Back by Popular Demand

Thanks to Aunt Jan for the "Popular Demand..."

Whew, it has been a busy week! I have been remiss in updating Bronwen's blog, despite her constant nagging to do so. We have just been running around ragged. She is a great helper, first in directing me in making fondue, and then in how to properly separate the laundry. Thanks to a super baby for making household chores fun and exciting! I never knew I could balance a baby, basket of clothes, and laundry detergent all at once.


Now, to current developments--my day begins not with a bang but with a whimper. Okay, sometimes with a "bang" as well. Bronwen has been inconsistent in her sleeping habits. Right when I think we have the routine down pat, bang! She is awake at midnight and ready to play. Of course, it doesn't help that her daddy thought it was 6 am and actually changed her diaper, thereby ensuring her complete "awakeness." Poor TJ--I have been enlisting his help in the wee hours and each time I poke him to tend to the baby, he seems to think it is 6 am. It could be 12am, 2am, 4am, doesn't matter. To TJ it is eternally 6am. This tells you something: Up until this point, I was nice enough to always let him sleep until 6. My mistake. His level of deep slumber is amazing--I even caught him trying to turn off his alarm at 4:30 when in actuality it was Bronwen's crying from the monitor. I think it has something to do with his inadvertently putting the radio on a country music station. It does indeed resemble a baby's wailing on occasion.

Bronwen has been busily learning how to use her "Johnny Jump-up" that Uncle Scott and Aunt Kadee let us borrow. It took her about 5 minutes before she figured it out, and she is now a pro!
Back View:


Front View:

Drool View:


Finally, Pepper's Coaching View:


It is nice to have something new to add to our activity options. She has perfecting the rolling over technique--always rolling to the right. (That's my girl!) That pesky right arm gets in the way, but she manages to work past the obstacle and get to the tummy in 2.3 seconds flat. I am now waiting for her to figure out that if she rolls from her tummy to her back, she will possess the ability to travel. Luckily, she doesn't seem to want to move to her back once she is in the tummy position, so for now I am still able to control her location.

The weather has been so beautiful, we have been taking walks again. I have finally put her in the stroller facing outward--instead of in her car seat facing me--and she is loving the feel of the wind in her toes. I shall take a picture on our next outing, but it won't be today, as it is raining.

This weekend will be a busy one, so I should have much more to share Sunday!

4-Month Growth Spurt

To make a better comparison, I should have taken the photo from the same perspective, but you get the idea. Look at those legs!

The first picture is from the day she came home from the hospital; the second is from this morning.

Feeling Better

It started with the sniffles--and then they seemingly went away. Then they came back, not happy at being thwarted. Yes, poor Bronwen was pretty miserable for a couple of days, her nose alternating between stuffed and running. It was miserable for her--especially when she was trying to eat; which meant it was almost as miserable for me, not being able to fix things straight away.

Luckily she didn't have a fever and was in decently good spirits, so we didn't feel like medical intervention was necessary. We did get some great advice (thanks again, Veronica), but I just couldn't use the bulb suction thing in her nose. It just gave me the creeps. Maybe because of 5th grade when I learned that the nasal passages were the pathway for brain removal. I realize it would take some massive suction, but still...it's psychological.

Friday was the worst day, and over the weekend everything dried up on its own. She can now breathe and eat comfortably. Hurrah!

She can also sleep!

Rockin' and a Rollin'

Bronwen did it! She rolled over from back to front yesterday for the first time. She hasn't gone from front to back, but it's probably because she loves tummy time so much. See pictorial evidence below.


Picture 1: Bronwen St. Romain is placed on her back. She lies still for a moment, pondering her options. She decides, after a moment or two, that this is not a position she enjoys. She is a girl of action; therefore it is action she must take.


Picture 2: With her momma kneeling in front, documenting every move with the camera (in her green monkey PJs, obviously), Bronwen begins to roll over to the right. She wobbles here for a bit, seemingly caught on the lump that is her right arm. Despite overwhelming urges to give her a nudge, her momma remains in the background, a silent cheerleader for her baby girl.



Picture 3: Bronwen has finally completed "the roll!" She has turned completely over, all on her own. Hurrah!

And no, that is most certainly not a baby toupee that she is wearing--she is having a bit of a "bed head."


What amazing feat will Bronwen achieve next? Stay tuned...now we must go work on the amazing diaper change.

Bad Hair Day

A picture is worth a thousand words. I need to quit letting TJ do her hair. Sigh.

Wednesday Morning 3 a.m.

