Milestones

Today I was asking my mom when babies are supposed to roll over. I'm sure that Julia rolled over a few days after she was born! not kidding. anyway, she was so little it didn't take much. Bryce on the other hand is a big boy and has had to really develop his back and tummy muscles. Well, not even an hour after talking to my mom I laid him down on the floor for more tummy time and bam he rolls over. He is very obedient like that. He also giggled for the first time today. It is cool to be able to be home and see these firsts! Oh and Bryce is sleeping through the night! Before 6 weeks of age he was up every two hours! From 6 weeks to about 8 weeks he would sleep about 4 hours. Then we got a wedge and he sleep 6 to 9 hours in a row!!!! A miracle, to say the least! He sleeps better than Julia. I'm considering putting her on a wedge! lol
Julia has a new milestone today too. In just a little while we will be leaving to go to gymnastics at WOGA. We haven't been since June...right before baby Bryce came. Anyway, she loves it and is very excited. Since she had her birthday while we were away she will be returning to a new class. The three year old class. Before it was a mommy and me class. Now it will be a Julia only class! What a big girl! My babies are growing sssoooo fast.

Big Boy! Sweet Sister

"Hey Little Guy!" is Julia's favorite thing to say to her little brother, just before she gives him a big kiss on the head. She loves him so much already. The guilt I had from taking away her single childhood is gone. LOL. yeah, I know it's pretty much insane to have guilt about that, but I did. I knew it would be the best thing for Julia, but I was taking away her alone time with mommy. Anyway, John and I always knew we wanted more than one. We both come from families with a few kids...him 3 and me 5, both of us are middle children. I know that having Bryce will be a gift for both of them. Now hey have each other! Plus, Easter egg hunts and things of that nature will be a little more exciting.
Bryce had his two month check up yesterday and he is doing GREAT. He weighs a whopping 13.4 lbs (75%). He is now 22 1/2 inches long (30%)and his head is 15 3/4"(20%). At least no one can say he has a big head! He is easily meeting all of his milestones, such as cooing and smiling and holding his head up. He has become a much calmer Bryce again. He loves to cuddle and he sleeps so good on his wedge! Last night he slept for almost 8hrs in a row. I'm getting better sleep now than I have in a long time. Julia is out of our bed and has been, pretty much since right before Bryce was born. Bryce sleeps on the wedge...not in our bed! Oh it is fabulous! I'm a pretty light sleeper anyway so you can imagine sharing a bed with more than my husband became a burden. Although, waking up next to a sweet little baby used to be so nice.

Football games and Cooler weather

My kids are growing up! Bryce seems to be doing much better. His tummy is maturing and not hurting him as much. He is still on prevacid and using this wedge to sleep on. We are so thankful that someone loaned us this wedge...it has been a lifesaver. He sleeps so much better on the wedge on his tummy. He will sleep 5-6 hours! Way better than the two hours he managed when we had him in the swing or bouncer. The reflux is better when he is on his tummy. He also seems to be adjusting a little more to daddy when mommy has to go to work. It isn't easy and John is wishing that he could work and I could stay home with the children. Raising children is not easy and John is doing a great job!
Julia is a big helper and always wants to help me vacuum and clean. She also likes to hold her little brother and gives him kisses endlessly. Today she went to church with Nonny and Prampaw. She loves to go to church and will even wake up earlier than normal just to go with them. It is so sweet when she says prayers before meals and bedtime.
John is a happy man this week. He bought an antenna for the downstairs TV and it gets 30 really excellent digital channels. We were always unhappy with paying the cable company sooo much money for TV, so we turned the TV off back in February. We really haven't missed it too much. We watch a LOT of movies. However, it is now football season and he decided that he wanted to have TV so he could watch the Cowboys play. I told him that he pulled a fast one on me because before we got married I swear, he said that he didn't like football. This was awesome because I thought I won't be the wife yelling HONEY! during the football games. Well now he HAS to watch his Cowboys play! We had friends over today to watch the game and eat hamburgers. Caleob (johns best friend),Myra, Delilah, and Liliana. Julia is best friends with Delilah. They play very well together and have a lot of fun. Liliana is just about 6 months old now and I'm sure when she and Bryce get bigger they will all have so much fun together.
Johns sister, Cynthia is expecting a little boy in December. I was very excited to hear it was a boy because I was worried Bryce would be the only little boy around!
Seems like we haven't gotten to hangout with Kim and Harry as much this past month, but when we do it is always a good time. Especially for JULIA! She loves HER Kim and Harry.
Also, the weather has started to cool down! I love hot weather, but it has been one HOT summer. I'm excited to for the fall. It makes going to the park so much more enjoyable!

