Christmas :)

Such a WONDERFUL time

We spent Christmas Eve with Joey's mom and sister. It was a lot of fun!! Alleah loves her new outfit they got her. And we love what they got us :) Joey has wanted a deep-frier since we first got married... finaly we got one from them!! We also cheated and opened the gift from Josh and heather... we loved it. We love red robin! (they got us a gift card) and yummy goodies. After the in laws house we went to my parents house for our Christmas eve tradition. Opening pajamas!! Alleah was spoiled and of course got 2 pairs of footsie pjs. One pair from Joey and I, the other pair from my parents. They were both so adorable! After opening the pajamas we read Christ's birth story. And we talked about the true reason of Christmas and sang carols out of the hymns. It was Great. 

On Christmas morning I woke up at 7:30 because Alleah was wanting her morning feeding, but she went right back to sleep. So Joey and I got outta bed and opened our stuff from each other and looked at our stockings. Last year Joey seemed to find out every single gift that I got him. This year I was determined to keep everything a secret. He was so surprised :) 

Joey was convinced his big gift was a golf bag... he was wrong. It was a gamer chair. He was actually glad it was a gamer chair and not a golf bag (so he said) His favorite gift I got him was his Seahawks Jersey. He LOVED it!! :) And I also got him a Seahawks sweater. He also got things for his xbox... including a game he wanted. 

I finally woke Alleah up at 10 to look at her stocking things. She was in love with the strawberry teething vibrating toy. Then we packed up her presents and went to my parents house so they could also watch her open them. Alleah got super spoiled!! Joey and I got her tons of toys as well as my parents. She got a toy remote, laptop, and Ipad, a snail bath toy and also a leapfrog table. My parents got Alleah her first dolly, a lullaby lamb (so cute!!) and a stuffed bunny that sings. She loves her toys. She opened  her presents throughout the day. Because of naps, and eating... ect. But it was a lot of fun. I loved watching her (try) and open her presents. She loved the wrapping paper. She was such a cutie :)

And of course what I got... Joey spoiled me. He got me my favorite perfume (I ran out), a gift card to bath and body works, all the snowboarding gear :) (ya I'm that spoiled), and YOGA PANTS. I love yoga pants. He must love me :)

And last... my parents. They once again spoiled us. They got Joey and I some clothes. Hockey game vouchers and Carmike vouchers for much needed date nights :) and... a CAMERA :) I was so excited :) They're so awesome :)

We spent the whole day just enjoying each others company and just relaxed the whole day. Me, Brooklyn, Alyssa, and Alleah were all in footsie pajamas all day :) haha We had a yummy turkey dinner (made by my mom) it was sooooo good!! Alleah got to eat mashed potatoes and gravy. she LOVED it. Its so funny watching Alleah try new things. This year was a great Christmas. In my moms words; "Christmas is more fun with a baby." I'd have to agree :) Alleah made it so much fun! I loved watching her open her presents *eating the paper* 

We had such an awesome and fun Christmas. I love spending time with family and watching each other get so excited opening gifts :)

I love my family!! 

Hope you guys as well had an AWESOME Christmas :)

Pajamas my parents got Alleah <3

Camera :) & Joey's snazzy Jersey he's wearing

Nap Time

Sleepy Baby

Everyone has their own opinion on how to get their baby to sleep. My opinion is not to let them cry themselves to sleep. Making the baby feeling abandoned. Its also sad hearing them constantly cry.

Ever since Alleah was a newborn, she would only take naps either on me or with me (right beside me in my arms). It got hard when she's asleep and I need to get stuff done. 

Finally I found a way to get her to sleep in her bouncer, by bouncing her. But she would only sleep for 30 mins. 

I talked to my mom about how to change her napping habits. She told me the trick. So I've been trying it for the past week and a half :)

I put her in her crib & let her cry for 5 minutes. If she hasn't calmed down, I pick her up and calm her down and comfort her; let her know I'm still there. I put her back in her crib and do it again. By then she tired herself out by crying. I let my baby know that she is not alone; she is loved. 

The past two days have been AMAZING!! I'd put her in her crib and she'd just fall asleep. 

She then sleeps 2 hours for nap time in her crib. I get everything done I need too and she gets a good nap in. Makes a happy baby and a happy momma. 

She's always been such a good baby. I didn't need to do any kind of sleep training at night because ever since birth she slept 6-10 hours. But I would have to rock her to sleep every night. I love rocking her to sleep... don't get my wrong. But, it would also be nice for her to be a little independent. She is to the point where she can put herself to sleep, but also I can rock her to sleep. Which is nice for when we aren't at home and I can't put her in her crib. She's an awesome baby, I'm so blessed to have her. She is so intelligent.

