6 months old!

My baby girl is already 6 months old! I really cannot believe how fast time is going. There are days that I am so exhausted that I'm not sure I can function but then I look up and realize how fast time has gone. These have been the hardest 6 months of my life but definitely the best.

Brianna has developed quite the little personality. She is beginning to have quite a little temper when things don't go her way. I have no clue where she would get such a trait :) She is rolling over and can sit on her own for a short time. Her Daddy loves to put a toy just a little out of her reach when she is on her belly and she will use her legs to push forward to reach it. She puts absolutely everything into her mouth. She has a few favorite toys and they are all ones that she can hold in her hand while she throws it around and also chew on. She will play with her toys for a short time and then the dropping game begins. She plays, drops then screams. We repeat this hundreds of times each day.

Brianna's favorite song is hands down "Old McDonald". She can be fussing like crazy and you start singing and making animal noises and she can't help but crack up. It is adorable.

Her Daddy is still her favorite person. She giggles and smiles whenever he walks into the room.

She is still a great sleeper (when she isn't sick). She sometimes will wake up during the night and jibber jabber and play for a bit and then go back to sleep. My favorite time with her is when going to get her out of the crib in the morning. Sometimes I have to wake her up but some days she wakes up on her own and I hear her playing quietly. When I walk into the room she breaks into a giant smile. She starts kicking her legs with excitement. The only time she has ever woken up crying throughout these 6 months has been when she is sick. I love my mornings with Bri!!!

I'm really going to make a good effort to appreciate every day with this beautiful baby girl. I'm excited for her to grow out of some of this sickness and fussiness but I know I will miss these days. She couldn't be loved more!

Visiting the Pediatrician

So now that my little one has had to make several trips to her pediatrician's office I am catching on a bit to how these things go. Some good, some bad. I've learned that calling to speak to a nurse about an issue seems to land us in the office approximately 80% of the time. We have to schedule well visits months in advance but this allows us, and other sick babies, to be able to be seen when there is a problem.





This past weekend Brianna was extremely fussy. EXTREMELY fussy. I have a fussy baby but this was EXTREME. Have I made my point? :) So I waited until Sunday morning... after 6 straight hours of screaming through what should have been her morning nap. I knew something had to be wrong so I call the on-call nurse who tells me if the ibuprofen and tylenol are not helping than she should probably be seen. When I got off the phone with her Michael started looking up where the nearest Urgent Care is to our house.





I take her in... sitting in a germy chair (more on that later)... and wait for the nurse to take us back to another germy room. Once the doctor enters Brianna's room she turns into a happy smiley baby- no more screaming , no more fussy baby. The doctor determines she has two ear infections so we leave the germy office with a prescription in hand.

The next day Brianna is having side effects from the new medication so I put a call into her regular pediatrician. They won't just call in another medicine so I have to take her AGAIN to the doctor's office.

This is where my observations really kicked in. You approach the door while holding a baby. How do I open this germy door? I guess I will just grab the bottom where most people don't touch. I approach the counter. Oh no!!! I have to touch the germy pen!!!! I sign in and turn around to find a seat. Oh the segregation!!!!! Do we sit on the well side because she has been on antibiotics already and isn't contagious or can I sit on the well side. Man... we are here for a sick visit so I guess I should go over there. Okay... there are chairs in two areas. Which area do fewer sick kids sit in and then which chairs would be least sat in? UGH... I'll pick this one. Brianna don't touch anything. NO! Definitely don't throw your toy on the floor. No you can't get down to jump. GERMS GERMS GERMS!!!!!

Then there is the whole situation with the mothers or fathers there with their sick children. You look at each other with compassion and understanding but at the same time think, "Keep your sick kid away from mine."

We finally get called back to see the doctor. I lay my own blanket on the paper covered exam table. Bri wants to roll over and play with the instruments hanging on the wall. No!!!! Let mommy hold you so you can look at the doggies on the wall. Come on doctor!!!

Whew... the visits are done for now. Her ears have been cleaned out and we are waiting to see how things go until her 6 month check up on Thursday.

Please be thinking happy Germ-Free thoughts for both Bri Bri and I on Thursday!

Out of Town

Ahhhhh.... a nice peaceful, quiet room with a big comfy fluffy bed to stay in for two whole nights. The best thing this room offers is the fact that I don't have baby laundry to fold and organize, laundry of my own to do, cleaning of bathrooms and kitchens and baby bottles and it goes on and on and on. Here... I can just simply BE.

Now on the other hand I really am missing my peanut and Michael. I'll get to go right back to normal tomorrow but for tonight I get to sleep 8 hours with no baby monitor and I get to wake up and have a long hot shower.

The training I am here for is a training that I already went through 4 years ago. As I sat through my meetings all day I found myself being very reflective looking back at how much my life has changed in these 4 little years. Michael and I continued to date, eventually became engaged, planned a wedding, had a wedding, went on a honeymoon and a few weeks after... discovered we were pregnant with our now 5 month old angel. Throughout those years I completed my Master's Degree and then received Employee of the Year award for my agency and Michael has been promoted to General Manager of his store. We have lost some friends and family and gotten closer to others.

