Decorating For Halloween

The kids have been asking for a couple weeks now how much longer until we can put out our Halloween decorations. After being asked over and over again, I finally gave in today and got everything out and helped them decorate. It's funny what are their favorites of our decorations vs. mine. They are satisfied with the simplest of decorations.

Today they enjoyed putting the vinyl stickers on the windows in our play/school room.

They love looking at the things on our bulletin board. Most of these were made by them either this year or the last couple of years.

They carved a mini pumpkin today, and then we roasted the seeds after coating them with a little butter, cinnamon and sugar.

Hanna has been working on this house for a few weeks and finished it up yesterday. It is a kit that she got for her birthday. (They have a wide variety of these kits at Michael's.) She did a great job on it and worked hard too. She has this house along with a few other decorations she's made over the years in her room.

The kids had fun making these "teepee style, lean-to's" at my mom's yesterday:

And, lastly, here is another sweet picture of Jack and Jesse I took today. I can't get enough of these moments of the two of them together. Jack is in the habit now of giving Jesse kisses each time he passes him. He also likes to share his lovie and PJ Bear with him--these are his two very special animals, so this is super sweet:-).

Metal Detecting Finds and a Sweet Sight

Hanna, Joe and Jamie spent a good bit of time out in our backyard with their metal detectors Sunday afternoon. Hanna and Joe had fun outside with them today too--they were pretending to be paleontologists:-). They didn't find anything today, but while out with Jamie Sunday they found some pretty interesting things.

An old axe blade, railroad spikes, door hinge and nails. The kids love it when Jamie digs up these hidden treasures. They, and this includes Jamie, could stay out there all day with their metal detectors.

I got the sweetest pictures of Jack holding Jesse this morning. Jack is so sweet to him and really loves him. I am so surprised, but thankful to his reaction since Jesse has been home. I love seeing them together. It is going to be so fun watching them grow up and become buddies.

Today was such a good day. I hope for many more like today. We had a good day of "light" school, the kids played happily together and got to play outdoors some too. I felt such love for my children, and am so thankful for each of them. Today was a day when I couldn't even imagine Jesse being my last baby. Being a mom and watching my kids play, learn, grow and love one another is the most amazing, rewarding thing I do daily. And having such a wonderful husband to share life and our family with is more than I could ever ask for. I am so blessed!

Me, Jamie and Jesse's Feet

We had a good Saturday. I actually got out of the house. First time in a week. Even if it was mainly to buy groceries:-), it was an outing and much needed. Here are a few pictures from today. Please, please, please excuse the way Jamie and I both look. I need make-up badly to hide my "oh so tired eyes", and Jamie needs a haircut and shave:-). Hey, we can't complain though. Jesse is sleeping and eating like a champ so far! Keep your fingers crossed and arms folded in prayer that this continues.

Here is me with my two "babies":

Jamie and Jesse:

Jesse's feet in Jamie's hand:

Jesse's feet in my hand:

Jack decided to cook while I cooked this evening. He got out lots of my pots and pans, and I got his play food out for him. I don't know what he whipped up, but he had fun making it and eating it too:-).

That's our day in pictures. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Jesse's First Week

We have had a wonderful first week home with Jesse. Honestly, we couldn't ask for more. He is healthy, eating well, sleeping well and such a sweet, happy baby. The kids all adore him, and have (almost) played well together all week. Of course, there have been squabbles that at times have tested Mom's patience:-), but all in all, I could not ask for more.

We haven't done any school this week in a formal way. The kids have had plenty of "life" school though, and have learned lots about newborns and the caring of them. Hanna and Joe have been hands-on in caring for Jesse alongside me. Jack literally runs to him when it is time for a feeding, to help and to sit by me off and on, watching Jesse and kissing him. It is so sweet to watch my kids already bonding with their new sibling. I am so blessed to have a large family, and this is something I do not want to take for granted. I have reminded myself of this during the "hairy" moments this week.

