Month 7

Time is flying by so quickly.

Joshua is 7 months old today.

He is the sweetest little boy.

Everyone always comments on how happy he is.

He really is.

We are so grateful to have him in our family.

The day Joshua was born:

On May 1st I arrived at the hospital at 6:30am to start my induction.

Abbey and Jack were at home with Nana Charlotte.

I was being induced a week early because I already had a 9lb baby and the Dr. didn't want me to have a 10lb baby.

I was all hooked up, IV going and pitocin flowing through my veins.

Most people would say that the 3rd baby should come pretty quickly, not mine.

He likes to take his sweet time.

It was 1pm and I hadn't been checked yet.

I knew that I was probably a 3 or 4 because of my prior history, and I was.

I needed my water to be broken but the Dr. was in surgery.

Every hour or so I would get a little nauseous but I am a champ at not puking.

It would pass.

I sent Joseph home to put A and J down for naps and to get some lunch.

All of a sudden I felt the need to puke.

I fought it for 10mins, it was inevitable. I puke in my water cup.

hmmmmm.

All bile. My tummy is hungry for something other than IV juice and drugs.

I get my epidural. I don't want to know anything about pain. NOTHING.

Joseph comes back. I'm still a 4.

I puke again. and again. nothing violent just letting off a little fluid. (nice visual right?)

Joseph chimes in "i'm going to find the Dr."

I sternly warn him "no you aren't. i'll end up having a c-section and then i'll kill you"

apparently i'd lost my mind. vomit does not = c-section.

Finally the Dr. arrives, she breaks my water. I'm a 4. boooooo.

We tell her I puked. She said "sorry girl, it's no big deal" * i love her*

she cuts the pitocin down. booooo.

then turns it back up 30mins later.

I gave myself a 9pm deadline to have the baby.

It came and went.

I ordered a pair of skinny jeans on Nordies, new shoes too.

pregnant/almost postpartum women are crazy.

Finally at midnight they tell me I'm at a 10 but "he's high, so let's have the contractions do the work".

hmpf OK.

Then I hear the *beep beep beep*

It's not the beeping of the IV pole. It's my epidural.

STINK.

I buzz the nurse.

She comes in and checks it and says "ok lets have this baby"

I tell her I need more pain juice. She replies "no, it won't get in your system anyway"

SAY WHAT?!

I push. I push. I push. 3x.

UMMMM WHAT IS THAT PAIN?! I say in a raised but calm tone.

"Oh that's his head, wanna feel it with our hand? want a mirror to watch?"

ummmm NO. heck NO.

I ask if I can push again. The answer comes as "no we're going to sit like this for a minute so you don't tear".

I get the OK to proceed. And I do it.

One more push and his fat, squishy self is here.

9lbs 1oz.

Thank goodness he was a week early.

He nursed right away. Slept like a dream.

I went home the next day and couldn't have been happier to be in my own house with my family.

The End.

Thanksgiving 2009

Turkey Duty: Jack and Dad

Roll and Baby Duty: Abbey and Mom

The final product, well about a third of them anyway.

The Bird

clearly someone needs a nap

And then we ate.

The End.

p.s. don't hate on my dining room furniture. I'm *trying* to be frugal. Joseph keeps telling me to go out and buy a new table/chairs/buffet. But I swear I can get it all finished, if I could only find the time.

Look who came to visit!

Santa sent a pixie Elf to our house.

He watches the children all day and flies to Santa at night to report on their behavior.

In the morning he is watching over them from a different spot in the house.

They race around like crazy people seeing who can find him first.

But, they cannot touch him.

So.much.fun.

Check out "the Elf on the Shelf".

Howl-O-ween!

On Halloween we went over to a friends house for a pizza party and trick or treating.

The kids were definitely NOT concerned about eating dinner.

Every 5 mins was "when are we going to get candy?"

Below is the face of a 4yr old who was told we had to take a picture before she could hit the pavement to get some candy.

Oh her life is so tough. Boo hoo.

Approximately 1 hr after we began TorTing. The rain began to really come down.

