Life as a Mom...Awww

So today is a typical Monday. Annalyn has been sleeping through the night again the last two days - we're hoping that will continue. She went to bed last night at about 10:30pm and woke up to eat at 6:00am!! Yeah! So I fed her for about 40 minutes and then it was into the stroller and off on a walk. I'm finally cleared by my doctor to exercise again, but I have to "start slow." I can't wait to get a running stroller and start some "real" exercise, but the walks have been nice and the weather is really nice here at 7:00am. After 7:30 or so it starts to get really warm though.

Anyway, Annalyn loves her stroller and just being outside! We got home and she played on her tummy for about 15 minutes and then went back to sleep for a couple hours. I tried to prepare my sunday school lesson for next week, but was only reading about 10 minutes and I fell asleep on the couch. Go figure - I'm getting a full night's sleep and I still end up taking a nap on the couch at 9:00am! Well, the nap was nice anyway, even if I woke up feeling lazy. Annalyn got up to eat shortly thereafter and then came to hang out with mom while I got ready for the day. She sits in her swing and watches while I sing and do my hair. Then we had more tummy time and played (meaning I gooed and made funny faces while she smiled some and just looked off in different directions because "mom's being wierd again ;-)

Now's she's back asleep so I'm taking advantage of the time to update our blog again and organize pictures. Being on the computer is really hard when she's awake. I'm not sure why, but she won't let me hold her and sit at the computer at the same time. Maybe she doesn't like the sound of the keys while I'm typing - or, more likely - she just doesn't like having my attention diverted from her. Whatever the case, computer time is reserved for nap time. She's starting to make her "waking-up" noises though so I don't have long.

I love being a mom!

Life's wonderful! Here are some more pics of our little princess!

I think this is my favorite picture of Annalyn so far! I caught her smiling (which she does all the time) I just finally had the camera at the right moment! So cute!

Trav's new pasttime!

Mom and Daughter! Relaxin' on the couch.

This is my favorite pic of her cubby legs! She's gained over 3 pounds since she was born!

Hanging out with mom and dad on the bed! Life is so hard ;-)

"Ready to go to church mom"

This is how she sleeps almost all the time - love the chubby
legs and the arms above her head!

My mother's day gift from Trav! Do you like the bow on top?

Trav says it's artwork (or just a scrap of wrapping paper). He bought me a kitchen radio/CD player to mount under the kitchen cabinets. I can plug my i-pod into it even! Love it!

Daddy-Daughter date again - just sleepin' (both arms up, it's the way we like it).

Annalyn's Blessing and Baby Pics

Annalyn Sherise Oldham's Blessing Day!

Annalyn was blessed on the 3rd of May. She was blessed by her father - what a special day! We were so grateful to have family and friends travel to share this with us.

Here are some pictures!

Here are some pics we took of Annalyn when she was just a few weeks old. Trav was the photographer - she slept through it, but we had a lot of fun! It was Easter Sunday in case you're wondering about the little bunny basket next to her in the one picture.

Annalyn - The Smile Queen!

Here are a few videos to enjoy. They were taken this morning. Annalyn is almost 6 weeks old! She rolled over yesterday morning for the first time! I guess that was her mother's day present to her mom :-) It was so exciting! She's growing so quickly - time feels like it's slipping through my fingers! May I just say, we live far enough away that I am so grateful for internet and video technology that allows you all to share in such special moments as these.

We love you all!

P.S. The videos that say "smile for grandma" are for Grandma O. and Grandma Rawson - Annalyn loves you!

Scatterbrained New Mom!! Wait a minute...

Okay, so call me scatterbrained or whatever you'd like, but I just realized that I posted a whole bunch of the same pictures I had already posted previously. I have tons of new ones and wasted time posting old pictures.

I'm really not sure what expanation I have for this craziness...I'm a new mom what can I say. I could look at these pics over and over and over again. Maybe, just maybe, subconsciously I'm trying to make everyone else look at them over and over again too so they'll tell me what a cute baby I have ;-) Anyway, I'm not totally nuts yet, don't worry. And soon I'll post the NEW pictures that I have so you don't have to look at all the same ones over and over again!

Crazy Sherise!

Our Sweet Little Family (but mostly just Annalyn)

So - Amazingly enough - more than a month has passed us by and I'm left wondering where the time has gone. It seems like only a few days ago I felt like my pregnancy would never end and now our little girl is 5 weeks old.

Annalyn is such a joy! I know she is SOOOO CUTE!! But on top of that she has been such a good easy baby for her "first-time, new-at-this-whole-baby-thing" parents. Starting at 2 weeks she would eat once every four hours. That means I was only getting up with her once during the night!! She loves nursing and sleeping. She enjoys tummy time each day and is getting so strong! She can pretty easily hold her head up now and can roll almost completely onto her side. I mentioned that she loves nursing - well the proof is that she is growing at an alarming rate. I thought I'd have my little newborn for a couple months. Boy was I wrong! She's already gained 3 pounds and 4 inches! The 3 month clothes that I put aside for "later" yeah, she's already starting to wear them! I mentioned how good she is to her mommy. Well, further proof, she hardly ever spits up! She usually burps once after each feeding and then is happy as a clam!

Starting on the 29th of April she decided to sleep through the night! About 10pm to 6am! Here's my favorite part - she will go to sleep on her own! All we do is read scriptures, say prayers, wrap her in a waffle blanket, give her a binkie, and lay her in the crib. She lays there until she falls asleep! Wow!! (I guess sometimes she cries because she spits her binkie out and can't get it back in by herself. In those cases I have to go back to her bedroom once or twice before she actually falls asleep, but hey - I'm not complaining!)

