Four Weeks.

Four weeks ago today, our baby girl Stella Marie came into this world.  In one sense, four weeks seems to have flown by, but on the other hand, it seems like much, much longer.  Days at home seem to creep by as we go through the feedings, playtimes, fixing meals, loads of laundry.  However, at the end of most days, it seems like time has escaped me.  The hardest part at this moment is that my baby girl is growing soooooo fast!  I am just loving having her as a part of our lives, and I am wanting to cherish every moment we have with our newborn blessing, but she won't stop growing!!!

One of the things that I want to express is how much I am ENJOYING Stella!  With Nora, I was a nervous wreck.  I could hardly make it through the day and fit in a shower, let alone keep a clean house.  Nora was particular and fussy, and I think I was just so anxious for her to get out of the fussy stage and start sleeping through the night.  I don't know that I enjoyed her first few weeks as much as I could have.  With Liam, I think I realized how I was with Nora and I tried to enjoy him more....which I did.  I was much more relaxed the second time around.  With Stella, I think I am just realizing more and more that this time with her so little is SO SHORT!  Getting up in the middle of the night is not quite as burdensome.  Her little newborn cries are so sweet to me, and I just love every single minute she is with us.  (I just wish I had more free time on my hands to just hold her tight!).  She is such a little blessing!

Here are some things about Stella at four weeks:

Feedings

Stella has been my best eater (and pooper) so far!  We have had few nursing issues and what little ones we did resolved themselves within the first week.  My girl eats about every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the day, and she is already stretching her feedings in the night.  She has done several nights of a 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 hour stretch, followed by a 3-4 hour stretch after that!  It is really nice having to get up only once in the wee hours of the morning.  Here is a rough estimate of her feeding schedule as of today (and I include this for my personal reference only):

8:30 am-  designated wake time  (I try to wake her up to "start" her day at this time or within 30 minutes of this time, depending on when her last feeding was.  Starting around the same time everyday helps to get us in a rhythm and puts her to sleep for the night around the same time).

11:00 am- feeding/awake time/nap

1:30-2:00 pm- feeding/awake time/nap

4:00-4:30 pm- feeding/awake time/nap

6:30-7:00 pm- feeding/awake time or bath/bedtime

9:30-10:00 pm- last feeding and straight back to sleep for the night

She usually wakes between 2:00-3:30 am for a feeding and then wakes again anywhere from 6:00-8:30 am.  We are just taking it as it comes and letting her wake to feed as she does in the night.  All together she usually gets 8 feedings a day.  And lately, she will take at least one really good, long nap during the day which pushes our schedule back a bit so that her final late-night feeding is around 10 pm. 

Naps

For the first three weeks, Stella slept really well for naps, and I contribute that to "newborn sleepiness."  Just this week she is becoming super alert during her wake times, but her nap times are pretty hard sometimes.  She fights sleep, and she is not fully committed to a paci.  Sometimes she will take it really well, other times it seems like she wants nothing to do with it.  Also, sometimes I can put her in her bed wide awake and she will happily drift off to sleep without anything (no paci, no soothing), but then other times she will fuss for a long time.  I am trying to figure her out!  I'm not sure if she's going to have to cry it out for naps, but if she takes fully to the paci, then we may go that route.  Too soon to tell, I guess!  Patience is the game...although, I must say, sometimes I get tired of going in again and again to "plug her up."

Growth

Stella is growing like a weed and changing daily.  She is still wearing newborn sized diapers, but sometimes at night when I know she'll sleep longer, I will put her in size 1.  She is still wearing most NB sized clothing, but her NB onesies are beginning to look snug.  She is definitely filling out in her arms and legs, and she's had a double chin for atleast a week now!  Like I said, she is growing too fast!

Outings

Stella has been a pretty busy girl in her first four weeks of life.  We have spent lots of time over the past month at Granna and Geegaw's house.  We had our "stay-cation" there and we've visited them over the weekends several times.  She has been to church the past two Sundays, and she has done really well in the Infant Care Room with me.  We went for our first neighborhood walk yesterday thanks to the help of Anne (my friend and next-door neighbor).  That was funny to watch:  Anne pushed Nora and Dillon in the double stroller, I pushed Liam in the jogger and wore Stella in the Bjorn.  What a workout!  Most days we stay at home all day, and I have not dared to even think about getting out by myself with all three kiddos to hit up Target or Kroger.  Jonathan has been so wonderful to me and goes to the grocery for me in the evening if needed.  

