Thursday, October 30, 2014

We Are Blessed


Anderson is 2 months old!  Life has certainly changed in the Brown house during the month of Sept.  Presley turned 2.  This little girl has made me one proud mamma.  She's such a hoot. The things that come out of her mouth only make me wonder daily what's going on inside that little head of hers.  Her birthday consisted of Adam's sister Alexis, our niece Sarah Peyton, and Adam's Dad (Big Al).  Adam was struggling to stay alive with some crazy virus that couldn't be treated...so I was pleased to have the help.  The afternoon of her birthday she opened gifts, ate cake, and we headed to the mall where Big got her new shoes and clothes for school. While we were at the mall contractions started.  Yep, I knew it, Presley and her brother were going to have the same birthday two years apart.  I had been praying against this the whole time, and here it was starting.  To top that off Adam was still sick.  The back up plan was my loving, daring sister in law would endure the adventure with me if Adam wasn't allowed in the labor and delivery room.  I'm sure she's thanking her lucky stars she had to be no part of it.  When we got home Alexis and Adam put together her play kitchen while I hung around timing contractions on my contraction app.  They stayed forever 15 minuets apart.  As dinner approached they had not progressed in time but sure did in intensity.  Shortly after dinner I excused myself upstairs to not horrify my sweet niece of what having a baby looks like.  Adam came in to check on me on and off and soon went off to bed while I paced the floors waiting for contractions to be 5 minutes apart.  Finally, around 2:00 am it was time to go to the hospital.   Adam still not feeling well, rolls out of bed half dead, then takes a shower.  Yes, you read that right.  He took the time to take a shower.  We need to go dear!! Usually the story is the other way around right?  I quickly forgave him once his behind was driving me to the hospital. (I'm sure his meds made him a little delirious too) After many more painful hours at 3:36 pm on Sept.1 Anderson was born! It was like looking at Presley all over again. I remember Presley's sweet, soft, little cry in the hospital...and I will never forget Anderson screaming from the top of his lungs cry.  It was LOUD! Even the nurses were making comments. He takes after his daddy on that one:) Once he was born my sweet sister took a last minuet flight to NC to come and help out.  It was fantastic and beyond helpful to have Adams family and my sister around during this time.  We don't know what we would've done without them.  They cleaned, grocery shopped, and took care of Presley while I was in the hospital.  Tricia, even stayed the night with me in the hospital so Adam could stay home with Presley to take her to her first day of pre school.  Poor girl got a baby brother and started school for the first time all with in 48 hours. It was also wonderful to be spoiled by our friends with yummy dinners too. I didn't cook for weeks! It was a week full of family and fun just the way labor day should be.
  WE ARE BLESSED! I find myself saying this phrase many times through out the day, and counting my blessings one by one.
A few weeks later Mimi came to visit!  It was wonderful again to have someone take care of Presley and other needs while I zoned out on Anderson.  Mimi played "happy birthday" a million and one times and chased her around the kitchen until she was going to drop. The best part was taking Mimi to see Duke gardens. We got to feed ducks and then look at all the "bootiful flowers" as Presley says. Thanks Mimi!
THEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE! Presley came down with a cold that soon turned into croup. If any of you have dealt with this ugly cough you know sleep just doesn't happen.  Not for one or two nights, but for many nights, 12 nights to be exact....ugh.  Once Presley started getting better, what do you know, Anderson gets it.  Poor guy looked awful.  For a week he slept on my chest just to be able to breath.  After a week, he took a turn for the worse.  Completely stopped eating on us.  I took him to the Dr. and they said if it got worse to come back.  So the next day I showed back up.  At this point he had lost close to a pound and had only eaten 4 oz in 24 hours.  Being that he was only 5 weeks old his Dr. wanted him to be monitored over night at the hospital and to be tube feed to make sure he didn't dehydrate.  He told me go to the ER and he will call to let them know what's going on.  We got to the ER and the Dr. there said he's fine...your Dr. is over reacting go home!!! Yes, I paid the ER $250 to tell me my Dr. over reacted and go home. No telling what the final bill will be?!  Any ways, while all this is taking place my sweet mother in law jumps on a flight to come and help us out.  By this point Adam and I are both holding on to life with what little sleep we had had in the past week and few days.  I felt awful that she was coming, but oh so relieved to not have to function at 100% for a day or two.  She went grocery shopping, played with Presley, and cooked us meals and stuck them in our freezer, and even got Presley some clothes.  It was during that time Adam and I for sure knew we need to get back to Texas!  Having her help when we couldn't even help ourselves was a life saver. Thank you Neenie!


Anderson Dane Brown Stats
Weight: 7pounds 3ounces at birth, 9pounds at 1 month...waiting to know for month 2
Length: 20 inches at birth, 22 inches at 1 month....waiting for month 2
Hair Color: strawberry blond at birth and now it's all falling out. The color is just like Presley's. So I think it's safe to say he will have blond hair when it grows in.
What does he do? Eats every three hours and sleeps 4-5 hours at a time at night.   Just started working on some tummy time.  It's pretty eventful around here. As month two came around he's starting to smile and make eye contact with us.








