HB 4th!

There are lots of things that we love about living in huntington beach...including the fourth of july! This year we went to our friend's home on main street to enjoy the parade and to enjoy some good bbq! Thank you, Hixson's! As you can see from the pictures we all had a really great time...especially Meredith!

The Hixon's home...and everyone enjoying the parade!

Meredith just chillin'

Daddy and Meredith

Kennedy, Reagan and Meredith running around and having a good time!

Meredith dancing to one of the marching bands! So cute!!

Even Nora made a brief appearance at the party...but she slept the whole time!

Here are a few pics from later that day! Our good friends, the Voss family, came to visit...and to meet Nora! It was so nice to have them stop by!

Felicia, Dave and Matt (little Jake was being camera shy!)

Fireworks at the Pier - you can see the fireworks scared Meredith a bit!

Nora Marie Holmes

Our little girl arrived Thursday night at 8:30. She weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Everything went well and we are so grateful that she is finally here! She is perfect!

Life with 2 kids has definitely been a bit rough so far, but we are trying to adjust and hopefully things will start feeling back to normal soon! Meredith LOVES having a baby sister. She has been so sweet with little Nora and such a great little helper! I was worried about how she would feel about the new baby, so it makes me really happy to know how excited she is about having a new sister! Unfortunately, Meredith is definitely having a hard time with everything. She isn't taking it out on the baby, but the poor thing is so emotional. It really breaks my heart because she is so sweet and I can tell how hard this has been for her. I know it will all work out, but it makes me cry to see her so upset all the time! We have been trying really hard to spend lots of one-on-one time with her, so I just hope that she knows deep down that mom and dad love her just as much as always! Poor little thing!!

Well, onto the good stuff. Here are some pictures of our sweet little girl!! She is adorable, as you can see! :) She looks a lot like her big sister...which means she looks a lot like her daddy! It makes me wonder if any of our kids will look like me! Not that I can complain, because our girls are so cute...but it would be nice if somebody finally ends up looking at least a tiny bit like mommy!!! She has been a really good baby so far! She seems pretty happy and tends to be pretty relaxed most of the time. She is really alert and loves to look around, but like most newborns...she spends a lot of time asleep! She seems like a sweet little spirit, just like Meredith, so I am excited to see what kind-of a personality she has!! Enjoy the pics! I'll try to post some more soon!

One crazy week!

I was originally going to be induced a week early with this baby...but now I'm getting induced tomorrow...which will be almost a week late! I'm happy that everything has happened the way it has, though. It has given me a little over a week to enjoy my little girl before everything changes! It's funny how emotional I have been this week, it really has been a bit crazy! I'm sure hormones are mostly to blame, but I never realized how hard it would be to have another baby. I'm so excited for this new little girl to join our family, but for some reason I get really emotional and sad thinking about how everything is going to change...because I love my little family...just the way we are right now! Plus, anyone who knows us very well knows what a momma's girl Meredtih is. She loves her momma so much and has been my little shadow (literally) for almost 2 1/2 years...and it goes both ways! Momma is pretty attached to her, too! She is so sweet and so special and I just love her so much...I can't quite imagine loving anyone else that much! I know I will, but it is really hard to comprehend right now. Anyhow, I just wanted to post a few pictures from our last week as a momma-meredith duo! From now on, I guess we will be a trio! :)

M and I went to the beach on Monday with a few friends! M LOVES the beach...she is still a bit scared of the water, but she can't get enough of the sand!

My girl loves to swing! She is constantly asking telling me, "higher, mommy!"

We have been working on potty-training M for the last month or so. She is totally ready, but not exactly willing yet. Things have gotten better, though, and we have found that offering her money as a "potty prize" is working well! She has been saving her money and wanted to buy sidewalk paint...so here she is enjoying her potty-training reward!

M and Chase

Big momma and little M!

Tomorrow is the big day! I am scheduled to go in at 7am! Hopefully everything goes well and we will have a perfectly healthy little girl by dinnertime! We will keep you all posted!

No baby yet!

I decided to wait a few more days before getting induced. I just want to see if this little one will decide to come on her own! My doctor doesn't want me to go more than a week over, though, so he is trying to schedule an induction for Thursday. I am waiting to hear back from him right now.

