14 Weeks

****I just put Audrey down for a nap, her morning one. Usually I take a nap too, but I actually didn't feel incredibly tired so I thought I'd stay up and do fun computer things. Also, I've been having such a hard time falling asleep at night, so maybe skippin' the nap will help.
****Audrey has been such a blast this week. I worked the weeked and Chris had her the whole time, overnight. At some point over the weekend, she gave him her first little giggle. Then yesterday my mom got her to giggle, and I got one outta her this morning! It's so fun to see her react that way. She's also now grabbing things. In her exersaucer she grabs the toys and if I put a toy on her tummy she picks it up and puts it in her mouth. She also reaches her arms straight up to reach for our faces when she's laying down. When I go to get her out of her crib she sees me and opens her mouth in a giant smile and wiggling her arms and legs like crazy. It's so fun to see her recognize us and get so excited about it! She has some new squeals and cooes as well. She grabs her feet sometimes and is not rolling over yet, but seems to try sometimes. She holds her head way up now and get her whole chest off the ground. She falling asleep for naps easier as well. Her new thing is that she's been sucking her thumb. I just put her down and she spit out her pacifier and put in her thumb! Also now it's harder to read to her cuz she grabs the pages! She's such a fun girl and we love her so much!
****Audrey has now decided that she doesn't want to nurse anymore. She only wants it from a bottle! What a stinker. Now I have to pump all the time cuz I really want her to have my milk. She gets my milk most of the day, but maybe 1-2 formula bottles as well. Sorry if you didn't want to know all this :) She's also drinking 6oz now! So, I went out yesterday and got a bunch of big bottles, now that we need more of them! It's quite a system pumping, washing bottles, filling bottes, washing bottles, and so on and so on. I think I've become quite efficient. Chris does it too (makes bottles and washes them, not pumps, hahahahahahahahahah).
****My mom and dad and Chris and Audrey went to down by the riverside to watch Gene's band play (a family friend). I guess when Audrey heard the loud music she grabbed onto Chris and buried her head down on his shirt :) She didn't cry, but just layed there, hanging on, as if to say, " Daddy, keep me safe, I'm not sure about this loud noise!" Then she took a nap on her Grandma and woke up and had lots of fun looking at all the people and the trees :) I wish I would have been there! (I was at work) Chris had a good weekend with her, I think. He had to get up once at 4am to feed her, but he said it wasn't bad. He is such a good Daddy and takes such good care of her.
****Our blogging/facebook stuff is being highly monitored now at work so I won't really talk about it, but I'd have 4 shifts back and it's been as good as expected. I'd rather be home, it's hard to leave Audrey, but it's been going fine. Both Great-Grandma's have had a turn at watching her before Chris gets home. We're so lucky to have so many wonderful family members in town! I'm so grateful to all of them and all their help! Grandma Mary also came over one day to watch Audrey while I had an appt for my gallbladder.
****So, I do have stones in my gallbladder due to pregnancy and that was the cause of my severe pain. I can't remember if I've talked about this before. I won't get into it, but let's just say worse pain of my life or maybe even with giving birth, thought I was dying, and turns out it's a gallstone. Wow, so much pain for such a little thing. So, I met with a surgeon and he says I can call him up when and if I want surgery to get the gallbladder out. I haven't had an attack in a while, so maybe it's over? Please!
****Oh what else...my friend Casey went back to Kansas (I miss you!) I'm glad I got to see her a few times this summer, although I wish it were more! My dear friend Cara is coming home from Ohio this week, for a few days! I'm so excited to see her! She was here when Audrey was like 3 weeks, so she'll be amazed at how big she's gotten!
****Yesterday was a lot of fun. My mom came over and we went to a Chinese buffet, Target and back to my place. Audrey was fun and giggled for her grandma. Mom bought Audrey a floating pool thing. Audrey can sit in it and float! It has a shade over it too :) I got her a suit and "lil swimmers" which are diapers for the water. We're going to camp this summer so I thought I'd try it out and see if she can handle the lake... Later we went to Tinns with Mom and Gavin and back to their house to play outside. Mom, Dad, Chris, Audrey, and I went on a walk to the Dietzman's house. Cheri, Kirk, Danae, her b/f Mike, and 2 of their little cousins were there, some swimming, some not. We chit-chatted for a bit and left before Audrey got hungry. Then Audrey went to bed at 10:30 and got up a little before 7:30 (almost 9 hours, I like it!)
Okay, I better add some pics and wrap this up!

