The weigh in

Well...the post baby craziness has not been good for the waistline.
I haven't been on my bike since two weeks before the baby.
I had to be ready to get home quick if Alyssa's water broke so I didn't want to be stuck with my bike somewhere if that happened.
Zeke started school right after the baby came and I have been taking him to school every morning which means I've got the car with me all day.
Add to that the fact that people are bringing us amazing food every other night for dinner (thanks Amy and Jeremy for last night) and you have recipe for disaster. I think I've gained about 3 pounds...bummer.
When the normal rhythm's of your life get thrown off everything goes bananas.
Any suggestions?

Adoption vs. natural child birth

I've really wondered through this process of having a baby the natural way if things would be different in my feelings towards my kids. I know people are skeptical of adopting because they think it might be harder for them to bond with kids that didn't actually come from them. Here's my thoughts so far...
I think I bonded quicker with Zeke and Sofia then with Moses. Please don't get me wrong...I couldn't love my little guy any more than I do and the birthing experience was amazing. But given the circumstances surrounding the adoption of Zeke and Sofia, it just feels different.
Zeke was a miracle baby in every since of the word. We had been trying forever with no success...going to foster kid training...and get a call out of nowhere, and we become parents in a day. Zeke was born 2 lbs. 11 ounces and had to stay in the hospital for 2 months before he came out. The joy of having a baby and the agony of watching his fragile life come to health brought us so close to Zeke that our connection was overwhelming.
With Sofia we traveled across the world twice to make her a part of our family. And the trip along with the paper work was about as stressful as anything I would wish on anyone. By the time she was actually ours she had every piece of our hearts!
The whole pregnancy was really weird for us...we didn't know what to expect...and then all of a sudden we had a new little dude as part of our house! It was work and worry (mostly on Alyssa's part) but it just didn't have the same weight that our adoptions had.
Moses is amazing and I feel closer to him every day and can't wait to see how he will fit into our crazy family. I just thought it was worth saying that adoption is the real deal! Every parent in the world should adopt or take in a foster child or support others adoptions if they're able...that's my opinion. It is a beautiful picture of what Jesus did for us.

Boobs, merconium, and lady parts

That blog title is gonna bring a bunch of weird creepy dudes to my blog that are going to be really disappointed.
There is something about having a baby that makes it perfectly acceptable to talk about things that in normal conversation are completely inappropriate.
I can't tell you the amount of times in the last three days I've talked about boobs, merconium, and lady parts. You've gotta check the link to merconium on Wiki...sweet pics!
Well we are finally home! After a few days of talking about everything anatomy and baby I had to get out. I found Nate and Derrick for lunch and we talked about forklifts, Nascar, and Chuck Norris...much needed.
Having three kids is amazing. I was just hanging out on the ground playing with all three wondering how I will ever be able to give each enough attention. It's gonna be a fun ride.

We had some of the crew from the moms group show up yesterday and the Flecks brought us some Jamba (sorry no pic). Jamba is the ultimate hospital food. Thanks for the visits!
I promise I'll have blogs that aren't about babies in about 14 months!
This post = Most links ever in a blog.

Visitors

Side note: I'm gettin' rid of creepy floating baby. He doesn't know what to do after he counts to zero...it's been a fun journey weird little guy...I hope you bring joy to many other expecting parents.

Alyssa's mom Gloria came by with the kids yesterday and Nate and Erica brought us some Jamba. I love to see Moses in the arms of our friends and family. Get used to it kid...we believe in community around here!

My hero

They need to come up with new words to describe my wife. I don't know how I could love her any more. The little dude she's holdin' is pretty cool too!

Cute pictures

Alyssa said the Gary Coleman pictures were unacceptable so I posted a couple were Moses actually looks cute. The second one is the classic Lance furrowed brow...he nailed it!
Sean and Rebecca came by and brought some gumbo and jambalaya that has changed my life. Thanks guys.
Thanks for all the blog love and text love and email love. I've been showing them all to Alyssa...we feel very loved.
We have to stay at the hospital till Wednesday morning because there are some special antibiotics that the baby needs. We appreciate the prayers!

