Thursday: With Nana

Nana got to play all day wit our  us and we loved it! 

Highlights included:

A trip to one of our favorite parks at 66th Terrace and Main, while Mommy visited her friend Nancy for  a quick trim at Vincent Greer Salon.

Lunch on the back deck.

Finding "Peter" the grasshopper and feeding him grass all day. (Because Spiderman's real name is Peter, you know!)

Lots of quality book time with Nana including the "Where's Waldo" Bible story style!

Love you Nana!

A Week: To Remember

Tegegne, your 5th birthday party was seriously fun. You were so nice to include your sister, too.

Hensley, you have really been making us laugh lately. You love being goofy.

Mirror, mirror in Fields' crib! When awake, he likes to look into the mirror!

Fields, here you are at 1 week and 4 days, 7 lb 8 oz. You've been such an awesome baby so far!

What a week! Michael was home. Fields spent his first week here. Tegegne turned 5.  Hensley tried to find her place in it all. And I am no longer hugely pregnant, but get to carry my little bundle around and sit him down if I need to! I can reach the kitchen faucet with ease now, but still spent much time off my feet while Michael handled all-things-kitchen. 

Highlights included:

Great food! Thanks to friends and collegues for the delicious food. (organized via mealbaby.com) A ready-for-fall chicken pot pie and one to freeze, an apple pie delivered warm to our front door, homemade mac n' cheese, beef and veggie cabobs with Tzatziki sauce, Italian sausage lasagna, artisan chocolates for me (via mail from Aunt Jan).

The perfect 5 year old day! Tegegne, your birthday was quite awesome, wasn't it? It started with a trip to our family fav, Soho Bakery, where you picked out a huge cinnamon roll. You opened presents throughout the day and were stoked with each one. Nana delivered your gift to the house, which included the coolest new leather belt with your name stamped in. At 4pm you, Hens, and Ababayeh went door-to-door picking up your 4 birthday guests. Then you spent the next 4.5 hours with friends. Ababayeh and I sat back and watched you all play and what a show that was. There was no need for organized games, because of your young imaginations. The parents came around 7:30 for cake and adult beverages and a bon fire. We will continue this format for parties from here on out. We imagined Hensley's 5th birthday party and how different it will be with 4 little girls in pigtails playing, verses your wildly adventurous play with the boys. 

Fields, the hassle-free baby! Thanks for listening to all of my pep talks towards the end of pregnancy, where I suggested you be a hassle-free baby! Last night you woke twice to eat at 11:30 pm and 4 am. You're teeny tiny and adorable and we love your soft fluffy brown hair with golden highlights! Your jaundice test came back negative. Nana got you a few G diapers with hemp inserts. We plan to get a few more because we love them. 

Hang in there Hensley! This transition would not go in your book of "Best Times of My Life," but you will make it through. Besides some sad times and tantrums, you do love Fields which you say at the top of your lungs "Beels, Beels!" or you call him "Hazel," your upstairs baby friend. You hold him, kiss him, and touch his nose. A highlight for you has been your hours of sweet time with Daddy. You two are attached at the hip and I know Daddy is going to miss you so much while at school this week. You were so happy to see Gramma Debby first thing this morning, and you will also get a special day with Nana on Thursday.

The week was topped off with Uncle Eric and Aunt Erica's visit. We enjoyed the Plaza Art Fair, Lulu's Takeout, bon fires, and mostly laughs and sitting together.

Michael, thanks. Miss you already.

Love,

Mom

Brotherly Love: 1 Week and 5 Years

Good morning sweet little baby. You are one week old today. Ninety percent of the time I'm waking you to eat during the night, but as the weeks go by, I'll be doing this much less. But there's no reason for our roles to change, dear one. You can just keep on sleeping, k? I feel at peace and super content with you home. Your dad is doing a fine job at giving us rest, having the meals ready, and helping sweet Hensley through this big change in her life. Poor Hens. I was gone on bed rest then come home with a new baby. She loves you, and holds you and kisses you, but she's sometimes quite sad at me. 

Tegegne, you're 5 years old today! You are sooo happy to be 5, you're so happy about the Spiderman costume, like all boys your age are. Dad is busy making you a bug cake, and getting ready for your small but special party tonight. 

I love my boys. And that sweet sister sandwiched in between. Oh motherhood, what a blessing.

Mom

New Friends: Woven Fibers

Black and white...

And color!

I just love these woven pieces by New Friends. Aren't they cool?

