One Month Old!

Our little princess is already a month old!  I really wish time didn't go so fast!  I am trying to enjoy every moment with her.  I find myself just wanting to hold her...and the way my house looks is proof of that.  Josephine is starting to smile and is cooing a bit, but mostly she is a grunter.  She loves watching her brothers and smiles when they sit next to her and talk to her.  She loves to be in Daddy's arms and he rocks her just the right way to get her to sleep at night.  She is a good eater and eats about every 3-4 hours, but in the afternoon/early evening she tends to cluster feed.  She has a fussy period of the day, but nothing serious.  She loves to be in the bath and to have her hair washed.  We noticed that she does get overstimulated when there is a lot of noise and stuff, but moving her to a quiet place, she instantly relaxes and  gives a big sigh.  This week when we went to the doctor I got to have a sweet tender moment with Josephine.  While at the doctor I had to undress her for her checkup, which she was not a fan of and she was letting everyone know how unhappy she was.  After her doctor checked her out she wrapped her in a blanket, picked her up and faced her towards me.  Once Josephine saw me she instantly stopped crying and gave me a little smile.  It made my heart melt!  We feel so blessed by this little girl and each one of us is absolutely in love with her.  Every day we thank our Heavenly Father for her and the joy she fills us with.

1 month old!

She loves to stick out her tongue!

Giving us a little smile

Here are her current stats:

    Weight: 9 pounds 14 ounces 

     Length: 22 inches

     Eyes: Blue

     Hair: Reddish brown and getting thicker

Ladies, Be Jealous...

I had the most amazing Mother's Day ever and I have to brag, and brag some more.  I have to start with telling you that I really thought this was going to be a pretty crummy Mother's Day.  I hadn't been asked if I wanted anything, the boys told me that we would have pancakes on Sunday because it is their favorite (definitely not mine) and James was going to be taking the boys on a camp out on Friday and Saturday leaving me alone with Josephine and housework.  Well, I was in for a HUGE surprise...

First, the camp out didn't happen for my boys because the weather was horrible.  So, I have to admit, that kinda made me feel a little better.  On Friday evening James came home and handed me a letter...

Well, now I am down right giddy and curious about what would be in store for our weekend.  So, here is the run down of my amazing Mother's Day!

I woke up Saturday morning to muffins and fruit prepared by James.  Then we got dressed and I was dropped off at Massage Envy for a 90 minute deep tissue massage.  Then we went to CiCi's Pizza (I had a hankerin' for it) and enjoyed lunch.  The boys then surprised me with a sweet card they picked out and the movie Tangled!  I love Disney movies and had been wanting Tangled, but I wouldn't buy it for myself, so the boys went and bought it for me.  Then I was taken to a nice hair salon and James had set up for their top stylist to style and cut my hair (this was desperately needed, yet I kept finding reasons to not spend the money on myself, the boys needed haircuts first).  I felt like a princess as my hair was styled to my lifestyle and face shape.  I love it!  I lost about 6 inches, but my hair is healthy and happy and it can still be pulled in to a ponytail (I think the stylist cringed a bit when I said that I wear my hair in a ponytail most of the time, but hey, I am a mom!).  After my hair appointment we went to the mall where James took me to buy a dress!  I love it!  Then we went to the Lego store for the boys, they had been so good all day.  Oh, I forgot, after my hair appointment the boys surprised me with the apron they decorated all by themselves!

My Apron

Alex drew me!

Alex and Eric's Hand print and Josephine's Footprint

After the mall we went to Texas Roadhouse for some yummy food and there we found out the Josephine can get us a table quick, just by her cuteness!  We planned on going home and watching Tangled, but by the time we got home we were pooped, so we all headed to bed.  On Sunday morning James made a yummy recipe I found on Pinterest (not pancakes) and we went to church.  The best part of church was that I was able to take the sacrament!  I hadn't been able to since Easter because either I was home with new baby girl or feeding her during the sacrament.  It really helped me feel better.  My Primary kids sang beautifully in sacrament meeting.  Teaching Primary went great and we actually got somewhere on our music.  Then after church we all got into our comfy clothes and popped popcorn and watched Tangled as a family.  It really was an amazing Mother's Day.  I feel so blessed to have a husband that cares so much about me and teaches the boys to love their Mommy and also encourages them to do things for other people.  He is such an example to them and to me.

Oh, there were also these little labels all over the house (I am still finding them).  James loves making QR codes.  As I scanned them, they have little messages to me.  They are everywhere...on my hairbrush, my wallet, the mirror, the remote...everywhere!  I feel so loved!

Welcome Baby Josephine

Well, it has been a while since I wrote anything on here but in my own defense, I have not been intentionally neglecting my blog, I have just been SUPER busy!

Well, as the title says, Josephine is finally here!  I was induced on Thursday, April 12th and Josephine made her arrival at 4:15 pm that day! She weighed 8 pounds and 11 ounces and is 21 1/2 inches long! It was definitely the most difficult labor I have ever had, but seeing our beautiful baby girl made up for it in the end.  She is gorgeous!  I may be a bit biased, but really, she is a very pretty baby.  She has bluish gray eyes (we will see if they stay that way, like her mommy or if they will change colors like her brother's eyes), she has a little bit of reddish brown hair, sweet fluffy cheeks, super alert and definitely looks a lot like Eric! I am completely and totally in love with her.  She has a sweet temperament so far and is pretty laid back.  She LOVES her brothers already.  She will just sit and listen to them as they talk to her and sing to her.  Alex likes to read to her and Eric makes up songs for her...it is really sweet!  She is definitely the princess!  The boys argue over who gets to pick out her clothes, who gets to hold her first, and who will go get whatever item I need at that moment.  The boys are amazing and it warms my heart to see them so loving and nurturing.  James is completely smitten by her.  I find him getting home a bit earlier from work and jumping at any opportunity to help with her and to hug and squeeze her.  I have to admit that I find myself neglecting chores to be able to just sit and snuggle her.  A friend of mine that has grown children told me about when her first daughter was born after having two boys that "You love your boys, but you feel a whole different level and kind of love for your girl."  I didn't realize what she meant until Josephine arrived, and now I completely understand.  I am so grateful that the Lord blessed us with such a little miracle, she was well worth the wait.

Only 30 minutes old!

Alex and Eric meet Josephine

Resting in the Boppy at the hospital

Hospital Portrait

Another hospital portrait

Sweet kisses from Eric

4 days old!

12 days old