One Week!

One week.

One week of high adrenaline.

One week of sleepless nights.

One week of naps through out the day.

One week of meals blessed upon us each and every night.

One week of studying the beauty of a tiny human being.

One week of prayers over my Son.

One week of comforting 3 children.

One week of laughing over tiny boy parts.

One week of new "normals" in our home.

One week of many new rules in our home.

 

One week of not doing any housework.

(Thanks to my wonderful husband!!!)

One week of cuddleing with all 3 of my babies.

(More often than not, all at the same time)

One week of going from pajamas into clean pajamas.

One week of being up at 4am consistantly each night.

(or is it morning...?)

One week of being humbled by God's Grace.

One week of being a Mother to my Son.

One happy, joyful, sleepy, wonderful, amazing, beautiful week.

Happy One Week to My Little Boy, Hunter!

I don't know what all the weeks before you were like.

It seems like you've been here all along.

We all love you, so much!

Hunter Thomas

Hunter Thomas Roth

Came into this world on

January 22nd, at 9:08pm

8lbs 6oz

20.5" long

Healthy

Strong

Beautiful

Perfect

Hunter's Birth Story Coming Soon...

Soon!

Dear Hunter Baby,

Still 5 days from my actual "due date" , you are officially my latest baby to arrive.

One more day of growth for you & one more day of productivity for me!

At least that is how I'm forcing myself to look at it, since really, I'd love to be holding you right now...

Soon enough! 

I cannot wait to kiss your face off & introduce you to your Big eager Sisters!

I love you already, so so much.

Love,  Your Momma.

The Story of Ellie

Aaron had been on OSP SWAT call-outs all week long. He was mainly across the state back and forth for the previous weeks which naturally stressed me out wondering (and praying!!) he would be able to be there for the birth of his child! The week Ellie was born, he was assigned to a local swat operation which took a few long full days worth of hiking, etc, but I was thankful he was local for that week and came home in the late evenings. He came home on September 11th at around dinner time. He had September 12th off from work and would be leaving September 13th for the entire week for an annual training several hours away. In my mind, I had ONE day to give birth where he could be there. And do you know what? God answered my prayers and Ellie Lu was born on that one day!!! (Of course if anything happened while he was away he could leave work immediately from wherever in the state that he was, but the thought of him rushing to make it to the birth was a fairly big stressor for 9 month pregnant me!)  God is so good & gracious...




The Story of Ellie Lu
Due Date:  September 19th
Birth Date:  September 12th...7 days early

