of pure sweetness…
a great nurser, a loud sleeper and a perfect cuddle bug.
we love our anna kate!
{or as samuel says ‘anna cake’}
xxoo
firsts
spoiled much?
our time adjusting at home has been so special. the boys are head over heals in love with their sister…
dana made the trip up for your one week birthday anna kate! your cousin camryn flew all the way from north carolina too! it was such a great visit. the minor hiccup we had during our first week at home was the first day daddy went back to work. i had to call him to come home and take jack to the emergency room. big brothers had a major collision and we thought jack might be losing a few of his teeth. prayers are powerful and god is good. he still has his front tooth it just changed it’s look a little …
it was such a wonderful visit! we can’t wait till they join us again! having family this helpful and caring is a beautiful thing!
xxoo
anna kate’s arrival
we were as ready as we could be. the day before we had a planned induction, nana arrived at the house. we got the boys their hair cuts and enjoyed a lunch together. i knew things were going to be happening so fast i was almost to nervous to eat. granny and dana joined us at the house that evening and all enjoyed staring at me, in hopes i would go into labor. i knew it would be happening on its own soon. i did not feel so well. by the time we called it a night i was timing contractions 10 minutes apart. i tried to sleep through them for a few hours and realized i couldn’t handle them much more. i didn’t want to be in too much pain before getting to the hospital. i woke richard up and we started our trip to the hospital 2 hours prior to check in time for our induction. by the time we arrived to sign papers, i knew there was no need for any induction. i could barely sign my name at one point. the hospital decided to give me the room they had ready for me but were a little sluggish on getting the iv and blood work done. i still am not sure why they had to wait because no matter what i was going to have the baby, and probably pretty soon. the contractions were getting to the point i was making the frowny face of the number 9 or 10 on the chart. the epidural finally arrived and oh did it feel like such relief. not even 5 minutes after the relief arrived i was a 10 and ready. i was so wore out i just waited till the doctor was ready. the practice push didn’t even happen. she arrived during one last contraction.
beautiful and perfect in every way…
the boys had been waiting out in the waiting room since before the sun rose that morning…
it was a very long night and a fast and furious morning. i think it was a lot for samuel to take in. being up so early and seeing me with everyone afterwards was almost too much for this little guy. it broke this mama’s heart to see him so emotional. everyone wanted to help him but he only wanted mama. {which wasn’t very easy}
they moved us to our new room while anna kate got her first bath…
gramps drove up just for the afternoon to meet his 20th grandbaby! 🙂
checking out that new clean hair!
after all the excitement everyone said their emotional goodbyes and daddy and samuel stayed with mama for the afternoon… i was so relieved when big brother got a nap in.
sweet boy! we were so thankful that nana was able to help daddy at the house during the next few days. we had some very special visits together.
i loved every bit of having this little girl all to myself for the next two evenings. it was just what i needed before going home.
ready or not baby girl it’s time to go home!
we are settling into our new routines here with only a few minor hiccups ….
i think she likes it here though. which is great because we are all in love with her!
xxoo
a day at the dentist…
oh jack jack… we ran a little behind with getting you to the dentist. and as i suspected the dentist needed you to come back after your first cleaning to take care of some cavities. two to be exact, in the way back. all you knew was he wanted you to come in your favorite pajamas and afterwards you would get a popsicle.
daddy was out of town for work so granny came to the rescue. she helped us pick out new pajamas and because of little sister in my tummy, granny was the one to sit by your side during the appointment. she said she never prayed so hard! it was so hard to watch you t r y to be so brave.
that was one rough day i couldn’t wait to be over. i am so very thankful granny came to help us… in support and comic relief. what would we do without her?!?
we now are brushing teeth and flossing like crazy!
xxoo
summer night movie
it finally happened! you know one of our favorite things out here is our library. well they sure know how to kick off summer! when the rains finally cleared out one weekend they had a movie in the park!
the boys enjoyed a craft before watching “big hero 6”
samuel i couldn’t get over your person you drew on the left. i was busy helping jack assemble his big hero 6 when i looked over and saw your creation… you are something else!
the next day we enrolled jack into the summer reading program…
you loved every bit of our evening there! here’s to more happy reading together!
xxoo
{32 weeks}
an odd time for an update i know… but it’s baby #3 so be grateful for what you get sweet girl 🙂
also, i know a bathroom selfie {so not what i would love to document} but it’s what i sent to your aunts who wanted to see how big you are. maybe this weekend i can get daddy to take some more document-able pictures … (maybe).
32 weeks and you still move like crazy! braxton hicks are happening all the time and i can’t get comfortable at night to save my life. but i wouldn’t trade it for the world honestly and we are in the home stretch i feel like. the appointments are getting closer and june is already flying by. next week we go in for the 3d ultrasound and i am so excited to see your little face!
this past week has been a busy one. big brother jack had his first gig as ring bearer in daddy’s best friends wedding. we made the most out of a weekend downtown in our new city.
{grainy phone pics to follow…}
after a much needed nights rest you guys were ready to start a new week…
seriously never a dull moment… enjoying these lazy summer days with just you two!
xxoo
happy summer!!!
after a horribly rainy end of spring… and memorial day weekend
this happened!
happy summer! the sun is here to stay!
