Kayleigh's Visitors

Headed Home to Meet Big Brother and Sister

Kayleigh Faith is Here!

We are so excited that Kayleigh Faith has arrived! She made a quick entrance into the world . . . Kristin started with contractions around 11:30 pm on Wednesday night (20th), but we weren't sure if they were the real deal. So we kind of waited until a little after midnight. We were then sure we needed to start our hour drive to the hospital. The contractions continued on the way and we were shocked to learn that she was already at an 8 when we got up to our room shortly after 2 am. Thankfully our midwife arrived very quickly! We worked through 10 or more contractions and were at a 9. The midwife broke Kristin's water (after she got the better part of her first dose of penicilin) and then we were ready to push. Only 3 pushes and Kayleigh entered the world. She was instantly pink and looked great! Kristin held and nursed her right away and waited to be weighed and measured. We were all guessing around 8-8 1/2 lbs, and were completely shocked for the second time that morning, to learn that she was 9 lbs. 3 oz. CRAZY!! So she was officially born Thursday, January 21st at 3:19 am weighing 9 lbs. 3 oz. and 20 inches long. She has adorable chubby cheeks!! Thank you God for blessing us with another beautiful child and another completely natural labor and delivery! We are more than blessed!!!

Our Little Superhero turns 4!

We celebrated Jackson's birthday with a few family and friends today. He had a Superhero/Spiderman birthday party.

Jackson turns 4!

It is hard to believe that Jackson is 4 years old already!!! He remembered last year that we hung a sign and balloons on his bedroom door and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. So we, of course, had to continue this tradition this morning (especially since he requested it)! Hard to believe the things they remember : ) He was VERY excited to see his new bike waiting in the living room . . . he took several laps around the kitchen table. Kinsey thought it was for her too and we had to pry her off several times! We decided to take it (and a tricycle for Kinsey) to the church gym this morning and let them ride around for awhile. He requested that we go to Applebee's for lunch so they could sing to him . . . he kept asking when they would come over to sing, but when it was time, he hid his face and acted all shy! We asked him afterward why he was hiding from them and he said, "I didn't really want them to sing to me. I just wanted the ICE CREAM!" He also had an appointment at the health department . . . 42 lbs and 43 inches! What a big boy : )

Still Waiting . . .

We are still waiting for Miss Kayleigh's arrival . . . yes, I'm 39 weeks pregnant today and I am becoming more and more anxious! Jackson even has been asking, "When is Kayleigh going to come? I wish she would come SOON!" I had Jackson at 37 week and Kinsey at 39, so I just assumed with my 3rd that it wouldn't be longer. So as I sit a week from my due date, I am realizing that Kayleigh may decide to stay in the full 40 weeks!

We have been laying low and not doing a lot of running around this past week. I am getting uncomfortable and dragging around a 2 year old and an almost 4 year old to run around town doesn't sound all that appealing. So we have spent a lot of time building with legos, setting up Thomas track for our trains, playing games, puzzles and play-doh and just spending some quality time together before we go from a family of 4 to a family of 5. And of course, I get the opportunity to rest while they are napping in the afternoons . . . a nice bonus for me! : )

Our hospital does not have wireless internet, so we will NOT be posting initial pictures and updates on the blog. Be sure to catch us on Facebook for those first peeks and details of Kayleigh Faith.

So we hope to share news of Kayleigh Faith's arrival VERY soon! But in the meantime, we are still waiting . . .

Let it Snow!!

Well, we finally got some measurable snow in Southern IL . . . of course, with Kayleigh's arrival yet to be determined I wasn't so crazy about the weather prediction. But nonetheless, the snow came anyway! Jackson got all bundled up and helped Dave shovel part of the drive and some of neighbor's too. But I'm afraid it is too cold to take him sledding though!

We went out for a little while in the afternoon after naptime and took Kinsey out this time! Jackson shoveled snow, made a snow angel and tried to have a snowball fight. Kinsey LOVED tromping around in the snow, EATING it and trying to throw snowballs at us! Jackson and I got cold and she didn't want to come in, we had to drag her in kicking and screaming, literally : ) So to say the least, she liked the snow much better this year!

