Reina is 4 months now

Wait what I have a blog and a new baby. I want to do a quick update for those of you who still look at this. We blessed Reina at church last week. It was very special day for us. My brother got to be there which is awesome because we live so far away from everyone. Reina who is in 2 days 4 months old, talked through almost the whole thing. So that is why you bless them sooner then later. I don't even know what was said. She has been a blessing to our family and is the best baby ever. She is so happy and I know everyone says their baby is the best, but I get compliments left and right on how good natured she is. She fits well with our family and the big sisters can not get enough of her. So much that they can't focus on anything when she is in the room. They want to be holding her or playing with her or kiss her to pieces. I don't blame them because I do the same. She is starting to get really active and she loves to be walking around with anyone. She was a really sleepy baby for the first 2 months and then over night she just woke up. She does sleep well, but not straight through the night so I am really sleep deprived. She wakes up twice in the night to eat. Some fun facts about our 4 month old: 12 lbs. 24 inches- which is about the 20%. She is going to be a our really petite child. Which for a girl is great. Her eyes have stayed blue and she has dark brown hair and well she is a striking resemblance of big sister Sophia. She talks a lot which means she knows she has to already compete with her big sisters.

Reina Shepard

Reina was born July 20th at 2:48 in the afternoon. She weighed 8lbs and was 19 inches long. I had a semi natural birth as I forgot to push my epidural button ever and I could feel everything by the time she arrived. Lets just say I am a wimp and not cut out for the full deal. Back to Reina- she arrived with zero complications and is doing very well.

Waiting to have the baby. The girls showed up just a couple of hours before she was born and then waited just outside while she was being born.


Reina after she was bathed and cleaned off. At the hospital where I had her they are really into bonding right away so I did get to hold her for several hours before she was cleaned off. I have never got to do that. She was covered in that white stuff and I really wanted to pick out all the junk from her hair but I resisted.

Getting washed off.

The biggest sister holding baby sister for the first time.

Lane checking out his newest baby girl.

My most wonderful Doctor on the right. He is the best doctor on the face of the earth. I was truly blessed to have found him.

The girls love holding their new sister and at the hospital they enjoyed sharing my bed. At one point I was even kicked out of my bed.

Reina also has lots of dark hair like her sisters had.

My sister flew out to help watch the girls. So grateful for her to be able to do that.

Big sisters doing what they do best: Ooooing and Awwwing at their new little sister.

Reina is now 12 days old and lets just say she doesn't look like either of her sisters at the same age. My mother who is now here says she looks just like me as a newborn. So I think she will be a blend of the two girls. She has been a really good baby so far. She loves to sleep. She still sleeps about 22 hours a day. At night she eats and goes right back to sleep. She loves to cuddle and we love to cuddle right back with her. I think she is blending well into our family. Its already hard to imagine life with out her.

One more week.

My last week of my last pregnancy is finally here. I am scheduled for an induction on the 20th and I couldn't be happier to get this over with 2 weeks early. The heat and humidity have become unbearable and the swollen ankles get worse by the minute. I can't wait to meet our baby girl so I can stop worrying about her.

One Year!!!

So it has been one year since we moved to Connecticut- or since the girls and I got here. But that is what counts right? For a little year in review I will go over some of the highlights.

We bought our first house. Over the last year we remodeled the kitchen, 2 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms, and the attic. We aren't done with the attic, but that is ok with us.


We have visited the major surrounding cities of NYC and Boston.



We got pregnant with our third and final baby. Who is due July 30th.

We traveled to Minnesota for the annual cousins camp.


We flew home to Utah and California for the Christmas holiday.

We shoveled mounds and mounds of snow since Connecticut had their one of the snowiest years on record.


The girls started 1st grade and Kindergarten and have almost finished- 2 weeks left of school thanks to snow days. They also danced in ballet and tap dance this year.

And last but not least Lane finished the first and worst year of PA school.

I am excited for what the next year in Connecticut holds for us. I know a new baby will be in our midst and plenty of more adventures.

White Coat

Lane did it! He survived a very rough first year of PA school. We now have one year left to go. He was awarded his white coat yesterday along with his first three rotations. I am so proud of him. Unless your spouse or you have gone through medical school you have no idea how hard it is. This year has been so incredibly demanding on Lane and our family. I honestly don't think I could have been as supportive if I didn't have my sweet daughters to keep me company and the support of our church and wonderful family/friends to talk to on those hard hard days. I love Lane so much and he is doing this all for his 4 girls. He says he is only able to get up every morning after only a couple of hours of sleep because of us. He is an amazing husband and father and we are so grateful to have in our lives.

Cleopatra

So we are having another girl. I will admit tears were shed, but I am totally happy about it now. The girls are both very happy with a new baby sister as well. They are so excited they already have assigned themselves jobs for taking care of her. Grace wants to bathe her and Sophia wants to dress her and style her hair. They both want to feed her, but alas no diaper changing. Having a third child with this much help is seeming more and more easy. I am glad we waited so long for this one. This way the whole family can enjoy her from the very beginning. I got a neat 3D profile shot of her today. I will let you stare at it and figure it out. Her profile is in the middle of the photo.

Japan

So much has happen to Japan in the past week. A massive 9.0 earthquake followed 15 mins later by a tsunami. The hardest hit area was the northern east coast of Japan. Which also happened to be where we were living just two years ago. I have spent many hours on the computer over the past week trying to get a hold of all of our friends. We have heard back from most of them, but lots of areas are still with out power. Hopefully we will hear back from more of them as time goes on.
Please keep the Japanese people in your prayers that those who are missing will be found and those who are in mourning will be comforted. I can't imagine having your whole town swept away in a matter of minutes. And for those of you who can donate money here to The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints humanitarian services website

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Lane!
He turned 30 years old today. Last night I threw a surprise birthday for Lane and he was surprised. He had know idea that I was doing it too. He said it scared him when everyone shouted surprise. I love him so much and can't wait to spend the next 30 years right by his side.

Another one?

So we are having another one of these on July 31st. So exciting I know. I don't know how I feel about being out numbered, but at least both girls will be at school full time next year which will make having # 3 around much easier.

Happy Birthday!

6 Years ago today, we were blessed with our 2nd beautiful baby girl. After having our first one just one year earlier I was so nervous for her. She turned out to be a very easy going child. Over the last 6 years, which have gone by too fast, she has become such a beautiful, fun loving, out going, and very social princess. I am so grateful for her and the joy she brings to our family. I love my baby girl. Happy Birthday.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Snow! Snow! and yes more Snow!

Happy New Years! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. We had the opportunity to visit Utah and California in one trip. It was nice to see all of our family and most of our friends. The 3 weeks wasn't long enough but reality has to happen eventually. Lane is back in school working on his last semester of book work before he starts clinicals.
When we got back to Connecticut we came home to over 3 feet of snow piled everywhere. And lets just say the snow has not stopped. We have had major storms every 5 days since Christmas and I can't take it. The snow banks are so high it makes driving very difficult. It would be nice if every intersection was not a blind one. I guess I am truly driving on faith alone. And with all the snow the girls have averaged 2 1/2 snow days a week. Lets just say they will be in school until July at this rate. They have said this is shaping up to be the most snow CT has ever had in one season. And lucky us get to be a part of that record.
Other then poor weather we are having fun in the snow. Lane throws the girl onto the roof of the garage and then they jump off and I, well I just watch from inside. I hope everyone is having a great winter.


Standing front of our house with our massive piles of snow


Grace just after she has jumped off the roof and into the snow. It is so deep that when they land they are almost buried in the snow and Lane has to dig them out.