Adli Olivia Mae

I wanted to post some pictures of Adli over the last 4 1/2 years so that we can see how much she has grown.  It is hard to believe that it has been that long since she was born at 3 pounds 8 ounces and 17 1/4 inches long, with dark hair.  I can remember telling Scott that if she is born with dark hair that we had to include Olivia as one of her middle names.  Also, Mae is a family middle name so it was clear that she would have 2 middle names.  Adli's great great grandma, great grandma, grandma, mother, and cousin Quincy all have the middle name of Mae, so there was no chance that Adli was going to miss out on that family name.  I had to wait 5 days before I could hold Adli, she was born on Tuesday, March 11th, at 14:14 military time, 2:14 PM, and I was not able to hold her until Sunday, March 16th.  I can remember that Grandma Thelma, Uncle Walt and Aunt Sharon came that day to visit Adli in the NICU and I was so excited to hold her and they could see her too.  It was 6 weeks before anyone besides myself could hold Adli, she was only to be held for an hour and a half each day and they wanted Adli and I to have "kangaroo" time, which is skin to skin holding.  It would help my milk production and also let Adli hear my heart beat and smell me.  Actually, the nurses gave me a red and white piece of cloth in the shape of a heart to put inside my shirt and wear for a few hours, then they would place it under Adli's face so that she could smell me.  I thought it was a wonderful idea because it was so hard for me to go home at night without her.  You can see the heart under head in this picture.

Adli at 3 days old

After 50 days we were finally able to bring our baby home!

Jake and Faith hanging out with Adli during tummy time.

Adli almost 4 months old.

Adli's first Halloween, she was a lady bug!  Look how blue her eyes are!

Adli's favorite food was sweet potatoes...notice her nose actually turned orange...and it didn't wash off!  This was Adli's first winter, so she was around 9 months old.

Ready to go on a walk!  Adli was a year and half old.

I love those cheeks and eyes!  18 months

Adli's 2nd Halloween as a chicken!

I can recognize those tail feathers anywhere!  Adli and Resa were both chickens for Halloween.

Adli loves necklaces!  Almost 2 here.

Adli kissing Resa!

Skipping ahead almost 3 years...and another kiss!

Adli loves to get her hair straightened!  I guess I can see what she will look like as a teenager!

Louie, Louie, Louie!

Have I mentioned how wonderful Louie is doing on his crate training?  I could not have asked for a better puppy...and he is darn cute too!  The girls and I went shopping this weekend to buy Louie some new toys...yes, he had some toys but not nearly enough!  Adli really wanted to buy him a blue rubber chicken that made SSSOOO much noise, I had to ask her to pick a new toy so she settled on a cow with a squeaker in it.  Resa picked out a jack with squeakers in 2 of the points.  And, I picked out a blue ball that bounces.  All the new toys are a hit!  Louie has been playing a lot with them...the cow is already missing it's tail!  The girls are doing a great job helping me take care of Louie!

Louie unloading the dishwasher with Daddy!  He loves to sit up there so he can see!

Louie taking a break while Daddy cooks.

I love this face!

Resa in her jammies giving Louie a goodnight kiss!

Goin' Swimmin'

This summer it has been HOT!  We have had numerous days over 100 degrees, therefore making it the hotest summer on record!  The girls and I make it a point to go to the swimming pool every weekend.  Adli is having a blast going down the kid slide, hanging out in the lazy river and jumping in to the deep end.  Resa enjoys putting her head under water, going down the slide and jumping in to the deep end then swimming to the ladder.  Ok, she doesn't swim on her own, but she thinks she is.  Last weekend I went and bought the girls "puddle jumpers", they are a flotation device that goes on their arms and then around their chest.  It will help the girls float more on their own, pictures to come.

Adli in the fountains.

Resa ready to swim.

In the small mushroom fountain.

Adli goes to the Zoo!

Adli went the Zoo for her preschool field trip on July 17th.  I was unable to go with her, so Papa Wayne filled in!  Adli and her best friend Ahana, were in Papa Wayne's group to chaperone.  It was a HOT day, over 100 degrees, but fun was had by all!  Adli's favorite animals were the monkeys, or the kangeroos, or the sea lion...she couldn't decide. 

