Pictures of Ainsley

I'd like to post some pictures of Ainsley, but I don't have time to sit here and do that at the moment. So if you'd like to see more, go to my sisters' blogs. They both have some great pictures posted. Emily's is http://kavelke.blogspot.com/, and Amy's is http://amy-momof3.blogspot.com/. They both also have facebook accounts that you can look at for MORE pictures if you are their "friend". =) More to come...EVENTUALLY...on THIS blog. =) But for now...I better take a nap while I have a chance. Ainsley just put herself to sleep in ONE minute. I hadn't tried that yet, but it worked like a charm - at least this time it did. =) We'll see if that continues. And Beau and Asher just left to run a couple of errands in town. It's a nice, quiet house at the moment - with no threat of a 22 month old crawling into Ainsley's bed. =) So until later...

Thank You Mom!

My mom just left yesterday after spending a week and a half here helping us.

Mom,
I could never say thank you enough for ALL that you did for us while you were here!!!
Thank you for...

1. Keeping our laundry done
2. Keeping our dishes washed
3. Keeping our trash emptied
4. Straightening our bed every day
5. Grocery shopping for us
6. Cooking for us
7. Playing with Asher
8. Enduring Beau's affinity for sci-fi
9. Starting my bath water multiple times a day =)
10. Organizing our stuff
11. Changing diapers - Newborn ones and Size 4 ones =)
12. Sacrificing time with Dad and time away from your job

I'm sure I'm leaving very significant things out. But all those things in that list made a HUGE difference for me!!! You kept things the way I like them - the way I would have them if my body would allow me. And that just makes life more peaceful...So THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! We could not have made it through our first week and a half with two kids without you!!! We're doing well today, but I miss you already. =)

I love you!
Sara

She's Here!

Hi! This is Sara's sister, Amy, breaking into her blog to post the great news that Ainsley Grace has arrived.  She was born on Thursday, September 18th at 6:30pm.  She weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz. and was 21 inches long.  And, of course, she is beautiful.  (and I am not biased at all :) )  Sara did a great job bringing her into the world, and she and Beau and Big Brother Asher are all doing well as they welcome their sweet baby girl to the family.

~ Beau showing Ainsley to Asher for the first time ~

~ Sara & Ainsley ~

~ Beau & Sara at home with their baby girl ~

~ Ainsley Grace ~

~ Asher looking at his baby sister ~

~ a rare glimpse of her eyes ~

To My Little Boy...

I'm going in in four hours to be induced. We will get to meet Ainsley Grace today! We're so excited to see her, to hold her, to know what she looks like, to get to know her...However, it is a little bittersweet. I feel guilty even typing that. But as I was putting Asher down tonight, I was so sad. So here is a little note to him...my first baby...

My Dearest Asher,

I love you with all of my heart. There is not a place inside of me that does not LOVE you with indescribable feeling! You are my baby...my first baby...and you always will be! Daddy and I have LOVED having you as our only little boy for almost two years now. You're SO SPECIAL! You're so fun, so smart, so loving and cuddly. Tonight as I was holding you - for one of the last times before your little sister comes out into our lives - I was overwhelmed with emotion for you. I could not have ever imagined the kind of deep love that I have for you. God has given us SUCH a gift in you...and we wouldn't trade you for the WORLD!!! You are mine and Daddy's PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS boy!!! And that will never change! I wish I could bottle up the time that we've had together with you so far. I will cherish it FOREVER. It's been so special!!!

But it's time for a little change. You're going to be a big brother. And I know it will be great! Different, but even richer, I'm sure. I just can't imagine it yet. =) But soon...in a handful of hours, we will get to see your first reaction to your baby sister. And I think you're going to like her. I'm looking forward to holding you both at the same time...because you're my babies.

I love you with ALL of my heart Asher!

Love,
Mommy

I HATE BUGS!!!

So this weekend started out great! Mom and Dad came on Saturday morning. Mom and I went to get pedicures and went to a couple of cutesie shops downtown. Then we met Dad, Beau, and Asher at a really neat Italian restaurant that we had never been to before. Sunday morning Mom gave Asher his first haircut - pictures to come! - , then we worked in Ainsley's room - setting up shelves, hanging Mom's creation on the wall, decorating, etc... (pictures to come of all of that as well). By lunch-time or so, we decided to take Dad to the ER because his jaw was suddenly swelling really big. It was weird and scary. But it was taking FOREVER at the ER, and the swelling was going down, so he decided to forget the ER and just see his doctor in Waco when they went home. We got home, I was exhausted, so I laid down to take a nap. Soon after I laid my head down, I started feeling not-so-good. And then it HIT!!! A VIOLENT stomach bug!!! A few hours later we decided I needed to go to the hospital so that I wouldn't get dehydrated. Well, I was already dehydrated, and they decided to keep me all night to put me on an IV and give me some medicine (which was GREAT!!!). By the time they decided to keep me all night, Beau came down with the same thing. So he went home and suffered through half the night. Mom got it in the middle of the night. And Dad got it yesterday evening. THANKFULLY, Asher has not gotten it...and we are still praying that he won't! I can't imagine how terrible it would be for such a little person to have something like that and not understand what on earth was going on. Anyway, needless to say...the weekend did NOT go as planned! I'm so sorry that my parents had to come here for THAT! But apart from that, we loved having them here! =) And they were VERY helpful with Asher when Beau and I were the only ones who were sick! And then Dad was the life-saver when all of us were sick. =) Thank you to BOTH of you!!! We love you! And Asher loved seeing his "Poppie and Ibbie"! Oh, and we're all better now...at least Beau, Mom, and I are...I'm not positive about Dad. Thankfully, it was a short-lived bug!!!

Grumpy

I know I shouldn't be...but I'm kind of grumpy today. This end of pregnancy thing is not my cup of tea. =) It's uncomfortable, and I'm ready for it to be over. On the other hand, I am very thankful that God would choose me to carry this little girl until it's the perfect time for her to come out into this world. And I mean that. I have felt quite grumpy today, but I know the "right" answer, and I really do want her to be born at the time that God has appointed for her. It's just not very fun sometimes.

I had a doctor's appointment today, and I had to wait for a LONG time to be seen. And then I was seen by two different people who were NOT my doctor. They were way backed up because of the holiday yesterday and two c-sections this morning. But I did see him for a couple of minutes at the end of my appointment. Long enough for him to basically say, "Everything looks good. Any questions?" "YEAH, when am I going to have her???" is what I wanted to say. =) But he doesn't know - of course. And we just have to wait...like any normal pregnant person. I really don't like not being able to have everything planned out. =) By the time that ordeal was over, I was TIRED, HUNGRY, and FRUSTRATED - which was NOT a good combination. So Beau met me at Chili's, and we had lunch - which included a Dr. Pepper and dessert. I thought I deserved it. I've been "good" for long enough! =)

Then this evening Asher and I went to Dina's for dinner - and it was DELICIOUS! But Asher was a bit (more than a bit) of a terror! I hate saying that about any kid, but it was true tonight! I don't know why, but he was getting into EVERYTHING that he wasn't supposed to, and I could NOT get him to obey me! I'm currently at a loss about that! How do you get an almost two year old to obey you when you're already trying all the things that you're "supposed" to do??? Needless to say, it was good to get him into bed tonight. =)

And here I am...venting. And now I feel a little better - and almost ready to go to sleep - which is probably what I need the most! =) So good night. Here's to tomorrow being three weeks until Ainsley's due!!!