Contractions began around 4pm on September 11th.  They were slight, but just like they say with subsequent labors, when you are in labor you will know.  This time, I knew.  They began around 30 minutes apart.  I knew I had time.  I decided to take little 20 month Audrey on a walk to the park.  As the old wives tale says walking can help increase labor, I suppose that was my goal.  It was a hot day and I loved our park date that day with my one and only, knowing it would be different tomorrow.  I was naturally nervous for what was ahead, but excited and so so so thankful that I knew Aaron would be home in a few hours and home the next day.  I continued to track my contractions...
By 6pm contractions were about 20minutes apart.  Aaron came home for dinner, we ate and then I called my Mom.  She would be coming to stay overnight with Audrey.  I let her know how far apart they were and that I'd call her later on to when we thought she should come.  We had a fairly uneventful evening together, I'm pretty sure I did household things like laundry & dishes again.  I called my Mom when the contractions increased some and she decided to drive over while it was still light out rather than the middle of the night.
I put Audrey down to sleep at 830pm.  I rocked her and sang to her and cried with her in my arms.  I sang songs I hadn't sang to her since she was a baby.  I felt like I was saying goodbye to the only baby I had ever loved and the unknowns of tomorrow made my heart melt for her precious littleness.  I didn't expect to feel saddened, but my emotions took over and I cried a little while singing.  Sweet Audrey hearing my emotions pulled away from me, clasped my face with her tiny hands and asked "Why you crying Momma?  You sad?"  I gave the typical Mommy response, "I'm not sad babygirl, I'm very happy.  I just love you so much"  "It's Okay Mommy. I luh you so much!"  It was going to be okay.  I just didn't know it yet.  She gave me a big hug around my neck.  I tucked her in and left the room with tear filled eyes. 
My Mom arrived just then.
9pm, contractions had gotten stronger but were still only 15 minutes apart or so.  I repacked my hospital bag making sure I had everything, then called Terese and talked to her for a bit in between contractions. 
Aaron set up the aero bed for my Mom in the living room.  He was exhausted from his week and having just gotten back that evening, so he was in bed by about 10pm.  I tried to sleep too...but couldn't and tried quietly (aren't I nice?) contracting in pain beside him at less than 8 minutes apart.  I finally gave up on sleep less than an hour later and left the room so at least one of us could get some rest.
11pm-2am contractions were getting increasingly painful and increasingly close together.  I spent these 3 hours going back and forth from the couch to the bathroom.  My body was naturally, ahem, clearing itself out.  My Mom was in and out of dozing on the bed beside the couch where I labored.  She would ask me how far apart they were, rub my back a little, and help with breathing.  I felt bad keeping her up since I knew she'd be getting up with Audrey.
I continued to time my contractions that had progressed from being 2 minutes apart to 7 minutes apart, to 1 minute apart to 5 minutes apart.  Because a lot of them were so close together I had my Mom call the hospital for me to ask them why they would be sporadic like that.  They asked if I was doing any activity and she told them I was up and down a lot contracting on the way to the bathroom and in the bathroom and coming back out of bathroom and on couch..etc.  I was basically moving around a lot. They said that the contractions can increase with activity...so to sit still for a bit and time them and then they would be more accurate.  We got off the phone at about 2:30.  They were consistently a little less than 2 minutes apart when I was calm.
3am, time to wake up Aaron, it was time to go to the hospital!  We arrived at the hospital and again, Aaron prayed over me, our baby, and the delivery that was about to unfold before we walked in.  We got into the triage room and after quick monitoring they quickly set us up in a room.  I remember having taken a very long time to get from the triage room all the way down the hall to our room.  My contractions seemed to be coming every 30 seconds at that point because I think I stopped about 6 times on the way to hold onto the desk, the wall or Aaron as I got through each painful contraction.  We finally got into the room. 

Compared to my crying with Audrey's labor experience, I have to say I labored like a champ with Ellie :)  I knew what my body could handle.  I knew I had done this before and could do it again.  I knew it was difficult and was going to get worse.  I found ways to cope through breathing patterns and an exhale of moaning to get through the pain.  I felt more experienced and more in control of what was happening.  I did not cry once.

430am, Contractions continued to be about 1 minute apart.  The nurse informed us (like with Audrey's birth), that if I wanted any pain relief that it could take up to an hour to receive it being that, again, the anesthesiologist had to be called in from home.  The nurse stayed in the room trying to do some of the initial paperwork and as my contractions were still very close and I realized one more hour seemed like a long time to wait I told her "Would I be a wimp if I ask you to call them in now?"  She said something sweet like, "not at all, they are really close together!" 
5:15am, a different anesthesiologist than before came in.  She definitely looked as though she had to be woken up to come in and I remember wondering if she was awake enough to perform such an important crucial task.  She was very sweet.  She explained everything thoroughly and after placing the Epidural I felt temporary relief....but the contractions did not go away cocompletely.  She was to come back and check how I was doing soon.  Contractions stayed close together and painful.  I told Aaron it wasn't working and one of the nurses had the lady come back in to check it.  Turns out it was placed in crooked, which meant only half of my body was receiving (very, almost none) slight relief. 
5:45am, She replaced the epidural and it began working completely.  Aw, sweet relief.
My doctor had been called upon my arrival, but we hadn't seen her yet.  A nurse checked me just before 6am and (just like with Audrey) suddenly called the desk to get the Dr in because this baby was coming! 
6:10 the Dr and two nurses rushed in and got what they needed, scrubs and all... Although I had my epidural I felt a pressure down below like baby was coming out, so I felt with my hand.
"Umm!!  Something is coming out!!" I called to them.  They were all across the room getting ready and they asked me if it was hard or liquid (meaning baby or water breaking) I reached down and almost panicked said "Hard!!"
They rushed over and all gave funny amazed looks.  "Woah! We don't usually see this!! Here let me get a mirror so you can see!"  (yes, my husband loved having the mirror again.....) 
Turns out my water had not broken yet but the "sac of waters" as they call it, was coming out in a bubble form, totally unpopped.  It felt & looked like a thick water balloon!  They were all amazed :) haha.  Finally as the size of about a grapefruit came out then it finally popped.  And there was baby girl's head crowning!
6:13... Time to start pushing!  Literally 4 pushes later in 5 minutes, she popped out like no big deal!

