Doing the Potty Dance

Do you hear the choirs singing hallelujah? We hear them at our house. Why?? The two-year-old is potty trained!! And we are all singing & dancing around here. Woohooo! She did it! I swore I wouldn't even attempt it until she was begging me...and then this past week she just did it. All by herself. No looking back. No accidents. (so far....maybe I shouldn't have typed that...oops). And THAT is the beauty of WAITING until they are ready. So so easy peasy!! It probably also helps that she is a intensely, wildly INDEPENDENT little girl. Yeah that might help a bit. And the panties. Its ALL ABOUT the Dora panties.

drew...month #2

Despite violent errr...I guess we'll call it overzealous loving from his 2-year-old sister...drew has made it to his second month. He is a sweet babe. Not too hard, not too easy, pretty much somewhere in between. These are some of things we have noticed about Drew at 2.

2 months that is. I just like to rhyme. :D

-He LOVES music. Especially being sung to. Even by me which is pretty scary folks. He first smiled at us while I was singing the Primary "Hello Song" of all things.
-He is sleeping better. Not awesome, but better. Waking about 2x a night with long luxurious naps during the day. Wish I was getting those too.
-He has big blue blue blue eyes.
-He is smiling. Mostly for mama, but slowly and surely for everyone else.
-He LOVES his baths (when he gets them...he IS the 4th child after all). It didn't start out that way, but he LOVES baths now. It is so cute to see him splash around in the water.
-He is adored by all of his siblings, even the 2-year-old who sometimes likes to see how high she can push him in the swing before he falls out. (He HAS NOT fallen out by the way...I'm just sayin...)
-He recognizes faces...mostly mine. I love to see him light up when he sees me. It is probably the only time in life when you can be THE WORLD to someone. Sigh...
-He is a CHUNKY monkey. :) We love that.

Hmmm...there is probably more. If I think of it I will come back & add it in, but I'm tired, dinner needs to be cooked & 6 mouths fed. Woah...that's a lot of mouths.

Buds

They are only 3 weeks apart. Born to be buddies. The youngest of one family. The oldest of the other. They are friends. We insist upon it. :)

Halloweenies

I am aware that Halloween was LAST weekend. But hey, I figure when you have four (!) kids like me & one is ONLY six weeks old you get a little leeway when documenting events. That is what I'm banking on. Yes? Yes. Just nod & smile. Thanks. :)

Halloween was crazy busy. We began the day with Zoe's soccer game, rushed home & Robin, Zoe & Luke dashed off to the ASU football game and then flew home so that we could head over to Uncle Sean & Aunt Heidi's casa for delectable (albeit MAJORLY unhealthy) vittles. I went, I sat, I nursed. Good times had by all.

And now without further adieu, the kidlets....in all their costumed glory....

Brynn...an ASU cheerleader. Just in case you were wondering if we are fans. Yeah, we are fans. Huge fans. It is kinda sick. The kids all know the fight song and can make the "pitchfork" with their fingers practically from birth. We are teaching Andrew as we speak.

Luke...Sheriff Woody...(but only cuz I couldn't find a Sparky costume...he wants to be that next year.) HOWEVER Sheriff Woody suited him just fine. "There's a snake in my boot!"

And last but certainly not least Miss Zoe who was Snow White. She was going to be a witch, but changed her mind at the very last minute. Pink nose & cheeks courtesy of soccer + ASU football. :)

Here they are...all togetha (minus little Drew who was asleep and as mama done told me..."NEVER wake a sleeping baby. Never." So I didn't.) This pic is SO them. Goofy Luke, silly snuggle bug Brynn & shy Zoe. My rugrats. Happy (belated) Halloween!

Raise your hand if you're sleepy...

What's the word? Tired. That's the word. K moms...HOW do we forget this? Well, I guess we don't exactly forget, but it becomes hazy I suppose. Ugh...I'm just draggin. Maybe it's the 4th kid thing, maybe it's the being over 30 thing, maybe it's the baby spending WAY too much time crying today thing. Not sure. But were are sooooo there. Weary to the bone, through & through.....sleeeeeeepy. I'm hanging on, holding out, TRYING to enjoy his newbornishness. Yep I'm inventing words too. I'm justified. :)

Ok, can't stand it any more...must...go...to...bed. G'night y'all.

