So here it is. My birth story for this little beam of light that has come out of heaven above and into the most perfect place inside my arms and in the hearts of our new family of 5.

Venice Alanna Rita. You didn’t know we snuck that in did you? Well it was my beautiful souled husband who would not let me get away with leaving my beloved mother’s name out of my new favorite girl in the world’s name forever. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? One day she’ll know how mighty that name is and how much love is wrapped up into those 4 little letters inside her second middle name. (Love you mama. Thanks for sending the signs we needed to know you wanted it in there :))

It was Friday night. My family was over for an impromptu BBQ, when my brother in law said “I bet you go tonight” well fast forward to 1:45am and he was right. The contractions started. They started but never picked up speed until, ya know, Sunday night. After a bubble bath with extra clary sage and a few texts back and forth with my L&D sil, who thought it was text book Braxton Hicks and I was terrified for my life that this would go on forever.

Around 8:30 I started to get nervous because the contractions were on top of each other. We spent the day at my sil’s gorgeous pool and I walked and breathed and ate my way through contractions. It was a phone call to aunt Al and nana and papa, and we’d be leaving once someone got here to help with the boys.

My precious, sweet boys. Maverick was full of nerves but he didn’t even realize it, until I was trying to tell him a bedtime story and pretending all was normal until I couldn’t talk through contractions anymore and left bed time up to Dan. Acey babe was already asleep thanks to that mix of summer pool sun type of tired.

Nance and Al showed up, and dan paced the house a few times with the car seat in hand, and I had to laugh at how absolutely endearing my forever guy is. He’s just the best.

But I needed an epidural and I needed one STAT. We walked into Saratoga hospital almost 2 years to the date (of Acey’s birth) later, and we were greeted by our favorite nurse. She delivered Ace and my heart and mind were immediately calm.

5 centimeters. Yowzzzza. Labored some more until the epidural came and then it was nuhnight for a little. Morning came and the midwife broke my last bag of water and we did a practice push which became the first set of 3 pushes. “Full head of black hair, mama lets go!” She said, and 10 minutes later, our little baby girl rode out in a wave of water and my hands were right there, with gimme her!!!! Fingers and like that she was in my arms and on my chest and I was laughing through the happiest tears of relief.

Venice. Sweet beautiful baby girl, Venice. Little mama. Baby love. Littlest member of our family and SO loved.

24 hours later I was discharged and we were home and life has never been more chaotic or crazy but life has never felt so beautiful. So right. The love inside my bones for these kids that God has entrusted me with is unexplainable by words. Becoming a mother for a third time makes me pray for every person longing to be a mother for the first time. A mother to even 1. Being a mother is the most magical, magnificent, most rewarding thing I’ll ever do.

I am so proud of my little boy Maverick. And though Ace is at an all time challenging phase, we are working though it with his little two year old heart one moment at a time. My husband? Forget it. He’s second to none when it comes to being a dad and a husband. God truly made an angel when he made Dan. And I’m the lucky one that gets to watch with a front row seat, what we have created together in love; 3 lives. Our three best friends. And our three favorite people on planet earth.

Thank you everyone for all the well wishes, the little pops of pink, the food, the generosity, the prayers and for all the LOVE you have surrounded us with. We love you right back!!!

It’s about that time. And by that time you all know i mean it’s time for this baby to gtfo! And in true retired sequins form, I’m writing this one to remember.

Acey. You, little baby boy so beautiful and wild. You have become the second center of my universe. Your smile and your face and your crystal clear blessed blue eyes make me smile without even realizing. The way you hold your finger to your mouth and tell me to shush it. The way you ask to “heyl-pa me mama” the way your face lights up when you hear the ice cream man, see daddy’s truck, see Stella in the morning, or see mommy walk through the door after work. Your deep belly laugh. The way you yell MAVVY!!!! (Movvy. Ugh I never wanna forget this little voice.) Ace, you came into this world so beautifully and peacefully and you have brought so much of that into just every day life. Your wild spirit keeps me con. stant. ly. On my toes. I love the way you ride your trike. I love the way you fall asleep with your hand in a bowl of snacks. I love the way you snuggle your brother. I love the way you say human. (Oo-men) healthy (helfy) I wuvvvvuuuu, your “nuh night seepy” song and your little baby sister to be’s name “a Vay-iss” You are a magical little creature who came to me at such an important time in my life and you changed our entire family in every way. What we thought was a completed family 4, was just another blessing along the way, and as our Ace, you truly are the wild card of this little squad, and we never want to forget your innocence and the humongous love you hold inside your little bod ❤️

Mavvy. You, my boy. Oh you. You made me everything I ever wanted to be. You made me a mother. You’ve continued to bring me such joy and pure pride in watching you grow up and into a little human who participates so amazingly in this world. Your inquisitive nature, your sense of wonder, your love for the outdoors, and your concern for all animals is innate and so cool to watch and learn from you. You’ve taken on the big role of big brother effortlessly. You have become such an inspiration to everyone who knows you in the way you watch out for and protect your little brother. And now, we’ll make you a big brother for the second time and though you’ve told me “it’s not about me anymore” baby, it will always be about you. And it has been for 6 years 🙂 you have no idea how special you are to us, and the things you’re going to do in your life will be nothing short of amazing. I love the way you’re daddy’s shadow. I love how you’re always so eager to help and learn. I love how you know when to give a hug, help out, and be the little ray of light you’ve always been. Thanks for understanding a little glimpse of the chaos that’s our life right now. We wouldn’t have it any other way!

Nothing in this world will ever take from the way I feel about you both. And now we are just adding more love to an already over flowing constant pot boiling over with love. I’ll live my entire life for you, until the day I die I’ll fight for you to have a life full of happiness, healthiness and love. You boys have no idea the amount of love that sits heavy in my heart for you. It keeps me up at night, makes me acutely aware of the experiences you have in which your dad and I provide for you, and this love? It makes me crazy when I’m without you, and makes me whole all at once.

You boys are SO LOVED. And in between the seconds, I only love you more.

Babe. You are, simply put, the best. I look up to you in so many ways and cannot believe how much we’ve been through in the 10 years that just flashed before our eyes. Times are often more wild and loud and messy than they are calm and peaceful, but at the end of a long busy day, I still get butterflies when I see you back your truck into the driveway. I still love kissing you and dating you and holding your hand on the rare occasion we fall asleep next to each other. It won’t always be this busy, and we one day won’t know to do with all the extra free time, but I wouldn’t want to be in it, this deep, with a n y o n e else in this world. You save me, you spoil me, you complete me in every way. You balance me, check me, and support me like I’ve never been built up before. To say thank you for loving me will never explain my gratefulness for who you are to me. Now, prepare your heart and mind for a baby girl because we are about to be in it like we’ve never been. But something tells me we’re gonna far surpass our own expectations of what our family of 5 will become 😭❤️ I LOVE YOU! 😘