Embrace the Insanity

my new photography business...

2011-09-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

I've decided to jump in and start a business doing the one thing i LOVE...taking pictures! I plan to specialize in childrens portraiture and also birth photography. I shoot with natural light so I only have a couple months left of outdoor shooting but I want to do birth photography all year round. If you have a Facebook (does anyone not? haha) please "like" my photography fan page by clicking here or looking me up under Tracy Olson Photography. I really appreciate it! I'm looking forward to photographing and capturing those little moments in others lives :)

iheartfaces: pets

2011-08-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

The theme this week at iheartfaces.com is pets, so i decided to enter our dog, Dolly. She has been part of our family for a year now. We decided last summer that we wanted to get an older, bigger dog for the kids to play with and so she would be potty trained. She was a rescue, found in a field wandering around.

As we walked down the aisles of dogs at the shelter, we came across her...a two year old retriever mix. She was pretty much the one we had our eye on so we had the worker take her out of the cage and we went in a room to get to know her and see how she was with all the kids. The volunteers had been working with her on sitting and walking on a leash. We decided to take a chance on her and bring her home.

I remember the drive home with her...she sat on nick's lap (lol) and when he rolled the window down she stuck her head out of it and was trying to bite at the wind. we were laughing so hard. i also remember her shedding like crazy in the car and the hair blowing around everywhere...and i had thought having a dog with shorter hair meant less hair around...WRONG!

She has come a long way since we firtst brought her home. She used to freak out when the tv would be on...barking at it and her face right up against it. She would FREAK if a fan was on...running around and barking at it. Those things she no longer does, thankfully but she still will chew things up here and there.

Dolly is such a sweet dog though who LOVES to soak up as much attention as she can :)

hes 4...

2011-08-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

mr. daxton turned 4 on sunday. how thats possible i dont know. i was just looking through old pictures tonight and came across some from when he was a baby and i was thinking...where did the time go?!
he had a great birthday...LOVED his gifts...we got him quite a few pirate things since hes soooooooo into pirates right now. his favorite thing was a pirate dress up costume and pirate ship. when i had initially asked him what he wanted for his bday he said...lipstick and pirate costume. lol. what a combo! we got him some chapstick aka lipstick and he was SUPER happy about that. was funny to watch him open it because he said "oooooo" and got a huge grin on his face. yep, its the little things in life that matter :)
After blowing out candles (which he did while we were singing to him), eating his clown cupcake and opening presents we were off to the fair! it was a beautiful day to go. the kids each got a wristband as did nick and rode ride for 4 hours! well worth the money and they had alot of different kiddie rides. daxton was upset when he wasn't big enough to go on the huge boat so he settled (after many tears!) on the little one.
We brought home 2 goldfish that X and X both won. funny that we didnt remember them until tonight...a whole 24 hours after we got them and they had been in the bag out in the car the whole time! we thought for sure they would be dead, but nope. crazy goldfish!
So thankful to have had this wild boy in our lives for the past 4 years, even if it probably has shortened my life span some ;) life just wouldnt be the same without him keeping us on our toes thats for sure!!

i heart faces: eyes

2011-08-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

The theme this week at iheartfaces.com is eyes. I love eyes...they are afterall the windows to our souls right? My children have mostly different eye colors. Xavier has a chocolate brown, Xandria has a bright blue, Ziana has a dark blue and Daxton and Drake both have hazel eyes. I love all the different shades of their eyes. The photo I chose this week is of Drake and his eyes, or rather eye. I was taking pictures of him being silly and making different faces when he decided to start winking. He didn't think I could snap the camera fast enough to get a shot before he switched eyes, but I did! I love the picture I was able to capture...not only does it show his silly personality but also how gorgeous his eyes are!

i heart faces: props

2011-07-19T17:04:00.000-07:00

This weeks challenge over at iheartfaces.com is all about props. I chose this picture of Ziana and her cowboy woody. He has been her favorite doll for over a year now! She has just about every woody doll that has been on the market since, haha. On this day we were at my parents house before heading to big brother's baseball game when she decided to take woody on the swing. She had so much fun pushing him back and forth on the swing...and I had fun taking pictures of her doing it :)

i heart faces: let's hear it for the boys!

2011-06-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

The theme this week over at iheartfaces.com is: Let's hear it for the boys! which means you can enter any photo you want as long as it has a boy in it. In honor of it Father's Day being yesterday, I'm entering this picture of my husband Nick w my baby girl Ziana. I love how happy she is to be getting smooches from her daddy...and he adores her just as much as she adores him <3

um...yea...so...

2011-02-22T16:06:00.000-08:00

i just have to say that i can NOT believe it's been since october that i said i was getting back to blogging!!! lol. ok, so this time i'm definitely going to work hard on changing that!! i post alot of what's going on on facebook but obviously not our day to day stories and such. so that's what i plan (once again!) to resume here :)

back to blogging...

2010-10-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

thinking im going to start blogging again :) just came about all of a sudden. ive always blogged for myself and to keep a record of our lives and the things that go on...think im going to continue to that. a lil bummed that ive already gotten sooooooooooooo very far behind, but it will be a positive to pick it back up. so very much has happened in the time that i have been gone. now its time to start fresh and continue to document what is my life...our lives.

be back soon...

2009-12-21T12:16:00.001-08:00

I plan on coming back to blogging asap. Hopefully in the next day or two...soooooo much has gone on.

first birthday eve...

2009-11-10T22:08:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow (well, technically today since it's 12am) is Ziana's 1st birthday!!!! I honestly. can. not. believe. it. At. all. One year ago from this moment I was 5 hours away from going to the hospital to be induced. I was trying to sleep, but all the excitement, anxiety, apprehension, nervousness, joy...was keeping me awake. It was tough to fathom becoming a mom to five, with our youngest at the time being only 14 months old!!
I had NO IDEA if I would be able to do it, but the SECOND she was born it was so incredibly obvious that this sweet little girl was meant to be.
Meant to be our little ray of sunshine. She has brought out such a sweetness in our boys, including wild man Daxton...and her big sister could NOT be more excited to teach her everything and just love the heck out of her!
We have all been so incredibly blessed to have her in our lives this past year. And we look forward to the years to come :)

This is our soon-to-be-birthday princess on the eve of her first birthday: Not exactly how I would want her to feel :( she had been crying and crying all day with a runny nose...well, actually since last friday. I'm pretty sure it's teething. It makes me sad...she just wants to be held, and we are more than happy to oblige, but it's tough not seeing her be her usual self...that RARELY ever cries.
I'm really, really hoping she wakes up tomorrow feeling better and she has a fabulous birthday...she deserves it! We love our little Zee Zee!!!

halloween costumes...

2009-11-02T19:56:00.001-08:00

The weather was chilly this year (in the 50's), but thankfully it was not raining as it had been the previous days! Every year we go trick or treating in my parents neighborhood, the neighborhood I grew up in. There definitely weren't no where near as many trick or treaters as there used to be!
Ziana and I walked with them halfway down the block just to get a few pictures and headed back to my parents. My dad had to work...I think it was the first Halloween that he wasn't home to see the kids in their costumes :( I will have to take them over there dressed up so he can see them.
Here they are in the backyard before trick or treating...I almost fell over because when I told them to all stand together for a picture, Daxton marched right over there and stood there looking at me and everything!! WOW!! I know that's never happened before, ha!

Xavier is Commander Fox from Star Wars. He's soooo into Star Wars!

Xandria is a beautiful bride. She did inform me that she plans to never get married, but I'm sure that will change when she gets a little older!

Drakey robot. That's one of my nicknames for him, so we decided why not have him dress up as one for Halloween and surprisingly he was up for it!! I wasn't sure because that boy is INSANELY finicky about what he wears and has a strong opinion about he will and will not wear! He did have one issue...having his shoes spray painted silver! He was quite upset at first because he said those are his favorite shoes, but once he saw them he was pretty excited.
Nick made his costume from the pink foam stuff you see on the outside of houses before they are sided. He put a bunch of little lights on the front with a switch to turn off and on. He did an AWESOME job and the photo doesn't do it justice!

Daxton the devil. Yea, this costume is quite fitting for our little two year old and the antics he seems to come up with!! I definitely have moments where he drives me INSANE, but he is also such a sweet boy and is absolutely adorable as well! He carried around his pitchfork and he actually loved his costume...when I first tried it on at the store he did not want to take it off!

Meeee-oooowww!! Ziana the pretty kitty cat. She was a happy kitty cat...just like she always is!

Look who caught a mouse, ha ha!! She's too cute...I took alot of pictures of her in her costume since it was her first Halloween and also she seemed to really get into her kitty character!

I was really happy with how their costumes turned out especially since they were pretty much last minute! Halloween is absolutely my favorite holiday :-)

how big is zee zee...

2009-10-28T08:51:00.001-07:00

Thiiiiiiis BIG!! :-)

one of those weeks...

2009-10-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

Or a couple of "those" weeks. Just not feeling myself lately. Crabby. Completely CRABBY!! Bitchy. Irritated. Annoyed. Mad. Frustrated. Overwhelmed. Fat. Sad.
With moments of Happiness. Joy. Laughter. Fun. Excitement.
But mainly all the other crap.
Not completely sure what it's about.
Could have to do with the fact that my best friend since 4th grade came to visit, but had to go back home. I haven't seen her since '03 (CRAZY, I know!!) and since she went home it feels like a piece of me is missing. We had such a BLAST in the short time that she was here!!

It could also be the fact that Mr.Daxton has taken to climbing out of his bed this week repeatedly instead of napping. And if he's not doing that then he's taken off his diaper while in there and smearing the contents all over his bed. UGH!!! And I thought he was over doing that. WRONG!!
I really NEED nap time to happen, especially when Nick hasn't been getting home til later!

It could also be that we've had extremely crappy weather...rain, rain, and more freakin rain (plus COLD), which means we are STUCK in the damn house all. the. time!!
I just wasn't prepared for us to already be stuck in the house...this is my favorite time of year...it's supposed to start getting cool, NOT cold, NOT in the 40's!! It just really sucks and it feels like it's sucking everything out of me.
So let's hope that the rest of the month is all sunshine-y and fall-like. NOT winter!!

Also, my baby girl is turning ONE next MONTH!!! And that has me just a little sad :(
I'm not prepared for it at all! But, I guess I better start planning her party and pick out which cute little outfit she's going to wear and enjoy the "infant" time that she has left!

For now I'm off to make supper since it's one of those nights that Nick's not home til late, but thankfully Daxton DID stay in his bed today WITH his diaper on and took a nap!!! Couldn't of happened on a better day!

soccer...

2009-10-08T21:40:00.001-07:00

Drake had his very first soccer game on saturday, September 26. I was pretty nervous about how he would be at his first game. He is very shy and tends to be uncomfortable in new situations, especially when he doesn't know anyone. And that's exactly why I wanted to put him in soccer!
He loves, loves, loves soccer and that seems to be all he does around here...so he was excited to play real soccer! In the spring he was in a soccer class, he enjoyed it but was VERY reserved and it would take lots of coercing to basically get him to even move! By the end of the class he was doing better, but I still didn't have a clue as to how he would be once real soccer started. When that boy doesn't want to something, he is extremely stubborn and it takes a TON of work to get him to even think about changing his mind!!
Ok, back to the soccer...he had his first practice the tuesday before their first game. The kids are supposed to bring their own ball and wear their shin guards. Coach gets all the kids onto the field and they are standing out there, each one waiting for their turn to be up and do a drill. I was watching Drake and noticed that he didn't have his ball. Hmmm...look around and see that another kid has it and is running around with it. It's getting closer to Drake's turn, I holler at him asking him where his ball is, he points to the kid with it. I tell him to have the kid give him his ball back. Drake shrugs his shoulders. It's the kids turn for a drill and sure enough he just uses Drake's ball.
When it's Drake's turn the assistant coach gives him a different ball to use. The other kid is still goofing off with Drake's ball. I'm deciding I just need to go out there...I see Drake wipe his face, which is a sign that he's upset. I walk out to the field and Drake just bursts into tears! I felt sooo bad for him!! I told the kid that he needs his ball back and he hands it to him. I also told Drake to not be upset and he was fine. I was thinking he might not do much while he was out there, especially after that happened, but I was happily surprised to see him be somewhat active and even shout out an "over here!" once.
It's just soo tough with Drake because he's used to his older brother and sister ALWAYS being there for him and helping him out when he is unsure about anything...I just really want him to gain some independence and push himself when he feels awkward or unsure. I will say that he has grown a ton since last year and he's definitely more into trying new things than he was then or even a few months ago! There has for sure been progress :)

Anyway...the first soccer game!! Here's how it started out with Drake: Ha ha! If it's hard to see...there's Drake standing there in the middle of the action with an exasperated look on his face, picking on his fingers (something I guess he inherits from me). If you have ever seen Drake play soccer at home, he is ALL about it and never stops, so this was the complete opposite of how he normally is!!
He did start running around, but for a good while it was mainly in circles :) He did pick it up some and we starting seeing more of this:

In this photo he actually manages to kick his shoe off, Ha! You can see his little socked foot just hanging out:

After just about an hour the game was over. Sadly, Drake's team didn't manage to score even one goal...losing 15-0, but the kids didn't really even notice. He was first in line to give out high fives (though at first he didn't really know what was going on).

He had a blast and couldn't stop talking about the game! I was so so so proud of him and the next game he did even better :)

(click on pics to see them bigger)

renaissance fair '09...

2009-09-10T23:11:00.000-07:00

It seems to become a Labor day weekend tradition for us to go to the renaissance fair. I think it's mainly because adults are cheaper and kids are free that weekend :)
We had an absolute blast!! I love just walking around looking at the different costumes and outfits people are wearing...one thing I have learned going there is that anything goes, and I mean ANYTHING, ha!
Xavier and Drake did the sword fighting against each other. There is a height requirement that Drake was tall enough for...the guy said 4 was too young to do it, but let him do it anyway because he really wanted to. And hey, he does have an older brother that he wrestles with and sword fights at home. It was so cute seeing Drake in all the gear he had to wear...little guy could barely get his arm lifted up :)
He was supposed to keep his left arm behind his back, but after a bit it was sneaking up :) They had three rounds and despite the guy making the last balloon on Drake's helmet smaller so it's harder for Xavier to pop, Xavier still managed in the end to win all 3 rounds. It was soo funny to watch!
Daxton is OBSESSED with cows and horses...those two words are constantly coming out of his mouth...so we thought we would put him on a pony for the first time. He was hestitant at first (he likes animals until they are right in his face,lol) and I didn't think he was actually going to stay on it, but after a minute or two he was all about it and having a good time.
We had to buy him a pair of mocassins while we were there. Nick (of course) forgot Daxton's shoes at home (?!) and he couldn't walk around without any.
The older kids were jealous because they said they looked so comfortable.
I'm looking forward to going back next year!

Btw...after the last post I wrote about Daxton and his paci, he no longer uses it!! I think it happened mainly by accident...he had gone to bed that night before I was able to get his paci, so I figured "hey, let's see how it goes" with my fingers crossed and the next day at naptime he didn't cry like he usually would, but he didn't sleep either. And when it was bedtime that night, he went to bed without it again, but awoke in the middle of the night crying and crying. I went in to check on him and after I got back in bed, he was crying again. I was thinking "fine, I will just go give it to him" and when I got up to get it, he stopped. There haven't been any issues since (knock on wood)...I'm soo excited about that!! Next up: potty training!

curly...

2009-08-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

is what we like to call Drake because he has this crazy habit of curling his hair around and around his finger. My dad actually started calling him it first. He seems to switch habits every now and again...for awhile he would pick his fingernails, then over the winter he developed this little cough that he would do NONSTOP...and now it's curling the hair with his fingers.

I think it's cute, but sometimes it gets a little crazy (Xandria says its a little tornado on top of his head) and I make him flatten it before we go somewhere :) But usually he continues to do it while we are out anyway. He has lots of little quirks, but they add to the fun of his personality.

favorite part of my day...

