Another month has gone by between posts...

...so I guess I'm establishing a routine to my blogging, although not a very frequent routine. :o)

Our holidays were nice and we really enjoyed just being able to relax and spend time with family. I just can't believe that Christmas has already come and gone, part of that disbelief might be due to the fact that our Christmas decorations are still up inside the house (don't judge). Hey, I put them up late so can't they stay up late?

Here are some pics from over the holidays...

Rusty's mom & Alli

Memaw & the grandkids

Rusty's sis, DeAnn, Rusty, Alli, Pat & Rusty's brother, Danny

Alli checking out Mia & Dad

Mia, Huston & Alli on Christmas morning

Rusty's brother, Danny, meeting Alli for the first time

Alli and her great-grandpa

The grands & great-grands with PaPa

My parents with the grandkids

An update...finally

Tonight I decided it was time to update the blog, I knew it had been a while but I didn't realize an entire month had passed since I last logged in...my apologies. So let me give you the highlights of the past month.

Mia is finally completely potty trained!!! YEA! I was working on it with her while I was still pregnant with Alli because I only wanted one little one in diapers...diapers are too expensive to have to buy two sets and who wants to change that many diapers? :o) Anyway, I never got her to the point of wearing panties all of the time before Alli came so I finally felt up to the challenge and Mia did a great job. Plus, she had a brand new, still in the box Cabbage Patch baby on the back of the potty to help motivate her. :o) Another exciting thing that happened this month was that we received a package from Mia's birth family. They sent an adorable photo book with pics of Mia's birth mom and her family and friends...it's PRICELESS! Also, they sent gifts to both Huston and Mia...trainer chopsticks, Legos for Huston, and a teddy bear for Mia. So sweet!

Huston's been doing great and is a great help around the house with his sisters...he LOVES being a big brother. In fact, he placed his order for another baby just the other night, but said that he'd like a boy this time...I think he's feeling out numbered!?! Huston helps a lot with Mia although he also loves to irritate her like all brothers love to do to their sisters. He also helps with Alli, he loves to hold her, get her paci for her, and "watch" her while I do things around the house.

Well, as you can imagine, in a month's time Alli has really grown a lot! I had her weighed this week and she now weighs a whopping 10 lbs. 5 oz. and she's 7 weeks old. That's great when you consider she was 6 lbs. 2 oz. at 1 week. Alli is starting to smile or at least makes a really good effort to, with success every now and then. Now while she's sleeping, she has huge smiles and laughs out loud, too. :o)

As for Rusty and I, we are just enjoying the kids and getting adjusted to being outnumbered. :o) For example, it's amazing how much more challenging running simple errands is with three kids instead of two. Those of you with more than two or three kids are laughing because you know what I'm talking about and those of you with less than that are laughing because you cannot imagine the difference just one extra kid could possibly make. :o) You have to have a strategy for everything, especially "kid placement". Shopping carts were not made for three kids (including one in an infant carrier), and you sure don't want to let the other two have complete freedom in a store! :o) So, I wear Alli in a sling, put Mia in the seat of the cart and Huston either walks or rides in the big part of the cart until he gets "kicked out" by the purchases! :o)

We are still getting ready for Christmas and I'm ashamed to say that I still have some shopping left to do. Normally, I am finished by now but having a new baby so close to the holidays has set me back this year. :o) Huston and Mia are loving the decorations and getting really excited about Santa and opening presents. I know it will be lots of fun watching them this year.

Well, here are some new pics and I promise to update with Christmas pics soon. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Here's a pic of Mia with her potty and her "prize"!

Santa paid a visit to the Discovery School (Mother's Day Out) open house.

Mia was excited about the candy cane Santa gave her

and Santa was concerned that Huston's only gift request was a gun! ;o)

Huston and the gingerbread house he made at school...he is SO proud!
Alli enjoying one of her favorite times of the day...bath time!

Alli's got a hold of Daddy's finger...and his heart! :o)
Checking each other out

Daddy's girl

New pics of little Alli

Alli is now three weeks old and time is flying by...except those nights when she doesn't sleep well...but this too shall pass! The knowledge that comes with Alli being #3 is priceless...with Huston, I felt like the long nights would never end and questioned every move I made with the info I had read in books. Now I realize that time does fly...even the hard times and that all you can do is your best, cherish every moment, and don't worry about what the books or other people may say. Take the advice that works for you and don't worry about the stuff that doesn't. Okay, let me hop down off of the soapbox now!? :o)

Alli loves her baths, especially now that she can have a "real" bath instead of just a "sponge" bath. She is still sleeping a lot, eats a lot (usually while sleeping), and needs a diaper change a lot! :o) She smiles and laughs out loud in her sleep, which is PRECIOUS!

