Here's hoping everyone had a Merry Christmas!  

We certainly did!

Miss Brynlee is now 4lbs 3.9oz.  

She no longer requires an NG tube because she takes all of her feedings from a bottle or by breast feeding.  She's still doing so well and I'm hoping and guessing that if she keeps behaving that she will be coming home next week!!  Now, MOM, don't go spreading rumors that she's coming home next week!  I'm simply guessing!  Keith and I both say she'll come home on Isaac's birthday which is the 5th!  I just want my baby girl home with us!!  

It's an obsession

She's just a tad obsessed

However, I think she gets this next obsession from me.  

And why not? 

 Who doesn't love Wheel of Fortune?...and it looks like we have a new follower!

Where'd my baby go?

My beautiful little girl is 19 months today.  

Hannah is seriously the sweetest little girl.  She LOVES giving kisses to everyone, to all the animals in her books, to her flashcards, to all her toys and dolls and especially to baby Brynlee's pictures.  She has never been a big tv girl, but has recently discovered Elmo.  Anytime we turn the tv on, she'll stop whatever she is doing and ask for "EH-MO" with a lot of enthusiasm.  But once Elmo is gone, she's back to doing something else.  

She LOVES music and dancing.  If there's music on, she's shaking her body somehow whether it's the feet gently kicking while she's reading, or the full on shimmy that aunt Nat taught her.  And if there's a moments pause before the next song comes on, she's instantly and vigorously shouting for MORE!  

She seems to learn a new word everyday.  She's very polite and says thank you, "teh-tu", whenever you give her anything or doing anything for her.  I need to get a video of her saying all of her words and doing all her tricks.  She's pretty entertaining!

Today, I asked her if she wanted some more food for lunch, to which her response was her typical grunt and "more".  So I took her head in my hands and nodded her head for her while I said YES.  I did this several times, trying to get her to actually say yes, but she wasn't very interested.  Natalie and I continued our conversation, and a few minutes later, we looked over at Hannah and she had her hands on her head, trying to make herself nod!  We were laughing so hard.  And then later this evening, I was sitting on the couch with Hannah reading books and talking to Natalie, when in our conversation, I said, "uhh, yes please," and Hannah took her head and bent at the waist to say yes.  After we laughed and made her do it another 50 times, she finally started saying yes, which is also quite humorous.  So now, she's pretty much dancing, bending her knees up and down with her hands on her head, just to say a simple YES!  She's crazy!

She can also be very fiesty and stubborn, which always keeps things interesting.  Honestly, I kinda like her stubbornness.  I may reget saying that in a few years, but it's only because her tantrums aren't frequent enough to drive me looney.  She does know what she wants, when she wants it, no questions asked.  But in the end, we can always expect the sweetest little "teh-tu" and a kiss.  She makes it really hard to say no to!

I just can't get enough of this girl!!

Brynlee's 1st bottle!

Sunday was such a great day!!  

Not only did my sweet Hannah endure through nursery (see previous post), but miss Brynlee took her first bottle!!  She was so cute!  And, of course like the true Bangart/Anderson that she is, she took it like a CHAMP!!  She DOWNED her full ounce like it was nothing and still kept going.  Plus, she didn't let a single drop drip from her mouth.  

She is either a dainty little girl or she ain't wasting a morsel!!!  I think Hannah must have given her a good pep-talk on eating while she was still in the womb! 

I kept watching her monitors and kept getting told by Keith and the nurses to watch her instead.  She did so well at keeping her sats up.  She did start falling asleep.  Eating is hard work!!  We had to unbundle her and take her cap off to keep her awake.  But by the time she finished, she was OUT, but not before she had a poopy first!  

I love those big bug eyes!

"I am so full!!"

This pic was taken before her bath and feeding.  She has only been laying on the right side of her head, looking out into the room and now her head is flat!  The nurse put this panel in her isolette, the other side is a mirror, and she finally locked onto it like it was the most amazing thing ever!  Hopefully now her head will re-shape itself!

