The best advice I ever got on having a new baby ...

After I had my first-born and went through the traumatic experience that is bringing them home from the hospital (what? You're letting me take him home?! Somewhat comparable to the first time I drove by myself thinking, I can't believe they're letting me do this!), some of David's friends threw a baby shower for us. One of the wise mother's there (a link to her blog, Mrs. Troop, is at the bottom of the page) gave me some advice that has stayed with me through every baby.

Every morning, take a shower and put on some makeup.

Brilliant! When you're frumpy, post-baby-weight, sleep-deprived body meets real life, it makes all the difference in the world to look and smell presentable. There may be days you accomplish little else in those first couple of weeks home from the hospital, but your whole frame of mind is much more positive when you're clean and not embarrassed to be seen! Did I mention that Mrs. Troop has EIGHT children. She might know what she's talking about! :)

It's not so important that you look good while you're changing diapers and wiping bottoms and printing Batman coloring pages and disciplining the other children and feeding the baby and feeding the other kids and loading the dishwasher and folding the laundry and refereeing disagreements and finding Hans Solo in the pocket of the other shorts ... it just makes you feel better. No, I don't have it all together and never will - but I'm clean!

What we've been up to

Water guns make for HOURS of fun.

Even the princess has one.

I love this picture because I can see Hudson's long skinny legs next to my other little chubby-kneed, cankle legged cuties. Adelle sleeps a lot and doesn't mind hanging out in shade by the pool. Noisy boys and a squealy little girl don't bother her at all.

So far Miss Ellie is the most laid back of all the kids. She's awesome.

And here we all are - seriously, I don't think any of them know how to smile for real.

Catching up

The baby's asleep for the moment and the kids are at a friend's house today. I'm trying to get caught up on a few things including sleep, but that'll come later. Life is going good. We're getting a little more sleep these days and adjusting to working around a feeding/nap schedule again. I'm so glad this little girl came in May so we can take a natural break from school and get ready for the new year. Can't believe she's already two weeks old. (I need to take some more pictures!).

Okay, she's awake. I knew that was coming. That'll be all for now and I'll get some pictures up soon!

Special Delivery

She's here! Adelle Sophia Frederick was born May 11 at 6 pm weighing in at 8 lb 11 oz and 21 inches long. She has pink chubby cheeks and her daddy's feet - check out those long fingers and toes! She's a great little eater and has a very pleasant disposition so far.

Labor and delivery went pretty smooth. I didn't really ever have regular contraction so we finally started pitosin at 2:30 pm and she arrived at 6 pm. My wonderful husband was in the room, but doesn't enjoy participating too much, so my sister, Angela held a leg and cut the cord. She took the day off work to help with the big kids in the morning and me in the afternoon. She's the hero of the day.

My doctor was absolutely fabulous. She's the main reason I have come to love natural deliveries. She still runs marathons and is the mother of six. I still feel like my insides might fall out if I do more than walk at this point. I'm excited to get back at it in a few weeks though and glad to see that after 6 children, she can keep up the exercise into her 60's.

Daddy is smitten and has been the biggest help to me. In the last week he has kept up the laundry and dishes, and vacuumed the whole house (even under the couches!). Once he saw the dust accumulation in the vacuum filter he decided to wash the curtains. He's been busy with work too - so, yeah, he's pretty awesome. :)

This is the perfect picture of how I feel. So happy and so tired! Realistically, we're only a week into this lovely new world of four children. I'm just living moment by moment and trying to soak it all in for the last time.

The kids have been great. They love their baby sister and they've adjusted so well to my new schedule that has to revolve around feeding the baby. Pierce is a little worried about Adelle's "pineapple bellybutton." He can't wait for it to fall off.

So, I am now a mother of four. That's so crazy to me. I'm 29, but feel like I should still be 23ish. I have four children under 5 - how does one manage that? Seriously, nursing and wiping bottoms and changing diapers and feeding my family and keeping my house clean ... I know she's only one week old and we'll eventually get into our routine, but, wow.

I need to figure out how to change my blog name or maybe I need to get a whole new one. I don't know. I do know there are SIX of us now! :)

Mother's Day 2010

I am so blessed.

My little family got me a new vacuum cleaner. The boys REALLY enjoyed the box. Of course.

My husband is awesome. I love him!

Overdue

"Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in your book they were all written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." Psalm 139:16

After 37 weeks, I started thinking, okay any day now. Four weeks later I'm thinking the same thing! It's hard to be patient and so uncomfortable. But it does help knowing that she can't stay in there forever and the days "fashioned" for this precious little girl are already written by my Heavenly Father! Pretty incredible.

Pardon my self-portrait photography skills. I set the timer and jumped up on a stool and still couldn't get the right angle for the whole belly. Ah well. 41 weeks - you get the idea :).