Happy Birthday Rylee!

Happy Birthday sweet girl! I cannot believe that you are already THREE years old! Where has the time gone?? Over the last three years you have filled our life with more joy, laughter, and love than I could have ever imagined.

You make each day so fun and always know how to brighten it with your contagious smile and infectious laughter. You are such a little sponge soaking up all the things you learn and hear. You like to repeat everything so Mommy and Daddy have to watch what we say! You have definitely entered the ‘three-nager’ stage keeping us on our toes with your drama, attitude, and always wanting to do everything on your own.

You are such a smart little girl and constantly amaze us with how quickly you learn and pick up on things. You carry on full conversations with us in complete sentences and always say the funniest things. My favorite sayings that I love to hear you say are: 'hurts big bad' - when you get a bobo, 'just junkin' - just joking, 'slow down car baby's sleepin!' - when we are walking or driving and when Rayna is asleep or awake, 'it's not workin' - when something is not working, 'I sy' - I sorry, 'that's my seeeeester' - when anyone gets near your baby sister, 'Baby Rayon Sissy' - Baby Rayna, 'stop or be nice' - what you like to tell Mommy or Daddy all the time when we get on to you, 'what's this nam?' - when you want to know someone or something's name, 'I have no idea', 'I'll be back in a second', 'Ewww...so gross!', 'delicious', 'what', 'Wow! Awesome! So cool!', 'Wait, I'll be back in a second' - always telling us this when she runs off to play, 'So heavy' - when she picks up anything (light or heavy), 'Pwetty Please!' - which is the hardest thing to say no to, 'I help you' or 'I play you' - when she wants to help or have me play with her, 'Mommy Daddy's house' - when we get turn into the neighborhood or pull up into the house she loves announcing where we are, and 'you're my best fwiend' - when you get in trouble you like to rub Mommy's face and say this which makes it hard for me to be upset with you}. You enjoy counting (1-15), working on puzzles, singing (your favorites are the abc's and twinkle twinkle little star), learning colors/shapes, naming animals and their sounds, and reading books.

You are a sassy little thing but oh so sweet. You love giving sugars & hugs and getting them in return. You are Miss Independent and very opinionated. You are one busy little girl always wanting to play, color, run, jump, swim, talk, help, swing, climb, and dance. You are very adventurous and love trying new things. You have no fears (except bugs, vacuum cleaners, and thunder).

You have such a huge heart and care so much about your family, friends, and Mali. You love to cuddle. You love holding our hands. You love to tell Mommy, Daddy, & Rayna that we are your best friends. You have taken on your new role as a big sister so incredibly well. You love your little sister very much and love to treat her like your own personal baby doll (giving her countless amounts of sugars all day long). You are full of life and have the biggest & best personality. You made me a Mommy first and for that I will be forever grateful. Happy Birthday Rylee Lynn!! You may drive us crazy but we are crazy in love with you.

Birthday Breakfast :)

Photos by Little Egg Photography

 

 

 

 

Rayna {2 months}

Happy 2 months Rayna Elyse! I cannot believe two whole months have already flown by. You are beginning to develop your own little personality and we just love the little person you are becoming. 

Measurements: At your two month check up you measured 21.25 in long (6%) and weighed 10.14 lbs (35%)! You are wearing size 1 diapers (still) and 0-3 & just some 3 month clothes. 

Sleeping: Since the end of your first month you have been sleeping (swaddled tightly) in your crib like a big girl! You prefer to sleep on your tummy. At night you have been able to sleep a lot longer which makes Mommy & Daddy very happy! You sleep anywhere between 7-10 hours at night. At 5 weeks old you slept from 8pm-4am (8 hours - your longest yet) then at 7 weeks you slept through the entire night (best present you could have given Daddy for Father's Day that morning)!! During the day you nap in your swing, in your crib, or in Mommy's arms. You usually take your long naps in the afternoon and sleep off/on in the morning for short periods of time.

Eating: You are eating about 5-6 times a day. Mommy nurses you still for each feeding but Daddy just started bottle feeding you this month (usually before bedtime and sometimes in the morning after you wake up)! During bottle feedings you started eating 3 oz. then moved up to 4 oz bottles. You get the hiccups after almost all of your feedings and when Mommy nurses you, you tend to have major blow outs during or afterwards!! Towards the end of month two you developed your two bottom teeth ALREADY! This makes it very painful for Mommy to nurse you so we have been bottle feeding you more often (breast milk). 

New Tricks/Activities/Accomplishments: You are such a strong baby! You are able to lift your head and look around very well/follow us with your eyes, you have started pushing on us with your legs, you try to stand up all the time, you have a strong grasp, you are very alert to your surroundings (love people watching and playing on your play mat), you have started giving us a LOT more smiles (so sweet), you like to blow bubbles, you also just started cooing/'talking' to us, you even rolled over this month when you were 7 weeks old (I left you on your tummy to take a nap then came back and you were on your back!), and you already have your two bottom TEETH coming in which is why you have been drooling like crazy lately!! Your Daddy and I have a very good feeling you are going to be an advance baby and do everything early!! Slow down sweet girl...you are just two months old!