2009-08-27T14:33:00.001-07:00

or not when I walk in the room and see this!! I went in the boys' room to put some clothes away and decided to check on Daxton sleeping and I find him naked!! Lovely. Especially considering I had just cleaned his bed from the mess he made in it this morning. I love that you can see the diaper and pajama pants tossed on the floor next to his bed. :(
I also love that it shows what he always has to sleep with...his Noah's Ark blanket and stinkin paci (which I'm hoping to get rid of at some point!!). He only has his paci at bedtime, but it still bugs me.
I do love naptime, especially on days like today where we have had to be in the house all day due to rain...it seemed to take nap time FOREVER to come. Does anyone else look forward to nap time??
I have to say that not everyday I look forward to it, in fact some days when it approaches naptime I don't want to put them down.
But not today :)

today is...

2009-08-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

Daxton's 2nd birthday!! So far today him and I went and ordered his cake for his party that's on sunday, went to WalMart for cupcakes and a new phone for him and went to the party store to get him "nan-nee!" (which means candy, a sucker specifically) and a balloon.

The boy is GA GA for balloons!! He's also GA GA for purses...yes, PURSES!! Ang was sweet enough to find him a blue purse (it's not a purse, it's a satchel...for those of you that have seen the movie Hangover!) for his birthday and also had put fake money in it, REAL keys on a keychain and a brush/mirror set. He was beyond excited about it!! Daxton pretty much ALWAYS has to have a purse on his arm when we go somewhere...Nick tries to get him to leave it in the car, but nope, that's not happening! It always makes me smile :)

At least now he has a blue purse, though he usually likes to carry at least 2 on his arm at a time, lol! Today I got him to stick with just the one purse when we were out.

We are going to be eating cupcakes, opening presents and heading Chuck E Cheese...so I'm off for now!

my birthday...

2009-08-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

My birthday was almost a month ago...I went out with my cousin and a couple other people and had an absolute BLAST!! It was exactly what I had needed! I stumbled in around 1am...Nick was a little surprised to see me like that...I never drink. And they made sure I drank! I was asked at one point how I can have 5 kids and 1 husband and NOT drink...I joked that I was beginning to wonder that myself ;)

The next day (which was my actual birthday) we planned on going to Chicago, but I was too tired and not feeling so hot :) Instead, I opened my presents (Photoshop CS4!!!), ate cake, we ran to the mall for a couple things and ate at Red Robin, came home and I took a much needed nap!
Sunday, is when we went to Chicago. We were going to go to Shedd Aquarium, but we didn't arrive til the afternoon and the city was crazy (there was a bike race going on also)...so we went to Navy Pier. For some reason, Navy Pier has always equaled Chicago to me...love it there!

We saw a "pirate ship" and decided we would go for a ride on that. The kids were all excited to go on the boat...it was an hour ride. The weather was perfect, with a nice breeze blowing. I had a wonderful day!
The ride home wasn't so wonderful though...babies were crying and crying...Ziana continued to cry most of the way home and when we were almost home Xandria was in tears because she had to go to the bathroom sooo bad and couldn't wait any longer...of course this was after Ziana FINALLY stopped crying and fell asleep...Xandria opens the door to get out and guess what happens?? Yep, Ziana woke up! Ugh, I was ecstatic when we did arrive home :)
Look...a family picture!! I love when strangers offer to take a picture of us, makes me happy :)

The "pirate ship" we rode on.

Ziana finally stopped crying and fell asleep in the sling...the girl loves to nap in her bed and it's tough getting her to sleep anywhere else!

Nick took this picture of the kids (minus Daxton that he was holding) while we were on the boat.

Drake freaked me out when he decided to just stand up and walk over to the railing of the boat! There is only those 4 little lines seperating someone from going in the water!

stung...

2009-08-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

Poor Daxton! Last week little man was stung 5 TIMES...one being on his eyelid. We were outside playing and I hollered at him to show me how he can go down the slide. Next thing I know I hear him scream like I've never heard before!! I looked up and I see him standing there looking shocked and I see a big black bug flying around...I immediately took off across the yard (the kids later told me that they had never seen me run so fast, ha!) and scooped him up, making sure there was no wasps on him. Took him in the house and pack baking soda on the 3 spots that I see he had been stung at. He was crying and crying, which is not usually like him.
We get outside and I look at him...his eye is swelling and I see a red dot on it, then another one on his other arm! My poor baby!! I tried putting ice on his eye, but he wasn't having any of that and just wanted to carry the ice around.
This is what he looked like a bit after he was stung (it did swell up more than this and he could barely see). He kept saying "eye" over and over: And this is what he looked like the next day:

I felt soooo bad and guilty because the week before Drake had gotten stung by the slide, I just thought it was random, but it turns out there was a nest right under the slide. When Nick got home I had him go out and see where they were coming from and he said that Daxton must of seen the nest and knocked it down...he said the nest was lying on the ground and about 15 wasps were flying over it. Nick got rid of the nest and hopefully we won't see anymore!

I'm waaaay behind in blogging (are you surprised??), the past week for sure has been CRAZY, so I'm HOPING I can get back on track!

I'm working the fair tonight at Heather (our photographer)'s booth...and I'm sooo looking forward to it!! Six hours of quiet for me and I get to do it tomorrow night also :) Right now I definitely need the break!! On that note, baby is crying...

turning 30!!

2009-07-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I turn the BIG 3-0!! And I must say that I am SOOO not ready for it!!! I just can't believe it...doesn't seem real. Honestly, I don't feel much older than 20. Life completely changed for me at 18. I became a MOM!! And that's what I have spent the last almost 12 years of my life doing.
It's been AMAZING and so much fun and it's really, completely changed me...but I STILL don't feel like an ADULT. I used to work, but I still lived with my parents (til 20 when I moved in with Nick)...and when I moved in with Nick he's been the one to take care of everything. Which I'm definitely NOT complaining about...but sometimes I want something for me. Something that I have accomplished, outside of being a mom and a wife...even though being a mom and wife are the two most important things to me.

I'm not sure what it is that I want to do. A couple things that I have thought about are being an ultrasound technician or doing some work with teen moms. I also love photography...though I don't know if I really see myself doing that. I'm just not sure and I'm not sure how to go about doing any of the things I want to do.

Maybe it's just the fact that I need to get out more and do things on my own. I never do...and when I do it feels like a breath of fresh air. My cousin is taking me out tonight to celebrate my birthday and I'm really, really looking forward to it!! Even if all we did was hang out and do nothing, I would be excited :).

I'm pretty low-key and it's tough for me to open up to people. Especially females. I've always had close guy friends and only one or two close girl friends. I've been through alot of crap in the past (and still) and it's always hard to trust girls...there is always too much drama and gossip for me!

A month or so ago I went to a fundraiser...with just myself and a couple friends and I had so much fun...even though it was just bowling! It had been soooo long since I was out without Nick or the kids. It's just always hard for me to break away from my family and do things alone... for no other reason than I want to spend my time being with them.

I know I'm just rambling, but I'm trying to put my thoughts down and maybe come back and figure them out, lol.

I have a couple things coming up that are going to be all about me and I'm super excited to do them! The main thing is taking an online photography class with the fab Maggie Holmes! I love her work and I have been wanting to do this for quite awhile! I can't wait to improve my photography skills and learn to take the photos I want to :)

Anyway, I just want to say that for me, this year and the years ahead are going to be more about me. Learning about me and who I really am and what makes me me. And trying and learning new things. Building better relationships. Having more fun. Stressing alot less about unimportant things. Loving more. Laughing a TON more. And just enjoying every minute that I can :)

And if you see me with bright pink hair, covered in piercings and tattoos...then maybe that's the newfound me that I am. But I don't quite see that happening ;)

i put in my notice...

2009-07-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

I'm quitting. Quitting my job. My job as "mom". Or at least I was earlier today.

I came to the conclusion I needed to quit and find a different job. One that didn't involve poop and it being smeared all over the place. One that didn't involve a two day old, dry clean only shower curtain and a handful of poop smashed all over it. One that didn't involve giving a little boy a bath after he woke up when he had just had one RIGHT before he went to bed! One that didn't involve telling kids repeatedly to pick their things up. One that didn't involve feeling like your completely failing at your job.

But if I had a job like that I wouldn't get sloppy kisses. Or crying babies that look for comfort in your picking them up. And give you the biggest smile and giggle when you do something as simple as look at them or say their name.
Or having your poopy little guy (he wasn't poopy at the time though, surpsingly!) climb up onto his baby sister's crib to check in on her and him saying "zee zee!" when he sees her in the crib.
Or a little girl who loves to draw you pictures and when you're in the middle of picking up things and having a horrible moment...you pick up something off the floor, blink away the tears and look to see that it's a handmade heart colored with red marker and written in pencil it says something...it says "i love you".
Or a little boy who when you (jokingly) said you're going to run away last week, he says " I will chase you and catch you and bring you back home and lock you up so you can't get out."
Or an eleven year old boy who (for the most part) has lost the attitude and has been helping you out when you need it WITHOUT complaining or grumbling about it.

There are so many precious, sweet moments that take away all the bad, horrible, brief moments that can happen daily...I savor each one of the good moments and just try to forget, or latter laugh at, the bad ones. It's an amazing journey and I am SO VERY blessed to be able to have this job and I wouldn't trade it for any other...no matter how much it pays...or how quiet it may be!!

On that note...I see (or rather smell) that mr. poopy pants has struck again!

not a very good day...

2009-07-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

Today has been one of those days! I stayed up waaaay too late the night before scrapbooking and was NOT ready to start the day!! But I got up and luckily most of the kiddos were still asleep. I had to get ready to get my hair done...I was REALLY looking forward to it! Angela (she watches the kids) was a bit late, so in turn I was running late getting to my hair appointment.

On the way there I was thisclose to being crashed into!! I was going straight through a green light (of course) and this idiot is coming from the other side and pulls out right in front of me!! Luckily, the lane next to me was closed, so I was able to swerve into it without any cars being right there! I honestly thought I was for sure hitting him...it wasn't until he was gone that I realized I had gotten out of the way just in time!! I was shaking like CRAZY!!! I got to my hair appointment and she was running behind, so that was a good thing :) I hate being late to appointments and always feel so guilty when I am!

The afternoon and evening were very looong...instead of taking a nap today, Daxton decided he would somehow get his diaper off and rip it into pieces and throw it all over the floor. Lovely. Thankfully, no poop THIS time...and yes, he had his shorts on ;)

Nick didn't get home until the kids were already bathed and in bed. Bedtime is the WORST part of the day, in my opinion. It drives me a little bit crazy!! So much easier to do with 2 people!!

Anyway, I'm going to go now and relax some watching "Sixteen Candles". One of my FAV movies!! I love all the old Molly Ringwald movies!!

queen of everything...

2009-07-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

So, I was at my parents house on sunday just hanging out and talking to my dad. Daxton ran over to the tree stump and was standing on it, I asked him if he was the king. Xandria and my neice Chelsey ran over to the stump and climbed on it...Xandria announced "I'm the QUEEN!!, Queen of EVERYTHING!!". Chelsey announced "I'm the Princess!!". Xandria looked at her and said "no, you're the MAID!". Ha ha!! I couldn't stop laughing. Chelsey kept trying to say she was the princess, but Xandria wasn't having it and she was deemed the maid.
I took this picture of the two of them on sunday...Chelsey is 10 and Xandria is 7 1/2! Xandria went to the dentist 2 weeks ago and had NO cavities again :) She needs to do a better job brushing her tongue and down at the gum line though. The dentist was a little concerned about her top tooth coming in...it looks like it might be coming in behind her bottom two teeth (normally your top teeth overlap your bottom), if that's the case she will have to see an orthodontist. I'm not sure what will have to happen if that's the case, because of course Nick didn't bother to ask! They will see how it is at her next visit. She has the one tooth left in the top front and it drives me a little crazy! I keep asking her if it's lose and she says it only is a little bit...it looks more than a little lose to me, but whatever :)

the 4th...

2009-07-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

We had a very low key July 4th! It was the weekend that the older kids stay at my parents...I asked them if they wanted to still stay the night there or go with us to the fireworks. They chose to stay w/my parents...I guess fireworks don't compare to unlimited television and video games, ha! So, we just had the babies. It rained til about 4 or so...that made me glad we didn't have any outside plans! We did some shopping and came home, babies had a little nap and then we went to see the fireworks. We went to the church thats just outside of downtown (where you can best see the fireworks), so we could really only see the ones that were higher up...which was fine for us. Daxton was pointing at them and would say "oh!". He was more into the ones that people were setting off around us...louder sound, ha ha. Ziana was going CRAZY over the fireworks!! She would slap her arms down on whoever was holding her and kick her legs nonstop!! She would also clap her hands :) That's her new thing. She LOVES to clap!! It was nice to have a quiet 4th.
Btw...I know I missed blogging yesterday, after I had JUST said I was going to make sure and blog everyday this week. It's still my plan though :)

let's take a nice picture of Daddy with the babies...or the babies both trying to rip Daddy's hat off. :)

polka dots...

2009-07-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

love them!! Even more so when they are on our baby girl :) These photos were taken a few weeks ago...before her first tooth came in (her second tooth has broken through now!). She's getting sooo big, sooo fast!! I'm really far behind on posting...my goal is to post something everyday this week. I'm hoping I will be able to accomplish that! There's sooo many little things that have been going on that I want to put into words for memories sake! We have been enjoying the summer...each week I'm shocked that another week has gone by so quickly, and I'm always left wondering where it went. besides this being an adorable picture of Ziana, I love the fact that you can see Xandria's sparkly pink hi-top that have the rainbow laces that Daddy bought for her, in them :)

new addition...

2009-07-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

her name is Truffles and she's a chihuahua. We got her 2 weeks ago this past sunday. Nick and the older kids drove to Freeport to pick her up...they chose her from 2 other female puppies. They picked the cutest and sweetest one :) She is sooo lovable and fun!! The kids are all smitten with her...with the exception of Ziana...Truffles just loves to lick, lick, lick Ziana's face and Ziana isn't about all those puppy kisses, ha ha!

FUMING...

2009-06-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

to say the least!!! I don't have much time, but I just have to get something off my chest, because right now it's REALLY ticking me off!!! Our older kids stayed at my parents house this weekend and Xandria called Nick at night telling him that she loved him and then asked him if we broke up. IF WE BROKE UP?!? Why the heck would she just ask that out of the blue...I wondered when he told me. It's not like we've been having problems or arguing or anything like that. Then he proceeds to tell me that she asked that because that's what someone told her! That SOMEONE being a freakin adult!! An adult that my kids see quite often...even more so right now, because of this SOMEONE's living situation, that puts them around my kids!! Now who the hell says that to a child about their parents?!! I JUST DON'T GET IT!! AND ESPECIALLY TO SAY IT WHEN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO TRUTH TO IT AND THIS PERSON KNOWS IT!!!! Even if it ever was true, whose place would it be to inform a child that their parents were no longer going to be together? I would think it would be the PARENTS place, not anyone else!! To say that I'm ready to explode is an understatement!!! This person is always telling lies and runs her mouth ALL THE TIME about things she makes up in her head!! I've had to deal with it for a VERY long time and I'm just ready to snap!! This is beyond crossing the line with me...you don't say and do things to intentionally hurt my kids!!! Ok...must go for now...Xavier has a game tonight. I will most likely see this person tonight, and as much as I'm not normally one for confrontation, I definitely am NOT just going to push this under the rug and be quiet about it!!

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY ANGIE!!!

2009-06-15T19:13:00.000-07:00

Today is my best friend since 5th grade's 30th birthday and I wanted to make sure to post and tell her that I hope she has a GREAT BIRTHDAY!! And also that I'm thinking of her and miss her SO MUCH!!!! I used to hate the fact that her birthday was one month and ten days before my birthday...now I like it because that means she turns 30 before me :)
*hopefully I can get to posting pictures soon!!

have i mentioned that i cant stand our neighbors?

