Creativity

Brinley and I made princess necklaces and bracelets last week- what fun!

 Cheesy face.

 Look what I made!

 Bristol snuggling with Nana

 Watching Imagination Movers with Daddy

 Sister snuggles. I LOVE this! Until one sister hugs too tight and the other sister starts to cry.

 Brayden, Brinley and I made a big mess on Saturday...we made sugar cookies. There was flour everywhere. But they had fun rolling the dough, cutting it out and getting messy! Here are some of the finished products, with way too many sprinkles! They are circles, butterflies and frogs if you can't tell.

 Kenny hung a new magnet board in the playroom

Cute Cubbies!

Our church had a Night of Praise recently and all of the different music groups performed. Here is a picture of my cuties singing with Cubbies (first and second from left). They sang "God is So Good" which most of the kids didn't actually sing any words to. The second song was "Skinamarink" and they pointed at the crowd when they sang "I love you!" It was really cute. Brayden did a lot better with being on stage than he ever has and Brinley was all about singing!

4 Weeks Old

 Meeting Uncle Jim

3 Weeks Old

Bristol is more awake and alert lately, and her siblings love holding her, snuggling with her, singing to her, etc. Whenever she cries Brinlely says "You'll be fine!" and then sings her a lullabye. So, so sweet. Bristol is sleeping well at night, for 3-4 hour stretches at a time. 

I survived my first day with all 3 of the kids this week and even managed to take them all to the Children's Museum! I was feeling a bit like Super Mom. Then off to church where I lost Brayden. Twice. In five minutes. But only momentarily. That brought me back down to Normal Mom. Things are a bit crazier than they used to be, but we are rolling with it and adjusting to the new normal.

I heard "You're Gonna Miss This" on the radio this morning as the alarm went off and it's so true. I'm trying to appreciate and enjoy the chaos because I know it won't be this way forever and before I know it I will miss the sticky kisses and sweet snuggles from the older kids and holding my sweet sleeping little one..

 It seems like just a blink ago that she was still in my tummy. Kinda like this:

 Our first picture of our entire family. Bristol is just chilling, Brinley has wild hair (as usual) and Brayden is making a funny face- that's pretty much how it is around here! I love this picture.

Two weeks old

 She looks so tiny in this big bouncy seat.

 Being held this way seems to calm her down when she is upset. If not, we try to run the vacuum near her!

 Matching Big Sister/Little Sister shirts

 First trip to church.

The Many Faces of Brayden

Where did my baby go? He has been replaced with this very grown up looking, funny, sweet, kind little boy. His prayers tonight were "Thank you God for Lori and Bristol. Amen." His favorite part of the day was "Looking at Bristol while I said prayers." I love you, sweet Brayden!

You Made It

We went to You Made It and the kids had a great time painting. Brayden made two heart "B" magnets, Brinley made a horse and we made a sign for Bristol's room with her footprints.

My God Is So Big!

Brayden (5) and Brinley (3) singing a sweet song:

Brinley & Bristol

Brinley, age 3. Bristol, age 3 weeks. Sweet sisters!

Family Update

Kenny's kidney stone is gone- yeay! It stuck around for 2 painful nights, and we are both glad that it is gone. I was trying to be sympathetic, but was finding it hard having just given birth for the 3rd time...Trying to juggle the 3 kids and an ill husband, I kinda felt like Super Mom for a little bit there.

We survived our first excursion with all the kids (Target & Dairy Queen), Bristol has taken her first trip to CVS for couponing with Mom, and everyone is adjusting well. I'm glad to have my mom here for a week to help us get settled and organized!

Bristol is doing the usual baby stuff- sleeping a lot, needing lots of diaper changes, and loving to be snuggled up next to anyone. She is sleeping well at night and is pretty mellow until she gets mad and then she shows us what a great set of lungs she has. I have managed to write in her baby book, so she won't be that 3rd child with a totally neglected baby book.

With three kids it sometimes I feel like I'm running triage- you're crying but not bleeding? Eh, you're okay. You're throwing up? You get first priority.
You're only a week old and need to be held? Okay, now you get first priority.

Overall, it's been a fairly smooth transition. We have been enjoying delicious food from some great friends. Everyone is healthy. The weather was beautiful today and we spent lots of time outside (after the snow melted).

"My cup overflows with blessings!" Psalm 23:5

Bristol Meets Mimi & Pop