Praise God

Thank you to everyone who was praying last night because we had a wonderful night. She went down really easily both times and we all got a good (well as good as to be expected) nights sleep. I feel like a new person.

Late nights

Things with Caleigh have been going amazingly well- well until last night. I finally felt strong enough to carry her yesterday and start changing diapers on my own (not due to incompetence- due to the fact I couldn't carry or lift her because of my surgery). I didn't wake Rusty up until 4 am to swaddle her (he is still questioning why I cant swaddle and let him sleep:)) . Well it was 6 before we got her back to sleep- so yes it took almost 3 hrs. We would lay her down and then almost be asleep and she would start screaming again. By the time she went to bed at 6 neither of us could sleep- and then to top it off- the power in the house went out for an hr. Good times. I think fervent prayer will be going on tonight for a better nights sleep. I am good with an hour to hour and half for a middle of the night feeding and back to bed but after 3 hrs- I thought I would loose my mind. Of course this all happens when Rusty is headed back to work!

Reese returned home from his grandparents and has decided he needs to be in time out a minimum of 5 times a day. I think once he starts back to MDO next week and gets more adjusted, that it will get better. It does make me feel better that Rusty and his parents are all in agreement that he is not himself- so I am not dreaming it. This afternoon I woke up from a nap to find him standing at my bed (never happens since he is in a crib, but grandma got him out today) and we had a sweet 20 min of laying in bed and looking at fishing magazines together. That's my Reese that I know and love! He wanted to lay in the big bed and didn't like Daddy's pillow. Hopefully one of these days he will decide to sleep in the big bed in his room- but that's a battle I am not willing to fight right now. Caleigh can stay in her cradle for several months and I think we will try one transition at a time.

On a positive note he did do better about staying on his mat in gymnastics. Elizabeth went down and sat with the kids to keep them in control and I am thankful for that. I think the teacher is slow to transition so they get bored- shock!

Rusty's parents are headed back tomorrow so tomorrow night and Friday we will have our first experience as a new family with no extra help.

I need a new name for my blog so feel free to get creative and send me ideas

Gymnastics and Welcome Home

Relaxing afternoon
Reese wearing Caleighs bib

Welcome home from the hospital- trying out the cradle

Reese hanging out in the hospital

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYEGnUvXENA

Click on the link above to see Reese's gymnastics video. This was from his class when I was in the hospital. I can see why we were told we need to talk to the kids about staying on their carpet squares.

Everyone knows how social I am and after alot of begging and pleading, Rusty finally gave in and took me to the church picnic last night. Caleigh's first big event out was a success. I was going crazy staying in the house and had to get out. I am so glad to have the adjustment time with Caleigh, but do look forward to Reese's return home tomorrow.

Caleigh Marie

We are proud to announce the arrival of our daughter

Caleigh Marie
June 10
7:17 am
8 lbs 9 oz
20 inches long

You pronounce her name like Cali not Kaylee. We picked the spelling of her name because Leigh is my middle name. I am 4th generation with the middle name Lee/Lea/Leigh. Marie is Rusty's mothers name and my grandmothers middle name.

I am making a slow but steady recovery. We came home last night at 9 pm. The hospital was packed and they were literally waiting for us to leave to clean the room to get someone a room

There are 8 people in our bible study and 4 of us had babies in the last 11 days. Caleigh even had a friend in the nursery. The dr said the hospital is hoping with Ike babies- which makes him laugh since we didn't have power outages or effects here:)

Reese has gone to his grandparents. It is nice to have the time to recover but I do miss my buddy. He really wanted Caleigh to come sit with him on the fireplace today. I think he wants a play mate in her!

Also- to add to the fun- Rusty and I got in the car on Wed to head to the hospital only to realize his car was broken into. There was a little crime spree in our super safe neighborhood. It was a good thing we were headed to the hospital because it didn't give him a chance to be upset about it.

10 Years

Today I hit the 10 year mark at my job. I never would have thought when I took this job out of college that I would still be there. I was planning on working a year and then moving when we got married and therefore finding another job. Well the move to Temple never happened and 10 years later here we are

Reese has had a very fun week. We started swim lessons (4 days for 2 weeks), gymnastics (1 day for 6 weeks) and Kindermusik (1 day for 8 weeks). His babysitter also took him to the park twice and we hit the splashpad. Yesterday we went to the family reunion where he swam and fished in the lake. He is having a blast!

My Dad is here for a few days and we are getting spoiled. He has been cooking up a storm and watched Reese so that we could go to the movies. We are trying to get out as much as we can before Wed:)

Sunday fun

We had a busy Sunday. After church Rusty and Reese went fishing while I took a nap. Then after Reese's nap I took him to the pool with our friends (for the 3rd time in 4 days) while Rusty took a nap. Reese couldn't have dreamed up a better day- fishing and swimming. Reese started swim lessons today so I think he now thinks every day when he wakes up from his nap we go to the pool! He will have 8 lessons between this week and next.

We also went to the bounce house on Friday, McD playground on Sat and have hit the splash pad twice this week. I have been really spoiled because his MDO is out for a month so we have babysitters here everyday until 2 so that I can work. What that means is he goes down for a nap at 2 and so do I! I am loving having down time every afternoon and not running straight from work to the MDO and to a toddler at full speed.

Reese also starts Kindermusik and gymnastics this week. You would never think that I am 9 days away from delivery the way we are going. I would have thought I would have delivered by now but maybe she wants to go to the end. I am already past where I was with Reese and we are all setup and prepared (unlike with him)

Memorial Day

This weekend we went to the river for our annual Memorial Day trip. Rusty was a nervous wreck that I was going to go into labor so I spent most of the weekend relaxing. I did hit up the outlet mall on 2 trips and did get some great clothes for the kids. It was great to see all of the extended family and to shock those who somehow missed I was pregnant. I think there were 23 of us there.

The entire extended family was involved in helping to pick a name. We have a list but still making little progress. I really thought I was in labor on Sunday night and not having a name doesn't help! I predict it will be any day now. I feel like a ticking time bomb sitting around waiting for something to happen.

Reese had a blast at the river. He went on 2 float trips with Rusty- each one lasting about an hr and a half. He likes to tell you all about it and how he even went down the shoot. I was not allowed anywhere near the river so I didn't get any good pictures- but got a few on our test run in the baby pool.

Reese got sick out of nowhere last week when his friends were over. He looked so sweet on his floor pallet. He started to feel better so we went out for dinner to celebrate our anniversary and left him with a babysitter.

Reese's MDO is out for a month so we had a babysitter come today. He says the funniest things. I asked what all he and Katy did today and I said- did you play outside, color, etc. When I said you ate he said "nine". Cracks me up.

Last night he and Daddy were working in the garage and he was measuring just like Rusty. I said go stand by your tape and he was like a little model. For once he took direction on my picture!


Last weekend I went to Houston to throw a shower for my college roommate. The girls will be about a month apart so I say they will be college roommates.