Christmas Surprise!!

Bryce is still in shock from the news!

How to crawl

Step #1: Learn to sit up in the bouncy seat. CHECK!


Step #2: Learn to sit up on the floor. CHECK!!

Step #3: Practice baby push-ups. CHECK!

Step#4: Move those legs....
Still trying...

Almost...

And we are up!

California, here we come!

I thought it was finally time for an update. We traveled to many new places in the last month. Our biggest trip was to California to visit my brother Nate and his family. Bryce did amazingly well on the flights, and we had a wonderful time. Some of the highlights of our trip were visits to the San Diego Zoo, Aquarium of the Pacific, Knotts Berry Farms Amusement Park, and La Brea Tar Pits. It was so hard to leave our family at the end of the week! Many tears were shed, but we were so glad we had the chance to visit.

Bryce and Grandpa waiting for our first flight out of Birmingham.

Uncle Nate and Aunt Val with Bryce at the zoo.

Aunt Val and Bryce at the Aquarium of the Pacific.


Bryce and Grandpa playing at the La Brea Tar Pit museum.


Dying Easter Eggs.

Family photo of my brother Nate, Sister-in-law Val, and Cori and Joel.


The Cousins.


Grandpa, Grandma, and the grandchildren.

Daddy is SO funny!

Growing up so fast!

Well, I must say kudos to those moms who have even 5 minutes to update their blogs more than one a month! I only have 1 child, and I feel like I have no time. Thankfully, my little man is spending the day with his wonderful grandparents, so I have just a few minutes to update everyone.

If you have not seen Bryce lately, he has gotten so big! He is 3 1/2 months old, and weighs almost 16 pounds! He can hold his head up very well, and he is wanting to touch everything! He is beginning to play with all those fun toys everyone gave him.

As you can see, he definitely has the Barber cheeks! Those of you who knew us Barber girls when we were little will probably remember those huge, adorable cheeks. (Especially Aunt

Carrie's cheeks:))

Bryce is also starting to make friends! Here is a picture of his first play date at Mrs Kristi's house with his cousin, Sawyer.

Bryce will be taking his first plane trip soon. We are flying out to California to visit my brother's family. Bryce will be meeting his Uncle Nate, Aunt Val, and cousins Cori and Joel for the first time. If anyone has any advise for flying with infants, let me know!

Hopefully I will be able to post on the blog again before the end of February! With the way things are going, it may be June before I can post again! :)

Santa Baby

Merry Christmas!

All Smiles

Four Generations

Never-ending November

Ready to Go!

This month has been absolutely crazy! We started out the month with sending our English bulldog, Zeus, to the specialist to have surgery on his knee. He has a congenital defect where his kneecap tends to pop out of place. During the surgery, the surgeon calls Matt and says that Zeus actually needs surgery on both knees because they are both coming out while under anesthesia, and he has a torn ACL on his left knee. Well, this explains why Zeus has not wanted to put pressure on his leg at all. So we do the double knee surgery and we end up having to completely remove his ACL. Zeus was then boarded at the vet for 2 weeks for rehab.

While all this is happening with our dog, we are still trying to figure out how to be parents! :) Bryce was having issues sleeping at night, and he was fussing all day. It seemed that he was having really bad gas pains. We finally figured out what was going on, and we are no longer breast-feeding, and we are exclusively on formula for sensitive tummies. He seems much happier, and he is now sleeping about six hours at a time at night. Yea!!!

Bryce has also been growing like crazy! We think he weighs about 11 to 12 lbs now, but we will know for sure when we go for our check-up next week. He is also starting to smile (real smiles...not gassy smiles) and coo, and he is doing his best to hold his head up.

Bryce took his first trip out of the state to North Carolina for a family wedding last weekend. While there, he finally got to meet his Uncle Cliff and Aunt Carrie! It was so fun to watch Carrie with her new nephew, and Cliff was absolutely amazing with him.

We are now looking forward to traveling to Michigan for Thanksgiving to spend time with family. The next few weeks are going to be busy, but we are so excited about all the fun activities we have planned.

Happy Holidays!

Holding On

Bryce has been doing some major cute things lately! (At least I think so!) I noticed that when I feed Bryce with a bottle, he likes to hold on to the burp cloth. So, I gave him a little animal to hold onto instead. He has been holding onto it all day. He is absolutely adorable!

Halloween Weekend

Sleeping at the Bryan College volleyball game

With Ms. Kaley at Pumpkinfest

We love the Halloween outfit from Aunt Carrie! It was so comfy!

The adorable outfit from Brian and Carrie!

Halloween outfit - So cute!

Exhausted, but loving it!

I just can't seem to find the time lately to update our blog. If I'm not feeding Bryce, I am changing his diaper or trying to get him to calm down, or trying to keep our house somewhat clean. I really don't know why I even try to keep it clean. I take back everything I have ever said or thought about other moms and the way they raise their children or keep their house. This is hard work!

However, I really have been blessed with a great baby! We have already

gone on several outings, and he just sleeps the entire time. We went to a Bryan volleyball game on Saturday, and he slept through the game!

People ask us how we are doing and if Bryce is sleeping. The picture below is a perfect example of the way we all feel!

Bryce will sleep for hours like this. Unfortunately, he doesn't really like sleeping on his back at night. :(

Bryce Matthew Dillard

Happy Family!

Bryce was born at 6:39 pm on Tuesday, October 12, 2010! He is doing great, and we are so happy to have him. Here are a few pictures of our adventures so far.

