Catch up!

I have so many pictures to post from the last three days. And I could stand to post more, but I won't right now. (I'll have more from tonight, hehehe)

First off is Lauren asleep in the car last night on the way to Hunter's school play, 'A Salute to Oklahoma'. Some may know that we are celebrating our 100th year, and yes Lauren is a centennial baby. She started loosing her pacifier, so I grabbed the camera and got this with the setting sun light.


Next: Everyday, Lauren becomes even more alert, and her most recent milestone, she found her mobile in her swing. Sometimes she will watch it for a long time, it's so cute. I can only imagine what she is thinking.

Here are two snapshots from Hunter's play. One during, and one afterwards... He was so proud!

Finally, today Grandma and I took Lauren to Hunter's Halloween party at school. They are never very exciting, they weren't even allowed to wear their costumes. Which stood for a lot of mad and dissapointed kids. Hunter begged to hold Lauren to show all the kids his little sister. He is so proud, like it's his accomplishment!

I'm making this short and sweet... Tonight we are passing candy out at Thomas and DeLeta's... I'll post some pictures for sure, lauren has a cute Halloween onsie to wear.

I hope everyone has a Happy Halloween tonight...

Awwwwwwe, such sweet boys...

Both of these boys are wrapped around Lauren Nadine's little finger! Hunter has been a wonderful big brother. I'm thankful he is the age he is; he can hold her, and I don't worry as much. And he loves to hold her, all the time. If she goes to squirming or fussing, he's there before I can turn the corner. Then Levi has to talk hunting business, but only with his future hunting buddy napping on his chest.

Last night, I fed Lauren some cereal, and a bottle of formula, and put her down to sleep in her bassinet. She woke up only minutes later, so I rocked her back to sleep, but this time, I tried the belly again, and guess who slept from 9-2 all on her own in her bassinet. I actually got to enjoy my side of the bed last night for a while. It was sooo nice. I hope to eventually have her sleeping there all night.

We had a wonderful baby moment today. This one is big enough to make note of... sitting in her daddys lap today, mommy bent over her and made all those disgusting baby talk sounds and faces... and Lauren just grinned real big, and talked back. She actually cooed and kept smiling. The more I did it, the more she grinned big and jabbered. Levi and I both couldn't stop smiling. Especially daddy. And no, I didn't have my camera handy, and once I did, she was done. But all in due time, I will be able to catch it on film.

Last night the youth at church went trick-or-treating for UNICEF... the kids had a lot of fun walking the streets and seeing their boxes fill with money. This wonderful idea was brought up by one of my newest friends, Shena. She's my age, and is very active in our church. She makes me want to do more. I wanted to walk with them, but at the time, Lauren was having nothing to do with that... After the walking, they came back for snacks and games. The first was wrap the mummy, and Hunter got to be the mummy. He had the most fun busting out of it once they were done.

Well, I think thats pretty much it for today. Hunter has a school play tomorrow night, 'Oklahoma'... I will try to get there early and get a seat so I can get some decent pictures... last's years Christmas play was terrible, we sat way in the back.

Well, hope everyone is doing great, be sure to email us or drop a comment.

The Fry's

Well, all is well here this weekend. We are about to slip out the door for church, but had a few minutes to post these pictures. The hand shot is mine from our trip out with daddy the other night. She can really get a grip when she needs too... kinda funny when she's on daddy's chest and gets a handful of chest hair! hahaha!

The other pictures are at Grandma's house getting some love and food with her new bottles. See we went to church on wednesday night, and our pastor took Lauren for me to have a few minutes. I was trying to use the dr. brown's bottles because the cause less gas and air intake. But she just didn't seem to care that much for them. But these 'nursers' by playtex, she really likes them.

Lauren is starting to observe her surroundings a lot more. She was looking at the blue glass in DeLeta's kitchen window. She likes ceiling fans too and anything in high contrast black and white.


























Well, we better head out. I'll try to take more pictures today and post them... have a great afternoon everyone!

'Roading' the dogs

Every year, around this time, Levi starts getting the greyhounds out and exercising them, or what he calles 'roading' them. He takes them out in the country, finds a nice soft dirt or sand road, and gets them to running and limbering up. Last night Lauren and I went along for the ride... and what a beautiful night! The moon was just gorgeous!

