Genevieve Grace Popp

She's here!  Genevieve Grace Popp arrived very early and very quickly the morning of her due date (more on that soon!).  She weighed in at 6 pounds, 13.5 ounces (almost two pounds lighter than her brother!) and was 20 inches long.  We adore her already.

 Meeting her big sister.  You can see from the look on Ava's face that she's fond of her. Her first exclamation was, "Oh! I love her!"

 We've known for quite some time that her name would be Genevieve, but we are still batting around nicknames for her.  After Daniel rattled them off for Ava and asked her which one she liked, she informed him that she wanted to call her little sister Genevieve.  "It's a fun name!"

 Grandma is a fan too!

 The family, minus one.  We were afraid Tim would have a hard time seeing me then having to go home, so a neighbor watched him while Grandma and Ava came to the hospital. 

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 How I spent a good portion of the day yesterday.  Cuddling with my little snuggle bug.

Aunt Amy came to meet her as soon as she got off work.  :)

Gingerbread House Rules (or lessons in being fun for a perfectionist mama)

I'm a perfectionist.  I confess. It's hard for me not to want to build the perfect mega block tower, a train track that connects and uses all the pieces, a craft that doesn't have glue seeping out from every corner. 

We made a gingerbread house yesterday. I tried to let my kids have fun in spite of my perfectionism.  I came up with these simple rules:

1. Be fun. That's the point.

2. Let them eat some icing. It's fun. That's the point.

3. Let them help. It's fun. That's the point.

4. If it's pretty, you're not being fun. Be fun. That's the point.

5. It's not going to look like the box. Let it go.

6. They will end up covered in food coloring and icing. Let it go.

7. Did I mention to be fun? It's the point.

 

Excitement

While Daniel and I have been excited about this pregnancy since we found out that we were expecting again, part of me has felt completely unprepared for (and honestly, a little worried about) life with three.  I am of the opinion that you can never completely prepare for parenthood or the challenges it presents.  You simply deal with it as it comes with the strength that only comes by the grace of God.  I'm not at all sure how this is going to work.  How will I get her to sleep at nap time with two very active toddlers?  How will I discipline them when I'm carrying a newborn?  How will I ever find the time to cook dinner (much less do the laundry!)?  What happens when they all get sick? 

But over the past few weeks, the reality of her has begun to set in.  We had another ultrasound to check her size (I was measuring a bit small, but they estimated that she is above 50th percentile in weight).    

Isn't she pretty?  Seeing again her makes this a bit more real, and makes me even more excited to meet her.  

And, because we had our first baby in Hawaii, where it is always summer, we needed some Chicago winter baby type clothes.  Seeing these little pink things around daily makes me so excited to meet the little girl that will fill them. 

I know it won't be easy, but I trust that God will again provide the strength and wisdom to parent these little ones, and the grace to fill in the gaps when I can't be everything to everyone.  I really can't wait to meet this little bundle of sweetness, to have her resting on my chest, sighing her baby sighs.

Ava can't wait to meet her either.  She told me that she wants to rock her to sleep and play dress up with her.  She will be a good big sister.  She drew this picture of "baby sister in Mommy's belly" a couple of days ago. 

Timmy might be the only one of us not excited to meet her.  I think that he has no idea whatsoever what is about to occur.  Even if he did, I think he would have a very rough adjustment.  He really likes to be carried.  He screams when he doesn't get what he wants.  He really likes his mama. You can pray for his little heart.  I will be.  

Excuses

Ava's getting good at them.  From last night:

At clean up time:

Me: Ava, come pick up your books.
Ava (innocently, with head cocked slightly): I think my body a little bit wants to play.

At bedtime, as Daniel got ready to leave the room:

Ava: I'm hungry.
Daniel:  You just had a piece of bread.
Ava: I'm thirsty.
Daniel:  You just had a sippy cup of milk.
Ava (thoughtfully):  I need somethin.'

Backyard Clean-Up Day

Our last leaf collection is this Tuesday, so we took advantage of the beautiful weather today (it was in the 50s and sunny), got outside and did some raking and leaf blowing.  As I am seven months pregnant, the leaf blower is my implement of choice for collecting leaves.  My son, however, thought himself best suited for the task.  He took it from me, and wouldn't even let me touch it.

Making progress...

 "Go ahead.  Make...my..day..."

He actually was blowing some leaves.  Not into piles, mind you.

 

Getting a ride to the front yard. 

Trick or Treat!

We went trick-or-treating on Monday evening.  The kids had a very enjoyable time, and so did we.  Ava enjoyed herself, but Tim was noticeably more excited.  The thought of getting food at every house was too much for him.  Big smiles, insistent squeals, hands full of candy were all evidence of his enthusiasm.

 

Sharing candy with her friend from down the street, Bella.

 

 Stealing candy, nonchalantly, from Bella.

 Big Smiles.

 Miss Priss.  Daniel confessed that this costume struck a little fear into his heart.  She is a pretty girl.

 Tim is the perfect puppy dog.  Big brown eyes, round cheeks.   I cannot think of a more perfect costume for him. 

 Posing with mama.  Ava wanted me to dress up as a cowgirl, so I pulled out my cowgirl shirt (which now barely buttons), my hat, and boots.

 Trick or treating at Bella's house.  

 

Tasting some of the haul. 

Halloween Party!

We had some of the kids' friends over for a pre-Halloweeen party.  I really could have died of cuteness.  That many toddlers in big fuzzy costumes was almost too much for me.  Daniel raked a huge pile of leaves in front of our climber and let the kids slide into them.  So much fun!  This might have to be an annual thing. :)

Cupcakes!

  Yum!

Love this little kitty!

 Playing in the leaves with Shaurya.  They had a blast.

 Pretty lil  Lia!

 Jack, the climbing machine.  :)

 Jack's little brother Calvin.  Cute little monkey.  :)

 The toddler version of a hayride.  :)

 Jack (aka-Bumblebee)

 Trying to catch the falling leaves.  

Tim surprised me by loving his costume.  He's in a "love it" or "hate it" kind of phase, and I was expecting "hate it."  When he came down from upstairs with it on, he pointed emphatically at himself as if to say "Aren't I the cutest little puppy dog ever?"  Yes.  Yes you are.

 Group shot.  As good as any group shot of toddlers ever is.  :)

Nana and Poppy's Visit

My parents were just here for nine days.  It was so good to see them and so good for the kids to have some Nana and Poppy time   We did lots of fun things with the kids--Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm, the Children's Museum, the park, a fall hike,  and lots of special treats.  In between, they entertained my fantasies of eradicating my "to do" list (ha!).  Loved having them. 

Goebbert's

Pony rides.  Unfortunately, Ava was too distracted by the haunted house adjacent to this to enjoy it.  :(

Hiking at Deer Grove Forest Preserve.

Took advantage of my Dad's presence to actually be in a picture.  :)

Motorcycle chick.  :)

"Playing chess" with Poppy at Oberweis Dairy.

She has him stumped!

Tee hee!

Hmmmm...

A balloon for the boy!

More Ballet

      Me:  Ava, did you have fun at ballet today?
      Ava: I didn't do all of the things.  I did some of the things.
      Me: Why didn't you do all of the things your teacher said?
      Ava (with a twinge of shame in her voice): Because I'm not a good listener.

A little heart breaking, but true. Observe: