One Week

You're a week old today, Rio! 

(Which means today is your due date.)

 You are a world of wonderful baby smells and tiny, little mousy squeaks.

Last night, you finally decided you could sleep in your crib and didn't need arms to hold you all night long. 

(Thank you!)

I love you in this little outfit. (Your Yaya recognized this one as mine as soon as she saw you in it today.)

Your little face is completely mesmerizing.

It's been a wonderful week... looking forward to this next one with you!

Zombie

I adore this picture of Rio that Eliana drew after visiting her in the hospital. One of the first things she wanted to do was unwrap her and inspect her tiny little toes. I love the toes she drew... I don't think she's ever included toes in a portrait before, but Rio's must have stuck with her. I love how she chose to give her purple eyes. (Eliana's favorite color.) Since this baby had not really given her a good chance to check those out. But one of the things that most struck me about this portrait is that Baby Rio looks a little like a Baby Zombie.

Now, I know you haven't seen many pictures of Rio yet, so let me just show you: Baby Rio is anything but a zombie. She's very much alive and has lots of natural pink in those lips.

So, my only conclusion is that Eliana must have somehow been struck with the look of Zombie from someone else and transferred it onto poor little Rio. Now, who would have given Eliana the impression of a Zombie during that first day of seeing her? Flipping through photos looking for warmed over death... Oops! I guess it was me... I am looking a little washed out apparently.

If I wasn't sure yet who it was, as soon as Rio's pediatrician saw me today, she started asking me if I was light-headed or anemic. And please, sit down so you don't pass out right here during Rio's check-up! Good-grief, I guess I need to slap on some lipstick or something next time I am leaving the house...or hanging out with Eliana, for that matter. 

Rosario Edén

You are named after your Papi's sister, Maria del Rosario. Someone neither your Papi or I ever had the opportunity to meet. She passed away as an infant. Dehydration. Due to a lack of clean water and good medical care. Like so many other little ones in the world... still today.

My hope is that your name will be a reminder to be thankful for your circumstances. That you (and others in your life) will see the many ways God has poured down His blessings and that there will be rejoicing in all situations in life. That we will clearly see the many ways God has poured out His great and lavish love upon us and grab hold of the joy we can have in that.

I pray that you'll honor the memory of your aunt by having a heart of compassion towards those less fortunate. That you would bring glory to God by caring for those in need and generously sharing what God has given you with others. That God would give you a passion for ministering to the weak.

 Your Papi and I long for you to know and love God. We pray that God will grab hold of your heart and that your eyes will be opened to grace of Christ on the cross. That you will experience the love of our Lord and that you may taste the joy of Edén-- the paradise of knowing and living with the loving God who knit you together in my womb.

I pray that you will be a river (Rio) full of the life of Christ... that He will flow out of you and that you will speak words of encouragement and Truth to others. That you will not easily be moved but stand firm in your faith. That you will learn to call and rely on Christ when you need help. 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
-Psalm 46:4-5

 

Quiet

Rio and I have been getting to know each other well. 

She refused to sleep outside of my arms last night, so we both caught up on sleep a bit today.

 Jesse had to go back to work today, so it's just been she and I (with the exception of the occasional hospital staff)...

almost too quiet. 

But so sweet! I've been soaking her and her little squeaks and her new baby smells in between naps. 

 We'll leave sometime tomorrow evening to go home... 

but in the meantime, we girls would love some visitors tomorrow!

Welcome

We've been busy welcoming our little girl to the world this week!

 

She's more wonderful than we could have ever hoped and are busy snuggling and loving on her... thank you everyone for your prayers!

I Was Going to

make Bierocks today, but it didn't get done. By the time I was ready to start I realized I wouldn't have enough time before I needed to leave the house.

But I do have bread going in the oven. I imagine we'll eat a loaf tomorrow and I'll freeze the other for when we return from the hospital.

The clothes are almost all washed. I still want to wash the big kids car seats but that'll have to wait for tonight.

So beyond, that I need to start packing. The big kids are staying at 3 different places over a span of 5 nights. (My dad is planning on letting them camp in the back yard one of those nights... they are thrilled! We've been waiting most of the summer for the temps to cool down enough that it might be possible.) Trying to figure out what and how to pack for those times is a bit jumbled in my head, but I think I've come up with a game plan finally.

Then there's: what to pack for the baby? I always pack way too much and then end up with even more sweet little things by the time we've left the hospital. But I think some of these little dresses will be making it into the bag this time.

I haven't posted any belly shots... mainly because I'm self-conscious about my body. I'm don't have a cute basketball belly and a slender rest of my body and most often I feel swollen, and a bit like a lumbering mama bear who's too wide to sneak by quietly. But for posterity's sake (after all, this is my last pregnancy), here's my belly.

Two days left until our littlest girl joins us! My biggest girl (who at first was disappointed that we were having a girl and that she'd eventually have to share her bedroom) has come around and I think is the most excited. She talks about buying little dress-up clothes for her and sharing her bed (once she's old enough)!

Life Around Here

Four more days until our little girl joins us!

The big kids are watching a movie (again) because when they aren't, they are breaking things. This time it was a picture frame.

Some time on Friday I realized I couldn't just keep Cruz in his pack-n-play for the next few months because I won't be able to lift him out after I come home from the hospital. Whoops! Wish I'd thought of that earlier. But considering how last minute his transition has been, he's done remarkably well. He got out of bed several times (in the first 30 minutes) the first night. Not at all last night and is currently taking his first nap in his big boy bed. (He only got out of bed once before he fell asleep for nap.) Not only that, but he stays in his bed until I come and get him in the morning... so thankful for that!

Have I told you I'm a crazy pregnant lady? No? I am. This is what our master bedroom looks like at this very minute. I think I've mentioned in previous blog posts that it's the room no one ever, ever sees because it's a disaster area. Well, the disaster had to be cleaned up if I was going to bring a baby home and share our space with her for a few months before she transitions to her sister's room. Then, after I cleaned up, I decided we should go ahead and remodel the room (since that's never been done). Our room (and Eliana's) used to be sleeping porch area. Then they both had some weird remodeling projects done which included gross ceiling tiles, some sort of wall board, and then (in our room) cheapy wood paneling. The wood paneling, ceiling tiles and most of the wall board is now down, and underneath is bead board! Hello! Now, to finish painting and such.

What were you up to this weekend?