Kate's Room

 

Wrapped around her little finger

 

As the saying goes, I'd say Joel is sunk!

Sunbathing

 

Kate's jaundice hasn't gone away completely so we've been doing a bit of sunbathing. She didn't mind it at all until the sun got in her eyes. As you can see in one of the pics, the instinct to cover her eyes comes naturally!

Kate's First Bath

 

Kate got her first bath yesterday. I know, I know, I'm a bad mom. I mean it's been over a week since we brought her home. Well, to my defense, I was on bed rest for a few days after returning home and just now am feeling human enough to get up and about. She is clean now and looks as cute as ever. We are loving her more every day and it's still sinking in that we have a girl!!!

Smitten!

 

Katedate #7

 

Thank you for praying with us, and now rejoicing with us!
For more images, check out the Picasa stream down on the lower right side of this page or check out our Facebook

Update or 'Katedate' #1

Bethany and her best friend, Jolene (who safely arrived from Springfield MO yesterday), just left the house (6:40 am) for the hospital for Bethany's scheduled induction. They'll get her checked in and then likely into a labor and delivery room, all conveniently located literally next door, 100 yards away at Allegience Hospital.

Bethany is happy that the day has come and we had some time to pray together last night. It's such a surreal thought that today, we'll hopefully, become a family of 5. From a kids perspective, we're 3 boys and 2 girls...

Would you be praying during these next hours? Bethany didn't sleep well; between Jack's coughing (be praying as he's got a mild cold made worse by his seasonal asthma) and Kate's kicking. I think the biggest thing on her mind, is her decision to try and avoid an epidural anesthesia and she's wondering how her body will handle it. Be praying for real and felt peace.

After getting the boys checked into child care at NTBI and picking up Jack's asthma meds, I'll head over the hospital myself and occupy the waiting room for the next few hours. Be praying for me, I'm wondering who the Lord might bring in my path while I wait.

I may update facebook a bit more than this blog, so if you're looking for more up to date 'Katedates', check that.

What a word, what a life, I'm in love...(with one, and hopefully two girls by days end!)

FAQ

 

So, many of you have been asking how I'm doing these last days of my pregnancy with Kate. I have decided to answer them in a FAQ format to cover all the bases...

Q #1 - How are you feeling?
A#1 - As you can see from the picture, I feel HUGE!!! But really I'm doing well other than just being generally uncomfortable. I have been able to nap the last few days while the boys are sleeping in the afternoon and I'm back to work in the mornings which is actually nice as i can just sit at my desk and not need to be moving all around, chasing the boys.

Q #2 - When is your due date?
A #2 - Technically, the Dr. says Jan. 28, but I say Jan. 25 and together we picked Jan. 21 as the induction date. My best friend Jolene is flying up from Missouri to be my labor coach so we got to schedule Kat'es arrival a week early to make it a little more likely Jolene can get here for it. So this Thursday it is and honestly that day can't come too soon!!! Oh to sleep again!

Q #3 - How are the boys going to handle a new sister?
A #3 - Jack's typical reply is "I can't wait for Kate to get here, I miss her but I'm not doing the diaper part!!!" Owen just lifts his shirt and says here's my baby Kate, she's kicking! I don't think he quite gets it and I think if anyone struggles with her arrival it may be him. Oh to be 2 1/2 and cease to get all the attention!

Q #4 - Will you keep working at your ministry at NTBI after Kate comes?
A #4 - Yes, I will continue my ministry there in the mornings, working for the Dean of Education as well as discipliship with student girls in the afternoons a few days a week. Kate will go to the nursery across the hall from the boys in preschool and just upstairs from my office!!

Q #5 - Well i can't think of one so I'll just say here that we would love your prayers this Thursday. I have had an epidural with both the deliveries with the boys but because anesthesia and I don't like each other so well (I get very sick from it), I am opting to go without one this time. I'm a bit nervous about that so please pray for my strength as pain and i don't like each other either :)!!! The induction will begin around 6 or 7 am on Thursday so we'll keep you posted as to when she arrives!!

4 days and counting...

Pianists in the making!

 

Jack and Owen love to play our piano and I captured a sweet duet in progress the other day. I think with Joel as their Daddy, they are destined to be musicians. Oh and a little known fact is that I too play several less useful instruments. Anyone know how leading worship with a basoon, baritone or flute works? :)

Our little artist

 

Jack came upstairs the other day with his etchasketch in hand and proclaimed, "Mommy look, I drew a surfer"! I was amazed because this is the child who hates craft time, coloring or anything artistic. I didn't know he had it in him. But yet, he drew it all by himself without my even knowing he was doing it! Way to go Jack!

Making a Snow Man 101

 

Today we woke up to a couple of inches of snow on the ground. The boys were itching to go out and play and Daddy needed to do some shoveling and well, you didn't have to twist their arms to make a snow man while they were at it! Funny enough, this morning on Playhouse Disney Agent OSO built a snow man and had the step by step process as his mission. Jack paid close attention and walked Daddy through exactly what to do. What fun!!

In Memory of My Dad

 

Toys!

 

The boys are growing up so fast and with that process is the fun of new, bigger toys. Jack got a skateboard and skater-guy clothes, including converse high tops! He looks so big now! Owen got a wiggle bike and is in heaven. Unfortunately, there's too much snow on the ground to ride but winter will come to and end soon or well, in May!

A British Tradition

 

Bekah's Fiance, Steve is from Scotland and brought Chrismas Crackers with him for us all this year. What a fun tradition!

Baby Kate

 

 

Well although none of us got to see her face, Kate was with us! She is an active little girl, more so than the boys ever were! Bekah's roommate Kim, John and Christine, Bekah and Mom and Dad all included her in the gift giving and blessed us with gifts for Kate.

1st Christmas for the boys

 

No, not their first Christmas but the first one this year. We ended up doing half of it Thursday night and the rest on Friday morning. And then we'll have our family Christmas on Christmas. I think we're gonna hear a month from now, "Mommy can we have Christmas again this week?" What a shock when they realize that Christmas only comes once a year in a normal year!

Food, Food, Food!

 

There wasn't a lack of food that weekend, even though i didn't cook everything i had planned.

Relaxing with Family

 

The Potter Family all came together this year for Thanksgiving at our house here in Michigan. We celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday and had Christmas together on Friday. It even snowed on "Christmas" for us! We actually prayed for it!

We had a great time together cooking, eating, hanging out, eating, cooking, sleeping, hanging out, eating, eating, and eating!

Thanks M & D, J & C, and S & B - We love you! JBjok

6 1/2 years and still in love!

 

We wish you a Merry Christmas