Off to the Doctor's office...again

Now that I have 3 little ones under the age of 3 I feel like I live at the doctor's office. Everyone knows me because I am always there due to well visits and sick visits. Little Gracie was up throughout the night giving me quite the challenge as I tended to her as well as Hannah. So today I have been functioning (or not functioning) off maybe an hour of sleep. God was gracious to us because Gracie had a well visit scheduled today which of course turned into a 2 hour sick visit at the doctor's. Not only was she having difficulty breathing, but she had 2 ear infections, and 3 molars coming in. Needless to say she was a champ and relatively happy and cooperative considering all the things she was dealing with. As if the in office breathing treatment wasn't enough she got 3 shots. Thanks to my wonderful mommy for watching Claire and Hannah and keeping them happy. Through it all I did take some cute pictures of the girls pretending to be doctors :) This was a good day to practice being content and thankful even when I had no sleep and a sick crying baby to comfort. God is so good to us!

waiting for the doctor

checking her sister's heart beat

wishing she could make an escape

Claire checking out Gracie

Updates

Hannah is already 1 month old!! Her big sisters love holding her and playing with her. Gracie calls her Nanna and pats her on the head and gives her sweet kisses. Claire is great at getting Hannah to smile and is a big help in soothing her sister when she cries. She knows how to put the pacifier in her mouth and bounce her to keep her from fussing. My sweet Gracie is now walking and as of yesterday she is walking more than she is crawling. After church today she was able to walk to the car holding onto my hand and then she crawled into the van on her own. It made such a huge difference to have her walking instead of me carrying her. What a big milestone for my little 15 month old Gracie :)

Enjoying a Christmas cookie from her Papi

The big sisters entertaining baby Hannah

Hannah's first smile with her big sister Claire

Hannah at 1 month

We are having so much fun with our sweet baby girl!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was spent at my parent's new home in Aledo this year. The girls had a blast eating yummy food, playing with my Aunt Virginia's cute doggy (Chi spies), and being held by all the family. Before the meal, my dad talked about what he was thankful for, mainly being able to make the move from California to Texas to be with his family. He reminded us of how the Puritans came to this country to escape religious persecution in England. They founded this country on Christian principles and lived their lives in submission to the bible. He then read us a prayer written by the Puritans and I wanted to share it on this blog. 

Praise and Thanksgiving

O my God,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects, my heart admires, adores, loves thee, for my little vessel is as full as it can be, and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow. 

When I think upon and converse with thee ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created, for adorning it, sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil; for the body thou has given me, for preserving its strength and vigour, for providing senses to enjoy delights, for the ease and freedom of my limbs, for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding; for thy royal bounty providing my daily support, for a full table and overflowing cup, for appetite, taste, sweetness, for social joys of relatives and friends, for ability to serve others, for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities, for a mind to care for my fellow-men, for opportunities of spreading happiness around, for loved ones in the joys of heaven, for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly. I love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to thy creatures. 

Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

(From a book called, The Valley of Vision A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions)

Grandma Zepeda, J, Claire, BB, Gracie, Aunt Julia, Uncle Mikey

BB and Gracie eating 

Aunt Ysa holding Hannah

Playing with Papi's 3D TV

It's a blurry picture of Claire being silly

Claire playing doctor with a doctor (her Uncle Mike)

Claire and her Aunt Julia

My cousin Mimi, Hannah, and me

My cousin Mimi's fiance, Dindo, and Gracie

Hannah Banana

The new family

A big thanks to Daddy Kruis for taking our family picture. He is always so good about getting our family picture when he visits.

Hannah

Here are the last of the pictures from Hannah's birth.

Proof that I pushed out a 9 pounder

Hannah right after birth

Poor baby

Daddy and Gracie 

Holding her new sister

Claire was so excited to hold Hannah

Our little pumpkin

Kisses from her Daddy