Here we go...

Thanks to all of our dear friends and family for all the prayers and words of encouragement... things are going extraordinarily smoothly so far with Alexandria and Wilson's transition into big-brotherhood. Brian and I were even able to go to a wedding last night while the kids (it's still wierd to say that) stayed home with SaSa and Grandaddy. That was a lot of fun! We've only had one (completely unnecessary) ER visit... our first date night since having the second child, but that's another story for another day, and our first 911 call-- two nights ago when Alexandria spit up, gagged, threw up and then seemingly stopped breathing... but she was fine and we hung up before 911 picked up. Twenty minutes later 2 police officers showed up to make sure everything was ok... needless to say Brian and I plan to take an infant/child cpr class asap. But tomorrow is a new day-- Brian is going back to work and I am on my own with both chickens... just pray we make it until Mamaw shows up around 2. It's all about survival, right?

Alexandria's thoughts...

Life is pretty good these days...
I am 10 days old and doing everything I am suposed to do, including keeping mom and dad on their sleepy toes. I went to the doctor today and have already regained my birhweight plus some! I gained 13 ounces in 7 days... for a grand total of 6 pounds and 9 ounces. I've given mom and dad a little hope of sleeping through the night at some point in the fairly near future, but not yet! That wee-hour snuggle time is just too good!





I am pretty cute and sweet when I am awake, which tends to be in the wee hours, but I am starting to find what momma calls "daytime" pretty interesting too...










All this baby stuff is hard work, so I am gonna go for now.. I need to catch up on some zzz's. I look forward to meeting you all soon!

We decided to have a little photo session on the couch... it went much more smoothly than we anticipated (thanks be to Baby Einstein!)
The pictures didn't turn out as great as we had hoped but here are a few:
This one's blurry, but really sweet.




We told Wilson to "kiss the baby"... which he hasn't done since we brought Alexandria home, until now!



And the winner is...

Survival

A dear friend told me the other day that all I need to do right now is survive... all the details will be a wash. Simply survive, and that is what we are doing. Those are words I truly needed to hear. Another friend reminded me that in Hebrews 1 God says that He sustains us in all things, another timely reminder of Truth. However, I do not know what I would do without a few things.

These are my KEYS TO SURVIVAL so far...
1. Diet Coke
2. Motrin
3. Zoloft
4. The freedom to NOT breastfeed (the hardest and best decision I've ever had to make)
5. Similac Advance & Avent Bottles
6. My Wonderful Husband
7. Diet Coke & Cheez-Its
8. Moments to absorb and enjoy my sweet children
9. Prayers and Words of Encouragement
10. Willing sitters/Wilson entertainers! (Mamaw, Julie, D, mom & dad, and more!)

That's it for now... it is time for Little Chicken to eat. Hopefully I will get some more precious pics uploaded this evening.

17 Months

Wilson, you turned 17 months old on the day your sister was born, which is why this post is a few days late. (It was on my list of things to do on Tuesday... sorry!) You are quite the little boy, becoming less and less "baby" every day!

Your favorite breakfast food is Publix Bran Flakes, and you usually eat a bunch of those as well as 2 scrambled eggs and part of a waffle... you love to eat... a lot. You love quesadillas (especially with black beans...) peas, chicken, hamburger with ketchup, corn, green beans, grapes, blueberries and strawberries. When we read books and you see strawberries you go, "mmmmmmmm...".

You started going to Toddler Time, which was a little rough at first. Your dramatic "glass-shattering cry" caught everyone's attention, but it only took a week or two for you to love going and being there. Now when we drop you off, you go right to playing, and you love your teachers, Miss Janet, Miss Laurie and Miss Julie, as well as Miss Annie when she is there.

You love to run around, to climb, swing and slide... life is good when you are outside! At the mention of the word you are ready to put on your shoes and GO GO GO! You started walking right at 15 months, and it has been so fun watching you explore. You have some great dance moves-- mainly squatting and the occasional turn around. You love to sing songs (well for momma to sing songs), especially "The Wheels on the Bus", "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Pop Goes the Weasel", "Twinkle Twinkle", and "Old MacDonald".

You enjoy opening and closing drawers and cabinets, and you are always good about listening to Momma when she says, "OK, lets' close that now and play with something else." Youare a very good listener!!! When you find fun things, you want to know how they work, including headbands! You figured this one out pretty well-- perhaps you had some help from Daddy.

You are adjusting very well to having a little sister around, though it's only been a few days. You are constantly entertaining anyone who cares to be entertained!!!

You love to learn new things and you get very tickled with yourself as you master new skills. You know your colors and some numbers (Daddy drills you in the bath with your foam numbers) and you are starting to learn some letters as you make new sounds. You enjoy pushing things around the house including your dump truck, your walker cart, furniture, laundry baskets and swiffers.

I am so very very proud of you... you are sweet and loving, full of smiles and laughter, a little drama here and there to keep things interesting. Your Daddy and I enjoy every bit of you, everyday... more and more. You warm our hearts and light up our lives with your precious smile. We love you, we love you, we love you so much!!!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Alexandria Houghton, our brand new baby girl!
She was born Tuesday morning, October 17th, at 10:01am.

She weighed 6lb and 5 oz. (one ounce bigger than Wilson) and was 18 and 3/4 inches long.

We are so blessed... We love you so much!

Still ticking, but not so quickly...

The tick tock has faded a bit...
two weekly OB visits-- still one cm and not much else...
so we've got some time...
I am trying to savor these days of simply sweet Wilson and full nights of sleep (kind of).
My due date is 2 weeks from this coming Monday... Wilson was 10 days early (that would be next Friday).
Anyone up for a girls night out next week?

Tick Tock

I feel like the clock is ticking... and it's getting louder and louder. My complaints are getting more frequent and more whiney and more frequent. One minute I am ready to go ahead and have this baby and then I look around my house and the list of things to do sets off the nesting alarm! I am almost done with the sewing machine-- I wish I had a picture of our new cornice in the living room, curtains in the dining room and kitchen, and the baby girl's curtains which aren't up yet... but her room is coming together slowly. I just keep reminding myself that Wilson didn't even have a room until he was 4 or 5 months old and he made it ok.
Brian and I are going out on a date tonight (dinner and a movie-- after months of begging, a little birthday guilt and the threat of baby #2 chaining us to this house). And the the tick tock continues... what the heck are we gonna do with another baby? I am glad to have wonderful friends that have gone before with their #2's-- I will be eagerly seeking your wisdom and encouragement.
The Wilson alarm just went off.... naptime's over, and therefore this post is too.
Tick tock
Tick tock
Tick tock