Chatter Box

Well, Brooklyn is beginning to "talk" a lot!! She is too funny, so I wanted to share :)

Christmas Day

Aaron and I opened gifts and took pictures in the snow with Brooklyn. It was a pretty relaxed morning!
We headed over to the de Wolfe House for a quick "hi" and then went to Gamma and Gampa Hein's House for food, Wii, and presents! We had a wonderful time and since everyone decided to only buy for the kiddos this year, Brooklyn made out like a bandit again with toys and goodies from the Hein Family.



There are a couple more pictures down below.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at Nana and Papa de Wolfe's house. We ate spaghetti and had a blast chatting and opening gifts. Brooklyn, of course, was totally spoiled by her grandparents and got lots of toys and clothes!!

It was a rather unique Christmas for Brooklyn this year in that we had snow in Texas!!! It was 72 degrees on Wednesday, dropped into the 30's by the next day and snowed. Crazy!

We attended church with the de Wolfe's at 5:30 and then another service at 8:30 with the Hein's.

Procrastinator

Well, I officially waited until the last minute (for my standards) to buy my husband's Christmas presents this year. I normally have all my shopping done fairly well in advance for the holiday because I absolutely HATE crowds. I will literally have a panic attack fighting the hundreds of people in stores.

But, this year, I went shopping yesterday for Daddy and completed it in less than 2 hours. It wasn't horrible and while there were tons of people out, maneuvering around and checking out went swiftly.

Now that I am a working mommy, I just simply "ran out of time." I will need to adjust accordingly for future years, but as most parents know.....the gifts for Aaron and I are/will slowly dwindle because Miss Brooklyn (and possibly others) has taken center stage!

Trip to the Ranch

Brooklyn had her first trip to the Hein Ranch this weekend. She did really great on the 3.5 hour ride both ways and seemed to have a nice time just hanging out with Mommy, Daddy and Gampa Hein!

It was certainly more of a pain than anything else to get things prepared and packed for her to go, but Aaron is always wanting me to go out there with him and I hadn't been in about a year and a half. I wanted to relax this weekend and the more I thought about staying home with B and doing that, the more I knew I was kidding myself. At home, I always find things to do. I can not just sit here and chill, I would have cleaned the house, ran around, etc. So to keep myself from doing that, I went to the Ranch.....there is not much to do there for sure!

It was pretty cold outside, so Brooklyn stayed in for majority of the trip. She did go upstairs for a short period of time to hang out with the boys in the coopla.
Mommy helped Gampa fill the feeders on Saturday afternoon while Daddy napped with B. It was much needed rest for him considering he was up early hunting and seems to be still fighting a minor cold as well. We got visited by the Game Warden (the first time ever out there). And then on Sunday morning, the three of us spotted about 10 Does while B slept in, but no bucks or pigs.....bummer!

It was nice to visit with Aaron's dad and not think about dirty floors or laundry for a day and a half!

Daddy's First Marathon

26.2 Miles (more pictures below)
Daddy ran in his first marathon on Sunday. He finished in 4:31:42, which amounts to around 10 and a half minutes per mile. He placed 2534 out of 4457 participants. Amazing!!! I was able to see him start, at mile 18 and then again finishing. It was quite an experience for him as well as for me as a spectator. Aaron's family came for his finishing stretch with Brooklyn. He was pretty tired and sore afterwards and still today, but thank goodness, no injures or serious pain.

No promises yet on another marathon in the future (may take a few days of recovery before his mind is clear), but I think I have caught the running bug possibly. I will begin training with him in hopes for us to run a half marathon in March. We shall see!! Brooklyn will hopefully be able to join us during this event.

I am so proud of the dedication and determination that Aaron had in his preparation and completion of this marathon. It is quite an accomplishment and it is certainly rewarding being a supporter of all he has done!

My Teammate

This week was definitely not one of my better weeks. I had an emotional time leaving Brooklyn and returning to work and then I got sick halfway through and am still trying to recover. So, I must take a moment to thank my teammate, my husband, the best daddy.
He made sure I ate breakfast in the morning, packed my lunch everyday this week, emailed me encouraging words at work, picked up my medicine, did the grocery shopping for me, cooked dinners, ran errands, and got up with Brooklyn in the wee hours of the night when needed. It was a rough week and Aaron was nothing but helpful, supportive, and caring. I kept him up most nights with tears and coughing.

It was a rough week, but my teammate picked up the slack.

Brooklyn and I are two very lucky girls! XOXOXO

3 Month Pictures

I scheduled an appointment to get pictures taken of Brooklyn and a couple with the three of us since she turned 3 months old. The place told us to expect to be there about 2 hours. That sounds reasonable, I thought, considering maybe a 30 minute wait, an hour for pictures and then another 30 minutes to choose and print the photos. Oh no....we arrived and after about a 30 minute wait realized it was going to be another 2 hour wait. "I don't think so! We have a 3 month old....that's like trying to predict volcanic activity....she could blow at anytime."
So, Aaron and I decided to take a few pictures on our own with Nana's help with some too. Aaron has a really nice camera at work and he was able to bring it home this weekend and we think we got some really good shots. Definitely some we can work with! (like the one above) We are considering buying a nice camera for ourselves because we really enjoy doing "photo sessions" with our little beauty queen.
Anyhow, needless to say, we were slightly disappointed with this new Photography place we found...oh well.

Daddy and Brooklyn napped together this afternoon while Mommy cleaned house. After all, it was a stressful day of picture posing for them! :)

Really??

Mommy hasn't even completed her first week back at work and she already had to visit the doctor today.

Bronchitis and Laryngitis......that's just great!

Working Mommy

Today was my second day back at work and it was a little easier than yesterday.  I am back into the swing of things at school (as much as I can be at this early point) and it is no fun.  I tutored my kiddos afterschool today until 4:05, which is our contract time that we are required to stay until, and two of my kids were not picked up until 4:20.....urgg!  It was one thing when I was just coming home to an empty house or Aaron.  Don't get me wrong, I very much looked forward to coming home to my husband, but it was not an issue if I was at the school late or needed to run a few errunds.  But now it's "tap, tap, tap" of the feet......I NEED to go home to my baby.  I miss my baby.
I am that working mommy. I kiss B goodbye while she sleeps in the morning, work all day, come home to a brief playtime, eat dinner, feed and kiss her goodnight, then head to bed myself.  I feel as though time just slips by.  The all day affair has turned into a glimpse. 

Wow, how's that for a good mommy??

Mommy's First Day Back

Today was my first day back at work and it was one of the longest days I have had in quite awhile :(
Beginning last night, I had a little bit of a meltdown....it finally hit me that I was not going to be spending every waking moment with "Cutie B," and I maybe got 4 hours of sleep thinking about all of it and my crazy classroom.
Nana arrived at 7:00am and I was out the door only to tear up again on the drive to work. It was definitely exactly like the first day of school all over again for me, but slightly worse because the kiddos were, for lack of a better term, tainted. It is hard to come into your own classroom after 12 weeks of someone else running it their way. I am a very meticulous and anal person, so these next few weeks will be difficult to get situated again and back into my groove. I had to "wreck shop" and it was not pretty, but I survived and live to blog about it. So it's back to the grindstone for this Mommy Hein.
Brooklyn seemed to have a great day and was all smiles once she woke up shortly after I came home!!

Baby News

We found out today that Aaron's brother, Nick and his wife Amanda are expecting their first child on June 17, 2010!!!
We are so very excited for them and their soon-to-be family! This makes Hein grandbaby #4. Brooklyn will be surrounded by cousins her age :)

Congrats Nick and Amanda!! We love you!