Ellie Lu was born at 6:18am on September 12th, 2009

Weighing in at exactly 7 lbs, and 20 1/2 inches.

She was healthy and strong and beautiful.  She had long fingers and toes and cried a big hearty cry.  She was as pink as a little piggie fresh out of the womb.
The most memorable part about Ellie's entry into the world was that she cried a big healthy cry, they placed her onto my tummy and I began saying hello and telling her I love her, etc...but the second her Daddy made a sound saying similar things INSTANTLY, and I mean the second she heard his voice, she stopped crying and I am not kidding when I say she turned her head and looked up at him.  It was the sweetest most vivid memory I have of Ellie Lu at seconds old.  :)  She was instantly calmed by her Daddy's voice.  I will remember that forever.  She also had a very strong neck from day one!

A few stats of the birth:

14 hours of labor from very first contraction to birth.

8 hours of "hard" labor, contracting close together.

(Working) Epidural for 35minutes.

At the hospital for under 3 hours. 

(They had to complete my initial paperwork after the birth since she came so fast!)
I again, could not pee on my own after the birth.  I tried for few hours but my bladder became so full and uncomfortable that they decided to do another straight cath.....and I laughed with the nurse as I completely filled up a 72 oz container.  Wow!  Such a relief! :)

First few visitors were:  Susie & Jacob & baby Truett came First!!!!  Then shortly after they came, BIG Sister Audrey was brought in by Gramma Lu.
Then not far behind came Aaron's parents, Tom & Julie!!!  And Ryan & Lily & Sweetie Pie Chloe!!

Ellie has been just like my labor and her delivery.  Strong, quick, manageable, surprising, easily calmed and funny (referring to the water sac).  She is such a sweetie pie and I love my little Ellie Lu to pieces!!  She is such a little helper and will be a great Big Sister.  Which leads me to wonder...



What will The Story of Hunter be like...... ?

The Story of Audrey

I love birth stories. 

Each one is SO different.  Every entry into this world is so unique and I have never heard two that are exactly the same.  Much like each child is different, the different ways they are brought into this world amazes me.

I love talking to other woman about birthing stories.  Some woman give you every detail from start to finish while others give you a round about way from beginning to birth.  Giving birth is such a personal thing, yet it's so common and refreshing to share your stories with other woman who have gone through a similar experience.

I have wanted to write down my own birth experiences but continue to put it aside as something I will "get to someday".  Now as I am days (hopefully!) away from my Third birthing experience I figure I should jot down some notes about the other previous Two, before they start to blur together :)

I am adding a lot of details, for my own sake.  But the highlighted bold text is the simpler, shorter version.

Tomorrow I will work on Ellie Lu's birth story, but for today, my precious First Born.

So with no further adieu...

The story of Audrey Lynn:

Due Date:  December 20th

Birth Date:  December 8th....12 days early!

