My joy.

So last night the boys went out and had a daddy-son date night and Abby and I stayed in and had a girls night.  Ours was short lived because it turns out my date likes to go to bed at 7:30 at night. :)

Anywyas...after doing this we definitely realized we need to do this more often, taking the kiddos out for one-on-one time.

It was the best thing ever, seeing Noah come home and be so stinking adorable. He had the best time with Brad.  The joy in his face, and the joy for me knowing that my boys were spending some serious quality time together. Be. Still. My. Heart.

He seriously was so precious.  They went to watch the monster truck show at the fair, which though Noah is OBSESSED with monster trucks he was not a fan of their noise.  I guess they left the show for a bit and walked around the fair, then gave them another try.  So cute.  After the fair they got ice cream on their way home.  Noah was so proud because his had m&m's in it.

I can't even begin to explain the sweetness of my two guys hanging together.  For real.

Abby girl and I had a great time too, but it was a little less eventful. :) But awesome.  Here are some pics! I'm beginning to regret not blogging more often as this helps me remember all the sweet times.  Think it's time to kick it in gear.

4 Months!!

Oh sweet Abby....already 4 months old.  

I can't even handle it. 

Really.  

But despite all my efforts...she keeps getting older.  

So here's where we are.  

13lb 12oz (54th percentile)

24 in (42nd Percentile)

Seriously, the percentages were that detailed. 

And yes, it has definitely been a month since I last posted...but well it's hard to post more that that with two kiddos.  FOR REAL.  :) 

Anyways...here's what she's been up to lately:

She is such a very happy baby.  I am in love with her perfect little personality

She shows it more and more each day.  

She's extremely happy in the morning...once she's up..she just smiles and coos all morning until her morning nap.  She very rarely cries...which is so nice.  

LOVES Noah. Still.  Finds him and smiles at him all the time.  Tracks him when he's close to her. 

The bumbo is her new favorite place. She sits with us at dinner every night, and Noah wants her to sit with him at breakfast every morning.  

She has a giggle that is just adorable.  Makes my day.

Rolls from tummy to back..and side to side.  She is SO close to back to tummy I think.

Loves when we dance.  She will smile so big when we dance together. (Been having dance parties lately because Noah is very into dancing currently)

Loves water.  Baths/swimming pools she's not picky.

Still a grazer when it comes to eating. She's so petite compared to Noah.  Like 3 1/2 pounds less than he was at this age.  

A wonderful napper..which is fabulous.  It took Noah and I a LONG time to figure nap time out when he was first born.  She takes a solid two naps and sometimes one in between the two.  But mama gets quiet time most afternoons as they both go down right after lunch time.  Thankful for that. 

But bedtime sleep is a different thing.  Don't get me wrong.  She's super easy to get to sleep, ready and down by 830 every night.  But she still wakes up once or twice a night.  I really count it as once.  She wakes up around 2-3 am.  Then wakes again around 5:30-6.  But after the 5:30-6 feeding she goes back down until 7-8.  I don't count that second feeding because I feel like that's practically morning.  Maybe I'm just in denial haha. I think bedtime sleep will improve when she's in her own room. ONE MORE MONTH. 

Blue eyed little lady. Who might be blonde? 

Holds her paci in her hand.

Loves to hold her toes. 

She is just a perfect little addition to our fam.  Seriously. We're in love with her.  

3 months old!!

She's three months old.

I feel like last night I went in to be admitted.  

Wonder if that will ever change? 

Time could just slow down..that would just be fabulous.

But she's three months..and she is so stinking amazing.

I feel like we really hit our stride this month. 

She is such a happy little baby.

Don't get me wrong..she's got some opinions...but in general this little thing is SO happy. 

Very into sitting up right now.  The bumbo is her new favorite place.  If she wants to be sitting up she will have nothing to do with the swing or the bouncy seat...but if you put her in the bumbo..she's happy as a clam. 

An easy little thing to get to sleep these days.  Literally lay her down on her tummy, put the blanket on her cheek, and she's out. So awesome.

Goes to bed right around 7:30/8 every night.  Sleeps until 2:30-3, then back to sleep until about 7.  I feel like she might drop that 2:30 feeding soon because she's barely eating at that time...but I'm not pushing it until she's in her own room.  One time a night is just nothing.  And she instantly goes back to sleep.  

Tracks us wherever we are. 

Really seems to be attached to Noah. When he comes around she smiles at him and follows him.  A couple of times I've heard her almost giggle at him.

