Feger Family

Dear Tyler, you're 5 months old

2012-01-30T02:16:00.000-05:00

Dear Tyler,
You're 5 months old now!
You are ticklish, so I can get smiles out of you!

You're really getting chunky thighs. They're smushy and I love them. You've been wearing pants a lot, but whenever you're in a onesie, I can't keep my hands off of them, and neither can anybody else:)

You have beautiful eye lashes and skin still.

You rolled over! You first did it on my bed when you were starving (or you thought you were.) You rolled your face towards me, and since our bed rolls towards the heaviest thing (me in this case), you were determined. You smushed your face down into the sheets and I found myself starting to cheer you on, then you did it! The rest of your body followed 'til your arm was stuck under your tummy.

You can grab things and can actually bring them to your mouth! That seems like such a huge accomplishment.

Happy pose

Now a gangsta pose.

I have so many pictures I could share, but I'll break it up into another post I think.
You're sweet, but you're what I call my sweet inconvenience in the evenings. You need me. I've tried to not nurse you to sleep, but you don't cry yourself to sleep yet. You just cry and cry and cry. It's not usualy that loud, but still, it doesn't stop. If we pick you up, that'll usually do it, but even when you fall asleep, you wake up when we put you in your bed until you've worn yourself out. You will fall asleep next to me for naps, but I can only nap like once/week.
You ate some of my baked potato this evening. I mushed tiny thin layers between my fingers and put them in your mouth. That was your first real food besides rice and oatmeal cereals. Then I gave your prunes this evening. I gave you a bottle of formula this week before bed.
You keep bonking into my cheek bones. I try to kiss you or hold you and somehow even though I know that has happened, it still keeps happening! It doesn't seem to phase you.
You like to be upright but will still lay on your back just fine. You have sometimes done little sit ups, but not too much.
I keep trying to give you pacifiers and your thumb, but it doesn't really work. Sometimes you gnaw on them but that's about it. Rarely you'll suck on one right after eating when you're sleeping.
I usually stay up late until you wake up between midnight and 3am. I only do that a couple of nights a week though. And sometimes you win and I just put you in bed with me initially.
I love you.

...And he ate it. Gross!

2012-01-23T00:42:00.001-05:00

Isaac can make his own sandwiches.
He has always loved dips and condiments.
So he decided to add them to his bread-palate and sandwich them for the travel into his mouth's palate.

Commonly, he paints the bread with globs of jelly, honey, ketchup, honey mustard, regular mustard, and peanut butter.

Dylan told him that it would probably taste like a bug.
Isaac said "It does - it tastes like a bug. And I like bugs!"
. . . And he ate it. Gross.

December To Do: Gingerbread houses

2012-01-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

12/10/11
We made gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and left over Halloween candy (and candy canes from a package from Lacey.)

Did you know that if you take a picture, you can eat your ~~cake~~ house and have it too?!

I like the posts and lintel and door and door knob:)

December To Do: Roller Skating

2012-01-20T23:42:00.001-05:00

12/10/11
I got excited for December and made a to do list of Christmassy things.
I had Ice Skating on there. Steven pointed out that we should probably start with roller skating. Then he pointed out that one of us would be stuck holding the baby so we should only pay for one adult. And he further pointed out that the designated baby carrier should stay at home since he didn't like to skate even though I thought the baby carrier could double as a tripod.
So I took the kids to a local roller rink. They weren't that bad!

I took each of them around once while the other took pictures.

Then we stayed on the carpet.

and lived happily ever after.

The end.
P.S. Santa got Isaac roller blades for Christmas!

8 kids here = no hands for taking pictures = a picture-free ramble post

2012-01-20T21:52:00.002-05:00

Me: (to Steven) The problem with having so many kids here today, is that I don't have an extra hand to take pictures of our fun.

Steven: (sarcastically) Really? That's the problem?

Me: (smile)

Anyway, I had all 6 kids here and my friend Rachael came with her 18 month old twins. Our messy playroom made her daughter cry b/c it was way too over stimulating. The living room almost made me cry because while I made brownies before Rachael came over, the kids dumped out the Gunny bag and started coloring! It had been clean 5 minutes before! Embarrasing.

Then, picture this, 8 legs hanging down from our orange tree. Picture perfect, but I didn't have hands to find and assemble the small camera and didn't risk the bigger one. Then, Rachael put one of her kids down to run for the tree because a voice from the tree was crying wolf that he/she (I don't remember which) couldn't get down. They can all jump from that high and didn't look entangled so I wasn't worried. Maybe she has more of a mom instinct than I do. She also scooped out a mouth full of dirt from Ivy for me. AND she brought hot dog buns and cheeze puffs since I didn't buy buns to go along with our hot dogs. She also cut the oranges for us. I love somebody who will see what needs to be done and will do it and doesn't make me feel like a total crazy lady. I felt like one all on my own today - limping, grilling while holding a baby, nursing right out in the open (back yard) while squeezing honey mustard and ketchup on 4 buns with my freshly washed and dried hair tied back out of my face. (Yea, I showered this morning and am proud of it - that should add to the crazy lady list because normal people do that every day.) I don't think she's ready for more kids yet after seeing me today. Hers are pretty close to being perfect, except they're normal. Perfect kids wouldn't be normal, but hers seem wonderfully happy and sweet. We talked a little about parenting and I caught myself doing things I know not to do - like saying "don't climb that fence." I think I could fill out a paper parenting test and could get an "A." But talking the talk (or writing) and walking the walk are totally different. Rachael makes me a better person. Her blog got me to actually really commit to doing FHE (Family Home Evening) every week. And I did that Jinglebell Run with her too. I don't think I blogged that yet. It was Dylan's first 1 mile fun run! She got me to join her book club too. She EVEN brought me the book on tape today! She's an enabler for good. I should be like that. Instead, I'm a crazy lady w/ too many kids. (And I want one more. - Told you I'm crazy.)

After she left, it actually got a little more normal and I almost wished she had stayed so she could see. The kids went to the bathroom (including washing hands with soap) and got pillows and blankets for story time. Dylan took the short couch, Isaac took the floor, Noah was already asleep in Dylan's bed by the time the first story was over, and Malia took the treadmill. (I pick my battles - it was unplugged.) Again, a camera would have been useful b/c maybe you had to be there to be able to picture this. I held Tyler while Ivy slept in the pack 'n play. We read 3 books and sang all the verses to "I Am A Child Of God." I went up to try to take a nap with Tyler. He fell asleep on me. Then I remembered that I may not have turned off the grill. Dang. I had to get up. Success! Tyler stayed asleep on his side! Ivy was sleeping, Noah was sleeping, but I had to put Malia in Dylan's bed and had to confiscate her toys then she sept a long time. I threatened spanking Isaac - I don't remember why but it worked and he was still and slept. I whispered to Dylan that he could color. The grill WAS off. That's good. I tried again to take a nap since we're all sicky with runny noses. Tyler woke up a little after that and just wanted to smile and jump.

Yady yady ya, I took a Valentine's Day picture of Olivia while Vicki held Ivy, I tried to nap on the couch next to Tyler sleeping in the swing, we made pizzas with left over hot dogs for the pepperoni's, we ate spaghetti, we had a good family night lesson with an activity and craft, Tyler cried with rice cereal, and all 4 of my boys are asleep now! I finally have time to take a picture, but all that's left is a sink full of dirty dishes from the day. Speaking of which, gotta go.

P.S. It's 11pm now:
I decided that I should link to Rachael's blog, b/c if you really want to know her, who am I to hold you back? (My sister asked. They may have met at church??) Rachael brought over home made brownies and onesies - perfect for a summer baby, right after Tyler was born. I had recently read that she was expecting her 3rd baby and told her that congratulations were in order. Sadly, she told me that she had actually miscarried. I was at a loss for words. Why was she bringing ME gifts when I should be comforting HER? Especially bringing me BABY gifts! She's the kind of person who notices where she could be of help and then she does it. And she stays perfectly happy and healthy and organized and can think clearly. She gave me a Christmas gift, and that's after she held a white elephant gift party w/ real girly gifts. I haven't given gifts to people at church (that I remember) because if I give a gift, I have to give one to this person, and that person, and where do I stop? And I might not have it as together next year, so maybe I shouldn't start something that I can't keep up. I don't think she has those useless thoughts. She wants to do something and does it. End of story. I won't care if I never get a gift from her, or if somebody else got something and I didn't - and she knows that. She has a solid testimony of our Savior too. I asked something about one of her babies who are in heaven now, and she said, like I could tell she had said lots before, that she knew she would get to raise him later and she is excited to do so and mentioned something about Christ, I think. All while I'm nursing a baby and putting a kid in time out and she's cleaning up water cups or something. I know she must always have a prayer in her heart and has the Holy Ghost as her guide at all times and in all things and in all places.

Also, instead of doing the dishes, I just caught up on this blog. Shawni's another person who I'd like to be. Her kids are a little older, so that's good. I mean, if my kids were older, I'd hate to read back what I should have done, you know? Anyway, she has a lot of people who realize that she has a good head on her shoulders and they ask her questions. My question, is where she gets the book that she compiles all of her Christmas cards in?! I want double sided 4x6, 4x8 and 8x10 slots! I don't get that many Christmas cards, but maybe in 10 years I will. she's almost 10 years older than I am. Her parents started Joy School and wrote "The Entitlement Trap." Her parents taught like my wonderful parents taught.

I work out

2012-01-19T00:25:00.000-05:00

Or at least my kids do.
They were anticipating out new treadmill, you know, to go along with the traditional new year's resolutions.
Push ups,

sit ups,

jumping jacks,

and, of course, running!

and laughing,

and climbing??
and then running on the new treadmill!

So I have run on it once. The day we got it, last Saturday, I ran 2 miles. That was right after I ate, so I couldn't do more. Since then, I have put on running shorts and a sports bra 3x, but took off the sports bra to feed my baby before running. Then 2 nights ago I did lunges up next to his crib because I was tired ~~of holding/bouncing/nursing him~~ and decided to just shower w/o running.
I woke up with a stiff knee - like having stiff neck after sleeping on it incorrectly. It was sore all day and I limped a tiny but that night I stretched it a lot to work out the soreness. It hurt to do dorsiflexion with my foot, to bend a lot, or to streighten it all the way. So I did that while nursing Tyler ~~to sleep.~~ Then, in the middle of the night, it hurt when I turned over ~~to nurse Tyler~~. And in the morning, I had another reason to not want to get up to turn off the alarm. It hurt to put weight on it, but not as much as a sprained ankle. I could put weight on it if I had it a little bent and stepped on the ball of my foot.
As a side note, Isaac was caughing as he woke up. So I called and let his Joy School teachers know he wouldn't be going today. And I called Corrie to see if she could watch both boys for me and thought I texted Tyler's babysitter to cancel her. (She later asked where the heck I was and I felt sooo sorry that the text was still lingering in my draft box from the stress of the morning.)

Back to me. So I drove Dylan to school. He wanted us to walk him in, so I put Isaac and Tyler in the sit 'n stand stroller (because Isaac hadn't worn shoes and just had his size 2T Superman PJs on.) I didn't really think I was limping that much 'til Steven's cousin asked what was wrong w/ my foot. I explained that I had slept wrong on my knee 2 nights in a row. (Denial.) So, limping back to the car, I have 2nd thoughts about the newborn session I was supposed to shoot in an hour or so. I got home, found and took expired Ibuprofen, and tried to kneel down like I would have to do at the session. I found myself looking for something with which to brace myself. I realized that this was rediculous and I couldn't be handling a newborn with a bumb knee. I called the client and rescheduled. Then I iced my throbbing knee while reading a book to Isaac. Then we all 3 took a 2-1/2 hour nap - it was awesome.
So, the kids wiggle wiggle wiggle and work out. I will some day.

What the heck did I do to my knee? Lunges? Am I that old?
Oh, and Isaac turned the treadmill up to 10mph and started crying and his leggs couldn't run that fast. He tried stepping up on the grey part up front b/c his legs can't really reach the sides in a split second and even when he pushed the stop button, it took a while to go back down to normal speed. Lesson learned - the hard way, poor baby. Dylan laughed and said "that was awesome" and had to go to time out while I hugged scared little Isaac. The end.

Dylan's spelling

2012-01-16T19:19:00.000-05:00

elfit
maws
soc
box
octpus
eg
rak
reng
rod
rokit
Ilikespitrmand!
I seeyou.
It is fune.
Icand Bhtwen the wos
I ayn wIdidmyscudo.

answer:
elephant, mouse, sock, box, octopus, egg, rake, ring, road, rocket
I like Spiderman!
I see you.
It is funny.
(either I can between the walls, or I climb between the walls)
I can with/we/ride/did?? my scooter - he doesn't remember these last two

Here's a detail portion of a huge composite drawing he loves. He had his parents, grandparents, aunt, and uncles help him with it. The guy on the left is Venum, I'm not sure who the green monster is.

Left side of the page

right side of the page

then he gave it to his Uncle Matt for his big birthday card!

He was featured in his school art show (along w/ all of the other students at the school.)

Here it is! We didn't buy it, but then it came home unframed a week later anyway!!

Here's Dylan's outside time. Yea, instead of playing, he now colors. It's an addiction!

hi

2012-01-15T18:44:00.002-05:00

sorry to Tyler's babysitters, and sorry to Tyler, and goodbye to late night hanging out w/ friends

2012-01-15T03:10:00.001-05:00

I need help on how to train my baby to take a bottle and go to sleep with a babysitter. (at night)
Or I can take the hints and just stay home and nurse him.
Here's how I found him this evening after being called to come home.

