Leah's New Words

She's really starting to say more words every day. Today's new word was "shoes" - knowing her, you'd have thought she'd have said that long ago as much as she loves her shoes! Next, I suppose, SHOULD be "dress," but we'll see. She's also got many other words down pat (in addition to some of her basics she's done for a while): done, ice, hot, a mumbled thank you, a mumbled 'I want some', swing, baby, Anne, etc. (I'm sure I've forgotten some at this late hour) Sure love hearing her little voice.

Anne at 2 weeks

Anne had her two week checkup this past Monday (7/20). She was 9lb 3oz and doing well. Time will continue to go by fast, I'm sure. Patrick mentioned already a week ago that he could tell she was growing and just how they just aren't that itsy bitsy newborn for too long. Cute to hear Dad realizing that and wanting to enjoy each moment. So tomorrow she'll be 3 weeks already.

My Five Little Monkeys (We love those books)

We've Moved

WOW. Well, I guess there's a few ways to look at things this week:
1) we were very lucky to have such beautiful weather to be moving in - 70's or low 80's and not too humid. For mid-July that's pretty amazing.
2) this is NOT fun to have chaos all around me - better not do this any time soon.
3) the kids are actually handling it very well. We visited the big boys' new school the other day & they were excited, so that helps. Jacob & Leah are going along pretty well other than the complete loss of routine and added exhaustion. Anne is a trooper - of course, just going with the flow having no idea what's going on around her (although I really need to take some more pictures of her. I don't want these newborn days to pass too quickly).
4) thank goodness for the help we've received from our families. Not sure how we'd have made it without their help.
5) I honestly feel less weird than I thought I would moving out of our first house of 10+ years into a completely new neighborhood. I guess the bottom line is that we're a family and as long as we're together, wherever we are will be home to us.
6) guess I better get back to unpacking - need to feel some order around here.

Pictures of Anne

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!

What a day and what a wonderful surprise! We welcomed Anne Marie Robinson to the world and to our family today at 4:09pm. She was 8lb 0.3 oz, 19 1/2 inches long, and just as cute as can be. She really surprised us as we thought it was going to be a little boy. We are so happy to have her and think it is just wonderful that Leah will have a sister. The kids are all so excited and Leyton has said many times already that "I knew it was going to be a baby sister."

The delivery went smoothly and quickly again. In the morning we were at mass and then we went to Sweet Tomatoes as an early celebration of Uncle Robert's birthday. As we were there, I was feeling like maybe I wanted to go home & lie down for a while. Good thing I did - it wasn't long after that we decided maybe it was time to head to the hospital. We called in the support troops - Grandma Sally & Grandpa Dan and Uncle Robert & Aunt Beth came over while Patrick & I headed to the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital around 2:30pm or so, so it didn't take too long after that. When they checked me for the first time there, I was 6-7cm and the bag of waters was bulging. The contractions were getting stronger, but I also had some "uterine irritability" (not totally relaxing between contractions; they say brought on by doing too much or dehydration - can't imagine that would be the case in my life, ha.). Anyway, it wasn't long and my water broke and at that point I just knew it was going to be speedy. I felt it was time to push, doctor said okay, and one push and we met our little Anne. She is precious and the instantaneous family dynamic change had occurred and we already couldn't imagine life without her.

I do have pictures, just need to get some uploaded.

On the Move

Well, looks like we will be heading into a new endeavor with this move thing. As of today, we finalized the contract on our home for the past 10 years - and Patrick & I's FIRST home. Hard to believe. We were starting to feel a bit scrambled since we hadn't found a house to move into yet. Today, though, we did get a contract on a house - we think it will work very well for us, yet it will take some work. It definitely needs some repairs, but we do think it will be a good fit. Just makes me feel a bit crazy sometimes that this is all going on at the same time. Looks like if all goes well, we should be into the new house "on or before 8/1". Sure will be different! Lots has changed for us since we moved into this house 10 years ago. Hard to be believe that Patrick & I lived here for five years before the big boys were born! Surely, though, little by little, we've filled the house with precious people and lots of love, memories, and good times.

Baby Update

Well, I'm surprised I didn't note this before, but last Friday when I saw the doctor I was "a good 3-4cm". I was surprised! I was back there today and had the same status. I figured that's actually good as I think if I was further, I would think I should be in labor in a hospital versus carrying on with my every day stuff! So, we'll see. Dr. Snider said he's hoping for this weekend as he's on call and he's gone all next week. Time will tell. I don't feel it will be tonight, but I wouldn't mind whenever. The kids can hardly believe the time is here. I think they are thinking it will be a planned event, though. We're all excited.

Jacob is Ready

Last night I noticed Jacob was keeping his toothbrush in his backpack (I had looked for this particular one on occasion & didn't know where it was). Patrick asked me if I knew about it being in his backpack. I told him I saw it there, but didn't know there was a story about it. He said that Jacob told him that he has it in his backpack, "in case we move." He's so cute.