Just thought we'd share a cute picture....
Doesn't this picture look like something you would see on a greeting card?
We couldn't show you a picture like that without showing you a picture like this! Cutie pie!
10-31-09
Halloween this year was a blast! Logan wanted nothing to do with the dalmation costume my mom bought him until we put it on him and practiced trick-or-treating at the house. Jim went in our bedroom and we made Logan knock on the door. When Jim answered Logan would say trick or treat and Jim would give him an M&M. After that he couldn't wait to go. We went with his friends, Gwendolynne and Naomi. They were so cute running from house to house to collect their candy.
I side track to tell you a cute story. The girls wanted to get their faces painted so Logan waited patiently for them to do that. He wanted nothing to do with face painting. As we were getting ready to leave the house, Naomi decided that she didn't want hers on any more so her mom, Sarah, washed it off. I think Logan decided he was done waiting because he went over to Naomi and said, "Listen to me! I WANT CANDY!!!" (When do you think I should break the news to him that he will probably always be waiting on a woman?)
Logan's Halloween shirt
I thought this shirt summed it up quite nicely.
Our pumpkins - Logan's (Thomas the Tank Engine), Jim's, Renee's (Trick or Treat) & Ally's
Jim gets the cutest pictures of Ally!
Gwendolynne is a jellyfish. Logan and Naomi coincidentally were both dalmations. We called them Pongo and Perdy from 101 Dalmations.
My cute kiddos
10-27-09
Welcome to the world Baby Addison! Our friends Russ and Heather just had their second daughter. She joins big sister Olivia.
Ally and Addy
Logan and Olivia
10-24-09
A couple of days ago we went to the pumpkin patch with Sarah and Naomi. My dad was in town so he went along and took pictures for us. We thought it would be fun to let the kids pick out their own pumpkins and while Naomi was eager to pick hers out, Logan just wanted to throw dirt. Such a boy!
10-19-09
Every year a bunch of Jim's high school friends all get together out on Samish Island for their annual cider press. One of the guys has family property out there that consists of a house, a couple of cabins, a big patio area with a fire pit, a small apple orchard and an excellent view. We pick, wash and cut up the apples before feeding them into the press where they are chopped into small bits and then they are pressed. We then partake in rum and cider beverages, throw ribs on the bar-b-que and have a great time. This year was especially fun because Jim turned 30 on the 15th so we were able to turn it into a surprise birthday party for him as well. The only hitch was the rain, but we threw up a couple of pop up tents and started a fire in the pit. Everyone stayed warm if not dry.
The house
Logan called this the party. It's the patio where we are pressing the apples. Every time we took him in the house he would say he wanted to go back out to the party. He was soaked but was having fun.
The view of Samish Bay from the property.
The cider press.
Daddy and Ally hung out inside most of the day...
...while Mommy and Logan went to the party.
Logan enjoying one of many apples that day
Jim and I are all smiles while Ally's about ready to burst into tears and Logan's going crazy.
Happy 30th Jim! Logan was too busy playing with the balloons to pose.
The next day we had Jim's family over for a birthday celebration and this is how Logan fell asleep while eating his spaghetti.
Just a cute picture of Daddy reading to Logan before bedtime.
10-14-09
Bring on the smiles.....
Pretty baby
10-10-09
Ally is getting a little less stingy with her smiles and I was able to get a small one on film. When she smiles her big smiles, the expression that accompanies it is almost mischievous as though she is sharing a splendid secret with you. I promise to get a picture of a big smile up as soon as I get one.
I swear she is thinking, "I'm not gonna smile, I'm not gonna smile...."
So cute!
This is a new past time of hers. She likes being in the bouncy seat and really gets her hands going at all the toys. It excites her so much that her feet get kicking so pretty soon all her limbs are flailing. It's fun to watch.
10-8-09
So we've been debating over what to do about a stroller for two kids. I decided that I really wanted to be able to get out for walks with the kids so we finally decided to splurge on a double seater BOB stroller. We got it 5 days ago and I've already taken it out three times. It feels good to get out for a walk and I love the way the stroller handles. We should be able to enjoy many a fall day with it. Money well spent!
