Getting to know our Ivy, I'm sorry, and a Giveaway!

okay, i haven't blogged in a while. also, i haven't showered or brushed my teeth much either. life's been busy with the new arrival of our new little one, ivy. 


i've missed sharing our life here and i feel badly for not posting more often especially to those who have checked back for updates and for this i have feel badly and i want to say, i'm sorry.  this is a place where i share our life in words and in photos and i am behind and i don't like that feeling but i promised myself i wouldn't beat myself up and perpetuate the emotion i find myself swimming in these days: overwhelmed. 


i am in the same boat as any new mom must find themselves at times...
my eyes have stung with exhaustion;  my emotions behave like a pack of wild coyotes; my laundry is never done and is always at least five loads deep; i feel guilty toward my other babies and the amount of time i can't spend with them right now; nothing fits and my body isn't going back to 'normal' as quickly as i think it should be and my appetite is still on pregnancy time; and i look like death on a saltine cracker most of the time and none of this compares to the overwhelming feeling of gratitude i have for getting the chance to do this all over again. i love every minute of this even when i think i don't.  


i am overwhelmed with nothing but love for my new family of five. 


i am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the healthy mini-human i am blessed to call my own. 


i am happy and lucky and spending most of my time getting to know my little girl. when i'm not doing that, i'm witnessing my two older kids figure out their new roles as big brother and sister to a baby they both adore and can't get enough of. 


ivy, our little surprise baby. our tagalong: she is perfect. she is everything good in this world. 


she has brought us closer and taught me to learn to relax a bit more and relish each moment in the present. 


the first few months of a babies life is sacred ground and i didn't want to miss a moment and so i haven't.  


i've spent hours inhaling her sweetness and tracing her little bow shaped lips with my finger. i've stared deep into her eyes and analyzed every part and square inch of her perfect little body. 


like a good detective, i have scanned photos and family members faces for glimpses into her physical makeup. 


daddy's eyes, my nose, beckham's sweet baby face, and peyton's mouth. my mom's arms, my grandmas fingers, jeff's mom's skin color...the analysis never ends.


we are completely in love with this little lady and i am sincerely thinking that i may be the luckiest girl in the world. 


i will let the photos speak as i am behind and i want to get them up here...these are from her first few weeks at home when the emotions were raw, tears of gratitude ran freely and mama's heart was moved to capacity. 


we brought our surprise home after naming her only minutes before they forced us out of the hospital and into big sister's arms...
who was ready and waiting to greet us home:





we all just kinda stared at her.









beckham wanted a brother and made that known to anyone who would listen, but his disappointment was soon forgotten...




peyton though, surprised us all. no jealousy. just happiness and one rule:
the rule states that peyton gets to hold the baby over all visitors and friends if she asks because she is the big sister. 


the first days of a babies life are magical. 

i was tired but the little body that weighted my arms a bit kept me excited and invigorated. her cries called for me and i was ready to breathe her in all over again.



and i never wanted to be away from her. ever. not even for one second.


the first week was barely over and we visited dr. foley for ivy's first appt. 



dr. foley said she was perfect, but mama needed to go home and go right to bed! i love her for calling my house ten minutes later to see if i followed orders! i did. 


auntie hi-o rushed to florida to meet ivy and lavish peyton and beckham with extra love. she helped me so much and i hope she knows how amazing i think she is. 


she cooked and played fireman with beckham too.



then, ivy's godmother and my best friend took the most beautiful photos of our little one and i will forever cherish them. 


















thank you, auntie kelle. i love you. 




first bath


ivy's 'oh' face.



















auntie jenn.






she's been the sun and the moon these days and watching peyton and beckham with her is the cherry on top. 


*okay, i have about 1000 more photos to post, but i will stop here tonight and post more in a couple of days as i am trying to catch up!


**for those of you asking for recipes, i will begin posting as soon as i catch up with photos, hopefully within the month!


***on this post and next, there will be a giveaway!
TWO lucky readers will receive a nest necklace as pictured below:


i have worn mine since melody sent me mine. it even went into the delivery room with me. it was a great way to have peyton and beckham with me when they couldn't be.


 mine has three eggs inside the nest, one for each little in my life! i LOVE it and i receive so many compliments on it. i have started giving these away as gifts and even gave my one. hers has six eggs though...holla. 


please leave a comment and i will pull a winner from them in a couple of days. AND if you don't win that one, i will be giving another one away on my next post this week.


the winner will receive one necklace with as many eggs as you need. 


if you would like to see more of melody's items, please visit her etsy store here. she has some really cool stuff but her nest ring and necklaces are my fave.