Alaina Violet Branstad is here!

Hello World!  This is Alaina.  If you want, you can call me Lainey for short, like Daddy does.  My middle name is Violet - just like my great grandma Violet.  Mommy has been behind on updating the blog with my arrival so I decided to take things into my own hands while she takes a nap. Sheesh - I'm a month old - what's the hold up? Apparently between feedings, diaper changes, and snuggling with me there's little time for things like blog writing - who knew!!!?

I surprised Mommy and Daddy by arriving almost 2 weeks early, but I was ready to see the world!  I was born at 6:46 p.m. on August 10, 2012.  I was 7 pounds 2 ounces and 20 inches long.  Mommy's going to have Daddy write the birth story post eventually because he knows the details of it as well as he knows Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.

Here's what I've been up to the last month (in pictures of course):

Here's me and Mommy right after I was born.  We were so happy to meet each other and snuggle!

Me and Mommy and Daddy!  I sure do love them!

Can you imagine how big I would have been had I arrived on my due date? Yikes.

I've got these two wrapped around my little finger! Muhahahahaha!

Taking a napski in my bassinet at the hospital

On the way home from the hospital

You're going to give me a WHAT???!?!!

Just chillin' in my ballerina outfit!

I'm not a fan of diaper changes!

I heart my family!  And Daddy did finally shave his scraggly beard.

Hanging out with my boyfriends - The McRae Twins - and my new friend Callie!

Snuggling with Mommy.

How do you like my rainbow socks?

I heart my bouncy seat!

Loungin'

Napping with Daddy

Tummy time - I'm so strong!

Mommy likes close-ups

I can hold my book!

Like my dress?

Holding Daddy's pinkies

More snuggles with Mommy

I love my cradle

MOM!

Mom doesn't have as much space on her lap as Daddy does

About to go into a milk coma

I love it when Mommy sings "Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty" to me! I wonder if she's going to get all her parenting skills from the Big Bang Theory?

Snoozing

Mommy rocks me to sleep every night - it's our favorite.

One of the rare times Mom and Dad let me have my arms out of my sleep sack

Duh.

Visiting Great-Grandma Violet

Stttrrrreeeetttcccchhh!!

First time with the paci

Looking comfy in my swing

Where are my clothes, Mom?!

Nana made me a boppy nest and I zonked out

One Month Old! I don't know if I trust that sheep!

Check back for more updates! Hopefully Mom starts getting more sleep so she can do this herself!  Time to wake up Mom so I can eat.....