Snow!

This is our house two days ago. It's snowing again this evening.... it's so beautiful! I guess they're predicting 8-10" here in the Kitsap County area tonight. We just were out to do some errands and it was crazy out there! Crazier than yesterday. We're hoping and praying we don't lose power. Now is when we wish we had a generator!

Cozy Warm Snow Baby

Family Pic

Sweet little sleeping baby in her snow bear outfit. Can you see the ears? If you enlarge this picture, you'll see that the ornament by my head is one of our wedding photos. Our friend Carolyn made it for our first Christmas as a married couple. Also, to the right of Greg's arm is half of Brynn's face in a Santa hat.

We have a cute tree this year. As you can see it's not much taller than Greg. I finally got the Noble I've always wanted. Since Greg was in the car with Brynn, I got to chose it all by myself! We usually agree upon a Grand Fir (a compromise between what I like and what he likes - complete opposites). I was careful to chose a full Noble since Greg can't stand the sparse ones. The top of the tree is crooked, we did put it up straight!

Fohawk!

I am excited to announce that Brynn is still sleeping 8-10 hours per night! She slept 8 hours last night, ate breakfast at 6:30, then slept another four hours. We all slept in today because of the snow which allowed Greg to have the day off from work. He'll be home tomorrow too, so he gets an extra two days added to his Christmas vacation. Yeah!

Tonight Greg got a double whammy. He was holding Brynn as I took off her her last item of clothing, a onesie, for a bath. She suddenly deposited a huge spit-up on his arm and at the same time urinated on him. The urine soaked his belly and dripped down to the kitchen floor. We laughed. I think that's the first time he's been peed on.

We bathed her and she fussed. She seemed cold and nervous about the bath for the first time. Her eyes were wide. Poor girl. I love how she's always so happy in the bath. Not tonight. We made it quick because she started crying. We got her dressed and swaddled. Then she sucked ferociously on her pacifier as it took her at least 15 minutes to fall asleep. She was on edge about something. We laid with her in our bed until she finally dozed off. Then I carefully placed her in her bassinet. Sometimes she just needs a little extra Mommy and Daddy, though she usually falls asleep easily in on her own.

Tuesday I took Brynn to see Santa in Bellevue with my cousin Darcy and her kids Gabrielle and Carson. Brynn pooped on Santa's lap. Santa said, "I heard and felt that!" It was pretty funny. Her face got all red as she grimaced with the effort. Unfortunately I forgot my camera. Thankfully Darcy had hers and got some cute pictures.



Smiling at Mommy as she gets a massage after a bath.


Another Fohawk!

Brynn practicing for a career as a telemarketer (she's actually on the phone talking to Daddy)!

Growing Strong

Wow, I can't believe it's already been a month since I last posted. Brynn is 2 months old today. This week, at her 2 month appointment, she'd gained 4 pounds and 4.5 inches since her birth! She is getting so strong and does a good job of holding her head up as seen below. She is sleeping 6-9 hours per night, averaging about 7-8, and takes her longest nap of 2-3 hours in the morning after breakfast. Amazing, I know! We are blessed to have a good sleeper.

I am really enjoying being at home with Brynn and don't feel ready to go back to work in less than three weeks. She has become quite talkative with me, especially after she eats and while she's on the changing table. We talk a lot there. She smiles, sticks out her tongue (I taught her to do that - she likes it when I stick out mine), and makes gurgly, cooing sounds. It's so much fun! I have lots of videos of her talking and smiling. I'll have to post one.

This is her at one month and 29 days holding her head up! What a strong girl!

Proud Grandpa

In early November my dad and my sister came up to visit. This is a picture of the proud grandpa holding his first grandchild.

Brynn flashing one of her great sleeping smiles while on Grandpa Jim's shoulder.

Cute Girl

Brynn always enjoys bath time.

Watching Daddy.

Another cute sleeping smile.

All ready for church. Daddy got her ready that day!

Elimination Communication - Infant Potty Training

Ok, this one deserves some explaining. When I was pregnant I read a book called Diaper Free, The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene (aka - Elimination Communication). It said that infants are aware of when they have to eliminate and that they can control when they go. In our culture though, we have not allowed them to develop that ability because of the use of diapers, and very absorbent diapers at that! In cultures all over the world babies are carried in slings by their mothers all day. These babies do not wear diapers. Instead they make sounds and movements such as squirming and grunting to signal their mothers that they need to go potty. Mom simply unwraps them, makes a cuing "psss" sound, and they go in the bush. I was fascinated by this idea.

Well, when we brought Brynn home from the hospital the first two weeks were totally overwhelming. I thought, "there is no way I can do this." But soon I noticed that almost every time I changed Brynn she peed on the changing table. So I decided to start holding her over her pink Ikea potty. It worked. She started peeing in the potty about 80% of the time! Sometimes I catch her squirming and making sounds like she has to go. I discover a dry diaper and to my delight she pees in the potty. Most of the time her diapers are wet and she still goes. I always tell her she is "such a good peer" and "so smart." We do this every day now. Sometimes she doesn't go and sometimes it takes her a bit to go, but she almost always does. This is one of the times when we smile and talk to each other. It's fun.

Now as far as poops go, she only occasionally goes in the potty. Today she did. Those aren't as easy to clean up, but I'm sure they're much better than toddler poops! Babies who use Elimination Communication are often completely toilet trained by 18 months or less! That'll save money on diapers and time and frustration with potty training. I can't wait! I also plan to use sign language to help her communicate when she needs to go when she's a little older.

