Juliette's 5th Birthday

 Tiffani sent me this cute lion for Annabelle. When we were in Mexico, this lady was selling them in the street. I thought about buying one, and if I was going to buy one, it was going to be the brown lion with the pink mane. I ended up not buying one. Tiffani bought one though, and she got the one I had my eye on. When Annabelle was born 9 months later (hecho en Mexico), I received a package in the mail from Tiffani, filled with blankets and outfits for our sweet baby. Included in the package was this handmade lion from Mexico. I always find the kids putting the lion next to Annabelle.

 Scarlett had Granparent day at school, and my mom and B's mom both wrote her a letter.

 Juliette loves games like this, where she can sort and organize things.

 Juliette loves My Little Pony, so we threw her a Pony Party for her 5th birthday.

 Also, we made jam.

 In preparation for her party, as a family we made these houses for the 6 ponies.

 We love our Juliette so much. She has more energy than all of us combined. She is constantly running and jumping and spinning and twirling. One time B and I caught her trying to fly. She was jumping as high as she could and flapping her arms and whispering, "fly fly fly fly". I do think that if there was a way for a human to fly with their body, she would find it. She loves her sisters and brothers. She loves her Daddy and Mommy. She is a good helper with Annabelle. Whenever I see an outfit at the store with rainbow colors, I want to buy it for her because she is as bright and lively and as special as a rainbow. We love having Juliette in our family! It is always an adventure when she is around.

 This picture sums up Juliette's personality perfectly.

Annabelle's Birth Story

 We went to the Walmart in our pajamas at 2:00 in the afternoon on New Year's Day to buy a mattress cover for the crib. I had a guy stop me to ask me if I worked there. B said the same thing happened to him the last time he was there. I guess we look like Walmart employees.

 I was able to take the kids sledding at sunset one more time before the baby came.

 We also were able to get some ribs at Texas Roadhouse.

 I spend lots of time watching Juliette do projects.

 She always balances on the edge of the counter while she creates her masterpiece of rainbow scribbles.

 Edmond got his arrow of light. We are so proud.

 While anticipating the delivery of baby #5, this line has been running through my head all week. But it turns out, this was my easiest delivery!

 Annabelle Cooley
6 lbs 15 oz
21 inches

A few days before she was born I was complaining to my doctor that she wasn't out yet. He asked me if I'd like to be induced and I said Yes Please! So the next morning I walked into the delivery room (usually I am staggering in, because I am doubled over in pain) and I calmly signed all my paperwork and casually laid down on a delivery bed. They gave me an IV and some medication to put me into labor. When the contractions started and they were a little bit hurting I asked for my epidural and then I watched some TV for a bit. I asked a nurse if I was still in labor and she said yes I was. B decided to go get some food and I relaxed watching TV. I felt an urge to push so I called the nurse in and she said that I was ready and that the baby's head was RIGHT THERE. The urge to push got stronger as the nurse called for the doctor and I called for B. They both were about 20 minutes away. I literally had to cross my legs to keep that baby in until they got there. As soon as the doctor and B were there I pushed 2 times and the baby came out...meanwhile I could hear the natural birth mother shrieking in the torture chamber next door and I wasn't jealous. Yay for modern medicine. We are so grateful for our sweet girl. We had a hard time picking a name for the poor child, but Annabelle seemed like a good fit.

 She has a little dimple in her chin. She gets it from her Papa. B has a slight dimple as well.

 That evening her fan club arrived. They were smitten and have been smitten ever since. They literally swarm around her, doting on her.

 Edmond has been Annabelle's second father from the day she was born. He loves her so much.

 Juliette likes to play with Annabelle.

 Scarlett is such a good little mommy.

 We stole some latex gloves from the hospital room. So entertaining.

 Annabelle may have lots of extra little Mom's and Dad's, but I see this baby and I know that she is all mine. I feel a connection to her that reaches deep into my bones, into my soul. She knows my voice, and burrows deep into my neck when I hold her. The bond between a mother and her baby is a thing of beauty.

Being back in the baby zone is not so bad. I love her fuzzy little head, her miniature sounds, her new smell, the way she burrows her face into my neck. She was worth all the discomfort of the past 9 months. We love our Annabelle.