the beautiful Land

I will never feel closer to God and as young, as when I go, driving through the redwoods at night with my children sleeping in the back of the car, the cool fresh smell of the redwoods in the spring blowing through my car.

Still Cute

Princess 1



Princess 2



Princess 3

Daddy's girl

ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!

BEST BABYSITTER EVER


Seriously. I had no fear leaving my kids with Renae. And that's saying alot. I love watching her with my kids. How can you not love someone who sighs with delight over your children and says they give her baby fever? I was so blessed to have her down here for two weeks. It felt like such a holiday because she was here. And I knew my kids would have a great time with her here alone when I was in the hospital. I am so thankful to have Renae for a friend. I called her at 8:00ish at night and she drove all the way down here from the Land (a six hour trip) and was our slave for two weeks. She truly is WonderWoman-which reminds me, for those who don't know-she has a blog-www.lastsinglewomanstanding.blogspot.com The name of her blog is WonderWoman.

Life as a mother of three

Is driving with one hand so I can keep the pacifier in the baby's mouth with the other. Is running to the kitchen to grab some toast and cheese and then running back to bed because the baby is still hungry and screaming. Is feeling overwhelmed and undone, but at the same time giddy with joy and overflowing with thankfulness. 5 years ago I was a girl. Now I am a woman with three beautiful daughters. Wow.

This birth was much different then the other two. I have never taken childbirth classes. The closest I came was during this pregnancy, from all the studying I did as part of my doula training. I never knew about breathing or coping rituals. And I actually had a doula this time, to walk me though both. Well, actually just the breathing. The coping ritual just kinda started on it's own-I think because it's the first birth I felt completely free. I was terrified before I went into labor, and when it first started I was still pretty darn scared. But having the doula there, as someone who would hold me to the desire I had of not taking pain medication, forced me to cope and give in to the contractions. When it first started, we walked out to the garden and I remembered what my friend Rachel said about picturing herself soaring above each contraction. That only worked for about three contractions before I needed something more intense. But during those three contractions, feeling the sun on my face and the warm wind blowing, i felt such a thankfulness that my face didn't hurt, or my arms or legs. I gave thanks for the blessings I had right then.
I knew I was going into transition because I started feeling nauseous, so I told my doula Colette I needed to get back into the room. We got back and I went to my knees on the floor. She was coaching my through, telling me to breathe, and unclenching my hands when I would start to tense up at the beginning. I remember thinking "I hope i'm in transition because this is INTENSE." The contractions were 2-3 minutes apart right then. And the slow breathing just wasn't cutting it. So i switched into a high gear version and started blowing raspberries non-stop. I had an oxygen mask on too, later on, and Nathan said I looked like a pilot but sounded like a motor boat. I had been reading about estatic birth, and feeling highly skeptical and highly envious,
I asked God to give me that experience. Well, after I started the motor thing, the contractions started feeling amazing. I got really warm and my face was tingling like crazy. It definately required all my attention, and I had to keep up the motor lips or i started slipping, but I had a really good time. And after they put the oxygen mask on my face, It felt even more amazing. It's amazing how much the whole birth experience colors your perception of having kids. Hannah's birth was so hard, I thought, never again. And I was so tired. After this birth, I was feeling on top of the world. I can't believe it was only an hour and a half. I just want to give thanks to God for casting out my fear and giving me a taste of heaven.

Baby Sunshine

I feel rich. My sweet flower girls. I was holding all three of them earlier and that feeling of being incredibly wealthy swept over me.

my red babies

Isabella Zionne


Shoshannah Mercy


Abigail Lynn Sunshine

Abigail has restored my youth
I feel good

cutie pie

Happy Bella

ABIGAIL LYNN SUNSHINE CROMPTON
Born April 20th at 11:26 am, after an hour and a half labor (yay!)
7 pounds 11 ounces
20 inches long
Totally precious
our first baby with black hair!

BEST FRIENDS #2

Those darn trees

No-no new baby yet. I have been unreachable and MIA because of a Douglas Fir. One fell outside our window onto a transformer and pole and took out our power and phone. We just got our phone back today-it's been out since wednesday. Of course, everyone elses phone was fixed yesterday-ours had a bit more trouble. They only fixed it today cuz I'm so pregnant- they would have waited til the 28th if I wasn't. I can go into labor now without freaking out! We have a phone, so I can call someone to watch the kids. We got a car yesterday (an AWESOME car, the best we've ever had) so I don't have to worry about calling a taxi when I'm in labor. I'm 38 weeks today. Anytime now, I'm so excited.
I used to really love trees. Now I'm starting to resent them. If they would only stay in one place!!!!!! Or should I hate the rain? Because that's when they fall-when it's been pouring. Maybe I should just hate the rain, cuz it's already on my "things that annoy Sara list." Along with all the mold it brings. Seriously, raising kids in a place where it rains alot is HARD. Everyday I find new mold patches to bleach. I'm constantly throwing away clothes that have molded just from being in the laundry hamper. Cute clothes, that melted my heart to see Bella and Hnnah wear. I'm going to stop complaining now. Life is good. Baby Abigail will soon be in my arms, I have the cutest kids in the world and the best husband ever. And Jesus draws nme closer every day.

Spoiled

that's the word running through my mind, over and over. Is blessed a better word? yesterday was so amazing. I think I have just about the sweetest husband a girl can have. He is so unfailingly sweet when it comes to ways he can bless me. He knocked my socks off(i hate that expression, but oh well) yesterday. After I wrote that entry yesterday, the day started filling with blessings from all different directions. From the inbox of my e-mail, to friends coming over bearing gifts. I felt very loved yesterday-and incredibly unworthy of the love that is given to me though my husband and friends. I don't know why, but I felt guilty and shamed by all the awesome presents i received yesterday. I just suck so bad, and people are so kind. But it brought to mind a lesson I am constantly learning about God-about His free and loving grace to dirty, nasty sinners. To us. It's so hard to accept when we're so unworthy.