The Birth of Thomas Robert!!!

My sweet baby boy was born one week ago today.  He is the perfect addition to our family.  He is perfectly healthy born 8lbs, 7ounces, and 20 1/2 inches.  The gender surprise was awesome!  Bert leaned over and told me "it's a boy, we have a boy!"  I can't put into words what an awesome little guy he is, he is just incredible! 
It took Ava a little bit to get over the fact the baby was not a girl and that she had a brother instead of a sister, but I knew once she saw him, and held him she would be fine, and I was right.  When Ava and Alex arrived at the hospital to meet their new brother they were so excited, Alex waved at him and decided to wait a little bit before holding him, and Ava wanted to hold him right away and not let go! 
Our family is perfect and complete.  My heart is filled with so much love, so much thankfulness, and so much joy.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, we are so very blessed.

The last pregnancy shot, on our way out the door to the hospital.

 Girl or Boy?

Getting pumped with some fluids

 A healthy baby boy!

He stopped crying when he held his Daddy's finger.

Perfect.

I was so happy the baby got to be with me in recovery.

 Thomas Robert

So blessed to have this sweet baby

Awesome big sister

The whole crew

Grandaddy

Grandma

Grandpa aka Teapot

Uncle Mitchell with cousins Gus and Tillie, somehow we did not get Leo and Aunt Sarah.

Aunt Leigh Anne

Uncle Nash

Aunt Hilary

Uncle Derrick

Already a great big brother.

All three of my babies.

Uncle Philip

 

Ava wanted to make sure he had plenty of toys for the trip home:)

Just hanging out at home.

Bernheim Forest

What a beautiful day to spend walking the trails at Bernheim forest.  This was our first visit and we loved it!  The views from the trails were amazing, the kids loved seeing the fish and turtles in the pond, and discovering new adventures.  We will definitely go back sometime in the fall, I can only imagine how beautiful it will be then.  I was a little frustrated because I had a hard time keeping up with everyone, I am definitely ready for this baby to arrive.  I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.
On a side note our basement is 95% complete, now we just need a few cabinets for the kitchen area, outlet covers, a t.v. and couch:) 
I hope everyone is soaking up this beautiful weather we are so blessed to have in August!


This picture cracks me up, I promise they were happy:)

Ava doing some light reading at the visitor center.

Checking out the turtle

Beautiful

Trying to keep up with this active crew

Lots of fish to see

We let them out of their carseats to ride up the street to a trail, they wer SO excited.

My sweet babies

They requested their sunglasses

We were so high up, the view was amazing.

If looks could kill, Who knows what she was thinking

An attempt at a smile, she was in the middle of pretending she was a horse.

My sweet boy

Boy? Girl?  One things for sure, I don't think I have any room left in there!!

School year 2012

The first day of school went pretty well.  As I was walking up to the bench outside the school to pick up the kids I could see Alex was crying.  His teacher assured me everything was fine he had a great day, but struggled with transitions.  I expected this to happen, because it's his first year, he's young, and he cries when he is nervous.  I am so glad I decided to have treat buckets waiting for them in the car for their first day because it really cheered him up!  Ava as I expected was a chatter box and talked my ear off the entire car ride home. 
When we came home they were ready for lunch! They both had two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, two handfuls of grapes, and half a bag of baby carrots.  They wanted to swim for a little bit so we did in our handy blowup pool.  Alex grabbed his new book after swimming and put himself to bed for a little nap.  Later that evening they helped me make dinner, and we went out for a special yogurt treat.  Overall, it was a great day and they are once again sleeping peacefully:)  They both said they are excited to go to school again, so here's to a GREAT school year.
I must add that I myself enjoyed their first day of school, it was so great to get a break and get some things done on my to do list!