She loves time with her daddy when he gets home each night. She's figuring out how to smile back to us when we're playing with her. Her beautiful dark blue eyes can follow us around and stare at whatever she wishes - usually she stares out the windows of the living room or at the lights in the ceiling fan. She loves LIGHT (maybe it reminds her of where she came from only one month ago)! She's starting to enjoy her baths now (which makes it way easier to give her one!) and she LOVES being outside! When she is upset a short walk out in the wind and sunshine always calms her down. She loves walking with mommy a block down the road to get the mail! She enjoys being in her front pack and snuggling with mom while she does dishes or makes dinner. (I like it because I have my hands free to work, but I'm still holding her close). Obviously life is wonderful!

Thanks to all the family who have traveled to come see us and meet Annalyn. My mother came for a week after Annalyn was born - what a LIFESAVER! My cousin Amanda flew in from Oklahoma City and spent a long weekend with us. She was such a help and it was soooo good to see her and spend some time together. My brother Jed drove several hundred miles out of his way to spend a couple days with us. He was on his way from Idaho to Florida for summer work, but stopped in Katy, TX to see his new niece! She formed a special bond with her Uncle Jed! Then a bunch of family came for her blessing last weekend, but that's the next post. First here are some pics from her first month on earth! Enjoy!

Center of Attention!

Family Picture April 19, 2009 - 2 1/2 weeks old

Her Favorite Uncle Jed!
Picture with Aunt Amanda (technically not her "Aunt" but who cares about technicality)
Beautiful Bright Eyes!

Taking a nap - we do that a lot these days!

Daddy's new favorite past time!
Family Scripture Study - she's so precious!

Tummy Time! Working those muscles!

During her nap one afternoon (1 week old) she pulled her headband down over her eyes ;-) How funny! We all laughed and had to take a picture!

Little Baby Burrito!

Daddy and me with our gloves on - but I'm ticked off cuz my binkie fell out!

Awwww - that's better! (Love the pink 3 month pants - way too big! We had to roll the waistband up for her to wear them!)

Our precious baby girl - one month old!

Miss Annalyn - 1 Month Old

Miss Annalyn Oldham

1 Month Old

11 Pounds - 90th percentile

23 Inches Long - 95th percentile

We've got one perfectly healthy, amazingly happy baby!

We are so blessed!

It's a Girl!

Hello Everyone!! We'd like to introduce to Y'all our precious little one!

Annalyn Sherise Oldham

Born April 1, 2009

10:36pm

8lbs. 11oz.

19 1/4 inches

Though many of you have already heard our story, here is a quick overview.

My official due date was March 31st. We went into the hospital at 6:00am Wednesday April 1st. After 16 1/2 hours of labor little William was born. Let me explain - you see after 4 ultrasounds, 3 of which checked for gender, we didn't even question the fact that we were having a boy. So when our baby was born no one even checked the gender. The Doctor held "him" up for me to see and everyone said, "Hi William, welcome to the world." I heard things like, "Oh Sherise, he's perfect. What a beautiful little boy. William is a great name." The nurses took "him" over to be cleaned up.

After several minutes, a new nurse came in and began helping clean the baby up. Curiously she asked, "What are you calling this baby?" Everyone in the room said, "William." This awesome nurse looked at me and said, "Oh Honey, this isn't a William - you've got a girl."

"Very Funny," I said, "haha."

"No I'm serious."

"Sure you are - Happy April Fools Everyone!"

Then Trav's voice cut in, "Sherise, she's serious. It's really a girl."

Well, Travis wanted a girl from the beginning anyway, so I just figured he was in on the nurses joke. Since I was obviously being difficult to convince, the nurse wrapped up our 1/2 cleaned up little girl and brought her over to my bedside displaying her anatomy - Suprise - IT'S A GIRL!

I think all I said for several minutes was, "You've got to be kidding...oh my gosh...no way... really?...I can't believe it...a girl?...oh my gosh...I can't believe it..."

Okay you get the gist! I was astonished and I'm happy to say both Trav and I were elated (if not a little shell-shocked). After the initial shock I just cried. I was so happy - I was prepared for a little boy, but I wanted my little girl. Trav was the proudest dad in the world - him and his little girl! Somehow the Lord knew the desires of his heart because either those 3 ultrasounds saw something that wasn't there or someone made a little switch to give this new daddy exactly what he wanted. I looked at Trav a little later and said, "How on earth did you pull that off?"

Well, needless to say, it was the best April Fools suprise we've ever had! What a story to tell for years to come! It's been wonderful, though the first few days were difficult in the clothing and blanket department. She used a few blue things for several days until we could buy her something pink. She's been spoiled now though - thanks to everyone who's been so generous.

Well, here are some pictures from that first week. Enjoy! There's many more to come very soon. Love you all and miss you!

About 10 minutes after she was born. Our first mother/daughter picture!

Day #2 - Mom and Annalyn in the hospital

Travis - the proud new daddy!

Our first family picture! We were all very tired, but so happy!

Annalyn's first picture with those beautiful blue eyes wide open! Love the cheeks too!

First day at home! Still tired obviously ;-) Mom and Annalyn napping on the couch.

First day home - now Daddy and Annalyn are taking a nap.

Yep that's about all we did the first few days!

Just one of the 3 boxes of baby boy clothes we packed up and put in storage.

PRECIOUS!!

Family Scripture Study - she's so attentive!

My mother came for one week and was a lifesaver! I was so sad to see her go. I am loving Texas, but really miss my family. Thanks for all the help mom - it would have been so much harder without you! (And you were right - that bath felt amazing!)

Daddy and Annalyn watching the game - BONDING TIME!

Annalyn was taking a nap and somehow pulled her headband over her eyes all by herself! We laughed so hard and, of course, had to take a picture!

Our beautiful baby girl - 1 week old! (Already 9lbs.)