Before hand, we were at the gas station, fueling up, when I noticed Lauren smiling... I hurriedly grabbed the camera and barely caught the smile below... I kept trying, but only got funny facial expressions.

Not the best picture ever, but I did get one of Daddy and his newest little hunting buddy... He's a proud daddy for sure! And I just had to share the picture of one of the dogs looking out of the dog box, with the full moon coming on big and bold.

Today, Lauren and I are traveling with Terra to OKC to look for a Christmas tree, and get some picture frames. Our tree broke last year, and with all the new baby items in the house, we really need a tall, skinnier tree to fit in our living room. Garden Ridge and Hobby Lobby both are having sales this week!

I have some other good news... It's enough to excite me anyways! We found a new bottle yesterday that Lauren loves. So now I feel 100% better about sending her off to the babysitter... We also tried rice cereal last night for the first time, and she liked it. After talking to the lactation consultant yesterday, she recommended feeding it to her not in a bottle, but a spoon or such. It should help with her reflux issue, and it tends to make the baby feel 'fuller' for longer.

Well, I better get off here, and go get ready for our big day out.

Love! Love!

Wednesday

This is as close of a smile as I have been able to get on camera so far... Grandma DeLeta just loves to hold Lauren, and Lauren loves to be held. Every day I am amazed at how much better she is getting. For one who hated the swing two weeks ago, we now like to fall asleep in it. She gets a little more content everyday, thus leading me to relax more. In turn,I think she senses that I am a little happier and more relaxed, and so she's happier and more relaxed. And she's learning that when she calls, I come, and so she knows that she can count on me. She sleeps so much better now, and can be content for longer in her seat or swing, giving me a few extra minutes too.

Our church has been having a parenting class on Wednesday nights, so we are going to attempt to go tonight. I like being around everyone and seeing them more than just on Sunday. So I think I'll benefit from it in a lot of ways. So far I have enjoyed staying at home, but I do miss being around people. I'm such a people person.


Just a couple of snapshots DeLeta caught of me and baby girl... I swear if it weren't for DeLeta, I wouldn't have any pictures of me and Lauren hardly.

So I find myself calling Lauren 'Sissy', just like I grew up being called. And Hunter is 'Bubba', so I guess it's a family thing.

The weather has been cool the last couple of days, so I finally found an excuse to have her don all those cute hats we recieved. Fall is definitely here!

This is another meat market picture... Our local gocerer, Gerald, loves to weigh the new babies. So we did Lauren's one month today. She was a shopping 9 lbs. and 8 ozs. which is a lot more than monday's weigh-in at the dr. office. But she had clothes and a full belly today...

Well, I guess that's all there is to post today... I'll be snapping more pictures, and posting as we go, so make sure you check back... It won't be long, and she'll look different again... they grow so fast. It's hard to beleive it's already been five weeks!

Lots of Love to everyone!

Tummy Time

So today I gave Lauren some tummy time with the boppy, which can calm her down sometimes and sometimes it just makes her even more mad. Today she was content for a few minutes, then she wanted picked up. You can see on her face we are going through a bad baby acne period. The Dr. said it will eventually clear up. I am proud to say that her cephalhematoma on her head is now gone.

Lauren now weighs 9 lbs. and 4 ozs. Which means she gained 11 ozs. in 10 days, and the dr. was pleased to see that. She also has grown an inch and a half. She is now 21.5 inches. Levi swears she has to be longer than that, but I watched the nurse measure her, and she did a good job.

Not a whole lot else to report... We have a rather busy week planned. Tommorow our healthy families case manager is coming by to meet Lauren. I haven't seen her since I was 40 weeks pregnant. I don't think I have mentioned her here before, but I was asked when I was 20-something weeks pregnant. At first I declined, thinking it was a income-based program (knowing we wouldn't qualify) but it's not, and it provides a lot of information for baby development. She's a wonderful lady and always has great learning tools and info.

Thursday I have to take my car to the dealership, my temperature control on my driver side seems to not be working. And thats not good now that it's getting cold. We are also meeting my friend Amanda for lunch that day.

Friday, I am going to attempt an OKC trip with Terra to get a christmas tree at hobby lobby. Ours broke last year, and I absolutely loved it. But now that we have a baby swing and other things in the living room, we need a tall-skinnier one anyways.

Well, I guess it's about time to warm up the soup I made last night... I'll post later!

