Introducing Brooklyn Allyson Reaves

Yesterday, Shane and I welcomed a new niece into the Poe family. Derek and Kim had their second child, a daughter whom they named Brooklyn Allyson. "Brooke" is Kim's middle name and "Lyn" is my mom's middle name and my grandmother's first name; hence "Brooklyn." And "Allyson" comes from our dear friend Allyson Beckering who died tragically in a car wreck twelve years ago when she was only nineteen. We miss Allyson very much, and it's so special that her memory is carried on in the life of such a precious child.

Brooklyn was born at 2:12 p.m. in Austin, Texas. She weighed 7 lbs, 13 oz. and was 19 3/4 inches long. She is a very beautiful baby and is born into a loving, caring family. We were there when Big Brother Barrett arrived and got to see him look at his sister and his mom and be excited that "Brooklyn come."

Congratulations, Derek, Kim, and Barrett, and a great big welcome to Brooklyn. We love you.

Changing Days

Finally, a post.

Two weeks ago today we took the pacifier away from Elizabeth. You may think that it's a little early for us to do this (I agree), but when the doctor told us, "It will only get harder as she gets older," Shane's logic agreed with her. Several days later he tells me, "I think we need to take the pacifier away from Elizabeth." What he meant was, "It's time YOU take the pacifier away from her." It's the same thing when he says, "I think WE need to call the doctor." What he really means is, "I think YOU need to call the doctor." It's that wonderful royal "We," the "we" that really needs me"

So I took it away from her and she cried, sobbed really, for 2 hours straight. I felt miserable. I didn't pick her up, but I went in there often to comfort her and rub her forehead, which she didn't appreciated and kept swatting my hand away. She wanted me to pick her up. She just didn't understand why she couldn't get something that she'd never gone without. And she didn't want to understand. I kept thinking, "It's just a paci. What's the big deal?!! I should just give it to her. I don't want her to feel like I don't love her. Just give it to her." I wanted to give it to her so bad; I just felt awful. But we've stuck with it and going on three weeks now, she has finally adjusted. It's been an EXTREMELY long three weeks without much time to write and without much emotional energy. Elizabeth is finally sleeping better but still doesn't go down for naps as easily as she did when she had her paci. But we're proud of her for adjusting and glad to be through this stage. I hope she doesn't start sucking her thumb (not that I have a big problem with this), only because we weaned her off the pacifier and don't want her to resort to some other form of sucking. If she does, well, I'll just have to give her the pacifier back.