Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead!

The Good News: The Cord Stump From H*** Is GONE!!!

The Bad News: I have no idea where the thing is!! How did it just disappear?

Did it apparate in the middle of the night Harry Pottery style?

The kid wears six layers of clothes all day--how did it magically sneak it's way out of them?!

I know I'm going to find it at the worst possible moment and right now it's sitting somewhere it shouldn't and is

mocking me!!

Or something.

But at least it's off my baby =)

2 Weeks Ago Today

Mortifying Mother

Mortifying Mother is easy when you have a disgusting cord stump!

ACK!

I dread each diaper change!

Fall off already evil, vile thing!!!! You are ugly and smelly and we just want you gone.

(Seriously, it's just cruel to dangle by a...well, by a *whatever* that is holding you in place in the first place.)

That is all.

Cherishing The Past; Enjoying The Present; Looking Forward To The Future

The birth announcement I ordered for Baby Ezra came the other day

(Hello free $15 giveaway from Kodak Gallery! Woot!)

and while I had a few quiet moments I started filling them out for our close family.

As I was filling them out it really *hit* me that I don't have any grandparents to send my announcements too!

My great-grandparents and maternal grandfather passed when I was in elementary school, my paternal grandma passed when I was in high school, my paternal grandfather while I was in college and my Grandma Rose passed near Amelie's first birthday.

It is extraordinarily painful at times to think of those we've lost.

I am thankful for the time I was allowed with them but sad at the same time that they're gone. I so look forward to seeing my Christ-believing family members in Heaven again someday. I am thankful that we have been promised a future where we will all be whole, and together with our loved ones. It makes moments like these easier.

I am so thankful for the abundance of family and friends we are surrounded with and that God has blessed me with a peace and love-filled home.

I am cherishing the past, enjoying and embracing our sweet present and looking forward to the future we're promised.

Shelly Received This Email Today And Seriously, If *This* Applied To Me--I Would Be Completely MENTAL!!! Thank God Ezra IS Here!!

Hi Mama-to-be,Congrats! You're 42 weeks pregnant!

This week your baby weighs 8, 9 (or more) pounds and is 21 inches long or more. A whole lotta baby!

it may feel like a cruel joke is being played on you, but you really will give birth soon. Most doctors won't allow women to go more than two weeks past their due dates, so the end really is in sight. And to that we say, thank goodness for modern medicine! Oh, and congrats!
what you're thinking
"I am going to be pregnant for the rest of my life, aren't I?"

Ezra: A Primer (This is not a rant, even though it looks like one, it's an "impassioned plea")

So, as a parent of children without top 100 names, I get funny looks and comments upon introducing them from time to time.

I'm used to it.

It's fine--

I understand that not everyone has heard of the French form of Amelia or watched the extremely popular French Movie Amelie; or is familiar with Celtic mythology or Shakespeare's plays to have heard of a Maeve.

But seriously--I thought we hit the name-jack-pot with E-boy because to me, his name is wayyyy more popular than the girls'

(Amelie rank: 792

Maeve rank: 638

Ezra rank: 394)

and something that most everyone should have heard at least once in their life.

Apparently, I. was. wrong.

Ezra--the background:
Gender:
Boy
Origin:
Hebrew
Meaning:
God is my Help/Aid
Pronunciation:
(EZ rah)
Used in:
Ezra is a Biblical/Jewish name used in English and Hebrew speaking countries
Additional info:
*Ezra was a prophet of the Old Testament, a priest who returned to Judah from exile in Babylon.
* Is a book in the Old Testament of the Bible
* Is also the first name of the man who founded Cornell University
* Also--remember the 90s rock group, Better Than Ezra?
* And the name of a poet--Ezra Pound

1. Ezra has two syllables. It's not Ezzz-er--ahh or Eeh-zer-eee. Ez. Ra.
2. Ezra is not made up. It's in the Bible people. I realize being Protestant, studying the Bible and going to a Bible college give me the advantage in this situation but I've come across many people who surprise me by asking that question.
3. Ezra is a boy's name. Seriously--If I hear, "Oh I heard you named your daughter Ezra...." ONE MORE TIME!!! I really didn't see that one coming.

So, now you know and knowing is half the battle! =)

Lesser Known Definition of:

Rude Awakening = Bad Latch

That is all.

Amelie Says

My excellent, loving and helpful husband has been entertaining the big girls-big time lately to give me lots of quiet, rest/down time. (Thanks honey! Seriously!)

They took a walk during my, *ahem*, third, nap of the day and walked by our town's laundromat.

Conversation as follows:

Amelie says, "Look Daddy! There's the laundry place we don't need to go to anymore."

Mr. Wonderful, "Yeah, we have a washer and dryer now! It's like we're rich!"

Amelie says, " No Daddy, you know who the richest people are in the world? Missionaries! Because they help people."

Oh. My. Word.

I totally found the Christmas dresses I want for the girls.

Holy. Cuteness!! Etsy!

Aunt Rosemary Says....

My Mom left to head back to NY this morning

=(

so I called her to check on her travel status and she was sitting with my dear Aunt Rosemary.

