Our 3 Treasures

“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” Hebrews 12:28

I’m way behind on posting pictures, so I’m going to attempt to catch up a little bit today.  I have much to be thankful for these days, in the midst of all the crazy busyness of having 3 kids age 3 and under! 

816. All the ways she makes me laugh, like putting her gum on her nose

817. Fudgsicles

818. This cart…so cute!

819. Seeing her hold her baby sister, who she loves very much

820. Babies in the swing: Haley and my niece, Sophia

821. Haley’s long afternoon naps (often 3 or 4 hours)

822. Haley’s first and last time sleeping in a laundry basket as she was too long for it

823. Her first bath, which she liked

824. Celebrating firsts and lasts: her belly button stump finally fell off at 2 weeks + 1 day old and we used our last newborn diaper (hopefully EVER) on Monday as she has moved up to size 1

825. Wrapping her up in her bath towel…adorable!

826. All 3 kids trying out the bassinet

I like her hands in this one

Great pose!

The clown in the family

827. Her first time in the baby chair (Kiera gave her a book to read)

828. Her first time wearing a 2-piece outfit (9 days old)

829. My grandparents came to meet Haley for the first time and prayed for her…that was special (Haley was praying, too)

830. Seeing him snuggle her…so sweet

Life as a Family of 5

I haven't had a lot of time to blog lately, as you may have guessed. Life with 3 kids is busy but going well! Haley is my quietest most content baby so far, which is exactly what we prayed for! Kiera + Blake love her, although they don't always understand where the line is between gentle and too rough. They would be all over her if I let them! Their behavior hasn't been good lately and I think it's a combination of adjusting to another person in the family, not having as much of my attention, and being at home a lot. I'm praying that improves soon. Haley has been waking up about twice a night to eat now, which I think is good for 12 days old! When the health nurse came last week, Haley had gained an oz./day since leaving the hospital, so she should be past her birth weight by now. She usually has a long nap in the afternoon at the same time as Blake, so then we spend time with just Kiera. Jared went back to work today :( but my sister, brother-in-law, and my niece are arriving today, so I won't be alone for the next week! I get to meet my niece for the first time and they get to meet their niece for the first time! SOOO EXCITING!! They haven't been here since last October and Sophia was still in the womb at that point. I'm feeling human again now that I'm getting more sleep and my body is healing. God is so merciful and so good! I'll leave you with a couple of videos from July and one from August of Kiera + Blake meeting their new sister!

Mmmmmuffins

Before Haley was born, I made quite a few batches of different kinds of spelt muffins and put them in the freezer since that's usually what I eat for breakfast. My sister-in-law gave me a container full of raspberries from her bushes, so I made some YUMMY raspberry muffins! Here's the recipe:

2 medium or large eggs
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (melted)
2 cups buttermilk (or reg. milk plus 1 tsp. vinegar)
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsps. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups fresh raspberries

In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar. Add the eggs to the above mixture and beat again. Stir in vanilla and milk.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and the salt.

Combine the egg ingredients with the dry ingredients stirring only until no dry spots remain. Fold in the fresh raspberries.

Spoon mixture into greased or paper lined muffin cups, filling 3/4 full.

Bake at 400° for approx. 25 minutes or until done. Makes 18 large muffins.

