I Love My Family

We spent this last weekend with our family. Dave had a bad week so we just wanted to get away from everything and be around the ones we love the most and be surrounded by people who love us. I have to say despite the couch and floor it was very relaxing. The first night neither of us slept. Autumn slept from 10:30 to 6:00 without a peep the whole night! I was impressed. Then she napped from 7:30 to 11! Woo Hoo! That day was pretty crazy though. She wanted nothing to do with anyone but Dave or myself. Sunday night (the 2nd night) she slept from 10 to 6 again without a peep. WOW!!! Monday was great! We slept decent Sunday night so we were more rested. Autumn was an absolute joy to be around. Grandma had to work so she missed most of it but Poppa (Grandpa) really got to enjoy her company. I know that Grandparents love their grandbabies but I'm telling you, I have never seen anyone light up the way they do around her. Our family (both sides) have had some very hard times the last few years and though it seems as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel, when she is around you would never know it. All the troubles in the world seem to disappear. I know they do for Dave and I every time we see that beautiful smile and hear that adorable laugh. I never realized what she meant to this family until this last weekend. The sparkle has been there since day one, but seeing everyone with her this past weekend and being around them for the entire weekend I finally realize that she is exactly what this family has needed. She is the light at the end of the tunnel. I can not tell you how nice it was to be around the family this weekend. We might all be crazy at times and don't always get along, but when it counts, when it really matters and when we really need it, we are all there for eachother. I am proud to call them my family and I couldn't wish for a better group of people to raise my daughter with. She is so loved and adored by everyone in her life. When you see them with her and the way they look at her...... there is no doubt..... she is their angel as well as ours... a miracle from God and a true blessing...... We love you!!!!!

5 Months Old

Autumn is 5 months old today! She is so cute! I swear she gets cuter every single day. More demanding too. But you know something? All the bad days seem to disappear everytime I see that beautiful smile and that sparkle in her eyes. She is so smart and funny too. She learns new things everyday and she has the cutes personality. She gets so excited about things like me talking to her or her reflection or absolutely nothing. It is so cute too. She starts laughing and giggling and her arms fly around and her legs kick. It is so damn cute. I never thought I would be able to have any more kids so when I found out I was pregnant with her it was a miracle! And through the all the crying, sleepless nights, personal frustrations and emotional meltdowns, she is PERFECT!!! I can't believe she has been with us for 5 months already. Amazing.......

Firsts

We picked her up from Aunt Chelsie's yesterday. She had a great time! She went shopping with Chelsie, Chari and Grandma. They spoiled her rotten! I have to say though, it was a miserable weekend for us. We should have revelled in the freedom of not having her here but instead we counted the seconds until it was time to pick her up. We are pathetic! hahaha!

Today Autumn finally ate from a spoon. We've been trying this out for about a month now. Finally she got it down. She ate cereal from a spoon and bottles for breakfast and lunch. She only wanted her bottle for dinner though. She looked so cute! She kept grabbing my hand and pulling it to her face. She had cereal and peaches from her nose down!! She makes me laugh! She was laughing all day today. She is so freakin' cute. I love her so much!!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

This is Autumn's first Halloween! She looked so cute in the tigger costume daddy picked out for her. We had fun too. We went to our friend Paul's and had a barbecue (steak and potatoes). We took a few pics of Autumn and Jacob (Paul's son). Jacob is 10 months old and super cute. The other day he came over and Paul was holding both of them on his lap. Jacob smacked her in the face with his eraser and she started screaming. He felt bad and then he started crying. It was pretty cute. I hope they will become good friends.

She is also having her first sleep over. She is with her Aunt Chelsie tonite. Though the break and rest will be nice, I miss her so much. 5 minutes after she left I wanted to call Chelsie and tell her to bring my baby back. I am so pathetic! Dave and I both cried. I miss her so much! This sucks! I can't wait until tomorrow when we go pick her up. I am absolutely lost without her.....

Brandon's Birthday

Today my son Brandon's 17th birthday!! I can't believe it. I know by the sound of his voice and the way he talks that he is 17.... But damn! He is so awesome, intelligent and funny. He has his dad's scense of humor that's for sure! I sure do miss him! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRANDON!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Monthly Weight Check

Today was another monthly weight check for Autumn. See, she was born weighing 6 lbs. 1 oz. and though she is growing at a normal rate in height she had only gained 2 pounds up to her 2 month check up. Her doc had us change her formula mixture to give her more calories. By her 4 month check up she still only weighed 10 lbs. 10 oz. Still only 1 lb. a month average gain. So her doc had us start putting cereal in her bottles with Karo syrup. That was 2 weeks ago. She had a weight check today and has gained almost a full pound in just 2 weeks! I am so happy! If her weight doesn't start to pick up to normal we have to see a specialist to see if there is a problem somewhere like burning more calories than she can consume or more serious underlying conditions. So needless to say.....we are very happy!!! She now weighs 11 lbs. 8 oz. Woo Hoo!!!

The Blessing

Well yesterday Autumn had her blessing. Not your normal kind of blessing mind you. It wasn't all churchy and stuff. It was mostly just for us. We don't want to force religion on her especially since Dave and I are against organized religion. We feel you shouldn't have to pay to have faith. We are strong believers in God but feel that she, when old enough to understand, and after she has researched all of her options, should make that decision for herself. It is not for us to decide what she should or should not believe. She is being raised by parents who are believers but have respect for who and what she is and respect her beliefs as well. We can raise her, guide her, teach her, and love her, but who she is as person and who she wants to be as an adult should ultimately be her decision. If we do everything right then hopefully she will grow up to be a good, honest, responsible, careing, loving, respectable, loyal, forthright, respectful woman. It is our job to teach her right from wrong and instill strength to have the ability to use and rely on her own judgement and help her come into her own. She is an amazing little creature and I think she will grow to be an amazing woman.
She was surrounded by family and some of our closest friends. Brett our very good friend did the blessing for us. It was beautiful! We had a great day and everyone enjoyed seeing her and supporting her. She is so loved by so many people, it is amazing. I wish everyone could have been there but unfortunatley we didn't have room. She did very well although I had to bounce her to keep her happy in between pics and during the blessing, but she did so good. She is our greatest blessing and our miracle. We love her!