My Girl!

She's here! Our beloved Georgianna Ruth, or Anna, made her grand entrance into the world on Monday. This little squishy bundle weighed in at 8 lbs and measured 21 inches. I woke up Monday morning with painful contractions at 6:45 am and got to the hospital at 9:30. She was born at 12:30! There was no time for any medication but at least it was fast. I pushed for 30 minutes and was so excited to see her. She's been my little friend these last nine months and I feel like we already have a relationship. I was so alert after the birth and could think straight, something that took me weeks after the boys were born. I highly recommend having children one at a time and avoiding c-sections!
She's perfect in every way. She's eating like a champ and sleeps a lot. With the boys there wasn't enough food to go around and we were all exhausted and crazy from the crying. She only cries when she's hungry and then feeding her takes care of that for a few hours. What a concept!!!
Hello world! I'm a little sleepy!
Her big brothers are being incredible. They were so excited to see her and have given up their places in the middle of the van so Anna can be there. They are feeling more grown up, we all are, and are helping a lot. That's not to say they're not trying various attention-getting devices, but they are acting more mature sometimes too. It's great to watch.
Josh took the whole week off of work and has let me sleep the mornings away while he takes care of the boys and does clean up duty. Tomorrow my parents are coming for a week and I feel so blessed to be able to enjoy this baby! She is so kissable and makes adorable noises when she nurses. She sneezes sometimes and then kind of screams as if to say, "What was that?" We love her and are so happy she's here!

Happy Easter

Were you this excited about Easter this year? The excitement level at our house was contagious. The boys had completely forgotten all about how we celebrate Easter and everything was new to them. Check out the boy-colored eggs. I don't think I've ever had Easter without a pink hard boiled egg. Blue, green, purple, even brown. We had them all. We dyed them yesterday afternoon and promised the Easter Bunny would hide them so they could hunt for them this morning. We did it all together and Sam was so excited about "what we did with our mom and dad!" When they tried to peel them this morning Michael was excited to find out they had "butter" inside, the yolk. I think he may have eaten 4 or 5 egg yolks. Cholesterol anyone?
The Easter Bunny had to plan ahead this year just in case we were at the hospital or had a new born when the day rolled around. He brought pads of paper and crayons and Sam drew his first recognizable picture today - a pirate ship. I should take a picture of that too. There were bubble wands and, of course, some jelly beans and chocolates. Nothing like a little sugar for breakfast to get a kid off on the right mood for the day!
This is blurry but I love the expression on Michael's face.

After Conference we set to work making our Easter dinner. I decided against ham in favor of a boneless pork loin roast but had the creamed new potatoes and peas, Brussels sprouts and rolls with some sparkling limeade. My helpers made it more fun. I love that he's wearing gloves to scrub the potatoes. Don't want dishpan hands, you know.

I really should be better about letting the boys help me more. They love doing things they see me do and it keeps them from fighting, but it is so messy and stressful:
Stay away from the stove.
Don't touch the knife.
You can't eat roll dough. Because it's just gross.
Be careful not to push him off the chair.
Please don't turn up the mixer so high.
Excuse me, I need to get in there.
Ah well. You get the idea.

But look at the smile on that face. "I am helping! I am big! I can DO IT!" This is the mantra around here these days so I might as well start teaching them how to do more accurately and embrace a certain level of help, precarious though it may be.

You would think they would eat more of a meal they helped make, but the call of the Easter Cake was too loud. All day Michael kept checking on it in the fridge just to make sure it was still there and to decide which jelly beans he would like to eat. I loved it.
I brought out the china plates and put some daffodils on the table. The boys may not like pork roast, but Josh and I did, and it was such a nice Easter. I was able to listen to so much more General Conference than I have the past few years. I actually took some notes this afternoon! So many of the talks were addressed to parents and I really felt inspired in ways I can help my family more and really think about my parenting instead of just winging it so much.

There was a great feeling in our home today and I hope that can continue as I try to be more patient with and focused on the boys, oh, until the new baby comes, that is!