Shannon

Sunday Love...

So we made it to church, but before hand we stopped at grandma and grandpa's for some lovin's... Grandma snapped the two of me and her in the morning light of her front door. I'm so glad she took them. Then I caught a picture of Lauren and her 'papa'...

So today's sermon went along the lines of how I have been feeling lately. Our lay leader was our fill in for our pastor today, and he delivered a good lesson. What is our purpose in life? Not that I am questioning our purpose, but just how life is an amazing work period. How two things, not much bigger than the period that follows this sentence, can create a life so wonderful and beautiful as
the 8 lb. 11 oz. baby I hold in my hands...

A wee bit of heaven drifted down from above-

A handful of happiness,a heart full of love.

The mystery of life,so sacred and sweet-

The giver of joy so deep and complete.

Precious and priceless,so lovable, too-

The world's sweetest miracle,baby, is you.

She's definitely an attention hog, awake or asleep! I had a lot of compliments on her today and the yellow... apparantly she's made to wear the color yellow. I'm kinda partial to pink, but I can bear the yellow...

Not a whole lot else to report... time for a bath and Sunday night TV time. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

Love Us!

You can eat crackers in my bed....

This is what a beautiful morning at our house consists of... gassy babies and lazy puppies! hahaha

The first picture is of Lauren concentrating real hard on letting loose. The rest is her telling moma she's hungry! And of course the last is our no-good-for-nothing dog, Dixie. She doesn't mind sharing her bed with us. Thank goodness for a king size bed!




Well, we are about to get ready for church. I'll try to post some more pictures later. Lauren has her four week well baby checkup tomorrow. He's checking her weight since she isn't gaining as much as he'd like to see. I don't see how she can't be gaining a lot, she eats like a piglet!

Lots of love!

Almost 4 weeks!

Hey everyone! Life has been really busy as usual around here. Lauren is growing like a weed. Every day I think she changes more and more... She's finally starting to want to smile when I play with her. I know it won't be long and we'll have coos and giggles too.

The picture to the left is the first time she stayed somewhere without moma for longer than five minutes. We decided to trip up to the city Saturday and do some shopping and get some pictures taken. Well, before hand, I need to clean the car out a bit and do a few things around the house. But someone wouldn't let me! I had just fed her and changed her, and I couldn't set her down to save my life. So I trotted over to grandma's, and she took miss Lauren, started rocking her, and had her asleep in no time. So I took an hour for me, and got things done.

Sleep at night is still pretty good. We are starting to sleep 4 hour stretches. And we almost always sleep til 8:30 or 9. We kinda have found a routine too. As soon as we get up, I can almost count on her being content long enough for me to jump in the shower. She sits in her pink bouncy seat in the bathroom floor and stares at our statue. Usually I will stay in there until she starts getting fussy again. Then it's off to eat and sleep for a bit.

I finally got desperate enough to buy the book, "The Happiest Baby on the Block"... I'm hoping to get some help out of it. Lauren will be four weeks old on Thursday and she still is not able to be content for very long. I can't imagine that daycare will take too kindly to holding my fussy baby all day.


Today my best friend Terra came down from Clinton and helped me around the house. But first we made a much needed trip to Elk City to eat chinese food and go to Wal-mart. Afterwards, we swung by my old work place, Dean's Greenhouse (I ran the retail at Cordell almost four years ago), and picked out a few pumpkins. I definitely took this one home with me!!!


Well, not much else to bore you with. I mean I could, but then ya'll might not want to some back! hahaha... As soon as the Penney's pictures come in, I'll post some.

Sending our love!

The Fry's!

Just an update....

I can't believe that three weeks have now come and gone! Three whole weeks, and the funniest part? It seems like she's been with us an eternity. I mean our lives don't feel like they were anything different than before three weeks ago... We now have had several good nights of sleep. But our dr. appointment trip was horrible yesterday. She was so fussy, and I don't know what I would have done without DeLeta riding with me. She was so helpful.

So we are still dealing with reflux, and some gassy issues. She cried one of her good cries, and the dr. noticed that she would reflux up as she cried. I just hated to hear her cry, so I try anything so that she won't scream like that... now all the more reason not to let her.

Here is her hospital picture. I know the lady took several shots, but this was the only one they posted. Not only are they relatively expensive, but I'm not that pleased with them. But it is my baby and so I plan to buy some 5x7's or something to have for her scrapbook. However we have an appointment for pictures tomorrow in Oklahoma City, so I am looking forward to that.

