One month old

In case you haven't noticed, blogging with 3 children is hard. I really had good intentions...but those intentions were squashed by a host of other things on my 'to do' list that seemed to push "update the blog" further and further to the bottom. But, here it is :)

Well, a month has passed, and I'm happy to report that everyone is still alive. Sleep deprived? maybe. A little sick? maybe. But, we're alive, nonetheless. I really have been blessed with a good baby. She really isn't any trouble at all, and has a very sweet temperment. She is a good eater, sleeper, seems to be immune to loud noises, and still only really cries when she's hungry or naked :) She weighed in at 7 pounds 8 ounces at our last check-up about a week ago...still smaller than either of the boys were at birth. But, we are growing, and that's what counts :) Here is her one month bunny picture... Since I have been lacking in updates and pictures of this little peach, I thought as long as I was here, I would go all out. So here is a sampling of some of my favorites, and why I like them so much.

We have yet to attempt a family picture. Really, I haven't even thought about it. But I came across this one from the day she was born and noticed that all 5 of us managed to make it in the shot. So, for now, this will have to be our family picture.

In her coming home gown and bonnet. It swallows her whole, and I love it.

Jackson feeding her a bottle. It is definitley easier to nurse her than pump...but her big brother wanted to feed her a bottle so badly, I had to oblige him :) I love how he's holding her little head so sweetly to help support her...something he did all on his own.

Luke can never be left out of anything Jackson does, so he had to get a turn holding his baby sister. He talks to her in the sweetest little voice...it is the cutest thing.

A picture with her Chief. I love this one because it looks like he's tickling her and she's just laughing away :) (totally not what was happening, but that's what it looks like, so we'll go with it)

Her first bath. Daddy is the bathtime guy. He has always been the one to bathe our children...I guess because that time of day (night) is really the only time he gets to see them. So, the tradition continues. I especially like this one because it captures her little mohawk. She has had this from about week one, and it just continues to grow longer and fuller.

Luke is always so interested in seeing everything that she is doing. If he can't see, he runs to find a stool and parks it right next to our feet to get a better look. This time, he got a little boost from Daddy :)
Her first, and forever, Valentine :)
Of course, he said yes...and brought her her first Valentine flowers. What a sweet Daddy :)With her Teddy. My mom thinks she looks a lot like me when I was a baby....
...and I think she's right.
A little 'tummy time'. I just love her little expression :)Just 2 brothers, checking in on their little sister.
So, there you have it. Hopefully it won't be too long before another post...
but I'm not making any promises :)

One week old

how does time go so fast? they say it goes faster with each child, and that seems so true. it has been a week (actually 10 days) since abby may was born, and it just can't have gone by that fast. but, in a way, it feels like she's been a part of our family forever. a little piece that we never even knew was missing, has just made our little puzzle complete. :) she has fit into our family so perfectly, so seamlessly...it just seems too good to be true. you are such a sweet, sweet baby, abby may. you don't really fuss. except when you're hungry, need to be changed, or are naked. you don't like being naked, and your father and i would like to keep it that way ;) you are TEE TINY! we are not used to having a baby this small. you are like a tiny little baby doll. while this is sweet, you need to put on some pounds, little miss. none of your clothes fit, and washing the same 3 outfits every couple days is getting old :) you have your daddy (well, your mommy and brothers too) wrapped around your finger, and have from the minute you were born. i'll never forget...as soon as you were born and they handed you to me, your daddy looked at you and said his first words to you...i don't even know what they were...and you poked your little bottom lip out as far as it would go. it began there. mere seconds after you were born...you had him.

there are so many pictures i would like to share, but for now, all i can manage is a few to capture her "one week" milestone. one of the only true 'outfits' that fit her. otherwise, she is usually in a gown. when jackson saw her in this he said "wow...she looks like a real girl today!"
your brothers LOVE you to pieces. i can't even keep track of how many times they kiss your little head each day. it just warms my heart :)
luke really wanted you to see his slap bracelet

and here is further proof that you are, in fact, your mama's girl. the animals have claimed you as theirs :)

i LOVE it!

hopefully there will be more pictures to come soon. for now, we are just enjoying our little girl and couldn't be happier!

She's here!

Abigayle May Dennis

"Abby May"

born January 21, 2011

11:08 a.m.

6 lbs 6 oz

20 inches long

Praise God!

One day

One day! Well, by now, it's really like 3 or 4 hours. We should get a call to come into the hospital tonight around 10 or 11 (although with Luke we didn't get the call until 4 am). But soon we will be starting on this journey! It has been kind of a crazy day...very emotional for me. I really had pictured that this day would go so much differently, but oh well. I have still had some sweet time with my boys, some great love and snuggles from my animals, and managed to squeeze in a nap and dinner at IVP :) So, as promised, here are the pictures of my sweet girl's nursery. (The curtains are temporary...just fill-ins until Teddy's handmade ones with the BEAUTIFUL fabric are finished :)) Quite a change from the blue and the trains, don't you think?

Her crib View from the doorA guest bed for whoever would like to get up with little miss :) Her sign, just waiting to be filled in
Her sweet coming home outfit

One of my favorite things in her room. There are a lot of handmade touches, mostly by Mommy, but I did ask Jackson to draw a picture of our family for his baby sister.

I just adore it.

So there you have it. Now all it needs is a sweet baby to fill it with memories...for the next 5 months anyway.
Looking so forward to holding you in my arms, Abby May.

