Thursday, October 28, 2010

My baby girl


...is SIX months old! Well, actually she'll be 7 months in less than two weeks. Time has flown by so much faster with Maisy than it did with Brogan. People have told me it's normal, but it still makes me so sad. My little May-May (can you tell I love nicknames?) is just the most happy, content, easy-going baby I've ever met. She smiles all the time and only cries when she's ready to eat or she's ready for bed. I am so in love with her and the sweet personality God gave her. A few facts about Miss Maisy:
-she usually goes to sleep for the night around 8pm and gets up to nurse once
-we (okay, me) are working on switching her to her own room. She's still in the pack 'n play in our room and she's definitely ready for her bigger crib. Buuuttt, it's so hard to let go :( I'm working on it!!
-She has a green frog lovey that used to be Brogan's. I still want to buy her a pink lovey though
-Maisy loves her paci! She sucks the thing like Maggie Simpson :)
-She weighs 17.something lbs.
-She thinks Brogan is the funniest person in the whole world
-Maisy has 2 bottom teeth
-When she wants to be picked up, she lifts her chubby arms up in the air towards me
-She's still working on eating solid foods. Her little tongue is still getting used to the new textures. She seems to like sweet potatoes and bananas the best so far.
-We switched Maisy's car seat to the convertible seat. This means, no infant seat to carry her into the stores. She's been sitting in the front of grocery carts, but she's still a little wobbly :)

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Dear Brogan,

It's so hard to believe that you are now a 2 year old. It really does seem like just a few months ago, I got to hold you for the first time. I fell madly in love with you the very second I saw you. From the day you were born, you have kept me on my toes 24/7. You weren't the easiest baby and definitely high-maintenance but oh you're such a momma's boy...and I love it. Now, you are gaining independence, wanting to do things for yourself. It's a little difficult for me to let go- I catch myself doing things for you that I know you are capable of doing- just because I want to keep thinking you're my little baby. You are so incredible. I love to just sit and watch you play. Your mind goes a million miles a minute and you move from one activity to the next. You are a jumping bean and a dare-devil. You are an artist and a master at puzzles. You enjoy making me vacuum and read the same books over and over. I love all these things about you- even though most days I go to bed exhausted :)

Here are a few other things that I love about you:
-the way you say "noooo" (cute now, maybe not later haha)
-how you suck your teeth when you're concentrating on puzzles
-when you accomplish anything, you say, "There, I did it!" in your cute little way
-every time I change your diaper, you yell "wee-wee!" :)
-you stick your tongue out when you "jaw jaw" (draw)
-the way you say my name to get my attention when you're about to do something you know is a no-no...and then smile at me
-you call Maisy, "my beh-beh" (baby) and want to kiss her goodnight before bed
-you are an awesome sleeper (knock on wood!!)
-when anyone around you laughs, you join in with a (very) fake laugh
-you'd rather eat broccoli than macaroni and cheese (unlike mommy and daddy!)
-how you'll sit and line things up- cars, markers, crayons, etc.
-the way you say "choooo choooo" when you play with your trains
-you like to sing and dance to Barney and Elmo

One year old Brogan

Two year old Brogan

I'm back...hopefully :)

So much has happened since I last posted. Brogan and Maisy are growing up way too fast and it seems like the only time I have to sit down and type is at night after they have gone to bed. And that's when the couch, TV, and popcorn call my name :) I hope to be better, but no promises! Survivor and Grey's Anatomy are pretty tough to compete with haha

Here's a silly picture for the heck of it :P

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Can you tell?

Brogan and Maisy's baby pictures look so much alike! Can you tell who's who?
FYI- Tadd guessed wrong!! haha :)






Give up? The top picture is Maisy and the bottom is of Brogan. Two cutie patooties!!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Life is Crazy...

...but good! Sorry it has been so long since I last posted. Finding the time to get on the computer is a challenge. Brogan and Maisy are both doing great...I can't believe how much faster time is flying with two kids. It's like I blink and another week has come and gone.

