A Week in Hawaii!!!

Here are some pictures from our time in Hawaii!!  Yep, you heard me right... we all just got back from an amazing week in HAWAII.  :)

Damian's dad called a few months ago, inviting us out to visit him on O'ahu.  We had a wonderful time hanging out on the beach, playing in the hotel's pools (the kids were super excited about the pool with the water slides), driving around the island, eating Poke, and enjoying the view of the ocean from our 29th floor balcony.  It was such a special time, and we were even more blessed to have Raylee with us.

...

 ^Dame and the kids enjoying the view from the side of Diamond Head^

 ^Snack break!^

 ^She has no idea she's drinking her veggies^

 ^Beautiful Raylee^

 ^Beautiful Maddie^

 ^I think this is the only picture of me... proof that I was indeed there.  Who else was taking all the pics?  ;) 

 ^That's his happy face.  Trust me.^

 ^Noel had a blast^

 ^Checking out the view from the Pali Lookout^

 ^Chinaman's Hat^

 ^The kids were finding coral and all kinds of fun stuff along the beach^

 ^Emma really took the laid-back vacation spirit to a whole new level, eating cereal off her sheets while watching cartoons^

 ^A view from our balcony^

 ^The kids, lounging around.  It was nice to not be in a hurry every morning.^

 ^Looking down on the pools... that's where they did the Friday Night Fireworks, so we got a front row seat^

^A blurry happy baby face.  She loved everything about our trip.^

So there it is!  We all got to go to Hawaii together as a family.  And we returned in time to have Thanksgiving with Raylee before she returned to North Carolina.  After a trip like that, we had much to be thankful for.  :)

Happy Father's Day

Dame with all his girls... and Noel.  ;)  It's great to have everyone under the same roof again!

Happy Father's Day, my love.

Snot Bubbles!!

Our talented Emma-bean!

There were three bubbles, but one popped before I could take a pic.  :)

Alba @ 1 week

Introducing Alba!

We're happy to announce that our sweet little Alba Marie was born on 18 February, weighing 8 lbs, 2 oz, and measuring 20" in length.  Here is one happy dad...

 Looking a bit rough after being born, but who can blame her --it's a difficult journey!

 Here is our first attempt at a picture of Dame with the kids who were meeting their little sis for the first time.  Noel was just over the moon.

 But he calmed down enough to not block the baby for the second try.  :)

 Emma, to my delight, is also excited to have a baby in the family.

 She didn't want anyone to help her hold Alba.  And I still have to keep a close eye on her and "her baby" since she's a little too eager to help at times.

 Maddie was happy too, you'll just have to take my word for it.  I know this pic suggests otherwise.  Ha.  :)

 Time has passed and Noel is still grinning from ear to ear...

 ...still smiling...

 ...still smiling...  ;)

 Newborn Alba.

 Here she's 3 days old with Grandpa.

 I'm surprised she fell asleep without being swaddled.

 Here I am bathing her for the first time.  She screamed the whole time.

 She still doesn't enjoy baths.  Oh well.

 A clean baby!  And hungry baby.  Always hungry... ha.

Anyway, I know that's a lot of pictures for one post.  We're just so pleased to have her.  I would write more, but as you can probably tell by all my short, choppy sentences I'm really tired.  Go figure, eh?  :)

Barefoot and pregnant in.... a bog. ;)

Here are pictures my friend took (Morning Bells Photography) a couple weeks ago of me, Dame, and baby #4, due to arrive on the 16th.  I love these pictures and am so happy to have them -thank you Michelle!  :)  It's hard for me to pic a favorite, but Noel says the best one is the one he snuck into.  Yep, Noel, we didn't even know you were there.  ;)