Baby Brystol at Nine Months

Brystol, Nine Months Old


At nine months, Brystol:

• has visited ELEVEN states -- Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin (though most she rode through or had a layover in)


• weighs approximately 22 pounds -- I would have sworn she weighed more, but doing a little math on the scale proves otherwise


• is *still* chubby -- double chin, big cheeks and fat rolls intact


• is much to heavy for her infant car seat


• will be in the convertible seat soon


• is surprisingly tall for being so chunky


• fits comfortably in 12 months outfits


• wears size Large cloth and size 4 disposable diapers


• crawls on all fours


• chases the cat


• tries to climb the stairs


• is always on the go


• pulls up on everything and can sometimes get back down on her own


• will likely be walking VERY soon -- sigh.


• fell out of her portacrib when the bottom slat shifted -- she did not cry, but began destoying a book instead


• got her first boo-boos -- a bruise on her cheek and a scraped toe





• has FOUR teeth -- two on bottom, two on top


• puts everything into her mouth


• still smiles all the time -- she is such a happy child!


• only recently began laughing *at* people. Really, until this week, laughter was induced by tickling or some kind of physical play. Just this week, she began laughing at silly voices and noises and she often laughs at Bub for no reason at all


• is quite vocal -- always "talking," babbling, and growling


• says "DaDa," "Bubba," "GaGa" (Gracie), "MaMaMaMa" (but mostly when crying), and her own sort of "Night Night" which means either she's tired, wants to nurse, or both. She used to say her own sort of "Hi," but she's stopped. She calls the cat something indecipherable.


• loves being worn in a sling or Mei Tai


• rarely lets other people hold her, even for brief periods of time


• still doesn't like to sleep alone


• still will not sleep through the night, but wakes to nurse 2-3 times


• won't take a bottle


• tolerates sippy cups


• would much rather drink from a regular cup with a regular straw


• loves ice water


• eats mixed grain cereals, fruit and veggie purees, YoBaby yogurt, banana chunks, steamed carrot chunks, whole black beans, mashed garbanzo beans, fruit bits in mesh feeders and lots and lots of puffs


• enjoys self-feeding


• will not wear socks or shoes


• is super smart -- maybe too smart! (That, or we've grown more dull.)


• is mastering the art of the temper tantrum


• picks trouble over something she's allowed to do every.single.time.


• is one of the loveliest children I've ever had the privilege of knowing







Laughing at "GaGa"

Like Mother, Like Daugther -- Regarding the Laundry Anyway.

You know how I hate the laundry like nothing else?

I told Brystol she should take over the laundry responsibilities,
and this was the response I got:


Like mother, like daughter, I suppose -- regarding the laundry anyway.

Eighty Days

What a difference a day makes, or eighty days, as in this case.

Brystol, Four Days Old




Brystol, 12 Weeks Old
(or 84 Days Old)

Wordless Wednesday: Footie Jammies/Bumbo Chair

Brystol, Ten Weeks Old

Baby Brystol and the Two Month Stats

Brystol, Two Months Old


At two months, Brystol:

• weighs 11 lbs. 12 oz. and is 75% for weight, 50% for height/head


• is as chubby as ever, with a double chin and fat rolls galore


• has outgrown a few 0-3 month outfits


• has outgrown most Size 1 disposable diapers


• is moving into cloth diapers full-time


• smiles all the time, even while nursing


• still doesn't sleep through the night


• doesn't like to sleep alone


• coos and "talks" to Daddy, but rarely to anyone else


• has earned the nickname "Tootsie," emphasis on "Toot"


• tolerates other people holding her for brief periods of time


• hates her car seat


• has learned to take a bottle





• prefers to *not* take a bottle


• is losing her hair


• might have brown eyes


• loves bathtime


• doesn't mind tummy time


• attended her first opera, "Three Little Pigs"


• visited her first series of art museums


• loves her brother and sister


• is well-loved in return

Smiling Sweetly

Brystol, Seven Weeks Old


Smiling Sweetly




Not Quite a Giggle



Our Little Bear Cub


Roar!


Happy, Happy Girl

"It is only in the act of nursing
that a woman realizes her motherhood
in visible and tangible fashion;
it is a joy of every moment."

-- Honoré de Balzac

A Conglomeration of Information

I thought I would somehow have the opportunity to blog every single day of Brystol's life, but as babies (and two older siblings and homeschooling and chores and sleeping) consume quite a bit of time, I've had no such luck. Not that I'm complaining or anything. Still, it's high time for an update.

Brystol is now six weeks old, and she's growing like a weed. By one month, she'd surpassed her birth weight, weighing in at 8 pounds 5 ounces. She's not been weighed again, but since her fat rolls are developing fat rolls, I'm certain she's doing quite well with her diet. We've been nursing exclusively since sometime in week three (supplementing until then by syringe, feeding expressed milk during or after a nursing session), and life began to sort of smooth out when the entirety of it didn't revolve around feeding. Not to say that we've not been feeding often, we have. It's just easier for me to nurse a hungry baby on demand than to nurse and pump and wake and feed and nurse and pump and wake and feed, ad nauseum. I'm resting, she's resting, and we're both the happier for it.

