Yates family: 2012

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Fischer Jonathan Yates

We are coming on 24 weeks of a great, healthy pregnancy with our 2nd son! It's hard to believe we are down to 16 weeks (ish) left! I think with this pregnancy life is so busy with 4 other little ones I don't think about being pregnant as much and before I know it another week has gone by,it's flying! Fischer is super active, reminds me a lot of his big brother! My favorite part Of the day is when I am getting ready to go to sleep and he goes crazy squirming and wiggling. So far he is growing healthy and strong and we have faced no complications, to God be the glory! After working in a NICU I know a healthy baby is not a given so I treasure and thank God for each day Fischer grows and thrives inside me, even if that means little inconveniences like peeing 5 times a night haha! We were truly surprised to find out we were expecting a 2nd boy! We Both really thought it was a girl! Ofcourse 2 girls and now 2 boys is better then we could ever ask for and we are all excited! We struggled, debated and over analyzed his name before Finally deciding on Fischer Jonathan. Fischer we just like, it's unique, quirky, and goes perfectly with Reiter averi and Sofia :) Jonathan is after my brother and Kevin's peepaw. I could not be more proud of the man my brother has become, he has had his fair share of struggles but has grown into a true man. He has a lovely wife and daughter that he obviously adores, he is hard working, responsible, kind and funny. There are so many different characteristics I hope Fischer has of his! Kevin's peepaw is funny, always has something smart to say that makes the whole room laugh. He worked hard to provide for his wife and 3 children. He loves his wife and they have a beautiful marriage I pray after all the years Kevin and I can have! We pray Fischer works as hard as his grandfather has and that he too grows up to be the leader of his family! Fischer Jonathan we can't wait to see you and watch you grow!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

what we have been up to...

It has been a long time since I have blogged, we have been busy! Since my last post we welcomed Fall with a trip to the pumpkin patch with our friends Lindsay and Sam and their beautiful daughters...

Reiter especially loved the goats and the girls loved the hay ride! They had a lot of fun and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! We also attended 2 costume parties, neither that I got pictures of, but both were super fun! We also hosted our own halloween party that was a huge success and ended our evening trick or treating with LOTS of candy! It was a great night and the kids were extra cute as a Cowgirl, bumble bee and Reiter was a pirate and also a dog because it was so cold he needed the extra layer! We also trick or treated at the Avenue (our local mall) which was so fun! In November we traveled to Jackson to see my Nana and Papa. It is always so nice to go "home"! It was a weekend that went to fast, my kids played hard with my cousins kids and came home thoroughly spoiled and high on sugar! We celebrated thanksgiving with Kevins family at his uncles house, a holiday we always enjoy! We ended Thanksgiving visiting Kevins peepaw at the rehab place he has recently been moved to and then a visit to Santa at Bass pro shop which the kids liked although the girls wouldn't touch him LOL! Now we are kicking off december and starting some new traditions! We are ok with santa which I know is controversial :) but we are more trying to incorporate the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus. So we have an "Elf on the shelf" the girls named "Jingle Bells" and he has been surprising them every morning with tea parties, marshmallow raids and so much more, He is fun and the kids enjoy it! We also started truth in the tinsel. It is a printable Ebook that gives you crafts and a scripture to do for 25 days of Christmas every day with your kids. We started tonight and they LOVED it! It got some great conversations going. During our craft making I asked what God wanted most hoping Averi and Sofia would say " a relationship with me, for me to ask him in our hearts," something of that nature. Instead Averi said "God wants us to have babies" oh dear, what have we taught them lol! We also started decorating ornaments for the girls tree (yes they have their own in their room, and yes it is pink) with different names for God on them. Tonight was "creator". I loved ending our evening talking about who created them and what else God created. I promise to load more pictures soon! Here are some we recently got back from the girls and Reiter over the summer:

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Happy 3rd birthday Sofia Pearl!

I can not believe our wild girl is officially a 3 year old!It feels like yesterday she was just born, I will never forget that moment after 12 hours of all natural labor, all night long I was so exhausted all I could think was I couldn't possibly have the energy to push, God knew my limit and I pushed 2 times out came the tiniest little blessing, bald beautiful and screaming! Sofia Pearl Yates 6lbs 15 oz, 20 inches long! I can not brag enough about how proud this girl makes us. She is SO loud, so sweet, out going, loves everyone, baby dolls are her all time favorite, she wants to hold her baby brother all day (much to his dismay), she is hysterical and keeps us laughing. She has recently started PK 2 days a week and as much as I miss having her here ever day she is thriving and learning like crazy! She is obsessed with Tangled and asks to watch it everyday! So hence we had a Tangled party for her 3rd birthday :) and she was thrilled! HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEARLIE WE LOVE YOU!

