Spring & Easter Activites

We visited the Easter Bunny this week. Wasn't sure how Gabriella would react to a giant furry creature, but she did great. Immediately ran up and gave him a big squeeze. She even showed him her "Easter Bunny" bracelet a neighbor gave her. Brayden, of course slept through the whole visit. (Gotta love that infant stage where they are super easy to take places!)

Brayden is still congested. I get so nervous when he coughs, because it is like he can't catch his breath. Once his fit is over he is OK. Hopefully he will be all better very soon.

Spring Time is Here!

We kicked off the beginning of Spring by taking a trip down to the Panama City Beach. We are so grateful that my in-laws let us use their condo. I forgot how much stuff you have to pack for an infant and realized that with the little time I already have during a 24 hour period, I needed to have started packing the weekend before. Brayden did great in the car, we stopped twice to feed him. I tried to give him a bottle in his car seat while Brian kept driving but he didn't want any of that so a typical 5 hour drive became a 7 hour drive. We first stopped at the Georgia Welcome center, it was really nice because Gabriella got to get out of the car and run around and get some fresh air while I sat in the shade and fed Brayden. The second stop was in Dothan and Brian took Gabriella into the Super Walmart and I stayed in the car.

Our friends met us at the condo. Their children are the exact same ages as ours. The weather was perfect. Probably the best weather we have ever had on a trip in March. It usually is hit or miss with the warm weather so early in the year. The temperature was perfect for the babies to be on the beach under umbrellas. We dug them each their own little bed and placed blankets & towels under them and on them. They pretty much slept the whole time. Later in the season I know Brayden will not be able to go down to the beach because it will be too hot.


Brayden and Brenden chillin' on the beach!


The girls had a blast playing in the sand and basically having a giant sleepover for the weekend. Gabriella is at the age that taking her to the beach and pool was a lot of fun. She entertained herself, especially since Olivia was there, and now with swimmies can swim on her own. We don't have to hold her the entire time in the pool. :-)



Gabriella finally putting her hands in the sand.


Gabriella at the pool sportin' her swimmies


Hiep & Olivia



Gabriella really loves her friend Olivia


Silly girls!

On the way back we really only needed to stop once to fed him and we found this AWESOME park...Landmark Park & Alabama Farming Museum outside of Dothan across from Spanish Acres...if you travel to the pan handle, you know where or at least have seen Spanish Acres, the gas station with the zebra sign. It was a historical farm with tractors, barns, old homes, horses, pigs, a playground, picnic area and bathrooms. It was well work the cost of $4 an adult b/c again Gabriella had fun and we got some fresh air. Definitely a place you should check out with your kids when making the trek.

Last week was a busy one.

Last week Gabriella and I got to take Brayden to the zoo for the first time. He enjoyed the trip by sleeping pretty much the whole time except when he woke up to eat. He also got to ride his first train.


Gabriella & Jordan climbing a gorilla


First train ride

On Wednesday, Brayden became congested and was having trouble eating his bottle, so I took him to the doctor. He was diagnosed with a simple head cold, but for a 5 week old it could turn pretty serious.

Brian and I were in Elizabeth & Brian's wedding on Saturday. With weddings you have all of the activities of luncheons, rehearsal & rehearsal dinner and of course the wedding day. Gabriella spent the weekend with Mimi & Poppy while Brayden got to attend his first wedding and events.


Allison, Elizabeth & Thao at luncheon


Bridal Party


Elizabeth and I before the big walk down the isle

We had a great time until Brayden started to feel pretty bad. He became very fussy and he is NOT a fussy baby, so I knew something was up. Well, he ended up having more congestion. So much that he really was having a hard time breathing, so we cut our night short, sorry Elizabeth, and headed to the ER. I was scared and at first Brian thought I was over reacting, but better safe than sorry. When we got there the doctor told us we didn't need to dress up on their behalf, Brian was still in his tux and I was in my bridesmaid dress. The respiratory specialist sucked, sucked and sucked gunk out of Brayden's nose and then it was instant relief.



