The Good, The Bad and The Ugly..

Just keeping it for real.
I put little miss Sydney Jean Reed in time-out for hitting her brother. She was in time-out for 20 minutes because little miss stubborn refuses to say sorry.
Anyway after a long, teary 20 minutes she finally said sorry.
She then is supposed to walk over to her brother give him a hug and then say sorry.
What does Sydney do?
She walks over to Henry and slaps him in the face.
WOW.
Guess that time out really worked!
Go parenting! The hardest job on Earth.

Peace Out!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, we are just coming off my 29th birthday and i thought this post would be appropriate.
My birthday was brought in with my first born Henry being sick pretty much the whole night. I am certain that the flu bug finally found our house.
So, this birthday, i was tired........ to say the least. Three kids really can take it out of you.
But, one clingy sick kid really can.
Don't feel to bad for me, because my parents, brother and sister were all here, so i did have a lot of fun and laughing and spoiling.
This post is appropriate because this is parenting at it's finest.
Take a clue from me. Do not give a child a heaping hot plate of spaghetti.
That child will somehow drop it and then every other child sitting at the table will start crying.
And then Daddy will wonder how come we have decided to have this many kids. And then MOMMY will come in and save the day! She will turn on the magical computer and allow us to watch a movie and dinner at the same time. YAY!!!!
And we will laugh...............
Because, this is what family is. Memories.
Do you remember that one time when I turned 29 and Henry was so whiny and clung to me all day long. :) I am so thankful for the chance to make more memories!
xoxox Friends!

Abby Jo Reed

Abby is officially 1 month today.  Wow how time flies!

So, without further ado, here is my Abby girl's birthday story.

Abby Jo Reed was born on December 27th at 10:35 am via C-section. Her birthdate was chosen by me her momma at around 37 week appointment. You see, all of my family was going to be driving down to celebrate Christmas with us on the 23rd of December. And because I tend to keep my babies in the Hotel Chelsea for as long as possible and tend to not dilate at all. We simply chose a day. I truly thought I would deliver on my own, and was hoping to dilate more as the weeks went by. But, NO. That just was not in the cards. Here in Missouri, if you give birth via c-section and you are hoping to deliver V-BAC "that is what I did with Miss Sydney Jean", then you have to go all on your own with no prompting or drugs. That is not how they roll in Iowa. Anyway, so my doctor and choose a date of just in case you have not gone before, then this is for sure Abby's entrance to the world day.

And for all who wonder which is harder a C-section or a normal Vaginal birth. I would say to you that both have their pros and cons. 

So, having my parents here to watch the other two kiddies, Andy and I arrived at Cox South to have our third child. 

I was feeling calm, freshly showered and shaved, great toe nails that were purple and cute, and good hair. What more can a girl ask for?

They took me back, to the OR. I got my epidural and after about 20 minutes Andy was allowed back.

Then away they went. As they were getting ready to get Abby out, I started to laugh/cry.  I feel like it is my weird reaction to being nervous or scared, i just start to nervously laugh.  Anyway the doctor had to tell me to stop laughing because it was making it hard to pull her out. So, I quit and one second later out she came.

She was big. Abby weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces. The biggest of all my kids.

She was perfect. One perk of C-Sections is that your baby's head is not smashed. And there skin looks so nice.

She had long nails that needed trimmed ASAP. Her hair was wild and long, still is wild and cowlicky.

She looks a lot like Henry.

Then we were moved to Recovery and then to our room. Really I feel like once you have children the stay in the hospital with the new baby is sort of a vacation from the others. 

Somebody making me food and waiting on me is so nice. It costs a pretty penny, but is still so nice.

So, my little Abby girl came quickly out and has truly been a sweetie sense the first day.

I have delivered all of my children in different hospitals and locations know. How accomplished I feel.

Now, with no more delay: Pictures of Abby's birthday.

Welcome

Welcome Abby Jo Reed, the newest member of the Reed Family!

