Baby days

It's true, when there are bigger siblings around, babies are toys too.

Charlotte is sporting a new SPRING DRESS because it's crazy hot here!!  Today is 82 degrees!

Spring (or is this summer?) came 2 months early.  It is bizarre.

It was really cute to see Charlotte sleeping all stretched out--she's normally so bundled and swaddled.

Little girl on a big couch!

Playing Photographer

When you're so sleep deprived that an 11am photo shoot at JCPenney seems WAY too early, sometimes you have to take photography into your own hands.

I set up a white sheet on my bed, grabbed the boppy and some bows, and voila!  Thanks to Picasa's glow and soft focus, these turned out pretty cute!  Taken March 12, 4 1/2 weeks old.

These are my top three:

(Andrew's favorite)

The rest I did not edit, but they are worth seeing!

Is that a smile?

Does this pose make me look chubby?

Boppys are good.  Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Arms are too.

Updates...

Andrew earned his arrow of light!  What a cute boy scout!!

He had to lead the boys in the construction of this bridge.  

Then he ceremoniously crossed it. :)

 Abby just had her 3rd grade concert.  It was so great!  

She even auditioned and was accepted to be in a special quartet.  We were so proud of her!

Abby has had a lot of fun with some school projects.  She build this model of an old one-room school house.  Complete with portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the wall, slates and chalk on each desk, and a wood burning stove to keep the chillin's warm.

Now this is just funny. 

(March 8-one month old)

Posing with Charlotte.

(March 12)

Baby Charlotte

Some updates (ok, just pictures really) on our newest...

At my Stewart baby shower over Thanksgiving, Charlotte's Aunt Heidi had everyone write notes on diapers...notes that would encourage a late night diaper changer, or make her laugh.  Here's one from Debra (taken during her first sponge bath)--

 Big sister, for the first time!

Charlotte and her Mama on Valentine's day, her due date.

Waking up...

Around the house...

It seems like only yesterday...actually, this was yesterday.

And just a moment ago, a little tummy-time nap. 

(Hey, nurse said it's ok if we stick around baby.)

Charlotte Belle, 13 days old

We had a baby!

Well, our long awaited baby girl has arrived! 

Here I am, the night before delivery!

The morning of February 9th, we welcomed a sweet Charlotte Belle into our family.  

Charlotte because it's a beautiful name (and I knew a couple Charlotte's growing up who only made the name more endearing) and Belle because she is Daniel's beloved Grandma.  I also knew her before she died and she was a sweet, wonderful person.

Here's Dad with his fourth child!

Charlotte was born at 10:59 am and weighed 8 pounds even.  She's 20 inches long.  She is my "middlest" baby as Andrew weighed 7 lbs and the girls were at 8lbs 5oz and 8lbs 6oz.

Charlotte was delivered "all natural," yes, by choice.  Depending on when you start counting contractions labor lasted about an hour and a half or so.  Very similar to the timing of Eliza's birth.  

(Abby's was a whole two hours long.)

This makes three daughters!

Precious baby girl.

It was just too sweet when the kids came to visit.  They were so thrilled!  It wasn't long before they were calling dibs on holding their baby sister.

Eliza wanted to check out all of Charlotte's fingers and toes, so we took a few minutes to unbundle her.

The day after our baby was born, Grandma Stewart arrived to be our helper!  

She has been so kind and incredibly helpful!  What would we do without her!?

2 days old.

Grandma Stewart brought a gorgeous home-made quilt for her grandbaby.

4 of a kind. 

A lucky little sister.

It's COLD here...

...Well, everywhere except my fridge and freezer!  In there it's a nice 68 degrees.

Yep.  I woke up yesterday morning to warm milk and melted ice cream.  We rushed everything (thankfully) to our extra fridge/freezer and rescued most of it.  I called on our home warranty plan (thankfully) and they'll be out to "repair" tomorrow.  Sure.  A yellow fridge from 1972.  I'm planning on the replacement.  That's why we got the warranty thing after all.  So I think I'll start shopping!

P.S.  It finally feels like Wisconsin outside.  A few inches of old snow on the ground coupled with sub-zero temperatures.  Wooo, baby!!

UPDATE:  Alas, we have a busted thermostat.  And our guy FOUND the part and is fixing it as we speak!!  I can't say I'm not disappointed about not getting a new fridge out of this.  But at least it's working and at least it's clean!  I mean, might as well wash it out while it's empty, eh?

Basketball Baby

I feel like I've kind of deprived the blog of pictures of me pregnant (with belly actually showing).  Though no one has expressed disappointment.  So maybe you will now be disappointed.  

Anyway, here I am!  And a fresh hair cut to boot.

Let's work on the lighting, shall we?  Start with a flash.

 Ahh, this only looks half-decent because I used "warmify" on Picasa's touch-up features.

 Finding good lighting for photography in our house is hard. 

 It makes me sad.

Had enough?

Good night.

:)