Weekly pics

So as not to get too overwhelmed I've decided to just post pictures and get it over with. I have so many great ideas of how to organize several post with info but I know most people never read what I write anyway so I just threw all the recent pics together in one post and will put a little info with each one.





















Here is Katie Jo on Sunday playing hopscotch in the driveway. She loves her new little sister and is happy to just get to hold her each day. Last night she kept going over to give her kisses and was very gentle. When the baby cries she says "sad" and points to the baby. If it's a loud cry she puts her hand over one ear and says "loud."


















Here are the longest, skinniest feet we've ever seen. They are bigger in person and too cute to describe with words.

This one is titled "safari girl." Katie Jo loves her hats and this one is her new favorite.


















I was able to get this shot before Jay left for work on our first day alone, which was yesterday. We survived.


















Jay took this shot on Sunday. Georgia is already bigger. She had her first doc appointment on Monday and weighed in at 7-14. That was two ounces more than her birth weight so she is thriving!


















This was from Monday nite. My mom went in to check on Katie Jo and found her in bed with her crocs on.


















This is from Monday. Georgia loves sitting in her boppy best of all. Katie Jo loves lining up toys at her feet while she's sitting in it.


















I'm sure it was gas but cute nevertheless.




















Yesterday, my friend Brennan and her two girls came by for a quick visit. They are in town for a short period before moving away for a year. Katie Jo had fun playing with them and enjoyed making two new friends.

Bedside Manner

Here's a picture of my bedside view every morning. It's like a fairy came in the night and left her like a little present.

big sis and little sis video

Introducing Georgia Reese Video

A little update on our new addition

Georgia has now been home a whole day and a half and seems to adapting well to her surroundings. She's been opening her eyes more each day and taking it all in. So far we know that she likes for her hands to be up around her face, she likes to be wrapped tight and held close, and she is sweeter than a lump of sugar. Katie Jo likes her pretty well so far. She likes to hold her and will tell you by pointing to Georgia and then patting her legs. Other than that she mostly forgets she's there until someone new comes in and then she immediately runs to where ever Georgia is and points to her and says "baby." She's been pretty gentle with her so far and likes to check on her when she lets out little noises. We have no idea who Georgia looks like but see some similarities to Katie Jo such as the dark hair. Georgia has darker eyebrows and the longest feet we've ever seen on a baby. Her head is not as big as Katie Jo's was since she can wear the Clemson hat in the last picture that we could never squeeze onto Katie Jo's head. I am also adapting well to my surroundings. We've had my mom here all week and my dad came in yesterday. Between all of us some one is with one other person and no one is overwhelmed with too many! I am recovering very well and am feeling better every day. So far we're taking it one day at a time but I can already see how much faster it's going this time.

Homecoming Day

Here are a few pics from the day we brought Georgia home, Friday, July 13th.

Georgia's first couple of days

After being born Georgia was quite exhausted and rested very well her first night. Unfortunately she developed jaundice and had to stay an extra day in the hospital. I was afforded a courtesy room, which happened to mean I got to keep the room we'd already been staying in, and was able to stick around to care for her. After the extra night, and many prayers lifted up, Georgia was discharged Friday morning. We were home with her by 11 am and have been loving it ever since.

Welcome to the world Georgia Reese

Well after approximately 39 weeks and 4 days of waiting Georgia Reese decided to finally make her entrance. Labor started about 4 am on Tuesday, July 10th with mild contractions that barely woke me from sleep. I got up, got a snack, watched the rest of a show I'd taped and after sitting for 30 minutes finally assessed that what I was feeling was truly contractions. I went back to bed and snoozed for about 45 min until I could take it no more. Now that the pains were 5 minutes apart I decided to get the troops up and let them know. So Jay and I got up, got showers, and finished putting our stuff together. He actually thought we'd be going then to the hospital and was unpleasantly surprised to find out I got him up at that ridiculous hour just to start getting things together! Moving on...I called in to my doc's office about 8:30 and went in for a check. The 20 minute monitor exam confirmed I was indeed in labor and the doctor's exam found me to be at 4cm. I went home, ate lunch, and we arrived at the hospital at 11am. I foolishly thought things would go faster because it was a second baby but at least it was easier this go round. I labored for about 3 hours after the doctor broke my water and by 2ish decided the contractions were a bit much. Seeing as how the epidural comes about 30 minutes after you ask I decided when two contractions came two minutes apart and lasted about a minute each I was more than ready. The epidural went smoothly and after that I took a nice nap. By nice nap I mean I slept off and on for about two hours and the next time I woke up I heard someone say I was 9.5 cm dilated and would start pushing soon. I decided this would be a good time to shake myself awake and after quite a few sips of ice water I had cleared the cobwebs. When the evening news went to their first commercial we started pushing and by 6:41 we had us a bouncing baby girl. She came out pink and screaming which is the way we like em. She weighed in at a hearty 7 lbs 12 oz and measured 20 inches. Jay did very well as my partner in crime and was very encouraging through the whole labor and birth. He cut the cord and didn't even look woozy. My mom and Jay's mom were present for the birth again as well. My dad stayed in the waiting room with Katie Jo and brought her in after Georgia was cleaned up. Katie Jo didn't know quite what to think but seemed to like her. After all the after birth fuss everyone left and we were alone with Georgia for some family bonding. She fed and did pretty well for her first go round. We enjoyed just looking at her and enjoying all her perfection and beauty! We ended the day with Arby's brought in by our friends and moving to our room for the night. It was a great birth day!