She coos and jabbers.  Not quite as much as Noah...but oh man I love it when she does.  When I try to get a video though she totally stops.  

(Art by her brother)

Does not dig tummy time.  Girlfriend LOVES to sleep on her belly..but otherwise gets MAD.  I keep thinking she'll roll over any day..but we'll see. 

She scoots every where when she sleeps.  She did a 180 yesterday.  Little wiggle worm.

She's pretty go with the flow.  Which is good..because life is a little chaotic for us right now and poor girl has been nursed everywhere, be out late, slept on couches, other's beds, the carseat...I mean just a 

little bit of everywhere..and she handles it. 

(Loves to be outside)

She's so great. I'm so thankful for this sweet blessing in our life.  

Summer is here!

Summer has F-I-N-A-L-L-Y made it's way to us up here in Indiana.

When I say finally...that is not an exaggeration.  It was a mild winter, but it kinda felt like it lasted forever.  

But we're here.  And we're loving it!  

I'm so thankful for some new friendships here in Allison-land.  It has helped us feel settled.  We have been aching for fellowship here, and we are really starting to feel it and we couldn't be more grateful!

We've been spending time with a couple from our church, and a couple from Brad's work.  Both have been such great friends so us...they are so thoughtful and genuine.  We have so much fun!  

What a wonderful God we have that sets up friendships no matter where we go.  

So we've been spending lots of time outside, and lots of time away from home.  It's awesome to feel like we have a social life again.  

We're still on the hunt for a house.  No go as of yet.  But we're on the same team.  And that's a victory, and I'm thankful, and I know that when we are meant to have a home we will.  And if we don't find one..there is a reason.  It's a daily battle in my heart, but I feel like most days we do ok.  

I'm doing a women's Bible study this summer and I am so excited!  We are having a play date at the splash pad next week with two mom's who are very connected in the church.  What an amazing blessing to my soul it was when they wanted to set something up right away. I have wanted to badly to get involved with the women in the church. 

Along with that...I'm going to be a table group leader at Mom2Mom next year.  I am beyond excited.  I have prayed for a way to get in and serve...and here it is.  So pumped!  Anxious. but pumped! 

It's been a great couple of weeks.  Brad's loving his job.  We've had some more quality family time. Noah and Abby are just A-mazing.  And I'm thankful. So so very thankful for this sweet family the Lord has given me.  :) That's where I'm at today.  Here are some pictures.  

Abby girl LOVES to be outside.

 Noah grimaces when he says cheese.  Someday he'll smile again for pictures. :)

 Getting some cuddles in with Mimi

 And with señor Papa. 

And Nana...girl loves her some snuggles 

 Day 1 of potty training. Which was surprisingly successful, but we aren't there yet.  We need a solid week to dedicate to being home...and it just hasn't been possible yet. But I think we'll be able to make it happen here soon. 

 He loves to go "nigh night" with blankets. 

 LOVE. 

 Love to be outside. 

 Sweet babies of ours. 

 She is just perfect. I'm biased. But still. She's awesome. 

How it is already June.

I just wish time could slow down.  

But I guess they say time flies when you're having fun...and we've been having some fun so yay! :) 

We've been gone from home though..hence the lack of blogs...so it will be really nice to have a couple of weeks at home as a family.  

I don't have much to update.  We're house hunting.  We've put in two offers...so far no go.  One didn't get accepted and we walked away after counter.  The other we walked away after inspection unfortunately.  We L-O-V-E-D that house and everything about it (layout, location, size, yard, price - beautiful) but there were some issues with the basement..and we just knew we had to walk away.  It was a little bit heartbreaking for me.  I was already at that emotionally attached stage.  

But, I have to tell you, I have been praying hard about being content.  This is a battle in my soul lately.  I've written and not posted many blogs about the state of my heart...but basically they all come down to I have not been content.  But right about the time we found this house...I felt myself coming out of the pit.  And by that I mean...I feel the Lord physically dragging me out of the pit.  I've felt beat down and just a mess...but my God is so good and so faithful. And despite my ridiculously bad attitude..he continues to show me grace.  

All that to say...I started to feel like I was really coming out of this ick I've been hanging out in..but then  we walked away from the house, and I was so bummed.  But I am so at peace.  We both are..but thankfully Brad hasn't been struggling with contentment as I have.  But I know it was the right decision, I know the Lord will bring the right house at the right time..and I feel ready to trust His timing and plan.  And that's exciting!  :)  (This may seem kinda obvious..but if you had seen me the last few months...you'd know this is huge!)

