Madison feeding Alice

Alice a few days old and wearing a bili blanket for her jaundice.

The full set up...she had to stay on it 24/7 even to nurse.

It looks like a freaky Halloween picture:-)

But the girls still managed to hold her often.

Aunt Missy arrived to help.

Madison and Abby doing P90X with Aunt Missy.

First smile caught on camera...

Big sister cuddling with Alice.

I was holding Alice when she fell asleep on me.  It was one of those moments where I was filled with joy to be her mother and to have her hear safely.

Of course we had to have our Mardi Gras King Cake...

These are the moments I hope to always capture.  Brian is such a good daddy and was always able to put Alice to sleep at nights.  

Abby playing with all her animals.  Madison arranged all the animals around Abby so she could take her picture with them all.

Abby playing with her doll and doggy.  They had quite the spread to eat.

Abby can spell and write her name, Madison's name, Mom, and dad.

Baby blessing dress

We took the girls to Jungle Java and Brian ended up hurting his pinky in the play structure...go figure the dad gets hurt and not the kids:-)

First time in the Bumbo seat...

This is my little napper.  Any time I want to take a nap Abby is right there next to me in bed.  It started when I was pregnant and napped every day.   Abby was happy to nap with me and would always run and get a book and climb in bed with me.  She was usually asleep before me.

First Smile caught on camera.  She just melts my heart when she smiles.

Saint Patrick's day at Cottage Inn pizza with the Resident Support Network.  

She gets loved on all the time.  She is starting to loose all that nice black hair. 

There are far and few between pictures of me with my girls...Brian took this one for me.  

Story time and bedtime routine.  Getting ready to go to bed.  That book Abby is holding was Brian's book when he was younger.

Becca Greenwood made this onsie for Alice, but by the time I went to put it on her, she was already too big...I just had to get a picture of her with it:-)

Madison and Abby tag team while making frog in the holes.  Grandma McVea taught them how to make them while she was here.  Now they are a specialty of Madison's.  

Grandma Evans sends an Easter package for the girls.  Thanks Grandma!!!

Balloon Creations at Applebees.  They balloon man is there on Tues.  when kids eat free.  My kids are more interested and excited about the balloons than the food or the ice cream.  

Abby's doggy cupcakes.  The girls helped me make them and got pretty creative in their designs.

Happy 5th Birthday Abby.

I love that face...

Doesn't she look so happy and excited?  

She has begun to sport the skunk tail down the middle of her head.  All our babies loose most of their hair, go bald on the sides, and grow it down the middle. 

Getting Bigger:-)

Flu Shot Time

So, Brian and I took Madison and Abby to get their flu shots.  Our last experience getting shots was one I would rather forget!  I had tried earlier to get the flu shot for the girls, but every time I even mentioned the word 'shot', Abby would melt into a big sobbing pile of mess.  So, this time when Brian and I discussed it, we decided not to tell the girls until the nurse came into the room to give them their shots.  Madison was walking in and out of the room while Brian and I were discussing and picked up on why we were going to the Dr., so she knew.  She didn't tell Abby though and was very calm and collected.  As we waited in the Dr. office I just braced myself for the worst.  When the nurse came in, Madison went first and just laid on the table for her and I held her arms as the nurse put Madison's legs between her legs.  Madison was so brave and didn't even cry.  Abby was next and thanks to Madison's example just jumped on the examination table for her turn for the shot.  As I held her hands I felt her tiny little heart beating so fast, but she didn't cry either and tried to be just as brave as Madison.  It was such a miracle and showed me that Madison is getting older and more perceptive.  Brian commented afterwards that we can't say much around Madison any more without her picking up on it.  Goodness, we can't even spell things anymore, she can decipher that now.  We walked out of the Dr. office and I felt like I had just received a tender mercy from the Lord.

Before and After Alice's Birth

 Uncle Dave and Aunt Missy come and spend Christmas with us.  Uncle Dave reading a book to the girls.  I think they actually read many books!

 Christmas morning and what does Santa bring?  A horse and doll!!!  Go Santa.

 These are the presents the girls bought for each other.  They were so excited for the other person to open their present.

 A few weeks before the due date...Alice is in there:-)

 Look at the size of these pizza's!  We went to the NY Pizza Depot downtown Ann Arbor.  The girls loved it and the pizza was really good.

 Ice Skating at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.  They both loved it!!!

 January 14th and I'm in labor...my water broke at 8 pm that night and Alice arrived the following day around noon.

 Proud daddy!

 The same day she was born.  Big sisters come to say hello.

 Brian is really out numbered now.

 Alice's first bath and both girls wanted to help.

 Henry Greenwood was born the same day three doors down from me.  They came to visit us right before we left.

 Alice all packed up and ready to head home.  Isn't she so small and adorable?  A bit jaundiced, but doing well.