Sometimes she says the funniest things that you'd never expect. After coming home from school with a large bite on her leg on one particular day, she began acting VERY out of sorts. She was greatly affected by that bite and acted strange for almost 3 days. After 'the fog lifted', as I called it, and she began acting like her usual self I asked her a rhetorical question. I asked, "Where has this good girl been the past few days?" She confidently answered, "In Ohio!" Jim and I were laughing hysterically.
She celebrated her 3rd birthday this month. I can hardly believe she is three. "Brie is three" is all I kept thinking in my head all day long. She's becoming so smart, cunning, inquisitive, and analytical in thought and nature. She was absolutely wound up and wild on her actual birthday. She was definitely in 'birthday overdrive', but she loved every minute of it. It was the first birthday she's had Papa, Nonna, and Uncle Nick to celebrate with her all at the same time.
She really loves Gianna so much and she imitates to her what she sees us doing. I love "catching" her talking to her, kissing her, hugging her, and rubbing her head in love.
Last month, Briella wasn't sleeping for anything. It was a huge rut and extremely exhausting. I instituted that a new morning 'plan' needed to be enforced, and lo and behold, within a week of implementing those rules, routines, and guidelines, she began sleeping better each week. Aside from the occasional "I had to go potty" or "I had a bad dream." wake up calls between midnight to 2:00am, she is sleeping anywhere from 8pm-6am or 7am (on a VERY good morning). I call that success. The same is going with her afternoon naps. Toward the end of September, the naps began getting better and better. It started with taking a nap once a week, then once every three days, then every other day, and now it's taking a nap every day without any struggle, argument, or tears. I'm not quite sure what was going on there last month with all the nap struggles, but the past two weeks of perfect naps have been a blessing. So, Briella gets the reward for "September Sleep Success."
Her vocabulary and understanding of context within conversation is flourishing so much. She greets her teachers with "Good morning. How are you?" When she is asked, 'how are you?' she replies with,
"Good, how are you?" She's also very complimentary and still very vocal about her love for me, but not as much when Jim is around. While she still has her temper tantrums, they seem to be calmed a little quicker and easier than last month. She doesn't like to go to timeout and will do anything to get out of going there, she does know the procedure for doing it, but you'd never guess it by the way she will usually act. The weird thing is that she will be calm prior to going to time out, but the moment she gets to time out she begins to cry and says she wants to talk to us, she wants a hug, or anything to use as a ploy to get out of there. And the screaming at home is still a major issue. Her teacher and director at the school tell us "She is so sweet." "What a good little girl." When we ask about misbehavior they look at us as though she could never misbehave. Hahaha, she has them fooled, but frustrating to know she only saves it for home. SHE.IS.A.STINKER!
Gianna:
Milestones:
Gianna's neck strength is almost 100% all her own now. She is very active in her upright play center. She reaches out for the objects and sits quite contentedly in it for many minutes at a time. The only downside is that the chair pushes up against her esophagus at just the right angle that it causes her to throw up the entire time she's in it so I have to limit her time in it for that reason. Thankfully, though, she LOVES laying on the floor rolling and playing in her tummy time activity center. By the last day of the month, she was trying to get up on all fours with her rear end in a pike position up in the air while using her head to scoot her body forward. She rolls from back to front, front to back constantly when on the floor, and adores playing with her toes. If she is in her floor activity center, she will grab onto the side panel and it seems as though she is almost trying to pull herself up. She loves when we hold her hands from a lying down position so she can stand herself up using our hands. She is trying to really speak her first word. I think the month of October could be when we hear a "Da Da" or a "Ma Ma".
Gianna is a Mommy's girl. Oh my goodness, a Mommy's girl. I love that when I am holding her, she will press her face up against mine or lay her head on my shoulder. If she hears my voice but can't see me, she will sometimes whine or break her neck trying to look for me. If I walk away, she will cry. I'm not used to having a "Mommy's girl" baby.
