The Alter Family Blog

We had a wonderful Christmas in Austin and in Breckenridge with family.

Addie Kate is almost 6 months!  She weighs 17 lbs (70%) and height is 26.5″ (75%).  She is babbling, learning to sit up, playing with her sister, and has started to eat table food.  She is such a cuddle bunny, and she loves to pop her pacifer out and replace it with her thumb.

Jada Reese continues to be a “mini-me” as she cleans up more than anyone in our house.  She is always looking after the dogs and her sister.  She is potty trained as of today!  I just told her that we were out of diapers…and she went with it.  She has such a sweet spirit and tender heart!

We took Addie Kate on her first flight to California for Thanksgiving.  She met Grandpa and Uncle Mike/Aunt Wes and her cousin Hudson for the first time.  Jada Reese and Addie Kate also visited my aunt Lori and cousin Kimberly!  We had a great trip to San Fransisco, Sacramento and Napa visiting family and celebrating the holiday.

Yes, Addie Kate is almost 5 months as I write this post…however, the photo was taken at 4 months old.  At her 4 month check-up her stats were: 89% for height and 75% for weight (15 lbs 6 oz).  She is definitely taking after Dave (he was a large baby).  She loves to snuggle, grab her toys, look in the mirror, talk to her sister, and roll from her back to her stomach.

We are thankful for family…

We enjoyed our happy hour at Duchman Family winery with a private tasting with family and friends.  Then, we went next door for dinner.  Happy Birthday Bill! xoxo

Jada Reese finally got her hair cut…it took a very long time to grow, so we wanted to wait as long as possilbe.  She did great, and it looks adorable!  Thank you Mrs. Elizabeth for making it fun and easy!

Sweet Berry Farms is located in Marble Falls, and it’s usually a strawberry farm.  In the fall, they create a fun family friendly place to celebrate the holidays.

Jada Reese rode her first horse, and she loved it.  She is still saying “more neigh neigh.”  We went on a tractor ride, hay ride, fed goats, saw pumpkins, did the human maze, and picked beautiful flowers.  She slept the whole way home!  Addie Kate enjoyed the day out, but will have to wait until next year to join her sister in all the fun.

On another note, Dave and I are proud aunt/uncle to Jada Reese and Addie’s first cousin, Hudson Michael Alter.  He was born in Napa, CA on Oct. 30th weighing 8lbs 5 oz.  We will get to visit him in November.

I’ll post Halloween pictures tomorrow of the girls.  Addie Kate is a lady bug and Jada Reese will be Snow White.  Dave is looking forward to taking Jada Reese out for the first time.

On a sad note, Tiki (our 6 yr old boxer) does have aggressive cancer in her tongue.  We love her dearly, and we are not looking forward to the next few weeks.  Keep our family in your prayers while we make some tough doggie descisions.

The girls and I had a girls weekend in Dallas/Ft. Worth last weekend.  We had a wonderful lunch at Blue Mesa with Mama Jane.  Notice, Mama Jane is holding her great-great granddaughter… (Jada Reese’s baby doll!).

We met Major, Emily and Ben’s new puppy.  Jada Reese and Addie finally found a puppy their size!  The girls have on their precious matching outfits from the Garys.

I went to my 10 year High School Reunion.  It was a blast!  Hilary (on the right) has been one of my best friends since 2nd grade!  Rachel (in the blue) is a distant cousin.  And Allie and Courtney are dear friends.  It was a fabulous weekend.  Our babysitter, Ali, came by to hug and kiss Jada Reese.  We got to see the Campbells for a short trip.  James was sick, so we will have to make another trip soon, so Jada and James can have a playdate in the near future!

Addie Kate is 3 months old today!  She is such a doll and such an easy baby.  She loves to laugh and coo at her toys.  She’s starting to try to roll on her back, but it’ll be a couple more weeks until she’s successful!  Addie is in 6 months clothes and quickly approaching 9 month clothes.  She loves to be held, laughs at the dogs (Tiki lays by her often), and talks to her sister.  Jada Reese holds Addie’s hands, puts her pacifier in, gets Addie a diaper and puts Addie’s clothes in the hamper.  She loves to be the mama…I meant big sister!

I had a fabulous birthday week!  We went to Uchiko with Lauren and Hunter for the best sushi in town, enjoyed Dave’s steaks on the grill, went to Lamberts with Gigi and Joel, and had friends and family spoil me all week!  Thank you!  Cheers to turning 3-0…next year.

Happy 50th Birthday Mom- we love you and had a fabulous weekend celebrating with the whole family!

My grandmother, Mama Jane Corbin (dad’s mom) is 3/4 of a century old, but doesn’t look it at all!  She is a wonderful grandmother and loves being a great-grandmother!  We had a wonderful time in Fort Worth celebrating her birthday and introducing the girls to the extended family.

It’s going by so quickly… Addie Kate is 2 months old.  She’s growing, and soon may catch up with her sister!

At her 2 month check up- 23 inches long (75%) and 11 lbs 14 oz (50%) and head circumference 15 and 1/2 inches (75%).

