Better Late

I guess since Mara Lin's fixing to start Kindergarten (in 11 days to be exact), I should probably go ahead and post pictures of the Preschool graduation from back in May...Oops!

Here's Emily walking in a waving to me. The younger classes just came out and sang a few songs. She is normally really shy when she knows that someone is looking at her, but she really did good singing all of the songs and even doing a few motions.
Then the graduation. The kids sang a few songs and then told everyone what they wanted to be when the grow up. Mara wants to be a ballet teacher. Then they got to ring the bell. Here's Mara ringing the bell...
And yes, I might have shed a tear or two when she walked out in the graduation cap looking oh so very grown up. I'll blame it on the hormones though since I was about 36 weeks pregnant!
And of course the other two had to pose for daddy too. I love this one of Emily...very artsy!
And here's the girl who grew up over night....
Stay tuned for first day of Kindergarten pictures in eleven days!

Boo!

Scared you, didn't I?!

You thought I had forgotten the url to my blog, huh?

Let me just tell you that life is kicking my booty. We're surviving but not really having fun yet. Sam is a fabulously easy-going baby, but a 5 yr old, 4 yr old, 3 yr old, and a newborn....yep, kicking my booty!

I have lots of pictures to share from the last month that I've been gone but will save those for separate posts so it looks like I'm blogging again.

Along with life inside my own house wearing me out, our church family has been dealing with a lot lately too. My pastor's father (and close family friend) passed away about three months ago and then shortly after that, we found out a sweet, sweet close friend has colon and liver cancer and is now going through chemo. As if that's not enough, my pastor's 17-year-old son died three weeks ago from injuries sustained in a car accident.

God has showed up amazingly within our church family.

I've definitely been saddened, disappointed, and even angry at God, but I know that God's will for my life is to be sanctified, be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in ALL circumstances (1 Thes. 4:3, 5:16-18). I exist for His glory, and even though it is hard to say, my children also exist for His glory.

I hold my children up to God with open hands wanting only His glory. I definitely could not have said that three weeks ago, but seeing my pastor praise God through the pain and wanting only His glory has taught me that God was waiting on me to surrender my hold on my children. They are not mine, they're God's. My single desire for their lives is to bring glory to God!

It's so good to be back blogging...putting my thoughts on 'paper' and helping to work through them in my own head. God is good and we are immeasurably blessed!

Public Service Announcement

Warning: All of my male readership should stop reading this post now.

No really Dad, you don't want to hear what I'm fixing to say.

Ok, if you're male and still reading...don't say I didn't warn you.

I just HAVE to tell you about the new Always Infinity pads. Oh my word, is it possible to love a pad? Well, if it is then these are the ones!

I have really sensitive skin which the nurses at the hospital loved last week since they couldn't use any adhesive on me. I have allergic reactions to anything on or against my skin for any length of time. That poses a problem when you have to wear pads for so long after having a baby.

Well, these pads are super thin, very cottony, not at all plastic-y, and get the job done super well. For real, you've got to try them...would I totally embarrass myself and post about pads on my blog if they're weren't fabulous?! They are expensive but there was a $4 coupon in the 6/7 newspaper that make them really worth a try.

And while I'm at it, I might as well tell you about a fabulous new nursing bra I found too. I HATE nursing bras. If you find one that comfortable then 'the girls' look really bad, and if you find one that makes 'the girls' look good then it is so uncomfortable. Well, Bravado body silk nursing bra to the rescue. It is really comfortable AND make 'the girls' look ok too. Oh, and I found them for about 1/2 price on ebay too. Comfort...great looking 'girls'...and a great deal too...can't beat it!

Mushy

My brain that is...it's mushy, so I'll just post some more pictures of my little man and hope that I'll be able to write some real thoughts soon!



Oh and yes, I knit his vest. The pattern is free here and it's done in Malabrigo sock yarn.

Eat. Him. Up.

Just get me a spoon cause I could eat up his sweet 'baby'ness!
And I had to post this picture too....This is Phillip's test shot before I got Sam naked...cracks me up!

Crazy...

about...

her...

baby...

brother!

If she's not holding him, she's asking to hold him or just sitting and watching him.
This girl really is CRAZY about her baby brother. It's so sweet to see.

So good to be home!

The signs say "Welcome Home Sam" and "Welcome Home Mom and Dad." The middle three are "S", "A", and "M". Man, it is SO good to be home!

Introducing...

Samuel John Jerkins
7 lbs. 3 oz. 20 inches long
born June 18th at 7:29 am.

The girls are absolutely nuts about him!
Emily would hold him 24/7 if we let her.
I think I'm going to have plenty of help!
We're home now and loving getting into our new normal.
I'll be back soon with more pics of my little man.

Any guesses?

Samuel John's birthday is tomorrow!

I've been wondering all morning how big he's going to be.

Mara Lin was 6 lbs, 2 oz. at two weeks over due.
Emily Elizabeth was 6 lbs, 10 oz. at one week early.
And Becca Sue was my gigantor at 8 lbs, 1 oz. at one week early.

SO Sam will also be one week early. How big do you think he'll be?

I don't feel like my tummy is any bigger than it was with the others, but I didn't think my tummy was bigger with Becca Sue either.

My guess is 7 lbs, 13 oz.
What's your guess?

Deliver Me

Oh yes, I'm ready!

Only two more days now.

The list is done and I have nothing to do but wait.

Um yeah, I'm ready!

Do you see that over there on the side?

Right over there where it says Psalm 139:13.
I can not believe that it says 12 more days to go.
Twelve days...TWELVE days!
My bucket list is still SO long...I've got to get busy.

Favorite Things Swap

It's time to report back about a fabulous swap that I participated in. Mamarazzi organized another great one. I was paired up with Melissa. It was so much fun to put together a package for her, and then I got all these goodies in the mail the other day....
Oh, this picture is minus a few (make that about a dozen) smarties since those are Phillip's favorite and he raided them before I had a chance to take a picture!

Thanks Mamarazzi for organizing such a fun swap, and thanks to Melissa for a fabulous package!

Check it out!

If you're reading this on Google Reader or Bloglines or something...click on over and check out the new header. It's so nice to have my own live-in Geek Squad for all my computer needs...not to mention he's cute too!

Leftovers

I found these 'leftover' pictures hiding on Phillip's camera from Florida.

Here are the girls making cookies with Nana....aka playing with flour and dough! I love Becca's tongue here too.
And here's an after shot of Becca. She even had flour in her ears!
Here's Mara looking for dolphins...
And my favorite...this was the moon the last couple nights there. It was SO bright and gorgeous shining off of the water.
Oh man, I wanna go back now!