Our Peanut

 I just can't help it.  

When I see these I just want to smother this girl with kisses!

Thanks again Ashby!

Four Eyes

About two weeks ago Addie brought me a pair of sun glasses and asked me to pop the lenses out.  I wasn't sure why she would want such a thing and after looking the glasses over I told her no.  That night she took them to Jared and he obliged.  Since then she has hardly taken them off.  She wears them all day, every day.  The only times she will take them off is for bed and to go into public.  I just can't let her wear them out.  She even wears them in the bath!  

My favorite is when I catch her cleaning the "lenses." 

Life with Lucy

Although we are only 5 days into this, I have to say that our sweet little Lucy is making this adjustment a breeze.  Of course she is still in sleep mode but even as that fades she spends her awake time happy and learning to focus her eyes on her older sisters.  They clobber her and want to hold her all the time and she doesn't seem to mind one bit.  

While she did this yesterday-

The girls pulled out a few of the crafts we picked up before leaving for the Valley-

It's hard to be stuck at home all day but the girls have been troopers.  Today they are looking forward to snow cones with Aunt Jeanie.  She came to visit last night and told the girls that she would come pick them  up and take them out.  She adores my girls and they love her to pieces (no wonder we wanted to use her name) so it means the world to them that she would do this.  

Her husband, Uncle Kenny, has a '56 Bel Air that looks identical to this one-

Addie loves that car and one day we mentioned it to Aunt Jeanie.  She told Addie that once the new transmission gets installed she would come pick her and Kimber up and take them to eat lunch at Sonic.  I hope Jeanie knows Addie never forgets!

Since we haven't left the house and I was gone for so long, our food situation has been a little scary.  Last night I finally sent Jared, Addie and Kimber to the store with a short list and told them that besides what was on the list, I just wanted them to come home with some food.  Between the three of them, they came home with an interesting array of food.  I could tell the girls had an influence in him.  These are just four things I could stack and photograph without him seeing. 

And you know what, I really didn't care.  I was just so happy he took care of it.  Plus, it made me smile because it took me back to the days when my Dad would go to the store for my Mom.  It was like heaven when he came home.  We were stocked up on all kinds of fun food!

I figure that I might as well let the three of them enjoy the days of Dad doing the shopping because once I am back to normal they probably won't see much of this stuff anymore.

That's her name. Don't wear it out.

Lucy Jean Hatch

Lucy after an Aunt that passed away at a young age.

Jean after Jared's Grandma Miller and his Aunt that lives across from us.

Our Sweet Addition

July 7th, my due date, came and went with no signs of labor.  I had known for months that I would pass my due date so mentally I was prepared.  I have to say that I was actually surprised I only went 2 days passed.  I was prepared for at least a week.  Looking back I can see that the Lord blessed me with many tender mercies and that the timing was just right.

Being away from Jared was no fun.  Thankfully my girls were well behaved the two and a half weeks we were away, but none the less, it's never easy to only see your husband for two days in two weeks.  So imagine my joy when I called Jared on Thursday after work and he told me that he was in Payson on his way down.  He had debated on whether or not to come but decided to jump in with his brother and come see us.  It proved to be a huge blessing. 

At 1:00 am the next morning I woke up to use the bathroom and realized that something was weird, but I easily fell right back to sleep after getting back in bed.  50 minutes later I was up again.  Jared asked me if everything was okay and I told him that my back was hurting.  In his sleepy state of mind he said, "mine too....wait, like labor?"  I said yes and told him to go back to sleep.  I got up and decided to take a shower.  After 30 minutes of showering I was having contractions 2 minutes apart and was growing more and more uncomfortable.  I paced the floor for another 30 minutes trying to cope with the pain in my back and hips and finally decided to wake up my mom.  I knew that Jared would need his sleep because it could be a very long day.  (Sorry Mom!  I know you needed your sleep too!)  

From three until about four o'clock my Mom timed my contractions which started to slow down.  Although they were still very painful, they were starting to slow down.  My Mom was able to talk me into laying down for a while so I could rest.  I was able to sleep between contractions but when they came, they came!  I would squirm and wiggle my legs while my Mom tried to remind me to breathe and try not to work against them.  Finally at a little after 5 am I couldn't take it anymore.  I told my Mom that I needed Heather so she went to call her while I woke up Jared.  

Jared and I decided to take a walk outside while we waited for what seemed like hours for Heather to arrive.  (It really was about 15 minutes.)  As soon as we stepped outside I took about 4 steps and changed my mind.  Just about that time Heather arrived and was all business.  She saved me.  I told her that I couldn't take the pain in my hips any more and before I knew it I was kneeling over the couch while she talked me through the contractions and applied pressure to my back.  Jared was at my side and while I held on to his arm he let Heather work her magic.  Before I knew it I was eating toast and drinking apple juice to gain some energy.  

I'm not sure how long I there but I was beginning to feel like it was time to head to the hospital.  I told Jared and Heather how I felt and Heather stepped away for a minute, probably to go tell my Mom.  Suddenly I knew we had go right then!  I told Jared we had to leave!  While walking out to the truck I made a pit-stop at my Grandma's house (thankfully she is the deepest sleeper you will ever meet.  She never heard me and didn't know I was ever there.) to go to the bathroom.  I was alone while Jared and Heather got the seat in the truck situated for me.  I sat on the toilet and found myself resisting the urge to bear down.  I hurried to the truck and Jared and I were off, with my Mom and Heather in a separate car.  

