Miss Penny Anne is HERE!

We are officially out-numbered with three cute children... Our Penny Anne has made it to the world at 6 lbs. 11 oz!  

8:00 Sunday night I started having contractions that felt like really bad menstrual cramps with back aches.  We tried to quickly put the kiddos to bed and called a friend to come over.  After running through some red lights and going as fast as our little car could go, we checked right in and I was dilated to a 5.  Steve fed me some ice chips and I had to tell him to stop making me laugh since it made it hurt worse!  My epidural wasn't working right and I could feel quite a lot, so... 

The drug man came back and eventually got it right.  I couldn't feel a single thing.  She came right out and we have been so in love with her ever since.  Penny Anne was born at 11:55pm so her birthday party was on July 29th.  They wheeled my numb body into the recovery room where the nurses tried to cover over a bunch of administrative things while I could barely hold my eyelids open!  I sure was one loopy and sleepy girl.  One nurse who was new even tried to get me to set some goals for my stay!  I wanted to say, "Sleep!  I'd like to get some sleep!"  So that's what we did... a lot of sleeping and cuddling with Penny.  Steve and I were SO excited to show Brayden and Hailey their new baby sister, and we thought they'd be pretty extatic too.  But, all they wanted was to snuggle on the bed and eat all the hospital crackers and free juices :)      

Hailey eventually put out both hands saying "Bebe."  She did not want to let go of her!  It's amazing how little girls seem to come as nurturers.  She totally gets it how Mommy's having a baby when Brayden didn't have a clue at her age.  Here's Hailey saying enthusiastically "Eye!" and trying to poke her eye... we have some teaching to do :)

 WE LOVE YOU PENNY!!!

Pre-Baby Adventures

I thought I could walk around "Farm Country" 9 months pregnant!  Yeah, I didn't last long but at least the kids had fun together.  When we move away in a year, we sure will miss living by family...

Steve took the kids on a hike to a lake yesterday to give me some time.  The moments when they do act like best friends completely melts my heart!  Doesn't always happen of course, but those cute moments remind me of why we want all these kids!

Baby Penny is Almost Here!

Ready or not, baby #3 is about to join our family!  I'm officially in "momma whale" state where I can't really move and have no energy to do absolutely anything (even though I'd like to get everything ready)!  Looks like I'm going to be induced this Sunday or next Tuesday, so pictures will be coming when little  PENNY makes her appearance!  I just wanted you to know we are all still alive, I just haven't been able to blog lately and thought I'd post some updated pictures...

The "Torpedo" Tummy

I'm so excited for Hailey to be a Big Sis!  She kisses my tummy everyday :)

 Have you heard of "balance bikes"?!  They are made for 2-5 year olds and they don't have any pedals or training wheels.  The idea is that they learn at a young age to balance and can go straight to a 2 wheeler.  Brayden LOVES it.  We just got the cheapest one at walmart.com

 Our possible future doctor/dentist!  Steve starts dental school in August, so it's an exciting time but I'm also trying to prepare myself to fly solo as a mother of three, ahhh!

 I took this picture to maybe bring you hope :).  Maybe your car is always sparkling clean and organized ... if not, know that you're not alone :).  The things we moms do to survive long car rides!  Yes I gave both my children chocolate frosties and let them have at it.  I knew I was asking for a disaster but I decided to not look at the damage until we got home.  Nothing is cuter than chocolate covered kids... until you have to clean it up.

 My little Hailey Ruth is the sweetest and spunkiest little girl I have ever met.  LOVE. HER.

And thanks to Steve who has played with the kids each night, so that I can maybe to get caught up on all the oozing laundry and the piles of messes... or to just lay down and not do a thing :).  

Birth story hopefully coming shortly!...

Get FREE Chick-Fil-A Combos Friday July 13th!

On Friday July 13th in honor of Cow Appreciation Day, Chick-fil-A will give out a FREE combo meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) to every person who comes in dressed as a cow!  
 Here's the website.  And CLICK HERE to print out ready-made cow features to tape on easily.


You get a free entree if partially dressed and a combo meal if fully dressed as a COW!  My family has made this an annual tradition.  Have fun!

FREE 7-Eleven Slurpee Day

If you feel the need to get out of the house or out of the heat, you can go to 7-Eleven until 7pm today to get free slurpees!  This is a yearly event every July 11th!