Welcome Katherine Jane!

Katherine Jane Eagle was born March 9, 2010 at 3:49 PM. She was 6lbs 15oz and 20in long. She was born three days after my due date and on her Uncle Brian's 30th birthday. Katherine is Greek and means pure. Jane is Hebrew in origin and means God's Grace. It is also the feminine form of Jon. We named her after my husband's wonderful best friend, Jonathan Glyer, who passed away in a tragic accident in January. We love the sound and meaning of her name. She has many nicknames. We call her Sister, Kate, Katie, Katie Jane, Katie Bear and Katherine. She was called a turtle for awhile because she used to do a funny thing with her neck.

My blood pressure was starting to climb and to be sure I had a vaginal birth, I had to be induced. I had my same wonderful ob/gyn I had with Abigail. What a blessing it was to have my doctor on call for both births! Praise God. I had back labor this time and once the medicine started working I progressed very quickly. I only had to push for like 10 minutes. (Please don't hate me ladies.) I cried right after I delivered her because I couldn't believe she was already here so soon. David was a great coach and had two huge cups of ice chips ready to go for me. I didn't even need very much, but a handful. I had an awesome nurse, Kathy, who was with me the whole time. She wanted to make sure I had the baby during her shift.  After all that work, she said she wanted to be part of the finale. Her humor and bedside manner made the day so pleasant. She even made the little hat Katie is wearing in the photos. Doctors are great, but it's the nurses who do all the hard work. :)

Children under 18 were not allowed to come to the hospital because of the recent outbreak of the terrible flu virus. Abigail got to meet her sister the next day when we came home from the hospital.  We were very anxious to get home and see Abby. I was so thankful my parents, Grammy and Papa, were able to watch her and make her feel comfortable in our absence. Abby loves her baby sister. She has learned to be gentle and very caring.

We are so happy Katie Jane has joined our family. Life has been quite busy since she arrived in March, as I haven't blogged for a little over 6 months. Ahh! I have so much to share. I will continue to update the blog since I want to record what has been going on as we have adjusted to being a family of 4. Thanks for your patience. :)

A visual look at the last few months

Reading Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Unhappy Girl
Loving library time
Party Girl
Taking Noah for a walk
First time in a bounce house at the Woodward's birthday party
Elmo underwear is worn this way, didn't you know?

Leaving Church
Christmas Bridge
Christmas dress
Looking in awe at Christmas lights

Purple Kitty
Flower Power
Sitting in the big recliner
Sleepy Girl

MIA

Well, I have been missing for quite some time now. I think the last few months have been life changing and I have totally neglected my blog. I am sorry to family and friends who have missed updates on Abigail and our family. Our family is about to welcome a new addition any time now. I am 38 weeks 5 days pregnant. Wow! It still feels surreal even though I have a very active baby girl in my belly to prove it. I wanted to recap all that has happened in the last few months to serve as a reminder to me of God's faithfulness. Let's see, last time I updated was back in September. This was a hard time of trusting God with David's job search. I am pleased to say that by the end of October God blessed David with an amazing job with Pacific Life. He is in charge of special projects and he is working with their top engineers on new technology. His job is challenging and his gifts and talents are being utilized daily. The benefits for our family are wonderful and we thank God daily for this job he provided.

After David's job was secured, we moved the first week of December.What a crazy time! We are so thankful for our new place. We were blessed to move into my sister-in-law's grandmother's house. It is a larger house with a better layout for our growing family. We are saving money on rent and the location is closer to the freeway which helps with David's daily commute.

My brother and his wife were able to visit in December from CO. Brian had heart surgery on the 22nd of December. This was another huge event in our family. He has suffered from issues with atrial fibrillation since he was 18. He had a procedure called a catheter ablation. The surgery was a success and Brian has had no side effects from it. Again, we praise God for His faithfulness.

After a low key Christmas and New Years, we found ourselves in 2010. At the end of the month, we received the tragic news of our dear friend's death. Jonathan Glyer was killed instantly while working at his job in a machine shop. He was only 27. This has rocked our world. We ministered together at church to the youth for years. Jon was David's best friend and he left behind a wife, Sarah. We have hope because Jonathan was a believer and we know that he is in heaven. David flew up to the memorial in Seattle, WA and we both attended the service at Biola here for CA family and friends. David and I both lived with the Glyer family at different times before we were married. We are now trying to minister to Sarah and the family as we grieve together. David wrote about Jonathan and his journey to both memorials to honor his friend here.

All these major events have happened during this pregnancy. God has kept me healthy and has sustained me through it all. My doctor did take some extra precautions this pregnancy in regards to my 'chronic hypertension.' For the last two months until delivery, I have had multiple doctor appointments to monitor the baby's movement/heart rate, my bp, and level of amniotic fluid. Three times a week I have been getting ultrasounds, having non-stress tests, and regular ob doctor visits. Thankfully, my church friends and family have really helped me out with childcare for Abigail. Being monitored so much has been a bit inconvenient, but I am so pleased that I have had no problems with my blood pressure and the baby is growing well. I was sent to the hospital on February second because the baby's heart rate wasn't accelerating like they would have liked to see. After a few hours in labor in delivery, I was sent home. I realized I was probably dehydrated and hadn't eaten enough that day. I have learned my lesson and I make sure to drink my fluids and eat, even when I don't feel like it.