Ok so I HAVE been taking pics. Lots and LOTS of them and it will take me some time to get them posted, but over the past month I've been photographing the dickens out of my sweet love and thus we begin a little case study of my baby boy.

Andrew: Head to Toe.

I've done a few formal "portrait-ey" types of images, but mostly it is just him & us, hanging around, living the good life as a family of SIX!

Here is is...hanging on the couch. Six days new.

one month old

geez that went fast...like faster than any of the other kids fast & it kinda freaks me out. he's waking up a bit more, checking out the world a bit more, loves mama best, finds his siblings fascinating when they aren't torturing him & I SWEAR he smiled at zoe yesterday. ;) here's our little love...one month old. (yeah i do have a zillion more pics & I WILL post retroactive highlights...promise.)

He's Here!

Can't say the last few days have been what I expected...but I am grateful to announce that our little Andrew Frederick is here at last. 7 pounds 10 ounces, 19 1/2 inches of pure perfection. And he doesn't look a bit like any of our other kids. Seriously.

When a routine office visit last Friday revealed that our little guy was BREECH (!) we were sent to the hospital that afternoon for an attempt at turning him into the appropriate position. Ahem...he was having NONE of that. Ow. And so we proceeded with a very unexpected c-section Friday night.

Yeah it's different. VERY different. In both good & bad ways. I think I'm experiencing the bad ways now...after the fact. Ow. The actual birth was easy-peasy. Lay back, relax, get a baby. No pushing, heavy breathing, etc. That was the easy part.

But of course it is all worth is as I snuggle my sweet one & watch my littles oogle over his cuteness. We love him to pieces & I am relishing him as much as possible since he is our grand finale. And now I am off to drink up his sweetness & deeply inhale that delicious newborn aroma. Don't you wish they could bottle that stuff? Yum. Here he is...in the hospital...2 days old. My hospital picture taking attempts were a little sad this time around...something about an incision in my abdomen getting in the way. Oh well...many, many pics to come.

One of those moments...

that I'll never forget. You know the ones...where you can feel it searing into your memory even as it is taking place. For FHE last night Robin was talking to the kids about families & how we have not only fathers here on earth, but a Father in Heaven as well. We then talked about the new baby coming and how special he would be and how he is a child of God just as all of us are. He then suggested that we gather around my belly and sing I am a Child of God to our little boy. They all gathered around, each putting a hand on my belly and sang in their sweet little voices to their little brother. I'm getting teary again just thinking about it. I wish I had had my camera to capture their darling little hands on my belly with their noses pressed into my skin, eager to serenade their brother. Definitely a moment I'll never forget.

Labor of Love

Well...she did it! After a long, hard labor Jessica is a mom!!! AND I was so so lucky to be at the delivery. Here are a few preview photos....to see more delivery images head over to my other blog. :)

Shameless Plug...Come Vote for Me!!

So I never enter photo contests. I'm a chicken. A chicken-weenie-butt to be exact. (Only Rachel will understand that!) Anyways I finally did enter one AND...don't pass out...I'M A FINALIST! So ok, ok to win I need votes & so if you have a moment or two, help a pregnant girlie out! Thank you!!! Here is the link:


Psst...I'm #4! :)

Here is the image that was selected...Miss Zoe's sandy hands...

Future Plumber?

Do ya think Luke might be in training?? :D

It's Growing!

They belly that is....hello HUGE! Robin says I was this size when I was ready to have Zoe...yeah thanks babe that makes me feel deeeelightful! :P This arial view was taken last week in San Diego...we are nearly 28 weeks now. Can't believe our little guy will be arriving in only 12 more weeks! Ack!

Welcome to the World....

It is my niece's birthday today. Her very first one. Little Victoria was born early this morning...12:53 to be exact & I got to be there.

No matter how many times I see it (and for me it has been a number of times), I am always blown away by the miracle of birth.

Welcome to the world Victoria...we are so glad you are here.

Everyday life...

