Snow, Snow, Snow!

We were blessed with a snow day this past week! Jordan worked from home and it was wonderful! Mid-morning we started the process of getting 7,000 layers of clothes on, 6 gloves, 6 hats, and  6 snow boots!

We got everyone dressed and made them smile for a picture for a very special reason.....it's our last snow day in this house!

We sold our house before it was ever officially on the market! It happened pretty fast, so needless to say this has been THE busiest and craziest winter of our lives! But, back to the snow.....

These boys know how to have fun in the snow! They loved it! 

Meanwhile inside, Emma Kate hung out with daddy while he worked!

We cut the fireplace on when everyone was done playing and I made hot chocolate and they all warmed up! It was a fun day to spend together inside! 

3 Months.....

Well, Emma Kate turned 3 months this week. In a way, it seems to have flown by but as usual I just can't remember her not being here. 

I am so biased, but she is so stinkin' sweet and cute to boot! I have gotten a few almost laughs this week so I think we are close. We definitely get sweet smiles all day long and they just melt my heart! 

The boys are still just smitten with her. I could lose count of how many kisses and hugs she gets everyday from them! We all just love her so! So far she seems pretty chill but does like to be held! She likes tummy time, is a great nurser, and stopped sleeping great after she was diagnosed with the flu last week. She pulled through with the help of Tamiflu so I hope we are all on the mend around here! Happy 3 Months, Emma Kate! We love your squishy, sweet smile!

2 Months!

Today Emma Kate is 2 months old! It seems fast in a way, but then it seems kind of slow as well. Because it's winter we really haven't been anywhere at all. I'm still not back at church yet so everything feels a bit out of the ordinary.

This week Emma Kate really gave us some great social smiles!

It doesn't get any better than waking up to smiles all of a sudden. I've just been melting inside all week every single time she does it!

I think because I had all boys, it does feel different in a way to have a girl. It's not something you can really explain, it just feels different in some way! She sure is a blessing to us....John Michael enjoyed reading to her this week. They all sure do love her but I think she holds a special place in his heart!

So far she can coo and make "a-goo" sounds and "a-boo" sounds. She's generally sleeping through the night (let me tell you I am in SHOCK over this). She's a fantastic nurser and likes to sleep in in the mornings; just like her mom ;)

She really has changed a good bit over the month!

A Gift in January

My resolution every year is to blog and, well, I never get around to it! I've decided to try to do a better job and stop worrying about the things I haven't posted and just post when I can and just show the randomness of our lives this winter with a new baby!

I decided to skip MOPS this morning and instead opt for a slow, laid back morning of pjs, pancakes, and coffee! Noah was my kitchen helper this morning! He loves to cook!

Next, little miss sunshine woke up! She started smiling this week and I just totally melt inside when I can get smiles from her. I know we are heading out of newborn territory and entering real baby territory! I mean, really, look at her!

 

I decided to put this verse on my lock screen that I read this morning. What a great place to be reminded of the joy we can have in Him!

We cleaned a bit and played with toys and worked on a bit of school work then packed up to go have lunch with Jordan.

What a gift we were given today; when we got outside it was sunny and kind of warm! I couldn't believe it!

We played outside after lunch for quote awhile!

I didn't want to come back inside it was just so wonderful!

The boys watched the Lego Movie on the couch and Emma Kate napped so I was able to sit at the kitchen table and menu plan. I even got some coupons printed out after not using any for about a year!

I made spaghetti for dinner and tried 100 Days of Real Food Apple Crisp for dessert.....only Noah would eat it though (no shocker!)

Happy Friday, indeed! We have a busy weekend planned!

Oh, What A Surprise!!

Starting in my 37th week of this 4th pregnancy my blood pressure started going up. It wasn't awful but still steadily going up. I had one more check on Friday November 14th and it was still up, so my doctor decided to go ahead and induce me that next Monday! I was stunned because I felt like we still had so much to do. Would the baby be ok at 37 1/2 weeks, was this wise to do it early? We frantically called family to go ahead and come into town so they could watch the boys for us.

We spent our last weekend as a family of 5 finishing up the last minute things that we had to do and praying this baby would be well and healthy for an induction. It was a very bittersweet weekend as we prepared for our lives to change. Would we be a family of all boys or would a little princess come along and rock our world?! My blood pressure remained high through the weekend so I felt better about inducing early!

On Sunday afternoon Jordan and I had a sweet last date for a while and walked in the snow and did a bit of shopping for baby before we checked into the hospital.

I was blessed with massive amounts of nausea/heartburn this time around and I only gained around 13 pounds and put on a few more the last 3 days as my blood pressure went up. 

I felt sad leaving the boys for a few nights but I knew they were in good hands with their grandparents! I didn't sleep much Sunday night and was up with the frozen sunset knowing this was the day The Lord had ordained for us to meet this precious new baby!

The day progressed along and I didn't progress very quickly at all. We prayed that my labor wouldn't stall out and end up with a c-section! We had SO many friends and family praying for us throughout the day and we were so thankful!

The boys planned to visit around dinner time and it just so happened I started to really come along quickly and knew the baby would be coming soon! As the boys went downstairs to eat dinner it was time to push! I literally thought my heart would explode with excitement to see what we were having!

You see that.....it's a Pink bow!!! I just about lost it as she came out, my doctor held her up and Jordan looked and announced that it was a GIRL!!! We cried and cried and I thanked God for this precious gift that I didn't even know that I wanted or needed. 

What a blessing!! The boys came up from waiting downstairs and we let it be a surprise for them too as they walked in! They were all really, really excited to see a pink bow! They are completely obsessed with her and love her so much already!

Emma Katherine (she'll go by Emma Kate!) was 8 pounds 10 ounces and 20 inches long. She is amazing, beautiful, perfect and such a wonderful surprise to us! 

 Another surprise is that she has lots of very light hair and maybe blue eyes....it's hard to tell quite yet! We are nearly 3 weeks in and I still am in shock that we have pink and bows in our house! It feels strange for this boy mom!

We just love her so much and we are so thankful that we have a healthy, beautiful baby to snuggle on!

More pictures to come! Welcome to our family Emma Kate!