2 months old today, MD check up and shot time!

Today our baby girl is 2 months old and we made a trip to the doctors for a check up and first round of immunization shots. Wasn't sure how she was going to respond. When she was first born and in the hospital she didn't even cry or finch at the PKU test or Hep B vaccine. Matt made sure he could make it, he kept saying, "I need to be there for my little girl, she needs her Daddy." It's amazing how much he has grown. He hates shots, and cringes whenever he sees them on TV. But now that it's his daughter, he has to be there. I love having his support. He has never missed an appointment. In fact, I never get to hold her when we are at the doctors. He will meet me at the truck, carry her in. Hold her while we wait, undress her and carry her out to be weighed, wrap her in a blanket and hold her till the doctor comes, dresses her when the appointment is done and carries her back to the truck. This week was a little different because he got caught in construction and wasn't sure if he was going to make it, but it did. We had just made it into the exam room when he called to meet up with us.

Brielle weighed in at 12 lbs 3 oz which places her in 75 percentile and is 24 1/2 in long placing her in the 97 percentile. Needless to say she is a very healthy baby. The doctor couldn't believe I had never called the office asking questions in the last 2 months. Not a single phone call. He comment on her alertness and ability to track. When he was done with the well baby check up he sent his nurse in. I think I am the only sick mom out there because instead of crying that my baby was getting shots, I was taking pictures of it. I had Matt there to comfort her. She cried a little at the doctors and a held her for a minute to calm her, then got her dressed. She was asleep in Matt's arms by the time we made it to the elevators to go home. She loved sleeping in Grandma's or Auntie's arms afterward. So we have a sequence of pictures depicting our day. I took her to Bunco so show her off and they were all impressed with how calm she was. They couldn't believe I haven't given her Tylenol and I took pictures. I am about to go to bed and so far no Tylenol has been given. She was more fussy tonight but I also think she was really hungry and I was having her wait because cousins were holding her. I hope she is just as calm the next couple of days. Grandma Knight died this week and her viewing and funeral is this weekend. All my Aunt Nan's kids are coming in. I hope Brielle is in good spirits because she is going to be passed around a lot. It already started tonight with Ben and Tara being here. Plus we are taking Hicks family pictures Saturday after the funeral. We will see what mood she is going to be in.

Matt wrapping Brielle up in a blanket waiting for the Doc

Matt playing with Brielle in the exam room waiting for the Doc

First vaccination was oral- it helps prevent the nasty rotovirus bug

Here are her first shots, 2 in the right leg and 1 in the left

Brielle wasn't too happy

The war wounds from the vaccination shots

Nestled in with Grandma

She slept most the afternoon on people, this time it was with Auntie Erin

THINGS I CAN DO

Brielle is no longer in her newborn stage and her personality is manifesting itself everyday. Her lungs are getting stronger because her cries are getting louder (she only typically cries in her sleep, when she is hungry and tired of laying by herself). She is starting to grab onto things. The other day she grabbed Erin's hair and kept a few pieces as a souvenir. She must be growing because she is eating and sleeping a lot. She no longer can wear pants that she was wearing last week.

I can tell when she is getting tired now because her eyelids turn bright red and she starts rubbing her eyes. I try to lay her down before she falls asleep on me but sometimes I cannot let go and have her sleep on me (only during the day).

Her rubbing her eyes

She is sleeping on average 6-7 hours before feeding and then sleeping for another couple of hours. I have been trying to put her down around 10 PM. Some nights she will fall asleep on her own, other nights she needs to be rocked, but she hasn't slept in my bed for over a week! For the most part she is a good sleeper during the day too especially if she is sleeping on someone.


First nap in her room

Auntie Erin and Brielle love napping together

She fell asleep on the couch at my parents house

When she wakes up from sleeping through the night sometimes she will cry but most the time she starts making noises or talking. When I go in the room to get her she always greets me or Matt with a smile. I love the morning time and how playful she is. She is most smiley when she first wakes up.

Her usually morning greeting when she sees my face in the morning

This week is the first week she has shown any interest in toys. She has a toy that has bright colors on it and it makes noise. I would shake the toy in front of her and she would start smiling and laughing. It was so fun. I cannot believe how cute she is getting.

She didn't know what to think about this, she tried to eat it. It was very funny.

We were playing with our toy

She loves when her Daddy comes home from work or church. He will pick her up and talk and play with her. She will always smile and laugh for him. This is what he said to a friend in an e-mail, " The baby is doing GREAT we could not ask for a happier baby. She smiles at me every time I pick her up. It makes my heart melt and the world stops as I look into her eyes. She is the sweetest thing ever." They try to spend as much time together as possible.

Brielle loves it when you open your mouth wide open and talk and smile at her.

Matt and Brielle hanging out

I keep mentioning how much she loves to smile. Here are some more pics of her grinning.

Bethany Smith, Danielle and Brielle. She was asleep when we were taking this picture and woke up and smiled right before the picture was taken.

Trophy smile

Talking and smiling with her Aunt Julie

I love the camera!

When I lay her down to play, I will place a book in front of her to look at. When we were at my parents house my mom picked her up and read the book to her. She was so cute, cooing and looking at the pictures while my mom read to her. I was able to capture the moment.