So this is a picture of me holding Brynn over her pink Ikea potty on her changing table. We are enjoying gazing into each other's eyes.

Who's Who?

This is a picture of me at 3 months old in October of 1979. I was amazed at how much she looks like me when I found this picture at my grandma's house. I still have that little yellow bear face on the right of the picture. It has a wind up music box in it. I'll have to pull it out of storage for Brynn to enjoy.

Nap Time

Flower Butt and Daddy napping.

So Sweet

Grandma Wendy visiting Brynn. They look so happy.

Just too cute!

Brynn smiling on Momma's lap.

Resting on her side.

In a towel after her bath.

'Lil Pumpkin

Elizabeth and Preston. Poor Brynn was having a bad moment... yes she does cry.


Great-grandma Doris is recovering from a sacral fracture at Marth & Mary nursing home in Poulsbo. She was having an already good day which was made better by seeing her 10th great grandchild! Doesn't she look proud?!

Brynn had her first trip to Lilliwaup to visit Grandpa Frank and Grandma Brenda.

Here's a pic of Grandma Wendy and Great-grandma Jennarose.

The Last Profile!

I had to add this one of me trying to smile through contractions every two minutes just before we went to the hospital. This was about 1am on Friday October 3rd, 23 hours before Brynn was born, after already being in labor for at least 12 hours! I can't believe I was that huge just a month ago!

Autumn Colors

Last week Brynn and I raked fallen leaves from our beautiful red dogwood tree. The weather was perfect and Brynn fell asleep in the Baby Bjorn. I enjoyed myself, though it was kinda rough on my back.

I'm sad to see October already gone. It has always been one of my favorite months and definitely is now that it's Brynn's birthday month! I love the autumn colors, the cool, crisp air, the smell of log fires,the first snow on the Olympics, fleece jackets, and my wool shoes. I love my wool shoes. The fist big snow didn't come in October this year as it usually does. I think it came over the rainy weekend. I just noticed the snow covered mountains today. They are so beautiful!

Brynn is fortunate to have Greg's coloring and is a true autumn baby. She looks good in oranges and yellows. Above she is wearing an orange colored knit hat made by Mona, a friend of my Mom's. I put it on her to rake the orange leaves. We saved some leaves for the baby book. Today the dogwood tree was almost barren.

Today we raked the back yard. Greg helped when he got home from work. We both wore Brynn in the Bjorn for a while. Below she is tuckered out from all her hard work! Her yard working outfit is complete with mittens, hat (another one from Mona) and baby Uggs!

More Pics

Brynn's eyes look brown, but they are actually dark grayish blue.

Today I took Brynn to the doctor for a bad diaper rash which ended up being yeast. While we were there she weighed in at 8lbs. 3oz. Last Friday at her 2 week appt. she was 7lbs. 12oz. She had gained 6 oz in 5 days! She is right on track at about 1 oz per day. (That eased my fears that she isn't eating enough or spitting up too much! :) Also last Friday she'd grown one inch in length. I didn't know babies grew that fast!

Tummy Time

Daddy Time

Here's a cute one of Brynn on Daddy's lap. And here's our cat Ti (pronounced Ty) getting some Daddy time too. Poor Ti must have felt neglected. He's not usually this cuddly!

Slinging and Swinging

Brynn loves the sling! I've been walking around the neighborhood to get some exercise. She goes right to sleep when I start walking and she makes her sleeping sounds. Too cute! She also falls asleep in the swing that was given to us by a friend from work. She's such a sweet baby!

Brynn's First Bath

This weekend Brynn got her first bath. Grandma Brenda helped out. Brynn loved it. She seemed to enjoy the warm water. The only time she fussed was when we took her out to change the water.

Brynn Making Funny Sounds While Sleeping

Precious Moments

A Father's Perspective

For months I was anxiously awaiting the arrival our first born. The most difficult part of waiting was keeping the big secret: What is her name? Alise and I have been calling her Brynn pretty much since we found out we were having a girl. I had done my fair share of reading to prepare as well as I could for the birth, but I was out of my league when the real thing was taking place. I was grateful for the wonderful assistance we received from the nurses and doctor, the support that Brenda offered by being with us in the delivery room and helping Alise any way she could, and the abundance of people we knew were praying for us as the time drew near. The only way I knew I could make it through was to trust that the Lord had the situation under control and things would work out in the end. We had confirmation that they certainly did the moment the doctor held up our baby so that we could take our first look at her. It was beyond any emotion I had ever experienced. I was honored and privileged to be able to go over minutes after she was delivered to see her and touch her for the first time. Taking that first family photo in the operating room was something I will cherish forever. I was then whisked away to be with Brynn in the nursery. I was able to hold her in my arms for the better part of that first hour. My apologies to both Brenda and my mom for not sharing. After all we had been through, I wouldn't let go of my daughter for anything. I couldn't wait to share the joy of our new arrival with Alise. I eagerly awaited 1:00 to come around so I could place our daughter in Alise's arms for the first time. My joy has only continued to increase since then as I have watched Alise, who is a natural, take care of our baby. I chip in when I can, but she instantly became a fabulous mother. Nothing is more satisfying at this time than to hold Brynn in my arms and watch her sleep. The sweet sounds she makes as she sleeps are a comfort to my ears.