1 Month

I always forget how FAST time flies with a new baby!  I just wish I could bottle them up and keep them little and perfect forever!  Bonnie is one month old today and she is a PERFECT baby!!  She is so calm and relaxed when she is awak and the other 99% of the time she is sleeping!!  She really does sleep so much and I love to just snuggle her and let her sleep on me!!  She is a trooper for being able to sleep through the girls screaming and yelling and throwing things all day long!!  There's times when I look at Bonnie because I think "Surely that woke up the baby"...but no, she's still fast asleep!  I hope she will always sleep through the noise!  She is a great nurser and an even better burper!!  She burps like a man - seriously! - but I am lucky - she has no spit up!!  If she does spit up, it's like a little bubble in her mouth and you just take a corner of some cloth and just wipe it up...easy peasy!!  I love that!  She's up to about 6 hours at night now and I am patiently waiting for the morning when I wake up and realize the whole night went by without a feeding!!  Can't wait, I tell ya!!!!
Her sisters LOVE her!!  Evelyn holds her all of the time and Claire will to...until Bonnie lets out a little cry and then Claire will announce "I DONE!" as she is getting up from the couch.  The girls are so good with her.  They are gentle and they are always saying how cute she is and how little she is.  They have been good about giving us space when she nurses and they will often get their own babies to 'nurse' and take care of while mommy is tending to Bonnie.  It's adorable how young the girls are and to see them have mothering tendancies and the natural ability to nurture and mother a baby!!  GIRLS!!!  It's pretty cute! 
We are so excited to have Bonnie in our family!  She's making a great addition and we love her to pieces!  She is super cute and I am enjoying every minute of her!  I breathe her in every second I hold her!! 
Happy ONE month Bonnie!

Claire Update...

I got a call from the lab today about Claire's blood work...ALL results came back normal.  Good news!!! 

Bad news...we are still dealing with ... crap!  Literally! 

The doctor did say that "Toddler Diarrhea" is common and normal and that Claire could just be one of those toddlers that is experiencing this...and will most likely let up around age 4!  As long as her weight gain is consistant, her blood tests are normal, there is no evidence of infection or bacteria, and no food allergies...then we are just going to have to hang in there and deal. 

So that is what we are doing.  Claire seems to be fine - no abdominal pain, or loss of appetite - so we are just going to have to deal with her dirty diapers...hopefully for not too much longer!! 

The best news is that Claire is healthy!!!!!

Bonnie's 2 Week stats...

Bonnie is two weeks old (+ few days) and she had her two week check-up and here are her stats:

Weight: 7lbs 10oz  (she left the hospital weighing in at 6lbs 5oz so she's gained 1lb 5oz in 2 weeks!!!)
Height: 20"
Head: 14"

She is nursing wonderfully and putting some meat on her little bones!!  She is SO cute! 

Needing Answers...

My poor little Claire!  Claire has had on-going --- diarrhea --- for lack of a better word, since the beginning of April.  It came on all of a sudden and it hasn't let up.  We thought it was attributed to a tummy virus she had back in April which caused her to be sick to her tummy and throw up, but that only lasted one day and the messy diapers continued.  In May, I took her to the Pediatrition to get her checked out because it was still going on, 2-3 times a day and it just didn't seem normal.  The Dr. sent me home with a stool kit to collect samples from her diaper - YUCK!  That rates last on my list of favorite things to do as a mom!!  But as a mom, I did it.  I had to collect 3 tubes of it and it was time sensitive so as soon as I collected them, I had to rush it to the lab to be tested.  The results of her stool tests came back normal...no parasites or abnormal bacteria were in her poo, so the next step was blood work. 
We went to the children's hospital today - me, Grandma, Evelyn, Claire, and baby Bonnie (13 days old).  Not a fun visit I tell ya!  We saw a Dr we did not know and he poked and prodded Claire and he asked a ton of questions about her diet and about her weight gain and our family health history...etc. Then he sent us off to the "BLUE WALL".  Behind the blue wall was the lab and Miss Martha.  DUN DUN DUN!!!!!!
Miss Martha called Claire's name and Claire and mommy went back while Grandma stayed in the lobby with the two girls. 
Miss Martha didn't smile.
Miss Martha didn't really even say hello. 
Miss Martha told us to sit and told me to hold Claire and then she grabbed Claire's little arm and went in for the kill. 
Miss Martha DID NOT tell me to hold Claire's FREE hand and she reacted when she felt the prick and she pushed Miss Martha's hand out of the way ... which was the hand that was putting the needle into Claire's vein so when Miss Martha's hand was pushed away...the needle came out and so did a lot of blood.  Claire's blood. My little TWO year olds blood!  I forced myself not to panic at the sight of it.
THEN Miss Martha told me to hold her free hand and that she had to try again.  She tried the same spot again which didn't not work and only caused more pain for little Claire.  Since the 2nd attempt did not work, she had to try a THIRD time in a different spot, so she tried a third time in Claire's hand.  FINALLY a success and then we sat there with Claire screaming in my arms and I am pinning her free hand down and the tears were streaming and the sweat was building while Miss Martha filled 3 vials of blood for testing. 
And then...it was all over.  I turned Claire around to face me and comfort and console my crying baby!  I paced the room to calm her down, but it was working.  She was unconsolable!  We left the "BLUE WALL" and made our way out of the office, down the hall, down the elevator from the 7th floor, into the parking deck, down to the car and got everyone buckled in their seats and Claire was SCREAMING the entire time on our journey out of there.  Once to the car, I gave Claire a lolli-pop and promised her ice cream and anything she wanted really, I felt so bad for her!
We made it home and she told everyone about her boo-boo's all day long!  It was an exhausting day and I would NOT have survived without my mom there to help!  Thankfully, Bonnie slept through the whole thing and Evelyn was a trooper and very concerned about her little sister when she heard her crying. 
Now we wait until the test results come back in a couple of weeks.  Hopefully, the news will be NO NEWS!  Prayers for Claire are appreciated!!!! 

