Thursday, January 19, 2012

Family Christmas

I'm almost caught up with all my posts and then I am going to try really hard to stay up to date! 

This year we celebrated Christmas with my family a few days early because we were going away for the weekend with my mom's side of the family. 

Because we weren't going to be home for Christmas we didn't set up a Christmas tree and neither did my mom. Through this we learned the illusion that small tree=more presents, ha! 
Good trick, huh? The kids were pretty excited!

The wonderful aunties are always so funny- they basically set a timer for when it's their "turn" to hold Adalyn.
She's a very loved little girl!

A group shot of the awesome aunts and uncles. 
Did you know that my brother is Coach from Survivor? 
No?? 
I didn't either...
Thankfully the whole greasy pony tail thing was a phase and is no longer existent!

A mini nap session took place 
Naptime with Jesus Uncle Ryan! 

Then it was gift time! Papa G is sporting his new Elmer Fudd winter hat and he is, of course, the #1 Grandpa :) 
The girls worked hard on making me a sister scrapbook. It was very sweet! 

Roux got to open her Christmas presents early, but since Roxie would be joining us on the weekend away I was saving her stocking for later. 
She wasn't a big fan of this plan and seemed rather sad/jealous of Roux's 16 squeaker animal.

First Christmas as parents & grand-parents! 


Somebody happened to be everyone's favorite gift this year :) 


On Christmas day (after the weekend away) we went to spend a few days with Mr. B's parents. 
They live in TX, but have a lake house up north here in NH so it was nice to celebrate and relax with them too!
Couldn't ask for a more perfect gift!

Trying to remember who this lady is...
She remembered! Smiles for Nana! 

Some snuggles with Papa 
We relaxed, watched movies and played some Chicken Foot. 

The following weekend was the Bills vs the Patriots.
Mr B and his family are big time Bills fans {you are welcome to have pity on both me for being married into this and for them for willingly supporting this team- it's really no fun when your team is notorious for losing!}
Why they can't just be Patriot fans I have no idea- but I know it will never.ever.happen. 

For Christmas Adalyn bought Daddy a cute little Bills bow to support his team. 
Mostly because we feel bad for him ;) 

And of course I couldn't resist a little photo shoot in the new bow
She's aware this is silly because at heart she's a Pats fan :)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

First few weeks

 Adalyn, you have been such a blessing to us this past month!

We have enjoyed watching you grow and develop each and every day. 

It's amazing to see how fast you are changing in such a short amount of time. 

You have been such an easy going baby, you hardly ever cry {you squawk and make monkey noises when you need something}, you are a great sleeper and a sweet little cuddle bug.

You're our little baby burrito and you sleep next to our bed at night. Roxie was sure to keep a close eye on you the first few nights.
You sleep pretty much all day with a few awake times in the late morning, {maybe} in the afternoon and always late at night around 10-12. You only wake once in the middle of the night usually around 3 for a feeding, you finish your bottle and 20 minutes later we are back to sleep.  Daddy feeds you at night before bed and I wake up with you in the night and we let him rest up for work. 

You are eating about 3 oz (sometimes 4) every 3-4 hours.
 You're using Dr. Brown's bottles with Similac Sensitive and seem to be doing really well with them. You're never fussy and you don't spit up! 

Of course, being your first month of life, this month was filled with lots of firsts! 

The day after we brought you home was Thanksgiving, so you were quick to celebrate your first holiday!
Starting traditions young with the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade! 
We were so so thankful you came into the world a few days early and were there with us!

The weather has been unseasonably warm and we were able to take you outside on your due date.
 Your duck and geese friends were anxious to meet you.
 They were with us throughout the whole pregnancy! 

You had your first photoshoot at 6 days old and you did so well! We got so many awesome pictures that we will cherish forever!
You are always smiling in your sleep and showing off your dimples. 

I snuck the Patriots PJs on you without daddy knowing, he wasn't very happy!

Your first time in your swing- which actually seems to keep you awake rather than put you to sleep!
 It was also your first time in cloth diapers. I wasn't planning on starting quite so early (1 week), but you were starting to get a diaper rash so I figured we might as well give them a try! With the help of the cloth diapers, cloth wipes and olive oil your little bum cleared right up! 

Because of your diaper rash I decided to give you your first bath a little early. I made sure to keep your umbilical stump fairly dry though! 
You were a little freaked out at first, but then you liked it. 
You preferred to be wrapped up in the towel though.

We went on our first family walk.
And your first trip to the mall. I felt bad that you weren't able to have Chick-Fil-A like you did in my belly- we went there pretty much every week, it's one of my favs!

After taking all our belly pictures by the pond, I could't help but take you out there for one last picture while the weather was still nice.

At 10 days you lost your umbilical cord- such a relief! I didn't know if I should be weird/gross and keep it or just throw it away...so instead I took a picture that we can keep!



Your first pair of shoes- I was so excited to put you in your super cute boots.
You wore them to pick up Nana from the airport. Her and Papa came for a weekend visit to soak in some extra snuggles and kisses before their next visit at Christmas time.


