Home!

Bringing Baby Levi Home

What a smile this welcome brought to our face as we pulled in the drive on Sunday afternoon, October 24th.  My mom and sister came early on Sunday morning to stay with the children while Dolan came to the hospital to bring home Mommy and Levi.  

Together, they helped Savannah and Noah create this precious sign to welcome our newest family member.  

It reads: Welcome Home Levi and Mommy. So sweet!

On Monday night, we gave Levi his first bath.  I love these pictures of him all cleaned up and in daddy's arms.  

Today, I put him in his swing for the first time.  He nestled in and fell fast asleep.  

Levi is doing well.  We will be headed to the doctor in the morning for his first appointment.  We're cherishing these days as they pass too quickly.  Dolan is home for 2 weeks and am I ever so thankful!  3 is quite a change and it is such a blessing to journey through it together.

We're thankful for our family and friends who have shown us so much love in the last few days.  Each of you are a gift and each of you mean so much to us.  If you haven't met him yet, we look forward to introducing you to our newest nest member...Levi James.

For now, good night (because we'll be up again in just a couple of hours!!)  

Celebrating Levi

Savannah and Noah watching daddy set the camera up!  

Noah sees his little brother for the first time and wants so bad to touch him...

Welcome to our little family...Levi!

Our newest blessing arrived today.

Levi James

Our hearts are so full and we are so excited to share our little blessing with you.  Levi was born at 3:03 pm today.  

Weight - 7 lbs 12 oz

Length - 21 inches

Hair color - maybe "auburn" (it looks brown sometimes and red sometimes) =)

Our family celebrated with us.  Savannah was a little overwhelmed with all the excitement.  Noah was the entertainer, so I hear, in the waiting room.  It has been a good day and we are now resting in our quiet room with our little Levi right next to us.  He's sleeping so sweetly and I think I'll complete this post so I can hold him again.

Thank you, Father, for another amazing gift. May we honor you today and always and train Levi to do likewise. You have blessed us beyond measure.  

Baby Watch....continued!

39 weeks...2 days today! 


Doctor's report this morning....4-5 cm!!!!!!!! He's coming!!!!!!!


He was ready to send us on over to the hospital, but we decided to wait until morning....So, our little bundle will either be here tonight or tomorrow! WOW! 


Please continue to keep us in your prayers.  

Wordless Wednesday...Look What I Can Do!!!!!

GREAT things come in red and white packages...

Tonight, when Dolan got home from a late meeting, his hands were filled with the very special packages you see below. I lit up like a candle when he walked in....yes because I love it when he gets home...but also because his coworkers had blessed us with so many diapers! They gave him a "diaper shower" today at work.  A special thank you to all of you at PSI.  Your kindness means so very much (especially since we will soon have 2 in diapers!)  We truly feel blessed by your giving.   

Baby Watch...

38 weeks and 2 days today...


Doctor's report this morning:  


2 cm and could be any time!  (But you know how that goes...)


Contractions have been coming but very irregular and mostly at night.  We're so excited to meet baby ________!  (bet you thought I was going to tell you his name...)


Time has gone by quickly and now we are preparing for his arrival into this world.  Please pray for our family as we become a family of 5 that we may continue to shepherd their hearts and raise them in a way that is pleasing to the Father. 


Stay tuned as "Baby Watch" continues... 

Wordless Wednesday....Park!

Park!

Pumpkin Painting and Play!

What a special day...

Gorgeous fall weather, 2 pumpkins, 2 palettes of paint, 2 precious children, and a yard to enjoy playing barefooted in the leaf-covered grass.  

While Noah napped, Savannah and I headed out on the deck to paint her pumpkin.  She picked both (hers and Noah's) out at Michael's. She enjoyed using her new "splat" brushes!  

She did a beautiful job and only painted for about 3 minutes when she said, "I'm finished!!!!"  This was right after she took her brush and brushed all over her pumpkin mixing all the colors together. =) Picture of finished product a little further down...

Now, about an hour and a half later, Noah is awake and ready! Could not snap many pictures of him due to paint eating and paintbrush sucking.... =(  But he LOVED having paint on his hands.  I gave him the brush first and helped him make a couple strokes...THAT's when he tried to eat the end of the brush!  So, then I just rubbed his hands all in the paint and let him pick up his pumpkin...and I helped him splat some paint all around.  He just giggled! =)   

This is Savannah's finished pumpkin that he swiftly picked up and threw down before I could get to him.  His pumpkin beautifully sits in the distance...

TA-DAH!!!!!! A keepsake for many years!

Rewind to some playtime before Noah awoke from his nap...

We love her playful nature!  She's so fun...

After painting, they both enjoyed running around the backyard.  The red sticker on Noah's back is compliments of his sister...=)

So very thankful for this day full of playful memories!  The bond between Savannah and Noah is flourishing and it is pure joy to watch.  

From baby to playmate...

For many months, Savannah has been content to play independently or with mommy and daddy.  After all, all her little brother can do is cry, toddle, babble, and annoy her by wanting to take away anything she chooses to play with.  (If you thought sibling rivalry started later in the childhood years...come to my house and we'll prove you wrong).  


But her little brother is growing up! He is learning to communicate in a way that Savannah..."gets," he can move around rather quickly...ok, he can RUN!  And most importantly, he absolutely adores her.  He lights up when she comes in the room.  When her voice is not heard for an extended period of time (say more than 5 minutes), he is calling..."ANnah."  Even in the car...if she is quiet for long, he begins calling.  Just today, he was calling her and through my rearview mirror I saw a sweet smile spread across her face.  She said, "Mommy, Noah's calling me!"  


Tonight's plan was to eat dinner, have a short time for play, and have kiddos in bed at 8:00 (been a long day). =)  Well, at 7:45 my house was FILLED with the sounds of giggling and laughing....(you know that adorable baby belly laugh?) along with the fast pitter patter of little feet running all through the house.  (I love it when Savannah keeps Noah busy while I'm loading the dishwasher since he finds great joy in climbing on the unlatched door and pulling out all the CUTLERY).  


The sound was precious...music to the ears.  Play went on for another 30 minutes before we began the bedtime routine. They went to bed happy children....and as I write this, I am one happy mama (who is not in bed but should be!)


Thank you Lord for letting me be flexible and recognize the simple joys of childhood...and please help me to do so more often.  

Growing Up!

What I love about Savannah:  

• she's curious...
• she's active!!!
• she's dramatic!!!
• she's happy
• she loves to learn
• she's inquisitive
• she cares about others
• she's a child of the most high God! 

What I love about Noah:

• he's a red head!
• he's active!!!
• he's a snuggler...
• he's patient...
• he smiles a lot!!
• he's content...
• he tries to sing...
• he's a child of the most high God!

James 1:17 ~Every good and perfect gift is from above...