That is life in a nutshell. I will update with more pictures in my next blog post. I promise it won't take me 5 months to update. :)

Bearing fruit in a drought

Jeremiah 17: 5-8
This is what the Lord says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; He will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not care when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Wow! These verses have meant so much to me in the last few weeks. After David got laid off, I was shocked, upset, scared, worried, etc. After two days of absorbing the news and praying, I have had peace ever since. I am trusting the Lord to provide for our needs. He has for the last month and I am so thankful. Our rent was lowered. We've received unexpected checks in the mail. Small little jobs in photography and computers have provided for bills and I continue to tutor once a week which covers our groceries. God is so good.

Our roots are being supplied with nutrients and we are bearing fruit. We have enjoyed our 'vacation' as a family. David has been a huge help around the house and with Abigail when I wasn't feeling good in my first trimester. We look forward to learning what job God has for David. My husband has been very diligent to send out resumes and fill out applications. We know we aren't going to be stuck here forever. We have hope. This hope gives me joy. I am so thankful for God's provision and His plan. Right now I am trusting Him, enjoying the stream, cooling off in the shade, and rejoicing in the fruit He has and will create.

14 and 15 month stats

I am yet again behind in my blogging. I have a good reason! I promise. Abigail is going to be a big sister. I am 12 weeks 2 days pregnant! I am due March 6. Needless to say, I haven't been feeling well. This pregnancy has been filled with fatigue, headaches, heartburn, waves of nauseousness, and food aversions. I am hoping the worst of it is over, since I have hit 12 weeks. Although, last night I was incredibly sick and needed all day today to recover. I kept my food plan simple today with bland snacks of toast, crackers, apple sauce, and cereal. It all seemed to sit well on my empty stomach. We had an ultrasound on our first doctor visit and we got to see the baby's heart beating. We have another ultrasound scheduled in the beginning of October and we hope to find out the baby's sex. This pregnancy feels totally different, but I am not guessing a boy or girl yet. I have been praying for a healthy baby. So far, my blood tests and blood pressure have been on target. Before I found out I was pregnant, I participated in a weight loss challenge with a friend. In ten weeks, I lost 12 pounds and 7 inches. I exercised a lot and learned so much about nutrition that I made much better choices for my meals and snacks. I am really thankful that God prepared me to carry this baby with a healthier body. I needed to lose the weight so I can chase after my ever moving toddler. Now, with two, I will need to be really in shape. They will keep me on my toes! Since the last two months have been a bit of a blur, I will combine some of Abigail's information. The pics aren't that great. Many were taken from my phone. Yeah, mommy didn't take many pictures in the last few months either.
*14 months: 17 lbs 7 oz
*15 months: 18 lbs 6 oz (Yay! She gained almost a pound.)
*wears 6-9 month clothes (more 9 month now)
*wears size 3 diapers
*wears 6-12 month shoes (size 3)
*loves her baby dolls
*her seventh tooth has emerged
*peed in her potty twice!
*took make-up out of my purse and put it in the bathroom drawer with my other cosmetics (so smart!)
*enjoys looking out the window and looking at herself in mirrors
*still nursing: morning and nap time (signs for this, instead of pulling at my shirt)
*words she says: momma, dada or daddy, hi, bye bye, ball, baby, please, thank you, nigh-nigh, I love you, uh oh, Elmo
*sings: Ho,Ho, Ho Hosanna; Wheels on the Bus; Row, Row, Row your boat
*loves to climb her little rocking chair and stand on it, rock, sit down, get off, and do it all over again
*bouncing the ball and chasing after it is great fun
*likes to play with cups and straws
*still takes baths in her little blow up tub
*loves music and dancing
*loves to read books especially animal books
*makes animal noises: roars= lion, moos=cow, hoots=owl, barks=dog, meows=cat, quacks=duck
*gives lots of kisses and hugs to her family and her babies
*likes to close the dishwasher
*has curly hair and it is getting long (I need to cut her bangs, but I am scared to do it!)
*carefully turns her body around to climb down from the couch (can't climb up it yet)
*sleeps 12 hours at night, and takes 2-3 hour nap during the day
*still not liking cow's milk (gets plenty of calcium from whole milk yogurt and cheese)
*discovered her nostrils (so attractive!)
*enjoys chasing the dogs
*knows where her head is, feet are, tongue is, nose is, and belly
*likes to get into the dogs' water bowls
*restless in the car (we sing and I give her toys to keep her occupied)
*recognizes momma and dada in pictures
*loves to open and close doors
*figured out how to remove the plug covers (She tried to plug in the vacuum the other day.)
*turns the volume up or down on the TV receiver knob
*enjoys taking the contents out of her drawers, diaper bag, my purse, and daddy's wallet
*took her diaper off in her crib and peed on her bedding and floor
*loves getting balloons from Trader Joe's
*gets into cracker boxes if they are in reach and starts munching (goldfish, cheez-its, and graham crackers)
*still takes her shoes off in the car (tries to put them back on by herself)
*enjoys taking wipes out of their package and unrolling toilet paper
*loves to put shoes on mommy and daddy