Celebrating Christmas-Round 4

I have been busy cleaning and doing things around the house (nesting) and haven't taken the time to upload these last round of pictures from our final Christmas gathering with my mom's side of the family. As you can see, the kids love playing with their cousins! Neither of the kids got naps that day, so Kinsey especially was showing the effects late in the afternoon and was in a crazy mood as a result! She was pretty entertaining . . . see the video below!

Celebrating Christmas-Round 3

Christmas morning at Grammy and Papa's house . . . reading the Christmas story and opening gifts.

Celebrating Christmas-Round 2

We celebrated Christmas at home on Christmas Eve morning. Since we usually travel to my parents after our Christmas Eve service, the last couple years we have decided to make this our family tradition. We got up for pancakes, finished the last two boxes of our Advent Calendar, read the Christmas story out of the Bible and then opened presents. The kids were SO excited to see everything under the tree since we hadn't put a single present under the tree until the night before.

My Growing Belly-36 Weeks

On Wednesday (12.23), I had my 36 week doctor's appointment. Everything was good, her heart rate was 130s and measuring fine. No contractions and no problems, so nothing much to report. I go back on Wednesday, December 30th and will be considered "full term", so I think she will probably start checking me to know if I am dilated or effaced on a weekly basis. So we'll see when little Miss Kayleigh decides to arrive!

Dave and I got to go to the Illinois-Mizzou Braggin' Rights game that night at the Scott Trade Center in St. Louis. It was a lot of fun, but unfortunately, the Illini weren't able to pull it out!

Joy to the World by Kinsey

Celebrating Christmas-Round 1

We celebrated Christmas with David's sister and her family on Friday. The boys loved playing together and even asked Jackson to come over for a cousin sleep-over. Kinsey LOVED on her cousin Josiah . . . she would climb all over him, give him hugs and kisses, bonk him and she was all smiles when he picked her up to give her a hug at the end of the night!!!

We also celebrated with my dad's side of the family on Saturday. It was a lot of fun getting together with my aunts, uncles and cousins. Something that doesn't happen as often as we would like! It was great singing Christmas carols together and watching the kids play and dance . . . lots of laughs! Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of their performances!

Christmas Cookies

Kinsey and Jackson loved helping me make Christmas cookies on Thursday morning. Kinsey really liked making the candy cane cut out cookies (mostly the playing in the flour, rolling out of the dough and using the cookie cutter). Jackson LOVED helping by unwrapping 2 whole bags of Hershey Kisses (which I was SO thankful that he loved doing). It was fun spending time and making memories with them. I can remember many years of making Christmas cookies with my mom and now I get to share those memories and traditions with my own kids. Jackson was really excited to make goodies to share with our neighbors and friends, something he can remember us doing last year. It was so funny when he looked up at me while we were making the cookies and we were being silly and he said, "Mommy, you are so silly, you crack me out!" I think he meant, "Crack me up!", but either way it made me giggle . . . so cute! And of course, some of the perks of the job . . . . tasting the cookies!

Jingle Bell Rocker

Jackson once again serenaded us after Sonshine School on Tuesday. I don't know if it was because he wore his "Jingle Bell Rocker" shirt or what inspired this little concert, but here he is rocking some Christmas carols. If you have seen the movie "Up", you will truly appreciate the ending! I will have to get some video of Kinsey singing "Jingle Bells" sometime . . . adorable! Enjoy : )

My Growing Belly-34 Weeks

Somehow I missed having my picture taken at 32 weeks like I should have, so here is a 34 week picture from today! Oops! Everything went well at my 33 week appointment last Wednesday . . . I go back next Friday, December 18th and then weekly from then on out. We are slowly getting things finished up for Kayleigh's big day. Almost done wrapping Christmas gifts and hoping to get the carseat and a few other things down from the attic this weekend to finish getting things in order. With Christmas activities and events flying by and taking up the next couple weekends, we have to get things done when we can!