More pics

Ready for a day of shopping with the girls

Andrew evidently is over clothes. Every time we turn around he has taken them off!

All dressed up for her first pool party!

Neighborhood water ballon fight

4 weeks

Whew! I can't believe it has been 4 weeks since we became a family of 4. Time is moving fast but sometimes days (and nights) are VERY slow.

Andrew is doing great as a big brother. He loves to help and his new favorite game is babies. He feeds, burps and rocks his baby. He uses the "curtain" and lifts up his shirt to feed the baby. I have been trying to explain that only Mommy's feed the baby this way and big brothers and daddy's use a bottle. But he tells me his baby is too little for bottles (oopps I though that was a good answer to his questions about bottles.) Live and learn is my new motto!! He is a handful though and NEVER stops talking.

McKinley is a sweet girl although she is a little more difficult than Andrew was as a newborn. She sleeps well at night 4-6 hour stretches but she has a difficult time in the evenings. Sometimes she wails from 9-midnight with few breaks. Luckily she doesn't wake up Drew who ironically hasn't woken up once in the middle of the night since she was born. She is a great eater and is gaining weight quickly. She weighed 7 lbs and 3 oz at her 2 week apt and gained 3 oz when we went back 2 days later!

Jared is getting adjusted to the chaos of 2 kids and a sleep deprived wife. He is a huge help in so many ways. He is great at getting Drew out of the house to go swimming or the playground. He also drives us all around town while I run in to grocery store or wherever. And of course he cooks and cleans. I am spoiled I know. I won't lie though we both agree all this "family time" takes a little getting used too =)

And me...after two weeks off work Jared returned full force. Today is his second overtime shift (which means 48 hours of just me and 2 kids!) I bet there are a lot of Mom's that would think it was a breeze but it has been over 3 years since I have been home with Andrew every day so just keeping up with him is new and then add a newborn, little sleep oh yea and still recovering from a c-section!! Mealtime and clean up alone can fill an entire day. This Mom stuff is way harder than any "real" job I have ever had, but I knew that already. We have been getting out of the house some. We have gone to story time at the library and yesterday we went to the movies. Yep that's right I took them both to the $1 movie at studio movie grill and it was fun!! A few bumps but I would do it again (the sling is a wonderful invention.) We have had a few play dates with Henry and Margot and cousin Gavin, which means I get a little adult conversation. And of course Gigi, Papa, Gabby, Grandma and Pappy have all helped out in different ways. What it that saying..."It takes a village!!"

Well I am sure that there is more I could share but it's nap time and they are both asleep so I am hoping to brush my teeth and take a shower =)

A few pictures...

I'll try and post more recent pictures soon!

Almost Time...

Trying so hard to remember what it was like when Andrew was this small, but honestly it is hard to imagine. Everyone says it is so different the second time around. You will be so much more relaxed they say. But really will we?

All I know is that we will soon find out. Only a week now until we meet Miss McKinley Ruth! What will she look like? Will she have a head of hair like Andrew? Will she be as content as he was as an infant? I am so curious to see her and get to know her.

Getting to this point has been a journey but with the end being so near I can't help but be extremely thankful, excited and anxious!! See you soon baby girl.

April Parties!!

Whew! What an April?! Bachelorette weekends, baby showers, wedding showers and weddings...and all for our very best friends! We started it off with a weekend at the Gaylord for my long time friend Erin's bachelorette party. What a great place? We spent time in the spa, had a cocktail party in our suite and finished it off at the Glass Cactus. I didn't do a very good job taking pictures (hosting as the maid of honor 8 months pregnant was about all I could handle =) but here are a few...

The bride to be

Next came a baby "sprinkle!" A small party given by my sister in law Amy and 2 great friends Shelbi and Shannon to celebrate Miss McKinley Ruth. So many cute and girly things! It was great fun and everything was so pretty.

Shannon, Shelbi, Me and Amy

Andrew posing before he left with Daddy for a bit

Amy made the cutest diaper cake and yummy cupcakes.

What a pretty table?

A glimpse of McKinley's bedding

The next day it was on to hosting Erin's wedding shower...yep that's the same dress and you will keep seeing it!! I justified buying it with only a month left by wearing it to at least 3 events. I figured no one would know since it was all different groups of friends. Forgot about the pictures. Ha!!

Erin and I

There was more food in the kitchen but again not that great with the hosting and picture taking!

Finally we wrapped April up with a wedding in Tyler for Jared's long time friend James. It was a long weekend but lots of fun. I know Jared really enjoyed spending time with his friends from the Navy that are scattered throughout the country.

James, Jared and Tom

Probably our last photo as a family of 3

Does that ball and chain look familiar?! Yep! I was glad to get rid of it!!

Dancing Machine

Andrew's favorite part of any PARTY!!!