I figure I'd better start posting more about our everyday life...we do have one. The routines...mundane and repetative, but I do suppose fleeting. Someday I won't actually have to bathe all of my children...someday I am sure they would be mortified to have me in the bathroom with them. So for now, although bending over to wash them in the tub is getting a bit more challanging with my expanding waistline, and truthfully Zoe is pretty self sufficient...I will try to enjoy this fleeting moment of my every day life. Actually having all 3 of them in the tub is a RARE occurance...one which happens when I'm just too worn out to do the usual and so I throw them all in, rinse, wash, repeat & drag them out again. But aren't sudsy kids the cutest?

The 3 B's

Geez...I guess it has been awhile. QUITE awhile. Just hanging in...trying to keep my lunch down, trying to stay awake...you know pregnancy. You may wonder at the title of my post. Well...they are growing. The 3 B's that is. Belly, boobs and ahem, butt (although we ARE NOT allowed to say that word in our house!!). I swear it looks like I'm growing a baby in my behind. What is the deal? And these bosoms! Come ON! So at least the belly is starting to catch up & I'm beginning to look like a pregnant girl rather than a slightly chubba-lubba one. Although I still feel like a chubba-lubba. I definitely started gaining weight all the way around & showing SO QUICK with this one. Sheesh!

So the BIG news is that Tuesday we discovered our little rugrat is a boy. A BOY!!! Praise be to the heavens. I cannot believe it! When I was pregnant with Z with were hoping for a boy cuz well, you know, I guess for some reason having a boy first was "the thing". But along she came and it was great. So then we thought how fun it would be for her to have a sister close in age...no dice...along came little L. So third time around again we think, yup a brother for little L would be just divine...oh no...along comes little B. So all is wonderful, lovely & we decided that come girl or boy this baby would round out our little family. And I hope and pray and wish and dream for 2 and 2...a brother for little L and nice even lovely number. And it happens!! I practically cheered in the ultrasound room. We are thrilled beyond measure not only for the fact that we are welcome a little boy, but more so for the fact that he looks healthy and well and is growing just perfectly.

Nope, no names yet...we tend to wait until the last minute or even a week after birth to name our children. We like to see them, make sure the name "fits"... it's our thing.

AND by the way, taking a self portrait of your pregnant belly...seriously NOT easy....or comfortable...or all that fun. But I'll try to keep a record as this will be the last time I'll look this way... which fills me with a mixture of emotions. Most of which resemble extreme joy. :)

Life...

Yeah, so that is what has been going on...life. Nothing super exciting...ok well maybe ONE super exciting thing, but anyways we'll get to that. Just thought I'd give a run down on what's up with us...try not to hold your breath...SUPER excitement ahead. (roll eyes icon needed here)

1. Little B turned 2. Seriously that was the FASTEST two years of my life...bar none. We had a bouncing birthday bash with her best little buddy who also happens to have a name that begins with B. We'll call him Mr. B. Mr. B is the strong silent type which suits our little B just fine. She can boss him around. She likes that. He is a patient soul. Anyways this was the cutest shot of the two of them from their exciting day...all the others were very "deer in the headlights-esque". She is VERY much my daughter, in many ways, going in for the first kiss is hereditary my friends.

2. One of Z's top teeth is loose. Sadly. I know she has already lost the bottom two, but for some reason the top ones make me feel so much more like she is growing up. Soon she will have a mouth full of BIG teeth. :(

3. Registered L for pre-K. CANNOT believe the boy will be going to the BIG school in the fall. Five days a week. Gulp. I'm praying for his teachers.

4. We had a horrible run in with strep/the flu which made it's way slowly & painfully through the entire family. (except little B...lucky girl). I felt very sure I was on my death bed..but still had to be Mom. I think Moms should not be allowed to get sick. Where is the super Mom pill that wards off all germs? I'd buy it.

5. Valentine's was nice, uneventful but good to get out. We went shopping for a bookshelf...unsuccessfully. We have been trying to pick one out FOREVER. We are too picky or cheap or something...not sure what. We thought we were being sneaky to go to dinner at 5, beat the crowds...ummm no. 2 hour waits pretty much everywhere. We had Red Robin. Sad, but decent & there was NO WAIT.

