Two Cute Girls

Of course I think I have the two cutest girls in the world... what mother doesn't think that of her kids?! This evening, Maddie kept going back and forth to Mike and I and would ask us if we wanted a hug. Of course we'd say yes... and she'd give us this big hug and said, "I wuv you" (I love you). It was the sweetest thing... just melted my heart! We didn't do anything exciting today, but we had a fun day anyway. We took a trip over to grandma's, which is one of Maddie's favorite things to do. She was so excited to help her clean out her pantry and help refill her flour and sugar tubs! We also went on a walk for the first time in the new stroller since Chloe's been here. Both girls loved it. Maddie was smiling and excited the whole time, she kept asking me, "Your happy mom?" When I'd reply, she'd tell me she's happy too and kept telling me it's fun and she's excited! She keeps me laughing all day long with the things she says. The other day she walked past Scout, grandma's dog, and said, "What's up Scout!" Chloe also loved the stroller ride. I think she really likes being outside. She just laid there, very content the whole time, just looking around.As I mentioned in a previous post, Maddie's little imagination has gotten greater and greater. Sometimes good, and sometimes not so good. She woke up in the middle of the night with a nightmare and told me there were bugs in her bed, that she was scared, and they were going to get her. So I brought her in my bed, and she continued to tell me something about auntie Heather and a snake. I didn't quite catch all of that one, it was about 3am and I was a little out of it! Then today in the car, she was holding her monkey leash and told me her monkey's name is Luna. This is the first time she has named one of her animals, so I of course thought it was the cutest thing ever, even called Mike to tell him about it! (I'm sure he thought I was crazy!) She went on to tell me all about Luna. That she was thirsty and needed juice. Then she was tired and needed her blankie. The list went on of things Luna was and needed. It was pretty cute though! All these pictures are just pictures I took throughout the day. I just can't help myself... look how cute these little faces are! And before you know it, your little baby is two years old!

Taking a snooze on daddy's leg!

Chloe's First Bath

Well, Chloe's first 'real bath' at home. I had given her a sponge bath, and she had her first bath at the hospital. Maddie could hardly wait to see Chloe in the bath. She was so excited! (Check out those long, skinny legs... those definitely came from her dad!)

Chloe LOVED her bath! She didn't cry at all, and was pretty content in there. I guess it hasn't been too long since she once lived in that kind of environment! :)

After we took her out was when she was not happy! She cried a sad cry!

But once she was dressed again, she was happy as can be!!!

1 Week Old & Newborn Check-Up

Chloe is one week old today! Holy cow!! It's weird because I can't believe it's only been a week, but on the other hand, I can't really remember life without her. We LOVE having her here! She is such a huge blessing in our lives!! Today also happens to be my actual due date! I am so thankful to have her here and not still be pregnant!!! However, that being said, this recovery has been amazing! I can't believe how good I feel! I remember after having Maddie, I was exhausted. I was on the couch sleeping all day long with her for a couple weeks. This time, I sort of rested (meaning I had a nap or two, and just took it easy) for 2 or 3 days. By the fourth day, I was up cleaning my house, doing laundry, etc! I have been a better wife and mother since Chloe's been here. I don't know why, but I have. I have been so motivated to keep my house clean each day, have dinner cooked and ready on the table by the time Mike gets home from work, laundry has been all caught up and put away, and I've made time each day to spend one on one time with Maddie. That's easy to do when Chloe sleeps all day long. I have only napped one day this week, and yet I've felt good! I am thankful for so many things this time around. I'm not sure where all this energy and motivation came from, but I love it!

I think Heavenly Father knows how much I need energy with a daughter like Maddie who is like the 'energizer battery' commercial... she keeps going, and going, and going! Chloe is so easy so far (knock on wood). I'm worried that I will get my pay back when she gets older. Since the day she was born this girl sleeps amazingly! She eats every 4 hours, and sleeps the rest!!!!

Today I took Chloe to the doctor for her newborn check up. She is now 20 3/8 inches (60th percentile). She weighs 7 pounds!!! At her appointment 2 days after she was born, her weight dropped down to 6lbs, 7oz, so she has gained back up to her birth weight, and then some! But 7 pounds still only puts her in the 20th percentile! Her head is 13.5 inches (25th percentile). The doctor said she looks great!

All About Maddie

Maddie is definitely two. When we are out in public, most people don't ask how old she is, they normally ask me, "is she two?" because it is so obvious... Anyone who has been around Maddie recently knows exactly what I'm talking about!

Maddie has had quite the imagination lately. Her newest thing (besides stripping down to a diaper) is 'building a fly boat'. Most of you probably ask "what is a fly boat?" But for those of you who have children and have seen The Wonder Pets would know what a fly boat is. When we pulled out Chloe's bath last night, that became her new 'fly boat'. Before this, it was her basket that holds all of her little people. She usually finds 'friends' to come in her fly boat with her. And the whole time she 'builds' her fly boat, she sings over and over and over and over and over again, "What's gonna work? Team Work! What's gonna work? Team Work!" That's the song the animals sing on The Wonder Pets while they build their fly boat.

Speaking of singing, this is another one of Maddie's favorite things to do. No exaggeration, she sings ALL DAY LONG! Most of the time they are songs from the cartoons she watches, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, ABC's, and probably more I'm forgetting but sometimes, she even makes up her own song. Sometimes they have words that go along to a tune she makes up, and sometimes it is just a tune that she hums. Just as everything else Maddie does, her singing is NEVER quiet! It was especially cute the other night when she was singing Chloe a lullaby. The lullaby song is just a tune that Maddie sings the word 'lullaby' over and over again. I'm not sure where she got this song from, it's not one we have ever sung to her! :)

Check out this video! I finally caught Maddie on tape singing the alphabet. It's pretty cute, she is really getting it down! (Scroll to the very bottom to pause the background music!)

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!