Celebrate!

Summer has always been magical for me...the long, lazy days, the warm summer nights, running barefoot through the cool grass, hearing the crickets chirp, counting the stars, being free...I love the nostalgia of Summer...it is definitely something to celebrate...so I threw together a little 'Last Day of School Party' and Oh what fun we had!

Let the drool begin

3 Months.

Finding her hands, and sucking them.
Reaching and Grabbing
Drooling
Sleeping through the night (a few times a week)
Rubbing a bald spot on the back of her head
and just spoiling us with all those smiles.

Memorial Day

The day before Sadie was born in February, we visited Caleb's grave. At that point in time, Sadie and Caleb were together in heaven, looking down at their earthly family. I didn't know Sadie would be coming early the next morning, but looking back, I would like to think that Caleb sent Sadie to us after visiting his graveside that cool Sunday and that that was the last thing we needed to do as a family before Sadie came to us.

On Memorial Day we again visited Caleb's graveside. This was the first time we have celebrated Memorial Day in Utah. This time, Sadie was with us. I couldn't help but think of the tender mercies that Heavenly Father has given to me and my family. For allowing us those beautiful 3 months, 3 weeks with our sweet Caleb, and then for sending us our little Sadie, who has helped us again to reflect upon and appreciate those early weeks with Caleb. How grateful I am for my children, for Maggie and Sam who were born first so that they could have each other, for Caleb who came and stayed for awhile even though it was hard, and for Sadie who has brought the sweetness of heaven with her, another tender mercy of a loving Heavenly Father. How grateful I am for the knowledge and reality of eternal families.

Over the past few weeks, I've been reminded of some things about Caleb that I have forgotten with the passing of time. My perspective was enlightened and some of the difficulty I've had at visiting his graveside in terms of the memories of his death and passing have been swallowed up in the firm and lasting hope that our Savior offers us.

Catching Up

I've have some catching up to do.

Easter has come and gone,
Sam turned the Big #5,
Maggie mastered her two-wheel beach cruiser bike without training wheels
(it really happened over night) and is zipping around,
Sadie is 10 weeks old, is sleeping 4 and 5 and 6 hour stretches depending on the night
And she is smiling and cooing and especially likes telling me about her bathtime, which she loves.
She always perks up when Brian gets home, he seems to melt her fussiness away, and then it's all smiles as he holds her and rocks her...and when he swadles her, she knows it's sleepy time.

Their first...

Their first ski lessons...Sam and Maggie couldn't get enough of ski school this year. They had five lessons for five consecutive Saturdays and they are begging for more.

Out with the old...

The days of the Newborn N size diapers are over.

Bathtime...

Lately, bath time has become a family affair.

So has bedtime.

Cowboy Day

Friday was Cowboy Day at Sam's preschool. He sported his cowboy hat, bandana and Wild West (D.I. special) vest. The instructions from his school said something to this effect, "Friday is Cowboy day at school. Please remember to dress your child in western attire, please no guns." I had to laugh at that one, they are definitely thorough at that school. :)

Sam's favorite thing about Cowboy day were the flour biscuits they baked in the oven...yum.

She knows...

Babies have a 6th sense...they know when they are being held and when they are not. Right now Sadie is being held and is sleeping...when i set her down, walla! she wakes up, magic eh!

I broke out the Baby Bjorn this week, rather, dug it out of a moving box in the basement, so I could make dinner. Sam helped me chop up the mushrooms and the peppers... I gave him a dull knife of course...he enjoyed every minute...what is it about boys and knives?!

Today I ventured out to visit my Grandma...she was so happy to see and hold our new little Sadie and couldn't believe how big Sam was. I enjoyed our visit together with her happy demeanor and witty nature. I promised her chocolate chip cookies when we come back next week and she added with such innocence, "Could you bring a little chocolate ice cream with those cookies?" This made me smile and then laugh when I got out to the car. Grandma is as sly as a fox...I love this about her.

It felt good putting on jeans today, the first I've been able to wear since before the c-section. It felt good getting out...and sadly, I have to admit that I am actually getting use to the constant tiredness.

Things...

Things I have forgotten:

I forgot to wear green to bed last night, so I got a 'Good Morning' pinch from Maggie.

I've forgotten how much newborns sleep during the day.

I've forgotten how much newborns poop during the night and spit-up.

I've forgotten that just because Baby has a few good nights of sleep, doesn't mean she won't have bad nights here and there and here again.

I've forgotten how little they are, all their tiny little parts, the toes and fingers and lips and ears.

Things I'm Remembering:

I am Irish...my maiden name is Irish. Fitzgerald

That fresh, after-a-bath, baby smell.

The smell of Spring, that freshness in the air as the snow starts to melt and the brown grass starts to green.

The joy of childhood as I 've watched Maggie learn to ride her bike without training wheels in the last few days, new found freedom for her, more worry for me.

The peace of holding a baby close, chest to chest, and having her fall asleep on me only to wake when I set her down.

The happiness in cuddling with my children after 3 weeks of recovery.

Being able to drive again...I took my first journey out yesterday with Sam and Sadie. Sam pushed her in the stroller, he was the happiest big brother ever. Sadie slept the entire time we were out.

The longer days of light. Sam and Maggie have reveled in the extra playtime outside after school.

Warm sunshine and knowing that Brian loves me.

2 Weeks

The days are flying by as I try to recover. Sadie turned two weeks on the 7th and yet I am still in awe of this little one and so grateful she arrived here healthy and safe. It is so strange having another little baby at home after what seems like forever. Her sweet little spirit has filled our home with the sweetness of heaven.

He must have...

He must have grown inches while I was in the hospital, or maybe he just seems bigger to me, now that there's a little baby at home. I love this little boy, he is growing up so fast. He poses for a photo before heading over to the neighbor's Mad Scientist Birthday Party.

The first

Just the first of many, Maggie begged to help with Sadie's first bath at home. The moments were sweet. I loved seeing the expression on Maggie's face as she gently bathed her new, baby sister. There has been an instant bond between them.

Bringing Sadie Home.

It was so nice bringing Sadie home. The kids were thrilled, Maggie had school off that day and so we had some nice family time without all the stress. The first time Sam met Sadie, he couldn't get over how funny she was, all her littleness was hilarious to him.

Sadie Jane

Before (6 days)