6. My resolutions are going ummm...wellllll not super great...mostly because of #7...

7. I am nauseous, all day every day and exausted. And this will be THE LAST time I allow myself to feel this way again. I'll let you figure that one out. ;)

And now...back to life....

Love Revolution

Lately I have been feeling the need to look outward, outside myself & my little world of ups & downs & selfish endeavors. Today I received this invitation from my sweet friend Crystalyn. I am soooo on board. One act of kindness a day. Not too much to ask & really not too much to accomplish, but oh what a difference it could make. Join us!

The Lego err....Megablock palace

Luke is just starting to really get into Legos...ok these aren't REAL legos...they are Megablocks & my friends apparently there is A BIG difference. Legos are, ahemmm, the REAL deal. So looks like we will be putting more money in the Lego bazillionaire's pocket soon. But...as usual...I digress.

Friday I was volunteering in Zoe's kindy class & came home to Luke & Daddy building a grand palace out of the Megablocks...GRAND. As in we must use every Megablock we own on this baby. (Straight from Daddy's mouth)....boys will be boys. It was a home for Luke's new spaceship and it was glorious...for a few days anyway.

"Dad, what's a Superball??"

That is where WE are going!!! Holy crap...dare I say...it's a miracle.

Go Cards!

Christmas 2008

Ok, I know....I KNOW...Christmas was ummmm what 3 weeks ago, but hey at least I'm gonna mention it. It WAS a fantastic day. COLD & rainy...well cold to us Phoenix folk anyway. It was nice...no shorts & t-shirts for 2008 which makes me very happy. I actually did not take a single picture on Christmas...not with my own camera anyway and only snapped just a few at my Mom's with her camera when we got over there. I have a hard time enjoying the excitement and taking pictures at the same time. Must try to be better at that. Anyways, it was good. Yummy food, fantastic gifts, lots of family & laughter. My kind of day. Here are a few of the few images I got of our spectacular celebration....

first off...one of my FAVORITE gifts. my mom made us girls these CUTE CUTE CUTE aprons. makes cleaning WAY more fun... (can you guess which one is me???....hint..my pants are NEVER quite long enough..I'm a dork...and I have really long legs....and I sometimes forget to wear my wedding ring...and I love my new tennis shoes from my husband...ok I guess I gave it away)
Next up my little cutie...this is TOTALLY her. Girlie all the way. Adore the combination...HEY her pants are long enough! What gives?
And my little superhero...off to save the universe or the planet or the neighborhood...whichever comes first...
my VERY cooperative girls...always extremely excited to be photographed...ok, maybe ONE of them is cooperative...gotta love messy faces. Seriously I DO!

and finally Miss Zoe. She had NO interest in picture taking, but was willing to share some of her favorite gifts. You will notice the bell (anyone who has seen Polar Express can understand this one), the "diamond" (yes friends, she asked for DIAMONDS!!!??! I was thinking honey...Mommy ain't even getting dimaonds, but heck why not. Notice the cut, clarity...SIZE!!! Thank you Michaels...ahem I mean Santa! This was by far her favorite gift.) And finally we have the Hannah Montana pin. Sigh...ok yes, we are now officially in the Hannah Montana phase. And sadly all of us in the house are singing along with the new CD. Hey, it's catchy!

Merry Christmas my friends!!

Picturing 2009

Ok, so I TOTALLY stole this posting idea from my bestest friend Rachel, but she loves me so I don't think she'll mind. :) My list of resolutions for the year is, well, just a bit long. I may need to do adjusting & get real on a few things, but I am excited for a new year to start fresh. My ultimate theme this year is.....

BALANCE!
I find myself quite out of it a lot and it is simply NOT ok. I need to refocus my priorities & set limits & go to bed at a decent hour for heaven's sake!

The main areas of focus for me in 2009 are:
My Spirit
My Family
My Body
My Mind
My Home
My Business

And since it would be so boring to list out all my resolutions & since I'm a picture kind of gal...here are a few of my resolutions...in pictures.....

I can do it! I think I can..I think I can...I think I can....