Halloween Weekend

Daddy with Buzz Lightyear!!

Mama with Buzz!!

We had to stop after every single house to give him a piece of candy!

"To infinity and beyond!!"

All the kids ready to go trick-or-treating!! I can't believe they all sat down for us!

On our first official walk :) I walked everyday when I had Jackson and plan on doing the same with Bailey as much as I can. I love my double stroller, thanks again Mom!!

Buzz, Elmo, and Fire fighter at Jessi and Mike's Halloween Party!

Tomi, Jessi, and Me :) Midevil times, a bun in the oven (obviously she is pregnant!), and a nurse

**Kisses**

At the Pumpkin Patch

This picture says it all! Our trip to the pumpkin patch was not the best ;) I'm still adjusting to going places on my own with the two of them :)

We had a wonderful weekend! It was full of parties, good friends, and good food!! Jackson really did well with trick-or-treating. He was the slowest in our group b/c he had to open a piece of candy after every house! We all had a great time :) It was so neat watching him, I think John and I enjoyed it just as much as he did! I can't believe how big he is already! Sadly Bailey is still sick and we have just kept her in her car seat with a blanket over it if she has to come with us places for a short time. I can't wait until she is better!!!!

The Best Big Brother

**hugs**

Look how much bigger he is!

Jackson has adjusted better than we could have ever imagined. It is as if Bailey has always been his sister and he already does not remember life without her. He asked to "hold her, hold her, hold her" a lot and he is so gentle with her. He actually counts sitting next to her holding her :) He hugs her like you see in the first picture all the time! I actually never even have to ask him to do it, he just does it on his own :) He also wants Bailey with us at ALL times! I usually wake him up 1st on preschool days and after I get him dressed he insists we go into Bailey's room if her door is shut and wake her up! In fact, it has been difficult to put both of them in the car b/c he doesn't understand that I can't do both of them at the same time. He yells for Bailey and every time I assure him that we are not leaving her behind! One night we gave her a bath in the sink and she didn't like it very much and was crying pretty loud. I think he thought John and I were hurting her and he got on the floor and put his hands over his head and started crying and screaming "BATH TUB, BAILEY!" As soon as we wrapped her up in her towel and showed him she was OK, he was OK :) I am not getting ahead of myself...I do realize that the toy stealing and etc. has not begun! But for now, I am loving it!!!

Bailey's newborn pictures

Taking these was more challenging than I had expected ;) I have to give a lot of respect to photographers that do this day in and day out! It is difficult to get a great shot and it's a lot of waiting for them to be awake, asleep, fed, diaper changed, ect :) It was well worth it for my little angel!

Lots of visitors!

Amy came to visit!! Can you tell how excited Jackson was to see her?!?!?!

Grandma with Bailey :)

Already loves her Mimi!

Barbara, Chris, and Amanda with Bailey

This is the day of the Oak Grove BBQ, I just loved this picture :)

Allie came out to see us :)

Aunt Emmie came to meet Bailey :)

This is the 1st time Jackson held Bailey! He did NOT want to let her go! SO SWEET!

Jessi came for a visit and brought us those yummy cookies Jackson has in his hand ;)

We have really been so blessed by all of our friends! We have had friends bring us dinner for almost 2 weeks straight! Jackson's preschool class parents even made us dinner for 2 nights! It has really opened our eyes to see how much food can help!! It has just be so wonderful for us to have a home cooked meal every night and not have to spend time making it! I have vowed to John that we are really going to make an effort to do that for people in the future! We have really enjoyed having visitors too! Sadly sweet Bailey already has her 1st cold, we took her to the Dr. and are glad that is all it was :( So we are going to cut back on the visitors for a little while and hope she gets better soon!

Bailey Ballard has arrived!

The 1st picture with Mama and Daddy

Janet, Grandmother, and John

Opa meeting Bailey

Love this one!

All excited b/c we get to go home!!!

Our sweet welcome home banners from Jackson!

Jackson meeting Bailey for the 1st time, he is giving her a pat on the back :) so sweet!

Nana meeting Bailey for the 1st time!

Uncle Stephen and Asya meeting Bailey

Our first family picture :)

Grandma with Bailey

Grandpa and Grandma with their 2 grandchildren! Look at how tiny she is in Dextr's arms!!

Celebrating Grandpa's birthday!

Some of John's family visiting us at home :)

Us with Nana and Opa

One of my favorite pics with John and his little boy and little girl :)

1st bath at home! She didn't like it so much ;)

This is Bailey wide awake after her bath :)

Bailey Kimberly Ballard

Born on October 7, 2010

Time: 11:48 pm

Weight: 8 lbs 3oz

Height: 18 3/4 inches

We are so happy to announce the arrival of Miss Bailey Kimberly Ballard! We waited a very long time for her and we could not have been more excited to meet her! We are so blessed to have a very healthy little girl. Of course to us she is absolutely beautiful :) Everyone always wants to compare the siblings and I will do a comparison post when I get a chance :) Being a mother of 2 children is challenging, but it is easier the 2nd time around. I am not scared like I was with Jackson and feel much more laid back. Jackson is doing really well with the transition. If he doesn't see her around he frantically says, "baby?!, baby?!" over and over :) He likes to "pat" her and tell me all her body parts :) He likes when she has a to get a diaper change and not him ;) He has given her hugs and last night he insisted she read with us before I put him to bed! I had them alone for the first time last night and did pretty good! I laughed and told my Mom on the phone, "well, I have Jackson in the tub while I breastfeeding her in the bathroom at the same time"! I think I will be able to manage :) I am not quite sure when all my strength will come back, but I am ready for that to happen! I have no idea how I used to pick Jackson up all the time! hahaha I am sitting here looking at her and still can't believe how lucky we are :)