Busy getting our hearts melted

She's been smiling to herself off and on since she was four weeks old, but now at almost seven weeks, Phoebe can smile back at you, which she is most likely to do if you're Daddy.  She also smiles when she's just sneezed or she's proud of herself for something, like holding onto your fingers while you pull her to sit upright.

Ezra* and Juni* have been sick for the past week, Ez is just starting to feel better and now me and Ben are sick too.  We missed having Christmas with Ben's family today, it was a bummer.  They Skyped with us so we could participate in the sibling white elephant gift exchange with them.  Debbi wrapped up a symbolic present from us with a note in it stating what it was that they would get from us next week when we see them all again to do Christmas.  We exchanged food items under $10 this time and we ended up "stealing" a giant Spiderman cookie since we had a very excited 5 year old boy sitting at the computer with us.

I've been finishing up some home made Christmas gifts this weekend while Ben is off work and can watch the kiddos while I'm upstairs sewing.  Today, we woke up to snow and decided to decorate Christmas cookies:

Later, this evening I was looking up something I knew I blogged about a long time ago and with Ben and Ezra looking over my shoulder, we had so much fun remembering how cute and little the kids were just two years ago.  I decided that I don't blog for other people, or rather, I don't need to, it's fun for me and we benefit from having a record of our adventures together.  I don't keep a scrapbook and I'm not the best at keeping up with the baby books or journals I've started for the kids.  Even though the knowledge that anyone could read what I write inhibits me at times (and should do), knowing someone (yes you, Grandma!) may read it, gives me enough accountability to keep it up.  I appreciate the grace to slack when I want or when I've birthed a baby, but it's time to get back on a schedule of some sort for cleaning toilets, making meal plans, doing school and blogging.  Well, let's get through the holidays, then we'll get super organized, eh?  Here's hoping!

*Formerly known as Z and Juju.  I like to keep my kids safe, but I also really like their real names, that's why I picked them.  Besides, their real names are all over FaceBook, so what's the point of trying to feign safety?

Just for Granparents

We were having a staring contest and she won...again.


Here she is doing her famous sleep watching.  It's a little creepy, but we still love her.

Just found this...

Not everyone has pictures from an ultrasound from the day they were born!  We had an appointment that morning, got this ultrasound and never even got a chance to show the pictures to Daddy before she was born that night!  This was my favorite view:

We're doing well, this is the easiest baby to adjust to.  She eats and sleeps well.  She even sleeps through the our noisy household of little people and two dogs.  She's just precious.  She has smiled even while awake (perhaps because of gas...), she often smiles in her sleep and today I got to hear her giggle in her sleep twice! I'm in love...

The New Wiglet

Still at the hospital, but wanted to share some pics with you!  

Introducing, Phoebe! She was 7lb 6.5 oz, 21" long.  I had four hours of labor, two big pushes and she was out!  Ben's mom was my mid-wife again, helping me secure a room with a birthing tub, a good nurse, and countless other perks I don't even realize.  Also present was Ben's Grandma Harris, Sister Bekah and Aunt Val.  It was a quick one, so Ben's two other sisters who live farther away couldn't make it.  I like to make it a party when I push babies out.  :-)  Ben was also there holding my head up out of the water the whole time I was in the tub and held my hand while I pushed on the table.  

Phoebe meet Daddy, Daddy...Phoebe. They were both smitten, even while she was covered with yuck and still had a cone head!

The next day, she got to meet her big brother and sister, who loved her crazy toes.  

 The kids had wanted to name her Chrysanthemum or Petunia...they took the name news like champs.  

 Our new WigFamily

We'll have to impress her later, she's been sleeping an awful lot these past two days!

Speaking of which...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

Anticipation

Still here, still pregnant.  My mom arrived Monday and it's all feeling rather real now, like we're really having a baby soon. 

It's for sure a girl!

I'm 21 weeks along now and had so much fun seeing our newest baby on the ultrasound today.  

She likes to stick her one leg straight up over her head like she's doing yoga.

 She repeatedly would stick her leg up like in the above picture then bring it down and with both feet kick me a few times (like in the video below) then throw it back up above her head!  

Three times while we were watching her this morning she yawned, we caught this one on video.

I have been nesting almost since the beginning of this pregnancy and have had a hard time rationalizing sitting down at the computer when there's so much work to be done around the house.  My apologies for the lengthy delays between blog posts, I'll relax eventually and procrastinate from all my housework again soon, I'm sure.  We sure are excited about this surprise baby!  We can't wait to meet her, it feels like we still have a long wait, but it'll go fast, I'm sure.  I love feeling her move all the time, Ben and the kids can feel her kick now too! Thanks for your prayers and for joining in our excitement.  Much love to you all!

More WigLife here!

Guess what?!  We're expecting again, if you haven't heard.  I am three months along, due October 26th.  Here's the baby's heartbeat.

I've been more nauseated than previously, and when you cut out mornings as mostly non-productive, take a short nap with the kids, then only have the afternoon to clean up the house, do dishes and laundry and make dinner there isn't much time to blog.  Especially, when I'm ready for bed by 8:30pm.  The nausea is getting better, but still comes back briefly twice a day when I take my prenatal vitamins, there's so many! 

Anyways, God is good, we are thankful for what looks like another healthy little WigBaby.  I am excited to share our adventures with you all, thanks for your prayers and for your understanding when blogging gets put on the back-burner.