We're working a new schedule today. I'm trying to get Little Miss Darlin to realize that we sleep at night and stay awake during the day. She seems a bit confued on the matter. Plus we're trying to jump back into school, which is difficult with a screaming baby who is supposed to be asleep but is so tired that she can't fall asleep on her own. I need more hands.

Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails,

that's what little boys ae made of.

(Oh, and mud...too!)

We had family pictures this morning. Each year the homeschool group arranges for a local photographer to take 'school' type photos of the kids at discount prices. He does family pictures at the same time. Little Miss Darlin wasn't happy, and I'm 99% sure that this year's family picture will include her with her little ole' mouth wide open mid-scream.

Oh well.

The boys were adorable and well behaved. I forgot to get pics of them all dressed up. Its quite fun ironing four matching button up shirts, finding four white undershirts, dressing three out of those four, and slicking, spraying, and somehow making four buzzcuts look good. Ah...all in the name of posterity.

 Here's another of Darlin, just in case you haven't had enough cuteness in your life today. And no, the bow is lovely, not obnoxious. Thank you very much.

Here's pics from Miss Darlin's first second bath. Daddy gave her the first bath in the hospital. We told the nurses that we'd do it in the room. It was nice. This is her second bath, the one that you have to wait to do when the cord piece falls out.

Daddy always does the first baths around here. And they are always done in the kitchen sink.

I don't care who you are...this is the CUTEST baby that you've ever seen. Am I right?

Snuggling with mom in her hot pink robe. Because ever girl needs a hot pink robe.

Two weeks of having a daughter has already taught me so much. I'm thankful that God has given me the chance to raise a daughter, and I pray that He'll see fit to bless with me another one sometime soon. Once we found out that the baby was a girl, we started seeing life and parenthood differently. But I didn't imagine that my little darlin would teach me so much in just two weeks.

I wish I could be more like her. She entered our life and brought beauty, softness, and light. Just because God made her female and she hasn't had the chance to reject that yet. I've always been something of a tomboy, and its taken me awhile to understand and even desire feminity. My prayer for my daughter is that she will always embrace the amazing way that God has formed her, and live to fulfil his plan for her womanhood.

Being in awe of the wonder of womanhood is not meant to take away from the glory of masculinity.  To be able to watch, in my own home, the manifestation of both the created male and female shows me how amazing God is in His creation. He has a plan for everything, and I'm thankful that He's let me be a part of it for a little while.

Hubby is still on paternity leave, so yesterday we took the kids to a nearby mountain to play and explore. We had a bit of a photo shoot while up there. Clearly, everyone involved was ecstatic.

My mom asked "Why are you blogging about shoes, when you could be putting adorable pictures of my grandkids up?"

These are for the grandparents...

Oh, I do declare! I'm much too tired to pose for a picture.

I want that finger! Give me that finger, brother #4.

These are my shoes. They are a bit spendy, but you can get the same style at Target or Walmart for less than $25. I am very tough on shoes, and these still look pretty good. There's one little tear in the front of one, but it can be fixed easily with superglue, its a very superficial tear/scratch in the rubber toe portion.

http://www.merrellboot.com/Product/NZSZZZ/Womens-Casual-Footwear/Slip-Ons/Womens/Black/J66424/Encore-MJ.aspx

Why do women like shoes? I'm not sure. I hate shoes. And socks.

 A minute ago, there was a car commercial on tv. A lady was sitting in her car and all of sudden shoes started raining from the sky. The lady got out of the car and started grabbing shoes by the armful and tossing them into her trunk. Most women watching would be thinking "Oh, that would be awesome, all the shoes I could want."

Not me. The first thing I thought was "Yeah right. She has to find the match to each of those shoes."

See, that's how I roll. Too practical. That's why I don't like shoes and socks...because there are two of them. Do you know how hard it is to keep track of shoes and socks for four/five kids? I always struggled with finding one but not the other.  That's why my kids have one pair of shoes. Yep. One.

Sandals in the spring and summer.

Tennis shoes in the fall and winter.

They wear them to church and to play.

I have five pairs of shoes. But since March I have exclusively worn ONE pair of shoes.

YEP. ONE. Since March.

I wear these to chuch, with skirts, with jeans, to walk around the neighborhood. They are cute and feminine but supportive like tennis shoes. So, no, I can't stand bunches of shoes.

We've been home a couple of days now, and we're trying to get back to normal. I don't know how many times my husband and I have looked at each other and said 'Do you think we can do this?" We're referring to sucessfully raising five Godly children. Sometimes we just don't know if can do, but I guess that's normal.

I've got some more great pics from today, but I'll post them tomorrow. Thank you for all the prayers and wonderful comments.

We are still in the hospital, as the baby is being treated with antiobiotics for GBS. I was GBS + and because everything went so quickly, I didn't have time to recieve the necessary antibiotics. So, as a precaution, the docs are treating Miss Darlin and we're waiting on a culture to see if she has GBS bacteria.

Here are some cutie pics, just for the fun of it.

The Lord is good. This morning I gave birth to our fifth child, our first little girl, via vba3c. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But the Lord never left me. He got me through each contraction and the 1 1/2 hour ride to the hospital, where I was praying that my cervix would not dialate because I could feel things were picking up. 

Amy was born at 5:42am. She weighed 10lbs 2oz, 20 1/2 inches long. She looks like her brothers, of course.

I'll post a birth story later, but the amazing thing was that she was so big, and in  a posterior position. She was delivered without forceps or vacuum extractions and completely without meds. Okay, granted, I was begging for drugs like a hardup heroin addict. But I was too far along by the time the doc got to me for anything. I had no shame, ladies, no shame.