She still LOVES her baths & I'm trying to think back to a time she's ever cried during a bath for me & I can't think of a time. She's so calm & relaxed in the water. She graduated from her Puj tub into a transitional tub and bath time got even more fun than it was in the Puj tub. After her baths she tends to cry if Jim dresses her, but rarely, if ever, cries for me. And you should see the smile & excitement when she sees me warming the Shea butter in my hands for her massage. She's sooooo cute with how she enjoys it! I love how she slready appreciates the small gestures of love & affection.
The whole month of September was a huge sleep setback for her (and so far the first few days of October too). A HUGE setback. I can't put that word in bold and capitals enough. The month of August she was sleeping, on average, 8 or more hours a night and then she turned 18 weeks old and everything changed. She wouldn't fall asleep. She wouldn't stay asleep. Her longest stretch of sleep was no more than 4 hours through the night and that was usually preceded with eating, bouncing, rocking, lay her down, cry, repeat. She wouldn't stop crying unless I was holding her. Jim would try to help me out, when he was home, but she wouldn't stand for it. She wanted to eat all of the time. As I write this, on October 5th, to say that it's getting 'better' is almost a lie, but there are some positive changes that are slowly occurring and we will celebrate the victories. Instead of it taking 2 or more hours to finally get her to start her first lag of nighttime sleep, which was between 10pm-11pm, it is now taking about 30-45 minutes at around 8:00-8:30. The first lag is about 30 minutes and instead of the second round taking another 1-2 hours to put her to sleep, it is taking about 30 minutes. Usually by the time she has been put down in her crib for the third time, she is asleep for anywhere between 2-4 hours, but is very hungry and needs fed between 12am-3am in order to sleep a good 4 hours BUT will be awake anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours before that happens. That is the part that is not getting better. Her midnight feeding keeps her awake up to 3 hours, but the average is 2 hours. This has been going on for over a month now. To say I am losing my sanity with all of this sleeplessness is the biggest understatement. Like I said, it's been a huge setback for her. It's pretty much like her newborn days; except worse at times because she's a lot more awake and alert than she was back then. And the most difficult part about this is that she doesn't tolerate when I drink caffeinated tea. She cries, she throws up, she has difficulty sleeping so I can't even have caffeine to help me through these very groggy days of infancy.
She continues to show food sensitivities and that was very apparent with a number of different times that she had torso rashes, face rashes, and the terrible vomiting and diarrhea that accompanies it all. I'm still figuring things out on a daily basis. During September I figured out, both for myself and for her, that quinoa was really causing me a lot of pain. I was glad to pin point that for the both of us. I'm hoping to begin introducing more and new foods into my diet because I believe she really needs the extra fat and calories that my limited diet keeps her from having and probably needing to grow.
Toward the end of the month, she began eating sweet potato puree, carrot puree, and applesauce. She did well with all of them. I love that I can make her food and know exactly what is in it. I can't help but speculate that because she's begun eating some puree that she may start into a better sleep routine because of it? I guess we'll know next month when I check back in with an update. She also began laughing in September. It's the sweetest sound ever.
Gianna is such a sweet baby. She cries for 'needs' and that's it. If she needs held, if she needs fed, if she needs to sleep...oh, and if she needs her Mommy. Briella was not a Mommy's girl like this, but I do have to say, it's sweet but also comes with a lot of pressure to not be away from her. Her biggest hangup is not being able to fall asleep at bedtime without me. She gets the reward for "September Sleep Setback."
She continues to adore Briella and her tag blanket that Aunt Rita made for her. She tries to hold her bottle when she's being fed and even tries to grab her spoon when feeding her. She loves holding onto her rings when she rides in the car or holding my hair when I'm holding her. She gets TONS of compliments anywhere we go that she is with us. People have to know how old she is, what's her name, and think she is the sweetest baby because she's always so mild tempered anywhere we go.
Our Smiley Girl
Because of all of the various food allergies in our household and amongst my parents, I baked two cakes. One 'safe' one for me and Briella and another 'safe' one for everyone else.