9.13.12: Welcome Fields Benjamin

Hi Sweet Baby Fields,

Life is quite good. Your birthing adventure hit a peak and now we are resting in the valley. We did it. With lots of support. You're here. We're tired, but have peace. I've been spoiled with special deliveries of chai lattes and cranberry orange scones two days in a row. You're enjoying eating as well, every 2.5 to 3 hours for 20 to 30 minutes. Your check ups have been good, and we're snuggling quite a bit. Twice now, we've had the family of 5 together and your dad and I love it. 

Joy, joy, joy deep down in my heart, deep down in my heart to stay!

Love, 

Mom 

All-Generous: And Blessed

For God is sheer beauty,
    all-generous in love,
    loyal always and ever.

Psalm 100:5, The Message

I've heard from Grandma Debby several times. This was a highlight:
"Tegegne wants to tell Ababayeh that he's running to train to be a policeman. You'll never believe how far he ran. The whole path of the back 40 (acres) and half of the front 40. We're following behind him very slowly in the Gator. Hensley loves cheering him on."

This message came before 9am the next morning:
"Tegegne's out running again! Stopped to catch a grass hopper, and off again!"

And some more shout outs to my peeps:
Thanks Aunt Donna, for taking another Trader Joes order!
Thanks Tara for dinner last night.
Thanks Cela for the visit this morning.
Thanks Jan for hanging out this afternoon.
Plus all of the dear folks that have made us meals and that are signing up to do so.


Blessed, I feel so blessed by God through all of you generous folks. We are so grateful. Thank you for taking care of our family. We love you.

Fields, we are now hours away from meeting you rather than days. Sweet anticipation. Your dad and I were talking about our anticipation when we met your brother, Tegegne. This is the same feeling, but quite different. You see, when meeting your brother we were in a foreign land in the back of a bus. We pulled up to this orphanage and knew he was inside. We wondered if he understood that he would meet us and we would be his parents. We sat in small chairs as we waited for our names to be called. Then they called us. We stood and watched as your cute big brother walked in those little black boots out to our arms. And we were smitten. Just as we will be when you are placed in our arms tomorrow. See you in the am baby boy.

Love, 

Mom

Due Date: Written In Ink

"Wohoo..."

Due Date Official: Thursday, September 13, 2012, 8am. 

And now a shout out to my peeps:
Thanks honey, for the slumber parties and old Office episodes that make me laugh out loud.
Thanks Tara for the peppermint tea.
Thanks Katie for the in-house bang trim, + Nick and Judah for the visit, flowers, magazine, and air freshener!
Thanks Micah and Taryn + Hazel for the sparkling water + yummy tea and all of my other requests from home. Plus the extra visit this morning!
Thanks Amy, for walking in playing your ukulele and the laughs and the visit.
Thanks Alan and Shanna for the sweet flowers and visit. 
Thanks Aunt Donna for the massage, dinner, + Robert for the visit.
Thanks Mike and Deb for the visit, magazines, and KC Star.
Thanks Mom for the visits, the pretty flowers, + thanks to you + Dad for keeping the children. XO
Thanks children for coming in and kissing me, dancing for me, and for being my bestest pals.
Thanks Tricia and Sela for the stellar magazines and visit and the special lip gloss application. 

Love ya.

Kristyn

Due Date: Penciled In

Dear Fields Benjamin,

I've never heard one heartbeat for so long. In the moments that I've felt "alone" here, I am quickly reminded that you're here too. I hear that fast little heartbeat and watch my belly move in mysterious ways and I remember that I'm not here alone. Then I think for a moment, in a few days you'll be crying and hungry and wanting your diaper changed, so I better savor this quiet time with you and rest up. I sang you some songs this morning, and I'm pretty sure you liked them. It is quite good to remember that the Spirit of God is with us, too. Nothing is better than that, son.

Your birthdate has been "penciled in" by dear 'ol doc for Thursday morning. That's September 13, 2012 (9.13.12) Your sweet big brother's birthday is on September 20, 2007 so you two will have to flip a coin each year to see who gets celebrated. Just kidding. I actually love to host parties so we will celebrate for both of you. (Ha, as I'm lying here you just literally moved the computer with a kick.)

Here's the plan until then. The kiddos are going to Big Sky Ranch for the week, so brother will miss some school but it'll be easier for Gramma and they'll get to hang with Grandpa too. Your dad will teach his students and have a quiet house (and probably visit me a lot), and I'll be in Rm 2233 sewing you a stocking cap, and admiring my pretty flowers from sweet visitors. One dear friend even trimmed my bangs while she was here!

Love you son. We are in the home stretch. Keep developing your little lungs so you can stay in my arms and not be swooped away when you arrive in this great big world. I'm not sure I'll sleep very well the night before your due date! Talk soon.

