How cute is this baby?

Isn't this little one cute? She's 5 weeks old. I just LOVE taking baby pictures!!

I had an interesting day today.
Megan had a play date with a little girl in her kindergarten class. She brought along her little cousin (who I might add was only 4 years old). I had never formally met the mother before which apparently was my first mistake. my second was that I didn't get her phone number .
She was scheduled to pick them up at 1:30.
I usually like play dates because it gives me a chance to get things done while Meg is entertained... NOT this time! I had to watch them like hawks so I got nothing accomplished. The oldest had a potty mouth so I had to keep telling her "we don't say that", "we don't call names", "You don't need to yell, just ask nicely"..And then I'd turn around and the younger one was asking me for food again....
Well 1:30 came and went.. and then it was 2, and 2:30, and 3...you get the picture?
... when She showed up at 5:30 to pick them up I could not have been more completely appalled at someones parenting or lack of!
She came to the door with some exaggerated excuse and all I could do was nod my head, and shut the door tightly behind her.
come 9pm... the DOORBELL rings! mind you my kids are all in bed as there bedtime is 8:30. The mother had brought me a plate full of uncooked (literally) brownies. I smiled and thanked her graciously, but it changed nothing of my opinion of her. I wonder why she thought ringing the doorbell at 9pm on a school night was okay?
anyway.. Going to be a little awkward when I see her at drop off tomorrow.

I should have known today was going to be fun. Meg started it off with an hour long drama fest over socks and underwear!

All's well that ends well......

Vroom Vroom One year old Boy....

Mathew LOVES cars. For months he's pushed them across the floor making the bubbly hum sound of a car.

He LOVES trees, and every morning and afternoon as we walk to and from the school he holds his chubby hand out with his pointer finger straight up in the air pointing out all the huge trees in our neighborhood.

He babbles all the time and repeats our sounds.

He can stand up on his own until her realizes that he's not holding onto anything.

He LOVES to be outside, and will sit in his swing and watch the kids play for quite awhile.

Scrapbooking, Sewing, and just hanging out.

Last night I went scrap booking with some friends. We usually meet up once every 6 weeks or so for the local scrapbook stores “girls’ night out”. It was nice to get out for the night and just unwind without any commitments over my head. ( I never scrapbook at home. It’s too hard to get everything out, and inevitably it turns into an Ali, Megan scrapbook party instead of me getting anything done). We had a really good time. I love the fun conversations, and laughter that goes on when we’re there. I can’t wait for the next one in October. I don’t know that I’m all that productive, but its sure worth the effort.
When I got home about midnight I went to check on the girls downstairs. Megan had fallen asleep on the floor, so I went to pick her up and carry her to bed. When I pulled the blanket off her I saw that she had completely covered herself with Marker. Black and red ‘art’ ALL over her body! Then To make it worse, she’d had an accident on the floor! I didn’t care that it was almost 1 a.m., I took her up and scrubbed her head to toe in the bathtub. Poor baby. She was so tired.

Today Ali got to go hiking up to Timpenogous cave on a Daddy daughter date with our church group. She took Ex, and I was glad for her that he went. She had a great time. It was a good opportunity for them to spend some more time together in a good environment.

The rest of us spent the entire day with Ang and the girls.
Olivia went out and immediately found herself a pile of dirt.
The girls spent hours playing, bickering, whining, and laughing just as they always do. They are so close, and act just like cousins. I love that.
Angie and I had a great day too.
Ang had brought her sewing machine. We set up hers and mine across from each other at the kitchen table and because I was inspired by Megan I made my first little nightgown. It was SO easy! I had a good time doing it. We sat and sewed for hours. It’s been at least 10 years since I’ve worked on a sewing machine.
I also made Matt a bib. I’ve wanted a great big bib for him so that I don’t have to change his entire outfit every time he eats. So I made an extra large one.. It’s really ugly!

Because the table was a little occupied, we had the kids eat on a picnic blanket on the kitchen floor… Talk about novelty! They loved it!.

Cake!