Here are some movie clips from the day. My favorite is the egg hunt when they fail to see the egg on the rug by the door. Hope it puts a smile on your face. Happy Easter!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

6 Days to Go, But Who's Counting

Freezer, full. Nursery, assembled. Hospital bag, packed. Baby clothes, washed. Diaper basket, full. Car seat, in the car if not installed. Tomorrow is April 1st and I am trying not to think about having a baby any day now. I had some signs of labor on Sunday and thought she might be here by now, but I'm still waiting. I had an ultrasound yesterday to make sure she's growing and she's measuring 10 days behind, as far as they can tell, so I guess she can keep on cookin' in there another week and it would be good for her but I need to get my mind on something else! Here's our tiny lawn that can be mowed in less than 5 minutes. When Josh says, "I'm going to mow the lawn" I have to remember how small it is and not think he's going to be busy for 2 hours and need a shower. He did this when he got home from work, with some helpers, of course.

Here's another father-son moment. What IS under that hood? Just a basic lesson in guy stuff.


The girls in my ward had a little shower for me with Cafe Rio salad and lemon cake! There are three of us due next week, so it was so nice to have a little party just for me while everyone is so busy. I have to say the girl clothes are so much more fun than boy clothes! Two Sundays ago my cousin Robert and his wife Colleen stayed with us on their way to San Francisco and points south. It was such a beautiful spring evening and we had the table all set with a while table cloth, yellow napkins, and green goblets. I only have 4 goblets so if you visit kids will be having IKEA plastic cups! We watched the health care vote and had roasted chicken and vegetables then pound cake with strawberries and vanilla ice cream. It was so fun to see them!


Then on Saturday we had more fun visitors. My cousin Sarah stopped by on her way to Oregon. See a theme here? We live in a great pit stop! We grew up together but I don't even remember the last time I saw her and I know I haven't seen many of her kids at all! We had a nice visit and let the kids play. I am always amazed how well my boys play with family. It's like a 6th sense and they just take to each other like fish to water. When they left Sam was sad and said, "I just wish they could stay." I did too.

So, I could have another week or only a few days. I guess that's pretty much the same thing. I can't do a lot and am trying to enjoy the wait. The blessing is that the boys have been playing incredibly well together. I have so much time on my hands since we're not going out much that I am feeling ready for a third. We'll see how I feel on my second week of sleep deprivation! I am worried about giving enough attention to the boys and making sure they feel loved with less of my time, but we'll just get through that like all families do.

Wish You Were Hear

I started keeping track of some of the precious things I hear the boys say. Here's my list so far . . .

December 22, 2009 at bedtime
Me: If I hear any talking I will take away your stuffed animals tonight.
Sam: But talking is so fun!

January 24, 2010
Michael: Don’t sing that song. That is crazy to my mind!

January 26, 2010
Sam Listening to Mormon Tabernacle Choir's “Homeward Bound”
“Mom, this song makes me happy.”

January 30, 2010
Sam: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far awake . . .

February 2, 2010
Sam: Pats my tummy and says, “I love Anna.”

February 10, 2010 When I broke a needle on the sewing machine for the 3rd time.
Me: Oh no!
Michael: What’s the matter, Sweetheart?
Me: I broke the needle on my sewing machine.
Michael: Oh. Maybe a sandwich will help. (Offers me a bite of his!)

February 13, 2010
Sam: I can’t wait to see my sister Anna.

February 15, 2010
I was crying in my closet while getting dressed, not feeling well.
Michael: Mom, what’s the matter?
Me: I don’t feel good today.
Michael: I’ll get the doctor kit. (Gave me a big, long hug and rubbed my back).

February 23, 2010
Sam: Mom, I love your hair. Mom, your arms are soft.

Michael: Mom, when I’m a man I’ll be bigger than Anna.
Me: When you’re a man Anna will be a woman.
Michael: Can I marry her? (He recently discovered he can’t marry me either).

