Precious Babes

"Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger."

[Psalm 8:2]

How God uses these smallest of people to help fill our home with praise.  The kids did so well at church today.  I LOVE when we go to church as a family.  I went without Steve last week and admittedly cried, all the way through praise and worship.  I am sure my hormones and lack of sleep are playing a small part.

I LOVE to hear my children singing praise songs.  When Logan was a young infant, we took to dancing around the room singing along to youtube videos for HOURS on end due to his extreme fussiness...it always calmed him.  Now we dance and sing around the room all evening but my boys are big enough to sing along with them.  Mainly songs we hear on KLOVE and become attached to are our go-to for youtube at night.  It probably sounds like a Tenth Avenue North concert going on in our house many evenings of the week.

There are worse things they could be singing by far...and I think our crazy neighbors might benefit from a private Christian concert and little but more Jesus in their lives!

100 Cheers for Daddy!

Steve is home!  He will leave again early Tuesday morning but for now we are soaking him up.  It is crazy to me that my precious squish is already 2+weeks old...ugh, how time flies!  This is the last week of daycare for the boys.  Gavin has been going, Logan has been staying home with me...gotta work me into this slowly(being secluded in the house with 3 kids completely on my own everyday!).

Gavin has been hilarious lately with the disappearing of the binky and expansion of his vocabulary.  His newest favorite phrase is, "But I LIKE it!" and he says is about THE weirdest things.  I am not even gonna go into detail, I will leave your imagination to do some wandering.

A Little Piece of Heaven

Oh how I forgot how nice it is to snuggle a newborn...probably a good thing because there hasn't been much of that going on around here.  Daddy has been gone for 10 days and we are SO missing him!

I don't know how single parents do it...except that if I was on my own I wouldn't keep having more.  It is absolute insanity trying to nurse, chase, feed, clothe, diaper, love on, bath, tend boo-boos, read to, rock, play with, pray with and cuddle 3 young ones on my own.

Steve is planning on coming home tomorrow and we can't wait!

We Own Yellow

I snapped a few pics today just to prove that we do own clothes are girly and are NOT pink and I DO actually dress Miss Katelyn in them!

Mom is out of state this week and Colby has been staying with us.  I can't begin to tell you how happy Gavin is about that.  Colby on the other hand, is ready to go home and get a break from the 2 yr old.

Checking In With Feedings

We made a trip over to the lactation clinic today to see how sisters feedings are progressing on the scale.  She was up to 7 pounds even so we are gaining wt!  With the shield her transfer was adequate.  Without, she transferred less than 2 teaspoons.  Guess we will keep plugging away with the shield and wait for her to get stronger and bigger!

Caught On Camera!

I finally caught little Miss Smiley's grin on camera!  I think she's smiling because she is having so much fun letting Mama dress her!

2 Happy Boys, 1 Sleepy Girl

Katelyn and I met Daddy in Marion today for lunch and to get some paperwork signed for the bank.  It was great to see him but made us miss having him home, that much more. The boys were ornery as ever this evening at home and sister was sleepy and sweet.

Meeting the Newmans

We went out to my Uncle Marks for a family dinner tonight.  It was also the first time my moms parents had met here, as well as the rest of the family.  We got  to spend some more time with my bro and sis. There were HUGE mud puddles which were great fun on the 4-wheelers, not so fun on foot.  Logan decided running through one would be fun.  Next thing I know, he is sobbing and in tears because his "shoes are wet and dirty!"  Yeah, duh...what did you think would happen when you ran through an 8 inch deep mud puddle?  Lol.  Poor boy.  We had extra socks but not shoes so he ran around in socked feet the rest of the evening paying very careful attention to stay away from all things wet!

Nana took the boys home to sleep over at her house and Katelyn and I had a nice quiet evening and Monday a.m. at home by ourselves!

Loved...

No one can get enough of this sweet girl!

Meeting Grandparents

Grandma and Grandpa Howell came up to meet Katelyn today and spend some time with the boys.  My Grandma is such a very special, strong person.  She raised three of the toughest, most rowdy, most stubborn boys I know!

I never tire of sharing my babies with our extended family.  It is so special that they are surrounded by such love and support.  I only wish it was easier to get everyone together more often!

This a.m. before the grandparents came, my good friend and lactation consultant Megan came over for a visit.  She is such an awesome person, Mommy and LC.  Katelyn still isn't able to nurse well without the shield but it's always nice just to get a little bit of encouragement.  Logan used a shield until he was 8 weeks old and figured out nursing about the time I was ready to throw in the towel.  That stubborn oldest child of mine though has been a major part of molding my feelings about breastfeeding today.  When you work so hard to make something work, it becomes very special.  I am sure it will be the same with baby Kate!

Katelyn {One Week}

One week has already flown since this precious face was added to our family!  What did I ever do without her?  I love my boys and they are both major Mamas boys but there is just something "different" about having a girl.  Not better, just different.  I am so glad I have been able to experience both!

Dear Katelyn,
  To say that you are much loved doesn't begin to describe the emotions this family has for you!  You will forever be our princess, protected by 3 big brothers and a Daddy who loves you more than words can say.  I can't wait to watch your little personality develop but I am not rushing this precious time with you.  Don't grow to fast, you are my last baby, little love!
Love,
Mommy

She's Awake!

My little Squish has been more alert the past few days...finally caught a decent pic with her eyes open!  Yesterday we went the the ENTs office where Katelyn had her posterior and labial frenulums clipped.  Despite how it sounds, both of these are in her mouth.  This is the same procedure Gav had at 14 months.

Since she is so small and the tissue had very little blood supply there was no anesthesia, cautery or stitches involved and she tolerated it very well.  She is nursing with the help of the nipple shield.  It will likely take several weeks to transition to bare breast nursing but we have plenty of time.

Snuggles

Payton and Grayson came to meet Miss Kate today.  Payton couldn't get enough of her, couldn't understand why Abby couldn't have more babies! LOL.

I have been enjoying all sorts of cuddles from this sweet girl.  She is so fun to dress up with all her bows and gear that we have to start way ahead of time just so I can make a decision!  She has so many newborn clothes, I don't know that she will get to wear them all before she outgrows them. :(

Little Fingers, Little Toes

I had a little fun with my camera today.  I love how much character my hubby's  hands have and how tiny our babies look in them.  Gavin has been a bit demanding today, we regressed a little with the binky(we were down to naps and bedtime).  Thankfully though, Mommy's sleep training has worked well and he has been sleeping through the night still.  The boys don't seem to hear Katelyn screaming her head off in the middle of the night.

Steve leaves Tuesday morning to go back to Junction City.  We are so gonna miss our Daddy!

Baby Love

I forgot just how precious having your own newborn is!  The boys are adjusting well.  I am finding myself struggling with the decision to get my tubes tied.  If only we had all the money in the world, I would never quit having babies!  We are staying home this weekend, soaking up daddy time before he leaves town.  This little girl looks much like her big brothers!