Look who is 3 weeks old...

Well, it is hard to believe, but Brylee is already 3 weeks old. Today we finally made it to the doctor... (she had canceled a few times.) for Brylee's 2 week check. She is up to 8 lbs 3 ozs. She is still 21 inches long. It is a relief to know that she is eating well, and gaining the weight that she needs. She may have blocked tear ducts... but that is a wait and see. Her eyes are constantly teary. She also has an impressive umbilical hernia. Another thing that we just wait and watch. It should close by the time she goes to Kindergarten. Maybe I'll post some pics of it. Though I take care of kids all the time who have had the hernia repair, I rarely see the hernia prior to surgery. Its kinda cool. Otherwise, she is perfect. It has been amazing to watch her change day by day. They just do not stay small long enough. Here are some pics of our growing girl.

Everyday she seems more alert. She definitely recognizes My and Bryce's voices. She will turn towards us when we talk to her. She also is holding her head up. And, she thinks its fun to roll from side to side. Especially when we are trying to change her bum. Overall, she is doing exactly what she should... I am hoping that maybe she will start sleeping longer at night... :)

Kaylie's Homecoming

This past weekend, Kaylie went to her first Homecoming. Her date was Levi, "just a friend." And yes, he is the same boy who took her to Prom. As Kaylie puts it... " They are best friends." So, I guess that means it is cool if he takes her to all the dances. However, I am hoping she does branch out and ask someone different for the next girl's choice dance. Both Bryce and I really do like Levi, and it is nothing against him... I am just afraid that Kaylie will break his heart. She wants to play and have fun, and is not after anything serious. I don't think I can say the same for Levi. I guess we will see how it goes.
Kaylie posing...

Kaylie and Levi. She went to the Mall and picked out his tie, so they would match perfect.

She had her hair done for the occasion... I think she said she pulled 59 bobby pins out from her hair.

Her group... As you can all notice, they are all wearing short dresses. I was educated by Kaylie this dance... apparently homecoming is a short dress dance. How was I to know? :)

Brylee is 2 Weeks Old!

So, another week has passed. It is difficult to believe that today was her original due date... I don't think I would have ever made it. :) Ok, I probably would have, but I am much happier having her here. She continues to be such a piece of happiness in our home. She is the only one that nobody is ever mad at... How would that be? :) Though I worry, I will admit she is growing, and starting those cute baby fat rolls on her legs. I am anxious to get back to the doctor to see what she weighs. Yesterday was the first time since her birth that I had both Parker and her alone... yikes! That was an adventure. Parker is so willing to be a good big brother that he is often helping even without Mom asking... I don't think Brylee slept at all. To all my friends that have more then one child... you all make it look way to easy... Thanks for that! :) I guess if we are all dressed and bathed by 12pm, I will call the day a success.
Parker was at school... she was able to get a quick nap in.

She is all cheeks. I am sure that 1/3 of her weight is in those cheeks.

Brylee at 2 weeks.

One Week Already...

I am amazed at how fast time is going... Yesterday, Brylee was one week old! Its crazy. She has been such a joy in our home and I already can't remember life without her. She is a sleeper, (which I thank her for), and is sleeping up to four hours between feedings at night. She has spent this week sleeping, eating, pooping and making us all smile. I am so grateful that she is here. Brylee at one week.

She came out a thumb sucker... a habit we are breaking. :)

Parker adores his baby sister. We can not go anywhere unless we bring Brylee. Here he is holding her ( which he does given any chance) and giving her hugs. When he hugs her, he always goes "ohhhhhh."

He is fixing her hair bow... after he messed with it...

He is tickling her feet. The look on her face says it all...

Meet Brylee

Here is the first family pic... She is already adored. Of course... we think she is perfect. She does look just like Parker.

Me and my girl...

Parker... holding and kissing Brylee. We of course worried about how he would react... however it was a waste of time. He loves and adores her... he is always saying, " My baby, My Brylee." He can't get enough of her. Only problem... he just does not understand why he can't hold her by himself.

She had a slightly elevated bili level, so here she is showing off her yellow glow.

She is Here!!!

On Wednesday, September 10th, I experienced a miracle. The day before had been rough on me. After our doctors appointment, where at I was still just a 1 and 60% effaced, we also found out that Brylee was still lying posterior. Though people mean well, hearing that I might need a C-section, did not sit well with me, and I had a minor hormonal melt down that night. But, giving up hope of her coming early... I slept really well. Its probably a good thing, because I was going to need it. The following morning, with an empty house, I sat down to catch up on some scrap booking. At about 1010, my water broke, or at least I hoped that was what it was, because if not, now I was having continence issues as well. :) Being a good wife, my first call was placed to my husband. (To his credit, he was the only one to believe me right off.) He grabbed Parker from pre-school and we headed to the hospital. We arrived there at about 1130.
Here is the last picture of my belly... once registered and in a room, my nurse wanted to wait for me to leak enough fluid for her to test. This took a little while. The rest of the expirence went rather quickly. My Pitocin was started at about 1350, I requested my epidural at 1520. It was placed right away... ( thanks to heaven!) Though the doc took a little while placing it... it was in and working at 1555. At that point my doc checked me... I was a 7 and 98%, as he put it. 10 minutes later, at 1605, he checked again, ( I have a history of progressing fast) and I was a 10, and 100% effaced. We started pushing at 1610, and it literally took 2 pushes, and she arrived at 1618.

Here we are posing with my doctor! I think he is the best.

There is our girl. 7 lbs and 2 oz. She is 21 inches long. And she has some dark hair! That is important to me. :)

Upset with her treatment... can you blame her.

Presenting... Brylee Kay Smith.

Brylee Update

Ok, so we have passed the 36 week mark, oh and the 37 week mark, and my soon to be born child could care less! For the last two weeks she has been perfectly happy sitting posterior, and keeping me at a 1 and only 50% effaced! I thought the second child was supposed to be easier... ha ha! So much for that theory... So, as my sweet doctor puts it... "She is going for the Gold," which I am afraid means she wants her whole 40 weeks to cook, despite the pain and pressure she is inflicting upon her mother. :) So, yes I am big, ( despite what all my friends say) and my internals are squished into positions they may never recover from... But, both Brylee and I are healthy, and for that I am grateful. By now I should have realized that my kids come out thinking they are the boss... so this is nothing new. We are taking it day by day, crossing our fingers that she will just decide to come even a few days early... I guess we will keep you all posted. Nothing left to do now, but WAIT.... unfortunately. :)