Likes: You love to be swaddled, spend time outside (napping or just hanging out), car rides (as long as the car is moving), your big sister (and she LOVES you), being held, bathtime, and you have become more interested in your mobile/staring at the ceiling fan/and toys hanging on your placemat. 

Dislikes: You do NOT like when your pacifier falls out, being naked, being cold, getting into the car seat, when the car stops moving, or tummy time.

Random: 

• Made a few more trips to the pool with your sister and big cousins! You enjoy sleeping outside while they play in the water. 
• Celebrated Daddy on Father's Day with a crawfish boil and hanging out with your cousins 
• Took your first trip to the beach 
• Met your Granny & Tom Tom for the first time 
• Celebrated your first fourth of July at Granna & Pop's house! You were not a huge fan of the pool and you were able to sleep ALL night through the fireworks!

 Rylee was so excited to feed you for the first time! She's the BEST big sis!

 Cutest Little Sister

Happy baby girl <3

Big Sis loves playing with you! She likes to doctor you up and say 'All Better!' :)

First vacation to the beach!! 

Sun bathing <3

 First dip in the beach...

 First vacation as a family of four!

Love these sweet smiles! :)

 Sisters <3

American Baby  - July 4th

 Snuggles with Mommy after two months shots!

Your first teeth (bottom two)...

Rayna {1 month}

Happy 1 month to my sweet Rayna Elyse! I cannot believe a whole month has already flown by. Even though it has been a sleepless month with a lot of adjusting to now a family of four I would not have changed it for anything. You are such a good baby and have such a relaxed & serious personality. We love you so much and cannot imagine life without you.

Measurements: At your one month check up you measured 20.25 in long and weighed 9 lbs 14.5 oz! You are too long for your newborn button/zip up pajamas so you are just wearing newborn and a couple (smaller) 0-3 month gowns. You are wearing your newborn and some 0-3 month clothes and are in size 1 diapers. 

Sleeping: You are such a good little sleeper! Since you were one week old you have been sleeping (in our bedroom in a bassinet for the first week and then moved to the swing in the living room (since it is upright) sleeping about 3-4 hours at night then waking up to eat. Now, you sleep in your crib (swaddled tight) anywhere between 5-6 hours each night! You love to nap during the day...especially after feedings. Your favorite spots to sleep are in Mommy's arms, your swing, the car seat, or bassinet. During your sleep you make the sweetest faces, sleep with your little right hand next to your face, and occasionally shake one leg (like your Daddy does sometimes).

Eating: Since birth you have always been a good little eater. You nurseed about 7-8 times a day for about 10-20 minutes at the beginning of your first month and now nurse about 5-6 times a day. It does not take you long to eat and sometimes you eat too much so you spit up or projectile vomit all over Mommy or Daddy! We took you to the doctor to check on it and he said it is most likely colic or reflux (have been giving you medicine to help). 

New Tricks/Activities/Accomplishments: You like to smile and make lots of faces (especially in your sleep), follow us with your eyes, are very alert, recognize our voices, and are very strong (you can lift your head really well)!

Likes: You love to be swaddled, suck on your pacifier (most of the time), be outside, ride in the car, watch your Big Sis, bath time, watch your mobile, listen to music or any noise, be held/cuddled, and go on walks.

Dislikes: You do NOT like to have your diaper changed, getting dressed/undressed, getting in or out of the bath, taking medicine, becoming unswaddled (even a toe!), when your pacifier comes out of your mouth while sleeping or in the car, or being put into your car seat to get buckled. 

Random: 

• You went on your first road trip at 1.5 weeks old to Lumberton to visit Granna & Pops and to have your newborn photos taken. 
• You are very photogenic (like your sister) and did extremely well being a little newborn model! 
• You went to your first party on Memorial Day when you were 3 weeks old! 
• You went to the pool for the first time at 4 weeks with Mommy, Daddy, and big sis!

You love your car seat and sleep the whole time on trips!

 Happy Memorial Day! (your first holiday to celebrate)

Sisterly Love <3

Rayna LOVES going on walks (she sleeps the entire time)!

First trip to the pool! Such a little diva :)

Rayna's Newborn Photos

When Rayna was 12 days old we made our first trip as a family of four to my parent's house in Lumberton to get her newborn photos taken by Charissa Foux. We started at the photographer's house for indoor photos then ended at my parent's house for outside photos. Rayna did great! She was such a good little model for her first photoshoot. Rylee, on the other hand, was not as cooperative (given the fact that she is a 2.5 year old) but did well. Overall, I LOVE the photos and will cherish them for years to come just as I do Rylee's newborn photos. Here are my favorites...