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.

from the 14th

when it comes to mid-february, who isn't looking for a reason to bust out of the norm and get some presents, cards, make rice krispy treats and homemade ice cream, watch a movie and get late night take-out?

we certainly were.

and though jonah did make special note that, "valentine's day really only lasts one day" (as opposed to the recently celebrated Christmas which went on for weeks) I think he enjoyed celebrating this hallmark day of love.

the wonderful thing is, these two actually really love each other (most of the time).

also? don't these pictures just beg the question: what is this baby going to look like?!

snow {for} day{s}

I guess if you live in michigan and winter isn't really your thing, then...bummer?
But if winter, and snow, and cozy fires, and crock pot chili, and 28 weeks of pregnancy, and down comforters (and down everything), and kids not in school who don't have to go until---the end of June???-- are your things, well, high-fives all around!

and I mean, is there anything better than playing in the snow and then coming in for a cup of "chocolate hot" (-thatch)?

answer: not much.