One Year Later...

Kai celebrating his kindergarten graduation at McDs.

The all important towel shot - Mia is 8 weeks on the nose.

8 weeks and sporting another new outfit. That girl has more clothes than me!

Mommy, Kai and Mia on Father's Day.
Luca in his aviator shades, striking a pose!

This past week was fairly significant for us in several ways. We celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary, Mia turned 2 months (its flown) and probably foremost on my mind was the anniversary of losing the baby last summer. It was amazing how much we grieved that, and yet here we are (never forgetting) but so thankful for all that God has done in the past year. Not only did he bless us with another baby, but sustained us through a high risk pregnancy, and brought us exactly what he knew we needed - Mia. She is just our little sunshine and I am constantly amazed at the way she has turned our home upside down and filled it with even more joy.

Kai also graduated kindergarten at the end of June, which was exciting and yet filled me with apprehension - in two months he will leave my home AAALLLL day long, and will be subject to many more ideals, personalities and temperments for more hours each day than I will spend with him. Scary!

Luca is still my little man. He is turning into more and more of a ham each day. Doing silly little dances in the Superstore aisles and making eyes at me to get a laugh.

How thankful and blessed we are. We had Mia dedicated in church a few weeks back and we made an interesting observation. The first Sunday we returned after the miscarriage, Tony was leading and felt to play "Blessed Be Your Name" The lyric in the song is: "You give and take away. You give and take away. My heart will chose to say; Lord, blessed be Your Name" He cried while trying to choke out that line that Sunday morning. Fast forward over a year later, and we were up dedicating our new daughter. After a full year of not playing that song, the song leader led us in those same lines: "You give and take away" Truly it was not a coincidence. God is faithful and good and can be trusted, even we we are reeling in uncertainty - He Gives!

Funny Things

2 Funny things my boys said:

Kai: "Mommy - when you leave the baby alone, I'm like a VULTURE! I just swoop right in"

Luca: While examining his nipple: "Mommy, dis my nipplepotamus"

4 Weeks Later...

So Mia is 4 weeks today! The first week of her wee life, I couldn't have imagined we would settle into a routine with 3 kids in the Clark family, but slowly and ever so unnoticiably we have. Mia is sleeping longer stretches at night, with fewer and fewer bad nights interspersed. How blessed we are to have our family complete and healthy. Attached is Mia 4 weeks to the day!

Malachi is now finishing up kindergarten. I can hardly believe it. He's been bringing home is work from school, and is adding and subtracting already. Really? In kindergarten? They also sent home his Grade 1 school supplies list. I can't believe I am old enough to have a kid that is old enough to get school supply lists. Don't you remember that excitement as a kid? Brings back all those memories of perfectly labeled and organized supplies. What do you want to bet he takes those supplies in and out his bag a million times before September comes?? :)

Luca is a little ball of fire these days. He reached the 'terrible 2s' when he turned 3. He is still so engaging and charming and funny, but has added a whole new set of traits to the list. Demanding, stubborn, feisty and disobedient. We love him the same but man, how do you parent it when you have a newborn in your lap all day?

I am cherishing (or trying to) each moment of the crazy daily grind of being a mom to young kids!

Dear Daddy...

Thank you for taking such good care of me when I'm squirmy and fussy in the night.

She's Already GROWING!!

I cannot accept the fact that she has ALREADY GROWN! She is 11 days today, and I put on a pre-washed sleeper that she wore last week. Last week I rolled the sleeves and the legs were much too long. This week the arms are almost short if she stretches, and the legs are a snug fit. ACCKK. I need to breathe it in every moment, because she is changing before my very eyes. Her knees are a little less 'baggy' and her skin is a little less buttery. What a miracle these first few days are. She has 100% stolen my heart, her big brothers' hearts, and of course her daddy's heart. God grant me the clarity of mind amid exhaustion not to wish even a moment away. To treasure those middle of the night feedings and relish the fact that simply the sound of my voice brings her comfort. *sigh* young love....

Little Miss Mia!!

We are beyond thrilled to announce the birth of our new baby girl - Mia Soleil ! ! ! She was born Monday night, May 11th at 7:45. It was a wicked labour, but she was worth every stitch of it. She weighed just barely 8 lbs and was 20" long. She is a picture of perfect health and has already brought us much joy! Tony is totally wrapped around her wee finger. Mia Soleil = My Sunshine!!

We continue to try to figure out my blood clot and DVT issues. I was put back on my needles and was also put on a drug called comoudin. It is a rat poison (literally) that they say is okay while breastfeeding as only trace amounts can be found in the breastmilk - please pray for this. I go to the hospital daily to give blood and try to monitor my blood levels. Hopefully soon this will all be a distant memory (2 more months?).

All in all we are completely blessed and trying to get into the swing of things. It feels like we are a BIG family now. Amazing how one extra child bumps up the workload 10 fold!

Attached are a few pictures of our sunshine!

Okay Okay Already

I know you all deserve to read cute anecdotes about my little boys, and see pictures of their wee cute cute faces, but I'm just too darn tired. All my remaining creative energy is being poured into finishing work up (less than a week to go!) and all the other energy I possess is being poured into nesting and getting this house ready for a baby again. So... Here is the countdown

Needles: 11 to go!! (From 257 [i think])
Baby: 13 days (or sooner should the good Lord step in [yes please])

booyah!