13 month stats

Abigail is growing up so fast and I am falling behind in my documentation. :) I guess it is good that I am mothering and enjoying life. Blogs can wait. We made our monthly trek to the Wellness Center and our 13 month old weighs 17 lbs 4 oz. Her small stature has been a blessing on my back and my arms. She can stay tiny and petite as long as possible! She has been growing. I feel like suddenly she is leggy and fuller in the face. Here are some fun tidbits about her development:
*wears size 9 months clothes (surprisingly, some 6 month clothes still fit her)
*wears size 3 Pamper's Cruiser diapers
*wears size 3 shoes
*still nursing
*her hair is getting longer and she won't leave bows in it anymore (some rubber bands are left untouched)
*walking everywhere unassisted
*loves singing
*loves dogs
*enjoys playing with her yellow and orange bouncy balls
*points to your nose
*fascinated by her belly button
*wants to bite strange things (the couch, for example )
*puts sunglasses on/around her neck instead of her face
*loves opening and closing anything
*likes to put things in Noah's dog crate (even herself :)
*has gotten her legs caught in her crib when she is upset or sleeping
*still using her infant seat in the car (her Britax is waiting patiently in the corner of her room)
*loves laughing and falling backwards in our bed
*loves to hold and eat a banana all by herself
*loves ice water
*doesn't enjoy organic whole milk
*likes to push her mini stroller around and collect things to put in it throughout the house
*learned the sign for milk/nurse
*'talks' all the time
*likes to climb stairs on the playground
*getting more comfortable with strange ground textures (sand, grass, and woodchips aren't as scary)
*grunts and points for things she wants
*likes to take out the pots and pans in the kitchen cabinet
*likes to pick up our flip flops and walk around with them
*kisses her baby dolls and pictures of babies in books
*gives great hugs and kisses
*still wants to play when it is bedtime, so we have been letting her cry it out after our bedtime routine (this has been working)

12 month stats

This is almost a month overdue, but I need to record her stats so I don't forget them. At Abigail's one year checkup she was 16 lbs 14 oz and 28 1/4 inches tall. Abby is still in the first percentile, but she is staying on her growth curve. The doctor suggested we give her vitamins, since she is a picky eater. We are always trying new food with her to see how she likes them. She has days when she eats a lot and other days when she doesn't want to do much with food. She would rather play. Abigail has discovered playing with her food is a lot of fun. Once she starts playing in it, rubbing it all over, and throwing it on the floor; we end meal time. :) Life has become more fun as we have a toddler in the house. Here are some facts about her development and daily life.

*wearing size 2-3 Swaddler diapers

*wearing size 6-9 month clothes. (Some 9 month clothes fit her now!)

*loves to walk, takes some steps on her own (Today she took 21 in a row, unassisted.)

*enjoys opening and closing drawers and doors (She has smashed her fingers several times.)

*still takes a bath in the little blow up bath inside the big bathtub

*organic waffles, cream cheese toast, and mushrooms are new favorites on her menu

*loves to play with mama's keys

*sings and baby talks all the time

*says: mama, dada, hi, bye, barks like a dog

*waves, shakes her head no, claps, loves to pick up tiny pieces of anything on the floor

*gives kisses

*doesn't like sand, grass, or bubbles very much

*likes eggs one day and not the next

*loves to read books

*enjoys her new toys from her birthday

*Jeffrey, her stuffed giraffe, has become her new lovey

*has six teeth (She doesn't enjoy us brushing them.)

*loves to push her stroller

*doesn't like whole milk (She lets it fall out of her mouth.)

*still nursing

*pulls bows out of her hair

*still sits facing the back of the car since she is not 20 lbs (She doesn't like car rides as much as she used to. I am ready to turn her around.)

*only sucks her thumb when she sleeps and she does

n't do it as much as she used to

*has completely mastered all sippy and straw cups

*loves to climb out of her highchair, exersaucer, and car seat when I unbuckle her

*loves tickles

*smiley all day long (even when we are out in public)

*takes one good nap a day and sleeps for 12 hours at night

*loves the dogs (learned how to unlatch Noah's crate)

*discovered toilet paper

*enjoys riding in the stroller while mommy exercises(walks) with her friends

*points and grunts when she wants things

*we continue to use sign language with her

Pushing her stroller in downtown Fullerton Jeffrey and I are waiting for dada to get home.

See my cute curly ponytail!

Smiley bath time! Look at all my teeth!! Eating ice cream for the first time!

Yummy Cold Stone!