iPhone Eyes: Easter Starbucks Treat

I think I'm going to have to try a new method of posting . . . Utilize the iPhone. It is, after all, with me at all times and THE WAY I communicate and capture life these days.

After celebrating the resurrection of our Savior we had a quiet lunch at home, Jonathan watched the Masters, and I took a long nap with Caleb. Then we treated the girls to some Easter Starbucks alfresco. White Chocolate Mochas all around!
























Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Meet Caleb Walker Brooks

 After days of wondering . . . is it labor, no it's not, yes it's labor, no it's not! . . . this sweet little munchkin decided it was time to make his debut on February 17th (5 days early).  I woke up that morning, realized I was in labor, and immediately called Jonathan home from his morning basketball game (he plays basketball 4 days a week at 5 a.m.--bluk!).  I contacted my dear friend Kristen (who arrived promptly), kissed the girls good-bye, and we were on our way.  I arrived at the hospital 7 cm dilated-- typical for me. I was uncomfortable, but feeling good and managing my pain.   So, I knew in a very short matter of time, baby boy would arrive on the scene.  NOPE!  I found out that I had strep B with this pregnancy (only my second time, I also had it with Madeline) and would have to have antibiotics.  No biggie, but once I had arrived with my "water" in tact, my doctor and midwife highly recommended I get an epidural to slow things down and try to get as much of the meds in my system as possible.  Well, that must have been some epidural, because they managed to slow my labor down for more than 7 hours!!!  I got my entire round of antibiotics; but, I was bored to tears.  I literally played Words With Friends, Scramble, and texted while in labor. Oh and I did NOT feel a thing (seriously could not feel my legs for 3 hours after delivery-- was getting a little scared!).  


Alas, Caleb Walker Brooks arrived at 3:11 pm on February 17th-- exactly on time, not my time, but the time God had appointed for him.  And, we were thrilled to meet him!!!  A son!  My first boy!  He was pink and healthy and screamed on cue.  Caleb weighed in at 8 pounds 10.7 ounces (one of my more petite babies) and was the standard 20 1/2 inches long ( I am convinced all babies receive the same length measurements at birth).


It was, of course, love at first sight.  Jonathan and I had chosen the name Caleb Walker before we even conceived Hannah 7 years ago.  Three girls later . . .we did go back to the drawing board; but, nothing suited us as well as our original boy name.  Yes, he is named for the Caleb of the Bible.  After hearing a sermon by Det Bowers (our Pastor during the late college years) on Numbers 13, we were overwhelmed by Caleb's faith.  The spies return from Caanan (the Promised Land) discouraged and report to Moses and the people of Israel that the people are strong and the cities fortified.  Caleb, however, stands up and says,“Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”  I pray that God will bless our sweet Caleb with an overwhelming faith in Him and His promises!  Jonathan's father (and Caleb's grandfather) passed away when Jonathan was a sophomore in high school.  Bill's full name was William Walker.  So it is our honor and privilege to give our son his grandfather's middle name.  His grandfather was another man with great faith in his Savior.

Mommy and Daddy spent the remainder of the day bonding with sweet Caleb on our own, as it was too late for the girls to make their way to the hospital.  Thankfully, the girls were sufficiently distracted.  Miss Kristen's shift ended after lunch, at which time Miss Jeanna and her gang arrived.  Jeanna was then relieved by my friend Tess and her kids at dinner time.  My sister Katie arrived around bedtime with uncle Jimmy and cousins in tow.  I have heard it rumored that my kids played like crazy with their friends, watched a few movies, and somewhere around dinner time, Hannah said, "Best Day EVER!!!"  I am so thankful to all my friends and family who cared for my girls in our absence. We are blessed.

Caleb has settled nicely into the Brooks family and he is currently enjoying life-- well maybe not the part where he's forced to where humiliating hats and pose for pictures.  He may find this emasculating!  If so, he hasn't told me-- haha.  He eats and sleeps well, and he was up to about 9 pounds and 2 ounces at his 2 week appointment.  He is doted on and loved by 3 adoring sisters all day long.  I am blessed to have such amazing helpers in my older girls.  They are my extra arms and hands for sure!


I will post pictures of the girls meeting Caleb, his home coming, and some milestones that we have missed (3 birthdays, a spelling bee, etc.) here on Mommy Thoughts in the coming days.  Thank you for checking in on us and for praying for us through my pregnancy and delivery!

Signs That The Birth Of A Baby Boy Is Imminent . . .

1. I am officially "Full Term," at 37 weeks today!


2.  My super cute new diaper bag (courtesy of Grammy) is packed, Mommy's "take to the hospital" duffle bag is packed (and being added to daily), and the infant carrier car seat is in the car (bringing the car seat total to four!).

3.  I cannot stop crocheting cute little hats and booties for Baby Boy.  I am having a blast and can't wait to see him don my creations!

