McKinney Mom

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Meet Bryce!

Well, I haven't blogged in awhile...1. because I am just really bad at keeping up with this, and 2. because I spent most of December laid up in bed pregnant, sick, and miserable (bronchitis, the flu, AND bilateral pink eye all in a row, spanning about a 20 day period). It.Was.Miserable. Making matters worse, was the fact that I had to cancel a previously scheduled induction on December 29, b/c my OB just didn't think I was ready. I was okay with this, b/c honestly I did not want to be induced. I wasn't induced with Zoe or Reese, and I really like the idea of babies coming when they are ready. The only reason it was scheduled is so I would have him this calander year, saving myself an expensive 2012 deductible, when my 2011 was already met. That being said, I was CONVINCED he would still make an appearance in December. After all, my due date was January 6, and both my girls were a week early. I mean this was my third baby... aren't they supposed to come super early and just walk out by now??? Nope, I was wrong. My due date nearly came and went... but finally on the night of January 6, I started having regular contractions at about 7 pm. Bryce was born January 7 at 11:56 am... I will spare the rest of the details... but a third baby and a 17 hour labor??? Really?!? Let's just say it wasn't fun... but he was worth all the pain, and every dollar of my deductable... look how cute he is!! I have to say, Jay and I make some cute babies :) When I get a chance, I will have to post newborn pics of all the kiddos to see how much they look alike. Bryce definately looks more like Zoe than Reese, but he also has a look all his own (and that look is super handsome!) ;)

BRYCE JAY ALSUP

JANUARY 7, 2012

11:56 AM

8 pounds 1 ounce

That face!!!!!!!!

Future baseball star...or quarterback...or NBA player ;)

Bryce!

6 days after Bryce's birth was Zoe's 4th birthday. Me, being the all-knowing mom that I am had sent out birthday invitations for a party on Friday the 13th, thinking B would be weeks old by then! HA! None the less, we decided to go on with the party. Luckily my in-laws were in town and were a HUGE help. Could not have done it without them. They took turns watching Bryce in the car while we had Zoe's party at Gatti Town Frisco (which I would highly reccomend, btw). Here are some shots from that...

First family photo with the 5 of us

Dora theme! (and I hate Dora...)

Reese was kind of in a mood, but she looked awesome in her new aviators!

Waiting for the guests

It wouldn't be a party without Ella!

Zoe with her buddies... and she wore that party hat the whole time.

I really wanted a Christmas baby... thought that would be so cool! But, obviously that didn't happen. Here is a shot from Christmas morning though. We had an awesome Christmas just the 4 of us at home in McKinney. Nice and "quiet."

Jay is so lucky to have such a sexy wife ;)

Now that B is here it is time to swing into a new routine. Today is my 2nd day alone at home with the 3 of them... so far so good. Jay took Zoe to gymnastics this morning, which was great b/c she really needed to get out of the house. We really haven't left since we got home from the hospital because Bryce is supposed to stay out of the public for at least 4 weeks. This is killing me b/c I get cabin fever real fast. The girls are so great with him though, they are absolutely obsessed with him.

Of note, Zoe just walked up to me with her shirt off and a baby doll on her breast that she informed me is "eating"... monkey see, monkey do! hahaha.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Stationery card

Dancing Tree Christmas Card

Creating Christmas cards has never been this easy.

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Monday, November 7, 2011

Alsup Halloween

Well, after 2 weeks of being too lazy to call ATT Uverse and having the WiFi fixed in my house, I finally got it fixed! (Well, Jay did)... so now I can finally show everyone some pics from our Halloween this year. We love Halloween, and had lots of fun this year, but next year I may have to tone it down a little... the girls have WAY too much candy, and they think they can have some whenever they want! I just want to thow it all in the trash! But, they make for good bribes, so I will keep it around a little longer...

This year we went to Tucker Hill's "Ghouls on the Lawn" again, and it didn't dissapoint. Tucker Hill is a really nice neighborhood in McKinney, and for Halloween the whole neighborhood has a little party/trick or treating for the kids. The whole community gets into it, the houses are all spooked out, and everyone dresses it up. It is so much fun!! However, it is not such a secret anymore, and this year the place was PACKED.

Zoe was a bee this year

My little bee and butterfly

Tucker Hill

Reese really got into trick or treating

...she took it VERY seriously

Trick or Treating at Tucker Hill

Jay and his girls

Worn out and time to go home!