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Otherwise, things are going good here, and starting to level off a bit. Here is a post partum pic of me, not quite three weeks, and I have to say I feel so good. I didn't realize how miserable I really was towards the end of my pregnancy. And no! I'm not sucking it in! hahaha!

We went out last tonight for Hunter's last football game. Grandma and Grandpa came and then Rusty (Levi's little brother, 20) rode with us. Afterwards we all went out to eat at Alfredo's Mexican Food place. They hand make their tortillas right there in the resturaunt. Unfortunately their food wasn't all that great... they didn't even have the tortilla soup that DeLeta and I ordered.

Here are a few random pics from Hunter's game. He did a great job. He scored two touchdowns and had two interceptions. He's just an all round good player of the game.


(click to enlarge)

Tooooooo cute!

So yesterday was quiet... we didn't do much of anything, except veg out at the house. Levi had a horrible sinus headache, and I was just enjoying being with Lauren. We sat outside and I had an idea of how to put a photo collage together. So I started snapping all her facial expressions, and took my favorite nine and created the below. I may have to print out a 8x10 of it. I just love photoshop! And she's so damn cute!



But the cuteness soon ended when it was time to change her diaper. From the moment I lay her down, until the moment I start to pick her up, I almost always get to hear this:

(it's only 6 seconds long, couldn't stand to let her cry any longer than I had too)

(gotta hit the play button twice)




Last night was another horrible night. I brag about our Friday night, and how does she re-pay me? We were up from 2-5:30, and nothing made her happy. She had her belly full, and her diaper clean, but she was not about to go back to sleep. I sat with her in the living room in the recliner. Finally around 4, I was so tired and couldn't stand it anymore. I needed a drink and a potty break. So I handed her off to poor Levi, and took five minutes. She continued the fussiness, but around 5 you could tell she was puttering out. So Levi rocked her in bed, and finally she drifted off...

ahhhhh...

NOT!

As soon as he laid her down, she became wide awake... as a last resort, I offered her a feeding while laying down, and though she didn't really want to eat, she snuggled and drifted off. Then I didn't have to move her or touch her, and we slept til almost 9. So not too much lost time.

The joys of being new parents! I'm loving it! And Levi so lovingly tells me in the middle of her screaming: "Remember this before you think about another one!!!"

And yes, it's hard, but like some snippets from a favorite poem, 'Before I was a mom':

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

My most favorite thing so far, is in the middle of a fit, I can pick her up, put her face to mine, and say her name softly and she stops crying and starts 'rooting'... and I know it is just because she's hungry, but to know that someone needs me so much is the best feeling ever.

Levi agrees with me, marriage cannot compare to having a child. I sheepishly admitted to him that until the day she was born, I thought our wedding day was the best day of my life... but surprisingly enough, he agreed. There is nothing better than bringing a child into the world!

Well, the princess is asleep in my lap, once again on her boppy. And I am on the computer when I should be trying to take a nap as well. I'm actually quite hungry, it may be time to try and lay her down and scrounge for some food.

We skipped church today, just too tired to try and hurry. But I hope to make it next weekend. I forgot to mention that Levi and Hunter took us to church last Sunday. And boy were we the center of attention. At one point I looked down in her carrier and there laid a $10 bill. After some investigating, I found that one of the older ladies hadn't gotten us a gift, so she stuck that there. I plan to put the lady's name and the date on it, and stick it in her piggy bank.

Ok, I'm off for the day. I hope everyone is doing great! Drop us a line, or leave us a comment, so we know you were here! We do enjoy what everyone has to say!

Lots of Love,
Shannon, Levi, Hunter, and Lauren!

Just a quick pic(s)...

I wonder what she's was thinking right here?

Last night was sooooooooo much better. We slept for a couple of hours in the recliner. then we moved to the bed, and managed to only wake three times between midnight and 8 a.m. I know it's a no-no, but she sleeps so much better on her belly, between me and Levi, so I think we'll be ok. And she already has a very strong head, she turns from side to side on her own, and is good about not planting face first. So I feel comfortable with her sleeping like that.

Hey! desperate times call for desperate measures!

