Big Brother Love!

Here is Easton giving Marlee some loving! I think he gave her at least 15 kisses and a few squeezes! He was having so much fun with her! Way to go Big Bro!

Introducing.......Marlee Braelyn Van Cleave

Here is our little girl! She takes my breath away very time I look at her! She was born Friday April 17th 7:48 am. She weighed 9 lbs 2 oz. and was 20 inches long. I asked Caleb what he wanted to say about her and all he could say is that she is beautiful.

The story behind her name.

Caleb and I struggled trying to come up with a name that we liked. It's hard being a teacher and trying to find a name that doesn't remind you of any past students, so that added to the complexity of finding a name.

I really wanted to find a name that we could combine the letters of both Caleb and my name. (my name is a combo of my parents names. (Marsha and Randy) Marlee is a combo of using (Mar) from my name, and (le) from Caleb's name, to form her name.

I wanted a middle name that began with a "B" because that is Easton's middle intial. I found the name Braelyn, not intending too. It is the feminime form of my madien name Braden.

Feel free to stop by to meet our little bundle whenever! She is truely a gift from God and we feel so blessed to be parents to another amazing gift!

Strength and Courage

Here I am only three days away from giving birth to our baby girl. I can't really go anywhere without someone asking, WOW when are you due. How are you feeling? Are you ready? What are you going to name her? Are you getting sleep?

I have had a rush of thoughts and emotions that are flooding my every thought. It's as if my mind cannot stay focused for more then five minutes. (Yes that includes at night too!) I could list the emotoions and feelings I have felt just from this morning and fill half of the page!

The only thing that is getting me through these last few days is knowing that God is by my side through everything. Even though I am about to have major surgery and have a another living being be taken out of my body and placed into this world for me to care and love, I have peace knowing that it is all in God's hands.

I have found a few verses that I have been drawn to these past few weeks. They have given me the peace, strength, and courage I need to face what lies ahead. Thanks to all of you who have kept me in your prayers and thoughts! Thanks to all of you that have encouraged me throughout this pregnancy! God has placed me in a church community that I feel loved and surrounded by many amazing women that at anytime I can turn too, a wonderful family that loves me, and a loving husband that is by my side and has been amazingly understanding and supportive of my thoughts and feelings. He gets the best and the worst side of me and I love him for all that he does to encourage me and keep me my feet firmly planted. I cannot wait to see him hold our little girl and see him model what an amazing husband and father looks like.

Here are the verses that have given me strength and courage these last few weeks! I have written them on note cards and placed them in various places as a constent reminder to put my strength in him.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Mommy and Baby Girl Van Cleave

Baby girl Van Cleave will be here soon! Many people have asked how they can pray for us. Please pray for our delivery and transistion of a family of three to a family of four. Pray that our c-section can go smoothly with short recovery time! Also for sleep leading up to the birth! Easton has been on my mind with having a new person in the house! Pray that he can still feel the amount of attention and love from Caleb and I! I've been having a lot of memories of my last c-section. Most of them are not the most pleasant! Pray that I can eliminate them for my thoughts! I also need prayer of strength to get through these last few days of work! Lastly, pray that these days can be filled with time spent together as a family and be deligent in preparing our home and lives for our baby girl! Caleb, Easton, and I are looking forward to our new edition to the family and we cannot wait to meet her!

Enormous!

This is really how I feel!
In case you were wondering what the definition of enormous is see below!


enormous
–adjective
1.greatly exceeding the common size, extent, etc.; huge; immense

Synonyms for enormous:
1. vast, colossal, gigantic, mammoth, prodigious, stupendous. See huge.

I am suprised that when I looked this up in the dictionary my picture was not next to the definition. If you all are wondering, this is exactlly how I am feeling. The doctor thinks that baby girl Van Cleave will be within 1/2 a pound of Easton! I think it's safe to say that the total birth weight of both babies would equal out to be 3 average size babies!To put this into perspective I have done some research on other things that weigh ten pounds!

1. a bag of flour

2. a small dog

3. medium size bowling ball

4. bag of dog food

5. 3-5 good sized books

6. 10 bottles of water

7. 1 1/2 gallons of milk.

8. 1000-sheet ream of 20-pound bond paper weighs 10 pounds.

Our trip over Spring Break with friends was so much fun! We went to Minnesota to the water park in Owatanna. The gals hit IKEA and the Outlets in Medford, and the guys went to the casino at Mystic Lake. We also made sure we stopped by Cabela's before we headed home. Here are a few shots from ot trip.