Brooklyn is 1 month old today!

I can and can't believe that my little girl is 1 month today. It seems to have gone by very quickly at times and other times not. Probably the times that are slow are the nights with her and still getting used to that schedule. Otherwise, I think I am starting to just now get into a routine with her. But, I am sure that will be ever evolving too.

Thankfully, Bryan and I have a routine that seems to work for us. We switch on and off on who takes the night shift. This way we both are not walking zombies and can get a good night's rest every other night. It seems to work for us right now. I am grateful for a husband and father that is so actively involved with his daughter. How he looks at her and takes care of her melts my heart. It is really one of the coolest things. I know of a lot of husbands who aren't as active fathers and I am blessed to have such a great partner.

Happy 1 month Baby Girl. Keep growing and getting Big and Strong. PS...we would love it if you would sleep through the night too. LOL.

Weight Watchers

So today I am starting weight watchers again. I might not be cleared yet to work out, but I am going to try my best at eating the best I can. Now I know I have been successful before and am very determined. But, I am concerned with not losing like I did before. For one, having a baby changes your body and I have heard from so many people that no matter how much weight they lost their body was never the same. And also trying to balance having a newborn with making healthy meals, exercising eventually, and taking the time that is needed to do all these things and take care of myself seems a bit overwhelming. Plus, I am going to be 30 in about a month. Which I know is still young, but not the mid 20s that I was before when I lost weight the first time and at that age your re-bound and metabolism is better.

Still I am going to do the best I can and hope that the weight will come off once again. I know I have an awesome support system in my hubby who is all for me taking the time I need to go to the gym and exercise and eating right. I know this is key!!!

I have taken off about 20lbs already, but having stopped breast feeding the weight is at a stand still. I would still like to lose another 50-60lbs ultimately. I put on some weight prior to me getting pregnant and would like to be back to my wedding weight. That and just toned up. I look at my thighs and think whose thighs are these, LOL.

4 days before Brooklyn was born

4 days before Brooklyn was born

 

 

4 days before Brooklyn was born

And now for getting real!!! Trying to keep it honest and real and keep myself accountable and not "hide" or "cover" up anything. Yep, I still can't believe I am posting these, but here it goes. This is me today 2/20/13 almost a month after giving birth. No makeup, messy hair and just real life.

2/20/13- 4 weeks post baby

2/20/13-4 weeks post baby

2/20/13-4 weeks post baby

So declaring today Day #1 of taking off the baby weight journey.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is Brooklyn's first Holiday that she is celebrating. VALENTINE's DAY! I couldn't ask for a cuter or more special Valentine.

So far *crossing fingers* Brooklyn has been a very good baby. We are working on sleep training her. Sticking with the schedule of sleep, change diaper, eat and play and then repeat. So basically even if she is sleeping during the day we wake her every 3 hours to eat. With the hopes of her sleeping longer at night.

For the past 2 nights she has actually slept in her crib and doing well. She had a long stretch of 5 hours last night too. I did hear her cry after about 3 hours, but I gave her her pacifier and she slept for 2 more. So I am hoping this is a good pattern and it will continue.

We also are trying to differentiate between night and day too. During the day we let her hands keep free and have lots of noises, even during nap time. And at night we swaddle her, keep it dark and feed/change her in her room with making as little noise as possible.

We are trying our best to stick with this and hope it works.

Happy Heart Day!

Professional Pictures

We had the pleasure of working with our awesome wedding photogs again for Brooklyn's pictures. She was only 9 days old when we were able to take her so we were still able to get her all itty bitty and snuggly. She did really well for about the first 15 mins or so and then got pretty fussy. I think it was just too much excitement and over stimulation for her. But, Sandy and Tim were great with her and very patient. We love the pictures so much and were very happy with how then came out. I know we will cherish them forever.

Here is a sampling of the awesome pictures:

Baby Firsts and other Pics

In the short time Brooklyn has had many first and fun moments. And I try to be there to capture them, but seeing as how I am still slow moving myself I still have some catching up to do and will try to take more. I don't want to let this time pass by and then regret not taking more pictures. I know she will be growing so quickly. Even though right now she is still swimming in her newborn clothes. She fills them out for the most part length wise, but not at all in the width.

TUMMY TIME WITH DADDY

FIRST BATH-a very unhappy wet baby

Ahh all better now

First Daddy/Daughter feeding time

Kermit and Brooke

Look mom I can hold my own bottle

1st Valentine's outfit

Sleepy snuggles on a snow day

conked out on Grandma

There is a duck on my butt

Brooklyn Grace Gallagher

WELCOMING BROOKLYN GRACE GALLAGHER Our beautiful baby girl was born on January 22, 2013 at 9:21am. She was 6lbs 7oz and 19.5in long.

 My labor started on Sunday night around 11:30 with some mild contractions and continued through the night and progressively got stronger and quicker. I called the Dr.'s office and the nurse told us to go to the hospital even though my contractions were only 8 mins apart at that time. We should have known better than to go because that nurse is always "trigger happy" We went and then they sent us home because I wasn't dilated enough.

So my labor continued at home and got really intense and very painful. I had horrible back labor as well. Bryan and I drove to the hospital around 1am and while we were in the car the contractions got to be less than 2 minutes apart. I was VERY thankful for an epidural and to have the pain taken away. I pushed for about 2 hours and then our beautiful baby girl was here. All in all not too bad. The worse part by far was the contractions and how painful they were. But of course she is beyond worth it.

Both Bryan and I cried and were so ecstatic that she was healthy which we were really worried about with my earlier complications. We are so in love with our daughter and adjusting to life as new parents.

All ready to go home