Contractions began around 12pm on December 7th.  They were 45-30minutes apart & I wasn't sure it was true labor, so went about my day.  Re-packed my hospital bag (just in case), and headed for the library (we didn't have Internet at the time) to complete my speeding ticket class online :) Came home and got ready for work at 3pm, like usual.  Contractions slightly increased through the night but I still didn't think much of it because it was a busy night in the ER so I was well distracted, and I also had never been in labor before...so this "cramping" I kept feeling wasn't immediately thought to be labor, in my mind. 

I got off work at 11:30 and headed home for bed. 

(At this point contractions were about 20min apart, but manageable) 

I actually fell asleep.

(could never do that now knowing I was in labor!!)

I woke up at 2am in pain!  Yikes...this WAS labor!!  Contractions were about 15minutes apart.  I labored in bed, changing positions to be more comfortable as contractions came on.  Aaron woke up and I told him what was going on.  He went back to sleep  :)  (He had worked until 1am that night)

I tried dozing, but my mind was too excited/anxious/nervous.

I finally got out of bed when they were about 8-10minutes apart.

I walked into Baby Audrey's awaiting nursery room and realized the floor was covered with about 10 shopping bags full of unwrapped Christmas gifts to family and friends.  In a panic to not leave the house undone, I began wrapping Christmas presents at 4am, in between contractions! :)  Aaron came in and knocked some sense into me saying it didn't matter that nothing was wrapped, asked if we should go to hospital. 

I adamantly said "No!"  There are still things to be done!!  Christmas gifts, laundry, and dishes! Oh dishes!

I headed for the kitchen and began unloading the dishwasher, which seemed very important at the time.

At this point contractions had increased to 6 minutes apart and were getting pretty painful.  I could not talk, and had to completely stop what I was doing to lean over, gripping counter and get through each one. Aaron called the hospital to let them know.  They told him to bring me in, so he went out to warm up the car.  But I remembered all the books saying you are supposed to wait until contractions are 3-4 minutes apart until you go in......so I continued to try and unload the dishwasher.  Which took forever since I kept stopping in pain :)

Okay, 6am and contractions are 4-5 minutes apart...Lets Go!

We got to the hospital and Aaron prayed over me, our baby and the delivery which was about to take place before we walked in.

After all the initial assessments & monitoring it was determined, yes I am in labor.

We were put into a room.  I contracted for awhile in a lot of pain not knowing hot to get comfortable in bed then they suggested I try to relax in the hot tub.  I was about to be helped out of bed when I said, wait! One more! (meaning I was going to wait until this current contraction ended before getting up), so they all waited and as the contraction climaxed all of a sudden I felt a pop inside my tummy and the contraction immediately ended.  My water had broken!  Although I'm pretty sure I said... "I think I just...I think I just wet myself!"  :)

Water broke at around 9:30am.

I got into the hot tub right after and it was soothing for about 3 minutes.

Then I could not handle the pain.  I was mentally unprepared for what was happening to my body.  No books, birthing classes, or other mother's stories could have prepared me for those contractions.  I remember right after my water had broken a nurse leaned in and said quietly, "Okay, the contractions are going to start to get more intense now that your water broke."  AND THEY DID.

The only comfort I had was crying through each contraction.  I would try to take deep breaths as they began then just sob until the pain let off.  I will be honest and admit,

I could not handle it.

A nurse came in to check on me and my poor husband who didn't have a clue how to help his helpless wife who would say things like "Try to rub my shoulders...here comes another one...okay stop touching me (cry..cry..cry)"

The nurse informed us that if I wanted any pain relief that it may take up to an hour to get it, since the anesthesiologists have to be called in from home. 

Two contractions later I told Aaron, okay go tell her to call them in!

