Zacchaeus & Ikea

During Taylor's morning devotions with Daddy she read Luke 19 and learned about Zacchaeus. In closing there time up Daddy prays and then Taylor follows. The end of her prayer went like this " And God help Ikea give the money back to the poor".

The Joys Of A Newborn

I've been freshly reminded of the sweet joy it is to have a newborn. It can be easy to overlook in the midst of sleep deprivation (yeah, she read my post), caring for other children and recovering. But they are there in ten-fold and end all to quickly. Here are just a few....

1. Her sweet cry, even when it's all out crying, It's still the sweetest thing!
2. The way she smiles in her sleep giving me glimpses of the real thing that's right around the corner
3. Her little frog legs
4. The cute startle reflex with her arms
5. The smell of her after a bath, especially her hair. I could just cuddle with her for hours
6. The way she stares so intently when awake with her big blue eyes
7. Her whole hand holding on tightly to my finger
8. The frantic sound of her trying to suck on her hands in the middle of the night when she's hungry
9. The way she stretches her arms behind her head when waking up
10. Holding her close when swaddled like a cocoon with a receiving blanket

Feel free to add some of your own :-)

Sorry Xanga's

I have fixed my comment moderation so you can now comment as a xangan. Sorry about that and thanks Andrea for letting me know :-)

Happy 1 week Rylee!

Making it through the first week with a newborn is a big deal. Right there along with the one month mark, six week mark and I've now added the "90 days to sanity" mark. Every day I have felt more and more human and I am less frightened by the thought of Chris returning back to work. Daddy boot camp was put in effect earlier in the week and we have enjoyed the sweet fruit of it these past few days. I am always amazed at how quickly our children respond when daddy intervenes! Something else has happened these past few days... Rylee sleeps at night. In her pack n' play nonetheless. Something neither of my other two did this early. Both Taylor & Trevor had their days and night mixed up for the first month. And they would cry,hard, if put to bed anywhere other than a swing, bouncy chair or as my last resort our bed. I'm afraid to even write this, as if somehow she will find out that it's public and suddenly change. But Chris has wisely counseled me to give God thanks for last night and trust him for grace for what tonight will bring. Now by sleep at night I mean she'll go a five hour stretch than another three or four. Last night I was up once between 10:30 and 6:30! So, I am giving God thanks, much thanks, for these past few nights of rest and trusting him for tonight!

Just a few Pictures

Returning Home

Thank you all for your prayers and kind words! I went to bed weds. night disappointed that I was still at home and not in labor. However, in God's kindness both Chris and I were able to get a good night sleep. Sleep is not something we've had with the previous two births. I woke up around 5 am with some strong contractions, determined to keep them coming I went to the gym and walked for for 45 min. They started coming at such a strength & pace that I decided it was best to return home. But of course not before a starbucks coffee, muffin & a little spurgeon! Seriously, there's a devoted starbucks fan for ya, I'm in labor and stopping off to get my morning joe :-) I was able to read morning and evening for a short duration before heading home to wake up Chris. Which really set my soul at peace for the day ahead. We left for the hospital about 8:00 am, hoping that this was the real thing. Sure enough I had dialted closer to 5 centimeters and the nurse sent me walking. Upon returning I was nearing 6 and fully effaced. At this point the contractions turned the corner from these really hurt, to ok these REALLY hurt where's the epi? The nurse started the IV fluids and I recived an epidural about 45 minutes later. The dr. came in and broke my water around 11:30 am and we waited comfortably for a couple of hours. The delivery came very quickly. My parents, our good friends Jon & Lory Payne and my brother were all in the room talking with us at 2:00 pm. The nurse came in to annouce she was going to check me, everyone went out expecting to come back in and at 2:06 pm Rylee was born. Needless to say it was a fast delivery!

I have loved holding and studying Rylee these past few days. She is so sweet & so far has hardly cried. She looks so much like Taylor did it's unbelievable! Taylor & Trevor have done great with their baby sister. Even Trevor seems to instinctively know to be gentle. Something I was concerned about. They both give her kissess & love. However, since returning home their sinfulness has been on full display. Let's just say these past few days has made having two children a walk in the park :-) I am so thankful for Chris' presence and am currently fighting off anxious thoughts for when he returns to work friday. I am confident that God will give me grace! And after all it's only a season, a short one at that.

I am however taking any thoughts or suggestions from expereinced moms out there on handling multiple children :-)

Rylee Grace is HERE!

Hi all! This is Chris (otherwise known as 'The Husband' or during labor..'YOU DID THIS TO ME!')

