Meeting Baby Sister

As our first born was about to go through the momentous occasion of becoming a sister, I desired to transition her as smoothly as possible into this new role. Before baby E was born, I had decided that when M came to visit us at the hospital I wanted to have some time together with M before she met E. N phoned me when M, my mother, and he arrived to give me time to stash away little E.  I rolled E into the large bathroom and waited by the door with great anticipation until I heard the sweet sounds of my M coming around the hallway. I sprang through the door like a little child- How I had missed my dear baby! I took the time to change her, and then we read a story together.

Our story time together took a hilarious turn when the pediatrician came to give E an examination. I can barely stop laughing remembering the face she gave us when we told her where the baby was and asked that she conduct her exam in there as well. She acquiesced to our request after she deemed the lighting sufficient, and M and I kept on reading.

After months and months of telling M we were getting a baby, we finally delivered on our promise. This video is precious to me.

It was love at first sight! M squealed with delight over her sister.

Baby kisses delight my heart

Daddy's girls

Our family

We pray that M's delight in her sister will never fade and that throughout both their lifetimes they will share a deep friendship.

Introducing Our Daughter

With joy we announce the birth of our sweet girl!

 

Born on November 5th, 2010 at 2:54pm

She was 7 lbs 3 oz and 20 in long.

Enjoying Autumn at the Pumpkin Patch

 As we enjoyed our time at this sweet pumpkin patch with the horse drawn hayrides last year, we knew that we would be revisiting the same farm this year and ended up going two weeks in a row. 

Our Family of Four

  Last year with 11 month old M

Yay! The horses are coming!

 Enjoying being with daddy, watching the horses pull, and feeling the wind in her hair.

  One year ago

 It made me smile to see her at peace petting such a huge animal.

This picture makes me laugh because of how it reveals the belly bump popping out of my coat.

  Playing with an "apple"

 This candid one makes me laugh

 37 weeks- it is interesting to see how different my belly looks from the side and from the front.

 Daddy can make her give the biggest smiles

 My dear girls I cherish you!

 Last year with our only lil' pumpkin

 

37 weeks and extremely excited to see baby sister in a few weeks

Preparing for Our Baby Girl

 With our little sweetie due to arrive in three weeks, I am over come with joy. Her pregnancy has been a delight, and every kick and wiggle is just as precious and awe inspiring as the first. I pray to never let the wonder of carrying a child grow passe. Preparing for baby sister has been a sweeter and gentler process than the preparation required for a first born. In retrospect, I realized that preparing for a first born through baby showers, baby and pregnancy books, registries, baby classes, and furniture purchases is less about preparing for an individual baby than it is about preparing for ones childbearing years and needs. I find myself feeling more emotionally connected to this child I am carrying than I felt carrying our M because my focus has been more about loving her as our daughter and less about the process.  

Besides enjoying her sweet kicks and hiccups, I have been washing clothes

dreaming of tiny toes

 and finding little bows. 

Enjoying Labor Day 2010

I am very thankful for the idyllic suburban life my husband has provided for his three girls. Here we are enjoying the last swim of the season in our association pool. Over the summer we enjoyed many family evenings together swimming, splashing, and racing; we had several friends come over and enjoy it with us and hope that many more will be able to come next year. I particularly enjoy that it is a two minute walk from our home, always maned with lifeguards, spacious, surrounded by trees, and kept immaculate and leaf free. As we would never have a backyard pool (safety, time, expense), I am thankful husband has provided this one for us to enjoy as a family.

They both pour out their love and smiles upon me every day.

My little and littlest sweeties

Each day that goes by we are getting more excited to meet our daughter. Here she is at 31 weeks. After the morning sickness passed, I have been enjoying an extremely comfortable pregnancy.

I love her thighs and sweet tutu. My mother bought her this adorable suit I found half off at ON. It was the first suit I saw all year that I LOVED, and my mom treated me to two seasons of matching cuteness for the girls. As we go to the pool after husband comes home and we've eaten dinner, this suit works perfectly for the evenings. Yet, on the rare occasion we go to the beach or pool during the bright hours of the sun, I am a firm believer in protecting her skin with a rash guard and floppy hat.

May we go in the pool?

Please!

Daddy is a blast...

and really fun to splash!

We are all wet and ready for a good night's sleep.

To Have And To Hold

Saying farewell to M for the day

 With my 26 week old date for the evening. In husband's absence, he does provide me with the sweetest company.

 I was able to snap this with the bride moments before she slipped into her gown!

Something blue  

 Beautiful bouquet!

Darling little face in the corner

 All ready
                                                      
 Love this one

 Man and wife!
                                               
A beautiful July day!

 Over the summer, I saw my sweet D three times~ each time at a wedding :)

 A beauty with an engineering brain
                                           
The bride-to-be!

                                                      
How precious

I love bustles~ the look~the process~ and all the helping hands

And she is a married woman!  After 3 years of marriage, don't you think I should know how to wear wedding rings in the correct order? I love the look of my four dollar "sticker" manicure.

 First dance

 Playing around with the huge sunflowers

Two of my favorite aunties