Love, 

Mom

(booties.)

Test Results: Indeterminite

Hello, hello from Level Two, where the nurses are nice and all the sofas are blue. Had a few deciding tests today. An ultrasound determined that I do still have placenta previa, so we must do a c-section to get fellow out. The other test was an amniocentesis to determine Field's development, which will decide how soon he comes. That was an exciting really long needle into my belly, in which Fields had to steer clear of. There were two options for the test results. First the labs went to St. Lukes where they could say "good to go," "not quite yet," or "we have no idea" aka "indeterminite." Good to go would have meant he'd come Saturday or Sunday. Indeterminite from St. Lukes means the labs go to Mayo Clinic where they have no "indeterminite" option. They are en route now and we will get results...hmmm...tomorrow I hope.  

On another note, I showered and shaved this afternoon, and feel like a new woman. Grandma Debby is trying not to be worn out by my children, and I'm in the hospital on bed rest, monitors, and meds until further instruction.

That's all folks. Enjoy the cool weekend.

Kristyn

(cartoon.)

Hello From: The Place With Mauve Walls

Hi kids! So I put you down for your nap today, then took a little trip to the hospital. Really thought your brother was going to make an appearance today. The doc gave me this sheet of paper that said if this this and this happen call me. Well this and this (many close contractions + lots of bleeding) happened and I called but didn't get a hold of him. At that point I had to discern that it seemed to be an emergency, called dad, and got to the hospital. Looks like Fields is not coming today, but he and I are being monitored. Still having the this and this stated above, but not enough to do a c-section. Their goal is to keep baby brother inside for another week or two. 

As you can see above, I'm not in a lot of pain, just thought I'd give you a laugh! It is nice and quite here, with the sound of Fields really active heartbeat. 

Love you guys. Tegegne, hope your first day of school is super fun tomorrow. Can't wait to hear about it. Grandma and Ababayeh (and earlier Taryn and Micah) are helping me out lots, but I miss and love you both.

I'll be here overnight and will let you know when I learn more. Mmmmm, can't wait to find out my dinner options!

Love,
Mom

Thinking Of: All Things Fall

Fall is a sweet, sweet season that comes and goes too quickly. I mean, it couldn't get here soon enough in my book, but it sure doesn't stay long enough. Here are some key ingredients for fall that I'm looking forward to.

Love hoods. Love scarves.  This crocheted combo is the perfect match.

Apple pie or peach cobbler, a la mode of course.

Fingerless gloves + arm warmers...



Hot chocolate, of course...(do you prefer it with milk or water? We go all dairy around here. The creamier the better.)

 A bon fire. I love how mesmerizing the flames are. A good excuse to stay outside a little longer and cozy up with your honey.

And the most key ingredient for a fabulous fall...a coffee mug sweater, no doubt. Give that mug a little hug. 

Here's to a long and lovely fall!

Love,

Kristyn

(hooded scarf, apple pie, hot chocolate, bon fire, mug sweater + gloves)

Dear Tegegne: You're Almost 5!

Dear Tegegne,

Hey little cutie. You’re turning 5 on September 20th, 

and we can hardly believe it. I think of the day we 

first met you and how much you’ve changed. I am so 

proud of the boy you are becoming. Thanks for loving

Ababayeh and I so much. Thanks for forgiving us, as 

we learn as we go just like you do. Thanks for being 

such a good big brother to Hensley. You are sooo

patient with her, and you often tend to her needs

before Ababayeh or I get to her.  

For your 5th birthday you’ve requested a bug cake,

which changed to Spiderman, then cheeta. You said

that it was okay if Fields was born on your birthday...

you’d share with him but you had an idea. He gets one 

present and you get lots of presents.You’re having four

friends over for dinner and a bon fire. The meal you picked

includes chocolate milk, chicken strips, and chicken fries. 

Your recent questions include: “Ababayeh, what is the 

fastest jet ever? Is a cheeta faster than that jet? Can you

run faster than a cheeta? Where do asternauts park their

rocket on the moon? Do you see that light? I think that’s

God shining. I want Norah and Jaylen to come on our

camping trip...and Hensley. How old do I have to be to

be in 7th grade?”

We were running errands when I started to go into early

labor and I asked you to pray for Fields and I. You 

started praying out loud right then, without hesitation. I love

you, Tegegne. Thanks for helping me out so much while

I am on “bedrest.” You bring me water and find my phone

multiple times a day!

You’re kind. You’re thoughtful. On a daily basis...”How was 

your sleep, Dad? Mom, how’s your dinner tasting? Hensley, 

here’s your bunny...can I have that toy back. please?” 

Love, 

Mom