Dump truck cake requested by Taylor.
Matt Wasn't afraid to dig right in.
YUM

We had a ton of family and friends over tonight.

we had a great time eating pizza, playing with the kids and doing tricks on the front lawn.

We're all ready for a good night sleep.

Good Birthday!

Its celebrate Mattie day!

One year ago today I gave birth to a beautifully cone headed baby boy. A baby that my husband and I had worked for over a year to conceive. He was our little "miracle", the completion of our family.
One year ago, I walked up and down the streets of my neighborhood in the pouring rain, begging my body to induce labor..
I feel guilty admitting this, but I also took many rounds jumping on the small trampoline in the playroom..
My contractions began sometime in the afternoon that Friday. I didn’t want to believe that they were anything but Braxton hicks in fear of disappointment. So I refused to time them.
My friend Charity was over at the time, and took it upon herself to do it.
My contractions were sometimes 5 minutes apart and sometimes 12 minutes apart. The inconsistency left me even more incredulous. We went on about our evening.
But they kept coming. And I kept walking. I pretended it wasn't happening.
My Ex picked up the girls for his weekend visitation sometime around 6. My friend had left, and I had made no mention to the girls about my labor.
There I was alone in the house trying not to get my hopes up, but keeping one eye on the clock when another pain would come. I was so nervous, that I couldn’t eat. I just paced the house in anticipation.
A few hours later Taylor arrived home. It was about 8 pm.
I casually told him that I thought we should take a walk to my parents house to see if "I could get these contractions going”. I could see the excitement in his eyes.
It was already planned that my mother would come to the hospital with Taylor and I, so we decided to walk the 4-5 blocks to my parent’s house. We walked in the rain exhilarated with the thought that maybe we’d be having our baby soon. We sat casually in my parent’s kitchen, laughing and telling my mom that she was on call through the night. I still wasn't sure.
We walked home around 10 again in the rain, and I thought maybe I should try and get some rest. I still couldn’t eat, but lied in bed trying to be still so that Taylor could rest.
The contractions were getting stronger and closer together.
I couldn’t sleep.
I wasn’t’ sure what I was supposed to do. Wasn't my water supposed to break?
It had with my first two children and that had been an automatic reason to head to the hospital.
I think I just kept expecting that to happen again, and when it didn’t I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do. I called the labor and delivery floor at the hospital and talked to one of the nurses. She told me that they like contractions to be at least 3-5 minutes apart before coming in.
Mine were anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes apart and becoming more and more uncomfortable. I couln't lie in bed any longer.
We decided to call my mom and head in.
It was about midnight. She’d been waiting up, and excitedly drove right over to pick us up.
We arrived at the hospital around 1 am.

