It still amazes me how slow the last few weeks of the pregnancy seemed… waiting to finally meet Alison and now its just flying by, we love every minute but if we don’t take the time to sit back and enjoy it we will all be old. That is one of the best things right now – not only having a five year old, two year old, and a little baby… but to be able to act one with them. My kids make my world go-round. Our tiny baby is already 5 weeks old – and she is growing up way too quick.
I swear she smiles at you… its like she already knows when and what is funny. The kids love to talk to her, and if she is awake she just stares back at them and smiles!
Luvs size one are way smaller then Huggies. I am still a big Huggies fan but since someone gave us Luvs I can’t be picky! They are more like a half size going from 8lbs to 14lbs and Huggies size one start with 14lbs… any who they fit and we use them.
Megan brought back our cradle swing this week (Madylon is too big for a swing… heck she is already trying to walk) Alison loves the swing… it lights up and makes sounds. The big kids really like to push the swing – a big no no. But at night when Alison wants to stay awake for a half hour or so she gets and the swing and next thing I know she is out!
Alison still sleeps A LOT. We get to see her eyes for about an hour early morning and then she naps from 10-1 and eats again. Everyone takes a nap until three and then we may see Alison’s eyes again for another hour… or not. Eats, sleeps, poops, and then repeats.
For a few nights Alison only wanted me instead of eating a bottle, not good for me at night. Plus if she needs to stay the night anywhere… it will be a nightmare for them. I am still trying to get my boobs regulated and not have to pump if she decides not to wake up.
Since it is summer time it seems like it difficult for Ali to keep her baby smell. She is always clean (I might change her too much) and with all of the kisses she gets she just doesn’t have that Johnson and Johnson baby smell all day long.
I am guilty of putting Alison in the clothes that are more comfy then cute. I mean she is a doll baby but if I like the softness or fit of an outfit and its on the top in her dresser then I usually put that on her.
One more week of fun coming your way – thanks for reading our lessons.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Alison's Lessons - Week 4
Alison already looks like she is getting bigger – I never remember looking at Gracee and thinking… "wow sis you have grown a lot this month." I guess knowing how fast your newborn changes into a toddler scares me a little bit. Alison is a blessing, she sleeps like a champ and is growing like a weed! She already weighs 11 lbs and is 21 ¾ inches tall!
Alison would rather nurse, and for some reason thinks she is running the show! She eats anywhere from 3 to 6 oz each feeding and will not eat unless the milk is warm.
Alison no longer wears newborn diapers… we ran out of newborns on Sunday so I opened a package of 1’s. They seem huge – Jared asked why I was putting one of Gracee’s diapers on Ali.
Ali has a very strong neck, she is already keeping her head up very well and trying to look around when you burp her.
Alison is so laid back, she can sleep through anything. Weddings, birthday parties, tons of kisses from her siblings, the day… she is such a good sleeper!
Gracee and Jared both love to hold little Ali’s hands, Jared on the right and Gracee on the left – while they watch The Magic School Bus in the mornings.
Alison goes to bed around 9pm and wakes anywhere from 2-4 in the morning to eat… she doesn’t really open her eyes just grunts and needs her diaper changed. Then she wakes up again around 7am for some more booby juice. Not staying awake much during the day maybe a half an hour here or there.
This week Ali went to her first wedding and her first birthday party (Jared turned 5) Another week of fun ahead ~we plan on going on vacation soon too!
Alison would rather nurse, and for some reason thinks she is running the show! She eats anywhere from 3 to 6 oz each feeding and will not eat unless the milk is warm.
Alison no longer wears newborn diapers… we ran out of newborns on Sunday so I opened a package of 1’s. They seem huge – Jared asked why I was putting one of Gracee’s diapers on Ali.
Ali has a very strong neck, she is already keeping her head up very well and trying to look around when you burp her.
Alison is so laid back, she can sleep through anything. Weddings, birthday parties, tons of kisses from her siblings, the day… she is such a good sleeper!
Gracee and Jared both love to hold little Ali’s hands, Jared on the right and Gracee on the left – while they watch The Magic School Bus in the mornings.