Brooklyn's First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2009 was fabulous!!!

Aaron and I got a chance to spend some fun time with Brooklyn in the morning before we all headed to Nana and Papa de Wolfe's House. Brooklyn got to met her second cousins, Stephen and Andrew Treese. We ate a fantastic meal and had the opportunity to chat with my Uncle Gary and Aunt Debbie. Afterwards, we went to Gamma and Gampa Hein's House, where we got to relax and take a trip to the park! Brooklyn was completely worn out by the end of the day.....sleeping from 8:30pm to 8:15am!!!

Cousin Charlie LOVES Brooklyn and she LOVES him! He even wanted to feed her on Thursday.

** There are a couple more pictures down below, but unfortunately, we forgot the camera at the de Wolfe House and didn't get to take any :(

Little Memories

It is funny how some "casual" memories are so significant....
My dad use to make cream of wheat for breakfast when the weather turned cold. Keep in mind, my dad never cooked and when/if he did, it was certainly something very simple and easy. Nonetheless, he would make this breakfast once every few weeks or so on a Saturday morning. Of course, my brother and I loved it because it was the only food we were allowed to put sugar on! Anyhow, it was always such a big thing. And as we got older and were no longer around, cream of wheat was faded from the picture.
Now that I am married and gone, I have made cream of wheat for myself for the third time (once a winter for 3 years) and it brings back such a special memory for me.
Each time now, there is a sense of sadness in the fact that I am not enjoying it with my dad, but at the same time, a warm and loving feeling always overpowers me and I instantly flashback to times that were so "casual" but near and dear to my heart.
I still to this day, skim the top of the cream of wheat, eating it layer by layer to keep from burning my mouth (a technique my dad taught us because the top is always being cooled).
Love you dad!

Date Night

Aaron and I went out on a date on Friday night!! We love sushi, so we indulged at one of our favorite restaurants, Piranha's. And they have killer martini's as well! Unfortunately, they always fill them to the rim (probably because they are so expensive, got to get your moneys worth) and of course, shortly into dinner I spilled some of mine on the sleeve of my top :(
No biggie.....we had a fantastic time there and as always, we chatted up a storm.

Then we decided to check out this new bar, Black Finn. It was wonderful, but packed. It was early too; we arrived there around 7:00. It was definitely a place we will go again: televisions at every glance, good atmosphere and NO SMOKING (oh how that makes all the difference in the world). There was a live band playing after 10:00, but we are such "old folks" now, we were too exhausted to stay and called it a night!

It was an amazing evening and there is nothing better than spending time with my best friend!

To: Daddy

Hi Daddy! I hope you are having a good day at work and I can't wait to see you when you get home.
Love, Brooklyn

(Everyone else can enjoy too :)

Miss "Squirmy Worm"

Brooklyn is very entertai
ning during "playtime." She starts kicking her legs like mad and batting at her hanging toys. She's a wild woman! And she will do this for a very long time, especially in the mornings.
Starting last night, she began arching her back and it appears that she is trying to rollover, but I am really not sure. It is hilarious to watch though!!!

Our Little Miss Squirmy Worm

Countdown: 1 month away

Aaron runs in his first marathon in exactly one month from today. I know that he is both excited and worried about the event. During the course of his training, he has been sick a few times and has had numerous scheduling conflicts (like the arrival of Miss Brooklyn, school projects and out-of-town excursions).
All and all, he has remained determined to do well in the race. With it fast approaching, Aaron has studied the course and decided that next weekend he will tackle majority of it. Mile 18-22 there is a hill and he wants to make sure he is physically and mentally prepared for that challenge so late in the race. As many experienced marathoners will attest to, these miles are already difficult with themselves. Within his training, he has already ran over 22 miles, but never with "rolling hills.".
I know he will do awesome!!

Just a reminder to mark your calendars:

Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 8:00am

Victory Park-American Airlines Center

Dallas, TX

Pouty Face

Brooklyn's personality becomes more and more humorous everyday. She throws fits occasionally (usually when she is getting overly tired, but refuses to nap or wants some attention) and it is so hilarious. And she has perfected the pouty face!!! It is actually really cute when she does it, but I know it spells nothing but T-r-o-u-b-l-e.

Our cute little brat!

2 Month Appt

Brooklyn had her 2 month checkup and immunizations this afternoon. She is such a TOOT!!! This is the third time she has thrown a fit for Dr. Fikkert when she is examining her. In fact, she was worse for her than for the shots; totally took them like a champ again!!

Anyhow, she is in the 10% in weight at 9 lb, 6 oz. She is in the 10% in head circumference at 37 cm. And in the 50% in height at 22.5 in. She is a growing girl!!

Sleepyhead

Brooklyn slept for 9.5 hours last night.......WOW!! Daddy put her to bed at 8:00pm and I woke up to her crying at 5:30am. I was shocked when I glanced over at the clock to see what time it was; usually it will be 2:00 or 3:00, but not this time! I woke Aaron up and asked him if I had slept through her crying at one point, but he said no.
Our ultimate (fantasy) goal was to have her sleeping from 8:00pm-5:00am by the time I went back to work. This way I could wake up, feed her and then go work out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings while Aaron was sleeping (but still home).
I know last night was most likely a "fluke," but I will take the sleep anyhow!! And on top of that, it is one step in the right direction.

We are headed to the pediatrician this afternoon for Brooklyn's 2 month checkup and immunizations.......so I will blog the update later.

Flying Solo

Aaron and Chip went out to the ranch this weekend to get a little practice in before their Iowa hunting trip this upcoming week. Since they left on Friday around dinner time, I went ahead and prepared them (Aaron and John) some dinner to take with them. Then, I cleaned!! I wanted to preserve the "spic and span" shine on the floors for as long as possible....so I swept, mopped and vacuumed as they were shutting the door behind them :)

It was kind of weird being here by myself with Brooklyn, though. I mean, I am accustomed to being at the house and sleeping alone when Aaron traveled for his first job and when he does go on hunting trips. But it was slightly different this time. I'm not going to lie, I was a little spooked. Not "scary movie" type reasons; it was simply because I had numerous thoughts running through my head. There is another being in the house with me that is totally helpless and the WHAT IF's overtook my mind.
Yes, I still slept downstairs in my own bed and she was safe and sound in her own crib, but I definitely didn't sleep soundly. It happens though and I'm sure tonight will be a little easier than last. After all, it was my first night to be without Aaron since Brooklyn has arrived.

Wake Up Call

I woke up this morning around 7:30 to the soft cry of Brooklyn and so (mindlessly) I got up, went to the restroom and began to prepare her bottle. In the process of getting it going, she stopped crying. I waited a few minutes to see what was to become of this and much to my surprise, she continued to stay quiet.
So, I decided to take this opportunity to eat breakfast slowly and peacefully! I emptied the dishwasher, began a load of laundry, gave Chip some lovin' and just sat in thought. In the last couple of weeks, Brooklyn has been a really decent sleeper. Averaging around 6 hour stretches. She slept for 7 last night; waking me up at 3:30 and then through now......
8:00 rolled around (scheduled feeding time) and so I walked upstairs with her bottle. When I went over to her crib, I see her laying there just looking around. It was sooooo cute. I leaned over and said "Good morning" with a smile and she looked up and gave me a grin from ear to ear!!! It was the best wake up!
I picked her up and we sat and chatted for a few minutes. Smile after smile kept coming with some cooing. Then she told me she was ready for her bottle and she drank while starring at the beautiful morning light coming into her window. As usual, she does not like her burp in the middle of feeding because it interrupts her "yummy chow time."
She finished her bottle and I got her dressed and then we played finger puppets!
Oh, what a pleasant morning :)

Day Dreamer

This is a video of Brooklyn dozing off to sleep. She makes the craziest noises; it's too funny. It is a little long, but hang in there because she makes such a loud noise that she wakes herself up and gets upset......hehe! (You can see her throw her bottom lip out for her "pouty face.") Then in the end, she is back to normal.