It was actually 4 a.m.; I was lying in bed, listening to the wonderful sounds of silence, when the murmurs of movement caused me to turn slowly towards the monitor. I fervently hoped it would remain quiet; alas, it was not meant to be. Bronwen was awake.

I went to her room, changed her diaper, and said, "Bye, Bye, Love," hoping she would go back to sleep...actually I changed her diaper because lately it has been leaking in the bed. I thought I could prevent yet another sheet change by putting a fresh diaper on her early--as it turned out, Bronwen got me by peeing all over as the diaper came off. Sometimes babies can be so frustrating, but at least I only had to change the onesie instead of both the onesie and the crib sheets.

5 a.m. I woke TJ, forcing him to say so long to Frank Lloyd Wright, or whom/whatever he was dreaming about, and told him the baby was awake and feelin' groovy. TJ was awesome, opening his eyes, seeing his baby's face smiling at him, and immediately smiling back. Hm. Then again, I don't know who wouldn't be happy waking up to that smile. TJ went ahead and got up to get ready for work--I smelled something emanating from Bronwen's nether regions, and TJ was kind enough to change her before his shower. At this point, I don't know what happened, as I returned into the sweet slumber of overtired moms.


TJ left for work; Bronwen was back in her crib snoozing, and I was back asleep. Then she started making her noises again. I brought her into bed with me for cuddling--around 6:30 or so. I could tell she was trying to wake up, so I started kissing her cheeks and neck. The little faker kept her eyes closed but smiled. It was Punky's dilemma--do I open my eyes, or sleep a little more? She ended up doing the former. I lifted her up and asked, "Bronwen, are you ready for action?" To which she replied "Pfffft." Yes, she passed gas a beat after my question. Apparently she has he dad's bodily functions, and her mom's witty comebacks.


Now that the sun is burning in the sky, we have done tummy time--with Pepper coaching. Bronwen is enjoying tummy time much more now--which is a relief. She really hated it at first, but can now easily go 10 minutes at a time.





Bronwen has also been working on sitting up by herself--with her over-anxious mom propping pillows every which way since she has a bit of Weeble action going on. Unlike Weebles, Bronwen will fall down, so I have to make sure she has ample padding.

Which leads us to now, 10:48 a.m. My baby is sleeping, like a rock and an island, and I am ready for a snack!

Bridget Jones

I always feel like I need to start my entries with a slight "homage" to Bridget Jones' Diary, with my own baby-colored viewpoint:

Milk Units: 2
Poopie Diapers before 8 a.m.: 3
Times milk was regurgitated: 7*

*If you haven't read the book or seen the movie--oh well.

I have to keep reminding myself that no one else even cares about Bronwen's bodily functions. It's kind of sad how life with a baby reduces your topics of conversation to various fluids and excretions. An excerpt:

TJ: Hi Honey--how was your day?
Jen: It was great! Bronwen ate like a champ and gakked all over 2 of my shirts.
TJ: Wow, she was busy!
Jen: That isn't anything! She ruined 2 outfits before lunch with explosive poopies.
TJ: Wow, she was busy!
Jen: Yes, she was indeed.
Bronwen: Pooooppppthhhhhhh
Jen: Your turn, my sweet. Welcome home!

It's not just us either--I was volunteering at Petsmart, and I happened to ask the manager about his new son. I was told he was "big for his age," and that he was often constipated. Constipated. Keep in mind I am not buddy-buddy with the manager of Petsmart. The guy volunteered the info. The poor baby would be so humiliated if he knew his dad was going around spreading these vicious rumors. I acted like it was nothing and inquired whether or not the baby is breastfed. Hello?! Like it was any of my business; Yet there I was, asking about the eating habits of this guy's baby. I'm telling you...

Babies make people act in strange ways.

I now have no problem chattering away while shopping with Bronwen. I feel like I am helping her develop essential linguistic skill sets; in reality, I look like a nut. Thankfully the car seat in front of me offers me protection from the padded cell.

I have kiddie songs stuck in my head all day long. I randomly sing "Penguin's Lament" and "Snuggle Puppy" in the shower. In my car. IN MY HEAD.

I randomly smell her behind to see if her diaper is dirty.

I no longer mind spit-up as added fashion embellishment.

I would rather sit and make her laugh than do anything else in the world.

Hey--I know it's strange, but if/when you have kids--you'll understand. Honestly--I've never been happier being odd in all my life.

As an added random thought: I think Bronwen resembles Fozzie the Bear. I think it's the legs.


I'll try to get a better picture of her standing. It's just hard because she can't stand on her own yet, and the batteries in the camera have died. I'll also have to find a red and white polka-dotted scarf...