Friday, September 28, 2012

hello love...

We got a sneak peak at this little bundle last week...

Averi went with me and said " OH MOMMY" it looks like a girl baby!" We wont know that until November, but we did find out I am about a week further a long then we thought which is always good news! Something about seeing that little squirmer and hearing that beating heart makes me stand in total awe of Gods sovereignty! We are so blessed that God has chosen to bless us not once but 4 times with these children. We are praying for a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery, we cant wait to meet you little one!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

soccer and preschool

I feel like we are officially entering "big kid" world with Averi! She is attending PK 2 days a week at our church and LOVES it! Averi is so funny, not that she doesn't have her sour moments but man she is a sweetie, her teachers say she giggles and grins all day long! She is a learning machine and can now write all her letters and loves to ask me "mommy how do I spell.." so she can write it on paper! We are considering testing her for magnet school for next year, Her PK teacher suggested we should so we think its worth a shot! She is also playing soccer for one goal, she is on the "Saints". She says she likes it, but seems to get a little bored and distracted, but hey so do all the other 4 year old girls out there! We just keep telling her as long as she does her best and doesn't give up we are pleased and so is God! She has especially loved her Nana and Papa coming to her games! And as if soccer and PK weren't enough to make her seem all grown up I took her the other night to get her hair trimmed. She was BEGGING me to cut off all her hair, which I was not having! So we compromised and she got bangs and layers, talk about executing some independence! Here are some pictures of our big girl!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

5 years

I have been a terrible blogger lately, mostly because I am having some computer problems! June 23rd marked Kevin and mines 5th wedding anniversary! He suprised me with a weekend in Gatlinburg, where we went to dolly wood, ate to much good food, walked the strip and saw some BEARS! It was a great, and much needed weekend! We came home missing our kiddos, refreshed from lots of sleep and reconnected after a weekend filled with uninterrupted conversation! I am so blessed that God chose Kevin as my husband. He loves me deeply and passionately. Continually placing my needs and desires in front of his own! I am one lucky girl! Had you told us 5 years ago that in 5 years we would be living in TN expecting 4 kiddos, we would have both laughed! But man oh man, we are happy, so happy that this is our life!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Baby number 4

We are excited beyond belief that God has chosen to bless us with a 4th little one! We know that big familie aren't for everyone, and that some people think we are plain crazy for wanting another child, especially with 3 already so close in age and to them we just respond that we do not feel overwhelmed with the addition of a 4th, we aren't worried about how we will provide for them or where they will fit in our home! Because we know firmly that God has chosen this little one for our family and for this time, and because of that we say Praise the Lord! We are not due until April, averi will be almost 5, Sofia 3.5, and Reiter 21 months. We know it will be busy and slightly stressful at times. But thankfully God has given me a very supportive and loving partner to parent these blessings with! Please join us in prayer for a healthy and easy pregnancy, for an easy adjustment and softening of hearts to those who think we are crazy, I don't blame them, we are a little ;)

