Sarah Kathryn's "First" Bath

After the boys were bathed, I said "let's give Satah Kathryn her first bath!" Bennett said "mom, don't you mean SECOND bath?" Oops...I guess I do because she did have one in the hospital!

The boys loved gettin the water ready. They really just watched me sponges her off and seemed to enjoy just being there.

Sarah Kathryn did not love her little sponge bath! She screamed through the whole thing. I don't think I would have liked it either! But, until her cord falls off this is how we have to do get it done.

Big Brothers

Nana and Granddad brought the boys home on Friday. We had gotten home Wednesday afternoon so we got to have 2 full days and nights with Sarah Kathryn. It was nice, but we missed our boys!  They were so excited to be at home with her.  They were also pretty excited about their big brother presents. Bennett will play with his toys and say "my sister gave me this." Sweet!

Bennett got all dressed up for us t-ball game and still made time to hold his sister. He is so sweet with her.

Sister started crying so the boys ran and got her 2 toys...a football and a bear and have them to her. They both love giving her the pacifier! Henry especially loves the paci. He likes to stick his finger in the middle of it and shove it in her mouth. We are working in being gentle.

Henry loves to check on his sister in the mornings. He says "where is my baby sister? Or "what he doing?" He likes to hold her, but not when she's crying! He wants to pass her off immediately if she cries! Can't blame him for that!

Henry sits on the Boppy to hold her because he likes to actually hold her with both hands. 

I am so thankful for these three babies! My heart is full.

Our Sarah Kathryn is here!

We are so proud to announce that we have a daughter! We are completely shocked and still can't believe we have a baby girl! We are thrilled beyond belief and blessed beyond measure! We love her to the moon and back!

Here's our Sarah Kathryn's birth story.

Since I was 40 weeks pregnant we decided to induce on my due date, April 22, 2014.  I wanted to go into labor on my own but my doctor said "it's official, your babies have to be evicted!"  We arrived at the hospital at 5am to a construction zone. The labor unit was all blacked out and looked closed. No one mentioned this to us. I called the hospital and they told us to go through the ER and walk the maze to find them. We found it and were placed in a room. 

Since this was my 3rd induction I knew that I'd just be sitting around for a while so I showered and washed my hair before we arrived. I did my makeup and hair while waiting for people to come in and out to insert my IV, get vitals, and all the other things that have to happen before giving birth.  The techs and nurses thought I was a tad crazy.  

We had a few visitors before anything even started happening. Dad, Carolyn, and Chris all stopped by for a second. Chris was doing his rounds before giving me my epidural.

Dad and me

Carolyn and me

All dressed up in their surgery gear

Neil and me...my encourager and best husband ever!

Around 7am they checked me and I was at 4cm and they started my pitocin. The contractions weren't too unbearable. I was able to get my epidural before having lots of pain. Chris came in shortly after that to give me my epidural. I was so worried about knowing him and him seeing my butt! It wasn't even that awkward! I have to say it was the best epidural I've received because I didn't experience much pain until pushing! Yay!

Dr. Tynes came in around 8:30-9 to break my water. She made the comment that I made up for low fluid levels because amniotic fluid was pouring out of me! (Graphic I know) 

I was glad that Neil, Rebecca and Mom were in the room hanging out while I labored. They were so sweet to wet my washcloth every 5 minutes for me. Anesthesia really does a number on me so I know I wasn't speaking coherently and was a tad nauseous. Thankfully I never threw up!  Around 10:45 they checked me and I was 8cm and 70% effaced. Little did I know I'd be having a baby an hour later. They checked me at 11:15 and I was 9cm and 90%. I loved texting friends all morning giving updates of my progression.  Kerry came in shortly after that and said I was complete! It was sooooo fast!  Kerry started getting all of her doctor gear on and Neil was like "oh, it's really time!"  It only took 2 contractions and 5 minutes of pushing for our baby girl to arrive!  The pushing hurt and I was screaming "Please God!"  Kerry kept saying "come on Lindsey Lou...you got this!"  We told Kerry before that we wanted her to let Neil tell me if it was a girl or a boy.  Neil was taking way too long to figure out what she was because her cord was between her legs.  Kerry was going "Neil, come on!"  Anyway I was just like "Give her to me!"

They gave me our girl and I just could not contain my emotion!  We were thrilled and excited and SHOCKED that we have a girl!  I was so worried about her the entire pregnancy and I just kept saying "I can't believe you're here!"  Our SK was born at 11:50 am weighing in at 8lb 11oz and 21.5 inches long.

me getting to see my baby girl for the first time

awwwwwwwww!!

Our big girl!  8 pounds 11 ounces...my BIGGEST baby by far!

sweet little footprint

my make-up was running like crazy from my non-stop crying

so happy!

I love this...I didn't even know Neil took it.  Oh, I am so happy!

Coming up soon...everyone else gets to meet our girl!

Easter Sunday

We had a nice low-key Easter.  Bennett woke us up at 6:30 to let us know the Easter Bunny had come and filled their baskets.  "Dad, you got underwear! hahahahaha!"

Each boy received pjs, crocs, a bathing suit, a book, and a DVD...pretty good!

Bennett has been loving Skylanders Swap Force...I don't even know what it is.

matching crocs! :)  Bennett got some sweet Angry Birds charms for his that he thinks are AWESOME.

 We decided to go to Sunday school and a little bit of church.  Usually we stay home on Christmas and Easter because it is soooooo crowded and we justify it by saying that we go to church every week.  Not an excuse!  Glad we went!

The Baker's were so sweet to invite us over for Easter lunch.  It was so nice to be invited!!  They even included Mom!  I was glad because it is hard making sure everyone has a place to be.  I joked that we had a "family melting pot" because it was Carolyn's (Dad's lady friend) son and daughter-in-law's house, Carolyn's ex was there and so was Mom!  Love that we can all have fun together.  Some people might think we are weird, but I think it is nice that everyone can be cordial.

Bennett ate NOTHING.  Henry ate his roll only. 

Sarah even had a little egg hunt in their front yard of their new, fancy house.  Their house is FABULOUS!

Henry, Bennett, and Reid

What's in all those eggs?

B and me

Our last Easter as a family of 4!

Easter Fun

We've done soooooooooooo many Easter activities this season.  I kept thinking we weren't going to have an hunts, but I was wrong!  I think they boys hunted eggs around 10 times.  Wow.  Mom said she wished she would have even had 1 egg hunt to go to as a child.  Times have changed!

Sarah was so sweet to invite us to the Southern Trace egg hunt and breakfast.  It was so much fun and totally makes me want to join.  They have so many fun activities for kids and adults.  

My sweets! 

After the hunt...I told Henry to show his pretty  teeth so I guess he was showing his molars.

Easter Bunny with the boys

Dean Baker is such a good baby!

 We got home to a table set up of egg dying equipment!  Gammy had already boiled eggs and everything!

Bennett got really into it this year...he painted the eggs with one of the kits "candy apple" paint.

Henry got to make glitter eggs

Henry liked to dunk his entire hand in each cup of dye to take out the egg.  No spoon for him!

Even Daddy got in on the action and made an orange ninja turtle egg!

I was in a baking mood and whipped up some cupcakes and made them look like Easter baskets...so fun!  Thanks, Pinterest!

Too bad this is what they looked like the next morning...how on earth did this happen???

my melted Easter basket cupcakes :(         Wonk. Wonk.