Brynlie Rae

Brynlie is my favorite little girl! She likes babies, baby dolls, animals, dancing, butterflies, shoes, hats, coloring, kids, running, walking, and probably a lot more that I can't remember right now.

She doesn't love food, especially trying something new. Just learned that she likes plain cook-at-home tortialls, cold noodles and cottage cheese. Cheddar cheese, yogurt, and baby food she will always eat. Oh and candy! Currently we are working on eating hot dogs, which she doesn't like. If she'd eat hot dogs that'd be her meat source! :)

 Another new thing is that she'll gabber on and on and tell us a whole story about something. Normally the story includes Trav's parents dog Sadie or Trav's sister dog Nike, or both.

She has a hard time waking up from her naps most days. But once she's relaxed and feeling better she tells me "Bynney cry (shaking her head "no"), bynney happy!" and "bynney better" and "bynney happy." She loves to play with her cousins and friends and doesn't care if we are close by. Other times she is extremely attached to us and won't leave her side.

 She loves when everything is in its place. The wind blew the umbrella away and this is her saying, "uh oh." She hates if I take a sip of travis's drink because it's HIS drink. She doesn't like "sharing" but is fine if we "take turns!" (not sure I know what the difference is)

 She has beautiful curly curly hair. I have fun doing her hair and she loves her pretty hair. Her hair do in the below picture stayed in until a few days after Trevin was born. This was the Sunday before he was born on Tuesday. She was bathed but we just left her hair alone for a while, haha!

 Got curls!? When it's wet it hits her lower neck. She just barely learned that if she looks up while I slowly dump water on her hair then she doesn't get soap and water in her face and eyes. She loves putting the On Guard oil on her feet and loves picking any scab on her body. She's beginning to love band-aids! Me too, actually, cuz then the scab has a chance to heal!

 She loves loves shoes and puts a lot of them on herself. She loves to stay clean and to clean with a "wipey." She loves to shut herself in the fridge and that pantry and is 100% NOT afraid of the dark. She doesn't know how to open doors yet - turning the knob.

 She says "hedjay" when she wants to be held or if she's holding something. Ex: she'll say, "mama hedjay baby and bynney hand." Translation: "mama is holding the baby and Brynlie will hold mamas hand" when we are walking downstairs, etc.

She's a sweet girl and very empathetic. She loves to sit under the kitchen table and pull in all the chairs and say, "see ya later....Robby's house..." And I say, " oh, are you going to Robby's house?" And she says, "yea, see ya." Lately she's been saying how she's "on the way" to Robby's house! So cute! (Robby is her uncle and my younger brother. They're buddies)
She'll tell us that we are cute. And sometimes whisper "wow" when she likes the shirt I just put on. :) When we're getting ready to eat she'll say, "I waaaaant.... (Thinking)...um, (clicking her tongue in her mouth)...fishies." (Or raisins or a "snack" which is a fruit snack).

What a cutie! Love you brynners!

my soy boy

Trevin is a very happy baby! He doesn't care if he isn't swaddled for his naps. He loves his binkie, the blinds, and sleeping by me. He doesn't like the hiccups but is talented at getting rid of them fast by eating more or just relaxinng. He's a talented pee-er and can shoot very far!

He's like, "Yea, I'm talented..."

(Note to self #1: The goal with a newborn (age birth to 3 weeks) is to get them to eat a full feeding at each feeding and simply to try and keep them awake but no worries because newborns are super sleepy)

He doesn't mind when Brynlie gets real close. He loves to listen to her gibber gabber. He loves to sleep and already has a distinct afternoon nap! He likes to be fed and see's no need to be burped but just wants to eat some more or sleep.

(Note to self #2: When bathing a newborn, you don't need to use soap because their skin is too sensitive. Cradle cap can be treated by washing the scalp and hair with shampoo using a soft baby brush.)

He's a beauty! With super dark eyes and hair and even pretty tan skin. He is about 7.5 pounds, gaining 16 ounces from 2 weeks to 3 weeks! His system doesn't love milk. His system does better on soy formula. The milk formula made him super grunty (because he really doesn't cry) and made him way constipated. (still waiting to get all that milk out of his system.)

(Note to self #3: when he was only on breastmilk he hardly grew (2.5 ounces from one week to two weeks), and he was extremely gassy.Poor kid.)

