All done, here she comes!!!

Okay, so our last couple of days without Chris were relatively uneventful, which turned out to be a really good thing! We hurried to finish some projects in the house like unpacking another couple of boxes, removing more mini-blinds (you wouldn't believe how much this owner loved those things), putting up shades, adding curtains, etc. Evie and JC helped the day before and the day of cleaning and preparing for Daddy's birthday.

Then all of a sudden BCOT was over and we went to pick up Chris. Yes, I got lost, there's a reason he drives, but we got there, if a little late. Evie fell asleep on the way there, but popped awake at Daddy's appearance in the window. She got a giant daddy hug and a kiss. Then he walked to the other side where little Joseph couldn't contain the excitement. His whole body almost shook with joy. It was adorable! I of course, got my big hug and kiss and then, heaven be praised, he jumped in the driver's seat and got us home!

Upon arrival, we promptly had a birthday for Chris. His 31st you know. Evie and I had made cupcakes earlier that day and we had several presents wrapped and ready for him to enjoy. It was a lot of fun and yes, the kids scarfed those cupcakes right before bed. Who says were strict?

Then mom and dad spent the evening relaxing on the couch playing his new video game, Assassin's Creed 2. It was a good night.

Little did we know that someone else was dying to say hello as well. Less than 24hrs later, our little Elizabeth decided it was time to come to our family. Yes, she was 2wks early. Definately, yes, we were super unprepared (not even a camera with us). And yes, I was finally okay with both of those things by the time she was born. Labor and delivery totalled a whopping 3 1/2 hrs. I'm not sure what the deal with that was, but so far she has been predictably unpredictable in that way. Again, who needs an epidural? So far, no matter the planning, I haven't had a pain free delivery yet. I'm wishing!

My Beautiful Baby Girl!

Anyway, Elizabeth Yasmin Fosburg was born on 10 Dec 2009 at exactly 8pm. She was 6lbs. 2oz. (I know - smaller than Evie) and 19in. long. She had the skinniest legs and arms with very long fingers and hair that while very dark brown was covered in blonde highlights. So many of the nurses wished for hair like hers and here she was born with it. As I said before, she is defying all pre-experience expectations.

This week we have had the first inclinations of what our family

might be like with three little ones. One word describes it all: HECTIC! Lizzy is only awake when the other two are asleep and everyone has gotten a cold, except the baby. JC and Evie love Lizzy like crazy and it's hard to keep their hands off her. Her eyes tend to be open a lot more than I remember the other two's being at this early age. She is very aware and seems to like her siblings as much as they like her. JC loves to touch her head and after a little practice is able to be really soft. He also loves her pacifiers and runs away with them frequently. Evie of course, is ever the mother and loves to help out in anyway she can. So far she hasn't had a chance to hold the baby (remember we're all sick), but she is doing well trying to be patient.

Other than the fact that Chris has been home a week and so has Lizzy, our lives have been pretty much the same. Chris is thankfully helping complete some of the larger projects I've been waiting to get done and my house is finally starting to really come together. We're even trying to decorate for Christmas. I know it's only a week away, but we've been a bit distracted.

In the end, our family has grown by one, Chris is home (literally at home) until after Christmas, I'm learning to parent three children, and somewhere in there someone's head hits a pillow for a little while each night. We are doing well, feeling blessed, and learning a lot.

Thanks for all the prayers, phone calls, gifts, and love. We appreciate all the support!

We're almost There!! (Wk #5)

I can't believe we've made it! This last week was so crazy! The ups and downs of parenthood are so hard to keep up with. Our first two/three days after Chris left were awful. I had already assumed the first day would be hard because we all miss him when he goes, but the next couple were just as bad if not worse.

Evie's behavior took a serious turn for the "holy cow" section. I was shocked at how off the wall she had become. It was really hard to keep up with. One second she was so proud of herself for getting dressed without help, cleaning up without being asked, and begging me to come "look, look" so I could be proud too - the next second she was on the floor crying her eyes out because she wanted to watch another cartoon, or didn't understand why mom got so upset when she asked for something she knew she couldn't have the fifth time after mom said no. It didn't make any sense. And now writing it down, it's really confusing. I'm not following that very well.

Thank goodness for Joseph. The little dimpled, happy kid who isn't fazed by anything. He is the only reason I smiled the first couple days this last week. That's why you should have more than one! He is such a doll. I am very mindful of the fact that eventually he'll be the one who has me tied in knots and one of the other kids will be the saving grace. He doesn't have the market cornered on cute, just this week it was all him.

I'm so glad the week didn't stay that way though. By the end of the week, we were all sorted out. Evie's behavior returned to normal, some good days/moments, some bad days/moments. Joseph picked up with the smiling when I say no behavior again. And most wonderfully, I balanced out a bit as I set in to finish my last little bit before my husband comes home for good. Okay well at least for a little while. Thankfully, I had a good day at church, the kids obeyed for the most part, Evie was finally tried out in primary (she did fantastic), and we all got naps, which makes everyone happy.

Now we're on for the last days! So many projects, so little energy. Hopefully, we'll also have a baby update this coming week. Wish us luck, thanks for the prayers, and I'll keep writing!