The biggest changes.

So I have now been a mother for just over a month and already I've learned so much. Here are some of the things I've learned:

1. I know longer have the time to put myself first, Brooklyn fills 99% of that time.

2. Fast food is not as convenient as it used to be.

3. You can't just 'run' into the convenience store anymore. Instead you must pack your life up, strap in your child, load her into the car, then out, carry her into the store with you, just to get a soda and turn around and do the same process in reverse.

4. Speaking of soda, even with a great night sleeper, caffeine is a must.

5. I just want to buy a cute outfit for her every time I go into a store that sells baby clothes but most practice restraint for now.

6. Life no longer revolves around a 24 hour clock, instead it is a 2.5-4 hour interval between feedings.

7. Sometimes you just really can't make your baby happy.

8. Breast feeding truly is the best way to lose the baby weight and have a temporary boob job:)

9. Be prepared for random older women to ask you about your baby and give their opinions, even if you don't ask.

and just so we make a complete list, certainly one of the most important lessons so far:

10. Being a mother is truly a 24/7 job and I don't know how single mothers do it on their own, I thank God every day that I have such a supportive, loving husband at home to help me when I'm having a rough day.

Routine???

Ugh, so this week there has been absolutely no consistency in Brooklyn's day to day. One day she won't nap until 4:30, then we'll have a normal day of eating, awake time, and then nap time (just as baby wise recommends), and then she'll throw a curve ball and stay awake between two feedings and then nap the entire time between the next two! That's just a small example.

I would really like to get her on some sort of routine but I really don't think that's going to happen just yet, I need to just be patient right??

I must remember to be thankful for the fact that since the beginning she has pretty much been a great night sleeper, only waking me up once at night. Right now she seems to want to actually start her nighttime routine around 10:30pm. I would love for that to become and 8 or 9pm start but I'm not sure how to get her there. Maybe I need to make her stay awake at her early morning feeding, instead of letting her go back to sleep.

Any suggestions out there???

Trying to multi-task

Best way to get things done with a needy child!

As of yesterday Brooklyn decided she didn't want to nap nearly as much and wants to be held by somebody. So in order to get things done I had to strap her on my belly :) Yesterday I did not strap her on and it was very difficult to get anything done. I learned that I'm not that bad at typing with one hand though :)

Hopefully she will begin to be entertained by things soon but in the mean time looks like she's in the cuddle stage.

The first 3 weeks

I want to share a few photos from the last three weeks at home with Brooklyn :)

Snuggle time with mommy after a feeding, one of her favorite things to do!

Should have rotated this adorable picture! I didn't realize how much she'd like laying in the boppy pillow, but she will sit there just looking around at everything her little eyes can see. The other day I read her a story while sitting in it and she just took in the book and the story!

And we also quickly fall asleep laying in the boppy :)

Our family after a night out with the boys. We took Brooklyn to our local Pub, yes I said Pub :) It's very family oriented and she was just a perfect angel while we were there!

Brooklyn's umbilical cord fell off on Saturday morning so we were able to give her a real bath! Surprisingly she loved bathed time, not drying off and getting lathered with lotion though :)

You guys should see Jordan with her, he is amazing! He'll try and be so goofy for her when she's screaming at us, and for the most part it does the job :) We've been blessed with a good little sleeper, I only have to get up around 1:30am and then again round 5:30am! She's such a good baby :) I can't believe it's already been 3 weeks, time really does fly and before I know it she's going to be crawling around, or at least up all day rather than napping :)

Brooklyn Arrived January 3rd, 2010!

Miss Brooklyn Amanda Young arrived January 3rd, 2010 at 7:36 a.m.

She weighed 7lbs. 10oz. and was 20.5 inches long!

Mom and Dad were both shocked at her being as big as she was, but I guess that's what happens when you cook for an extra week :) As you can see from above she was born with a head full of hair just like mommy and daddy.

I had the whole birth story on here but blogger lost it somehow. Any way, you all will just have to be happy with these photos for now because my baby is calling for me and Jordan is back at work so it's all me :)

3D of Baby Brooklyn, 28 weeks, 4 days!

Week 27

Thought I'd share my most recent photo of the belly :) I started the 3rd trimester this week, count down time!

I'm still feeling really well, can't complain. Hope everybody is doing well back home!!