Gotta Do Better

I've really neglected this thing the past couple of months, haven't I? It really is just hard to fit everything in. I've not quite figured out all of the nuances of our new life with 3 kiddos, but we're getting there. Things will be even more different in a couple of weeks so the turns just keep coming. Hopefully that change will really help me get organized and have a few minutes to myself. I have considered hiring someone who will do my grocery shopping even though I love to go to the grocery store! I took all 3 to the grocery store 2 days ago and though it wasn't a terrible experience, it was quite difficult. I didn't leave in tears and the kids were fine, actually very well behaved and cooperative. I even took all of them to Target yesterday. We had pretzels for dinner at the Target Snack Bar. I know - pass me the Mother of the Year Scepter - I forgot, I own the scepter!

Nonetheless, I know you're all wanting to see a new picture of Jenna Beth so here she is. Isn't she beautiful?

Sibling Time

Many mornings lately, the boys have come downstairs to find Jenna Beth lying in the boppy on my bed. This particular morning, Maverick decided he would join her. I'm sure he's watching Handy Manny or something and she's just curious.A few mornings later or maybe even the next morning, Bailey decided he would join their little party. The boys are very attached to their blankets and Thomas pillows. I just thought these were cute pictures. Someday they may not all 3 fit on my bed or want to lay this close to each other. I'll treasure these peaceful, sweet times as long as I can!

The Boys' Introduction

The boys got to wait 24 hours before they came to see Jenna Beth in the hospital. I've learned lately that too much transition and change in one day is not good for Bailey. He had already been wisked out of bed by someone he doesn't know very well. Spent the early morning hours and day with a friend (a wonderful friend and true blessing) and then back home to Grammy and no mommy! Coming to meet Jenna Beth would've been overload!

So here are their first moments with their sister.

Welcome Jenna Beth

2 weeks ago today, on May 12, we welcomed Miss Jenna Beth into our world!

I went into real labor at about 1:30 am in the morning. After about 45 minutes of making sure I was really having regular contractions, I woke up my mom and told her it was time to go. I also had to call my neighbor to come and sit with the boys until another friend could come and get them. We got to the hospital between 2:30 am and 3:00 am. The midwife checked to make sure I was at the point where it was worthwhile to admit me to the hospital. Since I was only 1 centimeter away from admittance eligible a week earlier, I knew we weren't going to be sent home. At about 4:30 am, I was given a 'saddle block' for the pain. It was a good thing for about an hour and a half, but wore off right as it was getting to be time to have a baby!

At 6:17 am, Jenna Elisabeth Wade arrived in this cold world weighing 9lbs 9oz, 21.5 inches long with a head full of dark hair.

Here she is today wearing the outfit that I wore home from the hospital 33 years ago to the day! My mom has been saving this outfit for this very moment, I think!

Showered

Some friends and ladies from church threw a shower for us on Saturday. It was lots of fun and we got some great gifts! I love shower food so even if there had been no gifts, I would've loved eating the white chocolate covered strawberries, pigs in a blanket, finger sandwiches and some amazing hot pepper jelly dip with crackers! I'm a sucker for finger foods, can you tell?

These are the hostesses for the shindig - Melissa who's expecting #4 in August, Shannon who has made me laugh more lately than just about anyone, me, and Kara who is the Preschool Coordinator at FBC and has become one of my best friends in El Paso.

Elma and Rachael are two MOPS faithfuls and have become good friends in the past year or so. Here the guests are playing a game where they have to draw a babies face on their plate over their heads. Melissa did a great job picking out shower games!This is all the non-clothing gifts we brought home. Jenna Beth's first bows are in this picture. I told the ladies at the shower that I might have to try them on Maverick! He'd be cute in a bow, don't you think? These are all the cute little clothes we got. There were 2 or 3 of these that I've almost bought myself and am glad that I've practiced lots of self control when it comes to buying clothes. I think I mentioned it on here before, but Jenna Beth has a closet full of clothes and I have maybe purchased 10% of them!

The Moment of Truth

I know many of you are dying to know if baby Wade #3 will be a girl or a boy and the answer is.......

GIRL!!!

Well, at least that's what the ultrasound tech said and showed us after saying she couldn't find any male anatomy on her first go round. This ultrasound experience was much different than I've ever experienced before. Imagine a woman dying to find out if she's having a girl or a boy being required to sit in silence for about 30 minutes before the ultrasound tech even spoke a word to you! That's exactly the torture we had to endure. After that she told us she couldn't see the anatomy to be able to determine if it was for sure a boy or girl. Talk about agony!!! Eventually, she scanned a few more times and at different angles and showed us the 3 little lines that are typical of the female anatomy on an ultrasound.

I'm still not counting my chickens before they hatch. I'm having a hard time purchasing girl stuff for various reasons - 1 because I'm still not convinced it's a girl and 2 because I'm a cheapskate and girl clothing as cute as it is, isn't cheap! She does have a Christmas outfit and a few other things purchased by her GG, but other than that she's not accumulated much in her first week of sex revealed.

I guess you think I should tell you the name, too. Jenna Elisabeth and we will call her Jenna Beth.

Now you know everything that I know. I go to the Dr in the AM for my regularly scheduled appointment and I'm sure the person that writes down my weight is going to have to make a comment like 'fatty' or 'wow, you've really put on some weight.' I haven't stepped on the scale at home in over a week because I don't want to know the damage I've done in the past couple of weeks. I keep telling myself I gained 50 with the other 2, but my goal with this one was 30 and I'm gettin a little too close to that for comfort. Mr. Treadmill, here I come!!!