He was in just his diaper because he was red hot crying. Martin was sweating bouncing with him when my mom saved him on New Year's Eve. I got called back early then too, and he was sleeping on my mom sorta like this.
Herre's a photo of after we took him on a group date with us to Ceviche. He went in asleep, then woke up before he was ready. I took him to the car to feed him and brought him back. Then I came back and he started crying. He didn't stop for over an hour with me holding him out in the car, then on the way home. It wasn't 'til I laid him down on his Uncle Andre's bed here and nursed him that way that he calmed down and finally slept. That was the first of the big tantrums I think. That was 12/30/11. (And I know the socks don't match.)

Poor baby boy.

I love my baby bear

2012-01-11T02:14:00.002-05:00

In the past, I have gotten sick over Christmas break. Even if I wasn't really sick, I was stressed out and on the verge of being sick.
This year, I prepared myself and said no in advance and gave up things and stayed home in the evenings and pretty much changed. I'm usually the one who wants to do everything, go everywhere, and volunteer at every opportunity. I'm more of a homebody now. I sorta don't like that I have changed. But I'm not sick and had a wonderful Christmas.

I'm stressed now though.
Partly because of that low after the high of Christmas.
Partly because I am not as close to my siblings as when we were growing up crowded in this same house. And they were here, but we all had our own families and didn't get to stay up late getting silly and talking. Why do we have to grow up?

Also, I took tons of pictures, but there's just not enough time to go through them. And my family is asking for them. I did informal sessoins, but feel the need to go through each picture before sharing them. It's dificult doing things for friends and family because they assume that I can just email a whole folder of photos right over that night. Even if I didn't edit anything, I have a family of my own. I have a to do list of my own. I have a waiting list of paying clients who are ready to book. And I have a cute baby who gets overlooked. I want to be creative with pictures of my own baby, but I make my own priorities the last ones.

Anyway,
Partly because I want to highlight my hair, paint my nails, and take naps - but I can't seem to make those priorities. I know we all make time for true priorities.
Partly because Tyler decided that he doesn't need an early bed time. And that he wants to cuddle for hours before he sleeps soundly enough to be put down - so I fall asleep nursing him and wake up cold and on the couch in the middle of the night. So my office hours are not when I think they should be.
So I'm stressed.

What are your regrets from the holidays?
I now wish I had actually printed something as a momento for Tyler's baby blessing on Christmas. It's already Valentine's season. Most people have put their Christmas boxes back up in the attic but part of me wants to print cards that could be ornaments to remember Tyler's 1st Christmas and the time he met most of my family.

I wish that my neck would just heal all of the way so that my arm wouldn't tingle when I type at 2am.

On lighter notes,
I took a 4 month old, 6 month old, 3 yr old, 4 yr old, and 6 yr old to [what I call] Orange Blossom Groves for messy drippy ice cream before picking up my 5 yr old.
I had intended on taking a picture of our field trip but there was no way that was going to happen since I was holding two babies and eating my own cone once we went outside to the picnic tables. I love warm winter days. LOVE!
I had a real family night last night and the kids were so excited when I got home from the gym and asked if it was time for family night yet - they had rememered from that morning - we even had Bluebell for the treat and I was able to scoop the solid mass with one hand thanks to the Cutco ice cream scoop from my mom because I was holding Tyler and this is the worst run on sentence but that's ok because we even had Dylan play the piano for the music part of the evening and he knew the scripture he wanted to do and we used Isaac's Sunbeam hand out puzzle for his lesson plus I had cooked honey lime enchelada caserole for dinner with brown rice that day.

What were you doing New Year's Eve?

2012-01-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

Dear Tyler, you're 4 months old

2012-01-05T02:10:00.001-05:00

Dear Tyler Baby,
I love you. You're still sweet. You're such a baby - a real baby now. You're the right amount of cuddliness, sleepiness, smiles, ticklishness, and pure deliciousness. You have tight skin that I love to kiss. You haven't discovered stranger danger yet, so you let anybody hold you. You did just start to look back and up to see who is holding you, so you're memorizing faces or something now.

You're finally getting some chunk on your thighs.

You like to suck on your fists, usually your left one. You can gnaw on your thumb or a pacifier, but don't suck on either. For your thumb, you still have a tight fist shoved tightly into your mouth, so your thumb doesn't really fit in your mouth.

So now you pull things into your mouth. It's cold so I put blankets on you and find them up around and on your face. You still can not control your hands enough to go fishing and catch something, but if you feel something, you pull it in. Your little mouth wants what your eyes see so you have a big mouth snaping turtle reflex. It's the wettest softest sweetest silliest big mouth bass kiss - so fun.

I wanted to take a picture of you in your new penguin hat from Ivy (by my friend Rachael), but you snapping-turtle-grabbed and nuzzled in and didn't care about me or my goofiness above you.

When I took the distraction away, you weren't happy.

You only like tummy time when it's on MY tummy I think - when we first wake up.

You also don't like your car seat. You have done better lately - possibly because I didn't have to go in the car line and I could take my time to go places to get your comfortable.

You got to meet your Grandpa Gille!

He came in town for your blessing.

He even sang in the choir for your blessing and sacrament service.

You go to bed in your bed, but always end up here.

I think the Christmas vacation got everybody off schedules

- as if I do schedules, I know.

But you go to bed so late and want to nurse to sleep.

You sleep best when you're snuggled by my side.

You're happy for me, but you do get sad and fussy at bed time now.
You're not loud, but it's sad.
You wake up happy and kicky. You kick like your heels are on springs. You alternate kicking your heels out then retract them back into place. You scoot back off of blankets that way too. You're not interrested in rolling over yet or in sitting up. I like that you're still a relexed baby.

Ivy, on the other hand, has been sitting up and crawling and stealing toys!

We celebrated bringing in the new year byyou going to Grandma's house.

Tyler's Baby Blessing

2012-01-01T17:14:00.002-05:00

On Christmas day,

our little Tyler Martin Feger

was given his name and blessing in our church.

His Uncle Martin, also named after our Grandpa, gave him the blessing.
Standing in the circle with him and Steven, were his uncles David, Matt, and Jonathan and his Grandpa Beckman.

Our Dear Heavenly Father, by the power and the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which we hold, we gather together to give this child a name and a blessing. And the name by which he shall be known in the records of the church is Tyler Martin Feger. Tyler, we leave a blessing with you that you may be healthy and strong that you may be filled with love for your family and your father and for your mother who love you and desire your well-being. And Tyler we bless you that you may be receptive to the spirit- that you may have an understanding of the will of the Lord and a desire to do His will continually and we bless you with the ability to do the will of the Lord. And we bless you that you will grow to be faithful and to serve a full-time mission where you will bless the live3s of many people. We bless you that you will find, when the time is right, a beautiful daughter of God who you will be married with in the temple and we bless you to follow the counsel of the Lord and live a healthy and blessed life. And we say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

It's not every day (or any day) that I get a picture of me with my baby boy. Thanks Eugene!

Lots of family came in town to hear the sweet blessing. The 5 Gille kids and families plus Julie's family made it. Tyler didn't cry at all, he slept through the pictures by Eugene Olson, then he smiled lots in his blessing.

Look at Gracie's high kick!

"Hooray, Tyler's blessing was a success and now we get to hang in the mother's lounge!"

(It's all a little too much excitement for little Tyler.)

Oh, so his outfit is from Colombia.

Maria, Tyler's Abuelita, brought it back for Dylan on one of her trips back home. I thought it looked a little girly at the time because the sweater reminded me of a cardigan. But I took a picture of Dylan in it anyway at Christmas time. When we couldn't find the blessing outfit that Dylan and Isaac used, this one was a clear choice. I lost the matching socks that went with it. Even though it was over 80 degrees that day, a sweater outfit seemed more appropriate than the silky shorts one the older boys wore. I like it.

Afterwards, everybody went to our house for lunch and cousins presents.

Then, after naps, we went to the beach house and played on the sand snowman we built.

It was a perfect Christmas.

hello, hi

2012-01-01T16:00:00.001-05:00

Isaac took this picture.
I like it b/c it shows how random I am.
I don't even remember how the day was, but clearly it was my one day/week that it was just me and my 2 younger boys.
I was in the middle of editing a photo for a Christmas card.
I am in my running clothes so either I just ran or was planning on it.
I have dangly earrings, so I must have had normal clothes on for something that morning.
I'm editing one-handed, not that efficient, but I do what I can when I get a chance.
There's an unopened grocery bag, so I'm guessing we stopped by Publix on our way home from dropping of Dylan.
I have fat rolls on my back. I should walk the walk instead of just dressing the part!
Some days I'm too busy to write a list, but then I half- do many many little things.

I took the camera and got yet another distraction.
His smile is almost bigger than his whole head!

Here are my little jungle men and their cave drawings.

Note Isaac's right foot, and Dylan's awesome sunshine he drew.

I'm going through my December folder. These were from 12/9/11.

"Chex"

2011-12-23T22:00:00.002-05:00

Me:
"Oh no, you guys are dirty and are making a mess on that clean blanket.
What are you doing?"

Isaac:
"We are playing Chex Mix"

Pictures to go with the smiley day

2011-12-14T00:18:00.000-05:00

12/2/11
Isaac and Noah made sugar cookies.

They got pretty dark because the mail lady brought our first Christmas gifts!!!

Isaac is watching his big brother.

"What, I get a present too?!?!"

"He he, they theyink I can read!"

"Here it is, my first Christmas card!"

We got Dylan and Malia (long car lines) then Dylan opened his matching PJs.

All 6

frosting the sugar cookies - outside, and with pink frosting. I'm still a cook mom even if I didn't make and get out Christmas colors and sprinkles.

Another tradition that isn't really working: Reading a story about Jesus each night by candle light. The first night, our power was out when we got home from work. On December 1st. I was excited because it was perfect! We could read by candle light, do homework by candle light, and even cut snow flakes while talking about traditions and Christmas etc. Instead we went to Andre and Barbie's house and did homework, helped move a fridge, and cut snowflakes. They're so hospitable but I felt bad for imposing our big family of 5 on them unanounced. And I felt dirty and tired from after work and just felt so bad. Anyway, we did read on Dec 5th as well.

This morning, Isaac asked me what we were going to do this evening. I wasn't sure what he was talking about and he said "You said we would do something Christmassy every night, what are we going to do tonight?" So cute. I went visiting teaching after dinner, so Steven read them the "please tell the children" story about the symbols of Christmas. We have a bag of tiny items that goes with it. I'd like to do the simple hot chocolate one night, but it's not cold. We keep putting our A/C on.

We were going to go ice skating, but Steven pointed out that he doesn't like that as much as roller skating and the kids should start there first. So I took the boys roller skating. They were brave. So we checked that off of our list.

Santa Baby

2011-12-13T23:39:00.000-05:00

Here's a hat by Rachael. She uses the $ to buy supplies to make these hats for the kids staying at the Ronald McDonald house. I sent her a link to a hat on etsy.com to see if she could do it. She made it differently than the picture, but it works and I love the pom pom at the end. I was trying a twinkle lights picture b/c I just bought a 50mm lense w/ a 1.4 appeture. This is all the way open at 1.4 here. He's not too wiggly, so I could get the focus even though I'm way low doing a sit up to get this from the floor. I wish I had set the lights up lower so I wouldn't get an up the nose shot to get the lights. Oh well, this is still cute and once I buy more lights ona white strand this time, I'll do retakes. Steven and I need new desktop background pictures at work.

a smile w/ me post

2011-12-07T02:18:00.003-05:00

Instead of having to listen to 'Poker After Dark' at 2am and changing the channel, the day's noon Today Show is on. Much better.

Post Edit:
It's 2:38. Hoda and Kathy Lee have a guest on from Prevention Magazine about "secrets of happy women" and just said that we should post about good feelings and happy things. I just did this! How applicable.

Another post edit:
Dude, it's 4am. This photography gig is a full time job - I just sat in one place for 6 hours doing the 2nd half of a family's session. After working an 8 hour day at my day job. And I'm pretending this Facebook-like updating is "blogging." I don't even look at my own pictures any more it seems. But that's ok. B/c instead of infomercials after Hoda and Kathy Lee, I'm watching a Jay Leno that I missed. And I think I'll get a nap tomorrow:) I love naps. Do you think Tyler will sleep through the night tonight? He hasn't waken up yet. What a good baby boy. He's such a baby. You should see and hold and smell him and burry your lips in his cheeks. You're missing out if you don't get to do that every day like I do:) He's so wiggly/wobbly too now - like a surfer on my legs. I miss him. G'night!

a Smile With Me update

2011-12-05T12:26:00.000-05:00

Today, while checking the tracking of my new lense, the doorbell rang! There it was, along with a print order!

Then the FedEx guy came with a gift for somebody.

Then the mail lady came with gifts for the kids - they get to open those presents early because I knew what Lacey gets them every year.

So while taking pictures of Tyler opening his FIRST Christmas present, with my NEW lense, our sugar cookies got a little over toasty. But that's ok because it's a good day! The only odd thing - no Christmas cards in the mailbox. That's ok, we JUST ordered ours 2 days ago (along with image cubes for myself) and I still have one client's images to process for their cards. It'll be a busy night tonight.
Gotta go, Ivy is stirring.

Dear Tyler, you're 3 months old!

2011-11-26T21:43:00.000-05:00

Dear Tyler,
You're 3 months old now.
I've taken some pictures of you and your brothers lately, but I may use them for Christmas card photos, so I'm not going to post them just yet. Oh how I wish I had our card figured out already!

