This morning, at 5:36AM we finally got to meet our little girl, Elsie Jennifer Waters.  The middle name was my choosing, she shares it with her mother.  You all know how special Jamie is and this is my way of honoring her, and giving our daughter something to live up to.  The name Elsie is an oldie but a goodie, it means "consecrated to God."  Jamie and I had been struggling with finding a name, and as we stole a morning together at Starbucks, we were both struck by the name as it was called out by a barista.  We both sort of looked at each other and knew this was the name we wanted for our little girl.  The monicer also has personal significance as it is the name of my beloved grandmother, a strong and beautiful woman who is a real inspiration to me. (We’ll share more about her in the coming days and months)  In regards to size, our little Elsie is of the "venti" variety, weighing in at a whopping 8 pounds 2.3 ounces, she’s a full 21 inches long.  It’s no wonder Jamie was in agony!  Finally free of her little mamacita, Jamie is recovering nicely and looks forward to coming home and sharing more about out little girl and the imprint she’s already leaving on our hearts.  Keep Jamie in your thoughts and prayers as she recovers, we thank you all for your well wishes. 

hanging in there. lots of contractions and backpain and just general uncomfortable-all-over feelings that are just wearing me out. we’re counting down the days. THIS friday is the day i go in for my Csection. everyone seems really excited/anxious to meet our little girl. kira and caleb are bopping around the house like normal- cammy too- but there are times where my middle boy will say something or look at me or snuggle me that makes me think he’s trying to process this all. he’s in the middle of basketball and baseball and was sad i won’t be at his games for a few weeks. he’s so tenderhearted- it just melts me.

so last night as i tucked him in bed he said, "Happy President’s Day." and i said, "Ummm, ok, you too."  and he said, " We didn’t really celebrate them. We should have celebrated them." I felt really bad and decided we would next year. Just bake cupcakes or something. Or read something Presidential. I don’t know. I mean, I never thought of something like that when I was a kid. Cam is such a deep thinker. And a feeler at the same time. He totally amazes me. 🙂

and because i can’t post without saying something about the baby, i will just say—– I AM HAVING A BABY IN TEN DAYS!!!!!!!!!!! (that is if she doesn’t decide to come earlier) 🙂

we had the day off on monday and headed to hermosa beach. it was still early in the day so it was pretty empty.
loved that. like we had it all to ourselves.

it really was perfect too. the kids got along, they helped carry stuff, the weather was perfect. and i couldn’t help but think- this is the last time i am going to the beach (for awhile at least) without having to deal with diapers! remember that?! babies at the beach- sand in all of their little wrinkles? trying to get rid of it with baby wipes, but it not really working very well? 🙂

it just made me a little nervous. realizing how good our kids are right now– this stage of their lives, that i can take them anywhere without having that mommy-second-thought moment. anyways, it was a beautiful day, made me excited for summer. i totally appreciated it. we had a lovely day off.

i go to the dr on friday for my 37 week checkup. in just a few weeks, we will meet our little one. yay! 🙂 totally ready. everything is washed. i have done all the nesting i could possibly do. 🙂

xoxoxo,
us

OK y’all, Chris here, crashing my beloved Jamie’s blog.  First, thanks for the kind words you all leave here regularly, I love reading these!  Now, I need you to transfer just a little of that love my brother’s way…my brother is part of an online reality series called "The Casting Call."  He needs votes to land a role, and that’s where you all come in. 

Go to the TALENT VAULT and you’ll see: TITLE: "VOTING HAS BEGUN!!!" Out of almost 100 applicants.  14 finalists were selected.  Who do you think should be cast in Homeroom 8:05? click on the news item that says "CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE."  You’ll see a pop up window appear, you’re voting for the part of "Paul Schmidt, the Everyman." 

