17 Months!

Here are some updates!

• B is 21 lbs (7th %)
• I am still nursing. I'm getting a little tired of being the 5a.m. thirst quencher. I've been making her wait till certain times (like when we're in the bath) and I also try to offer food and water before I nurse her but when she wants it, she wants it, and we all know how strong willed she is. "The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least two years." I thought that going to school would help Braelle gradually wean but that is not happening. It's like she wants it more and more now that I'm gone a lot. I need to start praying about this and see what the Lord has to say about how long I should keep going. I've reached my preliminary goal of 12 months and now I've basically met my secondary goal of 18 months. Can I go another 6 months?? I just don't know...
• We go to the coosaw park at least once a day. She LOVES it.

• I am almost done with my first 3 nursing classes! Hopefully I pass them all :D The good thing about taking fast forward classes is that you don't have time to forget anything before it's already time to take the final!! My finals are on Wednesday so say an extra prayer! The nursing home has been fun, but I'm ready to get into the hospital setting! Bring on March already!!

Miss Independent/Miss Sensitive

Braelle is 16 months old and is more independent every day.

• She does mostly her own feeding...loves a fork and a spoon!
• She likes to wash her own body in the bath...fine by me!
• She will not let me wash her hair anymore...she does it herself...see video below.
• She hates a stroller and insists on doing her own walking and being in charge of pushing the empty stroller...
• She likes to buckle herself in her carseat
• She tries to put on her own shoes...but that's a fail
• She thinks she's in charge, well she kind of is!

She is also now able to communicate what it is that is bothering her at that particular time....and it's always something! Braelle has been VERY sensitive since the day she was born, but now that she's able to communicate what's wrong, I look back and can see that these things have been bothering her all along, but then all she could do was cry. So you get an idea of what I'm talking about, here's some examples!

• She hates socks, and if she must wear them, they must not be bunched in the slightest.
• God forbid a pant leg slides up or down an inch...they must be exactly where they are supposed to be.
• Sleeves are not allowed to be rolled up, so if she's eating something messy, I just have to take off the shirt completely.
• Her thighs are really sensitive (this must be genetic b/c my mom is the same way). So don't ever try to hold her on your hip with your opposite hand on her thigh...

Those are only a few examples...and I wish I would have known those things when she was younger...it could have possibly saved our eardrums...but then again she's not just overly sensitive to touch, she's overly sensitive in all 5 senses. I sure hope this isn't the beginning to a very OCD child. For now, we'll just say, like my mom says, "she just feels things really strongly."

A New Year!

For the past couple of years, January has brought something very special! 2 years ago, I learned about Braelle (1/10/10). Last year, I graduated high school(1/11/11). And today, I started Nursing School (1/9/12)! Each gift has been exactly one year apart! God is so in control and his timing is perfect. Really kinda interested about what God will do in my life next January!

 White uniform, white car, white skin...ha

Ok, so my first day went pretty well. I had lab today, will have clinical tomorrow, and lecture wednesday. So far, lab seems like it will be pretty fun. I'm a hands on learner so I believe lab and I will get along. I also had Health Calculations today. It's a pretty easy class that you can test out of if you make a 95 or higher on your first attempt of the exam. They're 5 points a piece (20 questions) and I of course made a 90. I'm still convinced that I really made a 100 and that the teacher misposted my grade. We'll see... Needless to say, I'm super bummed.

So it's my first day of nursing school and this is how I'm feeling:

I'm feeling like there is not enough time in the day to get done what I need to get done. I'm feeling overwhelmed. I'm feeling SUPER guilty for the time I'm going to miss with Braelle, while I'm at school. How do working moms do it? I want to be there to put her down for naps and be there when she wakes up. I want to feed her breakfast and lunch and change her diapers(kinda). I just want to be there. But I can't. She cried today when I left. She never normally does that. She didn't take a nap while I was gone. Her little body was exhausted when I got home. I should have been there with her today.

I'd like to think that I've forgiven myself for my past mistakes. But it's something I deal with on a regular basis. I don't regret Braelle at all, but I just wish things were a little different. I wish I would have waited. I wish I would have been out of school and married to the man of my dreams. But the reality is things are the way they are for a reason. God saved me on the road I was on by giving me Braelle. He has blessed me so much by giving me so much help so that I can still be the nurse I've always wanted to be. I know I'm blessed, I know I have a good thing and that my situation played out the best way it could have. But I'm a little sad. So I'm asking you to say an extra prayer that God would calm my spirits, encourage me to do my best no matter the circumstance, and help me fight hard to give my baby all I can. Pray that He would help me see clearly and that He'd help me forgive myself. These next 2 years will be hard. But I am strong, I am committed, and by God's grace I will make it.

