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!).