We had an awesome break from winter at the end of January. Weather was fantastic so we took advantage. Here are a few pictures I took over the last 2 days.
Category: Alison
Reed LOVES Ali
I was very nervous about how Reed would respond to Ali. He is so young and really couldn’t understand that he was about to have a little sister. We did all the usual things to try to prepare him, but he just didn’t get it. Also, since he is the first grandbaby on both sides of our family he is SUPER spoiled. As much as I have tried to prevent this, it is inevitable. It doesn’t help that he has a personality so big it can hardly fit in his tiny little body. Long story short, the last few weeks of my pregnancy I was more and more concerned about how he would treat her and us after she was born. All of that worry was unnecessary!
He has been SO sweet with her since the moment he saw her. From the first time he met her he has been calling her ‘Ali’ (we have got to get that on video. He sounds so sweet when he says her name). Anytime she cries he says ‘Ali cwry?’ (Another one we have to get on video). He loves her so much and just wants to hug and kiss her all the time. When he walks in the house from school the first thing he asks for is Ali.
Randy took a picture of Reed at school the other day of him covering up a doll with a blanket. His teachers said that he is so gentle and sweet with the dolls. He either calls them ‘baby’ or ‘Ali’ and loves to tend to them. Love that little boy so much. And yes, I spoil him as much as the grandparents. Mommy fail!!!
Here are a few picures of Reed taking care of the real Ali. First he tried to put on her sock, then he put her pacifier in her mouth, then he tried to give her a drink of his water. So sweet.
Park
Alison's first trip to the park
Reed vs. Ali
Reed and Ali are already SO different! I don’t really believe in comparing your children to one another, but it is hard not to do right now when there are such stark differences.
Reed was terrible at nursing and many times I didn’t think we would make it. Ali is awesome. She loves to nurse and sometimes I think she would stay there all the time if I let her. One point for Ali
Reed didn’t spit up once. In the beginning Ali spit up a little after every feeding. It wasn’t a lot and her doctor thinks its because I am just making too much for her to swallow, but we have no experience with a spitter. I never have a burp cloth around and we really don’t even own that many, much less any bibs. I don’t think I have a single one for her! One point for Reed
Reed was a fussy sleeper. Looking back it is probably because he wasn’t getting enough to eat and he was hungry most of the time. Ali is an AWESOME sleeper!! She consistently eats before I go to bed (10:30ish) and only wakes up at 2:30 and 5:30. She nurses and goes right back to sleep. One point for Ali (that one should probably count for 2 or 3!)
You want to know why Ali wins the comparison for this age? She is a cuddler!!! From the day Reed was born (literally, the first time I held him he tried to wiggle out of my arms) he was a wiggly boy and refused to cuddle. Even now I have to trick him into giving me a hug and kiss. Ali is a big snuggler and I think she would lay on my shoulder all day long if I let her. Thank the Lord for small favors!!!
Overall Ali is much easier, but I’m sure it is also because I am much more comfortable with newborns. Luckily, this isn’t a contest and I love them both more than I thought possible!! All that worry about how we were going to handle a toddler and a newborn haven’t been a big deal…YET! I know the fun is just beginning 🙂
Ali
 |
 |
 |
 |
Reed
 |
 |
 |
 |
Alison’s newborn photos
My one gift for our anniversary AND Christmas was a new lens for our Canon DSLR camera. It’s use for professional-style photos has certainly fallen off since I first got the itch with my new toy. The best fix for that issue… a new accessory! I took these using my new 28-135mm lens. Our new house has a room that is very bright with natural light, so it was perfect to set up a makeshift studio. Ali was my first model!
-RB
The most uneventful birth story
I am happy to tell this super uneventful story. We scheduled a C-section for January 11, 2011 back in November. The only wild card in the whole plan was whether or not she would decide to come early. Alison measured a few weeks big for her age at almost every sonogram, so an early appearance was always a possibility. I wanted her to wait as long as possible because everyday she stayed inside was another day away from Christmas for her birthday.
The morning of 1/11/11 we woke up, packed up the truck and dropped Reed off at day care just like it was any other day. Only this day we drove to the hospital, checked in for our 11am surgery and went straight to pre-op. The only eventful part was the anesthesia…
When I delivered Reed I had an epidural. Zero pain, zero problems. For whatever reason this doctor likes to do a spinal tap for ‘elective’ c-sections. I was not prepared for this, which is probably a good thing. Have any of you ever had a spinal tap? I had no idea I could be in that much pain. Seriously. Horrible. It only took a few minutes to get the medicine into my spine, but the whole time I was in horrible pain, plus I was terrified that the doctor was going to mess up and leave me paralyzed. If you are ever given the choice…go with an epidural. Seriously. The only good part about it is that I could feel my legs as soon as I was in recovery. That was nice, but I would still prefer the epidural.
