Happy Birthday, Analeigh!

Her arrival was amazing! Perfect! I wouldn't change one thing about her birthday and I'm so grateful! It was a wonderful grand finale to this chapter in our lives. It was raw and real and oh so beautiful. We waited and dreamed and watched this little baby grow from scratch carefully knit together by God and then embark on a beautiful journey earth side and in that moment, when baby has finally emerged, you hear "it's a girl!". I really don't know what we expected to hear, but in that moment it was as if we had always known and it was extremely overwhelming! 40 weeks and 6 hours of labor waiting to meet this angel face!  She had a face, a name, a beautiful polite cry. She is an angel! Finally seeing her was not the only beauty of that day, but the partnership, the incredible job my body had just accomplished, the beauty in the moment you finally know and see the little person who completes your family. It's all still so vivid and amazing! I hope we never forget! 

I really tried this pregnancy to have a good mindset and prepare my body for what it needed to accomplish. I used many affirmations and mantras throughout this 40 weeks to build confidence and trust that God knows exactly what he is doing and we just have to trust that. I paid more attention to diet and exercise and made more preparations through specific exercises, mental preparation, and drinking raspberry tea etc. to prepare for her birthday. I have no idea if these things actually helped make this such a delightful experience but I'd like to think so! 😉I can honestly say it was the most amazing experience growing and birthing this beauty! ❤️

My partner in this life is amazing. I couldn't have made it through one moment without him. I have no idea how I got so blessed! The kids are over the moon excited and totally in love! This little lady had turned big brother soft, big time! Big sister is so happy and in love and can't wait to have her in her room! 😊 and little brother says "she is so so so beautiful!" And I'm pretty sure they will be close as they grow! 

The hospital stay was a little more than we prepared for, she had a hard first night! I'd like to think it was because she was too sweet to cry when she was first born and there was a lot of "stuff" left to clean out of her lungs and tummy. She has since been doing beautifully, but will be on a monitor at night for a couple months just to see all is well. And I'm confident God has His hand right here on her helping her grow strong  and protecting her each and every moment, just as He is for our big kids. 

The postpartum transition is so far pretty good! Emotions come and go (mostly come! ha) and is expected...we are slowly recovering and regaining energy and wholeness. Once again, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't survive one moment without my person! He's been such a amazing support! He's totally taken over the big kids and helping them transition. He's doing all the errand running and taking the kids where they need to be. Seriously, blessed! I personally can't wait to feel comfortable and confident enough to come and go again! A little ready to get out of the house, but it won't be long! He's just today headed back to work and I'm confident we will slowly find a good rhythm and routine. 😊

So, our family is complete! She's an angel and we are so so in love! Analeigh Grayce Powell, our precious beauty was born on December 1, 2016 at 3:05! She came into the world at 8 pounds 13 ounces and 21.5 inches long and so perfect! ❤️

 Their faces when Daddy told them it was a girl baby! :)

 Filled with wonder!

 In Papa's hands <3

 First love from Nina, Rosey, and Uncle David :)  

I'm going to need a second heart for all this love!

Savor It

It's the middle of the night, the start of another week...it's the beginning of my last week ever pregnant...we are expecting our very last baby this week...LAST. It's comforting, it's closure, yet it's an end. It's the turning of a page. And whereas that has to happen as some point and we are both so content with the decision and feel our family is now complete, I want to savor it. I want to remember what this was like forever. I want to remember because I have cherished this season. I want to remember it because for the last 8 years, my life and body have changed so much and been so amazing. I want to remember it so when my daughter or future daughter in laws experience it, I can be there, fully present and involved. I want to remember it, because it is by far my greatest calling in this life to date...being a mother.  

I won't pretend the last 2 weeks haven't been a struggle. The end always seems to be. As much as I'd love to claim I'm one of those woman who gracefully wait and without a negative word LOVE every minute of being pregnant, I can't. I've struggled to be fully present, due to exhaustion and just plain discomfort. I can't complain at all about this pregnancy, this has been such a pleasant and uncomplicated 40 weeks and for that I am so grateful. I have tried to live and savor each moment, because losing our last little one has shined a light on how fleeting those moments can be, and because we know this is the last time we will assist God in this miracle of life. It's all worth being savored and cherished and remembered. The uncertainty yet flood of love in the first few months, the tiny flutters and growing belly and bursts of energy in the middle, and the sweet kicks, rolls and giant belly of the last few. I won't pretend that the overwhelming amount of comments on my size etc don't eventually wear me down emotionally (clearly not meant to be harmful or rude but it just gets tiresome 😑) I won't pretend I haven't done my share of breaking down and feeling bad. I won't pretend that I haven't missed having immediate family close by to walk through this last pregnancy with. I have. But with lack of sleep and hormones, that too, is part of the season. And I guess I'll savor that also! 😉

I find myself giddy excited, realizing that this time next week, our family will be complete. A tiny baby boy or girl will have safely arrived earth side, perfectly created, knit together, and ready to be loved on. I know, from previous children, that this time next week I will be gazing into the eyes of a sweet child that I honestly can't remember my life before, like they were always there, like they were meant to be and whichever, boy or girl, they will perfectly fit, right here, with us. And I can not wait! 

But in these last few days of waiting, when exhaustion has set in and anxiety is high, I'm gonna do my very very best to soak it up. Each long night. Each big kid as they get ready to embark on a new journey themselves. Grady will move up to being not just "baby bear" but a big brother! He will finally get to see what this anticipated change is all about. Ada will finally get to hold this tiny sweet baby that she has spent everyday for the last 9 months talking to. Every single day, this baby gets a hug and kiss and sweet "did you sleep good baby? I can't wait to meet you baby." From his/her big sister. This girl is so in love and hasn't even laid eyes on baby yet! And that day has finally almost arrived and I can't wait for her to experience and make memories with this little one. And Grayson, our oldest boy. He's got the big brother thing figured out, but this time is a little different. He's older and more aware of what's happening. The last time we had a baby he was Grady's age so this is definitely a different experience for him. He's very into what's changing and asks lots of questions and I look forward to the questions being answered for him.  I pray that I can put the tired and uncomfortable feelings and attitude aside and let each moment of this week with them sink deep into my heart and memories...preparing them and loving them through this season as well. 

So, here we go, right into the last week as a family of 5. The week we have all looked so forward to. It's finally here! It's gonna be so different, from our big kids, because it's our last. Different in the way of local family support and involvement, which is slightly scary and tiny bit nerve wracking/sad at times, but I think the last couple years have prepared chris and I for this. We have grown so incredibly close and have come to make a strong, amazing team, and we look forward to what's in store and plan to savor each and every small and big moment of the upcoming weeks, months, and years with our little family! ❤️ My greatest treasure. 

Baby Bumblebee

We are getting sooo close to meeting our newest little one. The bags are packed, the car seat is in, the bed is made, and now we just wait! My sweet sister and cousin (pretty much sister) planned a sweet little celebration for our tiny baby and it was so special. It was so nice and unexpected. It was a special day to be able to celebrate this little one and anticipate his/her arrival. We were so blessed to receive the essentials needed for when baby comes! Bottles, diapers, wipes, bath towels and some extra special books and gifts just for this little baby. Such a blessing! Big sister thoroughly enjoyed her role at the shower and was so sweet! She loved admiring all the baby things and interacting with all her friends and family. She, along with big brothers, are going to be so amazing with this little one! It was a special special day! :)

 So blessed with these special ladies in my life!