Just kidding. Everything went very smoothly at the hospital and Rylee Grace Daukas was born 8/17/06 at 2:06pm, weighing in at 7 lbs 3 oz and 20 inches long. God was merciful to us again with an easy delivery and a healthy mom/baby!

Tara was anxious to get some pictures posted, so here are some of the best....

She should be here soon!

I just came back from my dr's appt. and I am at 4 cm. She did some "doctorly" things (spare you the details) to get things going. So I am at home waiting for my contractions to get regular and then we'll be off to the hospital! I am praying that we will be off by tonight. I've been feeling pretty miserable for the past 24 hrs! I was up from midnight to 4 am with contractions and cramping and if God so wills, I would love to not repeat last night without a baby being handed to me afterwards :-)

We'll keep you posted! I can't wait to hold my little girl for the first time!

39 Weeks and..... Waiting....

Today marks the official "after today it would be convenient to have this baby" mark. Funny that we'd even have that day huh? With all three babies there have been these sort of days/ timelines. With Taylor it was my brother's high school graduation. And sure enough we made it to graduation and his party, a few hours later my water broke. With Trevor it was for a less joyous event. My Uncle passed away a week before he was born and Chris performed the funeral service & I sang. I remember the morning of the funeral going to the dr. unsure if I was in active labor. I was given the ok for the service and Trevor was born a few days later. There have been all sorts of events to try to keep this little girl in for. One being our California vacation, another one was this week Chris and I had committed to leading Blackstone worship in the mornings, and the last is tonight. Chris has a important Children's Ministry kick off meeting that he is leading and been working very hard towards. As the week has gone by I've grown more and more into an impatient, grumpy, nine month pregnant women. And I fear it's only going to get worse if I don't keep a close watch on my heart. This state has made me more aware of my sinfulness & need for God's word & his help to do all things without grumbling or complaining. That is my prayer as I approach her birthday, that I would be patient with my children & not go about the day complaining about backaches, or endless braxton hicks contractions to all around me. But rather treasure every kick and hiccup & this God given gift of being pregnant! Only through his power can this change occur in my heart!




This is a picture of my friend and I from last night. Her due date is two weeks after mine and she is just as eager to meet her little girl. Come babies Come :-)

Make Room For Baby!

Alright it's time to get serious... no more putting off the baby to do list. She's on her way! Today and yesterday began some real preparations for this baby to be born. Bins have come down from the attic, THANK YOU LOVE, rooms are being prepped, some things will be purchased etc. I have gone back and forth with where to put her. Trevor's room, Taylor's room? Trevor & Taylor together? This is the first time that I have had a baby without having a nursery. We have officially grown to having more people than rooms. Trevor and the baby together has never been a great option. Trevor, has been our poor sleeper from the beginning and I'm not about to add to his sleeping problems by putting a baby in his room. I still can't say that our plan is perfect but we have decided to have her in our room for the first couple months than when she has settled into a sleeping pattern move her into Taylor's room. All this is background to say Trevor's room has turned from nursery to little boy this weekend. We moved the rocker to our room and packed up his baby blankets to make room for her pink ones in the changing table baskets. I now know why this task has been last on my list. Chris took the rocker out yesterday and immediately the tears began to flow. Just a little too much reality for this hormonal nine month pregnant women! My baby boy will no longer be the baby. I am aware of how precious time is & how fast it truly goes by with little ones, for the most part :-) Thankfully, Trevor hasn't seemed to mind one bit. I don't think I could handle him crying over the rocker with me. With the rocker gone it has opened up a space that we have filled with a train rug & a rescue power rangers station. He is all boy- he knew exactly what to do with these toys and has had a blast playing with all the cars. He's not quite sure what to do with rescue hero's station. I keep finding him on top of the toy but I have no doubt he'll figure it out as he grows. I have enjoyed the benefit of him playing in his room more often!

Here are a few pictures of his room & her crib all set up.

Vacation Slideshow

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Back and No Baby!

Hello All! Just returned from our vacation. We had a wonderful time. Baby is still in utero (thank you God!). Vacationing with little ones is sure different from the days of just Chris & I. There are no vacations from tantrums & bad attitudes. But they are more fun in cooler weather, on the beach and much easier when dad is around :-) Honestly though we are so glad the Lord provided this trip for us and feel rested & ready to gear up for number three! I have so many awesome pictures to sort from... I might try to put together a slide show and post it. If not I'll attempt to pick a few favorites and post them.

Ok enough about vacation... I'm off to unpack, get ready to host singles care group tonight at our house & to make sure Chris (the officiating pastor) & Taylor (the flower girl) are all set for the Pettit wedding tomorrow!