Brynn's Space

Alright, so I promised myself and the blog-o-sphere that I was going to finish Brynn's room before going back to work.  This is me delivering on that promise.  Have you sent those cookies yet?  You probably should now.  Seriously.

It's by no means perfect but it's what this busy Mama could manage to do.  Hopefully one day she appreciates it.  If not, perhaps her punishment will be stenciling other rooms of the house.  We'll see.

P.S.  Let's not judge the picture quality, hmmm?  Emery's nap time is a very short window in which to accomplish as many To-Do items as possible.  It makes Minute To Win It look like a piece of cake.

P.P.S.  I'm linking writing down some things because if I ever need to know it in the future, this is where I'll look.  I'm getting way too old to store much beyond last week's Celebrity Apprentice in this noggin of mine.  I do not actually expect that you will find yourself so impressed that you'll need it.

This is what walking in a door to a room looks like.  I know, I know- try to catch your breath.

Where this princess will lay her head.  Some day.  Furniture is from the Nottingham line by Baby's Dream.

Ryan loved hanging those bird cages.  Ask him about it.  That stencil is called Large Moorish Trellis from Royal Design Studio.

This was an exercise in how much I could squish myself up into a tiny corner.  Not very well is the answer for anyone curious.

These curtains were made by my amazing Mama.  The fabric is called Aqua Dot (clever, I know) from New Arrivals.  That print with Brynn's birth deets is from Willow Lane Prints on Etsy.

Again my talented-beyond-words Mama made this bedding.  The outside of the bumper is in a fabric called Layla Rose, the inside is in a fabric called Peppermint stripe and the skirt is in a fabric called Aqua Solid all from New Arrivals.

Brynn Tracker: Two Months

The Story
How, how, hoooow do I already have a 2 month old?  Are you picturing me stamping my feet and whining that statement?  You should be.  Perhaps another of my roommates is wearing off on me.

Practicing her form for tight rope walking.  You just never know what your parents are going to throw at you next.

I'd say it's been another wonderful month with our new bundle of very kicky joy.  I suppose first we should touch on those challenges and see where we stand and then hit the other stuff, eh?  First, the car.  Still hates it.  Ohmigoodness does she hate it.  Previously I said she wasn't as loud as Emery was.  She must have heard me because girlfriend stepped up her screaming game.  Mariah, she's coming for you.  We still have some, very short, car rides with no screaming.  For this to occur the following events must have taken place:  recent feeding, recent emptying of her stomach in the form of a #2, ample time cuddling with her mother prior to placement in car seat, and the moon to be in Pisces and the sun in Capricorn...  I jest.  The point is that it's rare.  Luckily I am aware that this will pass, eventually.  Now, if I could just convince her soon-to-be teachers at school who get to witness it daily when I pick up Emery.  I think they're shaking in their boots.

Practicing boxing form.  See above.  Mama is constantly trying to hand me off to others.

Next?  Sleeping on her own.  We've made some awesome progress on this front this month.  Probably 3 weeks into the month I told Ryan that I would make a deal with him.  If he could figure out how to rig our motion sensing AngelCare monitor in the pack n play that I would give her sleeping on her belly a shot.  He was clearly highly motivated and found a way to make it work.  Since we've been doing this she very reliably sleeps in the following pattern:  goes down around 11, sleeps between 4 and 5 hours, wakes up to eat, gets put back in for about 1.5-2 hours, gets up to eat again.  Usually at that point it's time for sister and Daddy to head off to school/work.  Typically Brynn and I will go back to sleep for about an hour and then she wants to eat again.  I normally wake up for the day then and she continues to nap intermittently until about 11 am.  Does that count as a schedule?  If so, we are totes on a schedule.  Haaaa.

Hey you up there.  Is this a lady-like pose?

