The 'Girls' Easter

We had a 'White Easter' (6" snow fell on Saturday night) so it was a good thing we went to an Easter egg hunt at our neighbors house on Saturday. Just like last year, Clark ran off, so I have no pictures of him... Bella had a great time!

Bella still loves to sing and dance, so in her basket was a microphone - it is never far from her side these days!
Clark found his basket before I even got out of bed on Easter - so the candy was already consumed, money counted and the tie and shirts put away. And he wonders why I don't have as many pictures of him on the blog?


Lucy loved her eggs with nothing inside - she really just likes holding and sucking on them. But most of all she loved her little flower and is really cute when she plays with it!

Happy Belated Easter!!

My Sisters

My dad's wedding was the last weekend in February, so our whole family was together, AMAZING! I think the last time we were all together was at the last wedding (that was in 2005!!!). Anyway, it was a busy weekend, as all weddings are. After the wedding stuff was all over, all of us girls left our kids at the hotel with our great hubbies (except for Sharma - she will get one soon enough :) and hung out at Chili's for a couple of hours eating chips, salsa, more dessert, etc. We had such a great time and I realized again how much I miss living close to each of my terrific sisters. I got married and moved away when Sharma was only 6 and I have really missed being more apart of each of their lives. So, in honor of my sisters, here is a list of just three of the many things I love about each of them and many of them could apply to more than one because they are great!

Sharma: Excited about life, a romantic, adaptable

Elise: Positive, amazing artist, dependable

Janeen: Awesome crocheter, kind friend, caring

Cami: Funny, super decorator, generous

I wish I was a better big sister - I keep trying (as with most things in my life) and hopefully I will keep getting better at it! I love each of you!! I think it is time for girl only trips!

Teeth Tragedy

It has taken me some time before I could even post about Bella's little teeth. She had just finished her shower a few Sunday's ago and decided that she was going to get herself out of the tub before I helped her and down she went, hitting her chin on the edge of the tub. Her bottom teeth crashed into her top teeth and she pushed one front tooth forward, one backward and chipped the one that went front and the one on the other side of the pushed back tooth. Of course she was crying, but after I saw what had happened I was crying too and I think I might have cried longer. Of course, being Sunday, there wasn't anywhere I could take her, so first thing Monday morning I made an appointment with a Pediatric dentist and took her in. Good news - they didn't have to pull her teeth. Bad news - hopefully they won't have to in the future. I know they are just baby teeth but I don't want them to fall out for a few years!!

Clark's Big Ten-O Birthday

I ask myself the same question every year at Clark's birthday...am I really old enough to have a TEN year old? (Well, next year it will be eleven...) Anyway, Clark did turn 10 last month, but I am a little behind on posting things. We had a fun day - Basketball game in the morning, a few presents and a little pizza and movie party at night with his friends. Ryan took the pictures for the day since I was holding Lucy both times and I realize that I am not much of a photographer, but I can't rave about the pictures we have to document the day!

Clark has really grown up this year - taller and more mature. He is a great big brother (that someday soon is going to be able to babysit for us :), he loves to make people smiles and has aspirations to be a scientist. We are so glad to have him in our family!

Lucy is Laughing

Lucy has graduated from gasping to laughing. She suddenly started bursting out last night, and Clark protested until we got the video camera. Since we spent all that money on the camera to capture priceless moments like this one, it is a good thing we have a ten year old to twist our arm and make it worth it. (Pause the music at the bottom of the page so you can hear her.)

Growing Up

Babies just grow up...Clark is now TEN (more on that in another post), Bella is not a baby anymore and my Lucy has lost that newborn look and is now a baby. I have been TERRIBLE about posting anything in our lives as of late, but here are some pictures of our Lucy and I will try and get the latest on Bella and Clark soon!

Newborn

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months - She fell asleep while we were eating dinner :)

4 Months - Look at that chubby tummy!

She is growing up and hopfully soon she will decide that sleeping for more than 4 hours a time at night is a beautiful thing!

Bella's Funny Comments

I am terrible at journaling and this blog is about the closest thing I have to a journal, so I wanted to just get written down a few funny things Bella has said in the last couple months so I don't forget them.