Papa Wayne, Adli and Ahana on the bus ride home

Thanks for going with Adli, Papa Wayne!

Althof Willie Mays...Louie

Welcome to the family Louie!  The girls and I went to Wellman, Iowa (near Iowa City) yesterday to pick up Louie.  Louie was raised by Althof Cavaliers, and his registered name is Althof Willie Mays (after the baseball legend).  The girls decided to name him Louie, and they got that name from Jerry and Karen Glenn's (daycare owners) new puppy that is named Louie.  He was born May 3rd, so he is about 10 weeks old, and he is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  The girls are very protective of him, and make sure he has water and food as well as plenty of toys! 

We have started crate training Louie, and so far so good!  We are keeping our fingers crossed!  He slept all night in his new "house" crate last night and woke me up about 5:30 this morning when he heard my alarm go off.  So far, he is sleeping better than Resa does! :)

Daddy is smitten with Louie too!  And I am sure Louie will quickly learn that Daddy does all the cooking, so he will want to stick close to him!

Resa Mae...

Resa...she is very determined!  Resa loves to watch Daddy cook or Pappa Wayne fix her broken wagon, she is trying to figure out how they are doing things so she can try it herself as soon as they turn their backs!  I will say that when she does her Strengths Finder when she grows up I would guess that her #1 strength will be EMPATHY!  She is very empathetic to anyone who is hurt or sad, if Adli is sad she pats her back and says, "Sissy don't cry, I wipe your tears".  And if Adli gets sent to her room for a time out, Resa will always sit with her...even if Adli is in trouble for doing something to Resa!  Resa hates to see her Sissy sad!  When one cries...they both cry! 

Resa is a very loving child, gives kisses, hugs and says, "I love you too"!  At her 3 year Well Baby Check up she was 34 pounds and 38 inches tall and doing very well reaching milestones (i.e. climbing, counting, knowing her ABC's).

At daycare, Resa is now in the "Sophmore 3" room, they move up every August to the next room level.  In August she will be going to the "Junior 2" room with Jessie and Bobbikae, and there she will start more of a "preschool" routine, learning her address, phone number, months of the year, and much more!  Yesterday, Resa went on her field trip to the zoo!  She loves riding the bus!

Also, Resa does NOT like to miss out on anything!  Therefore, she hates to go to sleep before I do.  Every night it is the same speech, "Resa, you are a big girl, stay in your room and don't get out of bed.  I will see you in the morning".  Resa responds with, "I am getting out of bed!"  I have to promise I will check on her every 10 minutes.  And here is a picture of what I usually find when I check on her before I go to sleep...

Yes, she is sleeping in the door way to her room, so technically in her mind she hasn't left her room!

I love this little peanut to the moon and back!

Hala Mae

Many of you have met our family dog, Hala Mae.  She was diagnosed in September, 2011 with Melanoma cancer and was given 5 months to live.  We gave Hala a lot of extra attention and made sure she was given some extra pieces of steak every now and then.  On July 5th, I had to make the horrible decision to put Hala to sleep.  When the girls got home that night I didn't mention anything, as I knew I would start crying.  So, about 7:00 Resa came to me and asked where Hala was and I let her know that she had gotten sick and I had taken her to Dr. Craig's office.  I explained that Hala was in Heaven now, with God.  With a confused look on her face Resa asks, "Did God pick her up?" "Did He take her blankets too?" "I am going to the basement to look for her!"  I had to explain that Hala wasn't in the basement any more. 

The next morning when I took the girls to daycare Adli told her teacher, "God took Hala to have surgery and when He brings her back she won't have any more cancer!"  Adli was so happy that Hala wouldn't be sick any more.  Over the weekend the girls have asked several times when Hala will be home from the groomer's, so I try to explain that Hala is with God now. 

We all loved Hala to the moon and back!  She will always have a special place in our hearts.

Getting Started...

Well, here we go!  My great friend Stacy, who is the mother of 3 little boys, has been blogging for a while now and I decided it was time I start!  Hopefully everyone will be able to keep up on what the girls are up to.

Resa Mae - 3 years



Adli Olivia Mae - 4 years





Mommy and her girls