New challenges this month, you ask?  Ohhh, there are some.  Remember last month when I said this kid was a bit of a Mama's girl?  She's become a very serious Mama's girl.  Her tolerance level for people who aren't me is fairly low.  The nail in the coffin for me in admitting this fact was that she was a total jerk for Nonnie.  NONNIE!  She's our resident baby whisperer.  At this point I'm now more worried about sending her to school for the first time than her sister.  Who'd have ever believed that would be the case?  On the one hand this challenge makes it tough for me to get things done or to have any me time, but truth be told- I'm pretty okay with it.  I know it won't last forever, so I am soaking it up as long as I can.  She won't always think cuddling on my shoulder is her favorite place in the world, or find my rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star so calming.  She also, most likely, will not keep a death grip on my shirt even when she's asleep to ensure she knows if I move.  If she does, well I guess I'll enjoy doing high school for a second time.

Uh... yup, still can't roll over.  Just thought I would check.

Another very recent potential challenge is that this child is pretty unimpressed by the idea of taking a bottle.  Because we didn't have the weight issues with her (see stats below) that we had with Emery, she's never really had to have a bottle.  So we just... haven't really bothered with introducing them.  Clearly now that we've uncovered this recent issue it's time for some bottle boot camp before we send her off to school next month (ahhh- typing that brings tears to my eyes).

Practicing my Miss America wave.  In case the tight rope walking and boxing aren't successes.  Everyone needs a fall back plan.

I stated that this was a great month before covering challenges because it really was.  All the incredible things about Miss Brynn FAR outweigh the tough things.  For instance- those cheeks?  You scream all you want in the car Princess as long as you don't lose my very favorite location for kiss attacks.  I just can't get enough of that squishy goodness.  Oh and this month she started smiling and it turns out she has a perfect one.  It takes up her entire face.  It's absolutely impossible to look at her when she's smiling and not smile back.  I dare you to try.

If I don't look at them will it stop?

She continues to exhibit her baby cobra tendencies, but as her neck strength has improved over the course of the month, it makes it slightly less cobra-like.  It's still adorable though.  She is definitely our observer.  She sits and quietly looks around watching everyone and everything.  Miraculously her sister, who is typically getting way too close to her face, makes her smile about 90% of the time.  I know for sure that my heart can't explode, because it's still intact even after getting to watch them interact each day.

That pretty much sums it all up!   I truly can't wait to see what the next month brings... other than going back to work.  The mama is pretty torn up about that.  (Start planning Bux trips now Becca & Molly!)  I'm sure it goes without saying, but that's never stopped me before- we love our sweet Brynnie Booboo more than life itself.

Nope.  Looks like they'll just zoom in.

The Stats

• Height at 6 weeks*:  23.75" (99th percentile)
• Weight at 6 weeks*:  11 lbs 12 oz (88th percentile)
• Head Circumference at 6 weeks*:  15.25" (93rd percentile)
• Height at 2 months:24"
• Weight at 2 months:  12 lbs 12 oz
• Firsts:  (I forgot this one last month, so this includes some catch ups)
• November 24th: First pediatrician appointment
• December 1st:  First car trip with sister
• December 2nd:  Lost her umbilical cord
• December 3rd:  First bottle
• December 18th:  First restaurant (with Mama to meet co-workers)
• December 20th:  First smile on purpose
• January 2nd:  First smile at Emery
• January 3rd:  First nap in crib (VERY brief)
• January 3rd:  First time in a restaurant as a family of 4
• January 15th:  First time to sleep effectively in the pack n play (4 hours)
• Diaper size:  1 but that's only because we have a lot left from our last Amazon shipment.  Truth be told I think she really should be in 2's
• Clothes:  Mama really milked those 0-3 month clothes but I gave in and started putting her in 3-6 month clothes in late December
• Feeding:  She's kind of all over the place but I would say between 1.5-3 hours during the day and then on the seemingly erratic schedule outlined above for at night
• Sleeping:  See above  (4-5 hour stretch then 1.5-2 hour stretch)  Usually goes to sleep around 11 pm and "wakes up for the day" around 11 am
• Favorite Games:  Looooves to pretend sit up or pretend to stand up, also loves just looking around
• Favorite Songs:  Sadly she digs my singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and a handful of songs on the radio (love myself some Ed Sheeran)-  Means her musical taste can only improve, right?
• Things Dropped on her in the Moby Wrap:  Goodness, so much - iced coffee, some granola bar, chocolate filled croissant (those are a real mess)
• Other Notables:  This kid LOVES the TV.  Heaven help us.

