Week 4 (Dec 26- Jan 2)

One month down

Izzy got princess heels and a crown for Christmas and hasn't hardly put them down. She is my sweet little princess.

Addie's first Husker game.

Addie and Izzy getting ready to go watch the Husker bowl game.

 

We went to the Petersen's for the sad Husker game. Izzy found princess gear and  was in heaven even though the Huskers lost.

We got home from the holiday rush and Mark took Addie's stool sample in and there is still blood in it so to formula we go. I am so sad that we don't get to spend that intimate time together and I am not able to deliver the best for my child. I cried the entire first bottle I gave her.  I know everyone says that it's ok and she will be fine, it's just something a mother cherishes.

Well I am now writing this four days later and our little Addelyn is a totally different child. She is calm, not writhing in pain, her gas has diminished, and she is just a happier baby. It is just crazy how the best thing for your baby (breast milk) can be the worst. She is even starting to coo.

Izzy has been a great big sister. She loves her and calls her "Tiny." I  was at home over Christmas and sitting with both girls and Izzy reaches over and holds her baby sister's hand and at that moment I new I did the right thing giving Izzy a little sister. Things Izzy is doing right now is singing, singing, and singing. Any chance she gets. You can talk to her like an adult and understand everything she says. we've been potty trained for about three months with only a few set backs when Addie came home. ?Her favorite thins are Dora, Princesses and babies with a little Elmo thrown in there. She truly has become quite the little girl. I love her to pieces.

Our New Year's Eve was perfect over hotdogs, mac and cheese, apple juice and beers. Our friend Brian Nunns came over to hang for a little and we all watched the ball drop on TV. Yes...even Izzy. It was impossible to get her to sleep. On this New Years we had all the family sleeping in one room. Izzy slept with us and Addie in her bassinett. Well I hope this finds you all well and we will talk soon.

Week 3 (Dec 19-25) and Christmas

Miss Addelyn has made it to three weeks. It hasn't been easy but we are still alive.

This is at Izzy's daycare Christmas party. She is sitting here with her friend Grayson.

Izzy coloring a Christmas page at daycare with her friends.

Christmas treats. Life is good.

                                              

Izzy on Christmas Eve with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Brown. This is my mom's parents. Pretty crazy that Mark and I both have Grandma Browns.

                                                                  

It was a different Christmas this year without my Grandma and Grandpa K. But we made the best of it. Every year my grandma gave all the guys underware for Christmas and in our family we so lovingly call them Skuds. This year my Aunt Cindy kept the tradition going with hero skuds. It lightened the mood and made us all laugh.

                                    

Izzy loved Christmas this year. She loved the idea of Santa Clause but just not the idea of sitting on his lap. She also loved opening presents. All of them were for her even if they were mine, Daddy's or Addelyn's. This is a great holiday for the toddler. It makes it more magical.

This is our completed family. Gamma, PopPop, Mark, Me, and the girls.

The note Santa left Izzy after he ate her cookies and the deer ate their carrots.

Izzy and one of her many ( i mean many) presents.

Addie's first Christmas.

The girls both had deer on their feet for their Christmas jammies./ Izzy thought it was cool they matched. She is big into matching. She tells me our hair matches almost everyday. I love it how the simple things excite her. I wish I was still that way.

Addie's deer.

On the 19th we took Addie to another pediatrician for a second opinion. Doctor Coffey was great. She checked Addelyn and said from all the signs and symptoms she is not a colicky baby, something is truly bothering her tummy. She did labs on her stools and there is blood in there. We are going to wait one more week to see if there is still milk and soy in my system and if things are not better we will start the formula. That is not what I really want to do since Addie is such a great nurser, but I am so saddened by the constant pain she is in. I can't take it anymore. Izzy was such an easy MSPI baby. I took out dairy and soy and she was fixed. There must be something else like wheat or eggs that is bothering her and that is in everything. I don't have energy to check every ingredient label and try to find things that the whole family would like for  dinner. Sorry Addie, I did my best with the milk and soy.

