Hospital Stay and Coming Home

After Brynlee was born at 7:37 pm we had to wait in the labor and delivery room for quite a while until a room opened up for us.  My parents were already at the hospital.  Brad's parents were watching Brooklyn and as soon as they put her to bed they called MeMaw and DaDaw to come over to stay with her.  Then they raced to the hospital.  They got there just after she was born...it was perfect timing!  So soon after she was born Grammy and Nana came into the room to meet her.  They would only allowed 2 visitors and then they needed to take her to the nursery to give her a bath and such..... guess the Grandmas got priority over the Grandpas.....lol!  They took Brynlee to the nursery which made me sad but Brad went with her. Laci stayed with me and we chatted, I was glad not to be alone :) They gave Brynlee a bath and measured her and checked her over.  Brad kept sending me pictures on my phone.  This was also the first time B-Pa and Poppa got to see her :)  Eventually she was brought back to me and we said good bye to our parents.  We ending up staying in that room until almost 11:00 pm!

I think by the time we got all settled and ready to sleep it was about 2:00 am on Saturday.  I was so anxious for this day to come because we would get to see Brooklyn and she would get to meet her little sister for the first time!!  We rested when we could and Brynlee nursed about every 2-2 1/2 hrs or so. It was kinda crazy because the hospital was all under constructions o we were in a different wing than we would have normally been in.  I guess it was the surgery ward and I remember one time hearing nurses run down the hall and I could tell something bad was happening!  It was a little nerve racking but we managed. In the morning we were moved to a different room...it was much larger, which we were so thankful for because we knew a lot of people would be coming to visit today :)

My parents came that morning and as soon as they got there Brad's parents arrived with Brooklyn.  I was so nervous b/c normally Brooklyn screams every time I took her to my doctors appointment (which I ended up not doing very much for that reason), but she just has this major phobia of doctors.  I was worried that she would not want to sit on my lap or really be in the room.  I ended up getting out of bed and going to sit on the couch by the door.  Brynlee was in the little hospital bassinet.  Well Miss B came running into the room and went straight to me and gave me a big hug and sat on my lap :)))  It was long before she spotting Brynlee and immediately want to see her and HOLD her.  SHe just keep reaching and reaching and pointing and trying to tell us the best she could that she wanted to hold her baby sister!  Brooklyn just had the BIGGEST SMILE EVER as we all sat down on the bed and she held her sister.  OHHH in just melted my heart I wanted to cry!!  She just stared at her and then she started to point over the the couch. We were all wondering what she wanted and then realized she wanted her "Bunny" (that is like lovey) and she gave it to her sister!  It was the sweetest thing ever :)  She held her for a little while and then when she was done we took her back.  Brooklyn was pretty interested in her the whole time she was there.  It was so awesome to see her just love on her sister!  They brought Brooklyn a NEW SIBLING cake and she ate some of that and we gave Brooklyn a little toy dog (which she was afraid of b/c it moved lol) and a book called "Little Mommy".  B-Pa read her the book and she loved it :)  We had a nice visit with our family and then they left so Brooklyn could eat luch and get back for her nap.

The rest of Saturday we had a lot of friends and family come.  Uncle Blake, Aunt Erica, and Cousin Bryce came to meet her.  Bryce was so sweet too and kept wanting to give Brynlee her paci (he loves his paci).....hehe!  We were pretty tired by the end of the day.  Brynlee was doing great...she pretty much slept the whole time and just woke up to eat.  I remember her pooping a TON!!  It seemed Brad was always changing her diaper ha! Saturday night went well although I do remember being excited to go home just so I could sleep better...I was so tired of all the nurses coming in to check my vitals or whatever and waking me up haha!

Sunday came and my doctor cleared me to go home and Dr. Hirsch (our pediatrician) cleared Brynlee.  She was now 7lbs 6 oz but doing just fine :)  We took some pictures of her in a few special outfits we brought.  Brad dresses her in her "Coming Home" outfit and we were on our way.  It was very surreal like it was the first time!  Here was this little girl coming home with us!  We felt so blessed and couldn't wait to see Brooklyn again :)

We decided to stop at MeeMee house (Brad's grandma) so she could see her before heading home.  She was very excited to see her and hold her.  Miss Brynlee was very well behaved and enjoyed some loving from MeeMee :)

When we arrived home Brooklyn was there and as soon as she saw Brynlee she came running out of her playroom and tried to unbuckle her from her car seat.  She kept pointing to herself telling us she wanted to hold her.  I wish I had video Brooklyn's face when she 1st saw her, she just had the biggest smile ever and just so interested in this little baby! We let her hold her and then had Brooklyn show her around the house ;)  Kathy left (a BIG thank you to her for watching Brooklyn for us) and so began our journey at home with our two precious girls!  I remember looking at Brad and just thinking "wow what now!" ha!

