A gift from above

Yesterday we received a package from UPS. We were curious right from the start because the return address said Nevilee Dallmeyer who was Andy's Gommie. She died in 2005. Gommie was a very special lady. She was an amazing artist. Her paintings were show cased all over, even in other countries. She specialized in nature scenes, especially bluebonnets. I remember when I first visited her house I was in awe of a magnolia painting she had in her formal living room. I kept hinting that I would love to have her paint one for me one day. She just kept saying it was one of a kind and she wouldn't be parting with it. When Andy and I got married her wedding gift to us was that magnolia painting. The painting doesn't really go with our decor but it will always proudly hang in our living room. I absolutely love it and it always reminds me of her.

When Mason was born she painted a small picture of a church surrounded by bluebonnets for him. She only met Mason.

She died a month before we found out we were pregnant with Alex. But while she was in the nursing home in her final weeks she painted another picture (a scene with the star of Bethlehem). She said the painting would go to the next great grandchild. We were lucky enough to inherit that painting.

Fast forward 6 years. We opened the box yesterday to find a painting of a church surrounded by bluebonnets painted by Gommie. Also in the box was an egg ornament. Something she also gave our family each Christmas. The card was addressed to Austin Hamilton. Upon closer look we saw the return address was from a good friend of Gommie's. So we aren't sure if Gommie arranged for a painting to be sent to the next great grandchild or if someone in the family arranged everything. Either way, it was very special. Although this holiday season is a tough one without my dad, God keeps reminding us that the ones we love (including Him) are always with us.

First family of 5 pic

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In love

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Big Brothers

Austin has the best big brothers!





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Austin- One week

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A boys dad

Mason, Alex, and Austin are very lucky boys. They have the greatest dad. This guy has his priorities in the right order. I have never heard Andy tell the boys "hold on" or "in a minute" or "I cant right now" when they ask him for help or just to play. He will play for hours. He is always teaching them something new. He answers their never ending questions with patience and enthusiasm. He works so hard to make sure we have everything we need and want. Not only is he a fantastic dad but he is a pretty amazing husband as well. This week he has forced me to take long, relaxing baths. He has handled at least one, sometimes all of the night feedings so I can sleep. He has taken the boys with him to run my errands every day this week to give me peace and quiet. He has a bottle of wine waiting for me when I decide I would like to have a glass (after 9 months of straight water, tea, juice, and the occasional...ok pretty daily cokes!). He has encouraged me, listened to me and supported me through my multiple crying spells that come from this wonderful thing called hormones and holidays! I am one lucky woman that he chose me to be his wife. I knew when I married him he would be a great dad, but I had no idea how great of a dad he would turn out to be!





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Austin Firsts

Austin wasn't a fan of his first sponge bath!

Austin's first doctor's appt.

First time meeting Aunt Missy!

 First time meeting Aunt Nikky!

I just have to say, I am so thankful for my wonderful friends. Natalie arranged a meal schedule for us and we have had dinner brought to our door every night since we have been home from the hospital. A huge thank you to Missy, Natalie & Harper, Erin & Roy, Lil, Nikky and tonight Mitzie for the wonderful meals! Y'all are truely a blessing! And the best part is we get to enjoy your company for a little bit when you bring us food! Also, Kristi took the boys to the movie and then to play at her house one day this week (when Andy had to go to work). That was a fantastic gift for all of us. It got the boys out of the house doing something fun and it gave me a chance to rest...which I haven't been all that good at. I am so grateful to be surrounding by the friends I have here. I can't wait for my Austin peeps to meet our little guy! He is a pretty cool dude already!

Austin Hamilton Dallmeyer

Our Christmas gift arrived 10 days before Christmas this year. Our third son, Austin Hamilton was born December 15th at 4:50pm. He was 8 lbs 9 oz and 22 inches long. He is absolutely perfect! Here is his story.

