Introducing Autumn Mae

Autumn Mae was born on 2/22/11 at 5:48am.  We are smitten!  She weighs 7lb., 5oz. and is 20 inches long.  We are home now and trying to adjust, but everyone has more love than they know what to do with for our newest little gift from above!  Here are some pics to speak more than words can:).

The Last Shot

Well folks, this is it, my last pregnant belly shot with Autumn.  

I'm 38 weeks, 3 days today.  Tomorrow marks the 10 days before due date marker, which was the gestation Emma was born at.  If this little girl decides to stay inside longer than tomorrow, she'll be my "latest" baby yet.  I've been claiming that she can hear all the chaos out here and has decided to stay inside as long as possible before joining it;).  It is a bittersweet time in my heart to be sure.  Sweet because I'm so excited to meet my third daughter, to kiss and smell and nurse my sweet baby, but bitter as I cherish all the "lasts" with her.  Today I have been basking in her movements within, closing my eyes and imprinting to deep memory the feeling of life in my womb, the miracle that has graced me four times, all praise to the awesome Creator!  Each ending marks a new beginning and God is granting me peace.  The next pictures you will see here will be of our new baby girl!  Until then, we ask for prayers for a safe delivery and healthy baby.  All my love!

His Perfect Timing

It's been a rough week friends, one of those weeks to be classified under "trenches".  Chloe had her tonsils and adenoids removed last Thursday and I've been battling a nasty upper respiratory bug since a few days before that.  While I've been up coughing every night, my precious Chloe has been up with horrible pain, we've been quite the pair, let me tell you.  Chloe has lost 5 pounds in just one week, I can feel every bone in her body it seems.  And her sad eyes say it all as she longs to eat normal foods, but can't handle more than pedisure, cream of wheat and chicken noodle soup sans noodles.  I keep hoping that each day will be her turn around day, feeling like this healing process is taking an eternity.  I have such a new found empathy for parents with children facing diseases like cancer, and it's only been a week for us.  Watching your baby suffer has got to be the worse thing to endure, I wish I could take her pain on myself so much, but instead all I can do is hold and stroke and sing songs and reassure.  But at least there is hope on our horizon, I am beyond grateful for that!  By next weeks end, statistically speaking, she should be feeling much better.   And my barking cough seems to be a little better this morning.  All this going on just before we welcome little Autumn Mae into the world has felt a bit overwhelming and stressful, but it's been a good reminder that God's timing will be just as it should be, and we can't worry about the things outside of our control.  The fact that I've made it this far is such a blessing, that Chloe and I are past the worse of our ills and that we might actually be getting a little sleep in the next few days, thank you Jesus!  I'm so thankful for God's new mercies each morning, especially in times like this.  When I have so little to give, it's wonderful to be carried by a fully capable father who knows our needs and cares about them.  I may not get a chance to post again until after Autumn is born, but until then, know how thankful I am for each of you, for the ways you encourage me and lift our family up in prayer, for the ways many of you have reached out in practical ways, bringing meals and just being God's arms of provision for us.  All my love!

The Last Time

February, 2011 marks the last month I will ever be pregnant (Lord willing).  This makes me sad, but I'm also at complete peace about the size of our family and Travis's leadership to that effect.  Four children is always what we envisioned for our family and as we've prayed through the decision of family size, God has given us both the assurance that four is our number.  But there is grieving at the end of any beautiful adventure, any treasured stage, and so that's where I'm at as I look forward to the birth of this, our last, little miracle from above.  I'm so excited to meet her and yet so filled with patience at the same time.  I'm reveling in each kick and roll and contraction, the look of my pregnant form in the mirror.  Being pregnant has by far been the most joyous time in my life thus far.  My body has never felt more alive and creative and used by God and for that, I am so thankful!  Little Autumn Mae, nestled in my womb, I cherish this time with you...right where you are.  You mark the end of something so special to me and at the same time, a new beginning that I welcome with completely open arms.  There is a season, as God tells us in His Word, for every purpose under heaven, and I lay flat on my face in gratitude for the gift of getting to experience the season of childbearing.  There will undoubtedly be some tears shed, in the quiet alone of my hospital room as I fully take in the closing of this chapter, but I promise to turn those tears of sadness into tears of joy as I look forward to the next step.  And as I cherish the gift of now, I wait and love and praise the Giver of every good gift! 

p.s. I recently had some maternity pictures taken by a dear friend of mine that I can't wait to share with you.  As soon as she gets them to me, they will appear here!