Ultimately I'm feeling blessed, grateful, happy and overwhelmed by how many good things have happened in these 4 years.

So tomorrow when I complete my day of training I will be able to focus on getting home to that baby girl I am so thankful to have :)

22 Weeks!!!

5 MONTHS OLD!!!!


My poor baby girl after spending Wednesday at Children's she screamed for hours that evening. I was freaking out... did I pull a muscle in her neck doing her stretches... did I hurt her little brain... oh my goodness!!!! Well, went to work the next day thinking it would be better and after checking with Carrie, she let me know Brianna wasn't doing any better. I scheduled a doctor's appointment that evening and we found out she had an ear infection. Poor little baby! So between her teething, ear infection, and really disliking her PT stretches there has been a lot of LOUD crying in our house. She has been a trooper though!

I'm not sure how much I said in her 20 week post but she has discovered her feet. She loves to lay down and play with them. She has been rolling over some... the first time was at Children's Hospital and the nurses and physical therapists were asking us which milestones she has reached. I told them the only thing she isn't really doing is rolling over. The nurse put Bri on the table on her belly and what does my child do... she rolls over!! It was hilarious. Everyone cheered for her. My baby girl was waiting for an audience of people who would appreciate it :)

Michael is working a ton this week and I have to go out of town the end of this week. It will be madness but hopefully we will be able to enjoy the weekend a little more.

Til next week...

Visit to Children's Hospital

We have noticed since Brianna was a month or two old that she prefers to sleep on her right side. At her 4 month doctor's appointment we discussed the flat spot that has developed and agreed we thought it best to have it checked out by a specialist. We made an appointment with Children's Hospital Plastic Surgery Department to participate in the Plagiocephaly Clinic. It was an overwhelming experience. I myself, fearing there was something terrible wrong with my baby girl, spent a couple days crying, anxious, and worried about this appointment. Then to top it all off I had heard from friends that they have no bedside manner and they typically make you feel like you are a terrible parent.

THANKFULLY, the day went very well. No one was mean and everyone we met had great bedside manner. Bri's flat spot is considered severe but we're going to continue repositioning and doing more tummy time! We also are going to work a physical therapist for a couple weeks to make sure she isn't turning her head to lay on the other side for a particular reason.

So family and friends, please pray and think happy thoughts for us over the next couple months in trying to help our Bri Bri be the most beautiful and healthy baby she could possibly be.

More to come...

20 weeks!?!?!?

Oh my goodness... 20 weeks already? Where has the time gone? I kept waiting to blog until I had time to catch up all of the many weeks I've missed and I finally have reached the conclusion there never will be time. So, I am starting now... and will catch up later :)

Brianna is a healthy, happy 20 week old baby girl! The amount of happiness she has brought to our lives is immeasurable. I have said this a million times but I really thought I would have a good handle on this mommy business. I've been around children and babies more than most but being the mommy is a whole new ballgame. Even though it is completely different than I ever imagined, I love every crazy minute.

Brianna is now "talking" up a storm. She tries to say "gooooood" and "hiiiiiiiii". In the past 2 weeks she has found a new octave and she likes to squeal all day long so everyone knows it. She smiles all the time... she can be crying and when you talk to her breaks out in a big grin. She is starting to giggle more and more. Michael and I will just lay with her taking turns making her laugh and look at each other and agree there is no better feeling in the world.

Even though most of her time is spent with me, her favorite person in this world is her Daddy. She absolutely adores him... and the feeling is mutual. Michael is a wonderful father and I am very blessed to have him. In the first few weeks following my C-Section he really took fantastic care of both of us. He has stayed strong through all of my emotional ups and downs with all of the hormones and I love him even more for it. I give him a hard time that he doesn't get up with her enough or change as many diapers as I'd like but he really is a great daddy. I love how much they love each other!

Thanks to "Becoming Babywise" my little angel sleeps 10-12 hours a night! If you are pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant, know someone who is pregnant or know someone who is thinking of becoming pregnant (you get the picture) I recommend this book!

We have started to add cereal and a little baby food into Bri's diet in the past couple weeks as well. She didn't like it at all at first but is doing really well now. Her favorite is a spoonful of apples mixed into her oatmeal.

Bathtime is probably her favorite part of the day. Just being in the same room as running water seems to calm her. She has gone swimming once and wasn't as excited about it as I expected but I'm hoping that grows on her.