SuperMan was D.O.N.E.

Here he is asking to go home.

So we did.

SuperMan is cool.

(stolen from Mandy)

Abbey and MJ...errr I mean Jayda.

I couldn't look at Jayda all night.

It was freaking me out.

Under that hat was a head full of jet black hair where her usual blonde locks reside.

FREAKY. and so cute.

too bad I couldn't get her to perform for me.

i stole this pic from Elizabeth (thanks!!)

Here are all the critters.

They are so cute.

Our friends have some darling kids.

Please note the tongue sticking out.

NAUGHTY.

Halloween Parade

The kids had a parade and a sing-a-long at school for Halloween. It's always so funny. Some of the kids roll around on the floor, some actually sing, some wave, some frown, etc.

It's hysterical.

So here we are on our way to school.

SUPERMAN!

SUPERGIRL!

Their choices not mine.

Have I mentioned how much I love the headphones in the car? I do. a.lot.

I have video that I would love to post but I cannot find the cable to get it off the camera. But Jackson was so so funny.

He didn't like everyone looking at him so he turned away from everyone and finally walked away from his class and stood with me.

Everyone was dying laughing because he was giving them dirtiest looks I have ever seen.

Abbey on the other hand was singing and doing all the hand motions and waving at me.

They are really cute.

Pumpkin Patch

A few weeks ago we took our annual trip to Cox Farms to visit the pumpkin patch. We went in the afternoon and there was no one there. It was glorious. This was the 1st year that I haven't been pregnant so I was actually able to go on the ride and slides. Abbey and Jack thought that was pretty awesome.

Oh look Josh was there too!

Proof that I'm fun. HA

I promise my kids don't always look like hobos.

Beware....

this little boy will have you wrapped around his finger.

seriously.

Everywhere I go. And I mean everywhere... Jackson comes home with a new fan.

His teachers are so much in love with him that I feel bad when I drop him off and pick him up in front of the other kids and their parents.

The sweet ladies in nursery.

The lone man in the nursery sees me in the parking lot and says

"Heather, Jack is the coolest kid I have ever met"

I laugh and think to myself "yes I know".

My family is obsessed with him.

Sure they love the other 2 but they always want to know what he is up to.

Today Cori was over (Cori is Jack's BFF... he loves Ms. Cori).

Jack was in a particularly bad mood (#1 woke him up this morning)

She witnessed 1st hand that he isn't always so delightful.

She was shocked and he was too.

He let his little secret out of the bag.

He has bad days too.

Late in the day after the other 2 were in bed (did I mention my other half is in Germany for a week?) Jack and I were snuggling and watching Dinosaur Train.

He kissed me and said "Mama I'm sorry I didn't make good choices today. I do better ta'morrow, k?

Man he knows how to reel me back in.

He is incredible. Oh how I love that little boy.

Check me out.....

So I've never been the Martha Stewart type...ever.

I'm more of a sports/shopping/eating type.

So my friend Cori and I were chatting last week (she's not the crafty type either)

and she says to me "do you wanna do some crafts?!"

And I reply "YES!"

simultaneously her husband and mine begin laughing.

*Crafting in this house usually means lots of $$ spent and nothing finished to show for it*

We really aren't the crafting type.

But yes we did get our craft on last week.

We made hair clips and then we did these silhouettes.

*yes i know i have 3 kids. one of them is always sleeping*

Can you believe it?

I'm actually REALLY proud of myself.

I even have a craft bin.

I'm almost legit... too bad 99% of my crafts end up unfinished in my upstairs closet.

Oh and this craft took us like 30mins once our kids stopping needing to nurse, eat, snack, etc.

This week we are going to sew and do freezer paper screen printing.

Look out Martha.... or NOT.

Look Who...

is eating baby food!

I'm actually kinda sad about it.

Neither of the other 2 ever had solids before they were 8-9 months old.

But this little man was SCREAMING when we were eating.

I couldn't figure out what was going on.

Then Joseph suggested we give him some oatmeal and what do you know...