While they were visiting we brought you to church for the first time at 2 weeks old. You looked so pretty in your dress!
A few days later we celebrated Auntie Julia's 9th birthday! 

You love to snuggle on our chests or on my legs.

You are kind of sporting a baby mullet-it's long in the back and shorter in the front. 
You love to hang out in our bed at night before it's time to sleep. We love it too!

You fell asleep in your swing and I went in the living room and found you smiling with your paci squishing your cheek- it was so cute!

I think you and Roxie are going to have a really sweet relationship. She has really surprised us with how well she is doing with you, although she does make us nervous sometime with her paws! She likes to show love with her paws and sometimes it's a little rougher than I think she means to be, so we just watch her carefully when she is around you. 
I have a feeling when you are a little bit older you guys will be best buds!

You're my little doll and I have to dress you up!
It's too much fun!

Our mornings are usually spent with you in the K'tan while I clean and get things done around the house. 
And your nights are spent snuggled up in Daddy's arms when he gets home from work. 

We often times find your hands holding your thumbs- the old "got your nose" joke! It's pretty funny!
I started putting you in your cribs for naps so you could get use to it before we move you there for nighttime. You are doing really well in there, I think you will like it. You really enjoy sleeping flat so I think transitioning you will be pretty easy.

In the mornings after daddy leaves for work I bring you into bed with me for some extra sleep and you look like such a big girl. Lately you have preferred sleeping on your side in the bed. 

Your neck is getting stronger, but you're not a huge fan of tummy time. 
You love bright lights and you are really starting to like your play mats. It's so cute when you smile at the toys. 
Your smiles are starting to become more intentional, which we are loving! 

I couldn't believe I had to pack up your newborn clothes so quickly! At about 3 weeks you outgrew most of your newborn clothing and have been wearing 0-3 mos.
I put your coming home outfit on your hippo that plays your heartbeat from when you were in my belly. I can't believe you are already getting so big! 
At your 2 weeks check up you were 8.9lbs and 21.25 and you're getting bigger and bigger every day! 
You're long, but chubby- absolutely perfect! 

You went Christmas shopping with mommy and Mimi. 
You don't always love getting into the sling, but once you are in there you usually fall right to sleep. 
We love love love those chubby cheeks of yours! 


We are still in disbelief at how quickly time has gone by and how fast you are growing. It is very bittersweet. We are so excited to see your personality develop and to watch you reach new milestones with each passing month. You bring us so much joy and we love you so so much! 

Thanks for being so good to us! 

We thank the Lord for you every single day. 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: Scary Momma

This is just a hunch...
but I'm thinking she thinks I look a little scary in the mornings. 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Newborn Pictures

I was so happy when I found this photographer about a month before I was due. 

She was just what I was looking for and best of all super affordable.

She's a stay at home mommy starting up a new photography business and she was offering a discount for newborn pictures to expand her portfolio so it was a win-win for both of us.

Adalyn was 6 days old when these were taken. She came to our house with tons of props and a vision {which is so important!}
She knew what she wanted, she knew what we wanted and she totally made it happen!

There were over 60 pictures and we had to narrow it down to 20-it was so hard!

This is the style baby photos I used to drool over. 
I was always obsessed with Anne Geddes and it was seriously a dream come true to have pictures like this of my very own baby. 

So amazing.

Such a blessing. 

And so crazy to think that just days after this photoshoot she didn't even look like that same baby any more. 

She has grown so quickly and I am so happy to have these photos of her. 

Pictures that will be cherished forever. 

















Monday, January 9, 2012

Funny and Fitness

While I continue to play catch up here's a funny video of Mr. B trying to keep Adalyn awake. 

Which is nearly impossible by the way. 

When girlfriend is tired she is going to sleep and there's nothing you can do about it.

For a while she was sleeping most of the day and then decide to be all awake and smiley from like 9:45-1ish. 

This mama is tired at that point. Let me remind you that my bedtime pre-baby was around 9:30/10 so all this partying til 1 in the morning was a problem.

As much as I loved seeing these bright eyes and smiles, I'd prefer to see them in the day time!



So I decided we have to try and keep her up at least from 7-9:30. 

So we strip her down, we bounce her, play with her, talk to her etc etc and this is what we get. 





Operation "Stay awake it's not bedtime yet" didn't quite go as planned. 

Since then we have a new bedtime routine that seems to be working well. 
She even slept through the night for the first time on Saturday night!
And now I see this face at reasonable hours during the day


Now, onto the fitness...
I have joined the bandwagon and joined my fitness pal. 
So if you're on it send me a request: jpsmelser is my username.
I always go over my calories and I haven't worked out yet- but I'm a great encourager :) 
I've also lost 4 pounds so far! 
So if you're on there- friend me, if not check it out and join! 
It's free, they have apps for the iPad and iPhone and probably the other smart phones too
AND
the coolest feature ever: it has a barcode scan so you just scan the food you're going to eat and it plugs it all in for you!