It's A Boy!!!

We are so proud to introduce our newest addition to the Sharpe family, a beautiful son.
Bennett Alfred (named after his late Papa Smith) came into the world at 3am on Sunday 8/30/09. He weighed in at 8#12oz, and was 21" long. It was love at first sight for us, but then we've been in love with this little person for the past 38+ weeks!! It was just so great to finally meet him, and find out whether he was a Clara or a Bennett! Jon got to announce the sex, and was so proud to call out "It's a boy!!" I cried like a baby I was so happy, surprised and proud.

I went into labor on Saturday after walking around the State Fair all morning. I am still just very thankful that I didn't go into labor, or have my water break, at the fair. Three hours after we got home from the fair is when the action began.....and the rest is history.

Proud New Mommy and Daddy

Nana Smith with her new grandson

Aunt Katy and the kids checking out Bennett from head to toe....lots of questions from Hayden and Erica

Our new family of FIVE (gulp, bring on the chaos)!!!

Sibling Love:

Hayden the amazing, doting big brother
&
Erica the loving, coddling big sister

And finally getting ready to go home on Monday morning:

Having a quick bite before the first car seat adventure (and trip to Panera for the hungry, nursing, sick of hospital food Mama)

Bennett Alfred, Created With Love:

Bennett, at home, 2 days old--
chillin' in his vibrating chair in the sunshine

We may be a little sleep deprived, and are definitely trying to learn a new norm at our house right now....but we are so happy, blessed, thankful, and IN LOVE with our new little man. Smitten is a good way to describe our current state of being.

36 Weeks...and Counting!!

We spent my 36th week of pregnancy on our annual Sharpe family vacation in Park Rapids, MN at Isle O' Dreams resort. It only seemed appropriate to use the beautiful surroundings to do our belly shots for my ninth month.

Just 4 weeks to go now, and DYING to meet this little person.
Come out, come out, whoever you are!!!!

Baby Birds

I came across this nest while watering my flowers the other day. I had pulled the large hanging pouch down and was just about to drop the hose into it when I realized that there was a nest and four little eggs in the top opening. I quickly hung the pouch back up, and hoped that I hadn't disturbed the nest at all. Over the last few weeks we have just watched with excitement as the eggs have hatched, and the four baby birds have grown up right before our eyes and camera lens. The above picture was taken on 7/11.

Here are the first two hatchlings, taken just 5 days later on 7/16:

On 7/19 they have a bit more fuzz, and you can start to see their eyes, though still closed:

Now on 7/21 you can see a little beak on one of them:

Bigger yet on 7/24, and you can start to see feathers on the wings, and their
eyes are now open:



Looking like cute little birdies now on 7/28...and running out of nest space quickly:

And finally today, 8/3, it's hard to tell if there are only two left in the nest, or if they are all piled on top of one another in that tiny space. I bet they will be gone soon....and we will all be very sad to see them go. What fun it's been to watch them grow up!

Goodbye Training Wheels!!!

Daddy decided a few weeks ago to take the training wheels off of Hayden's bike. We are still in awe of how quickly he has learned to bike without. He is such a big boy, and so proud of his new skill, though I think Jon and I may be even more proud! Our first born growing more independent each day, and soon to be a kindergartner & a big brother again. Where oh where does the time go....can someone tell me??

Wakeboarding with Daddy!

Here is Jonathan sharing his passion for wakeboarding with Erica and Hayden the other day out on Lake Minnetonka. I always watch nervously from the boat, while the kids and Jonathan have a ball!!

32 weeks (aka 8 months)

Here are me and the babe at 32 weeks gestation. You know what that means.....just 8 weeks to go!! We are in the single digit countdown at the Sharpe house!!

I am really feeling great other than some minor aches and pains, and just generally running out of room to eat and breathe!! :) I guess it is kind of the nature of the beast, and since this will probably be my last pregnancy, I am trying to remind myself to enjoy the experience.

I LOVE the movement, and baby moves a lot these days, along with lots of hiccups over the last few weeks. The kids get to watch my belly move, which they think is pretty cool, and maybe a little alien-esque! :)

We got the nursery almost completely set up and ready to go this past weekend. Thank you Jon for putting together the changing table and crib for his very persistent wife. Can't mess with a nesting women, let me tell you! I'll post some photos of the nursery once I get some things hung up on the walls.

Other than that, all is well....just growing more and more excited to meet this little one, and see who is in there kicking me in the ribs all day!!

Splash Pad Summer Fun

Last Wednesday the kids and I headed to the Splash Pad in Hopkins, and had a ball!
The weather was beautiful, the water park is totally free--so we packed a picnic lunch, and enjoyed the day together in the sun.

Along with a great water park, there is also an awesome dry playground that the kids just HAD to check out! I fed them bites of their PB&J sandwiches as they ran by me, because they were having way too much fun to sit down and actually have a picnic!!

My, my how we love the summer....and Wednesdays off together!!