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas! Ours was wonderful. Braelle loves being surrounded by family, food, and presents!! We had a busy day on Christmas Eve. Braelle and I went to church that morning to serve as greeters to welcome guests. She was the best little greeter, and even made grumpy people smile! My mom's side of the family joined us at our house for lunch and presents. Braelle spent all her energy playing so hard and loving every bit of our company. She was SO animated when she got presents. She REALLY loves every single present she got and made sure we knew it! What a doll!

Love my girl 

 "Can I fly with these?!"

Christmas Eve (lunch with the Inabinets)



 She loves her orange bean bag!! Clearly...

 Reading the sweetest Christmas book, "You Are My Miracle"

 You love the lamb hat don't you?!

Every year on Christmas Eve we go to my Aunt Kathy's house (dad's side of the fam) for dinner and presents. It's always a blast and Braelle could really enjoy it this year! No pictures from that though...

When we get home from Kathy's, we open one gift...pajamas! Braelle's were super cute with owls!

While she was sleeping, I organize all the presents she had received thus far and added some from Santa!!

Finally Christmas morning!!

 She's been doing this new 'lookin over her sholder look' lately...



Having a child of your own brings a whole new perspective to Christmas. I love Braelle SO MUCH. I can't imagine anything happening to her or sending her to live some where else... like from Heaven to earth. I can't imagine sending her to die on a cross, even if it was to save the whole world. I'm selfish, and I love Braelle more than I love the people in this world. It blows my mind that God loves us enough to send his ONLY son to DIE for us so that we can one day LIVE with HIM. God's love for us is huge. I'm so thankful for His love, mercy, and forgiveness. May you feel His love today and always and never forget how incredible His love is for us.

15 months and Christmas Attire!

Now that Braelle is 15 months:

•  She has 16 teeth! Only 4 more teeth (molars specifically) to go!!
• She loves dipping her chicken in ketchup, fries in honey mustard, and chips in queso! She just loves to dip anything she can, in whatever is available!
• She has some seriously cute dance moves. (hands on ya knees, shimmy, shake ya tail feather, she can do it all!!)
• She LOVES purses, lipstick, shoes, money, and cell phones. Girly girl in the making. (She better also love to play sports!)
• She is a great little gopher putting dirty clothes in the hamper and trash in the trash can! (Smart girl.. :))
• She is still a pain in the butt to change a diaper or clip her nails. She has hated both since the day she was born and will do anything to get out of it. So frustrating. But at least she's consistent? 
• She loves spaghetti...and makes a huge mess.
• She still loves books. Her favorite ones are the educational ones...seriously. Like the ones with real life pictures of babies, colors, animals...
• SHE IS FINALLY 20lbs!!! Well, she's 19lbs in the morning, but 20lbs after she eats!! 7th percentile.
• She's 31.5 inches long. 83rd percentile...
• And well her head is still in the 100th percentile. Apparently that's never going to change.

We are SO EXCITED about Christmas! Braelle has been wearing her festive Christmas attire and I wish she could wear it all year long! So cute! We went to the Tanger Outlets today to pick up a couple Christmas gifts and let Braelle walk around. She got a TON of compliments!

She prefers to hold the bag. P.S. Janie and Jack is the BEST store ever for little kids!

Holding onto the zebra's ears instead of the handles! ha!

Sweet little girl!

Looks like it's going to be a pink and green Christmas this year! My favorite!! Braelle can't keep her hands off the pretty pink, green and silver bows. Christmas morning should be a blast! And no, all those presents are not for her! Santa's bringing her a brown baby doll and a baby doll stroller! :D

For Christmas Eve, Braelle will be sporting this outfit except the black shirt and tights will be white! I didn't want her to ruin the white before Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Time Activities!

My mom talked us girls into driving 40 minutes away to Moncks Corner to visit the monks and the nativities they had set up for Christmas time. Braelle wasn't too thrilled about the ride over but we had fun once we got there. There were 94 nativities from all over the world set up for viewing. We only made it half way through...someone started having bad behavior...

Here's some pictures of some of my favorites!

This one, from Charleston, SC was made out of oyster shells! Neat huh?!

A tiny nativity from Peru

Haha...never seen Mary so chunky before now...I guess she did just give birth...

From Peru, made out of clay

 We all know this one is my favorite! Mary nursing Baby Jesus. Now if Jesus was breastfed, wouldn't you wanna feed your babies the same way?? I do!!

This one is really cool. Made in Charleston out of used, found objects.

Braelle touching Baby Jesus! So sweet!

The next day we went out in search of the perfect Christmas tree!