First Halloween

Halloween 2009
Brooklyn was a Giraffe for her first Halloween. I'm not meaning to brag, but she is by far the most adorable giraffe on the face of this planet!!

Anyhow, we got to show off our costume to lots of people. Mommy's two college roommates were in town, Brittany and Kensley. We went to Nana and Papa's church festival for a short time and then headed to Gamma and Gampa's to greet various trick-or-treaters.

"I wish mommy had kept all the Halloween candy for herself, so I could have enjoyed some too my first year!" -Brooklyn

Breathing Easy

A repair man came to the house on Tuesday morning and determined that the transformer had blown and their were numerous wires melted together in the upstairs unit. The damage was minuscule compared to what we were expecting and much less expensive. He also installed a safety shut-off piece (not sure the specific name) where the wires connect to the transformer, so if something does malfunction again, it won't emit any smoke into the vents. Good deal!
We have been running the system with the windows open for the last couple of days to flush out the smell. Brooklyn has been sleeping in the bassinet in our bedroom and will hopefully return to her own crib tonight. She makes some crazy dreaming noises throughout the night and I will certainly be glad to have her back in her own room!!
All is clear in the Hein household now and we are extremely grateful that the situation was minor in comparison to what it could have been.

Smoky the Bear

Last night was a scary one.....
At 2:00 am, Aaron and I woke up to the smoke alarm going off upstairs. Rushing, we discover that Brooklyn's room is filled with smoke; not blinding, but similar to a foggy morning. I took the sleeping beauty downstairs while Aaron quickly searched for the source of the problem. Brooklyn was never even fazed by all the chaos. We kept thinking it was her vaporizer, but there was just no concrete evidence to support anything. So Aaron removed it and placed it into the garage to run and see what happened, meanwhile checking all the outlets, turning off the A/C, opening windows, the whole 9 yards. Nothing was suspicious. We called the fire department to come and assess everything and check the air quality of her room. Apparently, the motor for the upstairs A/C had burned out and was pushing smoke through the vents. Since Brooklyn's room in the closest one, it was concentrated in there.
We had Brooklyn checked by the pediatrician and she is doing just fine! Her breathing was great, lungs looked good, temperature was normal. They even strapped on the oxygen monitor (to her big toe....unexpected area) and her oxygen level was normal. The pediatrician said that it scared us more than it did anything to Brooklyn. Still, I definitely needed that peace of mind regarding the entire situation. We are certainly blessed that nothing worse happened from all of this.....Thank God!

Additional Info: Brooklyn is a little porker now, weighing 8 pounds, 15 ounces!! WOW!!

How are things?

It has been awhile since I have posted. I have been updating pictures, but not writing and I apologize.
Anyhow, things are going very well here. Brooklyn is still growing like a weed and seems to be getting ultra long! She is definitely developing a personality with all her smirks, smiles, squirming and squealing.
We have been visiting a lot of people here lately: We went up to my school and was seen by Mommy's staff and hung out at the Hein house with Gamma, Gampa and all the family.
Her naps are becoming shorter and less frequent at the house. However, put her in the car seat and she is out like a light.
Lately she has been very hungry (growth spurt, I guess) and waking Mommy up every 3 hours day and night.....yawn, yawn. Last night, however, Daddy gave her her first formula bottle and she slept for 5.5 hours straight! We are just beginning the "weaning" process, so that Mommy can transition back to work soon.
This past Sunday, Mommy and Brooklyn went to Daddy's soccer game and got to see him play for a half. It was a bit cold, but we were bundled to the MAX!
Brooklyn does have some "baby acne" and it's no bueno in Mommy's eyes; it doesn't make for the cutest of pictures, but we have officially ordered announcements and we will get them soon to begin the LONG mailing list!!

Side Note: I am trying to have a feature picture of Brooklyn each week on the blog, so even if I am not posting, check it out because I often try to keep the pictures updated.

A Video (Finally)

This was the video I wanted to upload earlier, but could not because of our crappy old computer. This is Aaron reading Brooklyn her first bedtime story. This is our routine every night now, but this one was soooo cute. She is pooping while he is reading.....hehe!!

Go Big or Go Home

Well, the time came yesterday and the three of us went out and bought a new computer. When it came time for buying we decided it would be most beneficial to get a desktop rather than another laptop. And we went BIG! The monitor is 32" (it's bigger than our bedroom television). When we unpacked everything and began setting it up, Aaron and I both agreed that the monitor didn't look nearly this massive in the store! We are very pleased and with the purchase came a free upgrade to Windows 7 once it is released.

It was slightly depressing at the checkout counter, but the time had come and we bit the bullet. Bring on the skyping.....we've got a great view now!

Commerce Homecoming

Aaron and I drove out to 'good ole' Commerce yesterday to catch the football and soccer homecoming games. The weather was much colder than the meteorologist had predicted and drizzling off and on. YUCK! Luckily, we came some what prepared. The football game was at 2:00 and it actually was a really good game, seeing is how we have maybe seen 5 of them in 8 years. Not quite the Big 12 or anything. We ended up leaving the game halfway through the 4th quarter because (oh boy) I had to go and pump! I thought I was going to make it, but the "fullness" (polite term) became a little unbearable. And what is even more embarrassing, is I had to ask my old soccer coach, Neil, if there was a place for me. Yeah....awkward!! My pump needs to be plugged into an outlet, so he opened up the woman's lounge. It's all good. I actually asked Anne, his wife, originally if she knew of a place and then it resulted in Neil being asked.
On to a better topic:
The soccer game was at 7:00pm. Yes, a nighttime game. They have lights at the field now. JERKS! I spent 4 years in Commerce enduring 3-a-days, preseason, regular season, postseason and spring practices in the BLAZING HEAT; 1:00 and 3:00 in the Texas heat. What the heck! The girls got rocked by West Texas A&M and it was a sloppy mess out there with all the rain we have had. It was nice to reminisce with some old teammates and do some heckling on the sidelines!
I must admit, I was a little hesitant to go because it was 12 whole hours away from my baby, but we had a pretty good time. We got home just before 11:00pm and it was soooo good to be home and holding that sweet Brooklyn of ours! My mom watched her and said everything went well; not too much fussiness.
I don't think we will be doing an outing like that again anytime soon because Aaron and I both discussed how much we missed Brooklyn all day. Well, next season, she can just go with us!

Remington Connor Hein

Our newest member of the family joined us this morning! Dan and Amanda Hein are proud parents of a very handsome baby boy!
8 lb, 1 oz......he's a cutie!

Another Shot

Brooklyn went for her second HepB shot today. She took it like a chap and only cried for a few seconds. And she received a metallic band aid on her "pheasant leg" (Aaron's name for her tiny muscular legs)!!
Anyhow........Brooklyn now weighs.........7lb, 11oz :)

Rainy Day Reflections

As I sit on the couch listening to the nasally-breaths of my daughter and glaze outside at the melancholy weather, I can not help but be left to my own whirlwind of thoughts. I can not help but NOT recall all the pain, discomfort, frustration, etc involved with having a child. Looking back on my pregnancy, I can barely remember the trillion trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night or the extreme pressure I would feel in my upper abdomen and ribs. I mean, I did not enjoy becoming a blimp: carrying a basketball on my stomach, and having my legs, ankles, and feet swell up so badly that my sandals would still appear to be on my feet long after they were not! But the kicks, the hilariousness of the hiccups late at night, and the anticipation of something so wonderful and exciting just completely overshadows every "not so pleasant" moment. I can vaguely remember the intensity of my contractions or the sharp pinches of every needle that entered by body in a matter of 8 hours. The exhaustion, the bleeding, the entire hospital experience is now just a figment of the past as you hold a sheer miracle in your arms......it is like no other love.