Friday, August 3, 2012

Reiter Michael Yates, you are one years old

Dear Reiter, I am 1st and foremost so thankful to call you my son! You are such a beautiful baby boy and I praise God for designing youto fit right into our family! I remember discovering we were pregnant with you. It was a little nerve wrecking for me, we had just moved to TN and I had just started a job I loved at Vanderbilt, God has a way of changing our plans though because his plans are so much better and his plans for that time in our life was for us to have you,Reiter, I am so happy you were Gods plan for us! Your pregnancy was a total joy! I was more sick with you in the 1st trimester then with your sisters, although I do not know if that was because I was pregnant or adjusting to working night shift. But after the 1st trimester I really,really enjoyed carrying you! You were so active and we found a lot of joy watching you flip and flop as my belly turned with you! It was so exciting to find out you were a boy, our first boy, we talked constantly about what you would look like, how different raising a son compared to daughters would be and how badly we wanted you to be a man of Christ! We knew right away what your name would be Reiter after Mommys best friend and dear friends of ours, some of the most caring Godly people we know! and Michael after your Daddy and Papa. When it got to the end of my pregnancy I was offered a part time postion in another unit, I jumped on the chance because I was tired of being away from your sisters and couldn't fathom leaving you so soon after birth 3 nights a week. There was one hitch, I had to switch units before I gave birth to you due to Vanderbilt policy and I would lose my insurance 31 days after switching units. This created a major dilemma, you see your momma is all for natural childbirth and I wanted to go into labor on my own, I believe in most cases babies come when they are ready. I knew switching units and the effect it would have on my insurance would put a time line on you coming. My midwife tried everything from 37 weeks on to get my labor going naturally. I agonized about what to do as weeks ticked by and you didn't come. Finally the day before your due date arrived and you were still chillin in utero... my midwife tried one last time at my check up to get you to come! IT WORKED! We visited the midwife at 2 in the afternoon, then met your uncle Jon and Aunt Lauren at Nanna and Papas for pizza. It was a great evening, we knew the next day ,your due date, was induction day and your daddy and I prayed God would allow you to come that night. We left your sisters at Nanas and Jon and Lauren came with Daddy and I to get ice cream. We had a fun night full of laughter. I remember around 12 feeling some contractions and telling your Aunt Lauren (a L and D/ NICU nurse) who confirmed how hard my belly was feeling. God was good and instead of panicking He gave me peace that either you would come or I would have the induction and meet you the next day, either way I needed to trust him! I went to bed and actually slept until about 430 when contractions woke me up. I tried to go back to sleep but was to uncomfortable laying. So I took a shower without waking up your daddy (i thought it may be a long day and wanted to let him sleep) I took a shower and fixed my hair. Stopping to breath through contractions. at 530 I woke up your daddy and told him I didnt think we were going to need that 9 am induction after all! At 6 we called my midwife, she suggested we come on in, it was a 45 minute drive. I was handeling the labor better then I expected (I kindve freaked out with Sofie the first time I went natural) we talked (jon and Lauren accompanied your dad and I to the hospital) and were even laughing, stopping every 4 to 5 minutes to let me breath through the contraction then talking again, it was a weird experience! We got to the hospital at 715. I was checked and was 5 to 6 cms dialated. Your nana met us there, I was so happy to have her share in this day with us. We walked the halls and labor got harder, I remember stopping and leaning on the wall to help with the contraction, your daddy rubbing my back while Lauren reminded me to breath, and saying through the most intense moment "this is the worse it gets" then the contraction would ease. I felt so much peace and like God was really in control and I praised him for giving me the strength to make it this far. I was checked again at 10, I was 8cms. I tried to shower and realized I just couldnt stand anymore. I got back in the bed. I remember burning up and them putting a fan on me. My midwife knew your were significantly bigger then your sisters but never let on to me that pushing you out would be any harder then the 1st 2 times I had done it! I was "hands and knees" and being very vocal. I felt so in tune with my body though and was able to tell your daddy when I needed to be reminded my body was designed to do this. My midwife and your Aunt Lauren also reminded me I was indeed "doing it" and that "you would be here soon", I remember looking over and your Nana getting her camera ready, I knew I had to be close then! By 1045 I was 9... then shortly after I was a "fingertip" I felt so much pressure and wanted to push. My midwife encouraged me to trust my body and if I wanted to push to try. I pushed, but something felt wrong, it wasnt the relief I wanted it felt like going up against a brick wall. My bag of water was still in tact and she then broke it to see if that would help. I pushed again, with no relief. My midwife then told me you were coming out face up and would need to be turned because I was struggling to get you out, I agreed. She turned you, I thought I was gonna die! But as soon as you turned I pushed 4 times and out came the most perfect little boy, chubby with dark hair! 8lbs 8 oz 19.5 inches long! They laid you on my chest immediatly, I was in love! Your dad and I cried, Nana took pictures and held you, so did Aunt Lauren! I praised God for your safe and fast arrival! Uncle Jon met you next and then Aunt lauren and him had to head back to Lousiville. They will never understand my gratitude for them coming to be with us that precious day! I have been totally and completely smitten with you since day one, we all have. You have the most infectious giggle and smile! You have always slept well and been very content. Thank you God for Reiter Michael, thank you for the opportunity to parent him and help us not take that for granted!

Monday, July 2, 2012

11 months, where did time go?

This handsome boy is 11 months old! He has 1 tooth popping through, none of our kids have cut teeth until right around a year and Reiter has followed suite. He is pulling up some, still bootie scooting and not crawling. He is saying "mama, dada,bye bye" and my inlaws swear last weekend he said "AMEN" although mommy and daddy have yet to hear it! He is my sweet baby boy and I adore him, I don't know how he got to be on the verge of toddler hood, but I can say I have savored every moment of the last 11 months, I have rocked, cuddled, played, made him giggle, counted his fingers and toes, and spoiled this boy so much. He is a mommas boy and I am so blessed to call him my son!We love you Reiter man!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Lately...

