Updates from our house...

Well, we've come to the conclusion that Brenna is a much more...um..., "high maintenance" baby than Brooke. She seems to cry - like a lot. We don't have many times where she is awake and happy. She does sleep a lot too, so I'll give her credit where credit is due. But to sleep, she has to be being held by someone. So, who needs a gym when you've got Baby Holding 101 at our house? My arms and back are so sore from holding her, rocking her, swaying with her...seemingly all day. At night, she does sleep better. I'm not going to mess with the system, but I think it's cuz she's swaddled up and used to the routine of it all. Some would say to then do that during the day, but for whatever reason it doesn't seem to work as well. Anyway, I was really bragging a bit too much I guess about her nighttime sleep habits. She WAS sleeping from 10p - 4am, waking up to eat and going back to sleep till we woke her up to feed her at 6-7a (before taking Brooke to school, etc). However, I guess she wanted to remind us who was really in charge over here because the last few nights, she's been waking up at 3(ish) and not going back to sleep as easily. Again, wanting to be held. Which makes for very tired parents, which makes the daytime processes (of holding, rocking, swaying) take an even greater toll. Needless to say, we don't get out much these days. Both because of a ever-crying baby and of course, the gas prices are outrageous as well. We did learn that going outside helps Brenna. But it's June....in Texas. I really can't take 100 degree temperatures in the shade for too long. So space out our outside trips to when we really need a break. :)

I've gone through the realm of possiblities - could it be reflux? Well, she doesn't spit up, doesn't seem uncomfortable, just ticked. Could it be gas? Sometimes, maybe. But not this much. I can tell when she has gas and more often than not...it's not gas. We've tried all our baby contraptions - the swing, the other swing, the bouncy vibrating seat (turned on, turned off, etc), the crib (with a mobile, w/o mobile), the Boppy, the bassinet (w/ vibration, music, and without), the carseat, the floor...you name it. We've tried it. Nothing seems to work. Well, nothing except your arms. And even then, if she doesn't go to sleep right away (in your arms), she'll still cry. So, we might as well sell all these contraptions! As a silver lining, I've gotten very adept at typing as well as doing many other things one-handed. It is quite a skill.

**sigh** It is very frustrating as you can imagine. And even more frustrating when you have a 3 yr old to occupy as well. Poor Brooke. She really knows Brenna no different from crying. She'll hold her all the time while she's screaming bloody murder, because she knows no different. And when our patience level is running low because of all the crying and tired arms, it's hard to invest a lot of time or effort to make her happy and I feel so guilty for it.

Luckily, Brooke is going to school M-F 8:30-12. She just started Montessori school (which is only 2 miles from our house....if that) and LOVES it. She has a great friend there already who has taken under her wing. The atmosphere is so calm by nature and the kids there are all great and much more subdued than I've ever seen at a preschool. The first day, her 'friends' waved and were yelling "Bye" to her as she left. She turned around (remember...her first day), waved real big and yelled "BYE!". It was great. And you have to know Brooke to know why it was so great. She would have never done that before...to be so bold. She would have just cowarded down and smiled sheepishly, being embarrassed, while we coaxed her to tell everyone bye. It was such a great expression on her part and made me so proud. So, she's been going for a full week and then some now and I am so thankful to have that time for her to be occupied with a fun (and educational!) activity. Then she comes home and I try to have lunch with her and she takes a nap. That leaves the rest of my time to handle Brenna. So we are managing. And hopefully making it to Brenna's 2mo checkup in a couple weeks to get tips/advice/solutions from the pediatrician. It would be so much easier if I had a label to attribute this behavior to.....even if I couldn't fix it. Just to know and understand why she is so upset would help.

In other news, Brooke has also started the summer session of Kindermusik. We had to do a night class, so Daddy is able to stay home with the baby while we go to Kindermusik. This is her last "Our Time" class. In the fall (based on her age) she will move up to the level of class where she will begin going on her own. My little baby girl....growing up.....*sniff sniff*

And speaking of growing up, she had her first go at playing the Nintendo Wii. For those of you that don't know what that is...it's a video game system that uses a sensor bar to sense your actual movements to play the game. In other words, no pushing buttons to this game. You actual have to get up and DO whatever action you're supposed to be doing on the game.
So, here's a pic of her playing a racing game. It was a cheapie little game we found a Circuit City that included the wheel and she loves it. Of course, she spends half the time honking the horn, but whatever! I can't wait to get the Wii Fit (a fitness game). It's hard to find right now and kind of expensive. But seems like it's definitely worth it!

Well, we'll have to save more updates for later. The baby's crying....