Just call me soccer mom

I wanted to have a whole separate entry for this update. On Saturday we traded in out VW Passat for a family friendly, old lady, soccer mom Nissan Quest mini van. Believe it or not, it was my idea. It is so practical for me as a mother of two little ones. It is also really pretty!! Its white with gray interior, good on gas, and really nice to drive. Check it out!






Its white like this


This is the dashoard. It pretty cool


SOOOOOO much room. Huge trunk even with the third row up

Well she made it... to one month that is. I can't believe my little tiny baby is already one month old. Saying "It feels like just yesterday..." sounds so cliche, but its true! It really feels like I was still pregnant yesterday, and although I may still be sporting a little bit of a pregnant belly I am definitely not pregnant. Just a couple of days ago I took her in to the doctor for her one month check up and the little squirt is only 7lbs. 11oz. and measure 20 3/4 in. long. Drew was longer and heavier than her at birth than she is now and she is already one month old. Drew wore newborn size diapers for 3 days, she is still in them. Drew wore newborn size clothes for a week, they still fall off of her. Drew weight 11 pounds at one month, and she will when she's 2. I always felt like I never really got a newborn baby with Drew, but I definitely have one now. I love it though, she is so easy to tote around and I feel like I am really getting to enjoy the newborn phase with her, although I am really looking forward to that first voluntary smile

Life is returning back to normal here at the Stephens residence. We had so much fun having Bela in town and really truly appreciate all of her help. Just the smallest details meant so much. It was so nice having someone get Drew up every morning so I could have a few more minutes in bed with Lyla, having her stay at home and watch the kids so I could go run my errands alone or take a shower, and having her make dinner EVERY night so I would have one less thing to worry about. She even bought us all of our groceries. One day I'll do the same for Lyla when she has her kids. Grandpa Andy even made it over here for a week. Drew really enjoyed having "pa-pa" around. He cried and cried when we dropped them off at the airport. Two days later he still knocks on heir bedroom door asking for them. Its kind of sad. They should move here. :)

That's it for now... enjoy the pictures....







Looking right at the camera


All balled up


Perfect.... in every way



and she rolled to her side

New Pictures

I don't really have much to say, just staying really busy. Lyla is doing great and is overall a really happy baby. I just wanted to post some new pictures we've taken. My friend, Heather, did some really cute newborn pictures of her a week ago. . . I will post those as soon as I get the CD. Will update soon.



Drew really enjoyed watching his sister take a bath. Lyla absolutely loves bath time. I remember Drew at her age screaming any time he got near the tub, er. . sink.



He is such a handsome little man.



Sporting her headband and bow.



I love this picture. We actually caught her mid dream and her eyes were moving back and forth in her head. She happen to open her eyes right at this very moment. We call them her bedroom eyes.... :)



Bela bought Drew the Lawn mower "mow-mow" and he loves it. The more he mowes, the more the bubbles come out.

Drew's new playground

Really quick. . . Just wanted to show everyone's Drew new play area in our backyard. My parents got Drew a bunch of outside toys for Christmas and we have finally put them up in the backyard. Dad and Drew had so much fun getting it all put together. Note the wood borders around the play area. We plan on filling it with some kind of synthetic material in the future. Drew loves it! Thanks Mom and Dad!





Drew with his tool belt on, and ready to help Daddy get his equipment set up



Looking like he know what he's doing


The finished product. So cute!



Picnic table and all!!

Life is chaotic!

It is amazing how one tiny little person can turn your life upside down. I have said it a million times in the last week and continue to say that if my Mom wasn't here I would be curled under my bed in the fetal position. Between diaper changes and feedings alone I barely have time to use the restroom myself let alone update my blog.

