2010

Wow. 2010 is almost over! Its been...well, really long!
Some years fly by, and others drag on, and this was a drag on kinda year.
Probably mostly due to the pregnancy (which felt like an absolute eternity this time!).

Anyways, here is a quick recap of our year (and I won't even pretend that I could remember all this stuff - I totally had to look through my wall calendar cause my brain cells have slowly turned to mush from 7 weeks of sleepless nights and CONSTANT nursing):

~I started the year with lots of time to catch up on reading books. According to my calendar I was returning library books almost every day and crossing off "must-read" books off my list. I haven't read a book in months....sad.
~I started a ministry at church that paired up women in mentoring relationships. God has blessed me beyond belief through this endeavor.
~I planned a surprise party for my sister in law's birthday that pretty much forced her into hating me for a few weeks. It was horrible, but we did pull off the surprise. I would not do it again, due to the mental anguish that it caused her, me, and her hubby - who never hesitated once to throw me under the bus.
~Rich left little love notes hidden for me everyday leading up to Valentines day...which most likely resulted in the addition of another member of our family.....
~In March we experienced the first bout of pneumonia this family has had - complete with chest x rays and all. It was also the same day that I found out I was pregnant. Good times, good times.

~Rich turned 33, and we celebrated 9 years of marriage, and 14 years of being together. Wow...that's a long time!
~Brynn finished up kindergarten, and we started the summer with our first camping trip at the beach. We got rained out, packed up early and came home....also a first.
~The kids, and a slightly awkwardly pregnant me, took swim lessons at the local pool. Brynn finally passed to the next level...although it may have something to do with the fact that she was too old to be in that beginner class....again.
~We spent some time at Clearlake, and had our first adventure at family camp. Both are filled with great memories because of the time we spent with family.
~Brynn and Cannon had their first experience at VBS. I now see why my mom eagerly awaited that each summer. It was great! Kids had fun, I had only 1 kid at home for a few hours each day.....it was a win-win situation!
~We camped two more times before school started again. Summer was wayyyyyyyy too short for my liking.
~Cannon started Preschool, Brynn started 1st grade (I cried the whole day), Cannon received God, and Brynn was baptized..... all in one short week. Tons of tears on my part, I blame the pregnancy.
~Rich and I had the chance for one last weekend away before Nolan was born, and celebrated with a road trip, 2 nights stay in an amazing hotel, and a lot of laughs with friends.
~October was spent in a mad frenzy finishing all my projects, house "updating" and things that I felt were absolutely necessary to do before I gave birth. The nesting instinct is insane. I can't say that enough.
~Then Nolan was born. Life kinda screeched to a halt, and we holed up in our house for a few weeks just enjoying the fact that my pregnancy was over, our son was finally here, and all was well. Precious friends supplied us with food for over a month, and we enjoyed being a family of 6 to the fullest.

~Christmas came and went, and I survived. Even more, all the gifts that didn't get made were easily replaced by store bought items that the recipients loved. We didn't get a picture with Santa...but we did get a picture in a sleigh at our church's "Christmas Town"...

We didn't make it to many holiday events, and we didn't do all the stuff that I normally associate with Christmas, but we did get the opportunity to play Mary and Joseph in the live nativity at church....

It was different this year, but we had fun anyways.

Now its the day before the New Year. I have 4 children safe and cozy in my warm house. 2 of them have runny noses, but we will survive. My hubby is working, and will hopefully get off a little bit early to relieve me of my "motherly" duties. We will enjoy a dinner, put the kids to bed, probably watch some movie, eat popcorn, share a cocktail or something, and fall into bed a few minutes shy of 12am. I will probably be woken up a few minutes later by a hungry 7 week old baby, who loves to snuggle up next to me in the bed and latch on all night long.

What can I say? My life is a little crazy, a little emotional, a little - no, a lot- tiring...but its the season that I am in, and I am embracing it! I complain, I cry, I get frustrated that my house is never clean. But then again, its full of 4 little ones who make every day an adventure, and a husband who still says that I am beautiful (saggy belly skin, extra hips, and a body that has seen better days and all) and tells me he loves me everyday. Its been a long, long, long year, but I have enjoyed it!

