Garden Compost Party

We had a few days of sunshine so Reed and the kids got some compost/mulch for the garden. Before Reed was even back from picking up the compost, the kids had their shovels ready and waiting. 

The kids were big helpers. 

The kids originally had on rain boots but, those were set aside and the kids ended up barefoot. 

Kaden loved helping with the hoe. 

The kids got a little crazy with helping and a few of them got a little dirty. 

Kaden pulling the compost out with his kids hoe. Isaac using the shovel. 

A little dirt got on the kids. (okay...A LOT)

Some....right in their face...yuck!! 

Isaac got a face full and you can see the culprit right behind him. 

After they finished.....they came in and this is what I saw......lots of dirty, happy kids!! 

Dirty kids = bathtub IMMEDIATELY !!!!

Our First Week At Home

I am so proud of you Kaden!!

During our first week home there has been a lot of holding baby around here. If you noticed in the hospital pictures and any since.....Kaden has never held Brooklyn.

We would ask him if he wanted to hold her and he would say, "no." It finally started to dawn on us why he had been asking so many questions....he was afraid Brooklyn wasn't going to be staying with us. He was afraid Brooklyn was going to die like his baby brother Jacob.

Right before I went into the hospital Kaden asked me (mom) if I was going to the hospital to die.

Yikes!! It definetely made my heart drop that he thought that but, I reassured him that I was just going to have the baby and I would be okay (but, it made me nervous having a four year old asking if you are going to die knowing full well that there are no guarantees but, we had a family prayer and I was given a blessing and I knew everything was going to be okay)

After Brooklyn was born and the kids came to the hospital Kaden kept asking if Brooklyn was going to die. I really didn't think Jacob's death had effected him so much. He was so quiet about it and I know now how worried he was about this new baby dying too. (which makes my heart break that he was so worried).

Finally when Brooklyn was two days old, Kaden came to sit by me. Reed was walking by and asked Kaden if he wanted to hold his baby sister. Kaden said "YES!!" Reed instantly picked up the sleeping baby and helped Kaden hold the baby for the first time.

His first response was, "She really is going to stay with us...huh, mom?" I reassured him that this was his baby sister and she was going to be with us for a long time. He just smiled and gave her a sweet, soft kiss.

Nothing can make a mom's heart melt faster 

We are so proud of you Kaden!! You love on your sister all the time now and are so concerned about her. I love that you were able to be brave enough to get over your fear and trust your Mom and Dad that everything was going to be okay. 

Abbie is never far when she's NOT holding the baby. For the first few days she would take long turns and when she wasn't holding the baby she was close by and was asking when it was her turn again.

Abbie just LOVES Brooklyn!! 

Here's Grandma Millett with both the girls!! They had a good time together while grandma was here for a week helping out. Thanks Mom....you were such a big help and the kids are missing you now that you are home....they loved having you here....and so did I!! Today especially.....back to the daily routine and getting kids to school by myself. It doesn't help when your husband is trying to be nice and turned the alarm down "a little" so it might not wake the baby and instead wakes nobody until 20 minutes before the kids are supposed to be to school. Wow....what a morning!! 

Abbie and her favorite sister! 

Abbie getting to burp her sister for the first time. I was finished nursing Brooklyn and Abbie said it was her turn. I told her that Brooklyn needed to burp and she said, "well, I can do that!" So, here is Abbie burping her sister. 

Kaden taking more turns holding his baby sister! He loves her!! 

Cousin Rian came to visit and was able to hold the baby with Abbie! 

Such a sweet baby!! 

Abbie lovin' on Brooklyn. 

Isaac getting a turn to hold Brooklyn. 

He loves on Brooklyn ALMOST as much as Abbie....ALMOST! LOL 

Reed and baby Brooklyn.

I am so blessed to have such a hands-on father for my children. Thank you Reed for being so caring and helpful...you are amazing!! 

Brooklyn LOVES her daddy!!

