With the grandparents

Jeff's parents are visiting us for the first time. It has been wonderful to have them here. The girls have enjoyed showing them around the Seattle area. This picture is from the Seattle Center...it was a cold day and I would like to say it was a fun one for Jeff, the grandparents and the girls. However, the girls were pretty whiney so the outing was not a long one.

All curled up

Now I can see how Carys fit into my stomach!

Yea-Yea keeping an eye on Carys.

Carys hanging out in the crib

Carys Marie Lee comes home.

We brought Carys home this afternoon. She is a little jaundice but nothing serious. Fortunately, she is breastfeeding well, so they expect the jaundice to clear up soon after Laurie's milk comes in. The girls were excited to see their sister again, and even Avery warmed up to her quickly (giving her about 10 kisses during storytime tonight). Carys' days and nights are mixed up so we'll see what tonight brings.

Coming home in the carseat.

Picking up the girls from a friends' house.

Napping with Daddy at home.

Special "girl time" at home.

Avery loves her baby sister.

Carys Marie Lee arrives!!!

Laurie's water broke around 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 7th (her due date). Carys Marie Lee was born at 10:08 p.m. (PST) that evening. She was a healthy 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 20.7" She did not pass, or swallow, meconium so she was laid on Laurie's chest immediately after birth and Jeff was able to cut the cord. It was truly a blessing!
See some pictures below of our new little blessing with her family!

Carys on the warming table after birth.

A very tired mommy with her sweet little girl.

Carys about an hour and a half after birth.

Daddy loves his little girls!

The happy big sisters.

Carys with our dear friend Vicki Kost. She kept Cambria and Avery the night Carys was born.

The Mitchell family visits

We had a wonderful visit with the Mitchell family this past weekend. It was a welcome distraction during the last weeks of my pregnancy (the due date is June 7th). The kids got along so well...they played non-stop and left Matt, Ami, Jeff & I plenty of time to catch up. See the pics below for more details.

All the kids (minus the new baby, who has yet to show up): Cambria, Gracelyn, Lorelei, Avery & Will

Saturday we went to the Pike Place Festival in Seattle. They had lots of kids' activities...one was planting sunflowers in a Starbucks coffee cup. Here are the girls holding their cups.

Another kids' activity was painting a fish and having the imprint put onto paper. Avery enjoyed this activity. Unfortunately, it rained and we never got a copy of the picture after it dried. Probably best, sounds kind of gross to me.

The Mitchell clan

The Lees last picture as a family of four.

The girls at the Seattle Center (in front of the Space Needle)

The girls at Lake Wilderness Park in Maple Valley.

Cambria & Will reunited.

The Girls Give Birth

The girls are a little obsessed with babies in tummies, and how they come out. Yesterday they "gave birth" to 5 babies between the two of them. Here are a couple of pictures of them with baby dolls in their tummies.

As far as me, I am 3 days away from my due date. I've definitely been having more contractions, so my body is getting ready. We'll keep the blog updated as things progress.

A budding artist

This spring, Avery is discovering painting. Last summer was too insane with our move and she was only 20 months. This spring, she's 2 1/2 and loving the ability to paint (though she's not as patient as her sister was at this age). Oh well, different personalities, for sure.

A cute photo shoot

This morning was a beautiful one and the girls looked cute in their Sunday dresses, so we went out for a little photo shoot in the front yard. Avery was the usual "ham" for the camera and Cambria was just plain sweet. They are a funny pair.

Family in the NW

We have had the weirdest weather this spring in the NW. Everyone says that it's not normal. I hope not. My mom has been here over a week and we've only had 1 day without a sleet shower. It's also been in the 30s at night and hardly breaking 50 degrees in the day.

Jeff enjoying the sleet on Monday, April 21st!!! (We also had some today, the 23rd)

The girls catching snowflakes on their tongue.

Jeff and the girls stalked my friends and I at Snoqualmie Falls. They "happened" upon us on the hiking trail.

Family picture at the Falls.

Jeff and the girls on his 32nd bday.

Non-stop visitors

We have had non-stop visitors during April. First, my college girlfriends came for a fun-filled weekend. We went all over the Seattle area, rain or shine (mostly rain). Then, my friend Jackie, her husband and daughter Molly stayed for three nights. Jackie and I were interns at Maadi Community Church in Cairo, Egypt in 97-98. I hadn't seen her in 5 years and neither of us had met the others' children. Lately, we've had my mom and brother Greg visiting. The girls are on cloud-nine having so much attention. I have a feeling that both mom and Greg will be exhausted when they leave this weekend.

Jackie, Molly, Cambria, Me and Avery

Cambria, Grandma Jacks and Avery

College girlfriends: me, Christie, Nicole and Maggie at the Chittendem Locks in Ballard.

Baby shower

This past Saturday some friends threw me a baby shower. Since this is my third child, and I've hardly put any thought into her fast approaching arrival, it was wonderful to take some time and celebrate her life inside of me. I am truly appreciative of every new friend I've made in Maple Valley. I've only lived here about 9 months and I've been blessed beyond my imagination. My favorite part of the shower was the time of prayer through each stage of our baby girl's life -- pregnancy, birth, first year, toddler years, preschool, elementary school, jr high, high school, and for her own faith in God someday. It was a very special time.

33 weeks pregnant

The amazing spread (I ate too many of the carrot cake cookies...they had yummy icing in the middle)

My mom worked out her spring trip to WA to coincide with the shower.

Party planners and dear friends, Andrea and Heidi