10-5-09
The past few weeks have just flown by. Ally is now just over 6 weeks old. She just had a her doctor visit this morning and she is already 12 pounds, 6 ounces. She is much more alert now and spends a lot less time sleeping. She is really starting to talk and by that I mean coo, grunt, etc. She started smiling on her fifth week birthday but is pretty stingy with them and we have yet to catch one on film. We spent the last week in Spokane with my family and everyone got to meet her. It was a fun visit.
Teasing us with a half smile
Great Grandpa George Volland
The four generations
The grandkids
Ally in her cute hat that my friend Sarah knit her.
9-13-09
While Ally and I slept this morning, Jim took Logan to Larrabee State Park. It was a beautiful morning and the park goes all the way down to the beach. Jim captured these photos with his cell phone.
9-10-09
Ally is 3 weeks old today and went in for her checkup. She is now 10 lbs and 20.5 inches. Her weight is in the 75th percentile and height is in the 25th percentile. She shaping up to be just like her brother. Since our last update we have had many visitors. Most of both of our families and lots of our friends have been here to see Ally. It's been really nice to see everyone and share our new little girl. She really is a beautiful baby. Since her birth was so fast she didn't spend much time in the birth canal. Because of that she really didn't get bruised and banged up the way that newborns tend to. Her features have all started to come out and she is rounding out nicely.
Wrong size Daddy - those are Logan's
Logan and Daddy getting a much needed nap
Kisses for baby sister
This is my favorite picture! He's so proud to be a big brother.
Logan wanted to "help" with Ally's bath and by "help" he meant eat the bubbles.
Grandma got Logan this tent and we were playing in it.
Logan with his friends Gwendolynne and Naomi eating popsicles on a hot day. The girls needed their clothes preserved in order to wear them home so they were stripped down for proper popsicle enjoyment.
Ally resting on Mommy. She is so beautiful.
8-30-09
We were driving in the car and from the back we hear Logan asking, "What's that baby Ally? It's a truck. What's that baby Ally? It's a car." and so on. He was narrating to her everything he was seeing out the window. What a good big brother!
8-27-09
Ally is now a week old and things are going great. We have had time to come home from the hospital and start to adjust to our new life at home. Lets just say that having a two year old and a newborn is, uummm... busy. You definitely don't get the cuddle time with the newborn that you had with your first, but you also don't expect to so I guess it's okay. Logan is fantastic with her. He always wants to "kiss her" and "touch her" and "hold her." He is really sweet with her. He says things like "we have a baby here," "baby Ally is really cute," "baby Ally is crying. She is hungry. She needs boo-boo milk." When she cries it doesn't bother him as much as it concerns him and he just wants to make sure she is okay and that her needs are being met. He is already a protective big brother.
As I was sitting there with my two kids, I said, "Now this is living." Logan replied, "No. It's baby Ally."
The cousins - Sean, Kyle, Ally, Jordan, Logan and Jennifer.
8-21-09
We came home from the hospital today. It's funny to be home already. Ally's birth was so fast that while it wasn't very fun at the time, I am recovering really quickly and almost feel as though I didn't have a baby at all. My contractions started at 2 AM on the 20th and we got to the hospital at 3:45. My contractions were really intense from the very beginning. When we got to the hospital I was dialated to 4 cm. Ally was born 49 minutes later at 4:34 AM. I went from 4 cm to out in 49 minutes. It was insanely fast and of course there was no time to get the epidural I so desperately wanted, but in hindsight I'm glad it happened that way because I feel great now. Here are some pictures from the hospital.
Our friend Sarah came in the middle of the night to stay with Logan. In the morning she brought Logan and her daughter Naomi to see Ally. This is how they walked in.
Just another cute story - The next morning my mom brought Logan to the hospital before we were discharged to see Ally. Jim and Logan went down to the lobby to get coffee and when they got back I was nursing Ally. Logan didn't see her and asked in an accusing tone "Where is baby Ally? Where did she go?" He then proceeded to search the room for her, looking in every little nook and cranny for her until we finally showed him where she was. It was so cute because he knew she should be there and it was almost like he was saying to us "I leave you alone with her for five minutes and you lose her! That's just great!"
Ally's first bath
Ally's first car ride
8-20-09
Welcome to the World
Allison Grace
Ally was born on August 20th at 4:34 am.
She was 8 lbs. 6 ozs. and 20 inches long.
She is perfect, beautiful, precious.
We are so blessed.