Arynn @ 1 Month

Arynn Lizabeth, you are 1 month old!

Smiling at Momma

How the time flies! I am so sad to think about the fact you are already 1 month old. It doesn't seem possible, it seems like just yesterday I was wondering if you would ever get here!

Sometimes you laugh out loud and then scare yourself!

This week you helped Momma celebrate her birthday. First at Mimi and Poppa's house on Tuesday, and we celebrated again with Nana and Poppa on Wednesday.

Your siblings adore you!

You made another trip out of town, this time to Northwest Arkansas with Momma and Daddy to a marriage retreat. You behaved very well and I only had to get up with you a couple of times. You ate, slept, ate some more and slept some more! You definitely got lots of attention from all of the other mothers! You traveled well in the vehicle and this time you sat next to Momma. It was sweet to be able to watch your expressions as you slept and Daddy drove.

Ava constantly wants to hold baby Arynn.

You survived another week of school, and we are looking forward to Daddy having another 3 day weekend. You started smiling this week, which is so sweet to watch. I think you may have Daddy and Ava's dimples. You are still sleeping well at night and are awake for longer periods during the day.

You are not very impressed with Momma's photography skills!

We've tried the pacifier but you are not a fan, usually you will gag on it two to three times before taking it. Once you do take it you spit it out pretty fast.

You kept crossing your eyes, I think you could see your bow!

You have only missed one church service, although when we go, I end up going out to feed you. You have decided church time is your favorite time to eat.

Everytime I look at you, I see expressions from your older siblings. Aiden's chin, Austen's lips, Addy's cheeks, and Ava's dimples!

You are still wearing a few newborn outfits, but the selection is limited. It has been really cold this past week so you are wearing lots of sleepers which only fit if they are 0-3 months. You have officially outgrown a newborn diaper. Your face has started to break out, probably from being under a blanket to eat while at the retreat. All of your siblings had this problem too, you get your sensitive skin from your Momma. I can only use the Pampers sensitive wipes on you because everything else was causing extreme diaper rash. Thankfully I got a great deal on them from Amazon, but that is for a later post. We are enjoying watching you grow, but you don't have to do it so fast! You are such a blessing to our family, we love you Arynn!

Momma's Birthday

On Tuesday night, we went to celebrate my birthday with Mimi, Poppa, Keith and Cabrina. Unfortunately, Arynn was pretty fussy and I didn't even get my camera out of the bag. :-( But the food was wonderful, she made an awesome dessert and I got more photo albums! I only need about 500 more!!!

On Wednesday, my actual birthday, we celebrated with Nana and Poppa Kenneth. Nana wanted to have it on my birthday even though it was church night. We went to their house for pizza, went to church, then we came back for cake. They got me a gift certificate for a much needed pedicure! I feel so blessed to have wonderful parents and in-laws!

Aiden's favorite spot is with Poppa is his chair. (Poppa is thrilled that I am taking his picture!)

Can we say "cheese?"

Not to be outdone...

Our crew waiting on cake, everyone except Arynn, I think Poppa was holding her.

Taken by Aiden, it was supposed to be of me unwrapping my gift!

My last birthday in my 20's. Where has the time gone? Somedays I feel like I should still be Aiden's age! I can't imagine how my parents feel to know their baby is almost 30. I remember when my Mom turned 30 and it was a big deal, black balloons and I was thinking..."I'll never be that old" and now I'm almost there. Birthdays are a blessing and I am thankful for everyday, no matter how young or old I am! Although to hear my kids tell it I should be getting mail from AARP.

Austen asked the other day "Momma, are you really old?" Me- "Pretty old." Aus- "Like really, really old?" Me- "Yeah" Aus-"Are you like as old as Ms. ______?" (An elderly lady in our church) Me- "Not that old, but pretty close!!!" Out of the mouths of babes. :-)

Old Washington

What do you do with a new vehicle? Make plans for a road trip! Actually Daddy had planned this trip for awhile, the new van just meant we had extra seating and could take Mimi and Nana with us. We headed to Historic Washington State Park for the Jonquil Festival. We were hoping for something a little more old fashioned and it wasn't exactly our cup of tea but we made the best of it and got some cute pictures. We are looking forward to going back in the fall when they have Frontier Days for Homeschools.

