Welcoming Ellie

We had planned a trip to Arkansas to meet our new niece before we were scheduled to leave for our month away in Africa. The timing of babies is always hard to predict! We scheduled our trip for a weekend after my sister's due date knowing the baby would surely have arrived by then. But as that weekend approached and my sister's due date came and went, I became more nervous that I might not meet my new niece as planned. We packed the car on that Friday and headed for Arkansas still hopeful that it might all work out. We received a phone call half-way into our trip that my sister had gone into labor! We pulled into my parent's house late that evening. I helped Marc get the kids in bed and then headed off for the hospital. I knew it was going to be close since the last text I had received was that my sister's doctor was there and they were ready for her to push. I walked into the hospital, greeted my family, and within five minutes heard my niece's first cries through the door. I could not believe how the timing of it all worked out. It was quite miraculous! We really enjoyed getting to spend the weekend with my family. We even got to see my grandparents and aunt who had also made the trip to meet Ellie!

February Recap

Brrrr!!! It has been one COLD and LONG winter so far. In fact, we just hit the record for the snowiest winter ever for Peoria! I would have been ok not experiencing that statistic first-hand. :) We have had 54 inches of snow so far this winter and we still have March to go.

 It just keeps snowing

and snowing!

We might be spending lots of time inside lately but Isaac is certainly keeping me busy. He loves to climb and has already managed to get a few goose eggs on his noggin. I love watching his little personality emerge. He is fearless and very adventurous. He tries to do everything that Eli and Hailey do.

I managed to sneak away from the cold for a weekend trip to Arkansas. My sister's friends were planning a surprise baby shower for her and I really wanted to show-up to make the surprise even sweeter. Marc rearranged his weekend call schedule just so I could go. This was my first weekend away from all three of our kids and my first weekend to be apart from Isaac since he was born. I felt a little lost traveling through the airport without any companions (and loads of backpacks, snacks, and coloring books!). :)

Surprise!!!

After such a cold month, we were so happy to finally have a fun celebration to help warm up our February! Marc turned 33 this year. He loves spice and carrot cakes, and I let the kids help me make his cake this year. They were so confused why he liked carrots in his cake. They thought that was the funniest thing!

A new backpack!

Happy birthday to a great dad and husband!

Isaac turned ONE!

We celebrated Isaac's first birthday this past weekend. We had such a great time celebrating with family and friends in our home. Isaac seemed to love all the excitement! 

 It is always nice to have a big brother to blow out your candle for you. :)

Isaac really loved his first taste of cake

 ...right down to the last bite.

We made the big announcement that Isaac is going to be a big brother!

Happy 1st birthday, Isaac. We love you so much! You are a delightful and energetic little boy. We can't wait to watch you continue to grow over the next year!

Another Sweet Blessing

We are so excited to share that our family is growing again! Marc and I had begun hoping for another Carrigan baby and God blessed us with this joyous news right around Christmas. We wanted this announcement to family and friends to be just as exciting as the first so Marc made a very sweet video of an ultrasound he took of baby #4. The kids are full of enthusiasm and already making their opinions known about what they hope the gender is. Hailey has vowed we must send it back if it is another brother! We have tried to reassure her having three protective brothers to look after her could be a good thing. :)

Baby Carrigan #4 at almost 10 weeks

Enjoy this video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR0WVTxyC9U

Thanks for sharing in our news!