Happy 1/2 Birthday Brenna Bear!

Happy 1/2 Birthday my little Brenna!

Dear Brenna,

On January 22nd, 2010 you turned SIX MONTHS old! I wish I could say that time has flown by, but Mommy wouldn't want to lie to you, now would she? Truth be told, this has been a loooooong six months, but so beyond worth it! You are just the sweetest little thing, and when you aren't crying for food or because you just won't fall asleep, you are actually really very quiet. Some times you hardly make a peep! In fact, just last Sunday when we were getting ready for church, your daddy said "Where's Brenna?" and I actually had to think about it for a moment because you were being so good, I didn't hear you! (Don't worry, you were fine, and already strapped snug in your car seat in the kitchen )  :)

Everybody just adores you!

Of course, as your mommy, I just think you are the most beautiful little girl. I love cuddling with you and watching you squirm all around. I love tickling you under your chin and whispering in your ear, which always makes you giggle. You have the sweetest kisses ever, and I absolutely love when you give me sloppy open-mouth kisses on my cheeks.

And as for your two big sisters, they were all smiles the day of your half birthday!

They both love you soooo much. Whenever Hayden comes into the room in the morning, she says "HIIIIIIII Nena!" in the cutest little voice. And she'll get right up to your face so you both touch noses. She still likes to give you your Pacifier, and you better watch out, because pretty soon she will be making you put on shoes like she does to all of us! She loves to have you lay next to her in the big chair, or her new Dora bed, or just on the family room floor. She'll laugh and laugh just looking at you. I know you are going to be such great friends!

And Logan is like your second mommy. She always wants to hold you and kiss you (except when you're pukey)! She talks to you all the time and teaches you all sorts of new things. And everytime she enters the room, your face lights up - I think you already look up to her, and there's no better role model God could have chosen to be your big sister!!

 And of course, there's your daddy. This isn't a very good picture of him with you, but he hates taking pictures! You and your sisters are the apples of your daddy's eyes. He is so great with you and he loves to cuddle with you (when Hayden lets him, of course - she's a bit jealous but we're working on it). There have been several days when you and Daddy spend time together, just the two of you, and he really enjoys those moments. You don't realize it yet, but you have the silliest daddy around. He dances for you, and sings to you all the time. He loves nothing more than seeing the big smile on your face when you see him. You're gonna have him wrapped around your little finger!!

   

Although I forgot to take a picture that day, your Aunt Deda loves you more than anything too! She has been your second mommy, especially on the weekends. She loves holding you in the Bjorn and she even holds you while you're pukey. She likes to give you baths at night, and she even goes up and down the stairs over and over and over again to make sure you're all settled into your favorite night-time swing. She is the best Aunt ever and you are one lucky girl to have her!!!

We were all SO excited to feed you for the first time on your 1/2 birthday! Your first food was carrots, and I think you really enjoyed it! Seems like you'll be a great eater like your sister!

Here are some of the other things you are doing right now:

*You can almost sit up. You need to be propped up, but I know it's just a matter of time before you're doing it all alone.

*You still love your swing to sleep!

*You still squirm and have horrible gas (you must get that from daddy)

*You love to watch people

*You smile a lot but only for a quick second (that's why I can't get a lot of pictures of you smiling)

* You still throw up from time to time, but not nearly as much anymore

* You have a really sweet giggle

* You just started to scream this really loud squeal - mommy isn't sure what it means just yet, but I think it's when you're frustrated

* You love to grab for things now

* Y0u can roll over all around the house, and even scoot from time to time

* You like to go to church, and are really good in the daycare

But most importantly, you are AMAZING and we are so thankful God chose us to be your family! We love you Brenna Bear!!!

Christmas 2009

This is long overdue, but what the heck? I figure next year at this time it will be nice to see the pictures from Brenna's first Christmas, right? Unfortunately, the holidays this year just didn't seem as celebratory, for obvious reasons. However, we ALWAYS rejoice in the fact that Christmas, to us, represents the birth of Jesus Christ. That alone is cause for celebration!

