pregnancy

caroline agnes {12.1.21}

December 5, 2021birth story, birthday, caroline agnes, firsts, kids, pregnancy

oh my goodness, it was super early, the house was so clean and ready for you! we got out of the house at about 4:00 am. induction was set for 5:00 am. i tried my best to be very minimalist on packing, except for the twin foam pad. abbie warned me of memories of the hospital bed. that’s what friends are for. 😂

the initial check in was a little rough. they say no baby’s birth story is the same and boy are they right. the covid test was a new thing with this birth and it was the worst. it was so illogical, and this mama had enough of it. daddy will tell you when you are older. let’s just say delivery number five, mama was a little more vocal on all accounts.

the night nurse left and a new nurse came. as the pain started coming on stronger they warned us that anesthesia would take about 30 minutes or more to arrive, so i was so nervous of when to ask for them to come. we went ahead and called them in. this is always the most nerve racking for me. this time it seemed so weird that he warned that he may not get it right and would have to redo it. maybe they always do that but this time it seemed more apparent. well after the trial run we quickly realized he needed to redo it. my heart rate jumped very, very high and i had a very loud ringing in my ear. oh goodness it was scary. luckily the second time he did it, it worked. praise be to God.

there were other strange pains that had me questioning the epidural but they eventually upped my dose and it finally felt relaxing.

by the time i felt relaxed we were checking messages and daddy said “granny says 1:50 pm”. i laughed and said she will need to guess again it was about 1:45 at that moment. the nurse came in and checked the monitor and all of the sudden i felt the pressure. she called for the doctor and got everyone ready.

it was at that time, with each contraction we heard your heart rate stop. it was the worst feeling ever. they quickly gave me oxygen and told me to continue to breath it in to help you. i don’t ever remember taking that deep of breaths.

it felt like forever waiting for the doctor for delivery. we had probably five contractions where we had to listen to your heart rate slow to a stop and then quickly pick back up.

finally, our doctor arrived and we were able to deliver you quickly and safely. she had me stop at one point so she could cut the cord that was around your neck. you let out a big cry which was a huge relief to mama and daddy.

caroline agnes ❤️ arrived at 2:07 pm at 6 lbs 15 oz and 19 inches. our tiniest little love so far.

your delivery gave us such a scare, nothing else mattered once you were here. our stay at the hospital was different compared to your siblings. we didn’t get to have the visitors or the amazing photography but it was perfect in its own little way. the nurses we had after delivery were amazing. at one point the hearing technician as well as the day time nurse just kept saying “oh you are the perfect mom for this little girl.” ❤️ at that moment i was touched by how God hand picks each of us for what we need in our lives. He is so good. we sometimes struggle to place our trust in Him, yet if you step back you realize how much trust He places in you. you are fearfully and wonderfully made caroline agnes! we love you more than anything! you are so loved! your siblings didn’t get to meet you till you were home and they were so excited when they did.

happy birthday baby girl!!

xxoo

{ 3 8 weeks }

July 20, 2015pregnancy

well here we are anna kate….

just a waitin’

aunt holly stayed with us for some of her texas visit. she volunteered to be the one to paint and help organize your room.

she. is. awesome.

i was her cheerleader and volunteered to watch her sweet emily 🙂

our two little rascals got some quality cousin time together 🙂

while sydney and jack were sent off to spend the week with granny and gramps at their first vacation bible school….

daddy worked so hard on this bead board project. i couldn’t be more proud of him! he has just a few more steps to finish {chair rail and outlet extenders } but i can’t wait to show it off….

oh and i have some pictures to print!

thank you so much aunt holly and daddy for making this room so special … it could not have been completed with out you!

now we await the little one who will call this special place her room 🙂

xxoo

crazy busy, crazy fun

June 30, 2015celebrations, cousins, dada, pregnancy

a quick trip back to bc was made last weekend. we had so much to do there! we got to go and wish nana a happy birthday…

more cousins were in town so it was so great to spend some time with them!

thank you so much to the winland crew and granny and gramps so this mama could also complete another training session for catechesis of the good shepherd. they also let me take daddy out on a date to see ol’ garth brooks!

more blurry phone pics to prove we can still have fun 🙂 at even 35 weeks pregnant.

we had a fun and exhausting weekend. we are going to rest up as much as we can before another fun fourth of july weekend! so much to do before little anna kate makes her debut at the end of this month. let’s see if we get to do it all before she comes!

xxoo

{32 weeks}

June 9, 2015celebrations, firsts, pregnancy

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

on the go post…

May 11, 2015celebrations, kids, pregnancy

also known as all the pictures off of my phone… which really isn’t on the go. it’s mostly at home 🙂 i loaded these up and realized my phone is really helpful for documenting our messiest one. oh samuel, with you there is never a dull moment or a clean one… we recently picked up a booster seat and it’s totally changed your eating habits. food is at least contained to just your spot now…

we rarely buy you guys toys because for one we don’t need them, but i couldn’t pass up this amazon deal for blocks. and it currently is played with every day… and the teacher in me love, love, loves toys like this.