It was a pretty crazy evening and night and I think on Monday we called Kathy and said, "Ummm I think we need some help!" LOL

Enjoy the photos :)  Had so many I decided to make a smilebox...some I already used in the first video but there are different ones that include visitors :)

Photo slideshow made with Smilebox

Brynlee Paige Walker

Brynlee Paige Walker

Born March 23rd at 7:37 pm

7lbs 12oz 20 3/4 inches

March 21st 

I had a doctors appointment on Wednesday March 21st; I started to go to the doctor weekly at 36 weeks.  I was 38 weeks pregnant now and beyond READY to have our sweet girl!  This pregnancy was very different from my first and I felt so huge in my belly and ached all over. I was disappointed to hear I was only 1cm dilated, but I never got past a 1 with Brooklyn before my water broke so I knew something could still happen soon.  I was hoping Miss Brynlee would follow the same path as her sister and come around this time :)) but you never know!

March 22nd

The next day I didn't feel any different.  A friend and her two boys came over, while the kids played we chatted about being preggo (she is due also with a little girl). I told her maybe this baby would end up being an April baby after all ha! (My official due date was April 3rd)

That night I remember telling Brad I was feeling some pressure but nothing really significant.  I slept ok...well maybe that's a stretch in words, since I got up like 20 times to go to the bathroom!! 

March 23rd

I woke up on Friday, March 23rd feeling that same pressure.  When I went to the bathroom I noticed a little bit of bleeding.  Not hardly anything at all and I almost didn't even bother calling the doctor but every time I went to see Dr. Ball she always told me to call if I was ever bleeding.  I wanted to be on the safe side so I called.  Well Dr. Ball was not working...which I knew she wasn't on the weekend..so I waited for the on call doctor to call me back.  In the mean time I called Brad to let him know and I jumped in the shower.  A little while later the doctor called me back and after I explained why I called she said she wanted me to come to the hospital! WHAT... I was kinda surprised!!  I really didn't feel like I was in labor or anything!  I called Brad back and told him we needed to go in....I felt so bad cause he had a few appointment that day he was going to have to cancel and I felt like they were just going to send me home anyway lol!  I finished getting ready and started packing the last few items into my bag.  Brad came home and packed also (he didn't have anything ready, but it never takes him long and it didn't).  We dropped Brooklyn off at Grammy's.  She came out to greet us and said, "IS IT TIME?"  HA I just looked at her and said, "I really don't know." lol.!  

Brad and I headed off to the hospital.  I remember having a few pretty painful contractions on the way and starting to wonder if something was going on!?! We checked in at the Labor and Delivery Testing Room which was downstairs.  This part was all new to us since my water had already broke with Brooklyn at this point.  The nurses were so nice and as they got my room ready they had me go to the restroom.  I did and as soon as I came out I knew my water broke!!!!  It was 10:05 am. I laughed and told them I am either peeing on myself or my water broke!  They laughed and said well lets get you on this bed and check!  Sure enough it had....could not have been better timing I guess :)  I just looked at Brad and said, "Wow it's time....today is the day!" He just smiled :))

The next part was probably the longest part for me. The nurse checked me and said I was still at a 1 maybe a 2 (I was bummed and a little surprised). They hooked me up to the monitors and got an IV started.  Funny story about that was the nurse said something about how they need better lighting in these rooms right before she stuck me and then stopped and looked at me and said, "That was probably not something I should have said out loud right before I give someone an IV!"  HAHA we laughed about that!  After I was all settled they told me it might be a while until a room became available and to just sit tight.  This was the longest part...the waiting.  We had no phone service in the room so Brad left and went to call family to let them know that they were keeping me and it was time :)  and he texted a bunch of friends to tell them as well.  It seemed like he was gone forever but really it was just my nerves and the anticipation of what was about to happen!  So from about 10 till almost 1 I was in the room waiting for a bed to open up in Labor and Delivery. I was hardly feeling any contractions and was starting to get nervous that it was going to be another long day of labor.  I have always heard that second babies come faster but I was not so sure she was going to at this rate ha.  So I just waited and watched a little TV (Ironically "A Baby Story" was on!) and finally they came in and said there was a room upstairs...Woo Hoo!!! 