Now she takes great naps. :)

Week 2:
I've made it possible to where Alleah doesn't even cry at all when she is put in her crib. As soon as I place her fuzzy blanket on her and I turn on her lullaby lamb she closes her eyes. :)

I feel extremely happy about the progress :)

Hope all you moms out there try it :) it works great!!

Christmas Time

Christmas in the Perry house :)

I'm so excited for Christmas!! I love Christmas. I love finding things for the ones I love and watching them open them. Makes me feel good that I've made someone happy with what I've gotten them. This Christmas will definitely be one to remember. 

Last Christmas was mine and Joey's 1st Christmas together. It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed each other's company. This Christmas is going to be AMAZING! I feel like I've spoiled both Joey and Alleah. I love buying them presents. Alleah will be almost 7 months old on Christmas so I figured she'd have so much fun tearing it up (or eating it) either way she'll love the gifts I'm sure. I bought Alleah an Ipad (toy version) she loves to steal my Ipad out of my hand and play with it. A cell phone (also a toy version) she does have her own cell phone (my dad's old one) because she loves to steal everyones and puts them in her mouth. And of course we were afraid it would break them. I also bought a few more toys. 

I'm not gonna say what I got Joey haha. He keeps trying to sneak peaks at them. 

My family has a tradition of opening a pair of pjs on Christmas eve so, I wanted to do the same for our family. I bought Alleah the cutest Christmas footsie pjs :)  Another tradition my family had was getting each kid a new ornament every year around Christmas time. I bought Alleah a cute bear. (they came in a pack of 4) so she got 4 new ornaments haha. But they were adorable!! :)

I got stockings specially made for us. I know they aren't very Christmasy (actually...not at all) I know I could've probably made them myself, but it just seemed easier to buy. And the lady did an amazing job. I've very pleased at how they turned out. 

Joey, Alleah and I went to beaver bark one day Joey was off both jobs and picked out a Christmas tree and saw the reindeer. Alleah seemed very amused by the reindeer. It was cold, but we had a ton of fun looking at all the trees as well as the Christmas things inside of the shop. Joey grew up with fake trees and I grew up with real ones, so of course we got a real one :) haha. Alleah loved watching us decorate the tree. She really liked the lights.  

Our tree

Specially made stockings :)

6 Months Old! :)

Alleah Mae <3

She turned 6 months old Yesterday!! She is already half way through her first year. 

Alleah is growing so dang quick.. Its sad, but exciting at the same time. I can't believe how much she has grown, but I love watching her grow and learn each day. Since a newborn Alleah has been learning a TON. She can sit up all by herself like a big girl now :) She has such a personality. She girggles like I've never seen a baby do before. She can entertain herself with just girggling and spitting. (she has to wear a bib all the time now because of the spitting). She thinks its funny. She has the cutest little laugh & I LOVE her smile. 

Alleah's two bottom teeth popped through :) I noticed them yesterday. Lately Alleah hasn't been really happy this past week, but its because of teething. She hasn't really had a huge problem with it. She still slept her 10 hours at night. She definitely is alot happier now that the teeth actually popped through. 

I take pictures of every month of Alleah, but this month was different... because she was sitting up :) We have had so much fun with this little girl these past 6 months :) I can't imagine life any differently. Ya life gets tough with a baby sometimes, but its definitely worth it. Everyone said time flies when you have a baby... they really weren't kidding. I feel like I just had the little munchkin not that long ago. Its so CRAZY to think about how she's 6 months. She's not quite crawling yet, but she is definitely trying too. She turns onto her belly and scoots. Not quite a crawl. She'll get there tho. Maybe by her 7 months. lol who knows. 

Big girl :)

Cute Dimple :)

Love this Pic of her :)

Life is BEAUTIFUL

Life with a Baby :)

Joey and I weren't married long before we decided to have a baby. We just wanted one so bad I guess. I was having major baby fever working at Burlington; so many cute baby stuff!!

I quit my job while I was 10 weeks along, I was having really bad back pains from the getgo. She was in my back. I didn't have a belly until 21 weeks along. But once I got one it was ALL belly. 

We adjusted to it quickly when she was born. She was such an easy baby. Slept thru the night as a newborn (and still does) She LOVES bath time; always has. She never hated diaper changes. She smiles at EVERYTHING. She is such a smiley baby its crazy. She has smiled since at least 1 month old. 

I love her little giggle. She gets frustrated, but even when shes frustrated its funny. My mom says its like she turns into a little gremlin. 

She's in the stage where she knows whose strangers and who she knows is okay to hold her. She's starting to be a mommas girl. When someone holds her and she doesn't want to be held by them, she reaches for me. its soooooo CUTE!! 

We have been so blessed with her. :)

Alleah's Room

:)

Just recently I re-organized Alleah's room and went thru her clothes. She is just getting so big...ITS CRAZY.

