We spent 4 days in Washington with my family for Christmas. It was a whirlwind, but we definitely enjoyed ourselves! Although, lesson learned - no more 10pm flights, the little guy's schedule is WAY off...still.
Krispy Kreme for breakfast.
Yum, sugar!
Lots of Grandma and Grandpa time (although, sadly my dad was REALLY sick Christmas Day and its basically circulated through my family since then)
Marshall's first time in the hot tub (don't worry - we turned it down to 90 degrees so it was like warm bath water). He enjoyed the "pool" several times over the weekend.
Sleeping!
Lots of wrapping paper for baby enjoyment!
Lots of snuggles.
And lots of time enjoying Marshall's first Christmas.
It was a rather chaotic Christmas - my sister in-law had knee replacement surgery 3 days before Christmas, and ended back in the ER Christmas morning with an infection - and got checked back into the hospital for 3 days. My dad had a terrible stomach bug Christmas Day and ended up in bed all day, my mom got sick Christmas night ... and after we left my sister, brother and niece all ended up with the same bug! It was very similar to the bug we had a week and a half ago .... sure hope we didn't spread the germs! I was still very happy to spend time with family, and was happy to see some extended family that we don't see often.
Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas!! I'm ready for the New Year!
A lot has happened in December, and I'll need to do a more comprehensive post - but for now, I'm just posting one photo. Not a great photo (as usual) but here is our annual holiday photo (taken at my company holiday party on December 9th). Previous years photos here and here.
Also, our three year wedding anniversary was yesterday. We didn't really celebrate, but it was yesterday nonetheless. We went for a nice dinner as a family of three at Macaroni Grill. We had plans to go to Pappadeux's (spelling??) instead but with the snow coming down hard, we decided it was best to stay close to home. Maybe next year we will actually do something.
Well, we are busy preparing for Christmas and our trip to be with my family in WA for the weekend. We are super excited (and busy!) - so until after our trip.....
So I know I set a goal a while back to do 100 posts in the next year ... and thus far I am failing miserably. To reach that goal, I would have had to do about two posts a week, when I am still averaging about one post a month! I still would like to reach this goal - so I guess I better start blogging more! 3-4 posts PER WEEK would be ideal, but lets not get our hopes up. :)
Folks, this is crazy .... I have a 5 month old child. He truly is more of a child and less of a baby these days (or at least to me). He eats food now (not just formula). He LOVES his peas and carrots and sweet potatoes. He bounces in his jumperoo like a kid on crack. He adores that toy- see proof in video below. He sleeps on his belly every night, and I've come to accept it. He scooches all over the place on his back - and I keep checking for bald spots on the back of his head because of this. He doesn't fight sleep as often anymore - and bedtime has become quite lovely, in fact. Getting up in the middle of the night is not quite the norm anymore, and surely staying up an hour in the middle of the night is very rare these days. He loves being read to, but really - he loves to reach out and touch the pages of the book (cardboard pages have become a necessity). If we are eating dinner at the table (or restaurant) - Marshall prefers to be in on the action too. He wants to sit on my lap during meals so he can be there. He likes to pull plates and drinks toward him. His "really cool toys" from the early days like playmats and regular bouncers don't get used as much anymore. He can sit up in the corner of the couch by himself for quite some time. One of these days he'll advance to no support while sitting - hopefully by Christmas. His teeth are coming in - and I fully expect to just see them arrive one day out of the blue. He is in a very cuddly phase right now - and I love it. He still prefers Mom for sleepy/cuddle time and Dad for play/giggle time. He is my sweet, sensitive boy and we can see his personality emerge more and more everyday - and I love it!
Will captured this photo. Marshall has always been the most finicky sleeper. He must be cuddled to fall asleep most of the time (unless in the car) - but in the middle of his jumping craziness it went silent. Shocking!! He actually fell asleep on his own!! We have reached a new phase, folks.
Both M and I have been sick this past week, and the next few photos show that. This first one is particularly sad. Don't mind the sicky, drooly grossness on his chin. Poor kiddo.