Bella comes into the Living Room with her shirt up and her baby doll next to her chest.
Bella: "I am feeding my baby."
Me: "Oh, are you giving her some milk?"
Bella: "No. I am giving her juice."

Ryan is reading her a book and it has a dog in it.
Ryan: "What does the dog say?"
Bella: "Barf, Barf."

I was changing Lucy's diaper right after she was born and still had her umbillical cord stub.
Bella: "Lucy has poop on her tummy."

Bella points to my chest and asks, "What is that?" I tell her it is where I feed Lucy. She asks, "Can you feed Mary too (her doll.)?

She hit me the other day with part of a soft toy that Lucy has. I told her, "Bella, we don't hit. That hurts mom." Do I get an "I'm sorry" or "OK"? No, she responds, "Call the Doctor."

Beautiful

I was feeding Lucy today and then changed her diaper but I didn't see Bella. I put Lucy down and went to find her. The bathroom door was closed - never a good sign. I tried the handle and it was locked - a really bad sign. As I am getting a coin to open the door I smell something...a very specific smell...nail polish. Oh dear. The few seconds opening the door gave me enough time to pull myself together so I didn't loose my temper when I opened the door. There is my little girl wiping up the tile, because you see she had decided to paint her toes but unfortunately more ended up on the tile than on the toes. She looks up at me when I ask her what she is doing and tells me, "I painted my toes and now I am wiping it up." I look at her toes and ask, "How do your toes look?" "They are beautiful." she responds. See for yourself.

Look Alike?

We often wonder how much our kids look alike. I took a picture last week of Lucy wearing an outfit that Bella also wore - Bella was a month older, but since she was so small when she was born Lucy is wearing it a bit earlier. So, here is the comparison...do they look the same? Can you tell who is who?

Life with a Newborn

Well, we don't do much these days...

Lucy sleeps well sometimes and not so well other times. She sleeps best when she is snuggled up next to someone...like her dad. Ryan loves to sleep with little newborns.

Lucy also spits up a lot. Neither of my other kids were spitters, so I now have more compassion for all those other moms out there. I almost always have some sort of white stuff on my shoulder. And most of the time it is my pajama top. For some reason it takes most of the day before I get dressed. Bella is often found in pajamas too late in the afternoon...but with accessories:
Bella is still trying to figure out how to love Lucy. She decided this week she should be able to carry her around...not a good idea. Apparently giving her kisses and hugs weren't enough. She is also trying to remember how to use the bathroom every time now...a little regression. Between her pee, Lucy's spit up, and Clark's little bout with the flu it seems like we are always cleaning up some sort of bodily fluid.

Here are a couple other pictures...I tried a blessing dress photo shoot again with not really great results, but I kinda got a picture of her whole dress. I might try again, but I don't know what else to try until she can sit up and then the dress won't fit. Any suggestions?

We also tried to get some 6 week pictures today - the time is flying by and she is starting to put on a little weight.

Although our life is a little crazy, she is worth it!

Lucy's Newborn Pictures

I have never gotten around to getting any good newborn pictures of my kids...I think I have been too sleep deprived to think about it. But thanks to a sweet friend, who is also a photographer, I got them done!! THANKS HEATHER!! She gave me some digital files I could post:

Lucy's Blessing

We had a beautiful fall Sunday and we were able to bless our sweet little Lucy. We are so grateful for her in our home. Many thanks to our family and friends who was able to come. It was great to have you here!!

Here is a new family picture...

Lucy looked beautiful in her pretty white dress (that I finished around midnight on Saturday...that is pretty good...11 hours to spare! Good thing my aunt was around earilier in the week so that it did get done on time :). I didn't get a great picture of the whole dress, but here are some sweet little shots. The last one is the best one of the dress, but she of course is not really happy with taking photos by that point. Maybe I will try again this week.

Happy Halloween

We didn't do a family theme this year but the kids looked cute without their parents - really even better!

Clark wanted to be a rubix cube. It took a little work to find a box, but he looked just like a rubix cube (apparently that wanted to disco dance :).