I read about a project this year, called the Advent Conspiracy. Their main goal is to encourage people - namely Americans - to tone it down for Christmas. Their motto: "Worship fully, Spend less, Give more, Love all" - I just fell in love with everything that they are doing. Here is their promo video for 2009.



This video really did hit home for me. So...we toned it down a lot this year. Well, correction, I did. Todd on the other hand decided to buy Logan an IPOD touch without my permission (but that story can be saved for another time). Besides that minor little spoiling, it was nice not to have TOO much. Don't get me wrong - the kids enjoyed a lot of presents - but for the most part, they came from relatives. In our house, we definitely didn't go overboard this year, and I hope to keep that consistent in the years to come. I really do want to teach my girls the spirit of giving, rather than receiving, which is pretty difficult in today's consumer society....

Here are some of the highlights:

Making gingerbread houses on Christmas eve!





Christmas morning bright and early!

In Memory of Charles Maurer

Shortly after I met Todd, we were on our way to a Bon Jovi concert when Todd got a call from his mom that his dad would receive a new liver that night. I hadn't even known that his dad was a transplant patient until then (we had known each other for just a few weeks). Right then, I saw just how important his dad was to him. It wasn't long before his dad was recovering and Todd's parents moved in with him. As soon as I met his parents, I could tell there was something very special about their family. Todd had the utmost respect for them, and they for him as well. The lived under the same roof for an entire summer without a single conflict. (If you are used to a family like mine, you know how rare that actually is!) During that time, I had the pleasure of getting to know Chuck and Kathy, two of the most devoted parents you will ever meet.

I am so glad that Chuck was able to witness us getting married, having children, and owning our own home. He has always been so supportive of Todd, and of our relationship, and was a wonderful grandfather to all three of our girls, as well as his three grandchildren from Todd's sister, Paige.

When Todd and I got married, I gave Chuck and Kathy a poem about how grateful I was to them for raising such a wonderful man. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to actually sit down with Chuck and tell him just how thankful I was to him for being such a good role model. I truly believe his memory will live on for so many reasons, but most improtantly for me, because MY children will benefit from the kind of dad he was to Todd. Todd is a loving, devoted, generous father who puts his kids before anything. I know he got that from his dad. Thank you Chuck for raising my husband to be the man of my dreams, the father of my children that I've always hoped for. You raised the most amazing man I've ever known....one with integrity, high morals, devotion to God, and more love in his heart than most people will ever know.

You will forever be missed, but never forgotten!!! We love you Papa!

My "Superstar"

Today was Logan's first performance for her Hip Hop dance class. She was AMAZING! The group performed in a professional theatre ($20 a ticket!!) and I was so impressed. The entire studio did so well, and my little Lolo has finally found something that she truly loves! I am one very proud mommy! These are the moments that truly make being a parent so special, and can I just say how much I LOVE having little girls??? It was so cute to do her hair and make-up this morning, and to see her excitement all day!

At one point, she came downstairs and I asked her if she cleaned her room and made her bed. She replied, "I'm a superstar today mom, and superstars don't have to clean their rooms." HA! (Of course I told her that she could get her superstar little behind back upstairs because my superstar DOES have to clean her room!)

What a little munchkin...

Here are some of the highlights.

Living in the moment

Lately I have been struggling with something - trying to appreciate the good, not worry too much about the bad, and live as much as I can in the moment. It isn't easy. Well, at least not for someone like me. I am so worried about Brenna (who is not showing any signs of improvement). This worry seems to be clouding everything else right now, though I am consciously fighting against it. What do you do when one of your children seems to be in so much pain? How do you not worry? How do you try to fully experience the joys of the other stages that your family is going through? My only answer right now is through faith.

This is Brenna pretty much 90% of the day when she's not sleeping.




