1 Week

Officially...Laila Kristina Rollins

On Monday morning we arrived at the hospital at 10:15 as instructed. They took me right back and got me hooked up to a million different tubes. And then we got to sit and wait until 12:00. When it was just about time for me to go back to the OR, one of the nurses came in and informed me that another woman in active labor had just arrived and she also needed a c-section so I was getting bumped 2 hours. So, I got to spend four fun filled hours at the hospital just sitting there waiting.

At 2:00 they wheeled me back for my epidural and fifty minutes later this pretty lady was whisked away screaming mad. Her first name was just one that Josh and I picked off a baby name list, but her middle name comes from my grandma Morgan who is Inga Kristina.

I did all the work for nine months and then the only part I had in bringing her into this world was lay on a table.

She found her fingers pretty fast

Mom and Laila meeting for the first time.

The kids were sooo excited to come up and meet her 

Even James wanted to hold her for just a quick second

The girls are completely smitten with her, especially Samm.

Sneaky dad taking pictures of mom

Meeting Grandma and Grandpa Rollins. It has been so nice to have them here to take care of the older three for me. 

This was the next day when she was finally cleaned up. She's got a little bit of chunk to those cheeks!

And of course the most exciting part about visiting mom in the hospital is playing on the bed.

Laila ? Rollins

My newest little lovely still does not have a middle name. Maybe tomorrow, or maybe not.

In the mean time here are her stats and I am off to bed again.

She was born on Monday the 22nd at 2:51 pm
She weighed in at 7 pounds 3 ounces (exactly the same as Macy)
She measured 20.5 inches long which makes her my longest baby so far
And she is eating, sleeping, and pooping like a champ!



Some days...

I think I would give anything to change my name from mom to dad. Then again...

Being dad can be a pretty exhausting job too!

Sun Goddess

Last summer I took the kids to the lake at least 3 times a week. This summer I think we have gone 5 times total. I feel bad that the kids are having such a boring summer, but I just haven't had the energy to do much. These days turning on the sprinkler in the backyard is about as good as it gets. The kids have been pretty good sports about it though and have tried to make the best of it.



Still Pregnant

Just in case you were wondering!

Selling point

When we first came out to Michigan to look for a house to rent, I was pretty optimistic. After seeing the first five boxes in horrible neighborhoods that were being passed off as house I actually ended up in tears. Then there was one last house to see. It wasn't even really supposed to be shown yet because the painter was still working and the carpet was being replaced, but our realtor had connections so we were allowed in. As soon as we pulled into the neighborhood I had a feeling that this was going to be the place for us to raise our family for the next five years. Then, we found the address and I was sold. The basketball hoop in the driveway did it for me before we even walked in.

I had visions of family basketball games on cool summer evenings and sneaking peeks out the window while my kids played horse.

Sadly, we don't get out onto the driveway as a family as much as I had envisioned, usually it's only on Monday evenings when I suddenly realize that we don't have an activity planned for FHE, but when we do, it's everything that I imagined it would be. Right now I'm more of a spectator than a participator, but that is by far the best seat to have.



Samm cracks me up, because she really dances around like this the whole time she plays.

Yes! You have to try these!

Unless of course you are allergic to peanuts, than please don't!

I posted the recipe over Here

Does this ever happen to you...

You hear your kids wake up in the morning and you lay there thinking "Maybe they will let me sleep for 20 more minutes." Of course five minutes later one of them is in your face whispering "Mom, I just finished all my jobs, can I scrub the floor now?"

No, you mean that doesn't happen at your house?

OK, so it really doesn't ever happen at our house either (Actually it does, just replace can I scrub the floor with can I play on the computer) except I spent several hours the other day scrubbing our kitchen floor and apparently it looked like a lot of fun because Samm was begging to help me. Instead though I paid her a dollar to take the other two kids downstairs and entertain them for me and promised she could help me finish the next morning.

I don't think it turned out to be as much fun as she imagined, but she was a trooper and hung in there with me for an hour so we could get it finished.

And it really did need to be done! For some reason my regular sweeping and mopping just aren't cutting it.



Mr. Fashion

• By the time James was 3 and could completely dress himself I would find him in different outfits all day long.
• Last week I took him to get some school clothes and after 15 minutes of staring at t-shirts I finally told him he had 10 seconds to pick one or I was checking out and he wouldn't get any. (The above photo is the shirt that caused him so much decision making anguish)
• Today we took the kids to get school shoes and after several suggestions from Dad that were all too this or that he finally asked James "Well, which ones do you want?" James immediately went to the most expensive pair of tennis shoes and stated "I want these ones!" (A pair of Above The Rim basketball shoes) Lucky for James Dad is a kids shoe buying novice and didn't bother to look at the price, just assuming that all shoes at Payless were $15 or less. They are NOT!
• I have only known one other boy in my life that is more particular about the clothes he wears, which is why we have affectionately started calling James, Uncle Keith!  

36 Weeks

As huge as I feel, it still amazes me that a little person can actually be inside of there.

True Love

People keep asking me how I am feeling, so I though I would just put it out there for everyone that I am downright miserable!

I have to give myself a little pep talk everyday just to keep going. "3 weeks left. I can do this!" 

If I didn't have this darn pain in my hips than it might not be quite as bad. Although I'm sure I would still be feeling over baked and D.O.N.E. Are there really women out there that love being pregnant? I do love bits and pieces of it, but overall it's not my favorite part of motherhood. Especially the part where I have to use a golf club as a cane to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night! True story.

Last night I couldn't take it any more so I decided I would sleep on the couch because oddly enough it is the one place I can lay without being in a lot of pain. The only problem is the rest of me is incredibly uncomfortable and I don't get any more sleep than I would in bed and I usually end up with a head ache the next day. Anyway, last night I opted for the head ache instead of hip pain and without me even asking Josh grabbed a blanket and curled up on the other side of the couch so I wouldn't have to be alone.  

What a great man I have! Sure wish I could sleep that soundly!