Super-duper older brothers...

Caleb is being such a wonderful older brother! He loves to hug and kiss his sister and always asks me if she's happy. Great job, little buddy! Asher is doing awesome too! I'm so impressed at how much they love and think about her.

3 days old...

Jocelyn is so much fun to cuddle with. She's a great little sleeper and and loves to be held. My heart is full of gratitude.

Here she is, all relaxed and peaceful, just about to get her diaper changed. She's not a fan of this process. It's pretty much the only time I've heard her cry.

Her petite little scream makes me want to run out and buy one of those wipes warmer things just to see if it would make it less of a shock for her. I love this little lady!

Here is my friend Johanna meeting her for the first time. They are going to be fast friends! Johanna did so much to help me during the rough times of this pregnancy. I really don't know how I would have done it without her!!

Home again, home again...

Well, we named our little sweetie pie.

Jocelyn Noelle Carrier

Oh, how we love her!!

There are a lot of awesome names out there and after I over thought everyone of them for the last 4 months it's been hard to pick just one. Josie has been a favorite of ours since 2004 when we taught an adorable little girl in a class at our church. Since then we've only known one other Jocelyn and she was pretty much the "Cute capitol of the world" so we knew it would be a good name :)

Here is miss Josie all ready to leave the hospital.

The boys helped decorate the front door to welcome her home.

The first thing the boys wanted to do was show her their Pooh Bears.

They are pretty proud older brothers, that's for sure.

Asher is so sweet with Jocelyn and always tells me how much he "just loves her!"

Snug as a bug.

Welcome to the family, Sis.

Family of FIVE!!

Hi everyone! It's me, Little Sister. My parents still haven't picked a name for me yet, but they couldn't deny you the pictures any longer. I made it safe and sound into this world on October 13, 2010 at 9:34 am. I weigh 8 lbs 1 oz and am perfectly healthy! I'm a peaceful and content baby and am happy to be on this earth.

Sometimes I look like my oldest brother Asher...

and sometimes I look like my older brother Caleb...

but always I'm adorable...

even when I make my grump face.

This is mommy after she got the epidural right before I was born. I'm pretty sure she told the anesthesiologist that she would name me after him if he hurried up and gave her the drugs.
I like to wrinkle up my nose. My daddy thinks it's pretty cute. In fact, he loves everything about me. I really love him too.

And my mom, forget about it! I'm so fresh from heaven that she wants to cry every time she looks at me.

Here's me after a bath. I'm the one with the cheeks.

Then, Honey, Asher and Caleb came to meet me. It was wonderful!

I sure love being with my new family. I can't wait to meet the rest of you!

With love, Juji (an in-utero nickname that stuck but I'm still waiting for my real name)

Snuggle bugs (who really need haircuts)...

The boys were in my room being adorable/driving me nuts/picking on each other today while I was getting ready for church. Did you know it's possible for them to do all those things at practically the same time?! I snapped a few pictures and caught Caleb red handed picking his nose...

...but he didn't care!

This is Asher's spooky face. He's practicing for Halloween :)

Such good brothers! Asher thought it was hilarious that Caleb was closing his eyes in this picture and asked if he could do it too...
...so, he just sat there with his eyes closed tight until he heard the camera take another picture, then laughed and laughed!

These little guys are going to be such great big brothers!

Well, goodbye 10-10-10. You would have been a wonderful day for my daughter to be born :( Someone recently said to me "Pregnancy is the only thing that would make a woman want to go through labor".

Today I agree ;)

Super Honey...

My mom, "Honey" to the grandkids, is here saving my life. Things were getting pretty tough before she came. I just didn't have the energy or agility to keep up with Asher and Caleb, and I was having a lot of pain and contractions. So, my mom changed her flight and came out to help early. (a big thank you to my brothers and sisters and dad who I'm sure wish she was there!) Now that she is here, the contractions have stopped of course! But, while we wait we are also reading lots of stories and building some awesome towers! We love having her here!

Happy Autumn...

We don't have any trees in our backyard, but our neighbor's tree gifted us a few leaves for the boys to play in. I love the fall time!

Happy Birthday Lance! Happy Birthday Lisa!

The boys have been excited about their Aunt and Uncle's birthdays this week. They thought Jeremy should have come to our house to celebrate on his birthday, but a phone call was nice too. Asher wanted to do a birthday dance for Lisa and Lance, so guys this crazy dance/flip fest is for you! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! We love you! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Lisa, just like everything in my life these days I am behind on sending your gift :{ And I'm not sure when I will. Since I ruined the surprise of what it is, let's let the surprise be when it will actually get to you... sound good :) Love you! I hope they spoil you rotten!

"My big boy bed..."