Sittin' in the bumbo seat!

On my tummy, makin' spit bubbles

Playing and giggling with Daddy! (I threw up on his face this morning, haha!)

I grabbed my puppy and now I'm gonna eat him

My little swimmer

The bottle mania

Grabbin' another toy

My cool new glasses my uncle Jay got me (Gavin's good friend)

Hope you liked the update :)

Today I have to go back to work and this was my mom's blog...

To my sweet daughter Brianna
I know today will be hard for you as you return to work after having 3 months off. I have been praying that you will be able to adjust as you venture back to the workforce, and step away from your precious little girl. I'm glad you and Chris have set your priorities on what's best for Audrey and have chose to only have you work a few days a week.
Your children will thank you both for being there for them.
I hope all goes well on your first day back to work, I'll pray it does.



Last night when Audrey and I were snuggling she told me
a few things that I should mention in my blog... Here's what she said,

" Mommy, you take such good care of me and even though I will miss you a few nights a week, I feel especially blessed to get to spend time with my daddy...just me and him, it's all good.
So dont you worry about a thing, my daddy's got my back and all my friends and family will be happy to hangout with me every now and then until dad gets home from work.
I'm excited for Kellie to be with me today for a few hours until dad gets home. Then I get to see my Grandma at daddy's softball game, we will "chill" and watch daddy hit the ball hard.
Before you know it you'll be back home and checking on me as I sleep all cozy in my bed. Daddy will tuck me in and make me comfortable so I'll sleep the whole night through !
Be sure to give me a kiss on the cheek before you slip into bed with daddy. I hope you have a good night at work tonight mommy... Cant wait to see you in the morning, hugs and kisses
I love you", Audrey

Thanks Mama for helping me feel better about everything. I really appreciate knowing you're praying and thinking of me :) I love you!

It's Weird to Think I've Only Been a Mom for 12 Weeks :)

****I put Audrey down for a nap at 3:30. I did kickboxing for 30 mins in my living room to an on-demand-video my sister-in-law showed me that I have for free. Then I did some bible reading/praying for 30 mins. Then I thought about what make for supper and wondering what Chris was up to. Usually he's home by now. So, I thought I'd push my luck and write a quick blog while my sweet baby is sleeping. I hear her quick little breaths on the baby monitor :)
****Today I had lunch with my friend Casey. She is home from Garden City, Kansas where she is a teacher! She has to go back soon :( Casey is such a great listener. I find myself babbling and on because she listens so well :) She's always been one of those friends that you can talk to for hours :) Thanks for hangin' with me and Audrey and happily putting up with Audrey's mood swings.
****Audrey is 12 weeks now and she's one of the joys of my life. I adore being home with her and watching her learn and grow. There is nothing better! I love when we lock eyes and I talk to her and she makes cooing noises back to me and makes big eyes like she's excited that we're talking. I also love holding her my lap and reading to her. Sometimes she'll sit and stare for three or four books long, but then sometimes 1/2 a book is enough for her and she wants to wiggle on the floor. She can really hold her head plus her upper body up when she's on her tummy. Tomorrow we're getting her 3mo. picutres done at Target. She'll only be 3 days shy of 3 mo. I hope it goes well, this is our first time going to a studio with her. My goal is remain calm and enjoy the process even if she crys (I hope she doesn't!) I tried to plan it at a good time, but each day has its own good times and they're not always at the same time.
****I have to go to work on Monday, bah, let's not talk about that. I could blab on about all the things that bother me about that, but insted, here are the positive. I only have to work 2-3 evenings a week and every third weekend, I can help provide for our family, Chris gets to get to know Audrey better and to spend quality time with her by himself, I get to use my brain in a different way by critically thinking at work (I could do without this, haha), um, what else, hmm, other people get to spend time with her by watching her after I leave and before Chris gets home....Yeh there are good things, but I know I will be sitting at work thinking about what my sweethearts are doing at home and wishing I was there. I know Chris can do it! It will be fine :) Also, I can give glory to God by showing his love to my patients and caring for them and trying to be a positive co-worker. I'll do my bestest.
****Ok, I shall go! Audrey 's still sleeping and Chris is still gone. I hope he's not in the middle of some horribly stressful meeting or something! I'd like to have supper waiting, but I never know when he'll be home :)
****Hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week! I'm excited for Jenny's shower on Saturday (my future sister-in-law) at her mom's house.