2009-06-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

So...remember the garbage/dumpster incident a couple months back w/our new neighbors?? Well, the things that piss me off about them didn't end there! Forget the fact that the chick is freaking NUTS over there!!!...she apparently is on the THIRD guy living there w/her and her two kids. Not sure what happened to the first (though I can probably guess!), I do KNOW what happened to #2. And that's because they got into a HUGE fight in the front yard, for oh, about an HOUR or so. With her SCREAMING and cursing her head off at him...while her kids ran around the front yard and apparently even threw rocks at our car a couple times (which I later learned about from my kids). Xandria had come in and told me she thought they were moving again because "the guy had all his underwear in a basket and put it into the car...nope, it seems he was the only one moving, ha!
The chick is crazy...from the minute they arrive home, ALL you can hear from there is her SCREAMING at the kids...who are probably 5 and 3. And ANY time they are outside...she is SCREAMING at them! Throw in their dog, that any time they are home, it is outside YAPPING NONSTOP!! Drives me crazy!! In fact, that's all I hear right now as I'm sitting in our room w/the sliding door open.
Anyway, their driveway runs right next to our front yard. They seem to think it's fine for their/her kids to drive their power wheels through the side of our front yard, or if they need to, back up through our front yard. Niiice. Lovely, in fact.
I just went out to throw the garbage away in OUR dumpster and I look over and one of her family members is sitting in their truck IN OUR front yard, right next to her driveway!! It's not sitting on the driveway AT ALL...just on our yard, right next to our tree. Oh how nice. I go back in the house and decide I'm going to say something. Now I go out there and instead of it just sitting there w/someone in it...it's PARKED there w/no one in it!! My blood is starting to boil, just a tad more at this point! These are the same freakin neighbors that think their property is private, as there is a PRIVATE PROPERTY sign in their freakin window...yet, our yard and whatever is in it seems to be public property or something!
So, anyway a lady comes to the truck to get something out, I say "excuse me" at least 5 times and walk over there before she FINALLY decides to look the f@!$ up. I ask her if she could move the truck and she informs me that yes, she can move it, they were just waiting for the people in front of them to move their car....RIIIGHT!! If that was the case, couldn't you pull into the street and wait for them or even park the damn truck in FRONT of our house?!! No, I guess it makes more sense to park it in our front yard.
Needless to say, we are putting up a fence in the front yard! I just get more and more irritated w/them.
Also, they apparently have used our lawn mower trailer for their yard. Nick keeps it in the waay back yard (behind what we have fenced in, but is still our yard)...neither of our neighbors have their yards fenced in, so the part of our yard that's not fenced in is open to their yards. Well, Nick he had to walk over to their house to get the badmiton birdie that was hit over there and lo and behold guess whose trailer is now sitting in their yard?? Yep, that would be ours!! Lovely.
I've really tried had to refrain from being a total you-know-what, but it's get harder and harder to just ignore all their crap!!
Anyway, Happy Friday!! It's beautiful out :)

how to remove your sunglasses by ziana...

2009-06-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

Step 1: once sunglasses are placed on your face, launch your upper body backwards in an effort to make them more easier to grasp.

Step 2: if step 1 happens to fail, then you need to upright yourself and focus more on grabbing the sunglasses with just one hand. you've almost got them!

Step 3: you should have a hold of them by now. yes, you did it! slide them down on your nose.

Step 4: now that you have gotten ahold of them, the other hand is welcome to join the action...continue to slide them down, until...

Step 5: they are completely off your face! Yay!! you did it!!

Ziana managed to accomplish removing the sunglasses exactly one week after she was spotted in public wearing them and her mom was repeatedly questioned about how it is they remain on her face without baby girl removing them. Yep, she was determined to prove anyone that thought she would just sit back and let the sunglasses stay on her face, wrong! Ah well, what's a mom to do?

young at heart festival '09...

2009-05-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post these pics from last sunday all week, but dealing with cleaning/laundry/getting my hair chopped off/sinuses KICKING my butt/taking Ziana for her six month pictures/kids not listening very well...it got forgotten about. So, here I am on saturday posting them. We had a very nice Memorial Day weekend. Got some shopping done. A new trampoline for the kids. Hanging out and relaxing. Going to the Young at Heart. The weather held up pretty well...with only dark skies and a little rain on monday. Here are some of the highlights of our day at Young at Heart: Daxton's first ride!! He LOVED it!! He was a little antsy right before the ride started up, but once it did, he was having a blast! I loved watching his little face light up and spin the steering wheel around and around.

Daxton's all about being comfortable...while he was in the stroller he kept popping his feet up :)

Before we even got there, Xavier was telling Drake how he was going to take him on the bumper cars. They waited in the looong line and had fun crashing into everyone. Xavier is such a good big brother to Drake, he takes great care of him and is such a great role model for him. Drake just idolizes him and wants to be with him every second!

All 3 of them on the bee ride. Now that Drake is big enough to ride on pretty much all the rides, they tend to leave Xandria out, but this one they all fit on together.

Nick and I. 12 years later...still going to the Young at Heart :)

Miss Ziana conked out. It's becoming harder and harder to get her to fall asleep anywhere besides her bed these days! I was surprised to look down and see her snoozing away!

Daxton playing his first game...the ducky game! Last year he was the one sitting in the stroller like Ziana, now he's going on rides and playing games...what a difference a year makes!

Daxton's little red bird he won at the ducky game. This was taking right before he tossed it on the ground :)

The last picture of the day. The kids with their not one, not two, but three goldfish that Daddy and Xavier ended up winning! We bought a little tank for them to be in and since then, two of the three fish have survived...Xavier's being the one that perished. Drake's also holding his penguin/bird that he won.

the kids are out of school...well...

2009-05-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

almost! They didn't have school today, and tomorrow they go for a whopping 2 1/2hrs. Yeehaw!! I think it's going to be a good thing...just hoping I'm not wrong!! I know there will be a fair share of bickering going on though. I'm REALLY looking forward to a loong weekend!! Nick was gone working 1 1/2 hours away all last week (and monday this week), so monday and tuesday it was SO NICE to have him home at a decent time. Especially since a few days last week he wasn't able to be here to help with the kids at all. Definitely a tough week for me!! But, I made it :)

The Young at Heart Festival is this weekend, which means it's been 12 years since the first time I saw Nick!! He was on the ferris wheel with B (a guy I had a little crush on) and I guess B had spotted me and he told Nick to scream my name. I remembering hearing it, but didn't know who was saying it. A lit bit later my friend and I went over to where B was with his friends, and we all stood around talking. I noticed Nick RIGHT away!! He was the goofy one (his nickname is Goofy)...making jokes and getting everyone to laugh. I was thinking "forget about B, who's this guy??" I left that night with B's number (which I never called) and wondering if I would ever see that guy again. You can read the rest of how we finally did get together HERE
And when I had told him awhile after we got together that I remembered first seeing him at the Young at Heart with B, he told me all about how he remembered being on the ferris wheel with B screaming my name (I hadn't even mentioned hearing my name that night). How crazy is that?? Who woulda thought that the person's name he was hollering...for his friend btw...would be the one he married and has 5 kids with?? Definitely meant to be!! I do have to add that he did not remember seeing me at the Young at Heart that night, just yelling my name. Guess he was too busy entertaining everyone to notice me ;)

So, this year when we take the kids to the festival like we do every year, I will remember how it all started and how far we have come and all that we have gone through...and be SHOCKED that it's been 12 YEARS and I remember it like it was yesterday.

Zi zi is up now...so it's time to feed her and then we are off to get some supper!!

I told you I was able to get some smiley pictures of Ziana against the fence. The dress I got from the Gap on clearance and hat is from H&M...two of my favorite stores for kid clothes (usually from the outlets, of course)!

Doesn't he just look so sweet and innocent?! Daxton on sunday...hanging on the fence Nick was finishing! I'm SO HAPPY the yard is now COMPLETELY closed in!!!! Daxton ran off and almost made it to the street the other day when we were in the back...TOTALLY freaked me out!! That boy is SUPER FAST when he's on a mission...and I'm not exaggerating in the least!

Wrong feet...his legs are NOT crossed, ha ha! You can just about bet that when Drake puts his shoes on, they WILL be on the wrong feet!! Everytime he is told that his shoes are on the wrong feet and he says "I don't care". He does switch them though :) It's so Drake!

Xandria out in the backyard the other day...we are all obsessed with playing badminton or madminton as Drake calls it :)

Up close and personal with Ziana...from a couple weeks ago. Love her expression!!

the pouty cry...six months later...

2009-05-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

This is Ziana, minutes old...that girl cried for a good bit after she was born! I said "yes, she's definitely a girl!" ;)...and then I thought "oh no...is this what I have to look forward to??" But, thankfully, it wasn't (at least so far)! She's extremely laid back and go with the flow. We get lots of comments about how she never cries. And she doesn't. It's VERY rare for her to actually cry...UNTIL...Mommy thinks it would be oh-so-cute to set her in a little, tiny bit of grass against the wood fence and take some pictures to mark her six month birthday. Instead of a face full of smiles I got this:

and was instantly brought back in time to when she was just born and I saw that same pouty little crying face. It really is too sweet for words...even though she is unhappy. But don't worry, I did get some smiles...after I set her on a blanket!

kayleigh...

2009-05-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

sweet, beautiful, little Kayleigh passed away yesterday. My heart is completely broken for her family. Completely broken. I can not even come close to knowing how they feel...I know how devastated I am and she's not even my daughter, or the daughter of anyone I "know", but the tears fall from my eyes still. From the moment I first started reading their blog months ago, I pictured Kayleigh going home, growing up and telling her story to everyone...now she won't have the chance to tell it. Instead all that have loved her and prayed for her, will be able to tell it. That little girl is definitely a miracle!!! I don't have the ability to put feelings into words very well...but I know that I will continue to always think of her and her family and to also always hold and love my kids even more in her memory!!! You can click on her blog button to the left and go leave her family a comment...I know it would be appreciated! (may you rest in peace sweet kayleigh)

mother's day in chicago...

2009-05-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day we decided to take our "little" family to Chicago...mainly going to Navy Pier. I was getting nervous, because the sky was looking kinda dark when we were approaching Chicago...sure enough, it started to sprinkle, then we hit the wall of rain!! It poured, but by the time we actually got through the city and arrived at Navy Pier, it completely stopped and didn't rain a drop after :) It was perfect out!

First thing we did (after a bathroom stop) was head over to McDonald's so Nick and the kids could eat and I could feed the baby. Navy Pier actually wasn't jammed packed with people...it was still busy, but it was the least amount of people I have seen there. We walked down the pier and came across the "magic mirrors". I love these! I was hoping to get a shot of all of us in front of one, but that didn't happen. Especially since Drake would have NOTHING to do with them!! I don't know why but he wouldn't so much as walk right in front of them...goofy boy! So, I have this picture of us...minus Xavier and Drake (I think X was in the mirror next to us).

I don't know why, but the end part of the pier (where we normally take photos) was closed. We settled with this spot and I told Nick to take a photo of the kids and I...I hate that I always have to tell him to take a picture with me in it...but that's the way it goes I guess. I would love to have some non-posed, real life photos w/the kids, but oh well....what can ya do about it?? I LOVED carrying Ziana in the carrier!! Works out so well and it's not as straining as trying to carry her in my arms. Funny that after 5 kids, I finally out the carriers we have bought to use...lol!

On our way back up the pier, we just had to stop so I could get a picture of the kids on one of these benches. We did the same thing last year too...I think I'm going to make it a tradition :) Who knows...maybe one time we will be able to fill the bench with all our kids ;) Ha ha!

After we finished at Navy Pier, we headed towards Michigan Ave to find the Hershey store. We completely got on the wrong road and went a bit out of the way...had to turn around and managed to find it!! I love that store!! The minute you walk in you are hit with the WONDERFUL smell of chocolate!!! If you go you have to get one of their cupcakes...they are DELICIOUS!! And HUGE!! Mine is the Reece's cup kind...with peanut butter frosting. I love how Ziana is looking at like she's ready for a taste :) (and what's with the chick in the back??). To finish up our day there we went to the American Girl doll store so Xandria could get something for her doll...she was the one behaving the whole day. It was funny when we were in there, Drake said "this place just has girl stuff in it", ha ha.

On the way home...Nick missed our exit off of I-94 unto I-90, so we had to detour into Skokie. That turned out to be a great thing because we came across Portillo's...YUM!!! The last time I have eaten there was about 9 years ago. Their cheeseburgers and fries are THE BEST!! And they even had smoothies there! We arrived home around 10pm. Xavier and Xandria gave me their gifts they made for me at school...a painting from each of them. So sweet!! I will have to take a picture of them. I recieved some clothes and shoes from Nick. I also have a necklace on order with the kids' names on it...you can find it here
I ordered one of her charmed necklaces. She has such cute designs...I can't wait to recieve mine!!

Today has been all about cleaning up and not doing too much. Today is also the day Ziana turns SIX MONTHS OLD!!!!!! That's insane to me!!! I plan to do another post about her being 6 months, with a few pictures I took of her today. I want to cry...time just flies by in the blink of an eye :(

some photos...

2009-05-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

I don't feel like saying much, so I thought I would post some photos. Today is one of those looooong days where it's been a lil crazy and Nick's not going to be home until late :( My youngest two boys....sweetness! Daxton kept hugging Drake repeatedly, it was so cute. I'm glad I had my camera ready.

Xandria and her baby sister on Easter. Xandria was so excited that both their dresses were black and white and they each had a pink sweater. Can you tell she's SO HAPPY to have a baby sister??

Xavier and Ziana. It's SO TOUGH to get him to have his picture taken...or when I finally get him to, he will make the "are you done yet" face. Alot of times when no one is around he will go up to her and tickle her, talk to her or make faces at her to get her to laugh.

Ziana and I outside. Drake snapped this picture with my camera. He's really gotten into taking pictures with my camera...which makes me nervous, but he does pretty well with holding on to it.

Last night we had Xavier's spring concert. He plays Nick's old trumpet in the bad. It's the first time they have played. It was really nice. They are required to sing in the choir, but he TOTALLY MOUTHED IT, lol! He said his mouth feels funny after playing the trumpet, so he can't sing. Riiiiight. The concert was 55 minutes long and I'm happy to say that everyone sat so well!! I was so proud :) Daxton cried a little bit when we first got there, but I'm sure it was because of all the strange people. I had to take him from Nick and hold him and then he calmed down. Angela held onto the baby. The senior boys were sitting behind us waiting for their turn and making faces at the baby and playing peek a boo with her. It was cute.

Thursday is Xavier's school trip to the Chicago museum...science and industry I'm pretty sure. Nick is taking the day off of work to go with him. I thought I was first choice, but I somehow got bumped, lol. It will be nice for the two of them to spend time together though.

Geez, so much for not writing much...I need to go get supper ready.

i was a little surprised...

2009-04-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

to look up and see Daxton doing this:

Crazy boy!! I would of never thought he would just climb up the big slide and sail right down it, all on his own!! I shouldn't be surprised though. Totally sums him up...if he's set on doing something, he will figure it out!! But, it's not like he had been trying or even noticed the slide...or so I thought.

I was sitting on the patio with the baby, only to look up and see him climbing the ladder and hoping right on the slide. I thought I was going to have a heart attack!! He made it just fine though and went down a few more times...having a blast each time :)
I think it's funny how far he had to stretch his legs to climb up the ladder, lol.

the many faces of...

2009-04-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

little bunny foo foo!! LOVE this hat that I got from a seller on etsy.com!!! LOVE etsy.com!!! I added the ribbon to the ears myself. Isn't she the most adorable little baby bunny EVER?!?! I think so :) Lots of adorable faces that make me smile...and that's a good thing right now, because this week I have been sick, sick, sick :( Pretty much with a cold...runny nose, watering eyes nonstop), but yesterday my sinuses on the right side of my face were REALLY hurting. I don't normally ever have sinus problems...I'm still feeling it today. Trying to pull myself somewhat together, because it is GORGEOUS out and the kids deserve to be outside and I know the fresh air will help make me feel better. So I'm off to try and do that :)

Easter Bunny Photo...

