Month 1

Whew.

That's about it.

But so I can remember what life has been like (say, if I dare get the crazy idea to go for No. 4), we are surviving.  Not quite thriving.  But all things in their own time.  So far, each child has proven to be a very different adjustment.  With the first (dear Emma) it was adjusting to 3 hour schedules, interrupted sleep, the revelation of the extent of my selfishness and the overall fear of parenting.  No. 2 (fearless Robert) challenged us with permanent sleep deprivation, the elimination of mommy naps and the need to multi-task all day.  To date, no. 3 (precious Nelia), has forced me to abandon the hope I will ever sleep more than 4 uninterrupted hours again, challenged me to break up sibling wrestling matches with my foot while nursing, to relish the peace and quiet of only one child crying, and to embrace paper plates and the remote control.

And there are people that have more than 3 kids. Lots more.

What has made these first few weeks worth every. single. lost wink of sleep?  This adorable face.  And how much her sister and brother already LOVE and ADORE her.

Kidding aside (sort of), the first month has been overall good. The Lord is certainly kind.  Nelia is (so far) our smallest baby! At her one month check up, she weighed in at 9 lbs 14 oz (25%) and 20 1/4 inches (25%).  At their 1 month check ups, both Emma and Robert were off the charts for weight and close to 90% in height.  No doubt Nelia will catch up soon!

She is a good baby, and I am already thankful I can enjoy so much more of her infancy. Strange though it seems--despite the need to spread my time between the three--I feel like I can enjoy her more (or maybe it's that the Lord has enabled me to let 1 or 2 things go...like the need to wear clothes-see below)

For those of you who enjoy comparisons, below are some "chair pics."  Robert is the upper right and Emma is the bottom right.  Don't they all look SO much alike--except for the hair?  Regardless, it is undeniable that Emma and Nelia are sisters!!

I'll try to reemerge in this space more often! But for now, there is one baby who needs to be fed and one momma who needs to shower today. Be back soon!

P.S. A HUGE thanks to all our family and friends for their support, love, food, grace, prayers and forgiveness during the past few weeks. I have been trying to respond to people as best I can, but if you haven't heard from me, I'm SO sorry! I promise I will contact you soon-! :)

She's Here!

We welcomed Nelia Frances Avery on Sunday, December 18 at 5:21 p.m. She was 8 lbs 1 oz and 20 1/4 inches long. Oh, and she's stinking adorable in every way. Just ask Emma. She'll tell you.

Thanks for all the prayers and support over the past few days! We have felt so loved and I am very grateful. We are looking forward to celebrating Emma's birthday and our Savior's birth as a family of five! We rejoice in His plan for our family and His plan to redeem the world!!!

Expiration Dates

Hello blogging world! I'm checking in so as not to forget these last few days before becoming a family of five! Speaking of....there is nothing like buying milk that expires on your due date to remind you you're about to have a baby!!!!

While the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season is all around us, I find myself uncharacteristically calm and peaceful these days. I'm constantly fielding questions (like many of us this time of year) that begin with "Are you ready...?"  I often pause, stare curiously and wonder: What event are they talking about? Christmas?  Getting all our presents taken care of?  Celebrating the birth of our Savior?  Emma's most special 4th birthday?  A new baby?  The labor process and whether I'll be able to have another successful VBAC? Returning to life with a newborn?  Adjusting to life with three kids 4 and under? As a result, I think I'm giving off some pretty hysterical stares at people these days.  


Regardless, some of the proverbial to-do list has resulted in "shrinking" expectations this year.  Like our "shrinking tree."

sorry for the poor picture quality--seems my hand (or the iphone) isn't too steady these days.

Hands down this is the easiest tree I've ever done.  I like it more and more.  I picked it up with one hand and it already came on a stand!  Emma and Robert both seem to love it and it also keeps Robert from destroying inspecting it too closely at his tender age.

Despite finding a few solutions to simplify celebrations this year, stress still remained.  A few weeks ago everything came to a head and I'm so grateful the Lord interceded and comforted me in ways I couldn't even think for to pray.  Truly. The Spirit moved when I had no words or ideas of what I actually needed. HIS presence has made me all the more grateful that I am now at peace with this season.   The peace is NOT because I'm "ready."  (I'm not).  There are still presents to buy (and make--call me crazy I know), Advent devotionals to complete, clothes to wash, labor exercises to continue, birthday plans to finish, etc...but HE has overwhelmed me with HIS everlasting, never giving up, comforting PEACE.  

