Busting Out of Here

Tonight we are leaving town. It's going to be a quick trip and possibly a very crazy one with a 3 week old, a 6 hour drive and a 3 hour flight...but it is SOO worth it!

Why? You ask...

-FAMILY:Caitlyn is going to meet her Grandma and Grandpa and great grandma and aunties and uncles!! This is a very big deal. I feel so bad hogging this little angel here while my loving family has only photos to satisfy the baby fix

-WEDDING:My cousin is getting married! This is the real reason for the trip. Myself and all the kiddos (except Caitlyn) are in the wedding.

-WEATHER! It's not that we dislike the near-frigid temperatures...that's okay with us. Everything in moderation, right? When it gets to be half way through May we are pretty much ready for sunshine!!

(I would add shopping but I think there will not be too much of that this time :)

Preview of wedding colors...

preview of girls' dresses ...

If you don't hear from me, it's cause I am in the van (at maximum capacity) trying to meet the needs of 6 other people while attempting to keep my composure...or I may be on an airplane jostling my newborn to try to keep her quiet while holding Caleb's legs back from kicking "that guy" in front of him who hates kids...or I could be gloriously basking in the warm California sun, watching my mom hold the baby while my kids get sunkissed at the hotel pool, dressed up and enjoying the gorgeousness of the surroundings and the special moments of a wedding, eating at some fantastically American restaurant with way too big portions, or strolling through Target...

AHH! Sounds superb and SO worth the trek it'll take to get there!

Folded Up

Caitlyn still likes to be folded up. So precious!!

How Is This Possible?

Mikayla Update

Mikayla loves to read and is often in her room engrossed in a book while the rest of the kids are rambling around the house. She is content to read all day long some days!!

This weekend I encouraged her to come hang out with us a bit and do something different. She loved the baby lots...she even wore her in the Baby Bjorn a little. Today she updated her blog! Check it out HERE!! I know she would be thrilled with any comments!! She also chose a new background for her blog. It is so cute to read her words and know what she is thinking!

Baby feels most comfortable with her biggest sister!

Loving the tiny princess.

Hard to believe Mikayla was ever this small...or that when she was this small, I had time to sit and stare at her and her alone ALL DAY LONG!!!!

(how is it possible that I couldn't manage to keep up on the housework when I only had her?!?!?)

Bathing Beauties

Caitlyn got to wear her swimsuit for the first time this weekend. Maddie and Mailee had a great time sunbathing with their baby sister. Oh- and we attempted a bow!! Check her out!

Nice shades!

Caleb steps in to try to console a cranky ladybug...

Hmm...pretty sure she's not into the headband. When I took it off she stopped crying but she had a dent in her head from where the band was. We will have to keep searching for the perfect baby headband :)

Caitlyn and the Scarf

I wrapped Caitlyn in this scarf the other day just to see what she'd look like. It's such a pretty, ruffly scarf and she's such a a pretty teeny person I thought I might like the combination for a photo. I have lots of more "important" things to do but she is growing at record speeds and i don't want to miss out on her newborn tiny-ness!! Mike thought I was losing my mind, perhaps I am but I'm okay with that cause I kinda do like the photos I got of her all wrapped up!

I love her little pursed lips in this one:)

She is making the "I want to eat" face and hand gestures in this one.

AH! Precious lil feet!!

My angel baby wrapped in my ruffly scarf...I don't know, what do you think? I think it works!

Name Change

Attention : There has been a name change at our house:

"Prnicess Sleeps A Lot" is now affectionately

"Princess Nurses Too Much and Mommy Has A Stiff Neck and Can't Get Anything Done"

Super Cool Gift!

My best friend Gretch and I have known each other our entire lives. When we were little we had this plan that we were going to both have baby girls the same age and then they would be best friends and when they grew up they would marry twins and we would be family!

This seemed like the perfect plan until I got married at 21 and started having babies right away while Gretch was traveling, getting her degree and taking the corporate world by storm. When Caleb was born 3 years ago, Mike and I were thrilled to have a baby boy and I declared myself DONE having babies. With Gretch still working and not quite ready to be a mom, it looked like the door to us having daughters together was a closed one.

This is the youngest pic of us that I have (that is in jpeg form) but there are lots of younger ones in boxes :)

The phone call between us 8 months ago was shocking and exciting- we were going to be pregnant at the same time!! A few months later, we both found out we were carrying little girls and they were due only 2 weeks apart! Her baby was due May 15th and mine May 3 but Gretch's ended up being born April 28. I had just gotten the news that little Sophia Marie had been born when I went into labor myself. Caitlyn and Sophia are one day apart! God's timing is immaculate and precise and it is His plan that is perfect, not ours!

Gretch and I are on the phone frequently discussing the day's challenges and our daughters' sleep patters...it is so fun to have babies the EXACT same age!!


My birthday isn't till the end of May but Gretch sent me a gift and I couldn't wait! Look what was inside- the cutest lil necklace ever!

"C" for Caitlyn (and Colleen:) Gretch got an "S" for Sophia.

the gold circle says "LOVE"

Thanks Gretch! I love the necklace, and you!!

Weighing In

On Wednesday, at 2 weeks old, Caitlyn had her second appointment at the Midwife. She brought along Maddie and Caleb for support. Our big girl weighed in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Pretty good!

Seems like she is growing so fast yet all of our other babies were bigger than her at birth

(Mailee 7.6, Mikayla and Caleb 8.11, Maddie 9.3!) so she really is still so teeny!

Still not loving the scale!

Hanging out with Anne-Marie, the Midwife.



Mike handing Caitlyn over to Anne-Marie after her cord was cut. Such a special time to share with someone, they kind of become a part of your family's history! We have 5 different special midwives/ob's from all the kids' births:)

Black and Whites

Kissing Caitlyn

Huggy Baby

Nose to Nose

Kisses

Mother's Day in Grade 2

Today I went to Mailee's Grade 2 classroom for a Mother's Day Tea. The kids performed a few songs and verses that they had memorized. Once their presentation was done, the children each got a turn at bringing their mommy up in front of the class and reading a special letter to her.

It was very sweet.

Reciting Bible Verses

Reading her Mother's Day letter to me.

My sweet, loving Mailee:)

Mailee was thrilled to show her little sister off to all her friends!

Special Day!

Caitlyn's First Party

My awesome sisters threw Caitlyn a fantastic baby shower Friday night. Those girls paid attention to every detail that I enjoy so much and made everything so beautiful. I was flattered by how many people made time to come and meet my little lady. It was really great to see everyone as I have kind of been in hiding since Caitlyn was born!

Party girl got passed around all night. She was very popular:)

The food table- yum! It was all so good. They even had applewood cheddar- my favorite!!

So special to have all your favorite people in one place at the same time!!

Cute favors. The sign said "a complimentary cup of tea from our newest little "C"

So thankful for these women in my life :)

When I married Mike, I got the guy AND his family...what a score!!

Thanks ladies for making Caitlyn's first party such a great one!