Bonnie's Blessing

We were able to bless baby Bonnie while Grandpa was in town this weekend.  We did it at home with family.  It was a speical day since it was also Father's Day - what a privelage for Bonnie's daddy to bless her on his special day too!  Gordon gave her a beautiful blessing and we really felt our Heavenly Father's love for her and for our family during her blessing.  She is a very special little girl and we are so blessed that she is a part of our family here on earth. 

First Bath

Bonnie had her first sponge bath the other night.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the smell of a clean baby.  I think we all breathed her in all night long!  She cried at the beginning and then once she got warm and snuggly in her towel she calmed right down and enjoyed her lotion rub down! 

1 week Bonnie

Bonnie is a reallly good baby!!  She sleeps A LOT now and is eating and pooping like a champ!  She weighed in at 6lb 7oz at her check-up (that's up 2oz from when she left the hospital at 6.5)!  For the last 4 nights in a row she has slept up to 5 and a half hours and letting mommy sleep that long has been wonderful!!  She loves to smile in her sleep and we love having her around!!  She's a keeper!!

Baby Bonnie

Bonnie Kate was born Friday, June 10 and we are so excited she is here!!  She is fitting right into our family of all girls and her big sisters adore her!  We're adapting and can't wait for her to sleep through the night - when does that happen again???  We love her and she is a beautiful, healthy baby girl!!!

Lindsay Family Photos - May 2011

So.. like 6 months ago I entered a contest to win a free session with a local photographer and I WON!  Due to weather and other scheduling conflicts, our sessions kept getting delayed and delayed and delayed.  Then, my photographer friend told me she was moving back to the West and was leaving first week of JUNE!!!  So we had to nail down a date and get our pictures done!  I WISH we could have waited just ONE more month because then the baby will be here and our family would be complete, but alas, I am almost 9 months pregnant in the pictures and as big as a barn!  Oh well, despite my own vanity (or lack thereof) I still think our family is the cutest and I think our pictures turned out to be amazing!!!! These are a few of my favorites!! ENJOY!!!!!

38 Weeks!

Swim Season

I LOVE the summer time - that must be the California girl in me!  Watermelon, popsicles, painted toes, sun tans, being outside and swimming!!!  The girls and I spent practically ALL day outside this whole week and in the pool!  My little fair-skinned children are already looking like brown bombs!  I'm so glad we tan and not burn!

37 Weeks!!

By the end of the day my feet hurt so bad!  They feel tight and so swollen!  I have short pudgy toes to begin with, but add pregnant feet to that and it's not comfy!!  I'm 37 weeks and ready for this baby to come out so I can get my body back!!!!!!!!!!!



I PROMISE!!!

I promise that we do more around this house than take updated belly pictures of myself!! LOL! So here's a little 'family' update of what's been going on around here!!!