So I talked with them both for a few minutes and Aunt Rosemary was asking about Baby E--I told her about his little day-night confusion issues and

she said,

"Oh, honey--that's only natural. He's a man. He'll spend the rest of his life in a state of confusion. It's best to get used to it now."

Bwahahahahah

OH. My. I needed that laugh. Love you Aunt Rosemary!!

In other news:

Pirate Skull Baby Legs!

Awesome.

The 1st Appointment

****Baby E had his first baby check up today! He's doing well and already above birth weight (despite the fact that he went potty and probably lost a pound on the scale b/c the nurse was being wayyyy too slow--btw--obviously a nurse w/o children as she looked horrified =).

He's up to 7 pounds 12 ounces! Grow baby grow! ****

Or, even more importantly--SLEEP baby SLEEP--especially during the hours of 12-5 sometime soon.

Thanks.

(Seriously though, I'd even settle for any 3 consecutive hours between the hours of 9 and 7.)

****Moving on....I did something I've never done before in all my Mommy life.****

I opted not to get a vaccine.

I'm pro-vaccine in life but today after waiting for 40 minutes in the tiny patient room with a sweetly sleeping E, who has already had a pretty big week in being born, circumcised and learning how to eat, potty and deal with life on the outside, I just couldn't make him deal with a shot that treats a disease that people who share needles suffer from.

So, he'll have to deal with good ol' hep. b when he's 4 or something--Sorry E, you may remember that shot but I just couldn't do it today!

****In other news, THE VERY WORST PART about the day was the fact that:****

a) it was my first post-pregnancy outing

b) nothing fits

nothing

It. was. dreadfully discouraging.

All of my maternity clothes look ridiculous and stretched out and all of my regular clothes look like a 6 month pregnant lady is trying to make them work. Oh my word--it's horrible!!! I need something new s.t.a.t. or I'm going to opt out of going anywhere ever ever again.

That's it for now, I"m going to go console my fashion-less self with the most beautiful baby boy and remind myself that I'd do it a million times again just for one whiff of his baby forehead.

Goodnight!

'Cause He Was Supposed To Be Here *In Time* For Halloween!

Shelly Is In *Love* With The Freakin' Front Porch!!!

All of the outdoor play without all of the outdoor work!

Plus I can watch them and HGTV from my sofa all at the same time.

Thank. You. Jesus.

Baby Boy Joy

* What a sweet little boy--I still can't believe I have a boy! So much waiting, so totally worth it.

* He had his first bath tonight--he's so easy going! (for now!) He took it like a man and fell right back asleep--precious angel!

* Ezra has his first baby check up tomorrow!

* He has totally won the heart of Amelie who is completely enamored with him. Maeve, on the other hand, thinks it's funny to poke his eyes. =)

*My cup runneth over. My heart is full.

Good night!

Holi-Daze

I've been window(s) shopping for a few weeks now for holiday ensembles for the little ones.

(Anything to keep my mind off the fact that someone whose name shall not be mentioned was refusing to arrive!!!)

I've been sorely disappointed!

I saw on facebook (um, how much do I *heart* facebook?!) one of my friends had a similar quandry and found some cuteness at hannahandersson.com so I had to take a peek!

And I saw this:

Oh. Man.

Love it! But at those prices I could only afford *one* outfit that all three children would have to take turns wearing--HA!

I still have to check out Target--and I'm thinking Etsy?

But, isn't it weird that all the majors (Old Navy, Gap, Gymboree and TCP) have limited pickings this year!?

Cause Nothin's *Better Than Ezra*

My little E-boy had a rockin' first night!

I had anticipated the worst because he had been sleeping allllll day and I *know* that newborns sleep alllll days but literally--I think I saw his eyeballs once yesterday!

We settled in at 8 and he only woke up twice! Of course, I woke up more than that and woke him up once (*cough* or twice *cough*) just to hug him. =)

I'm still not ready to talk about his grand arrival.
It was uber traumatic.
Seriously, I may never recover.
But, he was, totally, completely, wonderfully worth it.

Love you sweet, delightful, delicious E-boy!!

Amelie Says,

"Call me Angel-heart. That is my new name."

Um...ok.....

We dug a little deeper and found out that her Pre-K class is learning about Native Americans and they all came up with their own Indian Names which they are going by this week =) Tee hee! Gotta love 4yos!

Shelly...

has a little boy! tee hee!

(and needs to work on her smushy baby face pictures so that both of our faces appear a bit better =)

Ezra Steven Wonderful!

Ezra is finally here!

He made me wait 40 weeks and 3 days but once I waited that long he was VERY anxious to make his arrival!

After a grand total of 45 minutes at the hospital he made a hasty and horrible and uncomfortable and intense drug-free entrance! Ack!

I love him, he's gorgeous!

11/1/09

7 pounds 10 ounces

11:03 pm (the day before he was to be induced)

20 inches

And breastfeeding like a champ if you must know =)

Yay for Ezra! So stinkin' glad he's here!

Just {(Enjoying)} The *Two* Of Them