2009-04-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

Introducing....Our bunny photo with our 5 children:

I'm REALLY happy with how it turned out :) I was definitely just a wee bit nervous about how it would go down! I kept asking Daxton if he was going to go see the Easter Bunny and he would shake his head yes. I know he had no idea what I was talking about...he just knew I was getting him out of the stroller and that usually means I'm going to let him down and walk around, not this time! So he was squirmy, but he sat there so we could get a nice picture :)
I didn't go with the usual pastel-y colors for the clothes this year. I saw the pink/black/white combo and fell in love! I plan on getting some more pictures of them in their outfits...they are just too darn cute!!
And I LOVE the little socks that look like Ziana is wearing shoes!! The ones she's wearing are from Sears, but I also picked up some cute ones at Target.

Daxton's First Egg Hunt...

2009-04-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

Mr.Daxton did VERY well on his first egg hunt(s)! I was actually pretty surprised...the boy usually goes from one thing to the next in no time! We gave him his little bucket and let him go outside...he was upset that he couldn't carry Drake's bucket around...one for each hand, ha ha. He didn't pay too much attention to the eggs, until Daddy opened one up and showed him there was candy in it...then he was off!!! He did really well, but I think his favorite part was just being outside...he LOVES to be outside and gets upset when it's too cold to go out or he when he thinks we are going out to play, but instead we are leaving in the car...he runs straight to the backyard every single time :) I'm hoping the weather continues to be nice so he gets a chance to go out everyday!! This is his excited pose! His mouth wide open and his little arms stretched out...I can just hear him saying "HA HA".

Found the first egg :)

Daddy giving him a little direction to where an egg is...he couldn't get there fast enough!!

While the older kids came out to look for eggs, Daxton was ready to move on. He set his little bucket down and climbed up on the slide...clapping and happy :)

Egg hunting and my parents house...with a little hula hooping thrown in ;)

Easter 2009...

2009-04-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

Our beautiful children on Easter. We are definitely blessed!!

My sister Nikki and I @ my parents house.

Nick and I.

My niece Chelsey with chunka monka Ziana.

Xavier and his Easter basket. Someday he will be too old for one...but not yet:)

Xandria and her Easter basket wearing her Christmas pjs, ha ha.

Drake and his Easter basket, I love how Daxton is all about checking out his brother's basket :)

Daxton and his basket...he was ALL ABOUT the little phone type thing in there!! Ziana's basket is behind him.

Daxton trying out his new bat and tee. He doesn't swing the bat across, he just chops it down on top of the ball.

Rollin' and Another Milestone...

2009-04-08T16:31:00.000-07:00

Look what girlie did for the 1st time last wednesday, March 25th!! I have to say I was really disappointed at her timing!! I came home from cleaning and Angela said to me "so when did she start rolling over?" WHAAAT?! That's nice! I'm only away from her a couple hours a week and that's the time she decides to roll over...figures. And she did it 3 times! Stinker!!

Last thursday night I decided to move Ziana out of the bassinet (in our room) and into the crib in her room. She had been waking up in the very early morning for about a week and just fussing, fussing, fussing. Not crying, just fussy for some reason. It was starting to drive me crazy! So, I decided she must be getting too cramped in there and wanted more room. I was really nervous about how it would go...the first night is always the hardest. Well, she did GREAT!!! Slept all night without a peep....that I know of anyway ;)

Friday night I decided I was going to put her to bed earlier and drop her later feeding...it would normally be a 10 or 11pm feeding. Again, I wasn't sure how it would go, but it went GREAT!!! She didn't wake up til 7am. So, the later feeding is out the window and she usually eats last at 8pm, tonight it will be 9pm. Then to bed between 9-9:30 and up around 7am or so. She eats then goes back to sleep for about 3-4 hours.

I have been able to get her on pretty much the same nap schedule as Daxton...that's awesome :)

So far so good, Daxton pretty much sleeps through her waking up when she does, but I think I'm going to move him in to Drake's room soon. Drake is a night owl though, and keeps the light on...but I think I'm going to have the lights out and just put a nightlight in under where Drake's bed is (he sleeps under the top bunk). I'm crossing my fingers that everything continues to go well!!

Wow, 2 posts in one day...I'm the one on a roll now ;)

One. Tooth. Less...

2009-04-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

Last week, March 26, Xandria lost her second tooth. She knew a couple days before that is was going to be coming out soon. The night before she was wiggling it and wiggling it...I really thought it was going to come out then. But it didn't. She told me "Mom I keep wiggling it, but it won't come out." I told her it wasn't ready to come out just yet.
So, we were eating supper and she went to bite into something, but each time she did, the tooth would hurt and be in the way. She decided she was going to get it out so she could eat her food! She took a paper towel, went in her room and a few minutes later came out with the tooth in her hand :) She was SO EXCITED!!...

Until, she looked in the mirror and saw this:

I don't know how easily you can see it, but where the tooth is there is a piece of gum hanging that's in the shape of a tooth. She BURST into tears when she saw it and said "I LOOK WEIRD!!"

Poor girl. I told her it was okay and that it would go away, probably by the next day. She didn't believe and told me she wasn't going to smile at school the next day, that way no one would see it. It took a little while to calm her down.

Then she went outside and played.

And the next day? Yep, it was pretty much gone :)

Plus, the tooth fairy had come, taken her tooth and left $2 in its place. Though she insisted that since the tooth fairy had left he two dollars for the first tooth, she would leave three dollars this time. I told her the price doesn't go up for each tooth. Silly girl!

"Pets" and "Pouting"...

2009-03-31T15:13:00.001-07:00

This week I'm entering two catergories over at iheartfaces : Pets and Pouting. I love this picture I took of our cat Daisy...definitely a lucky shot! Almost looks like she's laughing :)

For "pouting" I'm entering Drake's sad lil face. It was taken Jan 2008. I'm not sure why he's pouting, but I do know that Drake is great at pouting. I like how the light from the window is highlighting the pout.

This pout is what happens right before the tears start to pour and he gets so worked up that he can't catch his breath. Poor guy, he's just so sensitive. I would say the number one thing he gets upset about is when he's feelings are hurt. Breaks my heart everytime I see his little pout come out, cuz I know how horrible he must be feeling. Luckily, it's not too often...even though it look so sweet!

Go on and check out some more entry's from this week!

Pictures of Ziana...

2009-03-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

lovin the pink and brown!

lil love bug...we love her so much!!

she claps her hands alot. Too cute!

She has to have her blankets when she's tired and wants to go to sleep. She grabs them and pulls them all around.

lil pouty face :)

She's now 4 months old...well since the 11th. I still need to do a post about her 4 month stats...

sometime, soon hopefully! I have alot to blog about and think about doing it constantly, but it's hard to get a chance to! She's growing so fast...TOO FAST!! Losing her black hair...wonder what color it will be? Anyway, when you look at her pics, see if you can figure out what's different about her now??

Wow, I'm feeling exhausted! It seems everytime I take a shower late in the day it exhausts me for some reason. Most of the kids around here were on Spring Break this week...not my kids. They have another 2 weeks until their Spring Break...hopefully the weather will be nicer then than it has been this week! We have a winter weather watch for tomorrow night...they are expecting snow- up to 6 INCHES in some areas!!! I'm REALLY hoping they are COMPLETELY wrong and the sun shines with warm temps!! I'm SO OVER SNOW!!!!

Baby Kayleigh...

2009-03-22T22:36:00.000-07:00

I posted another blog button to the left. You can click on it to follow the blog of little Kayleigh. She was born 3 months early and only weighed a mere 1pound 1oz and was a teeny 10 1/2 inches long. She's now 9 months old and about 7pounds. She's been in the hospital since birth, but they are hoping she will be able to go home in a month or so...if all goes well. Pray for her and her family! BTW, the picture on the button shows her dad's ring around her arm...that's how tiny she was!!!

Beauty Is...

2009-03-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

watching the girl (ok she's a woman) with Down Syndrome across the street dance and dance while holding her ipod with reckless abandon. She's being doing it for at least an hour now. It makes me smile :) She may not be "perfect" physically and mentally, but she has something I'm trying to achieve...pure happiness and joy just being who you are, no matter who might be watching.

Comments Accepted...

2009-03-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

I was informed by Kim that the comment setting for my blog was set on "team members only" or something crazy like that. It's now fixed...so if anyone ever has the urge to leave a comment, just click below whatever post u want to leave a comment on where it says "comments" and type what u want to say :) Happy Friday!!

St.Patty's Day Girl...

2009-03-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

she's as cute as can be all dressed in green :)

Jonah...

2009-03-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

I added a blog button to the left of baby Jonah. You can click on it to view his parents blog and also to read his story. He's only 2 weeks and was born with a rare skin disorder...his skin is covered in open blisters and sores. There is no cure. His parents weren't aware that anything was wrong with him prior to birth. Last year they lost their firstborn son was born still at 37 weeks, they now think that he might of had the same condition. Jonah has been improving, but still needs prayers! Such a beautiful lil guy!

It's All About the GREEN...

2009-03-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

This week's theme at iHeartFaces is green. And since it's St.Patrick's Day, of course I would pick a picture that represents that :) Little Daxton last year on St.Patty's Day! Go check out the other "green" pictures on their website!

Sick Kiddies...

2009-03-04T14:33:00.000-08:00

the two seconds Daxton stopped to check out the snow.

falling down in the snow

cutie boy...oh how I miss those curls :(

playing with the car...in the mud. that mud on the car is from his hands! his clothes were covered in mud when we went in the house!

my fav picture! leave it to daxton to find THE one piece of wood missing from the fence (which was hidden by the side if the deck) and stroll right through it! it;s like he's saying "see ya later mom". I love his little bowed legs when he walks :)

and husband. It's been over a week now since sickness arrived in my house. I'm over it! Ready for everyone to feel 100%. Especially since the temps are supposed to be almost 60 the next two days! I'm hoping I will actually be able to at least go outside and enjoy it! Keeping my fingers crossed.

I'm posting pictures from feb.7 of Daxton's first time in the snow. I thought he would be more into it than he was. But who am I kidding...the boy is ALL about exploring!! It was 50 degrees that day so he was able to go outside for the first time since fall, when he had just started walking. I thought he was ALL OVER the place then, yea right! Now he really is!!

He noticed the snow for about 2 seconds when he put his hand in it, then he was off to see what else he could find! We REALLY need to get all of the yard fenced in with him for sure!!

Check These Out...

2009-02-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post a couple links to site I like to go visit. One is PostSecret. In case you didn't know about it, people write their secrets on post cards, send them to this guy and he puts them in a blog. Pretty cool reading other peoples' secrets.
Another link I saw on Nicole's blog, which came from PostSecret is ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com People that have found cameras/pictures post them on there in hopes of reuniting people with their lost cameras/photos. I think that's a great idea! Plus it's fun to check out the pictures :)
Then there is CakeWrecks. They post photos of "professional cakes gone horribly wrong". Too funny...and strange in some cases!!
Oh, I HAVE to add True Wife Confessions. Wives right in about what they would "love to tell their husbands...or not". Love reading what other woman think and feel about their husbands, but don't tell them! Some of it's pretty harsh, but some is sweet.

So, there's a few sites I like to check out. Hope everyone's having a good day...we will be heading to bowling later. Fun fun!

;

Cupcake Maker...

2009-02-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

Xandria had been dying to get this cupcake maker eversince she first spotted it on a commercial sometime before Christmas. It was all she talked about...making cupcakes for everyone, having a cupcake shop. On and on. She even made a sign on her door that says "Xandria Cupcake Shop" with a picture of two cupcakes on it.

Of course we HAD to get it for her for Christmas. She was so excited and she couldn't wait to open it up and get to work making cupcakes for everyone!!

I have to say, it makes cupcakes super fast and it's super easy! They taste pretty good also. I think what she likes even more than making them for everyone is licking the bowls and spoons clean :)

3 Months...

2009-02-20T16:01:00.000-08:00

So, baby girl is now three months old. Her personality has really started to come out this past month. She's so interactive and social. Her are some things about her at 3 months.

Weighs 15 pounds!! Chunk a lunk!
24 inches long
3-6 month clothes
last feeding is at 10 or 11pm. Sleeps til 8, has a bottle, back to sleep until 11 or later.
giggles, giggles, giggles. you can just look at her sometimes and she will start giggling.
discovered how much fun sticking out her tongue is.
HATES tummy time!! Will only do it for a minute or two until the fussing and crying starts.
stares at light.
coos and chatters ALL THE TIME! Definitely going to be a lil chatterbox when she's older!
has a bald spot.
we discovered she has a small hemangioma on her back...like her big brother Drake had on his arm...only hers is alot smaller.
her hands are in her mouth CONSTANTLY!! And she tries to suck on/gnaw on anything that comes close to her mouth.
only cries when she wants to eat, go to sleep, or has poopy pants.
LOVES to be talked to!
still has black hair.
still loves to sleep on mommy...which mommy LOVES!!
snores when she's really really tired.
drinks 7oz now.
has the chubbiest thighs...I think that's where all her milk goes!
is very much into rubbing her hands on her blanket. she grabs the blanket and open and closes her hands to rub it. If she doesn't have a blanket, she will rub someone's hands the same way. She especially likes to do it when she's going to sleep.

That's all I could think of at the moment. She's such a joy and a sweet addition to our family :)

Things...

2009-02-20T13:57:00.000-08:00

Today is friday, and while that's usually a happy day...there are things that are REALLY bothering me. REALLY bothering me...or pissing me off, whichever.
First I have to start with new neighbors. Now normally new neighbors wouldn't piss me off. I really could care less about them, unless they do something that bothers me. We weren't sure if these people were actually moving in or not at first...but they were there last sunday and just as we were backing out of the driveway to leave, we notice the guy walking across our front yard with an empty box in his hand. Obviously garbage.
I have to say that were we live the garbage man doesn't just come, you have to call and arrange for your garbage to be picked up. We have a dumpster because of our garbage plus people that work with Nick come by and throw away stuff.
Anyway, we keep backing out and he keeps walking through our yard. We pull out and head down the street...Nick and I were talking about it and Nick said he wants to turn around to see if the guy ACTUALLY threw his garbage in our dumpster. By the time we turn around and go back, the guy and his van are gone...but sure enough there's the box peeking out of the dumpster. WTF?!
Now we wouldn't care one bit if the guy had asked if he could toss it in our dumpster. But to just walk on over, while we are RIGHT there even, just irritates me.
The next day Nick said he could see more footprints and tracks from dragging garbage going through our front yard. I don't understand that. So, the garbage company came and put locks on the dumpster.
The neighbors haven't been over there much yet...just a bit off and on...looks like they are moving stuff over there now, but I just have the urge to go ask them what they were thinking. But I won't.

Another thing I'm bothered by is people who say they are going to do something and what day and time...everything, and you just don't hear from them at all. And it's been a week. Yea, another thing I don't understand.

The last thing that has REALLY put my pissed off meter WAY past the limit is about a situation and how a person chose to handle it. This person we just found out has lied and done something that is beyond anything I could ever do to someone I hardly know...let alone someone that I'm supposed to be friends with and who was nice enough to help me out.
My stomach is just sick about this. I wish I could elaborate, but I can't. I'm just stunned, but I have known this family for a long time and I know how shady they are. Always looking for a way to screw someone over. And it doesn't matter who. Obviously. I would just like to look them in the eye and ask them how they could do that. Hopefully karma will come back at them and the truth will be known. I could never, ever lie about simple little things, let alone something as big as this. Not at all!!!
It's just so upsetting on so many levels. :(

Love Notes...

