More pictures of the best Christmas present ever. . . .

I wrote this post on Dec 26, and then didn't publish it. Bear with me, here! I have lots to share, but it may be a bit delayed. I LOVE having a newborn again--so, so happy!!!!

We took these at the hospital on Dec 21st and 22nd. . .

 

 

 

 

 

We are at home and resting a lot now. I'm so grateful for my parents' help! It is good, so good to be home.

I'm typing one-handedly, very happily. :) Can't wait to tell you about the miracle Heavenly Father blessed us with as we tried to get home from the hospital on Christmas Eve. . . .

It is with deep gratitude and joy that we announce the safe arrival of Rosemary Jane Baker.  She arrived at 7:56 a.m. weighing 7 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 19 inches long.  More details and pictures to come soon.

Day 45 - { joys of having boys }

 

I have planned this post for a while, but as our days with only boys are now numbered, I knew it was time to crank it out. :)

I have absolutely loved having all boys. I don't have anything to compare it to yet, of course, but for me, life with my boys has been full of creativity, noise, live creatures from the outside world, tight hugs, and surprises almost every day.

 

 

 

One thing that has really delighted me and cracked me up is to see how they play with toys--also where they leave them, and how I find them!

 

See this beautiful ceramic dealie that exudes the beauty and grace of motherhood?

 

 

Here's what I found when I dusted BEHIND it (no telling how many weeks? months? it had been there!). . . .

(Little did I know before I had children that stretchy purple spiders would be part of the joy of motherhood.)

 

Some other toy-creativity gems. . .

 

I bet you didn't know that Rubix cubes should be refrigerated!

 

. . . .from Election Day last year. There's something symbolic about this one, I just know it!

 

I love this next one. You can totally see the logic behind it if you've ever read Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad stories. 

This was what greeted me as I came into my bedroom to go to bed one night.

 

The book was open to this page. I LOVE IT! :)

 

 

 

But here is my personal favorite.

 

I sat down on the {ahem} throne one evening in our guest bathroom, and had the eerie feeling I was being watched.

 

I looked over. . . .

 

and saw this facing me from across the sink!

 

I had nightmares that night.

 

Sometimes I wonder if the boys just sit and dream about ways to crack me up.

 

 

Some more charming pictures of alternative uses for household toys. . . .

 

Stretchy ball that has split its seam = headgear, of course!

 

Toad + medicine syringe = forcefeeding at bathtime

 

I love the energy of our boys. (Most of the time!) One fun tradition Exacto and Fluffy have right now is bidding a dramatic farewell to whichever parent happens to be leaving. Someone (I think it was probably DC) taught them that "goodbye" in German (auf wiedersehen) is pronounced similarly to saying "our feet are the same". They thought that was hilarious. So now when we're pulling out of the garage, they'll come running out jumping on one leg, holding up the other and yelling, "Our feet are the same! Our feet are the same!"

I love the funny things they say. You wouldn't believe (or maybe you would!) the reports I get from Hummer's comments in Primary. Or from his prayers (ahem). He was made infamous by a particular prayer a couple of weeks ago, in which he prayed that we would have macaroni and cheese for lunch. (I was relieved to get home and see some leftover in the fridge! :)

I love (again, most of the time) that they collect things from outdoors. We have had snails crawling around on our table (they had to bring them in so that the snails would relax and come out of their shells), toads on the stairs and under the piano (that was the start of a new commandment in our home of NO LIVE FERAL ANIMALS in the house), acorns and rocks and pinecones and feathers, often coming through the laundry from being stuffed into pockets.

So, what will it be like with a little GIRL in this household?

 

 

We are so excited to find out we can hardly stand it. . . . 

 

 

 

I can't wait.

Day 44 - {Zion in central Arkansas}

I'm still here! And everything's fine with the sweet baby (still kicking away in there)! I'm so sorry to have such a long break in my blogging. Things have been just a leetle too beezy. And there's not much sign of them slowing down! Only 19 more days till my scheduled C-section. . . .

Meanwhile, though, I want to keep writing and sharing with you the amazing blessings that we continue to receive. I am so grateful to my loving Heavenly Father! He is so good to us!

The next few posts will be "Days of Gratitude" posts, although they are a bit behind, chronologically. :)

So let me tell you about my awesome ward family (local congregation):

Did you know that the Promised Land is in Arkansas?

I didn't either, until we moved here! :)

Our ward is enormous geographically, taking up the entire county. You can drive from one end to the other in about an hour and a half. Compare that with our first ward in Utah after we were married, where it took up less than a city block, and we could walk to any member's home! There, the temple was a 10-minute walk away. Here in Arkansas, it's a 2 and 1/2 hour drive.

Though we have many good friends here of other faiths, the Mormon strain of Christianity is decidedly in the minority here. But the resulting bond between ward members here really makes us start to feel like family! Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings are like mini-family reunions. :)

I love, love, love my Sisters in the ward here.

Let me show you what they did for us a few weeks ago. . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

My trunk as I left for home (not all of the gifts would fit--three are in the cab!)

 

I love you so much, Sisters! Thank you for the wonderful shower for a 5th baby! Y'all are rockstars. :)