AND...for a fun little fact:

both of my girls took their first bottle at the age of 5 weeks!  

Hannah on 6/20/07

Brynlee on 12/14/08

Our 3 Pound Turkey!

Brynlee reached 3 pounds on Dec. 5th!!  And as of Saturday night she weighed 3lbs 7.7oz!  She went up to 30 cc's or 1 ounce of milk every 3 hours!  She has also graduated to the front and final room of the NICU which means all she needs to do now is gain weight, move from her isolette into an open crib and bottle/breast feed.  They said that within the next few days they will start trying to bottle feed her!  

She's seriously just cruisin' through this NICU/preemie business!

I still can't believe how small she is even though I'm somewhat getting used to her size.  I held a baby in church today and she seemed so big even though she's only a month old!

Grandpa and Grandma Bangart got to come and visit us.  Karen got to stay for the whole week and Dan came for the weekend!  We have had so much fun and have gotten a TON of stuff done around the house.  Thank you both so much for all of your help!

"this is my grampy..."

"have you seen this trick Grammy?"

And there's Miss Hannah.....who only poses for the camera these days if she's got a wrapper or food on her head.  Otherwise, she refuses to look at the camera! 

(Mmmmm....peppermint Ghirardelli chocolate squares...I think I'll go have one right now!)

And in other fantastic news, Hannah made it through nursery today!!!

Well, I'm not saying she was too happy about it the whole time, but she came out with a picture she had colored and a Christmas bell around her neck, and we all know how much this girl loves her necklaces!!!  Hooray for Hannah and hooray for mommy and daddy!!!  I might actually get to pay attention during our classes....but probably not!

She has loved having Grammy and Grandpa here.  We are all going to miss you guys!!

Turkey and Rock Band!

Miles, Tom and Ian came the week before Thanksgiving to celebrate PRE-THANKSGIVING!! We had so much fun. Well, I did...I can't really speak for them. I love having my family here. Miles and Natalie helped with Brynlee's nursery, which I might add looks SO beautiful (it's not quite finished, so those pictures will come later). We worked on the nursery, relaxed and of course played ROCK BAND! Newbies Miles and Tom certainly thought they were hot stuff!

Hannah LOVES watching us play Rock Band.  She had to be snuggled up real close to whoever was playing the drums and everytime a song would end, she'd ask for more in that sweet little voice of hers!  She's the cutest!

Tatem with her daddy/clone

Hannah found some new suckers to read to her!  You can become instant friends with Hannah by reading a book with her, or feeding her, which ever is more convenient.

Uhhh...could someone please get my daughter a comb!!

Our pre-Thanksgiving feast!!  It was so delicious!  

And the best part?...I didn't really have to do anything!!  

(Again, someone find Hannah a comb!!)

Uncle Miles and Brynlee.  Uncle Ian and Tom also got to see her, but I guess no pics were taken.

Thanks for a fantastic holiday!  I can't wait to see you all again for Christmas!!!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great for us.  We visited baby Brynlee in the morning and then went over to our friends house for a fantastic feast!  

So here's our hopeless attempt at a family picture on Thanksgiving.  

Hannah was not in the picture taking mood.  And actually, neither was Keith.  

Honestly and sadly, this is the best we ended up with.  

A couple days later I finally got to do kangaroo care with Brynlee. 

 --Kangaroo care seeks to provide restored closeness of the newborn with mother and/or father by placing the infant in direct skin-to-skin contact with one of them. This ensures physiological and psychological warmth and bonding. The kangaroo position provides ready access to nourishment. The mother's body responds to the needs of the infant directly, helping regulate temperature more smoothly than an incubator, her milk adjusts to the nutritional and immunological needs of her fragile infant, and the baby sleeps more soundly. --

I loved it!  And she seemed to be pretty cozy!