Micah Man and his big day! :)

Well, it wasn't that big of a day, and it would have probably been an even bigger day if Anna had held off making her appearance, but I don't think Mommy would have liked that very much :).  Friday marked Micah's first day of being the oldest almost all day while Cara was at school!  Once we dropped her off (and sat through 'parent orientation' where they basically read the handbook to you--thank the Lord I asked a friend and brought snacks for Micah!), we went to run some errands.  Went to the dollar tree to get a few things, went to the outpatient lab at the hospital to get Anna's 2nd newborn screening done, then off to Chuck E. Cheese for a friend's birthday party.  I knew Anna would be in the sling, so I let Micah just walk and hold my hand.  He did great!  I put him in the cart at the store, and he liked that (he got to sit in the back where Cara usually sits), and mommy liked it because it was about 46 pounds lighter :).  He did great holding my hand and walking across the giNORmous parking lot at the hospital, not twice, but FOUR times because once we got in and settled, I realized I left the sheet of paper I needed in the car!  He did good and just sat next to me while Anna got her heal pricked.  And he played in the car while I nursed her before we left to go to Chuck E. Cheese!  He's such a sweet, big boy! 

Once there, we played games for awhile, and he was happy to play any games with buttons or balls!  Or to just sit and pretend to steer the big car games.  :)  After awhile it was time for pizza.  He watched the motorized Chuck E. from afar, and didn't get to close.  Then the real one came out.  He stayed back, but slowly got the courage to get a little close.  I love this picture, with his little hands behind his back :). 

Waiting for instructions ;).  At the end of the song, she threw a bunch of tickets up in the air, and the kids were supposed to gather them up.  Micah, after being scared for a minute, finally got 2 and went to give them back to Chuck E.  He thoughe he was supposed to CLEAN them up! :) 

Then he decided Chuck E. needed a hug :)

I think my sweet little man is going to enjoy his time with just me and little sister :).  He'll get his own time to talk and have some mommy alone time when Anna naps, and I will just eat every second of it up!! :)

One more picture, he woke up early from nap on Saturday and got to watch some college football with daddy and Anna :)

Cara's first day of school

She walked right in and got to work. 

She put her backpack where her name was, got out her teddy bear that they told her to bring, and put her red folder where it goes.  Then she went to the table to look at stuff. 

 I asked a few questions, gave her a kiss, and we were on our way!  She is going to love school.  She and I are very similar, and I loved school, I loved my friends, learning, everything!  The only thing we differ on is that she loves to color, and I always hated it :). 

We went through carpool to pick her up in the afternoon (morning carpool starts this Friday) and she was sad when she got in the car.  I asked her and the teacher that buckles her in what was wrong and Ms. Barbara (the assistant teacher in her room) said, "She doesn't want to leave school, that makes me happy." :).  Haha. 

I asked her how her day was and she told me all about it.  She got to go outside "twice times" to play.  She had teddy grahams for her snack, and she ate ALL her lunch (sandwich, cantaloupe, yogurt, etc) like I told her to before she opened her little cookies I sent with her.  She made a new friend named Abby and she likes Palmer too, he was nice. 

Everyone liked her bear.  They talked about things that are the same and things that are different and she (correctly!) told her teacher that she had curly 'light' hair and I had 'black' straight hair and so they were different :).  She said they worked on letters a bit and counting.  Her teacher and assistant are so nice, I just know they're going to have a great year! 

Micah got stuck in the stroller and was looking in the room going, "Mommy, I come play??" :)  Poor boy....but play we did, that's the next post!

This Girl.....

Loves her family!

Loves to dance!

Loves her new school!

Loves to laugh, and loves her Micah Man!

Loves her sweet sister!

Cara has always been a pretty good helper, but I cannot brag on her enough these past 9 days.  There have been VERY few meltdowns (a couple of fits that were uncalled for), she has transitioned to being the oldest of 3 so well!  We have been spending some extra cuddle time together during nap time each day.  Either just cuddling or doing 'school books,' which she loves to do.  She absolutely is SO good with Anna, and with Micah!!  She's a leader and a will be a great mommy some day.  She is polite, even more so lately, and likes to help teach.  She gathers shoes and puts them under their bed.  She picks Micah's shoes out and helps him put them on when we need to go somewhere fast.  She gets me diapers, burp rags, the boppy, you name it!  She always wants to help me wash the dishes, or clean the table.  She is so excited for this school year, and learning and playing in her new class.  We're putting her in Awana's at 2nd Baptist on Sunday evenings starting 9/12, and we are so excited to help her learn even more bible verses.  She is exactly the first born God had planned for us, and we thank Him each day for her life! 

