Siblings' First Hold(s)

Baby Makes 6 :-)

God just gave us the cutest, sweetest little lady last week!! Amber is the newest member of our family.  We are all in.love. with her!  Her name is derived from Ezekiel's vision of Jesus on the throne from Ezekiel 1:26-28:

^"26 Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. ²⁷ From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. ²⁸ All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me."

Here's a narrative with pictures of her first week of life...

A few hours before labor started, ha!

Amber, a few hours old.

Baby makes 6 :-)

Snug as a bug.

Well loved little sister.

Sisters!

G'pa and G'ma Ruth in town for Easter.

Chillaxin' with biggest bro and sis.

Ruth family get-together for Easter weekend!

This video clip is for my mom, so she won't miss out on the newborn cry. :-)

First Springtime Walk!

Michigan is thawing out (but I know that doesn't rule out snow completely - we've still got a month before we can rule that out all together).  :-)  The kids and I enjoyed a lap around the block and it was lovely!!  The boys of course found "treasures" (sticks and pieces of garbage), and Joy found a clean scoop of snow to munch on.

Micah's Forts and Snow Slides

Micah on the radio! :-)

Last weekend we were driving by our local Christian radio station, and we decided to just stop by and pray for the staff outside by their sign.  Lo and behold, the manager and his son showed up to do some recording that night and we got an impromptu tour, and Micah "called" into the station and it was aired the next morning.

 

Snow!

Wowzers, we've already gotten our first snow.  And I mean, snow that sticks where the kiddos are suited up for sledding, Scotty had to fire up the snow blower, and the local schools already had a snow day (in mid-November - the 18th!!)  This is the earliest snow that I can remember since living in Michigan for the past 6 years.  While many a Michigander was found chagrin by it, Micah was ab.so.lute.ly thrilled by it.  He LOVES the snow, and declares winter to be his favorite season (believe it, he means it - the snow has actually all melted away in the past couple days and he was totally sad about the white wonderland disappearing)!  

Joy's a goober - she loves to eat snow whenever she can!

Perfect weather for indoor picnics in a fort.

In his element (he volunteered to shovel!)

Scotty digging out the van...

View out the kitchen window.

Fascinated by watching daddy snow plow.

Baby Ruth #4

We're expecting our 4th bundle of joy early next spring!!

18 Weeks

Joy impersonates mommy...

...Noah impersonates Joy...

...Micah doesn't play with dolls.