So, no baby yet...if nothing happens before Thursday...looks like I will have to be induced. We'll post again after the little one is born.

Ava, Laine (Lainey) and Jill are probably our favorite name choices right now, but I want to ask opinions on something...what do you think of the name Lila? (sounds like lilac...without the "c") Can also be spelled Lyla. Just curious. It is a name we both like, but I just wonder what y'all think, since it isn't exactly a super popular or well-known name!

Baby update

So, no baby yet. I know some of you are wondering what is going on, so here is the latest update:

I am still quite large and quite uncomfortable, but it looks like the end is in sight! My doctor was planning to induce me tomorrow, but he thinks it will be best to wait a few extra days...so for now, I am scheduled to be induced on Monday morning. I have mixed feelings about being induced, though, so we may still wait a few extra days to see if she comes on her own. I just can't wait 11 days...like with Meredith. That was miserable, plus there were some minor complications because she was almost 2 weeks past term!! So, it looks like no matter what we decide to do...there will be a new baby sometime by the end of next week!

We will try to keep you all posted! Wish me luck!!

Happy Father's Day!

I want to dedicate this post to my two FAVORITE boys: my dad and my husband! I feel so lucky to have a father who has always been such a great example to me of complete selflessness and unwaivering love. Thank you for all of the love and support you have offered me through the years! Growing up you always took time out of your busy schedule to play with us and spend time with us. I have always known how much you love me and I have always known that you would always be there if I needed you! Dad, I love you and adore you! You are a wonderful man, an amazing father...and the best grandfather, too! Meredith (and all the grandkids) also love and adore you...and I know why! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

I also want to say a few things about my other favorite boy...my sweet husband! I love you so much! Thank you for being such a great husband and father! I was looking back at our videos from when Meredith was first born and seeing you hold her in the hospital and how you look at her makes me melt. I love seeing the love and adoration you have in your eyes when you look at her! It is the same look that I still see often and it means so much to me! You love your little girl with all your heart and I know you would do anything for her! Becoming parents has been such an adventure (so far!) and I can't imagine sharing this adventure with anyone else! I love you and think you are wonderful! Thank you for taking such good care of us! Both of our girls are so lucky to have such a great dad...and I'm so lucky to have such a great husband! Happy Father's Day!! XOXOXO

Storytime

On Wednesdays, Meredith and I usually head over to the downtown library for storytime. Meredith loves going because she always gets to see at least a few of friends there...plus, the lady who does storytime is great and Meredith loves her! Yesterday at storytime, all of the kids got to play with bubbles! As you can imagine, this was a big hit with everyone! I didn't bring my camera, but luckily my friend laura snapped a couple of pictures for me! Thanks, Laura!!

Meredith, Ava & Maile dipping their wands in the bubble solution!

Meredith and Chase (plus my big belly up in the corner of the picture!)

Meredith and mommy...trying to make some BIG bubbles!

Also...thought I would send out a quick baby update! No signs of baby yet! I still have a little over a week left, but I am hoping that maybe she'll make her grand entrance a few days early! I'm pretty big and swollen...and (needless to say) uncomfortable, so getting this girl out is sounding pretty appealing these days! Plus, we are anxious to meet her and hold her...and finally decide on a name for her! :)

Just around the corner!

I have about 2 1/2 weeks left until our baby girl is due and I am finally starting to feel ready for her arrival. I still have many things that I would like to get done before she comes, but thanks to all of my great friends from my ward...at least our little girl will now have some cute clothes to wear...plus some "necessities" like diapers, wipes, washclothes (nice new ones...yeah!), pacifiers and more! It probably seems silly, but now that she has just a few things (of her very own)...I actually feel so much more ready for her!

I wasn't really expecting a shower since this is my 2nd little girl, but I can't tell you how much it meant to have all my friends come and show their support anyway! I love the girls in my ward! It is so fun to have such a great group of girls to hang out...do swaps with...share stories with...get advice from, etc. When we end up moving out of this ward, I am seriously going to miss all of that! So...thank you girls! I love ya!!

All of the prego ladies!

Also...a special thank-you to Elise and Sarah! Thanks for putting everything together...it was perfect! You are the best!!!!