We found our stockings!

We found our stockings!
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

On Christmas morning the kids came into our room and were concerned about two things. The first was breakfast. The second was the fact that we were going to Bonky's house. They weren't too concerned about the presents because they had forgotten all about them!

After breakfast we did our Advent devotion that is becoming a tradition in our house and then I asked if they wanted their picture taken by their stockings upstairs in the living room and they agreed, but when they got there their stockings were missing. We looked and looked and it turns out that they were under the tree downstairs.

Here are Abigail and Josiah posing by the tree.

After this we opened all the presents from Mommy, Daddy, Abigail, Grandma, Bonky and Pappy, Uncle Mike and Aunt Patty, and more. It was a fun morning!

Duel gifts

Duel gifts
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

It didn't take long before the two of them were tearing into their gifts.

Toothbrush!

Toothbrush!
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Only our kids would get this excited about toothbrushes.

Mommy's present

Mommy's present
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

This year was special for us. Of course we got to bring Samuel home (he's under the gift on Allison's lap). But we also received our first gifts from Abigail. He school did the Santa's Workshop program this year and she was able to "go shopping" for us. She was so excited and she actually bought gifts that fit each of us. Mommy got a snowman candle (she loves snow men). Josiah got a book. Daddy got a key chain lanyard. Bonky got a snowman to hang on their doorknob. Pappy got an ice scraper that has a built in glove.

It's funny, but that key lanyard was my favorite gift.

Cheese!

Cheese!
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

It's quite funny that cell phones are such a common thing now that there are all kinds of fake toy cell phones. Our kids will never know a world without them. Here is Josiah taking our picture with his toy phone. He puts it right up to his eye and says, "CHEESE!"

What's also funny is that we don't do this with either our phones or our camera. They both have screens. I don't know why he holds it up to his face. Maybe its because he's just silly like that.

What are you doing?

What are you doing?
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Trying to open his present, Josiah was disturbed by the flash of the camera. Check out the little horns he is growing in this picture.

He has the same thick, crazy, blonde hair daddy did at this age.

Beautiful girl

Beautiful girl
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Here is Abigail holding up a present that she got. She's such a cute little girl!

Tough paper

Tough paper
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

When we left Marion, NC we left behind a great friend, Karen Dark. Karen is the art teacher at McDowell High School and she was very good to us and our kids. Each year she still sends them birthday and Christmas presents. Here is Josiah trying so hard to open her present!

The aftermath

The aftermath
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Here we are once all is said and done. Abigail is one their new town rug that allows them to drive their Match Box cars around on the roads. Josiah is staring at some plastic animals that he got and (don't tell her I told you) Mommy is wrapping a last minute present for Bonky.

Charlie Brown 1

Charlie Brown 1
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

This picture is a bit dark, but I wanted to capture the atmosphere for this story.

When Abigail was 2 years old we started a little tradition for Christmas Eve at our house. We get on our "jammies", pop popcorn, and watch Charlie Brown's Christmas. This is our third year and the first year that Josiah sat still and watched the whole thing.

Here is a picture of Abigail and Josiah sitting by the tree watching the TV. Mommy is just off camera sitting in the recliner with Samuel. He's still a bit young for popcorn.

Charlie Brown 2

Charlie Brown 2
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Here are the two of them enjoying some popcorn and drinks while watching Charlie Brown.

What are you lookin' at?

What are you lookin' at?
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

I think (and or course he is only 5 days old so my theory is new) that Samuel and Josiah had some sort of secret meeting so that Josiah could pass on tips on how to be ornery. Samuel has this knack for being wide awake only when I'm (John) not around.

While we were at the hospital with him, I had to leave to take Abigail to her AWANA Christmas party. Allison said he was awake the whole time, but when I returned, he went to sleep. The same thing happened this morning. I took Abigail and Josiah to church with me and it was then that Allison took this picture. When we got home, he was asleep again!