The Princess getting ready for her close up.  As you can see, eating is not an issue at this stage in the game.

i(Phone) Spy: Month Two - Brynn

Stop the presses!  In all my months of doing these photo dumps, this might be the first one I've published on time.  Does this mean I'm growing as a person?  That I have a better handle on my life?  That I deserve a medal?  Haaaa.  No.  If you want to send me a cookie though, please feel free.

You know the drill.  Here are way too many pictures of my tiniest adorable roomie, who turned 2 months old today!

You know.  Just casually lounging on my boppy. Making adorable faces at my Mama.  This is how I make her forget allll about how hard it is to sleep with a very long, kicky baby on her chest at night.

What were you saying?  I just can't seem to take my eyes off this blue bird.  Has it always been there?  So fascinating.

Is there a 12 step program for taking pictures of Daddy sleeping with kids on his chest?  If so, sign me up.

It looks like she's screaming, but she's yawning.  Emery's class Christmas party wasn't nearly as exciting to her as to big sis.  Maybe it was the lack of icing?

Mom, do I look pensive?  I was going for pensive.

My little belly sleeper taking a nap while I stare at her to make sure she's still breathing.  This actually defeats the purpose of putting her down but whatever.

Look- I got an arm out, sucka!  (Thinking she's funny is a Ryan gene for those keeping score.)

Getting ready to go to the pedi.  Is there such a thing as too many stripes?  Apparently I don't think so.

This is how she looked when we got her out of the car at the pediatrician.  It prompted Ryan to let me know that she's not a parrot and thus just because we cover her eyes doesn't mean she'll go to sleep.  How would I do this parenting thing without him?

It's a hood.  I didn't pop her collar, I promise.

Hanging out with Mama on Christmas Eve.  Watching Sons of Anarchy.  Quality programming for children of all ages, right?  (Don't worry, big sister was in bed.)

This outfit from Aunt Jen & Uncle Brendan gets her so amped up she could just do a jig.

I'm farting allll over you and there's nothing you can do about it.  (Another Ryan gene.)

She doesn't have nearly as many variations of facial expressions as her big sister did but she has the thoughtful look on lock down.

So... you're saying that my eating every 20 minutes ISN'T how you want to spend the day?  I'm confused.

I found the UT bowl game equally as shocking, doll face.

One of the first really quality smiles I caught on camera.  Kinda contagious, isn't it?

The day I decided I needed to give in and put her in 3-6 month clothes.  I GUESS having your limbs restricted could get old.

First time "out to eat" as a family of four.  I put that in quotes because we just went to get coffee and muffins as an afternoon snack.  Ryan & I are NOT that ambitious.

When did my lovebug turn into a full blown infant and not just my tiny, squishy newborn?!

You know Mom, I see what you mean.  Those Property Brothers ARE pretty awesome.  I'll take Drew, you can have Jonathan.  (Kid loooves the TV.)

 Puppy dog eyes in a cat shirt.  Pleeeease pick me up!

Hey bunny, what do you think you're looking at?!

So... those luscious locks are falling out.  At a rapid pace.  In a very laughable pattern.  Fingers crossed that the mul-hawk becomes a thing. 

So we're going to Pappadeaux, huh?  How long do you think I'll let you sit down for?  2 minutes?  5 minutes?  Long enough to scarf down food?  We'll see how generous I feel when we get there. (It was about 5 minutes.)

Brynn is taking her resolution to help her Mama lose weight to heart.  We go on a walk together every day at lunch.  Lately it's been too cold to do it outside, so we've been hitting up Target.  We have an unspoken agreement that she sleeps and I get a coffee.  She wasn't holding up her end of the bargain this day.  (I know the Moby wrap needs to be pulled up- wiggle worm really moves that thing around.)

