6 Months Old

Dear Braylin,

It has already been 6 months since I heard that very first tiny cry... a sound that relieved many ears and blessed many hearts. Everybody told me that time would fly. Everybody said that those sleepless nights would seem like a blur. Though it seemed like an eternity during the moment---they were right. Time has raced and you have changed so much.  Sometimes I will look over at your precious little self,  and I have to blink to make sure I REALLY, TRULY am looking at my very own daughter. It took a long, hard 3 years to get you here, and even 6 months later I still cannot believe that I hold you in my arms. Praise the Lord.

By birthday, you are 6 months old, but your adjusted age for gestational growth and development is 4 mths. You are 13.6 pounds and finally in the 5th percentile (you haven't even been on the chart until now)! You are basically doing everything a 4 month old baby should do. You still hate tummy time and we are working on that. Your tummy tantrums are pretty sad and pathetic, and I have to giggle sometimes at your bad attitude.  You are grabbing for toys, finally. Your little hand reminds me of the those games in restaurants, where the claw has to come down and grab a toy.  You know where you want to go and you have full intentions of grabbing a certain toy, but sometimes it takes a few extra seconds to grasp what you want. It's very cute.

You are VERY VOCAL. You love to talk, scream, coo, gurgle, and screech. You are starting to copycat some sounds. You actually LAUGHED for the first time this week! It was the cutest little belly laugh I ever did hear and it brought happy tears to my eyes. Of course when you did that, I repeated the "funny action" again and again but you got tired of it and just looked at me like I was crazy. ha ha!  CUTE BUTTON, YOU ARE! You are very girly and outspoken-- not sure where that comes from--- but I LOVE IT!

You still take a morning nap and afternoon nap. You are sleeping at longer stretches during the night and occasionally wake up at an early hour ready to play. You smile REAL big when Momma walks up. You are wearing size 2 diapers and slowly but surely busting out of 3 month clothing. Your bows are growing in size and in quanity. Our goal is to have the perfect "topper" for every outfit, and I think we could be getting close.  You are still drinking your "liquid diamonds" and we add a teaspoon of rice cereal to every bottle (gosh you are high maintenance!). Next week at your wellness check, you may be able to start cereal/babyfood by spoon. I'M REAL EXCITED ABOUT THAT!! You are just a perfect little precious baby girl ---that I love more than all the stars in the sky! Verrrry beautiful.
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At half a year old and many more birthdays to come,

I want you to always remember this blurb, if any, within all of your printed "blog books":

 The odds were already stacked against you BEFORE you even entered the world. Look at how tiny you were upon arrival. Born at a little more than one pound, within hours after making your debut,  you proved that

dynamite comes in small packages.

You proved to the whole universe that you were a fighter.

Tiny little miracle
Day after you were born.

6 MONTHS LATER
Beautiful, healthy, and still carrying an attitude



Only 8 weeks in NICU and 6 months later you have become a beautiful, chunky, little diva with a huge personality.  You have already fought, AND WON, a bigger battle than most adults will face in a life time. You are unbelievable on so many counts.

I want you to always remember how you entered this world, owned it, conquered it, and showed your pizzazz.
 Life will happen. 
There will be more mountains to climb.
But remember that you can accomplish anything with a strong heart and a set mind. 

Always give it to God.
 Love, faith, and lots of prayers got you here...
and it will always keep you going in God's direction.

 MAKE UP YOUR MIND, SET THAT GOAL, AND CLIMB THOSE MOUNTAINS.

BECAUSE YOU CAN, and you have.

HAPPY 6 MONTHS, MY LOVE.

REACHING FOR TOYS!
(and of course the other hand in mouth)



OUTSIDE ADVENTURE



DISCOVERY TIME
"Oooh, Oooh!"

"Hello?"
"Braylin, its for you!"

Daddy experiencing the tummy time blues with Bray

Roley Poley..
Daddy's Lil Fatty



Finally got the picture for above the bed...
Room is complete
and perfect.



"Looking in your eyes

Seeing all I need

Everything you are is everything in me

These are the moments

I know heaven must exist

And these are the moments

I know all I need is this

I've found all I've waited for, yeah

And I could not ask for more"

I could not ask for more than this time with you"

And every prayer has been answered

Every dream I've had's come true

Yeah, right here in this moment

Is right where I'm meant to be

Oh, here with you here with me