Quick Post

I wish I had time to write. As I type, Little Miss is waking up from her 30 minute cat nap this morning. We had a great Thanksgiving. Very low key, Aunt Holly was here and Cracker Barrel made dinner!!!! It was great. I am tired but trying to enjoy each little moment. Hannah Beth is a good baby, but we all know how much sleep one gets with a 3 week old. What is so different this time around is still having to get Luke and Hayley to school and everywhere else they need to be, making lunch, doing homework, reading books, playing games as well as walking around with very little sleep. Even though they are 6 and 4, they still need me very much. When Hayley was born, Luke was only 2 and we had no school, no activities we HAD to be going to each week. I could sit in my pjs for days and no one would know.

I may not post again until Hannah is 3 months, but know we are here and in survival mode.

Cup Completely Full

This week has been ....hmmmmm. It is hard for me to find the right words to describe it. I am tired, but surprisingly able to get on with life (and not be too grouchy). I daydream all the time about life with our three little blessings and my heart will race thinking of all the fun and memories that we are going to make together as a family. I watch Chris with the children and almost come to tears each time because I am so blessed to have a best friend and husband who loves me and his family so much. He has been such a HUGE help this week, and it just feels good to all be home together as a family. I get anxious as I realize that Chris's leave is almost over and it will be up to me to take care of all three by myself (well, not really due to all the family coming in town). I am in awe that God chose me to be a Mommy to three children. I am excited about the promise of visitors that will be coming from now until Christmas to see us and our new baby girl.

Basically, my cup runneth over and praise God for His blessings on us.

Hannah Elizabeth Steele

She is here and we are overjoyed! Hannah was born on November 10th (the Marine Corps Birthday of all days!) @ 9:40 pm. She weighed 8 lbs and was 20 inches long. THANKFULLY she came on the 10th because this area was hit by a Nor'easter on Wed the 11th and I don't know if we could have made it to the hospital. We had to stay at the hospital until Friday due to all the flooding from the storm. Our stay was nice and quite, but we were itching to get home and see our other babies and introduce Miss Hannah to them.

Both Luke and Hayley are quite taken with Hannah. The poor child will have no hair left due to all the head rubs and kisses she receives from them. I am constantly in a sleepy state, but I know that these moments are fleeting. Trying to soak it all in and just praising God for another beautiful miracle!

Boo Y'all

I'm still here! I'm still pregnant!! I started this post last week and it is now Monday, November 9th. I'm having a hard time getting motivated to do anything these days. I thought FOR SURE this little girl would be here by now, but we are still in wait mode. God knows the perfect time for her to come so I am working on patience. I just can't wait to see her sweet face, kiss her, hold her, love on her, and introduce her to her Daddy, brother, sister, and the oodles of other folks who have prayed for her and love her dearly!

We had a great time on Halloween. Luke was very into his character. As you can see, there were no smiles coming from Batman. He is way too busy fighting off crime and looking tough to smile for his Mama. Thumbilina was over the moon about the hair piece I found at Target on clearance the week of Halloween. Totally made the costume and her day. She is such a girly girl and I LOVE it. I so wonder if Miss Hannah will be as girly.....

This past weekend was beautiful. The weather was perfect. We spent several hours just playing in the yard on Saturday and Sunday. The kids "helped" Chris with some yard work and washing both of the cars. Hopefully my next post will include pics of baby girl, but I guess we will have to wait and see.

Gone Fishing

Hayley's big catch being released back into the water!

Nice cast

When Mimi and Papa came in town a few weeks ago we headed out to a beautiful park in the area to do a little fishing. The weather was awesome and the pond wasn't too crowded. We all got a shot at casting a line in the water. Luke has become quite the fisherman. He was doing a much better job than I can at casting and reeling. He is so focused and determined to catch something while he is out there. I love just standing back and watching him.

Hayley was the only one to catch a fish that day. She felt the fish bite, handed me the reel, and then ran to Mimi for safety. The poor girl cried her little eyes out as I reeled in the fish. He was way to squirmy and jumpy for Hayley. All his movement freaked her out. We tried to get her to stand next to the fish for a picture but that wasn't going to happen. Better luck next time.

A Trip to the Pumpkin Farm x 2

Hayley's trip to Hunt Club Farms

Yes, that is a rabbit!

Luke's trip to Hunt Club Farm

Best friends

So Luke and Hayley always have field trips on opposite days, therefore I get to go on TWO field trips instead of one. I actually prefer the separation because I can focus on each child individually. They both had a wonderful time and Hayley not only had me tag along but her Mimi and Papa were in town for the big trip too. So much fun!

I Heart Fall!

Hayley's s'more, sans the marshmallows!

My men toasting marshmallows for me!

A few weekends ago, the weather was finally making a change and the cool, fall like air was making it's first appearance for the season. I ran to Walmart and purchased a firepit. Chris and I have talked about getting one for years, so we decided now was the perfect time. Of course, what campfire is complete with out making s'mores! I bought the marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers ready for our first real s'more experience together as a family.

Come to find out, I am the only one who likes a true s'more (marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers all mushed together in a toasty gooey mess). Luke and Chris both don't like chocolate (which I have known), but I thought for sure they would have a toasted marshmallow between two graham crackers. NOPE. Neither of them like marshmallows either, so instead they feasted on just the crackers.

Hayley is a lover of chocolate, just like me. But when it came to the white gooey mess that is the toasted marshmallow, she opted out and just wanted chocolate between her crackers.

So for the first time in my life, I discovered that s'mores can be made more than one way and it was so much fun.

After the snacks, we sat around and took turns telling "G" rated ghost stories that always seemed to end up with someone shouting BOO! I think we are going to really enjoy all the cool crisp nights around our new firepit.

6 Weeks Left

Well...we are at 34 weeks as of today and I am definitely feeling it. We have been battling head colds in this house for the past few weeks (praise the Lord it has only been colds), and I have been exhausted by lunch time. I don't remember being this tired with the other two, but life was not quite as busy as it is with a 6 and 4 year old.

In the past week, my feet swell beyond recognition by the end of the day and my favorite spot in the world is lying on the sofa with my feet up.

I really cannot complain. The pregnancy has been a healthy one which is such a blessing. I am just so ready to hold her rather than carry her around in my belly. If Hannah Beth follows along the same lines as her brother and sister, she will make her arrival a week or so before her due date. I'm hoping for the first week of November.

For those of you wondering, we did finally get the nursery almost completely done. My Dad has made H.B. a beautiful quilt shelf just like he did for Luke and Hayley. My Mom put it in the mail this week and I can't wait to get it up on the wall. I love that all 3 will have a special shelf that their Papa made for them!

I believe that I already posted a picture of this corner of the room. Nothing has really changed here except that all the clothes in the closet have been washed and put away. Yes, I am so type A that I even washed the clothes for baby #3!

I found this adorable bookshelf/toy storage online at Target. It is actually very sturdy and I know she will be able to use it for many years to come. I LOVE LOVE LOVE her name hanging on the wall. I bought these exact same letters for Hayley's nursery and just had to get them for HB.

The crib all put together and dressed in the bedding! I just love the fun bright colors. I hope HB will love them too!