We've Got a Heavyweight (and very cute) Baby on our Hands!

OK, maybe not "Heavyweight" status exactly, but this girl is growing and gaining weight like a champ all of a sudden! The last time we went in for a weight check (almost 3 weeks ago) she had gotten up to 6 lbs 11 oz. We were so happy because 5 days before that she was just at 6 lbs 5 1/2 oz. (Her birth weight was 6.14).

We went in today and she was a whopping 8lbs 10 1/2 oz! The nurse was astounded and so was I! Thank ya Lord!

And here are some darling preview pics of a photo session we had with my wonderful friend Emily of Snaps Photography in Jacksonville. (I've added her website to my list on the right if you want to check it out). She does a great job as you can see! I can't wait to see the rest of the pics from our session, but here's a few...

Sweet baby!

Surprised face!

Sassy!

Smiley!

Sneaky!

(Notice I'm having a "moment" and Moriah is looking away with disinterest like "C'mon Mom!"



5 Weeks and 2 Days...Time is Flying!

Wow, I can't believe 2 weeks have passed since I've posted. We've been quite busy. Moriah is continuing to grow and change and get sweeter every day! She's even been gaining some more weight and is getting a little belly. We go in for a weight check this next week, so we'll see exactly how much.

Since the last post, we've done several "firsts:"

*Billy and I went on our first "post-baby" date
*We've made 2 trips to Gilmer
*Moriah and I went to Jacksonville to get pics made and visit friends
*We've gone on a few stroller walks
*We've been visited by Uncle Joe, Aunt Barbara, and Adam

Napping on Pop's shoulder when he came to visit a couple weeks ago

Hanging out with Tootsie, Joe, and Barb...(I'm a real lively hostess) haha!

Chillin with my big "brother" Adam while Daddy gets the stroller together

Going on our first stroll through the neighborhood!

Trying out a little ponytail with my bow...I have so much hair!

Here's a close up...sometimes I get wild eyes!

At Tootsie and Pop's house...relaxing in Tootsie's arms

Lounging with Pop

3 Weeks and 1 day...

Dear Moriah,

You are over 3 weeks old now and I can't believe it! You have brought more joy to our lives than we could've imagined. Being your Mama is so fun and exciting (and challenging)! Your daddy and I have fallen more in love with each other and you every single day. You are growing and changing so much and you do so many cute things! Here are some things about you right now that I don't want to forget...

-You're becoming more aware and your eyes are much more alert.
-You LOVE getting a bath and having your head scrubbed, as well as brushed. It seems to calm you. You even fell asleep in the bath that Tootsie and I gave you on Monday. You like it warm like your Mama!
-You've started smiling and it melts my heart every time you do it! (not sure if you're actually smiling on purpose at this point but I still love it). You really smile whenever I wipe your mouth at feeding time. Guess you're glad to get the mess off your face!
-You're a pretty good burper.
- Now that we are supplementing your diet with formula, you've gained some weight and started pooping more! At the dr Tuesday you were up to 6 lb 11 oz! yay!
- You scrunch up your nose sometimes and it's so cute.
- You've started spitting out your gas drops...you used to love them but now not so much. Girl, you need those drops! Guess I'll have to start sneaking them in your bottle.
- Which brings me to my next point....you are the most beautiful baby girl but you have some TOXIC gas! Especially when you haven't pooped in awhile. Bless your heart. I have to say "Excuse her!" for you when we have company!
- Sometimes you pee when I'm changing your diaper and get your outfit all wet. Then we have to change. But it's ok, Mama is learning!
- You love to kick your legs everywhere when we try to change your diaper. You also love to lay on your changing table which is nice. I think you like the soft cover.
- Your hair is dark and mainly straight, but has some kinky, curlyish parts to it. I wonder what it will end up looking like?! It's thicker on the sides and in the back. And you have a little patch of thick long hair on top near your crown. From the day you were born, the bottom part in the back has gone past your collar, which we think is hilarious. You are on the verge of having a mini-mullet my dear. Business in the front, Party in the back!
- You like to sleep on your side, with your knees up, and you MUST have your hands up near your face at all times. Lord forbid if I put them inside the cover or you will be squirming and whining to get them out.
- At this point, you're not a huge fan of the paci but you will take it at times and enjoy it.
- You are such a beautiful, sweet baby. You have such a pleasant disposition and are just so precious!
- Your daddy adores you! He loves to snuggle with you, hold you for hours, read to you, and pray for you! I can't wait for you to start getting to "know him" better as you grow. You're gonna love him so much! You've got an awesome Daddy and he helps me so much with you!

