OH. MY. GOODNESS.
last week I asked McKay's Kindergarten teacher how he was doing. She said, great. He's just really quite. Well that's because he is saving up ALL of his words for the second we get in the car. Today went something like this.

I made a puzzle with my book buddies today. It was of the earth. They grow pineapple in Hawaii. How far away is Hawaii? Does Santa live in the North Pole or the South Pole? There are polar bears in the North Pole. Where are we going for Lunch? What do they have to eat there? Are we closer to the North Pole or the South Pole? Which one is China closer to? Do we have to go over an ocean to get to the South Pole? Are all polar bears white? How long would it take if we could drive to Hawaii? Are we still in Castle Rock? Can I play on the computer when we get home? Do babies just fall asleep automatically? Leah just closed her eyes. How long til we get home? So, can I play on the computer?

And on, and on, and on. Then, when we were about 5 minutes from home he seemed to run out of words so he started singing, nananananananananananananananana. He is such a fun kid and so smart and he makes me really, really tired.

picture over load

 I won't bore you all with a long labor and delivery story. Things went mostly well other that a lot of puking before and after delivery, which was not expected. Then at 1:42 pm our sweet baby girl entered the world at 8 lbs 0.5 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. She had long fingers and toes and was so alert and bright eyed. She immediately started trying to get her hands into her mouth and scratched up her little face. I thought at first that she had red hair, which I must admit I was hoping for, but it turns out I only make blond girls.

 The first week has flown by. Which is sad and scary to a momma who thinks there is nothing better in this world than a new born baby and knows she will never have another one :'(, but it has also been a joy. She is a great baby. From the very first night she has slept between 5 and almost 7 hours at a time then she eats and sleeps for another 3 or 4 hours. I couldn't have even hoped to have it so good and I am super grateful. During the day she divides her time pretty evenly between sleeping and eating. The eating is another story. I don't mean to complain, but I have nursed 5 other babies and never have I experience pain like this. Again, I'll spare you the details, I'll just say it's ugly ya'll, super ugly. I hope things improve soon. She had a check up on Friday and weighed in at 7 lds, 12 oz and was about 20 1/2 inches long. She didn't grow an inch in 4 days, she was just easier to stretch out.

We spent her one week birthday/Labor day running errands. We went to AFW and got some new furniture then to the craft store to get the letters for her name, now that she has a name. Then to Target for a variety of things. Then we went to the pool for the last day of the summer. The big kids had a great time swimming with Sam and Leah and I enjoyed hanging out with Heather and Jeff. She was a trooper and it was a great day!

Her umbilical cord also fell off on her one week birthday. It was a big day for her.

So at 1 week she is a great sleeper, great eater, great pooper. She takes a pacifier, which is a first for my kids. She sucks her thumb and fingers occasionally. Hates being put in her car seat, but is fine once she's there. loves to be swaddled and snuggled. Sneezes a lot. Has hiccups a lot. She's a little bit yellow, but nothing to be concerned about. She's wearing a yellow outfit today and Gracie told her that her outfit matches her eye balls, which is kind of true.

 Here is proof that I do let other people hold her, but the truth is I'm not very fond of sharing her.

This was Thursday night before Gramma Mary and Grampa Hal left. I think Gramma has given all of the babies their first sink bath.

Leah Marie

I spent the majority of the last five days just starring at this sweet baby, trying desperately to memorize every ounce of her amazing newborn-ness.

 The puffiness around her eyes and wrinkles on her forehead

 Her perfect little round, blond head and her dark gray eyes. The way her top lip makes a perfect little bow

 Every streach and yawn and sneeze and grunt and coo

 That extra fuzziness on her arms and back and shoulders. That super soft squishy part of her neck that just begs to be kissed.

Her long little toes and her fingers that will surely serve her well as a basket ball player or a piano player someday (if she wants).

The way she puckers up her lips into a tight little circle. The way she tries so hard to find her fingers with her mouth and when she does she concentrates so hard on sucking on them.

every bit of her is so absolutely perfect.

There are no words to express how perfectly happy I am that she is here. I feel a completeness and a peace brought simply by her presents. She is pure joy.

I could go on and on and on, but the fact is she is hungry so I am needed elsewhere.

photos taken on Aug 28th courtesy of Bella Baby Photography.