Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Train Table

We bought this train table off of Craig's list. We had to drive to Greensboro to pick it up but we think it was worth it.


The man we bought it from actually made it for his little boy who is now a big boy. We do not have any trains yet but the kids have been using it for blocks, cars and all the kitchen stuff. It is currently in the living room behind the recliners (which is the play area). It is a little crowded but we prefer the kids to play downstairs instead of upstairs in their rooms.
We will gradually build on train tracks and trains.
Have you bought anything off of Craig's List?

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Friends


Sydney and Sam have been friends since they were babies. I met Sam's parents at the daycare when we all went at lunch to feed our babies. Over time we became friends with Ellie and Garret and our children are friends.



Sydney and Sam in the infant room at daycare.


These two have been many places together and have even made headlines.


They have ridden in boats together

jeeps


and on tractors.



This was at a park a few weekends ago,
who knows what these two were looking for.


Actually I think it was fire ants



They graciously let Charlie tag along.


It won't be long and Griffin will be chasing right behind them.

Griffin and Charlie in the wagon


We all skipped rocks in the lake.
Sydney kept throwing little pebbles and I told her it might be easier if she had a bigger rock.
Sydney picking up a bigger rock to skip! I think that one is too big.


Hopefully Sam and Syd will remain friends for a long time





Monday, September 27, 2010

Remembering


Reading all the posts on my mom's blog about my niece has me thinking about when we brought Sydney and Griffin home.
Griffin seems so tiny, even the hospital hat is big. Both of our babies weighed 7 lbs 5 oz when they were born.


Proud daddy rocking Sydney the day she was born.


Sydney seems so small all swaddled

I remember getting home on a Tuesday with Sydney and my mom was flying in the next day. Tuesday night I had a bit of a break down. I was sore from natural childbirth. I was tired because I did not want to miss a thing at the hospital and so I hardly slept and we kept Sydney in our room. I was also a bit stressed about the nursing thing. My milk took a while to come in and I just felt this enormous weight of being the one to feed my baby. Bill kept telling me to rest and he would watch her and I kept saying she has to eat in just a few minutes I might as well stay up. I cried because I was so tired and also worried that something was going to happen to her. I think I broke down because it all culminated and was overwhelming.

Gramie to the rescue. My mom arrived and was more than willing to hold a baby. Since my mom nursed all four of us girls she was helpful in the breast feeding advice area.

Bill had gone back to work so he slept and my mom took one of the night time shifts so I could catch up on some sleep.

Gramie was here for over a week, including Thanksgiving day. I remember days of relaxing and holding our precious girl.



My mom helped me bath Sydney, it is always helpful to have an extra set of hands when bathing an infant. Plus someone needs to take pictures.



Looking back I am amazed at how tiny Sydney seemed!

It was a bit different bringing home Griffin! We were not nearly as nervous, at least not about having a newborn. We were a little worried about how Sydney would handle a new baby.
She was smitten from the moment she first held Griffin.

I was always a little torn because Sydney was jealous and Griffin was a newborn so his needs were immediate and I was only one momma with two hands. At times Sydney was frustrated if one of us had Griffin and she wanted our attention. We worked through things but it took some adjusting.
We let her help as much as possible, including with bath time. However, she was a bit turned off my his cord.


I love remembering the first days with our little ones.






Saturday, September 25, 2010

Spider Web




This was in our backyard last weekend. The kids and I were going out on a nature walk/scavenger hunt and I almost walked right into this web. From one direction I took this cool photo and from another angle you could not even see the web or the spider.

A very short time into our walk we came across a walnut tree and Sydney loaded her bucket with nuts, so for the remainder of the hunt I had to say "find 1 tiny pine cone, or 1 very small acorn" so it would all fit in the bucket. Fun times.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Puppies

Let me start by saying "NO, we did not get a puppy." If you know me you know I am allergic to everything with fur or hair or whatever.
My friend's dog had 3 puppies so I took Sydney and Griffin over to see them.

Can you tell how this girl felt?


Sydney held all of them but this one was easy to photograph. Griffin crawled around and laughed a little. I think he liked the mommy better because she moved more and he thought she was funny.
Sydney is always asking for a pet but I refuse to be miserable in my own home. We live less than 6 miles from the zoo, doesn't that count? Sydney says no.


