In Love

This weekend there will be a lot more pictures of this sweet thing

and many stories about her too.

A little about her

Oh man, am I behind. I mean I am really behind on the blog, but I had a post in progress that I still have not finished about when I found out we were going to have a little girl and the whole day of her birth post, but I have to jot down a few things about this little precious one, before it all starts to fade away as she gets older.

There is something about this baby that brings tears to my eyes every time I even glance at her. I have had full on crying fits. Yes I am aware my hormones are still trying to even themselves out and all, but she is just so amazing to me. I cannot get enough of her. I do not put her down. She has only been in her swing twice and that is when Andy has had her. I cannot imagine putting her in her swing! Let me hold this sweet thing! I do obviously put her down when she sleeps at night and when there are things I have to do and cannot do with her, but honestly, I cannot get enough of her.

As much as I am holding her and feeding her I am surprised she is not 11 pounds, but sadly enough this little one is having the hardest time gaining weight. My babies do not normally start packing on the pounds until about week two, but she lost so much in the hospital and is sloooooooooooooooooooooowly kind of putting it back on. She weighed 8.9 at birth, but the doctor this morning honestly thinks they weighed her wrong or the scale is wrong, because he saw her at day 4 and was no where near 8.9. When we left the hospital she was 7.6. She then lost four more ounces, but is not back up to 7.5 as of this morning. He wants me to pump and give her an ounce of my milk after each feeding with a syringe to not confuse her. Sounds like a lot of work to me. I feel like there is no time to pump! She has to start gaining more and I feel like it is going to happen real soon, so hopefully that is true. I go back again on Friday. I will have spent $100 on weight checks because of my co-pays! I am pretty sure I could have found a baby scale for about that! Oh well. Anything for her!

So, I got off on a tangent I think. That is not what this post was going to be about!

Here are few things about our sweet little Emersyn I hope to never forget!

*Her long beautiful fingers! They are so delicate and really stand out.

*She has the skinniest long feet. Super cute.

*Her eyelashes have made an appearance about at day 7. So sweet. She is so new!

*She has little stork bites on her forehead. I love them.

*Her tiny little legs.

*She fits in preemie clothes comfortably. I did not think I would get to use those again!

*She is such a great nurser! Minus the not gaining weight.

*I heard her get mad yesterday in the car because I waited too long to feed her. I have never heard her like this. I like being reminded she was born with perfect lungs!

*I adore pink.

*She has been showered with so many nice gifts from so many amazing friends. Every time I look at the gift bags and packages on my dining room table I feel so thankful for dear friends. I cannot put them away because it is just such a sweet reminder of those who love her.

*Her eyes are really looking blue, but I have felt like they were going to be more like Paxton's color. Difficult to decide on the color until about 9 months old.

*Her little noises are so sweet. When she gets hungry she just lets out these little grunts like.

*I love her name. It always puts a smile on my face and in my heart when someone asks me her name. I love that we chose that for her.

*Her legs are so tiny and short. She would be so much longer if her legs were normal length!

(I am pretty sure I know where she gets that from!)

*Have I mentioned I LOVE pink? Like a lot?

*Her smell is addicting. I don't want her to ever lose it. Can we bottle that newborn smell please?

*Her lips quiver and it is so cute.

*Newborns are just so easy. I know not everyone may feel that way, but all they do is eat and sleep. Her doctor asked if she had her days and nights confused and I laughed because don't they just have nights at this stage? She is awake for very little time of the day, but when she is I love staring into her eyes.

*Her hair is so fun. All my boys had tons of dark, thick, long hair. Jadeyn's hair was light and straight. She did not have nearly as much of it either. I loved her hair do not get me wrong. It is just fun to have such the opposite this time. She has so much hair we cannot do the karo syrup bows because they will not stay in at all. We are loving headbands though. We rarely spend much time without one on!

Let's face it, I could go on and on, but I will stop there and hopefully this will get me on the ball with updating more. I am anxious to write about her birth. I honestly feel we are closest to Heaven in those very moments. Definitely moments I want to always remember.

a new child to love

Welcome to the world...

Emersyn Kathlene!!!

April 29th 2011

8 pounds 9 ounces

21 inches long

10:17

Perfect in every way.

all in a decade

My baby, my very first baby, the baby that made me a mommy is ten. TEN! How can it be? When I think of all that has happened since my very first child has been born, I guess it makes since, but I would like to repeat the last 10 years about 10 times, because they have been so great.

Bennett is a good kid. He tries hard. He is disciplined. He is sweet and kind. He worries about other people and their self worth. He likes to be a leader to his siblings. He loves sports. He really loves to read. He is still into Pokemon. He is so excited to have a baby sister. He is helpful. He loves to memorize.