 

It's hard to take a road trip without stopping for breakfast at Cracker Barrel! We tried to see my cousin Cody who manages this CB, but he didn't come in until 2 that day.

Mimi & Ava

The Jonquil Festival is a major event with lots of crafts, music, food and games. We didn't know how big of a deal it was until we arrived. It reminded us more of a fair atmosphere, and the music was super loud when I was trying to take these pictures. Which explains the distracted subjects...

Our 1st attempt at a group shot

One more try, nope still lost one!

Aiden, Arynn and Ava

Away from all of the action, there was this huge magnolia tree which the boys really enjoyed seeing. I forgot the exact age, but is over 100 years old, so neat to think of the changes the town has seen in that time frame.

The Big Magnolia Tree

My new favorite pic

They offered rides in a surrey, (which made me want to burst into song) and we were glad to have the horses give us a tour around town, or maybe just a block!

Waiting patiently on our ride



"In that shiny little surrey with the fringe on top" 



Addy was excited about our ride, probably because she was so tired of walking!

Arynn did so well on her first road trip!

After our ride

The best family pic of the day

Can you believe she's almost 4?!

Such a proud big sister!

I so wish I could go back and move that flower out of Addy's face, but these were the last pics of the day and we were exhausted.

This is one of my all time favorite pictures of the boys, now I have a new one to compare. I hope they are always close friends.

2009
Our sweet boys

2013
Still just as sweet

Overall we had a good time, but we sure did sleep well that night!



Ava

She's getting to the stage where some days she can make it without a nap, but some days...

it's just too much for a little whobody.

Austen Loses a Tooth!

On a Wednesday night before church, I finally talked Austen into letting me pull his tooth. It had been "ready" to pull for a while but Aus was not ready. In fact, it had been extremely loose since we went for our dental cleanings back at the end of January. After lots of reassurance, he got brave enough to let Momma try. After it was over, he decided it didn't hurt at all!

Austen loses his 1st Tooth!

 

I gave him one night off, and on Friday we pulled the second tooth. He told me he wanted to eat just one more meal with it, before he didn't have any teeth left! HA! That boy is hilarious!

You can already see his new teeth coming in, that really shows how badly he needed to let go of them!

Dinosaur Drama

Aiden is becoming quite the photographer. Occasionally I will ask him to take a picture of Jake and I, or he may ask to use the camera to get a photo of one of the kids. Most of the time I let him and he does a pretty good job. A few weeks ago, I got all of the girls down for a nap and asked the boys to play quietly in their room, so I could nap. I vaguely remember Aiden waking me up to ask if he could borrow the camera. I had forgot about the question until a few days later, I uploaded my pictures and found these!

My favorite- I'm sure he was following Aiden's instructions, but he just couldn't stay behind the door!

 

I know all kids have an imagination, but it amazes me what these boys come up with! Only a few thousand more shots and they could have had a 1 minute stop-motion movie!

Arynn @ 3 Weeks

Arynn Lizabeth, you are 3 weeks old!

Photo taken by Aiden

Austen and Arynn

On Tuesday you helped us get our new van!

 

Wednesday we went to church and you let me sit through the whole service!

 

We started school back this week, so you are officially, "homeschooled." :-)

 

You are sleeping very well at night, you are usually awake from 10:00-11:00ish and then sleep until 4:30 or 5:00.

Sleeping Beauty

We took you on your first road trip. We traveled to Hope with Mimi, Nana, Daddy and the crew to the Jonquil Festival at Old Washington. It was not exactly what we had expected, but we made the best of it and got a few good pictures. You enjoyed the day in your wrap and everyone would stop me to ask, "Is that a baby in there?" One lady even told me she thought I was pregnant at first glance, then decided I was carrying a little high! ;-)

Our 5 Blessings

You are still wearing mainly newborn clothes but some 0-3 months. You wore size 1 sandals to church, which were adorable. You can still fit in a newborn diaper, (we have a few left) but I prefer to put you in a size 1 at night so it doesn't leak. You are so sweet and easy going. You made the trip out of town like a traveling pro, which is a good thing because there are many more trips in your immediate future!

