Introducing Hannah Marie Chapeau

Introducing Hannah Marie Chapeau! 

Miss Hannah Marie was born August 10th, 2012at 5:26am via c-section (it was a surprise...due to her heart rate being 180 - 200 for nearly 30 minutes we were sent to the O.R.).  She weighed 5lbs 15 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long.  She has lots of black hair and is quite content being apart of our family.  She's such a blessing to our lives already.

I hope to post her birth story soon....so keep watch.

Pictures taken by: Momma :)

Welcoming My New Neice - Aspen Rae Limbo

Alesha and Brad - Brad is in Kuwait but was able to be apart of the big day via Skype.

Welcome to the world, Aspen Rae, you are richly loved!   

It was an honor to be able to be there for this little one's birth.  Alesha did great and was able to do a VBAC, which is always incredible.   Alesha's husband, Brad, was able to Skype for hours from Kuwait with Alesha and was able to be "there" via Skype for the delivery.  What a blessing! 
 
After Aspen's birth, it hit me like a load of bricks...I'm next in line!  GULP!  I need to get things organized around here!  I better start either planning my bag or packing my bags and I better get those kiddos down in their rooms so we can work on the nursery.

Aspen Rae Limbo - 7 lbs 10 oz and 22 & 1/2 inches long.

Happy Mommy and New Baby Aspen

Happy Auntie and baby Aspen

Sweet little one

Baby Aspen Rae is welcomed by twin siblings: Brother Tristan and Sister Torin

35 Weeks Along

Yesterday we had an opportunity to spend some time watching our sweet baby via ultrasound, thanks to a friend at the hospital - gotta love connections!
She kept her hands up by her face most of the time but right at the end, after I turned onto my side, we were able to catch a glimpse of her face even though she kept one hand up by her nose.

Good news: it's still a girl!  Phew!  The last few months I've had lots of dreams that I was having a boy puppy.  Funny how our dreams play with our heart strings.  She's also head down, ready for the big day.  Soon, very soon!   Praying that I'll be able to have this little one natural again like I did with Grayson and that labor and delivery go quickly and smoothly.

Progress with Our Little Helpers

Jeremiah and I have been working diligently to get kids' new rooms finished downstairs.  It seems like it takes forever when you work an hour or two here and there, but progress IS progress nevertheless. 

Jer finished putting in all the trim in both rooms last night - hip hip hooray!!   What a big job.  Thankful that Jer is a super handy-man and also thankful for the all free matching trim from my Dad.  Next step: call the carpet guy and tell him that we're ready for him to come and do his job.  During the wait though we we'll finish filling nail holes, touch-up paint, put outlets in, put in the remain lights, put shelves in the closet, and hang the pull down blind. Oh and the twins' room still needs a shelf for the half wall and trim around that, again, one thing at a time.  

Looking forward to getting these rooms finished!  I am ready to work on the nursery, but currently that has to wait until the twins are out of their current room upstairs.  Still planning to have the 3 kids downstairs in their new rooms by the first week of August, so we still have a few weeks yet.  But, with each passing week(I'll be 34 weeks along tomorrow - Monday 7/16)  we get closer to the day our new little one will arrive, plus with each passing day my energy levels decrease, so normally I'm pretty EXHAUSTED by lunch time, especially on these extremely hot days (in the 90's and low 100's).  I really have to dig deep within to find spare energy to be able to get dinner on the table, kids in bed and put an hour or 2 into working on the basement projects.  Must. finish. well.  

 Anyway, enjoy the pictures of the progress of the twins' room and the pictures of our little helpers.  

Summer Celebration

We celebrated my 30th birthday by going to the carnival (just like almost every other year for the last 20 years).  The kids had a BLAST!  The kids rode 6 rides (even Grayson!) and I am sure they would have been more than willing and happy to ride on a few more, even if they were repeats, but we had to cut them off since tickets weren't cheap (a dollar a ticket, and each ride cost 2 or 3 tickets each kid...it adds up fast).  But this Momma was more than happy to see the kids ride in my place.  

In years past I used to favor the "Zipper", "Mean Machine" and the "Til-A-Whirl".  My siblings and I would ride 'til our hearts were content or until a rain storm would come and break up the fun.  For years my Mom and Dad would get us wrist passes for an evening and boy did we get our money's worth of rides.  I think in a year or two we may just have to get passes for the kids if we want to continue this birthday/4th of July tradition.

We decided to go crazy and attend the Belle Fourche (10 minutes from Spearfish) Parade instead of the short parade in Spearfish. Belle Fourche's parade was 90 minute long (far too long). Pretty sure everyone and their neighbor from all around came out to view it, just like they do every year.  People begin lining the streets 3 hours BEFORE the parade even started!  NUTS, but oh so fun.  I wouldn't trade this small town living for anything.  I am super content and happy to stay right here.