Huston HAS to hold her every day, at least once a day, and has become quite the handwashing pro. Mia loves to give Alli kisses on her head and doesn't seem to be bothered at all by another little girl being in the house.

Mia had her two year well check today so I had Alli weighed and she is now 7 lbs. 14 oz., and is doing great! Here are some new pics of our growing girl!

Little bitty feet

Little bitty hands

Little bitty nap

Little bitty girl

Happy 2nd Birthday, Mia!

Believe it or not, Mia celebrated her second birthday today! I really can't believe that the little six month old girl we brought home on that LONG flight home from Korea is already two!?!

Since it's been so crazy in our family lately (stomach bug, new baby), we decided to keep the celebration very small and manageable for mom this year (just family). As some of you know, I always make my kids' birthday cakes; and even though it seemed like I just got home from the hospital, I was determined to make Mia's birthday cake this year, too. So I'm happy to say that I was able to make her a nice, little ladybug cake just in time for her birthday brunch.

Mia had a great b-day and really enjoyed opening cards and presents this year...in fact she plays with her cards and their envelopes almost as much as her presents!

Anyway, here are some pics from Mia's birthday.

the ladybug cake

all dressed up and ready to vacuum!
It's not easy being a princess!

Posing with a couple of her presents

Every princess needs a tea set

We've been home one week now...

...and things are going good and are starting to settle down a bit. We came home to two kids with the stomach bug and that was quite an adventure!?! Plus our poor families had to take care of our sick kids while we were still at the hospital! Once we got home, Alli and I stayed away from the germs by hanging out in the master bedroom and going to the windows to say "hi!" to brother and sister...I felt like we were in a zoo exhibit!? Poor Rusty had to step up and face his biggest fear...taking care of and cleaning up after pooping and puking kids! I was quite impressed and think I love him even more after watching all he had to do around here. :o)

Alli is doing great! We went to the doctor on Monday...Alli weighed 6 lbs. 2 oz. and they were pleased with how well she is doing. Big brother and sister are doing great, too and both seem to love their new little sister. Of course, Huston can't get enough of Alli and is enjoying being able to hold her now that he is well. Huston is quite the helper and even sings to Alli when she is upset or needs a little help falling to sleep. Mia still isn't 100%, so she's only been able to touch Alli's feet and the top of her head, but Mia smiles and points at her new baby sister and says "Baby Ayee".

I'm still not able to drive but should be able to start Monday after my doctor's appointment. So, taking Huston and Mia to Mother's Day Out next week will be my first outing with three children...we'll see how it goes. :o) I'm not ready to be out running around and am enjoying being lazy and at home with the kids, so Alli and I will probably be dropping off brother and sister and coming home to take a nap! :o)

Our family has been blessed with wonderful, home cooked meals from great friends this week and that has helped SO much! It's nice to have yummy, hot food delivered to your house that isn't pizza or take out! Thank you to everyone that has brought meals so far...we REALLY appreciate it!

Okay, so I'll stop typing now and post what you really want to see...new pics!

Here's a pic of my Trick-or-Treaters!

Huston and Rusty went to the Harvest Party at church

and Mia stayed home with me and Alli since she was still sickly.

Huston's very first time to hold his new baby sister!

Giving baby sister some love!

Mia getting a closer look at her new baby sis


Some lovin' from Daddy

More new pics....

I love my BIG green paci!

Taking a catnap with Daddy

All dressed up for my doctor's appointment

Happy Birthday, Alli Grayson!

I woke Rusty up around 4:00 am on Monday and told him that "this was it", it was time to go to the hospital. My sister-in-law came over to watch our kids and Rusty and I were off to see if this would indeed be the day that we welcomed Alli into the world. At the hospital, my contractions were around 3 minutes apart so they called my doctor to see what he wanted to do. They gave me meds to stop labor and scheduled my c-section for 8:00 am. At 8:33 the first incision was made and at 8:42 Alli was born at 36 weeks, weighing in at 6 lbs. 8 oz. and 17 1/2 inches long. She needed a little help with oxygen and just "remembering" to breathe (that's how our pediatrician put it), but overall was doing great. We thank everyone for your prayers!

Here's a pic of me about to "pop" at the hospital! :o)

Dad's dressed and ready for surgery

Brand new Alli



Alli getting oxygen

Mommy and Alli (note the big bow her nurse put on her head!)