Then Two Became Three

Six Months...

2009-08-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe Brooklynn is half way to her first birthday! Her six month check up was today; she's 16 pounds, 2 ounces and 26 inches long (exactly 10 pounds and 6 inches gained since birth).

She is now reaching for and grabbing everything in sight and tormenting her puppies to no end (they have learned to stay just a few inches short of her reach). This past month she has started to roll around all over the place and 'motor boat', or do raspberries as Anamanda calls it.

Here are some pics from this past month's adventures:

Watching Uncle Joe at Highland Games with Anamanda

First play date with Lilly FosterReady for a stroll with Mom and the Puppies

Playin on the bed and rollin around

First Luncheon/Shower with Mommy and her friends Friends since High School

Trying to eat Lilly's arm

If they're anything like their moms... this could be trouble!

Brooklynn 4 Months.. Photos by Debbie Devita

2009-07-19T10:13:00.001-07:00

These are a little late being posted. I had to scan them (which explains why they're a little off color)..

Five Months and Counting

2009-07-08T15:47:00.001-07:00

This past month has been full of new discoveries and milestones. To touch on a few; her hand eye coordination is in high gear, she has started to teeth and is putting everything and anything in her mouth. She still loves to talk and laugh, much like her mom, and has this little 'ha ha ha ha' she says over and over.

In loving tribute to Michael Jackson, one night we switched up playtime from the normal tummy / exercise routines to dancing to his music. Needless to say, it was a hit, she LOVED it! It was the first time we heard her giggle uncontrollably with these deep belly laughs. As you can imagine, we have now incorporated dancing into our weekly activities. We tried to video it a couple of times but she gets camera shy.

This month included her first 4th of July. We went to Grandfather Golf and Country Club's gathering at the beach and much to our surprise, she wasn't the least bit scared of the fireworks.

Happy girl Lookin mischievous (and drooling of coarse)
4th of JulyWatching the fireworks (Aunt Lydia went with us)
Holding a bottle all by herself

Father's Day Weekend

2009-06-28T18:18:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful Father's Day weekend; Patrick, Aunt Lydia and I went to visit Uncle Joe, Anamanda (we figure Brooklynn won't be able to say Aunt Amanda for some time so we shortened it) and cousin Boss in Wilmington.

It was Uncle Joe's first time meeting his adorable niece and I think you can tell from the pic, he was a little excited! Joe's mom and knitting extraordinaire, Kris, took us all out for an amazing Father's Day brunch at Boca Bay. We were so sad to see the weekend end!

Uncle Joe was all smiles

Two of a Kind

Instant BondingShe loved climbing all over him (Boss is a little over it)
Hangin' dockside with her Aunties
Chillin in the shade with mom
Ms. Kris was so excited
Father's Day Brunch

Four Months...

2009-06-11T18:24:00.000-07:00

Today was Brooklynn's Four Month check up, besides having her second set of vaccines, she's doing great and continues to grow by one pound and one inch a month (13 pounds and 24 inches).

This past month she has really started to show expression and is talking all the time. Her favorite spot in the whole house (besides mommy and daddy's arms) is her changing table. She loves to be naked and look all around and talk, laugh, wiggle, stretch and squirm. She really is a very happy, sweet and loving baby.

Blowing bubbles

In her element

So sweet and sleepy after her bath

Perfect First Mother's Day

2009-05-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect first Mother's Day! Besides the obvious reasons, it was particularly special being Brooklynn's dedication at church. We thank God everyday for blessing us with this perfect little angel and for trusting us with her life.

Our Pastor, Dr. Bill Jones It was truly a special day for all

Big Day

2009-05-06T06:13:00.001-07:00

Not only is today Brooklynn's birthday of 3 months, it's her first day at Daycare. It just doesn't seem right that this day is here already. She is getting so big; she weighs 12 pounds and is 23 inches long.

We've had a big time this past month as she continues to melt our hearts with her sweet personality, expressions and mannerisms. She has a curiosity unlike anything I've ever seen and looks like a deer in headlights with her eyes open as wide as they will go while she looks around. She loves to be held and walked around so she can discover the world around her. She also loves to turn her head from side to side, looking back and forth, back and forth just taking it all in.

She is still very much a wiggle worm and loves to kick and stretch out. Her communication skills are improving everyday, she talks all the time and tries so hard to get words out. She has a favorite toy she talks a lot to, a little stuffed sheep we named Chloe that her friend Weston got her.

Some pics from the beach..

