Merry Christmas 2012!

Preparing for Christmas

The boys made their annual gingerbread house this year.  They were not very cooperative in actually giving me sweet little smiles, they had to be boys.  :)

Nanny and Daddy sharing a moment with our sweet little Christmas angel.

Well...Jimmy has been here this year, helping to keep track of the boys' behavior.  He has had little to no effect.  Santa even sent a note through Jimmy to warn the boys about their behavior, but that did not seem to phase them.  I try to remember, it's December, there are sweets and wrapped goodies everywhere and they are only 3 and 5 and they are BOYS!  Grace...extend grace...  

My niece, Geneva Laurel, arrived on December 3rd.  She is so very precious and we are excited for her first Christmas as well!  We can't wait to watch she and Lindsay Jane grow up together!

You got it, chaos...This is what my kitchen generally looks like, especially when preparing for Christmas!

We went on our annual trip to the Santa Train with the Smiths.  We had a blast and I just love this sweet little picture.  They are just the best of friends.  It makes my heart so happy.

Our family of 5!

Getting some Connorbug snuggles in...  Love this boy!

The four musketeers!

We enjoyed Polar Express one Saturday morning with hot chocolate and cookies, a la Lucia, my dear friend who is the best baker I know!

Connor and I made Gingerbread men.  Connor made, Pop, Mommom and Connorbug.  

They were so fun to make and very yummy too!

Yes, she hasn't missed many meals...Here is our Lindsay Jane on her 3 month birthday!

Here is her precious little smile.  I have had two people tell me that you just can't help but to smile back at her...isn't it true?  I just love this face.

Connor climbed into Lindsay Jane's hamper and was playing peek a boo.  It's the little things. :)

Happy Siblings!

After I went back to work, I decided a good thing to do was to go see Santa Claus. 

 Here we are waiting to see Santa!  What a fun time!

We made reindeer antlers at playgroup.

Kaeden was especially fond of his...

I love this one!  Connor and Emelia are just too cute!

I have attempted to teach my boys about Advent this year.  It really has been a challenge in the setting of their *ridiculous* behavior.  I mean, "I am seriously considering getting a taser"...kind of behavior.  You can see that the candles are crocked...the boys cannot keep their hands off of them.  I think it is a fire hazard at this point but I am still trying.  Even while they have their cheeks ready to blow out the candles (see Landon's face in this one), they pull out the greenery, they pull out the candles and they taunt each other by making faces...I read about Advent.  In the chaos of my home, it is a nice reminder that God's peace is ever present.  Even when we have distractions on every side of us, taking those few moments really do amazingly bring such peace.  I hate that I don't have the energy for it every morning.  Sometimes I just don't want to say the same thing for the 80 billionth time...  But, when I do, it is totally worth it.  Hopefully my kids are retaining something.  :)

They do like to color, so here we are, spending some time together by the tree, coloring Angry Birds.

I think we are about as ready as a family of five with a 5, 3, and 3 month old can be!  We have got family to see, presents to wrap, stories to read and a birthday party for Jesus ahead!! 

One thing we have been pondering this year is this, What are we going to give Jesus for His birthday?  I've been talking to the boys about what Jesus would want as a gift.  A warm smile to a stranger, an unexpected hug to a friend, a random act of kindness, a donation to a worthy cause, a kind word to your brother, a quiet time spent with Him.  In this time of reflection and also news of such sadness in this nation, take a minute to make a positive difference.  There really are a lot of good people and good things in this world.

Maternity Leave Reflections

I really can't believe it is time for me to write this post.  I also cannot believe my sweet baby girl is 12 weeks old and that she is still sleeping at 8:00am!  Here goes...tears and all...

The above picture was taken when we finally welcomed Lindsay Jane into the world at 8:22am on September 11th, 2012.  The joy felt in this picture is still very present in my heart as I reflect on the birth of my precious daughter.

