4 weeks old

Yesterday Analyn turned 4 weeks old. Yes, it was a little sad that my last baby is already 4 weeks old, but I didn't cry. James has made a joke that I'll probably cry during every milestone that Analyn reaches in this first year. Honestly I probably will, but at the same time I'm SO glad this is my last baby because I'm exhausted! Analyn continues to be a great baby for us. She's awake more during the day and she's starting to have little hints of a smile. Elizabeth and Clayton still love her to pieces. In fact, they fight over holding her a lot. Clayton will try to actually pull her out of my arms. He doesn't understand being gentle too much yet, but he's getting the idea slowly. Here are some pictures over the last few weeks.

James enjoying one of the rare moments at home. School and work are keeping him busy.

James is such a good Dad.

The below picture is from yesterday (4 weeks old). She's getting bigger slowly. She's filling out all her newborn sized clothes finally, but still has some room to go.

I had to include this one because it made me laugh! Lizzie loves to help, and Grandma and I have been indulging her a little more lately. This is what the utensil draw looked like after Lizzie "helped" unload the dishwasher.

Valentine's and Presidents Day Weekend

James' parents came to visit us President's Day weekend to see the kids. Lizzie and Clay had a ball with them. They loved having new people around to play with them. The kids warmed up to them immediately too which was a nice change from our last visit with them. I was still really tired and slacked off big time in the picture department. But James got a few pictures before they had to leave on Monday.

Clayton loves to climb into the dress up container...

Liz didn't want him to climb into the dress up container.

Bath Time

Analyn's first bath at home. She didn't like it much unless I was holding her in both hands. But after we were finished she was a very happy baby and she smelled divine! I always love the way babies smell after baths, and I love the lotion I use for our kids so it makes it even better.

Analyn is a great baby. James and I got lucky to have 3 mellow babies, that sleep almost the entire night right away. We've had 1 or 2 rough nights with her, but still nothing horrible. She's already back up to her birth weight, but is still our tiny little peanut. Clayton loves her and has tried to pull her out of my arms a few times. He's also sat right down on my stomach and incision so that was not fun. I'm feeling great now, and found out today that I have not only lost all the weight I gained during the pregnancy (20 pounds), but I've lost an additional 8 pounds on top of that. That made my day, and my feet are back to normal and will probably fit in my shoes again. Elizabeth is great with Analyn as well. She's having a hard time adjusting to life right now because James is going to school on top of working. So most of our days are filled with her saying to me that she misses her Daddy. James is doing great juggling work, school, and his responsibilities at home. We are both exceptionally tired (he's been great and gets up with Liz and Clay every morning between 6 and 7 and lets me and Analyn sleep), but he hasn't complained once about it. I told him one day I'll make it up to him.

Going Home

Sunday morning Analyn and I got to go home. I was kind of glad to not have to stay in the hospital another day. The nurses at the hospital are awesome. But I missed being able to order my own food off a menu at my old hospital in Utah, having a snack cart come by like twice a day, and simple little pleasures like that. Pretty much I just wanted to go home knowing I'd get to eat my Mom's awesome cooking instead of the "mystery" plate I got for every meal. I know, it's dumb, but this is the first time in 9 months I could actually eat anything I wanted without a chance it would make me sick.

Mom bought Analyn this cute sleeper on clearance at Walmart after Christmas. It was a newborn size and it was HUGE on her. Mom and I have bought her several more newborn things because I think she'll be in that size for a while like Clayton. Heck the newborn diapers are huge on her too.

This is a good picture to show you how tiny our little peanut is. Those are my hands in the picture.

James caught me off guard... I still would say this is much better than all the pictures I was in at Christmas time.

Like I said before, the nurses at the hospital are awesome. They loaded us up with diapers, formula, some diaper bags, and a bunch of free clothes that they told us people just drop off all the time. It was really nice of them, and was greatly appreciated. Lizzie and Clay were excited when we came home. They both wanted to hold Analyn.

Our New Little Girl

Analyn Lyndsay
6 lbs 5 oz
19 inches
8:29 am on January 29th

Analyn is here! The c-section was my most uncomfortable, probably because it took so long since I was getting my tubes tied at the same time. James couldn't come in until after I had that stupid spinal done either. Which in turn freaked me out because of the whole needle in the back thing really bugs me and James is the person who can get me to relax and calm down. Analyn came into the world feet first (3 for 3 with our kids). So I would say it's safe to say that because of my uterus being shaped weird made it so my kids were never able to turn to a head down position. She was a screamer too. 12 babies (including Analyn) were born that week at the hospital. Analyn was the only girl too. James said she will have a lot of dating options when she is older.

We think she looks like Clay in this picture.

Lizzie and Clay both love her to death. Lizzie knew what we were doing so she was very excited to come and see her new sister. I was worried how Clay would react though. He loved the baby, but wouldn't come near me while I was in the hospital bed.

James being the very proud Dad :)

We keep getting told by everyone that we make adorable children. I'd have to say I agree. Analyn is so adorable, and is a wonderful baby. I consider myself extremely lucky to have had 3 mellow, quiet babies. It makes the adjustment so much easier! Analyn hardly makes a noise. She roots when she's hungry, rather than cry too which is very nice. She squirms around a lot. More pictures to come soon!