She is smiling and interacting when you talk to her.  Addie holds her head up and scoots on her belly.  She loves her sister and loves to cuddle!  We have another sweet little girl on our hands, and we feel so blessed to have her as our daughter!

What a wonderful weekend!  Our first family of 4 road trip.  It took us almost 3 hours to get out the door early Saturday morning.

We enjoyed our time at the Campbell Family Farm Saturday and Sunday as we got to catch up with our best friends from Chicago.  It took about 5 seconds when we first arrived for James to walk up to Jada and give her a hug.  They had so much fun together this weekend.  We went swimming, played tennis, sat in the rocking chairs, feed the horses, sat on the tractor, rode around the farm and saw the cows, went for a walk… Jada had several firsts this weekend.  She was too scared to ride the horse and wanted down immediately, but she loved feeding them.  Addie went swimming with the rest of us in her cute bikini with her rolls sticking out.  It was such a wonderful experience to get to share it with the girls.

Next weekend, we head to Ft. Worth to visit my grandmother, Mama Jane, for her 75th birthday party.  We are looking forward to introducing the girls to a large part of our extended family.

Jada Reese is exhausted!  This picture is taken at the end of her first day of preschool… she loved it, and we already have all of her artwork on the refrigerator with magnets.  When I picked her up this afternoon, her teacher said, “Jada Reese is SOOO sweet.”

She went asleep early tonight.  She goes to preschool two days a week half day.  It’s perfect for her to have peer socialization, and I get 1:1 time with Addie Kate (although, I missed JR so much today!).

Saturday morning Dave and Jada Reese had their eggs and juice/coffee together at Jada’s table.  It was too precious not to take a picture!

Addie Kate is 1 month old and is as cute as can be!  She is such an easy baby (other than wanting to feed every 2 hrs).  At her one month check up she was 21.5 inches long (75%), weighed 9 lbs 7 oz (50%) and her head circumference was 14.75 (75%)… she is growing so fast!

Jada is quickly becoming a very nurturing momma to all her baby dolls, stuffed animals, and our dogs.  She likes to put Addie’s diapers on them, use her wipes, feed them with her kitchen cups/bottles, and wrap them in Addie’s blankets.  It’s very sweet to watch how she is becoming a loving big sister.  She holds Addie’s hands and gets concerned when Addie cries.

Jada went to the bathroom on her little potty yesterday for the first time.  I’m using chocolate to bribe her, so hopefully, potty training is on its way!  Jada starts preschool 2x a week on August 30th!

10 days old…Miss Addie Kate is doing well!

She eats and sleeps… Her jaundice levels are back to normal and she is growing so much.  She has big blue eyes and blonde lashes/brows.  Jada is adjusting to her perfectly, and Jada carries her dolls around and plays mama, too!

Jada turned 2 today!  Happy Birthday sweetheart.  Mommy and Daddy love you so much!  Today, reminds us all how much prayer works, and that Jada Reese is only 2 because of His miracle.  We are beyond blessed to have Jada, and we celebrate her milestones and testimony thus far.

At Jada’s 2 yr check up today, her pediatrician is very pleased with her developement and growth.  She weighs 22.6 lbs.  She is in the 25% for height and 3% for weight.

Below are a couple pictures from the last couple weeks.

Addison Kate Alter was born on Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 12:09am.  She weighed 6 oz 5 lbs and 20 inches long.  She came over 3 weeks early (36 weeks and 3 days gestation). 

My water broke at 4am on Friday morning, July 8th.  Dave and I left Jada with her grandparents (Peary’s), took showers, made a quick trip to our rental house to pack bags, and a quick trip to Dave’s office before heading to the hospital.  We arrived about 5:45am, and they took out my cerclage around 7am.  Yes, I did get an epidural and had to get an additional boost late afternoon. 

I stayed dilated at 5cm until about 8pm Friday night.  They increased my Pitocen amount, then I dilated to 8cm and quickly 10cm.  I pushed for a little over an hour and delivered just after midnight.  It was amazing to watch the entire delivery (in the mirror) and what a miracle birth and the women’s body truly is!  If you like details, I did have a grade 2 tear and Addie’s head was slightly swollen for the first couple days (and yes, I’m trying to nurse this precious girl!). 

We left the hospital, St. David’s North Austin, on Monday evening just in time to love on Jada Reese before bed. 

Addie Kate had her first doctor visit yesterday to check her jaundice levels.  Sadly, it is very high and we will return to repeat a blood test (Bilirubin) tomorrow morning. 

Addison Kate at 3 days old:  Height 19.5 inches (50% on the growth chart), Weight 6 lbs 1/2 oz (25% on the growth chart), and FOC (head circumference) is 13  1/4 inches (50% on the growth chart. 

Thank you all for the sweet messages, calls and visits!  I will post more pictures early next week.  Several have asked about a care calendar, and one will be sent out for help starting August 1st (when we move into our new house).  Please let me know if you want to receive the email.

These photos are taken at 35 weeks gestation in Austin, TX… by Peary Photography!