Life...

My princess...Strat fought the swaddle blanket...and won
5 weeks old
fascinated with the camera...
Love my big boy...
Well, we're five weeks into the Alcorn circus, as I like to call it. And so far, we're all still alive. The most surprising thing for me so far has been how quickly things can go from totally controlled to pure chaos. You go from thinking you're a pro to thinking you might throw yourself out the window pretty quick. Beck has finally started to settle down from having to learn to share time with Strat. Either that or he's just been more focused on following Kylie around, which is causing its own set of problems since he thinks he has rights to ANYTHING and EVERYTHING she tries to play with. The in-laws are on their way in town as we speak to see the kids and meet Strat for the first time. I'm very excited to see what the weekend has in store!

random pics

I was trying to get beck to smile and so snapped this shot without even looking through the view finder, i think it quite artistic =)
My love, watching t.v.Beck in Ky's gardening glasses.

Love this boy...
Strat resting on the couch
Happy boy
Having some good dreams...

One day at a time...

My sweet baby girl is all grown up! She even found out at her dentist apt. last week that she has her first wiggly tooth!Playing with my new iphoto toys!
Caught mid-yawn
I love pictures that make 'big' babies look little!
Becksterman hanging out as ASI during a party kylie went to.

so, life is literally flying by at this point. lil' man is turning a month old this week and he's already outgrown many of his newborn clothes..that's right friends, we're already on to 3 mo. clothing, thank goodness i didn't go crazy buying clothes this time around, because he's worn most of the stuff once, if even at all. I don't even want to know how much he currently weighs. We go back in for a check up on the 24th, so I guess we'll find out then.

Stratton is doing really well. Still eating all the time, usually every 3 hrs. during the day and about every 4 at night. I keep waiting for this to slow down, but no way jose....at least not yet. He still makes a ton of noise and seems to still be having some digestive issues...this kid takes the word gassy to a whole new level.

Beck is starting to get use to having him around, but still isn't a fan. It seems like right when I sit down to nurse is the exact moment that Beck needs a drink or wants me to come play with him. But I was warned ahead of time that this would happen.

Here are a couple pictures of all the kiddos. We got a new computer, an apple, and I'm still trying to learn how to use it. But one thing I know I already love is the Iphoto software...its very easy to use!

Time is flying by...

Strat dog at 1 week old.


Multi tasking at its best. J with his 'mama' wrap on cooking dinner while I took the other two weenies to the park.

Chubby bunny from the very begining...

Facts about Stratton...

- He has taken to making it his job to try and pee on me and/or himself during EVERY diaper change.

-He is the loudest baby I have ever seen. Always grunting or cooing in his sleep.

-He's a toucher. And a heater. He LOVES to sleep all cuddled up next to someone while his temp is about 200 degrees.

-He loves to eat. Is still nursing at least every 3 hrs. I've gotten one 4 hr. stretch one night so far and that's it.

-He has a lot of hair but it can't decide if it wants to be curly or not.

-He's not a big fan of being unwrapped and immediately starts trying to dig his nails into his face the minute you let him go free.

Facts about life with 3...

-If there ever was such a thing as free time, its gone now. You either have two kiddos or a baby...take your pic.

-Kylie is going to make an AMAZING mother one day.

-Beck isn't a big fan of having to split mom's attention during the day. In fact, he's grown a nice pair of devil horns in the last week or so.

-I thought time was flying by with two children...nothing compared to how fast it is going now.

Welcome to a party of 5!

On Feb. 17th 2011, Jason and I (and his two siblings) welcomed Stratton Elijah into the world. Since then, things have been CRAZY around here, allowing me no time to catch up on blogging. So I'll try to stick to the basics because I'm sure someone will be needing something in a very short amount of time =)

J and I headed to the hospital Thursday morning ready to be induced. My parents watched Ky and Beck while we were at the hospital, and they had a blast hanging out with Nana and Dampa, eating lots of junk, and playing non-stop. The induction process was much slower than I had anticipated since it was baby #3. It was 2:00 in the afternoon and I was only measuring a 4/5 (I came in a 2). However, in the next hour and a half, we made it the rest of the way and it was go time! The doctor arrived, delivery took less than 10 minutes, three pushes, and we were done. It really was that easy, which was a nice break from the scares during Beck's delivery. Afterwards, J talked about how nice of a moment it was for him to have that time w/ Strat since he wasn't worried about one of us practically dying! (Beck was born with the cord around his neck and I, well, lets just say my heart rate was less than stellar through the process).