Yes, you are tired. Yes, you get discouraged when the crying doesn't seem to stop and you don't know why. But, the smell of your child's skin after a bath, the look in their eyes as they watch you sing, the nasally-breathing (hehe) that becomes music to your ears, it is all indescribably GOOD! Every minute, every second that is nothing but BEAUTIFUL slowly overtakes all the times you thought were miserable.

One Month Old

Brooklyn turned one month old today! WOW!! I can not believe how quickly the time has passed. It seems like just yesterday we were finding out we were pregnant, sifting through the shredded paper to discovery we were having a girl, and then checking into the hospital for induction. I guess time flies when you are happy and having fun!!
In celebration of this date, we gave Brooklyn her first "real" bath (in the bathtub, submerged in little water) and we snapped some great photos......must see down at the bottom of the blog :)

GO DADDY!!

It's Official!
Aaron is registered for the MetroPCS Dallas White Rock Marathon on Sunday, December 13, 2009. The race begins at 8:00am in Victory Park at the American Airlines Center. His training is going well and he is up to 17 miles this Sunday. Daddy Hein is feeling good and looking good!!
So, mark the date on your calendars and we would love to see you there.
Brooklyn has been practicing her "words" of encouragement for Daddy as well!

The Sweetest Thing

Aaron Jacob Hein is the most compassionate, loving and supportive husband and daddy I have ever seen. Last night, he decided to read a bedtime story to Brooklyn before we put her down. This will be part of her permanent nighttime routine!
FYI: He did not know I was filming and will probably kill me once he sees this, but I thought it was the sweetest thing ever!!! Enjoy!

Ok, so apparently the video is not coming up and I didnt realize until after I had posted....sorry. That is a total bummer; it was so adorable! Anyhow, here is a picture instead. I will keep working on the video.

Seriously?!?!

I can remember as a child that there were 2 months out of the year that were always the most stressful in the household. It was like "that time of month" for a woman, but it was "that month" for my dad and his tolerance towards the family's spending and finances. During those times, majority of the bills were due (like the car insurance hitting twice a year) and it never failed that something unexpected would happen adding to the already tight budget. The vacuum would die and we would need to buy a new one, the car would require a new belt, things of this nature.
Anyhow, as all adults will attest to, this is just life. And life is happening to the Hein Family!
Of course, we just recently had Brooklyn and this is an obvious add to the finances. But about 3 weeks ago, the upstairs A/C kept malfunctioning, so this cost us. My laptop had crashed in the beginning of the year and we had Aaron's, so we gave my computer to my parents, who had a friend fix it so they could keep it. Well, of course, we have only Aaron's remaining and it too crashed about a week ago. "Oh brother!" A new computer too, hopefully not, but it looks like it's headed that way. And this morning.....the Honda wouldn't start. "Are you kidding me!!" The battery is shot, so we will be buying a new one tomorrow.
I guess as the saying goes: "When it rains, it pours."
But at the end of the day, we stare into the beautiful blue eyes of our daughter and how can anything get us down :)

A Tiresome Pair

Daddy had class this morning from 8:30-12:30 and Brooklyn was up every three hours last night(slightly abnormal for her). So needless to say, the two of them were fairly tired this afternoon. Brooklyn was awake doing "play time and tummy time" with Mommy for a good portion of the morning and Kensley came to visit for a bit as well. Kensley bought Brooklyn her Giraffe Halloween Costume....super cute, thanks Kens!!!
It has been pretty lax around here and we are enjoying that. With the Flu spreading throughout the family and community, we have tried to stay clear of life outside the house.

Here's the adorable napping couple!

Checkup

Brooklyn went for her first "official" checkup with the pediatrician on Monday. She is a growing girl! She is up to 6 pounds, 15 ounces and is now 20.5 inches long. Her head circumference is 13cm. Her development is right on target and she is "doing fabulous" according to the doctor. After her appointment, we had to head back to the hospital to have her second PKU test done.
She will go back to the doctor in 2 weeks for her second HepB shot and then again when she is 2 months old for several more vaccinations.
She is becoming more and more a daddy's girl every evening (as he holds her non-stop and talks to her)! I swear she looks like him, but he begs to differ :)

Nana de Wolfe's 55th Birthday

Yesterday was my mom's(Nana de Wolfe) 55th birthday! Brooklyn and I brought her some lunch at work and of course, Nana was in heaven with Brooklyn already! Later that night, my mom and I went to dinner while Daddy took care of Brooklyn. We went to The Keg, a nice steakhouse, where we shared a shrimp appetizer and great conversation. Mom had prime rib and a fabulous glass of Cabernet! I had sirloin and lemonade!! It was nice to get out and we had a wonderful time. Saturday, Nana is coming over to babysit while Daddy and Mommy get some time together....date night, YEAH!!
My mom is officially retiring from the YMCA to take care of Brooklyn full time on October 15th....she is more than ready! Her retirement party is scheduled for October 7th.

Here's a glimpse of the spoiled granddaughter with her Nana.....oh boy!

Outdoors

Brooklyn and I went for a jog yesterday. Well, I jogged a mile and walked a mile with her off and on napping in the jogging stroller. The weather here has been pretty drab; raining nonstop from last Thursday until Monday and then off and on since then....YUCK. However, it is a bit cooler and obviously cloudy, making it easier for Brooklyn to be outside. For me, it was nice to get out. It seems like its been ages since I have tied on my running shoes and hit the pavement. It has just been too hot, then school started and then bed rest.
I would really love to go and workout at the YMCA, but Brooklyn (Mommy or Daddy) are definitely not ready for the germ-filled nursery!! We are still managing though. Daddy has decided to do his running in the early morning (5:00am) so he does not miss out on time with his girls in the evening when he gets home from work. That has been fabulous! But, poor Daddy.....he starts to hold Brooklyn for just a few minutes around dinner time and sure enough, she begins rooting around. She has found his neck, arm, and shirts. Everything but Mommy!!!

Our First Full Day

On Monday, Daddy had to return to work (he was pretty bummed) and had class from 6:00-10:00pm. It was just Brooklyn and I all day. Although, Nana de Wolfe came over to make us some dinner! Yum!
We had a very productive day! The morning began around 7:30 with a feeding. (Luckily, we had a very easy night...Brooklyn slept from 11:30pm until 3:30am, feed, and then woke up again at 7:30am.)
Then it was back to usual for Mommy and her OCD habits. I swept the floors, vacuumed, did the laundry, and made the beds while Brooklyn napped throughout the morning in between feedings. I was able to work on her baby book, get a few school things squared away on the computer, and even WORKED OUT!! Well, kind of. I did a 20 minute pilates class from On-Demand on the TV. It was pretty difficult for a postpartum gal, but refreshing.
We even got to clipping Brooklyn's fingernails for the first time. Nerve racking! I've got the hang of it though and no unwanted accidents took place, thank goodness.
Overall, it was a really good day. And I am coming to realize that Brooklyn's "fussy time" is in the late evening. It only lasts about 30 minutes of her being a squirmy-worm and crying off and on, but certainly nothing unbearable. And it's all good, she is very low maintenance the remainder of the day and through the night. We even had the same sleep pattern last night too....Mommy can definitely handle having only one late/early morning feeding :)