You have firm bouncy cheeks I like to kiss and kiss and kiss some more. Dylan and Isaac like to touch them.
Sometimes I call you "Tyler T." I don't know why, and I don't even like it. It's funny how I called Dylan "my little Dylan head" and Isaac "I-Z pie or shmeye." Pooka pie kah and Shmeye shmay came to mind too.
You're getting into a groove and I like it. You're (knock on wood) predictable! You don't eat much it seems, so you don't poo much, so I thought. You overfilled your diapers twice today to make up for it:) (We both had 2 baths today.)
You have officially gotten a little louder. You're still not the ear piercing loud crier that Ivy is, but I know when you're mad. (This is when you're in your car seat.) You even have a sad face now - your little lip puts out before you cry. I saw it for the first time like 2 weeks ago. Daddy had already seen it and I hadn't believed him. So sad!! You get fussy when you're tired. You calm down either by being put in the swing or by bouncing up and down in front of me. You have to be vertical and I gently bounce you from under your arm pits around your ribs or holding your arms to your side if I bundled you. It's sweet to see your sleepy eyes stare into mine until their lids cover them.
You're a good sleeper and sleep 8 hours/night w/o interruption then go right back to sleep after I feed you a little.
You grabbed a napkin off of our lap and put it to your mouth today! I think it was an accident, but still, you've been staring at your fists for about a week now and have been trying to use your brain waves to make them magically get to your mouth. You have a staring contest with them sometimes. I need to get you another mobile for your crib b/c I know you'd love to stare at it and would probably fall asleep by yourself if you had something to keep you company.

This play gym keeps you occupied and you can't even grab anything yet!

You're staring down a toy instead of looking at me. At least Ivy cares - j/k.

Malia was "sick" so she stayed home w/ me. She needed a break like Dylan did when he skipped to go to Busch Gardens. Count 5 kids in this picture. Then we went to pick up Dylan from school. Then we all took Dylan to tae kwon do. Crazy days!

This is my little naked boy from earlier today. You used to fit inside of that hanging part and your toes didin't even touch the end!

I helped your hand grab this toy, and you kept it there.

More stare downs.

Nap time today. I wanted to give you the bath then take your onesie picture, but you were so tired. So I washed the cars while you took a nap. Today was a hot day - the water from the hose wasn't cold at all. Daddy and your brothers bought then wrapped white lights around our big tree out front.

Today is Small Business Saturday, so I was supposed to go shop at small businesses. I just stayed home instead. Daddy took your brothers to a new restaurant, but you and I were content here. I did get a couple of takers on my little add which was fun. I offered 3 5x7s in your name b/c you're 3 months old today!

Look how sweet and new you were! Time if flying by way too quickly. There's so much to do. I make sure to just stare at you and listen to your baby talk as much as possible. I love your "aah, uh-goo, oooh," and "uh" sounds. They're pretty quiet, and so sweet.

So happy 1/4 year birthday!

Love, Mommy

Tyler's 1st Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T00:04:00.000-05:00

Tyler and I slept in today. We had a perfect start to our morning. The boys played catch and practiced batting with various balls and oranges.

Dylan and Isaac painted a turkey onesie for Tyler using their hands and Dylan's foot.

They played around the pool and on the orange tree.

I went for a run in an old Turkey Trot shirt then came home to a smiley Tyler.
Tangent: Tyler goes to bed around 9 or 9:30 each night. I put him in his bed and he sleeps for 7 or 8 hours and Steven brings him to me. I nurse him right back to sleep while we both sleep then he doesn't wake up 'til 7 something. I feed him again a little then if we have to get up, he's up, but if we can sleep a little more, he sleeps. He wakes up and when I finally wake up, we smile at each other. I call in Dylan and Isaac so we can laugh with Tyler. I sometimes try to feed him again, but he's not hungry so will spit that right back up. I never learn. Then he's awake for a bit 'til his morning nap. He wakes up for lunch time then takes another afternoon nap or two. I like him:)

This was his afternoon nap. I still bundle him up.

Brace youself.

The onesie is pretty sad, the wind blew it over on its face, for one thing.
AND Tyler isn't happy that I wanted to put him down in his beanbag.
He likes to be held if he's sleepy.

I brought him inside and he was distracted with his own hands.
He's really trying to get control of them.

I like this one a little better. He was ready to go pick up his great grandma.

He cried in the car though. He hates his car seat.
Barbie and Andre hosted Thanksgiving this year! (My mom is in Utah.)

The kids played hide and seek and catch while the turkey was carved.

Andre rented tables - we all fit perfectly! And there was even a kids table:)

A pretty good first Thanksgiving for my baby boy! Even though he didn't directly eat any turkey.

Until, it turned into the worst 1st Thanksgiving ever. Poor Tyler had to be in his car seat for what seemed to me like forever! And he cried, with tears, gurgling, spitting up, and even a little sweat on his mullet. I'm so sorry! He had a bath and went to bed a little before 9pm. I think that I should get to have a megaphone on the top of my mini-van that acts like a siren. Tyler's cry will be amplified and the traffic will move out of the way to let me rush home to comfort my baby - it's stressful when that's the only time I can't comfort him! It feels like an emergency. There's a new rule that there's no talking when the baby is crying. I can't handle that. Gunny bag came when I got home too. I know he shouldn't come when I'm stressed out, but he did. So Dylan and Isaac cried too. But they got baths and are sleeping too. Maybe I'm still tired even though I got to sleep in. But this is a good break from editing. Only three more families' sessions to go through.

Thanksgiving stuff

2011-11-24T23:21:00.000-05:00

The kindergarten turkey. Note: Dylan's feather is the only one with a photo. These were family homework projects.

Our thanksgiving tree. I gave each kid a color. Noah participated too. Isaac picked the branches and pine cones that morning with me at Lake Seminole Park.

Dylan is addicted to coloring. I've been meaning to document that here. His new thing is writing. He spells things out himself, and sometimes asks how to spell things. He makes lists of words he'd like to see written. His best friend at school is Dawson. He wrote his leaves all by himself.

He just learned "ai, the two letter A in the middle of a word" and used it to spell playground.

Isaac began looking around the living room when we were writing the things down that he's thankful for. See the remote control. I didn't give any hints to lead them to say what they're thankful for.

Tyler is following things more with his eyes. It's a different look now - he wants to figure out how to grab! The other day he kept punching himself. I asked him "why are you hitting yourself, why are you hitting yourself?" while Dylan and Isaac were cracking up. When he grabs my hand, he doesn't let go. He wraps his whole wrist and arm around me. I love it.

Daddy and Dylan Day of Fun (posted by Steven)

2011-11-24T15:19:00.001-05:00

As you may recall, soon after Tyler was born, I took Isaac and Noah to Busch Gardens. Dylan couldn't go because he just started kindergarten. Well, I had Veteran's Day off, so Dylan skipped school and just he and I went this time. We were able to do a few things that we wouldn't be able to do with the younger kids, like feeding kangeroos (must be 5 yrs old), bumper cars (must be 42" tall), and Grover roller coaster (must be brave). Here are some photos:

This was my lunch- probably too much, but I ate it all. Dylan's lunch didn't fit on the tray.

Dylan was proud that he was in the green at 46", so he was tall enough for this ride.

2011-11-23T19:22:00.000-05:00

Tyler's nursrey, done.

2011-11-08T00:52:00.001-05:00

Tyler is 2 months old. His nursery has been done for a couple of weeks at least, but I haven't gotten around to taking pictures of it.
The door hanger is made by my friend Sarah, visit her shop - http://www.pinklemonadedesigns.com/. She does hair bows and tooth fairy tins etc too.

See, it's nap time. Tyler is downstairs though.

I painted over a dollar store surf board sign.

Here it is!
This used to be my room, back when I was in high school. Then it was our junk room/office, then it was Paige's room. Now it's Tyler's room.

It's the same Pottery Barn Kids bedding from Chrissy, Lacey, and Aunt Tina and Uncle Afton. It's Chrissy's birthday today. They got it for Dylan. The African masks are really from Africa. Andre brought them home for us after his safari adventures.

I told you it was nap time, this is baby Ivy.

I had a different arrangement in mind for these, but Steven came up with this one and it works. The "Love One Another" print is from Betsey.

Darren can make anything out of wood. He free handed this name sign. It's perfect and goes with our Costa Rica chair. I made the curtains. Not what I had originally planned, but they work.

Darren also made this palm tree. I love it b/c I sit in the rocking chair and stare at it. It goes all the way to the base board, but my photo props and throws are in the way.

The mobile is from Luiz, we loved it so much we bought another one to go over the crib 5 years ago. I can't find that one though.

I thought it would be nice to have a picture of the temple in his room. This one of our wedding pictures used to be in Dylan and Isaac's room. It goes on the shelf perfectly with a pewter music box elephant from our friends Nathan and Allison. (I just put a picture of Jesus in there after looking through these to see what was missing.)

My friend Liz makes these tile boards for clients. She made this one for Tyler. I think he really needed one since his name, "Tyler" means "Tiler" (one who lays tile). I still need to hang it though.

These are canvases that I had the boys paint. I got the idea from http://www.momtog.com/.

Dylan did the tikis and Isaac did the tiger and monkey in the palm tree. I was going to go back and do the details, but I kind of like that they did it all by themselves.

Oh, and lastly, we really did get this rocking chair in Costa Rica and brought it back with us for Dylan. We didn't even know we were pregnant at the time, or were we?

So there you have it! I know I didn't take a picture of him in there, but I've put pictures of him in there before. I was going to do a jungle theme and planned on doing real vines on one wall. I wanted it to be old and kind of like the real jungle book movie with old rustic stuff. It got a little cute instead, but I like it. Suggestions are welcome.

And later, after picking up Dylan, Marcie came over with Kirsten. The house was crazy! But wait, there's more. Malia came over too! Kirsten had to leave, but the rest of the 6 kids stayed for dinner!

This is for my brother Stephen who posted a picture containing overalls.
Steven, this is how overalls should be worn by non-farmers:)
My aunt Tina gave these to Isaac.

Back to the craziness.
I cooked the pasta before picking up Dylan from Tae Kwon Do. (Yes, 6 kids in my car again.) Then it was still warm when we got back. It was still sorta light when we started eating, but then we ate in the dark. And Corrie showed up to see me feeding her kids in the dark. And Noah got bitten by mosquitoes. Oops.

And I'll leave you with a silly picture of my Tyler.

busy bee (no pictures, just ramblings)

2011-11-05T23:16:00.000-04:00

I got stung on my right index finger's knuckle by a bee while de-leafing our pool this evening.
It doesn't hurt that much, but rolling the mouse roller bothers me.

I got stood up by a photography client today. She scheduled months ago. It's a key weekend b/c it's my overflow from my busy month of October. I thought she might cancel, so I confirmed at the beginning of the month. She confirmed the cost and location and everything. At the beginning of this week, I still hadn't gotten her form, so I emailed her. Then I emailed again and emailed her sister, a previous client. i called her number but it was disconnected. I could have put a couple of other people in and turned some away. Oh well, I had time to get stung by a busy bee.

I upped my prices already so I'll be less busy and will be able to continue to spend time and give quality work to each photo. I'm also only giving the 18-25 images instead of well over 50. It's just the cream of the crop. And I'm including the digital files so clients will stop using the watermarked ones for profile photos then not buying digital files. That way, they've already bought it before they get to see it. I've been burned twice by clients who had me spend over 4 hours on the double sessions, having me either drive them all over town to 5+ locations or just to 2 locations on 2 days plus waiting an hour for them to show up. Steven warned me about driving clients around, so I won't do that any more. Neither of those clients bought anything, but used the watermarked images in their facebook pages and got the proofs. I have wonderful clients usually, who buy something, who talk to me, who refer friends, and are too nice. Anyway, now I'm including everything. I did like both of those maternity sessions for my own portfolio, I got to be creative and love the pictures. I seriously don't spend that much time on my own pictures (as you know.) I guess that's what blows my mind, that they put so much into the session too, and must have just scanned in the proofs or something.

Right now I just got a 2nd wind, and figured I'd use it to blog my thoughts, no time for personal pics, I have 3 camera cards to dump onto my computer still. Steven turned our clock from reading 10:30 to reading 9:30 - woo hoo!

I'm reading this month's book club right now. Well, I'm listening to "The 5 Love Languages" on CD. I went to the library and asked the librarian if she had the book. She said, "well we have the audio disks" to which I exclaimed, "even better!" I thougth the book would be about agape, erros, filos, and whatever the other one or two is/are. It's a self help book though. Again, even better! I like listening to self help books. I still don't know what my love language is, in case you've read the book. I'm leaning towards "words of affirmation" in that I like feedback and really value others' opinions. The book isn't as good as others I've read. I liked the "acts of service" part as a separate "language." I always think that I should do service for somebody in whom I dislike (or want to understand) - that should help me to see the person in a different light and in changing myself, it'll help me at least be able to tolerate the other b/c I'll be more Christlike. This book also tore down the stereotype that men are always one way and women are always another way - like the Venus and Mars mentality. Of course there are underlying men and women thoughts/wants/whatever, but this is talking about other wants/thoughts/needs/whatever. Maybe service isn't the simple answer after all. Even just putting myself in anothers' shoes may not be enough. I like that it talks about keeping a book (journal) of what will work and what has worked. I also like that it talks about asking the other person what would make him/her feel loved. (As opposed to trying to figure it out and do surprise service and hope that changing myself will fix everything.)
K. Done w/ my book report rambles.

I'm also editing a family's pictures - cute family, as always.

And I'm eating a bowl of cereal b/c I had eaten too many candy corns already.

Pictures will appear on this blog sometime, maybe tomorrow since I don't work on Sundays. I'll probably go for a jog like I got to do this evening. We'll see.

Our family pictures are this next weekend. Our photographer cancelled on US last month. I want to order photo blocks w/ them and pictures I've taken. I need to do a sessoin w/ Isaac, he needs a hair cut first. So does Dylan. Luckily Tyler doesn't have a bald spot yet in the back.

