Check out this picture!

Nope, wrong blog! Change your blog roll...I'm going take this blog offline & you will lose your link! I don't want to lose all my friends!

www.davefam.blogspot.com

Biiiiiiiiiiiiig News!!!!!

My big news is this: go check out my new blog: www.davefam.blogspot.com for an awesome post about our big Thanksgiving week.

I can't believe you thought I was pregnant.

P.S. Change your blog rolls to my new blog!

What are you doing?!

Wrong blog!

Go check out www.davefam.blogspot.com

That's where you'll find new posts and a link to E's newborn pictures!

UPDATE YOUR BLOG ROLLS!

Please update your blogs rolls because we have a new blog!

www.davefam.blogspot.com

The first initials in our names spell "DAVE," and last night I actually had time at my computer so I decided to create a new blog with that name! In an effort to keep our identities private, while keeping our blog public, I will identify each family member by their first initial on our new blog.

Old blog names:

Hatcher = D

Andrea = A

Chick = V

Birdie = E

Go update your link to us on your blog right now!!! Anyone that doesn't have a link to my new blog will be blocked from www.davefam.blogspot.com starting tomorrow.

Okay....just kidding....but go update your links!

Okay, she's officially out of the newborn stage

Birdie's "newborn" pictures have been a long time coming since I was recovering from my c-section and because she was difficult to work with. She poops every 2 seconds (she has pooped on EVERY prop I own, lol) which put a big damper on any shoot I started with her. And then she grew out of her beautiful sleepy premie stage and into a very awake and cranky baby stage. ANYWAYS, I've been trying forever to get a picture with her laying on her tummy with her head upright so I could put it on her announcement. I finally got it today...but who is this chubby baby in this photo?! This couldn't be my sweet little premie! It's definitely not going on the announcement since she looks so grown up, so I thought I'd share it here. Both hats were made by my mom!

Here's a shot of her as a newborn around 2 weeks...

And here she is today, as an almost 2 month old! I can't believe how much she's grown!

Do My Girls Look Like Me?

I'm going to start with some good news...Hatcher just started rheumatology where he'll be working normal 40 hour work weeks. I screamed out loud this morning when I woke up and there was a man in my bed at 7:30am. It was just Hatcher...but I couldn't remember the last time I woke up next to him and there was actually sunlight coming in the windows. I'm looking forward to having his help now that he'll be home more during November. I've behind on EVERYTHING in my life. I hate feeling so out of control and frazzled all the time!! I feel forgetful and kindof weird-looking since I rarely have time to sleep, shower, or put on make up. Thanks goodness Hatcher agreed to hold Birdie (while she fussed) so I could put together this post.

Birdie is growing really fast, but is becoming more and more fussy. She stays awake for really, really long stretches during the day and night. It's tough when she's awake and fussy so long. It's hard to get her feeding schedule consistent because she's so inconsistent with her sleep patterns. It's time to get out my sleep book and really study....too bad that I'm too tired and out-of-it to read. I only sleep her in the boppy and her carseat now because if I don't she just gets spitty and wakes up screaming.

More good news is we got our home buyers stimulus check and what did we do with it?! We got a 2nd CAR!!!! It's a 2009 Mazda5 (the mini-minivan, seats 6). It's so awesome it looks like it's from the future. I feel like any minute I might just drive off the road and fly into outer space because our car is THAT cool. It is a major upgrade from our Oldsmobile. It's beautiful. It's fantastic. It's ours. I can drive places now. No more waking up with Hatcher at 4:30am to take him to school at 4:45am after I have been awake from 1 - 3am with Birdie. I love you new car. And thank you to everyone and their mom for giving me and Chick rides EVERYWHERE throughout this summer and during med school. I owe you all and now have the space in my car to pay you back!

We had MAJOR fun on Halloween (actually, here they did trick-or-treating on the 28th instead of the 31st) and have been dying to share these with everyone!