My heart was moved a little more this year as we celebrated America, her freedom and all those that fight for her freedom.  Brad Limbo (married to my younger sister Alesha) is being deployed overseas for 10 months; his activation (he's with national guards) ceremony is today (7/6/2012) in Sioux Falls, SD.   Brad and Alesha have a set of twins, Torin (L) and Tristan (R) and their 3rd baby is due July 26th (3 weeks away).  If you think of Brad, Alesha and kids, pray for them as this is a very difficult season for them to endure.  Brad will be unable to return for baby #3's birth, but hopefully he will be able to be apart of it via Skype.  He is being sent overseas on July 26th (Alesha's due date), so if you would, stand in agreement with us that this baby will be born earlier than the 26th so Brad doesn't have to miss out on the big day (even if it's via Skype).

You're our Hero, Brad!

Time Flies...

Time flies...when you have a billion things to do!!  Holy smokes, you should see our to-do list right about now.  Summer always brings out the big projects with us, and this Summer is no different.  With Baby #4 on its way and due in August, we are cramming our days with raising three busy, entertaining children that demand a whole lot of our attention, along with that we are trying to finish up 2 bedrooms downstairs for Grayson and the twins.

Grayson's room has been "mostly" done for awhile, but the closet, built-in dresser, and carpet are a few things that still need to be done.  Once the carpet is laid and the closet door is hung, Grayson will have a new room to sleep in.  Our plan of attack is to move Grayson and twins into their new rooms the 1st of August that way they have time to transition to their new rooms before we add family member #6 to our everyday life.

Josh and Saray's room has come alive in the last 50 days - its transformation is amazing!  We are nearly finished with the painting of the walls, then its onto the carpet being laid (by a professional, thank goodness!) and doors all need to be painted & hung (4 doors to be exact), shelves for the half wall & and ledge for the window need to be routed, painted and nailed in place.  Oh and don't forget all the trim, make window coverings, forget that, I think I'll just buy a blackout blind for now.  Light figures and pictures need to be hung.  And the best part yet, bunk beds need to be put together for the little sleepers/jumpers Josh and Saray.

After all the furniture has been moved around, we'll be able to put together/organize the nursery which is near our room, currently it's Josh and Saray's room.  (Oh, you're probably wondering where Grayson has been all this time...he's been in our walk-in closet, perfect fit for a crib and a young one.)  Let's just hope that we can get everything, or almost everything, done before this baby decides to arrive!!  It's a race - will our projects be done before the baby arrives, or will baby beat our projects?!  Yikes! Talk about just a little pressure.

Baby #4 is quite active, but not as fierce of a kicker/puncher like Grayson and Saray were.  Praying that means the temperament of this little one will be easy-going.   I hit the 30 week mark on Monday (June 18th) - hard to believe!!  I am at the point of having doctor visits every two weeks (We have 3 OB doctors, so there's a rotation visit schedule).

All I can say is that I am so thankful God knows what our family needs, and I know that this little one will be a great addition to our already great family.  I am also thankful that I am not called to do anything on my own strength...it's a good thing, cause when I think about doing it in my own strength I mildly freak out.  I think God knows I need a good and solid reason to sit several times a day to nurse after the baby arrives...right now I hardly get the chance to sit and rest my feet (#1 cause for the varicose veins I am dealing with.)

Big news: I am turning 30 on July 2nd!  The country is celebrating with me by shooting off plenty of fireworks, having a few parades and bringing in the carnival.  ;) Lucky me!  What a big birthday celebration!!  My kids are super excited for my birthday, mostly due to the fact that it means they get to ride on the carnival rides, watch a few parades, eat a few extra pieces of candy, and stay up late and watch the firework display after the evening dusk.  Oh, one must love a birthday around the holidays.  ;)

Farewell 'til next time!  Happy 4th of July!

I leave you with a few pictures of the kids...

Grayson - 2 yrs old

Grayson biking with his cousin Tristan

Grayson and Josh

Saray - 3.5 yrs old

Gray and Josh...what a picture!

Joshua - 3.5 yrs old

Grayson and his new style.

Baby bump (28 weeks) and Saray

Saray loves worms, ladybugs, grasshoppers, butterflies, and more.

Grayson's 2nd Year

How is it possible that my little baby has turned two?  When did he trade nursing for every kind of table food?  When did he stop sucking his two middle fingers on his left hand?  How does a baby change to a toddler so very fast?!  I blinked and he's running, chasing after every kind of ball, jumping, skipping, talking, counts to 15, learning to ride an orange Strider bike (Just a fun fyi: the guy that invented the Strider bike is from Rapid City SD and the headquarters is also in Rapid City).

Grayson is funny, charming, loves to hug and kiss, super out-going (says hi and bye to everyone), very athletic.  He keeps us laughing and he delights in being a ham for anyone.  He's a great addition to our family.

We kept his birthday simple; we had a birthday breakfast and wished him a happy birthday.  He was so thrilled to blow out his 2 candles and wanted to do it a few times just to make sure it was the real deal.  We had a simple "let's hang out" kind of birthday party at a park the day after his birthday.  I made some football cupcakes and Daddy made a small balloon banner.  He loved running around the park and climbing up to the highest slide at the park.  Simple is the best, and easy for this Momma.

Happy birthday, Grayson.  We love you!  

Grayson and his new ball and his birthday balloon banner.

Happy little kiddo. 

Grayson and Saray

What a fantastic trio!

Happy 2nd birthday, Grayson!

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