2009-02-17T14:57:00.001-08:00

are what Xandria recieved from a little boy at school today. She told me when she got home that a boy at school gave her 2 notes today. Then she showed me with a grin on her face :) I said "oooh...hearts. And two people. Who are the two people supposed to be?" She said she didn't know, but she knew one was a girl..."I'm not sure if the other one is a boy or a girl though", is what she told me. Uh huh. I'm not so sure about that ;)
I think it's so cute...but in just a few years I don't think I will be thinking that. Ha ha! I like how in the second one he wrote "to xandria again". Too sweet. Ahh...to be in first grade again!
In other news...had a wonderful Valentine's Day!! Of course I have pictures to post...but still need to upload. I've been slacking on the updates, cuz the big computer I upload all my pics to is in my scrapbook room, and I just can't bring myself to come in here and look at all the mess...but I couldn't resist posting Toots' love notes :)
P.S. Baby Z turned 3 MONTHS last wednesday!

Giggles...

2009-02-06T14:31:00.000-08:00

I took these photos of Ziana giggling last week. This girl is happy, happy, happy!!! She's always smiling and giggles SO easily!! Sometimes you can just look at her and talk to her and she will start giggling. She really giggles when you take her clothes off. Or when you touch her sides and under her chin. These photos aren't the greatest in focus, but I LOVE them!! I think her crazy headband thing that wouldn't stay put, just adds to the silliness :)

She is such a joy in our lives and the kids all love trying to get her to smile and listen to her giggle. She is the giggliest out of all our babies...they are so easy to come by. Which makes everyday that much better.

Feeling so blessed to have such happy, healthy, kids!!!

Anyone??

2009-02-05T15:55:00.000-08:00

Would anyone like to come clean/organize my scrapbook room?? I would pay ya!! Anyone?? Ugh...and I thought doing laundry sucked. Guess I will add it to my wishlist. It wouldn't be so bad if I kept all my scrapbook stuff in there...but I don't. Since I don't actually scrapbook in my scrapbook room (strange, I know)...I scrapbook in the living room, so all the stuff I use (or don't) just gets put in the living room cabinet until it gets full and I can't get to ANYTHING, then I decide it's time to move it back into the scrapbook room, adding to the already unorganized piles in there. Fun times I tell ya!
Hopefully I can get to an actual post soon!

Our Anniversary...

2009-01-29T14:58:00.001-08:00

Today marks 7 years that we have been married. It's seems like so long ago and yet so short, since our oldest is 11 years old!! Obviously we aren't in Vegas for our anniversary this year...and that's fine...except it is warmer there than here!!

We are going out to eat soon...with the kids. My aunt is nice enough to watch the babies on saturday, while the big kids are at my parents, so we can spend some time alone together. That will be SO nice and VERY needed!! We REALLY appreciate her doing that for us :)

Some days I can't believe I'm actually married...especially to Nick! I never thought it was going to happen. We have been through a ton of tough times (and also GREAT, AMAZING times)...we were so young when we met, but we're still together. We broke up right before I found out I was pregnant with Xavier and we actually didn't get back together until Xavier was just about 2. Nick had alot of growing up to do, and he did it! For our son and for me :)

Our wedding was in Vegas, but it wasn't just an "I do", "I do"...it was an actual ceremony and very sweet...plus I didn't have to do any of the planning :)

I was SO EXCITED to be his Mrs.. And I'm still so proud to be his wife :)

Silly Face...2/8/09

2009-01-29T10:57:00.000-08:00

I'm finally getting around to entering a contest at iheartfaces
this week! Each week they have a new theme and you can enter a picture that fits the theme for either adults, kids and sometimes pets. It's a really fun website, that even gives photography tips. You don't have to be a pro to enter your pictures...obviously ;) So, go and check out their site!

Anyway, this week's theme is Silly. Daxton's photo fits this theme quite well I think! Those were the days last summer when I thought I couldn't get a decent picture of him because he was crawling everywhere...yea, little did I know how hard it would REALLY be when he started walking!!

Some Photos...

2009-01-28T14:56:00.000-08:00

This what daxton does when I tell him to give baby sister a kiss. So sweet :) Look at his curls! Sadly, he needs a haircut and I'm sure they will go :(

Sweet lil grin...sportin a "girly hawk" as I call it, even though Xavier says there is no such thing. I say yes there is!

Mr. Daxton. Loves to climb into the baby's swing and will push himself with his foot. I think he's in it more than her! He also has my phone in his hand, crayon in the other, and part of the crayon in his mouth. Ugh that boy can make ANYTHING edible!!

Swaddled with her arms up :)

How She Sleeps...

2009-01-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple pictures of Ziana and how she perfers to sleep. I do not cover her face up! I put the blanket around her and she ends up completely covering her face. I'm not quite sure how she does it, but she does. Every. Single. Time. Freaks me out and I always end up moving it off of her face.
The third picture is of her smiling at me when she's supposed to be eating. I *LOVE* when she does that :)

Today was my first day back cleaning. It was SO strange going somewhere just by myself! First time since she's been born...I have gone a couple places, like Christmas shopping for Nick, but Xavier always has gone with me. Nice to have time to think in quiet. And I have to say I'm glad I didn't wait any longer...my FIL's house definitely needed some extra loving!!
Girlie did fine with Angela :) So nice of her to come here while it's cold out! She's so awesome...she even brought me a mirror that hooks onto the stroller so that I can see the baby while she's in the stroller...her carseat has to face out...can't wait to use it!

I'm pooped and not feeling too hot...waiting for Nick to be home, which is still going to be awhile :( I really wish had a 9-5 job. Sigh.

Xavier has his 2nd basketball game this weekend. They lost their first game 27-7, but Xavier scored once and was pretty proud of himself :)
Like most of the kids on his team, it's his first year playing.
Well, gotta go start supper. Ugh.

2 Months...

2009-01-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

Last sunday Ziana turned two months old. She's changed alot since her one month birthday. She's awake and aware alot more! And the smiles!! There are lots of them and they always melt me :) Some other things about her as she turned 2 months:

She coos.

Slept 8 hours straight at night...the past few days she has moved that up to 9-10 hours a night!

Wears 0-3 month clothes

moved up to size 2 diapers

doesn't like tummy time much and after a few minutes she will either fuss or fall asleep.

LOVES to be covered with her blanket...and usually always ends up shifting the blanket around so it completely covers her face.

doesn't startle as easily anymore.

cries if she's in the carseat and the car isn't moving or stops moving. If you shake it, she will stop crying though.

her eyes don't cross anymore.

she giggles and squeals if you tickle under her chin, arms, or sides. Especially when your taking her clothes off.

drinking 6oz.

naps quite a bit.

loves to be in a new environment and to look around at everything.

moves her head from side to side, especially when she hears Mommy's voice.

after the other kids have gone to bed, she knows it her time and she usually wants to lay on Mommy and will end up falling asleep, but if she's set down she will wake up and cry.

she sucks on her fingers if she doesn't have her paci.

has gotten more chub :)

Note to Self: Learn The Lesson The First Time!!

2009-01-15T16:53:00.000-08:00

Why oh why didn't I learn the first time to NOT put Daxton down for a nap in just his diaper?! I guess maybe I thought that since he had just pooped 3 SEPERATE TIMES right before I put him down for a nap, he would be fine. He just could not possibly poop anymore, right?? WRONG!! That boy is a pooping machine!!
Nick went up to get him from his nap and he was covered in poop!!
Yes the same thing happened last week.
And YES, I have definitely learned my lesson!!
Nick took Toots to gymnastics an hour ago and I just realized he had never brought any poop covered bedding down to be washed...maybe he thought Daxton should be fine to sleep with it at bedtime??
Or it would magically disappear??
Or I was supposed to just go do it without him even saying the bedding,pillow, and bed are covered in poop??
I'm guessing the latter. How nice of my husband.
I can already hear what he would say..."at least I cleaned up Daxton." Yea. Good thing.

On another note...here's to hoping the kids have school tomorrow, so hopefully I can get some sleep! How is it I get more sleep when just the little ones are home, then when the big kids are home also?? Crazy!
Gotta run!

*ETA* I logged off to get Daxton out of his highchair where he had been eating, because he was getting noisy and I could tell he was done. Walk in to the dining room and there he is holding his diaper...yes he still just had his diaper on, no pants...and what is all over?? Yep, POOP!!! WTH?!! Un-freaking-believable!!
So, scratch the last idea I had to never let him sleep in just a diaper, and change that to NEVER let him be in just a diaper!!
Ugh.
Who's jealous of my life...anyone?? :)

Who's 4??

2009-01-15T13:14:00.001-08:00

Drake is!!! How it's been 4 years I will never know :( Yesterday was his birthday. I told him he could do whatever he wanted and eat whatever he wanted for breakfast, he ran right to the cabinet and grabbed Pop Tarts. That's not something they normally get...unless dad is around! He wanted to play Wii Sports, so that's what he did! When Nick came home he opened presents and we headed to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate! Even though that's where his birthday party is going to be, it's about the only place to go...bowling was packed and Discovery Center closed at 5. He had a great birthday :) I told him he wasn't allowed to get any bigger, but he told me he had to so he could be a dad. Awww...ok then ;) Perfect day to recieve his #4 birthday shirt I ordered from an Etsy seller...on his birthday! LOVE THIS SWEET BOY!!!

Busyness

2009-01-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

It's been just a little busy around here. It's a relief that the holidays are over and the kids are now back in school. Now I can get some things done. Like organizing (somewhat) and laundry. The past 3 days have basically been laundry, cleaning, picking up, laundry, laundry, organizing.
Today I worked on Toots' room while she was at school. It was in need of organizing after Christmas! And Drake's room...one word...WOW!!! It's craziness in there! I took some pictures of it that I need to post! I don't even know how to begin to organize his room! He recieved alot of Legos for Christmas and he doesn't really have a space to put them. I'm trying to figure out something.
Ziana is 8 weeks old today. She's been sleeping on me most of the night tonight. She has the sniffles and a little cough. It's nice having her lay on me and hearing her breathing :)
She's been smiling quite a bit and I swear she giggles. A few days ago she was smiling and I decided to tickle her under her chin and she started making giggling sounds. Today she did it also, even more than last time :) Friday night was the first night she slept 8 hours straight. That was a good thing, especially since Nick was gone that night working at the theaters. She ate at midnight, then didn't get up until 8am. That was nice! I got her announcements, so they will be in the mail!
Nick has been busy, busy with work also. He got that screen door finished and now needs to go to my grandma's and get the things done for her. He also has to get the apartments ready for inspection by friday...plus his regular work...which includes making cabinets for the job, and on and on.
Drake's birthday is next wednesday and I'm so not ready for it!! We haven't even booked his party yet. I have to find out where he wants his party at for sure...he's gone back and forth between bowling and skating. Though what he's looking forward to most is eating cake. That's my boy!! He's really not all that into the cake...mainly the frosting :)
Well, that's all for now...need to get to bed!

1st Trophy...

2009-01-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

The kids' bowling league ended last monday (it starts up again next week), so they recieved their trophies. Drake was so excited...it was his first year on a league! When he got his trophy he had the biggest smile and said "I never got a trophy before!" He did really well and even beat sister quite a few times. They were on a team together along with another little girl who wasn't there that day. Xandria could of been on a team without bumpers, but she wanted to be with Drake.

Later that night after the kids had gone to bed, I walked by Drake's room and there on the floor was his trophy next to his little bowling pins he had set up on top of his pokemon book. He had been on the floor sleeping next to them, but Nick had put him in bed before I got a picture. Too sweet :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!...and 7 Weeks!

2009-01-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone has a Happy New Year in 2009!! Wow, 2009...I remember when it was going to be 2000 and there was such a fuss about what was going to happen. Time flies. TOO fast!!

Our New Year's Eve was low-key...no surprise there with having all the kids :) We spent the day playing the Wii and hanging out. Nick took Xandria and Drake to a late movie (Bedtime Stories) and they made it home 5 minutes before midnight. Xavier stayed the night at the neighbor's and I snuggled with Ziana while watching "Edward Scissorhands."

On tuesday Ziana turned 7 weeks old. I love this picture of her little grin :) She has been smiling for a bit now, but it's hard to get a picture of it! She will be smiling and I go to snap and picture...she sees the camera and looks at it like "what the heck are you?"...and I lose the smile. But I got this one and it makes me happy! She has been sleeping 5-7 hours straight at night for the past week or so.

For Christmas, Santa (or sweet husband)got me a new laptop!! I was pretty much shocked by that!! I'm still trying to get used to and figure it out. He also got me the new Eminem book (yay!), Jon&Kate Plus 8 book (I finished it in one day...if anyone wants to read it let me know), couple pairs of pajamas, Godiva truffles (mmmm), and the Wii Fit.

I have to say, I am LOVING the Wii fit!! It's so much fun and you don't feel like you are working out...until the next day! My legs hurt, but that's a good sign! It has such a variety of exercises and such to do, so that's great for me. I still don't fit into any of my clothes, even though I'm down 25 pounds. I still have quite a bit to lose and am in definite need of toning!!

Well, that's all for now. Still plan on uploading Christmas pictures...they are on my other camera card.

Annual Santa Pics...

2008-12-30T19:47:00.000-08:00

Here's our 2008 Santa pictures. Daxton did not want to sit on Santa's lap, that's why he's sitting with Xavier, it probably worked out better that way anyway. This is the photo we used for Christmas cards this year.
These are the things the kids told Santa they wanted this year:

Xavier- Power Rangers. Xandria- Hannah Montana barbie. Drake- Jungle Fury Power Rangers. When it came time for Christmas, Santa didn't disappoint.

Of course, since it was Ziana's 1st Christmas she had to have a photo with Santa all by herself. Second year in a row that we have had a new baby at Christmastime, and NO it won't happen next year :)

I plan on posting more pics later, when I can get them uploaded!

Pieces of Ziana's Room...

2008-12-23T14:22:00.000-08:00

you can click on picture to see more detail

made by my husband :) I LOVE her room!!! It's has an Alice in Wonderland theme. I LOVE the dark pink and black...it has turned out so nice!

These pictures just show a little peek into her room...I plan to take more photos to hopefully show it all, but these are the two things that Nick built for the room. The wall unit is so beautiful and it has so much storage! I got the idea from Pottery Barn Kids...I saw it in white on their website. The only problem was it was $1,000 (!!) and it was only 5 FOOT TALL!! Holy cow, that was crazy!! I showed it to Nick and of course he says "I can make that" and he did :)

The top halves of the cabinets have two doors that open up with 3 shelves in them. The middle section has one shelf. And the bottom halves have two big drawers (they are hard to see in the picture). Under the window is a seat that opens up for some storage and under that is 3 open spots where I have the containers. I plan on getting some pillows to put on the bench...if I knew how to make some I would. Sometime I will get hardware put on the cabinets, but I want to wait because Daxton would really love to pull them open!

Nick stained all the trim in the room black and the crib also.

The second picture is a dollhouse/bookshelf. Same story...I saw it at Pottery Barn Kids, showed it to Nick and he said "I can make that.", and he did :) The picture isn't the best because I had to use the flash.

He also made a doll bed that I used when I had her newborn photos taken.

Nick really wants to get into making custom cabinet/items, it's something he loves to do. He really amazes me with all that he knows how to do!!

Her room is 98% done. I just have some frames I need to fill (ones in the cabinet) and some I want to buy and there is a vent cover that needs to be put on.

In True Xandria Form

2008-12-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

So, a couple days ago Xandria came home from school and was talking about a kid (D.), and she was saying how he doesn't like her and was teasing her about a scratch on her forehead...though I didn't see a scratch anywhere. She said she didn't like him. I told her that sometimes if a boy likes a girl instead of being nice to her, he will be mean to her and pick on her and act as if he doesn't like her, but in truth he just really has the hots for her :) She said no that he just doesn't like her. I told her that she couldn't be too sure of that.
We all know how little boys are.
The next day she came home from school and says to me "mom, you were wrong." Wrong about what? "D. doesn't like me. I asked him and he said he didn't like me."
Leave it to Xandria to actually go ask him.
Then she proceeds to say "He doesn't like me. And I don't like him."
That's her. Not one to hold back anything!