The Tuesday before Halloween I had a little early afternoon Halloween party for the girls and some of their friends. I had these grand plans of a super cute and crafty party (like something from the TomKat Studio)... but I found TONS of cute decorations (cute enough, anyways) at the Dollar Tree and my frugality won out! I was so excited almost everyone I invited showed up, and everyone had a great time!

Hooray for Dollar Tree!! They had a ton of great Halloween party goodies!

Claire, Presley, and Zoe. They all go to preschool together. Zoe was so depressed until they showed up!! Poor baby. Everyone at the party was about Reese's age for the first hour... I was so worried her friends weren't coming!! She was just sitting around looking sad:( She even made me take her Halloween costume off. Finally her friends showed up at about 3, and she got so EXCITED! She immediatley had to take them upstairs to show off her room... and she had to put a "princess" dress on, just like Presley ;) Girls!

Reese just wanted to eat cupcakes...

If there had been a costume contest, Ella the little lamb would have won for sure!!

These 2 are going to be trouble...

Reese, Gavin, and Finn playing in the car

I do have to mention, however, that about 5 minutes before the party was supposed to start my I tried to burn my house down. My oven caught on fire, and I had to call 911! 3 fire trucks, and a police car showed up!! So embarassing! I am sure the 911 operator thought I was nuts b/c my phone call went a little like this, "Um... yes, my oven is on fire, and I know not to put water on it, but I need to know what I can put it out with?? I feel comfortable doing it myself!" Oh Lord. I think it is baking soda???? Needless to say, she sent the fire trucks!

Here are some photos from Halloween day:

Jay went to work as "the most interesting man in the world." He got 2nd place in their costume contest, and won $50!!

Ready to go trick or treating!!! Again!

My spooky house...

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Bush Center Warrior Open

I don't even know how to blog this event and give it the justice it deserves, but I will try... and mostly I will just show some pictures.

Back story: One of Jay's very best friends from childhood (Scott) was badly wounded in Baghdad on April 15, 2007. Scott was riding in the turret of a humvee when a roadside bomb went off to the left of the vehicle. As a result of the blast, Scott suffered major head trauma. In fact, a piece of shrapnel is still embedded in the right side of his brain. If I remember correctly, Scott was in ICU for months... he told me he was unconscious for 3 days, and finally woke up when he first heard his mothers voice (so sweet!)... His prognosis was bad, but he made it! He is such and amazing person and friend, and we are so glad he is still with us.

Scott and Jay at our wedding in 2005

President Bush visited Scott while he was still recovering from his injury, and Scott quickly became a friend of his, as well as somewhat of a "posterboy" for many wounded warrior programs he does. Jay and I got to participate in one recently. A 36 hole golf tournament honoring those who serve and sacrifice to defend our country at Las Colinas Country Club. The tournament featured 20 badly wounded soldiers. I can't say enough how AMAZING these men were. Many were double amputees. I have never seen such happy people... you know why? They were just happy to be alive. They have faced terror many of us will never know, and now appreciate life more than ever. It was so inspiring. I am sure they come home from war wondering why we are all so concerned with petty things like: who will be competing on DWTS, or what the cast of Jersey Shore is up to.

Scott asked Jay to be his caddy during the golf tournament, which was a huge honor for him. That also meant we got to participate in the events sponsored by the Bush Center this past Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. It was exhausting, but so much fun, and definitely a once in a lifetime experience!!

Scott with wife Candy (who is expecting about one week ahead of me), and Jay at a dinner honoring the warriors Monday night.

I got to meet former First Lady Laura Bush!!! This was all I cared about all weekend, because I am truly a huge fan of hers. She was so incredibly nice!!! Probably talked to me for 15 minutes, and was genuinly interested in me and what I had to say! I love her even more now.

On that note (and politics aside)... say what you will about the Bush's, but they are some of the nicest and most genuine/down to earth people I have ever met. You can tell how much these soldiers mean to them, and President Bush really cares about these men and women. Scott can attest to that... and I will take Scott's political opinion as a veteran and friend of President George Bush over some celebrity any day!

Another amazing person we got to meet was our "chauffer" for the evening. All of the warriors got chauffered Mercedes or Navigators to take them from the tournament to the hotel/dinner or wherever. Our chauffer to dinner on Monday night was in the North Tower on September 11, 2001. Wow... and she was telling Scott she couldn't believe what he had been through!!! Crazy. They have both been through horrific experiences and survived with their spirits intact. Amazing. Really made me realize how incredibly blessed I am.