The girls and I went back to GI a couple of days before Christmas. The Christmas season this year was such a whorl wind. All I know is that I had a sick baby that was in constant pain, Izzy just decided that she wanted Elmo from Santa and there wasn't one to be found, and I still had four family members to buy for. Whew! I did seem to fix all the problems but Addie's tummy. This Christmas was also a little different because it was our first Christmas without my Grandma and Grandpa K. It was truly bitter sweet. It was Addie's first Christmas and our first without them. We got through it and I look forward to new traditions being made.

Hope you all had a good holiday and we'll talk soon.

Ariann

Week 2 (Dec12-18)

Addie turns two weeks old.

Addie hanging out in her Rock Princess tutu.

Finally a peacful time for Miss Addie (and mom). These are rare occurances.

Izzy at her Christmas pagaent. She has a cute little formal Christmas dress and she insisted on wearing the Santa dress from WalMart.

Izzy singing One little, Two little Reindeer.

Izzy and her "boyfriend" Grayson.

Ohhh! Let the colic begin. Addelyn is just not comfortable. She is eating well and gaining weight though. She had her 2 wk check yesterday and went from 6lb 2oz to 8lb 5oz and from 19 1/2 in to 21 1/2 in. She is growing like a weed. I told the doctor that I went back on the MSPI diet and she said if it didn't get better I was going to have to cut wheat, eggs, peanuts, citrus, and chocolate. Well, I pretty much wouldn't be able to eat anything. At least the weight would come off fast. We also started some Bio Gaia drops which is a probiotic to help her digest. I hope it does the trick. I don't think I can take another night like last night. Again, I am thinking of our friends that just had twins. Miss Ali is a saint.

Izzy had her school Christmas pagaent on the 18th. The kids were cute. Is must of been a little stage shy because she is much more animated at home. They sang three songs and then we went to Sam and Louie's for dinner. I can't wait for more events like this to come as the girls get older. I am such a proud mommy.

On the 15th I went to my 2 week OB check and everything looked fine. Now my goal is to make Addie feel better and get my Christmas shopping done. I think I'm going to go to GI a little early so my mom can help me out with the girls. Poor Mark is just working a ton and isn't home much.

Well, hopefully these days of colic are a quick phase and life can go on.

Week 1 (Dec 5-11)

One week in our lives!

All of our kids in the Christmas photoshoot.

Izzy and Cletus. Love them!

Our newest little present.

The whole family. The best we could do. Cletus had had enough.

Gamma came to help us out and has worked her hiney off trying to tidy our messy home. There just isn't enough time or enough washing machines to keep up. I don't know how are friends are doing it that just had twins and have a 3 year old. Whew, they are busy. We are also trying to get some Christmas shopping done with small progress. I'll just have to do the rest online.

Addie is still doing very well other than an upset stomach. Passing gas and BM's really seems to be an uncomfortable challenge for her. She grunts, groans and even cries when she is going to the bathroom. Well, back on the MSPI diet I go. It hasn't been as hard this time around because I'm use to it. I already know what I can eat and what works. So for all those friends that have brought us dinners and lunches, hats off to you, because I am not easy to cook for. We really appreciate your consideration and help and all the dinners have been delicious.

Hope you are all having a great holiday season so far. These pictures were our at home photo shoot and will be featured on our Christmas card. We had quite the catastrophe after. I lost the SD card and was just devistated. Not only were our family Christmas pictures on it, but so were all of Addie's hospital pictures. I thought I lost them forever. My mom and I and our cleaning friend, Tracy, even went through the garbage. Mark came home to settle his hormonal wife down. Of course him being the logical man he is said that it had to be 10ft. within the Christmas tree since that is where we took pictures. He started looking in the drain of the sink, put his hand in the disposal area and out came the SD card. He was once again my hero. It still worked too. Whew! We will keep updating. TTFN.
Ariann

Week 0 (Nov 28-Dec 4)

Miss Addelyn hanging in her bouncy seat.

