5 months later...

So I have neglected the blog world!  I am sorry!!  Between working, BUSY season at work, Allie, Nick, Drew's wedding, holidays...jammed packed with activities!  We have two more hectic weekends in front of us and then we are ready for 7 full weeks in Lincoln just the three of us where we will finally get some quality bonding time.  We have a swim class lined up with Allie on Saturdays and also will be hitting up a story hour.

Being a working mom is a lot harder than I ever imagined.  So many (every) day I wish I could stay home with Allie and know her every move, instead I am the career woman.  Luckily, I am advancing nicely in work and getting lots of "fun" (in an Accountant's world "fun") opportunities to grow.  They have me sit in on all the planning meeting for the company and in February flying me out to San Diego to learn more about Financial Forecasting.  Exciting, right?!

Nick is plugging away at classes and getting his good grades!  He is diligently working so he graduates on time!

So here is the little person you really want to hear about!  ALLIE :)  She is our happy/smiley baby!  She seems to always be in a good mood with lots of smiles.  She loves to sing songs, roll around, sit up, grab at toys.  She is advancing right with the charts, not to early and not to late.  So, you think we have it easy?  Don't be fooled, she is a little challenge...due to the fact she does not like to nap!  Yes, so we have a baby who is on the go from 7am to 8pm with about a 1.5-2hr of naps (2 hours a day is an extremely good day!).  And her naps are cat naps, 30 min here, 15 min here, etc.  So Nick and I are always exhausted by 8pm at night!  Our doctor said the lucky parents get babies who like to nap.  Guess we are not lucky in that department.  Other than the napping situation she is our little angel!  Can't remember what life was like before her!

Below is a our trip to Orlando back in October!  We had such a good time, we are heading back in March, but this time just Nick, Allie, and I with a tour guide named Leigh.

2 Months, 2 Wonderful!

Parenthood, nothing we thought it would be.  CHALLENGING but REWARDING.  Our little Allie has completely changed our lives. 

We brought her home and had absolutely no idea what to do with her.  There was no instruction manual specifically for Allie Nicole.  I wish there was :)

So we have pick up a few tips along the way:

Parenthood, Day 5:  Allie made a little sound from the backside, so I being the great mom went back to the bedroom to change her diaper.  All of sudden, I scream "Nick!"  Nick thought I had dropped Allie...  No.  Instead I was covered with Allie's poop!!  Yes, I went to open up the diaper and projectile poop came out and was all over the pack and play, my clothes, and onto the carpet.  It was WWIII and Allie had won.  Changing a simple 6 lb 15 oz baby's diaper took 2 grown adults one hour.  Welcome to parenthood!

Take away tip 1:  Allie is a 3 striker, if you hear a noise, give it a minute or two, because there will be two more noises until that diaper should be open, bc otherwise you could be looking at an hour ordeal!

Parenthood, Sleeping

Sleep is a wonderful thing.  Sleeping baby = sleeping parents = happy parents = happy baby

Allie has blessed us in week 8 to sleep through the night.  Meaning we have gotten 6 to 9 hour stretches of straight sleep during the night.  Yes, bedtime is 9:30 and Mom/Dad don't "need" to wake up until 4:30ish.  Does that happen?  No, being the 1st time parents we wake up to listening to the baby monitor or go to her room checking to make sure she is still breathing.

Take away tip #2:  Don't be a worry wart, she is swaddle, sleeping, Brooke/Nick SLEEP :)

Parenthood, Me time

Sometimes being a parent is tough work and we just need a break, so parents are a wonderful asset!  Nick and I have been blessed with 3 nights out:  Kenny Chesney/Zac Brown Concert, Royal's game, Amanda/John's wedding.  Thanks to our wonderful parents!

Tip #3:  Take your parents up on their offer to watch your child, you can say no, but don't be afriad to say yes!

