Brenna is 7 Months Old

Our gorgeous Brenna is 7 months old today!  Since last month she is able to sit-up unsupported and two little, very sharp teeth have appeared.  Our happy baby loves to laugh, babble and make a loud inhaling noise.  Even though Ellen says Brenna is a "tiny little baby" while drawing a circle with her finger on her hand, Brenna is growing beautifully and her upper body strength is improving.  She still loves to try food and is amazingly successful chewing her finger foods.  Brenna and Ellen love giving each other kissies and huggies and continue to grow closer together.

Our beautiful, intelligent, lovely Ellen amazes us every day... despite the "terrible twos"...

 

 

Brenna is 6 Months Old!

Brenna is 6 months old today!  I feel we've reached an important milestone; it should get somewhat easier and more fun from here...right?  Most of the past month has been spent with our family in Ohio.  Brenna loved meeting her extended family for the first time (besides Gramma and Palon). Brenna has rolled over from her back to tummy for the first time and has begun to wean. We're still waiting on that painful first tooth to make an appearance - I sure hope it does this month!  While in Ohio, Brenna also got her first ear infection and a viral tummy infection - both we're still battling.  The tummy infection is actually bothering her more with sudden, long-lasting cramping pains, around the clock.  On a positive note, I'm starting to see Brenna and Ellen's sisterly affection take place. Ellen is becoming increasingly affectionate and attentive to Brenna... it's just lovely and heartwarming to watch.

Brenna watching her big sister trying to make her laugh

"Baby Ellen" - she looks like such a big girl in this picture!

I started to give Brenna tastes of real food over the past month, but today she sat in her highchair for the first time. She loves tasting food and will even grab the food or my hand when she's sitting on my lap.

Before I started filming Brenna on our bed this morning, she was so cute playing with her lamb... too bad it didn't last for long once the camera was rolling.

Brenna is 5 Months Old!

Brenna is 5 months old today!  She can now roll to both sides and is quite steady on her forearms.  She loves to smile at familiar faces, but is becoming increasingly insecure being held by those she's not familiar.  If you are holding her - beware - any finger or hand that comes in the vicinity of her mouth will get attacked and sucked on by our drooly baby.  The past week or so I have given Brenna a few things to taste, such as cucumber, kiwi, tortilla and strawberry...(and chocolate...sshhh).  Ellen loves to make Brenna laugh and Brenna loves to watch Ellen.  As Jeff just put it, "She's a boo and we love her."

The Exotic Zoo

This afternoon, the girls and I went over to the Lawley Community Centre to see animals from the Exotic Zoo.  I wasn't sure how Ellen would respond to seeing "exotic" animals, but I couldn't believe my eyes! She held and touched every animal that was shown around, which included:

Two cute, fluffy baby skunks... to my Ohio family and friends, can you believe skunks are considered to be exotic?!

A baby crocodile... her favorite animal she held today.  The look on her face says it all.

A millipede... I squirmed in my seat the whole time "Millie" was out

A massive snake

A chameleon

A very cute and fluffy meerkat

  

...And a tortoise (but I didn't take a picture of that)
Meanwhile I got to hold an exotic, but cute little monkey goober

And yes, I washed her hands very thoroughly after this!

The Past Week

I'd like to post more blogs more often of everyday happenings.  There are so many precious moments I'd like to remember and share with our family and friends.

Last Thursday (July 24th) Ellen and I were having lunch when she asked to look at the ketchup bottle. She started "reading" the letters on the front. By the time I grabbed my mobile to take a video she had stopped, but I thought it'd still be nice to post the video.

This was a very precious moment - Ellen and Brenna playing together in Brenna's room, and it's a great example of Ellen's funny personality.

This summer has been the nicest summer I've had while living in England - meaning, it's been warm, even hot, sun all day long and very few rainy or even overcast days.  We got out the paddling pool last week.  This was Brenna's first time in a swimsuit and paddling pool.

The girls are patiently waiting for me to get the water warm enough by pouring 3 kettles full of water into the paddling pool, despite having filled the pool in the morning.

Ellen said,"It's like a bath... outside!"

Me: "Ellen. Say cheese!" Oh, the reluctance to look at the camera.  The straps kept falling off her shoulders, so I finally convinced her just to take them off.

Our rhubarb plant has grown this much from being just a root a month ago.  Jeff's aunt gave us the root while we were in NI last month.

We thought it'd be fun to go to Chirk Castle in Wales on Saturday, since Ellen is becoming increasingly interested in princesses.  Ellen was only 5 months old the last time she visited this castle, so another visit was due.

Daddy and Ellen played a little croquet in the castle gardens before lunch.

We found a shaded place for our picnic. Brenna was napping in the pushchair/stroller.

Brenna loved rolling around and stretching out on the picnic blanket after her nap.

I was wowed by this giant, beautiful hydrangea.

In the garden

A very bright and colorful flower

We never actually made it into the castle, but we spent some time in the courtyard catching up with friends of ours from Shrewsbury. 

Brenna Boo can now sit up in a Bumbo seat!  She only lasts 5 minutes or so, but she loves being part of the action during our meals and I love having two hands to eat!

On Tuesday, a few of us from my "mum's group" got together and the girls made pizzas, even the pizza dough!

Trampoline

Ellen's love for trampolines and bouncy castles has really taken off the past few months... a good way to burn off her 2-year-old energy!  Here she is bouncing away at our friends house.

Brenna is 4 Months Old!

Brenna turned 4 months old today!  Our sweetie pie is getting cuter by the day.  Two weeks ago she laughed for the first time as I gave her kissies around her neck and belly.  Ellen loves to hear Brenna giggling and will say, "Brenna's laughing!".  She rolls onto her right side when she's on the play mat and somehow moves around in a circle around it.  I predict that she'll crawl rather than bum-shuffle like Ellen and walk earlier than Ellen, too.  She is now able to reach for things and even take a light hold of the toy, but her grasp isn't strong enough yet to control a toy easily.  Brenna also begun cooing at the tv when we're watching cartoons and loves to "chat" with me when I'm changing her nappy/diaper or getting her dressed.  Brenna loves to watch her big sister playing and has to sit with us at most meals at the dinner table; she just wants to be part of the action!  She is also such a drooly baby!  For weeks now, she drools most of the day and has her fingers or fist in her mouth, but no sign of teeth yet (this would be slightly early, but not unheard of).  Her naps are starting to take shape and her bedtime is about 7:30, waking once or twice for a feed during the night (what a dream this would have been with Ellen!).  We look forward to the developments that the next month has in store!

This photo was taken mid-May, but I keep forgetting to post it.  Brenna sleeps with her thumbs under her index fingers.  It's just such a cute, unique thing I just had to point out and remember.