Welcome Baby Kate!!!

We are so excited to announce another birth... no, I didn't have another baby! My sister was actually due 9 days before me, but little Kate had other plans and came 3 days after Chloe! Katelynn Beverly Ussery was born August 16th, 2008. She weighed 9lbs, 2oz. No that is not a typo, she was over NINE POUNDS! She was 21 3/4 inches long. I can't wait to see these two girls together! Unless Chloe starts really packing on the pounds in the next couple weeks until we see them, she will probably look tiny compared to Kate! Brooklynn keeps telling me, "Some of us push out more than just a big poop"... *Let me reassure you, she doesn't think my little Chloe looks like poop... just referring to her size!* Either way, we are so happy that these babies both arrived nice and healthy. Brooklynn and I are so excited to watch them grow together, and are sure they will be the best of friends (and if they're not, we'll make them!)

For any of you who know my mom, or have talked to her recently, know that she is the PROUD, PROUD, PROUD grandma of two new granddaughters! She is beyond thrilled, and has been spoiling them rotten since before they were even born!

Proud big brother, Jackson!

Smiles

I know they say that when babies smile at this age, it's only gas... but, I was sitting on my bed talking to Chloe and she was getting the biggest smiles. She was getting so excited her arms were going all over the place and she would squeeze her fists tight. It was the cutest thing. She did this for about 10 minutes of me talking to her! I tried to catch it on camera, but the red light that goes off right before you take the picture would make her eyes squint, it was a little too bright. But, you'll get the idea anyway! I look forward to many more smiles as she gets older!! A big thanks to grandma for this cute outfit... there's plenty more where this came from! She did a great job filling her closet between clothes and blankets! In fact, both blankets in the pictures she made too! This is one spoiled little girl!!!
I know this picture is dark, but I just thought it was the sweetest little face!

Alert

Yes, we had yet another 'photo shoot' with the girls! They are in their jammies, so it is nothing special, but Chloe was so alert tonight, we had to capture some photos with her eyes open! She sleeps so often still that we haven't had many opportunities to do this.

Four Days Old

I have no complaints here, other than a 'firecracker' for a two year old at times! I'm not kidding, this girl goes, goes, goes! We can't keep up with her! Just when we finish picking up a room, we turn around and it's a disaster again! But really, she has been a GREAT big sister so far! She is always wanting to give Chloe kisses, help feed her (we aren't 'allowed' to touch the bottle when she's feeding her), help change her diaper, even got up at the 5am feeding with me! Yes, that was a joy... (sense the sarcasm?!) Thank goodness, she went right back to sleep afterwards!Chloe is the perfect baby right now, although Maddie gets frustrated with her because all she does is sleep. She wants Chloe to play with her and doesn't quite understand that she can't yet. She was so excited when she handed Chloe her pacifier today and Chloe hung onto it! But really, all Chloe does is eat and sleep! She is not ever fussy at all. The most we've gotten is during her diaper changes. She isn't so fond of the cold wipes on her little tush! I'm so glad I had her when I did, and that I've had Mike home over the weekend to help us all recover. He has been a great help in fixing meals, keeping things picked up, and being the best dad to TWO GIRLS! I have actually had a decent amount of energy, which helps in keeping up with Maddie. Both Mike and I have been able to get a nap in during the day, which has been great! We'll see how things go next week when it's back to work for Mike!

Sisters

I think having a sister is the best! I am so glad that my girls will have each other growing up. There may be moments they wish they didn't have each other, but they will love the good times they have together, and love it even more once they are grown up and are becoming moms together like me and my sister are now!

1st & 2nd Day Home

Yes, I am posting more pictures! I did this with Maddie too for about the first month or so, I took tons of pictures everyday! They change so much... so, for those of you who check this, you will probably have picture overload for a while!!! :)

Maddie went to bed late, woke up early, and then refused to nap for grandma while we were still at the hospital. So, by 5:45pm, she just could not keep her eyes open anymore... or her clothes! This is one of her new favorite things to do these days...

I just LOVE little baby piggies! They are the cutest little things ever!!!Notice all the different outfits? Yes, we went through a few between yesterday and today! And this cute little pink one with hearts... thanks to Sarah Pugmire!! :)

Look Alike?

I thought it would be fun to compare pictures of Maddie and Chloe from when they were born. We think they look like sisters, but they definitely have their own look to them. Now when I see the pictures side by side, they look even more different... besides the difference in hair color and amount!! :) Let me know what you think......

Maddie

Chloe

I think it's still hard to tell this young. We'll have to do another comparison in a couple weeks!

Chloe

Here are a few pictures we have on our camera. My mom actually has way more on hers, so I'll post more when I get them from her! Everything went great! I only had to push for maybe 10 minutes, max, and she was out! A little painful, but fast!
These two below are Mike and I about an hour before she was born. Mike thought he was funny taking pictures of me, so I got one of him too!


We can't believe how much hair Chloe has, and so dark too! Maddie's head was covered, but not nearly as much as Chloe, and dark, but not black like Chloe's either! We think they look like sisters, but they definitely have their own look! It will be interesting to see how she changes over the next few weeks!

Maddie is so excited to be a big sister. This was the first time we have ever left Maddie over night without either one of us and she did great. When we walked in the door, she could care less to see us, she just shouted, "BABY CHLOE!!!" It was pretty cute! She was so excited to hold her and give her kisses!

Maddie thought it was so funny when Chloe stuck her finger up her nose! We all got a good laugh!!

Maddie wanted her picture taken too! :)

Announcing Chloe Anne Dudley

She has arrived!!! Chloe Anne was born today at 1:55pm. She weighed in at 6 lbs, 14 oz and 20 inches long. Just a little larger than her big sister Maddie when she was born. Both mom and baby are doing great! It only took 3 contractions and she was out! We will post some pictures once we are home!!

39 Week Appointment

I had my 39 week appointment today, one day short of 39 weeks. I am dilated to a very good 4 and 80% effaced. The doctor stripped my membranes again, but said there wasn't really anything to strip. She says I am VERY ripe, and could go at anytime.

We went and shopped the outlets after my appointment, and when I got home and sat down to eat my lunch, I got my first very painful contraction. I got a few after that, about every 20 minutes, but they have gotten a bit mild since then. So... I walked on the treadmill for a while. We'll see if it pays off.

I am not due for 8 more days, next Wednesday! We'll keep you all posted if anything happens before then!!

(I apologize again for another post without pictures! I have been horrible about taking pictures lately!)

38 Weeks & Children's Museum

I had my 38 week appointment today and everything is great... other than all the lovely pains that come with being in the beginning stages of labor, which they think I'm in right now. When I went in, I was a good 3cm, 70% effaced. The nurse stripped my membranes, and I went straight to 4cm! Yea! We're making good progress! Hopefully this baby will come very soon!!! These are just a few pictures I took at the Children's Museum we went to last week. I didn't get any good ones... Maddie was on the run the entire time!