Ivy's First Bath

I know this is not exciting - but I have to post so the family can see : ) 

ONE WEEK TODAY!

Ivy is so strong - she can lift her head and turn it.  

 Cuddling a freshly washed baby and telling the kids about the first time they had a bath in the sink.  

 Ivy was so chill after her bath 

 Up close of her hair.  It's a honey brown.  So beautiful and different then the other kids.

 I love this part of being a mom

 The kids wanted to be right in there on the experience...obviously

 Getting ready for the bath

 She didn't scream her head off like Ellie did.  A bonus!

Uncle Dave

All kids have an adjustment period after a baby is born.  Dealing with no mommy and a very overworked daddy can be hard - especially feeling like you still get one on one time.  Alex's brother came down for the day and literally played with the kids the whole time.  For a mom who is struggling with making sure they all feel loved and happy - this was a LIFE SAVOR!  You can see from the pictures how much the kids laughed.  Dave took one for the team too because the pulled his shirt to an unrecognizable size and shape and he pulled his neck muscles.  

Baby Ivy!!

Welcome to the World Baby Ivy!!  We are so blessed to have a new addition to our home.  I've been overwhelmed with the feeling of love poured down from our Heavenly Father.  What a miracle birth is.  Alex was able to assist in the delivery this time too.  It was a pretty amazing/awesome/exhausting experience.  

  

The kids were beside themselves with excitement over holding and seeing Ivy.  My oldest told Alex, "Ivy is even cuter than I thought she would be!!"

 Ellie SCREAMING and laughing at the baby.  

 Emmett saying how "cozy" Ivy was and was just so sweet.

 The whole gang!

 She was not a happy camper today at the hospital.  She does NOT like to be messed with.

 Telling Alex that I couldn't believe she fit inside my short-waist body.

 Examining the cuteness

Alex is Ellie's #1.  

 Cuddles before bedtime :)

Finding Joy

I love to see my kids play.  I love to see them laugh and just be kids and enjoying their childhood.  It's soooo nice to get out and relax and forget about a messy house and all the things that are distracting us.  I love these moments when in the midst of my crazy life I find joy. 

Sick and tired of being sick and tired

While they were sick:

Emmett passed the boring time by fixing all the broken things in the house.

 The sickest little girl of them all.  She was on the verge of ER a number of times. 

She rested on the couch and didn't move for 3 days.  This picture she actually had color back in her face.

 Ellie passed the time finding/discovering her belly button.

And of course - they waited for their daddy to come home.  It was the highlight of the day!

Video for Emmett

All About Emmett!

He has been asking me for a long long time to make a video all about him.  So since I have the stomach flu and up most of the night, I thought now would be the best time to get it done.  

He even picked out the music! 

Bismarck Temple Trip

Despite the craziness - we made it to Bismarck with three happy kids.   They loved running around in the gym before Alex and I went to the temple.  Emmett was running on 4 hours of sleep since the night before he had a bad dream that kept him up.

 Ellie smacked her head that morning and it was still bright red 5 hours later.  Yikes.

 New shirt for my growing girl.  I can't believe she's in a size 7.

 Bismarck temple.  It was wonderful to go with Alex and not have to worry about the kids.  They were being watched by some ladies in our ward at the stake center next to the temple.  I even ran into a friend of mine that I met in Texas.  It's a small world when you are mormon.