Daddy D's

Daddy Does Dirty Diapers
Aaron is by far the most helpful and supportive daddy when it comes to Brooklyn and all her needs and mine. He knows that he can't really help with late night feedings, so he makes every effort to take care of things in other ways. He helps get us both situated for feedings during the daytime, changes diapers (where I deemed the term "Daddy D's"), watches her when I need to shower and do other things, gets her dressed, naps with her, and the list goes on and on....he is awesome!!
Anyhow, on to the hilariousness of Daddy D's: While at the pediatrician's office the other day, we had to strip her down to weigh her, so Aaron changed her poopy diaper and apparently she was not finished yet and squirted out some more poop as he was wiping her!! This same situation happened again while at the house and there was so much momentum behind this "blow" that it actually hit the arm of the couch!
Ok, so Aaron's new philosophy is to wait a few minutes (making sure she is completely finished) before changing her diaper after she poops. Good plan, right.....wrong! Today he waited and while he was changing her, she peed. Oh yes!! Luckily she is not a little boy because Daddy would have been shot in the chest :)
Instead- a soaked onsie and changing area, wet legs on Brooklyn, and several wipes used.

Doctor's Visits

Brooklyn went for a follow-up appointment on Monday at the hospital (pediatrician's office was closed for Labor Day) and was weighed again and her jandiced levels were retested. She was a bit high on the initial testing, so more blood work was ran and thankfully she was cleared! She had lost an ounce since leaving the hospital on Saturday: 5 lbs, 13 oz. We visited the pediatrician's office today for another weigh-in and check-up. Brooklyn is now weighing 6 lbs, 3 oz (almost to birth weight) and is in great health. She is a feeding machine and we are still working through some of her late night awakenings. Otherwise, she is on a good schedule and a great baby! She is not very fussy at all and loves to be held.
Her daddy and I are in heaven with all the time the three of us get to spend together! She is quite entertaining with her various noises and faces.....and her "wing span" is astonishing. She is definitely showing some volleyball player potential.

We are settled in!

Daddy, Mommy and Brooklyn are home safely and settled into their own atmosphere. Everyone is doing well and we had dinner with Nana, Papa, Aunt Tonya, Uncle Nate, and Cousin Charlie. Pam and Kelli Sanders came to visit us today with goodies!
We are so relieved to be home and in our own beds tonight!!! :)

Going home

Brooklyn, Mommy and Aaron are headed home. 52 hours visiting the hospital is quite enough!
Nana will be there to greet us. Chip Hein, the dog, will continue his visit to Papa's house until Sunday. He will return as second banana.

She's Here!

Brooklyn made her first appearance into this world at 4:54pm on September 3, 2009. After 7 hours of labor, 15 minutes of pushing, she was out and being wiped down. She has blonde hair, very long fingers and toes, and a button nose. She has been feeding very well and Mommy Hein is in good health. Brooklyn ran a fever shortly after being admitted to the nursery (Mommy did too momentarily) and therefore our stay at the hospital has been slightly extended to 48 hours. As of right now, she has been checked out by the pediatrician and in great condition, they just need to monitor her white blood cell count. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Aaron and I are now blessed with our first bundle of joy!!

First picture

6-4, 19

Brooklyn is 6 lbs., 4 oz., 19 in (48.25 cm). Great for her!
Erin is doing fine.

She is here!

Brooklyn emerged at 4:58 PM CDT! I am in the waiting room, so I have no particulars yet.
More to follow.

At Hospital

I arrived at the hospital, only to be kicked out of the room. Everything happens in the patient room, unlike "back in the day."
Brooklyn's heart rate is 154.

Erin is an 8

Erin is now dilated to 8 cm (over 3 inches).
Time for me to head to the hospital!

Oxygen

The nurses are giving Erin oxygen to get Brooklyn moving. I think they will switch to helium so she can fly out (and E can entertain by talking funny).

More dilation

Aaron reports the nurse saying Erin is 4-5 cm dilated. That's almost 2 inches American.

Catheter

Erin is dilated 3-4 cm (approx. 1.6 inches) and is getting a catheter installed, the contents of which will be archived for posterity.

epidural anesthesia administered

Erin has had the epidural anesthesia administered. She had been in a lot of pain. She has a high threshold, so it must be BAD!

Contractions

The contractions are 2-3 minutes apart. No expansions yet (I mean dilation).

Water broken

Dr. McCullough broke Erin's water. The Popsicle did its job!

It's Started!

Erin has received Oxytocin. After that, she got a Popsicle!
I am not sure about the Oxytocin, but a Popsicle sounds good.

Arrival at the hospital

I am Erin's Dad, and I am posting for Erin today.
A&E have arrived at the hospital. They are checked in at the labor and delivery room. Prep for induction is to begin around 7 a.m. CDT.
More posts later.

Last Night before Brooklyn

We decided to treat Brooklyn's grandparents to dinner tonight at the Cheesecake Factory (my request!) We had a wonderful visit and laughed quite a bit at Gampa Hein and Papa de Wolfe.....oh boy!
Aaron and I are beyond ready and ecstatic about the arrival of Brooklyn tomorrow. We hope to try and get a decent night's sleep, however, aware that we probably won't. Thank you to everyone and all your thoughts and prayers. Please continue them as tomorrow only marks the very beginning of the greatest adventure we will experience!

Here's the last photos of preggo Mommy Hein. 19 lbs heavier and swollen ankles!!

The Long Awaited Completion

My incredible husband has reached the finish line of the worst project I ever got him involved in. Tonight marked the completion of the staircase reconstruction! The framework is done and there is only caulking and touch-up paint left. I asked for him to have it finished by Brooklyn's arrival and he did not let me down.
My husband, the hero!
Anyone who knows anything about this project can tell you.....this was LONG awaited by me and LONG dreaded by Aaron.
But we both have to admit, it looks amazing and sooooo much better than the solid wall!!

The "Before" (this was when we first purchased the house)


The "After"

Final Baby Shower

Today, my work threw us a baby shower and it was super cute! My mom made the cupcakes, there were nuts and mints with a delicious punch(Paula Dean recipe)! It was in the library of our school and almost every teacher was there....all eyes on me, that made for a very red face. It was great and we got tons of money in gift cards and some really awesome gifts. My First Grade Team did a wonderful job of hosting and we are "decked out" with stuff. We really have been very blessed with every one's generosity. We haven't had to buy any items out of our own pockets: WOW!
Thank you Sallye Moore friends!!
And unfortunately, I forgot the camera in my purse, so no pics from this one :(

Last Dr Appointment

Brooklyn and I went for our last "within-the-womb" dr appointment today. Everything went great. Dr. McCullough said that I will be a mommy for sure on Thursday; he will not deliver me on the 4th (not sure whether that's a good thing or not), but to expect the labor to take a while.....she will likely be born in the evening. I am just shy of 1 cm dilated and she is right where she needs to be. They strapped me to the monitor for a little over 20 mins, where I got to listen to her heartbeat and I had to press a button every time she moved. I had about 3 minor contractions while I was in there. It was quite relaxing, I must say, because it was a small room with only one lamp on (dim lighting) and they left me in there for long stretches at a time to just enjoy the rhythmic sound of our little one.
I was a little disappointed Aaron was not there to experience it as well, but it was an early morning appointment and with the baby shower this afternoon, he was already leaving work early. Besides, Brooklyn will be in our arms in less than 36 hours and that will be far more exciting.
Daddy, Mommy and Brooklyn.....we are sooooo pumped!