The above picture was just so precious with Claire and mommy!  She is my wild, destructive, INDEPENDANT, rambunctious two year old and it is very rare that you get any snuggles out of this one...well, this moment was captured and I will never forget it!  She snuggled and cuddled and did not let go for a few minutes!!  Wild things can be tamed after all!!!!!!!! 

Granny came over to watch the girls for us so that Gordon and I could go bowling with some friends! As soon as Granny got here, she sat down in that comfy brown chair and Claire climbed right into her lap and she brought a book with her and Granny went right into story mode and Claire LOVES to be read too!! 

Here's ME 8 months pregnant and bowling!!  Yeh, I hurt a little the next day!  But we had a great time getting to know a few couples from our new ward and we all had a great time!!

Dad Lindsay came over to help us build a box for a garden.  We're excited because Gordon grew up with a garden and I grew up with a pool in my backyard, soooo I never had the opportunity to grow a garden of my own.  We're planting peppers, tomatoes, squash, cucumber and I think beans!!!  I can't wait to learn this skill and to teach my girls how to garden and to watch it grow!!!

On Fridays we DANCE!!!  There is an amazing and talented mama in my ward that dances and she decided to start a class last year for all the little people to come and learn to stretch and dance.  She's so good and the girls (and little boys too) are so adorable to watch!!  Evelyn has really enjoyed dancing and leaping and bouncing and twirling!  Claire just runs around most of the time, but they both really LOVE going to dance on Fridays!! 

MOTHER'S DAY!!  Gordon and the girls made us all strawberry milkshakes on Mother's day and they spoiled me with homemade cards and handprints and kisses and hugs.  Gordon got me new Rubbermaid tupperware and a dish drain and peanut M&Ms...best Mother's day!!  Who knew that new tupperware and a dish drain could make me sooo happy! LOL!!! I love being a mom and my girls are so special to me!  I am endebted to my Heavenly Father for trusting me with these sweet spirits to watch over and be a mother to!!  I have grown and learned so much from being a mom and I wouldn't trade my job for any other!  I love my kids and I love being a mom!!!

So on one of the HOT days recently, I set up the kiddie pool and the sprinkler and let the girls have at it!  The phone rang and I had to run inside to answer it and when I came back like 2 seconds later, Evelyn apparently had tripped or something and she rolled down the drive way and along the way she scratched up her wrist, her palms, her elbow, her knee and her toe!  If you don't know my Evelyn- she is my drama queen-especially when it comes to bobos!  Well, if you lived within a mile of my house you may have heard the screaming that was going on that day when she fell.  There was blood, there was tears!  Oh the tears!  Play time in the pool ended and then you can imagine Claire's horror of being dragged inside away from the pool party so that mommy could care for her sister - more tears!  Both girls crying, one injured physically and one injured emotionally and both soaking wet from swimming and mommy is hot and ragged and almost 8 months pregnant!!  Worst 20 minutes of my life!! 

Once I finally got everyone settled down and calm and happy, I noticed Evelyn did not want to move a muscle!!  So the above picture is how she sat for about 2 hours until Gordon got home.  She rested her arm on cup and she nursed her bandaged arm, hand and leg for the whole time she sat there.  Heaven forbid she ever break an arm or something!!!! 

My two beautiful girls!  Gotta love them!!!!!!

36 Weeks!!!

35 Weeks!

33 WEEKS!

There's a baby in there!!!  WOO HOO!!  Can't wait! 

Family Vacation

We went to Pigeon Forge, TN all last week - one last rendezvous before baby comes.  We had a blast!!    Since we've been home, I've been busy unpacking, doing laundry and taking care of Claire who came down with the flu on Monday and that has me behind on getting pictures up -so enjoy this one of our cute little GROWING family in Cade's Cove on a beautiful day!!  Stay tuned for the rest of the vacation later. 

GRANDPA!!!!!

We live in NC, Grandpa lives in CO...too far for frequent visits.  BUT--thankfully, grandpa is responsible for the East Coast with his job and is required to travel to Charlotte every now and then.  Tonight was one of those nights.  We met up with my dad tonight at our traditional spot - the Outback Steakhouse - YUM!  The girls got their hairs curled and all dolled up and they were soooo excited to meet up with Grandpa!  Evelyn made him a card and was so proud to give it to him.  We enjoyed a short but sweet visit with grandpa and got as many HUGS and KISSES in as we could until next time.  We love you GRANDPA!!!!  ---Grandma, we really missed you, next time...squish in grandpa's suitcase and come with him!!! 

Super duper cute kids...but I'm a little biased!