Jump! Jump!

We had another rough night last night. Bryn rolled over at 1 AM and again at 4 AM with her arms still in the swaddle...which scared me because she was face down on the mattress. So...no more swaddle. So we stayed home again to figure this no swaddle/transition to the sleep sack out. I will say, we are making a little progress, but it is SLOW. She did take one really good nap today (out of 3) and fell asleep okay tonight.
Still smiling even though it was a rough morning...

Kate and I spent the afternoon outside. This girl LOVES to jump. We jump all over the house. Yes, WE. So I decided it was time to pull out her Christmas present from CC and Papa Lon. She was sooooo excited...

Can you tell???

She jumped and jumped all afternoon!

And slid a few times!

She took a little break to play with Bailey...

Watching them interact is funny to me. Kate is really bossy and Bailey is so patient with her.

And then she jumped some more. She may or may not have had a meltdown when it was time to come inside...

I am sure we will jump more tomorrow!

A Day in Pictures

Brynlee woke up crying this morning at 5 AM. When I checked on her she was in her swaddle on her tummy flopping like a little fish. It is probably time to "break" her of the swaddle but I don't know how. So I thought we would stay home today to "work" on learning to sleep without a swaddle blanket. The first nap was a total failure...meaning, she never went to sleep until I swaddled her an hour and a half later. ugh. The second nap, she was so tired she fell asleep, only to wake herself up 45 minutes into it to be swaddled. Third nap, I swaddled her immediately. Tomorrow is a new day, right? In the midst of "nap training" she did move herself to a 4 hour feeding schedule. We will see if that sticks.

Anyway, Kate and I had a great day playing around the house while Brynlee was unsucessfully learning to sleep without a swaddle. Here is our day in pictures...

While I was getting ready Kate found one of my baseball hats. She wore it around the house saying, "hat like Daddy."

Kate LOVES stickers!!!! My sister found this Fancy Nancy sticker book. Kate had the best time dressing up Fancy Nancy and decorating for her tea party.

After her nap, we made a special drink. Our sweet friends Kendra and Macie mailed Kate a care package all the way from Wisconsin! In it was this book...

Kate loves it! We read it every day...several times. In the book, Pinkalicious makes her lemonade pink with strawberries...so I thought it would be fun to make a "pink drink" with Kate.

Unlike Pinkalicious' mom, I cheated a little and didn't make my lemonade from scratch...

but Kate still loved it...she helped me wash the strawberries, blend them into juice and then pour it in the lemonade...ta da...our "pink drink...

It was really yummy!

And lately, not a day goes by where we don't watch Miss Pattycake at least once. She knows every word. I love watching her march around and sing these Bible Songs.

March 8

Look who is 5 months old today...


She is laughing and cooing more everyday!


Playing with her taggie ball...

CC came to see Kate after her surgery...


We had Kate's post op appointment today. The doctor said everything looks great. We go back in 7 weeks for a final check but so far so good. Her eyes are still pretty red but she is not swollen anymore.

March 4

March 4. What a day! We, well, really I, have been dreading, anticipating, anxiously awaiting/ready to get this day over with for over a month. (Parker had the great ability to compartmentalize and not really think about it until last night). I had a list of things to be anxious about...Kate not being able to eat or drink hours before the surgery, Kate "going under," Kate waking up in a strange place and being scared, Kate looking swollen and bruised for weeks, etc., etc., etc.

But Kate did awesome. She was such a trooper all day. She never asked for oatmeal. After her last sip of water at 9:15, she didn't ask for water again. She did great with the nurse preparing her for surgery. She did wake up scared and confused but settled down after 5-10 minutes. Her eyes look really good. They are bloodshot and there is some bruising under her eyes that will probably get worse before it gets better, but not near as bad as I prepared myself for.

What a great reminder of God's promise in Ephesians 3:20...Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Here are some pictures of our day...

Kate's special breakfast...Jello!

All smiles until the first bite...

To her credit, she gave it a valiant effort, only to declare..."I don't like it, I don't like Jello."

I made Jigglers and a pan of jello. She tried both and enjoyed playing with both...but eating it, not so much.

So popsicles it was! She had 3 of them...

Kate playing in the waiting room...

Does she look scared or nervous to you? Nope!

When we got home, she slept for about 2 hours and woke up pretty groggy and still "drugged." She was a little wobbly walking so we put in Miss Pattycake...and pretty much left it on loop the rest of the night.

Very sedated Kate...

You can see the red in the corners of her eyes. But she really looks amazing.

She perked up before bedtime and was acting more like her smiley, happy self!

Parker and I are so thankful for such a great day! It truly was better than we could have asked or imagined.

And we have never felt so loved. Our friends and family have been amazing. From constant text messages, emails and phone calls of people praying...to meals, buckets of goodies, coloring books and candy for Kate...we are so blessed. Thank you for loving on us and our sweet girl!

My Anxious Heart

This Friday, March 4 is Kate's eye surgery. We went to her pre-op appt yesterday. Even though it is "minor, outpatient" surgery...it doesn't seem "minor" when it is your baby. Needless to say my heart has been a little anxious. These are some of the verses I have been clinging to and trusting in for my sweet little girl...

I praise you, for Kate is fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works. Psalm 139:14

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 100:5

Yet I will not forget you. Behold I have engraved you on the palms of my hand. Isaiah 49:16

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. Psalm 56:3-4

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalms 33:20-22

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18

Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you. Psalm 55:22