Siblings

Nora and Liam are in love with Stella.  Nora asks me at least 5 times a day if we can keep her forever!  I tell her that we will gladly keep her as long as God allows us to have her!!  Nora loves to check on her and tell me that she is crying (as if I can't hear her ;)).  She is definitely my little momma.  Quick story:  Yesterday Stella was having a hard time going down for second nap.  We had just finished lunch for the kids and I had to return some books to the library, so I thought I would stick all the kids in the car and take a quick ride.  Plus, I really wanted a sweet tea from McD's to get me through the afternoon.  I naturally assumed that Stella would pass out in the carseat, soothed by the ride.  However, I was WRONG!  That girl screamed from the moment we pulled out of the driveway until we pulled back in.  It was the longest 25 minutes of our lives!  Nora sits next to Stella in the car, and she kept trying to give her the paci, but Stella just wouldn't hold onto it.  Poor Nora was so frustrated because she was trying so hard to help her, but Stella just wouldn't have anything.  Nora asked me if Stella was going to get into trouble for throwing a fit, and I told her that babies didn't get disciplines because they were too little.  I tried to explain that Stella didn't know how to talk to us and that her way of communicating is to cry.  She was just having a hard time, and it is our job to care for her, comfort her, and do what we can.  But, sometimes babies just cry!  Nora was just looking for a mute button on that baby girl for sure!  I told her that sometimes it's hard to be a big sister, but thanked her for trying to help so well! Needless to say, we dropped the books off and came straight home (no tea for me!).  Once we got home and I fed Stella, Nora was back in love with her little sister.

Liam.  Whew!  First of all, he LOVES "Baby Stella."  Usually when speaking, Liam has this very low and almost monotone voice, but whenever he is addressing Stella, his voice instantly jumps up several octaves.  Even a two year old boy knows that you speak "baby talk" to cute little ones!  He loves to kiss her, and man is he rough!  He has know idea how strong he is, and I know he just wants to love on her, but I have to watch him like a hawk because he is so strong and squishes her.  Stella will be one tough cookie thanks to her big brother.  Liam likes to help me "pat" Stella during feedings (pat=burp), and he gets the biggest kick out of her loud belches.  He's been really good about the whole nursing thing, and although he has had some curiosity, he hasn't gotten weirded out by the whole thing.  He will say, "My baby, I eat milk" which means, "When I was a baby, I ate milk (like Stella)."  Only one time did he try to help himself to some milk (hehe!). 


I also want to say that my concerns for Liam prior to Stella's birth regarding how he would respond have dwindled.  He was such a Momma's boy prior to Stella coming, wanting to be held a lot and preferring me over anyone else.  Since Stella's arrival, he has definitely become less clingy (it's practically disappeared), and he is not jealous of her at all.  At least not in a physical, tangible demonstration.  Where we are having difficulty with him is his disobedience and testing the limits.  We have to be very consistent with him, following through with disciplines all the time, which can be exhausting and wearisome some days.  However, I have seen God's faithfulness in the past few weeks.  I cannot wait to see some fruit from all of this training!  We love our boy, no doubt, and are always cracking up at his antics and always in love with his sweetness.  He is so much fun, craziness and all!

All in all, the past four weeks have been wonderful.  Life with three is very busy, and most days I hit my limit about the time that Jonathan walks through the door.  I have once again been reminded that I am indeed dependent on God's grace every minute.  Our little family is a work in a progress, and even though we have a newborn who does require a lot of attention, I need to pour myself into the other two kiddos just as much as before.  This came seem daunting sometimes, but God has blessed us with a very good baby girl who seems to mostly "go with the flow." 

Stella's one month birthday is this Saturday, July 2nd, and her one month check-up is next Tuesday!  Check in then to see her stats and to know for sure how much she has grown in the past few weeks.

Maybe So.

I just love this little girl.  I love her and her sweetness and her thoughtfulness.  And her silliness.  I also love the way she thinks about things sometimes.  Just recently, Nora discovered that Disney World is an actual place.  With castles and Disney characters and "real" princesses.  It is no longer the Disney Store at the mall.  (Seriously, up until a few months ago, she was convinced THAT was Disney World.  I wasn't about to bust THAT bubble).

