She's Here!

Brooklyn Louise was born on 11/18 at 2:48 pm and weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. She has been such a wonderful baby so far, a very sleepy one too. My MD said she would induce me a few days before my due date and I decided that sounded like a great idea. So, we headed to the hospital Thursday morning around 10. By 11 I was all hooked up and going and by 3 I had her. It was such a calm, serene, easy delivery. We just kept saying "That's it? I can't believe that was it!"

It was fun to deliver at the hospital I work at because I know some of the staff on the post-partum floor. And I had a couple of nurses that I knew- although I did have to say to them "Sorry you are going to see more of me than you ever really wanted to" : )

I am tired of course but feeling really great, which is a lot different from the last time. Brooklyn is healthy and doing great. Shayne is a little confused about what is going on, but we are trying to give her lots of attention and keep our regular routine together. Danny is super helpful and helps keep Shayne occupied.

When we first had Brooklyn, both of us were wondering if we were really going to be able to love this little wiggle worm as much as we love Shayne. It's already done for me- I am loving all of her little noises and movements, and I just stare at her and wonder what she's going to be like as she grows. I am just trying to enjoy this as much as I can.

Thanks to everyone for your notes, gifts, meals, and calls!

You know you're pregnant when . . . .

You go through the McDonald's drive-thru and order a Coke and french fry, except the guy tells you that they aren't serving french fries yet but they do have hash browns. And you reply "Yes, I'll have two of those."

38 Weeks+2 Days & Miss Independent

Contractions. Contractions. Contractions. And no results. I seem to have never ending contractions these days that come and then go and then come again and wake me up in the night. But they never get intense enough or stick around for more than an hour at a time. My body's gearing up for something, I'm just not sure it's figured out what it is yet. But we are excited and pretty nervous about adding this new one to our family soon. I think I remember how to do this- it hasn't been that long!

Shayne is so funny these days. She's definitely had her word spurt and is saying all sorts of funny things. The other day I heard her calling me from the basement, but she wasn't saying "mommie." What I heard was "haaaa-wee, haaaa-wee" and I thought "Is she really saying 'Holly'?" Yes, she is. Is my 1 year old really that grown-up that she thinks she can call me Holly instead of Mommie?!

Other things she is saying: my, mine, and me are a large part of her vocabulary right now, my sit (my seat), more nuke (more milk), my hum me (means I'm hungry), snow, more nak (more snack), ugh blue/een/ ink (it's blue/green/pink- can mostly identify blue, the others are sketchy still), wets do zoom (let's go in the car), I'll have to write down more as I think of them. . . . .

I transitioned her into her new room in the basement and into a twin bed. I wanted to get her set up before the baby came. It actually has gone easier than I thought it would. The first few nights she would wake up and cry once, but now she sleeps through the night. I might start cracking the door open after she goes to sleep though because we usually wake up in the morning to her trying to kick down the door.

She really is becoming more independent. Whenever I drop her off at nursery or a neighbor's house or a sitter comes over, she just says "bye-bye mommie," gives me a hug and a kiss, and that is that. It's great to know she's OK without us.

Halloween

Trick or Treat! Shayne was the littlest cowgirl on the block! She was able to go out this year, which was fun, but she still didn't really get the whole concept. She just wanted to eat candy. And we did. It was great, 3 houses and we were done! Happy Halloween!

NYC

In September, Danny & I met up with Katie & Todd and hit NYC. It was so fun to get away on a trip- I call it babymoon #2. My mom was a gem and came and stayed with Shayne for 5 days for us. We walked all over that town! We walked so much that on the 3rd day I thought I was going to go into labor. Usually at least once a day I would feel like I couldn't walk/stand anymore, then we'd take a break, usually eating some sort of delicious cupcake or ice cream treat, and then I could keep going.

Both of us really liked New York, in fact I think we both liked it more than we even thought we would. The restaurants are awesome- there were so many more places we wanted to try than we had time or stomach room for. Shopping looked awesome, although at 7 months pregnant I wasn't too into it this time around. We saw two Broadway shows: Next to Normal (so amazing- the cast was so good) and In the Heights (Jordan Sparks was in it- good singer, not good actress).

It is just amazing what a different way of life it is to live in a big city like this. The apartment we stayed in was on the Upper West Side of the park, which we really liked, and we noticed there were a lot of families there. I also noticed a TON of nannies everywhere with kids that obviously weren't their own. Also, 4 & 5 year old kids were always in strollers, just to be able to get them around town. Sunday morning there were lots of families out at a farmer's market we happened by- in such a crowded town you see why it's only possible to have a child or two. You couldn't keep track of more than that just trying to get around town.

Times square:

NYSE- money, money, money!:
Wall Street:
Uh, we were going to take a picture at the bull, but it was surrounded by tons of Asian tourists, many who were taking pictures back in the bull's butt. I guess that's where our economy is right now anyway:
We checked out the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park:
Central Park:
The Met. We were disappointed by the Museum of Natural History but I loved the Met. I want to go back there and actually do the audio tour next time.

Funny moment. So some friends told us that at the Natural History Museum they act like the admission charge is a set fee, but really it's a donation. It's a racket. They even have kiosks set up to charge you an automatic amount of $22 each. So Danny went up in the line to a cashier and he asked if we would like to see the special exhibits today.

Danny: Yes, I would like to see all of them.

Cashier: That will be $33 each then.

Danny: I would like to donate $1 for each ticket (and hands the man a $5 bill).

Cashier: Would you like to donate the whole $5 sir.

Danny: No, I would just like to donate $1 each thanks (gets $1 in change back).

Haha!
We had to go to a Yankees vs. Red Sox game at Yankee Stadium. I've never been to a game where there were so many big hits made. It made it fun!
Central Park:
Manhatten & Brooklyn Bridge in the background:
Plaza Hotel. We just sat there and watched the cars pull up and people come and go for a while. I love to people watch.
I think both of us would do this trip again in a heartbeat! And it was good to know that we still actually like to be around each other and have fun together.

Artist

This is what my child did with a Sharpee marker 10 minutes before we were supposed to be at church. At least she didn't have a dress on yet!

Cowgirl at Heart

Shayne loves these boots that her Aunt Katie got for her. She hasn't stopped wearing them over the past two weeks!

Box Y-August

Every year we go to Wyoming to the Box Y for Danny's family reunion. We always get to see his cousins, hike, eat good food, and just relax. Being there makes it easy since there is no cell phone service, internet, or TV. So we bring a good book and sit on the porch a lot.

Shayne loved it this year. Besides having issues with dirt getting on her feet- she took her shoes off about a million times- she had a ball and loved riding on or in anything such as horses, wagons, four wheelers, and motorcycles. For being such a shrimp, that girl doesn't have any fear.

Cousins wagon ride:

In front of the lodge:
Giddy-up!:
Boat races:
Ride with Daddy:
Up at Barstow Lake:
Danny's cousin Casey decided to snorkel in the lake. And this lake is freeeeeezing! I think he saw a lot of logs, dirt, and a few trout.
Not too interested in swimming in the lake after getting her toes in it:
Playing with Granny: