The right name for her

     This week we've all been on absolute cloud nine with this little lady, and today we were finally able to decide on the right name for her! Richard and I both felt strongly right before her birthday that the names we'd had in mind just weren't right at all, so after starting over from square one and taking the last few days to talk it through, it felt SO good to find the right one. Thank you for your support and patience in waiting so long! :)

◦ Alice Loralee Carmack ◦

Born peacefully at home on Sunday, February 25th, 2018.  9 lbs 2 oz, and 20 1/2 inches long. 

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     This week has been full of the most beautiful and raw moments we've had as a family in a long time. Birth is such a spiritual and empowering experience, and going through labor and delivery with Richard for the first time was so awesome, I'm excited about writing it all down before I forget any details.

     It's amazing how such a little person can bring so much happiness, and all the downtime together has felt so peaceful and calm and right. I feel so close to heaven when I'm with all my people! and trying to explain the love I have for them would just leave me in a big balling hormonal mess right now.haha

     My heart just feels so full. I've spent the week messy haired and makeup-free, feeling like a human milk machine in my sexy mesh undies and I can hardly see straight from sleep deprivation, but it's been so so wonderful. This feels like such a fresh start and jumping off point, and no matter how messy these days are, they're truly the best days and I want to savor every minute that I can.
 
     Thank you for your support in documenting her pregnancy and for your neverending encouragement through it all,

        You're so loved baby girl!!

♡ Welcome little one ♡

She's here!! This is the moment I dreamed about so many times throughout her pregnancy and that I tried so hard to focus on during labor. I would close my eyes and try to imagine holding her close, what she would be like, how she would look, and somehow she surpasses all of that. I can't believe she's finally here. Our little 9lb 2oz angel straight from heaven. Today is perfect. She is perfect. No name yet. ♡♡♡ #babyfoxishere #bliss

A post shared by Emily Meyers (@thefreckledfox) on Feb 25, 2018 at 12:53pm PST

We're Having A...

     Well, pretty much all of my creative juice has been going into wrapping up the sewing of Halloween costumes lately so I don't have any super fun or creative way to say this, but I'm so excited to tell you that baby fox is another little girl!!!

photo and all clothing via Zara.com

     I mentioned last week on Instagram that our first ultrasound around 21 weeks hadn't been conclusive in finding out the sex, but with our second try, we could all tell right away! She was so well behaved and gave us all the angles we were hoping for, and seeing her sweet little profile and her tiny toes again was really tender. 

     Her measurements put me in my 23rd week, due at the end of February (though with my record of late babies I'm still counting on mid-march.lol), and everything about her is just perfect and healthy as can be! 

     The kids were all pretty mind-blown about the whole thing, I think because knowing it's a baby girl versus just 'the baby' makes it all feel more real:) And for everyone who's asked if John was disappointed, he didn't say anything to that effect, but just started talking excitedly along with all the girls.haha Five girls. Six kids! It's still kinda surreal to think about:)

     Thank you all for being so much a part of this exciting time for our little family! :) So many of you have been through so so much with me, supporting me with your words and your prayers and your incredible friendship, and it's felt every single day. We all experience beauty and pain and heartache and warmth daily, but as we try to focus on the good in the world, it takes really selfless people to care for me and my family as you do.

     This little lady is so whole-heartedly loved and anticipated, and seeing the kids' happiness grow all the time is such a blessing. My heart is extra full today:) 

Hope you have an amazing Halloween!

love you guys, 

xoxoxo

a little bit of news:)

 

     Actually, it's pretty big news! haha We are so excited to finally share that we're expecting a new little fox sometime in early March! It feels so great to pass that on. This will be #6, holy cow:)

        We've decided to wait on the gender for a few more weeks, but that will be a fun day when we can share that as well! I was hoping to be rid of this crummy nausea when my second trimester started, but there's still no end in sight:( I've also given up on expecting any surge of energy to come since we already have five running around.haha

     It was so much fun telling the kids, and they haven't really stopped talking about 'mama's baby' and how fat my tummy is going to get!! haha. And the two older girls! They ask questions non-stop and love describing how much they're going to love and take care of the baby, and they've even started saying goodnight to my stomach.haha They were too young to really remember much of when I was pregnant with Evie and when she was born, so this is going to be an exciting and beautiful adventure for us all.

     Well, I'm sure I'll be sharing lots more details in the coming months, so I'll wrap this up for now! If you feel like watching the kids funny reaction when we told them the news, I shared the video on my YouTube channel here.

     Thank you all for the encouragement and support already expressed, we love you guys!

xoxo