Daddy lovin' on his new baby girl.

Mommy and Addie hanging out.

 

So peaceful.

 

Izzy and Daddy in the snow.

 Mommy even made it out for a bit while Addie slept.

Our first week with Addie has been good. I seem to be a much calmer mom the second time around. Izzy is taking to being a big sister very well. She is helpful, but doesn't quite understand that mom isn't at her beck and call anymore. I think it breaks my heart more than it really bothers her though.

Addie has been eating and sleeping pretty well. We are gettin up for a 1 o'clock feeding and then again between 3 or 5 o'clock. Usually the 5 o'clock. So she is letting mommy and daddy sleep. Izzy on the other hand is a different story. Hopefully this stage passes quickly.

Mark has been working very hard. It's the end of the year and deductables have been met. So not only is he helping me around the house and with Izzy, he is working hard at his own job. He did make time to take Izzy out in the snow. He taught her how to make snow angels and smoothed out a sledding path for her. She thought it was great. She has been wanting to play in the snow all week. This first week home, Grandma D. has also been here to help. It's been great. Well, we will update next week. Take care.

Ariann

November 2011

Izzy on Thanksgiving. It was a great day to be outside. She hasn't been sleeping through the night so we were trying to wear her out.

Addie right out of the womb.

Proud new parents.

Baby and Mommy doing well.

Izzy and Addie with PopPop.

Gamma and PopPop with new baby grand-daughter.

Grandma and Grandpa D. with Addelyn.

Izzy and Daddy helping with Addelyn's first bath.

Auntie Sarah visting on our first day here.

The Girls!

Addelyn one day old.

November seems to have come and gone in quite a hurry. I guess when you are expecting a little one and have a million things to do before they come it can make things go quite quick. At the beginning of the month Izzy and I went to Grand Island to visit Gamma and PopPop. Mark was at the game and we decided to make a quick trip. While we were there we watched the game at Christensens' and then went to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa Brown. On Sunday before we left we visited the beautiful memorial for my Grandma and Grandpa Kalkowski. Right outside of Stuhr Museum in Grand Island we have purchased a bench for all to use while on the walking trail. It is our way of remembering them and letting them know they will never be forgotten There is a baby tree next to the bench that we hope to grow to great maturity and make that a dear place to our family.

This is the first year we stayed home for Thanksgiving. Mark, Izzy, and I all had a wonderful turkey dinner. Then we just veged out and got ready for baby Addie's arrival. I had to work the next day so we didn't do anything too extravigant.

The following Monday, November 28th came the arrival of our second beautiful little girl. Her name is Addelyn "Addie" Alexandra Brown. She was born at  8:31 am at Methodist"s Women's Hospital. She was 6 lbs. and 8 ozs., she was 19 1/2 inches long. Our first day in the hospital we had Gamma and PopPop visit, as did Grandma and Grandpa D, Sara Petersen, and the Darlings. Our first night went pretty well. Addie slept great. The second day Mandi Hoy came to visit and that night sleeping wasn't a priority. But all in all we were all doing very well and we went home a day early, on November 30th. Grandma D. stayed with us for a few days to help out.  So we are off to another adventure with a whole new person. I am going to try to keep up weekly for a year with Addie, like I did Izzy. Here we go!

Ariann

October 2011

This is new baby Brown. I think she looks a little more like me. I think it's a good combo of Izzy and me (so I guess that means Mark too). Darn, he's got some dominant genes.

                                     

 Mark holding a baby chick at Pooley's Pumpkin Patch. Izzy wouldn't get near it .

 Izzy and Ella as pumpkin heads at Pooley's.

 On the hayrack ride to the patch to pick out our pumpkins.

 Finding the perfect pumpkin.

