I wanted to Post Tessa's announcement. I will be emailing most of them this year, in attempt to save a little dough$$$. I just thought I would post it as well to share with those of you whom I may have missed.
Thank you so much for being a part of our life. We are grateful we can share this miracle with you.
We are all so thankful for the blessing of this beautiful new baby.
Tessa Mae Swenson joined our family last Thursday. She was such a quick delivery. I am thankful for that, since I have been dealing with contractions for a little over 3 months.
She has a very calm and laid back personality. She sleeps most of the day.
It is a rare occasion to have her eyes open. Isaac exclaims, "Tessa eyes open."
She is a wonderful sleeper, and already sleeps 5-7 hours at night. I also have to wake her up to eat during the day.
She is so calm that I have a hard time keeping my eyes open when I hold her.
She has her daddy wrapped around her finger.
The kids have adjusted so well.
Stella and Jex hold her most of the day. They constantly ask, "when is she going to wake up?"
Stella can hold her for an hour at a time. When I ask, "Do you want me to take her?" She always says, "no."
I was worried the most about the little guy. It has not affected him at all. He loves when she is awake, and loves to kiss her. My favorite phrase is when he says, "Tessa dove ooo." (Tessa love you)
There have been no behavioral problems yet so we are crossing our fingers.
We have been enjoying Grandma. She has been so helpful. I am not ready for her to go home. Can't she just move in? The kids have loved having her here. She has helped me emotionally in so many ways. I feel more prepared and at ease. I am ready to conquer this on my own because of her help. She is leaving us tomorrow. BOO HOO!! (More about her visit to come soon)
Lets hope she visits again soon.
I can honestly say that our family feels complete. I am counting my blessing for 4 beautiful healthy and wonderful blessings in our life.
I am feeling so wonderful. I don't hurt at all. I don't feel like I just had a baby. I am feeling so grateful and happy.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers.
Motherhood is the best gift I have ever been given.
I am so grateful for laughter, and I have learned to take it one day at a time. Today, I was cleaning up poop from Tessa when Tessa peed everywhere. Then I looked down and was leaking milk. I hear my mom laughing as she says, "you have baby poop all over your jacket." I couldn't help but laugh, and think about the glamorous life that I lead. I decided to count my blessings that I had already changed out of my nice clothes.
Last night, I had 3 kids crying at once. I thought my house was falling apart. I just smiled and laughed about it later.
Keep moving forward, and be thankful for the gift of being a mother.
I am blessed to hold their little life in my hands.
She didn't wait around long once she decided it was time to arrive. We checked in to the hospital at about 5:30 pm and she was born at 6:54 pm, on Thursday, October 22nd. She weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and was 20 inches long. Both mommy and baby are doing great. She already loves to snuggle into your chest and makes the cutest coo-ing sounds.
Our physician was wonderful. He was a gentle, silver haired man that has been delivering babies for a very long time. He said a sweet prayer for Andrea and the unborn baby and kissed her on the forehead when it was over. As with all our children, it was the most beautiful event to witness and I felt as if Heaven was smiling down on us.
My sweetheart can now rest, as the pains of a difficult pregnancy are forgotten with one look at our beautiful little girl.
Here are a few pictures.... more to come soon.
She's got sandy brown hair and her daddy's ears.
Isaac says, "Tessa here! Go home now!"
Jex said, "This is the most special day of my whole life."
This daddy loves his GIRLS!
Well get over it.
I am nesting. I am trying to make time pass quickly. My Best Friend is in labor as we speak. I am so ready. Well sort of ready. I like the sleep that I am getting right now, but I could use with a little less butt pain.(siatic nerve)
So here is what I did today.
I know I just posted all those fun Halloween things, but today I played Design Re-Mix. Do you ever play that? It is one of my favorite past times. ( you know the game where you switch items in your house around, and put them in a new spot?)
Well, if you haven't played it, you should. It feels so good to see something that you are getting a little tired of in a new spot.
I decided that I wanted my whole mantel to look fun and Halloweenish. I pulled out a picture that I have saved for inspiration. Here was the inspiration:
Here is what I came up with. I wanted to use pumpkins, and the black plates. However, I also wanted a ton of glass containers.
Here is what I did:
I had the glass containers. I added the real pumpkin inside the apothecary jar.
The three black candlesticks I recently bought at an antique store for $4 for all 3.
I wanted them black so I used a little spray paint.
The dishes are my dishes.
The little balls are Christmas ornaments from the dollar Store.
The skull was also a Dollar Store find.
Also had all the class containers, just added some candles from my stash and flowers I already had.
I already had the black candlestick.
I also had the black ball, and I just set it on top of one of my mugs from my dishes.
The plate in the back says boo. I wrote that myself with a dry erase marker, on the plate that I already had. Did you know that you can wipe it off later, and write something else? I love dry erase markers.
Oh, and you can't forget the white lights that I added for effect. My kids love it.
Remember this big plate? Well it used to adorn my mantel. It is my favorite piece up there. However, it just doesn't go with Halloween. It was driving me crazy.
I love it there at Christmas, but for now it will adorn my entry way table. With the pumpkin light in front, it actually makes it look a little spooky. Then I moved the spooky tree. Oh how I love Halloween. MOM WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?
TOTAL FOR THIS DESIGN RE-MIX: $ 7.00 and a little ingenuity.