Hello Santa....

Dear Santa,
I would like a zhu zhu pet! And how is Rudolf doing and the other reindeer doing? Is Mrs. Claus busy right now making hot chocolate for you? I remember you were going to give me either a zhu zhu pet or silly bands, because you promised you would give me one of those.
From,
Brynn

Dear Santa,
Hi Santa Claus! Are your Elfs busy, or are they not. I was wondering if you wanted to have a nice vacation but if we say so, its the _____ Family. I was wondering if you would want a present? I love you Santa, and I am the bestest kid. I have been good. I love you Santa!
Love,
Cannon

Dear Santa,
I want to sing Jingle Bells. I want to give you this mouse (holding ornament). I can't say anything else.
Love,
Maeve

Dear Santa,
Grunt, sigh, poop, cry, spit up, cry, sleep.
Love,
Nolan

Dear Santa,
We are eagerly awaiting your arrival here at our house. There are cookies waiting for you, and some carrots for your reindeer. Your elf has done a good job reporting to you everyday about the chaos that happens here with all four of these little ones right? Has he told you about the times that I have responded with love in my voice, as well as the times that I have not lost my temper? I am hoping so....
I think my hubby deserves something extra special this Christmas. He has been an amazing daddy, and an amazing support to me during these last 6 weeks. He comes home from work, takes off his "locksmith" hat, and puts on his "daddy" hat. And he does is willingly!
I don't have much on my list this year. A good nights sleep, maybe a night without an infant in my bed. I don't really need anything, cause I have been blessed this year more than I could ever have ever imagined. I have a favor to ask though...While you and the reindeer are up on the roof, could you just give it a once-over and check to make sure we don't have any leaks?
Thanks much Santa!
Love,
Me

It Figures...

A few days ago, I sat down my youngest son and had a serious talk with him.
Ok, actually, it was in the midst of a diaper change, and since he seemed content to lay there and look cross-eyed at the ceiling, I figured it was as good of time as any to discuss some things.

"Ok Nollie, (my current nickname for him) your first smile is coming soon. You better not just blow it on some random stranger at Target (my current favorite store to shop at since I can buy groceries, cleaning supplies, and EVERYTHING else under the sun....).
Listen here son, I have done the most work thus far to get you here, and I TOTALLY deserve that smile....."

Not more than 2 days later, who does he give not one, but 3 smiles too??? His dad! And who has yet to get a smile out of this little one????? ME!

It figures.....

Freezer Meals

So in my insane nesting state, I had one final thing to do on my list before I could "officially" be ready to have Nolan.
I wanted to make a bunch of meals that I could freeze, and pull out on those nights that are hectic....pretty much every night for the first six months right?
I succeeded in making around 20 meals, but ran out of freezer space, so had to give a few away. No biggie.

My supplies:
My Plan:
My treat and motivation:
My results:
Its a sweet relief to know that my food is taken care of for awhile. Between my very generous friends who are bringing us dinners, and these frozen meals, I will be able to not have to worry about cooking for a while!

Haircuts

I took the kids in a few weeks ago to get haicuts! Both desperately needed it! Brynn has been begging for a short bob ever since she saw one of her 2nd cousins with one. She called it the "Sydney Cut" and she was set on getting it. I was all for short hair on her. No more daily battles to comb it, and given that her hair is thin, it makes it look better too! She has recieved nothing but compliments on the new 'do.


Cannon had a semi mullet going on thanks to my last attempt at cutting it. I asked the stylist ("stylist" might be an overstatement in this case) to leave the length on the top and trim up the sides and the back. Something was lost in translation, and he ended up with a shorter version of what he already had.....sigh. Maybe next time I will just let Rich do it, and save myself the $14.

Twins

This is not my idea.....
My mom bought these outfits, and the girls love it that they match....

