happenings.....

 Stink face from a Stinker.

Little Annie is giving me a run for my money. Last week if you asked me if I was done having kids I would have quickly replied "YES!" I realized that immunizations are probably the cause of most of her fussiness and lack of sleep last week. (which was also the week Chad was out of town) This week she has been much better, actually taking naps during the day, being happy when she's awake and not constantly wanting to nurse.

Annie watching the other two crazies dance.

Chad having fun with the kiddos in the mud. They LOVED it, as always.

We are starting the next part of construction on our house. Two more bedrooms, two bathrooms and a laundry room. It's a big addition which will take at least two months (hopefully not more) We are so blessed to be able to do it and get the kids out of the nasty old bathroom that we were using. (You don't even want to see the mold that was growing behind the walls of the bathtub. YUK!) I was so glad to say good-bye to the carpet in the bathroom, the nasty bathtub and the small closet with a toilet.  Before it was all torn up we let the kids go to town coloring to their hearts content. They had so much fun! 

More pictures to come as the work progresses!

2 months!

Miss Annie hit her two month mark while we were on vacation in California. I can't believe it's already been two months! The days have seemed long but the months have flown by!
*Annie is still a little fussy pants. Although she has improved a little which I am grateful for.
*She seems to be most grumpy and fussy in the evenings although she has plenty of moments during the day as well.
*She seems to have better days when she gets a good morning nap. No morning nap and I'm almost guaranteed a grumpy girl the rest of the day.
*She has longer, happy awake times.  She will smile and "talk" to us.  I love this. Her little "coo's" almost make her fussiness worth it!
*She would still nurse all day long if I would let her. I think I took a couple steps backwards going on vacation. I was available to her 24/7 and I think she got a little used to that. (oops.)
*She did way better than what I thought in California. The first night there was terrible but after that she really was no problem at all, other than her normal fussiness.
*She went on her first plane ride on July 8th.
*We've had her on medicine for reflux, it seems to be helping.
*I think her eyes will be blue. She still has quite a bit of hair but I'm pretty sure she'll lose it as time goes on.
*She has the loudest poops EVER!
*She is never soothed by the same thing twice. What works one day will probably not work the next day.
*She sleeps awesome at night. Once we get her to sleep she usually wakes up around 4:00 and then at 6:30 (she'll usually go back to sleep at 6:30 until the other kids wake up)
*I sure love this little gal.  She hasn't been the easiest but I know she's just frustrated. She has this huge, outgoing personality but is stuck in this tiny little baby body that can't do much.

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park

This past week we spent a couple days at a cute little campground. 

It's not too far from our house, we had never heard of it until recently. So, we packed up our kids and met Chad's family there.

It is such a cute place and we found out they are even expanding so I'm sure we'll be going there in the future as well. 

The kids had so much fun! They were so excited to see Yogi bear. I'm so grateful for Chad who entertained the older kids while Annie kept me busy in our little cabin. Like I said, we'll be going there again when Annie will actually let me do some of the fun things there.

I wish I would've taken a picture of our cabin, it was really cute. The kids had a little loft area that they slept in, they thought it was so fun!

Next time we go it will definitely be in the spring or fall. This 100 degree weather is just not fun to be outside in. (unless your swimming)

I guess we kept the kids too busy during the day.  While we were driving to a museum all THREE kids fell asleep in the car. Yes, I said THREE. I couldn't believe it myself. It was a little bit of heaven right there in our truck.

Below are pictures I took for Chad for a father's day gift.  It was very difficult and took a lot of bribery to get some decent ones.  Although, there is no bribing Annie. It was just pure luck that she didn't cry the whole time.  I even caught a smile, although she was smiling at Sam and not at me.

 She really does love her dad.

June 16

 Miss Carly finally got her ears pierced.  Chad took her on a daddy-daughter date for lunch and then on to get her ears pierced. She tried to chicken out at the last minute.  She came home and was so excited to show them off!