Introducing Haley Joy

On Thursday morning, I had a doctor’s appt. and she did a membrane sweep.  At that point, I was 3 cm dilated.  I went for a long walk around suppertime, spent time with Jared, and then contractions started at 10 p.m. just as I was ready to go to bed.  I got up and started walking around and they were continually 5 min. apart, so at midnight, Jared’s Dad came to sleep at our house and we headed to the hospital.  My doula met us there and we spent most of the night walking around, with contractions 5 min. apart, but not very hard and not increasing in intensity or frequency.  By 6 a.m., the contractions had stopped and we got sent home.  That was VERY frustrating + disappointing.  Jared’s parents took the kids so that we could sleep Friday morning and I got 3 hours of sleep before contractions started again around 10:30 a.m.  They were quite far apart + not very painful.  I took a shower and then a bath and right after that, at 12:00 p.m., the contractions started 5 min. apart and were quite painful.  Jared decided to try to go to work for the afternoon, but was ready to leave at any time.  I called a close friend and she came over + blessed me with a slurpee and had rented a movie.  We were about 5 min. into the movie when I said, “Sorry, I have to go!”  I called Jared, he came home after being at work for half an hour, and then we left for the hospital at 2:15 p.m.  We had to wait in the waiting room for a while and when I finally got checked in triage at 3:30 p.m., they said I was 7 almost 8 cm dilated and immediately moved me to a private room.  I knew then that again, it was too late for the epidural.  I had read a book called Supernatural Childbirth and in it, they talk about how it’s possible to have a pain-free labor + delivery because Jesus died on the cross for all pain.  They talk about praying + speaking to your body, so I was praying almost the whole time (not out loud) and telling my body to relax.  My doula rubbed my back almost the whole time and I still had pain, but it was WAY less than my labor with Blake.  My contractions didn’t get a whole lot closer together and I still had breaks in between right until the end!  The doctor + nurses kept saying how well I was doing and I said, “Jesus is helping me.”  I was quiet almost the whole time and I just had my eyes closed and was praying as I breathed through each contraction.  I had asked Jared ahead of time to pray during each contraction, too, so later he told me he had.  At 5:00 p.m. I was 10 cm dilated, at around 5:15, I started pushing, and at 5:21 p.m., Haley Joy was born!  She was 8 lbs. 7 oz. and 22 inches long, so my biggest baby by half a pound and half an inch!  Haley means creative.  I was sort of guessing I might have another girl, but was unsure.  I wanted Kiera to have a sister and she thought the whole time she would have a baby sister and she was right!   I had also prayed that my labor would start at lunch time and I would have a baby at supper time, so God answered!  I also prayed that I wouldn’t tear like I did with Blake and I just had 2 tiny tears with one stitch each, which I can’t feel at all!  It’s making recovery SO much easier!  I’ve always had to stay in the hospital at least 48 hours because I’ve always been Group B Strep positive, but the hospital changed their policy and because both Haley + I were doing well, we got to go home the next day!  Praise God Haley is breastfeeding wonderfully, but she has her days + nights completely mixed up, so I’ve hardly slept in the last 3 days.  SO glad Jared is off work for 2 weeks and I’m praying her schedule straightens out before he goes back.  Here are some pictures of our sweet little princess!

Long feet

First picture as a family of 5 (taken by my Mom-in-law)

Ready to leave the hospital

Home sweet home

Maternity Photos

I just realized that I haven’t posted my favorite maternity pictures on here and my due date is tomorrow!  Most of you have probably already seen them on Facebook, but that’s ok.  My Mom-in-law was curious as to which are my favorites (she took them), so here they are.

This one below makes me miss my long hair, but it will grow back :)

LOVE this one below

Baby, you are already loved and we can hardly wait to meet you!

July Blessings

“The more I count these blessings, the more I realize that they really are not the product of my own efforts. They are truly gifts of grace from God above. It’s incredible to open my eyes to them week after week. And humbling. That I should be graced with such wonders? Me… whose heart is weak and black, yet covered with much mercy. How great is Your unfailing love, Lord God of all!” ~Sharaya Crossan

It’s been a while since I’ve done a thankful post, so here’s one last one before the baby arrives!

801. Watching the kids horse around with their Daddy

802. My first meeting with my mentor…I’ve never had a mentor before and I love her!

803. The new Skittles Blenders…I LOVE Skittles

804. A husband who has a full-time straight days job…that’s what I prayed for when I was single!

805. The kids sticking their bums up in the air and giggling just because

806. That I didn’t get any bladder infections this pregnancy, unlike my pregnancy with Blake

807. A craving satisfied

808. When I wake up to sunshine

809. Cuddle time after a bath

810. The food slowly accumulating in my freezer, which will make a few meals easier after the baby is born

811. New living room curtains

Before

After

812. Kiera trying on some reading glasses in a store

813. All of the preparation of getting ready for the baby…it’s exciting!

814. Bubble beards

815. That I may have reached my final week of pregnancy EVER, although that thought is sort of bittersweet, but I’m ready to be done!

Beach Day

On Jared’s holidays last month, we took the kids to the beach for the first time.  They LOVED it!  Going to the beach with little kids definitely wasn’t very relaxing for us as we had to watch them so closely, but it was fun watching them splash around in the water and experience something new.  There weren’t very many people there that day, so that was also nice!

Blake’s swim shorts are a little bit big on him, so you could see his swim diaper

I actually got a smile from her when I asked this time!

This was the sweetest moment!  Blake was shivering like crazy, so Jared wrapped him up in a towel and held him like that for at least 20 minutes.  Blake was so tired that he just about fell asleep and this moment just melted my heart!