Two things I'm loving these days........

I'm a swaddle nazi!

I clued in to swaddling after we had several sleep issues with Kaylyn, our first, when she was a tiny baby. We had many sleepless nights and my husband was looking forward to going to the Fire Dept to work so that he could get some rest. That's how bad it was.

I was told about the amazing Miracle Blanket by a dear friend. My sweet sister-in-law purchased one for us on e-bay and I've been the biggest fan of these swaddling blankets ever since! I've not found another swaddling blanket that even compares......and I've tried bunches! The key to the Miracle Blankets are the arm bands that tuck behind the baby's back making it extremely difficult for them to become un-swaddled.

I've swaddled all three of my girls (the last two from day one) until about 6 months and its made the biggest difference in how well they sleep and also when they are fussy. The idea behind swaddling is that it creates somewhat of a womb-like atmosphere for your baby by making them feel like they are nestled tightly in your tummy. Its a familiar feeling for tiny infants. The Miracle Blanket also helps their baby twitches from waking them up while they are sleeping.

(not my actual waste nor my blue full-body leotard)

The other thing I'm loving is wearing my abdominal binder. I was told about these by the same friend who recommended the Miracle Blankets. I purchased mine at a local pharmacy.

I'm not really a fan of the recovery that takes place after c-sections. But, this tummy contraption has helped me in HUGE ways this time around. I've not worn one with the previous two c-sections.

If you've experienced an abdominal surgery, you know the pain that follows. It hurts to even cough and laugh. When they cut through your abdominal muscles and uterus, it makes it difficult for it to shrink back to a normal size (but really, what is normal after having a baby???). I've noticed a huge difference particularly in this area. After my two previous c-sections, it seemed like it took forever for my tummy to shrink. But, I'm noticing much quicker shrinkage this time around.

The abdominal binder holds in your tummy and supports your incision. This has made it so much easier for me to get around and back into the swing of things.

There is nothing like a good girdle. Ain't that the truth??

I can't say enough about these two things right now! I'm loving them. The swaddle blanket is great for any new infant. And I'm telling all of my sisters in the "C-CLUB" about the abdominal binder.

Little Miss Ruthie Claire!!!

Little Miss Ruthie Claire has been a joy! We love her so much. She is a very content little girl! Her appetite is great and nursing is going really good! To sum her up…..she is SWEET! That is the word we are constantly using to describe her. This mama has no complaints. Even in the midst of waking up for nighttime feedings, my attitude is that of thankfulness and joy.

The c-section went relatively smooth and I’m bouncing back really quickly from surgery. This third time around has definitely been a lot easier than the previous c-sections. I’m so thankful for that.

Kaylyn is such a big helper. She is in love with Ruthie. Both, Kaylyn and Laney Rae, can’t stop kissing her. Its precious to watch. The first thing Laney Rae does when she wakes up from sleeping is look for Ruthie. In her raspy scratchy voice, Laney Rae talks so sweet to Ruthie.

Besides our car dying on the way home from the hospital in the Chick-fil-a drive thru, we’ve had a pretty smooth transition. I’ll have to save that story for another post. If I type that whole thing up, I might bust a stitch! At the time, it wasn’t funny in the least. But looking back, its completely hilarious and sit-com worthy!

We are beyond blessed to have family near by. Kaylyn stayed with her cousins, Honey, and Uncle Aaron while we were in the hospital. Laney Rae stayed with her Tio, Tia, and cousin Ava. My mom and grandpa (yes, Ruthie’s great-grandpa!) has been here with us helping us get situated and keeping the older girls happy!

Jason and I feel very blessed to have three precious girls in our home. We can’t wait to see who Ruthie becomes! We treasure these newborn days because we know that it will be gone in the blink of an eye.

Thank you for your prayers, notes, and encouragement! Here are some pictures during our stay at the hospital.

Jason and I before Ruthie was born

Ruthie making her debut!

Ruthie and the eye goo

Two proud parents!

Mama and Ruthie (pay no attention to what's going on behind the blue curtain)

Jason and his girls- the first time KK and Laney Rae held Ruthie.

Proud big sister!

Look at this face!

Daddy and Ruthie!

Mama and Ruthie!

Getting ready to go home

Ruthie is here!!!!!

Thanks for your prayers. They were felt!!!!

Ruthie Claire was born May 22 at 8:02 am. She weighs 7 lbs 11 oz and was 19 3/4 inches long!

We are doing excellent! The delivery was a smooth as possible. Nursing and recovery are going well too!

I'm blogging from my phone so I don't have pics to put up yet! We will be home soon and will post some then.

Ruthie is beautiful in every way! We feel so blessed and thankful.

Today is the last day.......

that I'm a mother of two girls.

Tomorrow, I will be a mother of three girls. That is hard to imagine and soak in. Nonetheless, we are so excited to meet Ruthie Claire bright and early in the morning.

This pregnancy has flown by. Its been absolutely wonderful and has confirmed in both Jason and I that we will at least go one more round after this......if not more. Our family is definitely not done growing.

Please pray for our c-section delivery tomorrow morning. Pray that we will be fully submitted to our mighty God and His control. He knows the plans of all our days. So pray that we will trust in that. Pray that Ruthie Claire will be protected from beginning to end. Pray for protection over me as well. Another huge area of prayer is for nursing to go well.

The recovery isn't always easy, but its well worth it. We get to meet our new baby girl and bring her home changed forever. Our family simply will not look the same after tomorrow.