And I have to praise the handy invention of the boppy pillow! Right now, as I type miss Lauren is content, just finished eating and asleep in my lap, against my chest, arms free. It's wonderful!

Not much else to post today... I am in the process of trying to get a photo shoot for me and Lauren scheduled. And the other pictures and announcements will be in next week so I can get my thank you cards out. I know I'm cheap, I'm killing two birds with one stone, but if you realized how many thank you's I have to send out, you wouldn't blame me. I'm counting on having to spend at least $50-75 dollars in postage alone. So might as well make it worth it!

Oh, one more pic for the road... My ex-stepfather's, (Mark Gruver, and I mean this in a nice way, I have a point) stepmother, Deloris made Lauren this afghan. The picture does not do it justice. And my point? That even when you are technically no longer family, you still are... (does that make sense?) They still are, and always will be Grandpa Galen and D to me... Thanks so much D! It's beautiful!

(oh! just a side note; if some of the pics of Lauren seem to be reddish and brighter, its this new action I have in photoshop that makes the colors, especially red hues, really pop.)

Well, I guess that's it for now. I'll try to take some more pictures this weekend.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Shannon and Lauren

Dr. knows best!!!

Ok, so I have to proclaim my love for my dr. right now! And I may be jumping the gun on this, but so far so good... Ok, a little background, before Lauren arrived on the scene, I swore I was not going to have a 'binkie' baby, or a 'paci', 'sassy' whatever you may call it. I just shudder at the sight of a toddler with a pacifier stuck in their mouth. But I sheepishly admit now why parents love them so. They soothe a baby, point blank, thats what they do. And after all my swearing, guess who couldn't get her baby to take a pacifier when she needed it most?!?! Yes, I stuck my foot in my mouth and went for the dreaded 'binkie'. So, even before we left the hospital, my dr. recommended the 'NUK' brand by gerber. He claimed that both of his kids did well with them... But did I listen? Noooooooooooo! We have tried three brands, and have sucessfully failed at all three. And just when I was about to give up, I was in Wal-mart today and bought a package of two NUK pacifiers.

And guess who just happily took it, like a pro, and is now comforted in her bouncy seat. Ten minutes before this, she was screaming, and absolutely did not want to be put down in the swing or the bouncy seat. I am just elated, but again, I could be sticking my foot in my mouth... Oh, and in the second picture, I know it looks like she's trying to pull it out, but it actually was falling out and she either put her hand up there to stop it, or it was just coincidence... but it's cute, because she's almost asleep, ahhhhhh, maybe this will help at night as well.

On another dr. note, we went today for our two week checkup... the last couple of days or shall I say nights, have been somewhat hellish... We were up from 2:30-6 am again. After telling the dr. all about her issues, he has resolved that it is indeed acid reflux, and we are starting her on the lesser of all evil medicine's 'Axid'. If this doesn't help, then we will move up from there. After visiting with the lactation consultant, which is an Angel by the way, alot of Lauren's issues make much more sense now. The constant sneezing, nasal congestion, excessive spitting up, and hiccups for one are a sure sign of the reflux. Then the eating smaller and more often was Lauren's way of keeping from getting too full, thus causing more reflux... she did that one on her own... And the lactation consultant also assured me as long as I am watching her, or right there beside her at night, it is ok to let her sleep on her belly. We were able to get a restful nap yesterday with her on her stomach in my bed.

The nurse at the dr. office made the comment how the first child is always the guinea pig, I can believe it. And I have to admit, although at their expense, as I would not wish this reflux on anyone, I would not have been so worried about all the 'signs' if it had not been for my good friend and her going through the same thing with her nine week old baby boy.

I can't believe that Lauren is two weeks old today! She's definitely getting a personality, and some of her facial expressions crack me up! I finally got bold and gave her her first real bath yesterday. And she really seems to like it. She doesn't scream like when I gave her the sponge baths. She likes the water to be poured on her belly and head. And if you are wondering about the wash cloth, I put it there to keep her warmer and pour water on it. So today I invested in an infant bath tub as well...



Boy, I'm full of investments today! hahaha!

Well I guess that's it for now... sorry about the novel, and bless those that actually read every word. I'm off to clean a little house while I can. I have the exterminator coming tomorrow morning to spray for spiders, for some reason since bringing her home, I have noticed way more than I care to see...

As always, we send our love!

Shannon, Levi, Hunter and Lauren