I love her tiny, little feet.
Attending church at Praise Cathedral with the Nonni's because Briella had spent the night at their house the night before so this is where we met to pick her up.
The whole month of September was a huge sleep setback for her (and so far the first few days of October too). A HUGE setback. I can't put that word in bold and capitals enough. The month of August she was sleeping, on average, 8 or more hours a night and then she turned 18 weeks old and everything changed. She wouldn't fall asleep. She wouldn't stay asleep. Her longest stretch of sleep was no more than 4 hours through the night and that was usually preceded with eating, bouncing, rocking, lay her down, cry, repeat. She wouldn't stop crying unless I was holding her. Jim would try to help me out, when he was home, but she wouldn't stand for it. She wanted to eat all of the time. As I write this, on October 5th, to say that it's getting 'better' is almost a lie, but there are some positive changes that are slowly occurring and we will celebrate the victories. Instead of it taking 2 or more hours to finally get her to start her first lag of nighttime sleep, which was between 10pm-11pm, it is now taking about 30-45 minutes at around 8:00-8:30. The first lag is about 30 minutes and instead of the second round taking another 1-2 hours to put her to sleep, it is taking about 30 minutes. Usually by the time she has been put down in her crib for the third time, she is asleep for anywhere between 2-4 hours, but is very hungry and needs fed between 12am-3am in order to sleep a good 4 hours BUT will be awake anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours before that happens. That is the part that is not getting better. Her midnight feeding keeps her awake up to 3 hours, but the average is 2 hours. This has been going on for over a month now. To say I am losing my sanity with all of this sleeplessness is the biggest understatement. Like I said, it's been a huge setback for her. It's pretty much like her newborn days; except worse at times because she's a lot more awake and alert than she was back then. And the most difficult part about this is that she doesn't tolerate when I drink caffeinated tea. She cries, she throws up, she has difficulty sleeping so I can't even have caffeine to help me through these very groggy days of infancy.
She continues to show food sensitivities and that was very apparent with a number of different times that she had torso rashes, face rashes, and the terrible vomiting and diarrhea that accompanies it all. I'm still figuring things out on a daily basis. During September I figured out, both for myself and for her, that quinoa was really causing me a lot of pain. I was glad to pin point that for the both of us. I'm hoping to begin introducing more and new foods into my diet because I believe she really needs the extra fat and calories that my limited diet keeps her from having and probably needing to grow.
Toward the end of the month, she began eating sweet potato puree, carrot puree, and applesauce. She did well with all of them. I love that I can make her food and know exactly what is in it. I can't help but speculate that because she's begun eating some puree that she may start into a better sleep routine because of it? I guess we'll know next month when I check back in with an update. She also began laughing in September. It's the sweetest sound ever.
Gianna is such a sweet baby. She cries for 'needs' and that's it. If she needs held, if she needs fed, if she needs to sleep...oh, and if she needs her Mommy. Briella was not a Mommy's girl like this, but I do have to say, it's sweet but also comes with a lot of pressure to not be away from her. Her biggest hangup is not being able to fall asleep at bedtime without me. She gets the reward for "September Sleep Setback."
She continues to adore Briella and her tag blanket that Aunt Rita made for her. She tries to hold her bottle when she's being fed and even tries to grab her spoon when feeding her. She loves holding onto her rings when she rides in the car or holding my hair when I'm holding her. She gets TONS of compliments anywhere we go that she is with us. People have to know how old she is, what's her name, and think she is the sweetest baby because she's always so mild tempered anywhere we go.
As always, Briella looking so cute before school.
Our Smiley Girl
Rolling over is fun to do!
Briella and Gianna playing on the floor together. Briella used the rug to cover up her animals because, as she said, "They are cold."
Briella is 1 of 4 kids in her classroom. I took a picture of one of their bulletin boards with their names on it so we could remember their names in years to come.
Being such a good girl for me while I did food prep during one of Briella's school mornings.
