Baby Andrew

Here's our newest arrival! Andrew Lawrence was born at 11:50 am on 02/20/2010. He weighed in at 6 lbs. 2 oz and 20" long. He was a little sleepy and pale at first and spent about 1/2 hour under observation from the NICU team, but then he came right back to mom and dad. He's a great eater, sleeper, & pooper! He was named Slow Poke Jochim for awhile because this delivery was the longest yet! We finally picked a name for him Sunday night. Andrew because we liked & agreed on it, and Lawrence is a maiden name from my Washington pioneer ancestors.
James came to see baby brother in the hospital. He really enjoyed holding & kissing brother and riding in mom's hospital bed. The girls have pretty bad colds, so they stayed at home. Now they love to see baby brother and have their own baby dolls that they love to hold. We're all doing well and adjusting to life as a family of 6!

Spring Cleaning

Here we are cleaning off the deck for everyone to play. You would think I would have learned by now if I bring one, I might as well bring three. It took me three trips inside to get enough brooms for everyone! Does anyone know where to get kid size brooms?

A week in our life . . .

So many cute photos of this week, I thought I'd just make a snapshot of them all. We've had a very eventful week with James starting to ride the bus to school, double ear infections--and the subsequent allergic reaction to the meds, a bad cough for me, keeping me up all night--but now I've got my own power meds so that's starting to get better. Everyone is actually well today so we might all make it to church tomorrow! The kids' current obsession is shoes. They love to drag all of our shoes out and stomp around. It's too cute seeing Kate in my high heals. I'm glad someone is using them!

At my latest Doc. appointment my amniotic fluid levels were borderline low (as opposed to being borderline high, which they had been on the previous ultrasound), so they'll do another ultrasound next week to see if they're still low. If they are, they might induce me. If not, I'll have to wait till I'm 39 weeks. So this baby should come in the next few weeks. I'll just have to hang tough a little while longer! Baby came in at about 5 lbs 15 oz (+/- 13 oz.) on the ultrasound. That's quite a margin of error, so I'm not reading too much into it at this point.

Big bellies all around

Here are some family pics of us all with our big round bellies! The kids think it's pretty funny to put balls up their shirts. James is definitely growing up and turning a little wise guy:

Dad: James! Go pick up your mess
James: No thanks. I'll go to time out.

He's also learned the "daddy says no, go ask mommy" game.

Daddy: No, James. The ball stretches out your shirt. No balls up your shirt.
James: (in his sweetest, sad voice) Daddy, where's my mommy? I need to go find my mommy.
Daddy: (not putting 2 and 2 together) She's upstairs on the computer.

James: (with his sweetest smile) Hi mommy! Mommy, ball up my shirt?
Mommy: (not knowing daddy said no) Okay.

And with that James runs down stairs to show daddy his shirt. What a little minx!

Clara with her "big belly"

James, Kate, Mommy & Clara with our "big bellies"
36 week preggie pics

A week in the life . . .

Well, this week has been to remember! Starting on Wednesday with Clara's double ear infections, continuing on to Friday when all 3 kids and I came down with stomach flu, and concluding on Monday when Justin got the stomach flu and Kate got the regular flu . . . We have been one sick house!
So, I thought it was only appropriate that my 34 week belly shot be as realistic as possible. No I haven't worn make up this week or done my hair, and yes, most days I never made it out of my pajamas. And yes, most days my kids either stayed in their pj's as well, or got to dress themselves. ;) See Kate's stylish composition below:

Kate wearing Grandma's apron (backwards) and her favorite rain boots. Somebody must have said the forbidden words--"outside, bye bye, leaving . . ." Any of these words send the kids dashing for their shoes and coats. I guess we need to get out more. ;) oh--fountain of hair on top of her head is because I tried to do her hair in a pig tail, and she just wasn't having it. She pulled it out as fast as she could. Clara, on the other hand, sits and preens in the mirror checking herself out from side to side when I do her hair. I guess we know who's the tom boy and who's the princess. And just so I can say I warned you--when it comes time to pick soccer teams--you want Kate on your kid's side. And if they're not, you might tell them not to get in her way--she doesn't go around, she goes over. Fast. ;)

I didn't get a picture of Clara this day, but the outfit she picked out for the day was her brother's pajama top and a diaper, one sock, one shoe (not on the same foot). And I was just fine with it, because let's face it--at this point ANYTHING my kids can do for themselves without my involvement it a step in the right direction.

Baby #4 is growing and getting strong. I had a mild week as far as contractions and pregnancy stuff goes, but little boy Jochim seems to be trying to make up for all that quiet time by doing jumping jacks on my bladder. Since I was 29 weeks, I've had 2 trips to the hospital for preterm labor, and 2 more close calls at home (large doses of meds stopped the contractions after about 4 hours) and now I'm 35 weeks tomorrow and officially off bed rest! I'm only dilated to about a 1, but that's ok now, since the doctors wouldn't stop labor anymore. Which means, I get to ignore the 10 contractions I have every time I stand up! Yippee for me! ;P For those of you who haven't had babies--flex every muscle in your arm and then try to write your name. That's me walking around like a penguin all day trying to walk through the contractions--not a very graceful sight.