So back to square one on the house front.

Our babies are growing! 

I'm attempting potty training with sweet Noah man.  We went 4/6 on potty and 2/3 on poopy today. That was day one.  So I was pretty happy about it.  I gave up after the last poopy if we're being honest. Last night was not a night of much sleep....I went to bed around midnight - Abby was up at 2, 4:30, and 5:30..then Noah was up for the day by 6:45.  So...not a whole lot of rest...so the last poopy did me in. Hahaha.  We'll see how all of this goes.  I'm giving it a solid try..if he's not ready we'll try again in a month.

I found two twin beds for Noah's toddler room.  We're going to paint them red.  I'm pretty pumped about it. 

Noah's been in the toddler bed for just under a month now.  He does great.  It has been a surprisingly easy transition.  He doesn't get up out of bed at all when we lay him down at night (usually) and at nap..sometimes I have to go in a couple of times and sometimes not..but he still naps.  The hardest part has just been that he's not sleeping as long or as late as he did...but that's ok.  And FOR REAL the sun is up at 5:30 here so it's not surprising he's up early.  Seriously sun - 5:30?!?!

Abby has become SUCH a smiley baby.  I'm i love.  I can't wait to hear her giggle.  She currently is sleeping in her car seat at night because she hasn't been feeling great.  Poor sweet thing.  She isn't sleeping very well at night so she's sleeping a ton during the day.  (a little discouraging since we were making some progress on sleeping through the night..but I think we'll get back to it!)

That's it..talk about a boring post.  Every member of my family has been in bed since before 9pm.  

I think it's time to join. 

2 Months!

Time goes so much faster on the second baby.  

Sweet Abby is 2 months old..and I feel like we were in the hospital yesterday giving birth to her.

She is such a precious joy to us!

2 Month Stats:

Weight: 11lb 4oz (60th Percentile)

Height: 22 3/4" (64th Percentile) 

{I just have to note that Noah was 14 lb 12 oz  and 24 3/4" long - sweet Abby is such a petite little thing compared to him}

Funny...we measured her twice because somehow last month we had her down as 23"...so we're throwing out last months 23 inches...she definitely didn't shrink.

So far..the start of her third month has been quite the bummer...poor little thing has pneumonia...but month two was fabulous!

Here's where we are:

She smiles at us all the time.  I LOVE her sweet smiles.  There is this moment where she recognizes us and right away she smiles..it just warms my heart.

She loves attention.  She can cry and cry..but the second I sit down and make eye contact with her she'll smile at me. 

She coos and jabbers.  It's adorable! 

She's a tough little thing.  I mean her brother is a little rough with her..and she just takes it like a champ. 

I think she's really going to be a little blue eyed baby.

Turns to our voices more and more.

Surprisingly seems to find me singing to her soothing.  I think that's one of the coolest things about kiddos.  Both our little loves like it when we sing to them and don't seem to care that we don't have the best singing voices.  

She's a tummy sleeper.  Against all that is in me..she sleeps on her tummy and it's working.

We're slowly but surely making progress on her sleeping better.  She's still doing 5-6 hour stretches.  The last two nights she has been ready for bed after her 7:30 feeding.  That's crazy.  But it is nice to have some time with Brad earlier than when we drag ourselves into bed.  :) 

HATES her car seat when we're in the car and not moving.  Even when moving sometimes.  It breaks my heart.  She's been doing better, as long as we're moving she seems to tolerate it. But the second we park or stop she wants out.  Just opening the van door when we get somewhere she almost immediately stops crying.

She really seems to enjoy outdoors.  She coos and smiles and just seems to love it in the sunshine. YAY!!!  

Recognizes Noah.  She smiles at him when he loves on her.

Holds onto me when she nurses, holds my finger when she sleeps next to me.  Precious.

Has her sweet daddy's nose...looks just like him from the profile. Maybe one day our children will have some of mama in them. 

For the most part a very content baby.  She is ok with hanging out in her swing/bouncer for a little bit while I get things done or play with Noah, she'll lay next to me and not have to be held now, the tummy troubles seem to have almost completely resolved, and she's just so stinking cute.  

But when she wants to eat...or wants her diaper changed...she means BUSINESS.  

She met her cousins this month..I'm SO glad!!  

She's just awesome.  We fall in love with her more and more every day.  She's amazing. 

I'll follow up with a picture post!  

