5 Things. 4 Pictures.

1. My favorite baby item so far...my Tricot Slen wrap.
How I wish I would have had it when my other five were babies.
If you are pregnant right now..buy one! You will not be disappointed.

2. She went to "work" this afternoon at the orchard..with her Auntie Stephanie.
I canNOT tell you how excited she was when she left. She kissed me goodbye 3 times.

3. Our little guy sleeps so much. He's growing. Today he weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs.

4. We slowly started back to school this week since the baby.
It was easier than I thought it would be.

5. Tomorrow is the last day of October...I can't believe it.
The holiday season is just around the corner.
{Only 27 days until we cut down our Christmas Tree!!!...but who's counting?}

Happy Thursday.
XxOo

Fashion Tip Friday ~

I just had a baby. Which means...I have nothing to wear. Nothing fits me.
Maternity clothes are too big...my regular clothes are too small.
{I was however able button a pair of my "fat" jeans when I tried them on the other day.
Let's just say...muffin top to the extreme...actually it was more like loaf top!}
So...leggings and stretchy cotton it is...at least for a while.

And I'm fine with it...I'd rather be chubby with a new little baby than slim and in shape without him.
He's worth the few extra pounds. :)

But, I still feel gross when I look in the mirror.
So what to do when you are feeling not so in shape?

Fix yourself up in other ways.
Ways you have control over.

Like your...
..hair.
...nails.
..make-up.
...shoes.

Fixing up always makes a person feel better.
Sort of like a hot shower when you've been sick on the couch for a couple days.

If you're feeling not quite yourself, get a manicure. Or do one yourself.
Run to Target and pick out a nail color you've never worn before..
...something outside your norm.

Get a haircut, or a new hair style.
Even just a trim will make your ends look healthier and make you feel more fresh.

Go to the nearest makeup counter and pick out a new lipstick for fall.
Or have one of the lovely ladies do your makeup for you.
I recently started using this product and LOVE it!

I would really like to purchase these. However, they're a bit pricey.
Very adorable, but  I'm sure I can find a cheaper version somewhere.

How about a new perfume?
At the moment, I really like...
...this line {currently I wear Unconditional Love..Jeff bought it for me last Christmas}
....and these are so fun!  I love the citrus and the fruity lines. and they last forever on your skin!


If you do small things to take care of yourself,
You won't feel so bad about the things you don't like.

Happy Weekend.
XxOo

He can't....

 ....stretch alone.

...yawn alone.

....sleep alone.

If the boy is looking for "me time",
he isn't going to get any....at least anytime soon!

It's exhausting being popular.

Out of the last 109 pictures taken with my iPad...there is only one without him in it.
We're out of control over here!!!

*I vow to not overload the blog with baby pictures....after this week. ;)
XxOo

Labor. Baby...One week later.

The past week I have done nothing except...

...Stare at the baby. Kiss the baby. Look at the baby. Hold the baby. Gawk over the baby.
Kiss the baby. Smell the baby..and Kiss the baby! Lots of kissing going on over here.

I've answered hardly any phone calls and I have a million texts to text back. {sorry everyone}

It's bad...It's like I'm a first time mom again. Don't ask me about the baby...

I'll start gushing...it's been way too long since I've had a newborn and I'm completely smitten!

Labor
..Started around 5:00-6:00 pm...delivered little Franklin James at 9:52 pm.
{However...I was having contractions on and off for a day or so}

.....He was born at home. Loved it!
It was so relaxing not being hooked up to wires and monitors and an IV.
I also have an incredible husband.
He was amazing...I could not imagine going through it without him. He kept me focused.

..A little stuck for a short while, his arm and hand came out along with his head.
Ouch!..for both of us.

....My mom delivered the baby! :)

....My girls were home...different room while I delivered, but they saw the baby soon after.
"I've never seen a fresh baby!" ~ Allison, 10 minutes after he was born.

..My mom, my sisters and a really good friend were here along with my midwife, a nurse and Jeff.
I couldn't have done it without them. They were the team that would have been in the hospital.
Getting things ready and changing bedding and taking care of food and little girls!
They did so, SO much.

.....His birth weight was 8 lb 2 oz...the biggest of all my babies!
I'm not saying it was all the doughnuts..but maybe it was. But probably not.

Labor hurts. Really bad. It's intense, it's hard and it can be exhausting at times.
(I maaaaay have said I don't want to do this anymore once or twice during it all. ;)

But despite the physical pain, it's a beautiful, miraculous process..bringing a new life into this world.
It's amazing how God designed a woman's body to create a whole little human being.
A brand new person!
Yes labor hurts...but I love going through it as silly as that sounds. I love the feeling afterward...
...the euphoric high you get when you hold that precious little baby on your chest for the first time.
There is nothing like it. Nothing.