I love you so very much, sweet girl, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you. I pray you will fall in love with Him and seek Him and find the joy and excitement that comes with following Him. You are an answered prayer right before our eyes and we love you more than words can say.

Love,
Mama : )





Update and Few Pics from Moriah's 1st Week

I know, real catchy title huh....

Ok, so I'm a little behind with the pics. It's hard to believe today was Moriah's due date...however she's already 2 weeks and 1 day old! She's already changed so much in 2 weeks it's amazing. We went for her weight check yesterday and found out she's not gaining as much as we had hoped for. I keep telling her how lucky she is that she is being asked by the doctor to GAIN weight and this will likely not happen again in her life so she needs to take advantage of it! She's just not hearing me right now with the weight issue. I know, it's a sensitive subject for Mothers and Daughters to discuss...

I'm going to put some of her weights so I won't forget...Skip if needed....Her birthweight was 6 lbs 14 oz. She left the hospital at 6 lbs. 7 oz. She was 6 lbs 3 oz at her 2 day check up. The doctor wanted her to be at least 6 lbs 6oz by yesterday but she was just 6lbs 5 1/2 oz. It is very normal and expected for babies to lose some of their birth weight several days after birth. However, they usually gain it back by 2 weeks.

 Turns out Little Mo is not the most vigorous eater...which makes me wonder how much Pate blood she's got running through her veins! I've had to do all kinds of "fun" things to try to keep her alert and eating...so NOT fun actually! (things such as rubbing her spine somewhat hard--per the doctor's instructions, putting cold rags on her, undressing her to get her cold, etc.) I don't mind doing what I have to do to get her to eat, even if it makes her somewhat uncomfortable, but man is it a hassle to go through all that rigamaroll!!! (sp?)  

Thank the Lord she's been eating better the last few days and all that hasn't been necessary! It's also helped that we've started supplementing with an ounce of formula every other feeding. It's funny how she's been doing better at breastfeeding since we've added the formula. Not sure why but I'll take it! Perhaps it wets her appetite?!

We are still working on pooping as well. She likes to not poop for several days and then get a mini-suppository and fill like 4 diapers full! This girl likes to wait for it, wait for it....then KABOOM! Well, it sure is nice not to have to change all those dirty diapers every day but I wish for her sake she would be a little more regular!

Tootsie left yesterday....that will need to be a whole 'nuther post! What a special and wonderful time we had with her here...and to say she was a big help is the understatement of the year! Oh I cried when she left--not so much out of sadness but just out of GRATITUDE and humble disbelief at how much we are undeservedly blessed! And just what an awesome time the 3 generations of us girls had together!

Well here are some pics from last week...I'll have to get some new ones up soon because she's already changing so much!

Here's Moriah sleeping on the foot rest of the "big chair" in the living room while Daddy sits on the floor and adores her! Guess who has someone tied around their little finger already?!!

Here's Granny (one of Moriah's great grandmothers) holding her- last Tuesday Jan. 25th I believe?



Sweet baby girl taking a nap last Wednesday January 26th

We enjoyed a snow day today (snuggling indoors) with Daddy! Hope everyone is staying warm and cozy as well! We are just falling more in love with this sweet baby every day and are so thankful she's been entrusted to us. Have a great weekend!

How Many Grown Folks Does It Take To Give A Baby A Bath?

