Visitors...

I'm trying to catch up on blog posts and have several to do for Sydney's arrival. We had lots of visitors at the hospital and at home afterwards. This was really nice because we weren't allowed any visitors when we had Amelia. I was really sick even after my c-section so my doctor wouldn't allow anyone but Alex and a few family members in to see us. So when people asked if we were up for visitors this time around, I quickly said, YES! I was asleep most of the day (I think day two of being in the hospital) so I don't have pictures of everyone, but here are some of our friends/family that stopped by to see sweet Sydney.

Here's my doctor. Love Dr. S and his entire staff.



A very special visitor had to come see her baby sister. She loved holding her and was so gentle. Looking at these pictures, I realized not only has Sydney changed but Amelia has changed a lot in just 6 weeks as well! Craziness.

Time, please stand still.



Aunt "Fecia", Uncle Drew & Aunt E, Papa, and our friend, Heather.



Granny, our friend, Niki, Uncle Gerry & Aunt Joy, and Papa.



Our friend, Rachel, Uncle Kevin & Aunt Sandi, Mimi (Sydney's Great Grandmother), and Nana.



Daddygrand, Aunt Joy, Uncle Chris, and Laila.



Aunt Jen



Uncle Cary & Aunt Sara



Aunt E



She's one loved baby girl. That's for sure!

Love to all,

Easter 2012...

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday! I only got about 3 hours of sleep the night before but it was worth it. I got up early to make cinnamon rolls and muffins for church. I also made two of Pioneer Woman's flat apple pies.

I started an oven fire while making the pies.

Like big flames inside my oven.

Let's just say I wouldn't make a good fireman. I panicked and started jumping around the kitchen like my hair was on fire and burned my leg and finger during the process. Fireman Alex quickly grabbed the baking soda and put out the fire.

I had the girls' baskets out and ready for them that morning. Amelia received stuff like pajamas, colored bubbles, flashing toothbrush, button candy, color wonder paper, chapstick, strawberry milk straws, and a bunny purse. She asked her Daddy for a pinwheel the week before Easter so I was on a hunt to find one! She received one in her basket last year and after months of playing with it - it finally broke. Girlfriend can make a dollar toy last forever! FYI: I love Target dollar bin.



Sydney received a sophie the giraffe, socks, pinwheel (that Amelia plays with), and a bunny rabbit. I found their sweet bunnies at Cracker Barrel...they play Jesus Loves Me. Amelia has adopted Sydney's until she's old enough to care for it. Isn't she a good big sister?



I was excited that I didn't have to buy dresses for the girls this year. I ordered Amelia's last year and it didn't fit. I just tucked it away in her closet and it fit perfectly this year! I just bought her a little sweater and had her monogram put on it.



My MIL had given me this dress/sweater set for Sydney before she was born. I had her initial and monogram put on them and she was ready to go!



And I have to show you Sydney's barefoot sandals that I ordered from Etsy. I want some of these in every color until she can wear shoes because socks and shoes just don't stay on a baby's feet! Can you say PRESH??



Alex gave a wonderful message on the holiness of God. I think I cried through the entire worship service and a lot of the message. How can you not cry when you think about what Christ did for us? And yes, He died, but on the 3rd day...HE AROSE!! I serve a RISEN SAVIOR. That's what Easter Sunday is all about. Praise Him!!



They had an Easter egg hunt for the kids immediately following the service. Amelia got the hang of it quickly and filled up that bag.



My in-laws with some of their grandbabies.



We had lunch and an Easter egg hunt with my brother-in-law's family this year. We love his family like our own and had the best time! We took fried chicken and these adorable cookies that my friend, Robin made. She is so talented.



The Averitt Girls.



Sydney with her Easter basket. It's as big as she is!



After a yummy lunch of fried chicken, potato salad, corn on the cob, and much more, the kiddos headed out to hunt eggs. Here's Amelia going through her loot. She found lots of eggs with "monies" (as she calls it).



Amelia had fun following Christina and Halee around...she loves hanging out with kiddos that are older than her. She's like a little shadow - copying everything they do.



My B-I-L's Mom, Sheila has the most beautiful backyard. The big kids played football while the rest of us watched. And laughed. Alex blew out his flip flop playing. I've never laughed so hard at my husband. He was playing like he was 18 again. Unfortunately, he did not feel like an 18 year old the next day. ;)



Aunt Joy hung out inside and kept Sydney company. :)



After our afternoon with the Billson Family, we headed home to get ready for my family to come over. Everyone was coming over to celebrate my little brother's birthday. I didn't have it in me to cook a big meal, so I told everyone to come fed and ready for dessert and coffee. I made the apple pies, ordered a key lime pie from a local pie shoppe, and also had Easter smores made with peeps. Mom brought cinnamon sopapilla and Joy brought lemon bars (Drew's fave).