Born on December 27th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
8 pounds 9 ounces
20.5 inches long

We love you and you were always meant for our family.

My favorite things

I am now 39 weeks and still no baby. Yet, she really does not have a lot of time left to bake. So, I thought I would post some of my favorite pictures of 2012. I am an over achiever (wink wink) and trying to get this post in before life becomes ultra busy.

Now enjoy pictures of my family whom I love more than Life itself! They make me crazy, happy, worried, stressed-out, silly, and so blessed it makes me want to cry.

I am so aware that my life is so blessed, and i am truly so thankful to God for my blessings.

My heart is full...

Baby Week #3

I am sorry but I was out yesterday. I had good intentions but, my intentions were taken over by my kids! I was exhausted by 8:30pm.

So, today I thought I would blog on this topic....PARENTING!
About 3 months ago, Andy and I watched the show Addicted.
I don't know if you have seen this show, but it is about a person who is addicted to something and their family tries to intervene to save them. The addictions are all different but mostly the show shows people addicted to drugs and alcohol. It also does a small bio on the person, to try to explain why they are addicted in the first place.
Anyway, we watched an episode where the man was addicted to drugs. During the Biography section it said that when the man was a little boy, both his parents worked 60+hours a week. And that he was constantly at a babysitters house.
This part struck me!
I could not imagine being away from my children for 60+hours a week.
Its like you have one chance to parent small children. They are small for so little of a time. I am ever so thankful that I am able to stay home with them. But, this is also where I struggle. Because I really want to be a part of the Adult world. I am slowly finding my balance of what makes me feel like I have an outlet.
 It is overwhelming some days to parent small children. The days when they don't nap and the days when they are fussy and don't want to do what you want. Or when tantrums are thrown.
But, I am growing more and more to LOVE this precious time that I have. The cuddles and the loving on me.The velcro child to my body. I am their Momma, and it truly is what I was meant to do.

Thank you Lord, that I get to be with my children everyday. That so many others are not able. I am truly blessed.

Baby Week Post #2

Who should Baby #3 share a room with?
This is the dilemma going through my mind. Should it be with Miss Sydney or Henry.
Really this is not a dilemma, because we have an extra room. But I sort of want to keep that room a playroom. But, for now we are going to make it a playroom/ baby room. It will be the baby's room and the nursery.
But, this is only until the babe can share with her sweet/sassy sister.
Her 18 month old sister who is completely obsessed with her binkie and blankie. Her sister who is a lover of brushing her teeth (obviously as seen in above photo)!!!
Her 18 month old sister has been struggling with her naps lately, which makes a Momma wonder!
Her 3 year old brother is probably not going to have to share, just because he is the boy and the only boy.
And because we just think he should get to have his own special room.
So really there is not a dilemma, just my thoughts written out for you.

I have cute bedding and yes, another crib. But they are not up yet. They will be soon enough.
I am excited for the girls to room together, because I have some awesome memories of sharing with my sister. But golly, I am excited for the day when all my children just sleep as late as possible and I have to literally shake them out of bed....
See you tomorrow!

Baby Week

Well, I am now 37 weeks pregnant and I think I have posted a grand total of 3 times on this little bambina.  Some might say, are you really pregnant? That answer is YES!
I have dedicated this week to sweet baby #3, so I am going to post every night this week to update the world on my sweet blessing that is growing within.

This pregnancy has flown by and in all honesty been sort of an emotional one.
With all of our plans that have changed and changed and changed. I am sad to say that I have sort of "forgot" about this one. Maybe it is also because I am beyond busy with 2 other ones. Anyway, I am truly thankful that I am blessed with easy pregnancies. If I were to have been sick at all, i really think life would have been a little too much for me.