I had many anxiety attacks before returning to work, mainly because we didn't figure out childcare until a few weeks before I went back. I just could not even think about the idea of leaving this little baby. How in the world can any person have a child... the most precious thing in your life... something you have carried for 9 long months and stayed home with for 3... and then just go back to work? I didn't understand!!!! The way I thought about this before having a baby and the feelings once she was here were two totally different things. I would stay awake at night and just look at her and cry because I couldn't imagine leaving her. After much prayer and discussion the solution has been a miracle. My mom (sometimes known as "Pammaw" among many other names these days) is keeping Bri Bri 3 days a week. My mama has always been incredible in my eyes but now that I am a mother myself, I appreciate her and all of her sacrifices even more. She continues to sacrifice soooooo much for me and now her little grandbaby. She takes Bri to work with her on Mondays and Fridays and has her at home on Wednesdays, sometimes after only getting a few hours of sleep after working the night before. It has been amazing knowing that Bri is in such great hands. My mom has helped me feel more confident as a mother. She doesn't question the decisions I make, she supports them. When I ask her opinion, she offers it but always makes me feel like I will make the best decisions for myself and Brianna. This, and how much she loves little Brianna, are the best gifts I could ever imagine from a mother and grandmother! I love you, Mama!

What about Tuesdays and Thursdays, you might ask. Well... Miss Caroline Tipton has been my other answered prayer. Carrie and I went to high school together but lost touch after graduation. Thanks to facebook and having baby girls just 5 weeks apart we reconnected. Carrie offered very early on to help me out with childcare. I thought she was insane at first... she has a new baby herself and works full time in the evenings. This girl is Superwoman. She is so flexible with my schedule and doesn't look at me too crazy when I come up with my crazy requests. PLUS Brianna gets to hang out with her little BFF Chloe when she goes to Miss Carrie's house. Carrie is going through a lot herself but is always there for us and we love her! I hope she really knows how much we appreciate her!

Well... that is enough for now! Hopefully I write again before another 20 weeks passes!

Birth Story Part I

So I'm pretty sure it is time I finally document the birth of my baby... considering she is just a few days away from being 10 months old!  I've noticed lately that so many people are blogging days after having a baby so they can remember every detail.  I wish I had it that together but it is better now than never!  (Sorry for the LONG post!) 

I had been having some crazy blood pressure issues and was put on bed rest at 36 weeks.  I was seeing the doctor and having an ultrasound and non-stress test twice a week at that point.  Baby Lee had been breech the entire pregnancy and at 37 weeks I had a talk with the doctor about my choices.  Either schedule a version (which would require the doctors to physically try to turn the baby before inducing labor) or a c-section at 39 weeks.  I asked if I could have one more week to try to turn the baby.  The doctor gave some suggestions to me but warned that I really should be staying in bed on my left side for the blood pressure issue.  I spent that entire week bouncing on a big exercise ball.  This was supposed to make more room for the baby to turn.  Sounds crazy but sure enough, I went in at 38 weeks for an ultrasound and she had turned!!! Unfortunately the doctor changed my blood pressure medication because it was even more out of control and the medicine I had been on was apparently no longer working. I had to start a new medication that made me feel terrible and had to go back to see the doctor a few days later.

(I forgot to mention that each doctor's appointment from 36 weeks sent me to the hospital to be monitored for several hours to make sure my blood pressure wasn't affecting the baby. Scary but always turned out okay!)

I returned for the second appointment my 38th week of pregnancy and my blood pressure had not come down.  They decided that it was time to get Baby Lee out!  I had two options: schedule a c-section on Monday, February 21st OR come in on Sunday, February 20th to be induced.  I decided that I wanted to give my body the chance to be induced because I didn't want to not experience labor.  We scheduled a 3:00pm induction on Sunday... just 5 days away! 

I spent the next few days, ignoring bed rest, and getting everything ready.  The baby bump was HUGE by that point and even small chores were exhausting!  But I was happy to be up and moving.  I went to Benihana with some friends for a last girl's outing.  It was sad when I couldn't eat very much because I would get full after just a few bites.  But it was a lot of fun!  Now that I think about it... Libby had her ultrasound that morning and announced she was having a Baby Boy!!! It was a very happy day.  

Sunday came before I knew it and Kimberly was coming in from out of town, Tara was taking off work, and my Mom as trying to rest up as much as possible because she knew I'd need her!  Tara came up to visit Sunday morning to bring Michael and I several frozen meals that we could make once we came home and a few absolutely darling baby gifts.  She really does spoil me!  She helped calm my nerves a bit and then said she would meet us at the hospital.  I took my time getting a shower, straightening my hair and putting on a little makeup.  Michael and I took a few minutes to lay quietly in bed and reflecting on how these last moments of just a family of two felt.  We were excited (him more than me) and nervous (me more than him).  

The nurse told me to eat before coming into the hospital and I completely forgot.  We stopped at McDonald's and I got some chicken nuggets and WATER (which I was completely obsessed with throughout my pregnancy).  I ate a couple nuggets and chugged the water.  I was so worried about not being able to drink any more once I got to the hospital. I was SO thirsty  I was convinced this would be the hardest part of delivery, not allowed having water.  Boy was I wrong :)