So, I now have picture proof that Samuel is learning early to be ornery with Daddy.

Ornery little brother

Ornery little brother
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Here is Josiah being ornery (imagine that!) while Mommy and Samuel look on.

Nice

Nice
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Josiah has been surprisingly gentle with Samuel. We never had to worry about Abigail when Josiah or Samuel came home. She is a sweet and gentle little girl when it comes to babies. But, we worried about Josiah.

He is very soft with him, but he asks to "pet" him a lot. He strokes his hair and says, "Nice."

My head is bigger

My head is bigger
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Here is Josiah comparing his head to Samuel's to see who's is bigger. I tried to explain to them that they all take after Daddy and will have big heads anyway.

Abigail drawing

Abigail drawing
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Here is a cute picture of our little Abigail drawing on the note pad she got this morning at church. She's still our little girl no matter how many other little ones we have!

Playing with Mommy

Playing with Mommy
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Today while Abigail and Josiah were napping we took the opportunity to play on the floor with our new little Samuel. He seemed to enjoy looking at our faces, looking at the Christmas lights, and playing with his hands. I took some picts. Here's one of Samuel and Mommy.

Checking out Mommy's face

Checking out Mommy's face
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Samuel seemed to enjoy looking at Mommy and Daddy's faces during some floor time. He's still so tiny, but we know he's already started growing, so we're enjoying this time as much as we can!

Lil' Roar!

Lil' Roar!
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Here Samuel is letting me know what he thinks of my camera work!

Resting with Mommy

Resting with Mommy
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

What a day it has been! About 22 hours ago Samuel was born and we have been exhausted since. Even though he has slept a lot, he still keeps us on our toes.

Here are Allison and Samuel taking a breather a few hours after he was born.

Big sister

Big sister
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Abigail has school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. So she wanted to take a picture of her and her new baby brother to school today (Wednesday). Here at Magee hospital in Pittsburgh they have one of those Kodak Picture Kiosks where you can take your digital camera and make prints. So we made some instant prints for her to take to school today.

She is such a good big sister.

Big brother

Big brother
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

This picture is a little blurry, but Josiah wanted a picture to have with him too. If Abigail had one...he needed one. He took it home and carried it around like a prized possession.

Sleepy boy

Sleepy boy
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Samuel must have been exhausted from yesterday's activities. He has slept a lot. Neither Abigail nor Josiah slept this sound and good when they first arrived. Whether it is in his bassinet or Mommy's arms, he is comfy and sleeping.

Here he is sleeping away this morning in his bed.

Reilly

Reilly
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Samuel even has a headboard. It's just a piece of paper with his name on it, but he doesn't care. He doesn't even know what paper is yet. If he would ever wake up I could tell him.

In the glass cage

In the glass cage
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Here is Samuel sleeping away in his little clear bed. He's very comfy.

Mommy and Samuel!

Mommy and Samuel!
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Here he is! Allison woke up this morning around 5am and she began feeling contractions. She woke me up around 6 and whispered something I have heard twice before, "I think I'm having your baby today."

By the time we got up, called who we needed to call and got to the hospital it was about 10:20am. On the drive to the hospital her contractions were about 6 minutes apart, but once we got to the hospital the contraction was constant......so......no epidural.

That's right folks! Allison just delivered a beautiful baby boy the good ol' fashion natural way.

So we are proud to announce Samuel Christopher Reilly.

7 lbs 10 oz.
20 1/2 inches long
Born at 11:20am

Both mommy and baby are doing wonderful!

Our son

Our son
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

One of our nurses offered to take a family picture of the three of us. What a morning!

Here she is...

Her she is...
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Allison is such a trooper. She is now 9 months pregnant. Samuel is due in one week and she is still doing so great. We are really looking forward to his arrival. As soon as he gets here we will put pictures up. Our hospital has Wi-Fi in the room, so we will post as soon as we can.

Check out the video next.