But, God is faithful. He knows all that we can bear and I am rapidly approaching the end of this pregnancy.
So, this post is sort of just how this pregnancy has been.
At 37 weeks pregnant, i am feeling pretty good.
I am not nearly as big as I was with Sydney Jean. (Thank God)!!
I can still wear my wedding ring.
I think my nose has become misshaped???
I have no new stretch marks.
Babe is laying on the right side with her head down and in place. Same as her sissy!
I am peeing a ton. I think it was a record 5 times last night..............
I am told by random people on the street that I don't look 9 months pregnant. Which makes me feel GREAT!
Both Andy and I are pondering what Miss Reed is going to look like.
We have had a horrible time with names. Seriously, we cannot think of one!
Henry has been loving on my belly and is excited to meet his sister.
Sydney I think is going to have her world rocked a little. Seeing that she is semi-velcro to me all day.
Little Miss likes to move around a lot.
I have been eating lots of sweets... I am eating Nutella like it is going out of style.
My prayers have been for a healthy girl, and that my Mom would be here.
Also, that all my million of worries, would really not be worries at all.

The verse we have found for this baby is Ecclesiastes 4:12.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. We really love this verse and thought it was perfect for her. She will always know that we were not complete without her and that she is the combination that was needed for us to be the Reed's! She was the combo that made the three Reed children strong and not easily broken. See you tomorrow.

Changes

Big changes have been happening to these kiddos over the last couple of months. And they really have been champion kids. They are about to experience another new change. Miss Baby #3 is about to make her debut. She has been "cooking" for about 9 months now and i am feeling the winds of change a happening. AKA: Braxton hicks!
I do want to say that we have indeed Moved!  We did not move to England.  We have actually moved to the unexpected Springfield, Mo. This is an incredibly long story and I need to wait a little bit to write more.
But, for now, we are getting moved in. We are finally getting ready for Baby #3, who is still yet to be named. Her due date is December 26th. I am personally hoping to go a little before. :)
No pictures of me because I am feeling a little bit like a house. I am not as big as I was with Sweet Sydney, but gosh, if i have to wear those pregnancy jeans one more day!!!
So, I promise to be back soon and to post some good prego pics!
Chao for now!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

 This is my post on my sweet/sassy Sydney.
If she was a food she would be: Sweet and Sour Chicken!      But alas, she is not! She is Human.

Sydney is now 15 months old almost 16 and boy has little Miss Independent been showing her true colors.
Sydney is my sugar bear and then can turn into my little sour patch kid in .5 seconds. Truly, it has been a lot for this mama to handle.
Don't get me wrong, I am completely in love with everything about my sweet little baby girl, I could go without some of the drama!
 I don't know if it is a girl thing, but holy monkeys this girl can turn on the pout.
 She can both smile and melt your heart and then if you touch her and she wasn't in the mood then boy you better get ready for some tears.

I have talked with other Mother's of Girls and this has helped. Someone said it best like this: Boys are usually not that attuned to feelings and being sensitive to moods. Girls can pick up on that very easy. Well, Sydney is that Girl. She really can be quite sensitive and dramatic about things.
And like most girls, this will go on until she is...... Wait, i am pretty sure she is the carbon copy of her Mother!. I am still sensitive about things and I don't see it slowing down anytime soon....:)

 But, all in all. I feel honored to be this little girl's Momma and help her figure out her feelings and console her tears. I LOVE that she is extremely snuggly and sees and looks intently at my earrings or my rings. I LOVE how she loves on her babies and cuddles them, and then flings them across the room in the next moment.

I LOVE how she laughs at her brother and how they are now starting to fight about toys.

I LOVE how she sings songs and rocks out to songs in the car. She really is a fan of country songs (her Aunt Mish would be glad)!

 I LIKE not LOVE that she refuses to hold my hand because she is INDEPENDENT!!!!!!! She has a mind of her own and she is showing me that  she can use it.












                                                                                    I LOVE that she is obsessed with SHOES!

I LOVE that she can say like 20 words and refuses to say them for most people. She saves her best for her Momma and Dadda.



Pretty much I am in complete LOVE with her even with her moodiness and all. And, I am pretty sure that this is howAndy feels all the time about me! :) HA!

So, lets bring on Girl #2!!!!!!