We are makin' it!

Go ahead and call me spoiled, but this is our first week without help since Sarah Kate was born.  Honestly, I have been dreading the day I had to do this on my own.  My biggest fear was that I wouldn't be able to keep up with a rambunctious toddler while caring for a newborn.  I was afraid that Audrey, who was the center of attention for two years, would act out in frustration when faced with the fact that she was sharing "HER" mommy.  I was terrified that temper tantrums would become more frequent and my patience would run thin. I was worried that Audrey would feel neglected. How in the world was I going to do it all? I will admit that I have been in tears over it all the last few weeks, but then the week I had been dreading came.  But instead of being upset over the change, Audrey was happy about playing the role of big sister and my little helper.  Don't get me wrong, she did attempt to give her baby sister away a time or two, but she is adjusting much better than I expected.  Actually, we all are.  

Sleep smile! 

Sisterly love!

Did I mention Sarah doesn't enjoy sleeping unless being held? Good thing she is cute!

Freshly painted nails!

Once we *finally* get little sister down for a nap, it's mom and Audrey time.  I try and forget all of the million things that need to be done around the house and spend time with my girl.  Yes, that means that our breakfast dishes stay pilled in the sink much longer than I would like and the laudry baskets stay full, but I realize that Audrey won't remember those things when she is older.  So please excuse the mess next time you visit, we were busy painting our nails. :)

Sarah Kate Dennis

Meet our newest addition, Sarah Kate.  She suprised us by coming a few days early on January 3rd.  She was born at 2:30 pm and weighed a whopping 6 lbs 4.9 oz.  We are all doing well and adjusting to two little girls.  These are a few moments we've captured on our cell phone over the past week.  I'm hoping to find a spare moment (haha) to upload pictures on my camera, but a newborn is begging for my attention at the moment so until next time....

Christmas 2013

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.  I enjoy the music, the decorations, and the lights much more than your average person.  It seems that I have passed my obsession with Christmas down to Audrey.  She was just as excited about all of our Christmas activities as I was (we are still working on John's  enthusiasm, but he doesn't complain too much).  

Our first Christmas tradition is selecting and cutting our tree.  We arrived just before sundown and the wind was almost unbearable, but we searched on until we found the one.  Audrey was a little confused about cutting the tree down and taking it home since she had just helped my Mom put up a fake one the day before.  She asked at least 20 questions while we were cutting it down.

We brought it home and decorated it the next morning.  Daddy helped her reach the top to place the star. 

We spent Christmas Eve at my parent's house, where we all pitched in to make sugar cookies.  

That afternoon, we visited my grandparents and was able to spend some time with our silly cousins!

We drove back that night so we could celebrate Christmas morning at our house.  Audrey woke up to find a dollhouse that John had made for her.  

It was a hit of course.  We love listening to the conversations that the dolls have with one another.  

Audrey put carrots out for the reindeer and this is what she woke up to find!  Santa left a special Rudolf stuffed animal in thanks.

We drove back to my parents house that afternoon for Christmas at their house(yes, we drove up and down the mountain a lot, but we didn't mind).  Audrey stocked up on a few Blue's Clue's movies (which will come in handy when the baby comes!)  and lots of other toys.

She even got a dollhouse for "Gibby and Pop's" too!  Of course she had to help assemble it. 

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas too!  Merry (belated) Christmas from our family to yours!