Dear Tyler, you're 2 months old

2011-11-03T08:28:00.000-04:00

You keep fists tight a lot of the time.
You bicycle with your legs.
You smile more.
You can stand up on my lap a little, your legs are getting much stronger.
You still nap lots.
Your head can kinda hold itself up and I don't have to steady it, but you'll still flop it into my chest so I can't wear big necklaces. (Sorry about the encounter after you sneezed at church last Sunday, amazingly you didn't have a big bead indent on your forehead.)
You like the sound of water running, so I put you in the bouncy chair on the kitchen floor while I load the dishes and on top of your baby bath on a blanket or towel in a diaper while I'm showering. I peek out at you and you'll just be staring up at the towels hanging over your head. It's so funny to me. Then I scoop you up to bring you in the shower to get the lint out of your fingers. You have fallen asleep in that baby bath before too.
I love you and think you're so cute!

Monday Picture Dump

2011-11-02T21:08:00.000-04:00

On one hand, I'm already dreading going back to work - even though I won't be working that much.
On the other hand, I'm thinking of the photo shoots that I need to schedule (I have quite the waiting list that I need to cram in before December.) I'm thinking how I can use my sister to babysit while I work at either photography or the dental office. I can't seem to relax and just enjoy not having any deadlines. The only things I HAVE to do tomorrow are take Dylan to school, pick him up from school, take Kat to the airport, and finish a cardboard Joy School house. Of course there's a lot more on my potential-to-do-list in my mind.

Time flies when I don't have a ton of things to be in charge of. I really just need to focus on my 3 boys and get to nurse, change, and cuddle with the sweet baby.

I'm sadly no longer the Young Women president at church. It's good, because I needed to cut things out, my grandma (and others) are convinced that I got so sick with that sinus infection because I'm over scheduled. The busy photography season is upon me, so I know I'll be stressed and won't have time to personally blog much soon. I need this time to bond with my family and get organized and plan. So it's a good thing to be released from that calling.

Enough talk, here're some photos from my "2011 September" folder.

Snowballs with all 6 kids:

1st time capturing Tyler's smile! Ironically, it was at his doctor's office, he'll be crying next time I bet.

Isaac took lots of pictures of him too.

Tyler's 1st time to church. We just stayed for the sacrament meeting, although we weren't on time for that portion of the meeting. Next time! Don gave a good talk, so that was a good surprise!

We surprised my mom and Don by inviting them over for a cook out then having Kat here! Kat hid in the playroom and when my mom was supposed to ask where Tyler was, we were going to tell her where he was, and he'd be in Kat's arms. Isaac instead started calling for Aunt Kat because he wanted Grandma to know that she was here. My mom thought Isaac was confused and told him that she wasn't here, but then after looking at me, and I said nothing, she too started calling for Kathryn and, in shock, threw her arms and legs up way higher than this recreated photo. She was happy!

Dylan and Isaac were so hyper/happy to have Aunt Kat here.

This is me. Admiring my boys. Not knowing what to do with myself w/o the baby or camera in my hands. Steven asked me tonight, "Can't I just sit on the couch w/o having to worry about a camera showing up in my face every time?" Nope.

What's not to love about this picture?

Or this one?

I held the camera up high over my head to get this. I wish I had a different lense so you could see that he was on my lap right next to the key board. Sometimes, he just wants to be held, so I hold him while editing photos. But of course his cuteness distracts me. I want to remember everything and he's already changing!

See how easily I can get distracted? He's smiling again!

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-31T11:57:00.000-04:00

We went to a pumpkin patch with the Crews, it's tradition.

Noah = Captian America, Ivy = lady bug, Malia = police officer,
Tyler = Superman, Dylan = Spiderman, Isaac = Captain America

P.S. I'm way behind on blogging. Thank goodness for a wonderful husband who not only takes care of dinner plans, playing w/ the boys, carving pumpkins, and taking most of the above pictures while I held Tyler, but he bloggs too! Tyler is now 2 months old and I have yet to post his onesie picture. It's a little crazy around here w/ watching the Crews again and with being busy w/ 2-3 photo shoots/week. I'm mentally prepared to not be stressed out though, plus I'm not the PCDHA pres and YW pres like this time last year.

After the Fall Festival (posted by Steven)

2011-10-30T07:52:00.002-04:00

Dylan & Isaac weren't ready to go home after the festival, so on the way home we stopped by Philippe Park in Safety Harbor. I had never been to this park, but I recently read about the indian mound there. So after some time on the playground, we went on a walk to the mound. For most of the pictures, Dylan and Isaac growled (in case we ran into any indians). I got them to smile for some photos.

First, playtime:

Up the indian mound:

Some smiling photos:

Prepared for an indian attack:

Fall Festival- Oct 29th (posted by Steven)

2011-10-29T21:47:00.002-04:00

Tiffany had some photo shoots Saturday afternoon, so they boys (minus Baby Tyler) took a trip to a Fall Festival at a farm in Oldsmar. We went to the same festival last year, but I forgot a camera. So this year, I made sure I had one. Last year, Isaac didn't want hold the snake or ride the horses, but this year, he was brave enough for both.

Some rides:

They got to feed goats, sheep, little pigs, a minature donkey, and llamas:

Roasting marshmallows:

Snakes- Fear Factor Event 1:

Ponys- Fear Factor Event 2:
Dylan got to go on the horses twice, because Isaac didn't want to go the first time

What's that on Big Bird's neck?

Did Elmo swallow Dylan?

Why did they paint a trash can into the background?

Rattlesnake Festival- Oct 15th (posted by Steven)

2011-10-29T21:01:00.003-04:00

While Tiffany was upstairs changing Tyler's diaper, Dylan, Isaac, and I snuck out of the house and went to the Rattlesnake Festival. Apparently, there is a place called San Antonio, Florida about an hour north in Pasco County that holds a Rattlesnake Festival the 3rd weekend in October since 1967. I just found out about this in 2011. We saw a reptile show, a snake show, ate corn on the cob and kumquat pie, and the kids got their faces painted. They also got to pet a snake, see a baby tiger, panther, and a couger.

Just in case you didn't believe that this place existed:

This is an alligator snapping turtle:

This is a big snake:

Corn on the cob:

Face painting:

Back at home:

We'll see you next year, San Antonio, Florida!

happy Sunday!

2011-10-23T23:11:00.002-04:00

Tyler, 8 weeks, still sleepy

2011-10-21T20:39:00.001-04:00

I have the best baby ever. He makes me want to have another. Not any time soon, but I do forsee another pregnancy. If he were a crying handfull, I'd probably be DONE!

He sleeps a lot still. He's a good nurser. He doesn't cry much, and when it is, I can barely hear him - and it's often just because he's really sleepy again. When he wakes up, I know because I hear hiccuping from the other room. He doesn't cry when he wakes up.

Yesterday was a good day. Besides forgetting to put our dinner out in the sun oven, that is. I was on time to take Dylan to school, the boys to Corrie's, and to work. I had good patients and was booked. I then was leaving for lunch when Bevin called, "have a good lunch!" I said, "I have a can of soup, lunch won't be good, but seeing Tyler and Isaac will be good." I got to Corrie's and Tyler was awake in the swing. She told me that he was probably hungry, so I nursed him to sleep. I put him back in the swing and pumped the rest. Corrie got me a tall glass of water and made me a turkey sandwich which was delicious! I got to see Isaac and Noah play happily with their shirts off. Isaac was reaching under Ivy's crib with a long broom handle to try to get a toy. Silly kids. I went back to work fed and happy with a big smile thinking of all the people who bless my life. I had a card from a patient waiting for me congratulating me on my baby. I showed my brag book to some patients who all loved it and asked who the photographer was - not my intention, but still makes me giggle inside. One said, "you should start a business!"

We ate Ramen Noodles and green smoothies for dinner, probably yummier then the spaghetti squash that had been on the menu. It was a good day.

Today, after a day of carpooling, napping, and planking, I took some pictures of my cutie.
It's dificult because he sleeps so much. I called my friend who texted back that she had a sleeping baby on her. I took a picture similar to this one to send back and loved it. I can't get my pics off of my rinky dink cell phone, so tried to take one with my heavy camera. I'm too close, so I had to hold it way above my head to get this, and luckily the focus is okay. I love it b/c this is my wonderful view.

And over my shoulder, this is my other wonderful view. The focus isn't good, but that's ok.

Tyler falls asleep. I love him. I always multi-task, but like to just sit and stare at him sometimes. Everything else will be okay. This is where I need to be.

Oh yea, back to the pictures of Tyler from before I went in to feed him:

He smiles about once/day and talks/coos about once/day. He can't hold his head up well at ALL yet. He doesn't hate tummy time though like my others did. He won't get mad. He'll just rest when his neck gets tired. He's too wabbly to get a good picture. I have to hold him tight. He likes to be swaddled still too.

here's a spit bubbles picture for you. ok, it's for me, not you.

a 6 weeks update

2011-10-11T00:05:00.000-04:00

This little guys is 6 weeks old! He has been since Friday. It was wierd on both 5 weeks and 6 weeks not taking his weekly picture. I just don't think I can keep up with that EVERY week so I'm limiting myself to monthly onesie pictures.
But I can't help but post an update anyway!
He's cuter. So are my other 2 boys. As Dylan asks, (for real), "Why is he so cute?"

I think he's growing more and am afraid he won't fit this Halloween outfit on Halloween. It's size newborn. So he's been sleeping in it. We all love it, thanks Uncle Andre and Barbie!

He has started to coo, but not really. It's more like he's trying.
He still sleeps a lot.
Some mornings he wants to be held and is antsy; sometimes I love that. It's new though, so I have to get used to that. Normally he sleeps, wakes to eat, stares at me with a confused look that cracks me up - I really do start to laugh out loud - then he falls back asleep.

I love how Isaac washes his hands more frequently so he can touch the Tyler more. They will have a good bond.

Tyler still likes to be bundled up. He'll sleep on his back, side, or even tummy - I'm careful. He can't lift his head well, but he can throw it back when he wants. But then it flops somewhere else. I love that he's still floppy.

He is getting stronger, like at diaper changes, he can lift his own rear when I lift his legs.

We saw this stranded lizard and saved him.

Speaking of pools, I jumped in on Saturday, just because I could. I wasn't supposed to go swimming for 6 weeks. I didn't know that w/ my two winter babies. The boys were all in the back and I ran out the back door right past them and dove in. Dylan and Isaac wanted to go in too, but I testified that the water was too cold for that windy day.

I love that Tyler still gets startled and throws his hands out like this. It's a reflex that's called "come give me a hug and hold me tight, Mommy," and it's so sweet. (I don't know the real name.)

Today: Tyler took a nap with me at 2:30. He slept right through me getting up and kept snoozing until 6pm. Isaac told me he was awake (he wasn't really crying.) I fed the starving baby and he went back to sleep by sleep-eating. We all ate our taco salad while he ate then he smiled that drunken smile and couldn't keep his eyes open. So I put him up in his bed at 6:30 where he stayed asleep until 10:30. It's midnight and he keeps squeeking a little like usual, but is still sleeping! So 3.5 hours + 4 hours plus sleeping through the night = me ready for another baby! Just kidding. But he really is great each night too. He does still sleep next to me once Steven brings him into me and he will eat while we sleep and if he wakes up, it's just to eat and it really doesn't interrupt my night much at all. I'm sooo blessed to have a baby who knows his nights and days. Let's just hope this lasts!

not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, but SIX kids for me!

2011-10-10T14:14:00.001-04:00

These two, Ivy and Tyler, bring back memories of when I just had Dylan then started watching Malia who was/is 3 months older. Corrie and I thought we had our hands full with those two.

I only watched these 5 kiddos after Malia was done with her school. She gets out early on Wednesdays.

Here we are after picking up Dylan from his school. I never thought my mini van would be too small! We had to take out a car seat to squish everybody in the back. Isaac and Dylan cried about it for a minute.

In that chaos, we still made candy corn sugar cookies. If I do them again, I'll make them where they don't spread as much.

Here is Ivy and Tyler. I tried to recreate the Malia and Dylan picture from 5 years before.

I had forgotten that we did a close up instead of a full body shot of them.

This is Dylan and Malia. Dylan was only 5 days old.

So here's a better comparison of Ivy and Tyler, outside - where I like it.

Back to the full body shot of the now 5 yr olds:

And here's one of Ivy's 3 month portraits.

Sometimes she looks just like Noah, but now she looks more like Malia.

AND, she's getting Malia's personality. Here we go again!

(I'll usually only have 5 kids which is good because by the time Steven and Darren came home, I had sweat in my hair, and my shirt had spit up in two places and yellow poo. Yuck!)

Cooler evenings

2011-10-09T19:24:00.000-04:00

view from my kitchen window - I love it when these kids get out the baseball stuff, or soccer stuff, or whatever and play together.

Look at this baby lizard FLY away from Isaac!

It's just too bad that it gets dark so early AND it's always a school night, so bath and bed time come too quickly for us.

Jurassic Turtle

2011-10-09T19:12:00.000-04:00

My cousin came to visit saw this huge turtle in our street. Our neighbor was so distraught. She gave us the box,

Steven loaded it into Holly's car,

Olivia waked it to a lake,

And the home owner there helped dump it so it could be free.

I just took some pictures.

Picture Pile

2011-10-06T01:14:00.000-04:00

Here are some random pictures. I'd like to have a picture of me holding my baby boy, so I gave Isaac the camera. Oh well.

We drove by a pumpkin patch yesterday. They had pumpkins out!!!

So we bought some pumpkins of course, who knows how long they'll last.

It won't stay pool weather for long.

A lizzard came in our house! I got him out.

blue eyes

I like having these two boys around all the time, but I feel guilty reading a book to them because Dylan is missing out. Is that wierd? We want Dylan here too.