He is just an all around good child. I have been so blessed to have him. I am sure there are times where I just wish I could get inside his brain and see why he will not put his jammies in the clothes basket or why I find those Pokemon cards around the house, but I will take those imperfections when I get such a great kid that goes a long with them.

Bennett, I wish I had a handbook on how to be the best mom I can be to you. I wish I knew all the ways to raise a wonderful, hardworking, man who know how much his Heavenly Father loves him, but even though I do not have that handbook, you sure seem like you are turning out to be the boy who already knows those things and has already accomplished those things as well. You amaze me. You inspire me. I love you my sweet baby. I am not sure if it is alright calling you that especially since we look eye to eye now, but not matter how tall you grow and how old you turn, to me, you will always be my baby!

Cort

This morning this cute little guy who decided to wake up REAL early after a late night for me, said the cutest thing. He came in all excited after finding his cleats that I brought up from the storage. He was SO super excited about this. Since I was still asleep he came to my side of the bed and said, "mom, will you please untie my new cleats for me?" I was so tired, I uttered "maybe". He then went to Andy's side who was a little more awake and he said, "yes".

He ran out of the room so happy with a skip in his step. He passed Jadeyn on the way out and whispered, "Jadeyn! Did you know that maybe NOW means YES!!!" He was so so excited about that! He hears maybe a lot and now to him I guess he thinks he will be hearing a lot more YESES!!!!

Man I love Cortland.

Celebrate

This weekend we celebrated my amazing Grandpa. He has finally retired. We were all surprised he finally did it! Get this, he was honored at a reception at work and he had worked longer than anyone in his local, he is an operating engineer, by 15 years! He had been working hard for 47 years. At the same job. What a great example. To be honest, I don't think he even really wanted to retire. I have had many examples in my life of hard workers, but this man is quite amazing. Right up until he retired he was working 6 days a week 10-12 hours a day! I could not cut that. He is 77 years old. I hope to have half of his stamina when I am that "young".

Grandpa, you truly amaze us. All the time!!!!!

Four weeks!

I had an appointment yesterday and it went pretty well. I was a little worried because since the Thursday before I was ordered to "rest". This weekend was rough. I just want to do what I want to do. I was driving Andy crazy with lists upon lists of things I really want to do, but I was good and did nothing. Other than enjoy Andy's family that came in town for the weekend.

So at my appointment he checked me and I am not dilated at all and starting to thin out a little, which is normal for me at this point. The baby has finally switched and is not longer transverse, which is always good. The heartbeat was at a steady 167. We scheduled the section for May 2. I get to be there at 5:30 am! It is so crazy to think how fast this day will come! Am I ready? I know one thing, I am not sure I am ready for Paxton to not be my baby. He is starting to seem really big and old and starting to slim down, so I guess the time has come, but to me, they will all always be my babies!

We still have no idea if this sweet baby will be a girl or a boy. I go back and forth. I really think it is a boy, mostly because that is what we do. We make boys. For the first 19 weeks I was sure it was a boy then we had our ultrasound and I was really confused because I really felt like the baby was a girl. Since then, I have been confused. I am not sure. I don't really care either way. Every one else really seems to, but I don't, I do just wish I knew already though! I ready to get things ready. I do have a girl and a boy outfit to take to the hospital, so I guess I am covered!

So with only four weeks to go, I am hoping that many things will get crossed off my list, many bonding moments will occur with the five children we have and a lot of rest will be had by yours truly! FOUR weeks seems entirely too soon!

Things I would have posted to Facebook if I hadn't been enjoying Paradise

(not in any certain order!)

*I aways forget how many people are so completely comfortable in a bikini. Old, young, thin, not so thin...I admire their confidence!

*Speedos will always get a good laugh from me!

*I cannot wrap my head around how lucky I am to be right here right now!

*My husband is truly my best friend. We cannot get enough of each other!

*I hope the kids are being good and having fun!

*I am so grateful for Nicki and her awesome personality!

*The beach scene always takes my breath away!

*Even in Mexico people think I should speak Spanish and think it is weird Andy does!

*I keep thinking of the things the Kids would love here and how not as relaxing it would be if they were here!

*I am pretty sure I have eaten more this week than I have this year!

*We have our own personal butler, a maid, someone who cooks for us and brings us drinks whenever and whatever we want. We have someone who drives us around the resort if we want and someone who does our laundry. The more I think about all that the more I realize that is exactly what our moms did for us!

*Why do I not live on the coast?

*Room service 24 hours a day? Sure!