Arynn @ 2 Weeks

Arynn Lizabeth, you are 2 weeks old!

Arynn and proud sister Addy

You went with Momma for her 1 week check-up to see Dr. S, he checked my platelets which had doubled since delivery. They were 132 and I was released from the hematologist. Thank God for answered prayers!

 

I took you back for a weight check on Wednesday, hoping I could skip Friday's weigh in. But you still weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces. You attended your first Wednesday night church service, which we spent in the nursery because you decided to eat every hour that night!

 

We stayed in our PJ's all day on Thursday!

On Friday, you got to meet the Witchers! Mrs. Stacy brought us lunch (beef and broccoli, my new favorite crock-pot dish) and I sat in the recliner and rocked you all day. Mrs. Stacy didn't let me lift a finger and prepared the food for all the kids. She also brought cookies and muffins for the next day which were quickly devoured! I was so lazy during their visit I didn't even get out the camera! So to see the photographic evidence of their visit click here.

After the Witcher's visit, Gary, Ann, Emily, and Lane came over to see you. It was Emily and Lane's first visit with you and you were on your best behavior.

Aiden, Lane, Emily holding Arynn and Ava

On Saturday we stayed home and Daddy shopped for vans. More on that in a later post.

 

Sunday we went to church and once again I missed most of it because you really wanted to eat non-stop during the day.

 

Monday I took you back in for a weight check to find out the non-stop feeds were really accomplishing something. You had gained 5 ounces in 5 days. You weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces which is only 3 ounces shy of your birth weight. Dr. Mark said you didn't have to come back until 2 months. So now if you want to sleep a longer stretch a night, I will not bother you!

 

You have changed so much and the days are flying by, I wish I could hit the pause button because I know I will blink and you will be just as big as your siblings. I have tried to hold you and just enjoy every moment this week, so much so that I only have two pictures! I hope I can make up for it next week. We love you and are so blessed to be your parents!

 

Arynn @ 1 Week

Arynn Lizabeth, you are 1 week old!


Daddy holding his new baby girl.

You are such a good baby! We got home from the hospital on Wednesday around 3:00 pm. Daddy took the big kids to church and we stayed home to rest. Poppa Kenneth came to visit while they were at church and said you looked like Aiden. After Daddy and the big kids got home, Mimi and Poppa Gary came and he got to meet you for the first time. He worked really hard to get some pictures on his phone so he could take them to work and show you off!



The Whobody was the first one up to get in line to hold Arynn our first morning home from the hospital.

You are able to sleep through all the noise in our house! Even when your siblings want to hold you ALL DAY LONG! Daddy has to wait in line to get a chance to hold his newest daughter.


Austen was next.

Aiden graciously allowed Austen to hold Arynn before his turn.

Addy always wants to "hold her". In the hospital there was a baby in the nursery while the kids were in the waiting room. Addy could see the baby and asked to "hold that baby!?!" multiple times througout the day!



On Thursday afternoon, you and Momma went to visit Nanny and Papa. We had a good visit while Daddy took everyone else to town to run a few errands.

Papa Bill meeting Arynn for the first time. He also has a February birthday, 13th, I have had two babies in February and haven't been able to hit his day yet!



Nanny Lee getting some cuddling time with Arynn.

On Friday, we went for a check-up at 3 days to Dr. Mark. He said you looked great. You do have a hip click, but he is not concerned and we will just watch it for now.



Arynn's first bath at home.

 Saturday we stayed home, and had two sets of visitors, both delievered meals.

On Sunday morning you attended your first church service. One gentleman stated that the church house was going tip to the left as the whole congregation got up to come and see you!

You are wearing newborn clothes and newborn diapers (even though the hospital gave you size 1, I guess they thought you were a big baby!) and you now weigh 8 pounds 15 ounces. You want to sleep a 5-6 hour stretch at night which I am thankful, but since you are gaining slowly, I have been waking you up after 4 hours.




1 week old- Playing Dress Up!

Daddy went back to work on Monday which made all of us sad, but Nana has been helping us out. We have had lots of visitors and lots more are waiting to meet you. You are sweet and precious and we love you so much!