Here’s just a few snapshots of our day… many more to come when we get home!

Meeting my sweet Rose!

 

She looks exactly like Anna Kate in this picture!

The big sisters arrive on the scene!!!

 

PondFam5!

Anna Kate gets to hold Rose for the first time!

Such a proud big sister!  I wore this overall dress to the hospital when I met my little brother, John, so Anna Kate’s outfit is very special!

Baby Rose had really cool presents for her big sisters! (wink)

When Anna Kate saw her Dora purse, she yelled, “Thank you, Rose!!!”  It was the sweetest thing!

Noelle did a great job today.  Right here in this moment she said, “Rose is the sweetest little blossom.”  I couldn’t believe she thought to say that.  What special girls we have!

And the next moment we are back to goof ball central!

Check out all of this black hair!!!  She wins the darkest and most hair baby award for the Pond sisters!!

Our little “blossom” is ready for her first night’s sleep.  Good night, baby Rose!

We had a great birth day and are so happy our baby is here!!!

Can’t sleep and dreaming of what tomorrow will bring!  Tonight we found this little baby (Anna Kate) in Rose’s bassinet holding a little baby doll and feeding her a bottle of milk.  She knows more than we think she does!  Can’t wait to see your face, baby Rose! 

This morning, Anna Kate and I met the Horton girls for story time at Chick-fil-A!

It was Valentine’s themed, and you could feel the love! (sweet Cerly was born in December and Brylee just turned 2; same ages as our littles)

After lunch, we headed over to Noelle’s school for her Valentine’s party!

Noelle was livin’ it up!

Poppa and Rara got to town just in time to help me get the girls home from school!

Sugar rush…

Noelle made me a big Valentine’s surprise – it was a dozen “red roses” hand print picture!  She was so excited to give me the “secret” they’ve been working on all week at school.  It’s lovely!!!

Opening Valentine’s and loving every minute of it!

Anna Kate and I have had so much fun together on sissy’s school days.  I feel like in a small way, my middle child has had a chance to be the only child for a little while.

Daddy met us at the mall for lunch and a quick carousel ride… it was our treat!

 

We started off our day in the play land before it got too crowded!

 

We went to an awesome story, song, & craft time before lunch – cool!

Can you tell she’s just eating up all of the attention!?!

Action shots!

Anna Kate, you are so special to us!!!  Although you’re not the “biggest sister” and you’re about to give up the title as “baby,” I promise you will always be in good company right in the middle!  Trust me, it’s cozy there!  We love you!

*I’m not nervous about the baby transition for Noelle one bit (she’s got it in the bag), but Anna Kate has been really uneasy lately and is still so little, so please say a little prayer that she will feel secure and loved.  Oh, how I wish I could be everywhere at once while I’m in the hospital!!!

 

I found Anna Kate chillin’ on the Boppy on top of our suitcase tonight.  Never would have thought to use it that way, but why not?

The Pack N Play is converted back to baby duty… now if we can just keep the sisters out of there!

The big girls are loving all the baby gear… oh Lord, please keep baby Rose safe from these sweet (yet busy and into everything) big sissies. 

 

How did this happen!?! 

I didn’t know a 23 month old could have a crush!

…but oh this one does!

Oh my!  How did I get talked into this?  It’s called being 9 months pregnant and needing some time to pack for the hospital!  Lol…

*Hair cuts are in the works, it’s just crazy with the ice and preparing to have a baby and all.  It’s on my “to-do list” for February! 

 

Noelle got to spend the night with Bekah and Toria on Friday night and Kay Kay and Grandpapa on Saturday night.  Anna Kate missed out on all of the sleepover fun because she was sick, but we made it up to her.  You’ll see…

Thanks to our great friends and family for making Noelle feel so special and loved!!!

Noelle had so much fun playing with her friends in the snow this morning!  Sweet Anna Kate is under the weather today, poor baby Ja!

 

Julia’s parents got to rest a little while she came over to play – they brought Jameson home from the hospital yesterday.

We made a Hawaiian cheerleader snow girl this year – wow, 2 snow girls 2 years in a row!  Since last year, we’ve been preparing Noelle not to get her hopes up for snow in Texas for a while.  When she first saw the snow coming down today, she said, “God is so amazing.  He knew this is what I wanted!”  Noelle says the coolest things.  God’s presence is all over her little spirit.

 

Snowball fight!!!

 

 

One happy little girl!

 

What a little ham! 

Other than a frozen pipe in our master bathroom, things are pretty low-key around here.  Hoping for some sun so the ice in our pipe will melt, and we can use our master shower again.  Figures crossed it won’t burst!  Oh brother! 

Also, wondering when Rose will arrive.  No new news… just don’t want an ambulance ride to the hospital.  Hold on until the ice melts, baby Rose! 

  

  

 

 

Noelle said, “This is the most magical experience that I’ve been waiting for!” 

 

  

Hands on your hips!!!

 

 

Cheerleading and eating snow!

  

 

Sassy little diva!

 

Too bad your parents aren’t famous… you girls would be eye candy for the paparazzi!

              

 

Brrr… now that both girls have taken turns saying “cheese,” we’re going to go get warm by the fire (and eat Twizzlers)!!!