School Days

Today marked the FIRST of Asher's many school days to come!

WAIT...

... did I just write "Asher" and "School" in the same sentence?

When did we blink? What happened to our baby... our newborn we just brought home from the hospital... our little bundle who kept us up all night because he needed held and rocked in our arms -- sooo maybe he still keeps us up many a night wanting to curl up in our bed instead of his own. But still...

I can't believe Asher will turn 5 in a week!

Where. Has. The. Time. Gone???

And the crazy part -- I know it will only go faster from here on out. WHAT??? No.... Really? Yes. And I am already preparing myself for even busier schedules. Days that will be filled with carpools, school meetings and events, practices, concerts...you name it!

Strangely though, there is a part of me that is excited for this new chapter. I'm excited to see how Asher will do in school. What will he like? What will he dislike? What new talents will be revealed? Will Asher gravitate more towards sports... or music... or favor academics?

All I know is that I love our growing boy more than these words that I type. He has a way of brightening up a room with his smile. His laughter can fill the air and lighten any mood. He is strong-willed and a determined little thing. And I know that it is going to take him far in life.

So go Asher (I say so hesitantly). Take these next steps with pride and confidence. And know mommy and daddy are right behind you should you stumble or fall. We will be there to catch you and put you right back on your feet. We Love you!

Here are some pictures of Asher's first big day of Pre-K! Yes. I did tell myself that I wasn't going to be "that mom" who had to take a gazillion pics of their child's first day. But, WHO WAS I KIDDING? Of course I did! This was a big first for all of us :)

6 Months and Rolls

Kennedy had her 6 month checkup this week and the doc confirmed she is healthy, happy, and chubby!

Not so surprising she is measuring on the short side at 10% for length and 70% for weight... thus all those smooshy gooshy -- or as I like to refer to them as, "fluffy" -- rolls. Which, I might add, are all the more comfy to cuddle with!

What is Kennedy up to these days? I'm glad you asked... ok maybe you didn't... but I'd like to update you anyway! :)

• She has mastered rolling from her back to belly, and from belly to back
• She has found her toes!
• She is starting to teethe
• She adores her big brother and quite honestly probably smiles, giggles, and squeals the most when he is around
• She is now eating rice cereal and some fruits and veggies
• And she can sit on her own for a few seconds before toppling over on one side

Can't believe it has been 6 months already!

Hold a Little Tighter

I want to pick my sleeping baby girl up out of her crib so I can hold her a little tighter. I want to hold her and not let go, for I know tomorrow I will have to leave her and return to work.

These past 10 weeks have been a blessing to say the least. I have rediscovered just how amazingly beautiful an infant is. I've been shown, yet again, how my love can multiply with another child in my arms. It's something fascinating, really.

One would think that it would get easier after the first child but I believe it only gets harder. It's one more child I'm putting in the care of someone else. It's one more child to miss, worry, and think about all day while we're apart.

I don't think I ever really knew how much I would enjoy being a mommy until we had our first son. It truly is a wonderful gift God blesses us with... to feel a love you never knew existed inside you for something so little and innocent. It is something I wouldn't trade for the world.

I know 5:30 am will come too quickly and I'll actually have to care about how I am dressed, and a ponytail will no longer do... so I think I'll take advantage of these next few moments and enjoy just being a mommy. No worrying about what tomorrow will bring or how my days will quickly change... I'm just going to be still and go hold my babies a little tighter :)

Introducing Kennedy Jae Armstrong

Miss Kennedy Jae... "peanut"... as we like to refer to her... blessed us with her presence 4 weeks early!!! She was born February 25th at 9:14 pm, weighing 5 lbs 12 oz, and measuring19 inches long.

And check out that hair!!!

Besides dealing with some jaundice, she is a perfectly healthy, beautiful little girl. God is awesome!!

It's crazy to think that tomorrow should have been her actual birthdate... but we couldn't feel more blessed that we have gotten to enjoy 3 extra weeks with our sweet baby girl in our arms.

Our family of 4 has quickly become a family of 5 and we are loving every crazy minute of it! I will try to post pictures from Kennedy's newborn photo session soon!!!

Pregnancy Number Three!

We are officially 29 weeks today and I don't think I've blogged ONCE about pregnancy with baby 3! Heck, I don't think I ever announced we were actually pregnant... or that we found out we are pregnant with another girl. 

Shame

On 

Me!

I guess life and 2 kiddos keep me off this computer more than I realize.... of course except for the occasional, ok... ok... more like obsessive, times I log on to check Facebook.

So here we are! Only 10 more weeks to go!!! This pregnancy has surprising gone much faster than I thought it would. Aside from the horrible nausea in the first trimester (which I didn't really have with either of the other two pregnancies) this pregnancy is going just as smooth and comfortable. Praise God! Kennedy is growing healthy and strong and we are now in the home stretch.

Below is my most recent preggie pic, at 29 weeks . I have found it is definitely more difficult to dress in the winter while pregnant because of all the layers you have to put on! In the summer I could simply throw on a cotton skirt and tank and add a pair of flip flops and be on my way. Thank the Lord for this season's fashion of leggings and boots! I don't know how I would get by without this style. I swear I live in leggings or jeggings constantly.

What's in a name? "Kennedy" does not come from any family ancestry or the like, we just like the name. "Jae" symbolizes both grandmothers - Julia and Jeanne. We wanted to incorporate both some how so we took the "J" from both and created her middle name.