Baby books

Sometimes baby books have offered advice that is ridiculous or just not helpful; but many times baby books have given us great advice in our adventure of parenting. This morning, the later was definitely the case. Yesterday evening Brenna was a disaster--she ultimately was very tired but kept freaking out causing her to not be able to go to sleep for any length of time. At one point we all went for a drive because we knew she would fall asleep in the car. It was a great 20 minute drive as she slept. The silver lining was that once she did fall asleep around 10:00 pm she stayed asleep until 3:00 am for a feeding. This makes three nights in a row she has only woken up once in the middle of the night to feed!!

Anyway, back to baby books...when we were feeding her at 6:00 am this morning I was reading from the book "The Wonder Weeks." I had heard awesome things about this book and Gus & Jeanine got it for us at our shower because they had loved it. The first "wonder week" is week 5--just where Brenna is. On the first page of the week 5 description it reads,

          "At this time, it is very likely your baby will yell, cry, scream, and refuse to sleep in her crib until           she has driven the entire household crazy."

Pat thought I made up the line as I read it out loud. We couldn't believe how spot on the descriptions were. So, at least in this instance the baby book was extremely helpful and made us feel better that this is a common experience for parents with their 5 week old! It was also reassuring to read that this is just a phase, she'll grow out of it...until the next wonder week, which is apparently week 8 :)

More Small Steps!

Brenna and I just got back from walking 1.5 miles, and I was carrying her in the ergo!! It's nice to be able to see concrete progress in my recovery from the surgery in walking much further than just a few weeks ago!

We also had other big milestones this weekend. Pat went to Kansas for the wedding of his good friends Pat and Amy. Brenna and I were on our own Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. "On our own" is definitely a relative phrase...over the three days Helen, Margie, Maria, Colleen and Ashlee all came over at various times; Ashlee and I skyped with Nadeje and Stephanie; Brenna and I went to the zoo with all her cousins; and we went to Rowena's wedding shower! Overall we had a very fun weekend together, but we were very glad to welcome Pat home come Sunday night!!

The other big milestone was that Brenna turned 1 month old! Here's a few pictures of some pictures I took to capture the big day :)

4 weeks!

It is hard to believe that four weeks ago right now we were in labor about to meet our little girl so soon! That time seems so long ago now yet at the same time it feels like these first four weeks went by so quickly. Brenna continues to be doing great. This morning we had fun together as she was tracking me as I moved from side to side--it's cool that just last week she couldn't do that.

We think she weighs about 8 and 2/3 pounds right now based on our highly scientific process of weighing one of us with her and then without holding her. Brenna still isn't a great breast feeder but thankfully she'll take breast milk from a bottle, no problem. Monday we have an appointment with a doctor who helps infants with weak suck reflexes--who knew that problem existed or that there were doctors to help with it?!?

Pat went back to work this week so Brenna and I were on our own a bit more. So far it is going well! We had a few visitors, have gone for some walks, and ran errands one day. It is fun to get out and about with Brenna, especially as she is so portable these days. 

Our Christmas was wonderful!! Grandma Ann and Grandpa Bill came in to town and we all had fun at Christmas at my parents' house. It was so great that Ann and Bill were able to come to meet Brenna in person and spend the week with us!! Brenna loved her afternoon naps being held by her grandma--and Pat and I enjoyed taking more naps ourselves too! Brenna's cousins love her so much and enjoyed being with her again at Christmas. It is so cute to see how much they love holding her and giving her kisses!

My own recovery is coming along well--I'm feeling pretty good most of the time. My incision still hurts at times but it is not all that often. We go back in two weeks for my final clearance, but I'm not expecting any problems. I am able to walk more and more, and am very much looking forward to the milestone of being able to walk all the way around Greenlake once again!

Theresa came to visit and meet Brenna on her way to Portland!!

Our family! Up to 15 people now :)

Brenna and her grandparents

Brenna at her first neighborhood cookie decorating on Christmas Eve afternoon

Aunt Colleen bought Brenna this amazing onesie for Christmas!

Small Steps

I've read that recovery from a c-section is measured by weeks, not days. Today is day 13 of Brenna's life and I took her out in the stroller for the first time. I was able to walk 6 blocks with her! Last week I could only walk 3 blocks, so I was pretty excited with 6! 

Here is Brenna sleeping her way through the walk.