Anyway, this morning the kids were watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse before breakfast and Nora tells Liam:

"Liam, maybe one day when you are 8, and I am 8, and Stella is 3, and Momma is 11 and Daddy is 12.  Maybe then we can go to Disney World."


She is so cute! I just thought her little thinking process was too adorable to not record.  I hope we can take her when she's 8 (if not before). 

Do They Look Alike?

I finally sat down to get some pictures together of all three kiddos from their first few weeks of life.  What do you think?  Do they look alike?

Nora Kathryn, our firstborn:

Here's Liam:

And finally, Stella:

I definitely think that the girls look alike....Liam favors them in some ways, but he definitely has his own look!  What do you think?

We Survived!

Yesterday was it!  The very first day where it was me plus three kiddos without anyone else here.  We had some wild and crazy moments, but I must say that God's mercy was all over the day.  It went so much better than I could have hoped.  Stella slept pretty well the night before, and she was still asleep when both kids woke up.  That's one of my fears: being in the middle of nursing her when the other two wake up.  I just picture Liam screaming for me and Nora sitting in her big girl bed crying out for me, getting louder and louder because I am not coming right away.  (Even though she's in a big girl bed, she hasn't realized that she can get out in the mornings without me.  Not quite ready to burst that bubble).

Anyway, so breakfast was fixed while baby girl slept away.  Then....things got a little hairy.  It was kind of humorous, actually.  First, after I fed and changed Stella, I went to go put her in the bouncy seat, and just as I did, she threw up everything.  EVERYTHING.  So, I had to clean her up.  A little while later, Liam took care of his morning business, but with other things going on, it took me a long time to actually getting around to change him.  Then, when I was feeding Stella again (because she was famished after losing all of her breakfast on the kitchen floor), Nora announced that she had to poop.  Since my milk had just let down, I couldn't get up to wipe her bottom.  I asked her if she could do it (a first!), and then I told her I would check her when I was finished.  Ah, life with a preschooler, toddler, and newborn!  Spit up, poopy bottoms, and dirty laundry.  Even though I don't always feel like this, I must say that I wouldn't have it any other way.

The rest of the day went pretty well.  We were totally out of bread and most groceries, so we drove through Chick-fil-a for lunch, had a picnic outside, and went down for naps.  Miraculously, Stella was still asleep, so I was able to get in a 20 minute power nap. Seriously, that was a GIFT!  Nora went to her first swim lesson of the summer after naptime, and my dear, sweet friend Anne picked her up, watched her at the lesson, and brought her home.  To top everything off, a sweet friend brought us a yummy supper. 

At the end of the day, my thoughts were:  we are very blessed and God is very kind.  Yesterday could have looked very differently.  I am thankful that my thoughts were not filled with anxiety and that the Lord gave all of us joy.  I know there are hard days ahead of us, but I keep quoting:  "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself."  God will prove himself in those moments just as is He is right now.  I know there are days ahead where I will feel defeated, exhausted, impatient, and selfish.  I remember back when Liam was a newborn that week 4 was a really difficult week for me.  That timetable is approaching with Stella, so I am trying to mentally prepare myself that hard days may be just around the corner and that things may get even harder before they get better.  I pray that the Lord will help me to overcome myself in those days, pouring out abundant grace and giving me the heart to accept His provision minute by minute.  One day at a time.

As I was thinking about the day, I kept thinking of this silly video that I remember seeing when I was in college.  Anyone else remember this:

Crazy To Think.

Last night, we were driving home from Jonathan's parents house where we celebrated Father's Day.  We were riding in the car--our new family of five--and were listening to the latest Train cd.  There is a song on there that Jonathan and I both love called "Marry Me."  It's so sweet!

As we were riding along, Jonathan says to me:

"Did you ever think all those years ago when I proposed to you on the front steps of Nelson Hall that you would be sitting here with me, in Tennessee, riding along in a minivan with three kids in the back seat?"

"Nope.  I definitely wasn't thinking about that,"  I said.

"Is it better than you imagined?"  he asked.

"Way better.  Definitely even better."

Not only is my marriage even better than I could have imagined, not only is being a momma of three children even better (and crazier and more exhausting) than I could have imagined.  But, I realize that the man that God gave me is WAY better than I could have ever imagined him to be.  God has done amazing things in Jonathan's life since we first met, since we got engaged, and since we said I do.  Being a father has challenged and transformed him even more.  I am so blessed.

For your enjoyment, here are the words and a video of "Marry Me."





