Hi!

We just got back from a big trip to Lake Tahoe...It was so much fun, but exhausting at the same time. We're recuperating, but I wanted to say hi and share this picture Ashleigh took before our trip. I love having artistic and creative sisters and sister-in-laws...if only some of this would rub off on me! (Big sigh! :))

Cousin Love...Or Not!

So yesterday, Ash and I had the brilliant idea that we'd get the three kiddos together-- Carter, Colin, and Avery and take some cute cousin pictures. I brought over a couple outfits, and Ash found something cute and matching for Avery and Carter to wear. We brainstormed background ideas and hemmed and hawed about the details. We finally decided to do them on her bed because it was overcast outside. We were very excited about the potential for some cute cousin shots. It was going to be great...so we thought!

Overall, the photo session was a complete and total failure! Hilariously so! Trying to "prop up" two infants and get Carter to sit still was a complete joke. After this picture, Carter took a flying leap over both babies (yes, we all stopped breathing for a moment!) and went off to play with his cars. So much for that idea...

Happy Fourth of July!

For the second year in a row, we celebrated the Fourth of July up in Santa Barbara where Colin got to meet his new BFF, Caden. Granted the boys barely looked at each other, but the moms and dads had a great time eating, drinking, and talking babies...Things have definitely changed in the last year! Thanks to Em & family for a great time! We can't wait to see you all again soon!

We stayed at the Whalen's Ventura condo. Super convenient and so nice to have our own space. The three generations: Colin, Kevin, and Papa Whalen.

The two little ones. I tried to "fix" Colin's red eyes...I think I made them look worse!

The Merkey family!

So cool!

Happy Fourth of July! Love, The Whalens

Better Late Than Never

I love how Colin's birth announcement turned out. So what if we sent them out six weeks after his birth! By this point, I think most people know he's here and healthy. For those that don't, I wonder what they'll think after reading he was 10 lbs, 7 oz.? That's three times the size of his cousin Carter at birth. Too funny! I love our chunky monkey!

One Month!

So the lack of sleep and the busy life of a newborn are starting to catch up with us. The time and desire to blog have fallen to the wayside. I knew I'd fall off the blogging bandwagon...just wasn't sure it would be this soon. :) Here are a couple pictures of our 'lil man on June 26...his one month birthday.

Striking his GQ pose

It's exhausting being this cute

"Help Mom! I'm falling"

The best part of being a month old...cuddle time before naps/ bed. He snuggles his body, so his head is resting right under my chin. So sweet! Also, I love it when he wakes up from his naps, arches his back, stretches, and sticks out his lower lip. Makes my heart happy. The worst part...that would still be his gas issues. When he's awake, he's constantly red faced, grunting, and trying to work something out. I hoping he doesn't have Kevin's dairy allergy, but I've officially committed to cutting out all dairy from my diet just in case (I'm going to three days! WOHOO! Seriously people...it's really hard!) For the first few weeks of his life, I convinced myself that cutting back was good enough...I'm definitely not going win any "Mom of the Year" awards! Oh well!

Meet Caden...Colin's New BFF

On June 24, after 5+ days of labor (Yep, that's about 123 hours by my calculation) my dear friends Emily & Brandon welcomed their beautiful son into this world! At 41 1/2 weeks gestational age, Caden Wyatt Merkey was snuggled up comfy in his mommy's belly and eating like a champ. No medical interventions were going to disrupt his beauty sleep. After three (Yes, THREE) failed inductions, Em's doctor went and pulled Caden out of his slumber. And man, oh man, was he worth the wait. This kid is a cutie!!! At 10 lbs., 2 oz and 22 inches long, Caden can join Colin in the "chunk club." His round face and chubby cheeks are so kissable! I just want to snuggle him up! Kevin, Colin and I are going to meet him next weekend, and I CAN NOT WAIT! I'm sure Caden and Colin will grow up to be best friends and will come to have more in common than just their thigh rolls and double chins! Congratulations Em & Brandon!!!

Miss Avery Elizabeth!

I am thrilled to announce the arrival of our new niece, Miss Avery Elizabeth Gourley! She was born on June 25 at 2:30am. Born at 36 weeks, she is 5 lbs, 12 oz and 19 inches of cuteness! She's healthy, happy, and adorable!

While her mommy's pregnancy was much easier than her first with big brother, Carter, the last few days in womb were drama filled. Ashleigh was going to the doctor's twice a week for check-ups and her blood pressure was all over the place. Her doctors encouraged her to go the hospital several times, but once she showed up, the UCI doctors would question why she was there. Sometimes her doctors were convinced she had eclampsia and were afraid she'd seizure at any moment. They would take away her food and her c-section surgery would be imminent. However, her blood work never showed any organ distress, so they would then change their minds and tell Ash her symptoms (headaches, nausea, blurred vision) were due to her medication or were plain 'ole pregnancy symptoms. This roller coaster ride went on for over a week.

On the afternoon of June 24, Ashleigh had been stuck at the hospital for a couple days. Again, the doctors hemmed and hawed about delivering Avery and ultimately decided they would wait. Dr. Risky, the same doctor who told her two days earlier she would deliver Avery the next time Ashleigh's blood pressure spiked and she had a headache, now said Ashleigh would be on hospital best rest indefinitely! She would not be going home anytime soon! Feeling depressed, Ash settled in. Then came the shift change...The new doctor didn't like Ash's blood pressure readings or her headache. They took away her food (again!) and for what felt like the zillionth time, told Ash her c-section would be scheduled for that evening. Not wanting to cry wolf, Ash didn't tell anyone this news until it was a for sure thing. We got the call at 9:30pm on the 24th and sure enough after a little delay (Ash's 11:00pm surgery on the 24th was bumped after she was all prepped in the operating room because of an emergency with another patient), Miss Avery was born in the wee hours of June 25h.

Due to being a late-term preemie, the NICU team was in the OR in case Avery had any issues. While it took a few minutes to get her breathing after her delivery, the NICU team was the first to leave the OR...and they did so without Avery! For my family and me, waiting anxiously outside the OR, this was the first sign that Avery was a healthy baby. We were absolutely elated! A few minutes later, Grant left the OR holding Avery, all swaddled up, and looking like a porcelain doll. She is so little and her features are so beautiful and delicate looking. She is absolutely perfect, and we couldn't be more excited for Ashleigh, Grant, and Carter! Congratulations Gourleys!

Colin and Avery are exactly four weeks apart in age. Size wise, they look more like four months apart!

Big brother, Carter, loving up on his little sister. So sweet!