Chick dressed up like a "ballerina bunny" for the PIM (Penn's "Partners in Medicine") Halloween party.

When I asked Chick what she wanted to be for Halloween and she told me a "wedding girl," I almost cried. I searched for a bride costume everywhere and lucked out at a consignment sale. Chick shares my love for weddings and love stories and I had SO much fun dressing her up!


I LOVE LOVE LOVE this beautiful mini bride!!!






She wanted me to copy my "styling" from my wedding...do you think we look alike? She called the pose her "bride action."

Here I am at age 4...I can see a little resemblance but I still think she looks more like Hatcher and his family

But who knows....little Birdie looks like she might be taking after her momma. Especially with her double chin goin' on!

Nana & Grandpa Mark's Visit!

After my mom came out for 3 weeks, Hatcher's parents both came out for a week and a half. "Grandpa Mark" frequently travels to New Jersey for work, and since he was out here already on business they got him a hotel in Hershey for the week. Chick LOVED staying at their hotel, so every night they would take her to have a sleep over. It was amazing since I could take a nap every morning before they came back to the house. Thanks so much you guys for coming out and for all the help with the girls!!! Thanks for taking care of the house, the meals, and the cleaning. I was so sad (and kindof scared...) to see you leave!!

Here's some pictures of what we were up to while they were here....and I'll be posting Halloween pictures soon. And in case you missed it...I also posted on Friday (geez, I'm on a roll since Hatcher had his weekend off!!)

Grandpa Mark giving Chick a "driving lesson"


My little premie isn't so little anymore...she can hold her head up!



Nana took us to get pumpkins for Halloween, it was soooo cold!

Chick was THRILLED!



They also got us all set up with Halloween decorations


Sometimes I leave Birdie in Chick's room and ask her to "babysit her." She loves it....I caught her putting all her favorite toys around Birdie and calling it a sleepover.
Can you tell how much she loves having a little sister?!

She is such an angel!

Grandma's Visit!

I need to do some major catch up on my blog! We were so lucky that both Hatcher's mom and my mom came out to help with the kids after Birdie's birth. My mom came out first and stayed for three weeks. It was so much fun having her here, and it was amazing to have all the help. I still had a lot of nesting to do after Birdie's birth, and my mom helped me get all that done. She also took care of the household and entertained Chick. It was really, really hard to see her go. Thanks mom for dropping everything and coming to help, especially when it was so much earlier than you planned!

Here's what was going on while my mom was here....

Birdie got her first bath!

She grew into newborn sized clothing

My mom made Birdie a bunch of crocheted hats for winter and to use in pictures (it was her first time making them and they are so adorable!)

She held Birdie A LOT for me




Birdie's eye kept getting swollen...but she's fine
Chick adores my mom!




Birdie pulled Chick's hair for the first time...Chick thought it was funny

Chick loves Birdie so much...I left Birdie on the ground and Chick put her security blanket on her and lined up her toys to keep her company

Post-Baby Daddy-Daughter Football Trip

Hatcher asked for the week off before the BYU/Florida State football game (in FL) so that he could take a road-trip down with his Arlington friends. We really didn't want me to go into labor during Hatcher's vacation, because then he wouldn't be able to take his week long paternity leave on top of vacation (and intern year they only get 3 weeks off the whole year and are working 80+ hrs/wk the rest of the time...so vacation is important!). I ended up going into labor exactly 30 minutes before he clocked out for his vacation time. So he wouldn't get one minute over his vacation to take paternity leave.
He was sweet and didn't mention his disappointment at missing the "man trip" to the football game and his much needed rest during his vacation. Two nights before the game I told him he HAD to go to the game since he spent his whole vacation taking care of me & his two daughters. He offered to take Chick with him on the 17 hour drive (each way!!), and these two had a B.L.A.S.T. She got the one-on-one attention she really needed, and I got much needed rest with just me, Birdie, and my mom at the house. Hatcher got a weekend of his vacation given back to him...and he deserved it. Isn't he amazing?! I love this guy!
Funny story, when we told Chick she was going to the game with daddy she asked...
Chick: "Is Baby coming with us?!"Daddy: "No Sweetie, she was to stay because Mommy needs to feed her."Chick: "Daddy, why can't you feed her with your boo-boo's?"


