Small Edition of Favorite Link Friday

So I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I really want to post about an exciting event we had today in the family but I need to get a final picture before the reveal. Until then, here's a few posts I've enjoyed.

*Love this 7 quick takes and her comments about Bare minimum mode in their family. That's where we are at and I appreciate that someone else is there too.

*Looking for a nursing cover - here's a great deal for a gift or for yourself.

*Great site for parties - particularly this lemon party

Have a great weekend!

post pregnancy clothes

There are those few women who fit into their regular clothes 15 minutes after they give birth. You know them. We love them, because they are our friends, but secretly, we're a tad jealous.

Well, no need to be jealous here. Still in sweat pants and still looking for T-shirts that fit properly. Somehow all the shirts I wore before and during pregnancy have magically turned into crop tops. I swear someone came through my closet and cut and hemmed them all. How on earth did they get so short?

Today I went to the mall to try and find any top that would make me look remotely cute for my first day of church. The only ones that make me look good are all priced above $70. Why is that? And then Old Navy is only stocking solids and stripes. Not a good look for the jelly belly around the middle. Then there is the milk producing jugs that need to find a place. Thankfully I found a great nursing bra for $12.99. A success to be noted, for sure.

So what is a girl to do in transition. I'm thinking I'm going to have to suck it up and wait a few months until some deflation has occurred. Until then, it's sweat pants and crop tops. Cute!

we'll keep him

I've said that the newborn stage is not my favorite. It still isn't, but knowing that this is our last baby, I'm enjoying the small things a bit more. It makes those moments in the middle of the night just a bit more tolerable and I'm savoring the snuggling knowing that they grow up so quickly.

Our family is enjoying this new little guy, especially the girls. They are absolutely smitten with their brother and can't wait for him to grow up and play. Poor guy is going to have 3 mama's.

Here's some of my favorite moments of the last two weeks.

Our last family of four picture. The night before we had Sam. We were at Multnomah Falls

The morning after I had Sam. The first snuggle of the day.

I love this shot. It's like she's saying, "get your hands off my baby!"

Oldest and Youngest

the relaxed look

Big sister love

peacefully sleeping

this is one of my favorites

when sleep is good...

...the milk is not.

Most mama's know that a sleeping newborn is priceless. It's something you can't plan or predict for, you just have to take it as it comes. But when you are a breastfeeding mama, this can have a backfire effect.

ENGORGEMENT!

It's that wonderful feeling when you want your child to nurse and they are sleeping peacefully so you wouldn't dare wake them. No way! And what's worse, is you wish you were sleeping but for some reason you have two rock hard melons preventing you from getting comfortable in ANY position.

You debate, should I get up and pump? If I get up, will they wake up? And let's just be honest, the pump is not the most comfortable feeling in the world. Plus, finding it at 3 a.m. and putting the pieces together for the first time sounds like ALOT of work.

So you lay there in pain. Desperate for sleep but so thankful this little one is asleep.

Finally, he wakes! Relief. But it's like trying to nurse a watermelon. If only the rock hard feeling would let down. Finally after tears, pain, and yet ANOTHER let down, he latches. No it's time to break out that pump. Mama's got LOTS of milk.

the wall

There comes a point in every new mama where you hit "the wall". For some this is just a day, for others, a season.

I hit my wall last night. And it seems the rest of my family is hitting theirs today. Last night I was overcome with emotion, sleep-deprivation, and thoughts of how I'm going to navigate through this. Today, Lily lost it in a way I've never seen, leading me to believe she hit her's. And then Dave this afternoon. He is out spending some time alone regaining his mental state as well. Eloise has yet to hit her's, and very well may not.

The best advice a fellow, seasoned mama gave me, (Jenny) was to give myself the first 6 weeks. In those first 6 weeks don't think about schedule, don't think about feeding, just survive. At 6 weeks, come up for air and look realistically at what you are ready to take on. But before that time, just survive. This has been the best advice and I've passed it onto many a friend. So you would think that I would take it to heart, right? It takes me just as much energy to put it into practice as anyone else.

So I give myself grace. Today and everyday. I will get through this time. We will all adjust to a new normal at some point and at that point there will be complete peace in a new way. For now I just snuggle, sleep when I can, discipline the best that I know how in the moment, and leave the dishes for another day. They won't be small forever, they won't be able to fit in the crook of my arm or play carefree as sisters. I pray I will enjoy each and every moment to the fullest.

pictures - finally

Here's a few from the big day:

Dave still in shock, and me too for that matter!

not so cute, fresh from the womb look

Daddy's first boy. (and only!)

Okay, I'm finally ready to take a look

The girls first look at their baby brother

Eloise is smitten

First family of 5 Photo! We've got some work to do.

Checking things out.

processing labor

Now that I've had 3 days to step away from the crazy intense labor I had, I've been able to remember details that I didn't recall immediately.

**I heard this at one point around 1 p.m. or so and it stands out as the most random exchange ever.
my mom: It's time to make some guacamole
Angela: How do you just whip up guacamole?


**Ellie, my midwife, told me at one point my mom was getting nervous so she decided to make a pizza. It seems there is a trend to what my mom does to get rid of her anxiety.


**I went through transition TWICE. Yes, TWICE. Once with an anterior baby and once with a posterior baby. I prefer anterior and believe that labor would have been much easier if he would have taken that route.


**This little guy decided to flip to anterior right before coming out. Ellie had only seen that once before and Heather, my other midwife, had never seen it. He really did move constantly inside me and proceeded to follow suite upon entering the world.


**I sobbed the moment my girls walked in. It was the most precious moment ever and I knew they would fall in love with their little brother the moment they saw him. Eloise was a bit overwhelmed but kissed him all over. Lily kept posing for all the camera's and paid little attention to Sam.

There's more I'm sure, but I wanted to get these down before I forgot. Pictures will come soon.