Where Do I Start?

Wow, well this could be a long one and without pictures because the mac is sadly out of commission for awhile-an expensive repair to be done :( I start with an update on each one of us...
Rylan turned two at the end of September! The day of his party it was well over 100 degrees fortunately it was a swim party, but the cupcakes melted and so did most of us. Elle went swimming for the first time and was as happy as can be. Looks like we have two water babies on our hands. Rylan is such a good big brother despite the short time of adjustment he had to having a baby sister. He is starting to put a few words together in short sentences and is curious about everything. Yesterday Kenny got him up from his nap and he was giving his doggy "Steve" lunch holding his shirt up and the doggy up to his tummy(nursing). That boy is too funny. He has a sense of humor just like his dad-silly, teasing, laughs at his own jokes. He is a great helper and loves to do "making" (cooking). He is full of love and smiles and I just can't get enough of him, I even miss him when he sleeps.
Elle is changing daily. She has been rolling over for at least a couple months probably longer but my mommy brain just hasn't stored the date, thank goodness it's written down in her baby book! She is my beautiful mommies girl. She rode in the wagon for the first time today, hard to believe she is that big already-bittersweet for me. She absolutely adores her big brother. Her shiny little eyes follow him everywhere he goes and let me tell you he is a busy one! She is learning how to use the toys on her jumperoo and is over her swing in about two minutes, time to but away the newborn gear. We are just about to start cereal with her-another bittersweet moment for mama. As excited as I am when she shows off a new skill, my heartstrings tug a bit that my sweet baby will be a toddler before I know it.
My wonderful husband has been working so hard for us the last month and a half. He has shown his love for us time and time again with a crazy work schedule and still able to have lots of fun family time. I don't know how he does it, I suspect it's a lot of prayer and caffeine :) He hasn't been able to ride either of his bikes at all and I appreciate the sacrifice in that as I know how important that time is to him. We have been trying to get to the beach as a family, yes even Kenzie, more frequently and have been having a blast. Not very much exciting to tell about me. As you will see whenever I am able to post pictures I now have dark shorter hair-cut about 10" off. Other than that I have zero time for hobbies, occasionally trying a new recipe, but I'm pretty busy with two little ones.
In September we also had a couple visitors come stay with us and celebrate Rylan's birthday. Then the beginning of this month we went on an amazing vacation to Washington. We were able to spend time friends and family, went on a couple ferry rides, played, shopped-a tiny bit,but kid free and was a nice treat for me to spend time with my mom, we went to a pumpkin patch-saw animals and went through a corn maze, and I was able to have lunch with a friend from Seattle that I've known since fourth grade. We had a great time at my cousins wedding and of course the kids were adored and SPOILED! Thank you to all our family and friends that made the trip so special for us. Our travel day home was a total disaster but we won't dwell on that.
Not much on the horizon for us at the moment. Rylan still fits his costume from last year so he will be a UPS man again and Elle will be wearing leftover duds from Rylan's birthday party last year, but she'll be the cutest darn pirate I ever saw if I do say so myself. Tomorrow is Grandma Sugar's birthday and we were so fortunate to spend time with her last month as well as the rest of the Pulliam families. Rylan loved spending time his Grandma Sugdah as he has been saying. We are working on the "ar" part of Sugar still. He'll be excited to call her in Texas tomorrow to tell her "happy party day".
What else can I say, I know I will remember things I wanted to post as soon as I step in the shower tomorrow and the water hits my head, but this will have to do for now. I am a blessed mama and wife. My family is the love of my life and I thank God for them everyday. I have sweet moments everyday that I am trying desperately to store in my memory and heart. All the cute little chatter, the intoxicating baby smell, the touch of soft Innocent hands, and smiles that bring me more joy than I ever knew existed. I can't believe how quickly time passes and that I have a two year old toddler and a 5 month old baby girl. As the days are beginning to feel like fall-finally-my blessings are at the forefront of my mind and I find myself sentimental in an instant. Fall is my favorite time of year and yes I have enjoyed some yummy pumpkin bread and delicious coffee drinks. Happy Fall friends!