Brogan will be TWO YEARS OLD on the 28th of this month. That is just mind-blowing. People told me that I would notice how big he was once Maisy got here and they were right! I never noticed how his legs and feet hang off his changing pad. I never noticed how big his hands have gotten. And I never noticed how much he looks like a boy and not a baby. He is starting to really talk now too! He FINALLY started saying my name regularly and WOW does he say it all.the.time!!! Sometimes it's "Momma", other times it's "Mommy", and once in a while he throws in a French accent and says "ma-MA". He is very observant and listens to adult conversations. When I'm telling Tadd something Brogan has done, he starts doing it then. He's also started calling Tadd by his first name. It's hilarious. He'll ask me, "Weh da-da?" and I'll say work or church. Then he'll yell, "Taaaa!" (Tadd). If I ask him what my name is, he says "Beck-Beck". :) Brogan is getting better about being gentle with Maisy. He likes to put her passy in her mouth, give her high 5, and kiss her head. Right now, he loves popcicles, poptarts, finding bugs to squish, looking for American flags ("fag-fag") while we're in the car or on a walk, coloring on his easel ("jaw-jaw"), watching for hummingbirds out the playroom window, and dancing/singing to the Veggie Tales theme song.

Little Maisy turned TWO MONTHS OLD today. God surely knew what type of baby we needed this second time around. Brogan has ALWAYS been high maintenance and full of energy. We love him and his personality so much, but I would lose my mind if I had two "Brogans" running around the house :) So, instead of another wild child, God blessed us with a chilled-out baby girl~ (thank you Lord!) Maisy LOVES to be cuddled. Up until this week, she has slept on my chest all night. I adore the bonding that comes with co-sleeping, but DANG I hate sleeping on my back. This week, Maisy has slept in her bassinet for most of the night, waking up 2-3 times to nurse. Last night she slept six hours straight- woohoo! She is becoming more alert, noticing things around the room. She seems to enjoy being outside, taking baths, and being cuddled next to me in the Moby Wrap.

Here is a typical night in the Grandstaff house...lots of cuddles and giggles :)
(sorry it's so dark!)

Brogan sings VeggieTales from Becki Grandstaff on Vimeo.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Welcome to the world Miss Maisy!

She's here!

Maisy Lauren Grandstaff was born Friday April 9th at 11:48am. Her birth story is pretty crazy (to me anyway). Thursday night I began feeling very crampy and had braxton hicks with some backache. It wasn't anything I was worried about and slept off and on all night. Friday morning I woke up and noticed I was bleeding very lightly so I called the doctor and they told me to go to Labor and Delivery to be checked and make sure nothing was wrong. The minute I got off the phone (it was 9am), the first real contraction hit me. Still not horrible, but it made me stop in my tracks. I woke Tadd up and told him to get in the shower. I quickly got ready and got Brogan fed. By 10:00am, I was super worried because the contractions hurt really bad. Tadd ran Brogan across the street to stay with Brandon until my dad could pick him up. My contractions continued to pick up in intensity and were about 4 minutes apart.

When we got to the hospital, I was checked and SHOCKED that I had already dilated 8cm!! (It took 15 hours to dilate that much with Brogan!) The nurse also noticed that the head was not the presenting body part so they did an ultrasound and discovered that Miss Maisy was breech. Since I was already so far into labor, they quickly rushed me into the surgery room for a C-section. Thank goodness for the spinal block because my contractions were beyond painful at this point.

I never in 9 months expected to have a C-section. I'm not sure why...it just never crossed my mind. I hadn't read about it or anything so I wasn't sure what to expect. With the spinal, I didn't feel too much pain, just that they were doing "something" to me and it caused a lot of pressure. I kept asking for more medicine though because I didn't want to run the risk of actually feeling it more that I should.

Apparently (and I didn't learn this until the next morning), the doctors performing the C-section had some difficulty getting Maisy out because I had a "Contraction Ring". The doctor explained it as my uterus had a "ring" or a grip around her head. It is very rare and can cause uterine rupture and life threatening complications to the baby. It is undetectable until labor begins and had we not known Maisy was Breech and we went ahead with vaginal delivery, her body would have gone through the birth canal and her head would have been stuck. Very scary. God was definitely watching over us!

