Welcome Home Baby Rix

This new little soul has been so healing for mine.  I was so ready to be not pregnant and meet this precious new addition to our family.  I know this is the newborn honeymoon phase and it will be over quickly, but Rix is such a sweet snuggly boy.  He is sleeping very well these first few days and still nursing like a #1 champ.

It is incredible to me how much he looks like his sisters.  Except  almost double the weight so he looks like them when they were about 3 months old.

He came into this world a little after 1 on Saturday and we were home on Sunday evening! 

I was also ready to be away from that hospital!  

Such a difference from my first hospital birth experience.  I cannot explain the feelings that went through my body when they asked if I would be ok going home or if I wanted to spend another night...

Another night? No thank you.  I got zero sleep because of all the interruptions and was ready to be home with all my family.  It was a long lonely sleepless night.

Once we got home we had no air conditioner...hmmm maybe I should have stayed another night at the hospital! 

So we all had another rough night because it was so hot.

Welcome to our family Baby Rix.  We love you so very much and are so happy to have you be a part of us!

When in Dallas...

In his sisters car seat.  I was so glad they hadn't expired!

Being wheeled out of the hospital

This was taken a few days later (when the ac was working again!) Thanks Grandma Ricks for the very cute blankie! We love it

Ana could not wait to hold him.  She was so excited to have her little brother out of my belly!

Emily was curious but still unsure of this loud wiggly little boy!

Rix is HERE!!!!

Rix David Scarth was born at 1:39pm on April 25th 2015 weighing 7.4lbs and 20 inches long! 
We love this little boy. 

Going Fishing

Granny and Poppy got the girls fishing poles as a gift and Ben had taken them outside to teach them how to cast!
They couldnt wait for Granny to come so they could go fishing for real.
They knew she was coming when Rix was born so every time in the past few days when I have told them that Rix will be born pretty soon all they had to say was "Hooray!  Granny will come and take us fishing!"

Palm Sunday

For Palm Sunday they have the children carry palm fronds and sing "All Glory Laud and Honor" before the service and this is the first Palm Sunday the girls have been old enough to participate.  We have been learning and practicing the hymn for the past few weeks so they could sing and they have been so excited to do this!
They did an awesome job of learning the song and carrying the fronds around the sanctuary.

The Zoo

I wanted to do something as a family of 4 before Rix came and I decided we should go to the Zoo.  It was a saturday and turned out to be the day of the Zoo 5K Run so they were super busy, and it turned out to be a very hot day in the middle of March!
The girls had a great time, and I made it even though I was uncomfortable!

Train ride before going into the Zoo

Clouds bumping into each other

We have had some pretty wild storms the past few nights and Ana has been terrified of the thunder.  Since she is in a big girl bed she now comes into our room when she is scared.  The first night she came in I went and laid in her bed for a few minutes and explained to her that the loud noise of thunder was when those big rain clouds all full of rain bumped into each other and made a loud noise. 
She started giggling at that and told me those are just silly rain clouds and they are not scary at all!
She has still been scared and come in but I go put her back to bed and talk to her about those silly rain clouds and she gets to giggling and goes back to sleep.  Emily got scared this morning and so Ana had to enlighten her as to the source of the sound.  So darling.
They got into bed with each other instead of with me! 
Too bad it was time to get up and get ready for church!  waking up at 4am and not getting back to sleep is rough!

Crib Shenanigans

The girls have figured out how to jump over the edge of the crib and get in.  Also they love to "plank" on the top of their crib as well as make bridges.  I guess it is time to ask Granny and Poppie to bring the big girl beds...

Cold Cereal

I have waited for this moment for quite some time; not in anticipation, but in wanting to have the girls be prepared!  I hate messes and have been working on them eating with a spoon on other things.  Like Trader Joe's yogurt which is made with cream and doesn't fall off when the spoon accidentally turns upside down while navigating to the mouth!
This morning I decided that it was time for the girls to be able to eat cold cereal with milk out of a bowl. 
They did awesome! They kept asking for more and more!  WooHoo!!!
They are growing up so fast and push to know more and more things.  As well as pushing hard for independence. 
I have always tried to let them do things for themselves like eat a whole apple off the core, peal their own orange and eat it.  Peal their own banana, ect. 
I feel like I have been unprepared for motherhood at every step of the way (come on ladies who is with me!)
Yet, I just try to keep up.  They have such joy in being able to accomplish anything by themselves pretty soon they will be driving and going off to college.
I can wait for those days.  I want to take time to treasure these moments where they are learning and growing at every single moment.
Many mothers cherished the infant moments where their baby only snuggled and cried.  When they didn't whine, throw colossal temper tantrums or spill dozens of cups of milk each week.
I am a little different. 
I couldn't wait for my children to be able to do these things.
I like to be able to interact verbally with my kids.  I like to be able to see them grasp new knowledge and run with it.  I have fun everyday with them at this age.
One thing I miss about them being a bit younger... NAPS.  Oh how I miss them sleeping peaceful and quiet during the day so I can also have just a bit of quiet solitude!
I have been persistent in putting them down for quiet time at least.  But I think the naps are things of the past.  

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

We have found a great little spot in the middle of the city!  The girls and I go there often and whenever Ben can he comes too.  We have tons of fun going on little hikes and exploring new things in nature!

Dirty?

I have girls who love to play outside in the mud and dirt.  So this is a common occurrence at our house.  I am glad they like the outdoors, The dirt throwing I could deal with a little less of, but I suppose it is a small price to pay!