Soon

I know I have so much to catch up on. I will try before we go to WA but if I don't get it done I will for sure have a few posts when we get back. We are so excited to go!!!

Almost Fall???

Hard to believe it's almost Fall, although the cooler weather will be appreciated by all of us. Fall means Rylan's 2nd Birthday, trips to Avila Valley Barn, hopefully going WA for my cousins wedding, cooler days, yummy treats, and more sub work for Kenny-yay! We welcome the Fall with open arms...
To say the summer has been hard would be an understatement. We've been incredibly blessed by our wonderful friends in so many ways, we honestly would not have made it without them. The Blakes, Croxalls, Uppenas, Hamons,Soderins, and many more that have prayed for us and come alongside us with encouragement, invitations for dinner, provision of needs, laughter, fellowship, work, and much more have turned a very discouraging season into a season of valuable lessons learned and hope for the coming months. We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts with complete humility and sincere gratitude. The kindness and care shown to us will not soon be forgotten, not only will we forever be grateful but we will absolutely pay it forward. As one of our dear friends wisely reminded us God provides not a moment to soon nor a moment too late.
Elle will be three months old tomorrow and my heart breaks a little because it's going so fast. She is no longer a newborn but a sweet and fun little baby. I cherish every moment with my precious girl. At her two month appointment she was 12 lbs 8 oz and 23 inches. She is laughing and rolling to her side. She is sleeping so well, rarely waking up early morning to nurse. I can't say enough what a great baby she is, just another gift for us during stressful times these last few months. She has brought so much joy to our family.
Tomorrow we leave to go to San Fransisco for Rylan's fourth treatment. My parents are meeting us there and thanks to priceline we found a great place on fishermans wharf for reasonable price. We are excited for Rylan to see all the boats, interesting people, carousel, and everything else fishermans wharf offers. Last time we went he was not as aware of all the fun things happening and I was 30 something weeks pregnant so our time was brief. We are hoping tomorrow will be fun for him and all of us will enjoy the day. After his early morning treatment we will head home and my parents will follow us back down here for a few days. We have a couple fun things planned while they are here, a special way to end the summer. Rylan is such a busy little guy, running, jabbering, taking care of his doggies like we take care of Elle, cracking us up everyday, and loving his baby sister.
We are so excited Grandma Sugar is in California and that we get to introduce her to her namesake. We are headed down to the desert in a couple weeks for a quick trip to have the little ones spend some time with Sugar. The last time she was out Rylan was only four weeks old, we've been so anxious since to see her again. Thank you Grandma Sugar for making the long trip from Texas to California for all of us. We love you!
That's pretty much the latest and greatest from the Pulliam house. Someday we'll have a fabulous camera and flood the blog with photos of our adorable babes! Bring on the beautiful fall colors, fun days, and pumpkin bread!!!

Some More Pictures

Elle and Rylan

These photos are not very good, our camera is pretty much broken. It's better than nothing I guess. They are pretty cute together!

My Sillies!

Five Weeks Old

Elle is five weeks old and time is flying by which leads to a sad mama :( I would love to have a pause button. I love this girl more everyday. At her one month appointment she was in the 75% for height and weight 9lbs. 140z and 22 inches. She is such an easy baby. She is very much used to her brother's chatter and loud toys. She is beginning to smile at us and it is just as amazing as it was when Rylan began to smile. I could go on and on about how wonderful my girl is but its only fair to brag a bit about my boy too. Rylan is loving having his baby "sis sis", almost saying sissy. He is actually helping too. He is very good at putting things in the trash for us or bringing a diaper. His vocabulary is expanding everyday. Kenny and are so blessed to have two healthy children and try to remember that everyday when we are feeling the effects of interrupted sleep and busy days. We are heading up north for about a week and a little nervous having two in the car many many hours as we make our way up to visits friends in Sacramento and Nanny and Gramps in Eureka. We have been having lots of fun play dates and of course Target trips. Its beginning to feel like summer now and we love it! Hard to believe that Kenny and I will celebrate our sixth anniversary in a couple weeks. I am a lucky lady to have such a wonderful husband that adores our children and is an equal partner with me in the day to day up keep of the house and routines with our babes! I know how fortunate we are to have daddy home with us most everyday. Our camera is on its last leg so unfortunately we don't have any pictures to post right now but we will post some after our trip. Off to tend to a crying baby. Loves!

