One Month....

Audrey, I can hardly believe you are one month old. It was a long month, it was a short month. There's been a tremendous amount of snuggles and kisses, and deep baby inhaling... and lets not forget the amount of diapers.

At four weeks I find you more advanced than your brothers were... you are already cooing just a bit, and you are socially smiling. You don't mind tummy time one bit, you just lay there and look at everything all around you.

I love having a daughter. It is different than having sons. For one, it is more fun to dress you. I love knowing that I have a built in mall buddy and pedicure pal. I am already thinking about piercing ears and dreaming about prom and wedding dress shopping...

You are sleeping pretty well. You eat for the last time around 10 pm, and then go to sleep around 11. You don't get up till 4, and once you've had your fill, you fall right back to sleep till we start our day at 7 am.

I love you, I love how you complete our family, my heart is full.

not much in size difference, but check out how Audrey's thighs have chunked!

and some sweet smile to leave you with...

live. laugh. photograph

Did anyone happen to notice the lovely new necklace I was wearing in my anniversary photo?


It's a fabulous circle necklace by Joyfully Crafted on Etsy. It reads live. laugh. photograph

I love it. I mean... I. Love. It

My blog, my mantra, my way of life.

:)

8 Years....

Exactly eight years ago today, it was raining cats and dogs. I was hurrying from the hairdresser's, wearing a bag on my head to not ruin my bridal do'. Today... somewhat same scenario, it is raining cats and dogs. The two of us have a few more greys and a few more wrinkles. Who knew 8 years ago we'd be where we are and have what we have?!?!

Nate, it's been a ride, and thanks for sticking by my side! I love you!

This Memorial Day Weekend....

So far there has been a lot of this....

Some of that....

And quite a few giggly these....

I can't get over the above photo. Lucas is only 25 months older than Audrey... I can't get over the size difference! Its amazing the growth that takes place over two years!

My parents are coming tomorrow afternoon to visit the kids while Nate and I sneak out to celebrate our 8th anniversary. It's really Tuesday, but I'm going to take advantage of free babysitters while I can! Plans have still not been nailed down, but I do think the new Star Trek movie is in order. Dinner... ew haven't decided. Melting Pot fondue, or Japanese Steakhouse hibachi, or...

Maybe we'll just check into a motel that charges by the hour and just take a nap! That sounds great here too!

Me & My Girl....

featuring the {directed ;) } photography of Nate~



I adore that shirt. Like... LOVE. Adds great texture and interest to the photo....

This next photo, I have one with ALL of my kids like this. Black background for Seth, white with Lucas, and now gray with Audrey.


And a few details....


Last night was another screamfest for a couple hours. I'll never understand how during the day my babies are sweet as pie, can fall asleep on their own... but come night time its Mr Hyde time where nothing works. I'm done in today, hopefully I can catch some rest after lunch.

I also swear that Audrey is "older" than my other babies. Meaning, she just seems to be doing stuff faster than the boys already. Crazy, I know. She's already smiling some, and I swear yesterday she cooed at me. Audrey also laughs in her sleep from time to time. All this for a 2 and a half week old.

Which, by the way, these last two and a half weeks have been the longest and shortest weeks ever.

My Audrey's Portraits....

There is something to be said about shooting your own children... especially shooting your own newborn. Especially when you are post partum and sore. Especially when there are other kids involved.

These images took me 3 days, and there are still more to show you. Googly Moogly, I am tired. I'm a little sad that I didn't get her in her 4 or 5 day newborn goodness, but 10-12 days will have to do.

Adjusting from two to three children hasn't been all that hard. I had a harder time adjust from one to two. I feel like Superwoman, with all of the meals (breakfasts & lunches {dinners are beautifully provided by ladies in my church these last couple weeks}), clothing changes, nursing schedule, nap juggling, and sleep deprivation going on. We have yet to really venture out, but that's OK. I tend to be a germophobe for the first month of any of my baby's lives.

Audrey has been doing OK at night. She'll have two great nights of sleep, eating at 10pm, then not waking till 3 to eat, and then again at 6am. But that third night is the charm, where she'll scream bloody murder and nothing soothes her for two hours.

Seth is still in love with his "Sugar Pie" but Lucas still has his moments. Lucas will ask to "hold it" and then once she's placed in his lap, he says "all done."

Audrey had her 2 week check-up yesterday. She is up to 8 lbs 10 oz. Good girl! They won't see her till 2 mos now... which I find kind of strange. The Dr. says she's perfect, and is predicting blue eyes. My fingers are crossed.

My Heart is Full...

... because of my Charlie, Grover & Sugar Pie!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

Just One....

...and my heart melts....

Audrey's Birth Story....

I was pumping out some contractions so we left for the Hospital and checked in around 7 am. They were very manageable. We were ushered to the delivery room around 8 am. They went ahead and hooked me up to the different belly monitors (contraction & baby heartbeat). The baby was at -2 station. All through the day/ labor the nurse kept having to chase down Audrey's heartbeat. She kept moving away from the monitor.

My Dr came in and checked me around 11 am... I was already 3 cm and the baby was at +1 station. The Dr reached in and broke my water by hand... which surprised me and made me call her superwoman... my last Dr. used a crochet hook type tool, lol.

My contractions were immediately much stronger, and right on top of each other, and I requested my epidural.

My epi was slow to come, I received it around 12:30. It hurt going in, as it did with the boys. I made sure to tell both nurse & anesthesiologist about my paralyzed legs experience with Lucas. I was told to lay flat for 20 min. to disperse the epi drugs properly... the PA hospital never told me that. I was nice and tingly/numb within 30 min.

Nate and I dozed on and off... I had a self-dispersing Epidural "boost" that I pushed just once.

My Dr came in at 4:30 and check me. She was surprised to see that I was complete and ready to push. She asked me to give a "practice push" and I did just that. Her eyes got HUGE, she said "STOP!" and both the nurse hurried to ready the room and the Dr got dressed for delivery. I couldn't feel a thing (YAY!) but apparently everyone knew that she'd be in the world within a push or 2.

It took 1 real push to deliver her head, and then one minor push to expel the rest of her. Audrey entered the world squalling and looking just like Lucas. But over the past few days, now that her "birth swelling" has receded and she lost a few ounces, she looks JUST like Seth.

No stitches, this was by far my easiest and fastest labor. Recovery has been going much better.

She really is a pretty lil' thing, she's sleeping a lot. She has a bit of Lucas' rash, but its not as bad.

Smitten Daddy

The boys meet their sister for the first time. Seth LOVES her, wants to hold and kiss... Lucas wanted nothing to do with her. Pushed her away, gave both Audrey & I the cold shoulder for a couple of days. He's since been warming up, blessing her sneezes, and saying "Hi Aud-ey."

The Burns family's first family portrait

Audrey coming home....

My daughter was 2 days old... and was already involved in a car accident! On the way home we stopped at a Potbelly's for lunch and while Nate was inside, this lady backed into us so hard it actually moved our car some. Yet, it didn't leave a mark. When she saw Audrey and then heard how old, I thought she was going to cry. Everything was just fine.

at home in the pink petal showers....

And pretty in pink at 3 days old....

THANK YOU everyone for your love, support, and prayers the last week. I've felt every one!