Grandma and Brielle reading
Brielle loves to hang out with friends and family, especially other kids. Whenever her cousins come around she will watch and grin at them.

Brielle and cousin Tyler

Adam and Brielle

Sheri, Bethany and Brielle during our lunch date

Weekend with the Emery's

The past week Erin has been suffering with kidney stones. I took her to the doctor and did a CAT scan. The scan didn't show a stone but she has EVERY indication that it is a stone so we have treated it like a stone. She was bedrest for several days. During one of those days, Erin and Brielle hung out in her bed. They slept all morning long. She is still having to deal with the pain this week but is able to move and go to work (big improvement!).

Brielle is getting SO big. I cannot believe it. Things she loves to do: blowing bubbles, smile, hold her head up, eat and sleep. Last week there was a day where she was only awake for an hour or so; she slept good the night before, all day and that night. What a life! She is most comfortable sleeping with someone; either being held or sleeping next to you. As a result, she has slept in my bed more than she should (I have been so tired it's easier to give in then do anything about it). She is talking more and kicking all the time. When she is awake she is very alert and loves looking around at her surroundings. She is such a happy baby.

This past weekend we had my Dad's nephew Lance, his wife Julie, and their son Alexander come and visit (the Emerys). They haven't been to Reno since I was married (6 years ago). We had a great time visiting, sightseeing and playing with the baby.

(Lance and Brielle)

Alexander is so big now, and very smart (he is in the 5th grade now).

(Alexander and Brielle)

We had a great time together.

(Lance and Brielle)

(Brielle, Julie and Alexander)

We visited and stayed up late Friday night. Saturday we had a yummy breakfast at my parents and headed up to Virginia City. Erin was getting ready when Lance had the brilliant idea to curl his eye lashes. He wasn't impressed.

(Lance curling his eyelashes)

(Reflection from Emery's Batmobile on Matt's truck)

(Erin and I hanging out in the truck with Brielle at the outlook)

(Julie, Alexander, Lance at the outlook going to Virginia City)

Dad let Matt have the day off and so the whole family got to go to Virginia City. We had a great time and the weather was sunny and warm (if you stayed in the sun). As soon as we got there we did a bus tour, then walked the main street looking at the stores. Erin was hurting all day but didn't complain and we enjoyed having her around.

(Danielle and Alexander)

(Danielle and Matt)

(Alexander in a candy store up in Virgina City)

(Danielle and Matt thrown in Jail in Virginia City)

(Matt and Danielle at Virginia City)

(Alexander looking at Danielle)

(He finally decided to rescue me! My knight and shining armour)

We had enough energy to go to Scheel's (worlds largest sporting good store).

It wasn't very busy. In fact Matt and I hadn't seen the ferris wheel line so small. Lance, Alexander, Matt and I went on the ferris wheel. That was semi fun. They stopped the ride all the time and I discovered I am becoming a wimp (the highest point on the ride was a little scary).

(Matt and Danielle on the ferris wheel)

We ended the night with the men (Matt, Dad, Lance and Alexander) racing each other.

(Dad, Matt, Alexander and Lance at Scheels racing cars)

This was entertaining: Dad couldn't get off the start line, Lance hit Dad's car and caused both cars to spin out of control and crash (Dad said he almost threw up because of the spinning), Matt was ahead until the end when he crashed and struggled to recover. In the end Lance won.

(Danielle and Brielle at Scheels)

Sunday the Emery's and Taylors and G,pa Hicks went to Lake Tahoe which is only an hour away.

Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe

Before we even left Lance threw out his neck and could barley move. In order to look at anything required him to turn his whole body (ouch!). It wasn't a fun way to start the day.

At first I was afraid it was going to be really cold because when we stopped at the top of the summit to go sledding, it was freezing.

(Danielle and Brielle at Mt. Rose Summit)

(Matt and Alexander sledding at Mt. Rose summit)

(Brielle dressed in her snowman outfit)

(Video of Alexander sledding on ice at the Mt. Rose summit)

However, we dropped down into Tahoe and the weather was absolutely beautiful. In fact it was hard to believe it was January.

(Alexander at Tahoe)

(Matt at Tahoe)

We walked Sand Harbor and loved being in the great outdoors! Brielle slept the whole time.

(Taylor Family picture at Tahoe)

(Danielle, Brielle, Matt, Alexander, Julie, G.pa Hicks, Lance)

We drove around a little and ate lunch before heading home.

(Julie, Alexander, Brielle at lunch in Tahoe)

(Alexander, Brielle and G.pa Hicks at lunch)

On our way home I called Mom where she informed me that she came home from Church early because she was sick. We were going to have dinner at our house so the Emerys could see our house. Her getting sick changed that. Plan B was we went to the house before dinner and played.

(The Taylor home in Reno)

There Matt and Alexander played the Wii while the rest of us visited.

(Matt and Alexander playing the Wii)

We didn't eat dinner until 8 and by then Mom was feeling better. I think she got food poisoning. We had a great weekend with the Emerys. It's always fun creating memories with family.

(Erin making cookies for the family)

(Erin, Matt, Danielle, Brielle listening to Julie's stories)

(Brielle sacked out in Danielle's arms)

(My parents dog, Taz wearing G.pa Hicks;s eyeglasses)