See ya!

Audrey in her exersaucer, she likes it a lot!

Chris made this happen :)

Snuggling with my sleeping girl

All ready for church and getting Daddy kisses

11 Weeks Old

Audrey was 9 weeks when I blogged last and now she's well into her 11th week. I feel like she's changing a lot this week. I can't really put my finger on what it is exactly, but I think I can see her becoming more aware of herself, other people, and the world around her. She makes eye contact longer, smiles more, looks at her feet and hold her own hands. She grabs onto things, like shirts or the sides of her swing or car seat and she has a few new noises. No laughing yet, but some squeals and shrieks. She loves her swing, her mobiles, a mat she lays on with toys dangling above it, wiggling on the floor, "standing" on people's laps, and so on.

Within the past week or so she's been sleeping longer stretches, like 6 hours max. I was hesitant to call that sleeping through the night. However, on Tuesday night of this week she slept from 10p to 6a! 8 hours, so yes, sleeping through the night it was. Last night was 10:30 to 5a, so not qutie as well, but we're getting closer to being more consistant (I think) She is also taking longer and more consistent naps, which I LOVE. Her best nap as of this week is right now, from around 3-5:30! She went down at 3:30 today, it's 4:30 now and she's still sleepin'. She's also staying awake longer and stretching out the times inbetween eating.

A few days ago my friend Kelsey had Audrey and I ovet to her mom's pool. I ended up having Audrey in the water, she was so relaxed, she didn't mind it! She also had a fun day on the 4th with all her relatives. Grandma E. watched her so Chris and I could go to the fireworks, thanks Gran.

I feel like I have nothing else to talk about besides Audrey...I have to go back to work on the 20th. I'm trying to convince myself it's ok, but the thought of it pains me quite a bit. I disliked it before, but now I don't to miss any of Audrey's life. I am very thankful to go back 24 hours a week though thanks to my hard working husband :) Chris is at the big blue building in Rochester, I think everyone knows that by now. It's been a super busy week (quarter close) for Chris and the other financial peeps. He's at meetings (on the phone) and working on files and finding people who used to do the job he's doing to ask questions. It's a strange place. It's like here, do this job, the guy who used to do it moved to Antartica and he cannot help you. No one else knows how to do it, so you'll need to start from scratch or drive to Antartica to find the guy that knows how to do it. Oh wait, he forgot how or never did it in the first place, oh well, good luck, it's due by noon. Heehee, ok not quite that bad, but pretty much. This is not his dream job, but I know God has big plans for him someday, when, I dunno, in His timing I supppose.

I'm making tacos tonight, so I better get on that. It's so complicated. Put meat in pan, add water and seasoning, done! Yes! I love tacos.

I have more to say but I'll leave it for another blog before I lose your interest. Here are some pics for you as of this July!


She's such a big girl in this picture!

Grandma, we match and I am captivated by your shirt!

Oh uncle Gavin, you are hilarious!

Pool Time!

She put her own hand on the handle, haha.