*We have gone to bed earlier here every night than we do at home.

*A little burn never hurt anyone, but it sure affects my sleep!

*Gourmet? Of course!

*You want to do our laundry and press it? Sure!

*I am completely aware I look better with a little color on my face!

*I thought I was going to have a baby tonight!

*My feet did not like our flight one bit!

*Now those are tacos!

*Alberto and Olivia are a match made in Heaven!

*I am thinking in Mexico maybe they think a little alcohol is ok when you are preggers, just a little. Every time we ask for our drinks (sin alcohol=no alcohol) they look so let down and confused!

*A facial sounds just about perfect right now and then it was! The best one ever!

*I want a bathroom just like this if I get to build a house again someday!

* I really know a lot more Spanish than I thought I did!

*I love people watching!

*I think this lady thinks this us a topless beach! We look for her every day!

*Japanese food might just be my favorite food...

*Just talked with the kids and they already sound different!

* I am just so grateful to be married to my best friend. We never run out of things to say!

*We always sit by Canadians!

*I am going to have to do a cleanse after this!

*I am a loner...I only need Andy.

*Watermelon juice is my most favorite of all the juices!

*Beets and mouse, weird, but good!

*The hardest decision of our day is beach or pool? Such a life!

*I think I seriously have sun poisoning!

*Yes, I do most definitely have sun poisoning!

*Taking a nap on the beach sounds so nice. And it was!

*I think I have hit my food quota for the year!

*Another cocoloca, yes. Another pina colada, yes!

*Getting dolled up for the company diner is fun to do once in a while!

*I have done my makeup twice every day of this vacation and my hair every day and wore contacts every day and am realizing how much of a slob I must be at home!

*There is little that can be compared to walking in our room full of rose petals on the ground and roses on the bed and a bath drawn with rose petals floating on top. I feel like a princess!

*I cannot stop itching!

*I really kind of am anti-social!

*So proud of the hubs for attaining this huge accomplishment! He is such a hard worker!

*Can I take the beach home with me please? Or at least the pool?

*This burn will not stop my massage and pedicure, I will breath through the pain!

*Pops is awesome!

*"Where did Andy go?"

*Finding our peeps? and then meeting Luis!

*Our last day is always bitter sweet.

*Got all of our souvenirs!

*Still feeling really burnt!

*Best surf and turf ever!

*"You are a doctors wife, you can afford to buy organic milk from Sam's!" Talking to another couple about how we shop at Aldi, but how I cannot buy their milk!

*Our last breakfast of champions!

*We never got a picture of a cuate...but not for a lack of trying!

*I got some awesome earrings from my awesome hubby!

*Getting company gifts every night was one of the big highlights!

*And there goes the itouch...

*Prepping for the flight home. It is such a catch 22. I am drinking a ton of water to avoid swelling and contractions, but now I will have to go to the bathroom every other minute!

*Got my new camera just in time!

*Can we just move to Mexico?

*Let the peeling begin!

*We have a game plan if I go into labor in Mexico and hopefully we will not need to execute it!

*Can't wait to get my hands on our babies! I have really missed them!

*The thing I loved best about Mexico I get to take home with me, I love you ANDY!

Getting bigger by the minute

This is not an exaggeration. I honestly think I am getting bigger by the minute. Man. It was going so well till about 26 weeks. In fact at my last doctor appointment I was measuring small and he said I only had a cute little baby bump. Wait till he sees me next visit. He will think I ate up that cute little pregnant girl!

What is it about 30 weeks? I just balloon up! I don't really mind getting bigger or even more uncomfortable because I know the end result is all worth it, but man sometimes I wish I was one of those girls who barely look pregnant at month NINE!

So when we decided we wanted to have another baby, we totally timed it out. We know it is not always on your time line, hence the four years between B and the twins, but we decided we wanted to work it around Andy's president club trip so I would be right at 30 weeks and the doc would still let me travel. At my first visit, I asked him about it and he said that would be fine. I was very happy to hear that and very happy to hear he made the trip and very happy when we found out we were going to be able to have that baby we "planned" out!

It will be weird when we get back from our trip I will only have 8 weeks left of this pregnancy. Even as big as I am, I am not ready to be done with this pregnancy. I like it. I like feeling the baby move and wondering what he or she will look like. I am not one to rush a pregnancy along. I want to savor every moment. I just feel so blessed to even be able to have another baby. So blessed.

I have decided to take my workouts a little more serious. Maybe go back to five days at the gym instead of three or less! I am also going to cut out most of the sugar I am eating. There is just not reason for it. I am not a big sugar eater anyway especially because this pregnancy it has made me sick, but still I am hoping for success.

