15 Weeks!

I had my second Dr's appointment last week- Ben took some time off that day so he could watch Brynlee during it.  Next time we go in February we are going to bring Brynlee with us and find out if we are having a boy or girl?! I still can't believe that by next month I will be half way done.  Holy cow, this has flown by.

This pregnancy has been pretty different then with Brynlee, but for the better!  I really had to change the way I was eating and I've lost 10 lbs :) And I'm constantly running after and playing with a very active two year old.  It's only going to get better as soon as we are out of winter and can spend the day outside. My blood pressure was a little high at the appointment, but absolutely nothing to worry about.  I also have a dislocated rib, which hurts very very bad.

Brynlee is doing great! I absolutely love playing with her all day, but don't get me wrong I love nap time to.  She is in the princess phase right now, but still loves her trains, puzzles, and her trampoline.  We also probably spend a good hour or two a day coloring and then reading books.  I'm always impressed with how much she likes to read.  She can just read on my lap for an hour and not move an inch except to get a new book.  She calls all of her books by what they are about to.  Thankfully tantrums have greatly subsided!  Obviously not entirely, but we have seen a lot of improvement.

I've also realized in the last couple of months that I needed to chill out a bit.  I don't like being that high-strung mom who worries about every single thing.  So I let Brynlee make a lot of decisions for herself and it seems to work out better for us.  I have a pretty independent and strong-willed little one, and I don't want her to lose what makes her special.  Giving her choices and using a positive attitude works most of the time.  Unless she's hungry or tired- then she's a Bear.  Which is where her name Brynlee Bear comes from!  Overall though I am so grateful for my happy little girl.  She really is the most special thing in my life and I just love that I can spend every day with her.  She is FULL of energy, joy, and sass.  She loves snuggling with me again, loves princess movies.  The baby stage is really cute, but right now is so much fun!  I have pulled back a TON in my photography biz so I can be with her more and she can have my full attention.  I still take a few sessions a month, but I limit them to basically only on Saturdays when Ben is home and it's during Brynlee's nap time.

Life is nice :) Me and Ben got called to teach the 5 year olds in Primary.  They are so stinking cute and smart.  I just love asking them questions and listening to their answers.  Their answer to everything is "and I followed Jesus" and "do the gospel".

So one of my favorite things in the whole wide world is doing Brynlee's hair.  Every day after bath time I pop in a movie or a show that both of us actually enjoy (usually something Disney) and I dry and comb through her hair.  She has pretty thick hair so it get tangles easily.  Ever since I started using these two products:  leave in conditioner and aragon oil it has given her such healthy, silky, and bouncy locks.  And it has tamed some pretty annoying fly-aways.  I use it myself!  I've been told by a couple people that I shouldn't put product in her hair at such a young age, but I think they are full of crap :) It's not like I'm curling and burning her hair.  I don't even blow dry it.  And the product is meant to replenish her hair.  We live in a very dry climate, so why shouldn't her hair get a little TLC.  I am however looking for some more gentle products because I've learned that it is a lot of chemicals to put in her hair.  I haven't found any that I like that aren't like $20 for 8oz. which seems like a lot to me. I could comb her hair for an hour if she let me :) We tried our first bun today and loved it!  I can't wait till her hair gets longer and thicker so I can have more fun with it.  She's a trooper too and has no problem sitting on mom's lap and letting me pull at her hair as long as there is something entertaining her.  However, if Ben's home Brynlee won't let me do her hair.  She'll let dad do her hair, but lets be honest...sorry dads you don't do it as good as us :) haha he still can't put pig tails in! So if Ben's home I ask him to hide out in our bedroom while I do it.  It's therapeutic for me and so relaxing! Plus I love the snuggles.

Brynlee has also become so affectionate.  She loves to give us hugs and kisses.  And whenever Ben gets home she freaks out in squeals, jumping, hugging, kissing, and screaming Daddy.  She loves to run down our hallway to jump into our arms laughing and screaming our name.  If me and Ben are sitting on the couch together she'll come up and pull our heads together to kiss each other and then to kiss her.  She's also getting to be pretty bossy! Since she knows alot more words know and is better at putting sentences together she has no problem telling us exactly what she does and doesn't want to do.  She loves her trampoline, little people princess castle, and babies.  That trampoline could not have been bought at a better time!  With the nasty weather and being stuck inside almost every day (we only have one car) it's so nice to have an outlet for her physical energy!  And girl can jump high to.

I think that at times it easy (at least for me) to think of the terrible two's, but it's gotten so much better than it was for a while so I wanted to be sure to write it down so I don't forget!  I feel like our day is filled much more with happiness, dancing, and giggles rather than time-outs and tears.