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.