They checked me and I was only dilated to a 3. They sent me out to walk.
We walked and walked and walked.. Stopping every few minutes to hold onto something and breathe through a contraction. They hurt. I felt like I was in my own scene from a movie. Breathe, “hee hee whoo, hee hee whoo”
At three I couldn’t walk any longer it hurt, and I was exhausted.
I was barely dilated to a 4.
We were all tired, and at that point I told my Mom and Taylor to go ahead and rest. I knew it was going to be a while before anything happened. I didn't know however that they were both going to sleep through the worst part of my labor!
For the next two hours as my contractions became more and more painful, I sat clenching my fists and teeth trying to not wake either of them. I held my breath, I tried to breath, I tried to focus... it HURT! I did that for two hours. When they both started to wake up, the first thing I said to them was “I WANT MY EPIDURAL NOW PLEASE!” Did I mention that it HURT?.
I probably should have asked for it earlier, but I was scared. It had been 4 years since my last one, and I forgot how much they were worth the discomfort! I think a small part of me was also holding out a little to see how much I could handle. I had to wait another 3 hours before the anesthesiologist came in. The relief was marvelously appreciated. When the anesthesiologist left I said to my mom and Taylor “ Halalula chickaboola” which is what Megan said every time she was happy. It was so fitting at that moment! I finally lied back in the bed and took a deep breath.
I hadn’t eaten for about 20 hours at that point, and I was extremely famished. They wouldn’t let me drink either because they had started me on pitocin to kick up my contractions. I was tired, hungry, thirsty, and anxious but thankfully out of pain for the time being.
Around 9 am my Dr came in and broke my water. That was interesting. WOoooshhh! A few hours later my epidural started to wear off and I asked for some more drugs. My Nurse informed me that the anesthesiologist was in a c-section and couldn’t come. She checked my cervix and decided that I was about ready to push anyway, So it was a little late for more drugs. I was getting anxious..
My Dr came in and told me that I would start to feel an involuntary urge to push. I wasn’t sure what she meant, but no sooner had she said that when my body all of the sudden took over! It was pretty amazing to know and feel your body doing exactly what it was meant to do. … It was about 12:30 pm. My Dr was getting everything prepped and asked me to give a good push. I pushed once and she stopped me telling the nurse to call in an extra labor nurse, and to call over a NICU nurse. I was confused and I asked if everything was okay. She told me it was normal, although I knew it wasn’t. They brought in an ultrasound machine and placed it on my belly as my Dr worked ‘down below’ telling me to push. She assured me that everything was fine although I was nervous anyway. Mattie the little stinker had decided to lie posterior and was STUCK! He was wedged in my pelvis.
My Dr tried to turn him around over and over again but he refused to budge I was exhausted after 21 hours of labor, no food and nothing to drink. I pleaded with the nurse for some apple juice. Having my epidural wearing off at this point made it possible for me to actually feel where I was pushing. It took awhile, but I gathered all the strength I could muster and I pushed that little booger out! He was born at 1:32 pm. 7 pounds 13 ounces, and 20 inches long. It was an amazing feeling to be able to feel the birth. I was still numb enough to not feel the burning fire pain that I’ve often heard described, but I was able to feel the pressure, and movement of his body as it emerged. His poor head was hideous. He was so bruised and beaten. He had a large cephalohematoma that lasted about two weeks. We hid it well under his tiny little newborn cap. I found out months later that when Taylor called to tell our work, he told our clerk that his head was shaped funny. The clerk had told him it would go away and she said he was relieved.. He never did tell me that personally! Matt has been such a blessing to our family. He’s given us all a sense of unity among us. The girls adore, him. He isn’t even aware of the Joy he has brought to our lives.
Our little guy.
Happy Birthday baby boy.

She did it!

She looked at the choices set before her.
Chose a beautiful blue pair
then realized just how close she was to the chair.
I could see her slowly backing away from the kiosk,Fear filling those big blue eyes.
I knew that if I didn’t do something then, she was going to torment us later.
We’d listened to her non stop for days and I wasn’t about to let it drag on any longer.
I picked her up arms and legs flailing and sat with her in the chair.
She FREAKED out! My heart broke for a millisecond but I stood strong, and I knew we just needed to get it over with.
As they were loading the earring ‘guns’ she cried and covered her ears, pleading with us to stop. She said “lets come back another day” that comment confirmed it. I knew she wasn’t going anywhere.
I said “DON’T MOVE or it WILL hurt!!”
30 seconds later it was all over.
She wouldn’t look in the mirror immediately, and covered her ears resentfully.
However, Two steps out of the kiosk She grinned, held her hair back, and sang out “I got earrings!”.
I asked her if she was glad that I made her go through with it, and she pushed her hair back and smiled all prissy like, Nodding with appreciation.
Oye!
She’s been strutting around telling us all that she’s got beautiful earrings, and even answered the phone like this…“Hello…. I got my ears pierced….. Who is this?”
Glad Its over.
She’s still a bit nervous about them.. not letting anyone touch them, and informing me that she’s Never going to take them out.. but at least the hard parts over…

Jack!