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Its been awhile. I feel like I have been swimming against a rip tide for the last 4 weeks.
Don't red-flag me. It's not Post Partum Depression. It's called "I-just-had-my-4th-baby-and-Christmas-is-literally-right-around-the-corner-and-I-am-so-far-behind-that-I-probably-will-never-catch-up" syndrome...
I plan on making a few more gifts, sending out Christmas cards, and hosting a dinner party for our small group. I am insane...I know.

I FINALLY downloaded some more pictures of what has been going on in our life since Nolan was born....


Here is a recap of some of the events in our life for the last 4 weeks:
We were re-admitted to the hospital for a jaundice treatment. I kept my emotions in check while they were telling me the procedure, but lost it as I had to place him in the incubator. The treatment required him to stay in the incubator for 24 hours. He could come out for 30 minutes every 3 hours, to feed, but everything else had to happen in the light booth. I could touch him through the arm holes, change a diaper through the holes, put his binky in, and try to soothe him as well. He really liked the warmth of the tube, but I soooo missed holding him. I did relatively well, and only had one freak out. He was screaming, and I couldn't soothe him, and I begged the nurse to let me hold him to calm him down. They let me, and I comforted him, and wiped my own tears and snot too.
Some of my amazing friends brought me dinner while I stayed there, visited me, and kept me company during the evening. The time actually passed pretty quickly. I got a lot of bible reading done, wrote some thank you cards, and even watched some TV. It was actually like a small vacation, in a weird way. Rich was home with the kids, doing errands, and registering for Paternity Leave. After 24 hours his blood levels had come down, and we were allowed to go home.


We have had an awesome network of friends and family bringing us meals for the last few weeks! (I could totally get used to this...) The food has been yummy, and truly a lifesaver at this time in our lives. In my crazy nesting state I made a huge batch of freezer meals to carry us through on the nights when the little guy is crying, there is homework to be done, and the other two are trying to kill each other over a toy that cant be shared...... I will break into those meals when our meal delivery is done.

We had an amazing Thanksgiving this year. Last year I was dealing with fevers, coughs, oozing eyes, noses and ears (remember H1N1?) so we missed out on any family gathering for Thanksgiving...and Christmas for that matter as it ran its course through all 3 kids.... Anyways, we got to spend this fall holiday with family, the house was decorated, and by the grace of God we have all stayed relatively healthy. (My neurotic use of hand sanitizer, and the daily - if not hourly- reminder to wash hands has done its part...so far...)


Our elf has come back, and one of my favorite things to see is the kids whispering to him their Christmas wishes. They are fully anticipating Christmas this year! We have the daily reminders of this joyful holiday with our Jesse Tree, chocolate Advent Calendars, Noll the Elf, St. Nicks Day, constant Christmas music playing on the radio, and the happily lit Christmas tree in our living room.

I love, love, love this time of year!

1 Month Old

Courtesy of Melody White Studios

The little man is officially a month old today, and I am still in awe that he is here. He probably weighs a little over 9lbs at this point. He has almost gotten in the rhythm of a schedule, but still manages to throw me off when I think that I have it figured out.... already a jokester....

I got our hospital bill yesterday. Apparently its WAY less expensive to have a baby without meds. A third less in fact! Now if they hadn't done up that stupid IV that left me soooo incredibly bruised that even the docs in the Pediatric Unit were shocked by, we could have knocked off a couple hundred more! He does not sleep much...except in the day, when I am holding him, so nights are still really rough. He seems to like the binky, which is fine, except that his coordination of keeping in it place hasn't really developed yet. We have fully embraced the "Family Bed" concept with him. He goes to bed with us, and wakes up with us. I nurse him pretty much throughout the night, but its purely survival mode. What kind of mommy would I be to my other 3, if I was up all night training him to sleep in his own bed? Rich has been an amazing support during these first 4 weeks. He has worn the carpet down in the living room pacing, rocking, bouncing, swaying with Nolan at night so that I can get a few minutes of uninterrupted rest, or even shower. I love my husband!

First Bath....

Sooooooo greasy!

Not quite sure about this whole "bath" thing...

Milk Mustache....


Getting some "sister-love"