count my many blessings

seriously, lately i've been overwhelmed with how blessed i am: (forgive the cheese of this post...but these things must be documented, right?)

- addelyn is here.

- i'm thoroughly 100% completely loving this newborn stage. (um, actually, 6% of that is a total lie until my body's ridiculous milk-production tendencies are regulated.) i actually didn't enjoy this phase so much with my other two--not that they weren't lovable; i think i was just a little stressed out in doing everything "right" and had expectations 18 miles high. i'm managing those expectations (fabulous advice, jessica) and am so happy...

- ...even when addelyn had some major gas pains in the middle of the night last night and was screaming inconsolably for 45 minutes until she burped and calmed down and fell right asleep...

- ...i'm encouraged by the fact that i've learned to "read" babies a little more. addie certainly makes her wishes known with some good yelps (in the spirit of the olympics, i'd rate their difficulty to be about a 5.4, with an execution of 9.1, maybe higher during diaper changes), but instead of freaking out, i'm able to meet her needs quickly, and she usually calms right down. life is funny that way--what used to be hard is made easier with experience.

- she's just so stinking cute. and funny.

- carson and layla have been great. i'm not just saying that--they really have been. they play together pretty well lately, with just occasional hitting/yelling spurts (yes, that's progress around here. judge us.). they set up "beds" for themselves and addie on the floor in her room while i'm feeding her and wait patiently to play with or read to their sister. they try to be such big helpers, and i'm trying to give each of them lots of extra attention. it's a win-win.

- i found carson sitting by his baby sister this morning, singing her a song softly (the "softly" part of that is a feat in and of itself). and she was staring up at him intently. so sweet.

- layla totes things (e.g., binkie, blankets, stuffed animals, burp cloths, boppy, etc. etc. etc.) all around the house to wherever addelyn happens to be, just to keep her stocked up and ready.

- paul is a super-good dream come true.

- his family's not half bad, either. :) especially when my mom's on the other side of the world, they've been great.

- so many friends & family have helped me/us out with meals, playdates/babysitting for the older kidlets, gifts, photo shoots (julie, i can't say it enough--you have mad photog skills), moral support...i wonder how i got so lucky.

- we sold our 4runner last night, less than 24 hours after putting it up for sale. although it makes paul pretty sad (he loves that truck, "it's like taking away my manhood"), i'm ever so grateful it sold fast so we're not stuck with 3 vehicles and a scooter to mash into a 2-car garage.

- so many more, but i need to get some work done while our household is sleeping.

life is beautiful.