He's a good night sleeper like his sister. At 3 weeks, he already does one 5 hour feeding stretch almost every night and 4 hour stretches after that. Whereas he eats after 2.5 hours during the day. He is fine with sleeping on his back with burp cloths propping his shoulder a little to make his head turn to one side or the other. (Which equals (hopefully) no flat head according to the pediatrican)

(Note to self #4: Pediatrican was pleased that I was aiming for two tummy times a day. He said 5-20 minutes is a great tummy time. He said having them nap on their stomach once a day while you are watching them the whole time is beneficial simply for getting them off the back of their head for a little bit.)

He has a hairy back and hairy shoulders like his sister did. Trevin's hair in these areas is super blonde and light whereas Brynlie's was dark dark brown. He loves the bath (pictures to come). He doesn't love (assuming) when I try and keep him awake after he eats. He would like to eat and sleep all 24 hours except from 10pm-midnight! He's a night owl I guess!

(Note to self #5: Trevin prefers his head tilted to his right shoulder (cheek to shoulder), although his neck tendons are not too tight on either side. Brynlie's tendons on one side of her neck were too tight and had to be stretched. She tilted her neck (ear to shoulder) to her left. Around 6-8 months the tilt was completely gone/neck tendons were loosened probably due to exercises with crawling.)

He's a mama's boy, I assume and hope!, because he loves to be held and cuddled and loves when I sing andn sleep next to him. Although, if he's calm and content and I start to talk to him he starts squirmming. Seems like he doens't like to be talked to, but I bet he mostly just wants to be picked up if someone is paying that much attention to him.

He doesn't mind hanging out by himself even when he is awake if I need to take care of Brynlie's lunch, diapers, etc. He loves her kisses and is patient when she holds him! He always naps during her naps - unbelieveable!

(Note to self #6: His toes curl in and the top of his right ear is grown into itself. His toes aren't a problem if they don't trip him when he walks. And his ear might need a minor surgery to look better - it doesn't effect his hearing.)

Bathing the boy with Brynlie!

Trevin loved his first bath! He even started to fall asleep! So fun for me cuz Brynlie hated the bath until she was 5 months old and sitting up. But Trevin enjoyed it and Brynlie enjoyed splashing the water and watching Trevin! Good times! Might be an everyday occurrence to entertain Brynlie, wake Trevin up a little (until he falls asleep in the tub), and help with his cradle cap.

A no regrets labor and delivery! (Ah! so excited I can say that!)

Even though labor is labor and it’s really truly just no fun, I have hardly any regrets about my whole hospital and birthing experience. When it comes right down to it, it’s not because I went natural. I brought a "birthing plan" with me to the hospital. Many of you have heard about how my birthing experience with Brynlie was pretty much devastating, so this time I had a plan!! This birthing plan was a paper with written details about what I didn't want to have happen and what I did. I was first a little embarrassed to bring this huge list until all the nurses acted like it was perfectly normal and expected. I did NOT feel like "the crazy lady in 4220 who's going natural and had this crazy list to follow." (Again, in my experience the nurses were nothing like the nonflexible and mean nurses you hear about. Better shift of nurses, maybe? Who knows, but if I wanted something they jumped to help me.)

Anyway, because of this birthing plan, I have zero regrets about the birth! Everything happened just the way I asked on this plan. Some things on the birthing plan I could have just told the nurses to do at the right time but I was SO glad it was written beforehand because in real life I could not have said or remembered to say all that I had written.

Everyone wants a good birthing experience, obviously. Everyone has their own specific expectations and desires. Nevertheless, I thought I’d share exactly what I had on that plan, I don’t know, for those that are curious and for those who are creating their own birthing plan and want some additional ideas and insights. You’re welcome! ;)

Oh and when I originally wrote this, it was only a few months since delivering Brynlie, so I was mad. I was determined and I was very assertive. Then, because we had Trevin a little earlier than I thought, I never had a chance to rewrite the plan with nicer words. J So, to me, this plan sounds pretty harsh. I guess my only regret would be that this plan doesn’t sound too nice. Next time I want to rewrite it with a little more fun and humor to it yet still in a very assertive way. (Maybe because it was so straight forward and not necessarily nice, the nurses were excellent in following each thing, though! lol!)