Me: I don’t feel good today.
Michael: We will help you today so Anna can be healthy.

February 24, 2010
Sam: When we choose the right then we’re happy. When we don’t choose the right we’re sad. Michael helps me choose the right at night.
Me: How does he do that?
Sam: He helps me to stay in bed.

March 8, 2010
Michael: In my movie Darth Vadar won’t die.

Michael: Let’s play a push-down game.
Dad: What will we push over?
Michael: You! (Tackles Dad!)

Sam: I’m so happy because I have a mommy and a sister. In my apartment I didn’t have a yard or a sister!

March 11, 2010 – when the boys woke up in the morning.
Michael: Where’s Mommy? She’s not in bed.
Sam: She’s in the pillows. (About 5 pillows keep me propped up the right way at night)

March 14, 2010
Michael: What if we have another baby? Then we would be so happy!
Sam: If it’s a sister her name can be Lollipop.
Me: It could be another brother.
Michael: I want a brother.

March 15, 2010 at bedtime
Sam: Mom, you’re like a chicken nugget.
Me: You’re like a French fry.
Sam: You’re like a garden.
Me: You’re like the beautiful stars.
Sam: You’re like the moon.
Me: You’re like the sunshine.
Sam: You’re like a cake.
Me: You’re like the ice cream on a cake.
Sam: Mom, I love you!

I love these glimpses into their hearts and minds. They are little flowers blooming and we are starting to see more and more of their beauty as they grow and are able to communicate more with us. We thought we'd better save these precious things to read when they're 15!

View From the Top

I have four weeks until my big day.

Here's my daily view from the top . . . and the side. I feel enormous and my maternity shirts are mostly tight across the belly already, but I just looked at pictures from when I was expecting the boys and I was definitely bigger with them both in there, I guess I just forgot.

The other day I made a trip to M*arshalls with the boys. I think I'm about through shopping with them because I can't chase after them and they ignore my pleas to stay by me! I was looking through the pj's for something cute to live in after the baby's born while Michael was eating this, wrapper and all. I promise we had just eaten lunch at home, but what child of mine could resist a bunny-shaped Lindt chocolate? We had to buy it.

I was just trying to tell myself it would be a good idea to stop eating desserts until after the baby is born, but I couldn't resist that bunny either and had a few bites within one hour of my new resolution!

The bedding is on the crib. The bouncy seat is cleaned and assembled with fresh batteries in it. We really are just trying to stay busy until she's born.

The Mother of All Rooms

I've been nesting. I guess there's no other word for it. It doesn't seem to involve any cleaning, however, just decorating. So, here are my latest babies, the two newly decorated childrens' rooms. It's a long way from sharing our room with the twins when we brought them home to our one-bedroom apartment in Virginia three years ago.

Here's the boys' room with their finished quilts! They've been in their big boy beds for about a month and they love it. After sleeping in there since September, Michael has finally started calling it his room. His old room is now officially "Anna's room." We are so glad he doesn't miss his crib or room or wonder why it's now pink. It will make things a lot easier when she comes.
Just about a month ago Sam told someone that his daddy painted his room blue - in August. He absolutely loves it. There's a picture of two docked sailboats by his bed that he helped pick out.I already wrote about the quilts here. Let me just say that I started making them last April and I don't think I'll ever make any others. Sam's already has a seam that's come undone. But, they are beautiful and bring me a lot of satisfaction every time I see them. The boys like snuggling up under them too which is very sweet. I made the valance years ago for our "study" in our Bloomington, Indiana townhouse

We've had these frames since we got married but they were light yellow. I painted them red and covered the yellow matting with some blue card stock. The three of us went to the bookstore to buy a sailing magazine, then picked these two pictures to frame.
Then there's Anna's room. It brings to mind Steel Magnolia's line, "Pink is my signature color. My colors are Blush and Bashful. I have chosen two shades of pink, one is much deeper than the other."