About one mile into the drive I told Jared that he better drive fast.  He sped up to about 90 and I told not that fast.  That was mostly because I didn't have time to get pulled over!  It was the longest drive of my life.  I remember sitting at the stop light at Pecos and Dobson and getting ready to tell Jared he was going to have to run the light.  Just about that time it changed.  

We pulled up at about 6:50 and I was out the door, leaving Jared in a plume of smoke behind me.  I got inside to the desk and saw that the nurse was busy with a patient behind the curtain.  I waited a minute before a kind lady passing by asked me if I had been helped.  I told her no and that I needed to push.  She quickly found another lady that thankfully took me very serious.  She asked me if I needed help and I told her "yes!  I need to push!"  She started walking us back to triage when she asked if this was my first baby.  When I told her it was my third, it lit a fire under her feet!  She busted through the doors and started yelling to the nurses, "ladies!  Ladies, we have a woman who needs a bed now!"  As soon as I saw the bed I threw my shorts on the ground and hopped in.  The nurse checked me and told me that I was about 8 cm dilated.  I told her I had to push and and after a few grunts she and the other nurse rushed (and I mean rushed!) me into a room.  On the way she asked if I would be having an epidural.  In a stern voice I replied no, but little did she know there be no time even if I had wanted one.

I had been very nervous that I would miss my Dr. because he was only on call until Friday but the Lord blessed me by letting me deliver before he was off, and also by letting him make it to the birth.  He had just finished his rounds and was in the parking lot pulling out when he got the call.  He literally ran back inside, threw open the curtain like Superman and quickly put on a gown.  While we waited the few seconds it took for him to arrive the nurses kept telling me to hold back and not push.  Thankfully Heather and Jared were  there.  Jared gently rubbed my browline and reminded me to relax my face.  Heather had me breathing and working against the urge but as soon as I saw Dr. Kells I told him I had to push he told me to go ahead.  Music to my ears.  5 pushes (thanks for counting Heather!) and a total of about 19 minutes in the hospital later our sweet girl was born.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have have supposed that I would have a labor and delivery like that.  I labored 18 hours with Addie and 22 with Kimber.  And although it was fast, it still had it's difficulties.  I truly have to thank Jared for being to kind and gentle through out it all.  He took me very serious and did anything I asked.  I also have to thank Heather.  For the two weeks I spent down there before the baby was born she would check in on me to see how I was feeling, went to my Dr.'s appointments with me (we both know Dr. Kells is so thankful he doesn't have to see us for a while!   We brought out a side of his sense of humor I am not sure he knew he had.), filled me with herbs, and most of all was ready and waiting for "the call."  I appreciated her gentleness while I was in labor and her ability to keep me calm.  I am so glad I got to share this experience with her.  I told my Mom I would have paid a million dollars to have her there.  That is if I wasn't lucky enough to get her services for free!

And now for a few pictures-

You may be wondering what this sweet baby's name is.  Technically she is still nameless but we have it pretty much narrowed down to one.  I'll let you know tomorrow.

It's a girl

What an amazing day for the Hatch Family.  This morning at 7:09am they welcomed their third child, a beautiful baby girl weighing in at 7lbs 12 oz.  Although she has yet to be officially named she is a welcome addition.  Addie and Kimber are thrilled to have a sister and Kobie is pleased with how well everything went.  I am sure she will blog in more detail the events leading up to the labor and delivery of her beautiful daughter in the next few days.  As her sister I just have to say how amazing it was to take part in the labor and delivery.  It truly was a gift to be with Kobie thru the process and witness the true miracle of birth.  Kobie was amazing to say the least!  Congratulations to the Hatch Family.

Keeping Busy

We have been in the Valley for about 11 days now.  For about the first seven days I was a nesting maniac!  I was cleaning and organizing anything and everything.  Annie and I attacked her bathroom last Saturday.  My sister in law, Allie, came over for a visit and before we knew it she was painting right along with us. 

It's hard to see all of the hard work that went into beautifying the bathroom but here are before and after pictures.

We painted the walls, ceiling, cabinet, mirror, light fixture, air vent...pretty much everything.  We also bought a fancy new towel rack.  It was a total splurge but totally worth it.  The only thing that the finished bathroom lacks is the sconce we found a few days before beginning the project.  We haven't been back to get it but it's going to complete the room!

The nesting madness continued on through the week with the help my sister, Heather.  Together we rearranged the family room and got rid of a few pieces of furniture.  I also repainted a large picture frame and rehung the picture.  Needless to say, at the end of the day I was worn out!  But, I love a good project and it's been lots of fun.


While I've been working in the house my girls have been enjoying the new water slide my parents bought.  They have had cousins galore here playing outside.

Of course one of the highlights for my girls has been spending lots of time with Aunt Annie.

They have done pedicures

They have done lots of piano playing and singing

They've made cupcakes.

Doesn't that look yummy!?

The girls have also enjoyed time with their Great Grandma.  One night after their baths she invited them over for hot chocolate.  A little hot for that, but they didn't mind.

Although my girls have been having a great time the best part for me was when Jared drove up at midnight Thursday night.  We hadn't seen him since the Tuesday before.  I was so happy I could have cried.  And when he left at 4:45 this morning I was so sad I could have cried!

He came down not only to see us but to help my parents out.  My Mom is opening a Preschool (which is already super popular) this August and they recruited Jared to frame it up.

I seriously have to thank my family who has been so kind to us.  My little brother, Jordan, has given up his bedroom for me and my girls, my parents are always making sure that I take time to put my "cankles" up and they don't seem to be bothered when I am so exhausted that I sleep in.

Thanks Mom and Dad!