First glance at my little girl.....perfection!

Our newest little addition made her arrival on July 8th at 5:29 am.  She came out screaming at 37 weeks as tiny as a peanut weighing in at 4lbs and 2 ounces.  Little Leah spent just a little over a week in NICU while I recovered in post partum for a couple days. When I was discharged on wednesday July 11th days after my c section I was determined to make all of Leahs feedings.  It was an overwhelming, exhausting and emotional time, but I knew that Leah was in good hands in the NICU and my home away from home (Thank you so much Anna Skene) made it so much easier to come and go and still fit in bits of relaxing and rest.
On July 16th, Leah and I had the chance to room in with each other at pediatrics without her IV or moniter cord, assesment or tests.  She was free from NICU and she was in my arms.  I am so ecstatic that our stay in NICU was short and sweet. 
Leah was discharged from the hospital on the 17th of July! We are home and falling more in love with her as the days pass.

Touching Leah for the first time

Leah's bed in NICU on her 1 week birthday!

Excuse me for not posting in over 3 months.  Today at 37 weeks I sit in a quite house.  Jemahl has taken Kaitlin on a special "date" at the Stampede.  My mom is also visiting trying to help me with final things and letting me rest up before this next little girl comes....If only letting go of everything was easier for me and I could except help in every area.  Sarah is out with my mom at the moment on a special "date" also. Yes, the house is quite.  It's nice...it's a treat.  I usually run out to get my me time so this is different and I'm enjoying it.  I'm not running around trying to get the walls scrubbed or folding laundry that has been forgotten in the dryer for 3 days.  I'm RESTING.  Ha ha, like that will happen ever again, but I am enjoying it!
Since my last post my sister has become a mommy herself to the sweetest little girl ever!  Emilie is such a delight!  When I met her for the first time at 4 days old she was already smiling.  I love our visits and so look forward to seeing her grow up.
Things have been a little bit different with this pregnancy.  BUSY...I have barely slowed down to take a picture of myself being pregnant.  Yesterday, Jan came over to do a little photo shoot of the baby belly and in just less then a week I will probably be holding this baby in my arms and my family will be complete.  This pregnancy has been so uncomfortable.  With carpal tunnel my hands are constantly numb and I have had issues just doing little things like picking up a pencil and stirring noodles in a pot. Swelling, dizziness, some chest pain, frequent ultrasounds and appts and just getting up and down have made this pregnancy difficult.  But with that said, I wanted things in this pregnancy that I didn't get to experience when being pregnant with Kaitlin and Sarah and am thrilled that I have.  So it makes it easier knowing that this is my last pregnancy, my last baby and that yes my family is complete when I bring this baby home!
Kaitlin and Sarah are thrilled about the baby coming.  For the last 2 months our living room has been set up as a baby room.  Tucked in a corner Kaitlin has a baby bed, with a bassinet, chair, bottles, piles of baby doll cloths and stroller.  Oh and about 9 dolls.  It has over taken the living room so each day I try to take a few pieces away a put them downstairs in the playroom where they belong.  But as soon as Kaitlin comes down from quite time she notices and will let me know her displeasure. Her favorite baby, baby Sarah goes with us everywhere.  She was actually in Kaitlin's tummy and came out just shortly after Emilie was born.  Sarah also had a baby in her tummy and she recently became a mommy too.  They have been included in many appts and preparing the baby room.  I can't wait to see these precious girls with their new sister.

Sleepover

Pretend sleepover in mommy and daddies bedroom. Can you not see the excitement ?!?

I have been preparing the girls for "sleepovers". Well, if you haven't heard yet Jemahl and I are expecting again! We are happy to announce that Kaitlin and Sarah will be having a little SISTER! Another girl! Girl power, in this house...poor daddy! Hahaha, actually lucky daddy!

As I type this I am 23 weeks pregnant. I'm doing well! With Kaitlin I was nauseous from 7 weeks till about 13. Sarah was a little longer and with this little girl I still wake up some mornings feeling incredibly yucky, but happy to say this happens fewer mornings. My belly is expanding and this baby is growing and kicking!

So back to sleepovers....I have been preparing the girls! We have been talking about it and looking forward to the day that they would move in together.

Together we picked out a theme for the room. For Sarah we picked little birdies. SO sweet! I then gave Kaitlin three choices. Butterflies, cupcakes or frogs. She picked butterflies! PERFECT!

With my moms help we found the perfect pink paint and set out making the room "whispery and calm, yet fun". After trips to the fabric store and online I sewed new duvet covers for each of them and added lots of fun bold colours, branches, birds and butterflies.

With a few projects left to do the girls are happy in their new bedroom and doing SO well sleeping together! What a relief!

I will post a finished post soon....just a couple more things to do!

One of a kind

Kaitlin LOVES playing by herself and is so imaginative and UNIQUE. Here she is playing mommy and helping her teddy bear and baby go down the slide. See her attire! Yep, she is unique.

She had a Hawaiian day at school on this day and since I remembered about it last minute that morning I looked in my drawer for something beachy for her to wear. She went to school wearing a waves tank top, skinny tights and my old sarong. It was a very interesting outfit, but totally suited her.

Now here comes the silly part, as soon as she walks in the door off goes the cloths. She always wants to be naked. She would correct me though if she were to read this...."I'm not naked. I'm wearing panties." There was no way I was gonna let her outside naked so she kept "mommies shirt on" and added her jacket then snuck outside. Little booger. Such a sense of style...

Firsts

First time walking down to our local frozen pond
First time putting on skates
First time skating as a family
= Loads of fun, smiles, laughs and big chills.

Blocks

Yeah, Im that far behind......So unhappy with blogging. But here I go again.

This is one of the girls new Christmas toys. My deal of the holiday season. I found a coupon for 25% off any Melissa and Doug toy. I waited and waited for these fantastic cardboard boxes to go on sale. No way was I going to pay the $50 for these simple blocks. Finally 2 days before
the sale coupon expired they went on sale. I got them for just $19. Whoo hoo! Yay, couponing! Even better, the girls LOVE them!

On her own

Alone and entertaining herself is one of Sarah's new little skill. Many times I will have to look on all three floors of the house before I find Sarah. The other day she was being naughty (by the way - my favorite word right now describing the girls BAD attitude), screaming, pushing and just plain unpleasant. I put her up in her room and told her she needed to read stories and calm down. I went to the basement with Kaitlin and Brock turned on the monitor. She was whimpering around for a few minutes. Then started reading and then I heard her little voice singing "Jesus loves me". I melted. A few minutes later I went up to release her. She did not want to come back down. Kaitlin went up to get her.
How is my 2 year and 2 month old this independent!