Megan's has a crush. A "MAJOR CRUSH" as she puts it..
His name is Jack, and she's talked non-stop about him for 4 days now.
She is completely enamored by him, following him around instead of playing with the other little girls in her class. The other night I asked her to tell me about him. She took that very literally and proceeded to describe him exactly “he has brown hair (spiky like Daddy’s) and skin like mine, no polker dots on his face, and pink lips. Do boys have pink lips?”. "yes, I reply", "then yes, he has pink lips". And then with a dreamy look in her eyes, she sighs, leans back in her chair and tells me "he's SOooo handsome!"
That’s when my stomach does a little nervous flutter. My baby is growing up a little faster than I want her to.. Wasn't it Ali who just came home yesterday to tell me about her first crush?
When Megan came home from school last week and made her announcement, she informed me that she was going to tell Jack the next day. No hesitation.
She did indeed tell him that very next day. When I asked her what he said, she said "nothing!, he just stood there, so I just followed him around again." I couldn't help laughing. Oh dear….. My stalker child!
Ali is totally opposite from Megan.. Three years She has had a crush on the same boy. Ali would never dream of telling her crush she liked him. Everyone knows about him of course, but She would just die if any of us told him!.
Megan's begging for a play date with him, and has all of the sudden decided that she needs her ears pierced. So All weekend we’ve listened patiently as she’s talked about Jack, or her ears. I’m still not sure if the earrings thing is going to happen. She wants earings so badly, but is just terrified of going through the action of getting them pierced.. I am just going to let her decide. I don’t really care if she gets them pierced or not. I didn’t get mine pierced until I was 10.
Alright, I better stop writing.. Its time to go pick up the little love bird..

First day of school 2

Megan's first day of kindergarten yesterday..

She Never looked back..

That's just like Megan.. Ms Independent. She was so excited to make new Friends.

last night she spent 20 minutes diligently doing her homework.Sitting like a big girl at the Kitchen table. She takes this school business very seriously.

She's pretty positive that she's the smartest in her class.

Weekend Away

We had SO much fun in Vernal over the weekend. I haven't had a chance to sit down and write about it yet, so this is a little late. We went down for MJ's blessing, and Angie had asked me to do some family pictures for them.
We drove out on Friday. The car ride was a little hairy due to the fact that our Little guy does not like the car for any long period of time. I let Taylor drive because last time we drove down to Vernal, I received my first speeding ticket in 14 years!
Ali was so excited to see Coryne (her best friend)

and Megan was even more excited to see that they had kittens running around.

Meg spent a good portion of the weekend toting around this one. She's inherited my allergies however and by the end of each day, her eyes and nose were so swollen I had to dose her with Benadryl. She didn’t care. she loved and snuggled her anyway. When we left Monday she asked if we could bring her home with us.

The girls have wanted a cat for some time now. We're considering taking one from their next litter, but we'd have to put Megan on Singulair.. Don't know if that’s worth it or not... We've got some time to think about that one.. I personally could never own a cat in my lifetime, but there ARE 4 other members of the family that seem to like the idea

The kids rode Tigger their horse. We tried to get the kids to feed him apples from the tree but Megan saw all the frothy mess coming from his chomping jaws when we showed her how

to do it and absolutely refused to share in that experience. (Meg's acquired a germ phobia.. weird considering she still collects and plays with worms,snails, and mud!)

Jumped on the trampoline
and even got to play in the water (after Megan's pleading for two days)

then crashed each night exhausted (and drugged)

It was so relaxing. They were so good to us, and I really felt at home in their cute house.
I had so much fun taking newborn pictures of the tiny 7 pound little MJ, and I just LOVED taking their family pictures out in the green green field.
I think I would have stayed another week, if I could have. I wish that Ang and I could hang out more often. we just don't get together enough
Oh, and before I left, Angie asked me to help her set up her own Blog. Check it out.. I am so excited to see what she has in store.

Weekend away.

Presenting MJ.........remember her mommy a few weeks ago? (check out my flickr if you don't remember)

2 1/2 weeks new

We've had such a fun weekend here in Vernal...

the kids don't want to leave..

horseback riding, trampoline jumping, friends, food and fun!

more later..........

We'll be driving home this afternoon..