 June 1

Annie's first real bath! It's always so nice when you can actually bathe a baby instead of just wiping them down with a wet rag.  (especially when you have babies that spit up a TON!) She actually really loved it. Didn't cry one bit.  I may just keep her in a bath all day!

 Out of order, these should be up by the top pictures.

 These were taken around the same time Annie turned 1 month old! It sure flew by.  The days felt long at times, but the month flew by! Some facts about Annie at one month:

*She likes to cry.

* She is starting to smile a lot! She pretty much smiles every time she sees Carly. (that is of course, if she isn't crying)

*She is a great night time sleeper. (which I am really grateful for)

*She loves to be wrapped up. I can't really get her to sleep unless she is wrapped up.

*She would eat all day long if I let her.

*She spits up all the time. (all my babies did) With her it seems painful though. We're headed to the doctor tomorrow to see what they say about it.

*She is always trying to sit up.  I'm afraid that is a sign that she'll be just like her siblings. Crazy and wild and ready for action.

*She loves to sleep cuddled up on my chest.

*Although she is my most fussy baby I am so grateful that she is finally here in our family.  I know that these phases don't last and hopefully soon we'll be seeing a happier side of Miss Annie.

I have a 1st grader now!

Carly had her kindergarten Graduation/program on the 29th.  She was so excited and couldn't wait to sing all of her songs.  I still can't believe we've already made it through her first year of school. It flew by and now I have a 1st grader!! I'm no going to lie, I got a bit teary-eyed watching her up there on that stage. 

Carly is......well....there are so many words to describe her. 

Sweet, loving, dramatic, loud, caring, sensitive, energetic (that one is an understatement), HUGE personality!

As hard as she can be at times and as much as we butt heads I still love her so very much! I hope she knows and will always know how much I love her and how proud I am of her. At such a young age she is a huge example to me.  She is a leader, she knows what she wants and isn't afraid.

***

 Now, onto Miss Fussy pants. I've decided that this will be her new name. She will no longer be known as Annie unless she decided to shape up :)  I don't know if it's because it's been four years since I last had a newborn but I don't remember either of my babies being as fussy as she is.  She may look sweet and innocent but don't be deceived. Her days are split up like this.

30% of the day she cries

10% she pukes

10% of the day she poops

20% of the day she eats

20% of the day she sleeps

5% of the day she lays quietly

5% of the day she'll let other people hold her

It's funny though, I really haven't been too frustrated or felt overwhelmed.  Maybe it's because she's my 3rd, maybe because she took a while to make her appearance, maybe I've learned a little patience??? Who knows, but it is tiring and is starting to wear on me.  I have a feeling that something I'm eating is causing her to be so fussy.  I was bound and determined to breastfeed only this time around.  It's so much more convenient and it's so sweet to have that one one one time with baby. But it's very hard knowing that what I am feeding her may be the cause of all the crying.  Hopefully I can figure things out sooner rather than later and we can get her tummy troubles figured out (if that is what it really is.) It's so sad to hear her cry all the time and not know what the problem is, who knows maybe I just have a baby who likes to cry?

Carly turns 6 and Annie is blessed :)

6 years old!!

Miss Carly turned six years old and I just can't believe it! She was so excited for her birthday. She knew Grandma and Grandpa were coming on her birthday so that made it even more unbearable for her to wait!  She was so excited for her crown from school and her cake.  

She loved all her gifts and had to change into her Repunzel dress right away.

Some things about Carly:

*She is almost done with Kindergarten and is so excited for 1st grade.

*She is a super busy body. She has to be entertained 24/7. It wears me out but she just wouldn't be Carly if she wasn't this way.

* She loves to draw us pictures and leave them next to our side of the bed.

* She loves baby Annie and constantly wants to kiss her.

*She thrives on a schedule and order.  If something is out of order she is the first one to let us know.

