Happy Halloween!

What a great Halloween! Hayden enjoyed a variety of costumes this year thanks to Grammy's birthday gift of a box of dress up clothes. He was Mr. Incredible at school, a cowboy for trunk or treat and a fireman for actual Halloween. He was excited to wear costume paint for "soot" to complete his fireman's costume. Landon was cute as can be dressed as a dalmatian and quickly caught on that people would place candy in his bag when he opened his bag. Molly was dressed as an adorable baby girl (how original). We didn't make it to the zoo this year but are looking forward to returning next year but between Hayden's school party, trunk or treat and walking the neighborhood we weren't lacking for candy.

Family of Five

So far so good. I hate to put that in black and white for fear that I will jinx how smooth things are going. Molly is an easy baby and Hayden and Landon have welcomed her into our family lovingly. Hayden loves to rub her head and kiss her forehead and give her "gentle hugs" as he calls it. He really wanted a sister and so far hasn't changed his mind. He comes home from Dede and Pawpaws and greets her first telling her how much he missed her and then at night he tells her he loves her and will see her in the morning. Landon was curious taking glimpses of her but not to interested at first. He would go up to her cosleeper and smile at her. If she lost her paci then he would get it for her and the same goes for those little socks that are oh so hard to keep on. He had told us to "shh" and then signs "baby sleep" when she is napping. I was worried how he would be with a baby and he has been just fine. His life continues pretend playing in his kitchen and vacuuming the floors when he isn't busy making music with his guitar.
The first week Jeff and I got to spend alot of one on one time with Molly as Hayden was sick and so Grammy and Peepaw kept the boys until fevers were gone. Landon still has a cold or allergies which he hasn't been able to get over in the past month. It seems to come and go and he has been so kind to share with all of us including his baby sister. So after getting into a routine with just Molly the boys came home and things are going well. Hayden and Landon are staying in the routine of going to Dede and Pawpaws three days a week which is great for them and for me. Hayden is a child that NEEDS routine and structure so this has been good for him. Landon will go with the flow but enjoys library day on Wednesday and playing with dede and pawpaw so he continues to go as well. This then allows me to be home with just Molly on these days and allows for me to catch up on some sleep during the day and get things done around the house. I actually have my Christmas decorations up and even have cooked some meals and cleaned the house. Mom and Dad came and painted the nursery and slowly I am getting my trucks and trains blue nursery converted into a pink polka dotted room accented with some cute owls. Not that Molly will be in her room anytime soon. She is sleeping in my room with me and Jeff continues to sleep in the boys room as Hayden still refuses to sleep alone although he has Landon in there now. Speaking of sleep... Molly is my first baby that will actually sleep without being held. That in and of itself is a miracle. She likes sleeping in her cosleeper and will go longer stretches in her swing. She actually passed out just laying on the floor after I changed her diaper. I couldn't believe that she didn't need to be held and shooshed and bounced and nursed to sleep. She doesn't appear to have reflux or colic... yet.... and I pray she doesn't get either. She did have 5 days of a bili blanket and bili tanning bed for jaundice which was a first in our house. She therefore got a paci much sooner than either of my other two as she wasn't a fan of the tanning bed. Daily heel sticks for the first 8 days of her life left her little heels red and sore but other than that she has been good. She wakes every 3 hours at night to eat and does let me get some sleep in between feedings. She eats great and keeps my little helpers busy with fetching diapers and filling up diaper pails. Did I mention she already has a paci? This has been the greatest thing along with swaddling. I wish I had allowed Hayden and Landon to have a paci sooner. There would have been alot less crying from everyone had I given in to the power of the paci. Again, we are thankful all went well and continues to go well with our newest addition and so thankful that her big brothers seem to love having her here and aren't ready to send her back yet.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

Molly got her first bath at Grammy's house by Grammy. Her umbilical cord fell off in the first week but the poor thing didn't get her first bath until she was 10 days old. She didn't care for the first bath although I think it wasn't warm enough although it felt warm to me. I have since discovered Molly is much like her mommy and likes her baths very hot. No more tears since discovering that. She is like her brothers and loves bath tim.