Now that Alleah actually sleeps in her room I've actually made it more livable :) I LOVE her room. I spent a lot of time in organizing it. She has so many dang clothes it was hard to figure out where to put it all haha. Here are some pictures of her room :) Enjoy!!

Toys and Rocking chair :)

I LOVE her bedding 

 

Storage shelf... super cheap from Wal-mart

Extra bed

Semi organized closet

Also... Semi organized closet

November

Thanksgiving <3

This Thanksgiving was a lot of fun! We went to Prosser to have Thanksgiving with my family. Joey's family were all in Utah. I bought Alleah Turkey and gravy baby food, but couldn't find it when we went to leave for Prosser... major bummer. But she LOVED her apple and blueberry baby food. We didn't go black Friday shopping... way to hectic for me. Joey went golfing with the men in my family while I stayed back. I did all my black Friday shopping online. My Christmas shopping is complete :) 

I was determined to do a Thankful picture for everyday of November, but stopped on Thanksgiving day. There is just so much in my life to be thankful for. I love my life :) Hard working husband, an adorable baby, awesome family, and much much more. The list could go on :) 

Our Thanksgiving weekend was a SUCCESS :) 

Our Life :)

Since I posted about Alleah so much... I thought it was time to actually talk about Joey and I.
We are CRAZY busy!! Joey is a lot busier than I am. He works like a beast. He is working 2 jobs. One that's the graveyard shift, then one right after during the morning. He works 20 hour days sometimes. He does it because he loves his family and wants the best for us. He is such a wonderful husband and father. I know he's super duper exhausted, but he is doing it for all of us. In the near future (next year) we are planning on buying a home :) no more apartments for us!! We are building our savings :) He is making it possible to buy a house soon :)

I am a stay at home mom but I am taking an online course. The course is a year long. After it is completed, I can work from home. No babysitter for us :) I would cry if I had to leave my baby with someone. Sorry... not gonna happen... EVER. I love being a mom... It is the BEST job in the world. 

After I complete the course and get a job at home, Joey will quit one of his jobs and attend school again. He needs to get an education but its just not in our plan right at this very moment. 

Our life is simple... but busy :)

<3 Love our Life :)

Munchkin :D

Alleah Mae <3

I absolutely adore our little girl. I am one obsessed mommy. :) And thats o-kay. 

In my eyes, Alleah is super smart & super duper cute :) ...but I'm 100% biased. Here's a cute video of Alleah laughing :)

It Breaks my heart when Alleah is sick. For the past week she has been sounding really sick, so we took her to urgent care. She's beginning to get bronchitis. So we have to use a machine to clean out her little lungs. She's sounding so much better :) but she definitely hates that machine... she cries everytime. Makes me want to cry :(

Months :)

Time Flies!!

When I was pregnant everyone always told me..."treasure every moment, they grow up so quickly" 

They were so right!! I feel like I just had Alleah. Time is going by so fast! Every month I take a picture of Alleah to see how much she grew that month. To see the difference each month. Alleah was born on June 1st which makes it so much easier to take a picture right on the 1st :) Here are some pictures to show how much of a difference she grew :)

2 days old :)

07.01.2012

08.01.2012

09.01.2012

10.01.2012

11.01.2012

12.01.12

01.01.13

02.01.13

03.01.13

Its so crazy to me how much she has grown :)

Halloween :D

Alleah's 1st Halloween 

Usually I am super lame when it comes to Halloween. But I knew I had to do something with Alleah considering it was her first Halloween. Even though she can't eat candy yet, I bought her the CUTEST costume and had to show it off somehow. 

We attended trunk or treating at my family's ward. Mine and Joey's ward wasn't doing one this year....major bummer. But it was fun! Everyone seemed to love Alleah's costume. They all said she was an adorable giraffe. And I got candy out of it :) haha 

Trunk or Treating with my little Munchkin :) Made such a CUTE giraffe 

Her adorable Halloween onsie I had to buy :) 

Growing up So fast!

Alleah Mae Perry

We have been blessed with such an amazing little girl :) She smiles CONSTANTLY... Giggles ALOT. I've seriously never seen such a smiley baby before (Im not just saying that cuz I am biased) haha. Doesn't take much effort to make Alleah smile. :) It brightens up my day. Alleah is just over 5 months old, and learning a ton. At 2 1/2 months she learned to roll over front to back. at 5 months she rolled over back to front. I was on my Ipad and then looked down... she was on her tummy. I couldn't remember if I put her on her back or belly, but I was certain I put her on her back. I flipped her back over and she did it right in front of me :) I was so stinking excited I called Joey at work. After that she keeps rolling over. I always see her rolling over back to belly. Everytime i get excited haha. 

