love them

The first 3 weeks...

Here are some pics of our little faith the first 3 weeks of her life! She is a doll...minus the gas and fussiness and reflux:) But...I wouldn't trade her for the world. She is so sweet and loves to smile...just haven't caught that on camera!

Happy Birthday to My Most Favoritest Person!!

Happy Birthday to my husband and best friend! I hope he has a wonderful birthday. I feel bad that I have slacked a little on his birthday this year...BUT I did just have a baby 2 weeks ago! Is that an excuse??!! Anyway...I love him and did wish him a happy birthday at 4am this morning while feeding baby Faith! We will enjoy a yummy dinner at Cafe Rio tonight as well. He really is an amazing husband and father. To just let you know...he taught Noah how to ride a bike with NO training wheels today...what a good daddy on his birthday and what a big boy I have...I seriously cried!! We love you...love, your 3 girls and 1 little man!

The Beginning of the End of the Night Night!

So a few nights ago daddy told Noah they should cut up his beloved (and horrifying) night night. He got it as his blessing blanket when he was 3 months old. It used to be bright white...now is some shade of nasty gray no matter how much bleach we use! Noah was excited...he cut it himself. He now has a small corner of his blanket and the rest is all folded up and put away! Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of this blanket...baby steps right! AND...hopefully when the blanket is all gone...he will stop sucking his thumb!! I am proud of the big step he took so far though!

Faith is here!!

Faith Catherine arrived 3 weeks early, on December 29th! She weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces and was 19 inches long. She is beautiful! She looks like a mix of Noah and Brynnley!! She has quite a bit of dark hair...I am sure it won't last, but we love it.
On Monday, Dec. 28th, I went to the dr. and was dilated 2 cm. She went ahead and stripped my membranes. I went home and had some contractions throughout the rest of the day. By 10 pm I was having contractions pretty strong. By 11 pm they were anywhere from 3 to 7 min apart. I called the hospital around 1 am and they said to lay for 1 more hour to see if they continue...hello...this is my 3rd baby...yes they are real!! Anyway, an hour later I called to tell them they were 2-3 min apart! So they said, go in. I got to the hospital around 3 am and was contracting every min and a half!! SO painful!! Finally they checked me and I was almost 4 cm. They admitted me and gave me the epidural around 5 am. The epidural part was interesting. I had told my nurse that my blood pressure drops whenever I get an epidural. So she pumped my IV with fluids and they gave me the epidural. As usual, my blood pressure dropped. They gave me some more stuff in my IV. Then as my lips were white and I was ready to pass out they continued to try and get it up. I got naseous and threw up a little. The dr. decided to give me epinephrine in my IV to keep my heart rate going strong. Finally, all seemed to balance out...EXCEPT for the fact that the epidural only really took on my left side! I could still feel partial contractions on my right side of my body. My sisters were both able to be there with Brandon and me for the labor and delivery.
Anyway...finally they broke my water and within 15 min I felt pressure! The nurse checked me and I was dilated 9 cm. So they got all set up and I started to push. Faith arrived at 9:41 am after about 15 min of pushing. I love her so much and am so blessed. I loved that I got to hold her right away and have bonding time with her. She is perfect! Daddy was such a good help through labor. I think he should have been a dr! He loves the whole crazy process and always wants to see what is going on. He is a great daddy and our 3 children are lucky to have him as their daddy. I am so grateful Heavenly Father has blessed me with this family. I wish my momma could be here to see her grandchildren...but I know she bonds with them and is watching over us.
Noah and Brynn met their new sister the next day because the hospital is not allowing children to visit patients because of the h1n1 virus. When we got home they were soooo excited! They both held her and loved her. It melts my heart. I know it will be crazy at times with 3 kids...but I love it and am truly blessed!

Merry Christmas 2009

So Christmas was wonderful! It was so much fun to watch the kids really get into it this year. Santa spoiled them a little too much I think. We started off Christmas Eve with my Aunt and Uncle and lots and lots of cousins. We woke up Christmas morning and opened gifts at our house. Noah was a tornado! He blew right through them! He was sitting up awake in his bed when daddy went in to get him in the morning. He was so excited that Santa came and he woke his sister up to tell her! Then we headed to my sisters for more Christmas and then to my in-laws for yet some more. It was a fun, busy and perfect day! The day after Christmas we headed to my uncle's (my mom's brothers home). It was nice to spend time with our small, cozy family there as well. Here are LOTS and LOTS of pictures...I couldn't pick just a few!

9 months

This is it...my 9 month of pregnancy! Whoo Hoo!!! Can't wait for her to arrive sometime in January!

