Baby Blessing

Baby Bliss

Kaelyn (Layney)

These are all pictures of the kids at one day old. I think it's safe to say that they're related.

 Kaelyn is at the top, then Elsie, then Liam.

And yes, she has a name now!! Kaelyn Alayna Firth. And we love to call her Layney for short.  Like our other kids, we love her name on its own. But it is also derived from longer, more traditional names from our family lines (Liam from William, Elsie from Elizabeth, and now Kaelyn from Katherine). Her first and middle names mean Pure and Precious Light, respectively. She was born May 7 @ 4:46am, 6 lb 5 oz, 20" long.

She's doing well, and pending one more test we'll be headed home tonight. She had a little jaundice, so she spent much of today suntanning but that's done and everything else looks great. Dani is feeling really good too, and we're all excited to make it back for more of Liam's birthday activities tonight if we can.

Happy 8 Year Anniversary

 Eight years ago Brady and I got married. We were unreasonably young (22 years old), totally clueless, and didn't really know what we were getting into-- but, we were terribly in love. We never could  have imagined the amazing family we would grow.  Brady adds meaning to my life and I'm glad to share each day with him. Our anniversary is sandwiched between 3 kids' birthdays and often gets overshadowed by ninja/princess parties but it definitely deserves its own shout out.


Recently I found an SD card containing long lost honeymoon pics.  They're funny to look at - I'm all awkward wearing ill-fitting polyester shirts. Brady looks young, hot, and is wearing a sling to protect the 24 post-op staples in his pec. Seeing them reminds me how far we've come and the adventures we have in store
         
8 years ago :

Almost here. . .

Lately I've gotten a second wind. For the first time in 9 months I feel great, alive.  I'm back to doing things I love- field trips with my kiddos, running, fiddling, searching through cookbooks, reading, and transplanting my perennials. I've even de-junked my closets, drawers, and tilled a small veggie garden out back.  The past 9 months pregnancy has felt like an impairment and it almost feels weird to feel like myself again.

I cursed myself six years, 3 babies, ago when I declared that I was 'great at being pregnant.' Growing my 1st baby I felt vivacious. I gained the minimal amount of weight, worked 50 hours a week, exercised, and smiled my way through the 9 months of baby prep. Now at the end of this third, last, and intolerably long, pre-natal period I've totally reversed my perception of maternity.  At times this pregnancy has been  physically debilitating, emotionally discouraging, and depressing. The months of barfing, never-ending flu-like fatigue, unfair and unstoppable weight gain, umbilical hernia, muscle cramps, heart burn . . . Let's just say it's been a good thing I have a major prize at the end to look forward to.

 I feel guilty that this baby is emerging into the world after such a crazy wind-up. I wish that I could have spent less time feeling crumby and more time counting baby kicks. At times my relationship with Baby has been strained.  I have a few friends expecting their first babies and I have enjoyed seeing their posted photos of baby bumps and nursery plans.  They also have made me realize that I haven't been the blissful pre-natal steward my baby deserved. Luckily, Baby will come out soon (hopefully this week after my mom gets here) and I'll have years and years to make it all up.

 

Last week my friends Katie and Robyn threw me a Friday night baby shower with pedicure stations, homemade sugar scrubs, and lots of happy chatting.  It was fun to celebrate the coming baby and feel pampered. The necklace that I am wearing in the above picture is a gift that was made at the shower from my friends that came. Each friend put a bead on the necklace representing themselves. They are to remind me of the hopeful wishes and good vibes I have coming my way.

Manassas Civil War Battle Field

 We spent the afternoon at Manassas Civil War Battlefield. It was a peaceful, fascinating, and a beautiful place to reflect, enjoy each others company, and run around and pick dandelions.