Thankfully, Maisy is healthy and thriving! She was born 6lbs. even and 19.25in. long. Super tiny! Even though she wasn't a preemie (born only one day early), she's in preemie clothes. She came home from the hospital weighing 5lbs.10oz. and is already back up to 6lbs.2oz! She nurses like a champ and practically sleeps all day long. She wakes up 2-3 times during the night to eat and goes right back to sleep. This is all new to us because Mr. Brogan was quite the opposite!! Here are just a few pictures of the newest member of the Grandstaff family! She is so loved!!

My first time seeing my sweet baby girl

Sweetest little lips

Big brother Brogan and an unhappy little sister

Super tiny!

Brogan thinks Maisy is funny :)

Safe in Daddy's arms

Unsure of her first doctor's visit

Monday, April 5, 2010

39 Weeks!

*How far along?: 39 weeks 2 days

*Weight gain: still 23lbs.

*Sleep: between the pelvic pain and braxton hicks, not so much

*Stretch marks: none

*Best moment of this week: I have two:
1. Easter Sunday. It was so awesome worshiping in the NEW Pine Ridge Church building and listening to Tadd speak. There were 20 decisions for Christ!
2. Also, we went to Lowe's today to look at Swing sets for our back yard. Tadd told me that he wanted to use the money he's been saving for a new TV to buy Brogan this swing set. How awesome of a daddy is he?? This is why Brogan adores his Da-Da and says his name at least 300 times a day :)

*Movement: We like to think she's dancing to Funky Town...we start singing it when she starts moving :)

*Labor Signs: LOTS of braxton hicks and other lovely end of labor signs that are WAY TMI for a blog ;)

*Food cravings: Easter candy of course...and deviled eggs. I usually don't like them but for some reason they sounded (and tasted) SO good this week. Pregnancy is so strange sometimes. And Chickfila lemondade!

*What I miss most: just feeling "normal"...I feel so big and tired all the time

*What I'm looking forward to: (trying to look PAST the delivery)...seeing her for the first time, holding the tiny hands and feet that have kicked me for the past few months, dressing her in little pink dresses, seeing how much she weighs, comparing her features to Brogan's, announcing her name to the world, and introducing her to her big brother.

*Measuring: 34cm. as of last Wednesday (I go for my 39 week checkup tomorrow). The doctor said she's definitely dropped, which my bladder told me several weeks ago!

*Milestones: Your baby's waiting to greet the world! She continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of her skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.(babycenter.com)

Monday, March 29, 2010

Brogan and Anna Claire

Brogan and Anna Claire had a play date two days in a row! They are so cute together...and only one week apart in age. Shanda and I took them to play at the BCA playground and told them to hold hands while we walked on the sidewalk. They listened and didn't let go until they got to the gate. Aren't they so sweet together? :)

Holding hands...so sweet!



Don't they look so BIG drinking water from the fountain?


Saying goodbye :)

Just like Daddy!

We had some sweet friends from church graciously lend us their crib (since Brogan doesn't want to give his up yet). Brogan has never really played with a toy tool set so I never expected him to be so obsessed with helping Tadd. It was so cute watching him copy everything Daddy did. It must just come natural for boys to love their tools. Brogan "worked" the whole time Tadd did and never got bored :) Here are some cute pictures of Brogan working alongside his hero...




Springtime fun at the park!

I have been in desperate need of warmer weather and thankfully it's here for the most part. Tadd and I took Brogan to the city park to play and have a picnic lunch. It was beautiful- I sat on the bench and soaked up the sun while Tadd chased Brogan all over the playground :)




Sunday, March 28, 2010

38 Weeks!

*How far along?: 38 weeks 1 day

*Weight gain: up 2lbs. so 23lbs.

*Sleep: the last couple of nights have been tolerable, it's the turning over and getting out of bed that kill me- seriously, the pelvic pain is torture.

*Stretch marks: none

*Best moment of this week: Just being with Brogan. I have been so emotional lately thinking that these are the last few days of it being just Brogan and Mommy during the day. Everything is about to change in his mind and it makes me so sad for him. I'm sure he'll adjust and it may be easier since he's so young, but I feel like I'm letting him down.

