Two Tremendous Months

Wow!!  I'm pretty sure this is probably the same thing I say each month that passes by in my newborns lives, but still.  WOW!!  I can't believe how quickly these last two months have gone by.  I will say that of the three, Kate has been my most "difficult" baby, if you can call her difficult.  But really, she is not.  She is a great sleeper and eater and just happens to have a fussy bit each evening.  She also has some reflux, which we are controlling with medication, b/c otherwise our fussy evenings, become full blow fussy DAYS.  And, we have had a few of those, when mommy decided maybe the medicine wasn't necessary.  Oops...guess that's not for me to decide.  Anywho...when she has gotten her regular doses of medicine, she has been a fantastic baby (you know, aside from those few evening hours). 

She also sleeps very well at night.  From our first week home, she was going 4 hours minimum, sometimes 5 or 6 and by 6 weeks was progressing to 8 hours on some nights.  Just recently, two days before hitting her two month birthday, she went 12 hours between feedings.  Wa-hoo baby girl!!  That's what momma likes.  :)

Her well check is not until next monday (a week after she officially hit two months), and I'm so excited to see what she will weigh.  I'm guessing close to 12 lbs...if not slightly over.  As you can see by these adorable cheeks, she does love to eat.

Yesterday I did her a mini-shoot for her two month pictures.  As you can see above, she is doing very well at holding her head up.  But, this is not surprising since she has been trying to do that since the day she was born.  She also has been flashing little smiles here and there for us too.  I can't wait to see what these next months will bring us.  You are such a wonderful addition to our family baby girl...we love you so much!!

Score!!

So, over the summer we ventured into the world of swim team, and this fall Tyler has officially made me a soccer mom!  Now that he's turned four, he's officially old enough to join the thousands (literally) of other kids in our area who play soccer in the fall.  I was a little leary of having him on a team, not because I didn't think he'd be able to kick the ball (b/c he actually kicks it very well), but more so because I wasn't sure he was old enough for a structured game (with competitors and a referee!...really for 4 year olds?).  But anyway, we decided to try it.  Yesterday was our first match of the season.

The first two practices were a little hairy, so we weren't sure what to expect on Saturday.  It could have gone much like practices where he sat on the sidelines and watched, b/c he didn't think he could do it like the coach wanted, or he could have not wanted to get off of the field.  Care to guess which one?  It was a little of both actually.  Here he was mad that he wasn't in...but later on he was sitting with me upset, b/c he didn't think he was doing well enough!  But honestly, for the first time participating in a structured sporting event, he did pretty well.

Here they are in pre-game...coach is giving them the run-down on rules of the game.  I mean really, with just two practices under our belt, this could be interesting.  Luckily this is a U5 team, so a few of the kids have played a couple of seasons already.

 Hoping he remembers he can't touch the ball with his hands.

 It's ok to use your head though!

 

Here they are pointing to their goal.  Not that it helped much...each team scored at least one goal for the other team.  One thing I really appreciated about the league is that for the U5, they do have referees to help them learn the rules of the game, but they do not actually keep "score".  So, there is no real winner or loser at the end.  Helps to not defeat the kids spirits at such a young age, I think.

 Tyler's first goal...he did a great job kicking it down field and into the goal!

 This little one couldn't quite remember that you can't touch the ball with your hands!  :)  She tried to pick it up and run with it, each time she got close to it.

 Kate, hanging out with daddy, enjoying the game.  Too soon baby girl, it will be your turn...and with two older brothers to teach you all about the game, I bet you're gonna be an awesome soccer chick!

Look at that form!  Ready...

 Set...

 

Kick!

 

Kate's Newborn Photos

We had a family newborn session done with Kate at the end of August and the pictures turned out SO good.  I love the hat and diaper cover, I'm so glad I found someone to make them.  They look so great in her birth announcements.

 

 

A "One"derful Month

Wow...it's hard to believe that just a little over a month ago we were still preparing for the arrival of our beautiful baby girl as she spent her last days inside my cozy belly.  I'm telling you, she HAD to be running out of room.  Look at that belly!

and that now, this little hours old baby...

is this one month old darling already pushing herself up!

When I learned that the precious baby I was carrying was actually my first daughter, I was overcome with emotion.  I was so very excited to be having a daughter and to have the opportunity to be a momma to both sons and a daughter.  I LOVE my boys to death, and there is nothing more special that being their "momma", but to be able to experience all of the things that a mother of a daughter experiences has me very excited, too.  I'm not sure I can even begin to explain the love I feel for this little girl...I look at her face and see mine (literally, b/c I really do think she looks so much like me!)
, but also all of the promise that the future holds for her.  Her first steps, first day at school, graduation, marriage, her own children.  I'm just so excited for her.