And that was our busy/fun/fabulous Easter Sunday!

Love to all,

All About Sydney - 1 Month Old!

Sydney, you're 1 month old!!

I started this post before you turned one month and I'm just posting it. There are a lot of things taking priority over blogging these days but I want to post even if it's late. I want lots of pictures of these precious first months with you.

You have changed so much in just one month.

Stats at your 1 month doctor's appointment:

Weight: 8 lbs - 11.5 ounces

Length: 20 1/2"

Head circumference: 14"

You can be such a laid back baby but at the same time when you've had enough - you let us know!



You're a good sleeper. After bringing you home from the hospital, you were sleeping 6 hours if we let you. The doctor told us to wake you up and feed you for the first month, so we let you go 4 hours between feedings. You sleep in a bassinet beside our bed. You loved to be swaddled the first few weeks but not anymore.  You would grunt and fight your way out until we finally gave in and let you be free!  This is so opposite of your sister...I swaddled her until there just weren't blankets big enough!

You're our little snuggle bug.  You love to be held.  You can be wide awake and then someone will pick you up and BOOM....out like a light!

You like your hands in your face when sleeping.  You were like this on some of the ultrasound pics we had before you were born as well...hands were always up by your face.

You're such a good eater. We've never had an issue with nursing and I'm so thankful for that!

You only want your pacifier if really hungry and waiting to be fed or sometimes when you're trying to go to sleep. Otherwise, you act like it's the worst thing we've ever put in your mouth.

You love your swing and bouncy seat. 

You smile in your sleep a lot.  I love catching your grins on camera. :)



Your big sister loves you SO MUCH. 

So much it hurts 

You

Sometimes ;) 

It's hard for her to keep her hands off you - she says "you're so stinkin' sweet Sydney!"

I love this picture of you. You are so serious. I would love to know what you're thinking. You're probably thinking something like..."I sure wish she'd get that camera out of my face."

You are such a sweet baby.

You're the perfect addition to our family.

We just love you so much!!

Daddy and Mommy

Our new normal...

I've sat down at my computer several times since Sydney's arrival and have tried to blog. Each and every time I end up stopping to nurse, change a diaper, do a load of laundry, have a tea party, take a nap if both girls are sleeping, etc. It's our new normal...at least for now. :) Our days are flying by. Amelia loves Sydney and wants to help with her. She loves on her constantly. I feel like she has handled this huge change in the very best way, but I still see she has a need for one-on-one time. She asked me over the weekend if I was all better so I could carry her. Bless her heart. I want nothing more than to pick her up and carry her around the house like I do Sydney. 2 more weeks, baby...2 more weeks!! She used to get every single minute of my day...all to herself. We would play all day, have lunch dates, take a nap, run errands, and then cook dinner together. Needless to say, things have changed. So when I do have a moment to have a tea party, color, play with play-doh, or just watch a cartoon with her - I'm making it a priority to do it.



Just about every time we get in the car - I'm reminded that we're a family of four now and I'll look at Alex and say, "we have two kids!" For some reason I don't think about it when we're home - it's just when we're going somewhere. Maybe because it takes so much time and energy to get ready and go somewhere these days. :)

I have SO MANY PICTURES to post from our hospital stay, Sydney's newborn pics, pics of the girls since coming home from the hospital, etc. I'll slowly but surely get them posted. I know it will take a little more effort to blog but I want to have record of these sweet days/nights with Sydney, just like I did with Amelia. I love this newborn stage. LOVE IT. Despite being sleep deprived, it only lasts for a very short time and I enjoy every minute of it.



I can't believe Easter is in less than a week! I love Easter Sunday. Easter was the one holiday as a child that we received a new dress and can I just say - my 35 year old self still feels the need to buy a new outfit! But as an adult, it's more than just the new outfit and Easter baskets that make it such an important day. I get very emotional when I stop and think about what Jesus did for me on that cross.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

-The Old Rugged Cross
George Bennard, 1913

I started picking things up for the girls' baskets months ago - they're hidden in the closet and ready to go for Easter morning, but I'm most excited to do the resurrection eggs with Amelia again this year. It's a great way to explain the Easter story to her. Not that she understands fully but she does ask lots of questions when we talk about Jesus dying on the cross. I have no doubt that she (and Sydney) will understand one day and my prayer is that on that very day they surrender their lives to Christ and accept His precious gift of life. ETERNAL LIFE. Praise His Name....HE IS RISEN!!

Love to all,