Shabby Miss Jenn

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Welcome to the World Campbell

So here I am with my second child, but still feeling like a first time mom at moments. We had to wait a month before taking Addisan home. This has been such a blessing to take Campbell home right away and begin to bond with her. One thing though is still the same...that instant feeling of unconditional love you have for your little one after only meeting them for a second. The feelings of joy, fear, and awe. One of my biggest fears of having another child was wondering how I could love her as much as I love Addisan. I would ask myself what else I could want more in another child that Addisan does not possess....and the answer was always nothing. I knew I did not want Addisan to be an only child, but wondered how a second child would fit into our family puzzle. Without any hesitation, I can say Campbell was the missing piece I never knew was missing. She has already brought our entire family even closer together. With every addition we bring to our family....both two legged and four legged...we get stronger and stronger as a unit. I also learned your heart grows to make room for new additions. Campbell is a very laid back baby who only fusses (not even cries) when she is hungry. She has been sleeping well and eating well. This has been a very different experience than with Addisan. We had to force Addisan to eat to make sure she gained weight in order to regulate her temperature. She was an awful sleeper because her stomach was not big enough to keep her going for me more than two hours....but all of those sleepless nights were worth it to have such a wonderful daughter. Addisan has made her transition of being a big sister with such ease. She hugs her, helps feed her...and has even said, "I take care of my sister." I am one glowing mom who has counted her blessings this holiday season.

Campbell right after delivery. I didn't believe the doctor when she told me that she was three times the size of Addisan until I saw her!


Grandma was the first one to hold her before the rest of the family came.

Me loving on my little girl.


The DeRidders giving Campbell some TLC.


Aunt Lora helping her pose for a picture.

For Addisan's Big Sister gift, she received a baby doll that she can feed and change her diaper. My hope is that she can take care of her baby while I have to take of Campbell's needs. She also received a Fisher Price digital camera to take some pics of her new little sister.


Me and the girls.


Addisan checking on her little sister. She calls her either Cami or Camel.


Addisan helping feed Campbell.


Campbell, Addisan, and Cousin Samantha being silly.


Addisan doting over her little sister.


Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Campbell Layne Arrives

Campbell Layne Taylor arrived on Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 7:59am weighing 8 lbs 15 oz and measuring in at 21 inches long!  Campbell is almost three times the size of her sister Addisan who was 3 lbs 2 oz!! 

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Mommy, Campbell, and Daddy

Addisan came by to see her sister but was more excited by her big sister gifts, a baby doll (who she had to sleep with that night), and an indestructible (hopefully) digital camera!

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Addisan taking her first photos with her new camera

Mom and baby are doing well and are trying to outsleep each other!  Mom is receiving visitors at Johnston-Willis through Friday.  She and Campbell, and Tommy of course will be home on Saturday sometime!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Soccer Time

With winter approaching, I thought signing up Addisan for indoor soccer might be a good idea to get out some of her energy. In addition, I thought it was a great idea for some quality bonding time for Daddy and Addisan. I don't know what is more amusing...watching Addisan go to the beat of her own drummer during practice or Tommy trying to keep up with her. The coaches do a lot of age appropriate activities with the two year olds. They begin each class with stretching and then they proceed to running the field, kicking the balls off of cones, walking the "rocks", dribbling the balls, kicking balloons, and other fun things. The coaches also provide snack at the end of each practice...so cute! I do not think Addisan is a natural born soccer player, but I know she has a lot of fun....which is all that really matters. My little girl is not so little anymore...she is growing up way too quickly.


Daddy helping Addisan walk the "rocks."


Addisan dribbling the ball down the field with Daddy cheering her on.


Addisan and Daddy stretching.


Look at her go!


This is Addisan's trouble on the field...she is known for handballs.


Friday, November 28, 2008

Thanksgiving

Each year, Tommy and I partake in two Thanksgiving feasts....and our waistlines show it! The Sunday before Thanksgiving, the Taylors host Thanksgiving at their house before everyone travels in their own direction on Thanksgiving Day. Mrs. Taylor's dishes that she is known for are her homemade macaroni and her meatballs....so yummy! Addiasn had a great time pulling out the old toys that her cousins used to play with over at the Taylors...15 years ago! This just goes to show that cars, books, and figurine dolls are classic toys that will never go out of style.