Elle's First Photo Shoot

Check out our baby girl. Ashley Blake took these once again amazing photos. She has such a gift and we are so fortunate to have her share her her talent with us, not to mention she makes an amazing dessert I call "Heaven in a Bowl" Thank you Ashley for giving me such beautiful photos of my family. Here's the link...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcpulliam/

I love you Elle

We're Home

Elle and I came home this morning and we are so glad to see something other than hospital walls. It was a very long two day stay but we are home, healthy and happy! She is a beautiful girl and Rylan can't seem to get enough of his sissy. Hopefully in a few days we will be somewhat caught up on our new standard of sleep. Visitors are welcome and we are eager to show off our sweet baby girl. Thank you all for your messages, phone calls, prayers and visits.

Sad News...

We have to leave in a few minutes to take Elle to the nicu for light treatment. We will be there anywhere from 12 hours to two days. Her number was high enough to treat, but low enough that it may be a short stay. We are hoping its closer to 12 hours...Thankfully I will be able to stay with to feed her every two hours. Please pray for Elle that it will be treated very quickly and for me as I am already tired, emotional, and concerned for my baby. Rylan will get to enjoy more time with Nanny and Gramps so he will be fine. Kenny will stay with us girls as much as he can. We will keep everyone posted.

A few more for now

She looks chubbier in these pictures than she really is :)

More pictures

Here are a few more Elle pictures. I don't have many on our camera so I hopefully I will get some this weekend from Auntie Boo and Nanny's cameras

Visitors

Thank you friends that came to meet Elle, we are home and can't wait to show her off to everyone else!

Elle's arrival!

Love love love

Eleanor Kae Pulliam

May 20, 2009 7lbs. 3oz 20 " 2:45 pm She is such a beautiful precious gift. I am blessed beyond belief. Most of the time I am speechless at the miracle of my daughter. I am so in love! My heart is close to bursting! Thank you Lord for this most amazing gift. Rylan, Kenny and I are rejoicing today in this perfect life we have been given. Elle and I are doing great. We came home yesterday and Rylan had a great time with Nanny and Gramps-thank you for taking such good care of him and he absolutely loves having you here. I won't say much right now because I just don't know if I can-thank you hormones. I will leave you with a few pictures..More to pictures and posts to come, I have lots to share about my beautiful girl!

Elle Kae

May 20th little Elle made her way into the world and oh it was a grand entrance! She is very healthy and Rylan seems to really love her. More coming later, still adjusting. We are all home and doing well.

38 weeks and counting

I am SO ready to meet my daughter!

Rylan's 1st Whole Choc. Chip Cookie and Daddy's 34th Birthday

37 weeks and a tired boy!

He is so cute, even when he's being dramatic! Naptime!!!

One of my favorites

She’s got a baby inside
And holds her belly tight
All through the night
Just so she knows
She’s sleeping so
Safely to keep
Her growing
And oh when she'll open her eyes
There'll be no surprise
That she'll grow to be
So beautifully
Just like her mother
That’s carrying
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
Baby inside she’s loving
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
There is and angel growin’ peacefully
Oh Capri
Sweet baby
And things will be hard at times
But I've learned to try
Just listening
Patiently, oh Capri
Sweet baby
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
Baby inside she’s loving
Oh Capri
Your beauty
Just like your mother
That’s carrying...Oh Capri

April Shower

Just a few pictures from my shower, I don't have any from my Eureka shower yet to post :( The ones I have I can't open on the mac, so hopefully I get some from my mom and be able to share those too

36 weeks and my baby boy

Some recent pictures from last few weeks of hot weather