It's a ... Family Tradition

2009-04-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

Now that the Howard Family Vacation series begins, it brings back memories of some good 'ol Van Pelt vacations. It's no secret that we never had anything materialistic to speak of, yet my parents always found ways to enrich our lives in so many other ways. I am so grateful for their desire to go and do and let us experience the world around us. I can honestly say I have been to almost all 48 states, have flown all over the country and have driven cross country several times.

Those cross country trips would take us weeks to do being we would take different routes every time and stop at any and everything there was to see. Reno, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, Yellowstone, Yosemite, New York City, Atlantic City, Carlsbad Caverns, Atlanta... I could go on and on. And that's not to mention all the little touristy adventures we came across along the way. I can remember seeing signs for parks, western villages, historical sites, etc and stopping to get out and explore.

I realized a while ago that my parents didn't necessarily do this for us girls and I love this about them. When they returned from Cocoa Beach, FL a couple years ago, they had pictures of them at Disney World, Universal Studios, Daytona Speedway and Kennedy Space Center. Every time they go somewhere, if there's something worth seeing within a reasonable distance, they are there.

This is definitely something I want to establish as a tradition and carry on with our family. So starting now, with our first official family vacation, we are making it a tradition to seize the moment and world around us.

Go Beach!

2009-04-24T09:04:00.001-07:00

is what Patrick used to say very excitedly when he was little getting ready to go to the beach. Needless to say, GO BEACH, we are packing up the family, all five of us (dogs included), and heading to Harbor Island, SC in the morning for a week! Yay! Well, kind of. Next week also marks the LAST week I have of maternity leave which makes today a very sacred day being my last day home with just her and I.

I knew this time would come and that my blissful 12 weeks at home would come to an end, I just never imagined it would feel like this. It's so hard to explain how much I LOVE being home with her. Not to say I don't love my job too, I do, and everyone at Diamond Creek has been more than amazing, I just don't want to miss a second of her life and worry about all the things every new mother worries about when faced with this crossroad.

I know we'll get through it and am not going to focus on the negative or make it worse by dreading it, rather I'm going to enjoy every second of these next 10 days. This beach trip will be a fun adventure and the first of many fun-filled family vacations!

Easter 2009

2009-04-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

Gettin ready to dye Easter Eggs

She slept through most of it Dressed in her Easter Best ~ hat and sweater made by Kris Welliver

Two Month Check-Up

2009-04-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

Today was Brooklynn's two month check-up and first visit with her Pediatrician, Dr. Yale. He reported that she is 'beautiful and perfect', which of coarse we knew! I must admit, it never gets old hearing it.

She weighed in at 10 pounds, measured 22 inches long and had her first set of shots which made both her and mommy cry. Those cries of pain are so different from normal cries and it absolutely broke my heart. Thankfully, we both survived and she was back to her normal happy self by bedtime.

Milestones, she continues to build strength in her neck, arms and legs and loves to kick and wiggle. She loves to listen to music. True to her roots, she seems to like country the best; Alabama, Diamond Rio, Rascal Flatts and of coarse I had to throw in a little Old Crow Medicine and OAR.

Her communication skills are steadily improving; she can have complete conversations through her little eyes, sounds, sighs, coos, grunts and faces. She is becoming more animated and emotional everyday and is quick to communicate what she wants, what she likes and what she doesn't like. One of her new favorite past times is taking a bath in mommy and daddy's big bath tub.

A few more pics from her second month..

Dinner time with Grandpa Howard

Snuggle time with Granny Howard

Poochy pouty lips

Fighting sleepBath time

Little faces

The Crying Game

2009-03-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

This second month started out much different from the first, we discovered that Brooklynn's lungs work great! We played a game of trial and error as we introduced the bottle a couple days a week. We finally figured out which brand works best for her and even though she still has moments of complete despair where nothing seems to calm her except nursing, we are making progress.

She is also starting to show signs of being a little spoiled with her inability to be laid down or left alone for long. (Wonder whose fault that is???) She just wants to be held or near us 24/7. It's going to be hard to break this habit of revolving our life around her but one I know will benefit ALL of us in months and years to come. It's really so much harder than I ever imagined though; I just want to hold her and be near her all the time! I feel like this will get better once I return to work full-time and she starts daycare. For those of you wondering, I will return to Diamond Creek in May and Brooklynn will spend one day a week with my mom, one day with Patrick's mom, and three days in daycare. We feel this is a good balance for her and will give her a special day to bond with each grandma.

Here are a few pics from the past couple of weeks...