On Thanksgiving Day, we traveled to Charlottesville to have Thanksgiving with the Miller side of the family. Chuck and Kris did a wonderful job with the spread. This was our first year not hosting Thanksgiving since moving to Richmond and secretly, it was kinda nice:) My brother and his family came over from Yorktown and all of the cousins had a chance to be together. In addition, Kris's dad and step mom were there as well as my parents. Chuck smoked part of the turkey and it was delicious! He also made for his pregnant sister, his famous baked carrots in this sugary sauce that is to die for. You know they must be good because I am not one to love vegetables! We played air hockey, foosball, board games...and just had a low stress, relaxing time.

Below are pictures from our Thanksgiving Feasts.


From the Taylor House:

Billy, Susan, Neely, Chris, and Ju-Ju


Popeye, Carl, Lora, Billy, and Susan


Popeye and Addisan reading a story together.


Tommy always has a way of taking pictures when we are not ready.


Addisan had seconds before we even left the Taylors.


Addisan back at our house after a fun filled day. I think she is wondering what happened to all of the excitement.


From the Miller House:

Addisan rocking it out on Boo's (a.k.a. her cousin Forrest) Guitar Hero.


Justine just chillin'.

Samantha relaxing and reading after eating all that turkey.


Dad sporting his JMU pride.


Addisan trying to make words with the Scrabble pieces.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

35 Weeks and Holding

So I am officially pregnant longer this time around than I was with Addisan...YEA! I am 30 pounds lighter due to not being sick with preeclampsia. What a difference that weightloss makes being able to move around with ease. This pregnancy has been different than the last, still with many ups and downs though. From the beginning, this pregnancy has not been the easiest for me. Between the constant throwing up and nauseousness...I thought this is honestly what death must feel like. I threw up in public restaurants to my car....just to name a few locations. By the time September rolled around, my emergency puke bag was officially out of my purse. This was a huge milestone. I look back now and think of those unfortunate moments and realize they are all going to worth it when I hold Campbell for the first time in December. The thought of having another little girl like Addisan warms my heart. I am trying my best to prepare myself not to compare the two girls and let each of them develop into the individuals they were meant to be. But honestly, I hope Campbell has Addisan's compassion and sense of humor and they grow up not only as sisters, but best friends. I cannot wait to meet Campbell and watch Addisan be the best big sister that I know she can be!

Getting ready for bed at 35 weeks.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Campbell Celebrations!

We are very fortunate to have so many friends that love us. My bridal party party had a luncheon for me at Maggiaono's at Tysons to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Campbell. It was great to visit with everyone. Once we hit the beltway, as sad as this is to admit, I felt like I was home. We ate way too much and chatted for too long....I loved every moment of it! I think what I love most about my friends, they each represent part of my life journey....childhood, college, and teaching...and all mesh so well together. They all get along so well in fact, that they sometimes get together and have fun without me since moving down to Richmond:) In addition, our neighbors through a mother-daughter shower for me and Addisan. It was so nice to see all the kids in the neighborhood and visit with our neighborhood friends. We played mother/daughter games, socialized, and again, ate too much! Tommy and I are very fortunate to have such great friends as neighbors. Campbell is one lucky girl to be welcomed into the world as she has been!


The whole table after dessert.


Ryan, Julie Anna, and my niece Samantha


Ronya, Whitney, Allyson, and Jen


Colleen, Marissa, and Sara


My mom and Mrs. Taylor



I received so many generous gifts. I was very spoiled!


Here I am 32 weeks pregnant before heading over to Pam's house for the neighborhood shower.


Parker and Addisan hanging out at our house before the shower.