1st day of work

2011-09-29T00:24:00.000-04:00

I felt like I should take a picture of myself in front of our front door holding a "1st day of work, 9/28/2011" sign with my pump-in-style backpack on. I had the same feelings I had when it was Dylan's 1st day of kindergarten, (and his other 1st day of kindergarten.) I was leaving my kids for a while and it was the beginning of the next phase of life.
This week,

I went back to work (even though I was only there for 3-1/2 hours)
I went to my first book club meeting (even though I didn't even attempt to read a book)
I finished "The Entitlement Trap" by Richard and Linda Eyer - cover to cover, I really read it!
I will teach Joy School (actually we bumped it to next Monday)
Gunny Bag will make an appearance for the first time
I will have my 1st real photo session on Friday
It's conference weekend at the end of the week so that will give me even more motivation for a fresh start

(General Conference is where you can hear motivational speakers for free! We don't have regular church services twice a year and instead, go and watch the broadcast from Utah at the church building, or streaming online here.)

So how was the 1st time I left Tyler, you ask?

Our morning was great. I slept in a little then we went for a run before we got cleaned up, fixed his nursery a little bit, and ate lunch. But then I was nervous. I packed up lots of pictures of him to take with me and I kissed him good bye. Steven's "relax" mix tape was playing, so I listened to some Bob Marley and Jimmy Buffet on my way to work and tried not to worry about a thing.

I walked into work and was greeted by my first patient who was really excited that I was there. He sees me every month, but thought he'd be seeing the other hygienist since I was still supposed to be on maternity leave. It was a good reaction, and I told him that Tyler came early, so I'm back early! I was able to show him the whole photo album of Tyler pictures. He had seen most of them b/c he's a Facebook friend. That was a good first patient to have because my other patients were new to me or hadn't been in in over a year so there wasn't an opportunity to tell them how lucky they were to have me back on my first day back. They didn't notice the new baby pictures on the shelves either. That's ok.

I wanted to call to check on the baby, but if he was crying, I knew that I would probably cry too, so I resisted the urge. And it's a good thing. Apparently he woke up right after I left and cried for about 2 hours with "moments" of being okay. So sad! But then he slept for over 3 hours. He didn't seem traumatized when I held him. I fed him the bottle that had already been thawed out for him and he drank it up just fine. I took him to the book club meeting that evening then we went to bed.

Dear Tyler, you're 1 month old

2011-09-26T21:40:00.000-04:00

Hi baby, you're 1 month old. You're so cute! I'll start using these stickers to ark the months now instead of doing weekly posts for you.

I made you a onesie b/c you're my little photography assistant!

You've been with me on one photo session, and you've been the subject of many many. You assist me by being my inspiration. And when I see other things, I get to try them out on you! Your great grandma Rebeck made this blanket for one of your brothers. You have lots of blankets, and I love them all!

To celebrate your 1 month birthday, Dylan had the day off of school, so we went to the park in the afternoon. We met my friend Rachael at the library and listened to story time then back to school crafts before we ventured to the park. She introduced us to Largo Central Park and it's fun. Your big brothers run around in the sunshine and climbed on the rock sculptures.

You and I hung out on your new blanket from my friend Abigail.

Isn't it amazing?! I put the 1 month sticker on it and it's perfect - especially since your room is jungle themed.

So happy 1 month birthday!
I go back to work this week, just two half days, but it's sad. I'm excited to show off your pictures to my patients. I have a whole album filled already plus some in frames and the brag book, of course.

Dear Tyler, you're 4 weeks old

2011-09-24T14:08:00.002-04:00

You still sleep a lot, but are awake for 2 hours at a time some times.

You still will only go in your crib for naps, but rarely at bed time.

So you sleep next to me and the wall. Your eyes look blue instead of grey now.

Your baby acne lasted only for a couple of days a week ago but now you're back to being perfect.

You have only spit up like 7 times in your life, have I mentioned that? And it's always just a little that fell out the side of your mouth while you were sleeping. You have the softest hair, head, feet, and skin. You're still so tiny! You have officially started getting bigger, both your daddy and I noticed you seem longer this week, but I wouldn't call you big yet. I started running with you a day after you turned 3 weeks old. You like it in the hot outside.

It was your due date this week - that's fun that you've been with us for so long. You squeeze in perfectly with our family.

You are quiet. I don't hear you when you wake up from your crib in the other room, but luckily daddy does. I'm so in love with kissing you and cuddling you! I'm getting nothing else done in life because I hug you and feed you, then change you, then hug you some more, then take your pictures while staring at you, then I edit those pictures while holding you. Sometimes I look down at you and you're staring right at me wondering what I'm doing, I laugh and kiss you all over again.

Memoirs of a new mom of 3

2011-09-20T22:23:00.000-04:00

I don't know how single parents do it. Or people who live far from family (parents.) I simply can't do it all on my own.

It is easier to transition from 2 to 3 than it was from 0 to 1 (of course) or from 1 to 2. From 1 to 2, I worried I wouldn't give my first child enough attention or if I'd be able to love another baby as much, or if the first would get neglected, but all of those worries have already been answered by the time the 3rd enters the family. The harder transition is actually the kindergarten schedule. I dislike that it's 5 days in a row. I also dislike how it takes over my life. I have to get up early, stuff a sleepy baby in a car seat, then we're all still tired so unless I pre-planned the morning, I'm not that productive. In the afternoon, all I have time for is picking Dylan up! Afterwards, if I grocery shop or go to piano lessons, the day is gone, heck, or if I make dinner, that takes up the whole rest of the day. And, his car line is right in the middle of nap time. I hardly nap now - there's no time! I am supposed to sleep when the baby sleeps, right? I do like his class, what he's doing there, and his school, but feel so bad when all he wants to do these days is stay home and color or play with toys. He doesn't want to go to eat, or to the beach, or park, or store, or anywhere and he used to always want to go somewhere.

I'm finding it more difficult to multi-task. There's only one good example that I can think of right now. Yesterday, we dropped Dylan off then went to Target. Of course we were there for a while, so it was about time to pull over to feed Tyler before going to the fabric store. I planned it perfectly so I could nurse Tyler while Isaac played at Lake Seminole Park which was on the way. Isaac had fun but said he hoped other kids would show up (we were the only ones there.)

I am not documenting as many things in my camera these days because I don't have another set of hands for the camera! I mean, bath time with 3 boys would be a fun thing to document, but then again I'd have to take my hands off of a slippery baby - not good.

Another good image for you (mental only) is me nursing Tyler in the sling while preparing spinach pie (with real filo dough - it was yummy!) I almost had Dylan go grab a camera to take a picture from the back of me in my messy kitchen with ingredients all over (and under - my feet). Isaac was next to me beating the egg whites. But I didn't want to disrupt Dylan who was happily building a superhero city with blocks upstairs in the small hallway RIGHT where we need to step to go to any of the rooms up there. I never want to forget these moments, so I'm writing them down here.

I'd like to edit photos at night, my own and clients, but I am not as effective when I have to hold (and look at) a cute little baby. I have to use my toes to hold down some keys because processing takes two hands. You don't want a picture of that.

There are cute things too, like how Isaac is always coming over to give kisses, Eskimo kisses, and butterfly kisses. I don't think those pictures would come out because it happens right in my lap. So I just kiss Isaac's little head too.

Back to needing family, Steven does all of the busy work around here, like laundry, pool maintenance, car washing, taking out the dirty diapers and other trash, and all that. And my mom came over to save the day when I was in the middle of trying out a recipe from our new cook book, I took the lid off of the pan and smoke bellowed out and all over our house! Yes the smoke alarm went off. And yes it was hot oil and yes it burned my leg because I still only had running clothes on. But we ate the Navajo Tacos, and enjoyed them because my mom came in to save the day and chop up the other ingredients and get it all ready. So no, we did not have a camera on that stressful evening.

My mom asked if she could babysit for us so we could sneak out for a good dinner last weekend. We said yes, but to her dismay, didn't leave Tyler with her. And I'm glad. My dinner was pretty good, but my favorite part of dinner was when Tyler started to stir and we had the waitress bring out the check with the desert. We shared that slice of tart home-made key lime pie while holding and staring at my tiny little baby boy. Then instead of sitting in the car to feed him before going home, I put him in the sling and we took him for a walk on the beach in the moonlight. Steven and I took turns flying a kite too - that was a fun surprise. Somebody had tied a kite to the trash barrel on the beach. We spotted the kite high up and found where it had been anchored then gave the string a tug - voila - we flew a kite! I like that spontaneous delight, but there are no pictures. Just fun memories of the first crazy month with a new baby.

I think I'll take pictures of me and my baby tomorrow. (I wish I could have Dylan home because I need more "brothers" pictures.) Oh, I did book OUR family photo session!

Dear Tyler, you're 3 weeks old today

2011-09-17T00:10:00.000-04:00

Dear Tyler,
You're 3 weeks old today. To celebrate, we took you to Largo Central Park. Noah went with us.

It was your first time, of course, but it was also our first time. You slept almost the whole time. You still sleep a really lot. Right now you're in your crib, you've been in there for about an hour and a half already! You usually wake up after like 5 min and I have to nurse then hold you. I have put you to sleep in there a couple of times this week, and Daddy wakes up to your quiet cry and brings you to bed with us. You usually wake up one more time before morning when I have to buckle you into the car seat to take Dylan to school.

Your due date is in 3 days, that's crazy! I'm sooo happy you decided to pop your balloon and come early. You're starting to get baby acne, but it's not that bad. Your skin started peeling a little more this week, but isn't noticeable much. You had your first bath with both of your brothers today. I didn't take a picture of that because I used good judgement for once. You look longer today to both your daddy and me. You fill out your newborn PJs today.

I haven't had that much time to just rest and stare at you this week because I have been getting your birth announcements out, Aunt Kat was here for a couple of days, then Isaac started Joy School the next day, then we took over a 2 hour nap the next day after visiting with Great Grandma Rebeck at her house, then we went to the park today. The time to pick up Dylan is right when you, Isaac, and I would like to take a nap. Isaac has been napping in the car line.

When Kat was here, I sorta wanted to take advantage of her being willing to babysit and the thoughts crossed my mind that I should work for a couple of hours either at the dental office or doing one of the photo sessions that are waiting for me to reschedule. But you don't take a bottle yet, and we're supposed to be resting! I still couldn't help myself, so we did cram in a photo session - of Aunt Kat herself:) She said she could use a professional head shot, so I curled the front of her hair, put make-up on her, and put a jacket on her with some pearls. Steven said that he could always tell when the girls in his office had a trial because they would be wearing pearls - plus before that, he told me I looked "professional" one day when I was going for pretty - and I was a little offended but am blaming it on the pearls. Anyway, I think she looks both pretty and professional here. Want to know another secret? I could only find one of these pearl earrings.

Sorry Tyler, this should be a post all about you. You're filling out a little, but I still think you're teeny tiny. I think I'll move the headrest and shoulder straps up a notch tomorrow in your car seat. You're the sweetest little cuddler and I love how your legs still want to be up like a little froggy when I hold you up to my neck to kiss on you and burp you. I love your little hand on me by your mouth when you nurse. I don't like how you choke and can't breath until you have swallowed air and stretch uncomfortably then finally let out a cry to get some air when my milk starts. So sad! You get gas too. You have only spit up like 5 times in your life though, and it is just a little out of the corner of your mouth that I notice later if I didn't try to burp you.

i need to pick 9 favorite pictures of Tyler for a tile board. they say you take a bunch of pictures of your 1st child, then less w/ each other child. not so at my house! which should i pick?

You are still really floppy and are so relaxed and new. You fall asleep before you are done eating most times. You are still my tiny newborn and I love you!

This Tonka truck has been at my grandma's forever, probably. I knew I would like to stuff a baby in it some day, thank goodness you're a boy! She made you this blanket and booties, so I thought it would be fitting to combine them in her front yard.

Here's a better shot of the booties. Your feet are too small for them!

This is your Great Grandma. She loves to hold you.

You're so teeny tiny!

And cute and sleepy. I love having a summer baby!

1st day of Joy School!

2011-09-16T16:18:00.001-04:00

I took the boys out of preschool for the summer so we could have a real summer vacation. I thought I would put Isaac back to the 2 days in the fall, but we are doing Joy School instead. It's a little like a home preschool coop. I love the other 2 families who are doing it with us and am excited about it!

Yvonne taught first. Alicia and I stayed the first day so we could see what works and how we will adapt the curriculum. She and I nursed our babies a lot.

Afterwards, the 3 played and didn't want to leave.

1st Beach Day!

2011-09-14T02:19:00.001-04:00

When Kat was here, we went to the beach. I took Dylan for one of his first times with his aunt Kat too. He wore these froggy shorts and tiny green sandals too, so did Isaac. (The hat is from Aunt Tina for Isaac - it has a frog on it too.)

Which reminds me, when I opened the umbrella, a frog jumped to the sand! Isaac loved on it for a long while before I guess it got away.

This was the only time little Tyler was in the sun, don't worry. He was held, covered (from the windy wind) under the umbrella most of the time.

Isaac played in the waves with his Granddad, then we hunted for shells and treasures, then he threw the football with Granddad. Lucky kid.

Here's the tiny little guy.

Jennifer Martin and Kat thought it was necessary to take a picture of his little feet sticking out.

Can you believe this was Kat's 1st time to the Candy Kitchen? We did a U-turn when I found that out!

Dylan, that morning, walked himself into school and got out his water bottle, Friday folder, planner, nap towel, and moved his lunch Popsicle stick. It was the first time I dropped him off in the car line and he did it! (Isaac had forgotten his shoes that morning, and I didn't want to look ridiculous carrying him and Tyler into the school.)

pull back of newborn session

2011-09-09T23:21:00.000-04:00

It's fun to see how other photographers set up the shot to get to the final image.

