1 Week Old

Our family is adjusting very well to this new little bundle. Alaina is an absolute joy! I'm excited to get up with her in the middle of the night, which is saying something! And the kids are great about letting me zonk out on the couch while they watch cartoons in the morning if I'm desperate for more zzz's. The first morning we had Alaina home, Michael hurried downstairs and asked, "Where's Alaina?" It's amuzing to me how he still calls Elizabeth "baby" & the real baby, "Awaina". He loves his new baby sister, constantly asking to hold her, or trying to give her a binky, etc. It's very sweet. When he sees her laying on the couch or in my arms he says, "Awaina! Ah, really cute." Lizzie seems interested, but overall she seems irritated that my lap is occupied my someone else most of the time. Brian's been a HUGE help since Alaina's arrival - doing a lot of house cleaning & tending to the older two.

It's neat to see how we're all adjusting & how much more complete I feel w/ my 3rd being here. I had serious anxiety before Alaina came, wondering how I was going to juggle another one. With Michael's speech & occupational therapy, potty training issues, & recently developed temper tantrums, & Elizabeth now being in speech also, & my feelings that I was neglecting her because of my concern w/ Michael's development - well, you get the idea. How in the world will a new born help this situation!?! But I knew she needed to come to our family, and now that she's here I can see the Lord's hand in bringing our little family closer & strengthening me to work even harder at being a good momma to my precious kids.

*Side note: Alaina has more than just a "high pallet" come to find out. She has a cleft in her pallet and is missing her uvula (the golly-wobble thing in the back of the throat). We have an appt with Children's Hospital in Seattle on Monday to see what the options are for that. Her Dr. talked about corrective surgery, speech therapy, etc. We'll keep you posted!