Happy Anniversary!

Five years ago today, I married my best friend during a fair tale wedding in the Hill Country of Boerne, Texas.

And though it hasn't always been easy, I wouldn't choose any other path.

Happy Anniversary, Dave!!!

(and thanks, Mom, for keeping Abby!)

All about Livi

Olivia, you are one month old! You have been such a wonderful addition to our family-- I can't remember what life was like before you joined us. But maybe that's the sleep deprivation.

Last time we weighed you, you were 10 pounds 13 oz. I bet you're easily almost 12 pounds now. You wear size 1 diapers and are rapidly outgrowing your newborn clothes and usually wear 0-3 months.

If I'm lucky, you sleep 4 hours at a time, although usually you eat every 3 hours like clockwork. You love to be held, and I think you would let someone hold you 24 hours a day if we would! I love that you're having longer and longer periods of being awake now.

You hate having your diaper changed but you're learning to like your baths.

Love you, beautiful baby girl. So glad you're here with us!

Ever had this kind of Day??

Yeah, us neither.

Wedding Weekend

Last weekend our family made the trip to Gainesville, TX to celebrate and take part in the wedding of my college roommate Tori. Their wedding was on a beautiful ranch, and the weather was perfect.

Abby thought the ranch was pretty cool. We spent time looking at the cows (who 'have long tails') and the horses, but the thing she loved the most was ACORNS. She collected them and stuffed them in her pockets all weekend. She was a somewhat reluctant flower girl, and the "official" pictures may not be all that great. But I was able to snap these out in front of the church before the ceremony.

Her cheesy grin

Checking out the bride as she walked to the chapel

Deep in thought

My favorite one.....

Another favorite.....

We tried to get a new family picture with all 4 of us, since the only one we have is from the day after Livi was born in the hospital. However, it proved a little challenging with a 3 week old and an unhappy 2.5 year old. We have several that look like this.....
But finally settled on this, the best of the bunch.

Livi was all dressed up for the wedding too.

And finally, the bride and groom, and the most beauitful flower girl!

Potty Reading

A little light reading for the potty. Any guesses as to what she's reading??

"The Womanly Art of Breast Feeding"

Sisterly Love

Abby has done amazing with Livi. She comes up to her at least 2-3 times per day and tells her how beautiful she is. She makes sure to bless her when she coughs or sneezes. She wants to be nearby when she gets her diaper changed or takes a bath.

And yes, sometimes she licks her. In case you were wondering, "she tastes good."

Making sure she sounds okay, Abby style

Welcoming her home


Sister "nap" on the couch with matching binkies

Checking out her mouth- Abby's inspected all her parts

Overall, it's been a great 3 weeks. I struggled the first week or so with balancing the needs of both my girls. Actually, I still struggle with it, and probably always will, but it was a rough beginning, compounded by hormones. However, instead of now feeling like I ruined Abby's life because I brought Livi home, I realize (I hope) that I've given her a best friend for life. Someone to tell her late night secrets to, share about her first crush and first kiss, a maid of honor for her wedding. A pair who can take care of each other when Dave and I are gone. And I know they're going to fight and get into each other's stuff and NOT like each other sometimes, but when all that falls away, what I'm hoping is for a lifetime of deep friendship and love. And so far, they're off to a great start.

First Days

Shhh...they're both sleeping. So here's a few more from our first couple of days at home.

Here Livi is, all dressed up and in her car seat, ready for the ride home!

Mimi and Papa came to visit. She's not loved or anything!!

Even Abby wanted to check her out. I like this one...it kind of looks like she's blessing her!

She got a bath the next day, her first one at home. Abby wanted to help, so we sat her on the counter in the kitchen with us so she could do her part. She stayed interested until the crying started (which was almost immediately) and then she ran away!

Pretty much the entire bath went like this.....

Sister pictures coming next!

Happy Birthday, Olivia!

I've been trying to put up this post for 10 days now. I guess I've been a little busier than I had planned! Here's the story of Olivia's birthday!

Dave and I showed up at the hospital at 7am for my induction. In keeping with Abby's birth, I had another meltdown and cried in the parking lot before we walked in. When the nurse led us to our birthing room, imagine our surprise when it was the same room Abby was born in! We've renamed it the DeLeon Birthing Suite. Here's me around 7:30 am as we're starting the day.......

After 3 IV attempts, we got pitocin and antibiotics started around 8:30. My water broke around 12:30, and contractions were pretty regular, but it took forever to start dilating. At 8pm I was only 4cm. Which made Dave and Dr. Brown happy, because then they didn't have to miss Monday Night Football (priorities, people!). At 10pm, I told Dave to get the nurse because my epidural wasn't working any more and I was really hurting with every contraction. The nurse decided to check me before calling the anesthesiologist, and I was a 10-- the pain was Olivia ready to be born!! They called Dr. Brown in, and he and Dave watched the final minutes of the game while the nurses were setting up. I was seriously concerned the game was going to go into overtime and I was never going to be able to have this baby, but luckily the Saints kicked a last minute field goal and I got to start pushing. Three contractions and 9 pushes later, she was here!!

Olivia Ann was born at 11:03pm on 9/20. She shares her birthday with my nephew, Michael. By the way...this was my nurse when she was finally born. The 4th one I'd had that day. Way to take your time, child!!

8 pounds, 6 ounces, and 21 inches long. A full 2 pounds bigger and 2 inches longer than Abby!! It's amazing what 2 extra weeks of growing will get you!!

Abby had been a trooper all day, but finally Dad took her home around 9, so this new family picture isn't quite complete.

Although, to be entirely fair, Dad let Abby stay up until 1am...she was still up when Mom got home after Olivia was born. Such a pushover, that Papa.

The doting grandmothers, who stuck it out all day......

And finally, later that night, after her first bath. The nurses fancied her hair up into a beautiful little mohawk!

It has been an incredibly crazy, busy, and overwhelming 12 days. But I love our family of four. More pictures coming soon...or whenever I can get both kids to nap at the same time.