Thank you!!!

We are so blessed to have great friends.  We had about 2 weeks of dinners brought to us after Arabella was born.  It was really nice not to worry about "what's for dinner?"  Our church family brought us many dinner and so did some of the moms in my MOPS group.  Thank you so much each and everyone of you!  It was especially helpful since Josh has had to work so much and often late nights.  You have realived some of the stress that comes along with a new born.  I attempted to take a picture of all the yummy dinners and desserts(which Landon and I enjoyed mostly by ourselves, well mostly I did but I didn't mind at all!) we recieved.  They didn't all get their photo shot, but they were all enjoyed and we were very thankful for all of them.


Thank you so much...

Kent and Michelle
Cecil and Deborah
Vernine

Colleen and Kent
Julie
Danielle
Nicole
Desiree
Jeff and Victoria
Susan
Kelly
Gene
MOPS and POPs dinner event leftovers brought by Christine

Fun in the sun at the park

We recently started going to a park that is down the road about 3 miles from us.  It is a great little park and it is never busy.  Since Landon had been couped up in the house with the coming of a new baby I packed up the kids and took us over there for a couple of hours. 

Landon had a lot of fun and Arabella slept soundly in my homemade moby wrap (Thanks to Julie!)

Look at this dare devil!

Landon loves the swings!

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Meeting the family

Arabella was able to meet the Williams side of her family last weekend.  Josh's parents and youngest brother, Jeremiah, and sister, Jamiie came down for the weekend to meet their newest family member.  Landon was so excited to see his family.  We had a great time visiting with them.  Josh and I even got to sleep in a little on Saturday.

Why being a mommy of two is awesome...

My smiley girl

I have never seen such a young baby smile as much as she does

My silly boy

He has an awesome imagination and love to dress up.  Just about every night after a bath he wants to dress up in his hat, socks, and mittens and makes up some story about it being cold.

The best of all...

My loves loving on each other

 

That is why being a mommy is awesome!!!

Arabella's Birth Day

After a couple of "I think today is the day"s, Sunday night (February 6th) I wasn't feeling well and again having a lot of Braxton Hicks or contractions- I had no idea what to call them at this point.  By the time I was thinking "this might really be in" was about 5 hours after Jamiie Jo had left.  Jamiie had come down on Tuesday night when my water broke.  She missed a half week of classes including one test.  While she was here I had contractions that were 2 minutes apart and about 1.5 minute half long.

Of course it would happen right after she left.  I prayed that I would make it through the night so I could rest and we would have to leave Landon in the middle of the night.  I woke up numerous times with long contractions and finally couldn't stay laying down any more at about 7:15am.  I had to walk through the contractions.  Landon woke up shortly afterward.  We started to let him know what was going to happen and where and what he was going to go and do for the day.  Josh tried to get some things done around the house and get Landon fed and play with him.  Landon was getting a little concerned for me and my contractions were about 3 minutes apart.  I thought it would be best go get him dropped off at our friend, Vernine's house.  Vernine is Zach's (the little boy I normally take of during the week) mommy.  We got out of the house a little after 9:30am.  By the time we were checked in and in our room it was about 11:30.  I had a wonderful nurse, Hillary.  She had a student who was training with her, I think her name was Dena.  Josh is a great couch to get me through all the tough labor pains.  The last half hour with no pain meds was tough but I made it.  Hillary was awesome when I was pushing she really helped me focus on what I needed to do and being a mom she had a little advantage over Josh.  But is was great too.  I couldn't have done it without him!  Dr. Marichal was able to make it in half way through the pushing.  Now he has delivered both of our children.  We really love him as a doctor a lot.  Dr. Carroccio took care of me when Dr. Marichal wasn't there. She was great too. 
After about 15 minutes of pushing at 2:24pm Arabella Elizabeth Williams was born!  She was healthy and we were so happy to meet her!

7 lbs 7 oz and 20 3/4 in

Landon holding his baby sister for the first time

My babies!

My sleeping loves

hello bright eyes!

getting ready to go home

I'm ready to go!

Tiny hands

My sweet girl

Visitors

Michelle

Nate

Charlie

Paula

Mike and Vernine

Sally

Chris and Jason

Jason and Landon being silly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presents from Uncle Jon and Aunt Merry!

My Sweets for Valentine's and one week old

Here are a couple of pictures of two of my sweets for Valentine's this year. 

Sibling love is awesome!

