Sweet Baby Allie

Here are some recent pictures we had taken of our new addition. Hope you enjoy them!

http://www.emilyutleyphotography.com/allie


Note: Do not let these adorable pictures fool you entirely- during this shoot, my little cherub succeeded in pooping all over the following- the photographers backdrop, carpet, her blanket, and finally...me. Hey, it's not the baby's fault newborns photograph best in their birthday suit!

Baby Love

People are starting to comment on how much Allie looks like Drew...what do you think? After comparing their pictures, I tend to agree. There are some definite similarities there. She didn't get the red hair though, (I had wondered if we would become the O'Doyle family) and the eye color is still up in the air (they still look blue, which is pretty unlikely since mine are hazel and Marshall's are green, but Drew's are dark brown, so I guess anything is possible.) So far, they have quite different personalities; as a baby Drew was kind of a screamer when something wasn't right- you could hear him cry a mile away(I am certain he has his mother to thank for passing on that endearing quality!) while Allie seems more low-key and patient, and it takes her a while to work up most of her complaints (Just like her daddy!) Drew is so cute with her, he just loves her so much. He is always so excited to see her, and is very gentle and kind to her. And, thankfully, he doesn't try to pick her up (I had wondered about that.) I haven't seen an ounce of jealousy from him. He is just happy to say "Hi, Allie!" and gently pat her, and then go about his (very important) business playing with his trains. What a relief. It is so fun to watch them grow and change each day. I just love my babies.

Wonder of Wonder...Miracle of Miracles..!!

I am in heaven. I don't know how it happened, how it is possible, or, more importantly, if it will last...let me explain. When we had our first baby, there were many many things we had to adjust to- the responsibility of having a child totally depend on you, for one thing. Trying to make time for each other like we used to was another. Then there was the breastfeeding thing..don't even get me started on THAT adjustment. (What a nightmare that was at first!) The other big adjustment was the sleep deprivation. It was hard at first, but then after a while, the fog started to lift a little and we eventually got used to it. Ok, so here is the miracle part: I have a prodigy sleeper! I don't know how she does it, but she does! Somehow my 4 week old baby has been sleeping through the night for the last 2 weeks. She goes to bed at around 10:30 and usually wakes up between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. UNREAL! I still can't believe it. I just remember the anxiety and dread I would feel every time my weary head would hit the pillow when Drew was a newborn- I just knew as soon as I nodded off to sleep, he would wake up crying and I was in for another long night of nursing and burping and rocking and diapering. Not the case this time around. This is unheard of, as far as I know. Granted, she has her evening fussy time for a few hours, during which she usually insists on being held constantly, making dinner prep and evening activities a little more tricky- but it's well worth it come 10:30 when I place my sleeping angel in her crib, not to he heard from till morning light. What a dream! I still can't believe it. Time will only tell if she will turn the tables and become a "normal" newborn, waking me up at all hours of the night. Until then, however, I am going to enjoy this "Get Out of Jail Free" card for all it's worth. Which, as any sleep-deprived mother can tell you, is a LOT!!

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow...

They are discontinuing my shampoo and conditioner! I can't believe this. After 10 years of loyalty to them, they are taking away the only products I have ever found that can somewhat transform my frizzy, color treated, damaged mop into some semblance of manageable hair! I tried using something else I saw advertised on T.V. ( they had this girl with a ponytail that was like 10 feet long, using it as a rope-weird.) but after using it I could barely comb it out after I got out of the shower. Aargh. And I thought it was bad when Victoria's Secret discontinued my favorite lotion (Exotic Bouquet- it was SO yummy!!) nine years ago- but that was after only 4 years of loyalty. How am I ever going to rebound from this loss? And what will become of my hair? All I can say is don't be surprised if next time you see me I am looking more and more like Bob Marley...

Mohammad Allie

For the baby's first few weeks, we put little baby mittens on her because she kept trying to scratch at her face. I took this picture a few weeks ago, but it wasn't until today that I actually looked at it. I thought this picture was funny enough to devote a quick blog to it. Put up yer dukes!!

p.s. Thanks for the cute outfit, Auntie Mel!!

Cabin Fever

When I found out last September that I was expecting a baby in May, when I would tell people my due date, everyone would say "Oh, May- that is such a great time to have a baby!" Well now that she is here...I beg to differ. I feel like the summer is just going to pass me by while I am in the house because it is too hot to take the baby out to the Scera pool (I loved taking Drew there last summer!) or to the park, and she is too little to go on any cool trips, like I keep hearing about everyone else taking. I think early summer is the worst time to have a baby! Drew was born in December in NYC, so we were pretty much trapped inside our apartment, which was fine because it was too cold to go out, and where would we go anyway?? I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything then. This time around is kinda hard, because I feel like going and doing fun things, but I don't think it would be much fun for Allie, which, in turn, equals not much fun for anyone. Oh well. At least this year we have a house, and I can just drop Drew off in the backyard to play, while baby sleeps in the house. It is supposed to be 95 today, and 100 tomorrow- guess I better go fill up our little blue plastic pool (awesome) and put some Otter Pops in the freezer (I can eat them by the dozen!) But either way I think next time I will aim for another winter baby.

...And Baby Makes Four!

Needless to say, I have my hands full...but my heart is even fuller! Little Allie has been such a great baby. I don't know if it's just previous experience, or having more help, or baby's temperament, or maybe just a combination of all three; but this time around seems so much easier. That's not to say that I haven't broken down and sobbed for no good reason (if that didn't happen, I would think something were wrong with me- some of you may relate) and it's not to say that I'm not exhausted, and overwhelmed, because I know all of that comes with the package deal. But at least this time around I can take comfort in knowing for sure that this phase doesn't last forever, and that we will eventually develop a routine once again. I have firm faith that my 2 year old will eventually get better lunches than microwave popcorn and Skittles, and that Elmo won't be babysitting forever, and I know that these ginormous "things" that have appeared on my chest won't be there forever! (lol- seriously, they are absolutely ridiculous! Sorry if that is a little T.M.I...)

Allie's birth experience was a very faith-promoting one for me. Although I had a great pregnancy, I had been very nervous and anxious about what the outcome of her delivery was going to be, since last time ended up in an emergency c-section- which was very traumatizing for me. Prior to the delivery, while I was still in labor, Marshall had his dad come and they gave me a very special blessing of comfort and courage. I know this helped me so much. And I know all of my prayers and the many, many prayers that had been offered up in my behalf have been answered, because to me, this birth was nothing short of a miracle. I know thousands of babies are born every day, and when you look at it that way, it's really quite ordinary. But this wasn't at all- not to me. It just seemed impossible, and everyone kept hinting that a repeat c-section would be needed, and I was afraid I would have to go through that again. Through this experience I have learned that the Lord is still a God of miracles, and He does answer our prayers; especially the prayers of mothers. And I have two little miracles to prove that.