Family of 5!

We have been a family of 5 for a almost 2 weeks and we are having a lot of fun...mostly because daddy was on paternity leave...he always makes things more fun!

Austin and Andrew getting to know their little brother better and helping daddy

 

 The boys making tunnels and forts

 

Austin loves holding "his" baby

Our first outing!

We took the boys to lunch and then to the model train store...they were in train heaven!

 Another day we ended up at a bounce house place, the kids had so much fun running and bouncing every where

 Daddy taking the boys down the big big slide (if you zoom in on Austin you can see how sweaty he is, he had a blast!)

 Our happy family

 We ended the night with some yummy ice cream...all of us have a major sweet tooth

What a week! I have tried to treasure these moments. I love my family and know that they grow up all to fast. I try and stand back and take it all in. I can't believe how blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband (who is a fantastic father) and 3 wonderfully different and unique boys. We are loving life (but not so much all of the diapers :-)

Alexander's First Visitors

The boys were so excited to meet their new baby brother that I could hear them running down the hall before they got to our room.

Austin meeting Alexander for the first time, lots of loves and kisses for this little brother

 Andrew - the new big/little brother also giving up some kisses

 My trio

 One of my most favorite friends and photographers Ann came to meet the new bundle

and the best neighbor on the block Anni!

It was a whirlwind hospital stay. We arrived at 7am on October 30th and we were discharged October 31st at 6pm... in just enough time to spend time with my big boys before they went to bed.

It's strange. I can't remember pregnancy (even kind of miss it). Forgot what labor and delivery was like as soon as they placed Alexander on my chest. But most importantly I feel like I have loved him forever and can't imagine our family without him. We are so incredibly blessed to have him be apart of our family.

And his name will forever be known as...

As many of you know we have had our boy names picked out for some time. We started out with 4 names and now we have 2 left. Austin, being the older brother got to pick Andrew's name and now gets to pick from the remaining 2 names for this little brother.

 Austin making his selection...

 Austin and Andrew would like to introduce their little brother

ALEXANDER KAI

All of our kids' middle names have special meanings and Alexander's is no different. His middle name comes from Paul's best friend and childhood friend Kai Petersen. Kai is such an amazing person who is steadfast and endures to the end. He is a fierce friend and is also super silly. All of these qualities we would be honored if Alexander had.

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

I can't believe this day would come. I never thought I would go into labor on my own. I woke up around 4:30 having contractions, but I wasn't sure. So I tried to go back to sleep or wait until they got more painful and closer together. Which THEY did. But I was still in denial so I went into the shower around 5:30am and got Paul up and said we might need to go to the hospital at some point that day. After he got ready I knew we needed to go to the hospital but not before blow drying my hair hahaha. I was blow drying my hair every 3 minuted in between contractions and that when Paul said he had enough and we were on our way to the hospital. We got there at 7am and they put us in the triage room to make sure they were going to keep me or if we needed to go home. I was checked and told I was already at 6 cm!!!! and I wouldn't be going home let alone changing rooms!

 This was after recieving my epidural (hallejuah!) and I was 7 cm (11:30am)

 and in no time our little guy made it! He was as sweet as could be and we were in love instantly

 Born at 2:43pm

7 Pounds 19 1/4 Inches

 I can't believe how incrediably blessed we are. I love my 3 boys (and my big boy) so much.



Pregnancy in review...

9 months with Austin

Andrew 

 Alexander



Baby Shower

My good friend Rachel threw us an amazing shower (thank you!)

 and we got spoiled!!!



What to do on a Friday night?

But go to the orange store (Home Depot) and mess with the accuarcy of their inventory!

Tacoma Children's Museum

Before baby brother came the kiddos and I have been running all over town getting out and doing fun things while its just the 3 of us and I have enough hands :-)

So we went to the Children's Museum in Tacoma and the kids had a blast. Austin and Andrew could have spent hours just playing in the water.

 and then they discovered the ball wall... The toy they love more then water is PVC pipe and balls! These two had a hoot and I was one happy and very pregnant momma.