Evy's prayers. . .

Eva has been praying for about a year for a little sister and today she found out her prayers had been answered. Yes, we ARE expecting and YES it's a girl due November 13th!

Heavenly Father really hears the sweet prayers of our little ones. Dave and I knew we would like more kids but we hadn't been able to have any more after Carter and we had begun to feel our family wasn't going to grow anymore, but Eva always prayed (she didn't know any of that of course). When we found out we were pregnant we were really surprised because we'd kind of given up trying. I worried that it wouldn't last because I was so sick and had some problems early on and I really felt that I might not carry to term. Because I had felt that way and because there were some early complications I decided it would be better not to tell anyone until we knew for sure that this was going to happen for real. I just didn't want to have to tell and then have it not happen and then have everyone know especially the kids. Dave was very sweet and honored my wishes even though it was really hard because we were so happy. We ended up telling a few people earlier on because I was so sick or whatever, but to the vast majority--even family, word has just gone out today.

We are very grateful to report that the baby is healthy, all earlier complications have been resolved and the pregnancy is not thought to be high risk at all.

Initially when we told the kids that we were expecting Eva stated that if it wasn't a girl she didn't want it, then every time we talked about how it might be a boy and that would have to be okay she would get very upset and cry and be so heartbroken. I was very nervous to find out at all because if it was a boy I didn't know how we could deal with her sadness and disappointment for the rest of the pregnancy ( I knew that as soon as that baby was here she'd be fine- I was just worried about the drama until then). Yesterday she told me that she was going to be okay with whatever baby we have. She said that she just wanted the baby here to hold even if it was a boy. Funny girl. That was a RELIEF! Today I took her with me to the ultrasound and on the way there she said "remember mom we get what we get and we don't throw a fit." How funny, she was so serious! I was still a little nervous so I asked the tech that if it was a boy to wait until the last part of the ultrasound to say it out loud--just to be sure she'd be able to get all her measurements and what not before I had to console my devastated little daughter. (The tech thought that was great I'm sure.) Well she pretty much checked the gender right away and told Eva she was gonna have a little sister and I wished I'd had my camera to catch the look on her face! It was adorable-- a toss up between tears of joy and five-year-old giddy. She almost cried literally. I don't know if I've ever seen her quite so happy. She giggled out loud the entire procedure. It was great I'll never forget that look on her sweet little face. What a great day. We are so very blessed!

THE BITE!

I have to document this for posterity ( and also before I forget). The other day it was miserable and rainy as it has been for about a month now, and the kids were in the boys' room playing when the next thing we knew Eva was out by us screaming that Carter had bitten her on the arm. He HAD kind of been on one that day- but we were surprised just the same because he's not really a 'biter'. So we looked at Eva's arm and sure enough he had bitten her but not hard. It was a little red but that was all, no mark. So being the dutiful parents that we are we called Carter into the living room and Dave proceeded to ask him about the bite, etc. So then Dave told Carter that maybe he should let Eva bite him ( fully expecting for Carter to say "no that would hurt!). Well instead of what we were expecting him to do he quietly bowed his head pulled up his sleeve and ever so meekly said "otay, white dare (okay right there)" pointing to a spot on his freshly bared arm for her to bite away. We were at a loss! What a sweet sweet boy! There was no preparation for that and Dave and I both just melted! After a lot of gasping/inward laughing and head shaking we collected ourselves and tried to teach him that's not nice, but I'm pretty sure all he heard was "it's a good thing you're so dang cute!"