Adelyn's 6 month pictures

My two loves

The entire time I was pregnant, I was worried about how well Garrison would adjust to a new baby and the shared attention. After having Adelyn, it proved to be a useless worry because he was a natural in his new role of "big brother." With Addy's surgery and subsequent NICU stay, the way I had envisioned the two of them meeting didn't happen. I wasn't able to put them in the matching big bro/lil sis shirts I had bought and take pictures at the hospital. All that didn't matter anymore anyway. Garrison didn't get to meet his sister until she was 8 days old and we brought her home from Children's. He immediately fell in love with his sister and has been a sort of protector for her ever since. I sat in the middle of the two of them on the way home from the hospital and Garrison remarked that she "was a wittle punkin!" and when she fussed he would say the baby needs milk. He has impressed me from day one and it melts my heart to see the two of them together. He loves to lay by her and hold her hand. The way he is with her is a reflection of his gigantic heart. My sweet boy makes me one proud mama.

 Here is a picture of my babies napping together.

 I find the two of them like this often. You can see Garrison holding her hand and they are as content as can be.

 My babies ready for Adelyn's first visit to The Heights Baptist.

 This is my favorite picture. This is the day we brought Addy home from the hospital. Garrison's face shows it all. You can just tell that he is in awe of his little sister. I hope they always stay best buds.

 Garrison's first time holding his sister. My babies are so precious!!

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011. Garrison is 3 1/2 and Adelyn is 4 months old.

Addy turned 4 months on Christmas day. I seriously don't know where the last 4 months went, it seems like just yesterday she was born. This year Garrison was really excited about santa. Every toy commercial he saw on tv he would run and come get me and say he wanted whatever it was. The biggest thing that he wanted were racetracks so Santa listened and he got two really big racetracks. I guess Santa thought he was good bc in my mind, this was definitely up for debate! Terrible two's don't exist, he was perfect but once he turned 3 he was like a whole new child. Parenting a three year old has definitely been entertaining but I wouldn't trade my two babies for the world.

My mom is still in the skilled rehab trying to gain her strength and mobility back and Garrison and I attended their Christmas party and dinner. We had a nice time and I'm sure my mom was excited to have us all there. This is a picture of Garrison posing in their sleigh, by the tree.

 Amy always comes over around Christmas time and we make and decorate home made cookies. We did this on Christmas Eve so that Santa could have his cookies. Garrison really enjoyed it this year and loved putting flour all over himself. Here he is helping me make the cookie dough.

 He was so proud to take this picture. haha

 Another tradition that I've started (that I had growing up) was opening one gift on Christmas Eve. It's always pajamas so that you can wear them to bed and have Christmas PJ's on when santa arrives. I didn't really contemplate that a 3 year old may  not enjoy this tradition....Here are my babies posing with their Christmas eve gifts....(at this point still cute)....

 You can sort of see the disappointment on Garrison's face as he has opened his gift. This was our exact conversation:

 Garrison: "This is addy's gift (it wasn't). I don't want jamas, I didn't order this. (throws the gift aside and stands up.) Come on let's find my racetrack (walking to the tree and gifts) It will be the really big one."

sigh. He was not thrilled about pajamas and really disappointed! I'll be happy to let you know, I did take a brief moment and explain to him that Christmas is not just about gifts and that he needs to be grateful for everything that he receives. I think it sunk in (haha ya right!)

 I finally convinced him to put on his Christmas PJ's. Here are my sweet babies. Adelyn just wanted her bed

 Garrison posing with Santa at my mom's christmas party.

 Doesn't she look like a doll?!?!

I hope your Christmas was as blessed as ours was. 2011 was definitely a trying year, especially as a mom, but I am blessed. I love my family more than words and pray every single day that they grow old both happy and healthy. God Bless

Adelyn's Newborn Pictures

Isn't she the cutest thing?!?!?

Adelyn Nicole Bal

Adelyn Nicole Bal arrived at 8:04am on 8-25-11. She was 8 lbs even and 20 3/4 inches long. I had a c-section that morning bc the doctor's didn't want her going through the stress of labor. The delivery room was crowded with too many people, doctors, nurses, the NICU staff, etc. I remember the second she was born Adam's first word's were "oh baby, she's perfect." And she is. The anesthesiologist also said the same things, she's beautiful and just perfect. She was born with a head full of black hair and looks very much like her older brother. Her delivery was uncomplicated and I got to see her for a short amount of time before they took her to the NICU for observation. She spent most of her first day in the NICU but by that night, they were letting her stay in the room with us. I was lucky that I got to spend all day Friday with my girl and then Saturday morning, they transported her to Medical City Children's Hospital so she could get ready for her MRI and surgery. Luckily, my sister came and stayed with me, so that Adam could go with Addy. It was really hard on me to be at a different hospital than her even though I knew she was where she needed to be. The heaviest burden was put on Adam's shoulders. I think for this 24 hours he was worn out. We didn't want her on formula, so Adam had to make multiple trips a day to pick up breast milk from me and transport it to the NICU where Addy was at. I was released Sunday morning and we headed straight to see Addy in the NICU. It's hard to see your baby hooked up to machines and monitors when you just want to be home with her and adjusting to a normal routine. Monday, at 5 days old, was her surgery. The waiting after they took our sweet baby girl was brutal. We grabbed some lunch and sat in the waiting room with friends and family, to try and keep our minds busy. Nothing really worked, we just wanted an update that our baby girl was going to be ok. When the neurosurgeon finally came out he said the surgery was successful and that Adelyn had done great. He actually said "she is a rock." They expected her to have to be on a ventilator after surgery and she wasn't. She just soared through the surgery with flying colors. She amazes me. She was only in the NICU for another 3 days and then we were discharged home. Born on a Thursday, surgery on Monday, and sent home on a Thursday. It's amazing what they can do these days and we are beyond thankful for our perfect little girl.

This was right after her birth, the first time they let me hold her in the NICU. They wheeled my hospital bed into the NICU and I got to hold her out in the hall. They said she was the biggest baby in there :)) 

 All we are missing is Garrison! My sweet family

 This picture was after they let her come stay in the room with us. She was definitely more at peace when she was around me.

 This picture was taken right before they took her to Children's. She didn't even seem bothered by the IV they started in her hand.

 My favorite picture of all time!

 Getting settled in at Children's

 This was when I first got to hold her at children's after being away from her for over 24 hours. torture!

 Morning of her surgery, resting peacefully.

 Picture right after her surgery. We weren't allowed to hold her yet

 This picture melts my heart. Adam reading to Addy. Precious

 First time I got to hold her after surgery.

 Us right before they were going to come and get her ready for surgery. I didn't want to let her go

 This morning was great bc I showed up and all her wires/IV's were out!!

 Going home!!