Tudor is my brother.  C’mon people, show him some love and he’ll mention you in his acadamy award speech.  OK, maybe he won’t, but you’ll get to say to all your friends, "Yeah, I made him a star!"  Alright, let’s push him to the top together!  Thanks!!!!!
Chris

a poem from daddy:

doesn't seem that long ago,
that we first saw you smile,
doesn't seem so far away,
but they say it's been a while.

seems like it was yesterday,
you whispered your first song,
you were only crawling then,
but we knew it all along.

one day you'd be old enough,
to walk without our help,
one day you'd be sure enough,
to do things by yourself.

if God slowed the pace of time,
we'd pay Him any tithe,
seems like only yesterday,
we can't believe you're FIVE!

lots of people have been emailing me about my baby shower party favors. here’s a close up of the votives that held the candy. KI paper, KI rubons (the flowers) and a mix of other kind of rubons (those ones are 7Gypsies).

the big flower on my guest list is one of rhonna’s brushes. love all of those things. 🙂

and here is the CD playlist:
-here comes my baby (from the rushmore soundtrack- not sure who sings it)
-angel my baby (bane shaman)
-upside down (jack johnson)- the only song that doesn’t have baby in it- but i couldn’t resist not adding him. 🙂
-sweet baby james (james taylor)
-sweet baby (macy gray)
-don’t cry baby (madeline peyroux)
-baby love child (pizzicato five)
-angel baby (rosie and the originals)
-i got you babe (sonny and cher)
-baby, it’s cold outside (steve tyrell)
-baby, baby (frankie lymon)
-baby love (the supremes)

also- we made it through kira’s first school play. she was in Annie, Jr. we LOVED seeing her on stage. i LOVED not having to bring my camera or camcorder- all of that was taken care of for us- so we truly got to enjoy the show. chris and i couldn’t help tearing up- i did during ‘It’s a Hard Knock Life’. amazing to see your child be part of something that they have put so many HOURS into. so sweet. here she is with a little celebratory cake afterwards. 🙂

and now she is off for 5th grade Science Camp. i am so excited for her. a week of bunking with friends and doing fun activities. total vacation for her after all the annie stuff. she deserves it!

cam has been playing YMCA basketball- and scoring at games. we are so proud of him. he is such a good passer and sharer of the ball. his little legs totally hustle up and down the court. so cute. he takes it all so seriously but still has so much fun. i need to bring my camera at the next game. i have been really trying to just enjoy these things instead of having my camera in my face the whole time.

and this little guy- caleb. turns 5 on wednesday. more of him later. 🙂 but here he is finding daddy at the kid’s school- he yelled- there’s Chris! lol- CHRIS?! what?! 🙂

and me. 🙂 chris and i got to spend the morning together at starbucks- bouncing back baby girl names- doodling them on the napkins. JUST LOVE time to ourselves. even just an hour. means the world to ME. the sky was a crazy pretty orange. glad i had my camera. 🙂

(the white daisy frame is also from the rhonna kit that i linked above)

went up yesterday. check it out.  the theme was ‘done by pen’. which is super fun for me because i use pen to journal almost everytime. but there’s some totally creative doodling and awesome, awesome stuff by the other gals though, so be sure to stop by.
here’s a favorite of mine that i did:

now, it’s not only because my husband looks awfully nice in those jeans 🙂 it’s just a gorgeous, lush picture. love the greenery on the side. love the memory…our trip to australia. why does it seem like it was so long ago already? makes me sad to think when our next chance to get away will be. we did the wrong thing with all the other kids- not leaving them till they were like 2 or 3. this kid will be passed to grandma within the first year for sure, lol!

so my lovely mom threw me a shower- i know that is a no no in the etiquette book- but it might be her last grandbaby from me so she went all out. 🙂 i thank you mom… from the bottom of my heart- for all the work you put into making such a special day for us. 🙂 so- the tables were totally scrapbooked supplied out. 🙂 i used 3 sheets of PP- mostly KI– under the cake stands. and sprinkled heidi swapp ghost flowers around them. each table had different 7inch cakes with different flavors so everyone could taste the others. 🙂 my favor bags- i couldn’t resist, you know i had to make them– were votive cups from target with 2 strips of PP on them with different rubons, stickers, etc- with things that had to do with baby on them–filled with pink and white m&m’s. then we made a CD with songs that had the word BABY in the title. and just one new song from jack johnson. couldn’t resist. 🙂  LOVED seeing old friends and family, that is my friend vanessa with me- i’ve known her since i was 12. probably my only friend that i have kept in touch with. anyways, it was so fun. 🙂 made it all so real that this baby is weeks away from us. we can’t wait.

now i need to be all about scrapbooking. 2peas creating garden goes up tomorrow night and i haven’t done a thing. and it should be a really good one people, so check it out.