Pregnancy update 39 weeks

I had another weekly appointment today and you could say everything was in twos, so to speak. I had gained two pounds putting me at 131 and a total of 35 gained overall, I was dilated at a two, and the doctor said she didn't think it would be too much longer before this ones arrives. We shall see if her prediction comes true. I still feel great and was even able to get out and walk a couple of days this week. I am amazed at the lack of swelling that has occurred this go round especially considering how hot it's been lately. I've got my hospital bag packed, Katie Jo's routine all typed up, and I got my hair cut and colored last week. I think that covers all the important things! We went to eat Chinese tonight and I got something spicy so we're giving Georgia every chance possible to welcomed into the world! :) But if she's not ready we're OK with that too since that gives us more opportunities to sleep, play with Katie Jo, go to the beach, sleep, do projects around the house, and sleep!

39 weeks

Here's a little list I started compiling a while back to sum up the top ways to know you're super pregnant.

1. It takes as much mental energy as physical energy to turn from one side to the next during the night.

2. When you answer the phone people always ask why you're out of breath.

3. The answering machine picks up more than you do because it takes so long to get up and get to a phone.

4. Sleeping well requires a minimum of two pillows.

5. People no longer ask "How far along are you?" They ask "How much longer do you have?"

6. When getting up from a seated position, on the floor, it is necessary to roll over to hands and knees, tuck feet under, and stand up. Of course you also need to have something nearby to hold on to while standing up.

7. The largest maternity top you own still shows your mid-drift.

8. Producing a urine sample is as easy as someone asking you to blink your eyes five times.

Georgia's nursery

Here are some pictures of the nursery all dressed up for Georgia. I love how neat and orderly everything is and I laugh now thinking how it will stay this way for about a day after she comes home. We decided to get some new bedding since Katie Jo's was surely worn out. After the bedding everything in the room evolved into what you see and now revolves around ladybugs. I love all the color and it's so cheery. Katie Jo was especially excited about the "new" toys since she hadn't seen them nor remembered that she played with them not too long ago.

Playing catch

Katie Jo's coordination never ceases to amaze us. She has started wanting to play "catch" lately and boy can she play! She throws the ball with such enthusiasm and for the most part can now catch it too.

Video of KJ dancing

Here is a video of Katie Jo dancing around to "Mickey's Clubhouse."

Preggars pictures

My neighbor Emily, photographer extraordinaire, took some pregnancy photos of us as a keepsake. She is just great and I was very pleased with how they turned out. These are just a few of my favorites. By the way, she took these in her home! Can you believe that? It looked like studios pics but she has all the equipment and was nice enough to turn her living room into a little studio. Of course the cutest pics were the ones she took at the end of just Katie Jo. The last couple I posted were not posed at all and ended up being the best!

Fourth of July

Today we bummed around the house mostly and Jay got a couple of projects going. Around 5 we headed over to downtown Summerville for their Fourth of July festival. They had Katie Jo's favorite thing in the world, jump castles, and we paid the $5 to let her have unlimited jump time. The last picture says it all: hot, sweaty, and in a daze! We were going to see fireworks later but she was so tired after dinner we decided it wouldn't be fair to keep her up so late.

Just a little update

Here's a picture of Katie Jo with her new favorite toy: the doodle pad. She loves for us to draw the picture she commands and then promptly erase it. It came with cool little magnet shapes which she like to dot the pad with. We've also been using it to count but mostly she just likes to touch each shape while I count them. The other day I was coming down the hall and all I could see were Katie Jo's feet which were in the position like she was asleep. At closer inspection I found her laid out as the below picture shows, not sleeping but talking on the phone! She looked like a teenager laid out on the bean bag talking to one of her friends!
The girl loves Minnie Mouse and I just had to take a couple of shots of her in her favorite hat with her favorite friend.

In other news Katie Jo can blow her nose! What a wonderful skill this truly is. We discovered it a couple of weeks ago when she was congested and going through tissues by the hundreds. I just hope she remembers how the next time she has a runny nose.

And on the talking front Katie Jo has become quite the conversationalist. We no longer found ourselves trying to communicate with her but actually talking to her. She can answers questions with yes or no and seems to have a new word every day. It's exciting! It'll be fun to see what it's like a month from now when she has another person to talk to in the house.