Can you see my joy?  When else would you share a picture after labor without makeup and a bed head? :)  I could have stopped that morning to put on makeup and I considered it.  But the consideration lasted for about one minute and I wanted to hold my baby girl, tears streaming down my face...mascara would never have lasted.

Lindsay was "sunning" after her bath.  Very content and perfect.  Sweet baby girl.

We got to the post partum room and Daddy finally got to hold his daughter.  Love at first sight.

Getting ready to go home, we had to take a picture of her sweet sleeping face.

Welcome home baby girl.

My Connorbug was enamored from the very beginning.

Three kids...ok, let's do this.

Connor had a little adjusting to do...

Getting to know baby Lindsay Jane.

Daddy with his three little ones.  Such a sweet picture.

Hard to believe, but our Lindsay Jane started smiling at 2 weeks.  I got the picture for proof. :)  And, guess who her first real smile was at...

While on maternity leave and waiting for my little girl to arrive, I got to really be a part of Landon starting Kindergarten. It was an adjustment and has been for us all.  He was so excited and I was thrilled to be able to take him, picking him up, follow the bus to school the first time he rode, be present in this huge transition for my big boy, my first sweet baby boy.  It was a huge blessing to share in this precious time for Landon and I do think it made a big difference for him.  Though I was uncomfortable as my 3rd baby was 8 days late, God's timing was perfect as always.  Thank you Lord for allowing Landon and I the bonding time together in this huge transition in our lives!

I also got to celebrate my Connor's 3rd birthday!  I spent the whole day on his birthday with him.  We played at home, went to Build a Bear with his favorite little friend, Anna and had cupcakes for lunch and dinner.  We also hosted our playgroup and had a Go Diego Go birthday party with our friends!  Then, we had the family over and celebrated again!  Whew!  Can you tell we are thankful for this precious little boy?

My very talented sister came and took newborn pictures of my girl.  Can you believe this?  My sister has a natural gift...obviously...and is for hire (let me know).  We had a blast getting these done and if she will oblige me, this won't be our last shoot...

I also just love this one.  Sweet sweet baby girl.

This one is my style...I'd say Karen is the photographer, eh? :)

Siblings bonding...

So funny, these pictures are almost identical.  I could not get the boys to stop laughing, so their eyes were closed in every picture I took!

Lindsay's first Halloween.  What a smiler.  I love that face!

She even smiles when she sleeps.  My little pumpkin.

Another Karen credit...

Lindsay Jane has been such a sweet baby.  She has come with mommy everywhere.  This picture was taken at the mall when Stan took his second week of paternity leave the first week in November.  This is how she is about 95% of the time.  I am still pinching myself at her good nature.  She is an absolute joy to be around. You just have to smile at her and this is what you get.  It is great medicine for a mama.

Time for her first Christmas pictures!

My dear friends even love to photograph her.  I love this picture.  She was talking to me in it.  Cooing and laughing.

Another shot of her smiling at mama.

And, one of my very favorites of Lindsay Jane to date.  This picture sums up my little girl.  She is happy.  She is well adjusted.  She is a joy bringer. She is a gift to our family.  After trying to conceive her for longer than both boys and having opened my hands to the Lord, willing to accept not having a 3rd baby...He really has amazed me with his perfect plan in creating this little girl.  No. one. else. God had planned for Lindsay Jane to be in this world, in this family, in my arms and I am so grateful for his plan.  I am so thankful for the maternity leave that I have had.  I would trade it for nothing.  I sit here, reflecting on the past 12 weeks and I am overflowing with joy and gratitude to my Heavenly Father.

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him"  1 Samuel 1:27

Please pray for me next week as I go back to work.  I am continuing my part time job at the NC Children's Hospital in the Pediatric GI Clinic with the most supportive group of co-workers I have ever had.  I feel so blessed to be able to work part time, especially in this type of environment.  It took a while to get to where I could say this about work, but again, God works all things out in perfect time.  Mondays and Wednesdays I will be at work taking care of other people's babies and home with mine the other 5 days a week.  What a blessing...