Soto Stories: March 2010

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Reminiscing...

So I am sitting in bed listening to my husband snore (haha) and I am reminiscing about Brenley's birth day. I know it was only 3 months ago, but man, sometimes it feels it feels like it was 3 years ago. It started earlier this evening when I was watching some videos on Bobby's phone that he took the day she was born. After 3 months, I still had not really watched them. I vaguely remember Bobby showing me a few in the hospital, the day I had her, but I think I feel alseep while he was showing them to me. :) So anyway, I started watching them tonight -- one of her first bath in the nursery, one of her heel being pricked, one of her just being checked out. It was so amazing to watch and try to think back to that day. I am kind of sad because I don't really remember a lot from that day, or the few that followed. Having a c-section rocked my world and I am sad to say that I don't even remember even holding Brenley for the first time. It was just a crazy time. Anyway, I just love to sit and think back to that day, going into labor, the hospial, the first few weeks at home. I find myself thinking about it all alot because I don't want to lose those memories. I have a knot in my throat now, just thinking about it all!

Brenley has changed our lives and sometimes I can't fathom how much I love her. Now I would be lying if I said it was easy or fun all the time, but I would not trade her for anything. I look at her sometimes and cannot believe that she is a part of me and Bobby. Oh I wish she would stay small forever!

Here are just a few things I love about being a mommy...

that I get greeted with a smile in the mornings! (This can make any "non-morning" persons day!)
that sometimes when she is crying she just wants ME to hold her
that she recognizes my voice and will turn her head to me when she hears it
that she will grin from ear to ear just from hearing me say "HIIII"
being able to kiss her cheeks any time I want to
getting to tell people her name and/or age when they ask (dumb, I know, but it reminds me that she is MINE)
hearing this from my husband (and partner in this parenting-thing) right before he fell asleep tonight-- "Thanks for being the best mommy to Brenley, I appreciate it and so does she!"

Well that is all, a little random, but just speaking from the heart. :-)

P.S. and to all my Mommy-to-be friends out there---enjoy the rest of your pregnancy, write your thoughts and memories down. Try to soak up everything in the hospital and the weeks that follow, even though you will be so tired, AND reminisce often. :)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

3 Months!!

Brenley Bear is 3 months old today -- I can't believe it! Part of me is so ready for her to be bigger and sitting up, etc, but then another (huge) part of me wants her to stay small!! I know all mothers feel this way and I have been told by so many to cherish these moments of her being small. Today I had a moment that I will cherish forever. Early this afternoon, she was being really fussy and I could tell she was just tired, so I was holding and bouncing her around and she finally fell asleep. I tried to lay her down on the couch about 3 times and she cried every time so I just decided to hold her. I had turned off the TV and radio and was just sitting in silence with my baby girl as I watched her sleep. I started praying different things for her and reminising about her birth, etc. It was a very special moment that I hope I remember forever!

Like I said. she is 3 months old today and she is growing so much everyday! I am guessing she is probably 13-14 lbs now -- my little "chunk"! Here are a few things she is doing at 3 months...

Sleeping 10-12 hours at night! I know, I am counting my blessings. I put her down about 9pm and she gets up between 8 and 9am. Every night I wonder if this will be the night she converts back and wakes up every 3 hours. I will be ready if she does. :)
Eating 5 times in a 24 hour period. I cut out her 10:30-11pm feeding and she still sleeps great. So I feed her for the last time at 8 or 830pm and put her down. I love this because it gives Bobby and I some time to just relax together - OR go to be EARLY!!
She loves to smile and does at almost anyone who smiles at her.
She is starting to giggle, but has only done it a few times. Yesterday; however, while stuck in traffic, my Nanny had her giggling so hard. It was awesome!
She takes a "real" nap around 10am and 4pm everyday in her crip, in her swaddle. These last about 1 hour. She also takes some cat naps in her bouncy seat around noon and 6ish.
She does not like her tummy time too much, but I make her do it atleast once a day.
She is starting to grab her blanket and sometimes her toys.
She looks like she is getting close to rolling over from her back to her front. I know it will scare her when she does. :)
Her favorite songs are "The wheels on the bus", "Patty Cake" and "This little piggy" - I get huge smiles on these!

She is so fun to be with everyday and I would not trade it for anything! I love the sunny weather and cannot wait to start going on walks everyday! Here are a few pics from the today and then her birthday pic!

Daddy came home for lunch!