Here are some pictures from this week that are my favorites.

Hanna and Joe both enjoy holding him daily:

Jack loves wearing costumes, hats and all sorts of things. This week he enjoyed sporting a head scarf (I missed this photo-op) and goggles (among many other things):

Jesse did alot of this:

He also enjoys his play mat. He likes looking in the mirror on it. Today he began noticing the toys hanging from it as well. He is starting to study his hands too. I love the way newborns hold their hands in front of their faces and just study them, moving them so slowly. Here he is on his playmat. All of the kids enjoy playing and sitting beside him on his mat. I managed to get a picture of Hanna with him like this.

Since we've all missed school this week, we are going to add a little bit in next week, even though I'd said we'd take a few weeks off:-). I just can't do it!! Hanna didn't do any school this week, she did lots of crafting though. Joe did a few file folder games I pulled out for him for phonics and math. He also had fun playing with his techno tools and pattern blocks. I have already planned our school for next week and can't wait to get started on it:-)!!

I am so thankful for such a great first week, and hope that our second week with Jesse will be just as happy and peaceful as our first one. This has made it so much easier on all of us and is truly a blessing.

Just Hangin' Out

We've, of course, been homebound the past four days. Settling in, lots of playing for the kids, a little crafting and baking--recovering, diapering and feeding for me:-). And, I have to give credit to my mom for helping each day to keep the kids entertained and fill in the gaps for me that I can't possibly make up for right now. I also have to give much credit to Jamie for helping as much as possible when home from work and being such a source of emotional support for me. I am very loved and very blessed.

Things are going very well. I say this in hopes that they continue to go as well as they have been. It seems almost too good to be true. Other than having a bit of the "baby blues"--which will hopefully not become any worse for me this time, I am feeling as good as can be expected.

Hanna and Joe are still getting along great with one another and loving having Jesse around. They've played so many imaginative games the past few days. They've done really well considering we've been in so much.

Jack is doing unbelievably well! I truly hope this doesn't change. He seems to love Jesse already. He tries to help feed him:

Dress him:

And kisses him off and on all day:

I am so proud of my sweet Jack. Bringing Jesse home while Jack is still so young has been emotionally hard on me. It brings out my "mommy guilt", so having him react positively has helped me out alot. I have been trying to make sure that I still take time with each of the kids one-on-one each day, but especially Jack who was used to getting so much of my attention daily. Today I spent lots of time reading and holding him, and it was great:-).

Jesse is a happy, sleepy boy so far. As I mentioned earlier, it all just seems to good to be true, and I so hope it doesn't change. Here are a couple pictures of him from yesterday and today. He is sleeping with his eyes half open in the last one:-).

I pray that our settling in and getting everyone used to a new routine will continue to go so smoothly for each of us. I pray too that Jesse will continue to be so happy and easy going. This is such a blessing and makes it so much easier on us all. I am so very blessed. I was looking at all of my kids today as they played and I was feeding Jesse, and just can't believe that they are all mine:-). I love them so much and am so very thankful for such a beautiful family and a home so full of love.

Our First Day Home

We were able to come home late Saturday--around 9pm. I just didn't want to stay in the hospital another day, and was able to get permission (thank goodness) to come home early. Jamie and I brought Jesse home and got settled in Saturday night, and the kids continued to stay at my parents until Sunday midday.

Sunday was our first full day at home as a family of six. We had the best day. I couldn't have asked for more. The kids were happy to be home--and I was so happy to have them all there. We enjoyed spending time together and just being home!

Jesse had his first bath. He was so good for it. He didn't cry at all. He just sat in his little seat and let me wash him. He is so tiny!!

Jack was happy to be able to play with the trains in Joe's room again. He immediately asked to play choo choo with Joe almost upon walking in the door:-).

Jack got to help wake up Jesse for a feeding, and "held" him for the first time.

