Crazy Holloway Fall

I can't believe that it has been so long since I last posted. I have taken pictures of our events and activities and haven't shared them, shame on me. Here are a few of the highlights.

On November 7th our sweet Cailyn turned 7.

We had such a weird night. We invited Da and our friends, the Westbrooks over for the little party. The Westbrooks were signed up to feed the missionaries so we fed them too.

Well, a huge thunder/rain storm hit about an hour before the festivities were to begin. We were worried about Da traveling from Waco, but he made it just fine. We had 7 adults and 3 eating children, so we had 3 big pizzas. However, we lost power in the middle of cooking the second pizza. It didn't finish cooking. So, we ended up feeding everyone cheesy bread and one pizza. And of course a really rich cookie cake and ice-cream. It was hot, sticky and dark.

We ended up lighting scented candles because we aren't prepared for that. Between the pizza and all the different scents, it smelled interesting. I think she still had a great day though.

Cailyn's school prefers not to have cupcakes(extremely messy) so she decided she wanted to take bon-bons. They were yummy! We made enough to take to the office staff and music, PE, and the librarian. They all raved over Cailyn's baking.

The first present Cailyn opened was her gift from Da. He picked this cute dress out for her and I have to say that I think she looks older in it. Very cute!

Cailyn is such a sweet girl. She works very hard to learn new things. She is a people pleaser, so she is very aware of those around her and how they are feeling. She is quickly turning into one of my best friends. I love talking to her, cooking with her, and washing dishes with her. It is definitely one of the highlights of my day when I get to spend time with my darling Cailyn.

I love you sweetie!

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Jessica update: This is all that is left from her stitches. I think it blends in really well. It does get a bit pinker when she is crying or exercising.

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THANKSGIVING!

We decided that since Jason had the time this year we were going to travel to spend Thanksgiving with his family in Idaho. We had a great time. As you can see, there were MANY cousins to play with so we had a hard time leaving.

It was really fun because Jason's brother Brandon and his family live in Texas also and we decided to caravan up together. The best part about it was Jason's parents had no idea they were coming up with us. It was a total surprise when they walked up to the house with us. I love to actually surprise someone(when it is a good one) and see their excitement. Tears were shed and loves were given. Definitely a Thanksgiving I will never forget.

We spent most of our time at Lita and Papa's house. Our girls will tell you their favorite day was the make-over day. We had all the girls over to Lita and Papa's house for make-overs while the boys played video games at Cassie and Mark's house. I am pretty sure the boys had a good time and I KNOW the girls did. It was fun to see them bouncing all over the place. Well, we also had the princesses who walked calmly and daintily through the house too. So cute!

Coralee just started smiling in response to people talking to her. I absolutely LOVE this stage.

Here are a few pictures of our trip up. Cailyn was in charge of Coralee and was awesome at it. I think both girls were having a good time. However, Cailyn also loved to stay awake with Daddy and talk to him. Overall, Cailyn was our best traveler and always has been. Not only because she has had to be, but I think she genuinely enjoys it.

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A random picture of David I thought was too cute not to include.

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We were able to put our tree up the first monday of December, but David had to go to bed early because he was being a little toot. Well, he does his own decorating throughout the day. I examine the tree to find lots of interesting things. It is pretty funny!

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Jason's Birthday!

Jason is really hard to shop for, but he is even harder to surprise(or hide things from him). It was especially hard this year because he was home with me. I still think that he had a good day, but he is really nonchalant about it. Sometimes it drives me crazy that he is not more excited about it, but whatcha gunna do?

Him acting all surprised about a gift he got himself! Still though, he really likes them.

It was very entertaining to watch Jessica through the whole thing.

She really likes to see people celebrated.

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The First Annual Reindeer Run

The Elementary School put on a Reindeer Run and Tiny Tim Trot and the Holloways ran.

The Tiny Tim Trot was a 1K and the Reindeer Run was a 5K. The girls did the Trot and were super cute.

Unfortunately the PTO was doing a pancake breakfast with Santa that morning as well and I was back cooking pancakes while the girls ran, so I missed most of it. I got there just in time to see Jessica and Jason come across the finish line. This was Jessica's first official race and Cailyn ended up getting 3rd overall. We are proud of both girls and I think they had a great time!

Jason and I did the 5K. Jason finished 3rd overall as well, and I finished 3rd in my age group. I had some mixed feelings with my finish because it was my first medal, but I didn't beat my last time. It is weird to be excited and disappointed at the same time. It was a fun day.

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We made our wreaths and had a fun time getting all messy. Poor David had to miss out on the fun because he didn't eat his dinner. Hopefully at some point he will learn!

I have had this post sitting here for at least a month. It is time to post even though there are more pictures to post and happenings to journal. I will update more often hopefully now, so be looking for more soon.

