4 lil sweeties

It is crazy to think that it has been 2 weeks already since Jack was born.  We have been loving having him with us.  Although the first couple of weeks with a newborn can be killer at times...the long nights with some serious sleep deprivation...it is also such a peaceful time, if that makes sense.  There is something so tender and sweet about having a newborn in your home. 

My favorite is when he wakes up and is content and just looks at me...his cute little face, I just have to kiss it like crazy. 

I love the newborn stage when they snuggle into you and just want to me held.  It is really is hard to put into words what it feels like, but I really try to cherish it because they seem to grow-up and get big oh too fast.  I am trying to enjoy these times, even though it has been a little chaotic at times in our house and I am tired...it has been a life saver to have my mom here.

Jack has had plenty of love while he has been home.  The first thing the kids say when they get home from school is, "Can I hold Jack!?!!?!!?" (it is usually in a panic sounding voice)  I usually have to pick a number and whoever gets closest gets to hold him first.  They really do adore him. 
The other day I was driving and I looked in my rear view mirror and saw all 4 of them and it sorta hit me...wow, I am so lucky and blessed...and wow, where did all of these kids come from?!?! ;)  I love them for the sweeties they are and for the things they teach me on a daily basis.

we are in love

Yep, we are all pretty much in LOVE with this little guy!  We can't get enough of him!

IT'S A BOY......meet jack

This is Jack, only about a minute after he was born.  There is nothing quite like the feeling of hearing your new baby cry for the first time..it is sweet. 

                                        Jack Jay Finch
                              Born: Thursday, May 6th
                              Time: 8:26 am
                              Weight: 7 lbs.
                              Length: 19 in.
                              Location: Norwest Private Hospital,
                                               Bella Vista, Australia

The proud papa, looking like a Doc.

With my other babies I have never been able to hold them until I am back from the recovery room and in my own room again.  It was great this time because they told me that I would have about 10 minutes to "cuddle my bub" as they say.  I LOVED it!  He is such a sweetheart!!

Our friends took our kids in the morning for us (bright and early...thanks Prepchuks).  When Jared called them to tell them they had a baby brother, Rex started yelling, "I have a brother, I have a brother,I have a brother."

Liv has been so sweet with him.  She tells me multiple times a day how much she loves him.  She wrote a note and put it by his bed that said," I will always love you Jack."  I love that girl.

As you can tell by the huge cheeser on Rex's face...he is nothing but thrilled to have his brother in his arms.

Lucy loves him too and likes to hold his earlobe for him.  She has an obsession with earlobes.  :)

Jack will be well loved!!

While I was in the hospital I called home and was talking to Rex and he could hear Jack crying in the background so he said, "Mom, I know exactly what you need to do.  Jack will stop crying if you rub his head for him, not hard, not soft." 

Grandma holding her 30th grandchild.

Jack getting his first bath.

When Jack was born they had to pull him out with forceps and he got a little cut on his cute face on the way out.

me imagining if i had 8 children!  WOW!!

After 6 days in the hospital we were ready to be home.  It was nice to go outside int he sunshine and bring Jack home.

He has been a good boy and we are grateful to have him with us.  Everyday he looks more and more like Rex.

This picture cracks me up.  Everyone is sorta doing their own thing.  Liv is doing a yoga move and Lucy with her fists and massive grin.  I love it!

a mother

I have always been touched and inspired by the story of this amazing couple.  I have popped in on Stephanie's blog from time to time and have felt touched by her and her courage.  This video brought me to tears and taught me some good lessons.  I too am grateful to be a mother and can't wait to celebrate Mother's day with my four beautiful babies.


 Click on the link below to watch the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDvxPjsm8E&feature=player_embedd

tea party

I was pampered today!  3 year old Lucy hosted a tea party for just the two of us.  We had all sorts of good stuff..a tomato, carrot, mushroom, lemon and strawberry water. We had plenty of cutlery too. :)  She really does melt my heart.

She is very professional when she puts on a tea party.  She has a special voice she uses and she likes to act grown-up and cross her legs.  I love it!! 

Tomorrow is the big day!  It is hard to believe 9 months has gone by.  Of course I ran around like a mad woman washing sheets, blankets...every item of dirty clothing in the house is now clean & put away.  I wanted to make sure everything was clean and nice for when I leave in the morning.  As the morning went on, I wondered why I was being such a maniac about it all.  I really didn't need to be worrying about the small things...but for some reason I do.

Along came Lucy...she invited me into her room for something, "special" she said.

It was just what I needed and wanted to do with my "baby" before another baby will join our family in the morning.  That time with her was really tender for me.  I couldn't stop kissing her cute, chubby cheeks and wondering how she got so big so fast.

I love her bed head hairdo. 

So tomorrow is a very happy, exciting day for us!!  We can't wait & this little lady will be a big sis!

baby shower/night out in the city

These lovely friends planned a fun night for me in the city last night to celebrate baby coming next week.  We ate dinner at a great restaurant right in Cockle bay in Darling Harbour.

The food was good and the fall weather was perfect...

This is my cheesy solo shot that they insisted on...I am thinking of a unicorn (hehehe Napoleon Dynamite)

Me, Laura & Gemmah.  The other half of the table wouldn't let me take a pic or they were always too busy chatting.. :)

We stumbled upon a crowd of people sitting around the harbour and found out that there would be fireworks going off...so we went to a close by gelato shop and snagged some ice cream while we waited.

Fireworks were great!!  The ladies tried to convince me that they had organized the fireworks for me...hahaha

We thought we'd take a nice pic together and this strange guy decided to stand in our picture...it was pretty random and funny.

We laughed & laughed until tears were flowing and our abs were killing.  So...thanks ladies for the great night!!

girls/boys night

A few weekends ago we decided to have a girls night out & a boys night out before things get a little busy with a new baby coming.  I took the girls out one night for a little shopping & chocolate.  We went to a place called The Chocolate Lounge and enjoyed some chocolate mousse cake and strawberries and chocolate licks as they call them. 

It was delicious, of course!!

The girls picked out some bracelets and other accessories & we had fun walking around.

Although these little gals are 4 years apart, they have so much fun together.  Lucy is getting old enough now that she really enjoys the girl time and thinks she is pretty grown-up being able to go out.

We blasted some Miley Cyrus in the car on the way home...Party in the USA.  We love girls night!

The next night Jared took Rex out for a boys night out.  Rex wasn't interested in shopping and neither was Jared, so they went and saw How to train your dragon.  Rex came home and pretty much retold the entire movie to me.  Jared isn't as crazy with the picture taking as I am, so sadly there are no pics to post, but they did have a good time. :)

I may have cried a little...

So a friend of mine went to the US at the beginning of April and spent a few days in Utah.  She came by my house when she got home & when I opened the front door she had a Smith's bag for me.  I squealed like a 3 year old on Christmas.  I was so excited! 

It may sound silly, but unless you have lived away from home & gone without some of your favorites, you know exactly what I am talking about.  I almost hugged every item and even seeing the Smith's bag kinda made me misty in the eyes.  I like to blame most of it on being pregnant, but I am pretty certain I would have reacted the same way pregnant or not. :)

First thing I did was hide the cereal from the kids....cereal is my favorite treat at night when the kids are asleep, and lets face it, I wanted it all to myself.... I know, I am not very nice, but I am okay with that...I think Jared had one bowl.  I did happily share the rest of the stash of goodies....so I think that makes me nice again.