But its over, and I'm recovering. I'm more exhausted than with any of the c-section deliveries, of course we didn't get any sleep last night.

One more thing...my husband and mom made a great labor team. They helped me get through the contractions just by being there. My husband had to get in my face when necessary and my mommy just touched me when I needed her to. It was really amazing.

Here's her linebacker face. Very feminine. I'd be scowling too, if I had just endured being born!

Here are some of my favorite things for little Miss Darlin, who is expected to arrive any day now. Several of these are handmade gifts that I received at my shower. I was incredibly blessed by many ladies.

My mom and sister took smocking lessons. Now, I get to benefit from beautiful handmade dresses for my little darlin.

This yellow one is what Miss Darlin will be wearing home from the hospital. Hopefully, in a day or two (I can always hope!!)

My mother-in-law found this slip which is perfect to go under all Miss Darlin's cute dresses. She's also working on the quilt for baby's bed. It is going to be beautiful and I can't wait to post pictures.

Here's a diaper bag made by Heather @ Lulubellescouture.

Another friend of mine owns a shop that specializes in mongamming. Here is one of the heirloom bibs that she gave my sweet daughter.

A new friend of mine made this activity blanket. Each side has different ribbons for baby to feel, each with varying textures. It is adorable.

This bags doubles as a blanket or changing pad. Just unzip and unfold. It was also made by a sweet friend of mine.

This set was given to us by my husband's aunt. I love the robin egg's blue.

I've posted this picture before, but this carseat cover was made by a Adee @ Tip Top Tots

These beautiful burp cloths are from www.mybabysam.com The gal who gave them to me is due any minute now, as well.

I've been really fortunate with so many generous people in my life. I've only bought three things for this baby: two rosebud sheets that I found on sale for $3 a piece, and...hmm...I can't remember what the other thing is. But I know I bought something else. The two grandmas love to shop, so I don't worry about buying clothes. I'm too practical. I don't expect them to buy clothes, but they do. So, I don't waste time or money going out to buy more. I was really shocked at my baby shower that so many people blessed us with beautiful things.

I almost forgot...another one of my favorite items from the shower. I laughed so hard when I opened this. After four boys, I think this sums it up:

I'm a week away from my due date, and there's no baby yet. I'm a bit anxious, but I guess that's normal. Sometimes its hard to believe that there is a real live baby in there. I sure would like to meet her.

THe house is clean, the bags are packed, and we are very ready for her to come.

Just keep waiting.

Just keep waiting.

Just keep waiting.

Its 5am. I've been up for a few hours. Don't you just love late pregnancy insomnia? I decided to type up a bunch of prayers for labor and delivery onto index cards. I also have tips for my 'labor team' - my husband and my sister. I'm excited and ready. Continue to pray that God will work his perfect will in my body and with this baby.

I've been very agitated all day today. We went out early and had a mad grocery shopping spree, which left me tired and achey. Yesterday I did a lot of cleaning and that has also left me a bit achey as well.  I'm getting impatient and I keep taking it to God, but I'm having a hard time truly letting go of when this baby will be born and trusting Him. I don't think I've ever dealt with this attitude in another pregnancy. Before I've felt physically poor and wanted the baby to come for comfort reasons, but not just emotionally agitated and anxious.

My husband is leading morning and evening worship at a friend's church tomorow, which is 45 minutes away. I know that tomorrow will be a long day, so I'm trying to prepare for that as well. I'm excited for my husband, just a bit weary.

Pray that I will not be anxious for anything, but in everything with prayer and petition, bring my requests before the Lord.

I enjoyed posting my To Do list last week, so I thought I'd start another one. This is stuff I'd like to get done this weekend. THe more I can get done today, the better. Some of these will be done with the kids helping, some will be delegated to oldest child or hubby, some will be done by me alone.

1. Clean kitchen: "buff" countertops, pine-sol walls/trim/cabinets, heavy mop floors.

2 Clean kids' bathroom & master bathroom, heavy mop floors

3. Finish laundry (two loads to wash, about four  to fold  & put away) - all of us together

4. Take stuff to Goodwill

5. Make a grocery list/ go shopping (or delegate to hubby)

6. Vacuum bedrooms (delegate to oldest child)

7. Do school: priority - dictation, copywork, mult table drill/test, independent work

8. Put boxes in attic

9. Take stuff to friend

We're really enjoying Heart of Dakota. The littles are using Little Hands to Heaven and my 10yo is using Preparing Hearts for His Gloy. Here's some of what we did this morning.

4yo loves to cut. He's cutting out pictures of women for his "Number 4" page.

2yo loves to cut too, but mommy cut his pictues out for him. He just made random slices in the paper. But he's so cute!

The 1yo didn't really grasp the scissors concept. He basically pretended to cut and then tore the paper.

Here's the 10yo working on his history project. HOD uses 3 days of each unit (or week) to work on a history project, and this week's is a clay map. Today he made labels for his map.

Yes, his handwriting needs work. Ugh.

Here's a very interesting letter to Sarah Palin by National Advocates for Pregnant Women. It shows the flipside of the prolife debate. Read it and tell me what you think.

http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice/97457/an_open_letter_to_gov._sarah_palin_on_women%27s_rights/

For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
         It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail
         Though it tarries, wait for it;
         For it will certainly come, it will not delay.

Habakuk 2:3

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 8 I have set the LORD always before me.
       Because he is at my right hand,
       I will not be shaken.

 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
       my body also will rest secure,

 10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, 
       nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

 Psalm 16:8-10

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

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5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

2 Peter 1:5-9

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If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

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