We headed upstairs and I got all settled into the room!  I had two nurses, both were very nice.  We did ask them if they knew Laci and if she was working...we just really wanted to see her!  Laci was the nurse who delivered Brooklyn and we LOVED her!  We kept in touch with her after Brooklyn was born and we were probably "secretly" hoping she WAS working that day and could at least see our new baby :)  They said they thought she might be but that was about as far as the conversation went.  We didn't want to be rude and ask them to get her or anything....more on Laci later.  So they started me on Pitocin, it was about 2 in the afternoon....I was thankful cause I didn't feel like much was happening (it reminded me so much of Brooklyn's labor at this point) I felt maybe the Pitocin would get things moving!  AND Sure enough it did!  The contractions came on much stronger and faster than with Brooklyn and by about 4:30 I was ready for my epidural!! That epidural could not have come any faster! They checked me right after I got the epidural and I was at 4 cm!

Well it wasn't long after that then guess who came walking through the door!  LACI!!!  Our nurse told her that we had asked about her and she came running in right away!  We all hugged and were just so excited to see each other!  She stayed and talked to us for a while...she said that if she could not be here for the delivery she would come by for sure afterwards to meet our little girl.  Around 5:30 pm after Laci left I told Brad he should go downstairs and get some dinner.  We really were just waiting for my body to progress and didn't know how long it would take.  They mentioned that they probably would not check me again until 7pm when the doctors and nurses switch over.  So downstairs Brad went.  It was good timing b/c my parents showed up (they drove in from Killeen TX which is about a 4 hrs drive) around that time so they all headed to eat in the good ol cafeteria! By this time it was around 6:15 and I was starting to feel pressure.  I told the nurse and she decided to go ahead a check me.  Sure enough I was at a 10!!!  YAY!!!  I called Brad, who had not gotten to eat one bite of food, and told him it was time :)))  He came back upstairs and we just waited for the doctor.  It took a little while so my parents came in and said hi real quick then they left. I could not believe how quickly I had progressed and here we were all ready to push and bring her into the world!

I pushed for 30 minutes and she was here!  Ahhhh the emotions were overwhelming.  I cried and cried and just looked at her and held her to my skin.  She was breathtaking...absolutely beautiful!  Brad touch her and kissed her and kissed me and I kissed her and it was just one of those moments that will be etched into your mind forever.  It was just like the first time all over again.....our precious girl had arrived!  We were shocked by her dark hair! I think that was one of the first things I said. We just kept looking at her over and over. Once again God had answered our prayers, bringing Brynlee into the world safely, and had given us another blessing! We were now a family of four :)  

Here is a video I made.  I used the same song I did for Brooklyn's Video...it was just too prefect :) I cry just about every time I hear it.  We are so in love with our sweet Brynlee...Enjoy :)

Hello Blog World....It's Been a While

I'm Back...HOPEFULLY!

Well I took quite a break from blogging which I totally regret :(  I feel like so much has happened with both Brooklyn and our newest addition Brynlee Paige.  I had hoped to document my pregnancy with Brynlee but didn't get to it...the second time around is really hard when you are chasing a toddler lol!  I did take lots of pictures so hopefully I can put something together for her in the future :) They say second children never have as many pictures, or this or that, as the first (which I am realizing why!).  I'm not off to the best start (lack of pregnancy posts ha), but hopefully I will be able to document her first year like I did for Brooklyn......and stories of these two sweet girls along the way!
Enjoy and thank you for coming back :)

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Here is our little CANDY CORN :)

She looks so yummy I just want to eat her up! HAHA!

"Got Candy?"

"Where did Daddy go?"

She found her sign :)

"Yay!  A pumpkin just my size!"

"Anybody home?!"

Happy Halloween from the Walkers!!

The End ;)

*Thank you to Grammy for helping to make Brooklyn's Candy Corn Dress.  I ordered the bow and leggings online and had her bloomers made by a very talented friend :)

First Hair Cut

Well 14 months later and it is NOW time for Miss B to get her first haircut haha!  Yes...my little baldy was getting kinda scraggily in the back.  I had appointment to get my hair done so I decided to go ahead and bring B to get a little trim. My hairdresser Carol, who is also one of my good friends and goes to church with us, has been cutting my hair since I got married...it was only appropriate that she cut little B's hair :) Brooklyn was interested at first but good thing it didn't take long.  She kept wondering what was going on back there ha!  She cut nothing off the top (for obvious reasons) but just took a few snips off the back.  Carols said we needed to let the top catch up to the back lol!  Of course I saved her hair...I'm sure Brooklyn will be sooooo glad that I did one day *wink wink*!  

