Isabelle Marie is here!!!!!

The day has finally arrived. Our sweet little girl decided to come a whole week early...and on her own. Which mommy is tremendously happy about! She couldn't of timed it better in that I went into labor on a Friday before a holiday weekend and allowing for Daddy to have the maximum amount of time off to enjoy her and spend time with Jacob. I ended up having a fabulous nights sleep and then waking up in the morning to mild contractions that were coming every 3 minutes apart for about an hour. So as they were getting worse I called Mike home from work (even though I kept doubting that I was truly going into labor) and made sure all our bags were packed and that Jacob was ready to spend some time with his Nana and Pop-pop. However, when Mike got home the contractions all but stopped. So thinking that it was a false alarm and having had plans to drive up to black diamond that weekend to spend it with my parents out on Lake Sawyer. We packed the car and headed north around 12:30pm only to find that 20 minutes into the car ride I started having contractions again every 5 minutes. We got to the house and I sat outside around the lake, enjoying the sunshine and every 5 minutes or so having to breath and groan a little bit for the next 4 hours until they got so bad both Mike and my Dad were insisting we get in the car and head to the hospital. We made it to the hospital around 6 despite the holiday traffic and found out that I was already at 8 cm. Four hours later, one epidural that didn't do much in taking away the pain, and 10 minutes of pushing she came and was placed on my chest at 8lbs and 19 inches long. She's completely beautiful in every way and healthy. We are so happy and even big brother Jacob showers her with love by giving her kisses and hugs whenever he sees her. What an amazing miracle the birth of children are. I will never get over how awesome it is to go through pregnancy and delivery and end up with a perfect little baby on your chest who will grow and learn, laugh and play, and fill our hearts with so much joy! Thank you Lord for Isabelle Marie!
Jacob meeting his little sister for the first time.

He wasn't sure about her at first but he warmed up after awhile.

Our growing family

She weighed 8 lbs exactly

Seeing her sweet little face for the first time.

The Last few weeks of my pregnancy

Wow! June just flew by and now we're already half-way into July and our lives have, yet again, changed dramatically. I'm so struck by how blessed Mike and I are and once again God has blessed us tremendously. Since it's been a few weeks since I've blogged I'm going to do a little catch up. Mid-June found me at 38 weeks pregnant and attending one of my very best friends wedding up at the Semiamoo resort. Her wedding was absolutely gorgeous and it was such a joy to see her and her whole family celebrate the big day.

A tribute to Leah's mom...Sandy

The gorgeous bride and her father!

Justin, Leah and I...so many amazing and wonderful memories with these two!

The very next weekend my family and I got to enjoy a night out at the ball game watching the Mariners win against...oh who am I kidding, I have no idea! However we had a great time and Jacob and Daddy wore their matching jerseys that we were gifted for being the first 25,000 fans to enter Safeco Field.

Next we got to attend another friends wedding who both Mike and I have known for some time, Candy, and celebrated her marriage at the space needle. What a fun and beautiful night!

Finally to end the month of June we had the wonderful privledge of meeting our sweet little nephew Lincoln Robert Hanks born to my brother and sister-in-law, Cliff and Dana. He was born 6/30 at 9lbs 7oz and almost 23 inches long. Such a sweetie and we are so excited for Cliff and Dana as they get to experience parenthood for the very first time! I feel so blessed with a little boy who loves life and constantly gives me smiles, hugs and kisses, a husband who is so supportive and loving, and a healthy pregnancy with my little girl kicking and squirming almost ready to come. Thank you heavenly Father for all this and much more!

Spring at the Hanks house

We've been busy around our house. Our tasks have included preparing for the arrival of little girl by decorating her room and turning Jacob's room into a new big boy room with his own big boy bed including slide. I've had fun dreaming up designs and decorations for both their rooms and now we are finally almost done. Isabelle's clothes have all been washed and put away and Jacob now has a new closet organizer allowing for maximum play space. Mike has also been busy and ended up installing chair rail in Isabelle's room and painting the entire thing. He and my father also ended up moving a side of our fence so that our backyard is bigger and gives us more time to lounge in the sun. I love the spring and summer and I can't wait to be outside playing with my little man and watching my sweet girl grow.

My silly boy in his room
Isabelle's room

Spring around our house

The freshly moved fence! So much more room.

It's been some time!

Isabelle at 21 weeks

It's amazing how time gets away from you! I can't believe summer is here and I'm only 1 month from meeting my baby girl. Every moment I have has been poured into either preparing for her, cherishing the moments with Jacob, and spending time with my family. These past few months have been packed full but I am determined to keep up this blog if only to be able to look back on it and remember. I so appreciate being able to look back on the beginning of Jacob's little life and read about all his milestones and I want to be able to do that for Isabelle as well. Here are a few belly shots as sweet baby girl has been growing steadily until the big day arrives in July.

My sister-in-law Dana and I. 2 weeks apart.