Well, it took a village, but we managed to get this little 6 lb. baby bathed! Who would've thought! Between Mom and me putting the little bather thing together, getting all the supplies rounded up, and having enough arms between the 3 of us adults, we did it! It was something else..I'm guessing Billy and I will figure out how to do it just the two of us soon. We will have to! But it takes more arms than you think to hold Moriah's head, scrub her, rinse her off, have someone hold the shower nozzle, and of course take pictures! As long as we kept the warm water flowing, she was a happy camper. It took her a few minutes to get used to it but in the end I think she felt pretty good. I know for sure she looked absolutely precious! There's just something about a freshly bathed baby all bundled up in their towel that just melts your heart.

By the way, I think this bath took place on Monday or Tuesday...? I've kinda lost track of days. I know. Only a week in and I can't remember- I'm pitiful.

Here is Tootsie attempting to put together the bather. 

"TEAM BATH" minus the photographer (me)

Cute little munchkin! (her umbilical cord hadn't fallen off yet-hence the black thing in her belly button).

Rub-A-Dub-Dub!



Hanging On!

Getting all dried off and bundled up

Holding Tootsie's arm...so sweet!

All clean, comfy, and cozy!





Moriah is Here!

Ok, so most of you know this already, but Moriah Grace Allen arrived last Thursday, January 20th at 12:29pm. She weighed 6 lbs and 14 oz and was 19 inches long. I checked into the hospital about 6:30am and she was here shortly after noon! Let me tell ya, it was fast and furious! Very intense and definitely the most painful and yet gratifying experience ever!

Needless to say we've been a tad bit busy this last week so I haven't had alot of ample time to blog, post pics, text, facebook, etc. I know some people are able to do all that while caring for a newborn, but apparently not me! I was walking around like a zombie for a few days just trying to get a grip! And still do from time to time...nothing like those postpartum hormones! We are adjusting and doing well and enjoying this beautiful gift. I'm going to post a few pics and will continue to get on and post and write some of the details as I have time. However, my first priority is taking good care of this sweet baby girl! : )

Thanks for all of your prayers and well wishes! We are very blessed and grateful!

Here she is fresh out of the "oven" (yikes-she's gonna hate me for this one day-this definitely won't be one for the "wedding slide show" haha)

Here we are looking at this beautiful answered prayer and blessing!

Getting all scrubbed up...1st few minutes outside the womb!

All bundled up looking precious!

With Tootsie and Pop...Grandchild # 4!

Meeting the big cousins: Brayden, Kyleigh, and Karsyn (you can't tell in this pic, but they had shirts that said "Big Cousin" and Moriah had a onesie on that said "Little Cousin")...they were all so cute!

Kyleigh (the oldest grandchild) and Moriah (the youngest)

Brayden (the only boy!) holding little Moriah...he was being so sweet and careful!

Uncle Ryan and Aunt Shanna

Nurse Tonya holding Moriah...all dressed up and nowhere to go!

More pics coming when I get the chance...gotta get off this thing and feed that sweet girl!

Winter Wonderland

I mentioned last week that we actually had some snow that stuck. Enough, actually, that we got to stay home from school last Monday! (Of course the amount we had would not be enough for a northerner to bat an eye, but around these parts we get mighty worked up about an inch of ice or snow)!

Oh yes, the meteorologists get all antsy and excited (one in particular with the initials Mark Scirto!) and tell everyone to "GO TO THE GROCERY STORE IMMEDIATELY AND GET WATER, FOOD, BATTERY OPERATED RADIOS, AND PIPE COVERS. WE ARE IN FOR A WINTER STORM, FOLKS. PLEASE...PLEASE...STAY OFF THE ROADS! THIS IS GOING TO GET SERIOUS!"

Billy especially gets a kick out of it.

But anyways, here are a few pics I took of the "Big Winter Storm" that hit Tyler last week...it was really pretty!

Here's a picture of the front of our house (I tiptoed my very pregnant self out to the street very carefully to get this one!)

While I was out in the road I figured I'd go ahead and take a pic of the view looking down our street. It was so pretty!



Here's a view looking from our living room at the back patio. Notice the nice bit of snow that's coated the top of the bushes! And covered the grass!