I just wanted to jot some things down about this pregnancy before I go to bed. Yes it is only 8:30, but more power to me. With as much as I toss around at night, it probably eats up about 2 hours anyway, so why not start off early! I am still sleeping pretty well. Not any major complaints. I do like to have pillows all around me, but I feel like I am getting pretty good sleep, although I only see this lasting about 2 more weeks. We will see...

K, so I am off to bed. Sweet dreams my sweet readers!

Getting ready and being organized

We just got back from a little weekend get-a-way with the kids. Anytime we get away wether it is a short little trip or a big fun filled trip we always come home with the same thing. Time well spent with each other and no distractions. We decided to take this little journey this weekend so we would spend two whole days just with the kids. No laundry/cleaning/running errands/all those other "chores" getting in the way of our times with the kiddos. I love that.

We just headed up to Chicago. We have not been there in almost 4 years since we moved from there. It was surreal. We drove up to Schaumburg first and went to Ikea, which the kids loved, swam at the hotel pool, did the Medieval Times thing, and then headed into the city. I think part of the reason why we have not been back, even though when we left we promised each other we would head back up every 6 months, is because we just loved and adored every moment there and it was hard going back and seeing a place we cherished so much. I wished we still lived there. I had tears in my eyes when we pulled up to our little flat. I pictured us in the window bringing home our twins, sending our firstborn to Kindergarten, bringing home baby number 4, dental school situations, graduation party, all the amazing friends we had there, you know that sort of thing. I cried. I thought of the people that are there now and had to wonder if they are experiencing the amazement we did while living there. As we drove around visiting all of our usual spots it all looked the same, like we never left, like we still lived there and were just vacationing a while away. It truly was surreal. One funny thing we realized while we were there was how little we really went out to dinner or anything like that. To say we were poor does not even do justice to our financial lives at that time. (I love that I only have happy amazing memories of that time in our life and it just goes to show it does not have anything to do with your income or lack there of:)) Chicago is known for eating establishments. When we were driving around we were trying to figure out where to go, and unfortunately we wanted something fast so nothing too amazing was going to happen, but we ended up at Pot Belly. How funny is that. Yes it is SO SO good and I miss that place all too often, but really? That is where we dined? This makes me laugh! I am also sad we did not get to see any of our dear friends that still live there, but the trip was just too short, but we are going to come up this summer and believe me we will see everyone we have missed so much! To say I miss that wonderful place is an understatement. My heart is truly in Chicago.

On our way home late last night I was thinking of what needs to be done this week, the week before our big excursion away. I was thinking about all the things I need to show our "sitter" and if I have already pre made enough meals, and where everything is that she may need or want. I have to say even I roll my eyes at myself when the labeler comes out or I reorganize what has been reorganized. I have to say though, having someone come stay at your house where they know where nothing is, it comes in handy to have the sheets and kids sheets labeled, or the batteries or hair ties, soaps, first aid and such. It should make it a lot easier on her.

I am just praying that every thing goes well for her. I was just telling Andy last night that if I had to watch all five kids by my self for a week I am not sure I could do it and I am asking this sweet girl to? I just hope it goes well...fingers crossed.

This week extra meals will be made, bags will be packed and I am sure I will clean and reclean everything about a dozen of time just to release some extra energy. I am also positively sure I will shed some tears over leaving my little brood. I have a process I go through when leaving my babies. I am so excited when the trip is planned then I feel very sad to leave them, then I get nervous, then I decide not to go, then I get sick to my stomach and then we go and I am still pretty sick then once we get there, all those nerves and fears disintegrate! This will only be our third time leaving the kids, but each time is just as hard. Luckily the girl that we are leaving them with is super sweet and so loving and "huggy" and I know they will not lack of love while I am gone. I am super excited about that. I don't know I probably hug and kiss each person in the house about 23,000 times a day, I worry when they don't get that!

Another goal I have this week is get Christmas blogged and out of the way so when I get home our trip can be documented right a way! I am so excited!

And now I am signing off after a long random blog post! Hope you enjoyed my ramblings!

The goodies around Christmas

This year Andy kindly asked me to not volunteer to be head room mother. I was last year and really loved it, but it was a lot a work. Not much help from other parents, and I tend to go a little over board which means late nights and tired me. So Andy convinced me this year especially being pregnant. So no one signed up to be head room mom. One mom decided to kind of take lead and get people to help. I went in to help with the Halloween party and brought some treats, but was not in charge and it was awesome! When Christmas came I planned to do the same thing, and then no one could do the party leaving the teacher left to figure something out, so guess who volunteered. Yes, yours truly. I cannot leave well enough alone, I have to keep pushing it. I will think of something and then think of something to make it better and cannot just let it be. So the result was a really awesome party, but a very wore out room mother!