Thursday, September 23, 2010

Michael's pjs

Remember this post and the pjs. Well I tracked down the pictures of Michael in the same pjs. Isn't he adorable! These pictures were taken in May of 2005 and Michael is a few months shy of 2 years old. He was a little peanut and still does not weigh much. It seems weird to see Griffin wearing the same pjs and he is almost 1 year old, and actually smaller for his age but that just puts it into perspective how small Michael was.


These pictures were taken when my mom and I flew to Maine for my sister's baby shower for Ava. It was a great trip.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Introducing Rowyn

If you missed yesterday's post, Rowyn is here. Audra was able to email this photo from her phone. I spoke with mom and Aud today and all is well. Rowyn was awake a good deal of the night so they are in need of some rest. Hopefully they will go home tomorrow and mom will bless us with many more photos. I think she is super cute!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Rowyn is Here!

Rowyn Gracie Jane Roberts was born today just after 4:00 pm, she weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and is 19 inches long. She has light brown hair and blue eyes and long eyelashes (just like her daddy). My mom has been in New Mexico since last Tuesday and has anxiously been awaiting the birth of her 6th grandchild. This is the first birth she has attended! Audra and Rowyn are both doing well. I spoke with Aud briefly and welcomed her to the mommy club. All four of us sisters now have babies, all of us have given birth to a girl (first) and Amanda and I have both had a boy second. Rowyn's daddy is still in Afghanistan but is coming home for a 2 week leave soon to meet his baby girl. Pray for Audra and Rowyn and also safe travels home for Rick. My mom will share pictures (on her blog http://reinventingdorsey.blogspot.com/) as soon as they are discharged from the hospital (maybe tomorrow, more likely Wednesday). I am excited for my sister but sad that I cannot be there at the same time. Amanda is still doing great with her pregnancy and anxiously awaiting their little bundle.




Amanda and Ava


Sydney and I
Griffin and I

Adoption day for Michael!

Ashley and Daniela ( it is no fair that Ashley is beautiful in this picture but it was taken after she and Daniela got home. I do not have a picture of Ashley with Daniela in the hospital.)

Pictures of Audra and Rowyn soon!

Back in time

Since Wednesday is officially the first day of fall I thought I would share some fall pics from the past.
Sydney October 2007- almost 1 year old
she was much chunkier than Griffin

Halloween 2007, just started walking


October 2008, so excited



November 2008-2 years old







October 2009, cow train at pumpkin patch



I am no longer pregnant in this photo- Griffin is snuggled in the Moby wrap just 1-2 weeks old





Fall is my favorite so we are gearing up for lots of fun.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

More vacation

I think I have shared most of our vacation pics but I had a few left.
The is Syd swimming, she is fearless and no stranger to water. Bill and I had her in swimming classes before she was a year old so she is accustomed to water. I hope her ear plugs were in while her head was under.

This is Apache pier, cool photographs.


Sydney rolling in the waves, I told you fearless!











Friday, September 17, 2010

Invitations

I have made Sydney's birthday invitations every year. I enjoy making them and you only have one birthday a year so it should be special. This year we decided to have a combined party. So here are the invitations......



What do you think?


I thought I had a picture of each years invitation but I could only find last years.

We are working on special plans for the party and looking forward to every minute of it.

Scrap mania

Two weekends ago I went to Scrap mania- all day scrap booking at the church from 8 am to 8 pm.
This was the back of my vehicle when I arrived at scrap mania. I have tons of scrapbook and card making supplies that I have bought on sale over the years.


Dr. Riley (left) and Shandi (right)


Dr. Riley just working away



Me



Dr. Riley and I



My section of the table- I have so much stuff I could have used my own table, and there was more under the table!




Shandi working away





The three of us



We had the best day. The cost was 30 dollars and boy did we get our monies worth. We started the day with breakfast- homemade biscuits, fruit. We scrap booked and played a few games. Lunch was subs, chips and homemade cookies and brownies. Everyone received a gift bag at the door and on the bag you had a phrase or word related to scrap booking. My word was photo album so whenever my word was drawn I was able to go up and select a prize. I honestly think I went up 15 times. We played a version of the newly wed game- Shandi and I did not win but it was funny. I made two make and takes. There was a massage therapist there giving massages but it did cost extra. We had page contests and voted on our favorites.
The food and fellowship were great and we had a blast.
Bill had a super day with the kids so it worked out wonderful.