I took Tyler outside today for his 2 week photo session. I wanted him under the shade tree on the green grass. This isn't so much to show the how to, but to show how to go with the flow when I have a bored little 3 yr old who misses his big kindergartner brother.

Dear Tyler, you're 2 weeks old today!

2011-09-09T22:58:00.000-04:00

Dear Tyler,

You're still so cute! You still squeak some. You don't cry much. You slept through the night twice, and now you only wake up 1-3 times/night. You still sleep next to me, but I do let you nap in your crib, on a blanket on the floor, or in the swing in the day time. Your jaundice is gone, but you have some discoloration in the scellera in your eyes. The doctor said it's just stained and will go away with in a month. You weigh 7 lbs, 3 oz now. You have a big belly but still have skinny legs and feet. Your skin is so soft! You still get cold easily so we keep you swaddled or wrapped in a blanket. Your Aunt Kat came to visit you today all the way from Salt Lake City! You slept through most of her visit, and she held you most of the visit too. You're very loved! I got your birth announcements in today. I didn't order that many b/c I'm sure I'll put your photo on our Christmas card this year. I also got my brag books in and gave one to your grandma already. You still look a lot like Dylan. You are really sleepy still but you do smile some!

I love you!
love, Mom

Summer is over {results of our summer to do list}

2011-09-08T22:26:00.001-04:00

I made a list of things to do over the summer because I wanted it to be fun for my kids. It's our last summer before school started, and before we had a family of 5. I wanted to have some goals but wanted it to be fun, relaxed, and short term - easier to check off then New Year's resolutions.

I thought the summer would end when I had the baby or when Kindergarten started. It kinda all started at the same time, and now that I'm settled, here's the outcome of our list.
Some of the ideas we didn't do b/c I got more pregnant and big and so hot that I didn't want to do the outdoor golfing, lemonade stand, or pick up baseball game. We still may do those things later . . . We did a lot though!!

(no pictures, maybe I'll add them later.)
√ sunrise breakfast on the beach - idea from Daisy Crawford We didn't do a sunrise, but we did do breakfast!
√ Disney in May
√ Southwest Pool so I can swim laps and Dylan can do THE swim test (25 meters)
   Family group sheets
     me
     Steven no, but I did find one that I had started to fill out w/ Steven's mom and I did send requests to Steven's family but didn't get much response
   Lemonade Stand - idea from McKinzie Emery I still want to . . .
   Gatorland - idea from Brendon Black Steven will take the kids sometime soon
√ Planet Jump - we have 1 free visit 6/30
√ Gator Fred's - we have Gator bucks 7/28 w/ Paige
   Glass blowing at the art center in Gulfport - idea from Holly Moons' patient
√ Paint the nursery - maybe greens 8/21
Decorate nursery - Hawaii/Jungle theme started
√ Camping maybe go again though . . .
√ Rays baseball game 8/6 w/ the church
√ Threshers baseball game 7/2 w/ Pagie, Grandma, and Granddad
√ Fireworks 7/2 and 7/4
√ Finish Kindergarten books w/ Dylan 7/16
√ Dylan - ride bike by himself
√ Isaac - swim length of pool 8/3 and front flip!
   Driving range w/ Szasz boys
   Put put golf
   Baseball pick up game w/ friends
√ Decide on a name for our baby boy 8/26 at the hospital while having contractions
√ Figure out what I need
   Sew/make something for the baby boy I still need to make curtains
√ Slip 'n slide
   Have Dylan and Isaac memorize scriptures
   Have Dylan and Isaac memorize stuff w/ fun songs (need to find some)
√ Plan Joyschool 8/10 started, then 9/8 we had our planning meeting finally!
√ Eat freezer pops 6/11
√ Sidewalk chalk 7/17
√ Canoe
√ Dylan - take piano lessons 9/7
√ Dylan - start karate so he'll ease into the after school fun if we do that 7/11 It's actually Tae Kwon Do, and Dylan loves it! I'm glad we enrolled in it, and they did pick him up after school twice for after care (before we changed Dylan's school.)
   Dylan - memorize phone # and address just phone #, and he knows what street we're on.
   Picnic at sunset on the beach I saw lots of sunsets for photoshoots though
   Family service project
   Pencil pals, maybe w/ Finn from school His mom didn't email me back w/ their address, and neither did one of Dylan's cousins:( He did write two letters to each of them though.
√ Maternity pictures of me 6/26 I didn't get the "cravings" one I wanted (date night w/ Steven eating ice cream or something cold outside of the Candy Kitchen or at John's Pass or something)
√ Maternity pictures w/ finger paint and the boys 8/15
   Pictures of Isaac's kiss face
√ Letters to missionaries (actually mail the letters we have written) Does DearElder.com count? I hope so.
√ Something w/ geography for the kids 8/10 stuff from Barbie
√ Summer craft Kissing Hand craft, and canvases for the baby room
   Plant stuff (landscaping)
   Have Dylan mark the majority of his Book of Mormon (when reading it) not the majority, but since schoolstarted, we've been reading a chapter/story from Just So Stories and the Book of Mormon each night.
√ Glazier Children's Museum 8/13 hooray for $5 day!!
√ Tampa Tropical Smoothie Cafe 7/20 after Steven's office baby shower
√ Clearwater Beach 7/3 w/ Andre and Barbie after dinner at Frenchy's
√ Indian Rocks Beach
√ Reddington Beach 6/26, 6/27, 6/30
   Madiera Beach
√ Treasure Island playground 8/13 w/ Daddy and Snowballs
√ St. Pete Beach 7/4 fireworks at Upham
√ Pass-A-Grill Beach 7/29 w/ Jolyn and her kids and friends
√ Ft. De Soto Beach 8/8 w/ Paige, Emerys, and Jeffra and Cannon
√ Siesta Key Beach w/ Paige and Jolyn and Emerys and Renee

We added to the list the following:
√ Zoo 7/21 w/ Paige
√ Busch Gardens
√ Make cupcakes for Darren 7/16 this happened to show up on the list after the Crews came for a swim
√ Edile Playdough 7/11
Ted Peter's
√ fire station 7/15 w/ Liz Walke (her idea), the Yvonne, and Rachael (and their kids)
√ Snowballs on TI beach 8/13

Get rich so I can:
Order canvases
Order Blog Books My mom and Kat got me some for my birthday!!
Lighting in bedrooms we did it!!

I'm sorry

2011-09-04T20:47:00.002-04:00

I need to apologize in advance to my poor boys. It was so sunny that even under a huge umbrella they couldn't open their eyes. They were good sports there, but I didn't get the picture I wanted.

Instead of giving up, I tried under our big tree where they could open their eyes if they wanted to, but Dylan refused to lay down in the grass, so he went to time out.

I'm sorry.
I'm also sorry for all of the pictures in the future that I'll make you sit through ...

Because I'm not stopping.

Dear Tyler, You're 1 week old today

2011-09-03T01:28:00.001-04:00

Dear Tyler,
Happy 1 week birthday!

Today your cord fell off, and you learned how to take a pacifier which actually put you back to sleep when the boys were playing around you trying to find baby toys to entertain you with. Now they're loud-whispering to each other to be QUIET.

Last night you slept from 11 something 'til 5:30 in the morning! That was the only time you woke up. I changed then fed you and you stayed a wake for a little while, but then you went right to sleep until about 8 something. I tried to feed you, but you didn't eat much so I took advantage of your morning sleepiness and did the dishes. We have been having fun with photo shoots. You only peed once and pood once on the blankets today, which is pretty good considering how many hours I have had you posing for me. Daddy kept asking to hold you, but once I got you back to sleep, it was back to my dining room table studio.

In the mornings, you sleep sleep sleep. You sleep in your crib or on a blanket on the floor (or are held, of course.) In the evenings, you fall asleep but then want to be held by me. Even when you're swaddled, you wake up after 1-10 minutes even when Daddy is holding you. So I've resorted to letting you sleep next to me. I sleep in the guest bed in your room or put you by the wall on my bed. I don't want another Isaac, so I will keep trying to put you back to sleep by yourself, but I hear that the first month or so is just survival mode and I can't spoil you.

You have jaundice so I'm supposed to feed you often and let you get sunshine. The first time we went in the sun, Isaac was excited to try out our new Sit 'N Stand stroller. Isaac didn't want you to be in just your diaper because somebody would see you! So we put a swimsuit on you. You have laid out by the pool too, and today, we went for a walk in the old buggie. The whites of your eyes aren't as yellow, so something is working.

My mom made him the jungle blanket

I love when I pick you up and kiss your cheeks that you kiss me back. I know it's your rooting reflex, but just now you grabbed me by the hair above my ear and were frantically trying to kiss me! You like to try to kiss your blankets too. Yesterday I found you sucking on your fingers. You were content. Sometimes you just look around when you wake up. I really want you to be able to self soothe as you grow, so find your thumb, a blanket, fingers, a pacifier, or a happy thought please!

Dylan and Isaac ask to hold you too. Isaac asked to change your diaper because he had practiced on a monkey before you were born. He remembered to put the tape side under you and everything! I love the evenings when your brothers sit and hold you on a pile of couch pillows and blankets. They tell you how little all of your features and body parts are and that they will teach you things when you're older.

Our neighbor made this blanket

You get the hiccups some times. You squeak a lot. When you were in the hospital, you squeaked more but you still squeak some.

And we love you!

Love, Mom

Busch Gardens with Isaac & Noah (posted by Steven)

2011-09-01T20:01:00.029-04:00

When Isaac was born 3.5 years ago, I took Dylan to Busch Gardens so Tiffany could have some quality with the new baby. So, I did the same with this new baby. Dylan had to go to school, so I took Isaac and his friend Noah. Here are a few things we did:

Dylan's 2nd First Day Of Kindergarten! (and other events of the day)

2011-08-31T13:30:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, I took Dylan to school for his 2nd day. He was excited that he might get to go to recess for the first time. On his first day, it was raining so they watched a movie instead. I drove him to school on my way to work. I had heard that they would have the morning car circle duty workers starting at 8:15am. We parked and were there a little early for that. The doors were closed and they said we had to wait until 8:25 before they would open the doors. I didn't want to be late for school, so I showed Dylan where to stand and told him that I need to leave. He started crying and clinging to me. He wanted me to walk him all the way to his class again. I didn't want to cry, so I waited with him. He walked, holding my hand, right to his class and left me no problem. So the drop off wasn't a great experience. I dropped Isaac off at Corrie's and got to work 5 min late. Luckily my patient was another 15 min late. I would have been so upset if I had left a crying Kindergartner outside of his not-so-friendly school to be on time for a patient who was that late! Anyway, I got a phone call from a random local number while cleaning a different patient's teeth. Between patients I listened to the voice mail. It gave me hope - It was a charter school that had a seat open for Dylan! My mind was racing. I know we're settling in to the local elementary school on our street, we had after care figured out, had pre-paid for his school lunches, and had given the $8 school supply donation to his teacher, but a potentially better school was now an option! I looked up to see if the Tae Kwon Do after care class picked up from the new school. It looked like it did! I told Steven. We emailed back and forth our pros and cons lists of disrupting Dylan's schedule, money, convenience, perks, teachers, curriculum, and lots of other things. Dylan likes to be warned about change. If I had told him, for example, that morning that I may have to leave him outside with a friend from his class, maybe he would have been okay with that.

So while I was still at work, the Tae Kwon Do van picked Dylan up from his school and took him to his class. Dylan later told us that the nice big kids helped him. I'm guessing they're the Tae Kwon Do kids, not the elementary school kids. Steven got to the Dojo in time to watch most of Dylan's class. It was crowded, yet really organized. We love Master Lee there and are glad we started Dylan there in the middle of the summer. Steven asked if they pick up at the Seminole location of the new charter school. They don't. That's not good. We had some thinking to do.

Luckily I had posted to Facebook asking for others' thoughts on the new school and Steven's cousin had seen it. He and Steven talked. His son is starting Kindergarten there too! His wife could be our after care on the two days that I work! That's perfect because Dylan can still do the Tae Kwon Do class in the evenings when it's less crowded and we can both go to watch.

On Wednesday, Steven left work early so we could go tour Plato Academy. Isaac and I went to pick up Dylan from school. Wednesdays are early release days and Kindergartners are supposed to be out 5 min before the rest of the kids. Isaac and I parked and got there early again. But once again, the doors were locked and nobody could go in or out. Eventually, some kids started coming out. There was no organization, just kids with backpacks looking up to see if they recognized a parent. They walked all the way to the crowded car line and parking lot. Even little kids weren't following a teacher. It made me nervous. Dylan's class wears cute head bands with their names on them though and the teacher leads them and she has a system to know when a kid leaves her line. They have to hand her their headband and she has to see and speak to and recognize the parent. Well, instead of 5 min before dismissal, I saw Dylan's class 5 min after! The poor teacher was frazzled and apologized that they were on the playground up until 1:30 even though they are supposed to be dismissed at 1:25. One annoyed dad asked her if they could cut recess short. I felt bad for the teacher who responded that that would not be fair to the kids. I agree. I just wonder why nobody, not even the teacher, got that memo. So we got our cute Dylan and drove for 15 min just to get out of the parking lot and picked up Steven.

We talked more about the potential change.

We pulled up into the church parking lot. It did not look like a school at all. This campus of Plato Academy is in its first year and just occupies one wing of a church. The reception staff was informative, kind, and attentive. The principal walked us into any classroom we wanted to see including the art and music rooms. We talked in the church gym where they have indoor PE when it's raining (better than a movie if you ask me) and their lunch room. We felt relaxed there. We talked to Dylan's new teacher who gave us a welcome packet, a letter about herself and the school year, and even handed Dylan a little baggie with a note explaining the symbols in the baggie. Dylan and Isaac wanted the candies and trinkets. She explained their classroom rules, procedures, and even apologized for the crafts on the kids tables. I love crafts and being knee deep in projects though! It was her break while the kids were outside, but she didn't seem rushed at all. I think she may have sealed the deal for us.