He gobbled it right up.

So he's eating 1x a day during dinner time.

I can't believe he is growing so fast.

He'll be 6 months old in 2 weeks.

brain dump

Currently my brain is filled with too much.

Things I am currently mulling/obsessing over.

Do Joseph and I keep Abbey out of kindergarten until 2011? She is quite ready but she will be one of the youngest. If she were a boy there would be NO question. If I had a boy who was born after the month of March I would keep him out until the next year. But girls are typically more ready socially and academically. Should we put her in and then have her do K twice?

Don't even suggest homeschool people. I have cousins that were homeschooled. 'nuff said.

Does the perfect pair of brown boots exist?

I know it's probably not high on your list of things to think about, but it's on mine.

I found the perfect pair of brown boots. Perfect price.

They came and the calf was HUGE.

Ugh.

I currently have 2 other pairs on their way.

Hoping one of them fits.

When should we fly out to CO for Christmas?

Could I try to take 3 kids and make a connection so it will be cheaper?

Yeah I just settled that in my head... no way.

NON-STOP tyvm.

What should we wear for our annual family portraits?

What time and where should we go?

How on earth do I get my boys skin fixed?

Should I take them in for allergy testing?

thanks for listening.

new addiction

So I am totally addicted to couponing.

Do you see that line down there.. YOU SAVED $50.68.

Heck yes I did!

And I started my Christmas shopping.

score.

Hooray for school

Today was the 1st day of school.

HOORAY!

Jack was so excited.

He has been waiting for this day for weeks.

He was so cute.

He used the bathroom, washed his hand, walked into his classroom and waved goodbye.

He is such sweet little boy. He had a wonderful day. He'll go Tues/Thurs.

Which means it's just me and the chunk on Tues and Thurs. (ps josh weighs 20.5lbs!!!!)

i overheard a dad of one of the other little boys in Jacks class remark that his son didn't seem to care that he and his wife were leaving him. The man was truly sad about it. I couldn't help but laugh.

seriously, get a grip.

Abbey was thrilled to see her friends from her old class and excited to meet new friends.

She actually got to play on the playground with Jack.

She thought that was so fun.

I cannot believe that at this time next year she will be in kindergarten.

So fun.

She will be going t/w/th. and dancing on mondays.

i overheard a mom in Abbey's class telling the teacher that her child was gifted/talented. HA.

that's a whole different post.

Here's to a fun year, new friends and learning new things.

Flashback

I found this picture tonight.

I couldn't help but laugh.

What were we thinking stuffing all those chubby kids in teeny tiny tank tops?

So fun.

I cannot get over how much they have all changed.

Paigey's face kills me.

4 months

Our little man is 4months old today.

It has gone so fast.

He is such a sweet thing.

He is rolling over now, talks up a storm, goes to bed at 6:30pm, sleeps like a champ (does like an occasional snack), loves his big sister and brother, really really likes his Mommy.

Every morning he wakes at 7:27.

Joseph gets him and brings him to our bed.

The second he sees me the giggling begins.

It's pretty much the cutest thing ever.

He is so delicious.

Poor Little Mister

Today marks my first visit to the ER.... for stitches.

ugh.

The Victim

I knew this day would come. I know there will be more.

But it was still terrifying.

We were getting ready to leave to go to the park.

Jack walks across the floor, stubs the toe of his shoe (darn pumas) and slams his forehead into the corner of my baseboards.

I'm just finishing a diaper change for the wee one.

I hear the hollow thud, i see a white face and the silent scream.

I run. I move his hand. The blood is pulsing out.

UGH.

Thank goodness for Abigail. She is truly the star of the show.

She answered the phone. Followed all of my directions to a T.

She snuggled with Jack and held the towel on his eye while I loaded the baby in the car.

She finished snapping the babys clothes, got the carseat, etc. Love her.

Thank you to Cori who met me and took Abbey for the day. such a lifesaver.

*Mom of the Year Moment*

Abbey is in the car with Jayda and Jayda says "Abbey, JackJack is going to be ok, I said a prayer for him." Abbey says "Jayda will you say a prayer with me?"