Forever can never be long enough for me
Feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do

Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry Me
Today and every day
Marry Me
If I ever get the nerve to say
Hello in this cafe
Say you will
Say you will


Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally shown her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Say you will


Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies

And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Say you will
Marry me

Just the Boost and Encouragement I Needed...

Today is my first day with all three kids by myself.  Well, sorta.

My next door neighbor and close friend kept Nora and Liam for a bit while I ran Stella to her appointment this morning, and I have another friend coming to hang out with us for a few hours in just a little while.  But, when we all woke up this morning, it was just me.  I am learning to juggle three hungry mouths to feed, instead of just two.   We are all having to learn a little bit more about patience and not getting what we want the EXACT MOMENT we want to have it.  We are learning that we all need to help each other out a little bit more these days, and that Momma is just a tad busier with a newborn in hand.

I am so thankful for a husband and a momma and in-laws and friends that are constantly encouraging us all.  I am so thankful for a God who pours grace upon grace on us, even when we don't deserve it and especially when we need it.  I am thankful for a Savior who reminds me of my weakness in seasons like these so that I am reminded that I cannot do it all on my own.  I am in need of a Savior.  I am not totally independent and self-reliant, even though my foolish and deceptive heart tries to make me think that I am.  I am thankful for the forgiveness of the Lord, my husband, my children, and anyone else when I sin.

This morning as I was feeding Stella, I opened up Facebook on  my phone and came across a link someone shared to a blogpost on Motherhood.  I read it (it took just a few minutes and was TOTALLY worth the read), and I was so encouraged by what the Lord was saying to me through the woman who wrote the article. 

Here is just one small nugget of wisdom found in the article:

"At the very heart of the gospel is sacrifice, and there is perhaps no occupation in the world so intrinsically sacrificial as motherhood. Motherhood is a wonderful opportunity to live the gospel. Jim Elliot famously said, “He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Motherhood provides you with an opportunity to lay down the things that you cannot keep on behalf of the people that you cannot lose. They are eternal souls, they are your children, they are your mission field."

If you are discouraged, discontent or just needed to be refreshed about your call to mommyhood, please read this post.  The author also has written a book that I am going to order that seems like it will be a great read.

Here's the link:


 Motherhood as a Mission Field

Stella Marie: Two Week Weight Check

Stella and I just got back from her two week weight check appointment.  It is ideal that babies gain back their birth weight by the time they are two weeks old.  Last week at her first pediatric appointment, Stella weighed in at 6 lbs., 10 oz.  That's just 5 oz. less than her birth weight, and she wasn't even one week old at that time.  Today, she weighs at WHOPPING 7 lbs., 11 oz.  Our girl is definitely growing!

It seems like I am producing some yummy and fattening milk!  Perhaps it's more like heavy cream!

Anyway, we are very thankful for a healthy girl who eats and poops like a champ.  We go back for a one month check-up in just two weeks, so we'll see how she compares to her brother and sister then when they were each one month old. 

Stay-cation 2011: Day Four

Day Four:  A much needed day at home.

We had a newborn/family photo shoot.

We played in the backyard and in the house.

We all took good naps.

We grilled out for dinner.

We went out for ice cream.

Stay-cation 2011: Day Three

Stay-cation Day Three: Trip to Splash Country with Daddy and Nana.

A Baby Story.

Well, if you can't already tell by the amount of blogging I have been accomplishing today, I am finally finding myself with a little bit of time on my hands.  Jonathan is on a week's vacation this week, but since we just HAD A BABY, we are staying in town for our very first "Stay-cation 2011."  Today, my mom and Jonathan took the two "big" kids to Splash Country for a day of fun in the sun, so Stella and I are chilling at home, taking a day to relax.

The past eleven days have been very busy, but very wonderful.  I thought I would document Stella's birth story.  It's a bit long, so hold on tight.  So, here goes nothing:

On Wednesday, June 1, I had a doctor's appointment scheduled in the middle of the afternoon.  I honestly was surprised that I made it to that appointment because at my previous appointment, my doctor said I was extremely ready to go into labor.  At my appointment, I found out that my doctor was leaving to go out of town that Friday (just two days later), and she would be gone on vacation for over a week.  BUT, she was on call that night! It was looking like she wouldn't be delivering Stella unless Stella came really soon.  Everything at the appointment went smoothly, and I was basically in and out of there in about 15 minutes.  Dr. Y checked my cervix and I hadn't progressed very much at all.  I was a "stretchy" 4 cm dilated, meaning she could stretch me to a 5, but I wasn't fully 5 cm.  She told me to walk, walk, walk.  So, since the kids were napping at Jonathan's parents, my mom and I decided to take this baby to the mall where we walked around for about 1.5 hours.  After the appointment, I remember feeling a lot of pressure and very uncomfortable, but I was hoping that the exam had perhaps gotten things "started." 