So I get the spinal tap and lay down. Immediately my chest starts burning like the way that I imagine it feels (from Twilight) to be turned into a vampire. My heart is literally on fire like I have never felt before. Not to be too dramatic, but I was afraid something was very wrong. The anesthesiologist assured me my vitals looked good and that everything was fine…but that didn’t take the pain away. I heard one other scary thing when Dr. Vanover (my OB) asked for the vacuum. Yikes!! Turns out I was right about how low she had been. They had to use the vacuum on her little head because she was so lodged into my pelvis that Dr. Vanover couldn’t get a good grip on her to pull her out. Finally I heard what I had been waiting for…’she so chunky!’ I love Dr. Vanover.
Alison was a little chunk, but almost the exact measurements as Reed. She was 8 pounds, 2 ounces and 20 inches long. Reed was 8 pounds 3 ounces and 19.5 inches long. Not to mention she looked JUST like him when she was born. It was like going back in time and seeing Reed’s little face for the first time.
Wow
There really aren’t any words. I can’t believe how humongous I got…luckily it is almost over and I can start working on slimming back down again. Month 1 versus Month 9. Laugh at will 🙂
 Month 1 |
VS |
 Month 9 |
Christmas/New Years
We realized not too long ago that when Reed gets home and is cranky after his full day at daycare, it’s because he gets bored at home and had nothing to do or play with. It was so bad that he refused to come inside from the car, and wanted to stay in the garage to ride in the stroller or his wagon. Julie and I are not the type to buy toys for him on random occasions, so the last new toy he got was for his 1st birthday…. in March. Call me crazy, but I think the kid has had a little bit of mental and physical development since then, and his infant/toddler toys just don’t cut it for him anymore.
So, this Christmas we planned to make a concerted effort to beef-up his toy box and plan for toys that he will grow into. He has taken a huge interest in cars, trucks and trains. He also has an obsession with any type of ball sport.
This was also the first Christmas in our new home. We have been extremely happy with the additional space and couldn’t wait to actually have a place for a Christmas tree! As silly as it sounds, it was one of those things that we were so acutely aware of in the last house that it was important for us in the next one.
We had a an extremely restful vacation between Christmas and New Years. Julie and I were both off of work the entire week, so we would send Reed to daycare for the majority of the day and get a few things done around the house. The “stay-cation” was much needed R&R time for us, and well-timed before Baby Alison comes.
Our family will never be the same after this holiday season. We anxiously await Alison’s arrival, but we are not too quick to let go of this time we have as just the three of us.
-RB
Alison’s Nursery
The nursery is complete! It had a few changes in the beginning (like blue to pink), but now it’s done and it looks first-class.
We especially want to thank my Mom, who gave her time and talent to do the murals on the wall. When Julie found the inspiration that matched the final bedding she had picked, there was a bit of concern that we would be able to follow-through with such a detailed idea. We have enough trouble putting stripes on the wall! Knowing that my Mom had done the mural in the house we grew up in, and that painting was a passion she rarely got to indulge, I realized she was the perfect person for the project.
For Mom and Julie, it was a Win-Win. Julie got the storybook nursery, and my Mom got to exercise her passion as well as contribute to her first granddaughter’s new room. We can’t thank her enough for the way it turned out… we have been proud to show it off, and we are sure that Alison will be at home.
-RB and J
22 Days
22 Days left. 22 days doesn’t seem like a long time. Some times I feel like Alison will be here tomorrow, and some days it feels like an eternity. Delivery is scheduled for 3 weeks from tomorrow. My belly is scary huge and everyone (even people I don’t know) ask if I am going to make it. How the heck would I know? I assume I’m going to make it, but if I don’t that is ok too.
This pregnancy has been similar to the first, but also different. Biggest difference is I weighed almost 20 pounds less when I got pregnant this time. Second biggest difference is I have worked out (both cardio and weights) several times a week this entire pregnancy. Now here we are in the home stretch and I can still tie my shoes, wear my rings, and sit on the floor to play with Reed. I needed to write this post today…because I might not be able to do these things tomorrow!! As of now I feel good, but I’m ready to get rid of this belly. Being short stinks when you are pregnant 🙂
Tonight we are finally finishing the nursery and I will post pictures either tonight or tomorrow. It is definitely more pink and girly than I ever thought I would do. But I love it. I hope she will love it too!
-Julie