Our baby girl...Ainsley

Sugar and spice and everything nice....Pink and bows and everything girly!

I am so excited that all of this has begun.When Mat found out we were having a girl I think he was nervous and his first question was, how am I going to be a Dad to a little girl, I don't know how! I reassured him that it would all come naturally and that she is going to have him wrapped around her little finger. His second question was, are you going to always dress her in pink and have her be super girly....uh, yes! Of course I am!

So fun getting the nursery ready for a girl. It was a lot more work, we had to start over with new furniture and everything because what we had left over from the boys was all hand me downs which we handed down to other family members. It didn't break my heart. It was fun to get to buy new stuff. Her nursery is pink and brown and I think Mat secretly likes all the pink!

I am beyond in love with this amazing little girl already!! It's crazy to have a baby inside of you one moment then holding it in your arms the next. It's fun to see her face for the first time and fall in love with her in that second.

Our birthing story is crazy and I need to condense it...but in a nutshell it was amazing and excrutiatingly painful at the same time. I went natural. That should say it all. Luckily it was a pretty fast labor. My dr. stripped my membranes at my appointment in the afternoon at about 3:30 and that night around six I started having regular painful contractions. Mat's cute mom came to our house to pick up the boys while we headed off to the hospital.

We were admitted at 9:30 p.m.... my contractions got stronger right away and I progressed super fast. She was born at 11:53 that night.

We had hired a doula (labor coach) that was assisting us in our natural birth. Let me just say that she was AMAZING at her job and made the biggest difference with me handling my pain and being able to get through the labor and delivery.

From my perspective I did a lot of screaming and crying and yelling and swearing. Mat and our doula did a lot of massaging and touching and calming. I labored in the tub and on the birthing ball until about the last 20 minutes when I had to get on the bed to push.

We had an awesome team. Our nurse was super cute, we loved our doctor who did a great job, and our doula made all the difference. The whole time I was in labor the thought kept running through my head, why does anyone do this to themselves? That, and the question can someone actually die from so much pain? I guess not... I didn't anyway. I survived, but just barely. I don't know if I could do it again....but if the time comes, I probably would. Recovery after birth is so much better and in the long run I'm glad I did it natural, and felt so great afterwards.

I wasn't sure how welcoming the big brothers would actually be once we brought the baby home and they realized that she was here to stay, but they are so cute and concerned and in love with her. I think having a baby girl is just what this family needed.

So fun to have a baby around again, so tiring, our house is a disaster and it's hard to find time to shower, but I love it all.

I love our cute little family and am so happy.

birthdays and reunions

We had a family reunion last week that was all Norwegian themed (Mat's grandpa is from Norway). We usually have it in a place called Hannah, but it didn't work out to go there this year, so it was all done in Mat's parents backyard. All the food for the weekend was Norwegian themed, and on this day for family pics everyone dressed for the part.

Here are Mat's grandparents along with 4 of their kids.
Nana and Poppy and all of the Great-Grandkids!
This was all in Mat's parents backyard...they did a great job of making it look super festive, even putting up a maypole and it looked awesome with everyone in their scandanavian garb for the family picture!
Don't judge, I am 9 months pregnant in this picture! Super scary still, I really shouldn't go out of the house in this condition
Thatcher turned 6 last week and he is obsessed with Toy Story. We were still at the family reunion for his birthday so we kind of did everything with the entire family around. I think he loves it...tons of people around to celebrate with him and he gets fireworks...I think he feels pretty lucky!

He got a Woody doll which he has been wanting for a long time, along with some other Toy Story fun stuff.
We made him Alien cupcakes from Toy Story. We thought they were easier and just as cute as making a huge cake, and these were perfect to share with everyone. They turned out awesome!
Thatcher just graduated from K and will be starting first grade in two weeks...I am so hating year round! He gets a total break for the summer of 3 weeks, which I think is so unfair. But on the other hand he needs something to keep him busy. He left K reading at a level N...I guess most K read at a level C....so he was bored and will hopefully be able to be a little more challenged in first grade.

He is so funny about his wardrobe lately. He has to have everything matching and cannot leave the house without changing at least 3 times...I don't know where he gets this from! I guess it's good that he likes to look presentable, but really? He seems way too concerned about it for a 6 year old. Maybe it's just a phase and in a few months all he'll care about is getting dirty and having fun no matter what he is wearing!

Happy 6th birthday little man!
Luke turned 3 last month and he wanted a dragon cake...super fun and easy to make! We went to dinner with the whole fam and then back to Gramme's house to have cake and open presents.
Luke is still as mischievious as ever, but he is so fun to have around. He loves to sing and will go around the house singing to himself all day. He still has his cute little voice, it will be so sad when he grows out of it...I could just listen to him talk all day.

Kids are so funny, he LOVES Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and wants to watch it all day every day....literally! It will get over and he just wants to start it again. He knows all he songs and characters and can't seem to get enough of it. Even though the 2's and 3's are the hardest years, I think they are my favorite! Toddlers are amazing
Happy 3rd Birthday Lukey, we love you!