Mommy Daughter Date

Anna had a big day last week ~ we went on a mommy daughter date to the mall and she got her ears pierced! Before you pass judgement, take a look at the pictures - they're darling!

Yes, she cried, but truly it was only like when she gets a shot - over and done. Our friends Anita, Gweneth, and Callie came to give us moral support as well as Grandma and Grandpa (on their way to Lexington for Uncle Drew's birthday). She is awesome at letting me clean them and even ASKS for me to do it. Strange kid, I know. (She also enjoys the nasal aspirator.) I heard that you either do it before 2 or don't plan on it til after they're 8. Because of Anna's little baby hair, I decided now was a good time. It helps her look more like a little girl. You'd be surprised how many people mistake my dressed-from-head-to-toe-in-pink baby girl for a boy.

SISTERS....

I'm so thankful that my girls have a sister. I try to catch these precious sister moments on film any chance I get. Anna is really sweet with Megan and truly loves to "play" with her and check her out. The funniest thing is watching her slowly regress back to her infancy. She loves to lay on her back under the baby gym and play with it with her feet (I'm talking about Anna here). She also loves for us to attempt to swaddle her, rock her in our arms, burp her, and 'shoosh' her. We'll have to try to get this on video to share. It's really cute!

Meeting Megan

If any of you link up to Matthew and Kasey's blog through ours, you will see that they are showing us up on their Megan exposures. I guess that earns them aunt and uncle brownie points right now =) Here are pics from their visit to NKY a few weeks after Megan was born. Notice the beautiful bassinet cake - it's homemade by Kasey! (You may be able to contact her via blog to place special orders.)

Anna and daddy get ready for their Super Bowl party at Matt's family's. Anna pratices pounding her fist to cheer on the Cardinals. She told Daddy she wanted to leave at halftime because she couldn't stand watching worthlessberger anymore. They came home and she quickly fell asleep.

Yes, we know our child is barefoot in the snow. Heck, we were all desperate for it to start melting so we could go outside.

Anna enjoyed her first taste of chocolate as she shared Matt's 30th birthday cake and a big glass of milk. I felt bad we couldn't celebrate the big 3-0 with friends and family so look for a joint party with me in the summer. Trivia: Matt and I have been together long enough that we spent our ENTIRE 20s together!

See the bruises on Matt's arm? That's what the husband gets as a souvenir when his wife chooses to have a natural, unmedicated birth. These were the result of the last hour. Matt never complained once as I ripped his arm off every two minutes....he better not, right?!

Anna meets her little sissy for the first time. (Anna stayed with Grandma and "baw baw" while we waited out the snow storm)

Our first family picture!

Anna practices her mommy skills and still gets some good, quality playtime with mommy and daddy.

(Last picture of Anna as an only child at about 7:30 pm. I'm in early labor in this picture. We ate LaRosa's -don't ask how I was in the mood for it- I labored at home and we left for the hospital at 3am)

Welcome Megan Jane!.....Finally...

Okay, so she's been here for 3 1/2 weeks already, but of course you wouldn't know if you ever check this blog. Let's just agree that life is a little different now and if we get a post up every 2 weeks from here on then we're doing well.

Megan was born Sunday January 25 at 9:32 am -which happened to be her due date! She was 8lb. 4oz. and 20.5 inches long. She's a beautiful, healthy baby and we are very blessed. Labor was a lot easier than Anna's. I was able to do it all unmedicated which was an amazing experience. It was really unbelievable to go through that (in a good way =). Thanks to Matt's wonderful support and encouragement and the skills of our doula, Barbara, I did it.

If you did your math correctly, Anna and and Megan are exactly 18 months apart. Anna has been a great big sister. I think she's at a perfect age to accept a baby into our home. There really hasn't been any jealousy at all. Her favorite part about Megan right now is touching her body parts - she loves to point out her eyes, nose, mouth, toes...It's adorable, until she tries to touch her eyeball.

I, especially, am very glad that we gave the girls sisters. I love my three brothers, but I always wanted to share that bond with a girl. I'm already imagining all the fun girl stuff that lies ahead for us. (Matt, on the otherhand, probably cant' get images of 13 years down the road out of his head.)

Here are the pictures I'm sure you're dying to see. Enjoy!