Anna is Baptized

How sad but true that the third baby is much harder to find time to capture in picture!  Though I'd say there's no shortage of love or time spent talking with her and holding her and playing with her... but I find it much harder to take those extra few minutes to actually get out the camera, or even to get up and get my phone, if we're enjoying each other's company.  

 

But I really should get a few more of these pictures in... before she starts whining and screaming like her sister (who is fresh on my mind from a typical dinner tantrum, "I hate chili!  It's soooo disgusting!  You're a bad Mom for making this! ...two minutes later... "Yum, this is good.)  

"And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them." 

Mark 10:16

"Let the little children come unto Me, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." 

Luke 18:16

We were grateful Anna's godmother, Aunt Nancy could come for her baptism. 

And Grammy

And Grandma Deb.

We felt so blessed by the presence of all who could come... but my heart ached for those who couldn't, especially Dad.  I missed him terribly at this important event.  He wasn't able to be at Owen and Chloie's baptisms in Arizona, and I know he would have loved to have been here for Anna's.  My heart felt so heavy amid all the joy of the day missing that broad smile, crooked turn of his head.... standing just a little too close with a bit of coffee breath, making some ridiculous comment.  What would it have been.... "Why's she got that plug in her mouth?"  "You must be a prized milk cow?! Look at how big that girl is!" "Are we done with the pictures? Let's go."  Dad.... you are missed.

And this is how I feel sometimes too, Anna.  

I love you, my sweet girl.  Three months old tomorrow!

What Happened the Last 9 Months??

Oh my!  What has happened in our lives since my last post???  So much... Definitely too much to recount on a silly blog.  Some memories that will be forever cherished and some that will forever bring sorrow to my heart.  Gaining a daughter and saying goodbye to a Daddy would certainly sum up the highs and lows of the past nine months.  And since it is my Daddy's birthday today, I am especially thinking about him and notice the emptiness in my heart that only a Dad can fill with his laughter and love. Thank God for His hope and His promises. 

"Let us hold unwaveringly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." 

Hebrews 10:23

But what are the fun memories we stored up along the way.... 

Chloie celebrated her 4th birthday!  A fun day at the park celebrating with Austin and Nolan. 

Hmm... that doesn't look like a homemade cake.  Well, look below to see what happened to Chloie's homemade cake.  Disaster!  

Owen graduated preschool!  Wow, so glad he made it through!

Then a lot of time went by when I was too grouchy or uncomfortable or tired to simply get the camera out.... So then on July 25th along came Anna!

 

 The dreaded "let's go to the hospital" picture.  Except this time there were no contractions making me wince during the picture... more like dread because my water had broken the evening before but no contractions started.  I knew a pitocin drip was forthcoming. 

 Oh, look! Still smiling several hours into the pictocin drip... but not long after this I clung to the bed and Matt's hands pretty sure I was going to die.  But thankfully I had such great support from Matt and Melanie that I didn't die (or poop) but birthed our little 8 pound, 6 ounce Anna Lynn.

Hello, Daddy.

I'm pretty sure I was the sweatiest woman ever to have given birth... but it was all worth it.

Owen and Chloie meeting their sister for the first time.  

Happy birthday, Anna!  I had envisioned myself making a birthday cake for her while I labored at home... well, that didn't happen, but a nice store bought cake worked all the same.

As worried as we were that Chloie would hate the baby, she couldn't love her more... actually if she loved her a little less it might be helpful at times.

I'm pretty sure this bath picture looks exactly like Chloie's bath picture... or maybe every baby looks exactly the same wrapped up in a little hooded towel.

And of course, you can't forget the helpers!  Always there to help... or smother.

And then shortly after our precious new edition, I had to send my biggest baby off to kindergarten!  Thankfully, he loves his school and teacher.  

But I don't think anyone could love school as much as Chloie.  She tried to trick me into feeding her lunch two hours early so she could go to school early the first week of school.  Hearing her little songs and watching her learn are such joys to a Mommy's heart.

So there it is... the quick 9 month review of the Davis Dish!