We decided to hand over the paperwork and sign up! We thought about having Dylan finish out the first week at Bardmoor Elementary, but then decided that we could go ahead and start on Friday because we may as well not put it off and could give Dylan one day first before a whole week of newness.

We went right to the uniform store, one place has the monopoly on the school uniforms there. We spent over $200 and left with a small bag of clothes. The cost of clothes was a con since we had already gotten Dylan some Target t-shirts using baby shower gift cards. Oh well.

On Thursday morning, I didn't have a scheduled first patient, so I was able to walk Dylan into his Bardmoor class for the last time. It was his teacher's birthday. I felt guilty for breaking the news that we were leaving her class, but Dylan gave her a card and Steven had written a nice break up note saying it's not her, it's us:) We did mention that she's not the reason for leaving and was one factor that made the decision more difficult.

Anyway, at Tae Kwon Do after care, Steven figured everything out with keeping Dylan in the evening class instead of after care and Master Lee was understanding and almost relieved.

The week had been so crazy already! Steven seemed to be nesting too since he spent the evenings cleaning the carpets for the baby room while I crammed in photo sessions in the evenings. I didn't go to a Relief Society (church) meeting on one of the evenings because we had been busy and stressed with school decisions and it really bothers Steven that we didn't have a baby name yet.

On Friday morning, Corrie came over after dropping Malia off at her kindergarten. I took another 1st day of Kindergarten photo with Dylan with an updated sign. Isaac wanted to pack his lunch too, so we packed him a lunch. Noah went with us while Corrie and Ivy stayed 'til we got back and we left for his 1st day at his new school!

I wanted time to talk to Dylan's teacher and to turn in the rest of the registration information. Corrie called us when we were on our way there to ask where my breast pump was because she forgot a piece to hers and would need to pump while at work that day. She found the part she needed and the day seemed to be back on track. I parked in the Plato Academy parking lot, and that's where they day got interesting . . . !

I stepped out of my door and felt something. It sorta felt like having a period. I looked down and saw two wet spots on my pants. I hadn't sneezed or felt a baby kick, and haven't gotten any wet spots like that so that was weird. By the time I walked around the back of the car to get the kids, my whole left pant leg was wet on the inside and I was dripping warm wetness. (These are the same pants that got soaked when I had to jump in Andre's pool to save Noah.) I told the kids to climb back in the car to wait for a minute for me to call Daddy. I took a white napkin and checked. The fluid was clear and didn't smell like pee. My pee has been darker from the vitamins (or maybe I need to drink more water.) So I called Steven, "Hi, either I just peed my pants or my water broke. I'm not kidding." He asked where I was and after telling me to call the doctor, said to call the school to ask them to come to the parking lot to get Dylan from me. I didn't have the school's number on me since it was the first day. Steven hadn't programed it into his phone yet either. He looked it up for me then went to tell his supervisor that he'd be leaving to possibly go have a baby!

I called the school office and told them I thought my water broke and asked if somebody could come get Dylan from our car for me. She and the principal came out to get Dylan from me. Dylan left with them just fine - I'm glad he had met them and his teacher already. The ladies asked if there was anything they could do for me, and I just smiled and nervously told them no. They said Dylan could stay in after care or to call if I needed anything.

I called my OB doctor's cell phone. He told me he would be in surgery that morning, but to go to the hospital to get checked and he'd check on me. I called Steven, then Corrie. This was a bigger deal than a breast pump piece, but we figured it out too. She called her mother-in-law who agreed to watch her kids and Isaac. I told Corrie I could take them there on my way to get checked at the hospital. She told me she was still early for work and would take them and how ridiculous I was. I called my mom, who doesn't like to get personal phone calls at work, and she was so excited! She told me it probably was my water and to keep her posted!

At home, walking around with the towel from under Dylan's car seat between my legs, I waddled to help put Isaac in Corrie's car then took a shower. I was giddy but wondering why I didn't have any labor symptoms. I called Lacey after my shower to see what I should pack in my hospital bag and why I wasn't cramping. She said I was cracking her up because I was so happy instead of being worried or in pain. She said I shouldn't worry about not having favors and a going home outfit, I should just be worried if I would have a healthy baby or not - that's all that matters. Steven came home and got the car seat and other stuff and was wondering why I was taking time to dry my hair. He sorta thought it would be a false alarm so he wasn't even going to change out of his work clothes. I didn't want to put pants on because I kept leaking. I had a towel there. Steven told me to put a skirt on and that should be a no brainer. At least he was thinking clearly - brilliant!

The drive to the hospital was fun, not what I had pictured. I was planning on laboring at home until I couldn't take it any more and knew that drive would be horrid. I put make up on instead of double checking the hospital registration paperwork we were supposed to turn in. We made plans for Don to pick up Isaac from Noah's grandma's house after Don's dental appointment at my office then for him to get Dylan from school. Thank goodness for my mom and Don and Corrie's family!

8:20 water breaks
9:45 leave for hospital
10:10 Arrive at Baby Place
10:30 Triage room 5, confirm fluids, 1cm, 50% effaced and high

11:10 Labor and Delivery room 6

11:40 IV
11:50 pitosin

12:20 Dr. McNeill came in and checked me. 1cm, 50% effaced and high
(while waiting) tried to pick between Trey Daniel Feger and Tyler Daniel Feger

12:40 Steven got lunch in cafeteria
We thought of family names and added more to the mix. That's where the name "Martin" was added. It's my mom's dad's middle name. It just so happens that my brother is also named Martin. Steven asked if he thought that my other brothers would be jealous. I didn't think so. I have good brothers and sisters.

1:25 try to sleep but contractions are getting stronger
3:30 ask for epidural, 2cm dilated
4:00 epidural by Dr. Confident
4:30 5cm!

5:25 I asked to be checked again b/c I was sure it was pretty much time even though it hadn't been an hour yet. The nurse said "I see him, let's call the doctor!"
5:30 my mom got there and said she was going to cry. She left her class a half hour early.
5:35 Dr. McNeill got there and got dressed to deliver
5:44 Dr. McNeill, the best OB doctor ever, delivered our baby!

Steven cut the cord, I took the picture. Dr. McNeill laughed that it was the first time that he had seen the mom take a picture of that.

I got to hold my baby boy!

kangaroo time

6:26 nursed for 20 min on left

7:00 nursed a little on right
7:15 Steven held him

then my mom held him

7:30 6lbs, 10 oz - my mom guessed the weight exactly! It's the same weight that I was and that Matt and Hollie's baby, Gracie, weighed 3 weeks ago when she was born.

length 51cm (or 20")
head 34cm (or 13-1/2")
chest 31cm (or 12")
belly 29-1/2cm (or 11-1/2")

Rang Brahm's lullaby doorbell
Got to mom and baby room 16

visitors: Andre and Barbie with a big bouquet of flowers, Darren, Corrie, and Ivy with half of a mango key lime pie, and a balloon, Don, Dylan, and Isaac.

First of many MANY pictures of these two together.

Isaac was excited to see him and wanted to hold him.

Dylan was a little stand-offish. The day should have been about him but he had been taken into school by a stranger, picked up by Grand-dad, gone to Chick-Fil-A for dinner, then to Millennium Park, then to their house, then to the hospital at their bed time! What a stimulating happy day - I wish I could have sat down with him at bed time to talk about his day.

For anybody who doesn't live near family - I'm so sorry! These two are life savers. My mom helped in the delivery room just being moral support, and Don did all of the behind the scenes stuff. Then they both had a day of service on Saturday where my mom cleaned the church building, then did her mom's lawn while babysitting for me! I bet she did more service that day too, but that's all that I know for sure about.

Dylan kept to himself with his coloring/joke/activity book from his grandparents.

Isaac asked to hold the baby again.

Before leaving, Dylan agreed to hold Tyler. He didn't really hold tightly because he had big blisters on both hands from crossing the whole way across the monkey bars at school that day.

The visitors left and Steven and I had some alone time with our little guy. He was sound asleep. I don't much care for the hospital blankets/hats, but he hadn't had his bath yet so I waited to take pictures of him.

Then I realized I could convert to black and white later.

I love that he has the ink still on his feet - he's so new!

I couldn't take not having a cute cuddly picture of my baby, so I put my hat and blanket on him real quick and took a picture of him on my lap. That's about the time the nurse came in. She was appalled that I was dressing him when he was still dirty. Isn't he the sweetest little angel cuddly baby boy ever?!

Bath in our room - the baby never left our room until the last day. I like that. I don't like when they take the baby away to the nursery because what if they're rough and just jaded and not loving to my baby?!

10:15 nursed on right for 20 min
11:45 sleep

And THAT was an eventful day!!

12am woken up for vitals
3am glucose check, low
3:05 nursed 20 min and stared at me - so cute!
3:45 glucose check, 54
4:15 vitals on me
5 brought restless Tyler slept with me in my bed
6 glucose check, 58
6:05 nurse for 10 min on right
6:30 blood work on me
6:45 asked if Tyler ate
7:15 birth cert info - officially Tyler Martin Feger!
7:25 go ahead and ordered breakfast since I keep getting interrupted! A total of 4 hours of sleep if I add it all together. The worst interruption was to ask how room service was. Did they have to bother us for that?

So that's a long enough post. Of course my baby boy is so cute. I love to kiss him. He sleeps so well now, he eats well too. Everything is falling into place even though it was a little stressful worring about rescheduling photo shoots, getting the baby room together, finding substitutes for church and work, getting Dylan school supplies and to and from school, etc - but I think this is the way it's supposed to be. My body was pretty much at done so it is really happy now. I can't believe he's still supposed to be in there!

Dylan's 1st day of Kindergarten

2011-08-22T12:41:00.000-04:00

I woke up to hearing Dylan being excited and asking what else he needs to take in his back pack. I didn't really want to get out of bed. Did he really have to leave? He sounded so excited though.
We took the front door pictures.
I kissed his hands like in "The Kissing Hand" book. We had made hand prints then I put heart stickers on them. He had put the cardboard in his backpack the day before - that made me smile.

He really was excited and didn't want us to be late.

We got in Steven's car so he could go right to work afterwards. We got there early and had to wait for them to open the front doors.

It was a bit chaotic. The principal told us they would open the doors in 2 minutes but in 2 seconds, the doors opened and people were flooding in.

We had Dylan show us where his room was to see if he could do it by himself. He passed his class the first time so we had him look for his name. Isaac actually pointed it out to Dylan.

He's so cute.

Ms. Wilson had 4 stations set up at the tables. The kids could choose if they wanted to look at books, do puzzles, play with play dough, or color. Dylan got to color because we were early enough that he got to choose.

He drew a picture of himself and of Isaac then wrote his name on the back. Steven kissed him good bye and told me not to stay too long. I lingered a little.

But no other parents were in there, so Isaac and I left. Here's a picture of his teacher standing across from my little Dylan. See Dylan's back of his head?

I walked to the office to get Dylan's student number and any other information I might need - apparently not. I have heard about other schools having a "Boo hoo breakfast" for moms of kindergartners, but Dylan's school just had "R' Club" sign up going on in there. I wish I knew another kindergartner mom who had a kid in Dylan's school. I feel so out of control.

Isaac and I walked back home. Yes I was a little sad that Dylan is starting his 13 years of school already. I kind of want a video monitor in his class. Is that too over protective? I just want to make sure he's not getting looked over and I want to know how to supplement at home.

So Isaac really is my little shadow today. He's used to playing with his big brother. He already pretended to call Dylan, Malia, Daddy, and Noah on his pretend phone. We have read lots of books. He is sitting on my lap while we go through which pictures to include in this post. We did a puzzle a couple of times and cleaned out the car. I can't wait until we start Joy School. That will be two days of structure for us. I can't wait to go get Dylan! We were going to go in the pool after our walk home since he is on the playground for his last part of school but there are dark clouds coming. I can't wait to find out how his first day went!!

Dear Dylan, you're 5 and a half!

2011-08-21T23:25:00.001-04:00

Dear Dylan,

You're 5-1/2 years old. You're like a big man now. You know how to be the man of the house when Daddy is gone. You find bugs and tell me not to come near because I wouldn't like it. You take care of them. (Or keep me away until Daddy comes home.) One day you found a big spider and tried to make a trap for it. You asked what spiders ate and I told you they eat insects. You wanted to go find one but, not realizing that it really was a big spider, I told you to draw a picture of an ant for your trap. You were so frustrated that you didn't know how to draw a good ant. I finally went to the corner to see the huge spider! That was so thoughtful of you to keep me away, but I ended up spraying it and we waited for Dad to come home to take care of it. You also make sure that you have enough sunscreen, snacks, water, etc when you go on an excursion with a babysitter. I like that you know how to take charge.

You love to play "jungle man." You have lots of things that you use in your jungle forts and areas. You get Isaac to play along and you boys know how to entertain yourselves for quite a while.

Your favorite foods are cereal, veggie wraps, smoothies, and water. When given a choice of food, you often ask me which is healthier. You choose the healthy food. Of course you go for the junk when offered and will never pass up McDonald's.

You are starting to think about body image and want a six pack. You ask about other people who you think are strong and ask how they achieved their muscles. You do sit ups and other exercises on your own while counting to ten in Korean.

You started Tae Kwon Do and are a good listener. You always sit up and are respectful. Daddy, Dylan, and I love watching you. You're the fastest when you do the elephant crawl across the floor! You come home and love to practice.