His head is still a little stuffed up but he is feeling better. He was tested for RSV and strep, everything was negative. Hopefully in the next couple of days he will be all better.

Playing outside

Two weekends ago was the best two days of the year. We packed up the family and headed to Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Saturday 3/7 and Riverside Park in Roswell, Sunday 3/8. It was so nice to get outside and get some much needed fresh air. We ran into a few friends both days to make it an even better adventure. Saturday we found a great patio to have lunch and a couple of drinks and Sunday we packed a picnic. Gabriella got to fly a kite for the first time. She did really well until she let it go into a tree. Oops! We owe Olivia a new kite.




Finally, I missed my beer!








There is a kite up there!




Gabriella flying a kite with Trinity & Olivia



Blowing bubbles

1 Month Well Baby

On Tuesday, Brayden was one month old, and today we went to the pediatrician to have his one month check. First off, I was nervous because I thought I was going to be given a guilt trip about not nursing anymore. I stopped nursing Brayden about a week and a half ago and started mixing formula into his bottles. I just found that he took took long to eat and I wasn't being fair to Gabriella. We would be stuck in the house all day and I am not one for nursing in public. Not that I look down on those who do, I just can't do it. I am scared a boob will pop out for the world to see. I am really impressed with those moms who have more than one child and can nurse them for a longer period of time. Plus, Brian enjoys sharing the process of feeding our children and wanted to be included. I am also in a wedding in a week and I didn't want to have to deal with pumping and nursing in a bridesmaid dress. Call me selfish but I am much happier now. Probably TMI.

Heading to the doctor's office I was anxious to see how much he had grown in 4 weeks. Wanted to make sure he was getting enough or not too much. Wow, when we got there and I stripped him down to be weighed and he is was 10 lbs. 14 oz. That is pretty impressive when he was born 8 lb 4 oz and then in two days dropped to 7 lb 3 oz. It doesn't help that we have a hungry boy and takes about 5-6 oz at each feeding. Of course Brayden had to mark his territory on the scale. It shot all over the place, fortunately that hasn't happened to me too many times, when it does it is like a fire hose. Then we headed back in to the examine room and his length was 23 in. When he was born he was 19 3/4 in., which we thought was wrong and had him measured again before we left the hospital, but he had still measured shorter than 20 inches. Compared to other children his age he is in the 90% for height (to be expected) and 80 % weight. Brian seemed a little disappointed in his weight, he is hoping for a future UGA offensive linemen, I am hoping for more of a corner back, wide receiver or quarterback. Gabriella at 4 weeks was 10 lbs 1/4 oz (90%) and 22 in (93 %). Everything checked out normal except with a small heart mummer. The doctor said this is common and should clear up by 4 months. I had a mummer when I was born and it is genetic. If it doesn't clear up then we will be referred, but right now I am not too concerned. His reflexes were excellent and he almost turned over from his tummy to his back. Brayden was very good at his visit even though his was hungry, he was patient to wait for his bottle. Overall his disposition is very chill, he goes with the flow. The only time he really gets worked up is when I change his diaper and when it is time to eat. We are so blessed to have a happy and healthy baby boy.




Brayden 3/3/09, 4 weeks old


Gabriella 9/22/09, 4 weeks old

4 weeks...How the time has flown by!!!!

Well I must be really busy if I can't even sit down for 10-15 minutes to blog little updates. Things have been going very well. Brayden is 4 weeks and one day old today. He is starting to get on a schedule...and still not sleeping through the night, Uggg...hopefully soon, I am working on it. He wakes up regularly around 1 am and then again around 4-5 am depending on when he last woke up. I am trying to get him to go more than three hours between feedings at night but during the day he eats every 3 hours, and I usually wake him up to eat.







