One month and counting...

One month. One month today our newest blessing came into this world. It's so hard to believe that in just a month so much has changed. We are tremendously blessed (and tired).
Erika's personality is now starting to come out. I told Mike just tonight that we are in trouble. I tried to give her a pacifier, she pursed her lips and would not take it. Then she looked right at me and smiled. We are in deep trouble.
Well here are some one month photos of her and her new friend, Mr. Bear. I am telling you she is growing like a weed. Seems to me like she is already out growing some of her clothes.


Hard to believe a month has passed... it seems like she has been a part of us all along. I have to wonder if that comes with being a parent. I seem to recall I had similar feelings after my other two were born too. Anyway, we are all well, and looking forward to a nice Thanksgiving. We obviously have much to be thankful for this year.
Happy Thanksgiving and may you cherish all the blessings God has granted you this last year. Oh and make sure not to eat to much turkey, you have to leave some room for pumpkin pie.

Amazing

It truly amazes me how something you have spent 9 months prepping for can still manage to throw you for a loop. In just over two weeks our whole lives have changed.
Don't get me wrong change can be a great thing... I like to change things up actually... but shesh.
Maybe it's because after 4 ultra sounds we still had no idea if she was a girl or boy, or the fact that I had gotten used to my older two; who are now somewhat independent, or just the fact that we now have another person (along with all the "stuff" that you need to take care of said person)living in an already full house, but our lives have changed a lot in just over two weeks.
Erika really is a good baby... she rarely cries unless she is hungry or needs to be changed, and she seems to take most things in a stride... including being passed around, and poked and prodded by her curious brother and sister. It's also strange at how I cannot now imagine my life with out her. Two weeks and she is already such a part of our lives... Amazing how that happens. But how could you possibly resist that beautiful face.
It still amazes me (I am still in that post hormonal stage, where everything either amazes me or makes me crazy... ask me about our new president-elect to really get an idea of what makes me crazy... heh) that she has ONLY been out of the womb for for 18 days.
We are actually adjusting nicely. The kids just love to dote on Erika. They want her to grow up fast though, so she can talk and play with them. It really is cute when they get so excited about helping. Lex loves to help me pick out Erika's clothes, and Tim is just a good helper all the way around. So things are going good (so far... talk to me once she starts walking and getting into the older ones stuff... lol).
Anyway I just wanted to post some new pics. I have been having problems with a finicky camera, but managed to get it working this morning, so I snapped a bunch of pics of Erika, Tim and Lex at the park. Here are a few, but there are more of Erika at my "other" web site, so make sure to check there too!

Welcome to the world!

Well our little bundle of joy FINALLY decided to make an appearance into the world. We have now added another GIRL to our growing family. Erika Danielle was born on Saturday October 25th. She came into the world weighing 8 pounds 4 ounces and was 20 inches long. Unfortunately she had a bout of jaundice and had to stay in the hospital a few extra days, but she is now at home and resting comfortably. Her brother and sister are thrilled and are already planning all the things they want to teach her and show her. We are extremely blessed to have another blessing in our family! I will post a more detailed update later, but wanted to get the announcement out ASAP!
So make sure you check back later!

Adjectives galore

Frustration
Excitement
Amusement
Uncomfortable
Happiness
Scary
Interested
Itchy
Mushy
Wonderful

These are only a few of the things that I have been feeling the last few days. Once again I was hoping to have some BIG baby news to post... and once again the baby has chosen to be uncooperative. Every time the Dr. would be in a good position with the ultra sound the baby would move. At this point the sex of the child will be a surprise to us all. But on the upside of things, he did manage to get some measurements and all looks well. The baby is healthy (yea!) and is a decent size (nearly 5 pounds already) so what ever happens now... happens. We even managed to get a fleeting site of the baby sucking his/her thumb. So that was neat.
Anyway, please just continue to be in prayer, however, as I seem to be having some pregnancy issues also. I have been having some pretty major contractions and I am for some reason very dehydrated (I thought I was drinking enough water... but I guess not)so that has been wreaking havoc with my system too. (Plus it will certainly make the next month to 6 weeks incredibly uncomfortable.)
Anyway just wanted to post a quick update for everyone. I will try and get some stuff up of Tim and Lex from the Space center here in a few, so make sure to check back soon!

Busy

Well even though it has been so hot here we have managed to get out and do a few things. Just the other day I took the kids to the pet store so we could peruse the animals, while still being someplace cool. Alexa LOVED the birds, and practically begged me to get one. (The answer to that one was no, just in case you were wondering... I am not a big fan of cleaning up after birds. LOL) Of course then there was Tim... He soooo wants a turtle. We are considering it possibly for his 5th birthday, but we'll see how things go between now and Feb. Heh.
On top of that we have been trying to get things ready for our new addition. I cannot believe that the baby will be here soon. Alexa is so excited. She loves to help out. We call her a mini mom. Here are some pictures of her with her baby... we have been trying to give her a heads up on what it will be like with a new baby in the house. I actually think she is almost as excited as we are...


She is soo cute!
We are still hoping to get out of the city for a few hours tomorrow, so I am hoping to have some more stuff to post over the weekend. So make sure to check back soon! :)

Big news

Well once again I was hoping to have a baby announcement. You know the one everyone has been dying to know about for the last two months... you know... the announcement on whether the baby is a boy or girl. Well...
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We still don't know. (sigh) I know I know,we all want to form a mob and go down to my Dr's office and demand that he do an ultra sound right now... we want to know!
I went in for my appointment today fully expecting to come home with some news. Something. But the Lord must be teaching me patience,as my Dr. was stuck with another delivery, at the hospital. So alas, they will schedule another ultra sound for next month, and hope all goes well.
And so the debate at our house continues... Tim waffling between wanting a brother or sister and Lex adamant that the baby is a girl. Mike is still convinced the baby is a boy,and as for me... I am just glad all is going well and looking forward to finding out so we can end the madness. LOL
Anyway, so another 4 weeks... (I think I will just hideout in my room til then to avoid all the commotion.(sigh))
Anyway, here are some photos of me in all my pregnant glory.(I was only about 6 1/2 months here, and I look huge. I know the end result will be worth it, but I hate to think what I will look like at my due date. LOL)

Sigh

Well I was hoping to be able to put up a post, and tell everyone the good news of whether we were having a boy or a girl.
(sigh) Alas, this kid I am carrying is already proving to be stubborn. During the ultrasound, we noticed his/her head right up under my belly button... that was ok we got to make sure everything was where it was supposed to be... eyes, nose mouth, we even got to see the heart beat. But this child WOULD NOT MOVE! Shesh... not even to give the Dr. a peek so we could find out if this baby was a boy or girl. So sadly we are still in the dark, as far as whether to plan for another girl or boy.
I suppose it really should not matter to much, considering we have one of each already.... but I REALLY WANT TO KNOW! Can you tell I am not good with surprises. Christmas and birthdays are awful for me... LOL
Anyway, my Dr. said at the 7 month mark they would do another ultrasound, and hopefully, this child will be a little more... cooperative. So until then... we just keep telling the kids, we do not know if the baby will be a boy or girl.
The debate continues for them, as they keep changing what they want, a brother or sister. I guess on the upswing, the kids are learning some interesting debate skills in the process.
I think the next few (10, 20...) years are going to be interesting...