Birth announcement picture

Proud Mommy and Daddy

Visit from Auntie Laura and Amanda

Auntie Lydia

Swingin

Bright Eyes

Posing with Mommy

Looking on with Daddy

Her Poppy adores her

And MeMe does too

Exhausted after her bath

Bailey loves laying with her; Spencer prefers her at a distance

Visit from Aunt Cindy and Uncle Rufus

Movin on up...

2009-03-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

the scale that is! Brooklynn had her one month check up yesterday and weighed in at 7lb 14oz. Her mommy, daddy and grandparents are thrilled with her gain of 1lb 10oz from her visit two weeks ago!

A few other highlights and pics from her first month:

Spencer Being a Protective Big BrotherFirst (and Only) Time in Her Crib

First Walk with the Dogs (Linville GC)

First Big Snow (Beech Mtn got 15")

Boppies aren't just for Babies...

Oh where oh where have the last 28 days gone???

2009-03-06T08:57:00.000-08:00

As I sit here watching my sweet Brooklynn sleep, it seems all too surreal that she is one month old today. This has undoubtedly been the best month of my life. Getting to know her and see her personality start to take shape is an absolute joy. She has so many little quirks that just make my heart melt and I am relishing every moment of being home and bonding with my daughter.

Reflecting back on the last 28 days, I am excited to share that even though she's considered a 'preemie', she's no ordinary preemie and has hit some major milestones.

MOTION COMMOTION: At just a few days old, she was impressing visitors with her ability to lift her head. She has since graduated to moving her head from side to side and earlier this week, she did a little push up and held her head up high for a few minutes. She looked like a little Bobble Head with her neck working overtime but she did it all by herself! She is also quite the little wiggle worm and loves to squirm, kick and move her arms frantically. During tummy time, she can scoot with her legs if she's got something to push off against, roll over onto her side and likes to lay with her arms folded up under her chin. She's gonna be a poser for sure!

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR: There are several sounds she responds to, the biggest being her daddy's voice. When she hears him speak from across the room, her eyes instantly start scrolling to find him. She likes to be sung to and will sometimes try to join in with a little high pitched humming tone. One noise that she doesn't respond to or even acknowledge, is her brothers barking, thank goodness! I guess after hearing it so much in the womb, she has become numb to it!

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE: During her awake hours, she is very intent on taking it all in and has the cutest bright eyed expression as she looks all around. She raises her eyebrows and opens her eyes as wide as they will go. Although her reaction is a tad delayed, she can follow my face if I move it from side to side. She likes looking in a mirror and at the new faces she meets.

ANIMATION STATION: Being the happy baby she is, it's not surprising that she smiles quite a bit. She has many expressions that come out at different times. Every time she gets a bath, she spends her first few minutes with an angry look on her face, eyebrows low, eyes tightened, lips pouty. It usually takes her a few minutes to warm up to the idea and then she loves it. While nursing, she tends to be very excited in the beginning and then very lethargic in the end, almost drunk like. It's quite funny.

SOUNDING OFF: I never knew a baby could make so much noise! She laughs, sighs, coos, grunts and squeals. Every time she starts to drift off to sleep, she has the cutest little giggles and sighs. She also has these deep, long lasting grunts that sound like a little old man, and not just when she's filling a diaper either. Her high pitched squeals are her attempt to talk to us. As some have described it, it sounds a lot like a little kitten. It's amazing how she can communicate with us and respond to conversation.

LIKES/DISLIKES: Contrary to popular belief, not all babies love to be swaddled, Brooklynn being one of them. She wiggles her way out of it every time! She loves to be held and if she's not sound asleep, she will wake up and cry the second you lay her down by herself. She is not a fan of her Pack n Play, yet, either but has taken very nicely to her cradle that the Garland's so graciously made her. Passies... as much as she loves and is comforted by sucking, like all babies, it has taken her a while to get used to a passie. Today was actually the first day she kept one in long enough to fall asleep.

2009-02-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

Just one day old

MeMe and Poppy

Granny and Grandpa Howard

Auntie Lydia

Sleeping beauty

All stretched out

Mommy with all her babies

Meeting her Great Grandma Ruhland

Auntie Laura

Kisses from Mommy

Mommy's fav pic

Uncle Frank and Aunt Dottie came to visit

Unkie Philip

Puppy love

LOVE her little nakedness

Happy family

Pregnancy Recap ~ In case you missed it

2009-02-22T09:10:00.000-08:00

Most of you kept up with my expanding bump but for those of you who missed it, here's a few pics to recap:

12 Weeks + 5lbs / 22 Weeks + 15lbs

24 Weeks / 28 Weeks + 20lbs

32 Weeks / 34 Weeks + 25 lbs

Surprise Arrival

2009-02-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

Thursday, February 5th started out just like any other day.. little did we know what the Good Lord had in store for us..

