Three weeks

Penelope turns three weeks tomorrow. It's been a crazy ride folks, but we're still hanging on even if the merry go round keeps spinning.

We are so fortunate to have such an easy baby. Last night I even got a 5 hour stretch of her sleeping (too bad it started at 9pm and not at 11 when I went to bed).

Max loves her to death still. Maybe even a little too much. But immediately calls for her in the mornings instead of Mommy and Daddy now, like she's gonna come let him out of his room.

Here are some stats and facts about out life and specifically Penny.
- She has darker hair than I would ever have imagined, but in the last two days it's started to turn an auburn/strawberry color.
- She's a champ of an eater, and is very interested in eating all the time, but at least she's quick about it. And she'll let you know when she's done.
- That leads to her weight being 8lb 12oz on Wednesday at the doctor at 17 days old. That's accounting for her weight loss after birth and then gaining another 3/4lb on top of that. But that's still smaller than Max was at birth. Which blows my mind.
- She loves to be cuddled and held and snuggled. Max did not particularly care for any of these things.
- She is still in newborn clothes but is already getting too long for them.
- She has a round little belly but skinny little legs
- We tried cloth diapering for the first time yesterday, but the skinny little legs left leaky gaps in even the smallest of the cloth diapers I have. So we'll try again next week.
- She has the most perfect little pout and a very angry cry. The pout is courtesy of Mama's genes. I have many a baby picture with the exact same pout.
- She loves to sleep on Papa
- She thinks Mama is solely for eating
- When Max "holds" her he keeps repeating "Not crying yet, Penny not crying yet"
- I've already started perfecting my knitting while nursing moves. I'm getting pretty good at it already
- It took me almost two weeks to pick up yarn again
- My recovery from this pregnancy has been a piece of cake compared to the last one. I think that I knew this time I needed to take it easy and really tried to, and that made all the difference. Now I can almost do everything I was before.
- I have three weeks until I am back on the treadmill training for that 5k again. I'm counting down those days.
- I've decided that you totally forget how much awesomeness there is in a tiny brand new baby. How in awe I am of every movement and moment. I also can't believe how people cannot believe in a Divine Creator when they see every perfect little part of her from her nose to her toes.

 Family Picture

Family picture with Grammy and PopPop

Two weeks of love

Sweet girl

Baby wearing

Max was measuring the sky <3

Picking flowers

 Baby toes

The first week and a half

I don't even know where to begin this post, but I'll tell you everything is great, wonderful and a little hazy as to which day it is.
Penelope Elizabeth was born on June 13 @ 11:15pm
She is wonderful. Max adores her.
So here are a bunch of pictures. And I'm off to bed.

We're ready

I feel like a kid on the night before going to Disney World. I've packed my bags with too much stuff, and I've dreamed of this day since I heard it was coming.

I am quite ready (oh so ready) to meet this little girl. I can't wait to see how she fits into our family and watch her grow and blossom. I keep praying she's just as happy a kid as Max is. I also keep praying she'll survive her older brother. :)

I'm guessing I'll not be able to sleep tonight. Just like the kid on their way to Disney World. Only mine will involve quite a bit of work tomorrow, but then I get a lifetime of the fun rides. :)

 Max writing a welcome message to his baby sister on himself.

Finished Projects and Man I love this kid

Nana was here to help a couple of days and man does Max have fun with her.

Nana brought Max a slip and slide and they all three had so much fun. :)



I love how I found Max lounging last evening before bedtime.

Here are some projects that have been finished lately. It seems the only thing I can focus on for longer than 5 seconds is yarn.

Newborn/preemie hat (it's actually green, man the lighting was bad)

Newborn kimono and hat

Newborn hat with a touch of lace (still unblocked, hoping the lace is prettier when it's been rinsed)

Still here...

We're still hanging around. I feel like I say that a thousand-million times a day now. Yup still here, still nothing, she's still wanting to hang out inside... I lost track of the phone calls/texts/emails/fb checks I got today of people "just checking."

Here's some peeks at her room to keep you all entertained while you are waiting for an update on her arrival. I had to do something while I was waiting today...

Ms. Monkey is patiently waiting too.

Monkey picked out by Max, a finished Mama made blankie, PBK bedding, and Cinderella doll designed by Darby's sister Kat. All very important things to me.

Hand knits (and crochets) all waiting patiently too

A little boy who's almost as impatient as his Mama (Papa is the only who's being truly patient)

Whew-y a lot of yarn :)

Here are the finished projects for the past week or two. :)

A blankie for BGK

A shrug and hat made from Laura's yarn

A preemie hat (actually there have been a lot of preemie hats lately)

The finished cupcake

You Capture- Your best shot.

Eeks its been a while (over a week!) since I've posted last. We've been busy. Aren't we always? Busy with friends, with more visitors, with pre-labor contractions, with doctor's visits, visiting friends in the hospital, and praising God for His provision and perfect timing. He is absolutely perfect all the time.

It's like He knows that I'll go absolutely crazy sitting on my couch just waiting for this baby to come so He's sent all these distractions (some good and some bad) to keep my mind focused on the most important things in life. Treating one another with the love that only He can provide. How can you not praise him when you see the daily progression of a tiny premature infant not only surviving but beginning to thrive on it's own, getting to help and bond with a neighbor, showing grace and forgiveness to your toddler, sharing a meal alone with your spouse and laughing with one another, and dishing out love to friends who are hurting?

So the best shot on my camera for this week is the challenge. I don't particularly have any "great" shots, but there are a few I love. Choosing one is hard and I'm especially torn between two. But sentimentality wins out and here's my "best" shot for the week.

A Grammy and her only grandson, with a cuddle on the front porch.

Oh and a stick in the boy's hand. Right now there's always a stick.