Caleb was so tired after playing with our friends today that when we got home he took off his shoes, climbed in his bed, tucked himself in, and was sleeping before Asher and I even had our shoes off. I couldn't believe it! What a sweetie!

Caleb loves his big boy bed. (Thanks, Jordan! We painted them black and the boys love them!) Of course he has to have his 2 bah-bah's, Pooh Bear, Pablo the Penguin, and gray kitty and then he's happy as can be!

Fun at "Big Caleb's" house...

We have some friends here who have a son Asher's age named Caleb. When we're together it's "Big Caleb" and "Little Caleb". Today we got to play with him out on his swing set.

Little Caleb was being hilarious trying to reach his soccer ball while on the swing. It usually ended with him flipping over the swing on his head with a cheesy smile on his face. Becca and I had a good laugh.
Asher had a pretty energetic push with his legs that sent him flying over the seat and onto the ground. His face was classic.

Thanks for the fun day Big Caleb!

When this is all a memory...

I'm not old now, but I'm old enough to know that life goes faster than you think it will. My family will be grown someday, and oh how I want to enjoy it while it lasts. Here are a few things that I hope I'm able to remember when this is all said and done.

1. We are having a really hard time picking a name for this baby.

2. Asher has lots of suggestions for us like Jujigaka, Eva, Wall-E, Wingnut, Shiny, Tasha, Child of God, Abby, Just Sister, and Caleb ("It's okay if we have two Caleb's, mom." he said).

3. I daydream about being able to read a book without falling asleep again someday.

4. I feel like I was guided to my doctor. Each time actually.

5. I'm so thankful that Justin and I are in this together.

6. Talking to a neighbor about her pregnancy experiences and realizing that pregnancy can be a true sacrifice sometimes (not like me being miss whiny pants...), and then seeing how compassionate she is with everyone and knowing that there is a connection between the two - Sacrifice and Compassion.

7. Sometimes when the boys are napping I set up my camera on a stack of books or blankets and with the remote take pictures of me and my pregnant self. (Hey, I'm trying to preserve the memory because I never get around to having belly pictures taken.)

8. Rather then laugh at me when Justin saw the pictures he said "I'm going to buy you a tripod".

9. That when I tell them I love them Asher says "But you're my best friend Mom. I love you too." and Caleb says "Oh, Thank you. Love you too."

10. Having my heart break a little each time I have to say "Mommy can't hold you right now".

11. That I've spoiled quite a bit of food because I put it in the pantry instead of the refrigerator because of my pregnancy forgetfulness.

12. It's hard for me to not be "my most efficient self" when I'm pregnant.

13. That the texture of my hair has changed each time I have been pregnant.

14. That Justin has made countless dinners after a long day of work when he's come home and I've got nothing. And washed the dishes too!

15. In the last 4 months I've seen some amazing examples of women who's families are grown that quietly serve young mothers. They just give up their time or being able to listen and concentrate to hold and snuggle the little babies so the young moms can have a break. This might not be my time for that right now, but I absolutely want to be like them someday.

I hope I don't forget when this is all a memory.

Little Artists...

A few weeks ago Asher was coloring and he drew his first person. It was the cutest thing I'd ever seen! He draws them all the time now and I just can't get enough.

Tonight we all drew pictures of our family. It was fun to see the boys concentrating so hard to draw each one of us. I especially love Justin's big head and my three wispy hairs in Asher's picture!

Justin's drawing was for sure the favorite of the night because he included Asher's Pooh Bear and Caleb's gray kitty (from Lily!) that they take everywhere with them.

Asher's looking pretty happy with hot chocolate all over his face at the end of a good evening!

Dear gigantic tummy...

Thank you for helping me grow my baby. I really do appreciate it, but I gotta say, I'm ready to move on. Unfortunately, my boys think you are a trampoline, and you must have forgotten that I'm only 5 foot 2 inches tall. But, don't I look happy in this picture? Nobody would know that only a few hours before it was taken I had had the worst foot/calf/hamstring cramp I'd ever had IN MY LIFE! Oh, the sobbing! I only get those when I'm pregnant, I hope you know. Then, for the rest of the day I waddled around like a really old waddling person because of my never-ending SI pain. My brain hardly works (I'm blaming that on you...), I run out of energy before I get out of bed in the morning, and I... ummm... oh yeah, I always forget what I am saying mid-sentance.

So, I guess what I mean is: "I love you, and I can't wait to meet my daughter!" I know I've been Little Miss Whiny Pants this time around. I hope my gratitude can somehow cancel out all the complaining. It's been hard, but I'm so thankful that it's possible, it's not worse, and most of all... that it's almost over.

All my love,

Abby.