ITS A BOY!!!!!

WE FOUND OUT WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER BABY BOY!!! WE HAD AN ULTRASOUND TODAY AND THIS LITTLE GUY WAS READY TO SHOW HIMSELF OFF. I GUESS HE WAS TIRED OF HIS BIG SISTER CALLING HIM A GIRL. WE BROKE THE NEWS TO HER AND SHE WAS NOT HAPPY AT FIRST. SHE ASKED ME WHY. I TOLD HER THAT GOD WANTED TO GIVE US ANOTHER BOY. SHE TOLD ME THAT THAT WAS MEAN. HAHAHA! AFTER A LITTLE LAUGH, I THEN EXPLAINED HOW EXCITING IT WAS TO BE WELCOMING ANOTHER LITTLE BROTHER FOR HER AND SHE THEN BECAME HAPPY. GUESS WE WILL SEE HOW THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS GO.

I AM 14 WEEKS AND DOING BETTER. THE FIRST TRIMESTER WAS EMOTIONALLY HARD DEALING WITH MOOD SWINGS AND 3 CHILDREN. BUT I AM BETTER AND EXCITED ABOUT THIS LITTLE GUY. TOO BAD MIKE AND I HAVE NO NAMES ON A LIST TO WORK ON. GUESS WE BETTER GET STARTED.

JACKSON HOLE, WY TRIP

WE TOOK A SKI TRIP LATE JAN. BRYGGEN WAS SO GOOD THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE THERE. WE SENT HER TO SKI SCHOOL THE FIRST AFTERNOON WE WERE THERE BUT THINGS DID NOT GO WELL. SHE REFUSED TO PUT HER SKIIS ON. HOWEVER, TWO DAYS LATER WE TRIED AGAIN AND IT WAS A SUCCESS.

A LOT HAS HAPPENED!!!!

Jackson playing with Daddy on Christmas morning

Bryggen and Griffin playing on Christmas morning

Bryggen's 3rd Birthday Party

The three of us at her party. She looks happy taking a picture with us but we had to have one.

So much has happened in the past two months that its hard to believe. We had an amazing Thanksgiving and Christmas followed by Bryggen's 3rd birthday and then Mike's birthday yesterday. It would probably take me forever to relive all the wonderful events that have happened during this time and I don't have time as I am sure you don't have time either. All I have to say is that it was a wonderful first for the boys. They really are the best babies ever and we are amazed, in awe, blessed and in love so much with all three kids.

Now for the SHOCK! Mike and I found out we were pregnant again shortly before Christmas. This was a huge surprise to both of us as we "were done". Apparently, God had other plans for us. It is so funny how things have turned around for us. It has been a rollercoaster ride for us these past 4 years. We miscarried before Bryggen then became pregnant with her. My pregnancy with her was easy and fun and amazing. We miscarried again without trying for a baby when Bryggen was a year old. Then six months later became pregnant with the twins and the shock that there was an additional baby was amazing and overwhelming. But that pregnancy was easy and fun and amazing too. We were complete and content with our lives. We were in a great schedule, getting some descent sleep and on a great path as a family of 5. I can't say that we were thrilled or happy when we first found out we were pregnant. We never got really excited about our pregnancies at first anyways with my history of miscarriages. But even after we found out everything was okay, we still had to allow things to sink in before getting excited. It was the last thing on my mind yet after some time I am in love with this new baby. I have heard the heartbeat twice now and know that its growing great. My due date is August 2nd and I am almost 12 weeks along. Yes, we sure waited a while to announce our news but time flies when you have 3 kids three years old and under and the holidays and birthdays make that time fly even faster. I have gone over it in my head a thousand times, but we will have a 3 1/2 year old, two 18month olds and a newborn. Life is already crazy but will be even crazier when this angel arrives yet it will be wonderful. Bryggen is excited and totally understands this time around. She wants to hold "her". She thinks we are having a girl. I hope she's not disappointed if we have another boy. But she insists its a girl. That will probably be our next announcement. We will find out the minute we can. Fortunately, I have almost everything I need if its either one. They fall in a little different season but I can get good use out of most things. So, I couldn't be happier to announce our news. And will enjoy in sharing this time with everyone.

