The Gloworm

My dad got Arden a gloworm for Christmas and it quickly became her favorite toy (her leapfrog lily is a close second). Arden HATES tummy time. She cries immediately when she is put on her tummy. I hold rattles in front of her, talk and sing to her, promise her a bottle when she gets hungry, a new toy, some cookies, a car for her 32nd birthday...anything to get her to lift her head and use her arms for a second or two. Nothing works. Enter the Gloworm. She laughs when she sees it and is just fascinated by those big eyes and glowing face and if I hold that thing in front of her, she will tolerate tummy time for about 3 minutes! yay!

What's in a Name?

I get asked all the time where I got Arden Brielle's name from and if it is a family name because not many people have heard of it. Well it's not a family name. I work at a pediatric dentist office, so I obviously see lots of kids and I wanted a different name. So my search began. Derek was terrified because he thought my names were too out there.
My friend Misheal lent me a baby name book (which I totally need to get back to you because it looks like you'll be needing it!) and I bought 2 more. We had a list of about 20 names we liked...well I liked 18 and derek liked two (Arden and Brielle weren't either of them). We eventually decided Arden might be the one. I had never seen an Arden at my office...that is until the day AFTER we both decided it might be the winner. A little girl came in and her name was Arden. First one I ever met. She was adorable.
We didn't decide on Brielle until the day we left the hospital. We were playing with 3 different middle names and finally decided that Arden Brielle flowed the best and quite frankly I just think it's adorable and if she ever wants to go by her middle name, it's different too.
Arden means 'burning with enthusiasm', thrilled and excited, eager. Brielle (short form of Gabrielle) means God is my strength, exhalted goddess. It is from Irish and French origin.
A while ago, I was on a pregnancy message board and there was a survey about names. It asked whether your name was common/popular or uncommon/unique and if you liked or disliked your name. Most of the answers of the women who had common names wished they had an uncommon name. They didn't like that they were one of 5 or 20 of (whatever name) in their grade.
I like my name don't get me wrong, but I do wish I had something a little different....like Laquisha or something....hehe.
Hopefully Arden will like one of her names.

2 Months!

Arden had her 2 month check up today and she is 12lbs and 23.5in long. She is in the 90th percentile in height and weight and her head is 99th percentile at 39cm. This just means she is going to be really smart, which of course we all knew that already. The 2 month check up also means she had to get her first shots. It was SOOO sad! I scheduled this appt so Derek would be able to go and hold her and I wouldn't have to watch...but who ended up holding her arms???? Not Derek. Arden eats 6oz about every 4 hours, which seemed like a lot for a 2 month old, so I asked the nurse and she said it is more than normal, but as long as she seems happy, that's all that matters. I love my little porker.

I just wanted to point out that this onesie is 6 months. This picture was taken when Arden was almost 7 weeks old.

Happy Valentine's Day!

She thought her shirt was going to say 'Mommy's Sweetheart'
Giving Daddy the evil eye