*Movement: She likes to stick her butt out...so sassy already :)

*Labor Signs: More cramping and Braxton Hicks...nothing painful, just annoying

*Food cravings: I have eaten my weight in turkey sandwiches this week. We went through two loaves of bread and two packs of deli turkey in one short week! I ate one every day at lunch and one every night for a snack. Nothing special to it- turkey, bread, mayonnaise, and salt. This might be why I gained 2lbs. this week! :)

*What I miss most: Brogan sitting comfortably in my lap while we read. I have to sit him over to the side on a pillow now :(

*What I'm looking forward to: seeing our baby girl!! AND WE HAVE A NAME!!! I woke up with a peace about it yesterday morning. Now we're just deciding between two spellings. Oh, and still no middle name.

*Measuring: 35cm. I think the way they measure is pretty stupid. I had a student observing my midwife this week and she measured me and got 38cm. I was like "whoa- I grew 4cm this week!" The midwife did it and said she had to stretch the tape to get the 35cm. None the less, no ultrasound.

*Milestones: Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. (babycenter.com)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Future NBA star?


I love having a son! He is 100% boy and it tickles me to death when I see him get excited over a ball...or a rock...or a bug. Tadd and I took him to feed the ducks a few weeks ago and I stopped to show him a daffodil. He said "oooh" and then proceeded to stomp on it. All boy :)

Playing basketball with PapPap

Even a ball player needs his lovey :)

Taking a Cheeto/Dorito break

Brogan and Daddy

Brogan and Mommy

Brogan- 20 months

Sunday, March 21, 2010

37 Weeks!

*How far along?: 37 weeks 1 day

*Weight gain: no change this week...still up 21 lbs.

*Sleep: this question just annoys me

*Stretch marks: none but I am starting to swell just a tiny bit. I never had any swelling with Brogan- even at the end of June. I can still see my ankles and knuckles, but my rings will hardly come off and my socks leave an imprint on my legs. Hopefully it won't get much worse.

*Best moment of this week: Taking Brogan to the City Park to ride the rides. He rode them last summer but it wasn't the same. This year he was SO excited to ride the "shoo-shoo" (train) and the carousel. He thought he was so big riding the other rides with his cousin "Tee" (Stevie).

Saturday morning Tadd and I got brave (and desperate) and cleaned out the closet in baby girl's room. It is amazing how much stuff winds up in there. We moved the twin bed around and took the mirror off my old dresser to make it look more like a changing table. We still have to pick up a crib from some sweet friends who are letting us borrow theirs.

*Movement: I love the daily hiccups...they are so soft and fast. I'm trying to love the other movements since I know I'll miss them once she's born. But the headbutts to the cervix?? I could do without those.

*Labor Signs: Last night was a little scary...at 2am I woke up with Braxton Hicks every five minutes for about 2 hours. I didn't call the doctor since they weren't painful- just drank a bottle of water and ate a granola bar. After the 2 hours, the contractions finally eased off. I'm telling you- I HATE the thought of going into labor at night. It scares me to death. Weird, right?

*Food cravings: Grilled zucchini and pineapple with Hawaiian marinade. We ate this several times this week- thanks to Tadd :) Also, Subway roasted chicken subs with an enormous amount of lettuce. Andddd, I had my first milkshake of this entire pregnancy on Friday. Banana milkshake from Cook-Out- my favorite!

*What I miss most: walking like a normal person and not a penguin

*What I'm looking forward to: finishing up the nursery (painting, cleaning out the dresser drawers, filling them back up with baby girl clothes, opening a pack of NEWBORN diapers haha!)

*Measuring: 34 cm. Yes, I am still measuring behind and I didn't get the u/s I wanted :( I saw a new doctor at my practice and I can't say that I'm a big fan. She was not friendly and when I told her what the midwife said last week about possibly needing an u/s, she said "Why? You're a small girl...you'll probably have a small baby." Gee thanks lady. Granted, I'm sure she's right but dang it- I want another u/s!!!

