the many faces

The Pirate 

The Shocked

The Content

one month (a little late)

How can my sweet Simon be one month? I mean, the kid already weighs 12 pounds! I'm actually quite sad this month went by so fast. I feel like I didn't get to enjoy my sweet newborn nearly as much as I should have. He may be our last newborn, and I didn't have a chance to take advantage of holding and cuddling him. So, I'm going to do better. I'm going to laugh at my dishes and ignore the piles of laundry, and I'm going to hold and play with my little man! (so if you come by, don't judge, I'm just loving on my little one)

He had an adventurous first month!
~ He moved to a new house at the age of 2 weeks.
~ He stayed home with Grandma without me for a few hours while I attended a fundraiser with the husband.
~ He had his first Thanksgiving (which he slept almost the entire time in Grams' arms)
~ He's been squeezed and loved on constantly from his older siblings.
~ He went on his first Christmas tree hunt at a tree farm.
~ He started smiling around three and a half weeks old, and he has such an adorable smile.
~ He sleeps so good for the most part. Most the time I feed him around 10, and he doesn't get up until between 3am and 4am. Then he gets up again around 7am. That is not too difficult at all!

Here are some of my favorite shots of the month:

bobo

Raelynn had her first bubble bath. How has this girl never had a bubble bath? She was in love. And she says, "bobo" for bubble. So cute.

tree hunt 2012

Well, Christmas tree farms in Idaho aren't what they are in the Portland area! There are tree farms in every town, and many were within a 15 minute drive of our old home! Bryan really wanted to go into the mountains and cut down a tree, but I just couldn't do it this year. I had visions of Raelynn needing a poopy diaper changed in the middle of nowhere, and Simon needing to be fed. Which led to visions of me sitting on tree stumps feeding my little guy. Yeah, it sounded way too much for me this year. Hopefully next year I'll be more adventurous.

As for this year, I found a tree farm in Horseshoe Bend, which is about an hour away. So, we loaded up all 4 kids in Bryan's truck, and headed out. It was raining, but not too bad. And let's be honest, for the last 6 years we've picked trees out in the rain! The farm might have been the saddest tree farm we've been to. Meaning, it was TINY. But we had fun, and we found a tree! The family who ran it were so kind and sweet to our kiddos.

 This makes me twitch thinking of how someday this could turn into a bad scenario.

He was so proud of himself, though.

 Simon was not excited to get his little outfit on.

I think he looks so cute all ticked off.

 He relaxed once he realized how warm and cozy he was.

 I'm guarding our tree while Bryan went to find the man with the chainsaw

Our first family photo since the hospital

I'd say the tree hunt was a success. Our tree is quite lovely.

simon richard

Night after night for over a week, I was kept awake with contractions. They were not painful, just annoying enough to keep me awake. Then every night around 4 or 5 am, they'd stop. I woke up frustrated and exhausted every morning. IT WAS AWFUL. I was very emotional, and very "woe is me".

So, I was induced. I walked in the hospital around 3:30 pm. I was already dilated to almost 5, so I was hoping we wouldn't be waiting too long to meet our little baby. I was so exhausted that I told them I'd take the epidural whenever they'd serve it up! I told my nurse that I was just too tired to deal with pain. It was AMAZING. Seriously, it was so quiet without our 3 little ones, and I felt not one ounce of pain for his delivery. It was a very restful 7 hours. 

My doctor broke my water around 7, and I delivered our little man at 10:58pm. I pushed through one contraction, and Simon has his cord wrapped around his neck. They had to cut his cord, and then they handed me my precious boy. I was so ecstatic to be holding my baby in my arms and no longer in my tummy. He was beautiful, perfect, and healthy.

Isaiah named him. We were driving to Target one day, talking about the baby. Isaiah piped up from the back and said, "If it's a boy, let's name him Simon". I have never known a Simon, and I'd never even thought of that name. But, I loved it right away. I have no idea where Isaiah came up with the name, but I'm glad he did. 

Simon means "to be heard". It doesn't sound that amazing, but I'm praying our youngest will grow up to follow the Lord and spread his love of God to anyone who is willing to listen. His middle name, Richard, is his Pop's name. He is named after a wonderful man, and has some big shoes to fill! (hehe, Shoes..that's Bryan & his Dad's nickname)

My little Simon is just amazing. He started eating really well, and only cries when he gets his diaper changed or he's ready to eat. He really hates to have his diaper changed!

Our other 3 just adore him.

He is getting a lot of loving from Isaiah, Elias, and Raelynn. Raelynn had only a hint of jealousy at the hospital when Bryan was holding Simon. When she sees Simon, she excitedly exclaims, "Baby!" in the cutest little voice. She grunts and grabs at him until I bring him down to her level. Then, she lays her head on his stomach. It is just the sweetest thing ever!

Isaiah and Elias ask to hold him multiple times during the day. I just can't believe how big they are that they can hold our little Simon!

Isaiah had the biggest smile on his face when he met Simon. That image of him is etched into my mind forever. Here is a picture to prove it!

Oh, Simon. He's just the cutest little thing. We all love him to pieces!

awakened

I woke up this morning with my little Simon. As I sat there feeding him, I was overwhelmed. The boys were already playing upstairs. Raelynn started fussing through the monitor. I have been trying really hard to get a shower in before the day begins (otherwise I don't get one until 2ish). I just wanted a shower before I had to face the chaos. My tank is empty. I mean, I feel like I have nothing left to give when my dear husband gets home. One more hug is just difficult after I've been climbed on, patted, yanked on, hugged, and talked to over a thousand times earlier. My love language is definitely not touch, so to be touched all day is difficult!

I sat there wondering how in the world God thought 4 kids was a good idea for me. Then, it hit me as I was asking God why He gave me 4. I've been so caught up in my kids and moving, that I've spent far less time reading and praying. I even stopped going to Bible study. No wonder my tank is completely empty. When I get all of them to sleep for naps, I'm so exhausted. I grab some lunch, pay some bills, turn on the tv for a little white noise...I should be spending that time filling up with some good reading and praying.

I put some worship music on, and decided the day will be fine. It's been chaos. It's been loud. I've corrected a lot of bad attitudes going on, broken up a bunch of fights between my kiddos (yes, they all 3 fight)....And it's not even 10:30. I'm looking forward to nap time for some quiet time with God. I'm really looking forward to it.

we have a ....

BOY

Simon Richard 

born November 1

at 10:58 pm

weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces

and 20.25 inches long

He's perfect