Life in January...

I actually have no idea where most of January went. This is what I'm guessing:

1/3 of it nursing (or milking as Alana calls it, but mom is not happy when she says it)

1/3 of it burping and changing

1/3 of it trying to get back to real life

I really am thankful for it, especially for peaceful moments like these:
(but why am I not sleeping????)We have had snow off and on. The poor kiddos haven't played much in it. But, when we have been going to or fro they sneak out for some fun. I found Ammon building these 2 tiny snowmen. (they are on either side of him) Halle is cute as ever. Here she is wearing a headband that is entirely too large with jeans that she is swimming in.

This is a favorite that all 4 of the babies have worn:Who is that? "Shark bait, hoo ha ha!"Classic Mac pose...2 cute boys that look entirely too grown up to their mom! "You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off of you.
You'd be like Heaven to touch.
I wanna hold you so much.
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive.
You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off of you!"
-Frankie Vallie


I know I'm the worst at videos and sideways!~ This is Alana in the 2nd grade talent show singing "Puff the Magic Dragon." She was very insistent on singing this song!

17 days of sweetness...

Halle is the sweetest, calmest baby girl any family with 4 kiddos could ask for! Almost every day I've gotten her dressed I've had to do a photo shoot right afterwards 'cause she's so cute :)Thank you Washburn family for this sweet outfit! One of mom's favorites and worn quite often.

This is another one of my favorite outfits and worn often from cousin Savannah. Sooo sweet in sunflowers :)
I napped Halle in her crib on Sat. morning and she was fussing so I guess Alana decided to climb in and help her baby sister. Oh I love the sister thing! (I did have 5 sisters growing up)
The "I love Daddy" shirt with the very proud daddy:

Oh if they would just stay little!~

I think I remember baby Bella and baby Savannah in this one:

I'm the CUTEST EVER! Auntie Jenna, the blankets are so great and too cute!

Halle had her 2 week appointment on Monday and she weighs 8 lbs and 9.5 oz already! (Her birth weight was 7 lbs 4 oz) Also, I was looking through pictures of Ammon as a baby and we think that she will have his gorgeous blue/green eyes. Right now they are like a steel blue. We hope she will! We have been so blessed these last few weeks. We could not ask for more! We truly have been thankful and enjoyed each moment with this sweet little one. We love you Halle baby!

Happy one week old Halle~

One week old today!

(thank you for the good reminder Catherine...love you!) These are the sweetest Pagah pictures:
Love you Pagah!

Ammon is the sweetest, most loving brother. He is always very concerned about his baby sister and if she is OK. He loves to give her loves.

We love our Grama Annie! She is so wonderful and gets a very Super-Grama award for watching 3 rowdy kids all week!(Especially for watching the one that strips naked every hour, gets into everything and is very opinionated right now)

Baby Halle Hospital favorites:

We came home from the Hospital this afternoon with our sweet baby Halle. She has been so sweet and precious! I have loved being able to focus my time and efforts on getting to know this amazing spirit that Heavenly Father has graced our family with. She is truly a gift from God.

Halle's Story:

On Sunday, January 3, I had been having contractions all week but they had intensified on Sunday morning. I knew it was getting close. I told my Mom on the phone at 2:30 pm that I was going to try to make it until 4 pm and then go to the hospital. Then at 2:50 my water broke and we went a little earlier than planned to the hospital. Within 30 minutes of being at the hospital I found out I was only dilated to a 3 and she was still only at a -2 station(really high) and I was in a lot of pain. My contractions were still 3-5 minutes apart but between contractions I felt worse pain than during the contractions. The doctor showed up and said he didn't like that I was a previous c-section, overdue and in so much pain. They decided to take her right then. When they started the c-section I was only dilated to barely a 4 and still at -2 station. When they did the surgery the doctor said that my uterus scar was very thin and that he was afraid I was close to rupturing. I was just very thankful and glad to be out of such pain and have our baby girl finally here! Halle was born at 4:35 pm, 7 lbs, 4 oz. and 21 inches long. Practically perfect in every way! These are some of my favorite shots from the Hospital: (there are a lot:)

Daddy always gets the kids a stuffed animal and names it something significant. Alana had Valentino the bear,(born the day before Val. day) Ammon has Moroni the dog and Mac has Baloo the rottweiler (a dog Aaron has always wanted) and Halle got Jordan Berry (a middle name she almost had and after Halle Berry)

I just LOVE a sweet newborn yawn and oh that sweet newborn smell!

This is the first time we introduced Mac to Halle. He looks really excited, right? His comment about Halle was, "She's so short!"

This is 2 days later when we brought Mac to the hospital by himself for 2 hours. He finally acknowledged her and tried to give her Binky's.

Oh, I can put bows in her hair!

Sweet sister Alana.

Brave brother Ammon.
Coming home outfit. We always pick it out at our 20 week ultrasound when we find out what the baby will be. It has been a LONG 20 more weeks and 6 days!

Going home! (A c-section stay is so much longer, but much needed. I was glad to be leaving!)

Halle Grace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halle was born today January 3rd 2010 at 4:35pm. She weighed 7lb 4oz and was 21 inches long. She is Beautiful, perfect and despite having to come by "C" section Eliza and Halle are both doing GREAT!!!

She already loves her binky, and I do mean loves it!!!! She came into the world looking for something to suck on including hands, fingers, and blankets. She has a spirit about her and eyes that you would swear see inside you!

This was the first picture we took of our little Halle Grace. See was staring at her momma! She has my clefted chin, Eliza's lips, and like all our kids it darker complected with a good amount of hair. Which I am sure comes from Eliza as well!

This is a special picture to us. It was taken as Eliza was on the phone to Mariah Grace's mom
after which Halle Grace is named. Eliza and I feel these two choice spirits knew each other
and we will be for ever thankful to Mariah for teaching us to hold Halle a little tighter, a little closer, and a little longer. We have great faith that one day these two good friends will meet again at the feet of the savior.

Halle Grace means "unexpected graceful gift" For it is truly by God's grace that we all have received of his precious gift of love. We thank you all for your prayers, and faith. Truly God is good!!!