we already had a set from when i was a kid that we are using as outdoor blocks and it was the test run to approve buying more blocks for inside. i took this picture because i couldn’t believe how dirty these kids get every evening. they have a blast out on the drive way but late sunsets means late baths…. means late bed times. it should be a fun summer 🙂

papaw and nana came up the other weekend to watch one of jack’s t ball games. luckily when they got to town, mama and daddy were able to sneak in a day date. we didn’t get a picture together but i guess the next best is with our drinks and yummy food…

daddy had to head out of town for training after a long fun filled weekend. it made for a long week with you two overtired boys. luckily abbie, felicity and little joseph made their first trip out to visit us. it was an unexpectedly quick visit but i am so so happy they did it! looking forward to the next time!

mamas roommates for the week when daddy is gone …

the sun came out for like four or five days straight. it was beautiful! we soaked up every bit of it along with the cool front that came with it. lots of playing and eating outside, daddy did a half marathon -trail run and we did some much needed yard work. looking back at these pictures i want it all back. we have had predicted storms for up to a week lately. such a bummer to see…

a cutie for my cutie…. “here mom you hold the peel.”

after another busy weekend together, daddy’s first project started and he had to be on location. his hotel was only a little over an hour away. these kids love hotels and we didn’t have anything to do that monday, so a slumber party at daddy’s hotel it was. these kids were so excited and honestly so were their mama and daddy, because when the kids are happy, we are happy 😉

in the business of all the fun with you boys, i’m anticipating all things girly. i recently got some things to play with for anna kates room. it’s my first time to work with this paint and it is quite fun. i’m just doing small things, which is a lot less pressure and these little cans can really get the job done.

may has many celebrations going on! the first weekend in may our church had first communion celebration and may crowning for mary. jack wasn’t able to take flowers up like the class did but i promised him we could get some at the store to honor mary in our home. so he reminded me monday morning what we needed to do. he was very excited to put these up for her.

{oh this library here, how much we love it.. the views and the activities are so much fun}

a few ball games here and there and every where between…. and then a special mothers day!

the boys made me breakfast, were super at the beautiful morning mass and were very patient during a long wait at a nearby restaurant…

but this place had a place to play so it was worth it…. happy kids = happy mama.

so it can sometimes be crazy busy, crazy messy, and crazy emotional but i wouldn’t trade this for the world. feeling super blessed to be carrying our third little blessing ~anna kate~ 29 weeks this mothers day.

xxoo

{alleluia + a birthday}

April 15, 2015celebrations, firsts, friends, kids, pregnancy, sisters

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

here we go again! {another catch up post}

March 31, 2015celebrations, cousins, kids, pregnancy

here i am! i promise i wish i could write up each day we have together, but it might get a little repetitive 😉 and you boys and a very growing baby girl take almost all my energy. i miss staying up late. i miss playing around with all of our pictures. but for now we can just get a big post of like three weeks in one! 🙂 unfortunately it’s not that exciting because by the second week the stomach bug caught our house and clouds filled the sky. this mama almost thought there wasn’t an end in site, or even a glimpse of sunshine.

we have been to houston and back a few times. first trip was to celebrate samuels one whole year in glasses. samuel your doctor could not have been more pleased! she said she wishes all her two year olds loved their glasses as much as you do. you got a slightly different prescription in the right eye. we ordered you a new pair of glasses, as you were definitely ready. the first pair of glasses has seen better days. we don’t know how you saw through all those scratches.

back home, we are still loving every bit of library, especially the story time that you boys attend. you mainly love checking out movies but we still do enjoy a few good books.

our so called spring break week was spent very close to home. we were suppose to see our cousins but the bug got us and got us good. it took a good week plus a few days for everyone to get it and get over it. the only excitement we saw was on st. patrick’s day – which included a trip to the near by sonic and our neighborhood park.

jack it was your first time to swing on your own! you did not want me to push you at all. i was very excited for you.

samuel, sweet thing was just so happy to sit and swing, just a little. it has been so long since we had our swing set, everything is new to you again.

daddy was hard at work on a beautiful weekend. he made two gates for our deck to help keep the kids safe and the animals off 😉 i am so proud of him! now we’ve got some painting to do. 🙂

the bug continued to drag on… so there was a lot of this…

and this when we were feeling a little better…

then finally… after a good nights rest in our own beds, the sun came out and you kids were finally back to your sweet, silly- selves!

since we survived … {and i missed the wonderful halfway- twenty week – pregnancy picture} i was able to get a twenty-two week picture 🙂

oh girl, i am growing. i would love to say it’s you growing sweet girl, but i am feeling it everywhere. i am so scared of this hot summer ahead of us. i may be caught playing in the sprinkler with the boys. they are so excited about you. jack is so interested in what you might look like and what you can hear and feel. i am one lucky mama…