A Fourth Princess

I am sooooo in love! This little girl growing inside me already has me head over heels for her! I had an ultrasound to recheck her kidneys because, like her big sister Leah, she had retained fluid in both of her kidneys. Because this was just a check and we already knew she was very healthy I thought it would be great to take the 2 big girls along to meet their newest baby sister. I am so glad I did!

They had lost of questions and were fascinated with the entire thing! I had prayed the night before that the tech (Kim-who we have known since our first pregnancy) would take out the 3D wand, just so the girls could really see her face. Oh, Lord, thank you!!!!! She started with the regular ultrasound and I was so happy that the girls could 'read' her profile. Then Kim says, "Let's have some fun!" When she took out the 3D wand I cried. Baby girl was laying on part of the placenta, but we got great shots. She is so beautiful and I am so in love. I am amazed that this NEVER gets old!

Mayah loved hearing the heartbeat and Chiara loved everything! Eventually we did see the kidneys and PRAISE GOD her right kidney is CLEAR and her left kidney was the same. We all feel it will clear itself out. She is measuring big...big....of course! She is measuring 2 lbs 1 oz. Her due date was June7th, this ultrasound bumped that to May 29th. Little Miss knows that she is coming June 6th....well, she better! We are hoping we just caught her on a growth spurt. Hoping.

Below you will see her beautiful face, her hand/arm by her face, her cute little foot and a video of her yawning!

Big Girls Don't Cry

David left this afternoon for another week long business trip. One would think we would be used to this by now, but none of us are. This time may have been a bit harder too because we are all still a bit under the weather and it is his birthday today (happy 35th baby!).
Chiara is the crier. She lets her tears flow freely on the day he leaves, though not much while he is gone. Like her mother, she gets into 'go mode'-just stay busy, get things done, and time will pass. She enjoys having his shirt to cuddle with at night.
Mayah does not cry when he leaves, but the tears flow almost nightly for him. It is a beautiful reminder that the girls have a father who is very present and involved in everything. Knowing that her Daddy was leaving Mayah got very cuddly these past few days. This morning she came into our room and snuggled with him in bed. Warms my heart. She too will have his shirt at night and moments during each day where sadness comes.
Leah gives her Daddy hugs and kisses and says goodbye, but has no concept of the length of time he is gone-well, that is until he returns. She does not ask for him, though a bit confused by mid week. When he gets home she usually gives him the cold shoulder and wants Mommy for everything.
Then there is Mommy....I am not allowed to cry-well, yes of course I am, but I choose not to. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes this time, but I know if I cry then all 3 will lose it and I am left to deal with the unstable emotions of young girls. No fun and not fair to David either. I am beyond grateful for his job and I can handle the stress of him being gone, but I do love that man. I miss him when we are apart. I guess it says something about us-I really believe God had more reasons than we knew for us starting our relationship in long distance. I will not lie and say it is easy to do with three young children and pregnant, but as my dear friend Melissa would say to me (her husband is in the military and been deployed), " you just do it."
So, no tears shed from this big girl today....though I could have wept like a little girl. I will be highly anticipating every call and his return on Friday night (late).

Raising Future Mothers

When I was younger and pictured myself being a mom I always say one boy and one girl-in that order. Seemed perfect-can you tell I am a middle child? Then, after marrying the man of my dreams that visioned changed a bit. We talked about having four children...an even mix of boys and girls. Wouldn't that just be perfect?! I loved having a big brother so I wanted any little girl I had to have one also. Perfect. All set. Even typing that now I can hear the soft chuckle of the Lord.....He must get a kick out of me often!

Each ultrasound I have had I really believed this one was going to be the boy. No? Are you sure? Another girl? David had a dream when I was pregnant with Chiara that he would have all girls-I thought it was cute, but in no way prophetic. How can I be a mom to all girls? Me? Lord, you remember me as a preteen and teenager, right? Right.

I would not want my family to look any other way than it does. Yes, all girls. Future mothers. My responsibility to raise and train. People-mostly strangers-like to comment on how hard it will be when they are all teenagers, but they do not know who their mother is. The teenage Jen Day is very different from the woman I am today, but do not think for a second that I have forgotten anything about her....she is the trick up my parenting sleeve. Of course, I would love to not have to tap into those days and together with David we are raising our children to make better decisions than I did, but it does bring me joy to know that the Lord can use that time of my life for His glory.

So, I am a mother to three...soon to be FOUR...girls! I love it. I love that they each have their own unique personalities, that they really love one another, that they enjoy playing princess and dolls, but can get rough and tough too. The pitch in our house may be higher than most and on some days the drama can be overwhelming, but never once do I even think it should be any other way.

Baby 4 Reveal Video

I had forgotten to post this on the blog...baby 4 is......

Growing Girls

We had a Mi CASA (home school group) field trip to the AZ Science Center. As always, it was a fun time. The girls love any place they are told that they can touch everything without getting in trouble. Kids need this....so do moms. You feel like all you say is "no" so I just love times when that word is absent!We were rather bummed when we discovered that the Body Worlds Exhibit took over the entire third floor-our favorite floor. It has the weather exhibits which the girls just love. So, we made the best of what was there.

No matter what taking the girls to places like this is fun because kids are fun. When you stay home with them day after day it does not always feel fun. None of my children go to preschool/school so I do not get any breaks during the day. I am not saying that to complain-I am making the choice to home school-but it makes a difference.

One of the greatest parts of being home is watching every little change.....their vocabulary, understanding, humor, etc. One thing I do not notice is just how big they are getting. Of course I know they are growing, but wow....are they growing! I seem to have the hardest time accepting this with Chiara. I can look over at the front door and see myself walking this precious infant into this house for the first time. Can she really be this tall and turning 6 in a month? Really???










Mayah has always been our "peanut". This summer I had to do a major change over of her clothes because she really shot up-something I remember Chiara doing at the age of four. She is still a peanut, but not in the same way she once was. Her energy level is beyond what I can keep up with.

Leah is yet to be seen......at 2 her personality is just starting to come out. Interestingly enough, right now she is a blend of Chiara and Mayah. She has not hit her growth spurt yet-remember 4 years old-so she is still shaped much like her mother! Her body is actually very much like Chiara's.....funny.




And eventually there will be a 4th. Will she be a peanut or a pumpkin? Can't wait to find out!

The Turkey Whisperer

On a recent trip to the Phoenix Zoo we went to the farm area so the girls could brush the goats and have some play time. Before we left we walked by the chickens and turkeys. As soon as Mayah walked up to the fence this one turkey started gobbling at her as if they were long lost friends. Hilarious. It did not quit.

As funny as it was we were going to move on, so Mayah took a step and the turkey took a step. She stepped back, it stepped back...the entire time talking to her. I told her to run to the side of the fence, so she did......and it did too! This turkey knew Mayah! It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen!!! Feathers were up and anywhere Mayah went it went, gobling away the entire time! She said she can't wait to go back to visit the turkey.

As we turned to leave we wished the turkey a happy thanksgiving (hee hee) and the rooster crowed! Every animal in the area went off...the sheep, cows, birds.....sooooo funny! It was a great way to end a fun trip to the zoo!