It's already June?!

Not much to report this week. It was nice having the extra day off, and there weren't any T-Ball games to be played. So the past week and weekend was quiet. Baby girl did roll over for the first time today! She rolled from her tummy to her back - probably by accident - but it still counted!

Here she is at week 16! She'll turn 4 months old on Friday.

The week in review

Where does the time go? Brenley is 15 weeks old already. I've been back to work a month now and Beau has finished K4 (preschool). So now starts the hot summer. Looks like our "Little Bit' is ready for the heat (courtesy of her friend, Lucy H.).

Let's see.......Beau had two T-ball games this week. He is rockin' at the pitcher's mound which he claims is he favorite position. And with the exception of always missing the ball his first swing at bat, he whams it hard for the second swing. He has a bit of a patience issue. Ah well, he gets it honestly.
















Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Where do I start?

I've missed a week and now I have to play catch up. So for the Cliff notes. Mother's Day weekend was great. Beau got to do everything from attending a carnival to fishing with Uncle Tyler. He was wiped out when we returned home from Oklahoma Friday night. He had a ball. And this weekend was filled with his friends' birthday parties. He got to race bumper cars and jump on those jumpy things. Needless to say, he went to bed early tonight. He doesn't understand why all his friends are now 5, but he is not. He cannot wait for his birthday and he changes his mind after each birthday party on what he wants to do for his party.

Brenley got sick for the first time last Monday. Ran a super high fever and was screaming crying. Scared me to death. I forgot how stressful it is when your baby is sick, but by Tuesday while staying home with Dad, the medicine had kicked in and she was happy as a lark. See picture for proof.
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This week we have two T-ball games and a busy work week, so we will be looking forward to a 3 day holiday weekend. More next time

A Week of Firsts

Our week was filled with firsts........first day back to work for me after having Brenley......Brenley's first day of daycare......Beau's first T-ball game......and Brenley's first "professional" pictures were taken. And all in all, it was a good week and one that we survived.

Beau did great at his first game. Little trouble remembering to actually run after he hit the ball, but he got there a few times. He enjoyed watching how far he hit the ball way more than dropping the bat and running. So we've been practicing that this weekend. He was super cute, as evidenced with him here in his "uni."


He also went to his girlfriend Savanah's birthday party this weekend and had a great time playing arcade games and riding the go-karts. Our little boy is growing up!

Brenley did great at daycare this week. The girls in the room really like her and are amazed at how much she "talks." She'll be 3 months old next week!


And I made it through the week okay. Friday was a bit tougher. Fatigue sat in after a long night up with the baby and I forgot a few key items the next morning, but all is well now and we've had a great weekend together.

The Party is Over

Well, the time has finally come. I go back to work tomorrow. My time with my newborn at home - kissing, loving, holding, and playing - is over, at least during the week. This has been one of the most wonderful times of my life - equal to being at home with Beau, of course. But a giant shove back to reality is required.

Funny, I thought I would spend this time at home not only gazing at my newborn, but losing all this baby weight (and then some), getting a nice faux tan out of a bottle, trying to whiten my teeth, cooking healthy (and quickly), becoming a better partner in my marriage, teaching my 4 year old manners - you know - all the self improvements that I learned about while watching Rachel Ray, Dr. Phil and Oprah. ha ha. But sadly, the only thing I did besides gaze at my newborn was get addicted to FOUR Soap Operas!!

But seriously, in some ways it feels like I have been home forever, and then in other ways, it feels like we just brought her home. I've watched one season end and another begin. I started the maternity leave wearing sweaters and slippers and drinking coffee to stay warm. And I ended this maternity leave literally sweating one day in the house because it had got so warm, and I refused to turn on the AC. I got to see the grass green up, the flowers bloom, and the sun shine into the house. That was a wonderful way to start this year with Brenley May.

The maternity leave did also bring some wonderful visits from friends I haven't seen in a long time. I got to see my friends Heather from Topeka, Heather and her son Tyler from California, and my friend Stephanie and her son Talon from Stillwater came to visit on Friday. All of these friends I haven't seen for way too long, and we never once skipped a beat when we got together. That is what good friends are all about and I am so glad they got to meet Brenley.

I've said it before. We are very blessed to have an amazing and smart little boy and now a beautiful, healthy baby girl. I am thankful for this time at home. It makes me appreciate both stay at home working mothers and out of the home working mothers even more - because both jobs are very tough.

And our family ended this weekend with the annual March of Dimes March for Babies Walk that is very near and dear to our hearts. We have walked in this every year since Beau was born prematurely in 2003. This year we got to take Miss Brenley with us to make it even more special. As a family, we raised $450 to help March of Dimes in their research to prevent prematurity. Thank you to all our friends and family that donated money.

I promise I won't have any more "journal" entries in our family blog, but just little snippets of funny and new moments in the lives of Brenley and Beau - the loves of our lives.

Where does the time go?

I need to update our fun from last week. We had a busy week! Brenley got a visit from Pa Pa and he got to babysit while Mommy ran an errand. And the next day Mommy got to take Beau and two preschool friends to the Children's Theatre for a showing of 3 little pigs, while Brenley got to play with Grandma. Finally, on Friday, Brenley got to spend some bonding time with Daddy all day. She even made her first trip to Lowe's! She got all kinds of lovin' from her family and was a good girl for everyone!

The weekend was spent planting flowers outside, celebrating Uncle Kyle's birthday, and going to the zoo with some friends! This picture is of Beau and his new friend Lindsey. Isn't she a cutie? The weather was amazing and the kids loved being outside, as did we.

The week went by in a blur. It's now Monday.....my last week of maternity leave. I knew this transition would come. My head tells me everything is going to be fine and this is the right thing - going back to work - but my heart is heavy, though. This little girl is such a ray of sunshine in my life. She is so pretty and so sweet. I just love her so much. I am going to miss spending my days with her. But just as I never thought I could leave Beau, I did. And I know that time does heal all. Here is to a wonderful, happy, and hopefully VERY SLOW week here at home.

Another week

Another week has flown by........where is the time going? Brenley is now 9 weeks old. She had her two month well-baby check this week. She weighs 10 pounds, 12 ounces and is 23 1/4 inches long. This is a 4 pound gain in weight and 4 inch growth in length since her glorious birth date. According to the doctor she is long and lean - coming in at the 50th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for length. The vaccinations were tough to watch. She took 'em like a champ. I was a little worried as she literally slept all day once we got home, but the next day she was back to her usual happy self. She grins all the time and we swear we might have heard a small giggle the other day. Both her Dad and big brother are completely smitten, and her Mama is also pretty whipped. She is just such a pure joy.

My other joy is Beau Charlie. I decorated his room this week with a new NASCAR poster of Dale Jr. and I also hung up some other NASCAR pictures. He loved it. As he and his Dad were reading their nighttime story last night when he told his Dad that his Mom made his room beautiful. I hope he will always be so easy to please.

This week the weather has been rainy and gloomy. I have to admit, I am a bit gloomy too. That dreaded "back to work" date is looming large, but I will continue to say my prayers of thanks that I have had this time off to bond with my new, beautiful best friend that happens to be the spitting image of her brother and Dad. I continue to be so blessed.