I ended up having a c-section after 13 hours of labor. This is my doctor with Bryce in the

operating room.

Grandma Barber and Grandma Dillard with Bryce

Bryce was a bit jaundice, so he had to be under the blue light for a few days.

We're going home!

After our first bath at home. Isn't he adorable?!

My boys!

1 Week and counting!

Well, the dr. appointment went well today. I am making a little bit more progress. I am now at 2 cm, and I will hopefully be at least 3 when they induce next week. We are still keeping the induction date because the doctor doesn't think I will have the baby before then. She estimated that Bryce is at least 8 lbs by now. His heartbeat still sounds great, and he is still moving and looking good! So that is the update for now. Hopefully next time I post, there will be a new little bundle of joy in my arms!

The date has been set

39 Weeks

(Sorry...it is a bit hard to take a belly pic of yourself)

I went to the doctor yesterday, and I have not made much progress at all. I have only dilated .5 cm in 3 weeks! :( At this point, the doctor doesn't think I will go into labor on my own, even though I am having sporadic contractions. We are still hoping that I do go into labor on my own, but just in case, she has scheduled a date to induce just a few days after my due date. She has scheduled it for a few days after my due date hoping that my body will make a little bit more progress. She said that if they were to induce labor at where I am now (only 1.5 cm), there is a higher risk of having to do a c-section. Hopefully I will make a little bit of progress so labor isn't so long and the risk of a c-section will decrease!

Not so much :(

I am now almost 38 weeks. We went to the doctor today and I have not made any additional progress like she had hoped. :( We had an ultrasound today as well, and Bryce is about 7 lbs 3 oz, which is around the 75th percentile in weight for this time in my pregnancy. She said he is big, but not super big. He also got an A+ for health! She is hoping that I go into labor before my next dr. visit. She did say that she will not let me go past my due date, and we will make a plan next visit to induce on or before my due date. She would rather I have him naturally, but due to other issues, it would be best for me to not go past my due date due to the increased risk of having a c-section.
I am getting more uncomfortable by the day, and the contractions are getting stronger but still not super strong. Now it is just a waiting game...at least until next week :)

Craving of the week: String Cheese

People...We are making progress!

I went to the doctor today for my first weekly check-up. The first thing she did was measure me. She said that I am measuring right on schedule - about 37 weeks. She checked my "progress", and she said that I am open and on my way! This is great!! She also did an external exam to see if she could get an idea of how big Bryce is. The first thing she said was, "Wow! You are all baby!" She said that even though I am measuring on schedule, Bryce feels like he is bigger than 37 weeks. We have scheduled an ultrasound for my next appointment so she can get a better idea of how big he actually is. If this baby is anything like Matt was when he was born, I am going to have a massive baby boy (10 lbs!!!)!

YEAH FOR PROGRESS!!!!

36 Weeks

Sorry no picture again this week. By the time Matt got home this evening, I was already in my pajamas and so comfy :)

This past week has been exhausting! I got sick this past weekend with a chest cold, and I just can't seem to shake this annoying cough. I am having a bit of a hard time sleeping because of the coughing and the massive belly. The Braxton-Hicks contractions are to the point where they are so strong! I hope this means that my body is ready to have this baby earlier rather than later. I actually woke up last night because the contractions were so strong. I have been having contractions in my back today that were so strong they took my breath away! They still aren't consistent, but I think this baby may want to come out early :)

Zeus can tell that something is going on. He has been cuddling with me more than normal, and he likes to sniff my belly. A few nights ago he actually put his head on my belly. It was so cute!

The Bryan College Volleyball team surprised Matt (who is their athletic trainer) on Wednesday night with presents for baby Bryce. It was so sweet! Matt had a great time opening all of them and getting ready for the new baby! We can't wait!

Craving of the week: Toast with strawberry jelly

35 Weeks

Nothing extremely eventful has happened in the past week. I have been having some MAJOR braxton hicks contractions, but nothing real...I don't think. I have been told that I will know for sure when I am having real contractions. The "fake" contractions have gotten very strong, and they seem to last for several minutes. I have not actually timed them yet, but they aren't consistent enough for me to time.

My next dr. appointment isn't until Monday, Sept. 13. It is supposed to be my 36 week appointment, but by the time I go to the doctor I will be almost 37 weeks. I so hope I am making progress and Mr. Bryce is ready for his big entrance!

I have become SO uncomfortable...and sometimes it can be painful as well. It is crazy how the simplest things become almost impossible. I can't reach my toes anymore, so I am treating myself to a pedicure this week :)

Craving of the week: cereal

34 Weeks

I am now about 34 1/2 weeks!!! Yeah!!! I had my 34 week doctor appointment on Friday. The doctor said that the baby has already dropped, and we will hopefully be making progress at my next appointment. She said that if I am making progress by my next appointment, then I may have this baby before my due date. That would be amazing!!! I am so ready for him to be here!

I am to the point in my pregnancy where I am uncomfortable no matter where I am or how I am positioned. My belly has gotten so big!!! The doctor said that I have been growing "out instead of up" my entire pregnancy, but I am especially growing out now that I am so far along. I also have a short torso, so it feels like the baby is constantly sitting on my ribs which makes it hard to breath. It takes me a minute to get going when I have been sitting for a long period of time. I feel like a person who has arthritis or sore joints, and I have to take it slow before I can actually start moving "normally".

Matt and I have also finished Bryce's room. Here are a few pictures. :)