Monday, April 29, 2013

Spring is Finally Here!

Spring is finally here! Had an enjoyable weekend with the girls...

But it sure is great to have Andray back home! Roz told me Saturday night before going to bed,
"Mom...I have some bad news...I miss Andray!"
We all missed him, but he had a blast with Papa Larry and Gma Carol.

Hard to believe this Little Lady is going to be 2 months old this week...she's growing like a weed!

Friday, April 26, 2013

Girls Weekend on the Docket!!!


Well, sounds like Andray wants to go home with Grandma Carol this weekend to visit Papa Larry!
So that means just me and the girls at home this weekend...should be a good time.

We are definitely going to miss Andray over the weekend!
And I can guarantee you that Andray is going to miss his little sisters.

I'm taking Roslyn to get her 4-year photos taken this weekend...
can't believe she's going to be 4 years old soon!

We also get to pick up tickets for her upcoming dance recital! Think she's just a tad excited?!

Well, from the sounds of it - the weather is supposed to be super nice this weekend!
Looks like I won't have to bundle Carrine up this much for walks around the neighborhood anymore!

Can just imagine all the crazy things Roslyn is going to teach Carrine in the future!
Roz sure does love having a baby sister - "CC" is one lucky little girl to have Roz as a big sister.

Carrine is changing by the second I swear. She's officially out of newborn clothes and is stretching out the
0-3 month clothes! Thanks to Ann and Peyton for these two adorable outfits!

Carrine is having a lot more "awake" time as well...just wish I knew what she was thinking when she looks at us. We have noticed that she's much more content when the house is noisy compared to being quiet! Typical of a third child I guess.
So looking forward to the weekend and spending it with the kiddos.

Welcome to the World...Jett Christopher!

Congratulations to Heather and Adam who delivered their second baby boy yesterday afternoon!
Jett Christopher weighed in at 5 lb. 9 oz - and was 6 1/2 weeks early!
He's doing great at the hospital - hoping he will only have to be their for extra care a week or so.
God is good, can't wait to meet lil' Jett this weekend!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Where is the Time Going?!

Hard to believe Carrine is already nearly 8 weeks old. Time is just flying by.
Carrine was just 11 days old when we took these photos. She's laying on a blanket that my Gram crocheted for Andray and Roslyn's baptisms. The bow on her bottom is from the bouquet that I used to walk down the isle at church for our wedding rehearsal nearly 8 years ago.

 The dress Carrine is wearing is the special little dress that my Gram bought Roslyn when she was born. So glad both girls get to wear it!
 Carrine was so alert for her first professional photo shoot!
It's amazing how a mother's heart always has room for more love.
Love these kiddos more than anything in the world.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Remembering Miss Heidi Frank...

Hard to believe Aaron and Megan's dog...Heidi...died a year ago already. Heidi truly was my "first niece"...she was loved!


So glad Heidi could be buried in Mom and Dad's rock garden.

Forever Loved...a Faithful Friend & Companion.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Looking Forward to the Weekend!!

Looking forward to a nice and relaxing Saturday at home with the kids tomorrow!

Very thankful to the St. Cloud Hospital doctors and nursing staff for taking good care of my Gram this week...her hip replacement was a success and now she's heading home for rehab!
Andray wrote this Get Well sign all by himself for Great Gma "Chip," she loved it!

Praying my Gram has a safe and quick recovery with her hip - I know she's itching to get outside in her gardens this summer!

Jake sure knows how to brighten my day while I'm on maternity leave! Looked out my bathroom window to this a couple weeks ago...what a guy.


The kids love playing in the snow...but in April?!  We're tired of the snow, bring on green grass and warmth!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Never Easy Going Back to Work...

 
 Apparently I'm not the only one in our household who is sad that I will be returning to work soon. One would think the more times I do this, the easier it would be...not so true.
 
 
 
Baby Carrine and I spent many hours together on this blue rocker.

I could stare at her forever...
 
Can't kiss her enough...just love the smell of a newborn.
 
 
In all of Carrine's ultrasound photos prior to her birth this is how she looked. Her right fist was always up by her face. Needless to say, this is how she sleeps the best, with her hands by her face.
I truly treasured my time at home with her the past 6 weeks, she is just so sweet...I will miss rocking her and just looking at her when I return to work. Thankful I only have to return to work for 7 weeks...then I'll get the entire summer off with Jake and all 3 kiddos! Something great to look forward to.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Life is Full of Adjustments...