I LOVE HIM

He is the best husband and father!! I love him sooo much! I am a lucky girl!

Preschool Program and Christmas Sunday

So this past week was the beginning of the holiday countdown it seemed. We had Noah's Preschool Program and of course Christmas Sunday at church. Noah did an amazing job in his program. He sang all the songs and even knew sign language to one. He has two wonderful teachers, Mrs. Bashaw and Mrs. VanWormer. It was fun to watch him and he even had daddy, and Grandma and Grandpa there! Not just mommy and Brynnley:)
Sunday was our church Christmas program with beautiful songs and great speakers. I love to reflect on the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He really has given us the greatest GIFT we could ever hope for. Noah has asked me a lot about Santa and Jesus and who is "better..." He has learned now that Jesus gave us the best gift, to live with Him and our families again! I love this time of year!!

Got Milk?

Baby Shower

Thanks to my sister Court for throwing me a shower at her house and to Whit for helping out too. I love my sisters so much. It is fun to celebrate the soon to be arrival of our little girl. I am so grateful to everyone who shared in it with us and for all of your love and support. It was also so nice to be with lots of girls and no kiddies:) (well except for my adorable little niece, Sawyer:)) Thanks again everyone!

Brynnley monster's first haircut!!!!

So this week I have been telling Brandon we need to give Brynnley her first haircut. I have NEVER cut her hair...but it was getting straggly! So today I was making lunch for kids and she was sitting at the table coloring and cutting her paper...until I looked over and saw a mischievious look on her face. She said, "I cut my hair!" I said, "What!!!" Yep...she sure did. Luckily it was the ends...but it was a lot!!! So...she started the haircutting process for me I guess. I ended up cutting her hair quite short...it looks cute though! May not be completely even, I mean I am not pro hair cutter, but good enough for me and my little monster girl!

Noah's First Primary Talk

My little boy is growing up so fast. Sunday he gave his first talk in primary. It was on "My Family and I Can Serve Others." Here it is:

One of my favorite primary songs is "When we're helping, we're happy!"
Serving means to help someone or to do something for them.
Doing things for others makes me happy!
It also makes Jesus happy.
Jesus is our best example of serving others. In the scriptures we learn that when we serve others we are also serving God.
I am trying to be like Jesus.
Some things my family and I do to serve others are:
Make dinner for someone. We have taken dinner to friends when they are sick.
Make cookies for others
Give someone a hug
Give someone flowers
Make a card for someone to show we love them
No one is too young to serve!
It makes me feel very good to do these things. I know it is what Heavenly Father and Jesus want me to do.
I would like to bear my testimony that I know this church is true. I know that serving others with our families can help us be more like Jesus.

He did such a great job! I love him to pieces!

8 Months

So I am officially in my 8th month of pregnancy. 32 weeks pregnant. Which means I am counting down the final 8 weeks!! I can't believe how fast it is starting to go by with the holidays and how much I feel like I still need to do...oh the never ending task of trying to be organized!!! Anyway, Noah and Brynn are getting anxious to meet their sister and mommy is getting anxious as I am now quite uncomfortable. The pictures don't really do my belly justice...I had an old lady But it will all be worth it! ask me at costco if I had 2 in there! I was like, no...just one. She proceeded to tell me maybe I would be surprised! I said, NO...we have had 7 ultrasounds!! Some people just need to keep their mouth shut!! Oh well. It will all be worth it though!!

Our Sunday Morning

Sunday was such a great day. We started off the morning getting ready and of course the kids played for a bit. Brynnley has been obsessed with the Narnia movies (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian)! That morning I gave her an old skirt that had snags and such so she could play in it. I tied it on her and made it a dress she could play around the house in. I heard her in her room playing and pretending to be "Susan" from Narnia. Brandon looked to see what was up and started laughing. He said I had to come see. She had put the finishing touches on her outfit and was "Susan the Queen!" Ha ha. She is such a cutie.

Sunday was also Noah's very first primary program in sacrament meeting. He memorized his part: "I am grateful for my family because my mom and dad do things so well and cool for my sister and me!" He helped his teacher to come up with his part- so it was his own words. He looked very handsome and even asked to take the scriptures with him that day. He sat on stage and got up to the microphone when it was his turn. Into the microphone he said, "I can do it by myself." Of course people laughed. However...he did go on to do his part so well all by himself. I am one proud momma. I love him so much! He even sang all the songs so well.

The pictures of him and Brynn are before church. They were dancing together- mommy and daddy showed them:)