Our THREE Children

The morning after baby Kyler arrived...meeting his Big brother and sister. They were super excited to finally hold him and touch him instead of Mommy's belly. Kolby asked, "Why is your stomach still so big?" :) Nothing helps motivate you more than your four year old.
Kyler Joshua, 7 lbs 2 ounces, 20 inches long, and lots of black hair.

Angie took these pics for us of his first week. She did a great job...and it helps of course that all three of our kids are precious!
Gabby and "mick" and her thumb....

(hmm, not sure why this pic is so weird....but I am too tired to take it off and try again...)
Kolby's tooth is still hanging on!

Kyler came 2 weeks early just like I prayed :) It's nice when the Lord answers prayers just the way you want!! He was born on Friday, September 11 at 9:52 p.m. The surprise for me was the way he was born. Kyler decided he wanted to be born face up instead of face down...but the Doctor and his mom decided it was better for him to come face down. After a long, tiring labor, dilated to a 9, I gladly accepted a spinal block so I could endure the Doctor turning Kyler while I pushed. Which really at that point I wanted someone to knock me over the head :) but I could still feel all the contractions (and was given pitocin at that point to increase them so we could get Kyler out). To our relief he was finally out, smashed nose, forehead and all. I had started preparing myself for a c-section. I was so happy the Doctor was willing to wait and help (I will spare all the details of my "african" birth). Yesterday he was 2 weeks old already....and actually today is his actual due date. Jon has been busy getting lots of paperwork together so Kyler can get a passport. On Wednesday we made a trip to the American Embassy (my first time inside). When we left I was like, "Wow! I haven't experienced customer service like that in a long time!" Kyler should have a passport in 10 days.

Now that Kyler has arrived safe and sound, we are working on adjusting to having 3 children, a baby's schedule, and getting to America. Jon stayed home for a week and we have had lots and lots of help from our friends here...great meals, lots of offers to play with Kolby and Gabby while I get rest, and lots of love and encouragement. Kyler is super sweet, so tiny, and seems to be more like his brother already. He likes to eat after exactly 3 hours, he likes to nap most of the day, and he likes when his brother and sister talk to him. His first smiles have been for them. But he has saved some smiles for Jon and I too.

ha...thanks, Erin....

just reminded by my friend Erin that we all have 10 fingers and 10 toes....dude, can I blame that on baby brain and being super tired or what?

Our first big ouchy in Africa

Here is our brave boy!! Kolby was running up our MARBLE STAIRS on Tuesday night and slipped, hitting his front teeth on the edge of the step. These pics were taken the next morning. He wanted to look at himself :) Yeah, notice the jewels...he says he's King Kolby...we will go along with that for now :) Thankfully our friend Veronica knows all about teeth :) She came over in the morning to look at his left front tooth. From the pic you can tell it's loose and crooked. Veronica went to the dentist with us yesterday morning. The dentist was FABULOUS, very gentle and kind. And Kolby was super excited to show him his tooth, ride in the big chair, and get an xray. The conclusion: he fractured his left front tooth in 2 places. Estimated time is about 2-3 months the roots will die and his tooth will probably be falling out. I am just thankful it's a baby tooth. Today his poor lip is still swollen but he is eating better and running around. His biggest fear was that he was going to lose all his teeth. He really wanted to go to the doctor so the doctor could make it all better. He's been great with the whole thing...a little whiny with me but I think that's because he knows that Mommy will baby him all he wants!! And she has! It just reminds me that in an instant myself or someone I love could be changed forever...with a little or big accident. Thankfully this one was little. I am still counting my blessings that I have 2 healthy children with 5 fingers and 5 toes...

This waiting game is over...

Our friends finally had their baby girl!! She was 8 days late...but came out in about 4 hours!! First baby...in africa...Susie is a champ! Welcome, Maisy!! We can't wait to sit around and stare at you some more!
Our friend Cerena has been visiting for a month...wow...who knew someone could visit for a month and it go by so fast with very little stress! The most stressful thing we had to figure out was what kind of bagels should we make this week?! Cerena stayed with our friend Ang mostly but we sure enjoyed every minute we got to have with her. She was fabulous with our kids and helped Angie put on a VBS. We were sad to see her go...for real, Gabby started crying when they drove off in the truck to take her to the airport! :( Maisy was born the day Cerena left so she got to see her at the hospital.
Gabby's turn to kiss and hug baby Kyler...which she does about 3 times a day...she loves him, loves him already!! Good news for us. 3 weeks left! Then we will see what she really thinks of him.
Taking Kolby to preschool for the first day...at Angie's house! He goes there Mondays and Thursdays from 9 to 10:30. Tuesdays and Fridays are my days...Jon get Wednesdays! Every day I do a reading lesson with him from this book called "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons". So far he's flying high. And Angie's house is his new favorite place...our house and Veronica's house were voted out he informed me last week. This pic was also to show off our truck...that its back...and that we now have a car port to protect it.
Our last bagel making day with Cerena here! We made garlic, salt, pepper & oregano; pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon; and brown sugar, cinnamon & pecan. Oh so good. These girls are SO good to our kids...they let them crawl all over them, interrupt them, antagonize them...and they just keep playing with them. It confirms that Jesus meant what he said in Matthew 10:29...whoever leaves his father or mother or sister, etc...will receive a hundred times as much...Seems like He always sends us people to love on us at just the right times. And they really do love us like family (of course, no one can replace family though...I know what you are thinking, Mom!).