*Milestones: Your baby is now considered FULL TERM even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.
(babycenter.com)

Sunday, March 14, 2010

36 Weeks!

*How far along?: 36 weeks 1 day

*Weight gain: +1 lb so 21 lbs total

*Sleep: Bad week of sleep for Brogan = REALLLLLY bad week of sleep for me

*Stretch marks: none

*Best moment of this week: Some super sweet ladies at church threw me a Baby Sprinkle and I got some of the CUTEST outfits, blankets, and other PINK baby items. I feel so blessed and loved.

I went shopping with my mom and Brogan after the Sprinkle and picked out GIRL BEDDING! Woohoo!

*Movement: oh yeah...and she wants OUT :)

*Labor Signs: nothing serious, just some cramping at night

*Food cravings: still Ocean Spray cranberry-grape juice (2 bottles this week), fresh pineapple, key lime pie...I guess tangy stuff

*What I miss most: when my maternity clothes fit lol! My tops are getting pretty snug

*What I'm looking forward to: finally getting the nursery together

*Measuring: Ok...I was 33 1/2 cm. at my 34 week checkup. The midwife measured me on Friday and I was 31 cm. She measured again and said she could MAYBE get 33 cm. if she really stretched. She said that if my measurements aren't up by my next appt. this Friday that they would schedule a growth ultrasound. Obviously, I hope baby girl is doing great and that she's just on the teeny side, but oh how I PRAY I get another u/s! I had two 3D u/s with Brogan and I've only had one this pregnancy. I like things to be fair :)

*Milestones: Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. (babycenter.com)

**Sooo, about having that perfect name picked out...I'm more confused now than EVER. It's so frustrating. I thought I had decided (since Tadd is pretty much okay with all of our final choices) but I just can't commit. I guess we will take a list with us to the hospital and wait until we see her to choose her name.

36 weeks at my Sprinkle...I love these tulips!!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

35 Weeks

*How far along?: 35 weeks

*Weight gain: +5lbs so 20lbs total. I have officially gained more weight w/ this pregnancy than with Brogan. I blame it on the pop tarts, dunkin' sticks, and cinnamon toast crunch that were calling my name at the grocery store

*Sleep: way too little

*Stretch marks: none

*Best moment of this week: I have really enjoyed playing with Brogan here lately. It's like you can see the light bulbs turn on over his head when he figures things out. He's gotten very good with puzzles and enjoys playing with his cars and basketball hoop. He's also talking more, although Tadd and I are probably the only ones who can understand him :)

Also, the "nesting" instinct has slightly hit me. Let me just say that I never felt the need to "nest" before Brogan was born. So WOOHOO for me haha :) We finally painted and redecorated the hall/kid's bathroom and it looks so fun. I'm dying to work on the nursery but I'm still trying to pick out pink bedding. I've found a couple online that I can't choose between.

*Movement: not many kicks...more like she's trying to stretch out and get comfy but is having a hard time finding room

*Labor Signs: more and more braxton hicks...some are more uncomfortable than others

*Food cravings: Pretty much anything unhealthy and also Ocean Spray cranberry-grape juice- I've gone through 4 bottles in 2 weeks!

*What I miss most: the days where I didn't have to pop Tums like candy...seriously, why does a peanut butter sandwich cause such insane heartburn??

*What I'm looking forward to: watching Brogan interact with his baby sister...I know it's gonna be a little hard on him but I can't wait to see him kiss her! :)

*Measuring: 33 1/2 cm. Now I'm back to being a little behind.

*Milestones: 35/35!! 35 weeks down and 35 days (hopefully less) until she's born!!

Also, I **think** we may have decided on the first name. We aren't going to tell anyone before she's born because we want to see her first and make sure she "looks" like the name we've chosen. No definite middle name either :(

Sunday, February 21, 2010

33 weeks!

*How far along?: 33 weeks 1 day

*Weight gain: +2lbs. so back up to 15lbs.

*Sleep: it's never been worse. Brogan is back to sleeping through the night (thank GOODNESS!) but every time I get a Braxton Hicks contraction, it must press on my bladder and I wake up. Every stinkin' time. Tadd downloaded this app onto our phones that monitors your sleep at night. It graphs when you are awake, dreaming, and in a deep sleep. It's kinda hilarious how little sleep I actually get.