After the mall, we went to pick up the kids and then met up with Jonathan for a dinner out at our favorite Mexican restaurant.  I started having some strong contractions during dinner, and I had to pee like crazy for several hours.  I was so paranoid that my water was going to break in public!  After dinner, we came home, put on our walking shoes, and then we walked through our neighborhood for about an hour.  Instead of the trek up and down the hills of our neighborhood making me have more contractions, I remember that by this point, I was beginning to feel normal again.  The contractions had stopped, the pressure didn't seem as strong.  So, we came in, put the kids to bed, and relaxed for a while on the couch and watched some TV with my mom. 

I got a shower before bed and blew my hair dry, and then went straight to bed around midnight.  I am not sure how much sleep I got.  Liam was having a rough night and woke up a few times crying in his sleep.  The first time Jonathan got up with him.  I remember having two strong contractions around that time, but then nothing progressed.  I drifted off to sleep only to have Liam wake up again a few minutes later.  I got up this time to take care of Liam, and as I walked across the house, I remember that I noticed that my boobs were suddenly very sore.  It registered to me that this was different, and I thought, well maybe something will happen.  I went back to bed for a while and then started having some more contractions.

At 2:15 am I started timing them.  I had had quite a few, and I knew they were coming pretty consistently.  They were about 5-8 minutes apart and were continuously strong.  I changed positions, got up to pee, sat up, laid down, etc.  They still came.  I thought to myself that I would wake Jonathan when I had been having the contractions for about an hour.  At 3:00 am, I went to reach for Jonathan to wake him amidst having a very strong contraction, but I couldn't even reach for him.  It stopped me still.  I froze and breathed my way through it, but apparently my heavy breathing woke Jonathan up.  He said, "What's going on!?"  I told him I had been having contractions for nearly an hour.  He quickly got up and started getting ready to go. 

The next few minutes brought a lot of change.  I called the Dr. and the answering service told me she would call me right back.  Within mere minutes, I could not talk or walk through my contractions.  They kept coming very fast and were getting much more intense.  Jonathan kept asking me questions, but I couldn't think about anything but getting to the hospital.  It was a funny and chaotic time.  We woke up my mom and decided that we needed to go quickly to the hospital.  We told her we would call Jonathan's parents on the way to the hospital, they would come to the house to relieve her and stay with the sleeping kiddos, then my mom could come and meet us for the delivery.  The doctor hadn't called back, but there was no doubt that I was in labor, and all I could think of was that I wanted an epidural and I didn't want to have the baby in the car. 

Jonathan cruised at the speed limit for the first few minutes, and then I realized he was taking his merry old time and told him to hurry up.  My back pain was insanely painful.  When we pulled up to the ER at 3:30 am, I opened the door to get out but then couldn't move.  I just stood there looking at Jonathan and said, "I can't move.  I can't move."  He told me to get back in the car so we could park and then he'd help me in, and I was thinking, "Oh no, I can't wait that long."  So I sucked it up and made myself walk.  I was instantly put in a chair and they wheeled me up to Labor & Delivery.  They brought me to triage to check me to make sure I was in labor, and I was quick to tell them that I had been at 4 cm just earlier that afternoon and that I would like an epidural.

The contractions were really rough.  Wow.  I had major back labor, and man do I have such respect for those mommas who have natural deliveries.  The triage nurse checked me and I was at 6 cm.  They admitted me to a room, and when I asked about the epidural, they told me that there was only one anesthesiologist on call and that he had been called in to participate in an open heart surgery.  They had no idea how long it would take him to get there.  For about 45 minutes I labored, and I remember just after a contraction telling Jonathan, "I don't think I can do this."  No sooner did the words come out of my mouth did the anesthesiologist walk in the room.  He told me he'd have me comfortable in 10 minutes, but he managed to get it finished in 9 minutes.  I was so happy to see him!  At 4:20ish, the nurse checked me again and I was at 8 cm.  Any longer and I probably wouldn't have been able to get the epidural.  I am so thankful!!!