'hmm so many to choose from'

 'I like this one! It's my size!'

 Braelle decorating the Christmas tree! awwww

We are so excited about Christmas this year! Now that I've finished my microbiology class, I can sit back and enjoy the holidays! For those of you who are looking for a church to go to for a Christmas Eve service, check out NewSpring! I'd love to greet you at the door! You have your choose of Thursday and Friday the 22nd-23rd at 7:00 or Saturday the 24th at 10:00a.m., 2:00p.m., or 4:00p.m. No excuses with all those options! :) Merry Christmas!!

Diaper Disasters and Runny Noses

As posted last time, Braelle really might have 14 teeth at 14 months. She has till December 17th to get one more tooth...and it's coming!

We've had a little diaper disaster this week. Braelle has always worn Huggies Pure and Natural diapers since the day she was born, but lately they haven't seemed so 'pure and natural'. And we can't be havin that! All the sudden the new packs smell very toxic. My mom and I both have very extreme sniffers so we acted quickly when we opened a new pack. My mom packed up every one of Braelle's diapers and took them back to Target (about 3 packs). I did some research and knew these, Seventh Generation diapers were the way to go! So here's to Braelle's new and improved diapers! Free and clear!

Braelle has been fighting a cold. And I can't wait for it to go away. Runny noses are disgusting. Thankfully she doesn't have any chest congestion and is not coughing. But this runny nose, is running! I have tried so hard to keep Braelle away from all the sickness but we've been exposed a lot lately with the Holidays and it got the best of Braelle. She does not go to the church nursery where parents love dropping off their sick kids to expose everyone. And she doesn't go to many confined areas in the winter. And we normally ask people before we see them if they are sick. Call me crazy, but there is nothing worse than taking care of a sick child.

 And for those of you that keep telling me, "you have to expose your kids to build up their immunity" where did that idea come from?! If you knew of someone who had the stomach bug, you wouldn't go over and hang out with them. You'd stay as far away as possible. So why would you expose your babies? Don't do to your kids what you wouldn't do to yourself.

There are enough stands of colds, flu, ect, to last you your lifetime. Just because you get sick with one stand of the cold, doesn't protect you against all the other millions. It is my belief that you have to let your child build up his immunity before knocking it down. And you help build up that immunity by breastfeeding for a year until your child has a functioning immune system and by protecting your child from being surrounded by infected people. Babies are born without an immune system and God made breastmilk for a reason. I'm not going to over protect Braelle her entire life, so don't worry, but I would like to get her through this winter and shield her from unnecessary sickness until she starts school and is not a baby anymore. Right now, she's still a baby. My mom raised all 3 of us this way, and we rarely ever get sick. Our immune systems are strong! So I know this works for our family. I am thankful Braelle has made it 14 and a half months without getting sick sooner, but I'm ready for Braelle to be able to breathe through her nose again!

14 months

So I know everyone has already seen these pictures on Facebook, but I have to post them again so Braelle can look at this blog one day and see how sweet she was at 14 months! Here are some of my favorites!

Unfortunately, Braelle was having so much fun at Thanksgiving that we did not get one single picture. BUT, she wore that sweater dress above...^ and she looked adorable! You'll just have to take my word for it! Braelle pretty much smiled the whole day on Thanksgiving. I seriously think she might have had the best day of her life. This girl LOVES her family.

Life at 14 months:

• I'm pretty sure Braelle is working on 4 more teeth coming soon. Just like she had 8 teeth at 8 months, she might end up with 14 teeth at 14 months! Her big bright smile is priceless. 
• One of her favorite games to play right now is 'lets hide anything I can get my hands on'. She has sent some toys in Ashton's bag, hid Root Beer in drawers, (closed canned, no she can not drink it!), sent a play spoon in my bookbag to school, hid the missing domino in the cabinets upstairs with the washrags, ect. We find little treasures to remind us of her EVERYWHERE. It's kinda cute unless you're looking for what's missing. Like her sippy cup that disappears on a regular basis.
• She can say "uh oh"
• She wakes up talking about Bub (my dad), and doesn't stop all day long. I've never seen a child love her grandpa as much as Braelle loves my dad. I mean she never even says momma or Chrissy or call Ashton anything even though we take care of her the most. All she wants to talk about is Bub...and it's sweet.
• She LOVES books. She started "reading" and studying them at 12 months. She turns the pages by herself, and is completely satisfied looking at books all day long. Smart girl!
• Her favorite food is grapes and carrots.. but that hasn't really changed.
• Oh yeah, she can walk backwards. haha

Braelle has been a huge blessing in my life and she gets sweeter and sweeter every day!