Staying Afloat

As everyone knows, many parts of Iowa are under water right now. Luckily we have been able to stay dry and only a few of our basement storage items were damaged due to the flooding.

We are also doing great with the new addition to our family. She is our little princess and we love having her with us. It has been great to have Ryan out of school and Mary-Ann here. Three adults and two children aren't bad odds!

Everyone has been asking about Isaac and how he is adjusting to the changes. So far he has been doing great. Grandma is keeping him busy and spoiling him every chance she gets. As far as how he treats Maddie--I'm pretty sure he thinks she is a toy or something. He points to her a lot and says "baby", but he pays much more attention to his new car than he does to her. We'll see how long that lasts. Sleep-deprived and all, we couldn't be happier. Maddie's first day home Maddie with Grandma Mary-Ann Isaac's new toy--baby sister "gave" it to him the day she came home from the hospital. Ryan and I agree that it has been a great investment--he loves it! This one's for Grandpa Mike--it almost fits like a glove, don't you think? (though Ryan and Grandpa Lynn would disagree) Go Padres!

Gratitude

As I think about the events of the past weekend, I am overcome with a sense of gratitude for all of the blessings that my family and I have been given. Heaven seems that much closer with a little one in our family who was just there.

I have just felt an outpouring of love from our family and friends. Thank you to everyone. Even though we miss our parents and siblings and wish that they could be here with us, I have to say that we are among some of the best people in the world here in Iowa. I don't even know where to begin to thank you all for the acts of service and visits and phone calls and emails and support! You are all wonderful! Thank you for becoming our family out here.

Here are some pictures that were taken yesterday.

Aren't I lucky?

Much Cuter Outside the Womb

Introducing our newest addition! Our little princess Madelyn Ruth was born this morning at 11:45am. She is adorable and weighed in at 8 lbs 10 oz and is 20 3/4 inches long---she trumped her big brother's birth weight by almost 3 lbs!At least now I have a tiny excuse for why I gained all that extra pregnancy weight...

We are already in love with her and feel like the luckiest parents in the world. Isaac doesn't really seem to fully understand the changes that lie ahead of him but we're a little worried that he might get jealous because she already has more hair than he has ever had. The food that the hospital brought me was much more intriguing to him than she was, but he has started calling her "baby, baby" when he sees her, so we sense that they will be bffs before we know it.

Both Maddie and I are doing great. Here are a few of the pictures that were taken today. You better believe there will be more to come. She's not too fond of taking a bath just yet. Our happy little family of four

(A couple days shy of) 9 months pregnant...(sigh)...

Per Shannon and Ashley's request. This is it. There will be NO 10 month picture!

One Year Down

On Tuesday Ryan took his final test of the year--hooray! It is so great to have him around more and not have to think about him studying (which I'm sure is much more of a relief to him than me). He did great this year and worked really hard, and we are really enjoying our time here (although back in February I had my doubts about surviving the subzero temperatures in the Midwest).

To celebrate him completing his first year, our fabulous friends, Logan and Ashley, took Isaac for the night and we went out on a date. It was wonderful (thanks guys!). Isaac did great with Ashley (or so she says), though when she first came over he thought she was here to babysit the house, and that he was going out with us. He kept waving to her and saying "bye! bye!"

First, we scored some free food at the new Chipotle restaurant that just opened up. I ordered the spiciest thing on the menu in hopes of inducing labor, but she's being stubborn and staying put for now. The food was great. We took it to-go and ate at a nearby park.

After that, we did a little shopping and bought little Isaac a new book (he is fascinated with word books lately--so we found a "100 first words book" and he loves to point out the dog, ball, and car. Only 97 more words to master.

After shopping we took a long walk around Grey's Lake where I made Ryan hold my hand pretty much the whole time because there was no stroller to push. He was a trooper and hardly complained at all :)

After the walk we headed home and Ryan whipped up a batch of Orange Julius for Ashley and Logan and I. It was a great night and a great start to the summer. Only 9 days 'til my due date! Something tells me I'll have to don that ugly brown shirt for one more photo op! For every one's sake I hope she hurries up!