Patrick wasn't feeling well so instead of heading to the Y to work out, we were going to enjoy a quiet evening at home. Around 6:00pm, I was standing at the sink washing my hands when I felt a small gush of water release. I looked at Patrick dumbfounded and said, "Oh my Gosh, that's the strangest thing I've ever felt.. I think my water just broke." After minutes of staring at each other in complete shock, we called our Mid-wife Heather Jordan. She said, "that sounds suspicious, meet me at the Hospital." Suspicious was right. I kept thinking how could this be, I wasn't feeling any contractions and it was too early; I was just short of 36 weeks preggo. I honestly thought that maybe I was just leaking fluid and we would go to the Hospital, get checked out, and she'd send me home until my water really broke. Not so much.

After getting to the Hospital, it was confirmed that we were well on our way to having a baby. I was 3.5cm dilated and the baby had already moved down into delivery position. Heather informed us of potential complications with me being 35+ weeks; if the baby had any pre-term conditions, she would have to be flown to Asheville's NICU while I stayed in Linville. Not exactly what we wanted to hear but we said a prayer and trusted her fate in God's hands.

Per protocol, they pumped me full of fluids and then had me walk around to see if the contractions, which I still wasn't really feeling, would increase. It worked. The pain was much different than I imagined. I thought it would feel more like a kidney stone, instead, it was like a bad menstrual cramp. As the contractions increased, I knew it was going to be a very long night and not much fun for Patrick if I didn't have an epidural. The pain was still very manageable but for fear of waiting too late, at 7cm the anethesthiologist did her magic and I wasn't feeling a thing.

Around 3:45am, I reached 10cm, it was go time. After 15 minutes of pushing, our beautiful, precious, dearest Brooklynn was born. It's hard to describe the feeling and emotion of meeting our daughter for the first time. The intensity of seeing her, holding her, hearing her sweet little noises brought tears to our eyes. Thank God she didn't have any complications, her lungs were completely developed and she's a happy, healthy 6lb 2oz and 20 inches long. If she would have gone full term, she would have been big like her mommy (I was 9lb 2oz and 22.5 inches long). We are so in love with this little miracle and never knew life could be so amazing!

To add a little irony to the situation, though my co-workers and I have talked about my pregnancy and their pregnancies before, that Thursday we had an in-depth conversation about the birthing process and I shared my anxiety regarding my water breaking. Low and behold, what happened when I got home??? Also, Ingrid shared with me that she was beginning to wonder if the Peace Lilly I gave her when her Grandmother died months earlier would ever bloom and then in a weird twist of fate, it bloomed the day Brooklynn was born. We knew this girl was special!

Thank you to all of you for your thoughts, calls, visits, gifts and for sharing in our excitement of Brooklynn's arrival!!!

New Beginnings

2009-01-28T11:28:00.001-08:00

So here we go with this blogging stuff.. As most of you know, our precious little Brooklynn Reece Howard is due March the 8th. This little girl has given us a whole new meaning to life and commitment to each other. She is a true Godsend and we are so excited about starting this journey and next chapter of our life together.

I must say I have been very blessed to have such an easy pregnancy so far. With the exception of a kidney stone, I've had no sickness, no extreme weight gain, no crazy mood swings or cravings (except for 7 Layer dip and Mexican).. I know right, most of y'all are hating me big time right now. But seriously, it's been an amazing experience and I am loving every moment of it.

Everyone is so nice to you when you're pregnant, opening doors, smiling when they look at you, giving compliments, asking questions about the baby and sharing their own stories. Not to mention how great it is to be able to indulge in ice cream or eat an extra piece of pizza and not feel guilty. I can honestly say I understand how people miss being pregnant. I will miss having her with me 24/7, feeling her every move, telling her stories, sharing quiet time, dreaming of what she will look like, anticipating her interests, ambitions and personality traits. It is such a special bonding time for the two of us.

This is also a special time for Patrick and I to savor every moment of our marriage before expanding into a family. We have been taking advantage of such freedoms like going to the movies or out to eat on a whim, going to ball games, sleeping in, taking baths, reading, visiting friends, working out whenever we feel like it, not keeping a schedule and going on weekend getaways to just enjoy each other before the baby arrives.. we know once Brooklynn graces us with her presence, this will all change drastically!

That’s not to say we aren’t anxious for her to arrive, but we know she will come when she is good and plump and ready! The countdown is now at 5 and a half weeks and we all know how quickly time flies!