Life is good!

As Brendan approaches 4 months he continues to amaze us everyday. His personality has begun to shine and he is joyful, happy, talkative, and curious most of the time. Brendan has transitioned to his crib easily and wakes up happy each morning. I love when he starts to smile and kick when I go in to get him in the mornings. Sometimes I will find him talking to himself and playing when no one else is around. I have a few videos of this and will post to the site. It is so cute/funny.

He is able to grab and manipulate objects with his hands, roll to his sides (not rolling over yet), and sit up and stand with help. He likes to be read to and reads a couple of books per day. Eric Carle is has favorite author, but he will read anything and listen intently. Brendan enjoys taking Reese on walks and his neck is strong enough for us to use the jogging stroller now.

Hands down, his swing is still his favorite place to relax and take a nap. He is growing like a weed and is wearing mostly 6-9 month clothes. Brendan prefers to suck on his hands rather than a pacifier and recently has been sleeping between 7 and 9 hours per night. His Mom joined a gym and stopped being an over protective Mommy for an hour last week. It wasn't easy to leave him with someone who wasn't family or friends, but I think it was good for us.

Over the last few weeks Brendan has gone bowling, out to dinner, to some birthday parties, and watched some football with his Auntie Julie and Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill babysat him while Mom played volleyball too. Brendan has also helped Mommy to show some properties too- baby on one hip and Blackberry on the other. Finally, he has been visiting with his Great Grandparents about once a week.

For my Grandma

I spoke to both Brendan's Grandmas yesterday and they miss him like crazy. So, this video is nothing special- just everyday action. Brendan is talking and playing with a mobile in his crib. He was exercising those chubby little legs too. I love the rolls on his thighs the best! His hand-eye coordination is improving everyday. He will grab anything you put in front of him and his favorite thing to grab and pull is my hair!

First Time I held My Bottle

Brendan's Uncle Bill and Auntie Julie came over on Friday night to grill and go bowling. Right before we were about to head out Uncle Bill got Brendan to hold his own bottle for the very first time. It was short, but we were all excited for him.

Swimming with Mommy

Sleeping Baby

Brendan slept in his crib in his own room the last two nights. Lou and I had agreed at 3 months he would move to his nursery and leave the bassinet at the foot of our bed. He has done so good and I couldn't be more proud. I'll admit, I cried, but the first night was the worst and it's over.

It is a good thing we move him out now rather than later. He is starting to be much more aware of his surroundings and is also learning cause and effect. When I come into the room he knows it now. I love how he lights up when he sees me. He smiles constantly and I absolutely adore him for being such happy baby.

Our little guy is not so little anymore. He's got to be pushing 15 lbs. and about 25 inches long. Brendan is already growing out of his 3 month clothes and is onto 6 month clothes. I feel like he barely got to wear them and they are all tight on him. I did the most scientific measurement I could outside the doctor's office and hopped on the scale with and without him. We have a cheap scale so the weight is only a good guess.

For the record, I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but still keenly aware the baby pouch and wider hips remain. While pregnant, I couldn't see the stretch marks under my belly, but I'd easily do it all over again. The damage done to my body was so worth it though because Brendan is Amazing- with a capital A!

Last week while going to Tucson I noticed all the trash between the road and Brendan actually inspired me to start a cause on Facebook called, "Green Your Community." The first event is to get people to sign up to recycle litter in their community in honor of him and his generation on 10/30. His romper above says it all, "Plant A Tree For Me!"

Over the weekend Brendan went to two luau birthday parties. The picture to the right shows he and his Daddy in their Hawaiian shirts.

Brendan Takes Tucson

On Tuesday, September 15th, Brendan, Mom, and Reese hopped in the truck and headed South to Tucson to visit his Gram. It took us about 2 and a half hours to get there from Phoenix. It was nice to visit Gram and hang out at her house. She's done a great job remodeling and decorating.

Brendan enjoyed taking a nap on his Gram's shoulder in the creaky rocking chair. We spent time together and then took Gram out to dinner before heading back home. We started to head home about 8 pm and I thought Brendan would have been sleepy. He had just ate but we weren't on the road even 10 minutes when the screaming started. I pulled over before getting on the expressway to see what the problem was and changed his diaper.