My due date was December 16th but we had a scheduled induction for December 15th. My mom came Wednesday night so she could get the boys to school Thursday morning. I was told to call the hospital at 5:30am to make sure there was a bed available. I called at 5:30 and was told there were no available beds and to call back at 7:00. I called back at 7:00 and they said to come in around 8:30. I couldn't eat anything after midnight the night before so by the time we left the house I was starving! On the way to College Station Andy and I were talking about when I went into labor with Mason. My water broke at 4am. We got our stuff packed up and went to feed our horse, then stopped and got some donuts to eat on the way to the hospital! With Alex I had an induction so I didn't eat or drink anything before I had him. So with this one, I was wondering what the big deal was with the fasting. I had similar labors with Mason and Alex. So I convinced myself it was fine to eat donuts 10 minutes before I checked into the hospital! So that's what I did! They were good too! We checked into the hospital at 9am. But 10am I was hooked up to everything. I was starting to contract on my own before they administered the pitosin. By noon I got the epidural. I have had a reaction to the epidural with all three labors. It makes me blood pressure really low, which causes the baby's heartbeat to slow way down. I feel very nauseated and have to use oxygen. But that was the worst of it. I never had bad labor pains. Because of the blood pressure issue they had to slow the pitosin way down so it seemed like it would take forever to get to 10cm. Andy and I decided to take a nap when I was at 4cm. An hour later they checked me and I was at 8cm. When the nurse left the room I tried to wake Andy up. I called his name over and over and he wouldn't wake up. I then tried to call his cell phone, but that didn't do the trick either. Then my mom came into the room, so I had her wake Andy up! It was pretty funny! Once he was awake the nurse checked me again and it was show time! A short time later, Austin was in my arms!

Our last picture as a family of four!

Ready to have a baby!

The first time I held Austin.

Andy's parents picked the boys up from school Thursday and drove them straight to the hospital. They arrived shortly after Austin was born. It was perfect timing. The first time the boys held Austin. They were in love at first sight. It was so sweet!

They wanted to follow Austin everywhere. If he was in the nursery they were standing outside the nursery window.

Natalie and Tice came to meet Austin Friday. Until I had Austin, Tice was the only baby in our lives. He seemed so big on Friday!

Natalie and Austin

Big brother Alex

Big brother for the second time!

I love this picture of my boys. Mason and Alex bought Austin stuffed animals at the hospital gift shop. It was so sweet!

On our way home from the hospital!

My dad  brought me roses in the hospital after I had Mason and Alex. Actually, growing up when he would buy my mom flowers, I always got some too. He would buy my mom a dozen roses and I would get a single rose. He always made me feel so special. After I had Austin, my mom brought me a dozen red roses just like my dad would have done. It took everything I had not to lose it in front of everyone! It was very special.

Andy's work sent us flowers as well.

We got home around 3:00 Saturday afternoon. It was so good to be home. The boys wanted to show Austin his room and give him a tour of his house! They have been fantastic helpers and very attached to their new brother. They are constantly asking to hold him. Mason has helped change his diaper, give him a bottle, give him a bath, etc. If he hears Austin crying he will rock him and give him his pacifier. I am very grateful for the extra hands! The timing was perfect with the boys being out of school for Christmas break. We are all getting time to bond and we don't have to be on a strict schedule just yet. I thank God for our early Christmas blessing and all the blessings he gives us daily! I love my family of boys!

It's almost time!

Today I saw a facebook post that really spoke to me. It was from Alex's Bouncing Bears (3 year old class) teacher. It said, "If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it." As I prepare to meet Austin tomorrow I have lots of emotions. I am super excited and anxious about meeting this precious baby. I am also overwhelmed at the fact that we will have a newborn again. The uneasy feeling had been with me this morning until I read that post. It was good to be reminded that God is always with me and he wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle. I think we are as prepared as we can be. He has a room, clothes, diapers, wipes, formula, but most of all he has two parents, two big brothers, and lots of family and friends that are ready to love and support him. I am so thankful for my "village"! Now, to enjoy these last hours of pregnancy!

Family of four weekend

This past weekend was our last weekend as a family of four. Crazy! I never imagined we would be a family of 5, but I can't wait to see what God has in store for us. Friday night Andy picked up pizza and we watched Elf of the Shelf. It was a fun, relaxing family night. Saturday Andy painted in Mason's room, then we took a trip to College Station to go to Santa's Wonderland. We decided to splurge and take the kids on the hayride through Santa's Wonderland. I didn't take many pictures of Santa's Wonderland because we used the camcorder instead. The hayride through the lights was really neat. They had music playing that coordinated with each scene of lights. It was the perfect weather for the hayride. I started feeling bad toward the end of the ride though. I was very nauseated. We left Santa's Wonderland around 8:30 and went to eat at Chuy's (of course!) but I could barely eat. I was wondering if I was about to go into labor, but it turned out to just be an upset stomach. Below is a picture of Andy and Mason on the bus that took us from the parking lot to Santa's Wonderland.