I just want to squeeze those cheeks!  I'll be so sad the day she grows into them.

The Bachelor?  So this is what you and Dad were laughing at so much while I was inside?  Even I'm judging you.

I was singing "Twinkle, twinkle little star."  True Story.  Future American Idol judge?

I was trying to get a good shot of her pretty lashes.  I failed but you can at least see her adorable little nose.

She may hate tummy time but she's getting pretty good at it.

Psssst, sis.  I appreciate this sharing thing, but I can't control my arms yet.  Whaddya say you  do me a solid and put that cracka in my mouth, huh?

Oh HEEEEEY 2015 - Looking Good!

I debated whether or not to post about ringing in 2015 because 1) I took basically no pictures to commemorate the event and 2) it was very low-key.  I ultimately decided I would because for this date-obsessed Mama ushering in a New Year is a very sentimental thing.  In the days leading up to it I look back on the year and where it's taken me and those around me.  This always results in a rush of warm, sappy emotions for yours truly which I celebrate by sending a series of reflective texts to Ryan.  As a man who doesn't emote well, he's not a big fan of this holiday for this reason.  We both know this won't stop me though as it happens each year like clockwork.

As I found myself reflecting upon all that 2014 brought, I couldn't help but feel incredibly, incredibly thankful.  I say that each year, but this year I say it with tears of gratitude in my eyes. As I've stated many times, I am a planner by nature.  When I sat in the same familiar, introspective place on December 31, 2013, I not only looked at what I had been blessed with (EMERY!) but I mulled over what I thought 2014 held in store for us.  Being a family of four by the time the sands ran out on 2014 wasn't exactly my plan.  Normally when my plans go awry I become a level of cranky that would make Oscar the Grouch look like Miss Congeniality.  This year though I can't iterate enough how genuinely thankful I was to be wrong.  It was a perfectly, divinely-timed lesson that I don't need to be in charge all the time.  I can't control everything, and that's a good thing because someone else is far better at it than I am.

This leads into my pseudo-resolution for 2015 - to let go of the reins and to just enjoy, to take what comes and try to truly appreciate every moment I'm given.  As I sit here with a beautiful, wiggly baby on my lap I think back to when my nearly 2 year old was that baby.  It feels like only yesterday, but when I go collect her from school in a few minutes and she RUNS over to me YELLING about her "ki-chun" (which is absolutely how it will go), it will remind me that it wasn't yesterday.  It was a lot of yesterdays ago.  A lot of yesterdays that disappeared way too quickly.  So for 2015 I resolve to enjoy more, trust more, and cuddle my babies more.  I also resolve to control less, worry less and plan-by-the-minute less.

I did a good job of enacting this resolution through our New Years plans.  We did basically zero planning and as a result were priviledged to enjoy the company of my parents and my brother to ring in 2015.  Ryan and I got to watch the ball drop from the comfort of our own home, with a glass of champagne in hand, surrounded by people we love.  As an added bonus, my Dad and Ryan replaced some outdated lights upstairs and on the staircase with recessed lighting.  Because I was busy living in the moment (read: chasing children and chatting with my Mom), I took zero before pictures .  I'll hit you with some afters in another post later.  I even got to flex my don't-worry muscle as multiple holes were cut in dry wall and I totally didn't even break a sweat.  So my ability to stick to this resolution is looking gooood.  ;c)  Mucho, mucho thanks to my parents for sharing their holiday with us AND helping with some house renovations in the process.  I really can't imagine where we would be without you!

I hope that you all experienced just as much joy in 2014 as we did, and that you're looking forward to all 2015 holds as much as we are.  Happy New Year kids!

Emery was beyond pumped to have her Nonnie, Pawpaw and "Mott," over.  She was so amped up that she crashed on her Daddy.  Anyone who knows Emery knows how incredibly shocking and touching this is.

This one, on the other hand, really wanted to see what this whole New Years celebration was all about.  Here she is pictured just after midnight.  Wide awake.  Not looking impressed.

