new favorites...

It's long overdue

our new family picture, taken in the hospital the day after Noah came into this world...love it!! Thank you Abuelo!

I found this today, going through pictures that my dad took when he was here. We were still in the hospital when this was taken, Noah was barely a day old. I love this picture, his eyes are super blue, and his skin very pink (no doctoring done to the eyes either in photoshop)

This was taken this morning. He is 4 weeks old today, and has changed so much. His eyes are still blue, but seem to have maybe darkened a bit, or maybe they look different because the background is so dark....again, no doctoring of the eyes done in photoshop...this kid's eyes are amazing!!

a morning with the boys...

it's been a crazy/busy morning, to say the least. After getting Katherine off to school, and then Joshua it was just me and the younger boys, trying to get ready for my dentist appointment. Everyone was bathed and changed, baby was nursed, milk was pumped, and we were out the door on time...that in itself was amazing! However, in the midst of the craziness of our morning I was able to enjoy these nice moments with the youngest boys. Oliver is a ham, and a doll all in one. And Noah, well, he's just plain cute all the way around....

Almost a month old...

I cannot believe it, my little N is going to be a month old already on Thurs this week...so technically that makes him only 3.5 weeks, right? I've realized that I'm doomed as a photog mom--doomed to have endless pics of my little guy. As a newborn, it just takes LOTS of patience, and lots of sweating to capture some sweet sleeping portraits. Let me tell you, that I've sweated like crazy and have I've captured TONS!! But now that he's getting bigger, he's having a lot more awake and alert time. So I get to see his beautiful baby blues more each day.

N weighed in at 9lbs 9ozs last Thursday. He's filling out quite nicely. He's more awake, yet still sleeps a lot. I've come to realize that while he is a nearly "perfect" baby (I say 'nearly' because NO ONE is perfect), he does have a fussy time of day. N is content, and happy as long as he is fed. Doesn't matter if he's changed or not, seems he doesn't mind being dirty; BUT he cannot go hungry. Over the last week, I realized that he was consistently having a fussy time in the evening; so I'm calling it his "fuss time". It spans from 9pm to 10pm. At 9pm, or thereabout, N starts crying. He's quiet if he's held and he's even better if he's nursing, but as soon as I take him off, and put him down in his bed, because he's fallen asleep, the crying resumes. At 10pm, though he's out--asleep and ready for bed. It's a hard hour, but I guess it could be worse. I cannot imagine having this fuss hour during the day, when any of the other kids are up and around.

This past weekend we went to the Family Retreat, at New Life Ranch, with our church. We had a good time, and it was so good to be out of the house, away from the distractions of the computer, or the cell phones, and just spend a few days sharing quality time as a family, as well as see friends, and spend time in the Word. Yes, we braved the outdoors (though it wasn't really full out camping, because we were accommodated in a cabin with bunk beds, a toilet and running water). N did awesome, sleeping his normal hours and waking for his feedings every 2.5 to 3.5 hours at night. K, J and O also did great, not waking up at all when the baby cried in the middle of the night--and we were all in the same room, within close quarters. Like I said, we "braved" being out with 4 under the age of 6, including a 3 week old, so you can imagine how little time I was going to have to take any pics of our adventure. I forgot--or maybe should say, 'elected' to leave the camera at home. I wish I had some pics to post, but I didn't want to take away from our time together by being behind the camera and trying to "document" our adventure rather than partaking in it. However, a sweet friend of ours took her camera and captured a couple of shots of our kids. Thanks Beth!!

My heart rejoices in the Lord...

12 days old

I'm counting the days...and each day when he wakes up he looks bigger to me. I think I'm nostalgic that this phase goes by WAY TOO FAST, and that this is my last baby. I love the newborn phase, regardless of how much sleep deprived I am. I absolutely love snuggling, kissing his tiny little face, tiny fingers and toes, the sleepy smiles, the curling of the back as he stretches when I take him out of his car seat. The gurgling sounds as he sleeps, the little sweet sighing as he falls into a deep sleep, the heavy breathing, the sleeping soundly on my tummy, all curled up as if still in the womb. The calming effect that the beating of my heart has when he is fussy...all it takes is putting him up close to my heart and it stops. He is just putty in my hand right now...and it all just goes by so fast. So, pardon my annoyance of counting days with my baby...but now you know why. I know I've had 4--so 4 newborns to enjoy and I have, every minute of it, but as they grow up the memories fade so quickly and how soon we forget the sweet smell of a newborn. I don't want these to be fleeting memories, I want to hold on to each one. I know I'm going to miss these days...I already miss days 1-11...

Here are some recent pics of my little guy along with his goofy siblings...I love these guys (and my princess of course)!

Nine days old...

Noah is here...and already a week old!

Wow!! hard to believe that this little person came into our lives already a week ago. Needless to say, I have had very LITTLE time to sit in front of the computer to blog or work or do much of anything. I'd love to just sit and snuggle my little baby all day long if that were possible. Noah Levi was born last Thursday evening...I'll write more about his birth story in the days, maybe weeks to come. For now I just wanted to share little bits and pieces of who Noah is, as well as a quick pic of the little guy. He's a handsome little guy (mommy goggles on ALL the time of course). He looks a lot like his sister. He's got light eyes, light complexion, lighter hair color, and blonde eyebrows. Although, I'd say that when he came out, I didn't see my side of the family...little Noah is all Marsh, and resembles his daddy quite a bit. He's a calm little guy, and very content. The day he was born, he came out, cried a bit, and then settle down, calm as could be. He actually let us sleep that first night, and I had to wake him for feedings. The next night was another story...of course he had endured a circ and by then was more hungry than the first night. We've been home since Saturday evening, and he's settled into the family quite nicely. His brothers and sister adore him. Joshua and Katherine ask to hold him all the time. Oliver, while not showing much emotion either way, just walks by him, stares for a bit, points at him and says something as he smiles, and then is on his way to play with something else. He hasn't shown much jealousy or envy towards Noah. My parents visit and attention towards him may have something to do with that, and I may be in for some changes from him once family is gone. For now though he's enjoying attention, and playtime with abuela.

...oopss gotta dash...time for another feeding...but I don't want to leave without posting this....look at this face!!! Darling, don't you think?