These are two of the Doctors that I not only worked with at Creekside (until I left in Sept. to be a stay-at-home Mom) but the Doctors that cared for me for 9 months and delivered Madelyn!
I cannot say enough good things about Dr. McAlister (left)! He was wonderful during my entire pregnancy and although I wish he could have delivered Madelyn, Dr. Reiter (right) was the one who was there that night and was also really great!
These pictures were taken when Madelyn was 8 weeks old. She had been passed around the clinic to all my friends/co-workers there, so by the time I got over to the Dr's, she was pretty tired...
...as you can see! Although Madelyn is screaming, I still love this picture!
What a wonderful experience to have a baby!
My Grandma Cleta turned 81 on 10/10/10! My Uncle Jerrold came to visit from CA and we all had a great time celebrating her birthday.
The birthday girl
Yummy cake from (where else?) Rick's Bakery. (It says 10.10.10 on top)
My Mom Lisa, Grandma, and Uncle Jerrold
Wayne holding our sweet little baby Madelyn, Me, and my sister Angela
Grandma with the beautiful arrangement my Aunt sent
Uncle...after we had lunch at The Crumpet. His birthday was just 7 days later...
And then we celebrated my mom's birthday on the 21st! Lots of Oct. birthdays! This picture was taken on my mom's birthday--Madelyn was just wishing her a Happy Birthday! (in her own special way)
Several weeks ago, Mason & I attended a super fun birthday party at the pumpkin patch for our friends' twin girls, Molly & Taylor. We had a great time...
The whole group of party guests:
We've been going to this pumpkin patch for the last 2 years, so we counted this as our trip for this year~since I didn't foresee us getting our newborn out to the patch!
The kids had potato sack races...
Mason was paired with birthday girl Molly
And then the adults had some fun, too!
The kids got to ride the barrels
And we all went on a hay ride around the patch
We took silly pictures
And then Mason got to pick out his own pumpkin
We then chose a pumpkin for each of us (as we do every year.) I let Mason pick out Madelyn's tiny little pumpkin! 
We had such a great time celebrating the girls' birthdays, hanging out with friends, and enjoying a day at the pumpkin patch!
Here's the story...
On Friday & Saturday (Sept.10th & 11th) I had been having more frequent, stronger contractions than usual. I would time them for a while and then they would dissipate. Saturday night at 8:05, Wayne & I were sitting on the couch watching the Razorback game and I was timing my contractions. Then all of the sudden, POP! I literally jumped in my seat and quickly looked over at Wayne. My water had broken! From that moment on, I was like a ticking time bomb.
We quickly threw the last essential items into our overnight bags and I hopped in the shower. Mason was playing a game on the computer and was pretty oblivious to us rushing around. Calmly, I told him we would be dropping him off at Mimi & Grandpa's house so Mommy & Daddy could go to the hospital to have baby sister. He nodded & said, "Ok." (I'll add that it was his bedtime & he was very sleepy!) By this time, the contractions were coming on pretty strong and every 2-3 minutes! I wondered if we'd make it to the hospital, which was about 20 minutes away...and we still had to drop Mason off on the way.
We got him dropped off and arrived at the hospital pretty quickly. By this time, I was really hurting. We got to the ER (the front doors are locked after 9pm) and at that point I was ready for my epidural! Too bad I couldn't get it as I walked through the door. Turns out I was dilated to a 3. (I was previously not dilated at all.) I tried to find a happy place and breathe through the contractions, but I thought that I just might die from pain, then & there. After each contraction, I would get a wave of nausea and ended up vomiting several times. I really wished we had not had pizza for dinner.
They got me to a labor room and I got my beloved epidural. Within 30 minutes, I was a happy camper! In less than 2 hours, I had dilated from a 3 to Complete! In disbelief, I asked my nurse, "What does that mean?" as if I had no clue what was to happen next. She said it meant that I could push. I expressed my displeasure that my baby would be born on 9-11 after all and she said (this part is a secret...shhh!) that since the baby looked great on the monitor and I was not in pain, we could wait to push, if I wanted to! Wayne & I decided it was worth the 53 minutes to hold off so that Madelyn could be born on 9-12 (which was actually my due date...and not a memorial holiday like 9-11.) I also really just appreciated having the time to catch my breath from the pain and to get refocused.
Madelyn Reese was born at 12:11 AM on Sept. 12, 2010. She weighs 7 lbs 14 oz and is 20.5 inches long. The most surprising part is the amount of hair she has and that it is dark! We are so thankful that she is healthy and feel blessed to have such a beautiful daughter! (tear)
After my epidural (thus the smile)
Me with the Mom's (Mom & MIL) before delivering.
I'm looking quite scary in this pic-a little like Jabba the Hut.
She's here! Proud Daddy
Our little sweetheart
Proud Mommy
MUCH more to come...(for like 18 years)
Last weekend was my nephew, Cameron's 13th birthday! I can't believe he's a teenager! We attended a small family party at my sister's house to celebrate his birthday. Mason had such a fun time playing with the guitar prop that my sister sent it home with him. 
On Sunday, Mason got to try out the new swimming pool he got for his birthday. He had a great time splashing & jumping & even did a few cannonballs! 
While Mason was swimming, Wayne finished the assembly of the playset! He worked so hard over the course of 3 days to get it together. Mason hopped right out of his pool & onto the swings & glider when he heard it was ready. It has a bumpy slide & a little picnic table/bench area. We are talking about putting a covered sand box under the fort (behind the picnic table area.) I know Mason (& eventually his baby sister) will get years of play out of the set!
Saturday was Mason's 4th Birthday! We celebrated by having family over for a Disney Cars themed party, eating pizza, cupcakes & ice cream, and watching Mason open gifts. He had a great time!
With the gifts:
The cousins: Chloe' (17), Mason & Cameron (almost 13!)
Striking a silly pose in his "Birthday Boy" hat that he's had since his First bday!
All the pizzas!
With the cake table...
He looks so big in this picture! This was his own little cake. He requested cupcakes, but I just had to get this little cake, too!
The cupcake tower (those chocolate ones are to-die for!)
Time to open presents!
One of his faves~a swimming pool from his Gigi (my grandma)
And another fave~Woody with a pull string from his Grandma Clova (Wayne's Mom)
Mommy, taking a little break! (almost 31 weeks)
And yet another fave gift...an Art Easel with ALL the accessories from his Mimi & Grandpa (my parents)
And the big gift from Mommy & Daddy...a new outdoor playset! This picture is Day 2 of assembly. Wayne finished it today (Sunday) and I will post the pics of it soon.
Wayne & his brother Billy worked SOoooo hard on trying to get this assembled in time for Mason's birthday--they even worked in the dark & in the rain! Mason is very excited about it since he had outgrown his other outdoor fort/slide.
One last exciting gift~Mason's first pet! His Uncle Billy got him a Betta fish & all the stuff to go with it. He loves it & although called it "Fishy" for a day, has decided to name her "Bluey."
Thanks to all of our family who made Mason's 4th birthday so special! He loves each gift he received & was thrilled to celebrate with you!
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