Baby Bryce is 2 months old!

We love our little man. Bryce is getting bigger. For a while he had been gaining a pound a week. I think that has slowed a little bit now. He is about 12 1/2 pounds right now. We have his two month check up next week. His colic is getting much better. He is awake and happy sometimes now, which is different than a few weeks ago. He has also started cooing and looking into your eyes when you talk to him.

Julia loves to kiss him and hold him. She is a really sweet big sister.
Bryce, Julia, and John came to visit me at work last weekend. I love when they come because it breaks up the long 13 hours that I normally don't get to see them. Julia discovered the tube system. This is the system that we use to send things in the hospital to different departments. All the kids that visit always love to send tubes to different floors and have them sent back with gifts in them, like a tounge depressor! Yay!
Ernest, Bryce, and Julia

Julia and Katie in front of the tube system!

Julia's 1st haircut

Prior to 1st haircut, all dolled up.

Right before 1st haircut!

Amazingly Julia made it to 3 and never had a haircut. We all really love her curly hair and I was afraid someone would butcher it. It pretty much looks the same, she just got a little trim to make it healthier. Julia loves anything to do with hair, nails, and basically glamour so she loved getting her hair cut. I also had the stylist wash her hair because I know how much I enjoy having my hair washed by someone else. She seemed to really enjoy it too.


My little girl is so BIG.



Last night she was running down the hall and tripped and hit the door! She has a nice goose egg and bruise on her forehead. Perfect timing considering I wanted to have family pictures made this week!

Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Living

Life has certainly been in full swing at our home the last few months. It is hard to find time to post on here. This past month has been a busy and fun month. August 8th John and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary. We celebrate the day of our proxy marriage! I had hoped that one day we'd have an actual wedding, but I'm slowly giving up that hope. Life continues on and some things start to seem less important. Maybe one day we can have a little ceremony and celebration. Regardless, it has been a wild few years. I am happy to be married to a man that has grown with me and I love him very much. I can't say it has been the easiest or smoothest first few years, but things are good now and I can only envision us growing closer and happier.
Bryce is 8 weeks old today! He is quite a different little guy than the one I posted about weeks ago. Our little man quickly gave up his quite, calm demeanor in favor of a louder more demanding little voice. He has had a rough go with a lot of reflux and colicky tummy. He hasn't been the happiest and that has made me sad. We tried all kinds of comforting and home remedies for his reflux and colic and also ended up putting him on prevacid. He has slowly gotten better and doesn't seem to be nearly as gassy. I think he is feeling a little better. We also were fortunate to get a wedge for him to sleep on. It has made a huge difference in his sleeping. He was waking every 2 hours to eat. Now he sleeps 5-6 hours on the wedge. Then he wakes up and eats and sleeps another 2 hours on the wedge!! What a miracle and very doable. It isn't all easy yet. I started back to work 2 weeks ago and John started school one week ago. With all of that there has been quite an upset in our pattern of living. Bryce has not been a happy camper without mommy at his side. I for one don't like having to leave for long hours either. I am very lucky to have a full time job at just 24 hrs a week, but it is still too much when bed time rolls around. None of us like not having me home for bed time. Bryce has been letting daddy know it by screaming for hours on end. It makes my heart hurt and I want to be with him. We will continue to work through it as I can't think of any other options. Also, Bryce is getting BIG so fast. He is gaining about a pound a week. He is up to about 12 and 1/2 pounds. We have his two month check up very soon and I will post exact measurements then!
Julia had her third birthday party on August 16th at ChuckECheeses!
Daddy and Julia at ChuckECheese

Melody Bruns and Baby Bryce

Party at ChuckECheese

Her 3rd birthday was August 18th! We all had a great time! My baby girl is not a baby anymore, but she is still MY baby. She still has big, beautiful, curly hair. She also knows what she wants and when she wants it. Just like mommy. She is a sweetie. She got lots of dress up stuff for her birthday and loves to put on pretend makeup and beautiful dresses!



This is our life right now. Some things about it are hard. We love our little family and are so thankful to have each other. We are also so thankful to have our awesome friends and family! love you all! The Gilbreaths!