You are starting Kindergarten tomorrow. I'm anxious for you. I want a video monitor on you the whole time. I know that's crazy, but I'll miss you and want to help you and want to make sure your teacher gives you all the attention you deserve.

You will start piano lessons in a week and a half. You're not that excited about it because you do not know what to expect. You like to be good at things or don't want to do it in public. You're shy at first. I think it's important to start you as early as possible in as many things as I can so you will get the confidence that you can do anything. You really can. You can jump high and jump low (off of high things).
You are an amazing swimmer.
You try new things and tricks in the pool.
You are really good at coloring in the lines.

You still whine some times and I don't like that one bit.

You are helpful. If you know a rule, you usually remember and follow it. You hang up your towels and put your dishes in the sink. You usually finish all of your food too.

You can be funny.

You don't take naps much at all. You will usually be quiet in your bed (or mine if I separate you and Isaac) until you ask if you can clean or color downstairs.

You're not that cuddly but will sit next to us and will sorta snuggle in beside Daddy and/or me on the couch or on the church pew.

You want to wear your "super hero shorts" every single day. They're black gym shorts that came w/ a super hero shirt. You used to wear underwear over them, but now you wear it under them, thank goodness.

You are serious about growing up to be a jungle man and might live in Africa or the Weeki Wachi River. You want a red canoe as your transportation. I told you that maybe you could go on a mission to a jungle some day, but you do still need to go to college.

You like to watch jungle shows on the animal channel (Daddy turns them on for you). When it was shark week on the Discovery Channel, you had a night mare. Sometimes those shows aren't meant for little kids, sorry! You like to stay up to watch "one more commercial" after you brush your teeth and are in PJs etc.

You can read, but are wiggly when we're reading books. You want to know it all right away so sometimes get stuck on simple words. It frustrates you that you don't know it all right away, but you work through it then are happy.

I love you so much! You know how to make good decisions. I'm excited for all you're learning now!

it's a school night.

2011-08-21T23:03:00.002-04:00

It's officially a school night.
Dylan's 1st day of Kindergarten is tomorrow.

His lunch is packed.
His Spider man towel has his name on it.
His back pack is by the door.
He has new shoes and his clothes are laid out.
We've gone over the alphabet, counting, coloring in the lines, his name, my name, Daddy's name, our phone #, his teacher's name, his grade, how many siblings he has, that it's okay to answer questions even if he doesn't know the whole answer etc.
I still hate it.

I wanted to ask how many days he's able to miss but Steven said not to ask that.
I feel like I'm not in control. He missed as many days as I wanted him to miss at his preschool, and he only went 2 days a week at most. I could go in and stay, drop him off whenever, pick him up whenever, and it was good.

He has been home all summer. That felt right.
I'll miss him of course, but it's more the fact that he'll be with a complete stranger more waking hours than he will be with me. That's just dumb. He's only 5. If I were my mom, I'd home school him (and would be involved in a million activities/supplements with him and other friends). Well there are a lot of factors involved it's not just that black and white. I know Kindergarten teachers and know that they know what they're doing, but still. I'm pretending, to Dylan, that this is the most exciting fun thrilling yet serious thing.

So it's a school night, so I better go to bed too.

"Look Mom, there's a lake in our back yard!"

2011-08-20T01:24:00.000-04:00

8/17/11 It was raining. It was pouring. There was lightning. There was thunder. There was a lake in our street and the water went way up onto the grass. The boys would jump and point when a big car would go by with it's big waves and lingering wake. In our back yard, it looked like a lake! I don't remember ever seeing that much standing water back there. When the sun came out, it was still there, so I took the kids outside. We painted hand prints and I put hearts in the middle of them and we talked about The Kissing Hand book. We did sidewalk chalk on the wet cement. I think that might have been a first for them.

They finally ventured out to the lake to wash their hands. (Little did they know, they would end up with anything but clean hands . . .)

I love this jungle boy look.

Dylan wants pictures too, but he's too cool to just smile or laugh. He wants to show off his tough jungle man side.

A beetle!

Dylan: "Should I jump from up here mom?"
Me: not paying attention just look up with my camera
Dylan: [jump, splash, yuck, regret]

Me: "You jumped from way up there?! wow."

Dylan: "Can we please go in the pool NOW?"
Me: "No way, look how dirty you are."
Dylan: "You can hose us off."

Then they raced across the pool this way and that. Isaac can win if he doesn't take a breath. Length wise, they both "cheat" by jumping the gun.

I love that they play so well together and are my dirty little boys.

(We did this instead of going to lunch w/ Steven. It wouldn't have been smart to attempt driving on our flooded road/stream. Later, Steven and I ate at the Lobster Pot then got some Rita's Italian Ice to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. Steven also got us all tickets to see Les Miserables next February. The tickets went on sale that day at noon. He also got me a box of William Dean chocolates!)

Church night at the Rays game

2011-08-19T23:40:00.001-04:00

8/6/11 Our Saturday started out with me volunteering with a lot of other RDHs and studednts from PCDHA. We gave free dental screenings and fluoride treatments at the Junior League's back to school care fair. I'm not in this picture b/c I took it. There's no need to try to fit in this big crowd.

Steven took the kids to the St. Pete Pier for some activities. We met at the Moon Under Water for lunch before I went to a friend's baby shower. April is due 2 days after my baby is due. She's getting her girl.

Then we all went to the Taco Bus for dinner. I really like the food there and so do the kids!

We sat high up in the section that was reserved for members of our church. There were over 300 tickets sold to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members. Even the missionaried got to go.

Walking in, Isaac tripped and scraped his knee. He of course took a picture of it. (Don't worry, I can barely see it either.)

Because it was so dificult to pay attention to the game from so far away, we took a long walk and waited in a long line to go pet the sting rays. Both boys really got to touch them!

They ran the bases at one of the main gates.

Then we went back to our seats for a while.

Sister Pittman took this and I stole it.

My feet were swollen and my legs were tired after the long day, but it was well worth it:)

a real luau party!

2011-08-13T23:56:00.000-04:00

Dylan and Isaac love back yard Hawaii parties, so they were so excited when they heard our church's party was going to be a Luau with a real roasted pig and real Hawaii dancers!

Isaac likes to make silly faces for the camera.

My young women put on the opening dance number for the party. They invited some of the younger girls to join them. Keia choreographed it and thankfully they didn't have me participate!

Dylan took a front row seat for the entertainment and sat there the whole time. The "Hawaii girls" did a lot of dances. Dylan wanted there to be jungle men dancers too, but they just played the drums.

We will miss their last Gille uncle. He's going away to school soon.

Maybe I should teach Dylan the real way to do the limbo. But then again, at least he's having fun and is participating!

The boys played with the missionaries, Elder Moffet and Elder Parker before we left.

It was a good turn out, and a fun part of our busy weekend.

Play date with Ivy!!

2011-08-13T23:30:00.000-04:00

8/5/11 The baby swap has begun. Corrie had her baby first then kept her for over a month before letting me watch her. Finally - she came over! Then it hit me. The kids better get good use out of their choking hazard toys like the marble race track because we're going to have to baby proof this house all over again soon.

Dylan kept washing his hands so he could help with baby Ivy.

Our other friends, the Taylor kids and their mom came over. I can't believe the summer is almost over. I wasn't going to have the kids all go swimming with just me as the lifeguard if I had to hold a newborn, so the first time was perfect that my friend was there with me.

We broke in some of my new baby toys. Ivy was just perfect!

After hot dogs on the grill and popsicles, I'd say the day was a perfect success. I really am not looking forward to school starting for my Dylan.

MY office baby shower (dinner and pool party)

2011-08-10T00:28:00.000-04:00

I've lost count at how many office baby showers Dr. Brayer has thrown. There are at least two babies born/year there, and I've been there 6 years!

We played baby shower games.

You know the clothes pin game - you can't say the word 'Baby' or somebody will steal your pin. Zach got his mom by asking if this was a birthday party. While preparing the delicious food, she replied, "no, this is a baby shower." Zach was sooo happy! Zach also asked if his teeth were adult teeth. I was onto him and told him they were his deciduous teeth:) Sorry. Steven had all sorts of questions for him to ask like if his baby cousin, Alyssa, was a big girl.

We guessed how many jelly beans were in a baby bottle. Poor Jason, Dr. Brayer's husband, had counted all 200+ of them.

Each person cut a piece of ribbon to the size they thought was the length of my belly's equator.

Guess what - Steven was exactly correct!

After delicious food (quite the spread), we had cake!

The kids really wanted to go in the pool, but because not everybody was going to swim, we opened presents first.

Key word: WE. The kids were all over me and the gifts. Thank goodness Bevin was writing down the gifts for me. And there were a LOT of gifts! Dr. Brayer got me a sit n stand stroller! I got a ton of other things, honestly. We made out!

Warm pool time!

Kaitlyn didn't want to go to me because she was worried it was a swimming lesson. The other kids had fun though and Isaac and Lexi were even competitive racing back and forth to me and the wall.

Steven's new job is awesome! (His office baby shower post)

2011-08-10T00:14:00.000-04:00

Steven has good friends at his new job already. I guess it's not exactly new any more, but he's been there less than a year. Jennifer and Sarah wanted to throw Steven a baby shower and made it on a day that I could be there. Then they asked to make sure I was bringing Dylan and Isaac. I wasn't planning on it, but OK why not! How thoughtful! Here we are in the break room with the hostesses.

Real quick, here's Steven's office. I think I need to print some collages for his wall there, what do you think?

The room was all decorated! There was lace on our table and it felt so fancy! One friend even volunteered to take over the camera for me. She took lots of photos for us!

There was pizza, salad, drinks, chips - a feast!

Here are some of the presents, they went all out, and it was a day when a lot of people work from home (it's a good job), so even thought there were a lot of people there, they apologized for a low turn out - whatever!

Dylan and Isaac helped open the gifts.

Dylan and Isaac had signs they could hold up if it got too quiet. Dylan's said "Oooh" and Isaac's said "Ahh."

I have to say that one of the most thoughtful gifts was not one, but TWO home made flans! Vanessa's flan is the best Steven or I have ever had. She knew it was my birthday the next day, so she made it for my birthday too! She also gave us a big box of diapers. Wow.

Isaac wasn't holding his sign, and Steven thought our high chair deserved some extra crowd participation:)

Apparently it's a tradition to make baby bonnets out of the bows and ribbons. We participated like good parents-to-be:)

Look at the huge cake! It was actually made out of pull apart cupcakes! Yummy and messy.

The party planners thought of everything, they had twistable crayons and brand new coloring books for Dylan and Isaac to keep! What a perfect idea. They still color them and LOVE their own new coloring books.

All of the people at Steven's office are so generous. We're ready for our baby now!!

Summer youth temple trip

2011-08-09T23:53:00.002-04:00

7/29/11 I got to go to the Orlando temple with the youth from our church. Aren't they so beautiful?!

This is the bishop, as usual.

Here's an attempt at a jumping photo.

Madeline Pittman took this beautiful photo that day.

Isn't the temple so pretty? It's where Steven and I were married almost 9 years ago.

The bishop and his wife took us all out to eat at Chevy's. There were two long tables like this - we had a great turn out for the temple trip. (I stole both of these photos from Sandra.)

Pass-A-Grille Beach - so relaxing

2011-08-09T23:29:00.000-04:00

7/29/11 We hit our 7th beach (out of 10). We went fairly early in the morning. I took an umbrella and was wanting to just take it easy. I had pretty much been in bed so we needed to get out of the house. Pass-A-Grille is perfect for relaxing. The parking lot is so close to this big cement sea wall area which has a restaurant, bathrooms, a shower, and this perfect bench where I sat. And look at the shade from the palm trees! I didn't need to put up the umbrella or wear my big floppy hat. My lens fogged up for the first photo.

Dylan and Isaac did their own thing while I sat and watched.

Dylan found lots of sea shells.

Isaac found some too, but he threw them back.

Dylan collected them for me. They now know what sand dollars look like when broken.

My big belly and I couldn't have been more content that morning:)

Then my friend Jolyn came w/ another friend and their kids. We saw dolphins! I love the beach.

Happy Birthday to me!

2011-08-08T00:32:00.000-04:00

7/21/11 I've already posted about the boring details of my birthday, but here are the photos.
I woke up to opening my 2008 blog books from Kat and Steven! I'll spare you the photos of me blowing my nose and of me smiling sleepily w/ my big swollen face holding up the books. But I WAS/AM happy!

I went to work, yady yady ya, then went to dinner, with tired sick eyes, but that's ok b/c my mom and Don got me another blog book!! 2009 vol 1!

Carmelita's

Back at our home, Steven had gotten me a chocolatey cake. Dr. Brayer had gotten me the round one earlier that day, and we got the flan and cupcakes the day before at Steven's office baby shower. (And I'm wondering how I got sick???!)

The kids were crazy. Malia and Noah hadn't been over in forever, and you saw how much sugar they had after being cooped up in a restaraunt for too long! I thought my headache was from the crazy noisy kids!

It was a fun birthday:)

Happy 18th Birthday, Paige!

2011-08-07T23:29:00.000-04:00

Fire Station Field Trip!

2011-08-07T23:21:00.000-04:00

7/15/11 My friend, Liz, set up a time for us to go visit a fire station! She saw it was a free thing that a mom's group could do, so she invited a couple of moms from church to go. We went there as the fire engines were leaving though! There was a fire at a McDonald's. So we waited in the shade and talked for a while.

One truck came back, so we interrupted a fireman from cleaning his gear. He was so kind!

He took time to talk to all of the kids.

Then we went inside for a tour. We had to leave a little early because I had a photo session, but it was still a fun opportunity for Dylan and Isaac. Thanks for the invite, Liz!