Post-bath. This is one happy kid. We've been using the "soothing bath" with the menthol smell. Its wonderful for sick babies. :)
Sick mom and baby at Olive Garden for lunch. Nothing like soup and breadsticks when you feel crummy!
He wasn't so sure about the no hands thing.
This video was taken Thanksgiving day...
I noticed today that this blog used to consist entirely of photos of Will and myself. We no longer take photos of just the two of us anymore. We rarely take photos together at all anymore. Another goal - get more photos of the husband and wife - not just baby. Probably should get more photos of daddy with baby too, and not just mommy with baby - haha. I also pretty much suck at taking photos of events now, too. Another goal - take more photos during events of people other than just Marshall. We got a total of two pictures on Thanksgiving. One which was just the food - and the other of just the women who made the food. Haha.
Let me tell you, just three words - crock pot stuffing. Yum-O.
I will forever make stuffing in a crock pot only.
From left to right - my sister Janelle, sister in-law Shannon and mother in-law Sheryl, then me. The boys didn't get a photo. Sorry boys! :)
Thanksgiving this year was pretty awesome. Low-key and delicious. Will and I even got to take a nap! With Marshall's sleep schedule, and the fact that he doesn't usually nap longer than 30-45 min. we never nap. Will's mom and sister watched Marshall for us while we napped after our huge dinner and it was heavenly!
The next morning, my sister Janelle and I did the Black Friday thing. Well, at midnight and 5 am we did the Black Friday thing. Kohl's at midnight (for a new crock pot) and Home Depot at 5am (for a new pre-lit tree). Yes, I got one the the last ones! Black Friday while having a baby under 1 is difficult. Marshall didn't go with me, but just knowing that I couldn't sleep all day after shopping all night was the tough part. Thankfully, we were not out all night and luckily its only one day a year.
I love Thanksgiving - but I love when Thanksgiving is over, because I can then officially start celebrating Christmas (because I technically start before Thanksgiving, but it is finally acceptable the following day!). I will do a better job of documenting Christmas than I did of Thanksgiving. Well, at least I'll try. :)
We have been super busy lately! My sisters Demi and Janelle came to visit a couple weekends ago. Will has had a couple Saturdays in a row off work (which is rare) - we celebrated Halloween and the usual work stuff. October came and went like it wasn't even here! We are enjoying watching Marshall learn and grow daily. We took him in for his 4 month appointment this past Friday and learned he is 15 lbs 1 oz and 26" long. Man do we love this boy! He is rolling over constantly - you can't keep this kid on his back! He even sleeps on his tummy most of the time now. He loves books and reaching and grabbing things. We've had a few close calls with our drinks because he likes to pull them toward him. He is so smart! We have also been instructed to feed him solid rice cereal daily now - so that is fun! No real solid baby food until 6 months though, but that is right around the corner. We are looking forward to the holiday season as a family of three. :)
I love this little boy so much. I am so grateful that he was sent to me and Will, and that we get to be his parents. In his (almost) four short months on this earth, he has taught me so much and I am learning what a sweet, unique spirit he has. By getting to be Marshall's mom, I personally have grown in love, patience, kindness, humility and probably many other things. I would do anything for this child - and I finally understand more about God's love for his children. Marshall's pain is my pain - and I would do anything to make him happy (and currently I often do ridiculous things to get him to laugh). It both breaks my heart and makes me incredibly happy to see him change daily and learn new things. He is getting so big - and its exciting(!) but sad because time is going way too fast. He's turning into a little boy, and its hard to see him as a little baby anymore. He is so mobile now, and I know he'll be crawling early. It hurts my heart that he is teething and has such pain sometimes - but overall, he is such a sweet, happy, content baby. He smiles constantly and is so happy just to lay on the floor and kick his legs and "talk" away. I worry a lot if I am doing enough for him - like "Am I reading him enough books? Should I be playing him classical music? Does he get enough tummy time? Should he be sleeping more or less? Why is he rolling over in his crib? Is he breathing?" Its a constant worry - but I am relieved to know that he is overall a very happy and healthy baby. Marshall has a very sensitive personality, and I am learning to cater to his sensitive needs. He is very aware of tension and anger and general discontent in the room and people around him. He startles easily and he gets scared and cries during loud noises (like cheering crowds). He needs to be swaddled and cuddled in order to fall sleep. If he is just mostly asleep and you put him down in his crib - he will wake all the way up until you rock him all the way back to sleep THEN lay him down (when six months rolls around, we are going to try to break this habit - but for now, I love it). Marshall LOVES bath time and looking at himself in the mirror. If he is ever upset, holding him while looking in the mirror will inspire an immediate smile and an adorable head-bury into your chest, then he'll peek out at the mirror and smile again. Marshall is a very sweet, sensitive child with very specific needs - and I am learning more about him everyday, and this brings me great joy.