Meeting Friends

Abbs has had quite the social schedule in her short little life!  

She's already met two of her besties. (Yep I used it) 

When I called both Rox and El to tell them I was pregnant this time they told me they too were pregnant.  Such an awesome surprise.  We were just getting ready to move back to the midwest, and come to find out two of my best friends here were pregnant with me.  It was kinda perfect.  El and I have been friends since we were 12, and with Rox since high school.  The three of us were all in each other's weddings.  We all had our first children within a year of each other (Noah and Nora are only a month apart) and this time we were all due within a month of each other.  

AND...we all had baby girls!  Manders also had a baby girl!! Dying to get Abbs and Addy together for pictures since we have them together of Noah and Rhyon.  

So getting the girls together to meet has been so precious to me!  We met Olivia back the first week of April, and then little Elsie came up to hang out last weekend.  We are very bummed because we planned a weekend for all three of us to get together, but I was a punk and bailed on the plans.  (But Abby girl's auntie needs to meet her too!)   Here are some pics of Abby and her friends!

Abby and Elsie (5 weeks apart) 

Abby wasn't real interested in a photo shoot.  

 With their older siblings...note Noah. 

 and their mamas

 Abby and Olivia (3 Months apart) 

 and their mamas!

We didn't get one of Noah and Austin together...too busy those boys.  But here are little man and Nora who are just a month apart.  I LOVE that Noah looks like he's the luckiest guy alive..and then there's Nora...who doesn't look quite as thrilled.  Hahaha. 

I'm thankful for these friendships and all these babies! Love you guys!

House Shopping

We made our first offer on a house here last night. 

Didn't get it. They countered, and we could have countered back but we knew our limit and it just wasn't going to happen on this house.  

I'm bummed.

Yet, thankful.  I've been praying for very clearly opened or closed doors.  Just as we did in Taylor.  I'm so grateful the Lord answered that prayer today.  I LOVED this house.  It had an awesome layout, a full unfinished basement, and it needed some TLC to make it ours. I was super excited though.  But it was at the top of our price range and we knew that we didn't have a lot of wiggle room in the offer. 

Unfortunately...neither did the seller.  

So when we got the counter offer we talked it over and just knew...it wasn't the right decision so we bowed out.  As sad and bummed as I am...I'm also so thankful because it is exactly what I prayed for.  It was a closed door.  We both knew it and we both feel at peace about it.  I am 100% sure that this was the right decision.  

So tonight I'm very thankful because we are on the same page.  YAY.  The right house will come, in His time...not mine.  

Abbs is super smiley these days.  And she coos.  I love it.

Noah man is so cuddly these days.  He is all about hugs and kisses for the three of us.  Randomly during the day he'll come and give me a big hug and kiss.  It's so precious.  And so unexpected with the crazy little man that he is.  We're especially excited because boy loves his Abby.  I know I've said this before...but I mean seriously..he can't get enough of her.  She's the second word out of his mouth most mornings..right after daddy.  He goes to find her first thing...and calls for her when she's sleeping.  He loves to rock her and give her a paci.  Shares his toys with her. She smiles at him even when he's rough with her.  Makes my heart so happy.  I know it won't maybe always be this way..but I sure am loving it right now. 

I go back to work May 16th.  I'm scared/sad/kinda excited all at the same time.

Rox and Jake were here this weekend, and El and Ryan were here two weeks ago.  It has been so amazing!  We LOVE spending time with them and their babies.  

We're going to Florida in two weeks...I'm excited for Abbs to finally meet Sarah and her family.  

That's it for tonight.  Abby girl is asleep on my lap..I'm tempted to not move until she wakes up to eat again.  She's in a bit of a growth spurt I think..she's back to eating every three hours (4-5 on the front end of the night), but we're definitely not sleeping as much at night.  And she's over 10 pounds now..just since we were at the doctor last week.  She all of a sudden feels big to me.  

That temptation to not move is going to lose out to the temptation to eat oreos.  I'm totally going to move because I have to get milk for those.  :)  

Some silly thoughts.

Just because. I haven't just had a random post in awhile.

Here we go:

I love Dancing with the Stars.  I love watching people dance...I wish I could go learn to dance sometime.  Kellie Pickler is my fav this year.  She's adorable. They crack me up.  So I will root for her - don't get me wrong..I'm not a voting fan..just a loving it from afar fan.  

