The Anema's: Babies are a blessing...

I am reminded this week of how much I have, how God has overflowed my cup, how immensely he has blessed me with these little boys. This week my amazing friend Shelly (who has the 4 year old triplet girls in Milwaukee) found out that God took her little 5 1/2 week old baby inside of her to heaven. She found out only a week earlier that she was pregnant, and the doctors confirmed on Monday after a weekend of some scary bleeding that she lost the baby. My heart just aches for her. Shelly and her hubby have been been trying for a long time to have another baby, and they were SO excited that it had finally happened. It seems so unfair that after so many months of hoping for a baby, and then finally getting that positive pregnancy test this month, that that joy would be stripped from them. Miscarriage is one of those things that I'll never understand, but I do believe that God takes His children home when He has fulfilled His purpose through them. This precious 5 1/2 week old baby had a purpose, and it being conceived fulfills God's plan somehow. I find peace in knowing that "God is love" (1 John 4:8)...so we know everything He does is out of love for us, even though we don't understand it sometimes. So I'll be praying every day for a new little life for Ryan and Shelly to take care of, and to give them peace that passes understanding, but will also trust that God's timing is perfect....

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

All of this just reminds me how amazing it is to have my babies...how so many things have to line up perfectly for one baby to be conceived and then born healthy....and for some reason He decided to give us THREE (it's still shocking to me!) God is so good!

Here are all of my little guys. Tyler was in the mood to hold babies, and said he wanted to hold Derek, so I put Derek on his lap. Then he said, "I want that one, too". Then, "and that one too...." So we piled them all on his lap. He loved it (for about 20 seconds)! (Derek, Andrew, Micah)

Sweetie Derek....he is SO smiley all the time! He's also started cooing and jabbering a lot...definitely more than the other two. He will just lay on the floor and talk and talk. If someone comes and talks to him, he really jabbers! It's the sweetest noise ever! He's also started laughing over the last couple of days. He's really ticklish almost all over we're discovering, and he has the cutest laugh ever! It's so infectious! Derek weighed 15 lbs, 4 oz when we weighed the boys on Sunday. He's back to being the biggest!

Derek is the most active of the bunch, I'd say. He kicks like crazy almost the whole time he lays on the floor, etc. He was sitting in his bouncy seat here and almost wiggled himself right out.

Andrew is still our little social one. He smiles constantly, and has the sweetest little dimples. He's also the one who cries the most, probably, and he has the saddest cry! He loves to be held, and if you put him down after he's all snuggled in by you, he'll let you know he doesn't like that! Andrew weighs 13 lbs., but he still feels quite a bit smaller than the other two. He's just built different, I think...he's longer and skinnier.

Micah...love that little hand up on his head! Micah is cooing and laughing lots, too. He has this raspy little voice when he coos...so cute! We can definitely tell who is who just by their jabbers or cries. Micah is so sweet...if anyone else is crying (usually Andrew), or if Tyler cries or screams or anything, Micah pulls a huge bottom lip and starts crying, too. He doesn't like anyone else to be sad! Micah is getting really strong on his legs. He likes to stand up a lot! He weighs 15 lbs, 1 oz.