Early days with Connor

Brian and the kids made this sign for when we brought Connor home from the hospital. 

Connor is so lucky to have so many helpful and loving siblings.  Even though he is now almost 2 months old they still love to help. 

 

I think he is geting more air bubbles then milk but it was so sweet to see her trying to help him. 
Even though I am so tired all the time and I sometimes feel like I'm running around like a headless chicken, I love being a mom!  I love these kids so much!  They are all so unique and wonderful.  I feel very blessed to be able to be their mom.  I can 't wait to see what the future brings.  Even if it is not the easiest future I know that it will be for the good and the strengthening of this family.  As long as I am trying my hardest (which will be different each time)  to follow God I can count on him to do what is best for my family. 

Pictures from the Hospital

This is Connor minutes after he was born.  He is my smallest baby yet.  A whole 7 lbs! 

And this is lovely me, about 30 mintues after the birth.  I know, seeing this picture doesn't produce the same effect as the one above...

My cute little family. 

 

My sweet boy, the last one. :(  Although it makes me feel very sad to know that this is the last, I do not feel sad at not experiencing pregnancy again!   If we feel there are more children for our family then we will adopt. 

Pictures

 

Two of my favorite people.  Aren't they both super cute...daddy is going to be in trouble in a couple years.  :)

 

And here is me a few days ago...three more days!!!

Happy 6th Birthday Spencer!

 

 

Spencer is getting so big, it is hard to believe he is 6 years old.  He is the age that Zach was when Brian and I were married.  He is a fantastic older brother, and a great helper. 

 

For his birthday we all went bowling.  We went with Brian's family (that is Brian's younger bro Steve with Kaden) and Andrea.  Spencer loved it! 
I realized that I haven't taken too many pictures of me this pregnancy.  The baby is due to come in a week, so hopefully I can get some preg. pictures up before then. 

Nana and Bampa

 

 

 

My parents came to visit at the end of January into the beginning of February.  The kids loved it!  We love having them visit us. 

Catch up...

 

 

 

So I have been very behind this year.  I do have a good excuse though...I'm making a baby.  5 more weeks to go, and it can't come soon enough.  So these pictures are from January.  The first picture is of Three Kings day.  This is our second year celebrating it.  Some people do presents on this day, but we do a "cake"  (it was banana bread baked in a bunt pan) with a coin hidden in it and then whoever finds the coin gets to wear the crown.  And then we read about the wise men coming to Jesus. 
It is very simple, but the kids like it.  So we will continue to do it until they grow out of it... :( 
Addy got a tea set from Grandma for Christmas and it is so fun to see all the kids playing together.  Spencer usually takes charge and loves to direct...boss...everyone in their play.  They go through spirts, for a week or so they played tea party, then it morphed into restaurant, now it has moved on to fort building.  So right now our living room is a mess of blankets, pillows, baskets and chairs...everyday this week so far.  I try to keep my eyes on above the mess whenever I walk through the living room.  This is hard especially when I have to look down all the time so that I don't trip...my big belly has affected my graceful ability to walk. 
Near the middle of the month we had a fun visit from Brian sister, Michelle and her husband Jared...and the "new" (to us) baby, Ezra.  He is so cute and smiley.  We love him! The kids enjoyed him too, especially Addy.  She loves babies.  We miss our cousins when they are away from us.  Hopefully someday we will be able to have cousins closer.  There are still more January pictures to come.   Hopefully I can get all caught up before the baby comes.   

Construction workers

For Christmas Spencer and Kaden both got tool belts and a hammer...a real hammer. 

They LOVE them.  On Christmas morning Kaden built a truck and Spencer built a bird house.  They were able to do this with very little help from us. 

A few weeks ago Spencer started dragging scrap wood from the garage and carrying it into the back yard to "build a house."  He had them all lined up and then nailed the pieces together.   It was very stable but he loved doing it.

I also bought them some scrap wood at a hobby store.  With these pieces they made a box (which I don't have a picture of).  With the left over pieces they practiced their hammering skills.  The above picture is Spencer's piece.  He did these completely on his own.   And then Kaden practiced as well.  He doesn't quite have the strength to hammer the nails all the way in yet.  But he loves it still. 

I can't wait to do more stuff with them and have them learn how to use more tools.