Jenna First 2 weeks in pictures

It has been 2 weeks of adjusting to life with three kids. While some nights are a little rough, Jenna is doing pretty good. Blame it on working night shift or just not having time to realize it but the lack of sleep isn't hitting me as hard as it did with Brooke and Lindsey. Nap? I wish.

She is not a fan of the sponge bath

Sporting some new cute outfits.
The only way I will be able to tell the difference between pictures of Jenna and Brooke is the season of clothes they are wearing.  They are like twins.

I will have to go back and match up this picture to one of Brooke in the same onesie.

She sucks her fingers, thumb, pacifier, hand and anything she can find.

Jenna is having more alert and awake times.

and the please be quiet, I am trying to sleep pose

Her big sisters are in love.  Brooke keep talking about how cute she is and is a great helper.

Lindsey loves to give her kisses.

 

 

 

The surprise bright light camera flash look

 

Jenna's cord fell off right at 2 weeks.  Perfect timing for her professional newborn pictures.
That means bath time.  She broke it in right just like her sisters and pretty much pooped the moment her little bottom touched the water.
She really seems to enjoy bath time.  She was calm and just laid there sucking her thumb.

Enjoying a little story time with her sisters.

 

Jenna Birth announcement pictures

I was excited to take a few pictures and get the announcement out that Jenna had joined our family.  

 It was hard to narrow it down to just one picture.

 

 

 

 

 

Safety City Graduate

Brooke is officially a safety city graduate. She had a blast. She wants to go back every year. I tried to explain to her that it is just for kids before they start kindergarten. She wasn't happy with answer.

 

Locked up in the back of the police car

Sitting tall in the garbage truck

No way was she blowing the air horn in the fire truck

Using the fire truck's water hose

Proud Graduate

Playtime in the house with her sister

 

 

Jenna-The Birth Story

Jenna Elise was born June 13, 2012 at 7:40 pm. The day started at 8am with a planned induction. The doctor had offered this day when at my 37 week appointment. I originally said no just because I like the idea of having a "story" and when she wsa ready it would happen.   As my due date approached Tim and I talked about it and for many reasons decided to go with the induction. We had to keep it top secret because my parents were on their dream Alaskan vacation and I didn't want my mom worried or thinking about it. For the most part they had no phone service and had a crab fishing excursion that day. Tim and I sat in the delivery room texting and talking to people like nothing was going on. Really we were bored if you can believe that. They started the pitocin around 10. The nurse had asked when I wanted the epidural. I just wanted to make sure I didn't wait too long like I had with Brooke. She let anesthesia know when they were free to stop in. Around 2 the epidural was placed. They first time she said she was in a vein so repeated it. No big deal, everything was numb anyway. The epidural was amazing. I could move around but wasn't feeling the pain of contractions. Fabulous! Once the epidural was placed they broke my water. Now everyone thought the show would be on the road and this baby would be born in time for me to be in my postpartum room for dinner. Not so much. She stay a -2 station and at 4:30 I was only 4cm dilated. Once shift change came they decided to check again and behold she was ready to go. Just a few pushes and there was Jenna screaming her way in the world. Oh how things changed. All I wanted to know when she came out was if everything was ok. I wasn't worried about if she had hair or how big she was at the time. Just tell me everything is good. And it was.

 

My mom was back in port just as I was getting ready to push so she only had minutes to process what was happening before we sent out the pictures.  Thank goodness for cellphones.

Brooke had planned on coming up all day but because it was late I figured they wouldn't come up till morning.  She apparently wasn't having it and said she wasn't going to be able to sleep until she saw her sister.  Her and Lindsey we both beyond excited and covered their little sister in kisses.

 

 

Getting ready to leave.

On our way home a family of 5.

 

Welcome Jenna

We welcomed Jenna Elise on June 13 at 7:40pm

 

8 pounds
20 inches
We are so excited about our newest addition.

Running the bases

Brooke and Lindsey had a great time running the bases at the baseball field with Daddy and Uncle Greg.

 

In case you haven't been flashed Lindsey's "silly face".

It goes something like this...

 

 

 

Chocolate Chip Strawberry Bread-Yum!

 

I was looking for recipes with all the strawberry picking we did.  I always love making bread.  The ingredients are usually on hand and they are pretty easy to make.  I found this chocolate chip strawberry bread recipe and LOVE IT.  I had quite a bit of white chocolate chips leftover that I thought I would use in addition to the chocolate chips.  The loaf didn't last long in our house.  I need to get another bread pan so I can start making them two at time and freezing one.  If it makes it to the freezer that is. 

Lindsey's Big Girl Room

I am trying to catch up on some old posts. We have successfully switched Lindsey over to her own big girl room for a couple of months now. She stays in her bed for both naps and bedtime. Her old room is staying pretty much just as I was for the new baby.

Pictures of Lindsey and her big girl room.

 

Her favorite thing to do is empty her bookshelf off.  Once she has completed her shelf she moves on to Brooke's bookshelf.  Lindsey will search through all of Brooke's books to find the Berenstein Bears books.  Not quite sure what it is about those bears but they are her favorite.  She also likes to take her shirt off.  Sometimes just like the picture shows it stays just with the head out and the arms still in.
Silly girl!

 

Book Signing

One of my favorite blogs to follow is Enjoying the Small Things. A few people told me about awhile ago. I checked it out and was amazed by her photos and her story. She has a 2 year old with Down syndrome. She has done a lot for the Down syndrome community in such a short time.  Most of her blog is just like any other blog. A virtual journal of everyday happenings with fantastic pictures. Some people like to argue that she is all rainbows and unicorns about life with a child that has special needs.  I say, who couldn't use a little rainbows and unicorns in their life?  She recently wrote a book called Bloom that is all about her first year with Nella. I have been meaning to read it and when I found out she was doing a book signing not far away I decided to go and finally pick it up.

 

 

Now to do a little reading. 

Strawberry Pickin'

We went strawberry picking over the weekend. After the fiasco last year I wasn't sure what to expect. Brooke remembered as we were going out the door how bad she had to go potty last year and dashed to the bathroom. That girl has got a good memory. Tim and I both looked at each other and said, "that is what her problem was". We remembered Lindsey wasn't walking and hated the straw but what Brooke's problem was we couldn't remember.  Even all the drama there is something about picking your own strawberries and how they seem to taste so much better that the store bought package strawberries.

Well this year was great weather and both girls enjoyed the strawberry picking. 

 

Lindsey had her fair share of "taste tester" strawberries.  The girl was covered in red strawberry juice.  I thought for sure her face, arms, and hands would be stained for days.

 

and all she wanted was one strawberry after another

Brooke had a few taste tester strawberries of her own

Time to break out some favorite strawberry recipes.  I have over 10 lbs to eat with.  Good thing the girls love strawberries as much as I do.