A girl who didn't get shots

Friday afternoon was Brooklyn's 9 month check up. Boy I was happy that there were no shots involved. Too bad I worried sick about it all day. Totally worth it though. She was not feeling too chipper anyway. She had a slight fever and of course she did, she has that darn hand foot mouth thing and an ear infection again. Ugh. Luckily, this time, it's been WAY more mild. She already seems to be better. Thank the heavens. Literally.

 (so glad that James is able to come to appointments with us)

Remember how I wanted some delicious food this weekend? Well I got it. We went to a little burger place,B & D Burgers, and walked away super duper happy we'd gone there. I enjoyed a bleu bacon burger and a killer peanut butter oreo shake. Oh my gosh. Bacon to perfection. No joke. Why do I love food so much?

 (sunset out the window of B & D, also, construction)

We had a fun little sleepover with Jeremy and Chels that ended earlier than any of our prior sleepovers. I think we were all in bed before midnight. Am I right? Anyway, it's not because we're THAT old, our guests had to be up early to head to Utah county for the Color Me Rad run. Us, we slept in and enjoyed it thoroughly. I love waking up in our bed on a Saturday morning. Because we spend time with family so often on the weekends, we rarely get to all wake up together on a Saturday, in our KING bed. Folks, James and I will always have a king. We seriously have to.

Breakfast was from Starbucks and Carl's Jr. James couldn't get his hands on some breakfast sandwiches fast enough, and I was dying for a Vanilla Steamer. Ok, not dying. But I wanted one. The rest of the morning was very productive and then we headed to Coalville.

Saturday night ended like this.

All the ladies in one bed, including Brooklyn. We chatted away until our little hearts were content. I love having sisters and a mom that I can spend hours and hours with and never be bored. I love them so much. Thanks for lots of laughs, awesome baby name ideas, and some killer games of Nerts/Nerps.

It was a great weekend. I think it's been a long time since we've had a bad one. I'm grateful for that. We live for the weekends at our house and it's nice that we're always able to spend them with people we love or accomplishing things that need to get done that make us feel all good and productive inside. That's how weekends should be.


I'll leave you with some adorable little pictures of Brooklyn in her dress and jacket from Grandma Lisa. It's so cute on her and I think it's going to fit her through the summer. Yay for summer! Yay for dresses! And yay for pink!

p.s. I'm obsessed with this video. I'm calling it the song of the summer. I only watched it, hmm, 42 times this weekend. Seriously. I love me a good boy band. 

SLURPEES. The blue kind.

(sick baby - happy after a trip to the doctor)

Wednesday night was THE worst. The worst I tell ya. I've never felt more helpless or scared. Brooklyn woke up in the middle of the night crying, a mournful cry, and her whole body was hot. So hot. I took her temperature, 103.5. Oh. My. Gosh. 

James woke up and turned the lamp on. Brooklyn's poor little body was shaking and the look in her eyes told me she was absolutely miserable. Kayla, who was spending the night, woke up to the crying as well. She came to the rescue and sang to Brooklyn while I put her in warm bath. Meanwhile, James looked through some child medical resource books we have to see how serious this was.

I was desperate. I wanted all of the sickness to go away and never come back. After the bath, I wrapped her up in a thin blanket and just held her. Kayla sang to her. It kept her mind of off her miserableness. Oh my sweet sick little baby. 

I called the doctor's office the next morning and luckily got her in by noon. Mary Poppins was there to greet us. Brooklyn, still miserable, was not in her usual happy mood. Dr. Poppins diagnosed her with hand foot and mouth disease, due to the little sores on the back of Brooklyn's throat (and of course, the fevers). Even though I was sad to hear it...SUCH a peace of mind. 

She also has an ear infection so we were able to get a prescription for that. Dr. Poppins also prescribed Tylenol, Ibuprofen, warm baths, a cool humidifier, and a Slurpee. Yep. A Slurpee. So you bet she got one. A blue raspberry one. She was in heaven. Along with her Cinderella sticker Auntie Googs picked out for her, she was pretty spoiled. 

(2 of her new favorite things: Slurpees and fuzzy chicks)

The rest of the day was low key. We spent some time out in the beautiful sunshine. That'll make anyone feel better. When James got home, Kayla and I went to Fashion Place for an hour. James and Brooklyn took much needed naps. I hated to be away from my sick baby, but definitely needed it. 

