Da da da daaaaa .... she's here!

For those who haven't heard, Ember Dawn Rahija arrived two weeks ago at 8:11AM, just in time for mommy to have breakfast (weren't sure which family this "arriving in time to eat" trait comes from, as it could be either one!). She weighed 7lb 12.5oz and was 20.5" long.




Big sisters, Erin and Avery, are adjusting fairly well to our new addition, even with the start of kindergarten and Erin's impending 6th birthday.




Daddy is adjusting to being the lone boy in a house of 4 girls! The smallest one seems to have him wrapped around her finger, and his voice and "bouncing"/snuggling works like Benedryl on her!



This girl sleeps so well. She slept through the night at 4 days old, and we've only had a few nights where she's woken more than once - mostly due to burps that didn't make it out the top and the air had to make its way out the other end. She eats very well too, and at her two week appointment she was a whopping 8lb 13+oz - such a different story than her big sisters! If only she were as skilled at burping!





Mommy is adjusting to living with three daughters, and getting them ready to go places. Some of our adventures have included: Orange poop stains on the bottoms of Ember's feet when we've gone to school. After Avery spent an afternoon playing with Mr. Potato Head, I looked away while Ember was sleeping on my lap, and looked back quickly with Ember's screams to see Avery holding her sister's ears at perpendicular angle to her head, and gladly exclaiming "Two ears!" Avery also has explored the inner sanctum of Ember's throat, and squeezed the spongy button that is Ember's nose. In the hospital, Avery tried to pull the "panic button" clamp off Ember's umbilical cord, which would have given her an "outie" vs. an "innie"!



I think it's safe to say that Ember will be a "hearty lass"! Just wait until she can retaliate!

Underarm Aroma

Undeniably funny quote from Erin today ...

Mom: Erin, I think we need to buy you some deodorant. (mom is lying on couch as Erin hugs from overhead, sticking armpit right over mom's face)
Erin: Why would do you say that mom? (with a bit of a snicker)
Mom: Well, I think my face stinks like your armpit now, and it is not pleasant.
Erin: Yeah, but mom, at least it smells a little good.
Mom: Oh, it does?
Erin: Yeah, because it smells like a yummy omelet! I love omelets!

Yep, it's good to be a kindergartener, when the glass is half full, even when you have stinky pits!

Updates

I haven't updated our blog for a while, because ... there aren't many things to update. I am now 39 weeks into this pregnancy, and still very pregnant! My due date is a week from today, and I am really hoping to deliver by then. The next few days are supposed to be "scorchers" and I am not looking forward to the heat with this bump on my front! However, if God is not finished with this little princess, I want to give him all the time He needs to complete her construction -- we don't want "doughy in the middle", which is great for cakes and cookies, not so great for "buns" coming out of the oven! I am dilated to a whopping 1 cm and am barely 20% effaced, but the encouraging news is that her head is down, in the correct place, and Dr. Peck, my most amazing OB, is on call this weekend, and will be able to deliver her if she suddenly gets a wild hair and wants to come on out and meet us. It looks like Natalie's birthday remains her own, at this point, and it's a few days until the next Rahija August birthday, so she could have her own day at this point. We also scheduled a tentative date to induce, being August 13th/14th. I really hope it doesn't happen this way, because Erin starts kindergarten on the 14th, and I would really like to take her to school on her first day. If that doesn't happen, it will be fine, she is just really struggling with the idea of the baby and school, and I want to make her transition as easy as possible. God is in control, and I want to leave Him there!

Other news ... Erin and I went school shopping this week, which was fun for about 10 minutes :)

Avery's terrible twos have arrived along with some hitting, screeching, and yelling traits that are so very foreign to us in her. She also shakes her fist in the air like an angry old man at times, which is sometimes very funny.

It's really hot here.

Erin found two more monarch caterpillars yesterday so they are in the butterfly jar atop the bookshelf, munching away on green leaves. We think it might be just the right timing for her to take them to school if the teacher will want them in there, to share.

Daddy and Mommy enjoyed a long weekend without the girls, as Uncle John, Aunt Michelle, Aunt Krista, and Grandpa and Grandma graciously invited Erin and Avery to attend the family reunion in Oklahoma. Aunt Michelle picked them up on Thursday afternoon, and they returned on Monday evening. It appears they all survived. Daddy and Mommy enjoyed two dates, and some much-needed conversation time. We had a ball, and are so thankful to all of them for giving us the gift of time alone together! THANK YOU!

I think that's about it. We haven't done anything too exciting lately, and feel like we're just sitting around waiting! Baby has met all scheduling requirements by family and friends, and now we're just waiting on her! Have a great weekend, and try to stay as "un-hot" as possible!