Shayden Joseph

Weighing in at 7 lbs. 6 oz. and born at 10:15 pm after more than 2 hours of pushing 

(you are a rock star my sista!)

He is amazing.  Thank you God for a safe birth.

More pictures tomorrow.  My head is about to hit the pillow.  Night. Night.

A Child Will Be Born.....Today.

Update:

10:20 pm - Baby born!!!!!!!  more details to come

10:00 pm - still pushing

8:00 pm - 10 cm and ready to push!!!!!

7:00 pm - 5 cm

6:33 pm - no new news....yet. ;)

5 pm:  She is 4 cm.

2pm: A child will (hopefully) be born today....could be tomorrow.  No, I'm kidding.  She was waiting to see her doc a couple hours ago and I haven't heard anything since then.  

And just so we are all clear, I do not have my shoes and coat on ready to bolt out the door.  Nope.

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My sister, Rebecca is having her sweet baby boy today.  Her water broke (well, that part is a looong story but suffice it to say - it broke!) and she and Chris are on their way to the hospital right this very second!

She is hoping for a drug-free delivery (God bless her) so we are saying our prayers.

My nephew is coming today!!!!!!!

Random Tuesday

Here are a few moments from the day.  Or, as my friend Bex tags her blog entries:  

Random. Totally Random.

Abigail is showing me a self-portrait she painted in her art class.  I noticed it is signed, 

"Abigail P. Scherer" 

and I'm pretty sure her middle name is still "Marie."

When asked about it she said, "I changed my middle name to 'Peaches' since that's what Dad calls me."

Wonder if I should hold off ordering a new birth certificate and social security card until she's for sure on this one?

Lauren was helping me make lunch (with Great Harvest bread for anyone wondering. Ok, I am cracking myself up as 2 friends emailed this week to ask what my obsession was with GH)  She started telling me how she can't wait to be a Mommy someday and make sandwiches for her little baby.  "I'm gonna make those teeny tiny ones like you eat when you drink tea."

Hmmmm.  Didn't realize you knew what crumpets were.

Madeline was working on Time-Order Charting (part of story drafting) and decided to chart out making a sandwich. 

(Wow, we do a lot of eating/thinking about eating/preparing for eating around here)

Her Time-Order Chart was as follows:

Make a PB & J Sandwich

1. One piece of bread

2. Add peanut butter

3. Add jelly

4. Slap a piece of bread on top

I corrected her paper by adding "organic" as needed.  I'm kidding.  Seriously.

I'm racking my brain trying to think of something Gabe did today.  I'm all about equal opportunity.  Oh, I got it.  He screamed my name for 45 minutes from his crib during nap time. And threw out all his blankets onto the floor.  And shook the crib bars which I could hear from anywhere in the house (believe me, I tested this one.) 

Yep, that's what he did.  My boy.

The Little Gym

I had the distinct pleasure of accompanying my nephew Maximus to his Little Gym class today. We are currently in Flagpole position....which incidentally develops his motor skills while simultaneously enhancing his emotional, intellectual and social development.  

Wow.  I should really open a franchise.

My SIL Jen was kind enough to take my gaggle to the park (thanks sooo much for letting them role around in the sandbox, btw) while I got to leisurely romp around with Max at the gym for an hour.  

The only downside was that it took me back to my first Mommy/Baby class experience.  Have I ever mentioned the time I showed up at Gymboree with Madeline when she was a wee-3-weeks old?  Oops.  She was the youngest by, oh, I don't know 6 months or so? 

(and just for reference sake, the class description did say classes start at birth.)

When Max is a pro-athlete someday, I'm sure he'll give props to Aunt Kristen.

Throwback Friday

Here is a picture of Lauren on her first birthday.  She is getting ready for her big party.

Miracles Do Happen

During bedtime prayers tonight, Abigail's prayer included the following:

Thank you for raining down food for the Haitians. And please help the people in Texas....that their homes would be fixed this instant!

You want me to explain?  Good, because I can hardly stand it.

Remember, this post?

Well, ever since the girls learned that not every family has a pantry, they have been praying for food for the hungry....specifically praying that God would "rain down food in Haiti."

This morning, we walked into The Academy where the girls take classes.  (It is run out of a very large church in our area.)  

You won't believe what we saw.  Tons and tons (and tons!) of grocery bags full of food.  Above the food was a sign that said:

THIS FOOD WILL BE SENT TO THE HAITIANS

Yes!  Yes!  And again, YES!  

I had Madeline read the sign and after a few puzzled looks and a quick explanation, the girls started squealing.  They couldn't get over it. Madeline said, "Mom, that kind of IS like God raining down food in Haiti, don't you think?"

Do I think?  Yes, I definitely do.

Is it a coincidence that one, very-random church in our city (where there are hundreds - and the one where we just happen to visit) just happened to have a food drive.....oh, and a food drive where they just happen to be sending the food to Haiti?  

I do not believe in coincidences.  

One thing I do believe - my girls will never forget this.

Check Yes or No

There was a handwritten message on my desk this morning.  It said,

Why do Moms have to do so much work?

Please answer here:  ___________

Can I have an extra sheet of paper?  I think this one might be an essay question.

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And since several of you have asked what I really replied, I wrote:

I wish I knew.