Not every moment is pure bliss - sometimes its just plain hard. I would prefer not to work away from the home 40 hours a week and I look forward to when I will stay home with my children (or maybe just work part-time), but ultimately I'm very grateful for my position in life and for the time I do have with my son. I appreciate the words of the Prophet and Apostles of the Church and specifically for Elder Holland's talk on Motherhood - and the way it reassures my ever-worried mind.
"I know deep down inside that I am doing God's work. I know that my motherhood is an eternal partnership with Him .... There is nothing more important in this world than participating so directly in the work and glory of God."
I am so grateful for eternal families. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who was kind enough to send Will and me one of his children. I am eternally grateful for the gift of motherhood and the opportunities it has afforded me to learn and grow. I hope to savor each and every moment I have with my little baby boy, until he is too big to want to be cuddled or rocked to sleep. I am grateful for Marshall and the joy he brings me.
So I found out that the YouTube app on my iPhone uploads videos SOOOOO much faster. Like, it takes seconds instead of 10 minutes - so I did another one!
And again, please ignore the commentary. This is proof that I've been sick. I sound awfully congested - because I am. Yay.
I was just tricking you all before. Goodnight .... for reals!! :D
Okay, I couldn't resist another video that I took from today....
While I was eating my dinner of Kellogg's Mini Wheats (with fruit in the middle - just get the regular kind, the fruit kinda sucks) - Anywho I looked over to find Marshall almost off his bouncy seat! This boy seriously LOVES kicking his legs. He scooches himself all over on the floor by kicking, he kicks in the tub, while he is laying on your lap, on the changing table - this kid can kick! Here is proof.
Also - please don't mind my commentary. I never intend for anyone to actually see these clips that I take, but then I upload them so whatev. I'm loud and obnoxious on these clips. Just ignore me. If I could "mute" the video, I would.
So I've been back to work for a week and a half now. Its been going surprisingly great - minus the cold that I picked up from the germ infested office. I joined the YMCA gym right next to my building and have been working out on lunch (which is wonderful) - and its also great so I don't have to take more time away from Marshall than I have to. So work is good. Another new perk of working - Marshall has been EXTREMELY consistent in his bedtime routine. We try not to start his bedtime routine until 7pm, but he has a hard time staying up past 630pm. So he generally sleeps 630pm-7pm - then we wake him at 7pm to do his "routine" - which consists of bath every other day, bedtime lotion massage, jammies, then swaddle with bottle. He's asleep by 730pm and we watch tv until 8pm when he gets put down in his crib. He will then generally sleep until 630am. Sometimes he'll wake about 4am - but not normally. We've been blessed with a good nighttime sleeper. At least for now. And daytime sleeping is another story. He is NOT consistent for naps. But I do believe the two year old that he hangs out with during the day wears him out. :)
I honestly can't believe Marshall is 13 weeks old today. Time flies! We've been doing lots of tummy time. And also lately, he has been so good at playing by himself on the floor. He notices toys more and actually plays with them a bit. He has also been noticing our cat Abby quite a bit lately and seems intrigued by her tail - hehe.