She went to the dentist today for a check up. No cavities!! Afterwards, she was supposed to go to school, but she ended up getting sick. I could tell she hadn't been feeling well the past few days...she wouldn't even eat a cookie the other day! She's pretty much stayed in bed...looking at papers and playing with her tic tac toe that she got from the dentist. She hasn't gotten sick since this morning, so hopefully she will be fine to go to school tomorrow...they have their Chirstmas party and I know she wouldn't want to miss out on that.
Well, I'm off to shower since both babes are sleeping and it's almost 4!

Daxton...

2008-12-15T12:43:00.000-08:00

is cute as can be :) Everyone says he looks just like his grandpa (Nick's dad). Now has hazel eyes like Drake.

Figured out a couple months ago how to open the lock on the gates Nick made. He reaches his hand up in there, flips the lock up and slides it over, then opens the gate. Nice. He usually won't go up the stairs anymore after he does it, but wants to make sure you know he did it. That boy figures things out so fast!

Has the cutest, cheesiest grin when he wants to be really silly. I love it!! Now he has his 3rd little bottom tooth popped up to join the other two.

Likes to clap....especially when you say "Yay!"

Eats everything...or at least tries to!!

Will give the baby her pacifier when she's crying...though he can't get it in her mouth. He usually just puts it up to her face :)

This is how he touches her...with his one finger. He does it very gently. He likes to rub her hair the most, but will touch her face or hands or feet. It's so cute to see him do it :)

Loves splashing in the sink. Yes, it's probably time he be in the tub, but I guess I got used to bathing him in the sink because when I was pregnant I couldn't bend over to bathe him in the tub. He does take them more in the tub now though. In this picture there isn't even a plug in the sink...who needs one when your tush can do it ;)

This boy can trash the house like no other!!! He also likes to empty his toy box out and put all the toys in his bed. He still eats alot. He drinks even more than he eats...he LOVES his cup! Pacifier when he goes to sleep. Listens and understands what you're telling him. Loves to try and get in Drake's room. Stands up in his highchair when he knows he's not supposed to. Loves to play with mom's cellphone and sometimes calls daddy with it! Loves to play with the toilet and stick things in it. That's all I've got right now.

One Month

2008-12-11T20:03:00.000-08:00

One month ago today our little Ziana popped out. I wanted to use this post to jot down the things I don't want to forget about her in her 1st month.

Your big blue eyes and dark hair

Your hair always sticks up all over when you have just recently had a bath.

You have gotten some chubby little rolls on your legs that mommy loves.

That your eyes go crossed. I think it's funny, Daddy doesn't like it :)

Your little foot is the same length as my middle finger. I told Daddy I wanted just one of your feet to put on my keyring, he said it might be okay, since I only want one ;) Love those little feet and toes!

Your first Thanksgiving. You looked so cute in your turkey dress and turkey headband.

The look on your face when you had your first real bath. You weren't too impressed.

You have your tongue stuck up almost to the roof of your mouth alot.
You like to make a little o shape with your mouth sometimes and I think it's funny.
You have a love/hate relationship with your paci. Usually you love it, but sometimes you will push it out of your mouth only to take it a few seconds later.
You make a uh uh uh sound when you get your arms and legs moving around.
Sometimes when your fussy, I will put you up on my shoulder and you will enjoy looking around and quiet down.
You have started holding your head up...mainly when I put you on my shoulder.
Your face turns BRIGHT red when you cry...reminds me of how sister was when she was a baby.
You have started drinking 5oz.
You wear 0-3 months clothing.
You like big, warm blankets the best.
Your eyes get big when someone talks to you, especially Mommy.
Your usually snoozing when Daddy gives you your 1st nighttime feeding, so it takes you longer to eat.
Just above your tush, you have a patch of dark hair :)
You are loved and adored by your siblings and your parents!!
Your nickname so far is Girlie Girlie...well that's what mommy calls you.
Your hungry right now so I have to go!

Happenings

2008-12-10T12:52:00.000-08:00

Not too much has been happening around here. Well, other than feedings, an endless supply of diaper changes, sleeping, bathing, clothing, pacifying, cleaning, laundry, picking up, Christmas present stressing (I never know what to get anyone!), and some bickering thrown in (Xavier and Xandria), being sick sunday and monday, Drake puking. That pretty much sums it up around here. Oh and a certain relative bitching about Nick putting on her screen door...in the inches of snow, nonetheless!
I think I'm ready to get out of the house today. Yea probably. We are going to go do a little bit of shopping done tonight. I'm ready for the fresh air...even though it's cold out! I'm so lucky that my father in law has been picking the kids up from school for me!!! That is great, because otherwise I would have to bundle up 3 little ones to go out in the freezing cold for ten minutes to pick them up. So glad he has done that for me since the baby came :)
The kids were at my parents this weekend and when Nick brought them home on sunday, Drake came upstairs to see me. He didn't look good. I asked him if he was alright and he said yes. Then he went downstairs and got sick on the floor. Poor boy. He was up a couple times at night and just went into the bathroom to get sick...he was in there crying a little bit and I felt so bad for him :( Monday he still felt bad, but if you would ask him how he felt he would say "good." Tuesday he was finally able to eat supper. He definitely made up for lost time!! I was nervous he would get sick, but he was fine.
Xavier has his first basketball practice afterschool today. He's been looking forward to it...I have been a little bit also...now him and Xandria won't be bickering as soon as they get home from school. Those two have really been driving me crazy with that lately!! They are fine with the other kids and everyone else gets along fine, but not them together! I don't know what it is! We've been working on getting it resolved, but who knows! Anyway, it's his first year playing basketball, so we'll see how it goes. He's really excited though!
Xavier also plays Nick's old trumpet in the 5th grade band. His teacher told him he's doing really well with it and he can play Hot Cross Buns.
Xandria still goes to gymnastics once a week and loves it!
Daxton is 15 months old now! It's funny to see him next to Ziana. He's such a monster next to her! He weighs 30 pounds and is 31 inches tall!!
He's busy, busy, but since the baby came he wants loving and to be held alot more :) Before he would never have time for any of that business! I love it and soak it up!! He hollers "mom" when he wants something or sees me...cracks me up! If I don't put pants on him, he will pull his diaper off and it drives me crazy! The boy still has to put everything he finds into his mouth...cardboard being one of his favorite things to munch on!
Well, I need to hop in the shower while both babies are sleeping!

3 Weeks

2008-12-05T21:21:00.000-08:00

Ziana turned 3 weeks on tuesday! Monday Nick took her to the doctor for her first check up since leaving the hospital. She now weighs 10lbs 7oz!! So she's gained pretty much 2lbs since she was born...she had even lost 3oz after she was born! I knew she was getting bigger. She's now 21 inches long...she grew 1/2 an inch. Doctor said she's doing great and not to change a thing...not that we planned on it.
Here some things about her at 3 weeks:

She eats every 3 hours, but at night often will go at least once to 4 hours.
She loves to stretch out her legs, and when she does she will stretch out her toes also. Too cute!
She likes to be in the swing, and will sleep in the Moses basket. Daxton hated the Moses basket and would cry just about everytime he was put in it.
Her cord finally fell completely off last friday.
She had her first bath in the tub last sunday. She wasn't too impressed with it, but she loves when her hair is washed under the faucet.
She always has a collection of lint in her hands...not sure how it gets there!
When she's awake she likes to be held or talked to. I swear the second I leave the room and she's awake, she's crying or fussing!
She likes to fall asleep with Daddy.

That's all I've got for now...someone needs a diaper change!

This Boy of Mine...

2008-12-04T12:46:00.000-08:00

Kisses for baby sister

Reading to baby sister when she was being fussy.

absolutely melts my heart :) He is the sweetest, most loving little guy EVER!! Since I don't have alot of time I will just do a bullet post of the sweet things I love about him:

He's been SO excited to have a new baby sister from the moment we told him. He LOVES being a big brother!
He was SO excited when he saw he for the first time at the hospital and was ALL about her...especially her hair! He had to keep lifting up her hat and rubbing her hair, saying how soft it was.
He's my right hand man around here...always telling me when the baby is crying, giving her the paci, helping me with everything.
He's very sensitive. If he gets upset, it takes awhile for him to calm down and will often go in his bed with his blanket until he is better.
He has the prettiest eyes...they are different shades...with green and have blue around them.
He's into everything his big brother is...that includes Pokemon, legos, books, Bakugan.
He likes to sit up in his room at night and look at his books.
When he knows he supposed to be sleeping he will come down to the living room where I am and say how he forgot to give me something. Usually that's a sticker, kiss, or a hug.
If I ask him for a kiss he will say he's all out, then he will say he only has this many (whatever number he picks) left, and give me all of them.
He still likes me to sing Rock A Bye Baby to him at bedtime.
He says how Ziana is so pretty or so cute.
He will read books to Daxton or Ziana.
He's always chasing Daxton around trying to give him a hug or a kiss.
He was the first one of the kids to feed Ziana a bottle and he loves to hold her.
He never wants to get in the bath, but once he finally does, he doesn't want to get out.
When Daxton wakes up he will go in his room and give him toys to play with.
When you asks him what he wants to be when he grows up he says "a dad" and he told me he wants 16 kids :)

I know there are some other things I want to remember, but right now I can't think of them. I will probably come back and add to this list as I remember them.

Our family is so blessed to have him and his sweet spirit. I tell him all the time I want to keep him in a bottle, so that way he can't get any bigger or become a stinker ;)

One Week New

2008-11-20T14:46:00.000-08:00

she likes to suck on her hands.

i love her hair, it's so soft :)

wide awake with her blue eyes. one week new.

sweet little feet.

love how her feet are curled together. she did that herself. 6 days new.

Tuesday Ziana turned one week old. She is such a sweetie little girlie. Here are some things about her now that she's one week old.

When we came home from the hospital she just started drinking 2oz, now she drinks 4oz!

She doesn't fit in newborn diapers anymore...size 1

She doesn't fit in mostly all her newborn sized clothes...good thing I didn't buy too many, and the ones I did I got for cheap.

She loves to be warm and wrapped up in the bigger blankets, cries when she's cold.

At night she normally goes back to sleep after her feeding...sometimes fusses a bit. Most of the nights she has gone 4 hours between feedings. 3 hours during the day.

When she wants to eat, she wants it NOW!

Her cord fell off yesterday, I don't think it was quite ready to as it's scabbed back over.

Her skin is starting to crack, especially around her ankle area.

I noticed that she has a large "stork bite" on the back, middle part of her head under her hair. '

She loves her pacifier...and sucking on her hands.
She gets the hiccups quite abit, sometimes before she even eats.

The Newest Drama Queen...

2008-11-15T14:29:00.000-08:00

ZIANA ANGELINA!!!

She was born on tuesday, November 11. Weighed 8lbs 8oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. She has dark blue eyes and a ton of jet black hair!! We are so happy to have her healthy and at home :) I had to say she was the newest drama queen because after she was born she cried for quite awhile...definitely a girl ;) I hope to update more later, but for now it's just about time for her to eat.

One day old. Wide awake and taking it all in.

She was born with a birthmark on her left leg. It kinda looks like a star. Three of the kids were born with birthmarks, yet each one has a different kind of birthmark.

Look at all that black hair!!

Laying in mom's hospital bed...asleep and peaceful. Hours old.

IT'S AMAZING!!

2008-11-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

Went to my doctor visit today. NST first...baby did great and sounded good. No fluid check since it was done on friday and I was already scheduled for induction.
My midwife asked if I've had any contractions. I said "not today, but yesterday I did." She said she had thought about me all weekend and was sending labor vibes to me :)
Had to get undressed from the waist down (I think it's funny when they say that) and she checked me. She had to do a little reaching, but not as much as last time. She said "oh, it's alot better!" I said "it is?" She said she couldn't believe it, but I was DILATED TO 3!!! Whoo hoo!!!
That's GREAT news...it means no cervidal!!
So, I get to go in bright and early...ok, I know it's not going to be close to bright out, but it's going to be EARLY, and start Pitocin. Yay!! No laying in bed for 12+ hours for the cervidal to kick in :)
She said hopefully we can have a baby by noon!! Wow, that would be great!!
So I'm EXCITED and exhausted...must go to bed soon. It works out great that Angela is off of work the next 2 days and can be here with the kids :)
Now I need to finish getting my bag packed.
And if my aunt happens to be reading this tonight...I will call you in the morning after we have gotten settled in and the sun is up ;)
YAY!!

Due Date...

2008-11-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

came and went yesterday with no action going on. No surprise there.
Last friday I had my NST/doc visit. Baby's fluid was great (16.), highest it's been since they started keeping track of it. Her heartrate was 141. No contractions or anything on the monitor. The midwife came in to see me and she said she wanted to check me for any progress.
Whoa! That was a little painful!! I was thinking that my cervix must be located at the back of my throat with all the reaching she had to try and do! Nope...just very far back and no progress going on.
Surprise.
So, she called the hospital and made me a reservation.
Very early in the morning, I might add!
But at least there is an end in sight :)
I'm getting ready to go see her in about an hour and a half, and check to see if there's ANY sign of some kind of progress. I only hope!! I had a few contractions yesterday, but that's about it.
Well, gotta run...kids are out of school in 25 minutes and I need to finish getting ready!
I hope to update after my appointment.

Still Here :)

2008-11-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

Thought I would just do a quick post saying that I'm still here...pregnant and ready to pop (as people keep telling me).
I had my NST/fluid check on monday. This week is pretty screwed up since I was in the hospital last week.
I was supposed to have my NST/fluid check on fri, but when I got there I was informed that it was canceled. That's nice to know. I do have 4 other kids that need someone to watch them while I'm gone. That really irritated me that no one called or anything.
So it was rescheduled for monday. But that's the day that my midwife isn't there...I normally see her the beginning of the week and then have just the NST/fluid check later in the week. Not this week. Which is a bummer.
Baby had enough fluid (10.something), so that was good to hear. She was sucking on her hand and her knee was almost up to her face...definitely getting cramped in there!!
The NST went well. She did have to be buzzed once and I had one contraction. That's about it.
I go on friday to see the midwife. This week has already seemed so long, since everything is spread out. I'm hoping to stay pregnant throught the weekend and then after that the baby can come ;)
We have been getting alot done in baby's room, but still have some to do. Hopefully get most of it finished tonight. Who knows.

Daxton has been giving me a hard time since the time change. Been tough getting him to last until 3 for his usual naptime!! Plus he's had a bit of a cold, so he hasn't been the happiest camper.
In other news, I'm FINALLY getting his thank you cards and pictures sent out...only a couple months later!! I've been terrible and doing the kind of stuff. I'm ordering Xavier and Xandria's pictures (finally!), so once I get those back, I will send out their thank you cards. I'm glad I've had this extra time since I was in the hospital to get some things (and LOTS and LOTS of laundry) done!!
That's all for now! Oh...and I'm SO ECSTATIC that I made it through yesterday with the baby still inside ;)

Halloween Costumes...

2008-11-04T13:26:00.001-08:00

Daxton as a shark. Someone commented "Land Shark!" :)

Drake as the Red Power Ranger. With his numchucks (sp). It was funny that when he first got them, he was so excited to get them out of the package, that he snipped the string that held them together instead of the string that kept them in the box, so Daddy fixed them. :)

Xandria the Monster Bride. She did complain that people weren't going crazy about her costume, like they did with Daxton's. I told her it's because he's a little guy. She's so funny. We had a hard time finding her a costume.

Xavier knew what he wanted right away. Since he's obsessed with Star Wars, it was only obvious he was going to be someone from it. He was Boba Fett.

The group shot. These were taken at the All Hallow's Eve Festival we went to the week before Halloween.

Drake was terrified of a kid there that was wearing a scary clown costume. Of course that kid seemed to be everywhere we were, so Drake would run off and hide behind someone :)

The Day I Came ThisClose To Having Baby...