All Trimmed :) 

Awwww she looks older to me :(  But ohh so CUTE!

August and September

August, September and Miss B!!!

Here is a quick recap of pictures and videos from August and September!  Just a few things I don't want to forget!  It has been a rough 2 months with morning sickness so I really fell behind in my blogging and tracking moments in her life :(  It was a busy but fun two months...

Brooklyn's first time to Bible class was during our VBS!  She did OK...made it through a few days, and didn't make it through other days lol!

Here she is already putting the toys in her mouth ;-p

It was Bryce's first time too!!

The week of VBS we had some dear friends come stay with us!  Jamie and her two kiddos, Jailyn and Liam, were so much fun to have around and Brooklyn LOVED them to pieces!

  

Caught this cute moment on camera :)

Only got one smiling...oh well they are still cute as can be!

(Miss Jamie bought Brooklyn a dress that matched Jailyn's...too sweet!)

My Happy Girl!

In the middle of August the Walker family took a vacation to Lake Travis!  This picture was taken right after Miss B "told them" our exciting news!  We were about to head out.  It was a very nice and relaxing trip :)  Check out that POOL!

All ready for a swim....is that not the cutest bum ever!!

Enjoying the pool!

Bryce turned 1 on August 25!!!! 

He had a cowboy themed birthday party so it was only appropriate the B dressed accordingly ;)

She just needed some cowgirl boots Ha!

So I think after Brooklyn's birthday party she figured out what that whole "present" thing was about!  Notice who is front and center as Erica opens Bryce's gifts...HAHA!  I don't even know where Bryce was...but Miss B sure didn't mind unwrapping his gifts :-p!

 Bryce LOVES to get Brooklyn's bows...this picture is so crazy to me b/c you can see how much taller Bryce is compared to Brooklyn HA!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY BRYCE!!!

We LOVE you!!

By September Brooklyn was LOVING Bible Class!  Grammy was (and still is) her teaching on Sundays (which I know helped her get adjusted *wink*) and some VERY sweet ladies teach her on Wednesday night! As we get closer to the door to her classroom she is practically jumping out of our arms to get in there...she can't wait!!

All ready for Bible Class :)

Just some pictures playing around the house...I love her silly faces!

Brooklyn LOVES and I mean LOVES riding around on the golf cart...especially with daddy when he come home from work!  He takes her to see the horses down the street which she is fascinated with also!  I love this picture!!  

Oh and this was the first time that we put her sunglasses on and she actually KEPT them on!  It was like she all of a sudden realized how "COOL" she was wearing them lol!

This video was after their ride...it showcases her wearing her shades ;)

My little baby is growing up...I snapped this picture when I saw her doing this!  She can finally see out the door :)

I need to get this girl in a tumbling class...HA!  

Love her!

I can not keep this girl out of drawers!  HA!  Actually I could I just picked a few drawers that I don't mind her exploring through.  This drawer has all her cups and lids and of course she likes pulling everything out but it is a nice distraction for her when I am doing the dishes or cooking dinner ;)

We have been working on teaching her to sign "Please" and not whining when she wants something.  Of course we are trying to get her to say it as well :) It is hard in the car b/c we can't see her only hear her and we don't quit understand her jib jabbering yet.  One day I caught her "asking" for another snack.  This is what she does now....it cracks us up!

Thanks for sticking with me on this LONG recap!!!! August and September were hot but beautiful months...spent a lot of time outside enjoying God' beauty and soaking up time with my little girl :)

Blackberries :)

These pictures were taken back in the end of September! Just had to share some pictures of my cutie....

 It was such a nice day Brooklyn and I decided to head outside and I brought us a little snack....little did i know it would turn into a photo shoot LOL!  She loved her some blackberries that day...HA!

YUMMMMM!

They might have been a little sour ;)

One Happy GIRL :)

In this picture Brooklyn spotted an airplane....She LOVES airplanes and every time she hears one she looks up and waves her hand around and makes an airplane noise.  LOVE IT!