HE'S HERE!!!

Does he look a little like Gary Coleman to anyone else? I just see him in that first picture sayin', "whatcho talkin' bout Willis?"
Moses Everett Lance emerged into the world at 4:59am this morning.
Alyssa's water broke yesterday at 4:10pm...minutes before the Stirring. I was at the Stirring and left within 2.5 seconds of the phone call.
Moses is 7 lbs. 15 onces, 20 inches long.
Alyssa rocked the labor...she's my hero!
Moses and mom are doing awesome. If I were Alyssa I'd sleep till Christmas.
What a little miracle...I seriously can't believe it.
It hasn't come close to setting in yet...I'm still delirious from no sleep and crazy contractions and ridiculous pushing.
Watch out world...you have no idea what this little man is going to accomplish.
God is awesome!

Creepy floating baby is ready...

...why isn't Moses?
No contractions today.
Nate wants him to wait till Monday so I can help out tomorrow at the Stirring...awesome.
Sorry for the boring update!

Baby update part II

I'll keep everyone up to date so I don't have to send out a million text everyday. Last night the contractions slowed down. Alyssa is feeling good but bummed that it still might be awhile. I'll keep ya posted! Alyssa's mom made it into town last night which was a big relief for us. Having family here for us now is huge. Thanks for taking the kids yesterday Rebecca for the false alarm...you guys are awesome.

Baby update

We were at the hospital this morning. Alyssa is having mild contractions every 3-4 minutes and is dilated to 3cm. They said we had the choice to induce today or wait till it happens naturally...we opted for natural. The baby needs antibiotics four hours before he comes out so that is why they were thinking of inducing. They think we're really close.
So we are waiting. The baby is super low and they think he's comin' today or tomorrow so we'd appreciate your prayers. I'll light the blogworld up with Moses pictures as soon as I have them. I wonder if I could sell the rights of the pictures to People magazine like Brangelina and make millions by exploiting my new baby?!

This is of utmost importance!!!

Don't let the picture sway your decision...I'm not biased at all.
What is the first song that should pass through the ears of my son...Moses Everett Lance as he emerges into the world? I wasn't able to do this with my first two kids but Moses is going to start things off right.
Let's hear it...
Welcome to the Jungle (G & R)
Let's get it on (Marvin Gaye)
Blame it on the rain (R.I.P)
It's the end of the world as we know it (R.E.M.)
I've already got my thoughts but I want to hear yours!

I saw Shasta today!!!

I'm pretty sure it's been there for the last month but I was just glad that no one moved it when the smoke rolled into town. That would of been really weird. Great Sabbath today!
Rest
Family time
Operation Baby Preparation commenced! OBP as I like to call it.
Alyssa is 90% effaced...2 cm. dilated...whatever the heck that means.

I'm a wuss

I used to play guitar for hours a day. Not so much anymore. Yesterday I was up at 6:30 to get to Risen King by 7:30 to practice for leading worship. Led for both services. Got lunch with my family...put my kids down for a nap...drove right to the Stirring to practice...played guitar for both services at the Stirring. My fingers feel like they are going to fall off. Back in the day I could play for a month and a half straight without stopping and be fine. Now one full day of playing and I'm done.
Alyssa left the Stirring last night a little early because she was having cramps/contractions. She's never done the pregnancy thing so she really doesn't know what a contraction feels like. When people saw us leaving 47 people came up to me and said..."IS IT HAPPENING???!!?"
Sorry to disappoint folks.
Soon and very soon.

Wait till Thursday Moses

One of Alyssa's random shots of our kids...I dig it!
Too much goin' on right now!
Baptism, putting together Disneyland in Nate's backyard, practice with the worship team, leading worship at Risen King, getting pre-approval for a loan, signing a ridiculous amount of paperwork, playing guitar at the Stirring, having friends come into town, planting a church, hackfest, designing shirts, handing out backpacks at Cypress school, life groups, being a dad to the two kids I have right now and being a husband.
Thursday looks good...wait till Thursday Moses.
The only question I really have is what is going to happen to creepy floating baby? Is he going to burst out of his cyber womb and helplessly float off the edge of my computer screen awaiting me to cut his cyber umbilical chord? I hope so...that would be amazing!
Side note...
Baptism tonight was epic!
15 new followers of Jesus immersed into the family...I love it.
We got to pray with each of them before they went under...that's what I live for!

