July 30

Here's a post that will keep you busy.  Pictures, pictures, and more pictures!

These first few are just random pictures from the week.  The rest of the post is from our first family outing that we had today.  Fun times!  Enjoy.  :)

 I could take lots of pictures of Alexa just gazing at her sister.  :)

Alexa has been very busy taking care of her babies too.  So cute!

Nora loves her hands by her face.  She is pretty cute too!

The rest of these pictures are from our family outing today.  We were out of the apartment by 9:00 (trying so hard to beat some of the worst heat of the day).  We went to a park so Adam could show us a boat.  It's pretty crazy that this park with a huge pond and so many trees is in the middle of McKinney.  It was a very pretty area.  We're really looking forward fall, spring, and even winter.  It's just hard to be motivated to get outside in these 100+ degree weather.

Teddi is visiting us for a couple weeks to help me with Alexa.  Here is Adam, Teddi, and Alexa.

Nora along for the ride.  She is still so tiny!

Adam driving the boat.

We decided that Alexa could use a fun adventure outside of the apartment.  We went a few miles east of downtown Dallas to an area called Fair Park.  They have several museums and it is also the location of the Texas State Fair and the Cotton Bowl stadium.  

We didn't go the extra exhibit for the dinosaurs but Alexa was very interested in the big dinosaur at the entrance.

There were several hands-on activities which was fun for all of us.

Not good lighting, but since I'm the one taking all the pictures... here's one picture of Nora and me.

Big bubbles!

There was an exhibit on DNA and as seen in these pictures, an area about genetic mutations.

"TIME TO DREAM"

The kids area...

Yes, daddy let her ride on a John Deere tricycle.  ;)

Working hard...

Fun mirrors (after getting pretty wet from the water tables)...

The four of us!

I'm waving, I promise.  :)

A big stuffed grizzly bear that Alexa really wanted to cuddle with...

Downtown Dallas

July 23

Last weekend, Grandma and Grandpa Munsch were here.  Grandma was actually here all week helping out with Alexa, which was a HUGE help!  Grandpa came down on the weekend and we all just hung out.

Alexa loves her baby sister!

 Some cuddling with Grandpa

 Fun suitcase ride through the hotel.

Alexa's favorite activity

 The girls with Grandma and Grandpa!

Pictures of the Girls

After Nora's first bath at home.

Very happy big sister!

Alexa has been very interested in baby sister.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PICTURE!  What a tiny little girl.  This onesie is size newborn and she's swimming in it!  She saw the doctor yesterday and her weight was 5 lb 15 oz.  Yet, she is 19.5 inches long!  So cute though!

NORA KRISTINE EWING

Welcome to this world our new little Texan.

Nora Kristine Ewing

born: July 17, 2011 at 2:46 am

6 lb 8 oz, 18 3/4 in

I started having regular contractions that Saturday, late morning.  As the day went on, they got closer and more consistent.  We decided it was time to go to the hospital about 4:00.  They monitored me for a few hours and decided that they didn't think I was in true labor.  They gave me a sleeping pill and sent me home around 10:00 that night.  They said I should be able to sleep soundly unless I really was in "true" labor.  I gave it a shot but we ended up going back to the hospital just after midnight.  Little Nora was born less than 3 hours later!

Nora has been doing great and I'm feeling pretty good.  We were able to go home on Monday, early afternoon.  It amazes me as to how much Nora looks like Alexa when she was a newborn.  Don't believe me?  Check out some of the pictures at the very beginning of the blog.  Alexa had (and has) much longer and dark eyelashes (luck girl!) and was more filled out, but otherwise, their little faces look so much alike!

Alexa is doing great with Nora.  She is very interested and wants to console her whenever she is crying.  She is doing very well when we tell her to be gentle.  It will be an adjustment but she is listening well and very excited to see Nora every morning.  It will be so fun to see them both grow and see how much Alexa will change with her baby sister around.

First Family Picture - July 17, 2011

P.S. I have some more pictures to add, but Nora is hungry so I'll get back to this later.  It may not be today but by tomorrow for sure!  For those who have me as a friend on facebook, it is the same pictures that I added on there last night.

Oh Alexa

And I thought Alexa was playing quietly in her room...

Ok, but seriously?  How cute is this face??

Quiet Weekend

 This weekend was our first weekend that our apartment is unpacked and we didn't have any company in town.  AND I'm really hoping that it is the last weekend before baby Nora arrives.  :)  We decided to keep it simple, quiet, do some relaxing, and enjoy our little family of three.

Adam was putting together this shelving unit. Alexa sat down and immediately knew what to do to help!

I mentioned in a previous post that Alexa has been wanting to cuddle for naps.  She brings her blanket, crawls up on the couch, and gets cozy.  So cute!!  And yes, that is my belly.  :)

Not the most flattering picture of me, but Jojo is pretty cute!!!

Here We Go!

Yes, I did document one picture during our drive from Wichita to Texas.  This was about halfway through and I asked Alexa if she was excited to see daddy.  It had been 10 days since we had seen him!

Very happy to be with daddy again!  This was at the lovely hotel we stayed in for 12 days.  It wasn't too bad, but it was a hotel for a long period of time.

Alexa has adapted to the changes extremely well!  The only thing we have noticed that has been affected has been her naps.  We'll just say that we do a lot of cuddling during nap time.  I think daddy is a lot more comfy than mommy.  :)

God's Perfect Timing

As I have mentioned to several people, we really believe that God wants us here for some reason.  He has shown us over and over that He will take care of every little detail through this transition.  And yet, He proves it to us again and honestly, this was a big detail that we weren't very confident about.  Our house in Wichita is SOLD!  We closed on it on Tuesday, July 5th.  It is truly amazing that our house sold that fast.  It took a month and half from listing the house to the actual closing date.  Incredible! We know this was God and it reassures us more and more that this is totally His plan and all about His perfect timing!

Now our last big event is the birth of our baby girl.  The due date is July 19th but basically she can show herself to this world any day now!  And we are very sure that God is the only one who knows the best time for her birth and we are so excited to welcome her into our family.  Stay tuned!

(In the meantime, I have unpacked everything finally and found the cord for my camera.  Hopefully this afternoon, I will upload the random pictures from our recent weeks here in Texas.)