My Thoughts on Mother's Day

 My sweet big 3.
This year as Mother's Day came closer I just kept thinking about how much I have to be thankful for.
I'm living my dream ... every single day! Since I was little I wanted to just be mom and for many year and through my first 3 kiddos newborn stage I didn't think this dream would come true.

 But I also thought of how this dream was SO much harder than I ever imagined.
My sweet kiddos are with me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
I've never planned to homeschool but God has guided us in this direction. It's the hardest job and I constantly question myself.
But they are learning! And I am learning and I get to watch them learn which is a huge gift.

 I'm grateful for the challenges of motherhood: the sleepless nights, the doubt, the failures
I'm grateful that I can show forgiveness and that I can humble myself and ask for forgiveness
These 4 sweet little humans have taught me so much and I'm blessed.
Even if I am exhausted.

Being a full time Momma is the hardest, best job ever and I wouldn't trade this life for anything. 

{almost} Wordless Wednesday

 My "class clown" makes taking a good picture difficult!
It's a good thing he's cute

Kate 6, Emma 5, Reed 4 & Addi 6 weeks

End of the Year

 It is hard to believe that our first official year of homeschooling is wrapping up! What a crazy year it has been.
These pictures were taken the night of the Award Ceremony at our Classical Conversations Community! We're moving to a closer location next year so it was a farewell party for us. {I'm excited for next year and the 25 minutes of driving it'll save me!}

 So, what have we learned {besides, reading and all about new babies}?
The girls learned 84 history facts starting with 1419 when Prince Henry founded the school of navigation and ending with September 11, 2001 as well as learning the first 20 presidents.

They learned and reviewed the 5 Latin Declensions

most of the kids in our classical conversations community

 Weekly we worked on drawing world maps and  in class we focused on South American Countries.

They learned linking verbs and helping verbs

 They had a crash course in geometry and learned math laws such as the distributive law, the identity law & the commutative law.

They also learned science facts all about the ocean and the atmosphere and clouds.

 They are learning so much, amazing little sponges.
This break comes at a great time. I need time to recover {still} and we need to slowly start working our school schedule back into daily life. We're lucky if we get our read aloud read and our teeth brushed {although that's just me}.

Kindergarten is complete for these two girls and we could not be more proud of them!

Let summer begin!

One Month

 And what a month it has been!
In my head I had rainbows and puppies pictured while in all reality it has been rough.
Adelaide is a great baby and for that I am thankful. The other issues we will work through and conquer.
I praise God EVERY DAY that this baby does not have colic, EVERY SINGLE DAY!

 She is not growing ... we're working on that. I'm pretty sure breastfeeding is my full time job right now and I should be getting about $200 per hour.
At her one month check up she was 8lbs even {8 ounces under birth weight}, 21 inches {same as at birth} and her head cir. is 14 3/4

 She is a sweet, happy baby!
Loved by all of her big sisters.
She is always serious but we're hoping to see a smile in the next few weeks.
She already looks at her Daddy like he's absolutely crazy {I have a feeling that, that look might stick around!}

We are so thankful for sweet Adelaide Elizabeth and can't imagine our family without her!

Time is Zipping ...

 It's hard to believe that our sweet Adelaide will be 3 weeks old tomorrow! The time with her home has been crazy and emotional and hard and joyful. There has been hundreds of kisses and hugs and Kate has made up a new song, "Baby Addi don't you cry, Mommy and Daddy love you!" it's sweet and yet I loose my temper when I hear it for the 9 millionth time before 11AM. It's all about grace right now and saying sorry sometimes. Every day is better and for that I'm thankful.

 I'm grateful for the help that we have received, the meals that have been brought in {from complete strangers even}! The quick road trip my dad and 2 of my sister's made to spend just 24 hours with us. I'm thankful that my mom sacrificed 2 weeks of her life to be with us and take care of us and then on the day she left Jeremy's mom willingly showed up to love on us for a week. Giving me time to heal and rest and adjust. I think I'm ready for my solo flight coming up! At least in my head I'm ready :)

 The bigs, as we now call them, are adjust so well! I'm thankful and praying that their happy hearts continue. The girls are still HUGE helpers, cheerfully doing most things that I ask of them. Reed has just been happy, which honestly is much better than we expected!

So, time is zipping by! It could slow down just a little as my baby is changing already.
These days are fleeting and I'm trying to enjoy each moment. Even the ones that are filled with a little pain or a few tears ... and I'm so thankful that Jeremy is right there by my side through each moment!

So Happy to Introduce ...

 Our sweet Adelaide Elizabeth
born one week ago today 3.22.13 at 9:36a
She was a healthy 8lbs 8oz and 21 inches long
{although she lost over a pound before leaving the hospital and was an even 7lbs at her check up on Monday}

We are completely in love! And so thankful she has completed our family!

The Last Baby Bump Update

How far along:

39 weeks ... 1 day

Total weight gain:

I have gained 20 pounds with this sweet girl. Most of that has been within the last few weeks. I'm praying she comes out about 10lbs so that half of the weight is gone!

Sleep:

My days of glorious sleep have ended :(. I'm sleeping from maybe 10p until 2a and then maybe I'll sleep again from 4:30a until 6a. It's great practice of what is to come I guess! Maybe it is God's way of helping me adjust to sleepless night.



Food cravings:

• Cereal & anything else others make: Cereal and I have a list of favorite foods that my mom will be making while she's here! I'm sure she was sick of phone calls asking about "can you make this?!!!?!?!"

Symptoms:

• Carpel Tunnel: It is the strangest thing ever! And  so VERY painful. I'm pretty much useless with my right hand & my left hand has flare-ups. My doctor "thinks" it will go away after delivery but there is a small chance it could stick around & require surgery.
• Heartburn: As always
• Swollen ankles: So of my favorite quotes revolve around my feet
  "Mom, where's your ankles?" "Mom, your feet look like triangles" "Mom, you need life alert so you don't have to walk!"   

Gender:

A sweet baby girl, I can't wait to meet her! Her bows are ready :) her clothes are ready & her hospital bag is packed!!

What I’m looking forward to:

• My mom & then Jeremy's mom visiting! So selfishly looking forward to that time.
• That sweet baby smell: It only last for a short amount of time but it is the best smell in the world
• Watching the "big kids" meet the baby! The girls especially are so, SO excited & are counting down the days until they can come up to the hospital to meet "sister!" They have their shirts ready and Ziggy has prepped some gifts for them. I'm praying for some fabulous time of bounding. My biggest concern is Reed but we will work through the adjustments of adding a new sister.

What I miss:

At this point I just wish the swelling would go away! It is pretty painful but she will be worth every ache over the last 273 days