Isn't that so sad? She is so very uncomfortable and it is all I can do not to cry along with her. My mommy bear instinct wants to keep taking her to the doctor, demand more tests, research endlessly on the internet. However, I know that I have to trust my doctor and leave my worries at the feet of God, especially so that I can focus on my other kids, who by the way, are so amazing!

Case in point: Logan and the chipmunks....

Logan is definitely hitting her tween stage. I can see her trying to discover herself, her interests, her place in this world and it is awesome being a witness to that. I pray every day that I can take it all in, appreciate her growth and guide her in the best way I can. In my efforts to try to reassure her that she has not been lost in the shuffle of things, we have committed to a date night at least once a month. This month, we decided to see a movie. I was surprised to see so many teenagers there without supervision, doing things that I wouldn't necessarily approve of my own children doing. I kept thinking, oh no...this is just a few years away for Logan. Holy moly! This seriously made me want to slow down time, and I was convinced yet again of the importance of living in the moment for ALL of my children.

Just as these thoughts were circling through my head, my little Logan saw something that completely excited her. As if on cue, she reminded me that she was still my baby girl....still so innocent....

And this is what she saw....




Here's my tween, amongst all of those trouble making teenagers, thrilled to take a picture with Alvin and the Chipmunks! I could just hear the whisper in my head....

Enjoy these moments


Thank you Lord for that very needed reminder!


And then there is Hayden who is also entering a new, exciting stage in her life. The toddler stage! She is talking up a storm, dancing, singing, and completely living life to the fullest!

While Brenna is crying about 90% of the day, this is how happy Hayden is about 90% of the day.



What a vivacious little thing she is! I know from past experience how quickly kids go from baby to toddler to school-age....I don't want to miss out on one smile, one laugh, or one new word. So, again, I have to commit myself daily to hand over my worries to God.... To know that no matter what, He loves my children even more than I do, more than I can possibly imagine.... And to always remember that His plans for them are even better than my own!! I am so thankful for my faith during these difficult times, knowing that I can rest in His comfort.

Pumpkins, pirates, potato heads....and, well...puke.

This has been one heck of a week! Not only was I wrapping up one of the most INSANE months of work I have ever had, but we were also dealing with little Brenna's tummy issues. Remember my last post where I thought perhaps we were in the clear with that whole thing? Well, I was sadly mistaken. Things seem to have gotten progressively worse and we're not really sure why. So we had an upper Gi appointment for her, which came back completely normal. You would think I would be elated at those results, and don't get me wrong, I am so thankful it came back that way. At the same time, I am still left a bit frustrated trying to figure out why she seems like she's in so much pain all the time.

Today we went back to the doctor and he started her on a different medication. Boy do I hope this is the magic drug! He also ordered a head ultrasound, which normally would freak me out....but surprisingly, I'm not at all worried. I know that he's just trying to be careful and explore all possibities. I am thankful to have such a thorough pediatrician! I am pretty confident though that these issues are related somehow to eating and digestion, which is why I'm not too concerned over the whole head thing.


But that's not what I wanted to post (except to say that things have been very busy these days!) I have much cuter and sweeter things to talk about.

Like these two beautiful girls....



We went last weekend to the pumpkin patch with Nama. We drove all the way to Escondido, which I wasn't too thrilled about. But once we got there, it was so worth it. The girls had a ton of fun!!



The girls on a hay ride....Hayden was fascinated by the long stalks of corn around us!



Enjoying snow cones!



My sweet girl...



Picking out pumpkins!







For Halloween, we decided not to trick-or-treat this year, and instead just enjoyed time with family.

Here's my little pink pirate and yellow bumble bee.




In lieu of carving pumpkins, we made potato head pumpkins instead - it was so much fun!









And the finished product:




And where is baby Brenna you ask?

Puking of course!


Thanks Deda for holding her so much!!! You're the best!