He's here!

Good Morning, and happy Thursday!  So I'm a bit behind on posting anything, but then again if I wasn't then that would be out of the norm!  I'd like to start this post off by letting you all know that I won't bore you with all the sorted details, I'll just tell you that the smile above was a fake :) Don't get me wrong, I was so joyful and happy, but by this point it was becoming aware to us that a minor complication was at hand and I wasn't feeling so well.

No fear, this "little" guy didn't disappoint!  Augustine "Gus" is a happy, healthy little boy, weighing in at 9lbs even at birth!  Smallest singleton birth weight :) haha!

Because I wasn't feeling good at all the kids had to wait to see their new brother, I never thought I would ever tell Alan not to let the kids come see us - but I just needed some time to recover enough to sit up and fake feeling good so I didn't scare them.

The kids were so happy to meet and see their new little brother!  It brought so much joy and warmth to our hearts to have all our children in the same room - even for just a few minutes :)

Welcome Augustine Ambrose Maddox, we are so joyed to finally meet you!  Now I think I'll go get some more coffee :)

Every baby(belly) is soooo different!

I know all of you are just dying to see a fun comparison of all my pregnancies, and though I know you are also sitting at the edge of your seat to read a detailed story of all births...... I'll hold off on that one :)  So for now, here's what you get.  Four baby belly pics - all about the same time in gestation, all soooo different!  Man my body has gone places I didn't think were possible! Haha!

 This is good ole Stephen!  39ishwks!  

I was so big and miserable at this point that I ran out and bought this bathing suit just so I could cool off in our cold neighborhood pool - I had him 8 days later :0 9lbs9oz

 Little Abby, 38wks - much better Jess!  Still 9lbs1oz!

 Whoa - hey lady how many babies you got in there?  Two, thank you :)

Twins 37wks :)  Jude: 7lb1oz, Cecilia: 6lbs11oz 

Our newest buddle of joy - Augustine, two days shy of 39wks.  

At 35 1/2 wks the ultra sound had him wieghing in at 5lbs9oz.....Alan and I don't believe it!  That would make him a pretty average size baby - and I promise, I'm doing all the same fun things I did with Abby's pregnancy.  

Just goes to show you, every baby, every pregnancy is different! :)

I hope and pray my next post will be very soon and will have pictures of little Gus!

Thanks again for all your prayers, love and support!!

Coffee is brewing and I'm ready to go!

Almost everyday, I get to talk to my mom on the phone.  She always asks, "so how are things?"  My response lately.... "you know, busy."

How could they not be busy?  And I promise, this is not a complaint at all - anyone who knows me knows that I like busy, but these past few weeks/months have just flown by!  I'm guessing that any experienced mom reading this is most likley thinking it's only just beginning Jess, it's only just beginning. 

I know I will look back when I have five young adults/teenagers and wonder were all the time went.  I will be busier than busy, and it will be different than it is now.  So, I am choosing not to wish this time away.  Instead, I remind myself daily that Stephen won't ask me told hold him in the mornings for much longer, Abby will stop crawling in her daddy's lap whenever she can, Cecilia will stop crying when I leave the room, and Jude will one day be stronger than me.  These are some extremely special moments happening right now.

While I take a quick moment and sit to type this, there is a small joyful reminder moving around in my tummy that tells me more changes are coming.  That though I am still learning to hold my "big" babies a little longer and tighter, I will have new lessons to learn.  I am reminded that God has given Alan and I this great blessing of saying yes to Him again - welcoming another life into this world, asking us to move our personal selfishness to the side and make room for one of His many gifts.

Hopefully I will be wise enough to step back and remind myself of these thoughts and words when things are crazy, loud and chaotic.  And in doing so I can use this beautiful season of Lent to stop and reflect on what I am being called to, and how I can step up to that calling! 

And maybe just maybe, I will stop, take a breath and watch these gifts grow up right before my eyes!

Happy Lent everyone!

Let the birthday season begin!

 Good morning from the Maddox household!  It's been a great day so far, lots of playing with new toys, limited fights, and no cartoons!
Why might you ask, well yesterday we kicked off our birthday season and it was a blast!  We'll have the great joy of celebrating not only our kids, but many of our dear friends birthdays over the next two months..... not to mention the arrival of another spring baby!

 I still can't get over the fact that we have three year old twins, but then again Jude thinks he's older than Stephen, so I'll take three while I can!

 We decided to have a small family celebration, it was perfect.  The grandparents joined us at Monkey Joe's and the kid's had the time of their lives - so much so it was almost impossible to get a picture of anyone, even with my fast camera!

 Jude's on a bit of a Lego kick - hence the Lego Star Wars shirt that is actually Stephen's but he had to have something Lego on!

 Even though we had a small family get together, I couldn't help "taking orders" for Cecilia and Jude's cakes.  I really don't know why I absolutely love making special cakes for everyone, but I do.  I know my mom was the queen at this, and I'm sure that's where it comes from.  I always knew that the day I was born was a very special day for my parents and me.  I loved it - most years we were visiting friends in IN and my parents still went out of their way to make it special and unique.  I hope I am doing that with my kids - they are all such gifts and I always want them to know that.  I also, hope and pray we make their baptismal days a big deal - but that's another post for another day. :)  

(plus I really like eating left over cake)

 Thanks Jude, glad to know you enjoyed yourself ;)

Did I say I liked left over cake? 

 And b/c I know you are all dying to see a comparison of me with two vs. one here it is.  Up top - me and the twins 37 wks!

Yep, there I am, 33 wks - same outfit, just fits a bit better! :)  

Let it Snow..or Sleet

 Just in case you hadn't heard.....it snowed down south!  Well, technically at our house, it only sleeted, but by the time it stopped there was so much that it looked like a good inch or two of snow. 

 And let's be honest, the kids really had no clue that it wasn't snow! :)

 I am truly blessed and thankful that Stephen's school was cancelled.  I woke up Wed morning, the kids got dressed as quick as they could and ran outside to play - and all I could think about was those poor kids who were still stuck in school.  I couldn't stop thinking about all the craziness in Birmingham and Atlanta, but I know there has been plenty written and said about all that - so I'll move on.

 That being said, we made sure to make the best of it!  Memories were made, and as Jude continued to say "This is the best day ever!"

What a fun way to get the new year started, it seems this might just be a rather adventurous year for us!  Baby Augustine is doing great, and growing like a weed!  I can't wait to introduce him to all of you.  Until then we have many things to look forward to and celebrate, including three birthdays coming up!  So hold on folks, this lady might actually have something to blog about! :)  

2013.... lot's of pics, very few words!

I have been the worlds worst blogger this year - but I wouldn't miss this post for anything!

It has been such an amazing, fun filled year

To say we've been blessed would be an understatement, from visiting family and friends, to the gift of getting pregnant again, it's just been non-stop fun around here!  

I hope you enjoy this playback of the year.  I know I love doing this post because I am always amazed at how each child has grown up......and way to fast!!!

I mean really, look at those baby cheeks - Cecilia and Jude aren't babies anymore!

And Stephen just lost his first tooth, I'm just amazed everyday at how quick they are growing.

And yet in my everyday life I find myself forgetting how small these little blessings are

Looking back as I write this I am reminded that these four cuties are just that, cute and little and full of joy - I could learn a few things from them! 

So I hope you enjoy these little faces while your scroll through, hear laughter and see tons of memories being made!

I'm looking forward to seeing what this year has in store for us, I hope and pray that we will grow in our faith with any blessings or bumps that come our way!

I am more than excited to add another little boy to these adventures!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all 4 readers :)