Our first week and a half home...

1. We had to take Audrey to the doctor twice. First for suspected jaundice and second for her well baby check up. She is growing and eating great.

2. Julia came down with a 102.7 temperature the day after we brought Audrey home. That was pleasant. She was pretty much banished to the basement with Peter Pan and the phrase, "Don't touch the baby's hands or face!" was said at least fifty times that day and the days following.

3. My hands became raw from washing them so much.

4. We forgot how difficult it is to sleep with a new baby next to you. They grunt all night long.

5. Audrey was kicked out and put in the hallway and sleep improved greatly and we can still hear her well enough to know she's awake. Julia also decided to wake up several times during the night. I am learning to function on very few hours of sleep.

6. I forgot how much I love to hold a new baby. She is the sweetest little girl and I could hold and stare at her all day long.

7. I forgot how fast they change and grow. Her little legs are already getting fat rolls and her face is filling out. It goes too fast.

8. Two year olds are very demanding but also so sweet and loving.

9. Grandmas coming to stay are the greatest blessing in the world.

10. Husbands not having to go back to work until June is also the greatest blessing in the world.

11. Having the baby is WAY better than being pregnant.

12. Getting newborn and two year old's pictures taken is a definite challenge. Audrey does not enjoy being naked and Julia does not enjoy posing for pictures which made it a little bit tricky. Because of the amazing patience of the most amazing photographer and the amazing talent of an amazing photographer the pictures turned out great. Melanie you are the BEST! We love and appreciate you so much! She sent me a sample picture and I had to post it. There will be more to come.


I feel so blessed to have such beautiful little girls, a wonderful husband who this morning took the baby so I could sleep in a little longer, and my mom who has loved my girls and helped me in ways that she cannot even imagine. I love them all so much!

Lots of Baby

So we're home! I wanted to post some more pictures because it always amazes me how fast the baby changes every day. First of all I want to thank everyone for their help with Julia, nice comments and phone calls. We have so much support from so many people and it means so much to us. We are all doing great and glad that my mom is able to come and stay with us for a while. We definitely love our little girls!

Our good friends the Yeates came to visit and we have already decided Audrey and Molly will be best of friends.
Our sweet little Audrey. She looks quite a bit like Julia but she is changing and getting her own look as well.
This is after we liquored her up. Our camera has a slow flash. Her eyes were open but of course when we took the picture her eyes half closed. She has TONS of hair and I think this picture shows the massive mop. I love it!
Julia has certainly not suffered since Nana came. Princess pj's were a very big hit and Eric and Aimei gave her the stuffed Pinky Pie pony which has not left her side. It must be a big hit because it has since replaced Bobo the kitty as her sleeping companion. She has been so happy since Nana has come and has loved all of the fun presents. Thank you so much Aimei for Pinkie Pie. You have no idea the joy you have given a two year old.
My cute girls. I couldn't be more happy with how blessed we are. They are both so beautiful and we are so lucky-even if Bryan will be dealing with a lot of girls stuff of the next 20 or 30 years.
The proud daddy. I think we forgot how much we love these tiny little newborns. It has been so much fun.


Julia loving her little sister. She loves to help change her diaper and give her the binky. She has been a very good helper.

Audrey is here!

This is Bryan so don't judge Annie about any misspelled words or poor grammar. Just a quick note to let everybody know that Audrey Jane was born early this morning. In fact, I should be getting major brownie points from grandparents for this blog considering it is 5 am and I am just now getting home from the hospital. Audrey was born at 2:17 am on 5/17. She weighs 7lbs13oz and is 19 1/2 inches long. Annie did great. I am so proud of her. Audrey was born 3 short hours after arriving at the hospital. We think she kinda looks like Julia but has her own distinct look too. Lots of hair like Julia though. We think she is beautiful! Thanks to all that helped with Julia. More pictures to follow but here are a ton to get you started.

Hair Cuts and Salad

My little Julia got her first haircut the other day. I think she looks so big in that cape! I decided that if I got the ends trimmed there would be less tears in the morning and the curl would bounce a bit more. I was definitely right. Her hair has been so much easier to manage and it looks so much better.Kristi is the best! She was so sweet with Julia. Thank you Kristi for being the best and for being so good to us. I hope you know how much we love you.

We had to give a CHEESE during the haircut as well.

Also, I had another little get together with the med school girls. We have been such great friends through the past four years and we had such a fun lunch together. Thank you so much for everything! They have been so supportive and I am so glad I could spend the last four years with them.