I've been taking LOTS of video of Marshall doing funny things lately - or just things I find awesome. They take forever to load to YouTube so here is just one for now.
I love that when Marshall does timmy time - he always has to lift his feet. If I tried to do that it would be a total ab workout for me - haha!
Well - its late. Because have such a consistent sleeper, I know I should spend the 8-9pm hour being productive - but tonight it was a blog. That was my productivity. I need to be in bed by now - so goodnight all!
Let's be honest .... this blog is for my parents living in Washington more than it is for anything else - so of course every post is going to be dedicated to Marshall. Because let's face it, neither Will nor I are quite as interesting as this little guy. Plus, nothing really changes for us - while Marshall, on the other hand, changes daily. :)
Before church last Sunday:
Yesterday I got to ride along with my friend Shannon and her little girl to visit Hammond's Candy Factory in North Denver. It was pretty awesome seeing all that candy made! I am definitely planning on going back during December for their Candy Cane Festival. Yay!
Here is Shannon and Evie:
Because the our tour group was so small (3 babies under the age of 1 and their parents) - the tour guide gave us "good" lollipops from the store (versus the broken samples) for our babes.
Not much has been going on lately in the Brawn household. This is currently my last week of maternity leave before returning to work full-time. I definitely have some reservations about returning to work, but I know that once I get into the swing of working again - and once we get used to the schedule of dropping and picking Marshall off elsewhere - it will all be fine.
I can't believe how quickly Marshall is growing! He will be 11 weeks this Wednesday and he is just growing like a champ! He doesn't feel like my little, fragile baby anymore. He is quickly becoming a little boy. We love him so much - and I have really enjoyed hanging out with him all the time. We really enjoy our time together. Marshall definitely entertains us each and every day with all that he is learning and doing. He makes quite the facial expressions. It seems as if the tiniest of things crack us up. Being parents is awesome - and we couldn't have asked for a better little boy.
I have been playing with iMovie - and here is the results. I thought a video might be better instead of a string of photos as usual - you know, to mix it up a bit. :) Also, the song that is playing is what I refer to as "our song". I usually sing it to Marshall several times a day. It really calms him down when he is in freak-out mode. I also used to listen to this song a lot before Marshall's arrival. It is a special song to us. Enjoy.
Well - its been one month since my last post. I believe my goal was to post more often .... so here is another attempt at that! We were lucky enough to have my parents here with us in Colorado for a good majority of July - well, they left to head home August 1st - so I guess it really was most of July! Now that its been a while since we've seen them - I'm going to need to post more updates of Marshall more often.
On July 31st we had Marshall's baby blessing at our church. We had lots of family in town to help celebrate Marshall's birth and witness his baby blessing.
The picture below is of Will, Marshall and Will's Grandpa: James Brawn (hence - Marshall James)
And below are pictures of Marshall in no particular order:
Both of my babies ... although one has been neglected lately (Poor Abby)
Last week I took M into work to show him off to my co-workers. Here is my buddy Jim showing Marshall how to process mail in the mailroom. M quite took to the bright flashy screens. :)
We LOVE this playmat we got M.
It has provided hours of entertainment for him and more free time for us!
Here is M before church yesterday. It was the first time we went to all 3 hours with Marshall, and of course I was by myself (Will was working) AND it was my week to teach Young Womens. Thank goodness Marshall was a gem all day!
It is hard to believe this was just 8 weeks ago (well officially 8 weeks on Wednesday)!
I like these photos of Will. It was taken at Annie's Cafe, our favorite lunch spot in Denver. It's going to be sad once I go back to work cause I won't get to spend so many lunches with Will and Marshall. We've gotten used to our lunches and mid-morning walks when Will works his late shift (2-11pm). Its been a fun summer - but I still have 4 weeks of maternity leave left, as I return to work September 19th. I better soak up all the time with Marshall I can! :)