It's all about perspective

DSCN0336
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

We have a picture on the wall in our hallway of Allison and Abigail walking hand in hand at the Marion, NC park. What is great about this picture is that it is from behind and Allison is skinny as a rail. What is also funny about this picture is that Josiah was born the next day.

So I thought it would be funny to show you all this video we made of Samuel.

Ready for Christmas!

Ready for Christmas!
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

With the new carpet in our house and all our furniture back in place, we were able to decorate for Christmas. Here is Abigail and Josiah playing by the fireplace.

Enjoying some blocks

Enjoying some blocks
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

We all enjoy our new carpet that we got throughout our house. Here is Josiah playing with some blocks in the living room. This was hardwood and now it is soft, warm carpet! Yay carpet!

Little tool man

Little tool man
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Yesterday was Saturday and so all four of us spent the day in our PJ's playing and working around the house. One thing that Josiah and I (John) did yesterday was put the crib together for Samuel's arrival. It's the same crib that Abigail and Josiah used, but each time we have moved them to a big bed and put the crib away for a while.

Here is Josiah using an allen wrench to tighten up a bolt. I held the pieces and he really put the bolts in. Of course, I checked them after he was done, but he did a great job! What a man's man!

The Reilly Circus

The Reilly Circus
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Josiah is not only a man's man because he loves tools. He loves to wrestle and beat up on Daddy. Here is one moment when Daddy was winning.

We're still here

I just wanted to post a little message to let everyone know we're still here and doing fine. No baby yet, but he's due any day now. I've been having some problems uploading pictures to the computer so haven't been able to post any. I know some of you check this frequently and tend to worry if we haven't posted for a while. We have been busy, and have some great pictures to share once we can. Setting up for Christmas, setting up for Samuel to get here, and getting new carpet (in the whole upstairs) has filled our days. Hope all is well with everyone on that side. Check back soon for pictures!

Our pilgrim at her feast

Our pilgrim at her feast
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Abigail's preschool had a feast for the kids and parents the day before Thanksgiving. All the boys were Indians, and the girls were Pilgrims. Here is our sweet little girl with her plate loaded down with goodies. She is holding an ice cream cone which she also got to fill with treats as her own "cornucopia" just like the real pilgrims right? And notice the turkey bucket, she made that for me and filled it with Hershey's kisses. Very nice! It was so fun, and I love watching her do new things. She is growing way too fast!

Obedient pilgrim

Obedient pilgrim
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

I think this is one of the funniest pictures I got from Abigail's preschool feast. The teacher really wanted everyone to sit on the colorful carpet to begin their program for the parents. However, Abigail is the only one doing so, while the other kids run a muck.

Ring around the rosy

Ring around the rosey
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

A little late on the uploading of these, but oh well. Here are the little ones from Thanksgiving all hopped up on turkey and sweet potatoes playing ring around the rosy. It was very cute to see them all playing so very well together. The shirtless boys can only be explained best in the words of Abigail, "It's like summer in there!"

Abigail and Jarrett

Abigail and Jarret
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Abigail and her cousin Jarrett decide to go solo on this one. The look like they're having fun!

Together forever, or at least the next 2 years

Together forever, or at least the next 2 years
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

We moved Josiah into Abigail's room last week. He had been transitioning into the big boy bed in his own room for a while, but with Samuel just weeks away, we thought it was time. They were both very excited. The transition has been smooth and they are very good roommates thus far. Except sometimes Josiah tries to talk to Abigail when she's trying to sleep. I love how much they love each other, and hope that when Samuel gets here he just falls right into the craziness. As i'm sure he will.

Yeah, Josiah's here!

Yeah, Josiah's here!
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

Abigail has really been looking forward to the day Josiah got to move into her room. She just kept talking about it and talking about it. When the day finally arrived; she was very excited! Can't you tell?

Happy to share

Happy to share
Originally uploaded by TheReillys

I think Josiah is excited to be with his big sister too!