Two weeks in...

"Hartman, party of five..." We've been pretty overwhelmed by all the changes. Priya is on the tail end of potty training, and cutting four molars. Silas is learning that I can't listen to his constant steam of consciousness ramblings all day, especially when Levi is screaming. Overall, I think Levi is a pretty chill little guy, but he still requires mucho attention. We've been getting mountain rain storms everyday, so our outside time has been limited...looking forward to more sunshine soon. 

Christian has made two major purchases recently, on the road to a new business. In addition to making furniture, he also wants to do some custom milling, so he has purchased a large Wood-mizer saw mill. He also bought a machine that is a planer, molder, sander sort-of-a-thing, as well as a band saw. He will hopefully be able to provide rough cut materials and trim molding to the contractors in the area. He's interviewed them all, and they seem interested. Let's hope the building market sustains itself. And, let's hear it for the newest sawyer on the Western Slope. (the photo at the top is from our last family dance party)

Levi Alden Baylis Hartman

So the kid is officially named. We were a bit concerned that "Levi" would skyrocket into popularity. So, he can choose one of his middle names if that happens. Here's the scoop on the names. Christian's family directly descends from John Alden and Pricilla Mullen, who arrived to this country on the Mayflower. I have always loved my father's middle name, Baylis, which was also his father's middle name. I like that it contains the word "bay", which to me, and perhaps you as well, is very special. So, cheers to both families, and the Bay. 

And they swam and they swam...

Pops (Christian's dad) is in the process of transforming his front yard deep (read: drowning hazard) pond into a shallow wading pool for the grandkids. While we were spending some time resting after the birth of Levi, Silas and Priya were swimming with their cousin, Titus, up at Grandma and Pops' house. They filled it with warm water and the kids apparently all loved it. Priya, being the only girl grandchild in the middle of two batches of three boys, felt obligated to be as girly as possible and wore a matching bow. In other news, Levi is doing a great job being a newborn and is having an unusually sleepy day, thus the post. Christian is sneaking back to his wood workshop in the afternoons and I am just beginning to see the possibility of how one might parent three small children (with a lot of faith and grace!!).

Introducing....

Levi Hartman. We're working on the middle name(s) still, but I know y'all were getting antsy. Levi means "joined together" or "joined in harmony". We welcome this sweet boy into our family and I pray that he may be joined with us as well as have a special relationship with his brother and sister. 

It's a...boy!

Baby boy Hartman, sorry we've not agreed on a name yet, was born at 3:17 am this morning after two hours of labor. One of our midwives barely made the birth, the other one, who missed the birth, was here in time to weigh this hunk in at just under nine pounds (8 lbs 15 oz). He was 21.5 inches long, 14 cm head, 14.5 cm chest, and 14 cm belly. He's a pillar of perfection. He has dark hair and chubby cheeks and looks a little like Priya did when she was first born. The birth went really well, we were able to have him the birth tub, for which I am very thankful. Without the warm water to slow things down, he might have come before either of the midwives. 

Silas: "I like our new-brand baby." "If you forget to check on him momma, I'll check on him for you."

Priya: "Hold him? Touch him? Pat him? Fuzzy."

Mother's Day

Well, it sure would have been cute for our family to have an Easter baby and a Mother's Day baby four weeks later. Instead of cute...we get Grimace (remember Ronald McDonalds big purple friend?). I still feel wonderful. Today, I rode my bike to church, played frisbee golf (mountain style), and took a walk. However, the baby is still in my belly and not yet in my arms. I assure you, this is the last belly photo you will get, for those who have had enough. I had a wonderful day with my kids and husband, whom I love and am for whom I am so thankful, and with friends and family (and the brunch wasn't shabby!) 

Soccer

Silas played in his first soccer game on Saturday, Lake City vs. Crested Butte. I don't think they keep score for this age group, but I also don't think CB's goalie ever got a chance to get near the ball. Here's some shots of the kids. Silas looks like he is playing in the picture, but at one point he just sat down in the middle of the field while the kids ran around him. Half-time snacks were just about the coolest part of the day for Silas and Priya.

Replacements...

So, I've been training the kids to take over all my responsibilities around the house so I can spend time with the new baby once he/she decides to come. Silas seems to have mastered the most important role I have around here, making cinnamon rolls. So, the rest of the family is relieved. Priya knows how to wipe up her own puddles. Unfortunately, I am still the only one who can cram all the dishes properly into the dishwasher. Perhaps the baby will give us a few more days for training purposes.