Thursday, March 31, 2011

Ashlyn Marie

Here are a few pictures our little precious daughter!  A gift from God!!!!!!










It's A Girl!!!

Ashlyn Marie Lapp was born yesterday morning by c - section!!!!  She's healthy, she's adorable, she's got ten tiny toes, ten tiny fingers, and is doing so well!  SHE IS 'REAL LIFE'!  She weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz., 20 1/2 inches long.

As for me, well let me just say, next week looks much more appealing and getting through the first couple of days after surgery you put things in a survival mood.  Moving, getting in and out of bed and even trying to get comfortable in bed is a HUGE challenge!  Even though giving birth to a child is not easy, Ashlyn is so worth it!  The first time I got to hold her and kiss her soft cheeks, is something I will treasure forever.  Mike is in total awl and loves her so much!  He's a daddy that likes to hold his children from day one!  She snuggles in his strong, masculine arms and I'm sure she feels like she's in the safest place in the whole world!  I think he said every hour since he's been with her, "She's so cute!"

She was born at 7:57 AM.  Hadassah & Matthew spent the night before at my parents and they both had school on Wednesday.  They were the first ones that Mike called!  They were so excited!!!!!!  Hadassah squealed with glee and was so thrilled!  Matthew was happy too, but not so expressive (all boy).  They both went to school and told their classmates and teachers and then got to see their little sister that afternoon!

Hadassah came into my room bubbling with joy and ready to meet Ashlyn.  She wanted to see her right away.  Hold her.  Kiss her.  Meet her!  Matthew was a lot more timid.  He looked at Ashlyn and smiled!  He touched her and adored her.  He looked at me and said, "Mom your belly is still a little fat."  He seems to absorb the obvious things. (Smile)  Give me a few weeks/months little guy ... please! 

Pray for me as I go through the recovery stages!

I will try posting some pics in the near future. 

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Projects

Getting things accomplished is a 'high five' for me!  I love when they get crossed off the list and completed!  I live with a husband that likes to cross things off too, but it takes a reaalllly long time to get to that point!  Our basement bedroom is painted, carpeted, boards on the wall & stained, but not cleaned up or things moved into place.  The desk that belongs in that room still remains in the garage!  Patience.  The mower got to the service guy but now waits to be picked up.  Patience.  A lamp that our puppy Ginger chewed the cord through, needs dropped off to be fixed.  Patience.  However, even though I want my things done yesterday rather than tomorrow, does not mean that I am this super picky organizer.  There are certain areas in life and things in my house that must be organized or I am not happy.  Other areas are not so much a priority (like ironing clothes).  Mike is like that too.  Business, finances, his kids (and wife) are high on his priority list and small projects around the house are not so much.  That's OK ... because that to me is living 'real life'.

There were a few things that did get done recently around here!!!  We are getting our mulching, trimming, edging and all that spring work done by a landscaper this year because of me having a spring baby!  We always did all this work ourselves and so having a crew of 4 men come in and totally kick butt, is so much fun to watch!  So far they trimmed all the roses and plants, raked out all the winter trash from the flower beds, trimmed the bottoms of the pine trees, and made a really nice edge all around the flower beds.  Something that takes us hours of labor, they had done in no time!  Weeding and mulching will wait for a few weeks yet, but that is a wonderful feeling too knowing that it's not up to me and other helpers to scoop 16 yards of mulch!

Like I said before, I have some projects that take a really long time to get completed too!  Our living room curtain was one of them!  What do I want?  Nothing outrageously expensive!  Something rich and classy.  I went to different places and looked at options, but always left saying no.  Well, just yesterday, I had a new curtain hung!!!  It looks so nice and beautiful!  It's 'hand sewen' (not by me goodness)!  After the blinds are bought and hung, the white curtain behind the new one will go!  Take a look ...
I need to get blinds yet for the windows and I won't promise that will done in the near future (smile).

Here are some other projects we have going on right now around the house ...

These are some school projects Hadassah has going.  Last week in art (her fav!!!) they made an a map of the USA out of some peanut butter mixture and made mountains, etc..  She's doing a project on the state of Tennessee and it needs to be completed by next week.  She takes piano lessons at school.

