COPPOLA: Happy 3 Week Birthday, Brynn!

Brynn is 3 weeks old today and the days have gone by so quickly! We're starting to get into a bit of a routine...not necessarily a schedule, but a routine where I am not constantly thinking about how little sleep I am going to get that night and not worrying about how I am going to be able to take care of 2 kids while Cary is at work. Some days Carter is home with Brynn and I, and some days he goes to Hedy's. That has mostly been dependent on how little sleep I got the night before and what I need to get accomplished that day. I was a little nervous about having both kids at home by myself, but I think I'm getting it figured out. As of now, the hardest things are how to help Carter do little tasks (like going to the bathroom, getting him a snack, helping him get dressed, etc.) while feeding or holding Brynn at the same time. I've ventured out of the house with both kids several times, but haven't attempted a trip to Target or Hy-Vee yet. I'm just not sure how that is going to work since Carter still likes to ride in the cart. But...I'm feeling braver each day and am sure it won't be long until I can check that off my list! :)

In general, Carter has adjusted well. He is such a good big brother and is so proud of Brynn. He wants to show her off to the kids at Hedy's and he is always asking to hold her. Just this morning, I caught him gently wiping a bit of spit-up from her mouth with her burb cloth. He sings to her when she cries and he gives her more kisses than she needs. The biggest issue with Carter has been him acting very needy. Some days are better than others, but he really demands all of Cary's time when he gets home from work. Cary and I can hardly talk to each other until Carter has gone to bed because he cries if Cary doesn't play with him and he talks non-stop. My patience has been tested a little in that area, but I'm trying to remind myself that Carter has gone through a big life-change, and he just needs some extra TLC from his mama.

So far, Brynn is a very good baby. She doesn't cry very much...only when she's hungry, when we're changing her diaper, and when she's in her car seat. Yep...this girl does not like her car seat at all. If she's sleeping, it's fine. But if she wakes up and realizes that she's strapped into it, she screams at the top of her lungs. And the minute you pick her up, she's happy. Can you say "high maintenance?" :) At night she sleeps for 3 or 4 hours at a time, wakes up to eat, and usually goes right back to sleep. She's starting to look less like an infant and more like a baby girl. Her eyelashes are growing, her face is filling out, and her eyes are open more often. And with each passing day, it gets harder to remember what life was like before her!

Here are some things Brynn has done in the past 3 weeks:
-celebrated Coppola family November birthdays (Kyle, Joe III, Bobbi, and Cary - Davis gets his own party this weekend!)
-made her first trip to Guthrie Center
-met all of her great-grandparents
-celebrated her dad's 29th birthday
-went to her first movie in the theater - Megamind (yes, we took an infant into the theater)
-Christmas shopped with her mom
-watched Michigan football with her dad
-went to the park and on several walks
-hung out with Mom and Carter while dad was in Atlanta for work
-visited Daddy's office
-stayed with Grandma and Papa Coppola while Mom and Dad celebrated their 6th anniversary
-hung out with all of her cousins, aunts and uncles
-watched Carter play at the mall play place, run around Backyard Adventures, and ride the train at Valley West Mall
-visited the doctor twice and gained a pound since leaving the hospital
-spent lots of time snuggling with her dad, mom and big brother

The three girls: Brynn, Katelyn & Claire