For a slightly controlling organized lady like myself, HE has spoken to my heart to confirm that HE will make sure my children feel loved and cared for in my absence while we welcome (and adjust to) this new baby. HE will make sure our family and dear friends feel the same if I'm not able to complete my to-do list.  HE will continue rescuing me and continue saving me, all the while ALLOWING ME to celebrate the birth of the most WONDERFUL, most SACRIFICIAL Christmas gift of all--our SAVIOR.   

I'm so thankful HE has finally imprinted on my soul the answer to all the questions---"Am I ready?"   

Nope. 

Not really. 

But it doesn't matter.  Thousands of years ago the Lord sent LOVE down as a baby to SAVE us. To LOVE us. To RESCUE us.  That is the PEACE that matters, and sharing that PEACE and LOVE with others matters too---especially as we await our own baby this year.  What. A. Blessing.

So, here I sit. Outlook changed.  Spirit inspired.  But still trying to chip away at last minute to-dos as much as I (and the kids) feel like it.  Thankfully, the Lord's presence continues to cover us even when Emma comes down with a nearly eardrum rupturing infection last night.  Poor angel.  And poor Jason--who slept laid with her on the couch all night long because Emma could not get comfortable enough to fall asleep--and he wanted me to rest as much as I could--despite the mountain of work sitting beside the couch he needed to complete.

This morning we were the second people at the doctor's office and the infection was confirmed.   Something so many families have to deal with repeatedly--for which I have new found respect.  Thankfully, we avoided having to drain her ear drum, and started the regime of drugs instead.  Now, medicated and resting, she is. 

SO, do to-do lists matter today?  Not one bit. 

Be back soon!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Take 1:

Take 2:

Take 3:

And cut.

In addition to the scripture memory verse (from school), we got to do some legit Thanksgiving crafts this year.  Like make this guy (thank you Pinterest), who wound up at all our place settings on the table.

And as we pulled chairs up to the table, I swear I heard him say:  

Eat More Chicken.

Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for!  What an amazing, loving, merciful and gracious God we serve.  And in the times we do and even in the times we don't feel it, His blessings continue to pour over us. 

Tootles!

Inappropriate?

We may or may not call this one "peanut butter Hitler."


You be the judge.

Fall-tastic

To catch up...

Cooler weather means we're climbing the walls. And/or the sinks.

At least the Princess and the Pea could enjoy Halloween outdoors.

But then, we were back to the indoors during the rain.  And of course, a WWE ring.

All that time indoors, and with the weather change, we found ourselves to be one big house full of germs.  Two cases of croup, one Zpack, and multiple boxes of mucinex and Robitussin later and I found myself drugged up and on the quad--with 200,000 other football fans.  Who would have thought that being 32 weeks pregnant would be the least of my concerns! But as proof to No. 3 that he/she was there (for what COULD have been a better game) we took this shot.

As we waited for the game to start (turns out we made it to Tuscaloosa in 45 minutes just hours before the game), we found this.  Just in Robert's size.

And of course, we stopped to see these guys.

Then the game.  We all know how it turned out.

So, what better way to rebound than some yard work play time?  And yes, if you're wondering, I actually am trying to induce labor via yard work (but not too soon of course...)

And look who's learned to hitch a ride?

Notice the rain boots?  Robert's personal favorite.  He screams LOUDLY when they aren't on, or near. Nothing like a boy and his boots.

Happy Fall Y'all!!

It's the Most Wonderful Time

Because you can go see this.  I've talked about it before. Here and here.

Go. See. It.

I am going and I will be 38 weeks pregnant.

It will be the fifth time Jason and I have enjoyed this performance.

Praise the Lord for His gift of a merciful, perfect, sinless savior, who came into this world as a helpless baby.

As we approach Christmas this year, I am thankful and humbled to be awaiting, for the second time, the arrival of our own baby. Waiting for Emma's arrival low these four years ago, I remember being captured with emotion during this show as I felt like I related to Mary in an entirely new way, and felt the Spirit revealed an entirely new appreciation for the Lord's grace and protection for His people.  As an expectant mom living in 2011, I have access to the most state of the art medical care to keep me and our baby as healthy (and comfortable) as possible during labor and delivery.   Mary did not.  But how the Lord's protection and grace must have surrounded her, comforted her, adored her, sustained her, healed her, all while protecting His tiny miracle--a healthy baby boy--who would later to rescue the world.  So, for this reason (and hosts of others) I remain thankful as the holidays grow closer.  Despite the inevitable holiday insanity, the never ending materialism battle, the "how in the world are you going to get it all done" looks I get from people, I remember that I am blessed far beyond so many. And the details I have yet to work out, pail in comparison to what Mary and Joseph must have been concerned over.  I am blessed beyond measure.  And we are all adored beyond our wildest imaginations.

 I must be the luckiest girl in the world to get to experience this blessing twice.

Go. See. It.