She's already doing better and acting like her old self: crawling around, grabbing at cords, blowing spit bubbles, jabbering quite loudly, and smiling at her mommy and daddy.

Here's to a good relaxing weekend filled with naps and blue raspberry Slurpees. Oh and a happy St. Patty's Day as well.

Two words

Nasal aspirator.

This thing has saved us this week. Mary Poppins suggested we use it to help Brooklyn be able to breath better. Boy. It has made all the difference.

Brooklyn, however, hates this thing. It is her mortal enemy. It has a musical feature. This is supposed to distract her from being held down, hands and head, and having her poor little nose extracted of all of its' yuckiness. Not happening. There is no distracting this little girl. 

But when all is said and done, she's happy and breathin' easy. It really has been a life saver. It's ten times better than the little bulb sucky thing they give you in the hospital. I am forever indebted to this tiny little battery powered suction contraption.

In other random news...

(all the veggies/starch before cooking 'em up)

I made a recipe I found on Pinterest for dinner. Crockpot chicken enchilada soup. Killer. Top it with tortilla chips, cheese, and sour cream and it's almost like heaven in a bowl. For real. I suggest making those recipes you pin on Pinterest. It makes meal and menu planning so much easier. I have been using two or three recipes a week that I've pinned and they have all been successful. I realize this could be risky, but so far we're enjoying the adventure. For real. Try it.

Also, give menu planning a try. It's my favorite.




So is Brooklyn's new trick.

   

She prefers this to crawling. It's this trick, and creeping for now. That's all.

6 month appointment

To say that I hate taking Brooklyn to get her shots would be an understatement. I loathe it. It makes me sick to my stomach. I usually don't eat the day she gets shots. But really, it's crazy. One, because I am SO terribly grateful that she is getting these shots. Two, it gives me peace of mind. And three, it makes me feel like I'm doing something right on my daughter's behalf.
But gosh darn it. I hate to see her in pain. And when she got those 4 little needles poked into those deliciously chubby legs...her heart was broken. Mine too. I opted to have her get the flu shot as well, so that added another needle. But boy, what peace of mind. Peace of mind as the flu season is about to start in full force. I want her to be healthy for the rest of this winter. Just as every parent does. 

Luckily, James was able to join us again. I don't know what I'd do without him. He's my right hand man. The pop to my rocks. Brooklyn loves to have him there as well. He's much better at entertaining her than I.

Here they are checking out the cars and people down below from the dr's office waiting room window.

And here we are, waiting

waiting,

and doing some planking. Ya know, to get that six pack for swim suit season.

Waiting makes us hungry for toes.

And here we are post shots, a quick feeding, and lots of loves from yours truly and her daddy.

Her stats at this appointment:

15 lbs 1 oz.

25 1/2 inches long

and healthy as a horse.

Mary Poppins was impressed that she is 'creeping' and rolling all over the place. So are we. We think she's pretty impressive. Here's to another happy healthy 6 months Brookie. Let's celebrate with long naps and trips to Target where we will wander aimlessly and find cool things that we might buy someday.

Love you baby.

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Valentine's Day is knockin' on the door.

And I can't wait.

Our little 4 month old...

Stats:

13 lbs 1 oz

24 1/4 inches

50% in both

(at 2 month check-up - 10 lbs 22 inch)

(at 6 days old)

She continues to be more and more of a blessing in our lives every day. Today was her dreaded (for mommy) check-up, shots and everything.

Luckily, James was able to come with us. He missed out on all the fun at the last one (NOT!) so it was nice to have him come this time.

I had him all geared up for the worst. I told her he got to hold her face and kiss and love her during the shots. He was heart broken to think about what lay ahead.

So we got in there and Brooklyn turns into a show dog. She talks and coos and smiles and shows off every way she can. Mary Poppins/Dr. Goodwin just talks so cute to her and is impressed with everything she does. We continue to love our visits with her.

(getting her undressed to be weighed and measured)

(Daddy giving her a pep talk - she adores him)

The nurse came in to do the shots and my stomach was just sick. I was glad James was going to be front and center this time. I tried to distract myself by reading some materials Mary Poppins had given me and I waited for the scream.

