This face makes me happy, happy, happy!

3 Piggy Opera

Will's preschool has an opera each year and he was able to participate in it. It was so fun watching him (sometimes) sing and act out the music. We had been waiting for weeks to get to see it. He would sing the fun songs at home so much that even Jack knew lots of the words. I know it can be scary to be in front of large crowds, but Will was very brave. So very proud of him! 

Easter Weekend

Great Grandma and Papa Hitchcock

Samuel's Newborn Pictures

I really wanted to have Samuel's newborn picture made, but couldn't bring myself to spend $300+ on pictures. Not really in our budget at the moment. It's so pricey! With the help of my bff Miranda we staged a little photo shoot. I know the quality isn't amazing and there is a definite lack of talent and experience, not to mention editing skills, but I'm very pleased with how they turned out. I must have taken close to 300. He gave me lots of smiles. I finally narrowed them down to about 100 shots, but it's just been too hard to go any further. He's just oh so, so, so, so, so cute!

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Will asked, "Mom, can we name him Hiccup?" No. "Well, how about Dragon Master?" 

New Baby

After being in early labor for a week and a half I decided to be induced. Each night my contractions would be so intense for a few hours and then stop. I had had enough of that. I was scheduled to go in on Wednesday morning at 7. For one last rendezvous as a family of four, we took the boys to Cheddars for dinner. I tried my very best to savor the time with just the four of us, but about the time we got there I started having contractions that were pretty intense. They lasted through our meal and a little while after we got home. Mom came to spend the night. We finished up our last minute preparations and got to bed around midnight.

After taking a family photo and Jack not liking it one bit, Patrick and I headed to the hospital. Around 8:30 the doctor came in and broke my water and around 9:30 I got the epidural and by 12:30 our sweet baby was here. I noticed right away that he was much bigger than Will or Jack were. He had very big hands and he reminded me of William. They let me hold him and nurse him and just breathe him in for about an hour, and then took him to the nursery for a couple hours. We got settled into our new room and I was able to hold him again. He weighed 8lbs and I was very thankful that I had an epidural this time. He was just so so cute! When I saw him this time though he reminded me of Jack.

I was a little, okay a lot, selfish and held him most of the rest of the day. Kay came to the hospital right after he was born but since he was going to be kept in the nursery for so long she left. Mom brought Will and Jack to meet him and that was lots of fun. They loved him right off the bat and really liked looking out of my hospital room window. I was on the top floor and they thought it was really neat to see the cars and trucks below.

We of course couldn't decide on a name the whole time at the hospital so we left without naming our baby.

I am so in LOVE with this sweet little thing! I heard new moms can actually be "addicted" to newborns. There is a chemical that the brain releases similar to what drug addicts have when a mother smells a newborn. I'm a believer. It was hard for me to be away from him for any time at all. Even when we were in the same room, I wanted him next to my skin, his head close to my lips so it would be easy to give him all the kisses I couldn't resist giving him. Love. Love. Love him!!

Family of Four

We wanted to take one last picture of our little family of four before we left for the hospital. Jack was not too happy about the status quo changing. 

A little SNOW!

Discovery Center

I took the boys to the Discovery Center here in Murfreesboro on Martin Luther King day. It was lots of fun and they had all kinds of neat extras to help celebrate MLK day.  I'm trying to give them extra one-on-one time and fun outings with just the three of us before our little cutie pie makes his debut. I'm going to miss these outings with just the three of us, and how easy it is with just the two of them.

Bunk Beds

In preparation for our baby boy, we needed to get Jack and Will moved in together. Jack was a little hesitant about giving his crib to the new baby, but once he saw the bunk beds, he was happy to oblige. It took me only forever to make a decision on which beds to buy. I think I'm the most indecisive person I know. Patrick painted the boys room the day after Christmas, and he put the beds together the day following that. We have two very excited boys and one happy momma now that the decision making is done...at least for this part anyway.

Christmas

On Saturday, the 22nd, we headed down to Mom and Joe's for the Hitchcock/Moffitt Christmas party. I was extra excited this year because Holly and her family were gonna be there! The food was yummy like always and the company was unbeatable. Love visiting with them! And loved that Jack and Lane were finally able to play with each other. It was too cute! They really are made to be best friends.

Sunday morning we went to Sacrament meeting and then over to Patrick's Mom and Dad's for lunch and their Christmas party. The boys had fun playing with their cousins and opening gifts from Gran Gran and Papi. Afterwards we headed back to Mom's and spent the night there and watched the Sound of Music while finishing another puzzle.

The next morning was Christmas Eve. We gave our goodbyes and headed to Manchester to meet Patrick's family for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. After breakfast we headed to Belvidere to visit with his Granny and Grandpa Jones. We don't get to see them often because they live so far away, so it's always a nice visit. Patrick's Granny is so so sweet and always so welcoming.

We got back home around 5 that evening and started our preparations for Santa. We made him cookies and were surprised by the pajama elves who left each of us a new pair of Jammie's to wear that night. The boys were worn out from their weekend of family and fun so they went right to sleep, anxious for Santa's arrival.

The boys surprisingly slept in past 7,  but once they were awake, they were in full force. They were so excited to see their gifts from Santa. We had a nice and easy Christmas Day, enjoying our time together at home. As always we are thankful for our daily blessings and so so thankful for the knowledge of a Living Savior. That knowledge makes this time spent with family and dear ones so much more special.

Santa's Fire Truck

Santa and a fire truck; what more could a little boy need?

 

Hanging Their Ornament