November 2009

Here are a few of the latest pictures of Brenna.  She is tolerating her hairbows a little better these days :-)  She has grown and changed so much within the last couple of weeks.  She has reached several milestones, including smiling, cooing, grabbing objects (like her binky), laughing, rolling over (one way), and can almost hold her own head up!  We have enjoyed watching her grow.  She will be 12 weeks old this Tuesday -- where does the time go?? 

Brenna's First Halloween

We had lots of fun this year for Brenna's first Halloween!  We had lunch with Grandpa (Marty) at Houston's where Brenna showed off her fantastic candy corn socks.  They were a hit!  After lunch we gave candy out to trick-or-treaters and then got ready for the block party on our street.  Brenna was a kangaroo -- complete with her own Joey!  Her costume came straight from Melbourne, Austrailia and was a gift from Mimi and Grandpa.  We dressed up like Wildlife Reserve workers to complement Brenna's costume.  She was the cutest little kangaroo!

Brenna's Newborn Photos - taken October 8, 2009

Our great friend, Kelly Crabb, blessed us by capturing Brenna on film during her first few weeks.  She was 3 weeks old at the time.  While there were many beautiful shots, we've posted just a few of our favorites.  Brenna has a wide range of expressions as you can see...

Almost 2 months old!

Next Tuesday, Brenna will be 8 weeks old!  We are celebrating with a trip to the pediatrician's office for shots (fun times).  We are looking forward to having a little more flexibility to take Brenna out after the first round of vaccinations.  So far, she has attended two birthday dinners and been out to eat a few times.  She was on her best behavior for all the outings :)  God has blessed us with a baby who loves to go out to eat...very handy for our family! 
Brenna has reached many milestones in a short time - recognizing voices, following objects, smiling, cooing, holding her head up on her own for several seconds (while being held), and batting at objects (like Dexter).  We have had a lot of fun watching her grow!  It is so rewarding to watch her develop new skills and interact with others.  Though it has been a huge adjustment for all three of us, these first two months have been amazing!  We are truly Blessed.

Playtime is fun!!

Now that Brenna is feeling better, we play together after every feeding.  She loves her pink and purple playmat!  She gets lots of exercise by kicking her legs and reaching for flowers and butterflies overhead.  We've enjoyed watching her smile and coo during playtime this week.  On one occasion, she had such a good time she almost fell asleep on the mat!  The mat is also good for tummy time, but Brenna is not too big a fan of being on her stomach yet.  We usually get about 5 minutes of tummy time in twice a day.  She is able to move her head from side to side and also lifts it up for a few seconds.  She sure is growing up fast!!

Brenna's first bath

Do you remember the first time you caught a big fish and tried to hold it to take the picture...before someone showed you the right way...?  Our first bath experience with Brenna was similar, but much more special of course.  She typically doens't like to be unswaddled and lets us know with her beautiful voice, but she was extremely calm and peaceful while we were pouring water on her.  I wonder if she'll be a swimmer... :)

Maternity Pictures

On July 31, 2009, our gracious friend and talented photographer, Kelly Crabb, blessed us by taking these maternity photos at Great Oaks Manor in Sugar Land TX.

Brenna's Birth

We were truly blessed by God, family, friends and staff at Texas Womens Hospital in the Houston Medical Center.  Their hearfelt care was vital to us making the transition for our bundle of joy while we had a relaxing recovery .  They couldn't have been any more attentive to our needs and compassionate to us.  Because of their support, we were able to come home in top form the evening of Thursday, August 27.

Brenna has arrived!

Brenna Laine McBeth was born on August 25, 2009 at 6:20p CST.  She weighed 7lbs 5oz and was 20 1/4 inches long.  She is healthy, happy and loves long walks on the beach.  She and Mom are doing great and are getting adjusted BTZ (Brenna's Time Zone).