Monday, April 23, 2012

Grateful

I feel so very blessed.
A few days ago my first "baby" turned 7. 
Tomorrow my third "baby" turns 3.
And my littlest baby is now 3 weeks old. 
How did I get so lucky?

I am overcome with gratitude for these 4 little people in my life and for a very wonderful and kind husband and for amazing friends.  I can not even express the gratitude I feel for the service that has been rendered to our family these past few weeks.  We have had dinners brought in, treats and bread delivered to us, many visits, lots of playdates for the kids, kind phone calls, carpools driven, professional photographs given, and the list could go on and on. My friend Rebecca even surprised me before Elise was born by watching my kids for a whole day so Mike and I could spend time together.  I have been able to take naps and snuggle with my sweet little Elise while my children have played happily at friends' homes.  What a treat it has been for me to spend so much quality time with my new baby.   My good friend Becky even made and decorated the cakes for Blake and Cole's birthdays. (see pictures below-aren't they awesome)  I have to say that I have the most wonderful group of friends EVER.  So thank you all my friends from the bottom of my heart for making this transition from 3-4 kids so wonderful.  I am truly humbled by your service to me and my family.  I hope you all know how much I appreciate your thoughtful and kind acts of service. 
The end!!






Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Welcome Elise Jewell












Our sweet new baby girl , Elise Jewell, was born on march 30. I had asked my doctor to induce me a week early to try and avoid a big baby, but alas she only consented to inducing me three days before my due date. Thank goodness we didn't wait for Elise to come on her own because she weighed in at a whopping 10 lbs 1oz. At this point in the game I shouldn't be surprised but I thought for sure she would be smaller since she was a girl. I do not build small babies, and I have no idea why because no one else in my family births toddlers.


Anyway, it's strange to be a family of six now. We all are enamored with this sweet little girl. We are also surprised at the amount of hair she has. She has a full head of brown hair. I am so used to bald babies.

I am grateful to my mom who was able to come out and stay with us for over a week. I always cry when she leaves because I wonder how I can possibly do it on my own. Funny to think about life when I just had Blake. I am also grateful for Mike's accounting firm that gave him two weeks of paid paternity leave. The kids have been so excited to have daddy home. And of course I have been so appreciative of his presence. What a wonderful daddy he is.


About her name, Elise is just a name we liked and she is named Jewell after Mike's wonderful Grandmother Jewell. All of our children have family names for middle names and I think this gives them a link to their wonderful heritage.