Sutton Update

After glancing at our blog today I realized I haven't posted much on our little lady and how much she is growing and changing right now.

Accomplishments at the moment...10 months

Pulling up on everything and everyone.

Can stand for a few seconds without help but she doesn't know it yet.

Pointing and Screaming at things she wants, baby sign language used when she feels like it.

Saying "Da Da", "Ma Ma", "Teddy" and "Deer".

8 teeth are now present and accounted for.

Sleeping through the night = 12 hours.

Napping like a champ.

Hair is growing, although more in the back than the top.

Can climb a flight of stairs unassisted, coming down is an act of death defying proportions.

She has a deep love of "teddy" and "panda" and will squeal with delight upon seeing them.

Oh, and we are madly in love...she has her hold on us all.

A few pics from this month

Mix, Pour, Find a Cure

This past weekend was National lemonade days for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.  In 2000 a little girl named Alex was diagnosed with Cancer and she and her brothers held their first Lemonade stand to raise money for kids with Cancer.  As of this year they, along with thousands of other kids around the country, have donated over 60 million to Cancer research and the care of children and their families struggling with Cancer.

We were introduced to Alex through a book her parents wrote after her passing to help other children understand her story.  A few weeks ago Shayden and I were reading it and I started to talk to him about how we could get involved, what he could do to make an impact and help other children.  It took about .1 seconds for him to decide we were DEFINITELY doing a lemonade stand and how could we get started!

So this past weekend we held our first lemonade stand along with 1,350 other stands across the nation.  And let me tell you, it was a total success.  My heart was literally bursting with joy to watch my little ones so eager to serve everyone that came.  Shayden and Quinton were a great team dumping ice and filling up cups.  While Quinton and Sutton were forced to take afternoon naps, Shayden stood strong by the stand the entire time and didn't allow a single cup to be served by anyone but him or Quinton.  He was gracious, kind and fully engaged...it was awesome!

Our goal was to raise $100, a small but mighty amount.  We were blown away by all our family, friends and neighbors who generously gave and have brought our total to over $500.  Shayden was thrilled and wanted to know if we could drive it to a hospital right away!  

Thank you to everyone who shared in this event with us.  Not only did you give to a great cause but you instilled community, faith and the heart of service into my children and I am forever grateful.  

 

Mixing up our lemonade

 

Our first customer - stopped on his 8 mile run

 

Team Testa

 

One very proud little boy

To learn more visit AlexsLemonade.org

The Hair up There

I almost hesitated in writing this post, but then realized...my husband doesn't read my blog, so here I go.

 

The post title really is fitting, because for months now I have heard almost nothing else in regards to personal physique than the issue of Chris' "receding hairline".  As much as this is a stimulating topic, its not one that occupies too much of my time or thought space and so I was baffled that he was REALLY reacting to the possibility that he may or may not be losing a few precious hairs.

At first I poo pooed the topic, "what, your kidding me right, your not losing your hair"...then it was, "are we still talking about this"...fast forward a few days..."CHRIS, REALLY your freaking out about nothing...and you do realize that Stress can cause you to lose hair". 

All that to say, fast forward a couple months and I then stated, "Um, I guess I do think its receding a bit"....ugh, sorry babe!

 

So needless to say without him really knowing it and what proved to be perfect timing, I captured a quick shot of he and Sutton - who both seem to be losing hair.

 

Go ahead and get a good laugh, life's funniest moments are right in front of us...

and yes babe, its just hair.

(Oh, and I'm pretty sure mine is thinning out like the worst lawn in the neighborhood)

 

 



It's a Girl

Sutton Paige Testa

10-28-2012

8 lbs 1 oz

21 inches

And yes, officially 1 month old and I am just now posting.  Can you say "Mom of 3"...  Sutton was technically 11 days overdue, but perfectly timed by God.  My water broke at 10pm on the 27th and after hanging out and catching a few hours of sleep things really started happening around 4am...and kicked up to intense around 9am.  By that time we were comfortably settled at the hospital and I was making my laps around the floor.  

Everything was different with this pregnancy.  My morning sickness was the worst of all 3, my pain in the third trimester was really hard for a few weeks.  We didn't find out her sex at our ultrasound, so that was to be a surprise, and I really wanted to accomplish a natural labor without any interventions.  Chris stated it perfectly one night when he said "It's like we are doing this for the first time.  I have no idea what's going to happen".  Man was the build up and excitement all worth it...I was so excited to meet this baby, you could have handed me an orangutan and I would have loved it to pieces (okay, so minor embellishment  but you get the idea).

So back to labor...I unfortunately had rough back labor the entire time, but thanks to my strong labor coaches (Chris and Rachel) we worked through it.  We had a great team of nurses who cheered us on and were super encouraging.  It was definitely the most intense physical challenge of my life but more than worth the prize at the end.  When Sutton arrived and we found out she was a girl, it was utter joy and sheer pleasure.  I balled my eyes out like a baby.  

Sutton has been such a good baby, she is so sweet and very relaxed.  She cries when she is in need of something but otherwise very content and peaceful.  The boys love her and Shayden is a super baby entertainer.  He is constantly singing and dancing for her at times when I need a few minutes to accomplish a task.  Quinton loves her but has certainly realized that she is staying and has mentioned a few times for me to put her down and just be with him.  All in all though I would say we are transitioning to a family of 5 very well.

1 month stats:

Weight: 10 lbs 7.5 oz

Height: 22.25 inches

We love you Miss Sutton!

Welcome to the Family