Kayla's Newborn Photos - Part 2

I decided to take Kayla to a photo studio to get some professional pictures of her while she is still so little.  Kayla will not be a newborn forever so I just had to capture the moment before she gets older.  Plus I was able to get some pictures of her and I together.  She is such a beautiful little girl.  I love these pictures of her.  I am so blessed to have another precious daughter.  Kayla was 7 weeks old when these pictures were taken.  

 

 

Wonderful Weekend

Friday:  Our weekend started on Friday.  My parents came to visit us and the girls.  They offered to babysit so we could go out on a date.  It had been a while since we have gone out on a date.  So Friday night we went out to dinner and then we went to the Houston Texas Temple to celebrate our anniversary (a little late).  We were married in the Houston Texas Temple 5 years ago on January 12, 2007.  It was nice to go out and enjoy some alone time together and to spend some time together in the Temple.

Houston Texas Temple

Saturday:  We went to the Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Houston.  It was such a beautiful day. The sun was shinning and the temperature outside was perfect (not hot or cold).  That's one of the advantages of living in Texas.  I love that the winters are usually mild.  We enjoyed walking around the garden and taking some pictures.  Haley and Rachel love going outside so they had a good time. 

Haley and Daddy

Haley

Rachel

Rachel and Haley

A beautiful flower

Rachel, Daddy and Haley

Rachel, Mommy and Haley

Family picture

Me, my parents and the girls

Lilly pads in a pond

Me and my girls

Another beautiful flower

Fish in a pond

Sunday:  Thomas's parents came to visit us as well.  We, my parents and Thomas's parents all went to church together.  This was the first Sunday we took Kayla to church.  She didn't even notice since she was asleep the whole time.  The girls looked so cute all dressed in their matching dresses.  I love my little girls.  They are so adorable and beautiful!  We had a good time all together on the Lord's day.

Family picture before church

Grandpa Stansel relaxing with Kayla after church

The past week

What has been going on the past week?  Well nothing too exciting.  Rachel and Haley have been battling yet another cold and now both have ear infections.  Poor girls!  We went to the ENT last week since Rachel has been having ear drainage for the past month or so.  Rachel has ear tubes so her Pediatrician said it was normal.  He also did an ear culture last month to make sure if wasn't infected.  Well the culture was negative then, but now both of her ears are infected.  One of her ears was even bleeding.  She has been on an oral antibiotic and antibiotic ear drops for the past week.  We saw the ENT again yesterday and her infection is 90% cleared.  We asked the ENT to check Haley's ears since she has been really fussy lately and tugging at her ear.  Well come to find out Haley also has an ear infection.  She was started on an antibiotic yesterday.  Also Haley will be getting her tonsils removed.  It has been a long battle with the ENT to allow them to be taken out.  Her tonsils are big and I feel they are causing problems with her swallowing when she eats.  She tends to gag and throw up easily when she has a cold.  So the doctor agreed to take them out.  She is scheduled to have them removed on February 24.  I really hope that by removing the tonsils that she will do better with her eating/swallowing.  I really don't like this time of the year when colds, ear infections and sickness is more prevalent.  Kayla has even gotten her first cold, but thank goodness it's very mild and she doesn't seem bothered by it at all.  She is a strong little girl.  Other than all the illnesses the girls are doing well.  Life just continues in the Stansel household. 

Amongst the craziness of the past week, Thomas and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on January 12.  We didn't get to go out and have dinner together, but Thomas did bring dinner and flowers home for me.  He is a very thoughtful husband and I appreciate all that he did for our anniversary.  We hope to go out for dinner next week when my parents come to visit.  They will watch the girls for us.  Thanks mom and dad!

Haley wearing daddy's shirt

Rachel

Haley

Rachel

Kayla

Wide eyed Kayla

 

Kayla is 1 month old!

I can't believe how time flies and that my littlest girl is 1 month old already.  Kayla is growing.  She now weighs 8 lbs, 11 oz.  She eats 2-2 1/2 oz of breastmilk every 2-3 hours.  She loves to be held and cuddled.  We are getting to experience all the newborn stage has to offer.  It has been exhausting, but we are so grateful to have Kayla.  She is a a sweet little girl.

Big yawn

Sleepy Girl

Rachel is walking!!!

Rachel is walking!!!  Rachel started taking some steps by herself mid December, but not too long ago she started taking many steps by herself.  She still falls, but is gaining confidence with her walking everyday.  It has taken her a while and it has been a challenge to get her to walking, but I'm so proud of her for doing it.  Rachel is full of determination and persistence and that has gotten her to where she is now.  Way to go Rachel!

Here is a video of her walking:

Kayla's Newborn Photos

As I had mentioned before, I love photography and enjoy taking pictures.  I especially love those cute newborn pictures photographers take.  I would have liked to have had a professional photographer take Kayla's pictures, but instead I took the opportunity to have some fun and did them myself.  I wish I could have also gotten professional newborn pictures taken of Rachel and Haley, but due to their very early birth that was not possible.  So it was exciting to have the opportunity to take these newborn pictures of Kayla.  These pictures were taken when Kayla was 12 days old.  She slept the whole time.

Christmas 2011

This Christmas has definitely been different.  Different in that we didn't put up the big Christmas tree or get out all the Christmas decorations and we didn't travel to Austin to be with our families.  I also didn't get out Christmas cards.  This year was much more simplified.  This year we only put up our little Christmas tree and only got out some of the Christmas decorations.  We stayed home for Christmas this year and celebrated together as a family.  Life has been busy in our house this Christmas because of our newest blessing and gift - Kayla.  She is definitely a miracle, a blessing and a gift to our family.  We are so grateful to have spent Christmas together with her as a family.  Rachel and Haley also bring joy to our family with their active personalities and continual progress and development.  They are learning and doing new things everyday.  They don't quite understand Christmas yet, but they enjoyed the gifts they received or better yet the paper, bows and boxes. As I stop and look back over the past year we all have been truly blessed this year.  I am so grateful for our precious little girls. Haley, Rachel, and Kayla have brought so much happiness and peace into our lives. We love and cherish them so very much. Each one of them have a distinct personality that just brightens our home. Words do not describe how blessed Thomas and I have been. We also at this time of year stop and contemplate on the greatest man to ever live even Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer. It is because of his selfless life that we have the blessings we have. It is because of Him that we all can one day inherit eternal life. This is the day that we celebrate the one person who came to this earth and payed a price we can not fully comprehend. I owe everything to him, for all that he has done and continues to do for me and my family. God be thanked for the greatest gift given to man, the gift of His holy Son even Jesus Christ.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Our little Christmas Tree

I love my Willow Tree Nativity set

Haley

Rachel

Haley and Rachel

Haley and Rachel

Haley, me and Rachel

Haley and Rachel

Me and all my girls

Daddy with Rachel and Haley

Our Christmas family picture