Monday, April 11, 2022

Tonight for Family Home Evening we made "Thankful Turkey's" and talked about why we celebrate Thanksgiving. The kids really get excited about FHE and as chaotic as it always is, it makes me so happy to spend some good quality time as a family and I love the feeling it brings into our home.

I love to see the different stages of drawing they're each at.
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It was so fun(ny) hearing what they are thankful for.
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Hazel's attention to detail amazes me!
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Tonight, and every night, I am so thankful for this little family. 
{And also for good dad's AND babies who snuggle}.  
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Sunday, September 11, 2011

He made it!! Finally! :)

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    Our sweet baby boy was born on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 (5 days early) weighing in at a hefty 8lbs 6oz! (No wonder I was so uncomfortable!!) He is healthy and chubby (other than his skinny bird legs) and soooooo stinkin cute! I can't stop starting at him or holding him. He is a dream!

    The delivery went great and it was "the fastest labor I've ever seen", according to my doctor. I went in to be induced and when they first checked me I was at a 4+cm, so I was almost halfway there already. Both with Hazel and this one, I dilated so early but never had contractions. So weird! Anyway, I was nervous to do any Pitocin because it increases the chance of the same complications I had before, so I just had my doctor break my water and around 1:30pm my contractions started coming fast and hard. I got the (bless-ed!) epidural around 3:00pm and within about 20mins of that, I was fully dilated and ready to go. I pushed for about 20mins and out came our fully ripe babe right at 4:00pm on the dot. Tom and I were just as in awe this time as the other two times at the miracle of creating a child and bringing it into this world. That moment is like nothing else. You never know, as a mother, how you could ever love anyone as much as your current children, but then this new baby is placed in your arms and, just like that, you would do anything for this child. I can't explain it. The love I already have for this sweet new baby is all-encompassing and I don't know how we ever lived without him. And I am so glad I get to have Tom by my side, that he's who I get to experience all this with. He is the greatest partner a person could ever hope for. 

    Our traumatized little guy would not calm down for about a half an hour after the birth. It's a rough experience getting into this world I imagine. He just screamed his little heart out and wouldn't nurse, but I think he got it all out of his system because he's hardly cried since, and been a perfect nurser since too. I can't even describe my gratitude to be blessed with a third child. I am humbled and amazed at the opportunity to be a mother and the responsibility that has been entrusted upon me. We are all head over heels in love with this beautiful baby boy. Life is good.

  








































    It was so sweet when Hazel and Drew met our newest little addition for the first time. Hazel hopped right up on the bed with me and immediately wanted to hold him. She then said, with total shock, "he's sleeping without a binki!", like she had never heard of such a thing. Drew wanted to check out all the cool stuff in the hospital room, but then came and snuggled me and tried his best to understand what was going on. At one point I had all three of my kids surrounding me, my husband by my side and a room full of our loved ones and I thought to myself, this is what it's all about. This is my calling in life, this is what I came here to do: to be the mother of these 3 little angels. Life has never felt so full and happy. So much love.




















    I've forgotten over the last almost 3 years how sweet it is to have a newborn around. The calming, sweet spirit they bring into your home, so pure and fresh from heaven. The absolute joy and tenderness that fills my heart. And the unbelievable feeling of sleeping with your baby snuggled up on your chest. What a miracle they are, and I am absolutely loving every second with our new baby. I don't ever want to put him down! Which might be hard to do with 2 toddlers running around, but miracles can happen, right?




















    As you can tell, we haven't named him yet. Tom and I have the hardest time with boy names! It's ridiculous. We've narrowed it down to about five, with Luke and Benjamin being the top contenders. Hopefully we figure it out soon! For now, we're all just calling him "the baby".

  Welcome to our family angel boy! We feel like the luckiest parents in the world to have you here. 

