10 on 10 - June 2013

10 pictures for the 10th of the month.

I really want to start getting back into my 10 on 10 posts. I know, it's kind of weird now that I also have the 2 on 2 posts.  Oh well... Anyway, today was a bit of a rough day in mommyhood.  I'm quickly learning that 2 kids is definitely a lot harder than just 1!   But here is our June 10th.  

 Welcome back iced coffee! (I gave it up in the beginning of my pregnancy because I didn't think it was helping my morning sickness any.)  You were definitely needed after a rough night with Jillian.  She was up from 1 - 3 a.m.  ugh.ugh.ugh.

So far, we do not think Jillian likes the swing.  Jenna absolutely loved the swing and I guess I assumed that Jilli would too, but she just cries every single time I try it.  

So, when she cries, her big sister will often go and rescue her.  

So, not only did Jillian not sleep very well last night, but she barely slept any in the morning either.  Around 1:00, I became desperate for her to get some sleep.  We all got in the car and went for a drive around the neighborhood.  It only took 15 minutes and then she slept for a peaceful 3 hours.  I forgot how we would use this method with Jenna too, but I have a feeling we might be doing this again too.  

My house has become a bit of a disaster lately.  But, as you've probably figured it out, I've been a bit busy lately. ;) I'm happy if I just accomplish at least one thing a day now.  Jenna's art cabinet has been really bothering me lately, so I decided today was the day for an overhaul.  The organizational method we had been using just (obviously) wasn't working anymore.  There are baskets in there, but she would just throw things back on top of them creating even more of a mess.  

So, I went to Wal-Mart and got these modular white plastic containers.  I didn't know how many I would need, so this isn't fully finished yet. I plan to go back for more and get rid of the blue containers.  Everything will now have a definite space and hopefully this will solve the above issue of just throwing it back in the cabinet.  

While Jilli was also napping, I decided to try and put together this bouncy seat that I've had for several years now.  I got it at Target for 75% off (yes, years ago when Target still did the full 75% off!)  It was super cheap and my original plan was to give it as a gift but I think at that time, everyone I knew was having boys.  So I just kept it in my baby stash and pulled it out of the box today.  I figured it was worth a try since she doesn't seem to like the swing.  It may be too early to tell, but I think she definitely likes this more than the swing! 

Tonight, we all went to Chick Fil A for their princess night.  It was absolutely crazy in there and then super hot outside.  As we were leaving, Jenna threw a crazy fit.  I honestly think the heat was just getting to her, but geez....

The biggest princess and the littlest...

Immediately after we came home, I found this.  Jenna made this little bed in her floor and was watching something on the ipad.  Maybe she'll actually sleep there?!?  

And now thank goodness, it's almost bedtime! :) 

Jillian is one month!

Our sweet Jillian Bree is one month today!  I'm very excited about starting my monthly updates because now I'm realizing just how much I've forgotten about when Jenna was a baby!  

At one month:

*Sleeps a lot, burps a lot, eats a lot, and poops a lot.  (That basically sums it up. ha)  

*Night sleeping isn't too bad - usually from 10 pm to 3 am and then wakes up for the morning around 8 (give or take some.)  The hard part of the nights are that sometimes it can take an hour to get her to go back to sleep.  Last night was only 30 minutes so that wasn't bad at all.  

*I'm breastfeeding and using formula too.  This time around I have absolute NO guilt about using formula too! 

*Yesterday, she smiled a few times at us.  I think it could have been a real smile because it happened a couple of times when people were looking at her and talking to her.  

*She is quite the conversation starter when we go out.  Every single person that says anything about her will also say something about her hair.  If I had a dollar for every person that mentioned her hair, we could already have a huge college fund going right now!  People also mention how tiny she is and that she looks like a doll.  

*I just started putting her in 0-3 month clothes on Wednesday.  She was in newborn size a lot longer than I thought!  

Just for fun, a few comparison pics:

This is me and Jilli.  I still think she looks more like me!  

And Jenna and Jillian - both around 4 weeks.  

(And yes, I know the screenshot pics are weird, but it was the easiest way I could figure out how to put them side by side.  I'm sure JM is cringing at this! haha.)  