First Picture :)

Playing Catch Up:

On August 25th we headed to the doctors office super excited to see our newest addition for the first time!  I was super nervous and just wanted to get that first peek and make sure everything was good and we confirm that we DID have a little baby inside there (even though I felt sick it is sometimes just so hard to believe that you are pregnant until you see the little peanut lol) :) As the nurse, Gloria,  called us back she saw Brad and I am with a BIG smile said, "YOUR BACK!"  HAHA!  It was sooo great to see Dr. Ball again and she was super excited for us!  She just asked me a few questions and then immediately pulled out the ultra sound machine and we got to see our precious little baby for the first time!!!!!  It was amazing....our little peanut was just squirming all around and we could hear the heartbeat loud and clear :)  The heart rate was 160 bpm! Music to our ears!  Dr. Ball said everything looked great and to come back in a month :)

So there is this new thing where they can take women's blood work when they are 12 weeks (at the time they do screening for any abnormalities) and an automative phone service will call you and tell you the gender in a few days!  Some of my friends did this and we were contemplating looking into it...wouldn't that be cool to know 8 weeks earlier...WOW I could get a lot done in that time ha!  We called to see how much it would cost but our insurance would not cover it and it was going to be like $600 so we decided just to wait.  As much as I wanted to know I knew it would be fun to find out in the ultra sound room!!!  So we are patiently going to wait!

Next BIG question everyone asks us.... Do you want a boy or girl?!?  Well I always thought that whatever I had first I would want the opposite the second time, but I am feeling good either way!  I think it would be neat to experience a boy BUT I think it would be so awesome for B to have a sister (especially one so close in age).  Hmmmm so I am really excited either way!  Brad said he is excited either way too!  I know he would love a boy BUT he loves his little girl and would be so happy with another one...there is just a special bond between daddies and their girls!!!  Ahhhh I just can't wait to find out!!!

Well without further ado.......

Here is the first picture of Baby Walker #2!!!

Music to our Ears!

Here we are about to leave to head to the doctors!

It was such an awesome day!  We are so in love with out new baby on the way....no words to describe it really!  Very thankful that all looked well and there was such a strong heartbeat :) We just can't wait to meet this precious soul!  Love you Baby W :)

2 Months and BIG News!!

Wow!  2 months!!!  YES 2 whole months have gone by.  I had no intention of Brooklyn turning one and not blogging anymore about her life haha......we have had "something" come up but I want Brooklyn to make the BIG announcement so I will turn the blog over to her......




Hi I am Brooklyn! I am 1 now and have blue eyes and like to play with my baby doll and....oh wait that is not what I am suppose to be talking about...I get sidetracked so easily!....OK so Mommy asked me to share our exciting news with everyone.  Well the other day, July 30th to be exact, yes that would be 3 days after I turned ONE....wasn't that just the best party ever I loved this new playhouse I got and the cake...opps sorry I am getting sidetracked again.... so mommy and daddy told me that I had been promoted! I didn't really know what that meant but then they gave me this cute outfit...I just LOVE cute things and mommy gives my the cutest bows to go with my cute outfit my favorite outfit is...ugh here I go again....OK never mind all that...well here is me in all my cuteness showing off my BIG promotion!!! 

Yep!  That's right!  I am going to be a BIG sister!!!  I am super excited and so are mommy and daddy!  At first I didn't know what a BIG SISTER was and I was kinda nervous about the whole thing and thought maybe I don't want to be a big sister, but mommy and daddy told me ALL about it and I think I just may like this ;)  (Actually they haven't told me this but I don't think I really have a choice by the way they are talking about this new baby thing...but that's ok!)  So anyway I can't wait to meet my new brother or sister!  I think we will have so much fun playing and I can teach him or her all the new things that I have learned! I am also going to help mommy out when I can ;) I asked mommy when my new buddy will get here but she said it will be a little while still so I am just waiting patiently (I am trying to learn patients right now....boy is it hard!).  Did I tell you that I learned how to throw my dirty clothes in the dirty clothes basket and I started to go to Bible class and we sing and I am really good at spotting airplanes in the sky and....oh wait.... here I go again.   Oh I guess I better go......I think I need to go help mommy get her exercise (aka: pushing me in my wagon!)  See ya later alligator....oh and ......I LOVE You!
Love,
Brooklyn :)




Thanks sweet B!  Well I have been feeling pretty not so great these past few months which is why my blogging has been lacking so I hope to get back on track!  Stay tuned for updates on our newest addition, more on Miss B....and of course some pictures!  Guess it's time to come up with a new Blog Name or just add an "S" to My Heartfull!  We are so excited and feel so blessed to be adding to our family! God is so good!