Happy Birthday, Addie!

Addie,
You are a gift, an answer to a grieving mamma's prayer. Your presence has helped sooth the aching, deep hurt that death left in my heart. I will never forget the day I met you, with streams of tears on my face. The Lord had given me another girl, the longing of my heart. He had given me you. I cannot imagine life without you. Your cuteness and giggles brings us all so much joy. I love you and treasure your life, sweet girl.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

And a few others that made me laugh...

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Forbidden Caverns

Last week, we took a field trip to the Forbidden Caverns with the big girls co-op science class. We had a great time. I came away freshly amazed at God's creation, even underground, 300 feet.

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For my sister

Kel, this one is for you, compliments of Addie!

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An evening in December

I didn't take nearly as many pictures around Chirstmas as I would have liked. My camera isn't working very well and my favorite lens is broken. So I don't find myself picking up my camera as much as I should. That coupled with a busy life, made for not too many pictures this Christmas. But that didn't stop Mckenna. She is always asking me to take pictures! One evening, she took my camera and went around our living room, capturing the evening...I'm so glad she did!












Mckenna figured out which stack of presents were hers...and she took a picture of them!

Notice the slipcovers off the cushions and drying on the back of the couch? Guess who got into the markers? :)

Momma enjoying a little Country Living

Mckenna handed over the camera only if Selah would take a picture of her with her gifts!

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Addie's Birthday

Some more photos from her special day...




Selah and I took Addie for a brisk walk and then played frisbee in the yard.

In the evening we had Kristen and Caleb over to celebrate with us. Mckenna, all on her own, got Addie dressed in a "special" outfit and wrapped up gifts for her.

Birthday black bottom cupcakes (which were NOT very good...I don't know why I try new recipes on birthdays. Everyone ate them without complaint!).

Can't believe my little girl is 2!

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Addie is 2

Yesterday was little Addie's birthday. I just can't wrap by brain around the fact that she is 2 already. This little girl is such a joy to her family and she is much loved. Addie holds a special place in all our hearts as the Lord used her life to bring us joy in the midst of much sorrow.

December 18, 2009 is still so very vivid in my mind. I remember looking at her, after just giving birth, and feeling warm tears stream down my face. I was overwhelmed that the Lord had given me another little girl. From the initial hours after Alivia died, the one thing I longed for was another little baby girl. And here she was.

Happy Birthday, Addie! We love you.

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My girls

If any of us were to think that I'd never have a picture of all my girls together, well think again. This is what happens when Kristen babysits for me...

Thanks, my friend!

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A gift...

from Kristen. Found the link to this video sitting in my inbox a few days ago and just cried as I watched it. Thanks, my friend! This meant a lot. More than you know.

hailey hope from Kristen Leigh on Vimeo.

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Hailey Hope Castro

We are completely in love with our new little girl. Her arrival was a bit different than any of her sisters. Here is a little of her story and some pictures too.

I had more contractions leading up to this labor than ever before. I had a few times when I woke up thinking this was it...only to get up and have the contractions taper off. This past Tuesday night I woke up after about an hour of sleep to a contraction. They proceeded to come every now and then, nothing regular and not unusual. But they did keep me up all night long. In the morning, after a few more hours of irregular but fairly strong contractions, Dave, Kelly and I went to the doctor's office. Before I knew it I was being rolled over to the hospital at almost 7cm. The big change in this story is that I did get an epidural! After going completely natural with all my other 4 labors, my doctor and nurse convinced me to give it a try. I was completely exhausted from being up all night and quite frankly just didn't want to go through transition and then the pushing (my least favorite part). And it really was the Lord that I ended up getting it.

It turned out that Hailey was facing the wrong direction. Instead of face down, she was sunny side up. The doctor told me, I would most likely have to push harder, longer and was more prone to tear. That was all I needed to hear to know that it was God's kindness that lead me to get the meds! On top of that the doctor actually turned the baby while I was pushing and, let's just say, that would have probably sent me through the roof if I hadn't had any pain relief.

I have to say it was a great experience and Dave's opinion is that it was the most peaceful delivery. There are pros and cons both ways of natural vs. meds, but this time I think the pros far outweighed the cons, hands down...just ask my husband!

We had a few names we were debating on, and as usual for us, it was the last minute that we decided. However, I knew if it was a girl I wanted the middle name to be Hope. Since Alivia, we have learned more than ever, what it means to hope in God and His promises. We have grown more in our confident expectation of God's promises and of our eternity with Him.

Here are some pictures from Hailey's birth and meeting her family for the first time...

Labor...

This is the only picture I have of my big belly...I never got around to taking a belly shot in the last few weeks. Thanks to my sister for taking all these pictures.









Meeting her sisters (Thanks to Kristen for these shots)...






















Getting ready to leave the hospital...



Coming home...

Pictures from here on out might, unfortunately might be a little scarce...my camera broke the day we arrived home with Hailey. An extreme disappointment for me. But I'm sure I'll manage to borrow my sister's soon to capture some more memories.

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