Well a lot has been going on in our home! As I have said before, I love my job. Working at Vanderbilt has grown me in ways you can't imagine, I love my coworkers, I love what I do! I worked full time (3 days a week) until we had Reiter and we had a very sweet Nanny who helped with the girls! When we welcomed Reiter to the crew I was blessed with the opportunity to go part time, one day a week, and switched units from NICU to the Newborn nursery. In order for me to be home with the kids I have worked every weekend when Kevin is off work. As much as I have loved my job, this has been incredibly difficult. Kevin and I were at a place where we were sick of passing babes back and forth. Kevins job can be very demanding, He works ALOT of hours, often late into the evening, which means our weekends are so precious and me being gone every weekend is not worth the little extra I was making. I started praying months ago that if God wanted me to leave Vanderbilt he would make that painfully clear. Well that is just what He did! First I was asked to do some different childcare at church that offers pay, it has first supplemented some income for us and second allowed me to get to know some wonderful ladies at church. THEN out of no where I was contacted by a lady I used to babysit for asking if I would watch her 2 daughters again part time... the pay is exactly what I made at Vandy... it was one of those moments you feel like God not only opens the door but shoves you through it! The girls play wonderfully with my girls, they are polite and sweet and we enjoy them being here! Kevin and I are thoroughly enjoying more time as a family! We are praising God for the opportunity for me to be home more and thankful that the answer to my prayers was "yes"... I miss my friends at work, they are wonderful ladies but being here every day is where my heart has always been!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Averi's party pictures...

I just realized I never posted pictures of Averi's 4th birthday party!The night of her actual birthday and the day before her party we had a slumber party with cousins and friends,the next day We had a GREAT party, we were able to rent a jumper, and had over 40 people there! We had a rock star theme and it went over so well! We were extra blessed when my very best friend "Aunt LaLa" and her husband "Uncle Shnookie" came down from Ohio to help celebrate as well as her parents "Granny Rei" and Mr Mark! It was wonderful and we are blessed to celebrate 4 years with our wonderful girl!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Happy 10 months Reiter

Reiter is 10 months! He is still as sweet as ever! He is the best! So happy, so easy and so loud! He laughs easily and scoots all over on his bottom, still refuses to crawl but is pulling up on things! He is such a blessing! I can not believe he is so close to being one years old! We love you Reiter Michael! Here is a sweet picture of Rei sleeping on me in his carrier on our camping trip! Just love this boy!

Memorial day...

We really accomplished something big on memorial day. We took all 3 kids camping! I couldn't have asked for it to have gone better. We spent plenty of time as a family which was much needed! We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Ate smores, hot dogs and cheetos (our kids love cheetos, it is a special treat), We hung out at the pool for over 4 hours, and we played hard! The campground did a free outside movie, and free hay rides! We hiked, we waded in the river and we played on the playground! It was a great weekend, with a lot of much needed family time!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Happy 9 months stud

Rei is 9 months. He has officially been in my arms as long as He was in my belly! He is still very content, sleeping through the night and eats like a champ! He nurses 4 times a day and LOVES table food, ANY table food! He laughs easily and almost always has a smile on his face! He has gone from only scooting backwards on his belly to now doing a hilarious bootie scoot... So no he isn't officially crawling but He is getting to whatever He wants so fast we can hardly keep up with him! He says dada and bye bye! He weighs 21 lbs and is perfect! Thank you God for making me his mommy!

Monday, April 23, 2012

SOFIE Youre 2 and a 1/2

A fun thing about Averi and Sofie is that they are EXACTLY one and a half years apart, so every time one turns a year older the other turns a half year older! I cant believe it but my sweet Sofia Pearl is 2 and a half! She is potty training, some days better then others but most days she does really well! She sleeps in a toddler bed! She LOVES baby dolls and HATES when her sister tries to treat her like a baby for she is a "BIG GIRL"! She has a head full of sweet blonde curls and beautiful blue eyes! She can melt a room with her raspy little voice and baby giggle! She loves music and sings constantly, she picks up lyrics so fast! She is a beautiful ballerina, knows her ABCs, can count to 15, knows most of her colors and shapes and is the perfect peanut butter holding our trio sandwich together! We love ya Miss P!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Happy 4th birthday Averi Noe'l

Dear Averi,
You turn 4 this Saturday and I am in awe of how quickly time has passed!It feels like just yesterday your daddy and I were admitted to the hospital and told we would be induced 2 weeks before your due date! We were so nervous yet so excited to meet our precious daughter, you! Averi your birth was hard, and long, but worth it all baby girl because when you came out, red and screaming with a huge bruise across your head and a black eye, I couldn't have been more in love!

