Fun with the Philleys!

Family Time

Ann Alyse & Avery's first thing to ask as soon as they get up is, "Can I hold Alayna, please?" It is really sweet as they love on her and kiss her a thousand times each day. Of course, Mama kisses her a million times a day so I guess it's ok! :-)

Sweet girl snoozing while we get big sisters' pjs on!

Daddy rocking all three of his girls.

Alayna Victoria Philley

Welcome, sweet baby girl, Alayna!

We are so excited to have our new addition at home. We went to the hospital Monday, March 23 at 4:00 for an induction. We finally got on the pitossin around 6:30PM and Alayna arrived at 11:53PM that same night. She was 20 inches long and weighed 8 lbs .5 oz. We got to leave the hospital Wednesday, March 25 and arrived home around noon.

We have been enjoying relaxing and spending time together. Ann Alyse and Avery love their new sister. This morning after Alayna woke up and I walked into the living room with her, they both stopped watching Little Einsteins - I know, wow! - to come and kiss and hug her. They just light up when they see her and want to always be right in her face and hold her. Ann Alyse is of course more motherly while Avery really just loves the new little baby part of it. They both are doing well, though, and we love to see them interacting together as sisters.

We truly appreciate all the thoughts and prayers sent up for us. We are doing great and look forward to you meeting our precious little girl!

Just a couple of hours before Alayna made her debut!

Only a few minutes old!

Ann Alyse & Avery's first time to hold their brand new baby sister!

Getting ready to leave the hospital!

Lee continued the tradition of a big welcome home yard sign!

Alayna Victoria Philley enjoying her comfy bed at home!

Houston RODEO!

We went to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo last Saturday. It was great weather - over cast most of the day, cool and breezy! We started at the carnival since Ann Alyse is just barely tall enough to ride some of the rides this year! We even snuck Avery on a few! :-) Then, we went to the children's area and did Fun on the Farm (see photos below), the petting zoo, the carousel and saw the pig races. We went inside the livestock show for a little while, but the girls were pretty tired by then so we just headed home. We did not go to the actual rodeo part this year since the girls are really not interested! It really was a great day!

Getting aprons on for Fun on the Farm.

Avery planting her onion "seed" at the garden.

Ann Alyse planting her bell pepper "seed" at the garden.

Avery milking the cow - yes, liquid really did come out!

Ann Alyse wanted to do it all by herself! Go figure!

Racing on the tractors.

Daddy, Ann Alyse & Avery on the big slide - they LOVED it!

Avery and her friend Kyleigh. Soooo cute!

They loved the catapillar roller coaster!

Daddy and Ann Alyse got to ride the big ferris wheel! Whee!

Swim Lessons

Ann Alyse is taking swim lessons at our gym - Lifetime Fitness. It just opened the first week of February and the pool area is great. They have a huge outdoor pool with big water slides that we can wait to use this summer. These are pictures of her first swim lesson. We still have two more. She's really doing great! After Alayna arrives, we'll probably start round 2!

2 1/2 weeks

Lee was getting ready Wednesday for his 2 1/2 week trip to Washington DC Area to do his yearly commitment for the Air Force Reserves. He had lots of packing since he had uniforms, street clothes and 17 pairs of socks! He laid everything out on the bed to access the damages before packing it into the suitcase. The girls decided to have fun - Ann Alyse first, then Avery joined in. The both loaded up and Lee closed the lid - boy were the muted giggles funny! Lee rode them around the bedroom for a while before making them move on to greener pastures so he could really pack! It was fun while it lasted and I am sure he could have really packed them up and taken them with him. We were scheduled to join him up there one week of his trip, but it got postponed and I am too far along to fly so we are braving it (bacheloretting it, really) here in Texas! We miss you, Daddy...hurry home!

Can you hear the little giggles?

Peek-A-Boo! Here we are!

So much fun!

Christmas Morning!

Christmas morning was so sweet! Such sweet memories that will last a lifetime! We all enjoyed opening presents, then eating breakfast together and playing with all of our new toys before a long day of traveling to relatives' houses and eating lots of food! Ann Alyse & Avery were so excited with all their toys and had a blast opening up all the presents. We ended present time by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and blowing out candles on His birthday cake we made on Christmas eve. It really was a fantastic morning.

Here's what it all looked like after Santa left and before we tore into it!

Ann Alyse & Avery ready to run into the living room!

Ann Alyse's new bike - of course Avery thought it was hers!

Both of them got new doodle pads - big ones for home and a small one for the truck!

Avery's thinking can I please open this now?

Santa left a few markers out to use!

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and blowing out the candles!

Ann Alyse was a pro on her bicycle. We thought it would take a while to master it, but she took off!

It started raining so our budding little artists had to come inside and paint with their new watercolors while Mama made breakfast for everyone!

Christmas Eve

We had a great Christmas Eve this year! We went to the grocery store together to buy everything we needed to make Jesus a Happy Birthday Cake. This was Ann Alyse's idea and she was so proud to help make it. We made lots of cookies and pies and snack foods to eat that night. Then, Ann Alyse and Avery opened their Christmas pajamas - one pair for Christmas eve and one pair for Christmas night. They enjoyed tracking Santa on the computer with Daddy and writing a note for Santa and leaving him pie, cookies and milk. Ann Alyse couldn't wait to go to bed because she knew that Santa wouldn't come unless she was in bed asleep. She kept rushing through everything so she could go to bed. A once in a lifetime experience!