4. Gifts have started to arrive . . . and they are NOT pink!

5.  Baby Boy is so ridiculously low that none of my shirts cover my belly in its entirety and I LIVE on the potty!!!!


6.  I got the "courtesy 1-2 cm" at my 36 week appointment.  I laughed and reminded them that they say that to all the girls.  They agreed!


One way or another there is an end in sight and a Baby Boy to meet very soon! We continue to praise God for this precious gift of a fourth child, a first boy, and a healthy pregnancy.  Please continue to pray for my labor, delivery, and doctors.  Pray for our family as we prepare to become a family of six, for Jonathan's mom as she prepares to travel at a moment's notice, and for sweet Emerson as she becomes a big sister!

Baby Update: Six Weeks or Less!

I guess you could argue "six weeks or more," but I have never gone past my due date.  At 34 weeks, however, this is the first time I am surprised that the time is drawing near.  By this point I am usually miserable, seriously overweight, and praying the baby will come early.  This time around I feel great (other than some heartburn and occasional back aches), have kept my weight down (gained just over 25 pounds so far-- normally gain about 60 pounds); and, I am just plain old busy raising three kiddos under the age of seven and spending my days homeschooling.  It has been a wonderful pregnancy!

Today Madeline served as my photography assistant (posing while I messed with my camera settings and served as a "stand in" focus point).  Then she joined me for this special picture (above).

The girls also accompanied me to my 34 week check up today.  To her delight, Emerson helped measure my ever growing tummy and search for Baby Brother's heartbeat.  Baby Boy and Mommy are both healthy and doing well.  We all celebrated with some Starbucks for the ride home.


Please pray that we will have wisdom over the coming weeks.  I typically have somewhat quick labor/deliveries and we're about 45 minutes from the hospital where I deliver.  Pray for my midwives and doctor, and please continue to pray for mommy and baby!

Life In The New Year: Promises . . .

1.  More frequent and regular blog posts . . . honest!

2.  More homemade soups, sauces, individual smoothies, and guacamole--thanks to one of my handy dandy Christmas gifts from hubby . . . a Cuisinart Smart Stick Chopper/Immersion Blender.

This batch of homemade (all natural/partly organic) spaghetti sauce yielded the equivalent of 5 jars of spaghetti sauce.  At the very least, I saved about $12 (normally spent on organic jars of spaghetti sauce).  Plus I felt like an iron chef sticking my immersion blender straight into the pot of simmering whole tomatoes--very exciting! 

3.  That I will (eventually) finish this book:

I have an undergrad degree in English Lit., but somehow feel jilted that I was never required to read Tolstoy.  So, I casually picked up Anna Karenina this summer and toted it with me to Florida for our annual week long summer vacation --foolishly thinking I would finish it.


It's January 9th.  I'm on this page:

I have to read to page 940.  But, I am 30 something, pregnant, and tired.  I wake up many mornings to my book flopped open on the floor and my LED reading light shining up at me from its hiding place beneath my book.  It doesn't help that I am a multi-book reader.  I can't just read one thing or one genre at a time.  I am currently also reading:

So, naturally, reading multiple books slows my Anna Karenina progress down a bit.  But, I am thoroughly enjoying my Tolstoy experience and look forward to a conclusion in the near future.  


I especially want to finish Anna Karenina; because, I am quite anxious to begin reading this little treat my husband picked up for me over a month ago (and I waited months for it to be finished and released):

Yes, I am a dork; and, proudly so!  I was devastated when I found out that Brisingr was not the last book of the Inheritance Cycle.  I am quite anxious to travel back to Alagaesia.

Life In The New Year: Potty Training Emerson

And so it begins . . . potty training.  At 33 weeks pregnant I feel an overwhelming pressure to get a certain 2 year old out of diapers and Pull -Ups.  I have never had two kiddos in diapers at the same time and I refuse to let this be the first time.  Though we have been slowly acclimating Emerson to the potty, experimenting with panties, and even letting her run around in the nude, we have yet to enjoy success.  She is . . . how shall we say it? . . . UNINTERESTED!  So we are currently engaged in an all out, no holding back, do or die 7 week (if God allows baby boy to stay put) potty training boot camp.  

What does this look like you ask?  It looks like Emerson goofing off on the little potty while Mommy conducts school from the bathroom.  It looks like Madeline taking a spelling test while sitting cross-legged on the big potty.  It looks like Hannah studying math facts in the hallway.  It looks like a basket full of wet socks, panties, and pants on the washer and Emerson running around in some interesting ensembles as I run out of matching pants.  Bottom line-- when Mommy's iPhone timer goes off (somewhere between every 15-30 minutes) life moves to the bathroom where we are all entertained by Emerson who remains uninterested.

Today's successes (or lack there of) include Emerson stripping baby Zoe (her most beloved doll) down to her birthday suit and rushing her to the little dolly potty and then heading back to the living room where she proceeded to pee in an empty clothes basket.  Thankfully it was empty!

What can I say?  She's a stinker . . . literally!!!