Five

How are we doing, you ask?  Here is an update with pictures and brief descriptions...I have but so much time.  :)  Things are going great and I even crazilly went to a conference today with my newborn in tow.  That is the nice things about working in Pediatrics...

Lindsay has already started smiling!  Look at this picture!  I love it and definitely will reserve this for the wedding video one day... :)

Most of the time, I am doing the picture taking, so I am in very few shots.  Mom took this one of me introducing Lindsay to my baby brother while he was in town from his Naval assignment in Spain.  This is what I have been up to...showing off my baby girl and loving spending time with all of her many admirers...Uncle John being a big one!

Now, this picture kinda sums it up...Connor holds Lindsay whenever he can get his hands on her.  He loves her and "protects her".  He is the lovingest (I know, not a real word) little thing ever.  Landon is like, "Yikes..., another one..."

Connor seriously holds her just about every day.  He is so proud.

Landon has kept up with his routine which has been the best thing for him.  He is loving Kindergarten and soccer.  This picture was taking after a fun day at his school with face painting!  He has really taken to reading and is really making us proud.

Connor is about to turn three.  I can hardly believe it.  He is some kind of all about Diego, notice the "rescue pack".  This shirt would be worn 24-7 if I let him...  He is having a little bit of a teary time at Daycare, missing his brother, but overall, he is doing great with the adjustment of having a new sibling.

And..our Lindsay Jane.  Here she is having her first bath...Not really a fan.

But she enjoyed the snuggles afterwards...

Here is her content face, very similar to Landon's as a newborn.

And here is my girl...I think she is happy to be part of the Cole clan.  We are in love.

Lindsay Jane Cole

It occurred to me today while having my quiet time, that some of you don't follow me on facebook...and I haven't updated my BLOG!  Lindsay Jane was born on September 11th, 2012 at 8:22am.  She weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 20 inches long.  I was set to be induced on the 13th, but she came on her own, 8 days after her due date...little rascal!  I am busy trying to manage three and one is coming down the stairs crying now, while another is set to be at the door home from school any minute...so...enjoy the pictures!

Truth and Suffering

Looking at the above picture brings me joy.

I have to say, though, and this will be very honest and not peppy and effervescent...

This pregnancy has been very hard on me physically which has started taking its tole emotionally.

I was thinking about this today as I laid in my bed trying to recover from a night filled with contractions no closer than 6 minutes apart so so need to call the doctor...itching that can be likened to a dog with fleas without effective remedy, leading to insomnia.  I did watch Top Gun, at least.

I was thinking about suffering and the fact that I knew that my physical suffering would end.  And, it will.  It will end in new life!  It will end in a miracle!

That got me thinking about Jesus and the suffering that he did on the cross.  He was flogged.  He had nails hammered through his hands and ankles, a crown of thorns placed on his head and a spear piercing his side. What did his suffering result in?  New life. A miracle.

It brought me great comfort to know that Jesus knows my suffering and that that is how God intended it.  Jesus can relate to me!  I can relate to Jesus!

It seems silly and far fetched especially when I talk to other people who say, "Just get some rest, relax, you will be fine."  Actually...for this optimist and type A personality to say this, is hard...NO I WON'T, not until after I deliver this precious baby. I. AM. MISERABLE.  My itching is relentless. I have a sharp biting pain in my right upper quadrant (yes medical friends, my liver enzymes and bile salts have been checked and are normal), I am nauseous, still at 39 weeks and 6 days, I am having contractions that aren't real labor but they hurt. I can't go outside because it spurs on the itching to new levels of irritation.  I am trapped inside unless I want to suffer more.

But how can a pregnant woman, one who waited for so long for this pregnancy be miserable?  Trust me.  It is hard to admit, hard to write down, but in reality it brings me closer to Jesus and the cross.  So, it is worth it.  Not just for this life growing inside me, but for my intimate connection to Christ during this physical suffering.

I think about my friend who has chronic pain.   She knows no promise that her pain will end...but then does she?  She will one day be cured of her pain, even if it is when she meets Jesus, but why can't she find relief on earth?  Jesus knows and he can relate to her.  I also think about dear friends at church who lost their 16 year old daughter to cancer.  Where is their joy?  Where is their healing?  We know with our heads that it is in the cross and they know she is healed in heaven...but our hearts say, "Why not here on earth"?  Jesus knows and he suffers with them.  I also think about my friend with an empty womb, begging to suffer like me...for the gift new life will bring.  Will she be able to suffer?  Will her prayers be answered?  Jesus knows and he suffers with her. That is the answer. Jesus knows and he suffers with us.  He knows suffering, better than we do.