I thought it would be great for the girls to go together, so I made this Bo Peep costume for Bella and my neighbor had a lamb costume for Lucy. Although Lucy didn't go out with Bella, they were a cute little pair. It wasn't my smartest idea to be making elaborate Halloween costumes with a newborn, but thanks to some help they got done!!

Introducing...

We are happy to introduce you to our new arrival...

Lucy Christine

October 6, 2009

6:48 pm

6 lbs. 14 oz.

Bella likes her and thinks she is a doll that she can play with...we are working on keeping Lucy alive.

Clark is also excited to have another little sister and wants to hold her anytime he is home from school.

I will hopfully have some 'good pictures' of her soon...I need a class on how to take better pictures. She is wonderful and we are so happy to have her here! A photographer took some pictures of her at the hospital and here is a link, if you want to check it out.

CA Trip

If I don't get a few things posted about the summer it is never going to happen...we spent a month in California - split between San Franscisco and Bakersfield. San Franscisco has much better weather, but it was good to visit family in both places! Here are a couple highlights...


Our visit to the ocean in Northern California:
The ocean was COLD! It was a beautiful day but VERY windy - you can see Bella & Clark in their jackets but Clark still wanted to do a little wading in the frigid water!

San Franscisco visit:

Lombard street - I really enjoyed driving down it and checking out the cool houses; I don't know if the kids really were all that impressed!

At the Pier...we saw the sea lions, alcatraz and I got a sour dough bread bowl with hot clam chowder. YUM! (The rest of the family ate too, but personally I thought they were missing out since they didn't get the bread and soup :)

What is a visit to San Francisco without the Golden Gate Bridge? We drove over the bridge (and we have a lot of driving pictures on the camera thanks to Clark) and took these pictures on the other side looking back at the city. It was a really fun visit!

Bella's 3 Year Old Pictures

I am trying to do better about taking consistant pictures of my kids - so at least one good picture a year. I got Bella's pictures back yesterday from the photographer and I think they are cute. I could post several of them, but she made this cute little collage of some of the best ones, so I am just posting it. You can go here and see a few more (they posted some on their website). We are so glad Bella is THREE!! What would we do without her!?!

FAQ

This post is for the benefit of all those who do not live close...most of our family, many friends, etc. Since it has been almost 10 years since I have been pregnant there are a couple common questions I get so hopefully these will help out.

1. Q: Do you look pregnant?

A: YES! What do you think this basketball is that I am carrying around! :) And I am even posting a picture, even though I really am not a fan of self portraits. I look like I am going to fall over backwards but anyway, here it is.

According to a lady in California when I was there in July, she didn't think I was going to make it till October and thought I MUST be having twins. But most other people don't seem to agree with her appraisal.

2. Q: How are you feeling?

A: OK overall. I certainly can't complain and know it could be much worse but I have to say that doing this 10 years ago was definitely easier! I am grateful for this miracle, so I am just going with it!

3. Q: When are you due?

A: Technically, October 11th but Clark was 2 weeks early...can't I hope for that again?

4. Q: Do you have a name picked out?

A: No...still a work in progress. If you have any suggestions that are not currently on the top 10 list of names for girls, please leave them in the comment section. (I really like many of those names but when you have a last name as common as we do we have to try and find some originality somewhere else!)

Within the next month we should have pictures of a new baby and a name for her so even though I have been a terrible blogger as of late, check back sometime!

Happy Birthday Bella!

How can our little Bella be THREE already? Time goes by so fast! She had a fun day - playing with a little friend and having balloons and cupcakes with the family.

Three fun things about Bella:

1. She loves to talk. (Don't we already have a kid that does that too?) When Ryan comes home they both will talk away - at the same time - but that doesn't seem to bother either of them. She will also sing and make up words and tunes but we aren't quite sure what they are about.

2. She loves to dress up and do her hair like a princess. On any given day she has hair that looks like Mulan, Cinderella and Belle - all at the same time. Or it could just look kinda crazy because we haven't done it yet either!

3. She likes to color and has a strange fettish with taking the paper off the crayons. I don't know why but she really doesn't like the paper on the outside so we find piles of very small paper pieces around the house.

I didn't get really great pictures of her day, but here are a couple of fun ones: