Sheesh . . . We’ve Been Busy (Part 2)

(Warning: This series is dedicated to a very patient Grandma—who cares to catch up on all our busy-ness . . . and our photos.)

Inge’s first days . . . Got milk?

Mom with her special Inge-rrito (think “burrito”). Our girl still loves a good swaddle.

Halloween 2010

Big Baby (from Toy Story 3)—I oscillated all night between laughing and thinking we were clever to feeling guilty for letting Eric scribble on our sweet baby. A good mom would have dressed her up like a pretty flower or cute little elephant. When I asked Freja if she thought Inge would be mad at us when she was older and realized what we had dressed her up as—Freja grimaced and hesitantly replied, “. . . maybe.” Please forgive us Inge . . .

Cinderella –Britta has loved Cinderella since she was born it seems. I don’t really understand how—we don’t own the movie or a storybook even. When she was just beginning to talk she would excitedly point and say, “Girls” whenever she saw Disney princesses in the store or whatnot. It was extra special to me considering the difficult time she has had with words. So when she wanted a “Girl Cake” for her birthday and to be Cinderella for Halloween—she didn’t have to ask twice. She has assigned Princess roles to all the females in our family. She, of course, is Cinderella. Freja is Sleeping Beauty. I am Belle, and Inge, well, she will be have to be Ariel. She has paired everyone up with the Princess of their eye/hair color combination, except for Inge, that is—I highly doubt she will be a red head—I think Britta is feeling very willing to share the blonde hair/blue eye position with her sister. For Halloween Britta wanted Mommy to be Belle and Daddy to be "The Beast!” Funny girl.

Dryad—also known as a “Tree Spirit.” She even had me spray her with pine scent. Clever girl.

Roman Soldier—Man, can my boy wield a sword or what! He’s had lots and lots of practice.

The National Debt—The scariest of all our costumes this year. Eric was the life of the party.

Hans opted not to dress up but did help in the haunted house. David joined us at the party after work—so he was dressed as a Pizza Guy of the Papa Murphy variety. (I didn’t get a photo—darn!).

Sheesh . . . We’ve Been Busy (Part 1)

April 27th we welcomed our sweet Inge Elise into our home and our family—all 8 lbs. 6 oz. and 22 inches of her. It’s been a whirlwind ever since . . .

Birthing a baby at home may not be for everyone but it’s the perfect choice for me. There is no place that I feel more comfortable and I absolutely loved having our brood present as we welcomed the newest little chickadee into our family. Remembering the awe, excitement, and love on the faces of her siblings as they admired their new baby sister, fresh from heaven, is most precious to me.

Now, six months later . . . it feels like yesterday and forever ago, all at once. So many times I have wished that I could just stop time or at least slow things down. Life is flying by and before I know it (or am ready for it) Inge will not be a baby anymore . . . I’m not quite sure how I am going to handle that. She’s such a sweet , cuddly little baby. The love is indescribable, and that’s not just because my brain is still in somewhat of a postpartum fog.