Isla's Blessing Day

Isla wore the same blessing gown that Evie wore. It was a gift from my Mom and it was so special to have both daughters wear it.

Isla had the most beautiful blessing day and we spent it with some of our favorite people! We were just missing Grandpa Nate who had to work :(. That weekend, Grandma Janis and Grandpa Steve flew out to spend some time with us and we had a lot of fun at the park and ordering take out so we could just hang out at home and enjoy their company. Uncle Nick and Aunt Jenn also flew in that weekend and the kids had a blast rough housing with their favorite uncle while Jenn gave me all sorts of tips on how to sleep train Isla since it has been 4 years since I last had a newborn and I've already forgotten so much!

Uncle Nick is a fan favorite!

Aunt Jenn has so much baby knowledge and makes the best sister in law for me when I need advice!

We loved having Grandma and Grandpa with us!

Fun at the park!

Even Isla enjoyed herself! :)

Austin learned how to ride his bike without training wheels recently and couldn't wait to show his grandparents!

Grandma couldn't get enough snuggles from this girl!

Church wasn't until noon, so we spent the morning playing board games with family and then Grandma Janis helped me get the baby all ready for her special day! Aunt Jenn bought Isla a special bracelet for her keepsakes and it was so adorable on her tiny wrist! I was so happy to have everyone here and to show off my sweet baby to the family. We hadn't been back to church since she was born so it was also fun showing her off to all our ward friends! Josh gave a beautiful blessing with Grandpa Steve, Uncle Nick, and Bishop Nash in on the circle. Our blessing circle was small because most of our family has left the church, but the spirit was even stronger that day than I had ever felt before. Maybe it was just my hormones, but I was in tears the entire time in sacrament. I was so proud of my amazing husband for his faith in providing our children with special blessings from their worthy father. I was so grateful for his family who all came to support us. Grandma Helm took my hand during the blessing and I knew it was symbolic for how far she has come with the church and how proud she is of me (she was inactive most of her life and is now coming back and has even asked me to do her work for her and my grandpa Helm after she dies) and for how we were the only two people representing the Helm side of the family. When Josh named the baby Isla Frances in the blessing, I squeezed grandmas hand and she tried not to cry. Frances was her mother and my most special grandmother whom I miss deeply and hope to honor her with my child who is named after her. The only three people from my family there was my Grandma Helm, my Mom, and Grandma Wiegel. That hurt my feelings deeply. But I tried not to let it bother me and only focused on how grateful I was for the people who WERE there. I do have to give Briana and Aunt April credit for trying to come though. Gracelynn threw up in the car on their way to the blessing so Briana had to miss the blessing so she could bathe Gracelynn at our house. And I accidentally gave Aunt April the wrong church address so she spent sacrament in the wrong ward!! Ugh.... I felt like such an idiot when she told me. After the blessing, I got up and bore my testimony and tried so hard not to cry, but it was inevitable. My heart was overflowing with gratitude and there didn't seem to be words to express how I was feeling! I did my best though and I hope the holy spirit did the rest. During sacrament, the kids played quietly with Aunt Jenn and my Mom and Grandma W. held the baby. So for the first time in forever I was able to just listen to the speakers and hold hands with my husband while I sat next to Grandma Helm and enjoyed that moment with her. It was a tender moment and I don't know how to describe the sweet joy I was feeling in that moment. It was like all was right in the world and I knew we were exactly where we were supposed to be. Very rarely does one get that kind of validation.

We held a luncheon at our house after sacrament and had many more people show up for that! We enjoyed the food and company while the kids ran around and had fun swiping food from the kitchen and having a dance party with their baby cousin Gracelynn :). Like I said, it was the perfect day, and blessed is an understatement. We may not have it all together, but together we have it all. Isla, you perfect our family in a way that only you could. I prayed for years to have you and now that I do, I don't know what we ever did without you!

Playing board games before church.

Baby sis all ready for her big debut!

My forever family :).

So grateful for the women in  my family who showed up for me to make this moment special.

Oh how we love Grandma Helm!

Aunt April made it to the luncheon along with Grandma and Grandpa Porter. I still can't believe I gave her the wrong address! I am mortified!

My side of the family!

Dad and Evie enjoying the buffet food we had prepared!

We were so sad that Nana missed the blessing, but she made up for it afterwards!

I got so lucky in the mother in law department! She is a true gem.

One Month With Isla!

Oh sweet Isla, You couldn't be more perfect it you tried!

