It occurred to me that some people don't know where or how we got O'lena's name. She is named after my grandfather's (O'lena's great-grandfather's) aunt. Come to find out it is the Russian or Ukrainian form of Helen, which means "bright light." Yes, she is..our bright light! :) Her middle name is for my mother. It was a toss up between O'lena Lynn or O'lena Jane (for Derick's mother) but since she was born on Lynn's birthday, we though it would be more fitting :):)
She has gotten big and definitely more independent. (She moved into 0-3 months clothes!) We have moved her into her own room now too. Sleep has been a lot better for Derick and I. She was just getting so loud at night. I think she herself is sleeping better too. At times we get 4 hour spells at night. It is nice. There were a couple of nights that I was SO over the waking up thing, but I have gotten better. She is also having more and longer awake and alert periods during the day, which are fun. It is cool because she is reacting more to people.
It has been interesting taking care of her during the day. I think....I hope I have gotten over the "I'm so bored" stage. I have been able to be more motivated and get more accomplished. I do still tend to get distracted by her and just hold her for long periods of times just because I want to! I fell that I am allotted that privilege :)
Derick is still loving being a daddy. He has been absolutely great! I think he might actually enjoy changing diapers. When we are out and about he always wants to be the one to change her.
These pictures are from camping over the New Years. We were just visiting the camping. It was very cold that evening and lucky Bryan's girlfriend got O'lena this warm lamb outfit. She was so flippin cute!! There is also a rare picture of Uncle Bryan holding her. He was on this "I don't want to hold" her kick for a little while, but I think she has won him over too. Uncle Kevyn is definitely more willing to hold her.
This is her at 3 weeks. She was looking so cute that day!! Oh man I just want to eat her!! You can also see her curls. She gets them when her hair is wet. Way cute!
This is daddy giving her, her first bottle. She is going to have to be bottle fed when I go back to work so we wanted her to get used to it. I was pumping for storage for a while but it seemed like she wasn't getting enough to eat while I doing it. We have also Incorporated formula and that has seemed to fulfill her better. She gets one to two bottles of formula a day. It seems to be working well.
This is Oma and O'lena when she turned 4 weeks.
This was when O'lena and the Don (Sebastian) hanging out together. She was being really cute here too.
She was talking and smiling here so I turned on the camera. It was adorable, but WARNING there is spit-up involved.
Whitney: "Ahhhh look at this."
All is going better here. She is actually sleeping better and I am being more motivated during the day. She is also becoming more active, smiling, and fun. The problem now lies in the fact that I am starting to get panicking that I have to go back to work in a couple of weeks. I am trying really hard not to think about it. I miss work and the kids, but for some reason I really have started have anxiety about leaving her. I am also going to Tampa this weekend for a wedding shower and leaving her with her daddy for the day, but I really don't want to go because I don't want to leave her at all. I am going to be two hours away! But I am forcing myself to go. I have to go! I hope these feeling are natural and will not get out of hand.
Those sunglasses kill me!!
Derick being super daddy!!! Here is caring a baby and making the best pulled pork EVER!!!
It occurred to me that some people don't know where or how we got O'lena's name. She is named after my grandfather's (O'lena's great-grandfather's) aunt. Come to find out it is the Russian or Ukrainian form of Helen, which means "bright light." Yes, she is..our bright light! :) Her middle name is for my mother. It was a toss up between O'lena Lynn or O'lena Jane (for Derick's mother) but since she was born on Lynn's birthday, we though it would be more fitting :):)
Two of my favorites. She was so mad because she was cold.
This one with Derick was just a candid shot. He was just holding her to try to clam her and they shot it.
The family portrait.
These are the Bryant sibling shots. I think they turned out awesome too. Wesley (the baby of the family) is the tallest, Calvin (the second to the youngest) is sorter one, Derick, and Jessica (one of the sisters) are pictured. For those of you who do not know there are 9 siblings total in the family. 5 boys and 4 girls. I think O'lena will fit right it, don't you? She looks like her daddy and his family. It was awesome to have them here.