Alleah is now learning how to sit up by herself. She's doing so good! If I sit her up for her, she stays there for awhile without me holding her up. She can't get up on her own yet (she tries tho)

I just am so in love with my family :) Joey is amazing :) & Alleah is our pride and joy. I can't imagine life without her :) 

Alleah rolled over :)

She loves solid food :)

Birth Story :)

Alleah Mae

On May 29th I went to my appointment at Dr Ortolano's office to see how much I have progressed with being dilated and ect.. He told me I was at 2cm, 6 days to my due date. My mom was known to have her babies late and all of my pregnancy symptoms seemed exactly like hers so far. I wanted to be induced so I didn't have to be late, but everyone kept telling me it was a bad idea. I was supposed to be induced May 28th. But My family was 100% against it. And to show me they really didn't want it to happen... they left for Canada for the weekend haha. I was not gonna have my baby without my family there so of course I waited. On May 29th at my appointment my OBGYN asked me if I wanted my membranes stripped; I had remembered before someone telling me it hurt. So of course I was a huge chicken... that went through with it anyway. Everyone in the room talked me into it, even Joey. I left the office and cleaned up our place so that when I went to the hospital I would have a great feeling that I can come home and our place be clean. As I waited for contractions to kick in (took 6 hours to kick in) I went to my parents house because Joey was at work.
We went into the hospital because the contractions were really close together and kicking my behind. I went into the room where they check if you're "actually" in labor... I apparently was not. After walking around the 2nd floor in the hospital I was having consistant contractions, but not making any progress dilating. So I went home. I took some tylenol because of the contractions. The next day I went on a LONG walk with my dad and mom. They wanted this baby out as much as I did :)
On May 31st I had an appointment set up just in case stripping my membranes didn't work. My contractions randomly disappeared that day. Which was so odd I thought. I told him exactly what happened, he checked how dilated I was; 3cm (all that walking must of moved it up to a 3. So he suggested stripping my membranes again. (since I knew how it felt the first time I was hesitant of getting it done again). Apparently my Dr said it was "3 against 1 with me getting it done" he thought he was funny. And of course... Silly me... got it done again (I was determined to get the baby out). The 2nd time getting my membranes stripped. Not even 10 minutes I was having contractions. He put me on the monitor there... and sent me on my way to the hospital... I WAS IN LABOR. :)
I called my mom... she didn't answer. So I called my dad, he told me he would get in contact with my mom and just told us not to worry about it. at 4pm on May 31st I was admitted to the hospital.
First thing I asked..."when can I get an epidural" haha I didn't hesitate... right?! :)
I walked around the 2nd floor for awhile. and was already dilated to 4cm. I took a hot jacuzzi tub bath to help with the contractions. As soon as I got dressed... I got an epidural :) I was having awful back labor pains and I was a huge pansy when it came to them. After I got the epidural my husband said I was a totally different person than when I was having contractions. haha silly husbands. I was in labor for 20 hours. My mom and Joey stayed with me all night. It was nice to know I had them with me thru it all. I was relaxed during that whole time. Until my epidural seemed to be wearing off. I told my Dr. and he told me there was a button.. I didn't know of such a thing, the nurses hid it from me (not on purpose) but after he gave it to me I found myself pushing the button to get more epidural juice alot haha. I was an epidural addict haha just kidding. It just seemed like it was wearing off so I just kept pushing it. I told the Dr. and they changed my dosage. Ortolano broke my water around 4am then around 9am It was time to push.
I pushed for 2 hours.. maybe more. My mom was on one side, Joey on the other. I loved how they coached me thru the whole thing. Our little girl was stuck. She was sunny side up. My obgyn tried to turn her around by reaching in, and all she did was turn back around (already a stubborn baby) :) He gave me 4 options... keep pushing and get exhausted, c-section, vacuum, or forceps. He suggested the forceps. I went with his suggestion. By then I was exhausted and started crying because I worked so hard pushing to find out I needed help. Wasn't an awesome feeling. My mom kept telling me it was going to be okay; that I can do it. He brought in another doctor and some more nurses (I swear I was putting on a show for everyone) but he just wanted to make sure the baby was okay because the forceps are pretty heavy duty. He began to use them, I couldn't even catch my breath he was pulling on her head so hard. It felt like my babys head was gonna be pulled off. I trusted him thankfully. My mom held an oxygen mask on me because I couldn't catch my breath. after 10 minutes of him using the forceps she was born :) at 12:16pm 6lbs 14oz. I was in love. when they handed her to me all I wanted to do was cry. It was such an amazing experiance. Having my mom in the room was the best decision we made. I absolutely loved her being there :) Joey was an awesome help too :) I have such amazing supporters. :D

After all that, I wouldn't mind at all having another baby. All the pain was WORTH IT. I love my baby girl so much Alleah Mae is an amazing baby. She's just over 5 months now and such a joy to have her in our lives.
Thats my story :) hope you enjoyed it!!