Another Day at the Fire House

Big Brothers, Hayden and Landon, showing Little Sister Molly the Fire House for the first time.

Welcome Molly Katherine

Just Minutes after arriving into this World All cleaned up 15 Days Later

Who would have thought that the color pink would dot our house after being filled with a sea of blue. I certainly didn't. From the very beginning this pregnancy has been filled with surpises including seeing two lines on a home pregnancy test. Morning sickness should be termed all day sickness and it stuck around 23 weeks this time and the baby in my belly couldn't make up it's mind if it wouldn't to be head down or feet down. The baby flip flopped several times in the last few weeks of pregnancy that some commented it had to be a girl because 1. she was causing trouble already and 2. she couldn't make up her mind. I had prepared for another boy and was fine with having a house filled with trucks and trains and all boy things. I couldn't picture myself having a girl and felt the odds were we would be welcoming Nolan or Owen or maybe even Grayson. At 11 weeks while getting an ultrasound I saw a dry erase board at the hospital while getting labs drawn that said Welcome Molly Kate and then parked next to me in the parking lot was a car with a pink license plate that said Molly. Was this a sign from above or just a coincidence? Hayden was insistent he wanted a sister and was adamant their was a girl in my belly. These were the only things that made me think it might be possible to have a girl but really deep down I knew it was a boy. Fast foward to Saturday October 8, a week before my due date, and a scheduled induction came and went. The OB forget he had an out of town wedding and so D day was rescheduled for Thursday October 13 and much to everyones surprise he was a she. Induction started at 6:30am with pitocin and my water was broke at 8; fully dilated at 9:30 and ready to push but no doctor ready to deliver so we had to wait until 10 for him to arrive. Four minutes later and at 10:04we found out that our third and final baby was a GIRL! Who would have thought?! Certainly not me. I am still in disbelief as I was certain it would be our third boy. Boy oh Boy did She have us fooled. As with all babies she truly is a blessing from above and someone said it best when they said babies are the closet to heaven that we will get this side of the pearly gates. Feeling so thankful today that the Lord blessed us with a healthy baby and really His plan is best!

Family of Four... Soon to be Five

Happy Fourth Birthday Hayden

Hayden had a great (early birthday) celebrating it at the beginning of october versus the end. I wanted to ensure the party was done on a warmer day as he requested a bounce house again and I also wanted the party over with before Baby K arrived. It turned out to be chilly but thankfully no rain. Hayden was so excited when the bounce house arrived at 7:30 in the morning. Of course on the day our kids decide to sleep in there is an unexpected ring of the doorbell four and a half hours earlier than planned. Never the less he and Landon peeked out the window and watch the men inflate the bounce house. He asked if he was four and continues to ask if he is still four at least several times a week. He is so excited to be 4! He had fun bouncing in the bounce house, hitting the pinata, opening presents and eating cake. I think I love birthday parties as much as the kids.
It's hard to believe he is already 4. It just seems like yesterday we were pacing around the house with him swaddled, crying from reflux and colic. It seems like he was just learning to walk and talk and was asking me to "hold you" and with outstretched arms saying "bup" as his way of asking me to pick him up. He still loves to cuddle and snuggle and loves to give hugs and kisses, is very sensitive and shy and yet is independent wanting to buckle his own seat belt and dress and undress himself. He has started calling Jeff, dad, instead of daddy and is trying to call me mom or mamma. Mamma is okay although I like mommy better but I don't answer to mom yet. I am wanting to be mommy for just a bit longer. He can fix his own drink and has outgrown naps although he occasionally will take one periodically. He likes to please and loves being a big brother. He is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his baby brother or sister and I know he will be such a big helper.