 I am writing this as you are snuggled up to my chest in the baby wrap. You won't let me put you down so this is life now. This has been a whirlwind of a month and I can't believe it has gone by so fast! You are the sweetest baby in the world and I am so grateful you are here! We are navigating our days of running your siblings around while we care for you, but we are starting to get it all down! Yesterday you had your 1 month checkup and we got the happy news that you are finally almost jaundice free! You still have a level of 7 but it is no longer in the dangerous range! I was sooooo happy for this news because taking you in to get your blood checked every couple days was really frustrating while we all had the flu and I could barely walk since my C-section. But somehow we did it all! You are becoming much more alert and wide eyed. You spend the morning with me hanging out and watching everything around you. I finally got the thrush taken care of on my nipples but it has come back, so yesterday your Pediatrician ordered oral Nystatin for you just in case it is you giving it to me. I'm already doing much better so I think you had it all along and it was just invisible to the eye! However, the medicine is upsetting your tummy so we have been dealing with that.... Nothing has been easy since you were born and it has been so hard! None of it is your fault of course, but sometimes I look at the universe and want to scream, "REALLY?!!!! ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!!!" Your siblings love you and you are slightly scared of them. Evie gets right in your face and you try to escape her by looking away. But you are warming up to everyone slowly. Austin is also warming up to you but keeps his distance. This is typical of him and has nothing to do with you. He's just always been that way. But once he does decide you are safe and he has you figured out, you will never be rid of him. You will have two of the best older siblings you could ever ask for. This I promise you. You have spent most of your time with me while your Dad runs the older kids around and keeps them entertained for me. But he too loves to hold you and you love staring at up at him while he walks you around the house. It is so sweet :).

Your first bath at 2 weeks old! We were so grateful your umbilial cord finally fell off because you had such a horrible diaper rash that we figured was from yeast.

You were calm and happy in the water until we started washing you :).

Evie was there every step of the way to help!

Daddy trying to calm you down after your first bath had you all freaked out :).

Days and days of snuggles! You are the best baby!

Every morning we sit like this and I talk to you while you stare at me :). I can't wait for you to start cooing back at me!

As my body has started healing, I've tried taking walks with you each day and Evie likes to come with us sometimes.

You hang out with me and Austin while we do his homework together each afternoon.

On this particular walk, I made it 3 miles away from the house and then you woke up and started screaming because I wasn't holding you so I had to carry you the whole way back home one handed while I pushed the stroller with the other hand. It was definitely a workout!

You get baths regularly now and your sister likes to join you!

You two look like twins and it blows my mind!

The weather has been so beautiful lately, so once we were all healthy again, we started going outside a lot as a family! Fresh air is good for the soul!

Your sweet Daddy does the grocery shopping and brings home surprises for me to brighten my day like these roses and chocolates. I sure married a good one!

For our special time, Evie and I had a tea party! We invited Austin too but he declined. Not before he took some cookies with him though!

It was a great time and Austin said he wants to join next time ;)

We have played  a lot of baseball outside while you sleep in the stroller or I carry you around in the baby wrap.

You hung out in the wrap while Evie and I made some Superbowl treats!

We had a fun Superbowl party, even though our team lost :(.

We all cooked treats together for our Superbowl party and Austin chose to make baked glazed pineapple. It was the hit of the party and it tasted great with Dad's bacon wrapped chicken wings!

Watching the game with Dad before they got bored and asked to go upstairs and play video games....

One month old photo! I just want to cherish every moment and never let you grow up!

Evie helped me take some one month photos and wanted to be in some of them with you! She is seriously the best big sister! You are one lucky girl!

My girls :). I don't know how I got so lucky but I'll take it!

Sweet dreams baby girl.... you are loved beyond words.

 I have been struggling with my work giving me maternity leave due to stupid little things that got messed up by management when I applied for it. This has caused some serious stress because it reminds me that my time with you like this is limited. There will come a day when your Dad goes back to work and I am left home alone with all of you and I will have to be everywhere all at once. This means I won't be able to just sit and sleep with you or slowly wake up with you as we stare at each other every morning. And then there's the fact that I will be working too, which makes everything so much more stressful! Your Dad and I have been debating on what to do about all of this because it all feels so daunting and have been praying for guidance. We both  want to be home as much as possible for you and your siblings and are trying to find a way to do it all. But for now, we are enjoying every moment just as it is. The future will take care of itself. I love you Isla. I love you so much....