Lauren's pool party

I decided not to have Lauren's birthday party at our house this year, since I just had a baby and I really didn't feel like cleaning my house before and after the party. So, we decided to have her little birthday party at our community pool. It was a small gathering of close friends with kids. We invited some friends who didn't have kids, too. But, they weren't able to come (or decided that the 17 kids that RSVP'd YES for Lauren's party seemed a little daunting!).

Lauren had a great time swimming and opening presents and just being with all of her little friends! And, Dennis and I enjoyed coming home to a quiet, semi-clean home and relaxing for the rest of the afternoon! One of the things I'll make sure of for next years party, is that there is a bathroom in the vicinity. 15 toddlers and no bathroom equals not good for some parents! HEY....I just had a baby! I can't think of EVERYTHING!!

Friends, fun, and sun!

So, Molly gets bigger and has more awake time every day. It's been a lot of fun! Especially, since she is discovering new things every day, like her foot (I think it just popped up and scared her.....the next picture I took, but didn't add, is of her crying).

Lauren is really enjoying being a big sister. But, she also enjoys her alone time! I had to take pictures of her playing by herself in her pool. She was in there playing with her Little Mermaid doll and Ariel's fish "Dunder" (a.k.a. Flounder)! She was singing and talking to herself and her toys. It was very cute!

Molly already has made some new friends in her 5 short weeks of being here! She's chilling with her new B.F.F, Ellison in the Boppy! Ellison is my friend Jaclyn's baby, and is only 7 weeks older than Molly! Jaclyn's older daughter is only 2 weeks younger than Lauren! Friends from the start!!

Three years and three weeks!!

Happy 3rd Birthday to my little Lauren! I can't believe she's 3!! Where did the time go? I feel like she was just born! She got to spend the morning at a splash pad with friends. Then she had lunch with her friend Tatum and cake and ice cream with Audrey, Izzy, and Tatum! She got a big surprise when Daddy came home with her birthday presents. She got a Dora the Explorer Wii game and a princess dress, tiara, and shoes. She's sleeping in the dress right now!
We are having a pool party for her on Saturday that she's pretty excited about.


Molly is 3 weeks old now. I had to add a picture of her during her first tub bath....or sink bath, if you really want to be literal about it. :)

Getting to know you

We've been spending the past three weeks getting to know our newest little family member. So far, she's been eating, sleeping, burping, pooping and peeing. I know...boring to most, exciting to us! Lauren loves her new little sister SO MUCH! She's very loving and wants to hold her all the time (until Molly cries, then she tells me I need to "feed her again!").
It's been a lot of fun. A lot of work....but a lot of fun! Dennis went back to work after the first week and my mom went back to Sioux City after 2 weeks. So, last Monday, I was on my own with the two girls. It's been okay though. Lauren has been going to "school" for a few hours a couple of days to get her back on some sort of a routine. That helps me spend some time with the baby and get a few things done during the day. I've also got some amazing friends that have been so great and helpful when I do take both girls out. Thanks, Jac and Sara!!
So, overall, we've been keeping busy. And, we are having fun being a family of four!

And then there were four!

At 9:57 a.m. on April 26th, Molly Shea Malone made her grand entrance into our world! She weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. and was 20 inches long. She was the EXACT same weight and length as Lauren! We were pretty shocked.


Molly started crying right away upon delivery. But, then, when she reached the radiant warmer, she needed a gentle reminder that breathing was a very necessary part of life. She quickly got the message and started screaming again. And, this was the most amazing sound I could ever hear. It's definitely a different, and somewhat scary experience being a nurse and being on the table instead of the one "catching" the baby after delivery. I want to assess and intervene in every way possible. But, that damn blue drape kept me from doing any of that. So, I had to rely on my trusty team of experts to take care of her and keep me VERY informed. But, she was brought to my side very soon after she was born. And, we bonded right away in the recovery room. I think we were the happiest people at Good Sam that morning! Lauren and Grandma and Grandpa Thompson were notified by my friends, Gina and Lori right away, and they were each brought in to the recovery room to meet little miss Molly! Lauren didn't really know what to think. She was more concerned about the IV in my hand than she was with this new little person that would change her world forever.
It was a very exciting and very exhausting day for everyone involved....clearly evident by the drug-induced daze that I'm in!

Beginnings

So, I've decided to start my own blog. We still have Malone Central. But, I wanted to start a blog that I could call my own as, sort of, a scrapbook for me and my family. And, speaking of family, the first pictures I'm posting on here will introduce our newest little addition to the Malone family. After 9 long months of waiting, preparing, working, OB appointments, and getting little Lauren somewhat prepped for what was coming our way, the new Malone made her grand entrance into our world. Lauren was told throughout the pregnancy that the baby would come out when she was bigger. On the morning of April 26, 2010, we made our way in to Banner Good Samaritan hospital at 7:30 a.m. for a scheduled c-section at 9:30 a.m. We were accompanied by our beautiful 2 (nearly 3) year old, and my wonderful parents. I was in OB triage for 2 hours for IV fluids, paperwork, and an ultrasound. Lauren got to come in and see me when I was back there, which, I'm sure, was pretty scary for her. But, we explained to her that the baby was now big enough to come out, and in just a few short hours, she would be meeting her new baby sister! She kind of understood. I was wheeled back to the OR with Dennis by my side. I was nervous and excited at the same time. I just couldn't wait to meet our baby girl. After a pretty painless spinal (thanks to my 2 wonderful anesthesiologists), and being prepped and draped, the OB was scrubbed in and ready to work her magic. Dennis was let in to the OR and by my side again. Along with having my wonderful husband there for support, I had my best friend, Gina there to take beautiful pictures of the event. I also had my friends Lori and Kim there for moral support. Okay, they were really more there for the baby as a respiratory therapist and neonatal nurse practitioner. And, along with them, one of our fantastic neonatologists came for the fun! It was the most crowded OR I've ever seen for a low-risk, repeat c-section. I felt very blessed to have them all there.

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