*She is doing really well at reading and loves to try and read whatever words she sees.

Below are just random pictures from the last week or so.

Annie's first trip to the lake.

Annie's blessing Day

May 27, 2012

We decided (like in the past) to bless Annie at home while my family is in town. It was such a sweet blessing for a sweet little girl.  I'm so grateful to have her! 

New porch and of course more of Annie

Because of this guy we now have a freshly painted back porch that looks 20 years newer and so much nicer!!

I couldn't resist posting these pictures. I love them!

Annie hit one week yesterday and I just can't believe it. Time needs to slow way down so I can enjoy my little newborn just a little longer.  We are just loving her to pieces.  I for one cannot get enough of her. I just want to hold her all day long and I'm not going to lie, I pretty much do! It's funny how it's so different than my other two. Carly was my first, your always kind of in a fog with your first baby. You love and cuddle them whenever you want but your so concerned and stressed if your doing everything right that you, or at least I, wasn't able to just relax and enjoy her like I should. Sam surprised us and came so quickly I don't remember much of when he was so little (Thank heaven's for video cameras) and I look at Carly and Sam now and see how old they are getting and how fast it went. I want to cherish every second of every day with Annie while she is so new. 

We just love her!

Birth Day and Birthday and Mother's Day!

May 10

I was so excited for this day and had been looking forward to it for a very long time! Luckily we were able to get into the hospital pretty early to get things rolling.  I had to get one more belly picture before it was no longer there.

The delivery couldn't have gone any better. I had everything hooked up close to 9:00 am and Miss Annie was born at 3:01 p.m.  All morning things were progressing pretty slow and I was afraid we were in for a long day but I was checked again around 2:00 and she was pretty much ready to go. At that point everything turns into a blur.  I do however remember her being placed in my arms. I still couldn't believe she was here and was mine. It's amazing how with each child you love them the instant you see them! At that time we came to the conclusion that her name would be Annie.

She was 8lbs. 5 oz. (she was by far my fattest baby, LOVE it!)

20 inches long

Lots of dark hair

I loved everything about that day. Because it was such an easy delivery I felt awesome and I was able to enjoy every second of the day.

Sharise and Craig were awesome enough to watch Carly and Sam the whole day (such a HUGE stress relief for me to not have to worry about that)  They got the the hospital around 5:00.  Carly walked in scanning the room zoning in on Annie. She was so excited, she came prepared to take her own pictures with her camera. Sam just sort of took everything in. They both were interested in seeing my belly.

I must say out of all my deliveries this one was the most relaxed. I felt so good after that I was able to enjoy every second I had of me and Annie time. The hospital I delivered at doesn't really have a nursery so they never take the baby away. They do everything right in the room, which I loved! They did offer to take Annie at night (and bring her back to eat) so I could get some rest.  I loved all my one on one time and snuggle time with my baby.  I was kind of sad for the babymoon to end.

First day at home

We got home Friday evening. The kids were so excited and couldn't wait to hold their sister.  Sam kept saying "she's just so cute!"

Carly wanted to smother her with kisses (and still does)

Me and my girls

Carly is obviously going through a funny face stage right now.

More pictures from her first days at home. We just can't get enough of her!

May 12

Sam's Birthday!

So with just having a baby I was worried Sam's birthday would be kind of a bummer but I really think he enjoyed the day just how it was.  Chad and Craig blew up some balloons the night before.  Chad and Sam went to the store that morning to pick out his own birthday cake (no cake baking for me this time) He loved his cake and his presents. I'm pretty sure he had a good birthday.  

I still can't believe he is 4! He is getting way to smart and way too independent for my liking.

Mother's day

This was by far my most favorite mother's day (so far) Nothing extravagant happened. I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with my little family. I opened little gifts that Carly got for me. Chad cooked me dinner and I spent most the day lounging on the couch with my baby. Maybe it was because I'm on a baby high but I just loved everything about that day!