She loves her dad so much!! They have so much fun together!


Hatcher & Chick drove down with our friends from Arlington. There were two dads and two 4 year olds. Can you imagine 17 hours of this?











$50 per ticket per 4 year old so they could play cars the whole game. ; )




The guys at the game!



A hilarious video from the hospital with Chick yelling, "GET IT OFF ME!" (referring to the baby). My c-section scar hurt SO BADLY from me laughing WAY too hard. Chick was watching tv while we filmed...which is why she's kindof distracted.
It is a dream having my mom here to help out with the girls! She's here for another week!

I caught Chick reading this book to Birdie. She loves her! I always hear her telling Birdie (in her highest voice possible) "I'm your big sister!! You are SOOO cute! You are SOOO tiiiiny!!"

She loves to feed her!

"Birdie's" Arrival

Our 2nd daughter arrived 5 1/2 weeks early on September 11th! I have been horrible at getting the news out to everyone, but I'm proud I finally uploaded the pictures of our new little one....who I will call "Birdie" on this blog since it's not private. Her name is posted on Facebook.

On Sept. 9th, at my 35 week check up, everything was looking great, but I ended up in L&D later that day and 2 times the next day because of placenta abruption symptoms. I ended up going into pre-term labor the 3rd time I went in.

The whole experience was scary! We were scared for the baby and scared we weren't making the correct decisions (like how long to try for the VBAC I wanted and when to rush in for c-section). My contractions were a lot more painful than with Chick's birth, probably because I was so scared and because of the pain of the placenta tearing. Hatcher stayed level headed (despite my freaking out and physical abuse towards him during my contractions). Once Birdie's heart-rate started dropping we dropped the VBAC dream and rushed in for the c-section.

I was terrified that Birdie might not be healthy since she was coming so early. I was SHAKING the entire surgery! She arrived quietly and when she finally started crying it honestly sounded like a mouse because she was so small (5 lbs. 6 oz.). I felt so, so, SO much relief that she was ok, that I immediately started crying (and that's saying a lot cuz I never cry). Birdie is so strong for a premie and didn't even have to be taken to the NICU. She. is. a. dream. come. true.

I'm so glad that Hatcher was there and was my rock during the entire night. We're SO grateful for all our friends that watched Chick for all the L&D visits and during my hospital stay. I'm feeling better every day, and I'm happy to say that my back was feeling better even in the hospital since Birdie decided to make her grand entrance. Here's our hospital pics!

You've never seen a happier father than Hatcher when Birdie was born! And I can't believe I posted a pic of myself from the actual night she was born...but there I am in all my glory.

Chick LOVES Birdie. The FIRST thing she said when she saw her was, "Well, she's going to have to get bigger." Lol, she was hoping she'd come out a 3 year old.

My sister happened to be in Philadelphia and was able to stop by and meet her niece, Birdie loved her.

Birdie was actually too small for her carseat since they start at 5 lbs, but they stuffed towels to make her fit!

I love these two!




Birdie's hair kindof looks like she getting ready to go to NASCAR, but I swear it's not a mullet and I won't let it become one!

Chick told me I had to stop taking pictures because, "Look, it's hurting her ears!"

On the right, I caught the moment right after Hatcher had given Birdie a "fist pound." We're proud she already knows how to do the supa cool "explooode" ; )



I was taking the pic on the left when Chick jumped in....she wants attention so much right now she's actually willing to have her picture taken!



Hatcher and Chick got Birdie ready in her take home outfit...


That's one very happy daddy.



WE LOVE HER SOOOO MUCH!!