For the next hour or so, I just relaxed in the hospital bed.  I was really tired from having slept just minutes, but we were so excited about having our baby girl.  My mom, Jonathan and I sat in the room just chatting, and we even listened to a Piper sermon while waiting.  Before I knew it, a nurse checked me and I was completely dilated but my water hadn't broken.  They called Dr. Y in to break my water and to confirm that I was ready to go.  "Let's start pushing," she said.  The nurses got the room ready while the doctor went to check on another patient, and before I knew it she was back to deliver Stella.  I pushed about 3 times and she was here!  It was an amazing delivery, the best yet!  My epidural was great....not too strong.  I could feel my contractions and the urgency to push, but there was no pain.  Also, I did not have an episiotomy this time!  I still tore a bit, but no actual cutting.  Much better for recovery!

Stella came out screaming like a mad hornet!  She was pink and mad and just a little peanut.  She weighed 6 lbs., 15 oz. and measured 19.25 inches long.  Her APGAR scores were very high, and she was just perfect.  I got to hold her immediately after pushing her out, which I LOVE!  They took her away to clean her and get her temperature up, and when they brought her back I nursed her.  Then they took her away again to get checked by the pediatrician, so Jonathan still wasn't able to hold her.  It was killing him!

In the meantime, my epidural wore off and I was able to get up and get a shower.  This was just amazing!  For my previous two deliveries, I was induced and was on Pitocin and the epidural.  I was on those for like 8 hours, so it took much longer for everything to wear off.  This time, I was up and in the shower in no time, and when the kids came to meet their baby sister, I was no longer attached to an IV or any medication.  I was up and walking around and in my pajamas.  This was helpful in not upsetting the kids, particularly Nora who is always concerned about me when I am at the doctor.  I am so thankful for the way everything happened.  It was a great day and a wonderful birthing experience, even with a few hours of intense laboring at home and in the hospital.  Dr. Y even got to delivery me! 

Here are some pictures of our Stella Marie's birthday:

Stella still in.

My reenactment of labor minus the epidural

Mad.  And Yucky.

Much better.

Meeting each other for the first time.  Love at first sight.

Daddy finally gets to hold his girl.

Meeting Big Sister and Big Brother for the first time.

He loves her!

Geegaw and Liam checking her out.

Stella and Aunt Mamy

Nora was very cautious at first and didn't hold her for a long time.  Just checked everything out.

Granna and the new girl.

She FINALLY held her and was instantly a little momma.

Bradshaw Family of Five.

Stella Marie Bradshaw

Our two girls.

My mom was there for the entire delivery, and I just loved having her there!  Unfortunately, she was holding Stella while I was in the shower, so I didn't get any pictures of the two of them together, but I have more from the following days which I will post at a later time.  We are so blessed to have my mom here with us for so long to take care of us and spend such quality time with us.

I will write later about how things are with three kiddos! But now, I am off to feed a hungry baby girl.

Stay-cation 2011: Day Two

Day Two: Another day on the lake and in the pool. This time with Mames and Andrew.

My two boys having fun in the pool.

Lovebirds.

Nana and Liam relaxing on the boat.

Riding.

Nora and Mames.  Having a blast.

Protecting a sleeping Stella from the wind.

Big brother checking on her.  Or bothering her.  Or trying to wake her.  There's no telling.

Andrew Avocado.

 

She's in love.

Stay-cation 2011: Day One

Day One:  Watching the boats on the river.

One Week New

Stella Marie.  You are one week old today.  What a long, but lovely week it's been.  We sure do love you, Sugar Girl. 

Bradshaw: Party of Five

She's here!

Stella Marie Bradshaw

Born June 2, 2011 at 7:40 am

6 lbs., 15 oz.  19 1/4 inches

All I can say is that I am overwhelmed with love for this little girl.  She is just so precious to us already, and we can't wait to let everyone meet her.  We had a crazy yet GREAT delivery!  I'll tell the whole story at another time, but I have had the best delivery so far and the easiest recovery so far.

God is very kind.  Being a momma to three is such a blessing, and I am trying to love on all three of them as much as possible.  Our family and friends have been so supportive and encouraging and loving to us the past few days! We couldn't do this without them, and without the grace of God every single minute.

So, here we are:  The Bradshaw Family up-to-date!