 
Life is definitely full of adjustments and I can't begin to explain how thankful I am for the amazing adjustment we've had adding Carrine Faith Celestine to our family. Certain days have been more enjoyable than others, the schedules are crazy to keep up with and our house seems as if the world exploded in it (truly some days you can't tell where the walls meet the floors there is just stuff everywhere)...but I wouldn't trade this time in our lives for the world. The only thing I wish for is for life to slow down, but we all know that's not possible.
God definitely knows what people need and what they can handle and I couldn't imagine our family's life any different.
Andray and Roslyn absolutely adore their new baby sister and Jake and I couldn't be more in love with lil' "CC" (as Jake calls her). She truly is a blessing and is exactly what our family needed.
 
 
On the day Carrine was born my water broke on its own shortly after lunch time. So prior to heading to the hospital, Jake and I stopped by daycare to say good-bye to the kids, let them know the baby was on its way, and take our last official photo as a family of four. Not sure who was more scared and anxious to get going to the hospital in this photo - Jake or me!
 
 
In labor here - less than 2 hours before Carrine entered the world.
 
 
It's a Girl!!!!!!!!!!!! 
 
 
Talk about an istant love...
 
 
Nothing better than hearing your baby cry for the first time. I didn't realize how scared and worried I was during my entire pregnancy until the RELIEF rushed over me after her delivery knowing that Carrine and I were alive and healthy.
 
 
Jake's first time holding his baby girl.
 
 
I couldn't be more thankful for the care Dr. Pinkerton gave us during my pregnancy with Carrine - grateful for good medicine as well!
 
 
Our first photo as a FAMILY OF FIVE - our family is now COMPLETE!
 
 
HOME SWEET HOME
 
 
After nearly 4 days in the hospital we finally made it HOME...what a great feeling!
 
 
Carrine spent just over 4 days on the Billi Light Bed at home - was a relief to return the bed to the clinic and move her into the bassinet.
 
 
Not everything in life is ideal...but for us it has worked to keep Carrine's bassinet in our bedroom closet until she is sleeping through the nights.
 
 
One week after Carrine was born - just love to hold her. These are the moments that I wish I could bottle up and keep forever - the kids just grow up way too fast.
 
 
Andray has stayed busy the past month working on writing everyone's name in our family.
 
 
 Jake's favorite thing to do when he gets home from work...take a nap with his lil' "Tator Tot!"
(his second favorite nick name for Carrine)
 
 
Andray and Roslyn have definitely been BIG HELPERS since we brought Carrine home. I think their favorite thing to do is kiss her and put her nuk back in her mouth!
 
 
Sisters...Best Friends for Life.
 
 
Just recently Andray has started asking to hold Carrine more - aka his lil' "French Fry."
I'm so pumped all three of our kids got to wear the lil' grey sweat suit that Carrine has on. As you all know - our family loves to wear sweats!
 
Rozzy and Rinny (my nick name for Carrine) are so fortunate to have Andray as their big brother.
 
 
Carrine gets lots of kisses from Dray and Roz.
 
 
Carrine is as small as Jake's Duke hat!

 
Carrine survived her first official MARCH MADNESS shortly after birth!
Maybe someday Carrine will want to play bball like Jake and I did.
 
 
 I'm hoping that God has volleyball planned in Carrine's future.
The t-shirt she's wearing was mine that I wore over 30 years ago.
What it says is definitely true..."Girls Can Do Anything."
 
 
 Carrine also experienced her first Easter in March - she was smaller than her basket!

 
Another big adjustment for us has been the vehicle that we had to purchase, upgrading car seats for the big kids and moving Andray to the third row. Andray and Roslyn have adjusted much better than I thought they would. Dray loves using the "big person" seat belt (as he calls it) and Roz loves that she now gets to use Andray's (what used to be) new big car seat. It all really does work out.
 
 
We were fortunate as a family to be asked to walk up the sacrament oils used for baptism at our church on Holy Thursday during mass - quite an honor. Looking forward to baptising Carrine in May...will be the best birthday and Mother's Day gift to myself!
 
 
 Although life is just crazy right now and our minds seem to be spinning a million miles an hour with things to do and places to go (and little sleep to add on top of that) - I wouldn't change it for the world or wish this time away. I love our kids at the ages they are and most days I wish I could just
FREEZE TIME.
 
 
So thankful for these kiddos...truly our Gifts from God.