Parenthood, Girly Girl

I am trying my hardest to make Allie into the girly girl, but she wants to be a little tomboy like Leigh Bee.  Every time I place a bow on her head she screams and starts pushing it off...it is a challenge!  I think I need to come to terms with her being a Volleyball player and not a Cheerleader :)

Tip #4, persistence, yes, I will fight through and get her to love those bows!

Parenthood, growing like a beanstalk

This might be a shocker, but our daughter is on track to be tall...gasp!  Yes, having a 6'6" dad will give you the gene of height!  She has grown 4" in 2 months...on average, you grow 1/2" to 1" in a month.  Our little over achiever.

Tip #5, buy a size bigger, 6 month = 9 month clothing!

Our Family of 3!

Stay tune for tips on Allie Nicole, again, these tips are in her instruction manual :)

My Favorite pics of our Allie Gator!

Veggies are here!!

Our garden is starting to produce...I think someone will be making enchiladas tonight!

A True Connection

Tonight was the night I felt a true connection with my beautiful daughter, Allie.  From day one I knew I loved Allie, but for the past three weeks with the struggles of breast-feeding I got caught up in being a "sleep deprived milk cow."  Yes, breast-feeding is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in life.

Today was probably the hardest day, Nick was out of town for work (the 1st day Nick traveled away for work...go figure!), Allie could not get enough food from me, and to top it off Allie got an eye infection.  So here I was no husband, sleep deprived, crying baby, and rushing to Walgreen's by myself in 105 degree weather for the eye medicine.  Wow!  Welcome to parenthood. 

Once I got home from Walgreen's, change diaper, feeding, and placing the ointment in Allie's eye, there I was, holding this sweet baby girl who finally was satisfied and peacefully sleeping.  I started crying, bc after a long day, it was all worth it to see Allie content.  I realized how much I truly love my daughter and am so blessed to have her in my life.  She then of course cracked a huge smile (probably gas), but I am going with her telling me "Mom, you did good today!" 

Parenthood is not what I expected, it is much more, so much more rewarding then anything I ever had experience in my life.  A life changer, but one I am so glad Nick and I made together.

Allie Nicole

Our lives have changed because of this little bundle!

A pic of my two favorite people!!!

If you don't own land...rent it!

Nick and I made a "huge" investment this year or renting a plot of land for gardening.  It is costing us a big $25 for the year.  We thought if we come out with some home grown veggies and an activity for the two (soon to be three) of us to do together this summer, we will be successful!

The start of our gardening:  we are going with 8 tomato plants, 2 cucumber plants, 8 bell pepper plants, and 4 jalapeno pepper plants.  If you are in the Lincoln/Omaha area we might hook you up, hoping we have a good harvest :)

This is probably the most "farming" I will ever do in my life.  Nick on the other hand has big plans for us to own farm ground and go bigger.  Sometimes, I am amazed that I could be/am a farmer's wife...  I still think they need to create a FFA association for woman who marry into agriculture, maybe this is something I should start up?!?

My Farmer...

The Waiting Game…

I am 38.5 weeks.  2 weeks ago, the doctor says be ready, this baby is coming early!  Yea!!!  Bags are packed ready to go.  Wait, the bags are still pack and I am still pregnant.  UGH!  I am sorry Doctor Tomjack, but don’t tell me that!  Nick/I have to look at those hospital bags every night and wonder if we are going to use them.  No, they are going to remain there for another 1.5 weeks or even worse…longer!  Coming into work everyday with people saying “You are here still?”  So frustrating.  Also, I love Facebook, but if I see one more Facebook friend announce their little bundle has come, I am going to go crazy!!

My older co-worker (grandparent age) has asked me if I have been spending enough time in the bedroom to natural induced the labor.  First, awkward!  Second, yes, I have read numerous articles on how to naturally induce labor, gone on numerous walks, eat spicy food, and even spent time in the bedroom…  I think this little bug is just trying to push my buttons early.

Well here to the LONGEST couple of weeks in front of me!!!