Playing Catch Up (Part 1)

Wowzers! Time has been flying by here at the hive since Sister joined our family!  She's already 8 weeks old, and she has added so much to our family.  The boys are still completely in love with her, no jealousy issues at all.  It is precious to watch them love on her.  She is one blessed little girl!  Overall she has been a fairly easy baby.  She did have some reflux issues that were interrupting her sleep at night that we sorted out, and she is now sleeping much better.  At 5 and half weeks she had already gotten up to 9 pounds, and she has outgrown a lot of her clothes already...sniff, sniff.  She brings our family a ton of joy each day, and we're so thankful for her sweet life.     

We've been faithfully doing our school each day these past weeks and are onto week 12 of our homeschooling adventure this fall.  Johnathan has started reading full sentences, and he is enjoying the math portion of his school day the most.  Eli has learned to write his name and enjoys his daily work pages in his pre-school curriculum.

Aaron has continued to stay busy with work, church stuff and flag football.  And I have been busy with just keeping things in order around here and taking care of my 3 lil munchkins. I'm still selling things from my Etsy shop too.  It keeps me just busy enough to make it worthwhile and not so busy that it stresses me out.  It's a fun little hobby!

Here is a sampling of photos of life over the past few weeks.....

Part 2 coming up!

*Grace*    

Meeting Baby Sister

The evening of Ardena's birth we were able to bring the boys up to the hospital to see her....we being Aaron...I was sorta stuck at the hospital!  ;-)

They were over the moon excited to get to finally meet her.  We had been talking about her so much and really trying to prepare them for what it would be like having her, and I really think it paid off!  They were (and are) completely in love with her, and it's the most precious thing.  

Here are some sweet photos of the boys' first time meeting Baby Sister. 

*Grace*

Ardena Jenna Grace

Our precious little girl has arrived!  And we couldn't be happier having her in our lives.  It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks, so I'm just now getting around to writing about her birth.  It happened something like this...

...Monday morning on September 9th I went in for what I thought would be a relatively "normal" visit.  My c-section was planned for the 12th, and since my blood pressure had remained stable throughout the weekend I was pretty sure I could make it to the planned date on Thursday.  However, once I got to my visit and my doctor examined me he determined that it was Baby Day.  I won't go into too much detail, but the gist is that my body was already getting prepped for delivery, and my dr. didn't want my cerclage to tear.  Nuff said!  :-)  I was told to report to L&D at 11:30 a.m. and that I would have our little girl around 1:30 THAT day!!!  Wow, what a surprise!  We have yet to make it to any "planned" c-section date with any of our kids.  We definitely keep things exciting when it comes to having a baby, nothing goes the way we think it will!

I drove back home after my visit, excitedly calling various people on my way back that we were having the baby that day.  Aaron had to cancel the rest of his morning patients and drove home to get me and bring me back to the hospital.  My mom was already at home with the boys, and Nana (Aaron's mom) was on her way when we left for the hospital to come stay with the boys so my mom could come to the hospital and be there during the delivery.  

We got to L&D at 11:30 and I got all hooked up to the IV, had blood drawn, got put on the monitors and was prepped for surgery.  It was exciting being taken back to the OR.  It was the first time that the life of the baby was not in danger (unlike Eli's traumatic delivery and Johnathan's less traumatic but still stressful delivery).  Our baby girl was doing great, we just had to have her a few days early to prevent anything from happening to me.  So nice to be able to go into that operating room with excitement and joy!

As the surgery began I had my sweet hubby right beside me.  And at 1:53 pm I heard the most beautiful sound in all creation...the sweet cries of our newborn, healthy baby girl.  Oh what a moment!  I will never forget it!

Our precious girl began her life outside my tummy weighing in at 5 pounds 15 ounces, and stretching out at 19 inches long.  Dark hair, dark eyes and 100% Aldape.  She is darling, and yes, I'm partial, but I'm pretty sure she's the cutest little baby girl I've ever seen!  She is named after my Great-Great Grandma, Inez Ardena, her Great-Aunt Jenna (whose birthday she shares!) and after me!  I'm kinda digging the two middle names!  :-)

I'll post later about the boys' reaction to their new little sister!  They have been so precious with her and are so excited that she's finally here!