Getting ready to leave for Gianna's four month Pediatrician check up and Briella put her nightgown over her clothes and, by the looks of crumpled hair, looks as though she rolled around on the floor or something. I promise I dressed and did both of their hair, but it just doesn't look it right here.
It was so nice to have Jim be able to accompany me to Gianna's four month check up. It's an inside joke for a check up that we'll always remember. {**the sound of silence is so loud**}
Briella loved the Farm Festival and was in love with the goats, cows, bunnies, and dogs walking around the fair.
Fall Farm Fair. Look at Jim's face as he is watching the cow do 'it's business.' Hilarious!
The way Gianna looks at me and looks for me is so special.
I love how Briella will just hug and kiss Gianna spontaneously. She kept doing it and, from the look on Nick's face, we all loved watching it unfold.
Sunday football and snuggles with Uncle Nick.
Gianna LOVES balloons.
Briella looked so pretty in pink. She is a puzzle junkie.
Gianna gives me the most adorable, sincere, happy smiles.
Nap time selfies
Already holding a spoon and she LOVES the fresh air of being outside.
Shopping with Gianna for Briella's birthday decorations. I shopped with her in my carrier and everyone who saw her said, "Awwww". One man asked me what aisle was selling "those", as he pointed to her and how much they were selling for.
Briella's 3rd birthday morning and going to school. She loved this set of decorations that I did for her because she could run through it.
Our little pumpkin.
Nap time cuddling with Mommy. Briella was with Nonna for her Friday overnight adventure so instead of having to put Gianna in her crib for her afternoon nap, I took advantage of holding her during her whole nap. <3
Jim was at his birthday conceal and carry class when we went to the orchard. We missed him.
Trying to get Briella to sit still, Gianna look at the camera, and for me to be paying attention all at the same time just doesn't really happen in reality. Hahaha
Is she not the cutest baby and she has the tiniest, daintiest little feet still. She barely wears a 0-3 shoe, but almost fits in 9 month clothing.
I can't get enough of Briella's spontaneous kisses for Gianna. We don't tell her to do this. She does it because, as she says, "I love my baby sister."
Gianna's next phase bath tub. I found it on Craigslist brand new for $5.00 and Gianna LOVES it.
Briella was sweetly caressing Gianna's head while watching Baby Einsteins.
Another school morning looking so cute.
Taking car naps on our drive to see the Nonni's one Saturday afternoon.
Practicing sitting up.
Briella thinks holding Gianna is so much fun.
Sisters play time. I want to remember that Briella always puts stickers all over her body. Notice them on her legs, forehead, and arms.
Briella's loving hand caressing Gianna's head. She does this a lot and, you can see from Gianna's face, that she thinks it's great. Briella wills say, "Look, Mommy! She's smiling at me!"
Her smile melts me...
Briella enjoying an overnight with the Nonni's. They took her to the airport and she got to see a plane up close and pretend to fly it too. Wow.
Gianna had a really bad torso rash (her back was covered too) a few different times this month. I suspect it was quinoa, as it was giving me a really tough time as well. Rash or no rash, the picture on the right is proof that her vomits defy the law of physics!
Sunday afternoon cuddles.
Enjoying a beautiful fall evening outside in the backyard.
Personal Reflections:
I think the "leanness" of this blog proves that this month was insanely exhausting! I would usually write a couple sentences, add a picture or two each day, upload videos each week in my previous posts, (the videos in this blog are two that Jim uploaded from his phone), but not the month of September. Between Jim traveling, Gianna not sleeping well and only napping for 15-30 minute increments, and trying to catch sleep whenever I could, there wasn't time for the blog let alone opening up the computer. Seriously, if I opened up the computer a handful of times then I would be telling the truth. It was a loooooonng month. It definitely came with rewards and excitement from watching Gianna grow stronger and hit new milestones and Briella sleeping better and enjoying more foods. No matter what, I am blessed and quite thankful for these girls... no matter how many new wrinkles or the FIRST ever gray hair I've gotten during the month of September . ;-)
