The Adventures with the Grandmas :)

Today is our first solo day without either of the grandmas here to help. This will definitely be a test to see if the three of us can survive without anyone here during the day. So far, so good... :)

After coming home from the hospital, Brian's mom was here to help for a week. Since I had surgery, it was so nice to have an extra set of hands to do things I couldn't do yet, i.e. drive to appointments, a lot of the cleaning, pick T up, etc. It was so nice to have help with all the meals, too! Wish I could always have someone like this all the time!!

Then the following week, my mom came to stay and help out. She also carted us around to appointments as well as helped with the cleaning, cooking and overall entertainment of both Tristan and I.

It was a sad, sad day when she left and reality set in. But we are surviving and doing surprisingly well! Here are our adventures with our grandmas!!

Grandma George & Tristan on our lunch date on her last day!

Drawing pirates with chalk and practicing the "aargh" sound!

Reading with Grama Candy :)

Such a cheeseball!

"Aaaaargh!" This seemed to be a theme for the week :)

My sweets :)

Even Papa came to visit on Grama's last day

Love the wrinkled forehead look! (18 days old)

Three generations :)

Mommy & her little darling

Happy two weeks!

Today our sweet Miss T is two weeks old! She is starting to pick up her head and move it around as well as be more alert. Tristan continues to be so sweet with her, giving her kisses on the head whenever she's around. We are so thankful to have my mom here this week - not sure what we're going to do next week!!

Loves :)

Snuggling with sissy

Happy 30th!!

This weekend, we celebrated my little brother's 30th birthday - wow, how old does that make me feel?? We started off by celebrating at his house by watching a DVD that my mom made from a Super 8 movie of his 6th birthday party. It was definitely the BEST birthday present ever! SO much fun to see Trav and all of his friends compete in 3-legged and wheelbarrow races and take a swing at a pinata. SO great! Then afterward, Doug, Trav and Brian met up with friends out at the Grand Lodge to play frisbee golf. They lucked out as it was the first 80 degree day of the year. Then, we all met up for dinner out there - Talia's first big outing!! (People couldn't believe, 1) how tiny she was and 2) that we had brought a 10 day old on such a big outing - but Trav will only turn 30 once and we wouldn't miss it for the world!!) Doug, Bridg, Trav and Lincoln took advantage of the lodging accommodations and stayed the night while the rest of us decided it was best to drive back home and take care of the babes and dogs. What a great birthday - happy 30th, Trav!!!

Starting the day off right!

First time practicing T-ball skills!

This is what three carseats crammed into one car looks like!

Frisbee Golf "tailgating" with Auntie Sarah!

Trying to keep the boys occupied before dinner

Of course he had to have the very gourmet rainbow chip cupcakes for his bday - a tradition in our family!!

1 week & 23 months

Today marks the day that our sweet Talia is one week old and our not-so-little-man is 23 months old! It's amazing how much she has changed since her birthday. Yes, she still mostly just eats and sleeps, but she is also starting to open her eyes and be more alert. I think she may also be looking more and more like her brother as well. As for Tristan, he has made so much progress between 22 and 23 months!! His vocabulary has really improved as well as what he is capable of understanding. It is amazing to watch him grow and learn, but also kind of sad to know that he is no longer my little baby - he is fully a loving and inquisitive toddler now! It is also so sweet to watch Tristan interact with his little sister. He loves to give her kisses and continues to point out the parts of her face any time he is around her. I love these moments together!!

LOVE this picture of my two sweet little ones :)

My sleeping beauties

First days home

Here are some pics of our first few days at home as we're trying to settle into our new routine. A bit of an adjustment from the hospital, but we're loving being a family of four!

Big cousin Lincoln

All the cousins together

Candy Gram and her sweet Talia

5 days old

Even Aunt Michelle and cousins Eli & Emma came to visit!

Trying out the cradle that has been in our family for 40+ years. All of my cousins, including myself, have slept in it!

First visitors

Talia had a lot of love from friends and family in the hospital. We tried to capture all of the first visitors who came to meet our sweet little girl.

Clint & Sarah

Since Lo couldn't make one of our Hospital Happy Hours, she was able to come down after her shift (luckily she works at the same hospital!) to visit Talia on the day she was born.

Hospital Happy Hour #1, 4/11 - Ali, Falkie, Erin & Ang (Lynds had to leave before our pic was taken)

Jenna & Sam

Hospital Happy Hour #2, 4/12 - Lawrence, Trac, Jenna & Bridgit

And of course Grama & Papa were there to visit again :)

Talia Leigh

Today we welcomed our sweet little girl into the world. Talia Leigh arrived at 8:25am weighing 6lbs, 10oz and is 19 inches long. Luckily her arrival was not quite as eventful as her brother's. The date and time were both set and all we had to do was arrive at 6am for our 8am surgery. What a huge difference!! What a beautiful blessing she is. Here are some pictures of our sweet and precious Talia:

Tristan was so excited to see the "baby, baby!" which he kept repeating over and over every time he saw her. He wanted SO badly to touch her, hold her, point out her eyes, ears, etc. SO cute!!

Proud Grama Candy :)

Papa giving Talia some love

Grama & Grampa George

Two happy grandmas :)

Good thing he doesn't mind diaper changes - I'm not able to for a few days!!

Grandpa Danner

Aunt Bridg, Uncle T & cousin Lincoln also getting some Talia love :)

Big brother loves his little sister :)

Our attempt at a family picture :)