October 2011

This post is mostly pictures of Alyssa. I guess that is what happens when you have a new baby. :) She is well loved by all members of the family. The children fight over which of them is her favorite (as though she has any idea what that means). It is definitely tiring to take care of a new baby, but right around two months she started sleeping through the night. Yeah!

Before we get to Alyssa's portfolio though, here are some pictures of the other children.

Kevin is in cub scouts now. When the kids are tracked out (they go to year-round school) we have Kevin to do a couple of scout requirements each day.


Kevin in his suit. This is the other half of the birthday gift from my parents (see previous post). Doesn't he look handsome?


Kevin with his pillows and blanket. All set for the General Conference broadcast.


Jenna reading before bed. She and Kevin both read a lot. Seriously, a lot.


Jenna decided that she wanted to decorate a cake. I was very impressed with how well it turned out.


Jenna's finished cake


Jenna and the finished cake


Jared trying to make a fort. This is a very common scene at our house.


More fort making (the other couch this time)


Jared in the fort he made to watch General Conference (He used an end table this time)


One night Jared was really tired. He fell asleep in the middle of our family prayer.


Now on to the pictures you all actually came here to see. :)

Alyssa - 2 months old


Alyssa


Alyssa all wrapped up after a bath. Bath time is Alyssa's favorite time of day. It doesn't matter how upset or tired she is before her bath, as soon as you put her in the water, she is happy as can be.


Alyssa


Alyssa


Alyssa found her thumb. I wasn't too excited about that though, so I encouraged the pacifier instead.


Jared gave Alyssa his car to play with. It was so fun that she fell asleep.


Dad and Daughter:
Derek and Alyssa, sleeping. Like I said, taking care of a new baby is tiring.


Derek fell asleep feeding Alyssa. Apparently taking care of a baby might be more tiring than even I thought.


Derek and Alyssa. See, sometimes he is awake.


Mom and Daughter:
Amanda and Alyssa


Brothers and Baby Sister:
Kevin and Alyssa watching football. You can never start too early.


Jared and Alyssa


Jared and Alyssa


Jared reading to Alyssa. He doesn't actually know how to read, but that didn't stop him.


Sisters:
Alyssa and Jenna


Jenna and Alyssa


Jenna and Alyssa


Jenna and Alyssa


Jenna reading to Alyssa

Kevin's Baptism - September 3, 2011

Kevin turned 8 years old on August 19. Our local congregation does child baptisms on the first Saturday of each month, which meant that Kevin had to wait until September to be baptized. He was baptized on September 3, 2011. He was very excited. We had a lot of family come to support him. Thank you to everyone that came. It meant a lot to him, and to us. We know that there were also some family members that wanted to be there, but were unable to come. We understand, and we are grateful for your support too.

Kevin was very excited and ready to be baptized. We are very proud of him. He tries hard to do what is right. We love you Kevin!

For a birthday/baptismal gift, my parents bought Kevin a suit and a blazer/pants combo. He was so excited. He looks so cute in them. He still loves to wear them. Here he is in his blazer.


Alyssa was about one month old at this point, so this was the first time that most of the family got to meet her.

Grandpa and Alyssa


Cousin Tanner, Aunt Diana, and Alyssa


Nana and Alyssa


Diana let Jared borrow Tanner's blazer for a few photos. Here he is posing with Bobo.


Jared, looking good in a blazer


Our first family picture with Alyssa.

Alyssa

Alyssa Faith was born on August 4. She weighed 6lbs. 1oz. and was 18" long. She joined our family on August 16 (though technically she spent the night with us on August 15 as well). She is a sweet baby, and we feel so blessed to have her in our family. Her brothers and sister love her tons (sometimes more than we would like). :) And of course, Derek and I love her so much too.

Alyssa and I were required to stay in Virginia (where she was born) until both Virginia and North Carolina signed an interstate compact, allowing us to go back to North Carolina. It took awhile for Virginia to sign it, and I was getting very nervous that I was going to be stuck in Virginia through the weekend. With hurricane Irene coming, I really wanted to be home with my family (plus we had spent most of the last three weeks being separated as a family, and it was getting old). Thankfully, at 4:30p on Friday I got the okay to head home. Alyssa and I (with the help of David and Rachel - Thank you!) packed up the car, made a quick stop at Alyssa's birth mom's house to say goodbye, and then hit the road. I was really nervous the traffic was going to be awful. Other than a two mile stretch getting on I-95, it wasn't bad at all. The towns were doing a good job moving traffic through quickly.

We are so glad to be home and together as a family. We are praying that everything goes smoothly with the adoption. I think it usually takes 6+ months to finalize everything.

This has been a crazy, emotional roller coaster. It has been very stressful, and wonderful, at the same time. And, this has probably been the most spiritual experience of my life. I am so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who made this all possible. I am also thankful for the love, support, and help of family and friends who made this possible. Thank you!

Kevin and Alyssa


Jenna, Kevin, and Alyssa


Kevin and Alyssa (eyes open!)


Jared and Alyssa


The girls - Amanda, Alyssa, and Jenna


Jenna and Alyssa


Sleeping (Don't worry, we weren't actually going anywhere, which is why she isn't buckled in)


She was all wrapped up, but she is really good at getting that arm out


Getting more alert every day


Kevin and Alyssa


Alyssa


Sisters - Jenna is so excited to have a sister


Alyssa


She looks so little when Derek holds her


Loving her daddy


I LOVE this picture. Nothing like a sleeping baby.


Jared and Alyssa


Tummy Time


Jared keeping Alyssa company during tummy time


Relaxing


Hanging out with dad. (He had been feeding her, and was actually burping her)


She curls up into this position a lot, and I think it's cute.


Our burrito


Jenna and Alyssa


She got both arms free this time. :)


Very alert

Kevin's Turns 8!

Happy 8th Birthday Kevin!


Kevin turned 8 on August 19. His birthday did not go quite as planned this year. A few weeks before his birthday we were talking about what he wanted to do for his birthday. His birthday fell on the last day of track-out, so we decided to go camping. However, about four days before his birthday we brought Alyssa "home" (to my sister's place in Virginia). That, of course, meant no camping. It also meant a delayed birthday, and a fairly lame one. Poor kid. He opened presents the day after his birthday in Virginia (Derek brought them with him when he came from NC). We tried to make him a cake while we were there, but it failed. We had some cake and ice cream, but didn't sing or do candles. Kevin was a good sport. I promised him that when I got back to NC we would make him the cake he wanted.

Alyssa and I finally got to go home on Friday night (August 26). On Saturday Derek made Kevin a Red Velvet Cake (from scratch - Kevin's request). Then I set to work on Sunday decorating it. It turned out well. So, we sang and did candles yesterday, a week and two days late. Thank goodness for a patient boy.

Jenna and Jared watch Kevin open presents


Now that Kevin is 8 he gets to join boy scouts at church. Here he is trying on his hat.


Bobo bought Kevin a water balloon sling shot for his birthday. It's really cool. Here's Derek demonstrating how to use it.


Here is Kevin trying it (without the balloons). He has since used it with the balloons, and loves it.


For his birthday, Kevin really wanted a Power Rangers Cake. He specifically wanted it to be the blue Samurai Power Ranger (whose name happens to be Kevin). He wanted it to be his full body. Here is the result. I thought it turned out pretty well.












Make a wish!


We love you Kevin. We feel so blessed to have you in our family. You are an amazing son and an awesome big brother. We hope 8 is a great year for you!