Festival of Lights

Last saturday evening we decided to take the kids over to see the festival of lights. Ashlyn thought it was so neat-she is still talking about it every time we pass a house that has lights out.

Ashlyn's First Christmas Program

Not so sure about Santa!

Her usual "CHEESY" Self
she looks so grown up:(
Tuesday night Ashlyn had her very 1st Christmas Program for Daycare-I didn't get any pictures of the program-I video taped it so Ryan could watch it when he got back. She was adorable and loved singing Jingle Bells. My little girl is growing up way to fast!

Christmas Card Pictures

Here are the pics we used this year for our christmas cards-originally I was getting the kids pics taken with Laura K but the day we had scheduled didn't work out. So then Tess and I tried to get a few pictures of the kids at Thanksgiving but I didn't like any of them. Last resort-portrait innovations and actually they did a pretty good job the best part, they were ready in 20 minutes:)

Nap Time

Last weekend Emily was over and Ashlyn insisted on laying on her lap to take her nap-we were cracking up how could this be comfortable!

Brody was snuggling with his mommy-I can't get enough cuddle time with this little guy, I'm so lucky both my babies have been the best snugglers.

Thanksgiving 2010

Madi was so cute with Brody-she was so excited to hold him.

Ashlyn didn't leave E-maws side from the minute she walked thru our door. Later in the day her other cousins, Ty, Mya and Madi came for Welborn Thanksgiving and Ashlyn got a little jealous-she didn't want her E-maw to play with them only her.
Brody and his Great Grandma Aupperle-so sweet!!

Attempting to get a family picture for xmas cards-didn't go so well so we won't be using this one.

Brody meeting his 2nd Cousin Addie for the 1st time. I think Taylor is hoping she won't hold him too long cause she is what we call "the baby hog."

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving-Thursday we went to my Aunt Lori's house for lunch and then later in the afternoon headed to Pontiac to the Aupperle side. They were all so excited to meet our little guy-he got lots of lovin:)

Saturday we had Welborn Thanksgiving at our house. We decided since we had Turkey on thursday to do Steak and Shrimp and boy was it yummy. We were sad that Jason had to work all day so they didn't get to come. Just a few more weeks and we get to meet their little one-can't wait.

I can't believe that 2010 is almost over! I know they say that the older you get the years just fly bye but GEE WHIZ can't they slow down a little I'm not that old. I love this time of year and even more that we have kids to create wonderful memories with. I have decided it would be nice to be off work every year during the holidays-reason #1 having time to SHOP:) I love christmas shopping but the past couple years dreaded it b/c I never had time but this year I'm almost finished and there are still 3 weeks til christmas.

One Month Old

Well today our little guy is a month old! I can't get over how much he has changed in a month. He is starting to be awake a little more for us and continues to sleep very well at night he is such a content baby. The other day he gave me a smile and last night was all smiles for daddy-I forgot how exciting it was to see that first smile from your sweet baby. I weighed him and he is exactly 10pds and measuring 22 1/4 long. I would say our little man won't be little for long at this rate!!
Ashlyn is doing much better about staying in her bed at night and its been 2 weeks since "B" went bye bye and she hasn't asked for it since. I would say the past few days she has done soo much better with Brody too. She has become quite the daddy's girl-I kind of thought this might happen since more of my attention is on Brody right now but thats ok-Ryan is totally loving the fact that she is all about him. Saturday I went Christmas shopping with my mom and Rachel so I took Brody with me and Ryan took Ashlyn over to Peoria to the zoo. Thats all she has talked about for the past couple days. Made me sad that I missed out on it but it was good for just the 2 of them to do something together. Yes things are a little more stressful now that we are a family of 4 and yes there have been some adjustments we have had to learn how to deal with but I wouldn't change a thing I'm so in love with my WONDERFUL family!! Most of all THANKFUL for what god has blessed me and Ryan with and thats 2 beautiful and healthy children.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Just a few random photos

Our sweet neighbor girl Emily giving our kids lots of lovin!! I think Brody slept in that position on her for 2 hrs. So sweet!
DADDY'S GIRL!!!