Uninvited Guest

Amanda Hein and I went to dinner tonight, since it will be the last time I am able to do our "Monday....guys are in class" Dinner for a while. We encountered an uninvited guest at our table, or rather crawling up the bench seat that Amanda was sitting on. Yes, you guessed it, a roach. GROSS!!! Anyhow, Amanda was brave and squished the little sucker and we were moved tables and our dinner was on the house.
But nonetheless, yikes....that is definitely not the type of guest you want joining you at any table, let alone one in a restaurant.
Dinner was very nice and a pleasureful conversation as usual. I'm sad that the guys just started up again and this was our last chance to meet :(

Brooklyn's Birthday!

Brooklyn will make her debut on Thursday September 3rd!
It came as a shock to me because as a "freak" teacher who is sooooo meticulous about her classroom, I was not ready for the "you are on bed rest next week, so square away your stuff tomorrow." I had planned on having another week in my classroom and now.....no time!
I am over it and WAY more excited about being with Brooklyn than anything dealing with school.
Mommy and Daddy can't wait to see you Miss Brooklyn!!!!

Last Sonogram

We went for our last sonogram today and everything went well. Brooklyn is 6 lbs, 4 oz and in the 20th percentile. She is fairly small according to the technician, but in great health and was very active throughout the whole process. The reason for the additional sonogram was because at my appointment last week, I was in my 36th week, but my uterus was only measuring around the 32nd week. They said that that happens occasionally with first pregnancies. Anyhow, Aaron and I enjoyed being able to see Miss Brooklyn again! We will find out tomorrow what the doctor thinks of all this and an exact date of inducement (if that's what he still plans on doing). With just 2 weeks left, we are totally ready....mentally, emotionally, and physically(yes, please get this child out of me!).
We have tons of dinners made and frozen, all bags packed and in the car, car seats ready, bottles cleaned, and the my "freakish" list continues with all check marks.
We anxiously await some more news tomorrow!

Back to School

Well, today was the first day of school for the 2009-2010 year! I had 17 eager students coming through my door this morning with nervous, anxious smiles on their faces. It is always the most exciting yet tiresome day of the year. The day went fairly smoothly considering First Grade has a brand new schedule. I had one student who did not show today (hopefully tomorrow) and sent one student home with a fever of 102....yikes.
It was a wonderful day! The most stressful part of a school day, however, is the release of the students at the end of the day. Who is picking them up? What bus # do they ride? What is the name of the daycare? Is the babysitter authorized and on file for them? And there is always a million parents standing outside the front doors to quickly grab thier kiddos (ahhhh, I need to see you and the kid and give me a high-five, etc.....madness). There is not a scarier feeling in all the world than a child who is "missing." But again, another successful year of every child finding their parent/correct ride home after school. Thank goodness!!
I must say, I absolutely LOVE teaching, but I am finding myself looking more forward to the arrival of Brooklyn than I did the first day of school this time around.
And as for this preggo teacher, my ankles and feet look like melons :(
I now have "kankles" and try not to look down at how nasty they really look. So sitting here with my feet up and on-ice, I am glad to put the first day behind me!

Dr. Appointment

Brooklyn and I had an appointment today. I am not dilated yet and my blood pressure was pretty high due to the very stressful changes at work. (It was a HORRIBLE day at school.....lots of Baxton Hicks) Anyhow, I have gained 1 more pound in two weeks; 16 pounds overall. Dr. McCullough said that I am very small and scheduled me another sonogram for next Wednesday to get the latest measurements of Miss Brooklyn. It is "highly likely" that he will induce the Tuesday or Wednesday after Labor Day, so she is coming SOON!
After the sonogram, we will have an appointment the following day to discuss specifics.

Hello Shopping Spree!

Friday from 12:00-1:00(Yes, Katelyn was being born while we were at the shower...me checking my vibrating phone to get all the updates!!) Aaron's work hosted a baby shower for us. It was a potluck luncheon with tons of yummy food, a beautiful cake and zoo animal decorations and balloons. We received some great gifts and one large gift card from several people. Everyone was super sweet and Aaron and I are extremely grateful to everyone and their generosity!
Given the fact that I had some coupons, the new gift card, and a bit of remaining balance for Babies-R-Us, we decided to head there this morning to purchase some more necessary items. After reviewing our inventory last night, we compared some of the prices between Wal-Mart, Target and Babies-R-Us. The things that were significantly cheaper at Target and Wal-Mart, we decided not to buy with our gift card. In fact we got the same Diaper Genie at Target for $24.99 vs Babies-R-Us for $34.99....WOW, huge savings. Anyhow, we bought that and the car seat protectors (Target $14.99, Babies-R-Us $23.99) with our own money, allowing us the opportunity to work with more money on some of the bigger items at Babies-R-Us.
Upon arriving at BRS, we discovered that our stroller was discontinued...AHHHHH!! So, I freaked out for a few minutes (after all, the car seat we already had fit into our stroller as a set). We decided to return our car seat and pick a whole new line. We were able to get the stroller, car seat and base, and pack-n-play. They all match and are a little more "girly-looking" for our Brooklyn! We also were able to get an additional base for Aaron's car, our changing pad, safety items, medical items, and a mattress pad cover with $60.00 to spare on the gift card!!!
WHOHOOO!!! We are definitely set and ready to go for Brooklyn now! And with one more shower to go, we can take care of some more things with time to spare: we hope!

Katelyn Reese de Wolfe

My newest niece, Katelyn Reese de Wolfe was born on August 14th at 7lbs, 3 oz, and 21inches long!! She is super cute and appears to have a strikingly similar appearance to her big sister, Addy. She is a fabulous baby and never cries. She is feeding well and is in great health. The de Wolfe Family is headed home from the hospital today. Yeah for them!
We are praying for them all and Jen's recovery. And Uncle A and Aunt E are very excited to meet Miss Kate this Christmas holiday!

Infant CPR Class

Well, it's a darn good thing that none of the participants in the class were in need of immediate CPR. An instructor was never actually assigned to our class, so after 30 minutes of waiting, a manager finally arrived to "fill-in." Needless to say, there were 9 slightly irritated couples when he walked in and began apologizing.
On the upside of things, we received a kit that has an inflatable infant: "Mini Baby", instructional dvd, and a few other helpful tools to inform/practice CPR and choking procedures on your baby. While the class was a waste of time, the personal kit was worth the money. You live, you learn when it comes to some things and we feel that it is better to be informed than not when it comes to the life of our little Brooklyn.

Hehe.....I told Aaron that the Mini Baby could serve as a practice tool for him changing a diaper!! He did not seem too anxious to try it!

Getting There...

Brooklyn and I had another doctors visit today and we are both doing wonderfully! Well, I am still having discomfort in my upper abdomen, but the doctor said that it is very normal at this stage in the pregnancy. Brooklyn was a little excited today with a heart rate of 142 and moving like crazy. I weighed in (as always....yuck) and have lost 1 pound. (Really?? it surely doesn't feel like it, but good for me.) Dr McCullough said to stay hydrated and try to keep eating little snacks throughout the day, since big meals have been unbearable.
I go back in two weeks, August 20th, when he will check for dilation. Then I will go every week for check-ups. We are getting there!!