 Izzy and Mommy on their way back. Time to go home and get ready for the Huskers to play. They played Wisconsin and lost. Everyone was bummed. The Huskers just couldn't pull it together.

 Daddy and Izzy going along with Mommy for a photo shoot. I was trying out a new lens on my camera.

 Daddy and Izzy . I love this pic.

 Our addition to the Halloween decoratios this year.

 Izzy in her Halloween dress. Mommy had to get a few pictures. She wore a Halloween dress or outfit this whole week and this is the only one she would let me get any pictures in.

 Love this Cheeser. I wish I could get rid of those sun spots.

 Mark and I at my second game of the season. We played Michigan State and won. The final score was 24-3. We were only favored by one touchdown so everyone was excited about the great game. We looked really good as a team which hasn't always been the case this season.

 Mads, Mark, and Vontz at the tailgate before the game .

 Mark's ghetto boots enjoying the game. Our seats for this game were great because they were hight up and in the front row of the balcony. You could see everything. I hated them because I thought Mark was going to fly over the railing every time he stood to cheer. The lady next to us said, "You know if you are holding on to him when he goes over, you are going to." She has a good point.

The crowd waving their hands in the air to the beat of the band.

Lil Red did a little crowd surfing.

Pumpkin carving. Mark is just getting started.

This is the only time Izzy would sit with us. I thought for sure she would want to get her hands in the goo and she wanted nothing to do with it. She would rather be down in the sandbox.

Our end results. Mark bought six pumpkins and it was more work than we thought it would be so only three got carved.

Our little Zebra. She wasn't a big fan of this costume. I think it was a little top heavy and it kept hanging in her eyes.

Izzy and Ella before trick or treating.

Izzy trick or treating. She wanted to touch these lit up ghosts. I'm sure our neighbors loved her walking through their landscaping.

Mark and Izzy at the end of the night.

October brings the Halloween spirit. We wasted no time in getting to the pumpkin patch. We went to Pooley's with our friends, the Mulligans, the first day of Octorber. It was great getting there early in the season. It wasn't too busy and we didn't have to wait in line to get our pumpkins. Pooley's is great for Izzy's age, maybe we will try Vala's again next year.

For Halloween, Izzy had a party at school and then we went around the neighborhood to trick or treat. Izzy loved it. She kept saying, "I want to go to another house." She was scared at one house with a big spider. At the end of the night she zonked out fast. She was tired. The night before Halloween we carved our pumpkins. We thought Izzy would really enjoy getting her hands in the goo. We were wrong. She wanted to just play in the sandbox instead. She helped us for a little while and then the interest was gone.

This month Mark and I made it to  the Michigan State vs. Nebraska game. It was really nice weather and a great game too. We had a good time and it was fun to see some old friends. I probably won't make it to any more games as we will have a baby soon. Only four more weeks. I can't wait to give Izzy a little sister to watch over.

The pregnacy has gone pretty well. They have been watching her this month every two weeks because they thought she was a little small. But today we had another ultrasound and it isn't going to be a problem. When it's all said and done, they think she will be around seven pounds. She started hiccuping this month and moves like crazy. I am excited to meet this little unnamed girl. That's right, we don't have a name for this little one yet. Hopefully when we see her it will just come.

Izzy is getting bigger and smarter by the minute. The things she says is just amazing to me. Between counting in Spanish and knowing which "buttons" to push and when lets me know we have a smart one on our hands. Because she picks things up so quickly we really have to watch what we say. We have had a little issue with the word 'Jesus. ' We thought she had forgotten about it because she hadn't said it in a while. Well....we were in the Jimmy Johns drive thru and Mark cut it a little short and hit the curb. Out of the back seat we heard, "Jesus daddy." It took all Mark and I had to hold it together and let her know that was a bad word. Love her more and more everyday.

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween and we'll talk next month. I will be a new mommy with my next entry! Yay!