Sophie's photo shoot

So, our friend Sara came and took newborn pictures of Sophie. They are all taken at my house. She did a GREAT job! She is so talented, wow. I am finally posting them.

First, here are a few with Lily:

Poor Miss Lily has had her "youngest" position in the family taken away from her... She handles it some days better than others, bless her heart. It must be hard for a child to have to change identities. Some days she likes Sophie more than others...

But how can we not adore our darling Lily, look how cute she is!

Then, here is the photo shoot with just Sophie....

saracoralphotography.blogspot.com

Sophie Marie is here!

July 10, 2009

Sophie Marie Vernon

was born!

My wonderful doctor, Dr. Huish, scheduled me to be induced the day before my due date, so here I am below, in labor, but in no pain... hooray!

We got to the hospital and they started pitosin at 1:50pm, and 2 and a half hours later, Sophie was born! So amazing, my epidural did wear off a little, and when I was pushing, it hurt...

She came out blue as ever, so cute, covered in gunk and they put her on my tummy and I just cried and cried! They had to give her a little oxygen at first, but it was never too stressful.

I really am happy below, I just couldn't stop crying! What an amazing experience it is, words cannot even describe the intense feelings of joy and gratitude you feel.

I feel bad that Bruce was taking all these pictures, so there are only a couple with him in them. But, oh man, do I feel thankful for such a wonderful husband and dad for my kids! He is so cute with Sophie and I love to see him kissing on her and loving her to pieces!

I LOVE YOU BRUCE-
THANK YOU for letting me have another baby!!
Worlds BEST Dad EVER!

So, I'm handed this little baby, and some of my first thoughts are always like, I don't even know you, this little angel is a stranger at first, I don't recognize her yet, because we've just met. The 2 days in the hospital are this amazing bonding experience where your baby becomes yours! I just held her and stared at her for 2 days... my little baby!

So, ofcourse all Sophie's brothers and sisters couldn't wait to come and meet her either. My wonderful sister Chrissy had my kids friday to saturday and did all kinds of fun stuff with them. She brought them to the hospital that night. So here they are, 1 at a time, meeting their new sister:

Lily

Logan

Emma

Dallin

Ashlin

And then, look at me and my beautiful children, how could I be so lucky?? It's all I ever dreamed about when I was younger, having my own family.

We don't look like that big of a family, right?

Oh my goodness, look how cute little Sophie is. She hardly cried. And I held her almost the whole time. My favorite part of having a new baby, is sleeping with them in my arms and my face next to their face. Heaven.

And here is where Sophie and I lived for 2 days. So precious, just getting to know my new baby girl, my new friend, my new sleeping buddy!

As much as I LOVE the hospital for 2 days, we were also excited to take Sophie home!

As we drove home, I warned Sophie that it was just her and me in the hospital for 2 days... but that is NOT what it would be like at home. I told her about all the other little kids that live with us and how excited they are to have her home. She took the news very calmly. I think she was disappointed at first to hear it wouldn't just be me and her forever, but she handled it very well! See what a good girl she is, she's perfect, and she's mine! (well, Bruce's too)

Baby-Eve

So, it's better than Christmas Eve... it's Baby Eve... the night before getting induced. My kind doctor scheduled me to be induced tomorrow morning at 7:30am, even though my due date is not until saturday.

I just wanted to record my feelings so my new precious baby knows just how excited I was for her to come! How can I even go to sleep? I have been getting tears in my eyes all night just knowing tomorrow I get to hold my new little baby! It is amazing to me how you cannot imagine how precious this process is no matter how many times you've gone through it. This is my 6th baby. And I still feel nervous and anxious and I can't wait. The excitement is honestly multiplied because I have 5 kids asking me constantly when she is going to get here! It is so cute to see how much they already love their sister, whom they've only seen grow in relation to the size of my belly! :)

I am so thankful to be a mother. I know that it is the most important thing I will do in my life. It is also the hardest. But I have found, and it is my testimony, that the more I call upon God, study his scriptures and pray and plead to feel joy being a mother, the more so I do! It is amazing. He has blessed me through this process, and anything good I have done, has only been because of His help in my life, alone I am nothing. And so this night I pray again to my Father in Heaven to bless me with all the capability needed to be the kind of mother He would have me be to this new precious Spirit daughter of His who awaits to come to our home!

Oh my angel baby, I already love you!! I am crying just thinking about holding you for the first time!

California Dreamin

Every year my big Blake Family gets matching T-shirts and we caravan together to Solona Beach, California where we all have time shares in the same complex.

My kids look forward to the day we leave for California more than Christmas!

Every night people just wander around from condo to condo lookin for the party, as there are always groups of people hanging out... so fun! During the day we just hang out at the beach and usually do a couple big outings. (This year we skipped a theme park day since I was 37 weeks pregnant)

Here was a day at La Jolla Cove Tide pool Can you see above how Dallin can hardly refrain from becoming ONE with the tide pool... catching little creatures is like SO HIS thing!!
(Ashlin's bestest friend and cousin Macy)

My awesone dad!

Then a day at Balboa Park, where we went to the Miniature Model Train museum and saw "Under the Sea" at the Imax theatre there. This is my sister Chrissy who was so awesome on this trip and always had the kids in her condo making crafts, cards, jewelry, etc... She was the best- THANKYOU CHRISSY!!

And Lily never wanted to leave her side-

(Thanks to Chrissy, Bruce and I had a very relaxing trip)

Lounging in the morning in the fold out bed

And then, ofcourse, the highlight of the trip....

walking across the street to the BEACH every day!!

Bruce and Dallin playing football in the ocean

Playing in the sand with all the many cousins!

The boys spent hours catching waves boogie boarding!

Emma's favorite part of the trip is her really fabulous social life for the week!

We LOVE you Blake family!

Thanks for all the dreamy memories...

(especially the visual on Lindsey whippin a hashbrown out of her pocket- motherhood has clearly broken her down- ha ha!)