Brayden has fit into our lives nicely. He is pretty easy going and doesn't mind hanging out in his swing to watch all the happenings going on in our house. Gabriella LOVES her little brother, so much that I watch her closely so that she doesn't try to pick him up or touch his face ALL of the time. I am just worried about germs brought home from preschool and the gym nursery. She hasn't shown too much jealously, only when our hands are full. We have tried to keep life as normal as possible and do the activities that she enjoys. Sunday night it was so cold that we had the fire place running in the basement and Brian and Gabriella decided to roast some marshmallows and make smores.

The Best and Worst week

Sorry this took so long to update, but every time I try to write I start to fall asleep. When I sit still for more than 5 minutes I starts to nod off. The joys of having a newborn! Those of you that are moms know exactly what I am talking about.

The week of Jan. 31-Feb. 7 was the best and worst week we have had around here in a long time. First off, I finished the Baby's nursery with the help of my mom and dad on Sat. Jan. 31. It turned out exactly they way I had hoped it would. Brian returned that night from a week long vacation snowboarding in Colorado with his sister, Jeff and some of their friends. He said it was the best week ever more than 49 inches on snow fell for them. Sunday was Super Bowl Sunday and of course we hosted a Super Bowl Party. Thankfully I stayed up once everyone went home to clean the house because we welcomed or second child, Brayden Young Morris on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 2:33 PM.

I wasn't due until Feb. 17 but he was measuring bigger than expected so we knew I would have to go in a week early to be induced. Well on Monday, Feb. 2, I took Gabriella to preschool and went in for my check-up and my blood pressure was very high. They took it several times and asked if Brian was back in town from Colorado, before they gave me the orders to head to the hospital right away. I sat there in shock because I was expecting to schedule my induction for Feb. 7. I sat speechless for a moment and then I thought about Gabriella at school, a washer full of wet clothes and a dishwasher full of clean dishes. Brian met me at home, I ran around the house putting stuff up and packing. Then we went to pick Gabriella up from school to take her over to Fay & Wayne's house. We wanted to see her before we had to leave her for a couple of days, so we thought.

When we got to the hospital and checked in, they monitored me for a couple of hours and then told us we were going to head back home because my pressure had stabilized. We were fine with going home and waiting a few days but right before they were going to release us my pressure started to rise. The midwife gave us the choice to leave and basically be ordered to bed rest or stay the night and get induced in the morning. Knowing that I would be coming back to the hospital in the next couple of days I would not be able to rest and sit still at home. I would use that time to clean the house, pack and keep up with Gabriella, so we chose to stay and have a baby.

Isn't the hospital gown lovely?

On Tuesday morning they started me on medicine to start labor at 6 AM and everything went great! I was pretty comfortable and once he was ready to come into this world it only took about 10 minutes. At 2:33 PM we met our little guy for the first time. God blessed us with a beautiful (handsome) healthy baby boy.






All the while we were at the hospital, Gabriella became sick with a stomach bug that was suppose to last for 24-48 hours. In her case it was a 5 day bug. She would feel good in the morning and then bad the rest of the day and evenings. She was unable to come to the hospital to visit us and her new baby brother. It was very heartbreaking to me because I had missed her so much. When I would talk to her on the phone she sounded pathetic and weak. I felt so bad and guilty because I wasn't there to take care of my baby girl and help her get better. Brian was back and forth from our house to his parent's to check on her and spend time with her while Brayden and I were figuring each other out at home. Ended up she had to go to the hospital ER on Friday evening to get an IV of fluids to make her feel better and rehydrate. Finally on Sat. evening Gabriella came home. I am so grateful to Brian's parent's for taking care of Gabriella, because it wasn't a pretty bug that they had to nurse her through. It was a lot of work and laundry.


When Gabriella came home she came running into the house crying "Mommy, Mommy...I missed you!" After a minute or two she wanted to see her baby brother Brayden. I felt like she grew up so much in the time she was away from me. It was the longest we have ever been away from each other.

Now everything is back to normal, as normal as it can be, and we are adjusting to having two wonderful and precious children. Brayden has fit into our lies perfectly and he has made our family complete. Brian and I are so thankful to be blessed with this opportunity to be parents and look forward to continue our journey together through life.