Brad, Rox, and Jake had an over/under bet on how many times I would comment on our house being dirty this weekend while they were here.  I seriously can't handle my house being a mess when people are here.  I feel like this might say something about me, that my friends and love can bet on it.  Rox won.  Hahahaha.  

Then she cleaned my house.  What an awesome friend.

I vacuumed today and it made me happy.  I'm that girl.

I feel 150% (LITERALLY) better about life when it's sunny and warm.  We've been outside every chance we get when it's nice and I am LOVING it. 

I think I'm documenting all of Abby's life in iphone pictures.  I HAVE to get that camera out more often.  Poor second child.  We can't only document her life on a phone.

I don't do baby books.  I do baby calendars...they're adorable..but I wish I could do baby books.  This isn't like I don't plan on ever doing them..it's just they don't get done.  But I do blog so one day I can look back in case I forget to write any details down in their little calendars.

Texas made me a wimp.  I used to wear t-shirts when it was 40-50 degrees in the spring.  Now I want a winter coat. 

Speaking of Texas...two of our favorite people have birthdays this week...and we miss them.  I cried on Saturday.

But it's Rox's birthday today..and this is the first time in 5 years we were able to kinda celebrate that together so YAY for that!

Brad took the crib apart today to convert it to the toddler bed..only for me to confess that I can't find the hardware to do so.  That is our life right now.

Due to this...Noah will just keep on climbing out of his crib.  Last night we found him sleeping on the ground.  First time for that.  Usually he climbs out and knocks on the door.  :)

Noah, Abby, and I are going with Grammy to Florida to see Sarah, Phil, and the ladies in two weeks.  I AM SO EXCITED! Finally Abby will have met her auntie.  

I rock out to Glee on Pandora all the time.  I make Noah dance with me.  

We had to make a little person "look" like Noah for his school last week.  I was terrified.  I'm the least artistic  person in the world. It turned out not terrible...but I fear school age years.  

That's it.  Bedtime.  Abby girl is knocked out..hopefully for awhile..so I'm going too!  

1 Month!

 

Our sweet Abby girl turned one month old a week ago today! I've been meaning to write this for a week.  A little harder to stay on schedule but at least she had her picture taken on time. :)

She is a precious joy, and this time is going so stinking fast!

 

One month stats:

Weight: 9lb 10oz (60th Percentile)

Height: 23 inches (90th Percentile)

She's a petite little thing.  So cute and tiny.

As for development...she's doing awesome.  So far:

She smiles.  It's beautiful.  The absolute best thing.  I am so grateful...I think I had some postpartum blues for a few weeks. I think we've come out of it now...I for sure wouldn't call it depression...it was just I felt a little disconnected for awhile.  Abbs had some hard nights with lots of tears..so mama did too.  Then she smiled..and I realized we're doing great.  She and I have a bond just like Noah and I do.  I just needed to remember it.

 

Pretty strong head control

A good little napper

 

Quite the little cuddle bug...she and her mama have some SERIOUS cuddle sessions!

 

LOVES to be held laying on her tummy (almost a football hold) she can be crying crying...and almost as soon as I get her into that position she'll stop.  She also loves to lay on her tummy on my lap.  That settles her too.  Sometimes it traps us to the couch/bed, but totally worth it.

 

 

Goes to sleep better for daddy than mommy.  Unless I'm holding her.  Then it's me.  :)  But if we're talking laying her down and getting her to go to sleep..daddy has the golden touch.

 

She still is a grazer with eating. Getting better about it, but she eats quickly and feels like not nearly as much or as interested as Noah was.  Our doctor wasn't concerned at all..so me either.

Is SOO loved by her brother.  We have to watch him so closely because the boy can't get enough of his baby sis.  He's pretty agressive with his affection...I watch him closely but I hate to restrain that joy too much because I want for him to have joy with his sister.

 

 

 

Singing to sweet Abby. 

 

Has had 5-6 hour stretches the last few nights.  I'm loving it.  Whatever time her last night time feeding is she'll go for 5 or 6 hours, then from there it's back to every three.  But I'm feeling much more rested now just having that long stretch at night.

 

Now loves her swing and her bouncy seat.  I'm thankful for that.

Likes the sunshine..she'll cry and when we get outside she'll stop.  :)

Baths are super soothing for her.

 

Overall...she's amazing.  I love this whole newborn stage again...I feel like we're getting into our groove here now.  Brad and I are able to go to bed at the same time now, Noah is adjusting well, and Abbs is fitting right in.  Thankful for the blessing those three are to me!

 

Have a great week!