I know I am pregnant, but I didn't think I looked THIS big in real life! Must have been a bad angle! :)

Walking into Santa's Wonderland.

We got back home around 10:30pm. Alex went straight to bed. Andy said he was going to paint some more in Mason's room. Mason REALLY wanted to help. So at 11pm Mason and Andy were painting his room! Sunday, I woke up in the WORST mood. The hormones were in full force. I was mad about everything. I was tired of being pregnant, fat, and congested. I couldn't even get the boys ready for church. Andy took care of everything that morning. He has been such a saint putting up with my moods. Everything set me off. As the day progressed though, I was able to gain some control. But even today my patience is pretty much non existent. My poor family! Everyone in our house is very congested. I don't know if it's allergies, cold, sinus or what. I am struggling to breath and that doesn't help my mood at all. I don't get much sleep as it is, but it's even more limited now that I have a hard time breathing. Lack of sleep doesn't help with the mood situation either. Are you seeing a theme here?! My mood= BAD! I feel terrible about being so grouchy on our last days as a family of four.
I got a nice treat today though. Kristi picked the boys up from school and kept them until 6:00 tonight. They had so much fun. They made playdough, did science experiments & crafts, ate Christmas cookies, etc. They have the best time when they are with her. Thank you SO much Kristi! I used the quiet time to actually rest, which I never do these days!
I can't believe we are on the home stretch. We will have a baby by this weekend! I can't wait to see who Austin looks like. Will he look like Andy (like Mason and Alex did)? Will he have any features that resemble my dad? I hope we all get well before Austin arrives! Three more days!

Nosy Kitty

Now that Shelby is pretty much an indoor cat she is curious about everything that goes on inside the house, especially Christmas decorations! She loves to bat the ornaments off of the boys Christmas trees and play with them all over the house. She has left the ornaments alone on the main Christmas tree. I find her laying under the tree pretty often. Scotty used to do the same thing. Silly animals!

Austin's room

Austin's room is pretty much done!! I am so excited. Andy did an AMAZING job. I am so thankful he has the skills, the patience and the motivation to do these types of projects. I think it turned out great! Here are a couple of before and after pictures.

The only things we need to do are hang the valance and buy a rug. Finding a rug has been challenging. It's either too busy, the wrong color, too big, too small, etc. If you see a rug that you think would go, let me know! Next up on the to-do list is paint Mason's room and we will be done with our big projects! Yippee!!

Alex's birthday

I still can't believe we have a 6 year old in the house! Time really does fly! Alex started feeling bad on Thursday but he was still excited to wake up to streamers & balloons on his door and a donut picnic waiting for him in the living room. After he ate breakfast he got to open presents. He got a bike and a scooby castle he had been wanting.

That afternoon I took brownies up to school for birthday snack. He really wasn't feeling well then but he still wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese that night for his birthday. Andy and I promised him we would take him there for dinner. Andy took off work early and we drove to College Station for the big Chuck E Cheese outing. The boys played about $20 worth of games and came home with $.95 worth of prizes. The things we do for our kids!

Alex got lots of great things for his birthday. He gets super excited about gift cards. He loves the process of going to the store, picking out the item, and paying for it. It's a bigger deal then unwrapping a surprise gift. Lucky for him he got several gift cards!

Gammie got him a pair of inline skates. He tried them out at his skating party. He still isn't 100% comfortable on them, but I'm sure it won't take him long to be skating around like his big brother!

A friend of mine made this cake for Alex. I was very excited to not have to stress about picking out a cake, ordering it, picking it up, etc. My friend even delivered it to the skating rink! It was a cupcake cake, so I didn't have to worry about cutting the cake, buying forks, etc. The theme of this party was "keeping it simple"! I wanted to make it through the party without a chance of going into labor!

Alex has such great friends that came to celebrate with him! Alex and Lillie!

Alex's best buddies Blake and Reid.

Andy, Dusty and Owen

Alex and Mason (I think it was more Mason) hit the jackpot a few times in the game room. I look over and see Alex skating back to the table with this mess of tickets. I was laughing so hard I could barely take the picture!

Alex had a great time at his party. I think it was a big success. Thank you to everyone that came to help us celebrate and for all of your help! I can't believe we are going to have another birthday to celebrate soon. Any guesses on when Austin may arrive? I keep thinking, today may be the day! But maybe he will keep cooking until the 15th!