Quadrilateral

The kids love to visit with Leisel and hold and help her.  I love to see them make relationships with her.  She responds to and recognizes them.  I love most to see the adoration in their faces.  I wanted to try to capture that.
  

proud, protective, big brother

 

Tessa asked for weeks before Leisel arrived, "When is my baby going to come?"  She really wanted "her baby to be in her family."  Then she tried to count all her fingers and told me, "I want handfuls of babies, mom."

 

just what we prayed for

Minnie and Winnie

Right at first, Leisel seemed to change everyday.  (I guess that is my excuse for taking lots of photos.)  Here are a few:

Day 4 -- first bow (Jordan kept saying she could be a boy without it.)

Day 8 -- I know it is cheesy but I had to put the Minnie lovey in

It has been love at first sight.  Leisel is a wonderful, sweet baby.  She has been growing well and is healthy and strong....many blessings to be thankful for.
We spent the first week getting to know each other, mostly feeding and resting.  Leisel got to meet lots of family members who came to visit.  Then we have gradually added a few more things in each week: maintaining the house, getting the other kids out and about to the usual activities, preparing food again, squeezing in a shower and maybe doing my hair.... 
I have been working to keep my expectations each day to a minimum so that I can enjoy the moments and not stress about undone projects. 
This next picture shows the perfect peace in those treasured moments of sleep.  How can you ask for more?!
  

Day 10 -- I love this sweet outfit with the Winnie the Pooh applique

Birth

On Sunday morning, September 9, Leisel Alene joined our family.  She measured a healthy 7 pounds 12 ounces and 21 inches long.  We are so grateful for her smooth arrival and good temperament as we make the gradual adjustments. 

I always feel so much gratitude for the midwives and nurses that help me in labor.  In that intense time I need all the help I can get!  Jared is an essential support and helpmeet.  
This time as labor progressed, the midwives were quickly able to help the baby shift from a posterior position.  Then things were ready for the natural progression of pushing and delivery.  The miracle of birth!    
I loved the first moment of seeing Leisel.  I was so glad to have her in my arms. (instead of in my tummy)   It is worth the wait. 

... I had to include the photo of the placenta for memories sake.  You can notice the knot in the umbilical cord :)

                                    

After we rested and dressed the baby, Jared sent out this photo to family with the news. 

New House/ Pre-Baby Family Photo

We took this photo per request of my mom.  She needed some updated family pictures.  At the time of the photo, I was a week before my due date with baby #4.  We'll take another one soon with the new baby, but this will be our "Family with the New House photo."  

September 1st

Jared has been busy at work (in an office) and mentioned that he wanted to get out and enjoy a bit of the outdoors.  I have been wanting to take the kids to one of our "Utah beaches."  So we did.  We found this beach five minutes from home in Daybreak.  It is a no-swim beach so we brought sand toys.  Thank goodness I brought along jackets for the kids.  It turned out to be a preview of fall weather and a nice outing together.

Castle building with the "princess"

The boys tried to fish using the sand bucket and then found a stick, string and paperclip contraption. 

Jordan is showing me his worm.

Fun Outings

Cotton Candy = Fun at a special family dinner

I am doing lots of catch-up posts with photos from the last few months....

This was a party Grandpa was invited too, but he brought us along.  He has taken his turn on the climbing wall, but not in the bounce house. 

 the community Wild West Days

Classic Fun

First field trip of the year 2012-13

Happy Birthday Linda!

Family Visits

I just found this photo from the spring and had to include it.  Cam and Haley helped and hosted us for dinner in Ephraim when we bought our van.  We loved visiting their place!

I had a birthday!  The Clarks came to visit and brought this deliciously, beautiful cake!  We have been spoiled lately with lots of visits from them to help us move in, etc..  

Tessa loves Nessa

Our Clark cousins came for a sleepover...lots of fun!

We have been watching the Brigham City temple being built and then we got to visit the open house.  It is soo beautiful, a very special place and a favorite temple.  I was grateful that we could take part in the dedication service.  It is the new temple for Jared's family and I hope to be able to serve there soon.    

Swing Swaddle

Isn't this the coolest contraption!?  My creative and very handy sister-in-law created this safety harness for swings, called the Swing Swaddle. 

Tessa loves to "swing high" like her big brothers, but she has had a few spills when she gets distracted and forgets that she needs to hang on and balance.  

We took our swing swaddle on the trip to Pocatello and hooked it on to the regular swings at the park.  There weren't any bucket swings for little ones on this side of the park, but we pulled out our swaddle and Tessa got to swing alongside her big cousins.   

The harnesses are made with very sturdy materials and they are weight tested for the safety of bigger kids too.  I love this aspect!  So kids with limited abilities or developmental delays can use the swing swaddle too! 

I just googled Swing Swaddle and found Susie's websites.  Pretty impressive!   
 http://theswingswaddle.blogspot.com/
 http://www.facebook.com/TheSwingSwaddle

YEA! 

Jenny moved to Pocatello

We are seeing more of the Allen family now!  This summer, they finished medical residency and got a job and found a house and moved...!  We are relishing more time with cousins, and sisters.

We sure love getting to see those kids more often as they grow.

A few weeks after we moved in, Jenny called and invited my kids to visit and stay at her house for a few days.  With a baby coming in a month and a house full of boxes, I jumped at the offer!  The kids had a blast.  I got a lot of work done.  And Jenny came back smiling...with a few extra grey hairs.  

 

We enjoyed gathering at the Hatch reunion this year in Tremonton.  Good food and good people.  Jenny's drive was a little over an hour and ours was an hour and 15 minutes.  It was nice to meet in the middle.     

Here are four of the brothers in law visiting at the reunion :)

Late August, Amy and I had our turn to visit Jenny in her new house.