Charlotte Belinda Arrives!

Praise God, Charlotte is here!!!!!

We are so grateful that our Charlotte Belinda arrived safe and healthy last Monday, September 21. She was one month early, but weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long (good thing I grow 'em big!). Josh and I went for my weekly appointment and my doctor told us that indeed "it's time folks!" Even though we were nervous about her being so early we had prayed daily for God's timing in Charlotte's arrival and trusted my doctor completely. An added bonus was that the bed rest and my illness would be over!! We are so grateful to my doctor as his wisdom proved perfect on that Monday morning...she was born healthy and perfect in every way! She is so tiny and dainty with a head full of beautiful black hair!

Ansley and Emma Kate met their new baby sister on Wednesday. True to their personalities, they each reacted completely different! Ansley gently patted Charlotte and said "Aw, she's so beautiful, Momma. I love you, Baby Charlotte." Emma Kate ran around the hospital room oblivious to Charlotte but enjoying the cookies that a friend had just dropped off! Finally, Emme ran over to Charlotte and popped her on the head and said "Hey there Baby!" I just love how God creates each child (and person) in their own unique and beautiful way! The girls are doing great now that we have been home one week. Ansley and Emme are adjusting beautifully and Charlotte, thus far, is the easiest baby we have had- thank you, Lord!!!! Josh is doing great and loving ALL his girls...such a rock for our family through this entire season...still lobbying for the male dog which will probably arrive this year. He is, however, looking into all sorts of new savings accounts that will earn interest as we are already planning for THREE weddings!!!


Thank you all for all of your prayers, calls, concerns, food, help and encouragement through the past 8 weeks- God heard, God answered, God was once again so faithful.


Here are some pictures of our first week at home...more to come later as I find 2 minutes in my week to post!

Ansley holding Baby Charlotte while Emme looks on!

We all look at our newest family member...the girls love to climb up the side of the crib and watch their baby sister sleep. We just have to watch Emme or she'll try to share a goldfish with "Char-Char" (her name for Charlotte!)!!!

The girls made a welcome home sign with Meme and PaPa to welcome Mommy, Daddy and Baby Charlotte home!!

The girls checking out their sister again.

Emme loves to call people...she called many friends to tell them that she was waiting for

Char-Char to come home!!!

Ansley's day with Bailey

Our friends Carrie and Bailey Blount dropped in yesterday to show Ansley a fun morning...how kind! Ansley was missing her friends. They went to the park, to Bailey's playroom and made "Mrs. Carrie pizza" (Ansley's term). Ansley had such a fun morning and has asked at each subsequent meal if she could make "Mrs. Carrie pizza." Note to self: must ask Carrie what in the world it is as our daughter thinks it is the greatest thing since Oreos.

Here are some shots from their fun morning together! Thanks Blounts for thinking of us and loving our Ansley in this great way.

Bed rest?. . .seriously?. . .Bed rest?. . .seriously.

As you can see from the title of this post, I have been put on bed rest for the remainder of this pregnancy. . . ahhhh! Apparently, I have developed quite the heart murmur which is causing me to faint at random times and not be able to walk down the hall without having to "rest." (And I just thought it was all the blizzards taking their toll on me that Josh had to go get for me at 9 p.m.!) We are most thankful that Charlotte, so far, seems to be just fine and growing even at a faster rate than expected- maybe she'll come early?! Oh I hope so!

So, my "know-only-one-speed-180 mph" personality has been ordered to bed. For the first several days I tried to do too much even around the house. I proved my instincts wrong and my doctors orders correct- totally fainted in the kitchen one morning which made Josh just about faint as he helped me through the ordeal and then started having contractions. What a deal. I have now surrendered to bed rest and learned to enjoy it! Already, I am seeing how this has been a blessing for me personally as I have had sweet time to be with the girls in a more quiet setting and just simply enjoy some stillness.

Thus far, I have read two books (one entitled "Bed Rest" which totally cracked me up as I could empathize with the author on every page), six tabloids (got to get my fix), organized my purse 4 times, discovered 3 spots in our bedroom that need to be touched up with paint, decided that our bedroom needs to be repainted altogether, fallen totally in love with the Food Network, become disgusted with daytime-mind-numbing television and discouraged with morning news shows that seem to become dumber as the hour goes on (one main political headline at the outset of the show and by 8 a.m. the segment is on "How to make your feet look slimmer in the Fall's fashionable shoes.")

One total week down and I am forever indebted to our family- both biological and church families- for how they have jumped in and helped us. Our moms have come each day to help me and be with the girls. The girls are loving it! Our church has dropped off food, books, magazines (hey Dabbs- you finished with that new US Weekly yet? I am now shamefully curious as to whether Ed from the Bachelor has been dumped by that Jillian girl yet!!!) and grocery shopped for us. My grandmother and aunt went grocery shopping for us too and have brought food to last for days. We are so thankful for the hands-on-help that is loving us through this time. Truly, I am at a loss for words as I think of all the ways we have been helped by those we love. . .all I can say is "Thanks be to God."

Hopefully, I will be able to be better about keeping our family blog updated- I certainly have the time!!!! Hope you and your families are all well!