I won't lie, it was a lot to manage but really so much fun. How great to celebrate so many life events for our very best friends?! Now just a few more weeks until we get to meet McKinley...can't help but hope the beginning of May goes as fast as April!

Easter Dinner at the Fire Station

Andrew and I had a great time visiting Daddy for Easter dinner at the fire station. The guys made a great dinner and we even got to eat almost half of it before they got a call. Drew sure does enjoy watching the fire truck drive away...especially when the turn on the lights and sirens!

Andrew helping make dinner

Drew and his baker's hat aka coffee filter =)

Cutest guys I know!

New Cabinets and a Dr. Visit

Jared and I decided to complete a project we have been wanting to do since we moved in. On either side of our fireplace there are niches. Not easy to describe and we forgot to take a before picture but I found this one from a year or so ago.

They just weren't that functional and I really wanted some shelves and cabinets (mostly to hide toys and DVD players etc.) So after finding the right cabinet man with the referral of some friends, thanks Dan and Heather, we got started. Unfortunately like always there were some small setbacks in the process and it turned from a 2 day project into a 2 week project.

But we love the final result!!

Andrew was finally squeezed into Dr. Amy's schedule for his 3 yr appt. I could write a whole other blog on missing deadlines...preschool registration, well check appts, baseball registration. Where are we new Mom's supposed to learn this stuff? Anyway, Andrew is right on track and doing well. His stats are height 36 1/4" (19%), weight 31 lbs (41%), head circumference 19 1/2" (68%). Short and skinny with a big head!!! I think half that head measurement is hair =) He got one vaccine that I had delayed. He wasn't a fan but his reaction was short with no tears.

Can't help but throw this picture in...cutest boys I know! When he woke up this morning he was whining and crying "Mommy I miss Gavin, uncle Josh and aunt Amy!!"

Our baby is 3!

Andrew truly seemed to enjoy his birthday week. He has grown up so much in the last year. He moved to his big boy room upstairs last week and seems to throughly enjoy it. But that's his personality, go with the flow and happy to be with the one he's with. He loves to be the center of attention and the life of the party. This has taken a little bit of getting used to for Jared and I who don't exactly have this personality =) But we wouldn't want Drew to be any other way! He loves to go to Miss Dawn's and play babies and purses with the older girls but equally enjoys his weekdays at home doing "work" and projects using his tool bag Jared gave him (actually he slept with it one night!)

He loves spending time with Gigi, Grandma & Pappy and Papa & Gabby. He has special things he enjoys at each house and it always sure to share them with me and Jared. We love that we are never in need of a babysitter and are always comfortable and relaxed when we leave him because we know he is in the best of hands. He loves his friend Hayli and they will play for hours. I can't think of a single disagreement or fight they have had even through a whole week at Disney World. Their relationship still amazes us because there are 3 years between them.

He does have his moments which include a couple of new words that are not exactly nice. Stupid, Fick it (which he picked up when someone said put a fork in it I'm done and he shorten it over time) and Ahhhh Gummmitt (thanks Papa =) He also tends to throw toys when he is tired of them or dump cups and plates when he is bored. And don't get us started on the potty training drama...but we really aren't worried he can't possibly go to 1st grade in diapers right?! We realize this is all normal behavior but we can't make him out to be completely PERFECT!

He seems very excited about baby sister and tells people she is in my tummy. He has helped separate out some of his toys for her. He also points to the crib (still in pieces in the upstairs junk room), cradle and empty downstairs nursery (his old room) telling everyone that they are for his baby sister. He threw one of his biggest fits in The Children's Place because he got 2 clothes and so baby sister has to have 2 clothes. Jared doesn't believe this story but there was no way to win the battle with him screaming No! Baby Sister NEEDS these pants and shirt!!! while all the Moms stared at me =) I think he will be wonderful with her, as long as she doesn't mess with his "circle box of movies!"

He loves to talk and rarely has a quiet moment. We won't lie, this can be exhausting at times but he says things everyday that amaze and humble us. He loves waking up each morning and looking out the window to say "It's a beautiful day!" regardless of the weather. I often ask him where he learned something and one day he said "God taught me Mom!" I taught him about red, green and yellow lights and he was quick to point out that I wasn't following the "slow down" rule for yellow lights. Ha!

He is a loving and kind child and we are extremely blessed to be his parents. I can only imagine the love and protection he will have for his baby sister. What a lucky girl!

If you have continued reading this far...Thanks! I just wanted to take a few moments to capture a bit of Andrew so we won't forget these special moments. Now for a few birthday week pictures.

Breakfast at Miss Dawn's (till Daddy get off work)

Before Mommy left for work =(

Anders and Andrew (Drew says his hair is like a horse's!)

Dinner at Chuckie Cheese with Mom and Dad

The Party