Creepy floating baby is freakin' me out...

Does it seriously say 19 days!
I think he's off by about 3 or 4 days based on what our doctor says because she says Alyssa is due on the 13th. But who cares what the doctor says...I'm trusting babystrology.com
Creepy floating baby is always on the money!
The doctor said Moses was pretty low on Monday. I have no idea what that means but supposedly lower means he can't wait to jump into the heat and smoke of Redding...so we'll see!
Any tips for the last couple weeks that I'm not thinkin' about?
I've done the kid thing a couple times but none of them have shot out of Alyssa. Our last kid came with crossing borders in foreign countries and bribing them with lots of American money. I'm new at that whole birth thing and I feel like I have no clue what to do. I'm pretty good at wingin' stuff but I'm not sure if that's the best policy when it comes to having a kid. Help!

Zeke's back

Drove to Sac this morning to pick up Zeke after 10 days with my folks in Riverside...he had a blast. My mom got his hair cut and he kind of looks like Loyd from Dumb and Dumber but it's all good. It's awesome to have him back. We picked up a bed for Sof at Ikea because the crib is going to Moses. Sofia and Zeke are officially sharing a room. Sofia fell out of her bed tonight...glad we got that out of the way in the first night.
The countdown is on...27 days...crazy!
I put the 3rd car seat in our Vue tonight so we would start feeling the weight of what the heck is happening to us. It's starting to become real...wow!
I'm a dad with a car that has three car seats...when in the world did that happen?

Alright...here's the news...

I THINK WE'RE MOVING!
Not back to Riverside...sorry mom.
About a block down the street.
We're ironing out the last details.
We qualified for some apartments that hook you up based on your income...God bless America!
We will save a bunch of money a month which will be awesome.
The only problem is I can't find a pause button for creepy floating baby.
We're moving in the last month of pregnancy...at least it wasn't 118 degrees today...oh wait...it was!
It's a three bedroom...smaller than our place now but all we need.
No garage...that will be interesting.
We've been married for 9 years and lived in 8 places...my wife is amazing!
1. Parkwest apartments (much love to Azoulay ct. Good times with the Yoders)
2. Grandpa's house (during the Ember days)
3. Linwood (built in 1914...hands down coolest house ever)
4. Rangpur (stupid house...way too big...trying to build my empire...learned my lesson)
5. Palm (lived on a freeway next to tweekers...killer fireworks show...added 800 square feet...good times)
6. Mt. Diablo (great house...still renting it out)
7. Sunset Oaks townhomes (it's been a good 6 months...we'll miss the pool...Thanks for getting us in Don)
8. Shadowbrook apartments (here we come)
Stay tuned for details of when. I will put out a shameless announcement to get people to help. Don't worry...it's supposed to be really cold in a week!
My life is hilarious.

Clenchin' my butt cheeks!!!

I'm in child birth classes with Alyssa tonight and tomorrow.
They're teaching us how to breathe, clench our butt cheeks, and I'm pretty sure she was trying to hypnotize us at the end...good times.
Can't believe it's 58 days till we do this...what the heck!
Tomorrow I get to see the video of the woman going through labor with all the juicy details. (probably could of found a better word than juicy!)
Dad of three...still can't believe it's happening...God is awesome.

100 days to go till Moses shows up

creepy floating baby says so. What the heck...i'm gonna be the father of three...still hasn't set in.

The next 38 days

My wife goes to womens retreat
Steve and Karen come to visit (can't wait guys!)
Erase the Dark (our first music, art and film festival) goes down. It's gonna be amazing!
I lead worship a few times
I speak twice. We've officially launched our "We are family" series
Nate and I go to a conference in Orlando
I turn 32
My son turns 5
We go to Riverside for a week of fam, friends and the beach
Creepy floating baby will have less then 100 days in the countdown.
What the heck???!!?
Bring it on!!!