Little c isn't so little anymore- "I'm Free"

"I'm growing up too fast Mommy" and that's the truth! whoever said the days go slow and the years fast was right too! Just yesterday this sweet little girl was a teeny tiny baby and now she's big!

We had a fun birthday for this sweet "Fwee year old" We met Daddy for lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. Then little c got to go with Daddy to the zoo (AKA Petsmart.) She even got to ride in the truck with him (it was all the way on the other side of the parking lot while the rest of the kids went to Dollar Tree with me.)

She was so excited to open the presents they picked for her at Dollar Tree.

Cupcakes are always fun!

V didn't get a cupcake but a ride in a laundry basket is pretty fun too!

She had a birthday party with friends too! Pizza, playtime, pinata, presents. 

sweet to have some friends about her size!

this sweet girl got to celebrate with the LewCrew, with friends, with Nana and Papa, and with Grandma and Pops Leon. a well celebrated 3rd birthday!

Birthday!

Our sweet baby boy arrived Friday 20 MAR 2015 at 0846. He was 8 lb 4 oz, 20 inches.

V's first pic

We got to labor and delivery at 615 Friday morning and had wonderful nurses who got me ready for surgery. We had lots of time for talking with the nurse (like that her husband is a Rigger) since the morning meeting ran a little later. She told me that they would strap my arms down for the surgery which did not make me happy. But when she found out that she was wrong about that, we had a good laugh. An anesthesiologist student came in to talk to me about surgery and James laughed at me being unhappy that he looked about 15.  Thankfully, a "more seasoned" anesthesiologist came in and I felt better.  The doctor scheduled for my C-section finally came in with the attending ob and talked to me about delayed cord clamping (which was on my birth plan wish list). Instead of insisting, I said that I really just wanted to get to the delivery and see and hold my baby afterwards. We finally did! The OR was really cold. I was shivering a lot. James waited outside the delivery room while I got my spinal.  This time James didn't have to wait long to come in because unlike BG's delivery where anesthesia took a long time, this was super quick from inserting spinal until V's cry announcing his arrival. That baby cry was beautiful!

James was happy to have a "cool" hat this time!(A little nicer than mine:) Here's his selfie

Once our baby boy was out, James walked over to be with him in the warmer for his exam. He said V was blue at first but quickly was okay. I was glad the warmer was straight across from me. Even though I couldn't see V for most of the exam, I could see where he was and got to see James cut the cord and hold V up for picture with scale.

Oh isn't he sweet! Loved hearing that cry! I had grand plans of music in the OR, having the drape lowered to see doctors lift our baby out, brand new baby pics and holding our sweet baby right away. I didn't get any of those things but I did get the sweetest cheek cuddle in the OR. Instead nurses rushing V out, James held him by cheek for a while which was such a precious memory. Now if one of the kids is sad, I tell them that V cheek cuddles can cheer them up- worked so far!

That giggle on James' face is because the nurse missed the pic when James cut the cord so this is take 2!

My cheek cuddles! 

James got to do "kangaroo care" skin to skin in recovery room while I got sewn up and nurses were making sure all was okay with me. 

Finally got to hold my sweet baby boy! 

As soon as I held V, he was ready to nurse. He started rooting around and then nursed like a champ- latched right on like he'd been doing it all his life! This was another time to know that God is good and blesses us even if things do not go as I had planned.
What a precious gift! Love our sweet baby boy!

So excited

Yes, our sweet baby boy is almost  two months old before I'm posting this- we've had busy days of nursing, snuggling, books, diapers, life, ... but here's some new baby pics

Sweet girl excited for first time holding baby brother

C (needs a nickname besides big girl) and isn't sure about baby brother- now she's crazy about him

Papa's turn

The Cs with Nana

Didn't Daddy do good on the shirts!

Toast to the newest member of the LewCrew

Ride home- our biggest baby looks pretty little in his carseat

March is a great time to have a baby- so good to get outside!

V loves swaddling and his naps! 

I loved seeing James and boys working in the garden!

Happy Birthday KG

Our sweet girl turned six Thursday! She got special cuddle time with her sweet baby brother to start her day. Baby snuggles are so nice!

Then Daddy made her an omelet for breakfast. Pair that with hot chocolate for a fantastic start to 6!

Of course, little sister wants to be in the pics too!

What fun opening presents from family. Here's the doll T made

Pink coat from Uncle Steven, Aunt Dena.

And more goodies- camou bag made by K, doll dress made by C, a book and game from Mommy and Daddy

What a blessed birthday girl: she had an early cake from Nana and Papa, a birthday cake, and this cake number from Grandma!

A hat made by Uncle Brian, hair bow from Grandma

We are so thankful for our sweet birthday girl! Love her!

Happy Half Birthday

So a few years back, we started celebrating half birthdays. It started because we were at Sonic with a friend and it happened to be her girls' half birthdays so we decided to get ice cream and start celebrating. It stuck and we've enjoyed it ever since. We don't do anything fancy- usually a cupcake even if it's not Sunday- and we sing happy half birthday.  but the kids all really like it. T's half birthday is 29 Feb but we've decided not to make him wait for leap years :) 

We've been listening to the Green Ring Conspiracy on Adventures in Odyssey and kids have been excited about making a carnival. On Monday (the day we decided to celebrate T's half birthday) a friend watched my children for my doctor appointment. I came home to a carnival setup. They had fun and set up a snack table and games and had big plans for later. 

We had to make it through a couple very important parts of our day before the carnival (lunch, naps, and school) but then everyone was ready! and we were blessed with a beautiful day outside. We started with cornhole 

 and football toss.

 I was again blessed that my friend brought dinner! After dinner, we enjoyed yummy half birthday cupcakes

 and then we were ready for more games. I didn't get a ton of pics but we have nerf gun shooting at cups, bingo, guess the spice, find the spice, unfreeze the bracelet, and a couple more

 Then I was treated to a back massage and hair combing by C. BG was happy to join in the picture taking!

We had a fun half birthday for T and are excited that Daddy will be home in less than 2 weeks!