7 Weeks

 Seven weeks old today!  Sweet Pea isn't at all sure she loves sitting with her big sister.  She is so serious.  Rosebud is the smile to Sweet Pea's frown.  I think she's just taking it all in, but my aunt is right...she looks pretty unhappy in most of her pictures  :o)  This week though she was a little happier than in days past.  She finally started taking a couple of hour-two hour naps a couple of times a day...without being held. The more sleep she gets in solid chunks the happier she is.  Mommy too!  She weighs in at 9 lbs 4 oz this week.

 Speaking of Aunts, Sweet Pea has met three of mine now.  My Aunt Beth and Aunt Cheryl both met her a few weeks ago, and this week she met Aunt Kim!  Although my aunt and uncle, along with my cousin and his wife were here for a funeral this past weekend, a sad thing, we made the best of it.  They stayed at a hotel with a pool and the kids had a great time swimming.  Always nice to see family from out of town!

 Here are the cousins together!  Kai was born back in November...on my dad's side we've had four babies in the past four months.  Alexis was born in October, Kai in November, Sweet Pea in December and my niece Ivy in January.  I have yet to meet two of them, but a trip to meet Ivy is on the calendar.

Seriously, this little guy is a cutie!

Hope you all had a great weekend.  If I don't have the chance before, I'll write again next week :o)

Six Weeks...I'm An Aunt!...We Had Snow!!!!!

Six Weeks...I'm An Aunt!...We Had Snow!!!!!

This is a combined post about all the exciting things happening in our lives.  First off, a day late, here is Sweet Pea's six week post...

 She is learning to pick up her head.  She's doing pretty well, but hates tummy time.  She's happier to practice her muscle control while being over your shoulder...she'll pick her head up, look around, and then flop back down on the shoulder.

 I've been trying to capture a picture of her smiling...this is the closest I've gotten.  She's  serious most of the time.  She is also pretty fussy...I'm hoping it isn't because she has tummy trouble.  We spend hours each day walking and bouncing and patting.

She is growing so fast!  She has nothing newborn that she can wear anymore (unless it was labeled newborn but clearly 0-3 month size).  She is outgrowing her newborn cloth diapers and I give her another week or so and they'll be done.  I weighed and measured her at 8 lbs 14.5 oz and 21.25 inches.  They had "measured" her at 22 inches last week at the doctor, but I didn't believe it.  They do it on this paper that moves while she is kicking and screaming.  They make a line at her head and then as she wiggles all over they grab her foot and make another line.  It is always comical because I SEE her moving well below where they drew the head line as they mark her foot and yet it goes on her chart.

All that matters I guess is that she IS growing.  She is nursing really well.  She and I connected that way from the very beginning.  Rosebud nursed well from the start also, and I attribute that to their births.  I'll have to share that another time.


I'm an aunt!!!!! My brother and sister-in-law had a baby girl this morning.  She looks just like my SIL & she is beautiful!  I'd think she was beautiful even if she looked just like my brother  :o)  Anyway, she is one special little girl and I know they'll be fantastic parents.  They named her Ivy which is such a pretty name.  She weighed 1/2 oz less than her big cousin Sweet Pea.  Not Sweet Pea's birth weight, Sweet Pea's today weight.  So much for sending all my newborn girl clothes their way!  I cannot wait to see her and hug her and kiss her!!!!

 We got some Snow on Friday and the boys played outside Saturday.  LMM enjoyed filling his mitten with snow and then eating it.  GROSS.  He was thrilled nonetheless.

 Snug ran around with our dogs who LOVE snow.  They're 1/2 husky so I guess that is understandable.  I took these pictures from inside the warmth of my home thanks to the lens from my aunt!  I feel very spoiled.

Anyway, it has been an exciting time here at our house.

For those of you on my blogroll, I have been reading your posts...but I've been doing it as I nurse via my Kindle Fire.  Leaving comments isn't as easy that way, so I often don't.  I feel bad too because when people comment you know they are actually reading.  I'M READING!  Someday I might be better typing one handed with a touch screen...but today is not that day!

New Birthdays

A few days ago Little Monkey Man announced during devotions that he needed to ask God to forgive his sins.  We talked for a few minutes and then we prayed together.  I think he understood what he was doing but I don't know if he'll ever remember it.  However, it is great to know he is thinking about such things!!!

If you ask him, he is likely to say he has Jesus "in mines heart!"  Amen little man. 

Last night as I was reading "Katy and the Big Snow" Snug started to cry.  Katy isn't that emotional of a story. Actually there is not a single sad thing in it.

He said he was upset because he didn't get to ask Jesus in his heart like LMM did.  I assured him he could do so at any time.  We talked for a few minutes and then he too prayed and asked Jesus to forgive his sins and to  "be his best friend".  I think he understands more than his brother as we've talked about it on several occasions.  He knows more about Jesus dying on the cross and rising again.  He also could tell you before that he had never asked Jesus to forgive him and that he knew he should-just didn't want to.

I am so very humbled to have been a small part of their salvation.  To God be the glory!


Mark 10:14b-16  "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Romans 3:23
"For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"  (Emphasis mine)
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"
John 3:3
"In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.' "
Romans 10:9-10
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

5 Weeks

 Sweet Pea was five weeks...two days ago.  I'm finding it hard to find time to blog.  I also realize I hardly write anything about the other kids, especially the boys.  I'm going to try to remedy that this week.

 At her doctor appt last Friday she weighed 8 lbs 3 oz.  They measured her at 22 inches long, but honestly I don't really believe it.  Their measuring method has never been reliable on my other kids until they are able to stand up on their own.

When we woke up Monday morning we realized we no longer had a newborn.  It was like overnight she changed.  I don't know if the new car smell wore off or what!  Actually, it is just that when she is awake she is more alert and she is beginning to sleep in longer increments.  She also looks different as she has filled out and her skin is smoothing out.  In this picture she still has mitts on, but she's outgrown those onesies and now her hands are free most of the time-and she doesn't scratch herself up as she has a little more control over her arms.

We are working on NOT being held all the time...and not screaming about it when she isn't being held.  Her lungs are nice and healthy!  I promise I'll post at least one more time before Sunday.  I need to get back in the saddle again.

4 Weeks & Happy New Year

            We spent New Year's Day at church-a great way to start a new year.  There wasn't childcare last week or this, so it was interesting to sit through service with four small children.  Snug does it regularly on Sunday nights, as did Rosebud till she was 18 months old.(We have an 18 month-4 year old class Sunday at night). 

            I have to tell you, although I don't want to pull it off every Sunday, it was such a blessing to worship as a family four a couple of weeks.  Our pastor challenged us to not "shrink back" this new year despite the grim outlook of the economy and politics and the world being in disarray.  He challenged us to give our all and live for the Lord more now than ever.  Very inspiring!  

 I took this picture right before we left for church.  Daddy and his girls  :o)  Hats with large accessories are new to me this year, but I think I'm lovin' it!  I like hats on my kids in general.

 I snapped this picture a couple of minutes ago. Hard to believe Sweet Pea is four weeks old today.  She weighs in at 7 lbs 11 oz and is approx. 19.75 inches.

The cocoon she is wrapped in was made by one of my aunts.  Very soft and snugly on a very windy cold night.  We're having a fire and going to watch my husband's new Psyche DVD.  Happy New Year!!!