Oh and after delivering Trevin, I added #6 and #9. Although I had no regrets, I still live and learn! (Explanation for #9: still getting oxygen from the umbilical cord and breathing in oxygen is beneficial for the baby.) Oh and I am personally glad Trevin got the shot and the eye stuff after delivery. But I haven’t done a ton of research on it. But the nurses were extremely for it. (They were also extremely supportive and excited I wanted to go natural, so I really trusted and valued their opinion.) But, maybe do your own research before taking my word for it.

Alright, phew, I think I’m ready to share. Enjoy my very non-sugar coated side! (oi!)

mean face. grr.

BIRTH PLAN for Rachel Thompsen (DOB 05-14-1988)

  1.   I don’t want to be told how much I am dilated. Please keep this to yourself.

  2.   I would like a nurse that has assisted in successful natural deliveries in the past and/or who has had her own positive natural delivery.

  3.   I would like to request room #4.

  4.   When my forehead wrinkles, I want Travis to lightly touch my forehead as a reminder to relax my face. When my shoulders, arms, and legs tighten, I want Travis to lightly touch my arms to remind me to relax those areas.

  5.   If I still need pitocin, I would like the lowest dose and for it to be discontinued once my body catches on to the induced labor.

  6.   I want a local anesthetic right when I my body begins to push so the medicine will work before the baby crowns! Ouch!

  7.   As am pushing and almost ready to deliver, I don’t want the extras nurse telling me encouraging things. (they weren’t there during all the labor, I don’t want to hear from them now). If this happens, I want Travis to kindly assert that “we have this under control and please move and wait over there.” Or something…

8.       The nurses will NOT unsnap the shoulder snaps on my gown until the baby has been born. I want trav to help ensure my privacy during this time.

9.       I want to delay the cutting of the cord until the baby is taken to be weighed, etc.

10.   If the baby is healthy, I want to keep the baby in my arms/on my chest for 1 hour BEFORE the baby is WEIGHED or any other such procedures take place.

11.   I want Motrin right when I get into post-partum BEFORE post-partum pain sets in. I also want a Motrin to be in my system for each time I nurse.

12.   I want ALL postpartum nurses to push on my uterus while taking close notice of my bladder (when my catheter has been taken out) because it might be paralyzed!

13.   I plan on nursing. I will try nursing without a nipple shield if necessary.

14.   All visitors must leave my 7:30pm so that I can relax and go to bed calmly and not worried about the clock and getting enough sleep.

15.   If the baby isn’t nursing well then the baby will be in the nursery from 9pm until 6am. Otherwise, the baby will sleep in the nursery and then be brought in to me to nurse when the baby is hungry.

16.   I plan to stay at the hospital for two full days after having the baby.

See? I'm actually pretty nice.
But the nurses will never know that! jk!
(Actually I was especially nice to them, maybe cuz I knew my birthing plan made me sound very scary! lol)

maternity pictures!!

After two negative pregnancy tests, we actually found out I was truly pregnant when I missed my period. This made the first 5 weeks fly by! :)

We told everyone that we were pregnant at 3 months with a fun family picture. Here's my single shot during the photo shoot.

At 4 months, my good friend Tatjana who we played with all summer, had her baby boy! (This was taken at her house)

At 19 weeks (almost 5 months), I was on a cruise in the Bahamas with my hubby and friends!

At 6 months, in December, I made gingerbread houses every weekend. I had never made them before in my life!

In January, and at 7 months (27 weeks), I discoverd, feel in love with, and became surprisingly passionate about water aerobics!

At 28 weeks, we all got the nasty stomach flu. All I remember is that Coke saved us! That stuff is powerful! :)

At 8 months, I bought myself some maternity skinny jeans and felt totaly stylin' shopping with my cousin Emily Smith at City Creek!

At exactly 9 months, or 36 weeks, it was Brynlie's 2nd birthday and I was on a seated bed rest due to the dreaded high blood pressure I've gotten during both pregnancies!

A week later, I suddenly had a need to take another random 37 week pregnancy picture... (by our new piano!)

The next day Trevin Dale Thompsen was born!!!! This picture below was taken when he was one week or 8 days after the picture above!

(These maternity pictures were inspired by Kelly White! She looked like she had fun with her maternity pictures and inspired me to do the same!)