It's hard to believe another month has gone by since I last posted. Eli is now six weeks old and I'm beginning to figure out our new routine. Grace & Isaac are adjusting pretty well to their new brother - they are testing my boundaries with them, but it's hard to know how much of that is because of a new baby and how much is because they are almost TWO year olds!! Here are a few pictures from the past month.



Brother-Sister love. Their hugs are really sweet until Isaac turns them into tackles & pins Grace to the ground!



I love this little face



She may hate me for this some day, but it was too cute



Another photo shoot trying to capture a good picture of all three. Apparently Isaac was trying to pacify Eli with his finger.



His profile looks just like his ultrasound pictures



We've been going out for walks most days even though it's still cold. Here's Eli bundled up and ready to go.



Check out that double chin! He's packing on the pounds, way to go buddy!




Nothing like tiny hands & feet





My friends Linda & Kara gave me the tremendous gift of turning the office into Eli's nursery. Isn't it beautiful? I love it. Simple and sweet. I doubt you can read the canvas paintings that Kara did. It's the beginning of Romans 15:13, a verse I prayed for Eli throughout the pregnancy. It says "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace." They sure are creative women. Thanks you two!

What A Blur!!

It's hard to believe that little Eli will be three weeks old tomorrow. Between the hospital, recovery, feeding schedule, and life in general, the days have all run together. Lindsey, Eden and Kolby were here until Friday and we all enjoyed being together. What a house full! The cousins sure had fun getting to know each other, though we did have to break up a fight or two... Many thanks to Mom, Dad & Linz for the countless hours of toddler play, dishes, diaper changes and much more. Here are a few pictures to hit the highlights.

 

 

Mom & Dad made celebratory New Year's Eve crowns at home with the kids & even brought them to the hospital for me & Eli. Though I have to say that our celebration was complete with fireworks right outside of our hospital room. Nothing like a room with a view!




I love this shot of all three kiddos. They had actually just been showing off their muscles, but I sure think it looks like they're putting on a show. Takes me back to our younger years in Illinois & Jerome, don't you think cousins?





We were all able to celebrate Kolby's second birthday together, complete with party hats & a Thomas the Tank Engine cake. Kolby loves Thomas and his cousins have now become fans as well.


Eden Elizabeth in her party hat. What a beauty.



All five munchkins. Five kids in less than two years, who would have thought?



Grace & Isaac have been incredibly gentle with Eli so far. They seem to love him already & constantly want to give him kisses & simply be near him. I am grateful.


This was the first time that Isaac held Eli. He was so excited, it was really sweet.


Eli Hope, two weeks old.

Elijah Hope Matthew Hewa

Elijah Hope Matthew was born at 7:45am on Monday morning. He weighs six pounds, one ounce and is twenty inches long. So far he is a sweet, mellow baby who loves to snuggle, sleep and eat. Joe brought Grace and Isaac up to the hospital yesterday to meet their baby brother. They were quite curious and excited about him for the first few minutes - giggling, pointing, saying "baby" and "Eli" - then it was on to more interesting things like looking out the window and pushing the buttons on my hospital bed. It was fun to watch them respond to their new brother. This is going to be an adventure for sure!

Elijah means the Lord is my God (Eli means uplifted and delivered).
Hope.
Matthew means gift from God.

Thank you for your love and prayers. I am recovering and plan to bring Eli home tomorrow morning.

Here he is.

Christmas in Toddlerville

We celebrated Christmas a day early, as Micah had to fly out early this morning to get back to work. It was pretty wild, but lots of fun with three toddlers running around. As you'll notice, Grammie bought matching jammies for the kiddos.

Grace has learned to "smile" for the camera. Notice the bits of cinnamon roll around her mouth...


Isaac singing me an early morning song.


It sure is hard to get a good group shot with this many little ones!




Eden Elizabeth, wide eyed and happy.


They all love to read and were quite engrossed in Kolby's new truck book.


Grace & Isaac have been infatuated with Baby Eden and love to cuddle with her. I actually think it has been a great way to transition them to having a baby around. Thanks for being so patient Eden!


With as much as the kids love music, I thought an instrument set would be the perfect gift this year. Now with the tambourines, maracas, cymbals, clappers & all, I'm not so sure. Here is Isaac enjoyin the cymbals as he marches around the living room.


Trying out her new magna doodle on Dad's lap.


Kolby & Mom


These gifts were the hit of the morning - at least for the adults. They are singing animal puppets, each animal sings in his own animal sound. Here are my folks and Micah practicing their animal quartet.



I hope you have enjoyed celebrating the birth of Christ with your loved ones today. I am ever grateful for our Savior and have been reflecting more than usual on his mother Mary this advent season...the ways in which she trusted in God, rejoiced in His love & faithfulness, and was aware that the child within was a sacred gift. While I am certainly not carrying the Christ child, in these last few days of waiting, I too am overwhelmed by God's love and faithfulness and the gift of this child. May His peace be with you.

Winter Play

I don't recall ever seeing this much snow fall at one time! There are reports saying we've had over 24 inches in 24 hours and I believe it. The kids have loved watching the snow fall & yesterday they even managed to get outside for a bit. Of course, I think it took longer to get them all bundled up than they actually lasted outside, but at least it got us out of the house. Their first entertainment was watching Ben & Joe shovel the driveway and then they pulled the kids down the street on their sleds. A few weeks ago Grammie & Poppa taught the kids how to catch snow flakes on their tongues, so you'll note that their tongues are out in most of the pictures.






As I said, Grace & Isaac love watching the snow fall, so they've been insistent that they eat breakfast and lunch at the window.


The Sonneland family brought dinner and played for the evening earlier this week. I love this picture of the kids reading together before bed. Andrew was outside helping brush the snow off the car, so we'll have to be sure he's in the picture next time!


The countdown continues to the birth of Baby Boy. I've been trying to eat and rest as much as possible to help him continue to grow. The hospital cancelled everything except for emergency surgeries for yesterday & today, so I missed the ultrasound that was scheduled for yesterday. So far, he has seemed to be doing well. I'll have one more on Monday and as long as everything looks good, I won't go in during Christmas, but he'll be born a few days later...