I ordered the bedding from Ta*rget and made the valances out of two curtain panels, cut down the center then sewed together length-wise. I had to line them in broadcloth first because they were as flimsy and thin as worn sheets, but I did it all in one day and hung them up with great love and pride!

The room will be very dusty by the time she's born. I don't know why I have set up already since I'll have to wash it all again just before she comes, but it's fun to go in there and look at it and imagine the sleepless nights I'll be spending in it soon and of course the sweet baby who will make it her own.
I like that the pattern has blue in it so I can use some of the boys' things. The recliner and some of the things on the wall are blue but they fit right in. I didn't have a good place to nurse the boys an am looking forward to doing it in relative comfort. The changing pad and hamper are both pink and I think if everything were pink it would "look like the whole place has been hosed down with Pepto Bismal." A little pink goes a long way.
So now I hardly know what to do with myself. I am going to put away the sewing machine and try to get out of the house more to let the boys enjoy the (pardon me if you don't live in California) nice spring weather outside. It's going to be 70 degrees this week and the trees are blossoming. Don't worry, I'll be envying you in May when it's already too hot to play outside here in the afternoons.

Crafty Me

In changing the nursery from blue to pink I've been pursuing a hot little number like this one, but cheaper. This lovely lamp shade can be yours for only $80.00, plus tax, shipping, and handling. I don't think I even want to pay that much for a stroller, so shelling that out for a lamp shade was out of the question. I checked Target and Wal-Mart and came up with absolutely nothing pink. There's a lot of red out there, but nothing "baby" looking in either pink or blue for that matter. Online, Wal-Mart has a lamp with a plain pink shade for $40, but I think that's still too much. When the boys were born I got a darling lamp with a star pull-chain and a blue gingham shade at Target for about $25 but am striking out finding something for baby Anna.

So, I took matters into my own hands. I realized I had two lamps just sitting in the guest room closet. Why not cover a lampshade and make my own pretty pink creation? This little lady cost me about $4.00 at Wal-Mart this afternoon. The instructions I found online were vague to say the least. I traced the brown lampshade onto paper to make a pattern, then pinned it to the fabric and cut it out. But it didn't fit the lampshade. It was WAY too big! It would have looked like an old-fashioned lamp with the huge vertical ruffles in it, at best.
At this point I should have quit and made dinner, but I am a compulsive, addictive of person and had to see it through and clean up the mess only once.
I tried again and traced the above. It fit! Hurray! The boys played in the yard until their cheeks were pink with cold and I handled two potty accidents with less than my usual thoroughness because I had to finish this thing before dinner!!!

A little tacky glue painted on with a sponge brush stuck the fabric in place, I hope. It's a rough pink twill and looks a lot like a skirt suit I bought five years ago. I hope it stays in style longer than the suit did.
At about this time I realized something. Why did I have those two spare lamps sitting on the closet shelf again? Oh yeah! They're supposed to go on the bookcase in the family room that has been looking very empty since I took down the Christmas decorations! I knew there was something missing there but at this point the one lampshade was torn apart, covered with tacky glue, and on its way to saving me money (except now I have no lamps for my bookcase and will either have to buy new ones or put something else up there). Blame it on the hormones. All I care about at 32 weeks is getting the nursery ready so I can spend the rest of my time sitting on the couch and folding tiny pink clothes.

So, the project must go on. I glued on the hot-pink ribbon along the bottom edge. This was annoying. I should have gotten binding tape which is cut on the bias, because the ribbon doesn't lay flat when in a circle. I attached it with more tacky glue and I don't have a lot of faith in it's permanence. That's how most of my crafts are!
So, out came the glue gun. I put on the top ribbon with hot glue and it looks a little more secure, although it won't lie flat either.

The last step was to glue on the lace. If you can look closely you'll see it's tiny white butterflies and very girlie and it kind of covers up the bumpy ribbon.So, if you're still reading, here it is in it's place. I now need to spray paint the lamp base white, but that should be cheap and fast! When I turned it on it had a red hue. I don't know what I think about that.
As for dinner, thank goodness for frozen pizza!