*Stretch marks: still none, but I keep looking. Could I just be so pale that they don't show up? :)

*Best moment of this week: baby wise- hearing the heartbeat again and knowing that she's doing great. Me wise- going out with three sweet friends Thursday night. I could have seriously sat and talked to them all night long. I really miss the adult interaction that comes with working. But of course I would miss BroBro even more if I was working so...

*Movement: yes and right on my sciatic nerve. I'll be walking in a store and BAM! my buttcheek feels like it's been electrocuted. It's all I can do to not grab it and yell.

*Labor Signs: no, and it scares me to death to think about going into labor again. I think I'm more afraid this time b/c I know what to expect :(

*Food cravings: This week I really REALLY wanted a steak and got my wish granted last night. Tadd and I celebrated Valentines Day a week late and went to the Texas Roadhouse where I got the Filet (ooh lala) and dipped each piece in butter. Glorious beef! And since my iron is low, I didn't feel bad about eating it all :)

*What I miss most: same ol' answers here: sleep, energy, being able to see my feet

*What I'm looking forward to: seeing what our baby girl looks like. I wonder how much she'll look like Brogan?

*Measuring: According to my 32 week checkup, I'm now measuring at 33 weeks (right on track!) but that means that my belly grew 5cm. in 2 weeks??? I mean, I do feel like I've grown a lot lately but sheesh! I asked the doctor and he said that this was a normal "growth spurt" time for the baby.

*Milestones: Baby's kidneys are fully developed and she weighs around 4.5-5lbs. (justmommies.com)

32 weeks with my friend Shanda


We were trying to re-create this picture from our first pregnancies. I look the same size and I'm 38 weeks here! I have a feeling this baby is gonna be bigger than BroBro's little 6lb.7oz. self. Oh boy.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Lesson Learned


I previously mentioned that we were getting ready to transition Brogan's crib to a toddler bed. That was last Monday. Tadd took off the front of the crib and put up a half rail...everything else stayed exactly the same. When the time came for Brogan to go to bed, he cried for 10 minutes and then slept through the night. Woohoo! The next day, he fell asleep during his nap like nothing had ever changed. YES! Success!

YEAH RIGHT!

That little stinker decided on Tuesday night that the toddler bed was evil. Tadd and I tried everything we could think of to get him to stay in his bed. I even crawled in the tiny little bed (totally expecting it to break.) He kept waking up like he was fearful of being alone. His cries were pitiful, scared cries and it was breaking my heart. However, we pressed on. Wednesday and Thursday...no sleep for anyone. On Thursday night, Brogan climbed onto his glider and ottoman and fell asleep from pure exhaustion. He looked so uncomfortable but we didn't dare touch him. He slept like that for six hours.

Everyone kept telling us to not give up, that he would get used to his new bed. But we did give up. Friday night, I begged Tadd to put the crib back together. It was killing me to think my baby was scared to sleep. I thought *MAYBE* Brogan would go right back to normal (falling asleep right away with his door shut and no night-light and sleep the whole night through) but I think I've scarred him for life. :( He still acted like he was terrified for us to leave him. We kept his door open, night-light on, and sat beside his bed until he fell asleep. It would take him an hour to fall asleep and then sleep for an hour. On and off all night long.

::SIGH::

Saturday night and Sunday night were a little better. Brogan still cries for a while when we put him in his crib, but not for long. His night-light is off but he still wants his door open. We haven't had to sit in his room since the first night back in his crib. Maybe things WILL get better.

I regret trying the toddler bed 100 percent. The only reason we did it was so that our baby girl could use the crib after she outgrows the bassinet. Brogan wasn't ready and I should have known better. I guess it is one of those mistakes that parents learn from. We had also planned to move Brogan's room to the guest room since it's bigger than his nursery- and that is SOOO not happening now. When Brogan asks why his little sister has a bigger room than he does, I will definitely have my answer. :)

Here's a video (really long, sorry!) of Brogan checking out his bed before the first night.