Bargain Grandma's

I have two very helpful Grandma's on the lookout for great "Brooklyn-type" stuff. Yesterday, I went with Gamma Hein and Nana de Wolfe to Kohl's (Gamma had some Kohl's cash to redeem) and they went bananas in the clothing department. Thanks Gamma!!! I was also able to get a maternity outfit, dress carpi's and a top for $20! That's crazy good for how freakin' expensive those items usually are.
Brooklyn got several more outfits, sleepers, bibs, receiving blankets and socks. Her wardrobe is becoming more lavish than her mommy's.....Oh dear! Well, except for in the shoe department, but we are slowly working on convincing daddy of the necessity.
And Gamma Hein had mentioned some clearance items at Target, so I went and checked it out today and found a high chair for 50% off!!! Yes! Forget all the matching stuff that we registered for, it's down to the nitty-gritty.....we need to get these items. Registering is like a little kids Christmas list; you hope to get the things on it, but if not, they are a little out of range for your own preference. At this point in the game, 6 weeks left, we are in need of some of the bigger items, but have trouble swallowing the costs of them all. (pack-n-play $200, stroller $140, etc.) It certainly adds up. And while some people give gift cards, it is not always enough to buy ALL the things you still need. (changing pad, bottles, monitor)
Besides, I don't think anyone is going to point out the fact that our car seat, pack-n-play, and high chair are different color schemes.....at least I hope not!
So, with Gamma and Nana looking, we are in good shape :)
Oh, and did I mention, the high chair has zoo animals on it....that does go with our nursery theme.

All Pics from North Carolina

Vacation to Corolla, North Carolina

Day 1: Saturday, July 25th
After Aaron took his final, we headed to the airport and had a 2.5 hour plane trip into Charlotte, NC. We were greeted by my parents and dropped our bags off at the hotel and eat a nice dinner in downtown Charlotte with some sightseeing.
Day 2: Sunday, July 26th
We departed from Charlotte around 9:00 am and drove 7 hours to Corolla. We arrived at the house (8 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a theatre room, game room with pool table, foosball, and game machine, swimming pool, jacuzzi, and tons of space) and scoped everything out! Majority of my family arrived that night and we had pulled pork for dinner and enjoyed each others company.
Day 3: Monday, July 27th
Aaron and I got up for a run (walk for me) and hung out on the beach and by the pool most of the day. There were a few showers that rolled in later in the day and that gave everyone an opportunity to explore the in's and out's to the movie room and game room. Dinner was hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixings. Late that night, a few of us got into the hot tub.
Day 4: Tuesday, July 28th
My birthday! Aaron, my dad and myself headed to Grandy (about 30 miles from the house) for a 9:00 tee time at Goose Creek Golf Club. I had been having trouble with my upper abs (pains from Brooklyn stretching my body to the limits) and decided it was best not to risk further discomfort and was the photographer instead of a participant. The course was sub par and very wet from the rain the night before. We had lunch and got back to the house around 1:30. We, again, lounged around on the beach and played a little volleyball in the pool. Dinner was a 4 course meal and wine pairing prepared by my mom. It was excellent! Late that night, Aaron and I headed down to the beach with the flashlight and saw the thousands of sand crabs....Aaron had never seen that before and I was a complete wimp when it came to getting close to them :) They were everywhere, so it made things interesting.
Day 5: Wednesday, July 29th
Aaron and I went for a morning walk on the beach and at 11:00 am, I had a massage!! I had scheduled a lady to come to the house and me, my mom, my aunt, and cousin all got a massage. It was heavenly and greatly improved some of my "growing" pains. Aaron, my dad, and myself then headed into the city of Corolla to do some souvenir shopping and scope out another (nicer) golf course. When we returned, more beach time and dinner that night was melt-in-your-mouth ribs that my uncle Dan had shipped in from another state. Later that night, the family played Pictionary, Apples to Apples and CLR.
Day 6: Thursday, July 30th
Aaron and I slept in. Once we were up, he went for a run and I went for a walk. At noon, my dad and Aaron teed off with two other golfers while my mom and I rode along and I took pictures. Currituck Golf Course was breath-takingly beautiful with 9 holes along the bay/sound side. We arrived back at the house around 5:00 and for dinner we had filet mignon prepared by my uncle Rob. A few more storms rolled in that night.
Day 7: Friday, July 31st
Aaron and I woke up at 6:00 am to see the sunrise. There were some clouds, but overall it was very pretty. We went back to bed and made it another beach day. We did head into Duck, another close city, that afternoon and did a little more shopping and sightseeing. Dinner was ordered by my Uncle Jim from a seafood restaurant and my mom made me a birthday cake that we all enjoyed. Then all the guys and I played poker that night.
Day 8: Saturday, August 1st
We packed our bags, said goodbye and hit the road at 10:00 am. 7.5 hours later, we arrived at the airport and boarded a 2.5 hour plane ride. We arrived in Texas at 10:00 pm to a fallen backyard fence and a screw in my Explorer tire. Welcome home!

We had a great time with my family. It was nice to get in a relaxing vacation before the arrival of Brooklyn in less than 7 weeks.
And I apologize for my brief recap, but there is no way to get into all the details.

Upstairs Bathroom Remodel

We got new marble counter tops(Rainforest), hardware, lighting, paint color, fixtures, and different shower curtain in the bathroom upstairs. It is just shy of completion...Aaron is going to frame the mirror with stained trim. A far cry from the old look!
Old Look:

New Look:

Latest News on Brooklyn and Mommy

We had our third trimester sonogram yesterday and a check-up appointment today. Brooklyn is doing wonderfully!! We are so very blessed. All of her organs and body parts are developing and functioning as they should. The margin of error is only 4 days, which means: the growth of Brooklyn to where I am in my pregnancy is right on. Most people have a range of 10-14 days, resulting in a later delivery date than stated. She is now measuring at 3 pounds, 15 ounces and is in the 35th percentile. The technician estimated that with her growth continuing at this rate she will be in the high 6 pound-low 7 pound range at birth (thank goodness)! Brooklyn is still a girl, no unwanted surprises...we even got to see her "hamburger bun." This was the term used by the technician to describe her vaginal area, which, Aaron and I thought was hilarious! Her heart rate is still in the low 130's. She is also head-down, another plus. We had a chance to see her feet and toes and they do resemble toes, rather than fingers like her Daddy has! Aaron is completely convinced that she has my chubby nose and big lips....we shall see soon.
On a not-so-exciting note: I have jumped in weight in the last 2 weeks. The doctor said that I am probably retaining more water weight, hence my slightly more swollen feet and ankles.
Goodbye skinniness and comfort; Hello HUGE preggo :(
We discussed labor and delivery topics and the likelihood of him inducing is pretty good. He said if Brooklyn is ready and he is available, he would like to make it a scheduled occasion.
So, everyone keep your fingers crossed for 09-09-09!

My Baby Shower

Thank you friends and family!

My baby shower was fantastic! Aaron and I are just in awe at the generosity and thoughtfulness of all our friends and family. We received tons of wonderful gifts and Brooklyn's book collection is overflowing her bookshelf! Aaron could not believe his eyes when he arrived home late last night at all the things we had gotten. From shampoo to gift cards to strollers to outfits, it was amazing! I could not have asked for a more perfect occasion.

Some more details about the actual shower besides how blessed we are.....
Food: chicken salad sandwiches, stuffed mushrooms, deviled eggs, fresh fruit and assorted nuts, macaroni salad, and over-sized chocolate and vanilla cupcakes
Games: baby shower word scramble (Amanda Hein, winner), naming the offspring of various animals (Colleen Hein, winner), string estimation of my baby belly (Amber Bennett, winner)
Favors: handmade and decorated giraffe shaped shortbread cookies (Debbie de Wolfe) and personalized memory tins filled with gummy bears (Pam Sanders)
Decor: various zoo animals (mostly giraffes!!) with yellow, green, and pink, a baby frame for everyone to sign as a memento, fresh flowers, and a miniature crib with puppets inside as a centerpiece
Special People: Pam Sanders (Jennifer de Wolfe's mom) hosted this wonderful shower at her home with beautiful decorations and tasty food. Kelli Sanders (Pam's daughter-in-law) co-hosted and aided in every aspect. Debbie de Wolfe (my mom) co-hosted with outstanding desserts and decorations.