My little Rocker!! So excited that his little jeans finally fit:)

Little Monkey

3 week update

Paw Paw and E-Maw Welborn came for a visit the other weekend but Brody just wanted to sleep. I don't think they minded-as you can see they were enjoying some snuggle time. Ashlyn loved having them there to spoil her:)

Our little guy is 3 weeks old and we are all adjusting pretty good as a family of 4. Brody is such a great baby-he has been on a great schedule since the day we brought him home, we try and put him down between 8:30 and 9:00 and he sleeps until 1 or 2 and then he is up long enough to eat and goes right back down until 5 or 6. I love that he is starting to have more awake time during the day-I thought we were never going to see this little guys eyes:) Today I even got a few smiles -oh he is just the sweetest little boy. He is still eating like a champ-he now weighs 9.4lbs and wearing 0-3 or 3 month clothes. I hate that they grow SOOOO Fast.

Ashlyn on the other hand is keeping us busy and a little stressed at times. She just doesn't know how to handle it when we are giving Brody attention. She is a little angel when he is sleeping and I can give her my full attention but when he is awake and I'm feeding him she is in to everything and won't listen to mommy. Last tuesday her B went bye bye for good-I was pretty much at my wits end with her. I was feeding Brody and she came up like she was going to kiss him on the head and scratched him instead so immediately Ryan took her to time out and while she was in time out she peed on the floor. I told Ryan to get her B out of her bed and throw it in the garbage. She of course screamed and we both sat her down and told her WHY it went bye bye and it would never be coming back. I thought for sure we would go thru hell that night at bedtime but we didn't she asked for it a couple times and we told her again why it was bye bye and she would tell us "I was bad" and "My B went bye bye." Its been almost a week and every once in a while she will cry for it but overall it hasn't been bad-wish we would have done it a long time ago.

Its definitely a challenge going from a family of 3 to a family of 4 but I wouldn't change a thing-we have 2 healthy kids that we love to pieces.

Brody's Newborn Pictures

Oh I'm so in love-Laura Kruger took Brody's newborn pictures when he was 10 days old and she did an AWESOME job-there are so many great ones I don't know how I will ever decide.
check them out here-http://www.laurakrugerphotography.com/index2.php?v=v1#/proofing/

password: mwelborn

Let me know your favorites-I love #16 #17 and #18

2 week check-up

Brody had his 2 week check up today and he is growing FAST. He has gained 1 pd and grown an inch already. He is now 8.11lbs and 21 inches. I had to look back at what Ashlyn weighed at her 2 week check up. She was 7.9lbs when she was born and 7.2 the day we brought her home which is what Brody weighed when we brought him home. Ashlyn was 8lbs at 2 weeks and 21 inches-our little guy is a BIG EATER!! Dr. Hunter was FLOORED he gained a pd in less than 2 weeks-I'm just glad he is healthy and perfect:)

Brother & Sister Love

Ashlyn loves her little brother so much-she loves to hold him, give him kisses & lots of hugs, and she loves to help mommy give him a bath and change his diapers. So far she has done pretty good with him-just can't leave her unattended with him-Ashlyn gave him his first boo boo on his face-she was trying to show him her little pumpkin and got a little to close and the stem scratched his face:( Yesterday morning Ashlyn came in our bed about 6:30 and Brody was still sleeping in his bassinet. As soon as he woke up she asked to hold him-I told her she could but not long because Brody was ready to eat. Next thing I know she lifts up her shirt and says, "My boobie"-Ryan and I couldn't help but laugh at her-I knew it was only a matter of time:)

Halloween 2010

Ashlyn loved trick or treating-her bucket was over flowing with candy and she wouldn't share any of it!!
Cutest Giraffe and Skeleton:)

Ashlyn with our neighbor Katie

Since Ashlyn isn't big enough to carve a pumpkin I thought she could paint her. I bought washable finger paints and she had a blast-thank god I bought washable:)

I bought a carving kit this year so we could carve some cool pumpkins-Ryan did the wolf and I carved the bat and happy pumpkin. I think little Brody's is the cutest:)

Enjoying his very 1st Halloween!!