Alison goes to bed around 9pm and wakes anywhere from 2-4 in the morning to eat… she doesn’t really open her eyes just grunts and needs her diaper changed. Then she wakes up again around 7am for some more booby juice. Not staying awake much during the day maybe a half an hour here or there.
This week Ali went to her first wedding and her first birthday party (Jared turned 5) Another week of fun ahead ~we plan on going on vacation soon too!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Alison's Lessons - Week 3
Sometimes I wish I could stop time… I cant believe that we are already done with week three. Lessons are being taught and learned every day. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful group of kids. God is watching us and making sure we don’t forget life can be hard and overwhelming at times but such a treat at others. Here are the three week lessons:
Alison is full of gas… she farts a lot she sort of sounds like a whoopy cushion! She is a good burp-er too, I usually let her eat about two oz (if I am feeding her from the bottle) and then sit her up and burp her after whispering in her ear “burp for mommy” next thing you know she lets out a BIG BURP! Ali is a grunter too. Oh and I love the neck kisses when we are trying to get a burp out.
Still a great sleeper… the big kids can be dancing, yelling, fighting or whatever and Alison doesn’t seem to care, she sleeps through it all – thank goodness. Even the kisses… when the kids are playing in the same room as Ali and then they remember she is there sleeping they run over and give her tons of kisses… then continue what they were doing.
Nursing is hurting less and less – plus I am getting on a regular schedule nurse and then pump what is left. My right side is a milk making machine on average I pump 5 oz (after nursing) just on that side. At night I only nurse then go back to bed… that way when Alison sleeps longer then five hours my boobs will allow me to sleep too!
Jared and Gracee are both very good helpers – Jared still loves to baby sit and Gracee likes to get diapers when it is time to change Alison. Gracee has been peeing in her pants again… we were so close to having her potty trained, but “they” say that happens when you bring a baby home.
I am a picture taken fool… I know how much a baby changes in the first year… heck the first few months. I love every second of being a mommy even the frustrating times. I heard a country song the other day about phases of being a parent – couldn’t keep it together, I started crying like a baby.
Alison’s belly button cord fell off 7-8-09 right after her bath. Jared was so excited he couldn’t wait to rub her belly.
Until next week… another week of new lessons and growing up. Thanks for reading and learning (remembering) with us.
Alison is full of gas… she farts a lot she sort of sounds like a whoopy cushion! She is a good burp-er too, I usually let her eat about two oz (if I am feeding her from the bottle) and then sit her up and burp her after whispering in her ear “burp for mommy” next thing you know she lets out a BIG BURP! Ali is a grunter too. Oh and I love the neck kisses when we are trying to get a burp out.
Still a great sleeper… the big kids can be dancing, yelling, fighting or whatever and Alison doesn’t seem to care, she sleeps through it all – thank goodness. Even the kisses… when the kids are playing in the same room as Ali and then they remember she is there sleeping they run over and give her tons of kisses… then continue what they were doing.
Nursing is hurting less and less – plus I am getting on a regular schedule nurse and then pump what is left. My right side is a milk making machine on average I pump 5 oz (after nursing) just on that side. At night I only nurse then go back to bed… that way when Alison sleeps longer then five hours my boobs will allow me to sleep too!
Jared and Gracee are both very good helpers – Jared still loves to baby sit and Gracee likes to get diapers when it is time to change Alison. Gracee has been peeing in her pants again… we were so close to having her potty trained, but “they” say that happens when you bring a baby home.
I am a picture taken fool… I know how much a baby changes in the first year… heck the first few months. I love every second of being a mommy even the frustrating times. I heard a country song the other day about phases of being a parent – couldn’t keep it together, I started crying like a baby.
Alison’s belly button cord fell off 7-8-09 right after her bath. Jared was so excited he couldn’t wait to rub her belly.
Until next week… another week of new lessons and growing up. Thanks for reading and learning (remembering) with us.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Alison's Lessons - Week 2
Adding a newborn to the mix of crazy summer life at our place has been a challenge for everyone, I have to tell myself to stop and just take a second to enjoy the craziness. It has already gone by too fast. Two weeks and we are working on getting back on track. Ali sleeps a lot and I have had to get used to nursing again… you forget how much it hurts after two years!