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Babies born past this date do just fine and if he was born in another week or so, he might even come home from the hospital with us--a thought I haven't quite come to grips with after preparing myself for a preemie baby who would spend a few weeks in the NICU before we brought our bundle of joy home. All my kids have worn preemie diapers and clothing, and now I have to entertain the thought that we might just START with newborn diapers & clothing! Gasp.

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I have to thank the battalion of friends and family that have come to my rescue and watched my kids so I could rest these past 6 weeks since I first started preterm labor signs. As many of the sisters in my ward can now attest--it is impossible to watch all 3 of my kids and get any sort of rest. I couldn't have done it without all of you. Thank you again!

What dreams are made of . . .

So, a mom always wonders what her kids are REALLY thinking. What makes them happy? What makes them sad? What gives them nightmares in the middle of the night? Well, here are some insights from my dear 3 year old son . . .

What really scares him?

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Monsters? Nope.

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Dark closets? Nope.

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Aliens? Nope.

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What does James wake up crying hysterically about in the middle of the night?

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Night 1: Kate ate my snack . . .

Night 2: Clara took my book . . .

Night 3: Daddy has my juice . . .

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Well, I guess the scariest things in the world are little sisters who take your stuff and Daddy's who hide your juice! Hahahahaha What a sweet little boy--no wonder he goes into a frenzy whenever HE THINKS his sisters are THINKING about touching his toys. It really is the scariest thing in the world to him. ;)

32 Weeks Preggie pics

Well, here's the latest on my preggie pics. This is the last photo I have of me pregnant with the twins--I delivered a few days later. The twin preggie pic is actually a bit deceiving because I had reached 40 centimeters a week or so before this and had started to grow sideways.

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Baby #4 is still doing well. He's growing and getting stronger each day. The rest I'm able to get is definitely helping the contractions to stay away. In another few weeks I'll be far enough along my doctor says that I'll be able to increase my activity level. I guess I better finish the last 5 books of the Wheel of Time series now while I'm being told to lay around. It might be the last chance I have for the next 5 years!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day!

We had a wonderful Christmas. We got to celebrate with Grandpa Ron & Grandma Sarah & Auntie Debbie. Here are some pictures of the mayhem!

The girls at James' train table.

James with the girls' baby doll toys! Not sure what to say about the headbands--he wanted them on, and I wasn't about to argue on Christmas day. ;)

Clara in her baby doll high chair.

Kate in her baby doll stroller.

Clara in her baby doll stroller--

Day after Christmas

The day after Christmas we gave the kids their Christmas present from all their grandparents. We found a little tykes playset on Craig's list and it's awesome! They didn't quite get the knack of it yet--and it was a little cold--but I'm sure once it warms up a little they'll be all over it!

James took a tumble down the wood stairs on Christmas day, so here he is showing off his fat lip. We're still not sure if he's going to lose one of his front teeth or not--it's still going brown. Poor kiddo!

30 degrees out or not--we'll still fight over whose turn it is on the swing!
Nothing like a frozen trampoline!

Missing Camera!

Hey everyone!

So my camera has been missing since Christmas Day, which really bums me out. As for me, I've been on partial bedrest since the week before Christmas because of pre-term labor. I'm still hanging tight--which is great, but man I hate the meds I have to stay on to keep the contractions at bay. I have a ton of great help from my mom, sister Debbie, and starting this week my Relief Society, so hopefully I'll be able to stay down and stay pregnant a few more weeks. And hopefully I'll find my camera soon so I can post some Christmas pics before it's the 4th of July. ;)

Belly pics week 29

Well, here's another pic for kicks and giggles. Even with the twins people always thought I was carrying small--I guess this really shows the differences in pregnancies! You can imagine after carrying James, who really was small born at 36 weeks and 4 lbs 14 oz., I thought I was huge with the twins. In this pic with the twins I was measuring 37 centimeters--or about 8 weeks ahead. Baby #4 seems a bit more the norm, as along as I can keep him baby in awhile longer!

My first Gingerbread House!

I don't really have a lot to say about my first gingerbread house I made from scratch, except I'm stinkin' proud of myself and totally ready to make another! It was so much fun coming up with a design and decorating it. Those are syran wrap stained glass windows--yeah, I cheated. Maybe next time I'll be up for real spun sugar windows. Merry Christmas!

To Clear My Good Name

Having been maligned viciously by my dear, sweet cousin, I must clear my good name. I am not and have never been an OVERACHIEVER. I am simply my mother's daughter. This means I was raised to do exactly the projects that interest me and to put aside everything else. It's all about picking my battles.
Making two little girls dresses interested me enormously. On the other hand, I have precisely ZERO interest in protecting a Christmas Tree from 2 tree stripping toddlers and 1 tree toppling preschooler. So, I gave the tree over to them this year. I got a fake tree at Target for $6 after Christmas last year and we've decorated it with (hopefully) child friendly ornaments from the dollar store. The tree spends most of the day naked in a state of dismemberment, as you can see in the collage.
Now I have freed myself of the worry of keeping a Christmas Tree whole and decorated for the next 3 weeks, I can focus my time on things that interest me--like making Gingerbread Houses!!! I'll post pics soon--but I think this may be a new addiction for me!