Good gifts this month

Six weeks and counting for baby Kyler's arrival. Kolby and Gabby love touching my belly, kissing it, and talking to it. It's pretty cute how excited Kolby is to have a brother. My "baby to do" list is pretty big, but I have been blessed with some extra time this week to get stuff done. That feels good. Gabby is now in her big girl bed but has developed some new habits :) like sucking her thumb and carrying the pack n play sheets around everywhere! No one has ever seen her suck her thumb outside the pack n play...but now she is doing it all the time. She likes to ask Jon and I to hold her like a baby and rock her. Oh man! This should be fun for her when the real baby arrives...
Our quick run to France...Jon practiced taking care of both kids on the flight while I sat across the aisle in bliss! He did a great job by the way. We are practicing for the long flight to America. My job will be easy compared to his I think. I guess it depends on Kyler's personality...

Kyler likes coffee :) Waiting for our flight home from Lyon.Okay, and so does Gabby! I swear she steals my cup often and this is what happens...she seriously drinks it all.
Kolby enjoying his beverage of choice...with his new friend Marty. We visited Toys R Us in Lyon...a WHOLE new world for them! I'm sure Kolby has been there before but he didn't remember, Gabby has never been there...and we were pretty overwhelmed ourselves. What a treat! Toys R Us, McDonalds, Starbucks, a mall, and our favorite mode of transportation--subways, metros, and lots of walking. It was a refreshing time to just be together and enjoy life a little.
Gabs lounging at Starbucks...it's hard to believe how grown up both our kids seem some days. We were trying to enjoy how easy it is to travel just the 4 of us right now. They are such experienced little travelers that it makes our trips pretty enjoyable (for the most part!).
A baby shower for our friend Susie...who is due next Saturday. We are all pacing around waiting...and praying she has her little girl before Ramadan starts...but there is a big chance both of us will give birth during Ramadan. Veronica is due in Feb. with a BOY! So our girls (Gabby and Ellie) are 6 months apart and our boys will be about 5 months apart. We have had a great support system through friends here...so thankful for that this summer being huge pregnant, 2 kids, the heat, and no car! I have had to rely on our friends for LOTS of help!! Thanks, friends!!
Jon bowling on a Friday night with friends.
Kool-aid popsicles with Daddy outside one day while playing in the sand box and baby pool.

This morning I am reading Philippians 4...being reminded by Paul that my contentment and reliance on Christ should not be based on my circumstances. Of course, this summer has been a roller coaster for us it seems like. Kicked it off with moving to a new place (harder than it sounded back then!), our mode of transportation stuck in the shop for 2 months, an off or on internet...just to name a few things that sent us spinning a couple times. It has been serious work to not lose my mind most days...just ask Jon! Poor guy. But now that we have our truck back (as of Friday) and our internet back (as of Friday too), it's amazing to me how my stress level has dropped and my contentment level has went up. Maybe I failed the contentment test this summer :) or maybe I have grown. I hope I have grown....at any rate, my stomach has! But I hate that my contentment relies so heavily on what is going right around here and what is going wrong.

These verses also grabbed me, written by Paul:
"I have received FULL payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:18-19

The song in my heart this morning...we've received full payment this summer...from prayers, words of encouragement, packages, pictures, letters, phone calls, emails...all fragrant offerings!! Everything we needed to help us survive. May God meet all YOUR needs also...thinking of you this morning, family & friends!

And now a performance from Gabby...imitating Alex the Lion in Madagascar II.

Video of K & G on Jon's Bday

Waiting for Daddy's birthday cookie to be done in the oven...oh so fun! :)

Jon's Birthday and then some...

The kids were so excited to help Jon celebrate his 31st birthday! It was pretty entertaining! They were super giddy and excited the whole day. We made pizza (with pepperoni yeah!!) and a pizookie...all Jon's request. Kolby made him this "pirate ship" for his birthday too.
Jon built the kids a sand box in our back yard! It's heavenly (as long as the ants aren't going crazy)! They will play forever in it...unless it gets too hot which it has been recently so they usually play in the mornings. This was the first morning of play, a Sunday morning. Jon and I sipped coffee while the kids went to town.
A package from Grandma...July 4th plates which Kolby requested to use...and yummy muffin mix...
Gabby sportin' her new shades and flip flops from Gma! Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!! It was a great package!