From the Lake...

As I was going back through the folders on my desktop (Jason's dad shared all his photos with me from during their stay), I found these gems and wanted to share.

So glad J's dad takes so many pics...I love these!  (I did edit a few of them, which he may not appreciate, sorry FIL!)

Ya just gotta love the lake at springtime :)

Nora's Newborn Shoot

Man oh man, I don't know how those newborn photographers do it.  It's quite the challenge to get cute newborn shots, let me tell ya...at least I'm totally not skilled at it.

But although I am without a doubt not a professional, I did get a few shots of our youngest girl that I love.

I only ended up with these four, so I think I'll give it another try sometime soon.  Props to those newborn photographers that do this for a living...consider me impressed :)

Our Biggest Girl

We're going to time travel today...back a couple of weeks.  Sound good? :)  While Jason's parents were here, the weather was pretty rotten.  Well, for the first two weeks of their stay at least.  It finally decided to warm up their last week here...thank goodness!

During that time, there were quite a few trips to the lake and our local park.  To say that E was happy about it would be an understatement.  Her Grandpa (Bepaw) is very much in to photography, and I'm oh so glad because he captured these cute ones below (thanks, Bepaw!)...

 

Since it had finally warmed up they opened our neighborhood ice cream stand, much to Bepaw and Elise's delight (they share a mutual love for a good ice cream cone :)

I love that little ice cream face, so so much...and I love that the only form of ice to be found in that picture above is in edible form (yay spring!).

Nora's Birth Story

It would seem that, after being pregnant twice, my babies are quite comfy in the womb.  I have to admit this is rather frustrating when you just want to meet that little bundle!

So was the case with our Nora.  She was a week "late" (even though there were discrepancies with her due date).  So it was decided that seven days past theoretical due date we would attempt to induce.  And attempt we did.  With no success, that is.

We went in at 7 am on Tuesday morning and they immediately checked me out and got started right away with the first induction.  I think we went in to it all thinking it would be somewhat similar to what happened when they induced Elise (aka, they put in the tablet and thirty minutes later contractions had started and we were on our way to meeting our first baby!).  Alas, we were fooled.  Hours passed and nothing happened.  We walked and walked, did stairs, etc.  Still nothing.  Early afternoon they tried again since enough time had passed, and again we waited.  By this point I was starting to get frustrated and Jas was starting to go stir crazy, ha!  I mean, you can only play Bejeweled and Boggle so many times, ya know?

Afternoon rolled in to evening and before we knew it they were going to keep me overnight just to see if anything happened, but they sent Jas on home.  I had plenty of time that evening to spend time with the Lord, pray about my attitude, and read His word all while confessing how frustrated I was and how ready I was to meet our little girl!

I eventually fell asleep, but was awakened by some pain in my abdomen.  I thought surely I was making it up, these COULDN'T be contractions, could they?!  So I waited awhile before calling in the nurse.  I tried to fall back asleep, but it was becoming enough uncomfortable that I decided to start timing them.  Sure enough, these early contractions were coming every 3 to 4 minutes apart and I was starting to think I wasn't making it up!  At about half past midnight I decided it was time to call the nurse.

The nurse took me to the midwife and she then hooked me up to check out the contractions.  Sure enough, they were happening and it wasn't going to be too much longer before we could meet our Nora!  Only problem was, Jas was at home fast asleep.  Eva, our awesome midwife, ran and got my phone and I quickly phoned Jas.  He was startled, but rushed on over (nearly wrecking in a slippery puddle on the way...urgh).

Things progressed fairly quickly and this time around I felt much more prepared to focus on breathing techniques (with Elise I just screamed a lot, haha).  Jas was such a HUGE help and encouraged me through the whole thing this time...I think it's safe to say he was more prepared for what was coming this time around also.  Finally, Eva moved me from the tub to the bed and it was time to do the hardest work.  Five and a half hours later at 5:56 am on Wednesday morning our Nora arrived and we were both relieved and overjoyed.

I'm sure whatever they gave me for induction helped get things going, but because it was some twelve hours between the last try at induction and when she came, I would like to think that that's just when God decided to bring Nora in to the world...au natural and on her own timing.  It's true that I'm not a patient person and Jas always says that when we pray for patience for me, God answers.  It's true...he answers by making me wait :)

And I just have to say...lil N was certainly worth the wait.

Getting Their Twin On...

Elise and Nora were gifted two very cute matching dresses from Grandma/Grandpa and Aunt Patti/Uncle Merel.  We decided that while the grandparents were still here we would do an impromptu photo shoot of sorts in the dresses.

Let me introduce to you some serious cuteness...

(though I have to say getting an active toddler and a hungry baby to "pose" for a photo shoot is one of the toughest challenges out there)

And this last one is an Instagram shot, but I love love it, so I thought I'd post it here as well...

I honestly never thought I'd have two girls (for some reason I thought I'd have three boys!?), but I am oh so thankful for these two...they make me smile :)

Hi, Nora Rose!

We are so happy to introduce to you our latest addition, Nora Rose...

More to come on her birth story, but after two unsuccessful induction attempts on Tuesday, Nora decided to enter the world at 5:56 am on Wednesday morning (April 10th) instead.  She weighed in at approximately 8 pounds 4 ounces (3750 grams).  We are SO excited she is finally here and beyond thankful for this new blessing.

Big sis is hanging in there and just starting to learn what it means to have a new baby around!

And we are all on our way to making the transition to being a family of four...

(photos taken by Jason and grandparents...whom we are thankful to have had here to help out and love on us!)

Welcome, sweet baby, so glad you finally decided to come ;)

Little Hamlett + an Update

This girl is a little ham...but a seriously cute one.

(photos courtesy of her grandfather :)

 

In other news, Nora is still nice and comfy in her current home and it's not looking like she's wanting to come out anytime soon.  Talks of induction have already been mentioned, so hopefully by this time next week we'll be holding Little Hamlett's sister :)  Thanks for the prayers, friends!