Here Addisan is posing with all of the gifts we received. I used this photo and made thank you notes on Snapfish. There is nothing more I hate diong than handwriting thank you notes.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Not-so-Sweet Halloween

Halloween this year was not so sweet for Addisan. We had practiced during the week walking in the neighborhood wearing our costume with our candy bag and going door to door....only to wake up from our afternoon nap on Halloween with a 104 degree temperature. We believe that she had Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. When I rushed her to the doctor, they ruled out strep and the flu. They were able to say that her throat was swollen with a big blister in the back of it. There were not enough blisters to confirm for sure that it was indeed Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, but they could not rule it out. The reason why we think it was HFM was because a mother from our Moms' Group came with her child on Monday that had just broken out with it the day prior. What this mother was thinking...I have no idea! Needless to say, this mother's choice not only ruined our Halloween, but we missed a birthday party up home the following day. I just don't know what people are thinking some days. We did though make the best of the situation and went trick-or-treating next door the following evening. Addisan enjoyed it and probably like it even more in the day light than she would at night.

Addisan gearing up to go next door.


Isn't she just the cutest ladybug you have ever seen?

Monday, October 20, 2008

Make Room for Campbell

Back in August, we started thinking about how our lives would change with the addition of Campbell. We made a Things to Do list (ok, I made it for Tommy)....and on that list was to order a big girl bed for Addisan. So, the first weekend in August, we went to USA Baby and ordered Addisan this beautiful white bed with a trundle underneath. The bed has a classic look to it with the hope that its simplicity will suite all of Addisan's budding tastes growing up. After we returned back from USA Baby, we put Addisan down for a nap. She was not in her best mood when we took her upstairs because we would not let her sleep with a necklace on....the awful parents that we are:) By the time we got downstairs and looked at our video monitor, we heard a loud thump and hysterical crying. She escaped from her crib...we are still not quite sure how! We rushed upstairs and I was so worried that she might have hurt her neck during the fall. She was not crying from the pain of the fall, but rather for her necklace that was downstairs! This girl has a high threshold for a pain! That afternoon, we took her mattress out of her crib and she slept on that for a number of weeks. Her crib does convert to a toddle bed, but it was still too high for her. When I look at her now, she is a not a baby anymore, but a little girl.

Addisan amazes me and surprises me each day. After only telling her once that she has to stay in her bed after she wakes up....she followed the directions! We placed a basket of books next to her mattress for her to read when she wakes up. She would stay in her bed and read to herself and her baby doll until we came in to get her. Once Addisan's new room was ready, we placed her mattress in there for her to transition to her new place. She did great as usual. Once her bed came in and we purchased mattresses, we moved her to the trundle and then to the regular bed. She is growing up way to quick. I am loving this stage of life with her! She never ceases to surprise me. Below are pictures of her old room post crib escape and her new room.

Addisan's former sleeping arrangements.


Here is Addisan's new room that is a work in progress. We still need to order her a dresser and night stand as well as get up some wall decorations. That will hopefully be coming soon!

Pumpkin Patch

I joined a group called MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) down here in Richmond. All the moms are really down to earth and their kids are great. We meet every other Thursday for a few hours. The children have a huge playdate with each other while we enjoy some adult time. The MOPS group does charity work, outings (with and without kids!), crafts, and supports one another in anyway that you can imagine. I love the fact that they have mentor moms to lean on for support...knowing that they have already been through what we are going through now and survived to tell about it! It is nice to have a support system down here in Richmond while away from all of my friends. I took my first outing with the group to the Chesterfield Berry Farm to go pumpkin picking. Addisan enjoyed herself. She did though love the hay ride more than the actual pumpkin picking. When I told her to pick the pumpkin she wanted to take home....she would sit on it and say, "This one" and then two seconds later sit on another pumpkin and say the same thing. I am happy to report that we did come home with only two pumpkins!


Addisan running around while waiting for the hay ride.


Addisan enjoying the hayride to the pumpkin patch.


Addisan sitting on one of the many pumpkins she wanted to take home with her.


Addisan and I on our way back from the pumpkin patch. She was so worn out!


Addisan reflecting about the day after she woke up from her nap.