The two little girls bow their heads, fold their arms and Abbey prays.

I guess we're doing *something* right.

As usual Jack charms the entire ER. He only cries once when they were using the needle to numb him.

He lays there calmly and lets them stitch him up.

The hospital staff were giving him treats left and right. So funny.

all better.

oh, I love love love that sweet face.

Grocery Girl

I am not frugal.

There I said it.

I never have been, not even when I really should have been.

I have been known to buy 20$ bottles of shampoo.

And I have paid what some would consider *outrageous* for jeans, handbags, shoes, etc.

But I *think* I may have found a way to not feel *so* bad about my purchasing problem.

The Grocery Girls.

*THE* Grocery Girl Michelle is my darling from from highschool.

I loved hanging with Michelle and her family. They are super fun. She is #2 out of 8.

I have uber embarrassing pictures of Michelle dancing on a bed at cheerleading camp wearing our friends hilarious silky pjs.

So funny.

Anyway... I was not surprised when I learned of Michelle's new blog.

She is totally that girl who makes saving major buckage on groceries look easy.

It was funny that I learned of her new blog because weeks earlier I was making fun of my friends Sara and Melissa.

They went to Shoppers one day and bought 200$ (or some ridic amount) worth of groceries for 50$!

ummmm sign me up.

So I sent Michelle a note and said *please oh please* Grocery girl, let me in on your secrets.

So now the lovely Grocery Girl is going to hook us up too!

She already does all the hookups out West (see blog for deets) and now we VA ladies can get in on the action too.

HOORAY!

So Thursday night she's going to host a "call" at 7pm to help us all get started.

Let me know or email her at michellelmarkland@gmail.com for deets.

I really hope this works for me, then I won't feel so bad about my frugality problem.

Birthday Girl

How does a child go from...

to...

On Saturday we celebrated Abigail's 4th birthday at her bowling party!

It was insane and super fun.

She had such a great time.

I cannot believe she is 4.

She is such a sweet little girl, she has her moments as all kids do but she really is wonderful.

She has been asking me to teach her to read.

So we have been working in Bobs Books and she is trying really hard to sound out words.

She can write her name, Mom, Dad and now she is working on Jack and Josh.

She tells me that "s" is the hardest letter to write.

She is excited to go back to school.

I love her so much.

I think the look on my face says it all.

blowing out the candles.


Tanner and Abbey.
I hope I will mail this out as an engagement announcement in 20years.
kidding...well not really. :)


If there's food... my kids are there.
Please note Jackson's *cheese*face.

I need a reminder to quit saying "Say Cheese"



Abbey's bff Jayda and her Daddy Mr. Russ.

Abbey and Jayda are more like sisters than just friends.

They argue, love and protect eachother.

We love Jayda.



Happy Birthday lovey.

The 'burg

2 weeks ago Joseph and I took the kids and headed home.

Home, as in where I grew up.

It's only geographically 45mins away but with the traffic in this part of the world it takes 2 hours.

So we don't go home very often.

*i have a strict napping policy.*

My family was hosting a party for my grandma's 87th birthday.

She is such a sweet lady. funny too.

I really think she will outlive us all.

My brother and his family were there.

Abbey and Jack love being with Madison.

We had a great time lunching and laughing.

Jack and Pap (my Dad)

Me and Glaa (my grandma)

12 weeks

He's really cute.

and big.

On the 4th of July we all just hung out, swam, etc. later that evening we had delicious Backyard Burger for dinner, we lit our own fireworks and put all the kids in bed by 7:30. It was quite nice.

My 2 sister inlaws that I love so much after a dreadfully HOT day.

My sweet girl

silly Katherine

Paigey-loo

My chubs. he cannot take his eyes off the fireworks

sweet Madeleine

Ashley

She loves fries

Charie and my fat boy who is much much much fatter now.

FIREWORKS!!!

"It's tooooo loud!!"

Charlie and Paigey listening to Nana read a book