Brogan and his new bed from Becki Grandstaff on Vimeo.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

31 weeks

*How far along?: 31 weeks 1 day

*Weight gain: -2lbs. so 13lbs. I have no idea how that happened but I'm sure I made up for it during the super bowl tonight ;)

*Maternity clothes: I'm at the point where my maternity jeans are just too tight on my belly. I'm miserable when I wear them.

*Sleep: my bladder is not my friend right now

*Stretch marks: none

*Best moment of this week: Hearing the heartbeat at my 30 week appt.

*Movement: She's been getting the hiccups at least once a day this past week...it's the cutest thing ever

*Food cravings: I need a doughnut...or 5.

*What I miss most: energy again. I don't see that changing.

*What I'm looking forward to: warmer weather! That has nothing to do with the baby, but I'm so over winter.

*Measuring: I'm measuring 28 weeks so only a couple of weeks behind. Brogan was always measuring a little small too so I'm not worried. I prefer birthing smaller babies :)

*Milestones: This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy. (babycenter.com)

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Brogan update :)

DISCLAIMER: May induce eye rolling due to the bragging content of this post :)

The next few paragraphs are very random pieces of our life with Brogan. None of it flows...it's just me posting a couple of reasons why I love my son.

My (big) baby boy turned 19 months and I thought I'd share (brag...whatever) about him. Brogan did so well at his 18 month portraits. We went to Portrait Innovations and we're very pleased with the photographer, price, and how quickly you get the pictures (w/in 20 minutes!) Here's a few that Tadd put on facebook:





While waiting for our pictures to print, we went next door to Cold Stone. Brogan and I shared some Oreo ice cream which he loved. He worked hard for that treat!


Everyone who knows Brogan knows that he is in LOVE with Sesame Street. His favorite character at the moment is Count and instead of saying "Count" he says "ha ha ha" just like Count does. Knowing his Sesame Street characters has really helped him learn his colors too. For example, I'll say to Brogan, "Who is blue?" and he'll say "mmmmmmmm" which is toddler for Cookie Monster. Or I'll say, "Where's the purple crayon?" and he'll find it because he knows that Count is purple. The funniest imitation he does is Elmo's laugh. Hilarious :)

Speaking of coloring, the child would rather color than anything else in the world. DO NOT take him down the crayon aisle at Walmart or Target unless you are ready to buy him a new box of crayons. He will throw a fit and yell "Caa Caa!" Also, he's visited time out quite a few times recently for coloring on the walls, bathroom door, computer desk, kitchen floor, refrigerator, his table and chairs, Elmo chair, and ottoman. He definitely knows it's a "no-no" because he does it and then comes to get us to follow him where he shows us his "art". Poor thing hasn't realized that he's supposed to keep his "no-no's" on the DL ;) We introduced bath crayons last week and his eyes got HUGE when Tadd showed him how to draw on the bathtub walls. This probably confuses the mess out of him since I tell him to only color on paper all day long. We'll see how it goes.

Brogan has been sleeping amazingly well for the past several months. He usually goes to sleep around 9pm and gets up around 8am without waking up during the night. He also still takes two good naps during the day. I'm sure this is the calm before the storm before Baby Sister comes along.

I love our mornings together. When I first open his door, Brogan's in such a good mood- jumping up and down and being silly. He asks for his "mmmmmm" and "cheee" (milk and cheerios). We sit together in the recliner with a blanket, "mmmmmm" and "cheee", watching Curious George or Mickey Mouse. Thirty minutes later, he's ready to play.

While I love Brogan more than words could ever say, I must admit that I am NOT loving his little temper tantrums that just started last week. I thought I had 5 more months until the "terrible two's" started, but I guess not. He wants what he wants and he wants it right NOW. He wants to play in the freezer. He wants a smoothie every time he enters the kitchen. He wants to bang on the keyboard. He doesn't want me to change his diaper. He doesn't want to wear clothes- ever. He doesn't want me to help him stack his cups or help him with puzzles. Ohhhhh boy. I was crossing my fingers that it was because he was sick last week, but I think my boy is just stubborn (like his daddy of course!)

Anyway, I'm sure we'll survive this phase. (It IS a phase, right?) We are just about ready to start the transition from crib to toddler bed. Oh how I'm praying for that!