Easter 2016

On March 19th, we went to our neighborhood's annual Easter party.  The girls hunted eggs and got their picture taken with the Easter bunny.  They even got to see the Chick-Fil-A cow.  I think this was the highlight of the event for my girls.  Rachel loved the cow and Kayla is a BIG fan of Chick-Fil-A.  She requests to eat there often.

Rachel, Haley and Kayla

Rachel, Kayla and Haley

Kayla went to a preschool Easter egg hunt and party on March 23rd, but I didn't get any pictures of this event.  She loved it and enjoyed being with her best friend Vivian.

On Easter Sunday, I was determined to get a picture of all my kids in their Easter best before we went to church.

Haley, Kayla, Rachel

Brandon's first Easter

We are so grateful for our Savior and his sacrifice for us so that we can be together forever as a family.  He is risen and he lives!

Brandon is 3 months old

Brandon turned 3 months old on March 14th.  I'm trying to catch up on my blog and this post is so late.  On March 14, Brandon weighed 13 lbs, 4 oz.  He is gaining weight well and is doing so good!  He typically takes about 4 oz of formula every 3 hours.  Sometimes he will eat every 4 hours and sometimes every 2 hours.  It varies.  He seems to like to snack.  He is also a great sleeper.  He sleeps through the night and has been since 7 weeks old!  We have been blessed!  He is smiling more and more every day.  He is just a great baby.  We love him dearly and we are always thanking our Heavenly Father for such a perfect little boy.

On March 18, we took Brandon to his first Spina Bifida clinic appointment.  Several doctors and a physical therapist took a look at him and said he is doing great!  No problems to report!

Brandon's first St. Patrick's Day

Lil' Rustler's Rodeo

Rachel and Haley were invited to attend the Lil' Rustler's Rodeo at the Houston Rodeo this year.  The Lil' Rustler's Rodeo is just for kids with special needs and it allows the kids to ride horses and do fun activities that are Rodeo related.  We went to this on March 7th (doing some catching up on my blog).  When we arrived we found out that only Haley was registered to go into the arena to do the activities.  So we were frustrated that Rachel was not allowed to participate.  We stayed to allow Haley to participate.  Haley was assigned to a "cowboy" (an adult to accompany her into the arena) and we watched from the bleachers.  Haley was scared and only wanted to be held by the "cowboy".  Haley gets scared easily in unfamiliar situations.  She didn't want to do any of the activities and didn't really enjoy it at all.  So it wasn't the best experience, but we did get to go to the Rodeo grounds this year even though we didn't get to experience all the Rodeo had to offer.   Here are the pictures I was able to get.

Rachel and a Rodeo clown

Kayla and Rodeo clowns

Haley being held by her "Cowboy"

Kayla watching Haley

  

Brandon's Blessing Day!

Sunday March 6th, 2016 Brandon was blessed by his daddy at our church.  It was a special blessing and a special day for him and us.  We are so grateful to our heavenly father for this little miracle boy.  He completes our family and we couldn't be happier!!!

We had family from Austin come to witness the blessing.  The picture below doesn't include everyone that was there.  I wish I could have gotten a picture of everyone that came, but it just didn't work out.  We are grateful for all our family and friends who came to see Brandon get blessed.

Since we have already gotten a negative comment, I thought I would explain.  I didn't realize Rachel had her legs wide open in these pictures since I wasn't the one who took them.  Rachel doesn't understand what she was doing. We had to sit them down to stay still enough for a picture.  So please excuse the crotches in these pictures.  Its all the pictures I have.

Kayla's first ballet class

Kayla had the opportunity to start ballet class (late in the season) due to an opening in the class.  She went to this ballet class for the first time on February 23rd.  She really liked it and wants to continue to go.  I love seeing my little girl enjoy doing ballet and I love seeing her in a pretty pink ballet outfit.

Brandon is 2 months old

Brandon turned 2 months old on the 14th.  He is growing so well.  At his 2 month doctors appointment he weighed 12 pounds and was 22 inches long.  The doctor was very pleased with his progress.  The doctor said he is doing things a 1 1/2 month old typically does and was very impressed.  Brandon is only about 2 weeks behind.  This is great seeing he was born early and was in the NICU for 3 weeks plus with the spina bifida, he is doing awesome!  Brandon started smiling at us when we smiled at him on Valentine's day.  He is gaining some head control, but I do still support his head.  He moves his legs and feet well.  He is sleeping through the night from around 11 pm to about 7am.  He is taking ~4oz of formula every 3 hours or so.  He does have reflux and spits up a lot.  We had to deal with this with Kayla when she was a baby and was so hoping Brandon wouldn't have it, but he does and its frustrating!  He is a fussy baby in the evenings, but I've been told this is typical.  He loves to be held by his mommy.  He's a mommy's boy already!

Brandon did go to the urologist back on February 1st and had a special test that looked at how his bladder was working.  It also checked to make sure the urine was not backing up into his kidney's.  Well Brandon passed the test!  His bladder is functioning normally and no urine was backing up into his kidney's!!!  We don't have to cathe him!!  We are so relieved and so grateful that Brandon was blessed and miracles have been done for our son.  Brandon is doing so well despite his spina bifida.

Some have asked how the girls are doing with Brandon.  Well Kayla loves and adores him!  She gives him kisses frequently!  Haley loves to touch him.  She will come up to me when I'm holding him and will touch his feet, hands and head. She smiles when she feels him.  Rachel has not really showed any interest in Brandon.

I have been enjoying taking pictures of Brandon (I have taken a lot since he came home).  Its so fun to be able to do the monthly pictures again.  Well here are his 2 month pictures:

He looks so big in this picture!

Valentine's Day 2016

I have mentioned in a past blog post that I LOVE Valentine's Day!  I love all the red, pink and white and all the hearts as well as all the yummy Valentine candy.  There is just something about Valentine's day that makes me happy.  I still remember when I was a kid the Valentine parties and getting to pass out Valentine cards to my classmates.  I loved it!  At least now I get to enjoy the Valentine's Day parties my kids have each year.  Good times!

This year for our annual Valentine's day pictures I set up my white backdrop and took some indoor pictures.  I was lucky to be able to get a couple of pictures of Rachel and Haley together.  I was not able to get a picture of all the kids together due to Rachel being uncooperative, but none the less I got pictures of each kid.  Whoo hoo!  I am feeling accomplished that I was even able to get Valentine pictures this year.

Love my little Valentine's!!!

Rachel and Haley

Kayla

Brandon (Mommy's little Stud Muffin)

Brandon's first Valentine's Day