Arabella was also one week old on Valentine's Day.  She is doing so well. She is a super happy content baby.  She nurses and sleeps great! I am very thankful for her because with a 2.5 year old I don't know what I would do otherwise.  Also Josh has had to work at least a half day every day since she has been born. 

On Friday after she was born I took her to the pediatrician for her check up so they could check on her jaundice since she was a little jaundice the day we left the hospital   The doctor was very happy with her progression and said she had not seen many babies return to their birth weight by that time even when they are formula feed.  So I guess she really is a good eater!


Landon adores her and takes great care of her.  He will even stop crying when he gets upset(most of the time) if he knows it is bothering her.  He talks to her and gives her kisses when I change her diaper.  He pats her back with me when I am done nursing her.  He also holds her hand or puts his hand on her while we are reading books.  I love it.  Being the oldest in my family and seeing Landon just reminds me how much I loved being a big sister.  It is amazing how this tiny little person can come into our lives and my heart grows for her but also it makes me love my son more, my husband more, my brother and my mom.  Arabella has blessed us so much and even though we would love her just as much if she wasn't just an easy going baby it just makes life so much easier to enjoy. 

Landon wanted to show is new little sister how much fun it is to play in a tent

Our smilie girl

Our sweet baby girl, Arabella!

She is a such a blessing.

We are home!  Arabella has been welcomed by all of our fuzzy animals and she doesn't seem to mind them at all.  Big brother Landon is very taken with her and already protective of her.  She already has Mommy and Daddy's hearts. 

 A couple of people have asked how to pronounce her name.  It is R-a-bella.  If that makes sense. :)

Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes!  We love visitors so if you want to stop by just give us a call. 

Baby Williams- trouble maker already?

I am excited and anxious to meet our new little one.  I have heard so many stories from mommies and daddies of two or more how neat it is to learn the differences and similarities between their children.  I am excited to watch Landon become a big brother, a role that I know he must have been made for.  If you watch Landon around any baby or even spend the day with him you will most likely think the same thing.  I am am looking forward to our family growing and worry about being a great mommy to 2 instead of 1.  It seems like there is nothing more I could give another but I know that my heart will just grow and there will be plenty to go around.

This baby is hopefully days and not weeks from coming to meet his/her family.  Already there are so many differences and I am sure one day I can look back and laugh at them but at the moment they are driving me crazy!  Landon's birth and labor was a little worrisome and stressful since I had preeclampsia and he had an abnormal umbilical cord.  I had to have an emergency induction and was minutes away from have an emergency c-section.  God answered our prayers and he was born with no health issues and I made it through the whole thing with no pain killers!

This little baby is, in a sense better, off than Landon health-wise. As of right now I do not have preeclampsia and the baby's umbilical cord is normal.  So the differences are already there.  Also this time, I have been having Braxton Hick like crazy since November.  I am dilated and not in the hospital.  My water broke and then has closed up (didn't know that could happen).  I thought last night I was going to go to the hospital because I was having contractions that were a good 1.5 minutes long and not more than 2 minutes apart, only to have them stop right after I told Josh I think we should leave.  I am thankful that this baby has a healthier start but he/ she sure is teaching me a HARD lesson in patience and God's timing. 

Josh's youngest sister already missed a half of week of school to come and watch Landon and help out.  Of course, you can probably guess that now there won't be another week Jamiie can just miss school.  Landon has voiced to us that he just wanted Aunt Jamiie to stay with him if Mommy and Daddy had to go to the hospital without him.  I would love for him to have his first choice of how things go when baby comes.  If this baby doesn't come this weekend then he will have to stay with friends.  We are blessed to have so many friends who have offered to help in so many ways. I wish though that I didn't have to leave Landon.  I know he will have fun with friends and he will be fine but I am a worrier (even though I try hard not to be) and he is my baby.  I know God's plans are the best so all I am asking is any of you who are reading this pray that our baby arrives safely and with as little stress to the family as possible.  I would love to add prayer for the baby to come quickly but I know that really isn't my decision and maybe not the best.

Baby Williams, we love you and can't wait to meet you.  You are driving your Mommy a little crazy but I know that just comes with being a Mommy.

I can't wait...
to hold you in my arms.
to find out if you are a little girl or boy. 
to give you to your big brother who already loves you and is so excited to meet you. 
to see your Daddy hold you and love on you because he LOVES babies so much especially when they are his.


So come as soon as your ready and be safe and nice to your Mommy.