Meeting the family

Yesterday afternoon my parents brought the boys to come meet their new baby sister. Brady came in with a huge grin on his face, stripped off his coat, climbed up on the bed and was ready to hold her. Alex...didn't really know what was going on. He was more interested in running around playing. Here are the boys meeting Anna for the first time.

I LOVE this picture. Brady is such a proud and concerned big brother. He has had lots of questions about Anna and is always looking out for her. What a sweetie!
Alex is a studier. He looks at Anna and is rather quiet, like he is trying to figure this all out. He points and says "baby!" He also likes pointing to her facial features and calling out their names. Nose! Ears! It's adorable.

Here is our first family photo. The boys were silly, no one would look at the camera. That's just gonna be the way it is for a while I think...

Anna gets to meet Grandma Schwartzhoff

Meeting my mom and dad. They have been a fantastic blessing to us this week. My parents have been staying with the boys and bringing them to visit. We are so thankful that they are here to help us during this time and grateful for all their support.

Anna's Birth

Our little Anna was due on March 16. On Monday, March 21 we were headed into the clinic for an ultrasound to see how she was doing and make a decision about what to do next. My ultrasound showed that my suspicion was correct, I had been leaking amniotic fluid. My midwife and a consulting doctor decided, it was time to have a baby!

We headed home, grabbed our bags and checked into the hospital around noon. After running a few tests and getting settled, I received my first dose of induction meds at 1:30pm and a second dose at 5:30pm. Both were intended to help soften my cervix and help me begin to dilate. At 10pm we began Pitocin. By midnight my contractions were really beginning to be painful. I moved around a lot - spent time in the tub, on an exercise ball, on my hands and knees, and even trying to "rest" in bed. Being that it was the middle of the night I was exhausted. At 4:47am Anna was born after only 3 pushes. Amazing to me compared to my boys births!

I was amazed at her size. Anna is over a pound smaller than Brady was and two pounds smaller than Alex! Crazy. I fully expected that she would be more like Brady's size. She cried fairly quickly and was given to me right away. A precious time to have your baby right in your arms. She was very alert and eager to look around at the world. This photo was taken just a few mintues after she was born.

Here is our sweet baby girl within her first hour of birth. She was very curious about all that was around her. She was fairly quite as she just looked around and took it all in.
Daddy getting to hold Anna for the first time.

Our exhausted, but happy family.

Anna, post bath. The sleepiness was just starting to settle in. She is perfect!

Welcome Baby Anna!

On Tuesday, March 22, 2011 we welcomed Anna Ellen into our family. She was born at 4:47am weighing 6lbs. 9oz. and measuring 20 inches long.

She is a sweetheart and we are so glad that she is finally here!

40 weeks

Wednesday, March 16 marked 40 weeks and my due date for this baby girl. The day came and went with no sign of her arrival. We are still anxiously waiting three days later. Hopefully it will be soon. We can't wait to meet her!

Brady-a-saurus

Brady was one excited little boy to be studying dinosaurs at school over the past several weeks. He got to make fossils, color and paint pictures of dinosaurs, and even make his own Brady-a-saurus hat. The dino toys have made a come-back at home and he loves wearing his hat while running around roaring like a T-Rex!

38 weeks

Well, here it is. Me at 38 weeks. I never really enjoy having my picture taken during pregnancy, but I know that it is fun to look back...so here it is. Two weeks until my due date. We are wondering how long we will be waiting for our baby girl to arrive.

Overall I am feeling pretty good. Tired and not sleeping all that well any more, but overall good. I fell on the ice in the parking lot going into school on Monday. Luckily, I fell directly onto my knee and then my right hip. My knee is really bruised and super sore, but thank the Lord, baby is fine. I am thankful that God helped to protect her.

Conferences are now done, I have report cards entered, and met with my long term sub for school today. I am feeling like things are getting more into place. Clothes and washed and put away and diapers are purchased. I guess that all means we're ready!

Everyone benefits from mommy's craving...

I caved at the store yesterday. There are few things that I have craved during this pregnancy, but yesterday I really wanted Ho Hos. If you know my family, you know that Ho Hos have a special place in my childhood. It was always the breakfast treat my Grandma Ellen would let my sister and I have when we would stay at their house - without mom and dad. :) Such childhood memories. Anyway, I saw them at the store and decided to get a box. It was the boys first taste of such a treat and they both loved it.

Alex ate his so fast and of course shouted CAKE and TASTY the whole time.
Enjoying our treat. No, Andy did not eat all those. :)

Alex was sad that he couldn't have a second one. Look at that face...

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Yesterday at preschool was Dr. Seuss day in honor of his birthday today. Brady was so excited to wear his Dr. Seuss shirt and my Cat in the Hat hat for silly hat day. He was all anxious to show his hat off to his classmates. What a cutie!

Alex discovered the hat that afternoon. I thought it was funny to see him in a hat over 1/2 the size of him!!

Snuggles with Daddy

Sunday afternoon was a busy day for us. The boys got down late for naps and did not want to get up when we woke them. I got some good snuggle time with Alex for a while and then it was daddy's turn while I fixed dinner. I don't remember the last time both boys snuggled for this long or were this still. Daddy really enjoyed this special time with his boys.