Easter

We had a lot of fun for Easter this year! It fell during spring break plus Nana came out to help with Brooklyn. We took the kids over to the Easter train the week before and ended up having quite the group. The kid enjoyed a couple laps around the circle then we headed down to the "rides" where the kids enjoyed playing on them without paying a single quarter. My kids are going to be shocked someday when the realize those things actually move and sing. :)

On Saturday, I organized a group Easter egg hunt where everyone brought stuffed eggs and we hid them all over the park. We split it up so the older kids really had to hunt and the younger kids got free reign of the candy filled joy on the ground! Sydney was all over the candy and I'm pretty sure she's got a new favorite holiday! Ethan loved being part of the older, hunting group and had a blast searching for his loot! Tanner found his quickly and enjoyed finding out what kinds of sugar he had inside.

On Easter morning, we had our traditional Easter basket hunt and thanks to Nana had some fun presents to go with them. I love this tradition that my mom used to do with us growing up and it's fun getting to enjoy it with my kids now!

March - At Home

Home with Brooklyn and we are adjusting well to life with 4 kids. Chris and I still have moments when we sit together thinking about how we could possibly have 4 kids already, time flies! We are just loving our sweet family and everyone is in love with our sweet Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Ashley

My due day, March 6th, came and we made a false alarm visit to the hospital that evening. You'd think on baby #4, I'd be able to go without one of those trips but after my experience with Sydney, I was a little on edge with all my contractions expecting another speedy arrival. So lots of contractions, lots of consistency, and we decided to head in. Unfortunately, after we arrived at the hospital and got settled, I could already feel things were slowing down. Even though I was dilated to a 5, I was sent home to wait for baby to drop down further and contractions to remain consistent. The disappointment set in hard as we drove home with the news. Thankfully Grandma had taken care of everyone else, including Ethan who was starting to feel sick...and later threw up after we got home :( 

 Here I am on my due date - full 40 weeks pregnant! 

Baby #4 was the first time I made it all the way to my due date! Kinda ironic!

I continued to have sporadic contractions throughout the night, but luckily was able to get a decent nights sleep. Around 6 am things started getting consistent. I timed my contractions for over an hour at about 5 mins apart and decided it was time to start making plans. Chris stayed home from work, and we were left to figure out where to send our 3 kiddos (including a sick Ethan) since Chris's parents were both at work. Luckily, my great friend Dacy was willing to take them for the day, sickness and all, until Danna was able to get off work later that afternoon. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! So after dropping the kids I'd had over 2 hours of solid, consistent contractions and was feeling pretty good about it finally being time. 

When we arrived I got the news that I was dilated to 7 cm, baby was low, and it was finally time. I was so relieved to know that we had made it in perfect timing to still get an epidural. So after enduring another 45 mins of contractions, I was all hooked up and pain free. :) A few mins after that, Dr. Vanderburgh (same doc that delivered Tanner) came in and checked me...9 cm...broke my water and told me she'd back after another delivery and it would be baby time. She came back in an hour or so and 5 contractions later, Baby Brooklyn Ashley Malone was born at 12:32 PM (our first baby born during the day!)

7 lbs 9 oz

20 1/4 in long

Perfect!

In no particular order...

I love the look on Sydney's face in this picture and the way she is touching Brooklyn with just 1 finger.

 Me and my other Mom friends always joke about the great room service at the hospital. I definitely enjoyed and took advantage of a couple days free from my food preparation duties. 

Milkshakes and smoothies! YUM!

Thanks to everyone who helped with my kids, visited us in the hospital or after, made us meals, brought gifts, or just stopped by to see my beautiful baby girl! We love her and are so glad she is part of our family!

Happy Fish

My kiddos are fish! They all LOVE the water. Going swimming at the Y is the ultimate family fun night for us. There is a great zero entry area that is perfect for my younger two and I can't believe how much more comfortable they have all gotten in the water, Tanner especially who was a little hesitant. Sydney is definitely our biggest daredevil yet so we definitely have to keep her close.

We have now made it to March with no sign of baby so we're constantly on the edge of our seats thinking it's just around the corner...