I love how I fall more in love with my husband when I look at our baby...
...and it melts me when I see him holding our new little guy.

Proud Daddy and his temporary tattoo. ^^ 

Baby
....We call him Frankie.

...Today he is a week old. I can't believe it's been a week already!

....He's been a really good baby so far in his whole 7 days of being here.
(I know this is subject to change...but we chatted and decided it won't! ;)

We are so very thankful.
XxOo

Fashion Tip Friday ~ and I'm still pregnant.

One afternoon this week my three youngest played at the orchard.
I sat on a bench with a cup of hot cider and watched.
I'm still pregnant. My due date is Monday...and since I am usually early, this baby now feels late!
Even though he or she is not.

Shopping at Pottery Barn..I found a rug for my living room. 70% off!
and I had a gift card. Double score.

* I meant to hit publish on this post yesterday..but never got around to finishing it.
Didn't even get to the fashion tip. I'll save it for next week.

We just got home from the ER....child #2 broke his collar bone this afternoon playing football.
He's not a happy camper. He's doing okay..in a lot of pain, he's very thankful for Hydrocodone!
They don't cast a broken collar bone, just put it in a sling and hold still for 6-8 weeks.

So as much as I wanted to have the baby tonight!
I don't mind if he or she holds off for another day or two.

Which is the exact opposite of what you would have heard me saying earlier.
Funny how your day (and mind!) can change on a dime. Ha!

Hope your weekend is fabulous.
XxOo

Just Monday.

He's always busy...like his father. :)

My view looking down.

My good friend Amber was here visiting this weekend.
I was so excited she came!...we only get to see each other every couple of years.

I asked the baby to please stay put until Monday....he or she listened,

....but it's Monday now......you are welcome to make your arrival anytime now little one!

I'm 39 weeks....which is kind of close to 1,000 weeks, right? or at least it feels that way.
Not because I feel horrible...I actually still feel really good.
...but because I am so anxious to meet this baby! I can't wait.

It's beautifully perfect fall weather this evening.
Sammy just started a fire in our wood stove. It smells so cozy.
I think it's my favorite part of our house.
You will most likely find me standing in front of it until next April.

My older boys work at the apple orchard..
...which is sort of dangerous...when it comes to doughnuts and apple pie and hot apple cider.

{their mother has no self control}

We're having left overs and bacon grilled cheese for dinner.
Very simple. How nice for clean up.

So..that's it for Monday.
Hope your week is off to a good start.
XxOo

...they caught me.a little about labor.and a cupcake.

I could hear them. That's what caused me to wake up. Their loud giggling.
I dozed off for a "quick" 45 minute snooze. ;)
In the mean time...they did a little photo shoot with my camera and
laughed at silly answers I gave to questions they asked while I was not very coherent.
Glad to be a source of entertainment.



I love hearing women's baby stories.
The way they go through labor. The way they give birth.
We all do things so differently, it's fun to talk about and learn what others do.

Here's a little bit about the way I do things.....

...I am 38 1/2 weeks now.
I usually have my babies early. We'll see when baby decides to arrive this time around.

...I have a midwife I absolutely adore.
She has attended over 1,000 births! She now runs a very small practice,
which is nice because she puts so much into each mom she cares for.
Each of my appointments have lasted for more than an hour...I have learned SO much from her.


.....Our plan is to do a home birth.

...I don't take pain medication during labor. I've never had an epidural.
One reason..I'm more afraid of a needle in my back than dealing with the pain of labor.
I lean more on the natural side when it comes to my body anyway....
so I don't like taking anything unless I have to.
I won't lie...I have had to ask Jeff to remind me why. Ha! It hurts! Labor hurts...bad!
But it's worth it in the end. It's worth it when you hold that sweet little bundle.

Okay, moving on....

....Our babies sleep with us in our bed.
I credit {almost} never being up with a crying baby at night to co-sleeping.
They sleep so much better when cuddled up next to us.

My family threw a shower for baby and me.
It was so very nice. So many people. So many lovely gifts given.
I was so thankful. I can't believe how many nice and wonderful and caring people I know.
I am so very blessed.

My mom made the adorable Oreo lollipops.
My sister Caitlin made the beautiful pumpkin cupcakes.

Boy and girl were both hung on the line this afternoon....
....but the sun and wind dried mostly just white.
Oh little baby I am so excited to see who you are!!!

And finally....
Now. Soon.

How adorable is this picture??? ^^^
Sophia drew it for me.
(P.S. She adds an "e" to many, many of her words. We're working on this. ;)

Hope you're having a lovely week.
Happy Wednesday....XxOo