BELIEVE

I read a book this Christmas called The Joy of Believing. It was about believing in Santa Clause still. That Santa is a symbol of happiness and one who gives and how when we see him we all get excited. He helps us want to love and serve everyone and that we as adults can BELIEVE. I loved it. I love the magic that this season brings. And the kind gestures heard and seen. And sometimes not seen. Children help bring the magic of Christmas into our home for sure. I'm so grateful for these tiny souls who when their eyes light up and smiles glow that it warms my insides. We had a fantastic slow paced day with goodies and lots of playing. It was such a nice day out side we even bundled the kids up and let them ride their new bikes! Here are some pictures from our morning. As always, Santa didn't disappoint!

Christmas festivities and Christmas Eve

From visiting santa and making gingerbread cookies to sledding and christmas jammies we tried to squeeze it all in despite having a new baby! Brielle wore her christmas jammies about 1 minute before she had a blow out. But we hurried and washed them and dried them so she could wear them for christmas morning. The kids loved having grandma here for a whole week taking care of us and she is the reason many of these fun things happened. We did our usual sledding day on christmas eve and had a special family dinner. We had plans to watch the BSU game but ended up talking with Elder Reed in Romania instead. His time got moved up so we missed the game but it was ok because it was a bad game and this was WAY more important! We talked for 4 hours with my whole family through skype. It was incredible. I'm so thankful for technology so that we could do this! Anyway, Ill let the pictures do the rest of the talking!

Brielle's first weeks

It's my first day home alone with all 3 kids and I should be sleeping...or doing laundry. But instead I'm surfing through the hundreds of pictures we have taken this month. Between a baby and christmas there are TONS of pictures! And I want to make sure that Brielle gets enough "face time" in our blog book. So here is yet another photo dump of the first few weeks of her life. Some things about Brielle: -She will sleep through ANY loud noises. If it is quite, she has a hard time sleeping -She poops like a kid I've never seen! Seriously she ruins several outfits a day! -She has such a calmness about her. I'm hoping she will be my chill child! -She smiles so sweetly in her sleep and her eye lashes are really very long! -At two weeks my good friend Lyndi took some newborn pictures for me. She slept through her whole photo shoot and then peed all over everything -The mark on her head is starting to look more like a birth mark than a bruise. Only time will tell if it will ever go away! -She loves to cuddle by her daddy. But what girl in our family doesn't?! He's so warm and cuddly. -She sleeps most nights 3-4 hours in between feedings which is awesome! But she gets really gassy at night too -She loved her first bath and so did her big brother and sister I love how having a new baby brings a reminder of heaven. I continually find my self wondering about heaven and what she knows and where she just came from and who of my deceased family members she has met. I love the sweet reminder to me of what matters most of having an eternal family. Sure love this sweet little one!

Brielle Carmina

Brielle was born on Dec 10 after a long 39 weeks growing in my body. This was by far my hardest pregnancy but easiest labor and delivery! I went in at 5:30 AM and was all hooked up to the monitors and ready to go by 7:30. I had a few very light contractions and asked for my epidural pretty early on this time. It was the best epidural I've ever had. He was quick and nothing hurt (the other ones were pretty uncomfortable for me) and i was completely numb in my torso but not my legs. It's called a walking epidural I guess because I could move my legs and it was great but had no pain at all! I progressed quickly and by 10:30 I was dilated 10 cm! I had a little harder time pushing than the other two because I was so numb and couldn't feel when the contractions were coming but at 10:49 AM we had a baby! Chad got to deliver her although he told me while the doctor was out of the room he didn't want to. But the doctor didn't really give him a choice and got him all gowned up. He said he would do it again though. Her heart rate dropped a bit and the doctor said to get the vacuum ready and I didn't want him to use it so I pushed one last big push and she came out. I had my first skin to skin time immediately after she was born which was incredible. With Carter and Mollie they were both whisked away and I didn't see them for 30 minutes! After I cuddled her for about half an hour they finally took her and weighed her and bathed her. She was a whopping 7 pounds 3 oz and 20 in long. My biggest baby yet. She, like Carter, didn't cry at all and was very blue when she came out. They were a bit worried but she soon turned pink and was just fine. The room was quiet and it was just me and Chad in the delivery room. It was so peaceful. Very soon after though both our parents and Carter and Mollie were oohing and ahhing over the baby. Carter and Mollie both fell completely in love right away. They both wanted to hold her and kiss her. They helped the nurse listen to her heart and Mollie was convinced the baby was hers and wouldn't let go. It was a sweet moment I will never forget. They have been the best helpers and are always willing to get me what I need. Mollie has had a little bit of a hard time with adjusting but over all they have been really good. And here is the photo dump!!! Enjoy!