Hanna absolutely adores Jesse. She wants to spend every second she can with him while he is awake. It is such a blessing to have her help, and to know that she loves him so deeply.

Joe loved his surprise from Jamie. A new hotwheels dinosaur track to add to the ones he already has. Jamie and Joe had fun setting it up and playing together. I'm not sure who had more fun with it--Jamie or Joe:-).

To end the day, we had our Muffin Tin Monday meal for Sunday dinner, while reading a few books. Hanna and Joe enjoyed another sleepover, complete with "roasting marshmallows" for smores and hot chocolate too.

We had a wonderful day. I am so thankful we are all home together, and hope that our adjustment and transition period will continue to go as well as today has!

Jesse Kent Lambert

Jesse Kent Lambert joined us at 2:51 AM, Friday September 18th. We are so glad to have him here finally. He is beautiful. He has blond hair (and alot of it), blond eyelashes and eyebrows, is 19 1/2 inches long and weighs 6 lbs. 1 oz.

Here is a brief recap of his labor and delivery. I set out to exercise Thursday morning as I always do around 7:45am. While on my exercise route my water broke:-). I always have my cell phone with me when I'm out exercising so I called Jamie and he came to pick me up. We got to the hospital around 10 am. I had not dilated or effaced at all-wow! I knew then, I was in for a long haul. Jamie and I walked the halls off and on all day and night until I was just too uncomfortable to continue. I have to have an IV antibiotic for 4 hours prior to delivery because I am a carrier of Group B Strep. So, we couldn't just wait around at home (like I would have preferred), just in case Jesse decided to come quickly. My contractions picked up enough to be bothersome, but didn't become consistent enough to cause enough dilation or effacement for pushing until 2 am. Jesse was born shortly after at 2:51.

We were finally settled into a room around 7 am this morning. Jesse and I are both completely healthy and doing fine. He is a bit slow to eat, but he will figure it out. Jack was this same way too. I am up and around and feeling very well for having a baby less than 24 hours ago.

The kids were hoping he'd be born yesterday and went to bed Thursday night pretty disappointed that they hadn't met their new baby brother yet. My parents brought all three of them this morning to meet their newest sibling.

Of course, Hanna adores him. She is going to spend part of tomorrow here with me helping to take care of Jesse.

Joe is in love with him, and thinks he is so sweet, tiny and adorable. This is an answered prayer. He was not happy at all when Jack arrived and it was very difficult the first few months. He was so sweet and loving to him this morning. He loved holding, kissing and snuggling him and had nothing but kind words to say to and about him. He and Hanna both can hardly wait for Jesse to be home.

Jack isn't sure what to think of his baby brother. Jamie introduced Jack to Jesse on his lap, Jack began to cry because he wanted to get down after a minute. Well, Jesse began to cry too. Jack had the strangest look on his face. You could tell he was thinking, "What is this? and, It can make noises/cry?" He didn't want much to do with him after that. It was pretty funny. I have felt all along this would be an area of difficulty for me after bringing Jesse home. It is natural and to be expected, and will just take time to work out. Jack will come to love Jesse, just as Joe has come to love Jack.

Jamie has been able to stay here with me the entire stay. This is a first, and it is truly wonderful. It has been so nice to have him here all day to keep me company and to accompany Jesse to the nursery for any absolutely necessary "procedures" he has to have done. I am very adamant about having my little ones stay in-room with me the entire hospital stay, and having Jamie be able to go with Jesse the few times he has to leave the room has been such a comfort.

It has been an overwhelming couple of days physically and emotionally. I am overrun with emotions and gratitude towards my Heavenly Father for blessing me with yet another sweet spirit to care for and raise. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that my prayers for a healthy delivery and recovery have been answered. This is such a blessing. I cannot believe I am a mom to four now! I love my family so much and look forward to all of the memories and fun times we have ahead now that Jesse has joined us.

Here is one other picture I took of Jesse today.


**I have wireless at our hospital:-), so I hope to post again tomorrow!**