2009 Wrap Up

We've had a great last couple of months. Emily has been such a joy to watch grow. She is getting big so fast and getting such a cute personality. She is such a happy, smiley baby and we just love her to pieces.

Em's first Halloween, kitty cat



Jackson was of course...Spiderman! This picture cracks us up!



Avery wanted to be a little scary this year. This is about as scary as we got. ha!


One of the attempted group pictures with cousins Hannah and Samuel.



Those pictures were taken before the Trunk & Treat at our church.

The following were taken on Halloween Day.






In November we had our annual family trip to Branson. This was our third year to go. We look forward to it every year. This year was extra special because Kari, Nathan and the kids were able to come too. We spent a lot of time hanging out in the huge cabin and 2 trips to Silver Dollar City. Ryan and I even road a roller coaster. I haven't done that since I was a kid and Ryan has always been deathly afraid of them. Kari made us ride with her, otherwise it probably would have never happened. haha Ryan ended up riding another one later too.






Emi staying warm and cozy in her sling.




waiting on the Christmas parade





I think Hannah was looking up at the kids on a ride.













In early December we had to say goodbye to Kari, Nathan, Hannah and Samuel. We miss them so much. It was great to get to spend 6 1/2 months with them though. The kids got really close. Hopefully Hannah will remember us next time she comes home.

Emily Nicole

About time for an 'All about Emily' post, don't ya think? Especially since she is already 5 weeks old today! Wow!!!

I'm going to start at the beginning and write about the day of her arrival, before I forget most of it.

We were set to go in on Monday, August 10th at 8 am for an induction. The plan was to get my water broken and see if that threw me into labor. When my doctor made it into my room at 8:30. I was 2/3 cm dilated and only 20-30% effaced. He broke my water and we started the pitocin. I decided to get the show on the road! lol Contractions started very quick, but they were very manageable (short but often). About 10:40 she checked to see my progress and I was a 5/6 and 70% effaced. I told them to go ahead and send the epidural guy in then. :) It took over an hour for him to come, by then I was hurting pretty good, but still very manageable. Finally got the epidural and it kicked in about noon-ish. She checked me after I was comfortable and I was a 7/8. The nurse said she'd be back in an hour, but to call if I had any pressure. Within 30-45 minutes I started feeling some pressure, I thought. I never had that sensation with Avery. My doctor had happened to show up at the same time and came in with the nurse and sure enough she was coming. He rushed around to get dressed and they got the room ready. He was telling me not to laugh, afraid she'd fall out. He was trying to be a funny guy in the process. My doctor has a funny personality. He told me to give a light push and then told me to stop cause her head was already out. That was all I had to push. She just came right out.



What was funny, at about 11 I said well maybe we'll have a baby by 1. I don't think anyone believed me. She was born at 1:01pm. She weighed 7lbs 10oz and was 20 inches long.





Okay I saved this post when I was working on it 3 WEEKS AGO!!! I am so bad. I'm going to click publish post and hope to add some more pictures soon!

Almost time

We are within 5 days of having our little girl. It still hard to imagine having three kids. I'm praying for an easy going baby...unlike our Jackson has been. ;-) haha Avery is very excited. I don't think Jackson gets that we will be bringing a baby home. He loves his new cousin Samuel though. I'm afraid we're going to have many baby fights on our hands on who gets to hold her. They already started with Sammy the other day.

We are still struggling with a name for our little girl. I don't know why it's so hard this time, but it's driving me crazy! She could come anytime now and that's making the pressure worse.

I had my last doctor's appointment yesterday...can't believe I'm done with those! I am 3 cm dilated already! Can't believe that either! I was never this far along with Avery or Jackson. I remember with Avery it felt like forever to get to a 3, because that's when they would allow me the epidural. lol

We're really hoping she will come on her own sometime at the end of this week or this weekend. If she doesn't, we are set to start the induction process at 8am Monday morning. Tonight is a full moon, we'll see if that does anything for me.

I'm going to add some pictures from the past week of the kiddos.

Baby Girl Update

I guess it was in May when we finally find out it was for sure a girl in there! Everything pregnancy wise is going great so far. Not sure the baby is head down yet though, hope to find that out Tuesday at my 32 week appointment...can't believe I'm 32 weeks. I need to take another belly picture. Here are some ultrasounds pictures from May though.

I was 27 weeks here...



Look at that big hand.

Catching up...Again

Back to May...it was probably our busiest month yet! We had field trips, end of school activities, award ceremonies, Kari, Nathan & Hannah coming home, dance recital, baby shower and photo sessions.

May 1st the yard flooded Again!






Avery at the school's stampede. We didn't take many pictures, but we did get video of them singing their songs.


Avery's Kindergarten Field Trip to the Aquarium. Ryan and I both got to go with her.












May 21st, Avery's Kindergarten Award Ceremony. We were so proud when we got there and read the program, that Avery was the ONE chose from her class to receive the principal's award. What a good kid!





with her teacher, Mrs. Flanagan.


in her classroom...



I found Jackson asleep like this one night...



May 26th...Jackson and Hannah outside









May 30th, Avery had her first dance recital. It was so cute! I'm so glad she decided she'd like to do it again next year.

She did one pirate number from Peter Pan... the pictures are kind of crummy. I don't know why I didn't take some from back stage. I do have class pictures though...just need to scan them.







Then they did a mouse number from Cinderella. You know, the Cinderelly, Cinderelly song the mice sing. :)








Had a little trouble getting the dress to stay on the manequin.


Getting on stage for the grand finale...