I guess Jesus is really using this time to speak to me on many levels.  I am so grateful to the chance to be used by him in communicating my heart.  I also trust him and read this excerpt from my devotional which hit home today.

"You keep your plans tentative, knowing that my plans are far superior"

Yes, Lord.  I hear you.  I trust you.

Major Milestone!

My big boy going school shopping with mommy.  Notice Raffie strapped in right beside Landon.

Very excited about getting his school supplies!

Ready for Orientation with Daddy!

Big hug from his brother, who, by the way...misses his big brother immensely!

Now for the first day of school!  Daddy made breakfast to make sure our Kindergartner had a great start!

Ready to leave!  Can you believe that excitement!

Dry. My. Eye.

We all went to Landon's first day with him to show him our family support.  Connor had to wear his backpack (or his rescue pack) too.  Lots of love from his brother!

Love from daddy...and you can see his curiosity looking at all the other Kindergartners!

Landon's School, Woods Charter School.  What a blessing that Landon got into this wonderful school.  We still are pinching ourselves that he actually got in.  He has 16 kids in his class.  His teacher is wonderful!  We have heard nothing but glowing things about her.  Landon is adjusting well and is taking on his new role seemingly very easily.  It was really sweet this morning when I drove him to school, he wanted me to pray for him.  What a sweet time and what a wonderful opportunity to share life with this precious child.

Raffie got lots of loves...and has to stay in the car. (He did end up making it into his backpack yesterday and apparently he came out of the backpack sometime during the day and was placed on top of a shelf until dismissal...I made sure we talked about this and that Raffie would have to stay in the car and he said, "I was just kidding, he didn't come out..."  We have some work to do on fibbing...)

Big boy.

He wanted to show off his backpack.  

I know, it is huge...should last him through Elementary school though!!

Hope you enjoyed reflections from Landon's Big Milestone that we have been so very blessed to be a part of.  Even though I am so uncomfortable being almost 40 weeks pregnant, I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of this transition for my Landon.  God knows what he is doing.  :)

Preparing for Lindsay Jane

My sister did a photo shoot for me and I feel a little self conscious putting all the pictures up...so here is one that is my favorite.  What a talented photographer!!

I have been absolutely spoiled...

My work threw me a surprise party complete with the above beautiful cake and all of our team in attendance.  It was so touching and meant so much to me!  They even got me a Magic Bullet!

And all of these gifts!!!

Belly shots are always a baby shower favorite!

My beloved sisters, the girls in my mommy's group that meets every Friday morning threw me a shower complete with an overnight retreat JUST FOR MOMS!!!  I do not know how I would get through this journey without each of the above ladies.  God's blessings in my life are very evident in the above picture.  I love each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart!

Janise made this beautiful cake!

Janise and Ryan made sure that my coffee mug with encouraging words of scripture from each of them was absolutely perfect!

They gave me an absolutely beautiful Christian baby book for Lindsay Jane.  It made me cry, esp. coming from these ladies.

My family also through me a shower, complete with this absolutely beautiful encore azalea!

A beautiful corsage!

The party hosts, minus poor Teresa who broke her foot getting ready for the shower and Laura who was home being Teresa's nurse. :(

My sis.

The spread of gifts, oh my!!!!

Lindsay's beautiful crochet blanket from Teresa.

 My besties even made it!

See, I told you I was spoiled...

Update in Picture Highlights

Annual Cole/Abate Beach trip.. Can you believe this occurred the first week of July!  I am so behind!  We had a blast, as always.

Bonding with Allison...

Fun in the sand!

Just the best of friends!!

Landon and Caroline jumping the waves...

Family Picture Time!

My boys and the ocean, love it.

We found a new place to do crafts, Bull City Crafts.  The boys had a blast!

Little Rachel Mae, our newest neighbor was born and Connor got to practice being a big brother.  He is a natural!

Happy Mommy, Big Sister Anna and Connorbug.

The boys had lots of bonding time before Landon headed to Kindergarten...which will have its own post!

Stan and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary!  We got to go to Asheville for the weekend while my parents kept the boys.  It was so wonderful!

Speaking of my parents...they also took Landon for a whole week and my dad and Landon had some very special times of bonding.  Landon has affectionately named my dad, "Mr. Pants".  Landon had a blast hiking, picking blackberries, helping Mr. Pants fix things, learning to use the phone, talking to God on the phone, swimming, and many more wonderful adventures!!!

More updates are coming as I am now out of work, waiting for the little girl's arrival.  :)

Love to all.