*Grace*

Separation Anxiety

For whatever reason this evening has me feeling emotional.  As much as I am excited to meet our precious girl I am also feeling a twinge of sadness over the phase of our mother/child relationship that will soon be ending.  Almost 9 months of being completely attached to this little life, and that time is running out quickly.  And I am going to miss it.  

I told Aaron that I was feeling emotional tonight, and he knows me...good husbands are like that...so he asked me if it was because Baby Sister was about to be born and wouldn't be inside me anymore.  Yep, he hit the nail on the head.  And even though he can't fully understand it, I don't think any man can, he knows me enough to understand why it makes me well up and release those good old fashioned things called tears that God seemed to give women more than enough of.  So I had a nice cry.  And it felt good to let out some of those extra tears I'd been storing up.  

So tonight, Baby Sister, I am cherishing all the moments we've already had while looking forward to all the new moments we'll share together.  

I will miss feeling your sweet little kicks and punches, your little body tumbling inside mine...
...yet I can't wait to see and kiss those sweet little feet and hands that have been using the inside of me as a punching bag.  

I will miss your little hiccups, a sure sign that your body is getting ready to breathe new life...
...and I can't wait to rejoice over hearing your first baby cry...that sweet inhale and exhale signaling that you have entered the world.  

I will miss hearing your heartbeat on our baby doppler here at home...I'll miss seeing your big brothers Johnathan and Eli eagerly ask to "check on Baby Sister"...
...but I can't wait to see your precious body, the rise and fall of your little chest, as you sleep and snuggle with your brothers.  

I will miss being your complete source of life and nutrition in the womb...
...oh but I cannot wait to feed you from the outside of your current cozy little home...giving you what God made available for mothers to give their babies.

There are so many sweet things I'll miss about this phase of mothering you, sweet Baby Sister, but there are so many more blessings to come.  So many people already love you dearly, and I cannot wait to share your precious life with them.  I love you, sweet baby girl.  

*Mama*

  

Sister is Coming Soon!

At my doctor's visit yesterday we got a date for Baby Sister's arrival: Thursday, September 12th!  It's not officially "set in stone" if you will since my blood pressure is still being carefully monitored as well as other symptoms for signs of preeclampsia like I experienced with the boys.  BUT, if all goes according to plan we will be able to welcome our little sweetie into the world outside the womb in just a little over a week!  SOOOO exciting!  :-)  The last-minute nesting instincts are kicking in, and I have renewed motivation to finish up a few things here around the house!  We just can't wait for Baby Sister!  

*Grace*

Making Brownies with my Lil' Brownies!

I am trying hard to get some extra memory-making times in with just my boys before Baby Sister arrives.  So yesterday, when the chocolate craving hit, I thought what better way to fix it than with some quality brownie making time with my two favorite lil' brown baby boys!  They both put on their "cookie makers"...Eli's name for aprons (so cute, right?!)...and we got down to business.  And what brownie making time is complete without licking the bowl and having fun getting just a little bit messy?!!  So here are my two lil' dudes, having fun with mommy and each other, and enjoying every second of our brownie making afternoon!   

*Grace*

The Baby Belly

I thought it would be fun to share one pic of my actual belly...usually I like to keep it a bit covered up, but I do want to remember what my sweet little baby girl made my stomach look like...especially if this might be our last baby, *sniff, sniff*.  So here we are, at 35 weeks and 1 day.   

And here is some photography by Johnathan done at 35 weeks...he got such a kick out of that shirt...LET ME OUT...not quite yet, little sister!  

*Grace*

Showered with Love

This past Saturday my Grandma and two of my sweet sisters hosted a baby shower for me and Sister!  And goodness, did Baby Sister get showered with love...and gifts!  :-)  We had a wonderful time, thinking ahead to her birth and what she'll be like, and feeling thankful that for now she's staying put and growing like she should.  At the end of the shower everyone gathered around me to pray over Baby Girl and our family.  It was really special and my favorite part of the shower.  Thank you so much, Grandma, Gaily and Glenna for hosting such a memorable baby shower!

The lovely hostesses!

4 generations!

 Cousin baby bumps!  

 My precious sisters. 

 The grandmothers and great-grandmothers!

 Sweet ladies. 

The aftermath, back at home...so much PINK!!!  :-)

It sure was a fun day!  And we feel so blessed by all the love shown to our sweet, baby girl!

*Grace*