Happy Birthday Brian

 Happy Birthday dear Brian.

A chocolate cake for the birthday boy.  Grace chose the heart sprinkles and put the candles on the cake.  Papa was here so he made Brian a fancy dinner and then we went fishing.  How could his birthday get any better?

Random January

 I went to Target the other day and they had a dress in Eliza's size that matched Grace's dress.  Grace was so excited about it and carried it all through the store.

Eliza was up to a whopping 7 lbs and 13 oz at her 6 week check up.

 Big day in our house, Jacob can drive the riding lawn mower.  He did make a maze in the grass and I had to go mow over the tracks.

The crew.

All 5 kids

 Hard to believe I have 5 kids.  She is one month old and fits right in our rowdy clan. 

 Jacob loves to hold her.

Tears in ensued after he didn't get to hold her.  So much for picture taking. 

Merry and Eliza.

Eliza 4wks

Eliza turned 4 weeks on January 17th.  This also happens to be the day that was supposed to be her birthday (my c-section was originally scheduled for this day, at 37 weeks).  We are so grateful to have her here safe and healthy.

Look how chubby she is getting.  She weighed 6 lbs. 3 oz. at her 3 week check up.

She is still super sleepy, I guess she still thinks that she should be incubating.

Nestled into her little cocoon.

She is the noisiest baby I have had so far.  She doesn't cry she just grunts and makes little kitty noises all of the time.  Not sure what this face is all about.  

Fresh from the bath with fluffy hair and a peek at her eyes.

All swaddled ready for a nap.  I love how her hands manage to escape.

Another sleepy smile.

Eliza talking to Grace.

I guess she was trying to make a point.

Love this look on Grace's face, I feel like this all of the time.

I don't have any teeth mom. 

Photo courtesy of Jacob.

We ran out of newborn diapers so I thought I would try a size 1 one her.  Look how giant it is.  She promptly peed on the bed through the top of the diaper because it was so loose.

Merry Christmas

Way back in 2012, we did send Christmas cards.  

I am like 6 and 1/2 months pregnant and look so pleased to be in the picture.

The kids on the back of the card.  Everyone fought to hold the giant S at the beginning.  At the end no one would hold it.

Adam, also known as Adam Fitzfattam or Captian Destructo.  

Grace, my favorite Grace quote during the photo shoot "but I forgot how to smile."  Good thing Brian was willing to dance behind the camera to get a genuine smile.

Jacob, the ring leader of the circus.

Merry, Merry, is getting so grown-up.

Another family shot.

And now to my favorite part of family photo shoots, the outtakes. 

Adam with his blade o'grass mustache, definitely a classic.

This looks like Adam is majorly annoyed but in reality he is just looking at an airplane.

Then there is the time I squashed Brian's fingers between the rocking chair when I sat down.  

This came close to being the picture on our card.

Birth announcement

 Brian was wondering why I had to have him fingerprinted.  I told him it was either that or family pictures, he opted for the fingerprint.

Memories I like.

Eliza week 2.

Cute little toes.

Adam is obsessed with them as much as I am.  He counts them and then says "this one is big and the rest are teeny tiny"(in a squeaky voice).

Check out how tiny her legs are in the newborn onesie.  

A big yawn.  I think her hair is growing not falling out.

Grace is so in love with her.  She loves to give her bottles and lay down by her and look at her.

A posey-posed one for the posey-posed people.   How squishy is she?