We love you Cara bell!

1 week Groove

Anna Marie is one week old today.  I need to keep typing and saying her name because usually when I'm holding her she's called Micah (more often than anything), Cara, baby or baby girl.  She's the sweetest thing ever.  Such a good baby.  I'm not saying that to brag, I'm just in utter love with this little being.  And I love how small she is. I want her to forever be this small.  I've always loved the baby/newborn stage, but this is getting ridiculous.  It's getting more and more with each kid.  I told my mom that and she said, 'if you don't stop thinking that, you'll never be done!' :).  She's on a great routine.  Eat, awake, asleep.  We aren't super structured (sometimes I just can't get her to wake up after she eats, and thus she sleeps!).  Daddy is the ultimate waker upper, however tonight after he got home, even he couldn't get her to have awake time.  We've learned, just lay her down and in an hour she will be the happiest, awake, content baby ever!  She's doing great at night.  Besides night #2 at home (we try not to remember that night), she's been going down around 7, or right around when we lay the big kids down, and she'll wake a few times each night.  Usually eat on one side, change diaper, eat on the other, and then back down!  We know how blessed we are! 

She had her first doctor's appointment on Monday and was back up to 8 pounds even.  I had noticed on Saturday that she started to look a little yellow.  Besides that, everything checked out perfectly!  We went and had her bili levels checked, and though they were elevated, not enough to need light therapy.  So we were instructed to spend some time each day by the windows and nurse frequently and watch her output.  She only went once on Monday, and I was getting worried by Tuesday afternoon.  However, within an hour of emailing the doctor, she proved me wrong!   And she's proved me wrong ALL DAY today! :)  We're happy though! 

Oh, and I'm having some issues of my own (we don't need to discuss them here), however I was at the doctor yesterday and had to get weighed.  I'm down to 2.5 pounds left before I reach pre-Anna pregnancy weight!  I told you my placenta was huge ;).  That doesn't mean I have a lot more to go to get healthy, but it's nice that the baby weight has come off quickly!

The rest of this post is mostly pictures, from the last ones I posted a few days ago through today (so all the way back to day #2 in the hospital).

Today we were hanging in the big kids room reading books waiting for Daddy to get home.  There's a big window there, and Cara let me borrow her pillow pet to lay Anna on by the pillow. Isn't she just the sweetest thing??

Utter relaxation!

As a family, we are in a good groove.  The kids are going down easier at night (I guess the new has worn off from moving them in the same room).  They are going down great at naptime in the same room now and Anna usually gives me a little time each day napping while they are.  Good thing because Tot 2 Tot is under 3 weeks away and we've been super busy!!  Eric went back to work yesterday afternoon (half day) and now is full time.  It's funny because I was MUCH more worried about being alone the first time after Micah was born.  Yesterday when he left, I was completely calm!  Bath time (every other night) is a little more hectic.  It used to be that Eric bathes them and I wait for one to get done then get that one ready (I was pregnant so I usually just vegged on the couch while he bathed them).  Now, I'm usually dealing with Anna as he's bathing them, so they get to splash around a little more, and be naked a little more, which is currently Micah's favorite thing to talk about.  It's his new word I guess.  If he sees a baby in a diaper he says 'Baby Naked!!" (like on a wipes container).  He sees Cara's undressed barbies, it's either "Barbie naked," OR "take panties off!"  Where does he get this? :) 

I've also started showering at night once all the kids are in bed.  What a difference it makes!  My hair may not look the best in the morning, but not having to get up before the kids and shower (or choose not to!) is so nice.  :)

Here's my little ham after baths last night:

Anna's first 'bath' picture:

You can see the other kids here. 

here are some sibling shots from the past few days:

This girl is in total love with the little baby that is in our home now.  She talks to her ALL the time!

And Micah is very gentle with her.  I think it helps that he gets to watch Cara with her.  She is such a little Mommy!

Last Friday when we came home from the hospital, it was Greg's birthday (eric's brother), so they all came over for dinner and cake.  Here is Nana, Cara and Anna cuddling:

Bittersweet.  We all wish she could have met her Grandad!!

Uncle Greg

On the car ride leaving the hospital.  We went straight to get sister's hair cut, so Cara was there and Micah was home napping with Yaya.

Waiting for Eric to pull the car around.

Us waiting for discharge papers:

Papa and his birthday present.

Yaya holding Anna and on her (yaya's) birthday!

Sweet girl

I just love these next few pictures of all my babies!

First time he got to hold her.  He didn't want to give her up.  Cara was begging for a turn and Micah said MINE and grabbed on tight! :)

Hugs

The other night before bed:

Ok that's it.  Goodnight!