Sweet Ruthie,

I will see you face to face tomorrow for the first time my precious girl. I can't wait to touch your tiny face, hands, and feet and inspect your every crevice. My pregnancy has been a sweet time of renewal in my walk with Christ. He has shown me so much of Himself while you've been bouncing and hiccuping within my belly. I've slowed down more, enjoyed life more, clung more to Jesus, and have grown more than any other time in my life.

Your sisters and your daddy are so excited to meet you and hold you.

We already love you so much!

We already can't imagine life without you.

See you in the morning sweet girl.

Mommy loves you.

Belly Shot- 7 days left

Its a bit ridiculous that the last time I took a belly photo was 13 weeks! And here we are 7 days prior to Ruthie coming, and I finally decide to take my next photo. Its never to late to update I guess!

I kept telling myself that the next time I looked cute, I'll have Jason snap one of me.....but the cuteness never came apparently.

We were cleaning the yard and bathing the girls in the yard yesterday evening. I had the genius idea of snapping my maternity photo. Doesn't that just scream photo shoot???? Ha! There was no cute or make-up involved in this photo! But, at this stage in the game, I'm super laid back and just ready for our sweet Ruthie to come. There's no time to be picky that's for sure.

I'm kind of in shock at how laid back I've become.

Did you read that I bathed my girls in the front yard? This is the way to go! Thank God for living in the country. Jason and I were enjoying watching the girls swim and play in the front yard. Then I realized the next step in our night time routine was the bath.

I thought it would have been silly for the girls to relocate to a different tub of water when they were already sitting in one. I went in and got the soap and towels. The rest is history. One pool for soakin'- the one with bubbles. One pool for rinsin'- the one without bubbles. Awesome!

Update Schmupdate

Yes. Its about time!

We still don't have internet at our house on my computer since we've moved its located after the new addition was complete. We've filed this what would be a normal task to most in the "CFT Folder".

Have you heard of it?

Its called "Country Folk Time". We discovered this time zone phenom upon moving to the country. Nothing happens quickly around here. NOTHING! I am not exagerating.

But, I HAD TO update today so I'm borrowing a computer and have uploaded some pictures to share.

Today is a special day. Its exactly 10 days before Ruthie Claire makes her debut into this world- if she stays put for 10 more days.

Ruthie is, indeed, still in my tummy.

We've been working like crazy people getting things moved around and put in place. Her room is officially DONE! Which is what I wanted to share with you today. I still need to put pics up of the rest of the house, but that can wait.

I can't believe that there are only 10 days left to enjoy this little one bouncing around in my tummy.

Soon, we will be enjoying her "coos" in her tiny infant voice.

We will get to smell her newness.

Laney Rae knows that there is a baby in mommy's tummy. I don't know if she knows how soon she will be here or that she is ever coming out. But, just about everyday Kaylyn asks me if I'm going to go to the hospital so Ruthie can be here.

I'm beyond excited to meet Ruthie! I have no idea what she is going to look like. I do know that she most likely will be bald since my other girls were and have a perfectly round head (one of the only perks of having a c-section:).

I've had the best pregnancy this time around. Its finally agreeing with me. I felt kind of yucky in the beginning. But, finishing well has blocked all of that out of my mind. Even now- 10 days away- I still don't feel entirely miserable. I'm so thankful for the blessing of an easy pregnancy.

Ruthie's room turned out better than I had ever dreamed or imagined.

This is the first "official" nursery that I've got to complete BEFORE the baby comes. Kaylyn came 5 weeks early and the day after I stopped working. Nesting didn't exist for me during her pregnancy. Laney Rae came when we had two bedrooms before the big remodel, so preperation for her consisted of a pack n play beside our bed in our room. There wasn't anything wrong with that. You gotta do what you gotta do! But, this time around I got to decorate a nursery!!!

My mom and sister spent THEIR Mother's Day, which also happens to be my sister's birthday, helping me organize Ruthie's clothes and room down to even washing and folding them. My sister is a genius at organizing and making things make sense- which doesn't easily happen in my life. I'm so blessed to have such great help!

On Monday, my super sweet and super talented friend, Holly (Holly Mathis Interiors- go see her precious nursery in the works!), came over and we finished Ruthie's room! She designed Ruthie's entire room and did an amazing job. She even gave us the precious crib bedding that her firstborn used. Did I mention she is sweet?

Holly is so good at taking what you having and using it to the fullest. We had the crib, the armoire, and the changing table in all of the other girls' rooms, but this time around she suggested that we paint and distress the matching armoire and changing table to add more character. The accessories mostly came from Holly. The Lord has truly gifted her!

The lovely brown chair in the photos was able to be purchased due to some incredibly generous friends and family. It's the most comfortable glider rocker!

My other super sweet friend Missy, who happens to be an extremely brilliant florist here in Brenham (Moosefeathers), came over yesterday while we put the finishing touches in the room to watch the kiddos- all 5 of them......feed them........water my yard.......mess with water hoses (I hate water hoses)..........put vinyl decals up all over the place in my house (I went a little crazy with these)..........dress all 5 children TWICE..........and who even knows what else. She could run a small village all by herself. The girl is efficient!

Thanks girls! I'm so thankful for you!

Okay, here are the pictures of Ruthie's room. These were taken by with my new mother's day present my thoughtful husband gave me. I've been wanting a good point-and-shoot to carry around in my purse and something less bulky than my SLRs. He bought me an AMAZING point-and-shoot camera for Mother's Day. If you are in the market for one, you should totally check out the Canon Powershot G10. It just came out, and I have nothing but great things to say about it! Its has lots of bells and whistles. Thanks Honey!

I still don't have a good belly shot pic! I need to get one of those!

Enjoy!