Lots of practice...

Doing what you might ask??? Well Brinlie is getting lots of practice rolling over, eating cereal, jumping, and laughing. She has got the back to stomach rolling over thing and is really practicing at night...which mommy and daddy do not like. Something wakes her up around 2 am and she decides that she wants to play on her tummy, so she will roll over. Then she realizes that she is stuck (b/c she can't roll back yet). So she gets upset. Anyway this is been the cycle for the last 2 nights, we will see if it continues. We are working with her on learning that she can sleep on her tummy, but that would require her to put her head down on the matress...slowly she will get it. We also are working extra hard on her tummy to back roll!! Very funny to see her doing this though!

She is getting practice eating cereal now too...we added lunch into the mix now, so she gets 2 cereal feedings a day now, which she loves...she would eat 5 if we let her...let's just say she loves her food!! We are going to start baby food around 6 months, not sooner b/c the potential of food allergies.

Since she is eating all this cereal, she is needing to exercise, right? Well she is jumping all the time now. She gets in her Jumperoo and LOVES it. She has figured out that when she kicks her legs she bounces and then she gets excited and bounces more, so stinkin cute! She is just starting to be able to reach the ground, but she will stretch her toes out and jump...entertaining for us, but also allows us to get some things done while she is having fun!

The most rewarding thing right now is how much she laughs. For example, we went to dinner last night and she had so much fun looking and laughing at all the people in the restaurant. This is so fun to see her plant her face into mine and laugh at me. I knew I would love seeing this part of her personality. I LOVE IT! This age is the best yet!!

Happy 5 months!!

Wow, I can't believe my little girl is 5 months...things have been going to much quicker since I have been back to work. Not enough hours in the day I guess. This month has been a GREAT month for Brinlie! She is such a good baby. Her personality is really starting to show. She is not very patient and is already on her way of being a DIVA, which is scary. This is something that can not be learned this early...it is in her bones. Matt better watch out have both of us on his hands!

She is sleeping 12 hours for awhile now, which is fantastic! She is still eating 5 bottles/breast feedings day, and now she is eating cereal for lunch and dinner. We are holding off adding any other food b/c of the potential for allergies. So this means that she is sitting in her high chair more often. I like her to be in the high chair b/c it restrains her while I am cooking or cleaning up...but she gets bored. However, my wonderful mom had the idea of letting her watch Baby Einstein while waiting on me...Genius

She is also having way to much fun taking baths...she loves the water! She kicks her feet around and splashes. It is a fun time with her at night! I can't wait till she can sit up in the big bath tub and really play with the toys.

We are starting "mommy/baby" swimming lessons next month, so of course we had to start shopping for swim suits. I have bought her 2, so stinkin cute. I love little girls bathing suits. I tried them on her tonight and they look good. We are taking her to the pool this weekend for the first time, should be fun!

first weekend away...Baby less

WOW, I must say that I never thought I would be as strong as I am. I am on a girls "scrapbooking" weekend at Lake Lure, NC and without the almost 5 month old baby Brinlie. I am proud of myself because I thought I would cry, but I am having so much fun. There are 12 of us on this weekend get away, some are scrapbooking, watching movies, playing taboo, touring lake lure, but we all are having our share of cocktails! Very fun! I am working on Brinlie's baby album and I am completely updated. I got through all the pics I had, which is through her first 4 months. I am going to try really hard to stay on top of her album...but I think I have too many pics. I think it will take me 2 albums to get through her first year. Oh well...I guess that is what a first born is all about.
Anyway, this weekend has been so much fun...I am so lucky to have these great girls as my friends!

Thankful...Blessed...

My Blessings.....

Thinking about so many of the things I am thankful for...so many but I wanted to take some time to list just a few. With it being the new Year, I love to put it into numbers...so here goes...

My Blessings

1- Matt- wow what a great man I married, those who know me well have heard me say that part of why I wanted to marry Matt was because I knew he would be a great dad and I was so right. He is unbelievably natural at being a father, sometimes more than I. I am blessed for that. We have a great relationship and it has only gotten better since Brinlie has been born. He knows when I need support, comforting, and sometimes my space.

Brother- I am so thankful to have Brian as my brother and I am glad that we continue to get closer as the years go on.

Blaze-Great dog...love him so much

2-Parents- Wow I am really lucky on this one...I have such a support system with them. I only dream that I can be a parent like mine, they are so good to us. I hope that I have the opportunity to have the relationship with my children that they have with us. Perfect role models in the world of life...

3 - number of years Matt and I have been married- well really 3 .5- love him more today than the day i married him

4 months old- I am so thankful to have a healthy daughter who is thriving...what a joy she is in our life

The number of children I want- I know shocker!!

10 new mommy's this year- YEAH to all my friends who have had children!!

30- Birthday fast approaching- in 5 weeks I will be turning 30~and I am healthy

Thankful for my health, family's health, all my Wonderful friends...

Thankful for my growing relationship with the Lord...I am so excited that we might have found a church home...feels good to want to belong...finally after all that looking!!

I am so blessed and am thankful everyday for my life and blessing....

Saying goodbye to 2008

Wow, I can't beleive that 2008 is over...another year of life that has gone bye-bye. This year brought on so many changes...very welcomed changes. Becoming a mother has never felt more natural, a great feeling. I have always heard mothers say that your "motherly instinct" kicks in, but it is really a gift from God to have that instinct. Being a mom is such a rewarding feeling for me...having Brinlie in our life was the best gift of 2008. It is so fun having so many friends that had babies this year...so many. Amy Berdahl had Andrew in September, Christy had Mallory & Maddox in May, Marni had Patten in April, Amber had Andiereese in August, Alison had Parker in April, Donna had Christian in December, Julie had Brianna in December, James & Holly had Sam in February, Michelle had Weston in November...so many babies!! How fun will it be to get the children together as they all get older and can have some good old fashion play time!

Matt and I became an aunt and uncle in 2008, which is super cool! Even though we will not get to see Weston James but probably 2 times per year, we will keep up with him through phone calls and pictures. We can watch him grow from a far. We sure wish they lived closer!

Well good bye to 2008, and we welcome a new and hopefully fun and exciting 2009!! Happy New Year!