Molly Ann

Below is a preview of some of the pictures my friend took of Molly and I today. She put together this awesome Smilebox for me - enjoy! (just click on the PLAY button and then use the red/white arrows to go from page to page)

Make a Smilebox photobook

Family Pictures (before Molly)

So back in September, a friend of mine came over to take pictures of our family but I never got around to posting them. She came to our house and actually took the pictures in our front yard. The cool thing is that the tree that Mason is in below, is the same tree I used to climb as a kid. Here are a bunch of my favorites (along with the ones permanently on the right side of our blog). If anyone is interested in her services, her website is http://www.capturinglifenow.com/. The greatest thing is that you get your pictures on cd and then can do whatever you want with them. She is going to come back this Friday to take pictures of Molly and me so I will post those when I get them. Enjoy!

Welcome to the world - Molly Ann!

Well, I've finally gotten a chance to upload my photos and sit down and post to our blog. And actually, I only have a few minutes because Molly needs to eat soon. I learned my lesson the first day we were home when I let her sleep 4 hours between feedings during the day - we were then up every 2 hours that night. Last night went much better so I am trying to continue that trend.

Other than being exhausted, we are loving every minute with Molly in our family. Ok, not so much for Megan yet - she isn't sure what to think. We've had a few tantrums when I am nursing, but now she seems to be content with just reading the books on Molly's shelf until I am done - as long as she's in the same room as me. One minute she wants nothing to do with Molly, and then the next she wants to touch her head or see her feet. Mason absolutely loves her - the first thing he said when he came in the door Thurs and Fri after school was "where's Molly?" and then he would go check on her. He loves to tickle her feet and make the same faces she's making. We were on our way home from a birthday party last night (our first outing since getting home from the hospital) and he asked me to turn on "twinkle twinkle little star" so that "the girls" could fall asleep. It was so cute to hear him refer to them as the girls. He was initially disappointed that we didn't have a boy, however, he and daddy had a good talk about the "guy" things they get to do together and since then, he's been fine about having another sister. I couldn't be more proud with how he is handling the transition.

Well, here are some pictures of Molly's first days and some of the visitors we had in the hospital and at home. Sorry for the bad lighting in some of them - I had turned off the flash at one point and forgot to put it back on. Enjoy!

Daddy and Molly -getting ready to go home

In Nana's arms (one of her favorite places to be)

Mason checking out her feet

Megan - not sure what to think of her

Braden snuggling with Molly (sorry Trista, I cropped it cuz your kid is so cute:)

Chad with Molly (Braden's dad)

Mason holding Molly while she's about to scream

Some close ups of our sweet, precious girl.

This is my favorite so far - she is absolutely a miracle to us. Never in my mind did I think we would have 3 healthy children after all we have gone through. We have such an amazing, loving and faithful God and every time I look at this angel face I well up with tears when I think of how much he has blessed us with. Of course, some of it could be the hormones - but seriously, how anyone can deny the existence of God when you hold a newborn baby is beyond me. And the hopes and dreams we have for her life already we hope are pleasing to him.

Proud Nana

Even prouder Papa

The new family of 5!

(I actually said to Katie "Can you take a picture of the four of us?" She corrected me.)

Aunt Katie with Molly

(A big thanks to Aunt Katie for bringing Mason & Megan to the hospital and for staying the night with them!)

Aunt Shannon (who showered Molly with adorable purple clothes and purple baby wash, lotion and powder in chamomile and lavendar scent for bedtime - we actually used them tonight!)

Well, I must go and feed Molly now. An exhausting job but one I wouldn't give up for anything. Take care!

First Day of School - First Grade

I can't believe my little boy is in first grade. I remember the day he was born as if it were yesterday and here he is 6 years later and in his 2nd year of school. We had a great morning getting ready for school and getting out for the bus.

He even agreed to hold Megan's hand as they walked out to the bus stop.

Mason thought our shadows looked kind of cool so he wanted me to take a picture.

Then, suddenly we heard the bus coming around the corner so it was time for a quick kiss and hug goodbye... Here comes Dorothy in the big yellow bus! And of course I make him stop and take a picture while getting on the bus each year (not sure how many more years he'll willingly comply:).

And off he went for his first day of first grade.

Here is the bus returning at around 4pm.

When he got off with this grumpy look, I wasn't sure the day went so well...

But as we walked back home he said "I love being in first grade!" so I knew he had had a good day.

So after I got over my initial sadness of having Mason gone every day again, I realized that letting go isn't that bad. It's so neat to hear about his day and see him apply what he's learned at school to every day life. I remember the "why" stage so well and now he's the one telling me facts that I didn't know. I look forward to what the rest of this first grade year will bring.

Mason and his animals...

Mason is absolutely fascinated by animals - especially the scaled and amphibian kind. He talks about opening up a museum/aquarium when he grows up. He just loved the stingray exhibit at the zoo this summer and we were fortunate enough to go one time when there was hardly anyone else there so he had free range of the tank to try to touch them all. He especially liked these mama and baby horseshoe crabs.

We were in Madison for a wedding and went to the Farmer's Market (very fun, by the way) where a man making balloon animals made him this king cobra. Again, here's Mason with his tough guy look.

Then, much to Mason's amazement, at the end of our journey around Capital Square, there was a man with two ball pythons who was letting anyone in the general public hold them. They were the tamest snakes I've ever seen - I even enjoyed holding one. So here is Mason holding one of the snakes - after which I had to answer several questions about why we couldn't have one (or two) at home.

I truly believe he will go into a field with animals when he is older - probably having to do with snakes, fish and lizards.

More August...

So I realized I wasn't done posting things from August so here are some random shots of our outdoor activities.

Here's Mason jump roping...

And here's Megan trying to imitate him...

Megan is such a good smiler for the camera - she will stop what she's doing and immediately turn and look at you and say "cheese" when you tell her to. I hope this lasts...

And another shot of Mason making a face (this time pretending to be grumpy, or tough, I'm not sure)...

And the kids and Jeff at the Kinderberg splash park (Megan wouldn't go near the water for some reason so the only shots I have of her are dry)...

Finally, some of my favorite shots from the last few months of Megan. She is growing like a weed and learning so fast. It is so fun to just sit and watch her read a book or play with a toy as she's talking or singing to herself. The two-year-old tantrums I could do without (especially with a baby on the way) but luckily those are limited to one or two a day. For the most part, she is a sweet, funny and adorable little girl who loves to play with her big brother and sit on daddy's lap and play horsie. I am so blessed to have two amazing children and another coming soon. Parenthood truly is a blessing not to be taken for granted.

Now I'll start posting from September, including Megan's birthday!