Lyla does have a little bit of Jaundice that we are working through, although the weather here has not been staying very sunny. She also is tongue tied. Drew was tongue-tied and had to have surgery at the age of 14 months to resolve it. For those that may not know, a tongue tied baby does not have the ability to properly move the tongue because the frenulum (that little piece of skin under the tongue that attaches to the bottom of the mouth) extends all the way to the tip of her tongue. This has made nursing her virtually impossible, but we are working through it. She is getting her tongue clipped on Tuesday and the problem will be completely fixed!! I am so glad that we caught hers as early as we did because if not she would have to face a surgery just like Drew. Other than those two tiny glitches she is as healthy and happy as can be. In fact, let me just take a moment to brag about my tiny little acrobat. She has already rolled over 3 times from her belly to her back, and scoots herself on her belly with her strong little legs. Its so cute!!

Big brother Drew is adjusting. . . SLOWLY! The first couple of days he didn't even want to come near her, or touch her. Now he gives her kisses, shares his cheerios with her, and pets her as gently as Drew knows how. They really weren't joking when they said the second child is built tougher. . . its cause they have to SURVIVE!!!

That's about it for now, but expect an update soon!





We were going to grow Drew's hair out, but it just got so out of control we decided to chop it all of today. Maybe we'll regrow it in the winter, but he looks so darn cute without hair!!


Lyla fast asleep. She always throws that arm over her head when she's on her belly



My failed attempt to wake her up. It was time to eat, but she had other plans


I don't know how to rotate this, but its cute none the less. She looks pensive.


Sleeping on Mommy, note the arms over her head :)

She's Here!!

I finally have two minutes to sit down and update everyone. It has been an absolute crazy week to say the least. One week ago I was complaining about still being pregnant and today I am a mother to two beautiful kids. You'd never know it from my previous sentence. . . but boy is this new world terrifying!!

I don't really know a better way of doing this without turning this entry into a novel, so let me just create a time line to fill you in (be warned that there are some moments of TMI):

Monday April 20 11pm: Contractions start. They are perfectly timed. Minute long contractions every 3-5minutes means let's go to the hospital.

2am: Arrive at the hospital, get into a gown, and and put under a one hour watch to check for cervical change.

3:45am: We get sent home

Tuesday April 21 at 9:45am: Go into my OB for my weekly check up. I am 4cm dilated and the doctor strips my membranes in hopes of inducing labor.

I walk and I walk and I walk and I walk and I walk and I walk and I walk

Thursday April 23 11pm: Contractions start up again 8minutes apart. I am able to fall asleep thinking there was no way I was actually going into labor this time.
1am: I wake up out of a dead sleep having a really painful contraction. I start timing them.

2am: I wake Tim up and let him know that we should probably go to the hospital.

3am: Get to the hospital and get all checked in. I am in labor this time and I get to stay!!

6:30 am: Dr. Helliwell comes in and breaks my water in hopes of speeding things along. I put in my request to have an epidural. I get fluids started and I am told I will have to wait for the epidural.

7:30am: I am dying!!! C-section starts and I get left knowing that I will not be getting an epidural for at least another hour.

8:30am: I am told that there is an emergency c-section about to take place. Because I am in transition I can't sit still for an epidural. Anaesthesiologist leaves. :(

9:00am Dr. Helliwell comes in and starts setting up for delivery.

9:54am: She's born!! 20 1/4 in. long, 6lbs. 15oz., and hairy as they come!!

Since she was born without any anaesthesia she came into this world fully alert, awake, and ready to make herself heard. She has some seriously powerful lungs.




Our precious baby girl


All drapped over Daddy's arm. Wait until she's wrapped around your finger Dad!


Proud big brother Drew with his Lil Sis'


Check out the hair. This is how much she had, and yes, we have already shaved it!


Moments after. . .



So much more to come!!

My Bows

I finally took a few pictures of the bows I've been making... check it out!! The pictures really aren't that great, but atleast you have some idea.




This is my newest one. It is zebra print and hotpink which matches her carseat, blanket, and high-heels


The curly-Q ones are called Korker bows and even though they take a long time and use up a lot of ribbon they are my absolute favorite!




Here is the collection. I made the board all by myself as well!! I am getting so crafty these days. Now if I can only figure out how to sew.