Stratton was born at 4:08 p.m. weighing 8 lbs. 11 oz. and measuring 21 inches. I couldn't believe I was able to deliver such a big baby without any difficulties. But afterwards, sure does make sense why I was so miserable during the end of this pregnancy. He was HUGE!

Anyways, over the next 20 hrs. or so we got poked, proded, and released, and were able to return home by Friday afternoon. My parents kept the two weenies until Sat. morning to give J and I one night with 'Tank' as J has aptly named him, before reuniting the family.

Life since then has been crazy busy. I'm walking around in a zombie state most of the time. Strat doesn't care much for sleeping at night, Beck has sense then sprouted a nice pair of devil horns, and Ky, well, she's as sweet as she always is of course, and she LOVES her new baby brother.

I'm sure the next couple posts will give more insight into life with 3 kids, but for now, this is about all I have time for. =)

Third times a charm...

This is the third time I have sat down to update the blog, lets hope it turns out better than the previous two, which I deleted only minutes after getting started since all I could do was complain and whine about anything and everything =)

We're down to any day for the arrival of our latest edition. We're set to induce on Thursday if nothing happens before then. That's six days away if anyone is counting! I'm ready to not be pregnant, but when I think about what life will be like after delivering and for the next, say 6 months, I'm not so ready. My biggest fear, and this is something you'll only understand if you're ever there (I've had it explained to me before and it made no sense) is questioning what kind of connection I'll have with the lil' bit when he arrives. Kylie's birth affected me in a very youthful, now you have real responsibilities, way. But she was a complete terror from the minute she arrived, until she turned about 18 months. I was working, Jason and I were trying to adjust to married life, and we were settling into our first house. It isn't that I didn't love her, I did, it was just very much a....let's get to tomorrow, one day at a time, type of love. Beck was different. We tried so hard to get pregnant and at the time I thought he was the last one, so I savored every single minute. Appreciated every long night, dirty diaper, and all the happy stuff in between in a way I didn't with Kylie. I was more mature, staying home with him, and more appreciative of the miracle of life. In other words, it was perfect. Perfect in a sense that I don't think there is any way that another child can compete. Now, I've heard others with the same fear say you get over it pretty quick, and I hope I do, but this is for sure my biggest fear. This one wasn't planned, this pregnancy has been a BEAR to deal with, and he's coming at a time in our life that is very busy and already filled with doctor appts., sleepless nights, and big decisions. But I know that this is God's plan. and there is a real definite reason why Stratton will be joining this family, and I'm looking forward to the journey that will lead us to the answer. Let the fun begin!

The last week or so my mind has been racing, however, on issues not surrounding #3. Kylie's new meds to fix the Brown's syndrom caused by her previous strabismus sugery did nothing. In fact, I believe it made her right eye turn in even more. Therefore, she has an appt. on Tuesday of this week, and the doc says to be ready to discuss another surgery. Beck has just started fighting his fifth ear infection of the winter, and the possibility to ear tubes was def. in the air when we talked to our pediatrician. The good news is that we're going to be able to hold off on the tubes for a while and hope that we can get to warmer weather and less germs sooner than later. And no matter how much I dread Kylie going back under, its a plan, and its in place, and although here to there will be miserable, hopefully this will be the last one, and we can put this behind us.

Last week, with all the bad weather, Kylie and I got started making her valentines for her classmates. It killed some time and made sure they were done before we might have gone into labor. She picked out a lady bug theme and we went to work. They took much longer to complete than I though, which was ok, seeing as we were stuck inside for 4 days last week, but I think they turned out pretty cute. I'm very excited for her to take them to school on Monday for their party.

On to my last bit of good news, Kylie has mastered her cartwheel to the point where she can now move up to the next level in her gymnastics class. I'm very proud of her and excited about what this new class will bring. I'm glad that she has found something that she's so into. She really seems to enjoy every minute of it, and I know its good for her coordination and confidence.

That's about it at this point. Next time I blog, I'm guessing will be after Stratton has arrived! Until then, I'm trying my hardest to enjoy my family of four, that I love so dearly.

More camera play...

I wish I could express to you how sick I am of this crazy Dallas weather! The kids and I have been stuck inside for going on four days! Here are a couple pics of the backyard, and this isn't even as bad as it got.

My Love watching some Gabba Gabba and trying to keep warm

Now if I can only figure out how to get him to look at me...

A new take on a teething toy. He's been sticking everything in his mouth. Yes, even dirty diapers.

My Kylie Grace getting ready to go play in the snow