2 Dresses Done!

Here are some pics of the dresses I made for the girls for Christmas. They're not exactly "Christmas" dresses since I wanted them to be able to wear them for all the next year--Yeah, I made them a little big on purpose. You can't see it very well, but they have a tulle under layer--which gave me no end of grief. I'm already sick of gathering and I have years of girls dresses to go! I added the tulle and bead flowerettes for a bit of retro bling. ;) So much fun! So glad they're done!

26 weeks preggie pics

I think it's fascinating to compare belly pics from one pregnancy to another. I couldn't find a 25 or 26 week belly pic from my first pregnancy--honestly, I probably wasn't even showing at that point--I had to use a 30 week shot. It's pretty interesting how different each pregnancy is--in every way. This baby #4 is sitting really low and he loves to roll around in the evenings. He gave me quite a kick yesterday when we were out showing the girls some horses on a nearby farm. Maybe he was just trying to tell me he was excited to see the horses too! And he definitely loves sweets. OK, so I just tell myself that for some justification for the weight I've put on. ;)

Now that we're ALMOST 18 months old. . .

Mom made us write down some of the things we've learned in the past 18 months.

We've learned that we still LOVE our bottles. And snuggling with sister. Ok, we don't actually like to snuggle that much, but you just might catch us giving each other loves if you watch closely enough.

We've learned who to go to for candy and ice cream.

We've learned how to be mommy's bestest little helpers in the kitchen!
You sweep everything into a pile so you can stand in it, right?
We've learned how to load the dishwasher.
We're especially good at unloading the knives and glass cups.

We've learned how to test the weight capacity of the dishwasher door--

apparently it's over 50 lbs.

We've learned how to comprimise so that everyone is happy. Look--We even shared our sleep sack with James! Man are we gonna tease him about this photo in a couple years!

Mom wanted to add a couple things. Guess we'll let her.

Clara

Can say:

ba (bottle), wa (water), ni-ni (night-night), ju (juice), da-da, ma-ma, g-ma (grandma), g-pa (grandpa), ju (james), na-na-na-na-na- (no, no, no, no, no--she's really good at this one), up

She loves to:

Play ni-ni

play on tables

Blow kisses

give high-fives

make funny sounds with her lips

Give mommy raspberries on her arm

Play with mommy's belly button

Loves to cuddle with mom, dad, Grandma

Feed herself

Put socks, clothing on (well,tries to)

Dance

Read books

Charm everyone sitting behind her in church

Roar like a lion

Clara is finally starting to walk on a consistent basis.

She's very sensitive and gets easily frustrated if she falls down.

Kate

Can say:

up, wa (water), ba (bottle), ma-ma, da-da, g-ma, g-pa, ca (car), hot, dog,

She loves to:

pet dogs

play ni-ni

dance

jump with 2 feet

play on the table

run in circles

find snacks in the kitchen

read books

snuggle with wolfie

drink from her bottle

put shoes on

help mommy sweep the kitchen

take toys from Clara

distract everyone at church by running down the aisle,

and on the stage,

and un and down the ramp.

Ok, so she might hate me when she's 16 . . .

Here are the girls with some of the latest tricks they've learned. Unfortunately, they did their best "wheels on the bus" before I got the camera, but Kate did save some good finger to nose action for the lens!

Awesome November

Today the kids and I enjoyed a warm, beautiful November day in the garden with Grandma. Kate did a little raking, Clara tried out the big kid swing, but decided the baby swing was more her style, and James generally caused mayhem pulling up lights and stealing baby swings. Eventually we had to go inside so Grandma could get some real work done, but we sure to cherish nice days like this in the North West!

CSI Vancouver

As a mom, I daily double as a crime detective. Someone's crying . . . Why? Did someone else hurt them or did they hurt themselves? Are they even physically hurt? or was it just their feelings? Today's dilemma was particularly complex.

The Victim: Kate
Status: Surface injury to the forehead

The Suspects:

Clara: Bewildered twin sister
Alibi: With Grandma
Bunny: Fluffy playmate.
Alibi: With Winnie the Pooh
Mom: Meany who won't give victim the WHOLE bag of skittles.
Alibi: I'm the mom. I don't need an alibi.
James: Brother who looks like he's trying a bit to hard to look innocent.
Alibi: None. Found at the scene of the crime.

The Plausible Weapons:

Wimpy Toothbrush
Flowery Sunglasses
Menacing, fire breathing Dragon

Possible Scenes of the Crime:

While the Victim was found on the 3rd step of the stairs, it is unknown whether is this in fact the scene of the crime.

Possible crime scene 1: Very messy playroom
Possible Crime Scene 2: Jump house
Possible Crime Scene 3: Basement Stairs

The conclusion of the momma detective is:
Mr. James
with the Dragon
Down the Stairs

Punishment served.
Case Closed.