Sweet girl I thought, in all my 20 year old maturity, that I was so ready to be a mama! But oh man you through me for a loop! You taught me love, patience, devotion, selflessness, and trust all in one short year! You brought your daddy and I closer together, and most importantly you brought us closer to our heavenly Father! You my dear were exactly what our little family needed, even if the rest of the world thought it was "too soon" God knew to give us you in HIS perfect timing and HIS perfect timing was April 21st 2008 @ 8:56pm!
By the time you turned one we had discovered you were going to be a BIG SISTER! So we REALLY focused on savoring every moment with you as our "only"! You had two BIG 1st birthdays, one in Louisville where we lived at the time and one in Tn with all your daddy's family! The cake was certainly your favorite part!

The day you turned 1 and a half we welcomed your little sister Sofia into the world! I thank God that He gifted us you two so close in age, as you don't remember life without each other! You truly are best friends! You play well together, you share a room and you look out for one another! I pray God continues to bless your relationship,that you will always recognize the magnificent blessing it is to have a sister!

By the time you turned 2 we had moved into a new apartment and you had mastered the art of being a big sister! You slept in a "big girl bed", you loved to play with your buddies Emma and Jane! You were very talkative and a Daddy's girl! You LOVED Barney and Elmo and we even had an Elmo party that year to celebrate! Youre personality was coming out so much at this age and we were loving really getting to know the precious girl God had designed you to be!

Between 2 and 3 you really seemed to grow up! We moved to TN and you loved being able to see Nana, Papa and your cousins, Auntie K and all the rest of your family all the time! Mommy worked 3 12 hour shifts a week for almost that whole year so Daddy could focus on finishing his degree. It was hard for me to be away from you that much, but we were very blessed with a Nanny you call Miss Whitney! She played with you, did crafts with you and took you to the park, she was a real blessing and made it a lot easier for mommy to go to work, although I was always anxious to cut my hours down because I missed you terribly! By the time you were 3 you had potty trained, knew your Abcs, John 3;16, and the fruits of the spirit, all your shapes and colors and could count to 15! We were also preparing to welcome your little brother into our family! You loved touching my big belly and feeling Reiter squirm and kick, it was so fun being pregnant with you being old enough to understand it better! We had a Luau for your 3rd birthday, it poured rain and made for a muddy day but you and all your friends and cousins still had a blast!

This last year has been a joy with you Averi!Right after Reiter was born I started working 1 day a week, I wouldn't trade the time I have with you kids for anything! You have grown into such a kind hearted, bubbly and good nature little girl! We struggle some with your attitude and a few other discipline issues, but over all you are an easy kid! You love your brother and sister, you are still a Daddy's girl but LOVE to Be momma's helper! You laugh easily and LOUDLY! You love preschool. You have 2 imaginary friends "lina" and "tina" your favorite show is Cailou and Dora! You can count to 25, you recognize most letters and can spell your name! You have lots of friends, you make them easily!You want to grow up to fast and I want to freeze you like this forever! You tell us all how much you love us several times a day, you love to read books and color! Your favorite thing to play with is your doll house! You take Ballet and Tap and enjoy them both!

You are my little buddy and I truly enjoy being with you. I feel like you really are a little girl now, no longer a baby or a toddler and I don't know how we got here for I feel like it was only yesterday I was looking at your tiny hands and counting your tiny toes for the 1st time, awestruck by the grace God had bestowed on me allowing me to be a mom, your mom, Averi that feeling is still there, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't praise God for making me your mommy!

Thank you Jesus for Averi, thank you for every day of the last 4 years you have given me to mother her! I ask forgiveness for the parts I have fallen short and thank you that your grace and mercy has helped me and Kevin parent her thus far! Lord we pray that she will grow into a women who loves you, who desires a life that serves you! We ask God that if it is your will that you will spare her heart ache and that her refuge will be in you, her heavenly Father! Please Father let her know you at a tiny age, we know that the holy spirit has the power to reach her little heart,even at the tender age of 4 and we pray it is! We pray that you will guide us and help us to remember always in how we discipline, love and teach that we are the biggest example of you to her and that our words and actions will make her WANT you! Thank you Jesus for blessing us with her, help us not to take for granted the gift and responsibility a child is! We love you and we thank you for the wonderful blessing our Averi Noe'l Yates is!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Happy Easter...

Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave
Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice on the cross, we thank you for loving us enough that despite our sinful nature you DIED for us! We know that you are mighty above everything, mighty enough to conquer even death! Jesus you are almighty! Thank you for blessing us with our precious babies, help us to keep in mind that these babies are yours not ours! Please Lord help them to come to know you at a young age! Thank you Jesus for your many blessings, and for giving us the opportunity to know you in an intimate way!