These were the prizes for our games. To add to the stress I was almost at the school and forget the bingo game and had to go all they way home again. When I finally got back to the school I threw everything in the stroller and went running through the school with everything, 5 minutes late and so sorry I was!

Cookie treats for every one and then little candy bags for take home prizes! This does not seem like that big of a deal until I realized how many 35 really was! It take a long time to do all that!

The yummy cupcakes!

Teacher gifts. We also gave them little gift cards to St. Louis Bread Co.. Now I want St. Louis Bread Co..

I love these beautiful snowflake cookies we make every year!

One night after Family Home Evening, we finally made our Gingerbread house. IT was so fun and the kids had a ball!

Our Favorite Santa!

We finally made it up to see Santa. Can I just say I love this Santa. When we walked up Bennett looked right at me and said I have never seen a black Santa. The other kids did not even notice one bit. We have always told our kids that all the Santa's we see are just the Real Santa's helpers. Andy thought it was funny and said, isn't Santa they one time they really go off looks for the job? Old, white, chubby? This guy was thin, our age and not white. He was by far our favorite Santa of all time though. He was so cute and kind. When we walked up he said, "ho ho ho, I am not the Santa you are used to seeing am I?" So cute. He took time with each child and talked with each one of them. I loved it so much. When I look back at all the pics of my kids with Santa, I am pretty sure this will always be my favorite!

Waiting for Santa!

ANd more birthday...

I haven't really blogged about preschool yet. I don't really have any pics of anything and that is probably why. A few months ago around their birthday's I guess, I had been feeling like I needed to do something for the twins. I didn't know what it was. I prayed about it and got no where really. One day Andy said, maybe it is right for the twins to go to preschool. It is not like I am against it by any means, but for our family it was a no go. I do not want to push my kids out of the house any sooner than I had to, so why start earlier than needed? I thought about it, and prayed about it and one morning as we were doing little home preschool I noticed that I was not pushing the twins at all. I was helping Paxton and Maddox, but with the twins, they were kind of stalling on some levels. So I decided to check out the local preschools. It was then that I realized another reason why I had not done it before because it was a small fortune X's TWO! Then I stumbled on this little church preschool just blocks away from our house and fell in love with it. I loved the teachers and the school and the class size and it is just a couple days a week for 3 hours. I loved it. So we started and although I really miss then, it has been one of the best decisions we made last year.

So here they are celebrating their birthdays at school. I left my camera with them to get some extra shots. So adorable. I love these five years olds!

With their teacher and a book of drawings the class made for each birthday child!

Eating their snacks or jello, oreo's and juice!

The whole class!

That night we met Daddy at Monkey Joe's. They had a great time bouncing away!

Then we went to dinner. We should have quit while we were ahead. We were wanting Mexican and we new that they sang happy birthday at this restaurant so we went. The kids were just so tired after Monkey Joe's. You can see how tired Jadeyn is in the bottom picture. Andy was being grumpy for her!

A room full of balloons!

We decided right before Bennett was five that we would fill a dream of mine for our kids. I always pictured a room full of balloons on my birthday. Doesn't that sound fun? So we decided on their 5th, 10th and 15th bday we will do just that. Bennett loved it when he turned five and is really excited about April when he turns 10! So after the went to sleep the night before their birthday Andy and I got started on the balloon journey. We had 75 in each room! That is a lot of balloons. Unfortunately I was not much help blowing them all up!

They were so excited when they woke up!

How beautiful!

A whole lot of birthday going on

(For some reason I cannot move my pics once they are in the blog post!!

So they are out of order! Oops!)

My twins are five. MY TWINS ARE FIVE? How can that be? I know I say it all the time, but really? They are getting so big! We celebrated in true E style. We had three parties and the kids did not complain! We just love celebrating around here. We have more like birthweeks around here!

Best cousins! Jadeyn and Natalie. I am so happy that Jadeyn has girl cousins so close. They really love eachother. When Natalie and Julia are here

it for sure seems like a girl dominant home.

I love Julia's face in this pic!

One of his favorite toys...a dart tag game? Or something like that.

J with Grandma Joy.

Opening up some fun things!

Another cake!

Such a pretty cake!

Wishing it was his party too!

The favorite toy of his birthday. A remote control car!

Her favorite! Hello Kitty Makeup. Two of her faves!

They love money and have no idea you use it to buy something!

With Great Grandma!

Mickey and Minnie Cakes!