Thankfully, the anethesiologist was already in the hospital for surgeries that day.  They got me out of the hot tub and into the bed to wait, and within about 15 minutes of asking came the anesthesiologist who said "We always take care of our own!"  (Meaning he was coming to help me--a fellow hospital employee--first before he went into the surgery) Thank God!  He explained what he was about to do in between my contractions and tears and everything he said I would feel happened precisely when he said it would.  For having a giant needle shoved into your back while having excruciating abdominal pain, it really was a very calming experience being explained everything so well by him!  And just like he said...one strong contraction came...then a milder one...then one I could barely feel....then nothing.  HALLELUIA!  :)

I had my epidural at around 10:30am.

It is indescribable relief.  God bless an epidural.  I applaud woman who don't ever use one this day in age when it is an option for most births, I think that is remarkable.  I feel confident with my decision to have gotten one, and I see nothing "weak" about it, especially after feeling contractions for all the previous hours that lead up to relief.  And...my husband was happier I had one :)

We called our parents and told them what was going on and Aaron's parents were busy and didn't get the message until later but my Mom & Dad immediately came to hospital.  We got to visit a little bit, everyone was excited.  My Dr. came in to check on me and said with my progress she didn't expect our baby to be born until that evening. 

My parents left on some errands.

They began monitoring me and baby and with each contraction our baby's heart rate was decreasing. 

I was too busy enjoying "laboring" with out any pain, sipping broth and eating jello...no big deal..

But Aaron was worried about his baby girl, and kept a close eye on the monitors behind me.

They concluded that the cord must be around her neck in the womb, which was squeezing her tiny neck with each contraction.  Of course I cared, but I was in too much of a happy state that all of this was really happening and that we'd be meeting our baby soon!  Aaron remained calm but I could tell he was very concerned with the numbers which apparently continue to drop, drop drop...

1:45pm, I called my brother, Tom, living in DC to tell him about meeting our baby soon, but not until tonight.  My nurse came in to do another check to see how my progress was, so I said goodbye to my brother and got off the phone.

The nurse checked me and startled me with her reaction saying, "Okay, this baby is coming!"  She even so much as called the nursing desk from the room to tell them to get the Dr in here, she didn't leave since apparently...despite my ability to feel it, the progress had quickly escalated and it was time to push!

It was all quite sudden, especially having just told my brother--what we were told--that we wouldn't be meeting our baby until that evening.  So naturally, I cried.  :)  Stressful excitement!  It was go-time!  I really had to do this.

1:55pm, my Dr came into room and rushed around getting scrubs on as two nurses got what they needed and came to each side of me putting my feet up in stir-ups.  (Hello Ginny!)

I began pushing.  They would look at the monitor and tell me when to push.  Then my Dr. said the head was there, so I got to feel it and (my husband hates this part), they asked if I wanted to use a mirror to watch.  I looked up at Aaron for approval since he'd be looking at it too (which was VERY considerate of me--don't ya think?!).  They got the mirror and I tell ya what, that was the best decision ever.  Now bare with me, I know this is graphic....but. Having an epidural I was told when to push and couldn't tell if I was making any progress.  With the mirror, since I couldn't feel it, I could SEE my progress, which I truly believed helped me push harder. 

20 minutes of pushing later....

Audrey Lynn was born at 2:17 in the afternoon of December 8th, 2007

She was 6lbs, 8oz.  18 1/2 inches long.

She was born very blue with a faint little cry, until they quickly unwrapped the cord that was around her neck several times and once around her shoulder/arm.  Poor little baby!!

Then, much to her Mommy's, and especially her Daddy's relief, she let out a big hearty cry and pinked up.

She was perfect.  Beautiful, healthy, tiny.

Our little firstborn was everything I dreamed of.

A few more stats:

26 hours of labor from first contraction until Birth.

8 hours of what they consider "hard" labor, strong contractions close together.

20 minutes of pushing.

Epidural for 4 hours.

Could not pee on my own after birth...had to have a straight cath which I filled to the brim! :)

First visitors:   Both sets of NEW First Time Grandparents! Gerry & Luanne and Tom & Julie!

In the Birthing Zone

I am never more obsessed with the calendar as when I am waiting on the birth of my babies.

