Ballet Recital 2012

Today was Stella's first dance recital!  She's been taking ballet since October in anticipation of this big day.  Of course we knew that the chances of her actually dancing were slim, but she did so well and had so much fun.  We were all so proud of her poise and presence on stage!  

Before dress rehearsal with her friend, Lily.

Waiting to begin dancing!

Sweetest dance EVER!

Sweetest audience member EVER!

Stella's fan club!

  

Pre-Show Photo with Daddy!

Congratulations on a GREAT show!

Proud Papaw & Tessie

Proud Mom, Dad, and Phoenix!

My sweet dancer!

Phoenix's First Beach Excursion

Today we decided to tackle our first trip to the beach with Phoenix.  Since Papaw and Tessie are here visiting, we figured it would be a great time to go seeing as we had four additional hands to help!  Overall, it was a HUGE success!  Phoenix sat under an umbrella for the majority of our time there and only came out to eat and take a family photo.  Stella enjoyed having him there with us and occasionally checked in on him in between building sand castles and playing in the waves.  

Phoenix enjoyed the salty air!

First family photo on the beach!

 Funny story that made me flip - I was getting Stella's lunch out of the cooler.  I was holding her PB&honey sandwich, a bag of carrots, an orange, and a cheese stick when all of a sudden I felt flapping wings in my ear and perching on my head.  Before I realized what was happening, I saw a seagull fly away with the cheese stick in his beak!  The stinkin' bird stole it right out of my hand.  Needless to say, it gave me the heeby-jeebies and I was not happy.  Those seagulls have a LOT of gull...(haha).   

After our day at the beach, we came home to eat dinner and take naps before going back to the boardwalk to ride carnie rides, eat ice cream, and watch the fireworks.  Stella had SO MUCH FUN riding the rides.  I have to admit, I HATE carnie rides, but we couldn't turn her down when she saw all of the lights and excitement.  It was worth it to see her laugh and smile so much. 


 

Tessie rode the Pirate Ship ride with you!

What a fun dragon ride!

This is what he thinks about the carnie rides...

Scooter Riding!

This morning we took a walk to the park, and Stella did a GREAT job riding her scooter!

Family of Four

The past two weeks have been a bit crazy in our house!  As we anticipated the birth of Phoenix, Grandma Tessie and Aunt Lysie traveled to Wilmington to help out for the week.  We are so happy that they were here to share in this exciting time.  They cooked, cleaned, helped with errands and Stella's activities, and pampered me with massages and pedicures.  It was sooo nice! 

Stella & Tessie before a day of shopping!

On Tuesday, May 8th, we spent the morning on the beach.  While there, Stella played, Daddy surfed, Tessie & Lysie relaxed, and Mommy walked and walked and walked hoping to get labor going.  Little did we know that we would be going to the hospital that night! 

Playing on the beach while Mommy started to go into labor!

On Wednesday, May 9th at 8:20 in the morning, we welcomed Phoenix O'Neil Reid into our family.  He entered the world weighing 8 lbs 4 oz (2 lbs MORE than his sister) and measuring 20 inches long.  He is perfect and healthy, and we couldn't ask for more!  

Stella has adjusted to life as a big sister quite well.  She says some funny things every now and then like, "Mom, when Phoenix turns into a girl can we paint her toenails?"  Or, "When Phoenix turns into a girl can she wear a tutu?"  We have had to remind her several times that Phoenix is NOT going to turn into a girl, so she won't have to share her nail polish or her tutus.  That seems to satisfy her for the time being.

Phoenix is a GREAT baby!  We've already started putting him on a schedule per "The Baby Whisperer," and it is proving beneficial because we are getting solid four-hour stretches of sleep at night.  He seems to be content living within our crazy world and is very chill.  So far, his least favorite activities are baths and diaper changes.  He loves his paci and being swaddled tightly.

We were discharged from the hospital on Friday, May 11th and were excited to go home and get settled.  His first night home was predictable and calm.  Thanks SOOO much to Grandma Tessie and Auntie K for the Fisher Price Rock-n-Play Sleeper!  That cradle combined with the swaddling and the paci have afforded us a lot more sleep than we ever got with Stella as a newborn!  It is truly a lifesaver, and we would recommend it to ANYONE! 

Mommy meeting her sweet boy!  Phoenix O'Neil Reid - 8 lbs 4 oz 20 inches

Daddy snuggling with Phoenix who looks so much like Stella as a newborn.

Big Sister Stella is in LOVE with her little brother!

Grandma Tessie takes a look.

Stella is so good at holding "her baby."

Aunt Lysie meets Phoenix

Such a sweet boy!

Stella couldn't be more excited!

"Just Born!"

TWO KIDS?!?!

We were soooo ready to go home - car ride home at 9:30 p.m.

Stella stayed awake to greet us!

First family of four photo - we're all exhausted!

Daddy with his two kids!?!

Stella is such a big helper and loves to hold Phoenix.

 On Mother's Day, we decided to attempt our first excursion out of the house.  The plan was to do some shopping downtown on the river walk followed by lunch.  Honestly, the whole trip was a complete success!  Lunch at Mixto was FREE for moms (BONUS!), and both kids cooperated the entire time.  Our second excursion out, however, was not as successful, but I think we were overly ambitious!  

Auntie K with her niece and nephew on Mother's Day.

  

Family photo on the Cape Fear River - Mother's Day

Auntie K enjoyed doing the girlie activities with Stella. 
What a FUN auntie!!

Another cute photo of Auntie K and her niece and nephew.

Mommy, Mini-Mommy, and Phoenix. 

Such a sweet face!

After bath - of which he is NOT a fan!

One week old!

Snuggling with Daddy

Starting to tolerate the bath a bit more! 

Thank goodness for the cradle and the swaddle!!

 

The dogs:  "ANOTHER ONE!?"

Just relaxin'!

Day Nine and she is still a fan!

Sweet kisses from a sweet girl to a sweet boy!

 Overall, life as a family of four (or six if you count the dogs) has been treating us very well.  Thankfully, we have great friends who are bringing us meals, and because we are both off of work, we can really focus on getting into a routine and figuring all of this out!  Don't be surprised, however, if the blog posts become infrequent until life becomes less chaotic!