Aunt Tricia and Anderson. Thanks for enduring a long few nights with me!


Presley loves to sing her ABC's to Anderson. This is by far my most favorite video.


Presley's Birthday








Mimi came to visit and we went to Duke gardens! Thank you for all your help that week Mimi:) We love you.






Presley can now count to 10 in English and in Spanish. (by the sound of the video she's better at Spanish)
 
 




Presley and Adam gutting a pumpkin to carve.


Presley walking through a corn maze.  We took her to a pumpkin patch to ride a pony, train, jump in bounce houses and this was all she was willing to do:/
















Saturday, May 17, 2014

Strawberry Picking

What do you do on a beautiful day?  Eat donuts then pick strawberries!  When we moved to NC we were told by many we needed to try Rise.  This is a donut and biscuit shop that was well worth the visit.  I had no clue banana pudding could be so delicious as a donut, and their chicken and biscuit was by far the best we've ever had.  Alright...so this clearly wasn't the healthiest of breakfast, but it was worth every bite.  Unfortunately Presley wasn't all that impressed.  She picked at her donut, and had more fun drinking OJ.
After our breakfast of champions we drove over to Waller Family Farms in Durham to pick strawberries.  I was hoping Presley would love this being she will eat her body weight in strawberries.  She picked a few...ate a few...picked a few...then melted down when it was time to leave.  It was a great place to make a quick trip for family fun.


Playing with chalk at Rise.



Presley, Me and my 24 weeks belly
 

Gotta taste those berries before you take them home.
 
 

 
Her most excited moment was seeing the ducks.



"Helping" Daddy eat...I mean pick berries.





 

Monday, April 28, 2014

Way too long...and new additions

My last post was when Presley was 1. She's now four months away from being 2! Time seems to go by faster the older she gets.  Here's a quick update on her.

Presley Stats:
 Height: 33inches
 Weight:23 pounds
 Teeth: At 15 months she got her first two teeth.  She's just now starting to get more.  Three molars are coming in, and no sign of any front teeth.
 Words: More like what words does she not say.  During her 18 month check up  I was asked if she's talking?  I told him she's like a parrot these days, and repeats EVERYTHING you say.  When I paused she looked at him and said, "parrot arrrr."  That's because her Daddy taught her  pirates say arrrr, and they have parrots on their shoulders. I was shocked because she never talks to or around people she's not familiar with.
 Eating: We have gone from a girl who was eating everything to a girl who almost eats nothing.   I was told by several friends to always have her eat what you eat for dinner.  Don't get into the habit of making something just for her.  For the most part this is what we do, and if she doesn't eat then she doesn't eat.  I feel like every step we take forward we then take two steps back.  Black beans still top her list of foods to eat.

Personality: I'm not ashamed to say we have a very strong willed child.  I know with much prayer, and Dr. James Dobsin  we will figure out how to steer her in the right direction to use this strength.  My prayer is that she will grow up to use this trait to be a go getter, and positive leader. 
New Tricks: She now sleeps in her big girl bed.  At 18 months her ped (who I think is one of the best) said if we start early then we most likely wont run into any crib attachment issues, or getting out of the bed issues as well.  He was right!  We had a twin bed in her room for a while before she slept in it, but she did great.  Never once got out of the bed, and only cried one night. 
Favorite things to do: Color, ride in her wagon, and collect rocks when we go on walks.  If it looks like a rock while we are walking then it will be going in her bucket.  Her collection has a few dead bugs as well.
J




She's growing up fast and her Daddy is her world.  When Adam gets home she can't control her excitement.  I know I've said it before, but I really couldn't have hand picked a better husband for me and father for her.  He's a little girls dream Dad.  Some days it brings tears to my eyes to watch him with her.


She's not my little baby anymore:(  This was back in Nov. She's changed so much.


Now onto the new!!  Adam and I will be having a baby boy Sept. 8th!!! This will be the 10th grand kid and second boy on Adam's side, and the 7th grand kid and 5th boy on my side. 

 Anderson Dane Brown will be a whole new ball game for me.  Adam is on cloud nine.  I'm scared, happy, and confused.  Maybe I'm just prego:)  When we found out Presley was a girl my wheels tuned as to how do we raise a wholesome young lady in a world full of "the sexier the better" attitudes.  Thank God I don't have to know all of that right now!  For now her saying please and thank you is an accomplishment!   When I think about raising a boy....my wheels turn in a whole new way.   How in the world do you raise a boy with a good balance of being a boy and also being a gentlemen?   Being a crazy boy is OK, but it's not OK at the wrong place and time.  I will never blow behavior off and say well he's a boy.   I taught too long with too many parents making unacceptable behavior acceptable for boys.  ( I might be eating these words when he's older haha)  SO, if you are a parent of a boy and you have any ideas or books that you could recommend....bring them on!
When it's all said and done I want the best for my kids. Having them know and loving Christ, being happy, and healthy would make my heart so full.  I want them to know they don't have to grow up to be "something" to make me proud.  They are my kids. They are my life.  There's nothing they could do to change my love for them and I want them to be secure in that.

                                                   We can't wait to meet you Anderson!!

                                                                     He isn't shy.

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