Waylon Works on His Shapes and Colors

As we try to get back into the swing of things, Waylon has been working on his shapes, letters and colors this summer. He knows these for the most part and does well, but needs some extra work on them and that is where I am trying to do my best with him. I had done this video of him a while ago and then realized today when we were working on shapes and things again, that it would be fun to show.

These books I have were a great find over a year ago at the dollar section and I will totally be stocking up again when I see more. I mean for a $1 it teaches him his colors, shapes, numbers, same and different....plus there are stickers in each of the books which is a huge thing for Waylon right now!

Today we worked on same and different and he did really well. Looks like he will be a right handed kiddo and he circles things really well too. We are working on tracing shapes and coloring in the lines too.
The other day we did another fun project that was only $1 of fun too! (yes, I took a picture of the wrong side, I know this is not in English, but it was cheap and fun!) Michaels has these wooden sets for a $1 and they are a small pain to put together, but completely worth it to Waylon. He painted it after nap and used all the colors and just continued to cover each color up as it dried...so the car became the color he did last. He was so careful when he was painting and knew exactly how he wanted his car to look, because he did not like any of my suggestions. Once the car dried we put what else, STICKERS on it to make it even better. A fun inside and Cheap project for me and my boy.

Our First Week Together

No worries I am not going to blog about every week we have together, I am barely making it past the first week. However, the first week has been a memorable one and I wanted to remember as much as possible...so here it goes.

We came home from the hospital on the 3rd of July, which was exactly what Jake and I wanted. I made sure that day, that no matter what, I looked like I felt like a million bucks and ready to go home. The nurses thought for sure I would be there just one more night, but we managed to sweet talk our Dr. (whom we love!) into letting us get out of there.

So we made it home with our family of 4 and had a nice quiet evening with just us. Even though Waylon was VERY WELL cared for we were ALL so glad to be HOME! The first few nights went well with Toni, Waylon hardly woke up and Toni got up almost exactly every 2 hours to feed.

After a few days or should I say nights...things changed more. Waylon has been up almost every time Toni has the past 3 nights so far, to have us turn his songs back on that he falls asleep to. We tried to show him how to get up and turn them on himself, but he likes it better if we do it for him. We will see how long that lasts! Jake has been up most nights working (and listening to both our room, with Toni and I, and also for Waylon in his room.) So often times this week, when Toni and I are up for one of the last late feedings, Jake is just coming to bed. This has been hard, but helped me to get back into Mommy mode too. I really would have liked more time with Jake (what's new right?) but there are things we can not control and I am just grateful to have him here with us.

Now our days on the other hand, have been nice. We try to keep Waylon's schedule as close to the same as possible. Which for now has been working well. With all the sleeping Toni does she allows Waylon and I to still do many things together without her being in my arms all the time. Many times she is napping when we are eating and then when she is eating Waylon and I read together, which I Love doing with him.

We have had several visitors and made several Dr. apts too during the past week.

Grandma D and Papa came by to see Toni as soon as they could as well.

My sister and Jon came over to make us dinner one night, and my cousin (along with her family) were amazingly in town from Oregon. It was perfect timing and I was so glad she came.My niece, who was in Florida when Toni arrived FINALLY got to meet her BABY Girl cousin. Can you tell she is in love with her. She spent the whole day with us and we can't wait for her to come back, she is not only a great help with both the kids, she is great company for me too.

My mom and Aunt Pat also made it out to visit to this weekend. This was Aunt Pat's first time with Toni as she was away the weekend Toni was born too. Toni is named after their Mother Toni Marie Hutchison (Burris)- and these two could not be more proud of this beautiful little girl you can just see how they both glow just holding her!

Then yesterday we made a visit to my grandparents to show off Toni and to see my Great Aunt Jen too! Grandma loves to hold the babies and Toni was perfect as grandma held her. Grandma told me to keep booties on her feet and she would not cry...I told grandma I was going to just pass her to her (grandma) because she was silent and in awe as grandma held her.

Waylon has also been keeping busy and LOVES all the visitors too. He and Jake have been going out for quad rides and enjoying Popsicles together. Waylon has also just been hanging around being silly and loving his new baby sister too. Life is Good!!! Every single day we count our blessings, of being together and having our newest blessing with us.

We look forward to everyone meeting Toni and all of your future visits with OUR FAMILY!

Love,

The Pickard's

Toni Dawn's Arrival

Well I thought I better hurry up and do this seeing as it has almost been a week already!!! I could not have asked for a better delivery and recovery for this perfect little angel we received on July 1, 2010 weighing 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 inches long.

We were scheduled to be in surgery at 12:30. I walked into the OR and they called my time at 12:39. By the time they had given me my spinal, had me all ready to go, Toni was born at 12:56! Now that is amazing! Everything went smooth. I remember a lot more of this C-section than I did the first, as it was so busy and quick with Waylon. Everyone was calmly chatting and the only thing I did complain about was a huge headache that caused me not to hear well. As soon as I mentioned this the anesthesiologist said, "no problem, I have something for that." Then I was fine, as it went away quick, so glad I said something. I remembering hearing Toni cry and cry and just thinking to myself, "Thank you God, Thank you that she is here and safe." It was the biggest sigh of relief I think I have had in my life so far. Everything went smoothly and perfectly that day. Although my mom was not able to be in the recovery room with me like we had hoped, she was indeed there the whole time. She was there the whole time they prepped me, up until I walked to the OR. My mother-in-law was also there as soon as I was done with surgery. We had dropped Waylon off with them that morning and as soon as my father-in-law was home she was at the hospital waiting with my mom. They were both with Toni in the nursery while they got her all cleaned up and ready. The staff did bring Toni back in the recovery room this time, which made it go by so much faster. It was wonderful, she began to nurse immediately and has done perfectly ever since!
Our first official family photo. Lovely scowl there Mr. Waylon. Really, he did great, there was just a lot of people and action at this moment.
My amazing husband....I love him more than words could say. What a perfect life we have TOGETHER...I love you babe.


The rest of the day was busy but in a great way with visitors. Our hospital stay this time was much more pleasant and much shorter. THANK GOODNESS. We were home almost 48 hours after her birth.

We have had a wonderful and busy week adjusting to being a family of 4...that is another blog that I will do here soon..More things I do not want to forget so I will defiantly blog about that too. I wish I could include all of the pictures that were taken of Toni over that past week but that would be ridiculous.

Lots of love from

Our Precious Family of Four!