A nurse in the hospital told me not to cut Alison’s fingernails until after she was a month old. So I have had to fine them twice, they grow fast and I don’t want her scratch her face up.
I have to pump every four hours whether Alison is ready to eat or not… sometimes she is ready to nurse and other times I just have to relieve that pressure.Every baby is different. We have been blessed with sleepy baby number two! We are working on getting back on schedule… wake up at 7, lunch at 12 then nap soon after, dinner 5ish, bath and ready for bed by 8:30. It’s hard but we all need to know what is coming next. Alison got a ton of diapers at both of her baby showers… I think she got the perfect amount of newborns, size ones and size twos. We have tried LUVS, Parents Choice, and Pampers… Huggies are my favorite with her too.
I can always tell when one of the kids have been around Alison… she has had everything from chocolate to play-doh on her face from all the kisses they give her.
Alison is still a great sleeper, she averages 15-45 minutes of awake time each day… sometimes it is during the day other times it is in the middle of the night.
Another successful week of teaching and learning from everyone. We are so excited to see what life has in store for the up coming weeks full of lessons and summer fun… thanks for reading.
A nurse in the hospital told me not to cut Alison’s fingernails until after she was a month old. So I have had to fine them twice, they grow fast and I don’t want her scratch her face up.
I have to pump every four hours whether Alison is ready to eat or not… sometimes she is ready to nurse and other times I just have to relieve that pressure.Every baby is different. We have been blessed with sleepy baby number two! We are working on getting back on schedule… wake up at 7, lunch at 12 then nap soon after, dinner 5ish, bath and ready for bed by 8:30. It’s hard but we all need to know what is coming next. Alison got a ton of diapers at both of her baby showers… I think she got the perfect amount of newborns, size ones and size twos. We have tried LUVS, Parents Choice, and Pampers… Huggies are my favorite with her too.
I can always tell when one of the kids have been around Alison… she has had everything from chocolate to play-doh on her face from all the kisses they give her.
Alison is still a great sleeper, she averages 15-45 minutes of awake time each day… sometimes it is during the day other times it is in the middle of the night.
Another successful week of teaching and learning from everyone. We are so excited to see what life has in store for the up coming weeks full of lessons and summer fun… thanks for reading.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Alison's Announcements
back:
front:
double sided 5x7 postcards... on linen card stock. So excited to get them in the mail!!!
front:
double sided 5x7 postcards... on linen card stock. So excited to get them in the mail!!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Alison's One Week Lessons
Life teaches us lessons every day – we can either pay attention to them, take note and learn or let it pass us by. I take note and try to learn, these are the lessons that Alison is teaching me. Every pregnancy is different and every baby is different… my girls are pretty similar but both very special in their own way. With these lessons I plan to make a book and give to Ali when she has her first baby.
At her one week check up Miss Alison weighed 9lbs 3oz and is 21.5 inches tall… her head is 14.5 inches around.
Alison poops every single diaper change… just like her sister. I wonder if it is just because they were both nursed – or if it is just me? Without thinking I ate a sandwich with hot pepper jack cheese, now Alison is paying for it. Her little butt is so red and sore.
Alison sleeps all the time. She wakes up to eat and get her diaper changed then once she has burped and her belly is full she goes right back to sleep. She stayed awake for almost an hour on her one week b-day.
Nursing HURTS! No matter if you have done it before or not. You will never forget the feeling – and getting up in the middle of the night just to pump… because the baby isn’t ready to nurse gets old fast too. I am ready to get my boobs on a schedule. I already have over 30oz in the freezer on Saturday.
Daddy loves to snuggle with Ali, she is so soft… got to love that peach fuzz. I remember when Jessy told me that Gracee had to sleep in her own bed, five days old and dad has someone tiny sleeping in his arm pit.
Baby Ali is special to all of us – Jared loves to ‘baby-sit’ Gracee loves to gives kisses and mommy can’t stop staring at her. We are so blessed and hope you read our lessons and learn with us… or remember fun things about your baby.