Suggestions Needed

I have to say that I was spoiled when it came to feeding Bryggen. Maybe not when and how often or how I had to feed her but what I fed her. She loved food as a baby. Anything would make her happy. But every baby is different and of course my boys are different than their big sister. They look like her and each act like her in different ways. Griffin is a little content but mommy obsessed and though Jackson is giggly and loves me just the same, he is busy and active like Bryggen where Griffin hates the car like Bryggen did. So moving from stage to stage with these guys has been a change from the beginning. And this stage is not worse or better but its unfamiliar. From day one we have had these guys on a schedule. For a long time we have been on the 4 hour feeding schedule. Up to about a month ago they would eat every 4 hours til bed taking a 6-8 oz bottle and a full stage 2 baby food each. Now they sometimes want things and other times act like they hate them. One day they will eat baby food, the next they don't want any of it. I am even having a hard time with the bottle. I have had to hold each baby individually to get them to take 6oz of formula. I used to could lay them on a pillow and double feed. Now when I do that they roll over and want to crawl away. If I let them do that the feeding takes an hour and messes up the whole time. Ugh! What a mess!!! I have been trying real foods but they seem to be picky on that and I am not sure how much they actually need since they've cut back. And cutting back is like a foreign language to me. I thought babies only increased as they grew. Neither kid likes mashed potatoes, they will sometimes eat green beans, they do like chicken but not nuggets- only strips, they love pancakes but we can only have that once a day, like mac n cheese, love granola bars, but where's the veggies and fruits? How can I get these boys to eat better foods, different foods and more formula? How can I do all of this and stay on a schedule? At the end of the day if this is my concern right now then I am not doing too bad. However, the schedule has been amazing for my life and I don't want to loose that. I have enough to think about and keep up with and without the schedule I will be wondering who ate what at what time and how much. I don't have the ability to do that. So, I need some suggestions. Thanks.

PICS

GRIFFIN

JACKSON

BRYGGEN

MY THREE PIRATES- ARRR

FORCED PIC WITH MY PIRATE

Psalm 107:1

Psalm 107:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures for ever."

I came across this verse in a devotional I was doing today and it made me think of something completely different than the devotion but of the great things our God does. It has not been an easy time lately. The whole family has been in DC with work for Mike and the kids haven't adjusted as well as normal. Griffin was sick for the first week with a cold, Jackson has been teething, I have a sinus infection, Bryggen was waking the twins up a lot, they weren't sleeping well and therefore I wasn't sleeping well. When that happens, I am not the best I can be. So, I prayed two nights ago that God would help me to be a better mom. Plain and simple, I needed to be a calmer and happier mom. The sleep didn't happen that night, but I did get to go back to sleep when the boys were napping. Normally, they go down for a nap when Bryggen is up and demanding. But this morning they first woke at 5am and went down at 7am for a nap. I crawled in bed with Bryggen and slept til 8am. Yay! So last night I asked the Lord for sleep. I didnt get much but I got more than usual. So, I am grateful for the extra sleep I was granted because my kids needed me to have it more than I did.

Dear Lord, thank you for the small things. They are big to me and not too small for you. Amen

8 Months Old Tomorrow

My sweet boys will be 8 months old tomorrow and Griffin is sick for the first time. Minus allergies and a small cold here and there, this is the first real sickness. Its a bad cold with the on-set of an ear infection. No meds here just extra care. Poor guy was feeling it bad. I hope he's getting better. When I took him to the doctor (here in DC- more on that later) I found out he weighs 19lbs. Wow! What a big boy! I'm sure Jackson weighs a bit more but neither one are little. They still eat every 4 hrs taking 6oz of formula and a stage 2 food. They still sleep 11ish hours at night. Jackson is crawling but neither one sits up fully on their own. They love their big sister who makes them laugh at the silliest things. She's doing really well too. She's a funny and smart little priss.

We are in DC for a while dealing with work drama for Mike. Fortunately, the whole family is together. Its been the worst week I have had but I am confident its getting better. Having a sick baby, another 8 month old and a toddler has been challenging but things are looking up. Mike has been super swamped but still a big help and God is leading the way. Poor Lille is left behind. Heather is caring for her but we really need to find her a home. Help us find someone to love on her please. She deserves it!!!!! I will post pics when I can.