Easter Finery

We had an interesting Easter yesterday. We started the morning off with Soph and Riley opening up their Easter bags. They had fun getting some little gifts and some sweet treats. Then we worked on getting everyone dressed and ready for church - everyone except me. I woke up yesterday feeling just awful. I was tired, I was moody, I was emotional and totally a mess. So... Haddie and I opted to stay home from church so Mama could get some extra sleep while she napped. We had plans to drive up to Jamie's parents' for Easter dinner, but I couldn't even pull it together to do that, so we stayed home and Mama got some more sleep. By dinner time I was feeling myself again and was thankful I'd chosen to rest today because, "when Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" :) The weather was gorgeous yesterday so the kids got to play outside and then we ordered in some pizza and just had a relaxing evening.

So thankful for my Savior. Thankful that He died, thankful that He came alive again. Thankful that He cares for me and mine.

Haddie turned one week old yesterday! She is a delight and the kids continue to do great with having a baby sister! God is good, all the time.

Enjoy some eye candy from our day yesterday.

Anxiously waiting to open up her Easter bag!

"What'd ya get me Mom and Dad?"

Yippee!

So excited because he got a foam sword!

Of course we had to get Soph one too, because you can't really sword fight with just one sword. :)

My sweet Haddie girl, all dressed up (with no where to go) in her Easter outfit.

I just love her little feet.

My beautiful Sophia.

She picked out her pearl jewelry from the $1 section at T@rget! :)

Seriously. No words.

Our little Italian mobster. Jamie wants to find a little violin case for him to carry when he's wearing this outfit. :)

I didn't even attempt getting a shot of all three kids, but I'm happy with how this one turned out of the two older ones!

My Other Half

Today is Jamie's birthday. He is 29 today! I can't tease him though because I've been 29 for over 4 months... There are many reasons I love my husband and love to celebrate who he is and who he is to me on his birthday each year. This year, as his birthday is falling so soon after the birth of our third child, I am really focused on how much I love him due to his role of father of my children and husband to me.

I honestly could not ask for a better husband or father for my children. Jamie is everything I dreamed of and everything I never even knew I would need in a husband - but, God knew, and He provided all I'd need in a life partner - in Jamie.

Jamie, I love you so much! I cherish the love we have for each other, I treasure our friendship, I am proud of the man that you are and I anticipate our future together! Happy Birthday to my best friend!

Jamie and me at The Grove in LA

Either Fall/Winter of 2003 or Winter/Spring of 2004

Jamie meeting his first born, Sophia Ruth, for the first time - totally smitten!

November 25, 2004

Jamie with his first born son, Riley James - so proud!

August 28, 2008

Jamie and his third child, Hadassah Anne - so in love!

March 28, 2010

My Helpers

Jamie and I were remarking last night how smooth the transition to three children has been going. We expected Sophia to adjust more quickly than she did when Riley arrived, what with her now being used to not being an only child, and with her being older. It helps that she got the little sister she so longed for! :) We did expect more drama out of Riley though. He is a Mama's boy, through and through, and we thought for sure he'd either get really jealous and just start ignoring me, or act out in some sort of way. He has done neither! He really seems to love Hadassah and continues to want my attention too.

Sophia has been such a joy and real help as we've adjusted to being five instead of four here. She loves holding Haddie, and is very good at it! She is always bounding off to the bathroom to "wash my hands so I can touch the baby!" She even helped me change Haddie's diaper today and did a great job. She's a great little mama.

Wednesday Jamie and I went to my parent's house to get the kids and bring them back home. We stayed for dinner and Sophia had made a cake to celebrate Haddie's birth. She made a dog cake and it was so cute (picture below) and fun to see her celebrate her little sister.

That same day Riley was just smitten! He kept bringing Haddie her paci and wanting to kiss her head and pat her. He didn't seem jealous at all, and continues to try to be helpful whenever he sees something of Hadassah's. I can't wait to see their little friendship develop as they both get older.

True love. Sisters are forever friends.

The doggie cake.

Riley loving on his sister and trying to be a helper. Melts my heart to see my baby boy a big boy now...