More spring came blowing indoors the other day.  This little flower rests on my pregnant belly just fine.  Plenty of room!
Then I placed it in Matthew's small hands ...
"Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?  And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you."  Luke 12: 27 - 31

Have a wonderful day!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Free Ice ...

The first day of Spring, Rita's Itailian Ice always give free ice!  So, last Sunday evening, we went to a local Ritas and stood in the looong line and got free ice.  The kids thought the rootbeer flavor was the best but I would have to say my cranberry ice was even better!  Mike got a cup of custard and we topped some of that on our ice!  Even though it was really cold outside, it did taste wonderful!


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Counting down!!!!

We are counting down the days to babies due date ... April 6.  Actually, we also have another date we are counting down for ... surgery date.  (Only hubby, our children, and my mom know the date.  For those of you that seem to be soooo curious, you probably wouldn't tell me your date either if it were you!  Smile!) 

When I was pregnant with Matthew, I was induced a day before my due date because they were saying large baby.  Labor started at 8 AM, bared through the pain all day, pushed 2 1/2 hours and at 11:32 PM, Matthew was born into the world through surgery.  He was too big (9 lbs. 4 oz.) for me to deliver naturally. 

So what to do this time?  Shall we try natural again or schedule surgery?  It's been a tough choice and one that Mike and I prayed about!  We thought that if the doctors are telling us that we might have another baby more than 8 lbs., we would go surgery route.  I met with the surgeon doctor last week and I was put into their appointment book.  I am a little nervous ... I can't imagine that I am going to just walk into the hospital feeling very pregnant, but not in labor pains, and having surgery done and baby is born!  Now, let me assure you that just because skipping out on the labor pains, does not make this an easier route.  I would rather have the after 'healing' of a natural birth than have an incision to heal!  Either way birth is birth ... with pain.  I am just grateful that we have doctors here in America that can help women like me that need to make a delivery choice!!!!

A few weeks ago, I had some pictures taken of me.  I did not do this with my other pregnancies and thought it would be neat this time.  A friend took some pics and I also took some myself.  These pics show that there is evidence of 'real life' growing inside of me!  A real baby ...




This is our little Morkie, Ginger, that thought she deserved to be in the picture!

If you think of our family within the next two weeks, say a prayer for us!  We will have lots of adjusting to do with a baby to care for, diapers to change, a schedule to develope, and all the other cares a newborn needs!



Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Spring is here!!!!

I've been looking forwards to the first day of Spring for awhile!!!!  The kids and I have been counting down the days!  I love Spring time!  Here are a few pics of 'my Spring fever'.  I couldn't wait to get some 'real life' on my back porch!

Spring also brings in the spring activities.  Matthew is signed up for his first year in little league!  He cannot wait and is really loving the back yard and practicing!  Hadassah is a huge inspiration to him too.  She believes in him and knows that if he works hard and practices, he will do just fine on his team!

Real Life

I am starting a blog!!!!!!!  I can't hardly believe this!  All my friends know that this might be a 'leap of faith' for me, but I am going to give this a try!  I love to journal and when I sit down at the computer and start typing, it's sometimes hard to stop.  My words seem to come faster than I can type sometimes (that might not always be so good ... ha).  I have this love for reading other blogs and seem to be so inspired by other godly mothers way of life, way of raising their children, and ways to make life fun and exciting for their families. 

Because this is my first blog ... I'm not real sure where to begin.  I guess with giving a little run down of my life would be a start.  I have been married for 10 wonderful years to one handsome man!!!!  (Yeah, that seems to be a huge accomplishment in our day of age!)  We have two darling children that fill up our lives with so many joys and challenges!  Hadassah is 9 years old already and Matthew is 5!  We are expecting a baby in April and are so excited to love and hold this child!  I am especially ready for babies arrival!  Just because I had a 5 year 'break', does not make it any easier.  Actually, I think maybe even a little tougher.  I have been so blessed throughout this whole entire nine months and things have really gone well!  Although, I can't do sit ups right now, can't do toe touches, rolling from side to side in bed is not so pleasant, and even just shaving my legs has become a chore .... that is REAL LIFE and I love our baby!  Bring on the due date!!!!!

Well, life is good and I will try to share some of the most fun and joyful times in my life with you on this blog!  I hope you will enjoy it!