A Christmas Story 2014: The Boarman Version

At around 1:30 or so, our bigger elf was showing signs of having crossed over from a-nap-would-be-nice to if-I-don't-take-a-nap-soon-everyone-around-me-will-rue-the-day-they-were-born.  After such an exciting morning, who could blame her?  We decided to take that opportunity to pack up the car and head to my parents' house in Conroe so that she could recharge on the road.

What we did not plan on was Brynn screaming her lungs out.  The entire way.  I figured she would scream a bit and then fall asleep because hey- what are the chances Ryan and I birthed 2 children with 1.5 hour screaming stamina?  Well, turns out they're good.  Because we did.  Fortunately Emery was so exhausted she somehow managed to nap despite the screaming.  That's my girl- she's clearly inherited her mother's sleeping ability.

When we arrived to the lake we handed Brynn to Nonnie, let Emery play entertainer to anyone who would look her direction and Ryan & I got ourselves a beer.  Maybe 2.  Who's to say?  (Have you ever been on a trip with a screaming infant?  If so you're nodding rather than raising your eyebrows.)

Nonnie, let me just tell you what those people did to me.

After a suitable time decompressing,  we all sat down to open gifts.  Again- we were WAY too spoiled.  All of us.

Em helping her Daddy go through his stocking.

Pssst... Mom.  Dad's stocking bored me.  What do you have over there?!

Emery loved the Little People things from Matt, Julie & I's childhood so much that the fam gifted her some modern day ones.  She loves them just as much.

How many grown men does it take to put together a children's toy?  At least 2 when there's beer involved.

It apparently takes just as many to open go through a stocking.

Intense focus is required.

These people are nuts, y'all.

After Christmas, we all bunked up at the lake for a little long weekend staycation with the family.  It was Brynn's first time to visit Nonnie and Pawpaw's and Emery's first time in a while.  Added bonus was she learned to say Julie (Gulu) and David's names finally.  We spent our family time together doing our favorite things- relaxing, playing cards, eating good food and laughing.  Lots of laughing.  I mentioned the eating, didn't I?  I feel I should in case you see me before I lose those extra holiday pounds.  

Time off with the family was exactly what the doctor ordered.  I'd spent a lot of my maternity leave to that point over tired and stressed trying to get all my Christmas shopping, wrapping, etc done.  It was so nice to not only be able to relax but to do so with so many extra helping hands around.  That was probably MY favorite Christmas gift.

You guys think Emery is the only bossy one around here?  Just watch me point my finger in the air.  (This is how she does it, right?)

Move over grumpy cat.  I present to you  grumpy reindeer.

*sigh*  Dad, when do the silly outfits and photoshoots end?  (The answer is never.)

This kid has Pawpaw wrapped around her finger.

Julie & David decorating cookies.  I have to say that Julie's skills have improved vastly over the years.

Mama, this is a little fancy for pushing around a stroller, don't ya think?

Hey da bebe, check out my bird.

Doesn't Brynn's face have "here we go again" written all over it?

This is my life, isn't it?

My Life: A Self Portrait.  Nose Frida, errant little girl accessories (bow & bots) and coffee.

A child after her Mama's heart.  Please note the k cups surrounding Dolly & Baby in the stroller.

So Paw paw Emery tells me you know a lot about modems?

Can I help you Mama?

Tell me this sequence doesn't melt your heart.

Sweet baby loves her Paw paw.

My beautiful Emykins.

Trying to entice Lola to play with her.  I would venture to guess unsuccessfully.

Such a classic Emery face.

Sweet sisters.

What do you do when your kiddo insists on taking a walk but the car (and thus her coat) is all packed up?  You dress them like a car jacker.

Added bonus to using adult jackets?  The sleeves act as a leash.

And with that, we have another holiday in the books.  This one will always have a special place in my heart since it was our first as a family of four.  A heartfelt thank you to my family for our gifts,  your company and being the incredible support system that you are to us- I can't imagine what we would do without you.

I hope you all's holidays were equally as memory-, magic-, love- and family-filled.