{or at least it has for a good while}
this summer is going to be an exciting one! little sister will be on her way soon, so for now we are getting a lot done around the house… enjoying lots of playtime and trying to start good habits like going to bed like big boys!
for almost the last 3 years jack, you have had someone lay with you till you fell asleep. when we moved to the new house the same started happening for you, samuel. you two were a mess if we were to leave your room while you were awake. with two parents and two kids it seems like not a big deal, but knowing another little one will need our attention in the evening soon, as well as us needing the extra sleep… we thought we needed to try a new routine. we practiced reading two stories and saying prayers in your room and then lights out and hugs and kisses. if you went to bed on your own you got a happy face for that night. 🙂 if you did it all week, we came up with a simple reward to celebrate! we have been so proud of you two for trying so hard its almost normal now! the first week your reward was picking your breakfast for saturday morning.
jack, you chose chocolate chip pancakes….
samuel you chose a donut…
it has been three weeks of success so far and we couldn’t be a more happier family at bedtime! sometimes i realize we create our own problems and it can easily be fixed if we stay consistent. daddy and i are so excited that the rewards have been so simple… choosing breakfast, movie nights, and playing at the park!
cheers to less drama in the evening!!
xxoo
{alleluia + a birthday}
easter weekend was not as sunny as we hoped but we made the best of it! we were so blessed to go to the co- cathedral downtown as we have the last 7 + years and see some of our closest friends. god is so good and allowed us to run into some of our favorite priests as well 🙂 it was so good to catch up.
jack, you made your first wish in a fountain. one of those moments i realized, “oh goodness you have never heard of this before!” so you and samuel were excited to pick out a coin from your backpacks and throw it in. afterwards you asked me what you wished for. i’m not too sure you caught on to who was doing the wishing 😉
the next day we enjoyed a little more sunshine the forecasters didn’t predict. we hid some empty eggs in gramps and granny’s backyard to practice hunting 🙂 you guys loved it!
that night before it got too late, we started decorating eggs. i think it was too late for samuel, he fell asleep watching “woof” aka 101 dalmations. jack, after a long day, you were in a daze. you enjoyed dyeing the eggs alot more than coloring them.
alleluia! HE is risen as HE said!
easter sunday morning was filled with excitement over what was in your easter baskets and excitement that we all got out of the house happily dressed in time for mass 🙂
boo the rainy weather, indoor pics just aren’t as springy….
even though i was bummed about the weather, i wanted to run out in the “mist” to catch a pregnancy picture. ha this is oh so natural… i didn’t even think of the background. oh wells we tried! everyone says poor number three….
samuel loved his “mi mi” egg. he did not want to let go of that little minion. sorry buddy it wouldn’t smell too good after a while.
the winlands came by to celebrate with us! they brought eggs for the big kids to hunt. that was a site to see 🙂 teenagers running around the wet backyard all in search of those golden eggs…
jack, you got some good practice in with your new jump rope … while granny and bailey had some good laughs.
after a great sunday afternoon nap, the sun came out and we enjoyed trying to walk off all that easter candy …
it was so nice, daddy was able to schedule some houston meetings on monday so we stayed one more night. the next morning was aunt dana’s birthday. erika and bailey kept the boys for us so we could enjoy a little shopping and a yummy lunch! it worked out so perfectly!
a very happy birthday and many blessings to you, dana, in this next year! thank you for letting me spend the afternoon with you on your actual birthday. i love being able to visit you and granny together, it’s a one stop shop and i always leave with a very full heart and extra laughing lines 😉
xxoo
the joys…
of you boys…
the new house, the new surroundings, the new adventures: through it all, you guys are growing and exploring so much. i have hardly been able to catch up and write down all the new things you two do. we started attending the library time here and it is a great one! you are already excited to go back this week. this is a big deal, as jack never liked going to the one in our old area. could be that this one has a young cute teacher, who is great with the kids. 😉
“p is for pig” oh you two participated so well! the teacher in me was loving every bit of it 🙂
we have loved having visitors since the weather has been so nice! your oldest cousin, michaela, came a few weekends ago so daddy and i could go to the movies. we love that she lives so close! she is a huge help. we also love that she lives near great shopping. {well maybe just mama does} we followed her back and got to meet her new “kitty” then she stayed with us to help jack pick out some new kicks.
this last weekend gramps and granny came to stay with us and we enjoyed making a birthday cake for gramps. {i sure wish i could have been there on his actual birthday but i was really excited to have him at our house} 🙂
we hope you get to visit again soon gramps and granny!
other than having our favorite visitors and exploring outside our neighborhood, when the sun is out we are exploring the backyard. the boys absolutely love it! i know they will make so many memories here.
samuel, you love being outside. you run to the back door saying “oosh! oosh!” meaning “shoes.” you are more than happy to be out there whether someone is there or not. you spend most of the time with maudie. you also love putting leaves between the deck spaces. you are starting to play football with daddy and jack, always on daddy’s team. you have mastered the stairs in the house. you also say “up-tairs!” oh there are so many new words you are saying, i might have to make a new post to share. you love cuddling in the morning with cartoons just like big brother. you and jack are doing a great job sharing a room. mama or daddy still needs to stay in there till you guys fall asleep, but we will work on that. 😉 i keep telling myself, we won’t have to do this one day. so i just enjoy the extra quiet time i get with you while i can.
oh my big boy jack! this football season has made you fall in love. you know every team. you ask daddy who won against who and to look it up on his phone. every evening daddy comes home you challenge him to a football game. daddy said the other day, he is starting to have to really run to catch up to you! it could be your new shoes that make you go so fast 😉 you have the peyton manning “nationwide is on your side” commercial down to a t. you randomly sing parts of it around the house. you love patterns and numbers. you are helping around the house more and more. you are participating at mass more and more too. so much so, you can sometimes be heard singing along with father. we are so proud of you for being a good example for samuel.
you will have to have your own post soon too! but for now these little memories will do. 🙂 you goofy boy.
xxoo
a quick visit to see our little friend ….
she was all smiles ready to show us her new little friend 🙂
it doesn’t get much more perfect than that. sweetest little thing… thank you, abbie, for letting us spend the day with your new little love! he’s perfect!
xxoo