Miss Maddie is Finally Here

My husband and I welcomed our daughter Madeline Grace into the world on December 12, 2012. Quite an interesting and important birthday. It was my Grandma Carter's birthday as well as the once in a lifetime 12-12-12. She was born a little after 4pm and has been such a blessing to us ever since. Two days after being born, we were bringing our little bundle home and trying to settle into life with three kids instead of two. It is very natural to have her with us and now, our little family seems to be complete. I am going to try to post a picture of every day of her first year. We will be able to watch her grow like crazy I am sure.

Our very first day on Earth...just been cleaned up (Day One)

Visiting with my Aunt Karen, cousins, and brother and sister (Day Two)

Here I am getting dolled up to come home with Mommy and Daddy (Day Three)

12.12.12-Please Welcome our Newest Arrival!

Well, it is a little after 6am CST on December 12, 2012. Our house is sitting quiet on our little street in the middle of Wichita, Kansas. My husband and daughter Lauren are asleep in our bedroom and my son Kieran is asleep in his room. I am sitting here after trying to rearrange my blog and doing some Bible reading before I summon the rest of the house to awaken. I am going in for a C-Section early this afternoon. My husband and I are welcoming our second daughter into the world. I am so excited to meet this little girl. I hate having to wait, and patience has definitely proved a little difficult for me. But after nine months, the time has finally come. I have spent the last few months away from my station at Sam's Club. I left there in August. After 14 years, it is a welcomed, but sometimes stressful break from what I was used to for so long. I began homeschooling my little boy who is four years old. It has been a learning experience for us both. I am looking forward to restarting the school year in January since I will no longer have to deal with the physical, mental, and emotional stress which sometimes accompanies pregnancy. I think he has enjoyed the break as well. Plus, the new baby will be a few weeks old and it may end up being easier to focus on everyone. We shall see. The last month we have really been focusing on getting the house together as well as getting things together for Baby Maddie. Jared and I decided to cloth diaper Maddie and with that change, we are going to be focused on reusing and recycling. I made cloth wipes and cloth nursing pads which will hopefully prove to be useful. I am proud of myself for sticking with the sewing chore, which normally is NOT my most favorite. The more I learn and practice, though, I am hoping, the more successful at it I will become. We have prepped a place for our little bundle to live when we get home later this week. I can't wait to hold her in my arms and smell her little baby smell. And quite honestly, I am looking forward to time away from the older kids. The next few days will surely go by quickly. I am going to post some Bible passages from the KJV which I am going to carry with me to the hospital this afternoon...as well as some song lyrics. Phil 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. James 1:3-4 Knowing this, that hte trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Lastly...some song lyrics which I will be singing in my mind all day today.... Rejoice in the Lord by Ron Hamilton God never moves without purpose or plan When trying His servant or molding a man Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long; In darkness He giveth a song. I could not see through the shadows ahead; So I looked at the Cross of my Savior instead, I bowed to the will of the Master that day, Then peace came and tears fled away. Now I can see testing comes from above; God strengthens His children and purges in love, My Father knows best, and I trust in His care, Through purging, more fruit will I bear. O Rejoice in the Lord He makes no mistake, He knoweth the end of each path that I take, For when I am tried And purified, I shall come forth as gold. I hope that all of those passages serve you as well as they have me, and will continue to in the future.