With each child I've been scared of what the introduction of another child would be like.  When pregnant with Luke, I really wondered how in the world I would be able to love another child like I loved Tyler.  But I can honestly say that I have never one time even questioned my love for either of my boys.  It's an amazing feeling actually!  And because of that, this time while pregnant with Katelyn, I didn't have the fear of how could I love her as much, b/c I knew I just would.  It's quite amazing how with each child, instead of having to share the amount of love my heart can hold, I actually believe that my heart has tripled in the amount of love it can hold.  I honestly think I love Les, Tyler and Lucas MORE with the addition of Katelyn to our family.  She just seems to have completed us.  If no more babies are in our future, I think I'm okay with that. 

But still, as I sit here, I have tears in my eyes just knowing that I'll never experience these times again.  Her first month is over and with that, all of the firsts she has experienced during that time.

Times likes her first family picture...

being welcomed home by her brothers...

her first bath (which she didn't exactly love)...

the first time she slept in her crib (ok, so she's not quite asleep yet)...

her first photo session with mommy...

and a professional photographer...

and other firsts I couldn't capture in a photo like her first smile and first time sleeping through the night.  It's been a month of firsts, and we've loved every minute of it.  Although I'm sad to see the first month go and know that she'll never be this small again, I'm excited for all of the other firsts we will experience in the months to come.   Happy one month birthday baby girl!  You are such a blessing to mommy and our entire family.  We love you so much.

Cavity Free are We!!!

While I was in the hospital having Katelyn, there was a news story on the Today show that prompted me to call and set up dental appointments for the boys.  I had been meaning to do this for Tyler since last fall, but then I got pregnant and it slipped to the wayside.  The news story said children should have their first dental appt when they get their first tooth, so I realized Luke was overdo for a check up too.  I've heard great things about a local pediatric dental group, so we decided to check them out.  They were fantastic!!  They have a large open area with the chairs were the hygenists do the cleanings, so that if you have multiple kids, they can actually all be seen at the same time.  I was able to sit there and watch Ty and Luke at the same time, so we were in an out in less than 45 minutes.  Not only was the staff super efficient and speedy, but they were so friendly and patient, too.  Tyler was squirmy and Luke was a little uneasy with the "stranger", but both of their hygenists were so great with them.  And the Dr. was wonderful, too!  Final results??  Both boys were 100% cavity free.  Good to know all that ice cream they ate with Nana and Pap this summer didn't have any negative effects.  :)

Here are the boys checking out the awesome fish tank in the waiting area.  They had 2 nemo fish and a Dory.  Big hit!!

They gave the boys these cool sunglasses to wear, to protect their eyes from the super bright light.

Not only was this our first trip to the dentist, but it was my first outing with all three kiddos all by myself.  Luckily Miss Kate behaved herself, too!

 All-in-all it was a great visit.  Hoping our visit in February goes as smoothly.

Our baby girl is here!

After 39 long weeks, we finally have met our precious baby girl.

Katelyn was born Monday, July 26 at 11:12 in the morning, weighing 7 lbs, 11 oz and measuring 20.5 inches long.  That's exactly how long I was when I was born, too!  She's longer than either of the boys have been.  Let me tell you, this little gal has completely grabbed us by the heartstrings.  She is amazing.  Here she is just a few hours old, being introduced to everyone.  Can you see Luke's face?  He was so excited to see Mommy and meet baby Katelyn.

 This weekend, daddy was scared of having a little girl and today, holding her...he looks as comfortable as can be.  Everyone told him that having a daughter was amazing, but I'm not sure he really got it.  I think he gets it now, though and it is so beautiful to watch.  Hmm, makes me get teary eyed just thinking about it!

 The boys are in love with her, too.  It is so precious to watch.  Tyler is the proudest big brother and very protective of her already.  And Lucas just loves her to death.  The smile on his face when he looks at "baby" (as he is calling her, hopefully we'll get him to say Katelyn before too long) is so incredibly precious.  He really is taken by her.  I remember Tyler not being too interested in baby Lucas, but Lucas is so VERY aware of her...in fact, I'm thinking we are going to have a little trouble helping him to understand that she's not quite ready to play with yet!!  Poor little girl, with Daddy and these two older brothers, she's going to be one very loved and VERY protected girl.

We are so excited to welcome this little girl to our family and can't wait to watch her grown!

Almost here

Our precious gift from God is almost here!

The countdown has begun...oh who am I kidding, I've had this countdown going for weeks.  But I can really countdown now, b/c we know that baby girl is going to be welcomed into this world for sure on Monday morning around 9 am!  I know after she is here I will miss this (being pregnant and feeling her all cozy inside of me), but right now, I'm so ready for her to be out here with us and to hold her in my arms!