At her one week check up Miss Alison weighed 9lbs 3oz and is 21.5 inches tall… her head is 14.5 inches around.
Alison poops every single diaper change… just like her sister. I wonder if it is just because they were both nursed – or if it is just me? Without thinking I ate a sandwich with hot pepper jack cheese, now Alison is paying for it. Her little butt is so red and sore.
Alison sleeps all the time. She wakes up to eat and get her diaper changed then once she has burped and her belly is full she goes right back to sleep. She stayed awake for almost an hour on her one week b-day.
Nursing HURTS! No matter if you have done it before or not. You will never forget the feeling – and getting up in the middle of the night just to pump… because the baby isn’t ready to nurse gets old fast too. I am ready to get my boobs on a schedule. I already have over 30oz in the freezer on Saturday.
Daddy loves to snuggle with Ali, she is so soft… got to love that peach fuzz. I remember when Jessy told me that Gracee had to sleep in her own bed, five days old and dad has someone tiny sleeping in his arm pit.
Baby Ali is special to all of us – Jared loves to ‘baby-sit’ Gracee loves to gives kisses and mommy can’t stop staring at her. We are so blessed and hope you read our lessons and learn with us… or remember fun things about your baby.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Willard Update - Baby Alison is HERE
Time goes by so fast, seems like just yesterday we were making the announcement that we were expecting another little baby… and now she is one week old. Alison Jean was born at 1:26pm on June 22nd 2009 – we are so proud to announce she is not only absolutely beautiful but perfect in every way. We have been blessed yet again.
Jared and Gracee waited patiently in the waiting room at St. Lukes with Papa Kenny and Memaw Donna. They got to come in one last time and talk to baby Ali through my belly button. Everyone ate lunch and played with play-doh then next thing you know Alison was here. Alison weighed 8lbs 13.5oz and is 21 inches long, she is so pretty and tiny compared to her brother and sister.
Jared went to his bio-moms on Tuesday and came back home after his t-ball game Wednesday night. Gracee on the other hand didn’t get to meet Alison again until Thursday afternoon. She stayed with Memaw Donna and Papa Kenny but kept running a fever of 100+ and couldn’t come around the newborn baby until we found out what was wrong. Finally after a long wait we were all back together again, everyone is still trying to get used to the change a new baby brings to a family, but we couldn’t be more happier.
It is really hard to believe that she is already a week old. Jared loves to baby sit his new sister and Gracee cant help but kiss her every time she can. They are so funny around her and usually don’t start to act jealous until they get tired or aren’t getting enough attention from daddy.
Life is good. I feel great (a little tired) and Jessy is soooo busy right now with fixing everyone’s A/C we haven’t had much time to do any updates. We have such a great support system it is amazing – tons of volunteers willing to take one or more of the older kids to let us rest or just get a little extra bonding time with Ali.
Jared and Gracee waited patiently in the waiting room at St. Lukes with Papa Kenny and Memaw Donna. They got to come in one last time and talk to baby Ali through my belly button. Everyone ate lunch and played with play-doh then next thing you know Alison was here. Alison weighed 8lbs 13.5oz and is 21 inches long, she is so pretty and tiny compared to her brother and sister.
Jared went to his bio-moms on Tuesday and came back home after his t-ball game Wednesday night. Gracee on the other hand didn’t get to meet Alison again until Thursday afternoon. She stayed with Memaw Donna and Papa Kenny but kept running a fever of 100+ and couldn’t come around the newborn baby until we found out what was wrong. Finally after a long wait we were all back together again, everyone is still trying to get used to the change a new baby brings to a family, but we couldn’t be more happier.
It is really hard to believe that she is already a week old. Jared loves to baby sit his new sister and Gracee cant help but kiss her every time she can. They are so funny around her and usually don’t start to act jealous until they get tired or aren’t getting enough attention from daddy.
Life is good. I feel great (a little tired) and Jessy is soooo busy right now with fixing everyone’s A/C we haven’t had much time to do any updates. We have such a great support system it is amazing – tons of volunteers willing to take one or more of the older kids to let us rest or just get a little extra bonding time with Ali.
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