Okay just a few more projects today. Notice that my windows now have curtains?
Well I made them today. Here is a better view:
Got this fun silky fabric today at Walmart, on the dollar table. I needed two yards for both windows. A little ribbon for .84 cents a yard and two tension rods.
TOTAL CURTAIN PROJECT: under $11.00
Okay one more:
I finally finished the boys curtains. It is nothing fancy, but I wanted them to be simple. I hunted for the perfect fabric. I wanted Orange and Masculine. I came up with burlap. It was only $1.50 a yard, and that is all I needed. I already had the rod.
TOTAL FOR THIS MASCULINE ACCESORY : $ 1.50
Well, I should take it easy now. Hopefully I can think of something to do tomorrow. It feels good to cross things off my list.
Did I mention that I cleaned my house spic and span also?
WHAT A DAY... but I loved every minute of it.
It is about Dancing in the Rain.
I am remembering this during my last few weeks of pregnancy. I only wish I had the energy and balance to dance.
for not posting Day 4 and 5.
We had a few setbacks. I ended up spending a night in the hospital with more labor. Unfortunately, I was a day from being full term so they sedated me. I slept most of the weekend.
However, I am back. I am dilated to a 4, and 50% effaced. I guess it could happen anytime, it could also be 3 more weeks.
Well, here is what I missed posting.
Day 4: Embellish, and use what you have.
I already had these pretty containers. So I just added to them.
Notice the white plate, it adds just a little detail. Oh, and the black and white fabric makes a great new table runner.(no sewing involved) I also had the ribbon, and tall vases.
Had the cake plate, just changed the ribbon.
Then, I pulled out all the stops. I got out the scrapbook supplies.
Added rub on lettering to the pumpkins, and ric-rac to the babies.
Added some letters to an already existing frame on my wall. Cut out of scrapbook paper.
And a little more to a frame.
You can't forget this number that I made out scrapbook supplies that I had on hand.
Take the time to see what you can change or add too. Use what you have laying around. I didn't buy any ribbon, paper, or containers for any of these Halloween projects.
Now on to day 5:
Group them together.
Start with your centerpiece. That will make you so happy.
Group in odd numbers it is more pleasing to the eye.
Don't forget your mantel. It is the centerpiece of your room. A few spooky cobwebs never hurt anything either.
The entry way is another must. It welcomes and sets the tone.
Your doorway greets guest and makes them smile.
Now sit back and enjoy!! You did this on a small budget. Don't forget to shop Nov.1st for the deals for next year.
Oh, now you should enjoy a cookie.
A Halloween Sugar cookie to be exact.
Go here for the best Sour Cream Sugar cookie recipe ever.
The other night for FHE we were watching home movies. We found this one and laughed and laughed.
This is when we lived on Saba, an island in the Caribbean. It was just before we moved back home. Jonathan and I had gone on a date, and our good friends the Sofios were watching the kids. The Sofios had shipped a huge love sack over to there house on the island. The kids enjoyed jumping from the couch to the love sack.
The Sofios also had 2 cats. If you know Jex, he is not much for animals. This is hilarious. He is
3 1/2 in this video.
I hope you laugh your head off too.
Colorful candy can add so much to your decor. Fill up empty containers you have laying around and you will be surprised at what a difference it makes.
Here is a project for the kids on the weekend. I can't wait to help them make these:
All they are are Styrofoam trees, and candy will some craft glue to attach them. Don't miss the little bags hanging in the background. How cute are those?
Oh, and don't forget to enjoy eating a little of that candy along the way.
Jex has always been so sensitive. He is in tune to what is going on around him. He has always been especially in tune with the spirit.
Last night for Family Home Evening it was his turn to share the lesson. He recited from memory the Book of Mormon accounts from King Noah all the way to Helaman and the stripling warriors.
In his own simple language he taught me about things that I did not remember.
When he was finished, he bore testimony that he knows that God lives, and that he loves us. He also stated that he knows the church is true, and feels warm inside when he feels the spirit.
Jonathan and I did not have a dry eye. In fact Jex had a few tears. I knew that he had been touched.
I am so thankful for the lessons that he teaches me. I am grateful that our oldest child can be such a pillar of strength and example for the other kids.
I am amazed at his love for the scriptures. I look forward to when he will be baptized. It is just 10 months away. I know that he is ready, and that he wants to become a member. I know that the spirit has helped him feel that it is the right thing to do.
I am grateful that we take the time to share our testimonies with one another inside our home. I hope it will allow him to have the courage to share it with others.
Day 2: Use real pumpkins to decorate with. They last such a long time, and I believe them to be a beautiful work of art.
I sure wish I had room for my own pumpkin patch.
Pumpkins in pots make such a welcoming statement. They can be left up all through the fall.
Stella and I made these adorable little pots. We spray painted some cheap pots from Walmart. I found the stamp at the $ store, and we stamped away. It was so easy to stack them in the pots. By drilling a hole, and adding a wooden dowel it will secure them even better.
Put pumpkins anywhere you can find a place. These small pumpkins will work just about anywhere.
Group them together to make a nice table centerpiece.
Here are a few more ideas that were not created by me. I just thought you might enjoy seeing the creative ideas that are out there.
I hope you enjoy these ideas. One more idea; if you love white pumpkins and don't want to pay for them. Then go ahead and spray paint them. A little spray paint never hurt anything.