Monday, September 5, 2011

Our last day as a family of 4

Image Image Image Image We had the BEST last day together before we have this baby. I wanted to do something fun as a family, something where we really get to play with Hazel and Drew. It was labor day and Tom had the day off, and as the last swim day of the season, we thought we should head to the Classic water park. Our kids have never been happier. Nope, not even in Disneyland. They'd never been on water slides before and they couldn't get enough. I sat at the bottom of the slide with one kid while Tom would take the other down the slide, then the kids would switch. I so wished I could go down with them, but let's be honest, with a 9 month belly, where could they possible sit?? I ended up loving my place though because I got to see their faces as they came down (sheer joy!) and then snuggle them in their towels and watch the next round. I love this little family, and as with all changes in life, I am feeling a bittersweetness to the end of this stage and the beginning of the next. It will no longer just be the 4 of us. But I know once we have 5, we will never want it any other way. Life...such a ride! Thanks for the perfect day my sweet fam!! Love every one of you to the moon and back.

Baby Progress...or not...

I went to the doctor last Tuesday and I was dilated to 4cm and 70% effaced. She stripped my membranes and said she thought he'd for sure come that night or the next day, which is exactly what happened with Drew. I shaved my legs, got my bag packed and waited. Well here we are. It's Sunday, I'm 39 weeks and still no contractions or signs that he's on his way. If there's one thing I've learned in my 3 pregnancies and almost 3 deliveries is that nothing is predictable. And if you have a plan, it's sure to go the opposite way.
So as uncomfortable as I am, I know that things will work out how they should and I am trying to be patient and just enjoy these last few days with my cute little family of 4.
Here I (and Tom) are at 9 months pregnant:
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sweetness

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Last night, Tom and I let Hazel stay up with us past her bedtime just to have some alone time before this little baby comes. This is, by the way, Hazel's favorite thing to do. She was so happy when she sat on the couch between us that she put her arms around each of us, threw her head back and said, "I just love you guys!" Sure Hazel, you can stay up every night. :)

Sunday, September 4, 2011

SuMMeR part 2

In between trips and family time, we managed to keep busy by doing what makes summer so fun! 

Playing in the sprinklers- or the Gateway fountains:
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                                                            Visiting the candy store:

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 Playing any number of games Hazel would make up (and Drew would gladly go along with):
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Jumping on the trampoline (this is a real winner):
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Playing in the garden with Grandma's and Grandpa's:
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                                                          Playing at Classic with dad:
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4th of July: (This was Drew's reaction when we just said it was time to go see fireworks...he is terrified of them and wouldn't come out from behind the table until I told him we didn't have to go. Sweet little Drewby. So Hazel went with her cousins and Dad to the Country Club while me and Drew stayed home and watched Winnie the Pooh :) )
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                                                                        We love summer!!

SuMMeR 2011!

We had one seriously BUSY summer this year! We had lots of family come in town, which is always so fun and action packed, and we got to go on a bunch of fun little vacations- Moab, Bear Lake, Girls Camp (for me), Park City, Jackson Hole, and last but not least, Wallsburg! Why we did every road trip you can think of the summer I am super pregnant is beyond me, but I survived and we all had a great time at each place! Here are some of the highlights...

In June, the Howell's came to visit, which always brings so many fun activities and I love being able to hang out with my sis and her kids! Hazel and Sophie adore each other and it's so cute to see their little friendship grow!
We did a day at Liberty Park with Yoj, which is the kids'- and Yoj's- favorite summer activity:
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And nothing says summer like a BBQ & s'more's at the Koplin's:
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Our friends Eric and Maere invited us up to their family's cabin in Bear Lake with our other friends Sam and Amy. We got to just hang out and relax at the cabin and the lake, and all of our 6 kids had a blast together. We hardly saw them the entire time. Thanks you guys! It was such a fun getaway!
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The Skidmore's came in town twice and we love when they're around! Hazel & Lucy and Matto & Drew are such cute friends. We got to have a sleepover at our house and go to Wallsburg with them while they were here too. Wallsburg blew their minds- riding horses, seeing lots of animals and riding the 4 wheeler and motorcycle. The kids were in heaven!
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Every year we go to Park City with my family and it's always one of our favorite trips of the summer! Lots of swimming, card games, and just relaxing. Our kids love, love, love to swim so they had a great week up there- and so did we!
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