Visit from Grandma and Some Favs!

The beginning of the month Steve's mom came to visit and to meet little Rachel. We had a nice visit and got to do some fun things! We went to Monterey and did the 17 mile drive! It was an absolute beautiful day...and the coast was amazing! We had never done that before, it was beautiful!

Grandma and Tyler checkin out the ocean!

Tyler was so pooped by the end of the day, (we did a lot of driving which equals not very good naps!) he just crashed on Grandma!


Ty and Daddy!

The waves were HUGE when we were there...they were amazing!

Our temporary setup!

It is definitely a different world having a toddler! But, it's so much fun having him doing new things and wanting to explore!

My sister's family got a little yellow lab puppy for Christmas...(makes us miss Abbey!) But, Ty loves dogs and I just love this picture of my boys!

I went into Ty's room during his nap one day and found him like this...Love it!

Love his crazy bed head!

We borrowed my sisters double stroller...(he really does like it, I promise!)

Yes, I have my hands full...but, I love my kids!

Crashed!

Ty helping daddy wash the car!

2 Months and Blessing!

So, I have to start this off with saying that as I was typing in the title for this post, that title came up in the window below because...oh yes, a year ago I posted the same thing for Ty! Their blessings were a year apart! :) Pretty funny! Anyhow, Miss Rachel had her 2 month check-up! I can't believe she's 2 months already! She had to get her shots...she didn't even cry for the first one, and only cried for a second with the last two...Ty cried more than she did in concern for her! It was pretty cute!

Stats:

Height: 21 1/2 inches (20th %)

Weight: 8lbs. 7oz. (5th %)

Head: 37 cent. (10th %)

Ty was 8lbs 7oz at 2 weeks while Rach is that at 2 months! Crazy how different they have been! We love you Rachel and are so grateful for the healthy little body you have been blessed with!

Blessing Day! Our family of 4!
Daddy and Rach!

All of the men, Uncle Allen, Great grandpa Jack, Great grandpa Callaway, Daddy, Papa, and Uncle Justin! We are so grateful for these worthy men that could be a part of Rachel's special day. Thank you to everyone that came to support our family!

My Little Boy!

I was looking at my old posts tonight and realized that I hadn't posted about Tyler's 1st birthday! We had a lot of fun celebrating...he got three little parties, which meant that he got to eat cake 3 times! He was a happy boy! As I sit here in tears...I can't believe he is now 14 months! Where did the time go? I just love him SO much and I am so grateful for him and for the opportunity that I have to be his mom! He brings so much joy to my life that I didn't know I was missing! He is such a good boy, and through these past 8 weeks has been so patient with everything! At times I feel so bad that he doesn't get my undivided attention as most kids in his position do...but we seem to get through it and have fun playing and laughing together when we aren't eating, feeding baby, or sleeping! I love you Tyler! Thank you for loving me and for being my little boy!

His 1 year pictures...So Handsome!

Party #3 was with our playgroup buddy's!

The birthday kids...James, Tyler, and Aubrey!

On his actual birthday...11/30 Celebrated with our friends the Kennedy's and Cooper's!

Party #1...During Thanksgiving we celebrated with some family!

First taste of sugar...pretty sure he LOVED it!

Love this face!

Happy Birthday Tyler!! I love you!

The last Month...

The past month has been wonderful and crazy all in one! The transition from one kid to two has been pretty good considering I wasn't quite ready for it when it happened! But with MUCH assistance from my Mom, Dad, Steve, and sisters...Tyler has been fed, made it into his bed, been held and loved on, and even managed to have his diaper changed! :) I honestly couldn't have done it without all of the help over the past 5 weeks! I am so grateful for good family and friends and mostly for my husband and kids! I love them all!

Miss Rachel...

The festivities during Christmas... Building a gingerbread house!

Our life...

Christmas morning was so much fun with Ty this year! He did really good opening his presents!

Santa came... Christmas morning continued to the next morning due to breakfast, Church, uncle Trev calling from his mission, Schmidt family party...we didn't have time to finish! So we got two Christmas mornings!

Our Family of Four!

Our 5th Anniversary!

Happy New Year!

On her due date...

Weight: 6 lbs. 12 oz.

Length: 19 1/2 in.

Brotherly Love!

Just snoozin!

Tyler is doing pretty good with the adjustment! He loves to give Rach kisses! It's so cute! I'm doing well...almost 6 weeks out! Still have that weird numb feeling in my tummy, can't wait for that to go away! But all is well, and I am just so grateful that she is healthy and growing!

Our Little Surprise...

Introducing...

Rachel Julena Ross

December 16, 2011

3:19 PM

5 lbs. 2oz. and 18 in. long

This little girl just really wanted to be here! She is our little Surprise, coming 5 weeks early!

Just for documentation, last Friday morning I just wasn't feeling so well, my back was cramping ( I had really bad back labor with Tyler) I got in the shower then gave Tyler a bath, the whole time feeling like something was wrong. Trying to lean over the tub, then would jump up walk around in pain and totally confused. Got Ty dressed, meanwhile on and off the phone with my mom asking questions, and again not knowing what was happening! She wound up calling Steve and sending my sister to come and help and just let me relax. Steve came home and I finally decided that we would go to the hospital. While on the way there my water broke, the contractions (I didn't realize I was having at the time, now I laugh) stopped and I knew that we were having this baby that day! We got checked in, and found out I was dilated to 5cm and I thought she is going to fly out of there, until... she said that she couldn't tell what was showing and come to find out the baby was sideways, and we wouldn't be doing this the way I had planned on! I had to have a c-section, but the baby is healthy and doing well! We got to come home yesterday and we are adjusting to life with 2 kids! The hardest part for me is that Tyler is still very dependent on me and he doesn't understand why I can't lift him! And mentally i hadn't reached the point with him that we would have a sister! The night before she came, my good little sleeper (Tyler) woke up in the middle of the night and would not go back down, being that he had been sick, I went and held him on the couch that night...it's almost like he knew what was coming and needed that! We are all doing well, after that roller coaster of a week we are so happy that she is here and healthy! I just love my kids and Steve so much and I am so grateful for the blessing that they are to me!

(*The picture above is the one I got from my sister, becuase I didn't even have my camera with me! But, luckily my sister got here on time that we borrowed her camera!)

Mom and Rachel...

Our happy little Family!


Ready to go home! 4 days in the hospital is too long! I felt so disconnected from the World!


She is so little! Ty used this car seat til' he was 11 months! Which was like a month and a half ago, so it's so different to have her in there!

Our new backseat!

It has definitely been a crazy couple of days! But, I look forward to the many great years that are to come! We love you Rachel, and are so happy that you are here!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY!!

Well...the time has come!! My baby is 1! That year really did just go so fast! Tyler is so much fun! He changes every day, and discovers something new to do or "say"... He is obsessed with wheels! Anything that has a wheel on it, he will spot it, get to it, and try to spin the wheel or push it! He loves to explore and get into new things! He is getting brave and will let go of objects and take a few steps to something else, but not walking yet! I can't decide if it's a good or bad thing...being that I am in the last 6 weeks of this pregnancy! Not really sure what would be easier, the beginning wobbly stages of walking or just continue to crawl! We love him so much and look forward to this next year and all of the changes and growth that is to come!

I started late...but these are the growth pictures that we have of Ty!

We love you Tyler! Happy 1st Birthday!