Some Pictures of Ellie Jane

Here are some pictures of Ellie Jane!!! She is two weeks old today. She is finally waking up a little bit at a time, even though the pictures are of her sleeping. I cannot believe how opposite Ellie Jane is from Mary Paul at this age. She is already making certain that her daddy and I recognize that she is Ellie Jane, her own person. Mary Paul is doing great and is a wonderful big sister. A couple funny stories about Mary Paul. While playing on some steps (unsturdy steps made out of paving stones) Bryan and I tried to hold her hands before she fell and she said, and I quote, "Um, guys, you don't need to hold my hands." Last week she was upstairs with Bryan's mom and tod her she was going to sing a song and started to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". Then she stopped and said, "Oh, sorry. I forgot my microphone." Then she proceeded to go pick an imaginary microphone up, hold it to her mouth and sing. Gotta love that girl!!! Next time I will have pictures of both girls.

Let me Introduce...Ellie Jane!!!

Welcome to our sweet Ellie Jane!!! Ellie Jane arrived Monday morning at 7:53 a.m. She weighed 8 pounds and 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. She is healthy, beautiful, sweet, cuddly, everything a newborn should be. Mary Paul has been a great big sister. She shares her blankie with Ellie Jane and is makes statements of what we could do to make Ellie Jane not cry. For example, I think you need to change her diaper, I think she needs a paci, I think she wants to color. I am feeling great and healing nicely. My doctor even let me go home a day early instead of making me stay the standard three days following a c-section. All of our family was able to be with us, which means more than they'll ever know. Plus my mom got to stay the week and we look forward to having Bryan's mom come help next week. Thank you all for your prayers for our sweet girl. She is truly a blessing!!!Our new addition, Ellie Jane!!!

Getting warmed up in the OR after being born.

Nothing like a good swaddle!!!

Mary Paul holding her new baby sister, Ellie Jane (following a trip with Daddy to the Krispy Kreme).

Daddy with his girls. I love this shot.

I am ready to hold Ellie Jane.

My beautiful,beautiful girls.

Having a rest with Daddy. I have some pictures like this of Mary Paul with Bryan, I love them.

Mary Paul's Special Day

On Tuesday, Bryan took the morning off work and we took Mary Paul for a special day. We started off at "Jump Zone", one of those places with big blow up things that they climb and slide down. She had so much fun!!! The best part was that they expect parents to go with their children, so Bryan had as much fun as Mary Paul!!! She is getting so big, climbing by herself and going down these huge slides with no fear. Then we took her to Chuckie Cheese's for lunch. She liked it okay, but not a ton...which makes me completely happy!!! I think she's still a little young for what Chuckie Cheese's has to offer. We are very excited for Monday to get here and to meet Ellie Jane!!! Mary Paul will be a great big sister!!!

Just Taking Some Pictures

These are just a few pictures I took over the last few days of Mary Paul. She is getting so big and as always is so much fun. She gets excited when we talk about Ellie Jane, who will be here two weeks from today!!! I am nervous about having two kids, but hopefully I'll do okay. Enjoy the pictures of Mary Paul!!!

Mary Paul is Getting Bigger

Mary Paul is getting so big and so smart and so contrary. She argues with everything. For example, while drinking apple juice I said, "How's your apple juice, Mary Paul?" Her response was, "No. I'm not drinking apple juice." When I told her she couldn't lick the play-dough, her response was , "But I have to lick the play-dough." Last week, for the first time ever, I just left a buggy full of items and walked out of the store. Despite the fact she is entering her terrible twos, when I am not exasperated, she cracks me up. She came out of her room this morning wearing a hat, shoes and a "coat" (her blankie around her shoulders). She danced all over the room. She also is loving to tell stories and has the vocabulary to do it. A final funny story that occurred after I left the previously mentioned cart of groceries.

Me: Mary Paul, today we need to go to Target and Publix.
MP: No. I don't want to go to Publix.
Me: Well, we have to go to Publix to get the rest of the food the ladies retreat.
MP: (Sigh) You don't eat ladies for treats.

Playing dress up with whatever she can find. It was 8:15 in the morning so we were still in our pajamas.

Please Pray

Please pray for our dear friends, the Tuleys. Bryan and Jeff were in each others' weddings. They are sweet family going through a difficult time. Thank you all.

www.thetuleys.blogspot.com

Big Christmas Post

We had a wonderful Christmas!!! We were gone for two weeks. We had our family Christmas the Monday before the 25th. As requested, Mary Paul received a globe and some mittens along with a train table. Bryan loved his XBOX 360. We left the next day for Atlanta. We had wonderful time with Bryan's family and got to spend Tuesday through Friday with them. We drove home Friday afternoon, washed clothes, repacked and left Saturday morning for West Virginia. It was a long 10 hour drive but worth it for the family time we got o have with my family. Bryan got to snowboard every day and had a blast. He also got to spend a lot of time with fellow snowboarders Andi and John. Mary Paul had fun playing with her cousins. I, unfortunately couldn't do many outdoor winter activities, being 30 weeks pregnant, but my sisters and mom took good care of me and played a lot of board games. Those of you who know me, know I love games. We loved the snow, but Mary Paul hated the cold wind. I think she prefers the beach to the snowy mountains. Enjoy the monster post of pictures, but hey it was a two week Christmas.

So, believe it or not, this was not posed. Mary Paul loved this snowman and carried him around the house.

The requested globe. She loves it. She likes to spin it and ask, "Where does ____ live?"

Mary Paul loved playing with Claire. An besides Brian and Beth, Claire really only loved playing with Mary Paul

This looks like she's saying, "Gag me with a spoon." I just caught her mid move though.

Mary Paul and my other big kid had so much fun playing in the snow together.