Brystol spends a good bit of time awake and alert each day visually exploring her environment, hanging out in the mei tai as I do chores, lying on the couch beside me as I grade papers, napping in her crib upstairs as I teach lessons. She does well in meetings, at appointments, and at events for the big kids. She fits nicely into our lives. She loves being engaged by each of us and particularly enjoys "conversations" with dad each evening.

Last week, at about five-and-a-half weeks, she began smiling at us -- not the sweet, gassy smile she's done all along, but the deliberate grin. She did it for the first time on Tuesday when I just happened to ask her if she might smile soon. I thought that was too much of a coincidence, but she did it again for James and the next day for Gracie. I have to say, I'm a big, big fan of the cute milestones.

As for the rest of us, we're adapting nicely. James is working full-force once again and has several out-of-town trips scheduled for this month. The kids are enjoying the routine of school and are anxious for The Cube (the homeschool co-op) to begin next week. I, too, am enjoying our routine, though there are many areas that need to be refined. I've held fast to a minimum number of extracurricular activities for this stage in our lives, which I'm quite happy about, but I'm questioning our curriculum choices, considering the addition of some independent learning programs. I'm learning more about being flexible as I raise these children, trusting God for His direction in even the smallest area.

Regarding my physical condition, I'm also faring nicely. I still have a small wound to deal with, but I'm dealing with that on my own. About a week-and-a-half ago, I refused home health care. When I reached the point that the majority of the wound care need was at the surface level, I felt that there was no point in further dealing with an agency that I found to be remarkably incompetent. Lots of issues justify my position, and none are really worth rehashing -- I would just never recommend this agency to anyone and suggested the same to my doctor.

I followed up with the doctor today and what remains of the wound is healing very well. He modified the wound care I've been doing at home and thinks everything should be completely healed in no more than two weeks (only eight weeks post-delivery. Sigh.). During my visit today, the doctor mentioned he used a new product when he originally closed my wound post-surgery -- a product proven to reduce bleeding and fluid build-up and to virtually eliminate the risk of a hematoma. Ha! I think next time I'll request something different.

And speaking of "next time," the doctor mentioned we could begin trying for number four as early as next month. What?! First of all, that was a total, absolute surprise. After all of my losses, the transabdominal cerclage, all the work it takes to get pregnant, all the work it takes to stay pregnant, a heterotopic pregnancy, biweekly visits from the beginning, increased fluid, elevated pressures, a c-section, anesthesia issues, a hematoma and weeks and weeks of wound care, I was CERTAIN he would recommend permanent sterilization, or at the very least, an aggressive method of birth control. I was sure he would say, "Enjoy your three and don't look back." But he didn't. He essentially signed on for the roller coaster ride whenever, if ever, we're ready again, and that deepens my respect for him in so many ways. Not to say that we're ready to try again -- we have no plans for Irish twins -- it's just wonderful to know that whenever we feel the press to open that door again, he'll be standing right there with us.

Visiting with Aunt Ruby



Kisses from Daddy


Conversations with Mommy


Laying in the Grass


Sunning with Sister


Beautiful Girl


Happy Baby


So Excited


Big Smile


Sweet Baby Face

Celebrations

Last weekend and this weekend, we spent time with friends celebrating the miracle God has done for our family in Brystol. These precious people loved on us, prayed for us, and showered us with the most wonderful gifts. (We had another fun shower during the pregnancy thrown by church friends and our community group, but I didn't take my camera and don't have any digital images to blog. Anyone care to share?)

Last weekend, my friend Marcie threw together an impromptu shower for us when James was suddenly scheduled to work in Tulsa and the kids and I tagged along. It was great to see a few Oklahoma friends and some family at the last minute, and we were spared from making the rounds. (James was on camera duty, and yet, there are very few pictures of the friends who came by. Oh well. You know who you are.)


This weekend, Brystol and I celebrated with many of our local friends. These are the friends who rallied around us during each and every one of our losses. They sat with us in the hospital as we waited for sad endings, they planned a memorial service, they brought meals and sent cards and flowers. These are the friends who prayed for us and walked with us all along our reproductive journey, during high times and low. This shower was such an amazing blessing as several of these ladies were planning a baby shower for us when I was pregnant for Zachary. To have them plan a shower for my take-home baby was amazing. It truly meant so much.


It has been so incredible to share our joy with those who have walked through such dark times with us. God has blessed us all...

Brystol, Four Weeks Old

Bits and Pieces

Brystol, Three Weeks Old
A Photo Collection of Baby Bits and Pieces


Chubby Cheeks



Tiny Mouth



Bright Eyes



Exquisite Ears



Downy Hair



Kissable Neck



Delicate Fingers



Strong Arms



Lithe Body



Long Legs



Beautiful Feet



"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Psalm 139:13-14a NIV