Numero Dos Arrives

Charlotte June Warta was born right after a HAIL STORM in CALIFORNIA in MAY on the 15th @ 2:22 pm. Besides the kooky weather outside, everything went amazing. She was 7 lb 4 oz and 20 inches long.

When I saw her for the first time, I started crying - partially because I was so drugged, and partially because the doctor called her chubby first thing. It was just such a release of stress and worry that we would have a repeat performance in the NICU.

But she came to us bright pink with fat knees, screaming her head off to the point that it surprised a couple of nurses. Good girl :) You show this world who's in charge.

All of my prayers were answered - for the first time ever during a hospital stay my IV did not fall out, she is healthy and vibrant, and she is 100% undoubtedly a girl.

She's perfect - and looks like a brown haired version of her big brother. We tried to catch as many pictures as we could, but didn't get a lot of our visitors - so if you took a picture, send it to us please! :)

Here are a million pictures for her fans. They are terribly out of order, mainly because we are just tired and lazy right now.


Watching the hail beat up our window and waiting to have a baby!



That's right, you show them your attitude, girl!


Holding hands with daddy.



Sounds like a good goal!



Now he has a bruiser and a princess.

Meeting Nonna (my mom)

Diana specifically requested a girl. She is pleased.

Jeff is just sort of a nut about babies.

Meeting mommy :)


Introductory poke from big brother.

NICU Nurse # 2 - Tracy came by before her shift started.
Charlotte's birthday cake

Curious big brother

Peaceful girl

Elisa, Sam's preschool teacher and one of our favorite people



Sam and Charlotte meet


Sam's NICU nurse #3 - Sharlotte meets Charlotte

All dressed and ready to go home!

Phew.

Bye Bye Kaiser

Sam's NICU Nurse # 1 - Kathy found us in recovery


She looked startled and was wondering who smacked her.
Silly face.

Serious face

I too, smile when she sleeps.







Everyone is asking us how Sam is doing with the new baby. He's doing fantastic, as sweet as can be. He's beyond in love :)

All Kinds Of Wondering

Tomorrow is the big day, where we will complete our family. It's kind of insane, the experience this time around compared with Sam. A hot, sticky July day, an early morning C-section after three days of heart rate scares and sobering talks with doctors.

Tonight, I am having an afternoon baby on a predicted rainy day, and I spent the day before getting a pedicure and going to the Cheesecake Factory.

I think I like this way better. :)

I have all the cliche worries swimming around in my head - probably some totally normal for someone who had their last baby hospitalized for three months, and some that are just plain wacko and unique to me.

** I hate pain. I am a wimp and a cry baby when it comes to medical procedures.

** I am convinced the baby is going to come out a boy, which means he will be nameless and be coming home in a hot pink polka dot car seat. Crap.

** I would like for my IV to not fall out, please. See thought #1.

** I'm afraid I don't have enough love and energy for two kids, and I will never sleep again.

** I want so badly for the baby to come out screaming its lungs out, pink and healthy. And I don't want to wait 12 hours to meet her, or wait 5 days to hold her.

But then there are all the good, overwhelmingly wonderful thoughts that counteract the bad.

**I wanted a boy, so when it's a boy, I can let go of my girly dreams and go back to the more practical plan. We have been given over 50 pink outfits from various people...hope I kept all the gift receipts! :) :( :/

**GOD is so amazingly faithful, and has filled me to the brim with joy. I do not need to be afraid.

**Sam is the most remarkable, loving, hilarious and special person in my life. I am so excited to have a sequel!

**I get some peace and quiet with Frank tomorrow before the birth :)

**I am so honored and humbled that God has chosen me to be a mommy.....twice!

I am so excited for tomorrow - I am grateful I have Him to trust through surgery, recovery, and starting all over again as a mother to one of His precious gifts.

May Fifteenth is going to be a beautiful day. One of my favorites forever forward.

Something More.....

