Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! We enjoyed a nice, relaxing thanksgiving at home decorating gingerbread houses and Isabella even made a pumpkin pie.

Sophia has been spending more time awake and just being plain adorable!

Our little 3 weeker

Isabella found the sticker stash!

oh my!

Sisters snuggle after a bath the night before thanksgiving. Isabella loves to hold Sophia's hand.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

More candy landed in Isabella's mouth rather than on the gingerbread house. I think she had fun!I also managed to get a photo of Sophia smiling on thanksgiving day...aw so sweet. Baby's 1st Thanksgiving

Isabella wants to "hold da baby"

We have discovered Isabella's favorite name for Sophia...its "Sopha" (pronounced more like Sue-fa)

On this thanksgiving I am also very thankful for the heat in my home. We have dual zone heaters so the upstairs was warm however the downstairs had no heat. But with enough logs in the fire and a few space heaters it was nice and toasty.

Sophia was toasty and warm all bundled up

Today was a beautiful fall day and we enjoyed a nice stroll around the neighborhood with our daughters. We felt very thankful.

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

My 2 beautiful daughters seem to grow before my eyes. Sophia is spending more time awake and Isabella is talking up a storm. One of the cutest things Isabella is saying these days is "Bless you baby" when Sophia sneezes. Daddy's pillow of night-night stickers

courtesy of dear daughter #1
Our 2 week old snuggle bear

Proud Big Sister

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

A bit of regression from Isabella, but funny none the less... The happy family

After a few weeks of help from family we are now on our own...or shall I say I am on my own during the day with two kids under two years old. This is going to be fun! I am looking forward to time with my girls.

Sisters

The Schaefer household has been hopping. Having two kids under two is a lot to handle but its a good thing we have had family around to help. Isabella loves to hold her sister and seems to be adjusting okay to being a big sister. Nap time and bed time has become a struggle since Isabella does not want to go to sleep. I guess she feels like she is missing out on the fun. She has become a bit more deviant but is still an angel in our eyes. As some of you might have heard Isabella was quite a biter in day care. Well now when she sees Sophia nurse she says " bite Mommy"...she thinks Sophia is biting me. Isabella is doing well overall and we are so happy to be a family of four. Isabella being a proud big sister pushes Sophia in the swing......and gives her advice on life.

I thought I only had one daughter is a newborn size diaper but it looks like Bell squeezed into the size N's too!

Farm foam art clearly requires lots of concentration.

Sophia is 2 weeks old today! She lost her umbilical cord at the end of last week so today was her 1st real bath. Our chill baby did great!

Relaxed after a trip to the Schaefer Spa

Clean & happy

We have been cooped up in the house for most of the time since I have been home from the hospital. Luckily our county has provided outdoor entertainment as they replace the water meters in our neighborhood. Of coarse, we had to venture outside to check things out.

Isabella enjoying the curbside service of a tractor.This continues to be a period of adjustment for all of us. We are so very happy and doing great!

Schaefer family of 4

Here we are the morning of Sophia's birth. Its about 8am and we are so excited to get the show on the road and meet our little girl.Just a few short hours later Sophia enter this world at 11:12 am.
Sophia resting up in the bassinet after delivery . I was so eager to hold my daughter for the 1st time.

Sophia and I had lots of quality time alone in the hospital. She is a dream come true.

After days 5 in the hospital we are finally heading home!

And we are free to go...

The exact moment Isabella met her baby sister. Isabella's reaction was "baby". She wanted to hold the baby.

Bell checked out Sophia to make sure she had all her parts...eye, nose, ears, mouth, hands, etc. Perfect! Isabella was a proud big sister and enjoyed holding Sophia.

Our 1st family photo

Our sweet Sophia is adjusting well to being at home

and our sweet Isabella is adjusting well to being a big sister.

We joyfully announce the birth of Sophia Austin

It is with great pleasure that we are announce the birth of our daughter, Sophia Austin. Precious baby Sophia was born Tuesday November 3rd at 11:12am weighing 8lbs and 7 ounces. She is perfect and we are happy to all be home and start our life together.

Below are the photos of Sophia taken the day after she was born. She is a dream come true!

Sophia is a week old today! Isabella is proud to be a big sister. She likes to touch Sophia's head and give her kisses. The transition to being a big sister went well although Isabella has strep and has been sick since we got home. Thus, Isabella is out of sorts. Poor Isabella. She wants Mommy to make her feel better and I cant pick her up. Isabella is adjusting to a new routine which has to be tough on her so we are giving her lots of love whenever we can. She is our baby too.

Its hard to convey in words how blessed I feel to have two beautiful, healthy daughters and a wonderful husband. It seems like not that long ago I was struggling on the path to be a mother and here I am now years later with a family of my own. Life is beautiful!