Posting and such. . .

Okay, so much to post. . . Many have asked about Hazel's homebirth. It was wonderful :). Details (kind of) to come in another post.

Here are a couple recent and not so recent pics:

Happy Hazel. She is seriously the happiest, easiest child ever:

The boys loving them some Hazel. She's not so sure:

Hazel and her cousin Olivia on their blessing day:

The happy parents who forgot to take many pics (poor third child):

Loved her little bow (courtesy of Caitlin -- thank you!):

And here are a couple cute stories:

Concerning LUKE -- Hazel was crying one night. Hard enough that it woke up Luke. He comes wandering out into the hallway where I'm standing and hands me his special stuffed bear, saying, "Here's for Hazel," wanders back to bed and goes right back to sleep. If it had been my sibling, I would have woken up hollering "BE QUIET" but Luke is so empathetic. He has the sweetest disposition.

Also, today we were at a friends house today and everyone had already gone in the door except me because I'd run back to the car for a couple things (namely Hazel). When I got to the door it was being held open by Lukey - "I hold door for you Mommy." Love that kid.

Concerning NIKOLAI -- Nikolai and I have been talking lately a lot about obedience, obeying your parents even when friends don't choose too, not following the crowd, etc. . So today we were at the park with a friend. . I'm not sure exactly what happened but at some point he chose to obey something I guess his friend didn't. He came up to me and let me know that, "I wasn't following the crowd mom." Good for you buddy.

Until 2 minutes later when Nikolai takes off running toward the busy street. His friend follows HIS example and takes off after him. I'm yelling at him to stop and he doesn't. .doesn't. . doesn't. . until FINALLY I yell, "Don't follow the crowd" and he stops. Nikels walks back to me and says, "I chose not to follow the crowd mom." My friend turns to me and says, "uh, what if you are the crowd?" I was dying - I would have busted out laughing had I not been trying to play strict face. Guess he's still got a little bit to learn :).