The due date month always seems so far away at the beginning.  I look at each month and each week and anticipate what life will be like, or more specifically what a certain planned activity will be like when I'm 16 weeks pregnant...24 weeks pregnant.....32 weeks pregnant.... etc.

The last 6 weeks of my scheduled due date totally consumes me.  I am aware of many stories of Mommas who give birth weeks early.  My first baby was born 2 weeks early and my second baby was born one week early...so giving birth "early" has become part of my mentality of something that just happens.  I give birth early.  I truly thought with all my discomforts that this baby, my third, would be even earlier than the last two.

But here I am, 38 weeks pregnant.  I have been anticipating on giving birth for the last, oh, 3 weeks.  Each day could have been the day in my mind.  And it wasn't.  Each day my eyes seem to gaze up several times a day towards our calendar obsessing over when I will go into labor.  I do not normally get obsessed over numbers and dates as when I am waiting for the birth of one of my babies.  Frankly, there are certain numbers I just don't like.  That is silly and unreasonable and completely out of my control, but I still look at dates and think....okay this would be a good one, well I don't really like that number, so we could skip over that one and maybe I could labor on the evening of that date I don't like...then actually have him after midnight on that date so his birthday would be a good number...an old fling's birthday is on that date, hopefully we could skip over that date...another family birthday is already on this date...etc...etc...  I torture myself with wondering when he will arrive.  It's been this way with every birth. 

I cannot imagine what other Moms go through when they actually PASS their due date!  I have never been in that position and cannot even imagine what my mind would do.  I have been making plans to pass the time, but secretly each time I make a plan I instantly think to myself...well I'll be having a baby that day anyway or at least will still be in the hospital...so I won't be able to make it.  And here I am, making and keeping plans. 

I am at the point where each night by about 7pm I am totally shocked that I have not gone into labor yet.

Am I ready? 

Physically, yes.

Mentally, yes.

Baby things, yes.

House in order, for the most part.

Freezer meals prepped for my family, yes

But really and truly, I'm just ready to meet this little guy.  I have done this two times already, so I am well aware that its doable and I will do it.  I also am aware this time of what it will require of me to care for a newborn. 

Nursing...getting by on very little sleep...toddlers that need entertained...fed...loved on...husbands that need food & appreciation...many diaper changes...poop explosions...lots of baby cries...potential toddler tantrums...potty training reverted...siblings needing to be included...patience...gratitude...humbled...mesmerized...blessed...exhausted...confident...helpless...

So many emotions come with a newborn.  Of course being that this is my third time around I can anticipate life with a newborn a little easier....but every child is different.  Including my two busy toddlers who will have life really altered for them, until we can all get into a groove.

It will be hard.

It will be tiring.

It will be fun.

It will be different.

It will be new.

It will be amazing.

It will be exciting.

It will be okay.

I've begun to really pray for Hunter lately.  I'm saddened I have not taken this entire pregnancy to pray deeply for him physically, mentally, spiritually, etc...Girls have distracted me, life is busy, I'm just a selfish person...so many excuses why I have not prayed deeply...what I like to call "surface level" prayers have come & gone...for his health and safety in the womb, for my health and safety as I carry him... thanksgiving prayers for pregnancy, for carrying a child, for being entrusted with life...

But because I have been awakened so many times in the night lately due to full bladder or bodily discomforts (even despite my 7 pillows...), it has really made me focus on very specific prayers for Hunter, for myself, for our family.  And for that I am really grateful.  For this time I am really grateful.

Time is not up to me.  When Hunter Thomas arrives will have been the exact day, hour and second that God decided long before he was placed in my womb.  That's amazing.  So what have I done with that information?  Continue to be consumed my dates...numbers...fears...unknowns...

Talk about faithless!

One day at a time, Ginny. 

Focus more on my prayers... my husband... my children... my home...

Focus less on dates... numbers... fears... unknowns.. to-dos..