I'm still not sure they really look a like.  However, I think it's kind of neat to have two different looking girls.  I guess only time will tell....

I can't believe she is already a month old today! A part of me feels like she has been with us for much longer.  My hard, sad, days of wanting a baby seem so far away now.  She has made it all worth it. However, I do ask her why it took so long for her to get here! I just knew there was someone else just waiting to join our family and she was just meant to be.  :)  

Our first edition of 2 on 2 - June 2013!

I'm pretty sure I got this idea from this blog here. Every 2nd of the month, I plan to take a picture of both of the girls together.  You choose the day of the month based on how many kids you have.  So, the 2nd for 2 kids!  I thought it would be awesome to start at the very beginning since Jillian wasn't here on May 2nd, this was the very first time we were able to do this!  I'd love to be able to put a huge collection together.  Surely, I can keep this little project up and going! ;)  

So, I'm late in posting it, but this picture was from June 2nd.  On that day, we went to Fayetteville for Matthew's first communion.  Picture taken at Matthew's house.  :)

The naming of Jillian Bree....

I thought this would be a great way to share more about the naming of our Jillian and get to post some of the cute pictures along the way.  :)

First, I need to say that the naming of a second child is so much harder!  Or maybe it was just me?!?  

So, where do I start? Hmmm...

Well, I've always had a few names that I really liked.  However, none of those names just seem to feel right.  I won't share the first names I liked (just in the very off chance we happen to do this again.)  But, the middle names I have always liked are Lane and Jane.  Hahaha, yep they rhyme.  

Anyway, JM and I both kind of thought we would also try to go for an "A" name this time around, since Jenna has JM's initials.  We were thinking this baby could have my initials. JM really liked the name Alyssa.  However, again, nothing just felt right.  

Another naming thing I was hoping for was double consonants in the middle like Jenna's name.  It actually turns out too that a lot of the names that I liked just happened to follow this rule anyway.  

I also didn't want anything too popular either.  There are actually a lot of popular names I do like, but I wanted her to be (somewhat) different.  

Ok, so.....How did we get to Jillian Bree??  

JM and I were driving somewhere one day and were tossing names around.  I suggested Jillian and he actually liked it!  So, we just kept in our minds for awhile.  We really did not finalize anything until the very end.  Again, naming a baby is just so hard when you are actually doing it for real!  BUT, this time around, the name Jillian just felt very right to me. Like I said, I really didn't get this feeling with any of the other names.  

As for Bree, well that kind of popped up from me out of no where.  Jillian Lane definitely did not seem right at all.   I knew JM really liked the name and the more thought about it, I loved it! Bree is such a sweet and unique name.  Also, there is a bit more meaning with it too -  My name is Allison Leigh and we have a Jenna Marie.  Leigh and Marie rhyme and we didn't do that on purpose.  So, Bree also rhymes with our middle names and it just seems to connect us all even more.  

I know that Jenna Marie and Jillian Bree might be too close (for names) for a lot of people and maybe even a bit cheesy.  But, again, I love it.  I love the names Jenna and Jillian together.  

So, I guess that's about it.  I'm so happy with the name Jillian Bree.  It is completely right! I also like to call her Jilli and JM loves calling her Jilli-Bean.  :)

Ok, on to the cute pictures.... 

This is our friend's baby boy. He was born just a few days before Jillian!  

And JM decided to set up a photography session with one of his photographer friends he knows.  We got lots of amazingly cute pictures, but this one is my absolute favorite.  You can see just a few more at www.joplinexpressions.com.    They did a great job and we are planning on going back at 6 months!  

And one more....

I saw this while we were in Miami.  Again, at this point, we had not decided on any name for sure.  I saw Jenna and Jillian together next to each other and made JM take a picture.  It felt like it could be a sign for me.  And maybe it was. :)  

Fun weekend of firsts!

We had a great long weekend here! We had lots of firsts for all of us!  

Jenna had her first friend sleepover here.  Jadyn spent the night with us for 2 nights.  

