Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Applesauce!

Well we got our apples picked before Jade was born but we never had time to make applesauce. So thankfully my mom came today to help us get that project done! Carter was a big helper too.
Lots of hot steam!
Trey had to get in the action too.
Final product! This probably won't last us through the winter with both the boys eating it too but it's a good start!
And we can't leave out miss Jade! So far she's been a pretty content little baby. Seems similar to Trey from what I can remember. She does like to be held by her mama but knowing this is our last newborn I am not complaining. :) Carter and Trey are still in love with her...it's so sweet and melts my heart. They are going to be great big brothers!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Introducing Jade Evelyn

Jade Evelyn Meeuwsen, born 9/23/11 at 11:53 a.m., weighing 6 lbs. 12 oz., measuring 18.25 inches and is absolutely perfect!
Her big brothers were excited to come see her. The first night with all the visitors I don't think it all quite clicked with them but the second night they came they were really into her. Carter was full of questions and Trey loves to give her kisses. They were so sweet to her.
Yes, she looks a lot like big brother Carter as a newborn. Those Meeuwsen genes are strong!
Napping with dad. I have a pic just like this with Brian with each of the kids. So in love with his little girl.
Jade is named after my Grandma Boers (my mom's mom). Her first name was Evelyn and although she passed away when I was 9 I have a lot of special memories of her growing up. This was also the name we would have used if Trey were a girl.

Family of five picture! Since Jade thought she would come 3 weeks early I had just ordered the big brother, little sister shirts, so unfortunately they will be in next week so we'll save them for the next photo! The outfit above was made by my BFF Jen for when Trey was born (which he obviously would have worn if he was a girl).
Checking out their new little sister and figuring it all out. :)
Birth Story (for those interested and for my own account!):
Around 9:00 pm Thursday night I kept having to go the bathroom and Brian and I were joking that maybe I was in labor and that we both weren't ready yet. Brian headed to bed early and I stayed up watching TV as I started to have some pains around 10 pm but of course thought it was all in my head. I fell asleep on the couch from about 10 to 11 and then woke up to pretty regular contractions and I was pretty sure my water had indeed broke. For the next few hours I tried to sleep but no such luck as the contractions were pretty steady. About 2:30 am I woke up Brian and told him this baby was coming and we needed to start packing. I wasn't due until October 15 so I had nothing packed so it was kind of hectic this time! After getting packed and showered I called the Dr. and of course he was surprised to hear from me b/c when I was in on Tuesday and he checked me absolutely nothing was happening, I was still measuring small, etc., so we figured she would come close to my due date. He told me since my water broke I could head in when I felt ready. So I called my mom, she came around 4:30 am, and we were off. We stopped at ZFS for Brian to tie up some loose ends and were at the hospital at 5:00 am. The nurse said I was at 3 cms, about 75% thinned and confirmed my water broke so they were keeping me. :) Dr. Geerlings came in around 8:30 and checked me and I was at about 4 cms so he said to start me on pitocin. There were 2 other girls delivering so it took a bit to get all the IVs and everything going but once the pitocin started contractions got pretty intense so then the epidural came. Dr. G. called to see how I was doing and the nurse said I was at around 6 cm dialated. Within 5 minutes I had the urge to push, she checked me again and I was fully dialated and ready to deliver! So a quick call to the Dr. and he was here within 10 minutes and Jade was born after 3 contractions! It all went really quick but I was so relieved she was here and healthy! God once again blessed us beyond what we could imagine. True to a girls nature she loves to be held and so far is doing great. I am so in love once again with that newborn smell and softness of her skin and could hold her all day! It was fun to call our family and friends as they were all quite shocked to hear that she was here already! Praying for a smooth transition as we begin our new adventure as a family of five!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Crane's Orchards

Yesterday afternoon we headed out for our annual apple picking excursion. Usually I go with my sister-in-law and nieces and my mother-in-law but since the girls had to move away :( I wasn't sure they would be around to go this year and since I am uncertain when this little baby girl is going to come I needed to get this off my check list. :) So, we took daddy along to experience apple picking with us!
Trey had fun just rolling around in the grass and of course picking up all the nasty apples off the ground.




53 lbs. later we were ready to go! And this probably won't get us through a year of applesauce...we'll see! We picked Honey Crisp and Golden Supreme...yum! I already made a batch of apple crisp for dinner tonight.
After apple picking we headed to the restaurant for dinner. It was crazy busy outside but we got right in inside and enjoyed a yummy meal. The boys loved checking out all the antiques they have.
One last pic on the milk jugs eating a donut before we leave. Till next year!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Beautiful country side wedding

A few weekends ago we headed over to Saginaw for my cousin Matt and his fiance Molly's wedding. It was a perfect day for an outdoor wedding and everything about it was so cool. As you can see my cousin Matt has a twin brother, Nick, standing to the right. I grew up right next door to these guys and babysat them for several summers.

The awesome cupcake tower.
The beautiful bride and groom. The guys from our side of the family that attended--cousin Dan, brother Mike, Brian, my Uncle Vern (my mom's brother) and my dad.


Family pic. My brother Mike trying to look macho....sorry Mike, you didn't look normal in any pictures! Ha, ha.
Thanks to Tim and Jen for taking the boys overnight. It was nice to get away for a bit!

Beach Night Fun

Last week we hit three different beaches in three nights...gotta get it all in before summer ends! Thursday night we took out Eric and Kate's boat (thanks guys!) to Port Sheldon and had fun swimming and playing. Unfortunately I forgot my camera. The boys got pulled over by our police buddy Travis and got ice-cream 'tickets' for wearing their life jackets. :)

Friday night Brian came home with his buddy's monster truck to keep the boys entertained for the weekend since the weather wasn't nice enough to head up to Ludington to stay with mom and dad Meeuwsen on the boat. So we went to Grand Haven beach to swim and play and of course ice-cream!










Saturday night we took our neighbor Sydney and headed out in the monster truck to Holland State Park. We picked up dinner on the way and then walked the pier and the kiddos played in the sand.


Hudsonville Fair

A few weeks ago Jen and I took the boys to the Hudsonville Fair. We stopped to say hi to Brian first at the animal auction then went through the animal barns, rode some rides and ended the night with some treats.

Brian gave the boys the ribbons he got from buying animals.

Jen and Liam going down the slide. Liam isn't a roller coaster fan like Carter. He takes after his daddy. We joked that Brian and Jen may have to go to Cedar Point together b/c they are more the thrill lovers unlike Tim and I!
Carter showing me they unbuckled the seat belt before it started...oops! Thankfully they didn't get tossed around too much.