While on the expressway Brendan had many screaming- not crying or whining- screaming fits. I pulled over 4 times on the way home. One of the times I pulled off the road and parked to give him a bottle and a change, a police officer pulled behind us to make sure we were okay and stayed until we got back on the road. That time I found him with a little cut that was bleeding on the side of his nose and gave him baby Tylenol to help with any pain he may have been in.

I had never experienced so much screaming from Brendan ever. I thought maybe he was teething because he was trying to eat his hands all day. When we got home we tried unsuccessfully to take his temperature, but don't think he had a fever. We still don't know what his problem was that night, maybe he was uncomfortable, lonely in the back, didn't like the darkness, tired, had gas, or a combination. He is not teething and he soon returned to his happy self, but boy oh boy was that a long ride home. A two hour trip took three. Next time will be better and I'll make sure Daddy is with. Poor Reese was like, "Let me out of this car!"


Last Saturday, Brendan's other Grandma and Grandpa came over and babysat for us while Mom and Dad had a date night. We went for pizza at Oregano's and drinks at our favorite local pub Rosie's. We were only away a few hours, but it was nice to catch up with each other and go out alone. This was the first time in weeks Mom had shaved legs, make-up on, spit-up and booger free clothing, and her hair done. She even smelled like a lady and not a Mommy! It was wonderful! We came home and played Catch Phrase head to head for a while before going to bed. Brendan slept so well too!

Shared photo book from Melisa

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Great Grandparents Visit

Brendan was lucky enough to have all of his Great Grandparents over last week to play cards and spend time with him.


He also rocked the Chicago Bears onsie his Great Aunt Melissa sent us while he helped him Mom and Dad draft their fantasy football teams.

The visitors keep coming!

Brendan has been attracting visitors from the midwest lately. First, his Auntie K-Money, then, his Great Grandma Go-Go, and now his Grandparents and his cousin Renee. Everybody wants to get a piece of this goodness!

I have the best feel-good story. One night recently, we were all in the nursery changing diapers and putting away laundry. We had put on a CD Brendan's cousin Rex sent him and started to dance to a song from the Jungle Book called, "I want to be like you." The three of us were dancing and Brendan started to laugh and smile, which cause Lou and I to do the same. Soon we were all laughing so hard; it was out of control. Brendan was just belly laughing like I never have heard a baby laugh for a good minute and a half straight. It was the best minute and a half ever! We were all so happy and having a great time together. Time stood still and my and Lou's endorphins went off the charts as we enjoyed our baby in a new and special way. Talk about pure joy and happiness!

In the picture to the left we discovered Brendan is just the right size to travel by laundry basket. Here he is on top of some of his cloth diapers. Yes- we are still cloth diapering and doing really well with it. I like that I can match his diaper to his clothes. Oh, and we are keeping it Green by reducing our waste by the 3,000+ diapers he will use before being potty-trained.

I'm looking a little tired here, but this very well may have been the same day when Lou was going to work in the morning he kissed me goodbye and I told him, "Good night," before passing back out. :)

Two month photos

Brendan is all smiles on his changing table. He loves to talk and play while on there.

Here he is mid-sentance- just talking away.

Future golfer

The golf club from his Uncle Bill is taller than he is.

Brendan and his buddy having a laugh.

I'm about to make a mess!

What's not to love about those big blue eyes?

2 months old!

Brendan and his bear buddy.

Brendan reading From Head to Toe by Eric Carle, his Mom's favorite children's author. The book is bigger than him!

Brendan drank from a bottle while his Dad got help drinking from the can.

Our little man is getting bigger so quick. We went to his two month doctor's appointment on the 18th and he weighed 12 lbs., 14 1/2 oz., was two feet tall, and his head was 16 cm. His doctor enjoyed him spitting up all over the exam table and laughing about it. She said he was very social, smiling and cooing at her, and had excellent head control. He does love to talk and he and I practice taking turns and 'telling secrets.' It is so much fun for us!

He also got 3 immunizations and an oral vaccine. I had given him some tylenol before the appointment and had a pacifier dipped in sugar water on hand. When the nurse came in I was nursing him and she asked if I wanted to just keep him on. I had read that some babies could be distracted by nursing. Well, Brendan started to scream and turn red as soon as he got the first shot. He cried, tears and all for a few minutes and then finished eating and went to sleep. He's been a little fussy but not too bad.

Yesterday Brendan went to visit his Great Grandparents. Here are some pictures of his visit.