Introducing...

 Our newest addition....

Brenna Joy Anderson Bissey.  She was born by c-section on 4-23-17 at 1:20 pm.  She weighed in at 7 pounds 10 ounces and measured 18.5 inches.  Although 4 days later she measure 19.75 inches so we think she wasn't allowing the nurses to stretch her out to her full length.  She is already bringing us so much joy (that's why we chose it as her middle name). 

Daddy and new daughter

Happy and tired Mama

Checking out daddy

1st silly face. :) 

Sleepy half smile.  She started smiling in her sleep right away.  Awake smiles followed 3 weeks later 

Going home

Meeting big brother, Sammy

He already loves her so much.  We asked him if he was ready to get down, and he promptly said, "No!".  

Grandma Beth came to stay and help with Sammy while we were at the hospital having Brenna.  Sammy loved having her there to spend time with, and grandma got to be the first visitor to hold the new baby.

I was taking a selfie with Brenna and Sammy one night - someone was being a cheesehead. :) 

Meeting Noni for the first time.  Noni and Papa didn't meet Sammy until he was 4 months old, so it was really special that they got to meet Brenna at 5 days old. It was so nice to have them for a nice long visit, plus they got a little glimpse of what Sammy looked like when he was this little.  He and Brenna could pass for twins in their baby pictures.

Papa and Sammy

I love her in this dress.

Already getting so big - this was the last newborn size outfit she wore.

Sleeping on daddy in church.

Still sleepy smiles.

The dress I made.  I love how it looks on her.

Smiling at daddy.  This is when she started smiling while awake.  I don't think Sammy smiled this early - although they are both happy kids.

Mama and Sammy on family picture day.  I'll post those later.  Hopefully I'll be able to update more often, although I'm still lacking sleep.  We'll see how it goes.  Haha.

Sammy's Sillyisms #1

Sammy has learned to talk so well, and so much, that he has started cracking us up with some of the things he says.  Here are some of the ones that have tickled us lately.

One day Mike was singing the 90's rap song "Whoomp! There it is!" when Sammy interrupted him and said, "No, no, Dada! No sing!".

We were all driving in the car one day, and I was teasing Mike.  I said, "Ooh, burn on you!".  Sammy then piped up from his car seat and said, "Fire on you, Dada!" and blew a raspberry.

Sammy wanted one of his favorite snacks that we call stinky pretzels.  (They are garlic Parmesan pretzel chips that give a person bad breath.)  Sammy started singing, "Stinky preeeeetzeeeels.".

Sammy was playing in his room when he pretended to sneeze, then really tooted.  Then proceeded to repeat this several times - pretend sneeze, real toot.  Then when Ricki came to visit, he showed her his new talent.  (toots and timing must come easier to guys - I couldn't believe he could do this! and Mike just thinks its hysterical of course)

I called Sammy a goofy kid one day.  Then Sammy said, "Goofy pig!" and kept snorting.

Aunt Ricki visited in February, and one night I was getting Sammy ready for bed.  He looked down at his chest and said, "Nickels."  I said, "What?", and Sammy said, "Everybody has nickels!".

We were eating lunch at a local fast food restaurant when all of a sudden Sammy starts singing quite loudly. "Donalds! (for McDonalds) Donalds! Hamburger! French Fries! Shake!" And we were at Taco Bell!  😄

Sammy and I were heading to a baby shower for our Baby Brenna when the car in front of us stopped at a green light for some reason (no reason that I could see).  I said, "What are you doing!?!?", then I hear Sammy from the back say, "Hey! Trying to drive here!"  Neither Mike or I usually say that, so we're not quite sure where he got it from, although it did fit the situation.

One day after another prenatal appointment, we all stopped at our favorite donut shop.  Sammy was wearing his Batman glasses from Aunt Ricki.  As we were getting him out of the car, Sammy says in his husky Batman voice, "Batman need donut!".  (This one I also have on video and will have to try to get it uploaded.)

Freezing in February

We got a huuuuge snow in February.  The one thing about Nebraska winters is the temperature never seemed to get above 30 degrees at any point between November and March.  It made for a really cold season, and the snow didn't go away.  I thought I liked cold weather better, but I found out I'm more of a spring and fall type of person. :) 

One of my favorite outfits for Sam.  Overalls are just so cute on little kids.

Fell asleep drinking his milk. 

One day it must have been warmer because we made a visit to the Scottsbluff zoo.  Here you can see a peacock.

The tiger was prowling around.  There was some big cat in the back roaring the whole time we were at the zoo.  It was actually a little disturbing.  I kept expecting to see a huge cat come around the corner looking for food.  Haha!

Zebra

Tiny deer

A bumblebee - bzzzz!

Gibbons, I think.

They were really happy to have visitors, and kept following us around the exhibit.

Some sort of hawk or falcon.

Marmoset

Going up the ramp...

and down.

Then up...

and down.  Sammy loves to practice skills like going up and down ramps.  He's happy going up and down or back and forth repeatedly.

Fishy kisses.

"So Big!"

Handsome lil fella

Playing on the couch pillow fort Mama made.

Reading - one of our favorite things to do.

"Do these shoes make my feet look big?" 

Wearing Mama's jacket

We were at Dairy Queen and Sammy was making the funniest faces and being super silly. I was laughing so hard I was crying, and Sammy started wiping his eyes copying me.  Needless to say, I was laughing/crying even harder. 

I found this cat at Target and showed it to Sammy.  It was a good thing we bought it for him - he sobbed through the store to the checkout counter thinking he couldn't have it.  He loves this cat, and loves on it every chance he gets.

A mug cozy I made for my Secret Sister.  I want to make another one for myself - I love how this one turned out.

Here are some pictures I forgot to post about our trip to Washington.  Playing ball with Quita.

Papa's sheep

Grandpa J and E

Grandma V and E

Noni and Papa and almost all the grandkids.  I love this picture of all of them.

Grandma and Grandpa with all the great-grandkids.  

Papa got a box of paper as a present and Sammy thought it was just the right place to sit.  

Getting some help opening gifts.

Now helping their Daddy open his gifts.

We had a lot of fun in February, so we had lots of pictures to share.  I think I'm almost caught up to the present.