One Day Old

Brooklyn Avery at 1 day old. We actually had to wait to come home until she was 24 hours old. We had to wait until saturday late afternoon to go home until she was 1 day old so she could get all her testing done (hearing, baby care class and PKU done). Mom was doing so well that she wanted to go home to rest. She didn't sleep well at the hospital and just wanted to go home(usually we stay a couple days). Dad was sure happy with the idea since he was too tall for the bed at the hospital.  

So Cute!! Love that new baby smell and her hair is SO soft. 

One Moment that I want to never forget: When Brooklyn was born....I took one look at her and then the nurse took her to the warmer. In that moment I knew she was healthy. I felt such relief and joy in that moment. I closed my eyes and let my head rest back against the bed. I just revelled in that thought. It was a moment of relief that is hard to describe. The nurses are telling me look at how much hair and how beautiful she is and the only thing I could think was....she's healthy and she's ours!

I will never forget that moment, Brooklyn...knowing what a gift from our Heavenly Father you are and that we are your parents. We love you!

Around 3 in the morning on saturday Brooklyn came back from the nursery to eat. She nursed and then we just had to take this picture. Her one foot was tucked underneath and her hands tucked under her chin. Too cute....just had to take a picture. All snuggled up with mommy. 

Getting ready to go home. I just passed my hearing test and am now ready to go home.

Daddy putting me in my carseat for the first time. Luckily we were able to use Kaden's carseat(we thought it had outdated but, we found out that it still had two good years) so we bought a new girly carseat cover.  

This picture reminds me of Kaden because this is EXACTLY how he was when he went home. He loved having his feet stretched WAY out and Brooklyn is following in her brother's footsteps. She loves to stretch her legs!! She did this in utero and loves to do it now.

Brooklyn loves her binki! 

I love the jelly bean bow that the nurse put in her hair. We are so excited to bring you home....our sweet baby Brooklyn!!

Welcome Baby Girl

I can't believe that we started the morning off VERY pregnant and excited about what the day would bring. By the time we went to the hospital for our induction we were dialated to a three and having contractions every six minutes. She definetely wanted to come on the 15th! 

Brooklyn Avery Tenney born April 15th, 2011

@ 3:53 p.m.

7 lbs. 8 oz.

19 1/2 inches long 

Classic Dr. Hartman picture. Everyone of our kids have a pic with Dr. Hartman giving them bunny ears. These were our nurses (the one on the right, Sandy, was with us through the entire labor and delivery and she was fabulous!!) She really helped me through a natural delivery.

Our first picture together....Love at first sight. 

While I got settled in our room, Brooklyn and Dad went to the nursery to have her first bath. 

Reed said she turned as bright as a tomato during her bath. 

Look at all that hair!! 

All fancied up with a jelly bean bow.

The kids showed up once we were settled in our room and they brought presents for the baby. My parents had been with the kids all day awaiting the arrival of Brooklyn.

The kids came after they had been to McDonald's for Happy Meals(Abbie's birthday dinner pick) and were ready to celebrate Abbie's birthday with presents and then we went and got her the best present of all....a new baby sister....from the nursery.

Abbie opened up her first present...a puppy pillow pet. She also opened light-up Sketchers, a purple ruffled umbrella and some summer clothes.

Abbie and grandma made a chocolate raspberry heart centered cake. You can see it say's #6 but, if you look closely to the right of the "happy" you can see a zero.....Abbie said it's for baby sister....since she was just born.

Since Abbie was the birthday girl, we went and got the baby from the nursery and she was the first to hold her baby sister. The boys were so jealous that she got to hold her first and were ready and waiting to hold their baby sister.

Grandma having her turn holding Brooklyn.

Grandpa and grand baby #19 for them.

Isaac was so excited to hold his sister. His comment was that, "She's SO cute!"

Aunt Jennie, Uncle John, Cousin Rian and Gunnar were able to come to the hospital for Abbie's birthday and to meet the newest member of our family.

You can see the yummy raspberry "heart" filled chocolate cake. Great job Abbie and grandma!!

The Girl's of our Family

Brooklyn and her Daddy

Brooklyn Avery Tenney

Welcome to the World, Little One!!

We are so excited for your safe arrival!

We love you SO much!!