Just a glimpse

BEFORE:

AFTER:

The top picture is of me, of course, just a few hours before Hadassah would be born. My contractions were at a point still that in between I wasn't feeling any pain, so I had Jamie snap this shot of me so I could remember how big my belly was right at the very end of this pregnancy. We were all shocked at how "small" Haddie ended up being. My first born, Sophia, was just shy of 10 lbs and 22 inches long, Riley was just over 9 lbs and 20 1/2 inches long, so having a baby just shy of 8 lbs and 19 1/2 inches long feels crazy! We love our little peanut though and the kids are adjusting great so far. We are tired and still settling in to what will become our new normal, but we are doing well. I can't wait to share more pictures and more details of Hadassah's birth, but that will have to wait. Bed and baby are calling...

She is here!

I will write more once home- but for those of you who don't follow us on facebook...
Hadassah Anne was born this morning at 11:09. She weighed 7 lbs, 15 oz & is 19 1/2 in long. She is so sweet and we are all doing well!

Happy Birthday Cora Ann!

The first time I met my sweet niece - March 27, 2009... I had the privilege of being with my sister for her entire labor and delivery. What a special blessing!

The second time meeting my sweet niece - the very next day! She was all cleaned up and looking simply adorable!

Then, over Easter of last year... As you can see, Riley was just trying to get a "taste" of what his cousin was like. :) hehe

Then there was that time this past summer when my sister and I dressed our girls up in their matching dresses from Grammy. What high hopes we had for our photo shoot. Someone wasn't having any of it! :)

The last time I got to see, hug, kiss and love on my niece was over Christmas! WAY too long ago.

Today, Saturday, March 27, 2010, marks the one year birthday of Cora. We will get to finally see her again this coming Easter weekend, where we will enjoy spoiling her at her birthday party - and hopefully we'll be introducing her to her new cousin... time will tell. :)

Happy Birthday Cora Ann. We love you SO much and are so thankful for the sunshine you bring to our lives.

Sweet Baby Girl

No, the first picture is not a picture of Soph with her new baby sister - I wish! :) Today we had the privilege of meeting Baby Olive in person for the first time. One of my dearest friends (we've known each other since 7th grade), Danielle, became a Mommy for the first time just over four weeks ago! She and I don't live in the same state anymore, but her parents still live near my parents. So... when she told me she'd be in town this weekend we did all we could to drive up to see her and meet Olive Rose. What a beautiful baby! Sophia of course loved holding her and loving on her. Riley was adorable too. He shook her hand and wanted to hold her. So far, every baby he's been around, he's been very gentle. Jamie and my Mom were able to be there too. It was such a blessing to see my dear friend and meet her daughter. Our little girls will be very close in age, and hopefully good friends! I've posted a bunch of pictures below - I just couldn't choose, so I put almost all of them up. :)

39 Weeks!

Well, today I have reached the 39 week mark of this pregnancy. The past 7 days have been a bit up and down. The first part of last week I was pretty obsessed with going into labor and was feeling so consumed. Towards the end of the week God urged me to "let go" and just relax and enjoy each day as it came. So, after I adopted that new attitude my days have been much better! Jamie and I, would of course, love to see this baby sooner rather than later, but we are clinging to the Truth that God's timing is always better than ours. And so, we wait...

I had a midwife appointment yesterday and all appears to be well with baby. I am staying strong at 3 cm dilated, and when I asked my midwife how long one could be dilated without actually going into labor, she responded that she had a mom once who was 6 cm for 3 weeks before delivering! So, I guess being 3 doesn't necessarily give me any extra hope that labor is coming soon. :) Oh well! The baby continues to get lower and lower though. Every week they measure my uterus from top to bottom. It should correspond in centimeters to how many weeks pregnant you are, i.e. @ 34 weeks pregnant your uterus should be about 34 cm. Once baby starts to drop down lower this number starts to go down as opposed to up. So, two weeks ago I was measuring right on, 37 weeks, 37 cm. Today, at 39 weeks, I measured 34 1/2 cm! So, that tells us baby is descending, which is a good thing! I figure, all the labor work that can be done ahead of actual labor is fine by me! It will just make laboring that much quicker/easier.

Well, that's about it from the belly front for this week! :) Have a great day.

I see bellies everywhere!

Does the shape and curve of this playground dome remind you of anything??

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Yeah, me neither. ;)

(38 weeks pregnant)

Playground fun, even in a chilly drizzle

After my midwife appointment this past Monday, where it was found that I was 2-3 cm. dilated, I was extra motivated to get some contractions going! So, despite the temperature being a bit chilly and a slight drizzle falling - we all headed on a walk to a playground nearby. Of course I didn't get one contraction as a result, but the walk and family playtime was fun!