Cora's first photo shoot!

On Wednesday morning, my sister-in-law came to visit us in the hospital. I am so blessed to have such wonderful in-laws. It is always nice to spend time with Rachel. She is so talented in so many ways. She doesn't consider herself to be a professional photographer, but after looking at these pictures I am sure all of you would pay her to take pictures of your family. Thank you, Rachel, for capturing some of the first moments in Coralee's life with such beauty!

Coralee Hope's first trip

Not that any of you really want to know our birth story for Coralee, but for our records we are going to share it. Our due date was October 4th and so we scheduled our induction for that day. We had contractions all night the night before, so Jason and I didn't get any sleep. We were not progressing enough on our own so we waited for our appointment and went in around 5:00 am. We got the process started, received the epidural, and our Doctor came in around 8:30 and decided to break the water. It still took a couple more hours before things really got going. I started to feel pressure(and of course pain) around 10:30. The nurse had been told to inform the dr when I started to feel pressure because this was my 4th and I was going to go fast. The nurse kept checking me and I was topping off at about a 9 with an upper lip that wasn't budging. She wanted that to go away before we called the dr, but I didn't like that plan. She kept talking like it was going to be so much harder to push through that lip, I felt totally defeated before I even started. I am not sure if all women feel that "I can't do this" moment during childbirth, but I have each time. That was it for me. Tears streaming, Jason comforting, and the nurse talking about a lip standing in my way.

I kept feeling the need to push, but the doctor wasn't there yet. I did have to do some pushing just to relieve the pain at least a little bit for each contraction. The doctor got there and got dressed in her get-up. I told her I needed to push, she said go ahead and in 2 pushes Coralee was out. Oh sweet instant relief from pain. I heard Jason say,"Hold on, hold on, hold on." And then I saw the Doctor look at him intently while saying,"I caught her." There was never any doubt that she would, it just startled Jason that it happened so fast I guess. So, at 11:20 AM on Tuesday October 4, 2011, our sweet Coralee Hope was born. She weighed 7 pounds 11.8 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long. She screamed and cried until Jason calmly talked to her. She loved that!

We have had her for a full week and are adjusting as much as possible. David is having the hardest time sharing mommy time. I am trying really hard to give him more love and time rather than punishing him. Although sometimes he needs to be shown his limits(am I right, am I right?) For the most part we all Love having baby Cora around. Welcome home Cora!

This is the only before picture from the hospital. I am sure you can see why I didn't want a bunch of pictures taken of me. However, you can use this as the before picture in my weight loss journey if you would like. I will soon look a lot better.

This is Coralee's starting weight and will be working in the opposite direction as I will. She is already off to a good start. Eating like a champ.

Daddy comforting her while she is experiencing the world and her new body for the first time. He is really good at that.

Poor thing is not happy being without her womb.

Her first bath. The only part she liked was the head massage.

Clean and holding Daddy's hand. It doesn't get much better than that.

I am not sure what happened to this picture. I doesn't look like this on my camera or in my pictures file. But, this is my David and me.


Da was awesome to watch David for us the day of Coralee's arrival. They had a good time playing in the mud and then shopping for new shoes. Good times all around. We were happy to see them when they came to meet baby Cora.

Swaddled babies are too cute.

Getting all dressed to go home.

Sweet baby feet. Yes, I put socks on her before we left.

Kisses from big brother David. He does this every time he walks by her(if we let him).

Napping at home. Doesn't she look so peaceful?

I am overly irritated about these pictures being ruined. I LOVE this one. I love this new little one. My heart gets all fluttery when I see this man and his gentleness and love he shows to his children. I am humbled that I am blessed to have him for eternity. I LOVE YOU JASON!

The girls stayed at a friend's house Tuesday and Wednesday. They didn't meet Coralee until Wednesday afternoon when we got home from the hospital. They were anxious to hold her and kiss on her. So, after a bath we let the girls have a turn. They were in Heaven.

Jessica couldn't stop smiling with Cora in her arms. Well, until Cora started to squirm and then she got nervous. She is already getting better each time she gets a "turn" with Cora.

We were able to visit with Lynnae and her kids on Saturday. She got the girls new skirts. They look like tutus and the girls LOVE them. They prance around like princesses/ballerinas. Twirling and twirling and twirling!

She also got David a Batman pajama set with a cape, but we managed to leave the cape at Dad's house so we used his old batman footed pj's for this picture. We will take his picture later in that one.
Thank you Aunt Nae for the perfect clothes. Now we just have to have that fight every morning about whether we can wear it to school again today.

We love and appreciate all of you who have helped to welcome our little bundle into our family. We couldn't have done it without you. Thank you!