Jenna decided she was ready to get her ears pierced!  Trust me, I did not push this on her at all. It was completely her decision.  I did show her some youtube videos before we went, but she was really wanting to do it.  She was really brave until the actual ear piercing.  Thank goodness, that they did a 2 for 1 time because immediately afterwards, she started crying.  

However, she is so proud of her new hello kitty earrings.  She has talked about them all the time and showed everyone she has come into contact with.  I'm really glad that at least she really likes them!  

On Saturday night, we met up with Jadyn's parents and went to a drive in movie theater.  John Michael and I have never been to one!  All of the girls went too.  It was kind of neat.  Not sure how much we will actually do it again because it gets so late.  But we've been talking about going for awhile, so I'm glad we finally did! 

And our sweet Jillian got her first bath at home.  We had to wash all that hair! :)

Jenna's Pre-K graduation!

Jenna's pre-k graduation took place on May 16.  And yep, I'm just behind over here.  

They came in pairs of two.  This other kid must be in the other class because I have no idea who it is.  

So, of course, they sang sweet little songs and poems.  

The whole gang. 

Photo from their slide show. 

When they walked off stage to get their diplomas, the director called their name and what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Jenna said she wanted to be a doctor.  However, when she got in the car, she told us she wanted to be a doctor AND a teacher.  

And lookie, lookie,  guess who this is?!?!  Her good lil buddy, Derek. 

These two are actually quite the pair.  It wouldn't surprise me later on if they met back up and became good friends.  Or maybe they could get married and we could use these cute little pics years later. :)  

And oh this picture....This picture of the two of them at graduation I have thought about ever since the beginning of school.  I wondered if I would actually really get a picture of Jenna at graduation holding her baby sibling.  And the picture that was in my mind for months became a reality.  :) 

All of us. :)  

I love this sweet little girl more than I ever knew I could love her.  I'm so proud of her and I know she is going to do great things in her upcoming school years.  

With her asst. teacher, Miss Tracy, and her teacher, Miss Debbie.  

With the director, Miss Linda, and the asst. director and music teacher, Miss Ruth.  They both told me how sweet Jenna was and how happy she always was.  

We have loved our two years at First Methodist!  When we moved here, I kind of just went with them based off a recommendation and a whim.  But, I know for sure now that is where Jenna belonged these past two years.  We can't wait to go back in a couple of years with Jillian!  

Jenna's last day of pre-K!

Today was Jenna's last day of pre-k!  I can't believe it!  I've actually been thinking about this point since the very beginning of school because that's when I found out I was pregnant and due in May.  It seemed like May would never get here!  And now, here we are!  The last couple of months have just seemed to flown by and we are actually to this point now.  Just seems crazy to think about.  

They were doing a western theme, so she got to wear her dress again.  

And just for comparison,  here is the first day of school pic.  She looks like a baby here.

I actually got to go and pick her up today and see all the fun stuff!  (Originally, JM was going to do this part, but our plans changed due to the house issues.) So anyway,  the first thing they did was have a watermelon spitting contest.  It was seriously cute.

They came back in to their room and sang a few songs before all saying good-bye.

A big group hug.  

Seriously, I have loved her pre-school and can't wait to send Jillian there!  

This is Derek. This just cracks me up to no end.  

Jenna talks about Derek all the time.  From what I've seen from Derek, he is pretty much on the same personality level that Jenna is and I can see exactly why they'd be such good friends.   Anyway,  we've started teasing her that he is her boyfriend.  He was one of the first kids that she said good-bye to and they ended up hugging like this un-posed.  I couldn't wait to show JM. LOL.....

Derek, Sam, Micah, and Jenna.  Sam, Micah and Jenna were all in the same class last year too.  I love that she is such good friends with the boys too.  

So, big sigh....Jenna is done with pre-school.  

BUT, we are really looking forward to the summer.  And I am, especially with having a newborn and getting re-adjusted to that life again. 

And I am really excited for Jenna's new adventure into kindergarten too.  I can't wait to see the new friends she will make and the things she will learn.  So, I'm not going to dwell on this fact that she is really growing up, but going to think of all the great stuff that is still to come. :)