o. {three months}

I have about a whole summers worth of pictures to get on this ol' here blog. but I felt extra compelled to at least take, and post, my third's three month pictures. you could probably safely say that I'm up to my eyeballs in crazy over here, but I'm doing everything I can to not totally forget to document #3.

if we ever end up with a fourth (I say no, ben says yes. I haven't slept through the night in years--years, people-- and would you believe I get asked this question every time I make an appearance in public? I usually answer "one at a time." which is truth).

anyway, I digress. what I was saying is, if there is ever a fourth I decided I'm not even going to make a valiant effort at documenting their life. I'll just have to make it up to them when all their siblings leave the house or something...

but three, by golly. I'm going to give it the old college try.

to get the lighting I wanted, I had the front door open and was taking some pictures of my kid on the front rug. wouldn't you know, the mail lady happened by....it was only a little awkward.

but she already knows somethings not right. I mean, houses aren't sound proof and she shows up every day around lunchtime...

so, oliver.
not my hardest (jonah), not my easiest (thatcher). not sleeping through the night, but relatively predictable--so that's helpful. loving your brothers. and your mom and dad. in your own house. and that's it. fairly reminiscent of your oldest brother's babyhood. he didn't like anyone until he was about two. and thatcher, well, he liked everybody until he was two. (or two and a half, as the case may be with him. at church. whew, the drama). so maybe it's just a phase everyone goes through at some point. but you're starting to be super smiley, occasionally chatty, and really in to your hands. you get a lot of "just like dad and jonah" but i totally see thatcher (and thus, me!) in...well, probably in your cheeks.

anna

it's always fun to take pictures of someone who doesn't need to be bribed or threatened (and anna's probably the most compliant person you'll ever meet...so the juxtaposition is certainly noted).

here are a couple of my favorites.

x3

same delivery room.
(yes. exact same room. sparrow delivery room #1!)

same sweatshirt.

three brothers.

oliver

finally, some more pictures from our first couple weeks as a family of five. turns out 1) doing a photoshoot of your newborn those first couple days at home {when they're the sleepiest and most photogenic} just doesn't seem to make it to the top of the list {but I got a couple...so points for that??} 2) the iphone has ended up taking WAY more pictures than my good camera 3) kid number three just doesn't get the photographic attention that the first babies do--and thus, neither do their visitors {sorry!} 

but my mom left yesterday, and besides a couple days last week, this is our first real day doing this thing alone. I'm happy to report that Ben is expected home in the next half hour and everyone is alive {and dressed. and, relatively, well fed}. and everyone even napped at the same time this afternoon---which was amazing and much needed considering my current mantra: I will sleep again, someday. I will.

thanks to my mother-in-law and mom, the older boys think that getting a new brother is amazing--because nobody is better at playing than a "grumma" {thatcher}. seriously, they haven't missed a beat.

and my mom cleaned my house, ironed all our clothes, and I think probably put enough meals in my freezer to get me well into June. {thanks mom!}

the newest member

with gratitude to God, we are so humbled and blessed to introduce

Oliver Judson Cuthbert

8 lbs. 6 oz. 20 in.

born 04/27/14 at 3:00 AM

Oliver: derived from the word olive--to extend an olive branch is to extend peace. Judson: inspired by the great 19th Century missionary, Adoniram Judson, who took the good news of Jesus to the people of Burma.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, 

who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

As we welcome our son into the world, it is our prayer that we will be faithful to share with him the good news of Jesus, which brings eternal peace. And we pray that by God's grace he will embrace this good news for himself and proclaim its peace wherever God takes him in life. 

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers--we're all well and so excited he's here.

i made them do it.

I always try to get a couple family pictures around Easter, though this year I wasn't feeling especially photogenic (9 months pregnant the third time around will do that to you). But I did manage to snag some of the boys...all three (even 4!) of them, actually. And something tells me my time to dress them up alike and take pictures is probably limited, so I'm just going to go ahead and do it while I can. I mean, what else are we going to put on a graduation picture board or wedding slide show if not these?!

And all it took was the promise of an Easter egg hunt if they were cooperative (ahhh, bribery. And they were mostly cooperative).

Special thanks to my long suffering husband...

and a couple outtakes. friends, meet thatcher.

backyard boys.

the last couple of days have been so needed. we've been out basking in the sun before it hits 50 degrees and it feels almost tropical. most meals have been on the plastic picnic table and I think I'm realizing how cooped up we really were all winter.

and everyone can put on their own shoes/boots--no thirty minute bundling required.

the huge downed tree limb left over from the pre-Christmas ice storm has finally shown itself and (until the preacher delightfully took a chainsaw to it tonight) Jonah was climbing his little heart out. maybe a little too high? and all I was picturing were broken arms.

my dad sent me this --so I kept letting him climb.
and this morning I let both boys run around the back yard with sharp wooden debris (and am happy to report we have since made it through one more day without an impaling).

so long as grandpa doesn't mind the frequent, "does this require stitches?" facetime calls, I guess I'll try not be too overprotective.

because, as the case may be, "after lunch, thatcher and I are going to do a couple more unsafe things."

greeeat.