I waited...

and then heard a little whimper.

That was it?

Yay. That was it!

Her eyes welled up with tears but only a whimper came out. James was fast to wrap her up and pick her up. We both smiled and talked to her and told her how brave she was. She smiled at us through her tears.

Oh we love her. Never in our wildest imaginations did we think we could love someone so much. She is our world. And we're pretty dang proud of her.

*She does the cutest thing where if you're holding her or someone else is and they smile at her (or you do), she smiles back a big grin and then buries her head in whoever's holding her. It is my favorite right now! I love it!

2 Month check-up

Our day started off as usual: breakfast, bath, poopy diaper, straighten up, breakfast dishes

Then... my bff since Kindergarten, sherrie, and her two darling (and very well behaved) boys came for a visit. It was so great to see her! We never see each other! She's such a good mom. What a great example she is to me. I love her to pieces!

After we said our goodbyes, for what will probably be a year again (no, let's not let that happen!), I sat down with Brooklyn for a very serious talk. I told her how much I love her and how I waited for a very long time for to be my baby. And that I never want her to feel any pain, but that sometimes there are things that we have to do to protect ourselves from worse things. "Mommy's gonna take you to the doctor today and you're going to get shots. But it won't hurt for very long and I need you to be brave ok?"

My mom came down to help me, thank goodness.

(6 days old - 1st dr. appt)

(2 month check up)

Brooklyn weighed in at 10 lbs. 9 oz. and she measured 22 1/2 inches long. So she's in the 50th percentile for her age in both.

She was being so happy and friendly, just talkin and smilin away. Dr. Mary Poppins was impressed with how strong and alert she is. We like Mary Poppins. 

(look how intently Brooklyn is listening to Mary Poppins)

Then Brooklyn got a little ornery.

I comforted her the best I could, but my heart was breaking knowing what would happen in the next five minutes of her life. I wanted to break for the door and run away with her. No, I could do this. Lots of moms do this every day.

(she's always grabbing at my face)

The nurse came in, sweet girl, and got the band aids laid out and ready to go. She gave Brooklyn the oral medicine first, which she sucked down like a champ, and then came the shots.

I held her little face and kissed her mouth as the first shot went in. Brooklyn screamed. The other 2 shots were fast, the band aids were on, and I picked her up as fast as I could and held her close. She was heart broken, right along with Mommy and Grandma. I wanted to take the pain away. I wanted her to understand that I didn't give her the shots, but that they would keep her healthy and safe from horrible sicknesses.

My poor little baby.

I nursed her and we quietly left the doctor's office. With Brooklyn sound asleep in her car seat, Grandma and I self soothed with fruity lemonades and Mrs. Fields cookies.

She was a good baby for the most part after that. Daddy took care of her for awhile while I went to YW's and then I spent the rest of the evening with her. Tomorrow's a new day, and hopefully not a traumatic one.

*A great big thanks to my mom, Grandma Diane, for the pictures at the doctor's office, the strawberry lemonade, the white chocolate macadamia nut cookie, and the clothes she bought Brooklyn. Love you Mom.

PKU 2 week check up

This visit to the doc wasn't so fun.

The heel prick...she didn't handle it very well.

She cried and cried and it broke my heart.

Her stats were good though:

7 lbs

20.5 inches

long and skinny

Who woulda thought that I'd get a tall baby?

Because of these big bright eyes, she has been affectionately nicknamed:

Bright Eyes

along with:

Brookie

Little Miss

Sweetie

Cutie Pie

Dodger

She basically gets called everything but her name.

*Happy news: 3 lbs to pre pregnancy weight!

First Dr Appointment

Yesterday was Brooklyn's first doctor visit.

I was a little nervous as to how she'd act - she is not a fan of being undressed and ONLY in her diaper.

To our suprise, she was a little angel. She put on a good show. Not only that, but she gained back all her birth weight. However, she did go potty on the scale while she was being weighed. :)

I absolutely love her pediatrician. I call her Mary Poppins. She's like my grandma Carol and Mary Poppins rolled into one. I could not have asked for a better fit!

The office is really cute and the secretaries are super friendly. That makes a huge difference!

We go back on Monday for her 2 week check up. Hopefully she'll behave just as well!

(she's getting a little more used to her bath)