One week

One week. In just 7 short days, our little girl will be here. Surreal probably sums it up the best...and ready :). If you're doing the math, yes, her arrival has moved up by about 10 days. Lots of things factored into this decision that are probably too personal to share in such a public forum, so I'll just say that after much discussion between Brad, myself, and our doctor, we decided to welcome our little girl into the world on January 21st.
Jackson can hardly stand it. His countdown chain is getting shorter by the day, he loves to look through all of her stuff (and believe me, she's got a LOT to look through), and he's always talking about what she'll be like. He has even made a pretty good guess at her numbers...7 lbs, 10 oz, and 20 inches long. Luke thinks she will have black hair and black eyes...mmmm.
So we are enjoying our last week as a family of 4 (well, 7 if you count the animals...which I do). Next week, we will be forever (for now) a family of 5 (8 :)). I am nervous, anxious, scared, but most of all, just excited...and extremely thankful.
The nesting is in full swing, although I would be getting a lot more accomplished if I could sleep at night and have the energy during the day to actually "nest". Doesn't that seem cruel? That with one week before I have no choice but to go without sleep, I sleep at most, about an hour at a time? It's miserable...but totally worth it. The weird thing is that the little increments of sleep that I do get are filled with crazy dreams. For example...last night I dreamed that my mom and I were out shopping for my birthing gown. Yes, my birthing gown. It was quite similar to a wedding dress. Big and white, with a huge ball gown skirt. Only, it was filled with my big pregnant self and I was going to give birth in it :) The dressing rooms at the salon were even equipped with stirrups so you could get the "full effect" of just how you would look in your big white gown as you were birthing your bloody, messy baby. Lovely.
The nursery. Oh, the nursery :) I have waited 5 years to have my lovely little pink-bathed nursery, and I have had SO much fun bringing everything together. I am not finished quite yet. I promise to post pictures when I am. For now, I'll leave you with the before pictures of sweet Luke's nursery...which is now, a thing of the past...
So these last few days I will try my best to rest, I will love on these sweet boys and animals of mine who's lives are about to change yet again, and I will try not to be overwhelmed with emotion as I think that in 7 short days, I will be holding my daughter in my arms :)

Thoughts from Jackson

Preface: Jackson loves all things geography...maps, globes, facts, state capitals, etc. For Christmas he received this electronic touch and learn map that teaches you all sorts of things about the states. We keep it in the car, and he just fills his little head with facts as we travel down the road (which we do often).
This conversation took place on Christmas day as we were headed from one celebration to the next.

Jackson: "Uh oh. Mommy and Daddy?"
M&D: "Yes. What's wrong?"
Jackson: "We better be careful when we move to Nashville."
M&D: "Why's that?"
Jackson: "Because there are smoky mountains in Tennessee."
M&D: (chuckling to ourselves) "Ok. Why would we need to be careful?"
Jackson: "Because smoke is not good for you."

He just kills me with his cuteness sometimes :)

Happy Birthday Jackson!

My baby turned 5 today! There are two things that are making me feel old lately...1) When people see that I am pregnant, ask, "Is this your first?", and I reply with, "No, my 3rd." (Yikes)

and 2) I have a 5 year old.

Am I really old enough to be a mother of 3 and have a 5 year old? I guess so :) We celebrated today as a family, but had his party this past weekend. I'm not really sure where he came up with this, but Jackson was determined to have a bowling party at the bowling alley. Has he ever even been to a bowling alley? No. So, where he got the idea is beyond me. But, I must say...it turned out to be one of the best parties. I was a little leary of having to relinquish my party planning (since the bowling alley allows you to bring cake and ice cream, and that's about it)...but, I also realized that at this point in my life and pregnancy, I didn't really need to take on one more thing. But don't worry...it didn't stop me from getting a little creative with the theme ;)

My favorite part?....making bowling jerseys for all his little party guests :) ...back of the jersey

The cake...made out of cupcakes.

Jackson thinks it is so cool that he has his very own bowling pin now.

Party favors

Heavy ball!

My little guys

Putting on his bowling shoes...too cute!

My little bowler

I think Luke thought it was his party...he LOVED bowling!

Jackson and his 2 best buddies

Enjoying some pizza

Only my little 5 year old would ask for a globe for his birthday. He was so proud :)

A group shot of "Jackson's Pin Pals"
This video cracks me up. It is a very accurate representation of what happened any time someone was up to bowl....the entire team ventured out with the bowler to cheer him or her on. It was hysterical.

Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us!

Happy 5th Birthday, Jackson!

You are one special little (big) boy :)

*I'm not sure why there are 2 copies of the video...but I fear that deleting one will make them both go away and I am way too tired to wait for it to upload again :)

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Luke's 1st UGA game

Luke got to go to this first UGA game this season...a big milestone for any Dennis child. In Dennis family tradition (dating back to Daddy's first game) everyone gets a cake to commemorate the special occasion. What a cutie!
Even though it was FREEZING, we enjoyed lots of football...
...and cornhole.

Jackson was ready to cheer on the Dawgs.
The boys best friend, Catch, came by to tailgate with us
They had a blast playing football, and an impromtu game of ring around the rosie :)

Sporting some eye black (or red)
Chief and Kikye with their boys.
Cute little bulldog :)

Best buds
"Ok, Dad. I'm ready for you to carry me down the hill to the stadium. Can you see ok?"
That's better. (What a handsome husband I have!)
Jackson and his Chief. Why does my 4 year old look like he's 8? Maybe it's the #....
The fam.

Luke wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to be looking at.
"Wrong way, Luke"
Keep trying...

(doesn't he look like Wall E in this pic?)
There you go!
Had to see Hairy Dawg
Enjoying a sucker in front of the hedges.

Two tired and cold boys back at the tailgate watching a movie.
We had such a great time! Can't believe the next time we'll be doing this, it will be for a little girl in a UGA cheerleading outfit :)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!