I love my busy, bustling life. But it's too blessed. Did you know that? It's just way too blessed with the food in our fridge, the paycheck in the bank, the happy and super easy to deal with 2 year old.....there's just a lot to be grateful. And sometimes my heart aches a bit when I eat ice cream or lay around with the A/C on watching Netflix. Or change my clothes three times for different stuff I'm doing throughout the day.

I've done the overseas missions trip thing. I've held HIV positive babies in Africa, worked with orphans in Romania, ministered to elderly in Asia...but what can I do HERE? World travel is not my life right now. It's my heart, but not my current reality.

I feel like I should have more purpose and be doing something more. So everyone can enjoy eating and laughing and a home. Not Netflix though, that's probably pushing it.

Seriously though......what can I do HERE, Lord? Show me. Or have someone in my life or on facebook show me <3

Cartwheel-Worthy Weekend

An hour and 20 minutes left until it's no longer Mother's Day - the boys are asleep and I am opting to stay up despite being totally exhausted to enjoy the quiet house which won't be quiet for a LONG time after next weekend! :)

If I wasn't so hugely pregnant, I would be doing cartwheels all over the place to celebrate this weekend. The show went amazing. I am endlessly grateful for how many people came - our audience was made up of friends, family, low-income outreach families, high-risk youth, and total strangers. The quality of the performance and the response from our audience was everything I had hoped and prayed for. Yay God :)

The price was high and the road has been action-packed at times, but this first year of leading a totally unique ministry free from the demands of anyone but God Himself has turned out to be a rewarding decision. It pays to stick by Him. Funny how being stuck to someone/something like glue can actually bring total freedom and joy.

I don't have any dance photos yet, but I do have some backstage shenanigans that either I took when I actually had time to pick up my camera, or otherwise lifted off of various facebooks :)

The "Robertson" family - I love the age range of Royal Stage. It makes for a beautiful creative and spiritual family.

Love letter to Bev, Jessica, Olivia, Enoch and Krista before the last show

Me & Katie - an INCREDIBLE dancer, woman of God....and Sam's girlfriend.
Krista, one of our younger cast members, has a slightly disturbing obsession with cold fried chicken. After making the family in the cast eat dry salad for two performances to reduce backstage prop mess, I surprised her by giving them fried chicken. This is her fried chicken face.
Sweet view of the cast from the balcony of the theater. I love love love this theater.
Last dance of the show. I taught a 1950s dance to Rockin' Robin just as a fun thing after our more ministry and plot-appropriate dances. I do not recommend doing hand jives and sugars when you're 8 months pregnant. At least they made it look better than I taught it! :)

Tuck had a fun idea of making a 1950s newspaper for our program to go along with the plot theme. Great idea Tucky!!!

Our cool venue. I loved having the show in the heart of Sacramento.

Praying before one of the performances.

Congrats to all! Thank you Jesus! <3

P.S.......ohhhhhhhh I love you guys!

Baby Shower Numero Dos

My baby shower back home in Santa Clara was so incredible and fun, and this past Saturday, Frank and I were blessed by an amazing co-ed shower up here locally. My close friends threw quite the shindig with a spread of amazing Asian food (yum my fave!) and desserts. We were spoiled rotten with gifts, and Baby C is definitely not lacking in the pink clothing department.




The cootie catchers were such cute favors!



Cute birdie centerpieces on the food table. There was AMAZING food. I want food in Heaven to be exactly like it was at our baby shower.

Amazing D - one of the hostesses.

Boys.
Sharlotte, one of Sam's NICU nurses, came by. So did another nurse that we've kept in touch with. We love you Sharlotte and Tracy! :)

More birdies.


Everyone, minus 4 or 5 that left before the picture.


Sandy is the seamstress for Royal Stage and a good family friend. She's next to me in this pic and she MADE this blanket!!

Brandi another hostess :) We had the shower at her gorgeous house.

The loot!

Yummy dessert!

Not so yummy baby food tasting guessing game.

Cupcakes! :) Thank you Tuck!

Better take her to the beach this summer :)

The boys smelling and tasting melted chocolate in diapers.

Lumpia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More poop chocolate guessing.