I am so grateful to Pam, Kelli, and my mom for making this such a special shower and for everyone who attended and gave gifts from near and far. I was blown away and still am by every one's graciousness.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.......from Aaron, Erin and Brooklyn Hein



(even Chip was overwhelmed by all the gifts!)

Preparation

So, with some time on my hands, I have made a few checklists and "must do" in preparation of Brooklyn's arrival.

1) We have chosen a pediatrician.
2) We have toured and registered with the hospital. (paperwork completed too!)
3) I am currently clearing out a large cabinet in the kitchen for all the necessary feeding items to be stored in.
4) I have made a "when I go into labor" and "when she arrives" call/text list of people.
5) I am halfway through the list of dinners I am going to precook and freeze for 2-3 weeks postpartum.
6) Of course, I have a list of questions/topics to discuss with my OBGYN for my final sonogram.
7) Finally, I have made a checklist for all the things needed for the hospital. (these will be in the Explorer 3-4 weeks prior to due date, just in case)
But I need help from some experienced mommy's out there to make sure there is nothing I have left out or haven't thought of on this list of things as well as my checklist below......

side note: Yes, I am aware that I am a freak and as overly prepared as I am for everything (including this), I'm sure all this planning will fall apart just like my body will during delivery!

Explorer Preparation:
1. Car seat securely in place
2. Towels
3. Suitcase and hospital items

Hospital Check List:
(Mommy and daddy’s suitcase)
o Robe
o 5 pairs of socks
o 5 pairs of underwear
o 3 night outfits
o 3 daytime outfits
o Slippers and shoes
o Toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrush, lip balm, brush, shampoo, body wash, face wash, hair ties, lotion, hair dryer
o Nursing bras and pads
o Panty liners/pads
o Blanket
o Wallet and purse

(Mommy and daddy’s other)
o Ipod
o All paperwork: registration info, my lists, helpful tips, phone #’s
o Pregnancy/parenting books (necessary)
o Phones and charger
o Camera and charger
o Video camera and charger
o Reading material/games
o Stopwatch
o Extra pillows
o Dollars and coins
o Various snacks

(Brooklyn’s diaper bag)
o 5 bodysuits
o 3 various outfits (going home)
o Blanket
o Burp cloths
o Pacifier
o Memory Book (footprints)

Time to Slowwww Dowwwwn

As Aaron and I headed home from Houston on Sunday, he decided he was going to go golfing that afternoon. I had gotten very little sleep over the wedding weekend, but decided I would go with and get some more practice. I barely lasted 9 holes. With the temperature rising to around 102 degrees, I was whipped. I ended up driving home, showering and returning to pick up Aaron and his dad after they finished the 18. Oh boy!
For the past few months, Brooklyn has stayed uncomfortably in my ribs, causing a lot of pressure in my upper abdomen (like when you completely overeat and you feel super full). Tolerable majority of the time, but in the past recent weeks, it has become problematic for this mommy-to-be. I seem more worn down, can barely finish even kid portion-sized meals and can not handle sitting or standing for long periods of time. At my last appointment with the doctor, I asked him about some of the pressure-like pains I was having in 30-45 second intervals when I was running...."minor contractions" he told me, advising me to stop running and just keep to walking and using the elliptical. And this outrageous Texas heat is not making any type activities easier. Such is life, I guess.
Anyhow, all this to say.....Aaron put it to me the best on Sunday, "I think it is time you start acting like your 7-8 months pregnant." Bummer :(
I am looking forward to acting preggo during my first baby shower this Sunday!!

Brittany's Wedding!

Jonathan and Brittany Kasischke!

My final college roommate had her wedding on July 11th and it was a fabulous ceremony and reception! It was an honor to be one of her bridesmaids as well! No more weddings for Aaron and I for as far as we can see :) Enjoy the newlywed life!
http://picasaweb.google.com/erin.hein/BrittanySWedding#

Thoughts that keep me up at night...

After cleaning the house and mowing the lawn tonight while Aaron worked and attended class, I began thinking again about my "soon-to-be" effectiveness as a wife, professional, and mommy. How will I ever continue this same regimen?? This overwhelming new "item" on my plate is beginning to become quiet prevalent in my mind and occasionally has caused serious doubts/concerns in my personal ability to achieve. I remember my sister-in-law telling me once that she felt as though she was failing at being a wife, mom and teacher because she no longer could give 100% to each one. She, of course, is an extremely devoted wife, a phenomenal teacher and an outstanding mother; I now am arising upon the same thought process. Scary to think about.
I have always tried to do everything and do them ALL well. I have not always been the best wife, but have been consistent about doing the house duties and helping Aaron around the house with projects as much as I possibly can. As a teacher, I usually go above and beyond as often as possible...yes, I make numerous mistakes, but its the effort, right???
With a mommy role approaching with speed, how will I ever add this factor to my life and do it with the intensity and dedication that it deserves and that I strive for? The sheer idea of failure in any of these areas is absolutely devastating to consider. Parenting book after book, I read to educate myself on the most unpredictable and mind-boggling event to happen to oneself that is an ongoing process for years and years to come. WOW!! How about that food for thought?
As these thoughts run through my head night after night, I ask myself, "What is going to give? How will I ever do it ALL?" The "What if..." list of questions is endless. I don't want to be that person who is known as a slacker at work or bitch of a wife or the mother that can't control her child.
I guess all you can do is continue to stay focused, try your best and search for guidance in all positive directions.

TO DO...Find Pediatrician: Check!

I went and visited with another pediatrician this morning and it went really well! The facility was very clean and super kiddo friendly (which most are, I would think). I spent about 20 minutes with Dr. Fikkert and she was "the one." We joked about the stress of being a parent and chatted about marathon running because she trains and I brought up Aaron. I, of course, had my list with the essentials listed to ask and we ran through those. But it was just so comfortable and with such ease we were able to talk about things and discuss some of her philosophies and so forth: All and all, a GREAT VIBE!! The only con to this facility that the other one had was no on-site pharmacy. However, this practice is housed within a general hospital, so if there is an emergency, I am headed to the same place and the Dr office is just on the opposite end of the hospital. She works very closely with the hospital I will be delivering at and will be seeing Brooklyn immediately there. All of her partners within the practice come highly recommended just like she is. And she knows my OBGYN. (I will visit with him about her tomorrow and see what he has to say.)
YIPPEEE, I have found Brooklyn's new doctor! All other appointments have been cancelled at this point :)

Pediatrician #1

Aaron and I met with one of Brooklyn's prospective pediatricians yesterday. The doctor was very sweet and knowledgeable. She was down to earth and we both liked her; very pleased. She works closely with the hospital we are delivering at and would be there within 12-24 hours to meet Brooklyn and examine her immediately. The facility was ok, not top of the line, but also not intolerable. The "well" child area was just newly remodeled and was really cute, but the "sick" child area was a little dated. The staff was friendly and well equipped with miniature laptops (it holds all the patients information, they no longer use pencil/paper recordings....kinda cool). And one of the best features was :)the fact that they had a pharmacy on-site, so you wouldn't have to worry about waiting to call your prescription into Walgreen's or where ever and pick up the medication 3 hours later. Definitely a lot of pros and some cons.
Aaron and I are obviously still getting our feet wet when it comes to all of this, so we are not ready to jump on anything just yet. I am meeting with pediatrician #2 on Monday morning and that will give us a better basis for comparison.