Of course it is natural for me to wonder when labor will begin, how I will handle the pain, and when he will arrive.  But, I need to make a strong effort not to be so focused on things out of my control.

God's in control of my life & His plan for Hunter's life!

Deep Breathe.

One day at a time.

Christmas

 Let the fun began! 

Christmas Eve we hosted my Mom, my Dad, my brother Mike & my sister Julie for a very nice dinner (that I made entirely on my own--yay for growing up!), gift exchange and adorable desserts in fun Christmasy shapes made by my Momma (sorry, no pictures of food! I was too busy!!).

My Mom & Dad joined us for our church's Christmas Eve service, it was very special having them be apart of our wonderful church family for a few hours.  It was a beautiful candlelit service & I'm so glad we went.  Then we came home to food & gifts.  The girls' favorite gift was their treasure chest full of fun costumes!!  Such a great idea for toddlers!! 

 Photo courtesy from Ellie's view  :) 

Baby Hunter's First Christmas?!

 Aaron's busy scratching off the annual Christmas Tradition of receiving Lottery Tickets!!!

 My Beautiful Momma  :) 

Oh How I Love Thee!

Thank you Tom & Autumn for the funny little animal furballs!!!

Wish you guys were here!

Then Christmas morning came...

We don't put any emphasis on "Santa" in our home, as far as our girls are concerned they know Christmas is about Baby Jesus' Birth and "Santa" is simply a nice decoration at Christmas time.  Much like Frosty the snowman is.

However, we have taught them the real story about St. Nicholas.  Just like I grew up, we have our girls put their shoes out on December 5th & "St. Nicholas" comes to fill them with goodies. 

The difference in this excitement versus Santa coming on Christmas morning is that there is no expectation for "being good" leading up to this day.  Let's be honest...the idea of Santa coming "only if you're good" has become a bad parenting tool and in my opinion a terrible way to teach about Christ's Love & Grace.  But all this is another topic for another day...

Anyway...so, we do say that St. Nicholas fills their stockings...although we're not strict on it, and I'm sure if Audrey asked if I bought something I'd just tell her yes.

So Christmas mornings comes and it was the cutest most abrupt way I've ever woken up.

Sweet little Audrey came RUNNING into our room, slamming the door wide open which banged into the wall and she comes in yelling

"Mommy!!! MOMMY!!  Saint Nicholas came & filled up my stocking!!  Come Look!!  Come Look!!"

haha....woah.  Well Goodmorning! :) I'm awake!

So the girls & I got up with the darkness and opened up part of the stockings, until Daddy got up too.

 New Water bottles!  Wahoooo!  :)

 And then...while it was still dark outside the girls insisted on playing dress-up :)

 Oh how I love having girls.  They are the best :)

 Daddy's awake....time for a few more gifts!  (Notice the different outfit changes)

Then Christmas Day we went out to Aaron's parents house!  Always a fun chaotic time with the cousins running around, so I didn't take too many pictures!  Plus, I think all the preparations I did and being on my feet a lot the previous day made my body totally worn out.  I, unfortunately, did a LOTof visiting from the couch.  My body was sore all over...oh the joy of the end stages of pregnancy :)

Here's Ellie Belle, my beautiful darling little 2-year-old.

My how she has grown up! Doesn't she look darling in her little Christmas dress!!

Poor little Sawyer (1yr) wasn't feeling so great, so he did a lot of cuddleing. 

Here he is snuggling up with Grandpa Tom :)

Oh the busyness of Christmas is always so fun and yet it's always over so much quicker than I'm expecting!  Time to wait another year!

Merry Christmas To All!

Quick wit at Four.

Mom:  Girls you need to get your toys put away in your room!

Audrey:  ...Mommmm!!!  Ellie's not helping!!!

Mom:   I will deal with her, you just worry about yourself.

Audrey:   I AM worried about myself. I'm worried I don't have enough people helping me!!!

Touche'