So my little niece (Rosa's Daughter) came a bit earlier than planned.  She was born on Feb 21st, when her due date was March 10th.  She only weighed 5 lbs, 7 oz, and almost 19 inches long.  She was a tiny little thing. Her name is Danika Jordan.  Oh she is so beautiful and such a good baby.  I could cuddle her forever, of course her mom as well as her big brother wouldn't like that-lol.  What a beautiful addition to the family!!!

Talk about spring cleaning...

Okay so I have this cleaning bug, as I would like to call it for now.  I have been obsessed with organizing and cleaning my house from room to room.  I don't know why this has taken over, but it has.  I have even gone through my kitchen cabinets (where tons of candy lies hidden behind shelf items-shhh). And arranged and re-arranged things-I guess to my liking, but have yet to tell.  The drive kinda feels like that energy rush you get right before you go into labor when having children-but nope I'm not pregnant, but loving the energy boosts!!!  It could be from eating better, which I am doing with only 2 trips to the kitchen cabinets a day, verses lets say 4-6 times-ha, ha.  But I believe it could be from the beautiful weather and wonderful sunshine.  I open my doors and windows and let the breezes in and it seems to reviatilize me.  Anywho-go clean!!! Yay!!

New life adds perspective

Bustling news of arrivals and expected arrivals are coming from both sides of our family, and girls for that matter as well.  Such a change from years before where it was mainly one boy after another, and mostly from me-ha, ha.  With all this news of new little ones, I am taken back to when I was expecting my own; all the excitement in meeting your child, wonderment around who they will look like, and trying to find the perfect name that will fit them.  There is some things that a mother longs for, even after making a decision to no longer have more children, it's the newness of it all.  I don't miss those long nights with a colic baby or one that is sick, or one that has a sleep schedule turned upside down.  But the tender moments in those nights that make you feel like super woman where you know they depend on you and this calling is one that you will not take lightly.  All the firsts are an awesome experience that maybe memory of the exact moment may fade, but that feeling never.  I am truly excited for my sisters on both sides and very eager to be involved as much as needed and allowed. I can't wait to meet these little darlings and share in witnessing all the newness they will bring to their family as well as our extended family.  Congrats to Sammy for little Clair and Rosa for her soon to be arrival.
On Saturday we had a baby shower for my sister Rosa.  Her daughter is expected to arrive sometime in early March.  We are so excited as a family about it.  It is always funny that at baby showers, in one way or another, we have mother's sharing pregnancy and delivery day stories.  It's like we've gone off to war, and I guess in a way we have.  We venture out into this unknown with our first pregnancy, not understanding how our bodies will react to carrying a child.  Some of us are fortunate and have little issues.  Others struggle just staying pregnant and do all they can to keep thier child safe.  Then we reach the stage of delivery.  We use the wisdom of those who have gone before us to gauge our territory, wondering if the feelings we are feeling are normal or inflated.  Then the words come back to us, "You will understand when the time comes." And surprise you do.  I find it interesting that we as women lean on eachother for understanding and support, I think God made us this way, to help us know we are loved and cared for.  As I listened to all the chatter, one comment stuck with me.  There was a woman with us that has two little grand-children.  She was talking to another grandmother-to-be (her 1st) and was saying that being a grandmother is much more fun than being a mother, and sometimes she feels she loves these little ones probably more than her own children.  I reflected on this comment and can see the truth in that.  Although I know she loves her children dearly, a grandchild can truly supply the balm to one that seeks the newness in what an infant can bring.  With each arrival they bring innocence, and pure love.  How can a grandmother not love something so precious and beautiful and know that through her choice she made many years before, this little darling is here.  So I agree in her statement and look forward (many years down the road), to seeing my own grandchildren and the love they will be in my life one day. 

Carter's morning routine

So my son is now 2 1/2 yrs old.  My little baby is growing up.  So sad to see it happen, but it has to happen sometime I guess.  At least he is still cuddly, and allows me to hold him close.  Little by little he's becoming a little spitfire, and has warmed to Jason considerably.  He doesn't mind much knowing that I am sometimes gone at night and daddy is putting him to sleep, or hanging out with daddy because mommy has to run a quick errand.  It makes me kinda sad that I can't claim to be his favorite anymore, but I saw it coming.  Happened with all my kiddos-ha, ha.  Well now my little guy is a walking, talking and functioning toddler.  He is in potty training mode and has been rewarded with "Mickey" underwear (if you don't remember-he loves Mickey!).  Every morning you can hear his little voice, "Mommy is it morning time?", as a way to receive permission to leave his bed.  That is so cute and makes my heart melt. 
One morning, a few days back at 4am, that little voice asked his waking question.  I quickly walked into his room, told him the sun wasn't awake yet at it was still time to sleep.  Little guy questioned me and wanted proof that the rest of the household was still asleep-silly guy.  So here I was at 4 am walking my toddler room to room to investigate and discover that yes, all were still asleep except for exhausted mom and him.  I gently laid him down, covered him with his Mickey blanket, kissed and sang him a song.  And told him goodnight.  He quickly fell right back to sleep-and so did I.