2008-10-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

that would be yesterday. It started with going to my 2pm doc appointment. The place was packed, so I had to wait about 20 minutes.
I was called back...stop at the scale (still 1 pound under my "Daxton delivery weight") then back to the ultrasound room to measure the baby's fluid. Her heartrate was 130 (normal) and she had her arm across her face (of course).
While the tech was measuring the fluid I could tell she wasn't finding a whole lot, and I saw it said 6.6 on the screen. Yea, I knew that was low. She said the baby looked good, and when we finished she said she would be thinking of me and hoping I have the baby soon.
Off to the NST room where I was hooked up to the monitors. Sat there for a few minutes and the lady came back to check on things...said it looked like i had a contraction and did I feel it? Not really. Then she was saying how baby was looking too comfortable in there and would need a buzz to get some movement on the monitor. So, she buzzed the baby in two different spots. It startled baby, but didn't do too much, the lady said we would just wait and see how it went.
Just after she walked out, one of the other NST techs (I don't know what their job title is, so I will just go with that) came in. She didn't realize someone had just been in. She looked over the printout and said the baby was having variables in the heartrate (going down), but she said it was coming right back up. She had me turn on my side so maybe that would help out. She left for a few minutes and came back.
Sh looked at the monitor printout and said it looked like baby needed to be buzzed. I said "Again already?" She said "oh it does say you were already buzzed. Have you eaten anything recently?" I told her I had just had a candy bar before I came. She thought maybe water would help get the baby moving, so while I drank the water, she grabbed my chart to look it over.
She noticed the fluid was down from 14 on fri to 6 now on tuesday. She said that was probably the reason the baby wasn't too active (low fluid). She saw that I was 38weeks and 2days so she tells me that I will probably get sent right over. Umm...right over where??? TO THE HOSPITAL!!
WHAT?! That made me just a bit nervous!! Just a bit!
She unhooked me and sent me to the room to wait for my midwife. I had to get undressed from the waist down so I could be checked for any progress.
I sent Nick a text saying "today might be baby day."
Finally, my midwife comes in. She asked if I had been leaking any fluid. I told her that I was pretty sure I wasn't. She said she would test to make sure I wasn't. It was negative for fluid. She also checked my cervix for any progress. There was none. Still long and closed.
She told me that since my fluid level was quite low I was most likely going to the hospital. She had to talk with the on-call doc to get his opinion.
She came back in to tell me that he had STRONGLY suggested (about 4 times) that I go to the hospital, be given an IV and cervadil (sp) placed on my cervix to get it ripe for labor!
Yes, that meant I was going to be induced!!
WHOA!! I was not ready for all that on what I thought was a typical doctor visit!! She told me I was to go right over to Labor and Delivery.
Well, I didn't go RIGHT there...I stopped to get the older 2 from school daycare and fill them in on what was going on. Thank God Angela was at my house with the younger 2 and didn't have to work that night!!
So, I got to the hospital about 4:25. Of course you have to sign a bunch of papers and answer questions. The lady came in with the IV and all I could think was Nick better be here before she does that (I hate the IV!!). Luckily, he arrived just in time!
The cervidal was put in at 5:55pm. I couldn't get up to go to the bathroom for an hour. It's supposed to stay in for 12 hours.
The time was going by pretty fast...my aunt stopped by for a couple hours, so that made it go by faster. Plus I wasn't in pain, so I could talk. Nick and I went to sleep about midnight. Well, at least he did. I tried...and tried. Of course that's when contractions started. They weren't "grip the bed, I can't take it" contractions though. But they were coming 2-3 minutes apart.
The nurse came in and checked on me and was surprised to see them so consistent and said that maybe one dose of cervidal was all I would need.
I could NOT sleep, so just after 2am, she gave me a sleeping pill and I was out after that.
She came in around 6am and took out the cervidal and checked my cervix. She said it was at 1. She told me the midwife on call would come in about 7 or so and we would see what step would be taken next.
She came in just before 8.
She told me that since I wasn't active in labor, we would go have a fluid check to see if the fluid had gone up any. If it was still low, we would continue with the induction. If it was up, then I could probably go home, since I was still 2 weeks away from 40 weeks and there would really be no reason to continue the induction, since the problem would be solved.
Also, being that I was still 2 weeks away from being 40 weeks, induction time would probably take longer.
So, off to ultrasound. The fluid was now up to 10. And baby had been looking great all night on the monitors.
She told me the decision would be mine, but she recommended going home and waiting for nature to kick in or til I'm farther along to induce.
I called Nick (he had taken kids to school) and told him what was up and our choices.
We both decided that I would go home. It was somewhat a letdown, since I had accepted that I was having this baby, but at the same time...I had things to get done still!! And as long as the baby is doing well...which she is...we can wait for her arrival.
The kids were pretty bummed out (especially because Xandria was going to be spending the night at Angela's tonight, lol), but the baby will be here soon enough!!

Wow, that was alot of typing! But I wanted to have it all down :)

A Halloween Baby...

2008-10-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

probably isn't going to happen. Unless, it happens on it's own. Tuesday was my 37 week appointment and we discussed induction dates and I was saying how I would love to have a Halloween baby. She was all for it, but had to check and see how far along I would be (have to be 39 weeks), of course I was 2 days short of 39 weeks. Oh well. I don't think I would be ready by then anyway...will I ever be ;)
I had my fluid check and NST before I saw the midwife. All was good :) No contractions. Measuring right on. Baby girl did have to be buzzed awake...twice! I know it's because she kept me up when I was trying to go to sleep the night before!! I don't know what it is with her and monday nights!! My lab results were back and there was no Group B Strep so that's good news! After we talked about Halloween, she looked on the calendar as to when she will be on call and said "what about Nov. 4?" WHAT?! NO!!! I told her that was the ONE day I absolutely was not going to have this baby!! It's my sister's birthday. And it can stay just that. She mentioned the 7th, but we didn't decide on anything. We'll see what happens. I just can't believe it's SO CLOSE!!!
And there's so much to still get done first! I got all the clothes washed last night, so I feel a little better about that.
Here are some pics that I took at the apple orchard by our house sunday. Daxton studying his apple. About the one and only time he actually sat still! Sigh...he's ALL about getting around and doing his own thing now :(

He LOVES the red apples the best!!

Helping Daddy pluck the apples off the tree. He managed to get this one pulled off.

I don't think I'm ever going to get a decent group shot of the kids again. This was the best I got and I had to crop it because someone's underpants was showing, lol.

I had my NST/fluid check today. Baby has enough fluid and was practicing her breathing again. That's so cool to see. Couldn't see her face really...just mainly the top back of her head, which the tech commented on "wow, she has alot of hair!" She did great on the NST...didn't need to be buzzed.

Munching on some of Daddy's apple.

Drake ate so many apples, I lost track. Of course he didn't completely finish each one. He would eat a strip or two around the whole apple, then toss it. He always had two apples in his hand at a time :)Xavier was on the hunt for the different kinds of apples and making us try them. Toots in the apple tree.

Doctor Visit and other happenings...

2008-10-20T17:11:00.000-07:00

from last week. Tuesday was the growth ultrasound/NST/doctor visit. Gained 2 pounds, putting me at the weight I was when I delivered Daxton. Baby girl, still head down and had her arms across her face. The girl must be camera shy! She was looking good there...had her little legs crossed at the ankles :)
After the tech had all the measurements, she was able to figure out her weight. It was 6lbs 9oz. They say give or take 1/2 lb to 1lb. Baby's supposed to gain half a pound a week, so that would put her at roughly 8lbs 9oz if she came full term! If that was the case, she would be the biggest one yet...Drake's been the biggest so far, weighing 8lbs 80z at birth.
My fluid level was 10.2, so not too bad at all.
The results of my Group B Strep came back negative! But, that also happened last time...it wasn't until my urine was tested that it showed up in that, so she said to go to the lab at my next appt to have the urine tested.
The NST went fine. Baby was moving like crazy! I had some small contractions, but that was about it.

I had to go back friday for the NST/fluid check. Funny, that I was down 3 pounds, though I hadn't really eaten much yet. I'm sure it will be back up when I go back! Baby looked good on the screen and was pretty much positioned the same as last time. This time during the NST she had to be buzzed awake. It was funny, right went the buzzer went on she jumped! I was just telling Nick on tuesday at the NST that the baby has never had to be buzzed awake...this time she did! I know it was because she had kept me up the night before and was probably tired.
Thursday night was HORRIBLE!! She was moving like CRAZY when I was trying to go to sleep, which doesn't usually happen...plus the top of my uterus has been really bothering me lately. Feels like it's being stretched and pulled. Not very comfortable!!
On top of it, I've been SO EXHAUSTED lately and have had to take little naps when I get the chance. I told Nick last week, that it already felt like I had a newborn with the little sleep I was getting and being so exhausted. He had to let me know that's nature's way of getting me prepared.
Sorry, but I don't want to get prepared in that department!!

Yesterday we went to the apple orchard. It's about 20 or so minutes away. We were all excited to go apple picking! Yea. Well. We pulled up and the place was as busy as can be, BUT we noticed the lines for the tractors to take you picking weren't that busy. That was a good thing!

Or so we thought. We got parked and walked over...then noticed the sign saying that there was only pumpkin picking, NOT apple picking!!
The apples were done, except for some that picking starting on the 31st. Ugh. That sucked. Bad!

We did manage to get into the big barn, before the line was too big and get some apples, warm donuts and fudge, so it wasn't a complete waste ;)

There is a smaller apple orchard down the road from our house, so we drove back and went there. It was nice because there wasn't many people there, but their apples are more expensive and not quite as good. We ate LOTS of apples and had alot of fun. We came home with a bag full from there as well!

Nick and Drake really like the yellow apples best. I gave Daxton a small one of those. He didn't really get much of it in his mouth...just some teeth marks. Nick let him have some of his since the skin was already broken. He ate some...but once we gave him a red apple he went to town!!! He had the juice running all over him and Nick! He ate that whole thing COMPLETELY!! So, he obviously prefers the red apples!!

Well, that's all I have time for now...and my back is KILLING me!! I'm off to the doctor's again tomorrow. Twice a week from now on. Only 3 weeks left!!!

I have to get pictures posted SOON...don't let me forget ;)

Lots Going On

2008-10-13T19:48:00.001-07:00

Wow, the past week has been a BUSY one!! I guess I can start with last week's doctor visit/NST. Tuesday was my appointment. Stepped on scale and was happy to see that no weight was gained :) Headed off to ultrasound to check fluid. Baby still head down...smashed up to the placenta. She was moving, moving! Her heartrate was 157. Only got one picture, not a very good one, but she's yawning in it. She must be a tired girl because that's the second photo I've gotten of her yawning :) She was also practicing her breathing.
After ultrasound, it was off to sit in the chair for the Non Stress Test for 20 minutes. This time I was checked on frequently and not forgotten about! No contractions and baby sounded good.
Time to go in the room and wait for the midwife. She came in and told me that everything looked good with the NST, but the baby's fluid was a little on the low end (9.7), but it wasn't bad.

The pants had to come off so I could be swabbed for Group B Strep. I have tested negative with the first 3 babies, but with Daxton the results were positive, so I was given antibiotics prior to his birth. It's not harmful at all to moms (and they don't know how you get it), but it can be harmful to babies if they pass through the birth canal and their mom's haven't been treated.
I could test negative this time, but was told that it will probably be positive.

The midwife also checked my cervix to see if anything was going on. Nope...still tightly closed. Just how I would like to keep it for a few weeks!! We talked about a "birth plan". Which basically consists of EPIDURAL, EPIDURAL, EPIDURAL :) Seriously though, that's about the only time I dilate. I can have painful contractions forever and not have any progress, until I get the epidural. Then I go QUICKLY!! That's when my body can finally relax and do what it's supposed to. I'm the one who gets in the way of it happening apparently.

She said we could probably plan an induction date. Which would be A-Ok with me. Makes things easier in general. Especially with the other kids. She said I would have to be 39 weeks and my cervix would have to be favorable. I can handle that! I'm not a fan of Pitocin, but I just think: EPIDURAL, EPIDURAL, EPIDURAL! With my other pregnancies I have been induced due to different reasons and the one time my water did break (with Xandria at 3am), I ended up having to have Pitocin later because labor had slowed down after a period of time.

So, we will see how it goes and if happens on it's own than GREAT, if not that will be fine too. I'm getting more nervous and excited as each day goes by!!

I'm off to the doctor again tomorrow. I will have the NST and also a growth ultrasound. We will see how the baby is growing and all that, so it's not just a fluid check. I'm excited to get to see her again.

Other things that went on this past week...real quick, cuz I need some peace and quiet before I'm headed off to bed...it's been a long, tiring day!

Last sunday we had X and X's birthday party at the skating rink. It turned out to be alot of fun and everyone had a great time :)
Thursday was a nice day with the kids, they didn't have school. We went out to eat at Beef A Roo and talked and everyone behaved so well :) Then we stopped at Target to get some things. Drake and Toots killing each other over opening the car door when we left :(
Friday afternoon I took X and X to meet up with Heather for their birthday pictures. The kids actually had fun doing it and we got ice cream afterwards. The youngest two were with Angela, so that was helpful! I can't wait to see how their photos turned out!!
Friday night we had a surprise birthday party for Nick! He turned 30 today! He didn't have the slightest idea and was definitely surprised...even though there was a couple things that I thought might have tipped him off!! His face was priceless and I'm so glad we did that for him!! His dad, Theresa and Christina are the ones who put it all together for me. :)
Saturday we got to have an alone day!! The older kids were with my parents and my aunt stayed with Daxton (thank you!). My aunt even got some of my laundry done, which was a GREAT surprise!! Nick and I went to Spring Hill Mall and picked up a couple things...went to the gambling boat in Elgin to eat at the buffet and do a lil gambling...came back to Rockford and the two of us went and played pool. I was nervous about going to play pool...I never have and I have social anxiety in new places, but it was SO NICE and I'm SO GLAD we did!! We had a GREAT day and it was DEFINITELY needed!!!!
Sunday (yesterday) we took the kids to Midway Village for the annual Scarecrow Festival. You go and make scarecrows. It was fun, though it was like 80 degrees out. Then we headed to Red Robin to eat and sit in the much needed air conditioning!!
Today the kids and I went with Angela to Lockwood Park for Pumpkin Patch Day. Since kids were out of school due to Columbus Day, they had activities and games set up for them to play and do. It was nice, but there was so many damn bees!! I swear there was 3-4 on or around the stroller at all times!! Luckily, none of us got stung. Since today is Nick's actual birthday we got him a cookie cake and went to Happy Joe's to eat supper.

Well, that's all I have for now. WOW, that was sure ALOT! I plan on posting pictures of things I listed soon. Also, our little Daxton is officially toddling around. Just in the past week, week and a half, he's REALLY taken off with his walking! I think that is now his main mode of transport! He looks so cute doing it :)

If You Drink ALOT of Water...

2008-10-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

your baby will have more amniotic fluid!! Had my doctor/nst appointment on wednesday. Gained 1 1/2 pounds. The ultrasound was first. The tech did all the measurements...I didn't get to see the baby for very long because there was someone else out in the waiting room having a fit because they were told to come in with a full bladder, and I guess she just couldn't wait...though the tech told me it was still 10 minutes before her appointment time. Grr. Oh well, I will get to see the baby again next week.
After the ultrasound, I was hooked up to the Non Stress Test machine. It was supposed to be for 20 minutes, but I was definitely forgotten about! I was in there for about 40 minutes before the midwife came in. It was nice to have some peace and quiet and read, but by then I REALLY had to go to the bathroom!!
The midwife said that drinking so much water helped the baby out tremendously as my fluid was at 10! Yay!! She asked if I felt any contractions and I said "No." Then she showed me on the paper that I had had some. I was shocked!! Didn't feel them. I was telling her that I definitely wasn't ready for the baby to come anytime soon and she asked if I was ever really ready for it and of course I never am :) I told her 40 weeks would be just fine for me, and she said that you never know, especially since it was just last year that I had a baby. EEK! I haven't planned for anything earlier than 40 weeks...I hope baby can hold out.
So, I will continue to go every week and have the fluid check and NST until the baby does come.