The Final Trip

It has been four years and we never could have predicted what great people we would get to go to school with. Bryan's medical school friends and their wives/kids have been the best and we are so lucky to have met and been able to spend the last four years with them. We decided to make one last trip to Hocking Hills with a few of them to celebrate the end of a great four years.Conkle's Hollow the famous OHIO. We will forever be Buckeye fans that's for sure.
All of the kids. Julia was stuffing as many marshmallows in her face as would fit. I think she had about ten before I could get her to stop.
Julia by the camp fire. I don't think she has had more fun in her entire life. She ran and played so hard that she is still making up for it with sleep. She's lucky to have so many little friends that love to run and play with her.
The whole group. I can't believe we got such a great picture with a camera timer, but I'm so glad we did. I think Hocking Hills is the most beautiful place!

Julia and her dad on our Old Man's Cave hike. I will be honest, we didn't hike very far considering the nine month pregnancy condition of the mother, but Julia loved the waterfalls, bridges and especially the....
TUNNELS!
Roasting marshmallows. Who needs to roast marshmallows when they are obviously so delicious right out of the bag in mass amounts.
Julia's hands and face were completely black by the end of the night. I have never seen such a dirty little girl. I love that she played so hard and had such a great time!
Julia and sweet little "Sissa." They are such good little friends. She is going to just have to stay here and not move to Texas.

The Floor of Death

Bryan decided that since he had time off, he would undertake a home improvement venture. I do believe that he has since decided home improvements are just not for him. But, I am so thrilled with the results! He worked so hard and it looks so good. When I say "he" I mean the amazingly talented friends that came to help him (You know who you are!) We could not have done it without their help. We are so lucky to have such GREAT friends that would come and do that. We also borrowed saws and tools from various people. Thank you to all of those that helped my husband make our house look so nice. I only requested that the floors get done before the baby came and Bryan totally came through for me. I absolutely love it and I am so excited that we don't have to eat over carpet any more. Here is our house torn to shreds. It had to sit like this for a little while until Dave came back from vacation to help Bryan. Julia was very concerned as to what we were doing with the house. She is very glad to have things back to normal.
The ugly and nasty that was underneath the other tile.
The finished result! I am so happy about it. It feels like a brand new house. Thank you Bryan! This is the very best Mother's Day/Birthday present ever!

The Few Last Moments

Since Julia's days as an only child are numbered, we have tried to do some fun and special things. We spent a day at the zoo, and the weather was perfect. We then went and ate lunch and then got ice cream to top the day off. Julia got her own ice cream and they put little gummy eyes on it and gave her a star ring. Even a week later she is still talking about it. She even remembers what color the little eyes were. It has been so great spending a little special time with our girl.

If you look closely you can see the pink and green eyes. You can also see the pink star ring she was given. It is amazing how such small things bring so much joy.
Ah, the chocolate beard. Yummy.
Bryan got a little carried away with all of the ice cream. He couldn't get enough. The waffle cone was mine. I figure at this point I might as well splurge as much as I can.
These are just some cute pictures I took of Julia.

I had to take this picture because this is what our table looks like every single day. Such a girl! I think that the princesses were riding the ponies and they were all going to the store to buy groceries. I love it.

Shower Time!

Yesterday in celebration of our new little one on the way I had a get together with some of my friends. We ate at Panera, chatted and had a great time. I often think about how lucky I am to have such wonderful, supportive friends and I know I do not deserve such great ones. I want to thank all of you that came. You cannot begin to know how much it meant to me and how blessed I am to be surrounded by such wonderful and talented (you know who you are) people. I love you all so much and I am so glad I get to raise my little family with such great examples and friends all around me. You all are the reason I needed to stay in Ohio for four more years and couldn't bring myself to leave!
So many cute girls! Monica, Brooke, Jessica, Kristy, Sarah, Kandice, her mom Kathy and Sarah.
Donna, Melanie, Brittney, Sarah, Tracy, Cara, Kara, Candice and Emily.
My old Children's World Crew. I love that they came to see me, they were so much fun to work with. That was two and half years ago! I can't believe how time flies.
Emily and Ruth (who is having her baby this Thursday, Good luck!!). Thank you again and I had such a great time. I want to especially thank Cara for putting it all together for me! I felt so silly having another shower for another girl, but leave it to such great friends to make it special. Thanks again! You are the best.
I haven't taken but maybe two pictures since I've been pregnant, and I decided the puffy faced in pain picture that always gets taken on your way to the hospital was not the one I wanted to remember. So since I actually got my hair fixed today and peeled myself off my special spot on the couch that the majority of my day is spent, I had Bryan take a picture. I suppose this is my 37.5 week picture. My family has only seen me 18 weeks pregnant with this one, and I didn't want anyone to miss out on my full pregnancy glory. Such a delightfully uncomfortable time.
Julia is not used to pictures being taken of anyone but her, so she is making an appearance. She is carrying a bag from the shower (the one that said NO gifts, but once again too many wonderful friends!) Donna gave her a movie so she wouldn't feel left out and she has been carrying it around in her bag for two full days. It is "her prize". Julia told me that the baby could have all the clothes, very thoughtful of her.