In other news...we have no heat. So that makes the house between 63-64 degrees. Fun. I noticed on wednesday that it wasn't working. The heating guy came and when he went to open up the heater (whatever it's called) water came pouring out. Yea, not a good thing!! So we have had to let it dry out. Not sure when he's supposed to be back again...hopefully soon!

Tomorrow we are having Xavier and Xandria's birthday party. It's going to be at the skating rink. Too bad I won't be able to roller skate! I love skating! Funny that last time we had their party there...4 years ago, I was pregnant then and couldn't skate either! Xavier is now 11 and Xandria is now 7. Really, WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?!
I hope to do a post on them soon...for now I need to go get ready. I'm having my maternity pictures taken today. I really hate having my pictures taken, but I figured I might as well get them done...I wish I would of had them done with the others...even though my face is fat and my butt is huge ;)

34 Week Baby Update

2008-09-30T20:17:00.001-07:00

Last friday was my 34 week doctor appointment. Getting close!! Anyway, shortly before the appointment I was walking down the stairs and slipped on Xandria's doll shoes that I of course couldn't see due to the belly! I slipped down a few steps on my butt (those extra pounds in that area helped me out!), but caught myself. I didn't have any pain...just my left side felt a little achy. I sent Nick a message about it and he said at least I was going to the doctor, so I would let her know.
So, I went to my appointment...got weighed...gained 3 pounds...did the urine and waited for my midwife to come in. She comes in and asks how I was doing. I said "good, but I did slip down a few stairs before coming here, but I feel okay." Right away she's says "well we have to do testing" and leaves the room. Wow, ok. So, I was off for a Non Stress Test. It's where they put straps around your belly to measure the baby's heartrate and movement and also to see if you are having any contractions. I had to be on it for 20 minutes. The baby was active the whole time :) She had been moving before I went to the doctor also, so that was good! After the NST, I had a quick ultrasound to check on everything. Baby was still head down...and had her arms crossed over her face. Heartrate was 157, so that was good. The tech told me that baby has alot of hair (see pic below). Yay!! I was excited to hear that :) Now I will be able to put the hair bows to good use! She finished up the ultrasound by checking the kidneys and fluid level.
I went back to the room and waited for my midwife to come in. She came and told me everything looked good...except the amniotic fluid level. It was low, 7.7. Oh. She asked if I've had any leaking and I said "no." Asked if I was drinking enough water and I told her I had been drinking alot more of it lately...I even had a bottle with me that was almost gone. She said that I will need to drink as much water as possible and if the fluid was low again I would have to go to the hospital and be hooked up to an IV. That's obviously not what I want to do, so I have been drinking water more and more and hoping that the fluid level will be up!! I have to have it checked every week now. When she did the measurement with the tape measure on my belly, baby was right on with the growth :) Tomorrow I go to the doctor and on friday I go for another NST/ultrasound to see where it's at. Praying that it goes up and we can keep this baby in until 40 weeks. I know full term is 37 weeks, but hey, I need all the time I can get to prepare!!

32 Week Appointment

2008-09-15T13:54:00.001-07:00

Last tuesday I had my 32 week ultrasound/midwife appointment. I was so excited to have another ultrasound! Unfortunately, I wasn't very excited when I saw who would be doing my ultrasound. She has a very thick accent (making it hard to understand her) and she's not very talkative or interested in making it fun. We brought Drake with, so he could get a better idea of his baby sister inside me...but with her, it was a bummer. I had to try and describe everything on the screen to him.
Anyways...the baby looked great (yay!) and she is in the head down position. The baby is still a she...which is good news considering the clothes and things I have bought!! She weighed 4lbs and we were told she will be in the low 8 pound area...no surprise there!
We were trying to get a good face shot, but her face was lying right next to the placenta, so not much luck. I wanted to know if she had alot of hair, but we couldn't see that either thanks to her snuggling with the placenta. Oh well. All that matters is her health and that she's growing properly.
Of course just before the ultrasound was over, my midwife got called to a delivery. I had to wait to see the other midwife...which ended up being an hour! That sucked, but I could understand.
She told me everything was looking good and asked if I was having any problems. Just back pain. Not much you can do about that though. I was excited that I had only gained 2lbs in 2 weeks :) I REALLY don't need to gain anymore weight, though I know it's going to happen.
Well, gotta get the kids and things together and we are off to Xandria's gymnastics class!

More From the Renaissance Fair...

2008-09-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine wearing all this in the sweltering heat?? I tried to get a picture of the kids standing by him, but oddly enough, no one wanted to. I wonder why?
We stopped this guy perched on top of a little house.
The kids tried archery and weren't too bad at it.

At first Drake didn't want to ride the camel, but sister bribed him with the promise of a dollar...and the black car she has from the Cars movie. She paid him the dollar right when we got home, but must of forgotten about the car. He didn't. A couple days ago he came to me and showed me the black car saying he found it in her drawer :) He wasn't going to forget!

Renaissance Fair

2008-09-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to the Bristol Renaissance Fair in Kenosha, WI last sunday. Since it was their last weekend they are open for the year, adults were $15 and kids were free...which is good, because just about everything inside costs you!
This was our 2nd time going, last time was 2 years ago I think. This time I think there was triple the amount of people, but it's SO BIG inside that it wasn't too bad. It was quite hot out though, but manageable.
I love walking around and seeing all the different outfits and characters. Oh and the turkey legs are a plus! I could use a cage like this at home, except the holes couldn't be that big...they would crawl out ;)
Watching my gang on this ride cracked me up...Xavier's face is priceless, he could of sworn him and Drake were going to fall out! Nick had to pull the rope to make it go...and he didn't hold back! *click on pic for full effect*
Xandria picked a unicorn to be painted on her cheek. It literally took the guy about 3 minutes to do it.
Group shot on a bench that says "Imagine" on it.
Another shot of all 4 kids :)

First Day of School 2008

2008-09-04T11:47:00.001-07:00

Tuesday was the first day back at school for the older two. Xandria had been looking forward to going back to school for a long time! Xavier was moaning he didn't want to go back, but I think he was looking forward to it also. They were both excited to wear their new shoes...Xandria got some that are made by Pastry and Xavier of course, had to get DC's. I remember when Jordans were the cool shoes, but no, Xavier had to have DC's.

Everyone got up quickly...even Nick, to my surprise! They got dressed and had to stand on the front porch for the annual "1st Day of School" picture :) I didn't have my contacts in, so they turned out a little blurry.

Nick takes them to school, and it's back to bed for me until the younger two wake up...I'm NOT a morning person!

Xandria has the same teacher Xavier had when he was in 1st grade, so that's pretty neat. Xavier gets to have a locker this year in 5th grade and was happy he got a top one.

Here's to hoping for a great, stress free school year!!

So, it's just me and the 2 little boys at home (until our new lil miss comes), so I'm trying to enjoy them and spend extra time with them. I do have to say how amazingly QUIET it is around here!! No bickering, whining or complaining...except when Daxton needs a diaper change!

Their first day at school Drake was saying he missed them and was ready to pick them up. It is a big change and I miss them...but I'm also enjoying the peace ;)

Tonight we have Open House. Well, gotta run!

Things That Have Made Me Happy In The Past Week

2008-08-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

I thought I would write these things down, since it's been a really good week this past week. They aren't in any particular order...just whatever comes to my mind first.

Having a great time at Daxton's 1st birthday party and our friends and family being here with us.
Having the Merry Maids come clean the bathrooms, living room, dining room and kitchen the day before the party!! Huge relief and felt SO GOOD to have someone do all the stuff I haven't been able to get to...the floors and showers!!
My husband busting his butt to get the things done around here that I wanted him to and making our house look that much nicer! Who cares that he didn't get my pictures that we had printed out hung up ;)
Watching Daxton devoure his cake!
Having leftover pork sandwiches and potato salad my aunt made!
Having leftover cake! This is a HUGE thing for me! I LOVE my cake and frosting from By The Dozen Bakery!
Staying up WAY too late sunday night, lying in bed talking to Nick about Daxton's birthday and everything.
Having Heather come and take pictures of the party, so I didn't have to worry about picking up the camera at all!
Xavier staying up the night before the party to help me decorate.
Drake being so lovey and sweet to everyone at the party...especially my grandma...he even asked her if she loved him. Melt my heart.
Being told I don't look like this is my 5th baby by 4 guys in an elevator at the doctor's. Ha ha!
Being told by the doctor that the baby sounds great and things are going well with the pregnancy.
Our new 2008 Suburban. Ok, technically we got it a couple weeks ago, but everytime I get in it I am in love with it all over again! With a sunroof, heated leather seats, remote start, automatic back door, lots more cargo room, DVD player for the kids, seperate heat/ac in the 4 seats, navigation, back up camera, OnStar, XM radio, and other things, who wouldn't love it?!
Seeing the "hole" in Toots' mouth from where her first tooth fell out two days ago.
Spending the day just Toots and I @ a Paint and Fun store painting. Our little outing, just her and I before school starts next week. I painted a big carriage plaque and she painted a smaller one and also a box with a horse on it.
Watching Toots have a HUGE grin on her face when we all went to watch her at her new gymnastics class last night. She LOVES that class...even more than ballet, she says.
Angela watching Xandria and Drake today (Xavier was with his grandpa), so I could get some much needed picking up and freezer cleaning done while Daxton napped today. Aah the peace and quiet was nice!
Nick taking me to Red Lobster tuesday night, because after I watched Jon&Kate Plus 8 the night before, I was dying for crab legs!
Crunchy bacon...what I've been craving lately.

I know there are more, but time's run out for me. There are some things I'm happily looking forward to...going to Gurnee, going to the Renaissance Fair, and enjoying a long weekend with Nick and the kids before they go back to school on tuesday

More pics from Daxton's first year

2008-08-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

showing his lil toof bud poking through @ 9months

Here are some more photos from Daxton's first year. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that he's ONE YEAR OLD!! He still looks like my lil baby to me. Yea, it's going to definitely take some getting used to.

We had his birthday party yesterday here at home. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. He had a monkey theme party, so there were monkeys hanging out in different spots. He had a blast, and didn't get cranky at all. I think he enjoyed seeing everyone. When it came time for his cake, he was a little slow at the start...I think it was from everyone standing around watching him. He's not used to having an audience when he eats! Didn't get a chance to do the candle, as soon as he spotted the cake, he wanted it! We did do the candle on his actual birthday, so that's ok.

Anyway, once he was warmed up enough, he dug RIGHT into his cake...not holding back!! WOW did he eat and eat it!! Or should I say shovel and shovel it in!! He kept making "mmmm" noises which were so funny :) When the cake was just about all gone, he decided he would just bend down and stick his face in it! TOO FUNNY!! Sadly, there came a time when the cake was all gone...he even picked up the plate to make sure! I could NOT believe he devoured that WHOLE cake...not much ended up anywhere other than in his mouth, though don't get me wrong, he was covered in frosting!!! It was definitely very entertaining to watch!!

He was whisked away right to the bath :)

Daxton had Daddy to help him open up his presents. I know one of his favorite gifts was one my parents got him...a SpongeBob furry blanket. Drake has a Cars one like it that Daxton LOVES...he crawls in Drake's room, right to his bed, grabs it and leaves the room with it! So, my dad thought he should have his own...when he pulled it out of the bag he held it to his face and didn't want to let go!!

He didn't have a nap at all yesterday and remained a happy guy until we put him to bed just a bit before his usual bedtime, and slept until after 11am today.

That's all for now...gotta run!

ONE YEAR AGO...

2008-08-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

Seeing my new little man for the first time. Aww.
In Daddy's arms before we left the hospital.
Sporting his name on his hat that I got when he was still in my belly.
Not wanting to be stuck in the boppy pillow :)
Just learned to sit up by himself on my old blanket.

One year ago this little man entered our lives. And brought more joy and love into our lives. I honestly can not believe it has been a year. I remember when I had him I told myself I was going to enjoy each and every little thing and think I did that, but it's still gone by faster than I can imagine. And with each baby it seems to only go by faster :(

Anyway, yesterday he was officially a 1 year old. We gave him a cupcake with one candle on it (which Daddy helped him blow out) and he couldn't eat it fast enough!!He didn't care about the candle, he wanted the cupcake! He ate it ALL in record time and was looking for more!! I couldn't believe it at one point he just picked it up and SHOVED it into his mouth!! It was too funny!!

That's one thing that boy can do with great speed...EAT! And he eats by the handfulls!! Don't mess around with him and his food! My dad learned that the other night...he had given Drake a hot dog and turned his back to get something and when he turned around Daxton had half of it in his mouth...and it wasn't cut up! My dad was afraid he was going to choke, but knock on wood, that's something he hasn't done, no matter how much food he has shoved in his mouth!

Here's some photos of our sweet little Daxton from his 1st year.

I'm going to add more photos later...I ran out of time!

It Works!!

2008-08-13T13:22:00.001-07:00

My internet is finally back up and running!! It's been a long week or so without it...when I've really needed to use it, of course! Luckily, I have a very persisent (and sweet) husband who was up until 2am messing with it...which still didn't work, but before he went to work he got it running. Yay!!
Anyway, for those of you wondering...Daxton's 1st birthday party is sunday the 24th @ 1pm. Just got the invites today in the mail (finally!!) and they will be going out tommorrow.
Hope to update more later...it's been a long time!

1:49 AM

2008-07-21T23:47:00.000-07:00

Can't sleep. Tried for over an hour. Legs aching and can't fall asleep. I wonder if eating two iceys an hour before going to bed and two pieces of bacon half an hour before bed have anything to do with not being able to fall asleep? Maybe. Funny how I normally am disgusted by bacon, but have been craving it all of a sudden.
Morning is going to come fast and I'm not going to be ready for it with no sleep!! I NEED MY SLEEP!! If I didn't have anything to do tomorrow, I could function better with less sleep, but I'm going to get my hair done and after that Xavier has a baseball game. Hopefully, I will survive without wanting to hurt anyone.

Daxton is 11 months old today...well I guess it's now yesterday. That means in exactly one month he will be 1 year old!! Pure craziness! And sadness that it's gone by so dang fast. I wish there was a pause button I could push whenever and just make the moments last longer!!

This month starts the birthday cake bonanza :) My birthday is friday...which BETTER mean cake...August 21 is Daxton birthday which will=cake...September 24 is Xavier's birthday which will=cake...September 28 is Xandria's birthday which will=cake...October 13 is Nick's 30th birthday which will=cake...November ? is new baby's birthday which will JUST have to=cake...a break in December and January 14 is Drake's birthday which will=cake! Gee, can't wait to see how much I gain just from cake alone!! I LOVE cake though...especially the frosting :)

Today was a good day...surprisingly, for a monday. Nick left sunday night around 1am to go to work at theaters in Skokie and didn't get home from working there until 3:30 pm today! He had been up since sunday morning. I thought he was going to come home and go to straight to bed...Lord knows I would have...but he said he would be fine and instead we took the kids to Chuck E Cheese, then we had to run a couple places and grab some things. We didn't get home til around 8:30. We had a nice family day :)

Saturday the older kids stayed at my parents house and we dropped Daxton off with my aunt and uncle. Nick and I went out to dinner at Outback and went to a couple stores then we headed to the Metro Centre to see Poison perform! Nick actually surprised me with the Poison tickets. I had mentioned to him when I first heard that they were coming (quite awhile ago), that I wanted to go, but didn't think he would remember or anything. But he surprised me and when he told me to see if my aunt could watch the baby on the 18th, I had no idea why! I couldn't think of what we would be doing at all...he even said it was something I told him I wanted to do! Finally he had to tell me. It was pretty much packed there...and hot. They are remodeling the Metro, so one whole side of the building was just plywood, not very cooling when it's hot out.
Sebastion Bach was on first. When we got there he was already playing. I told Nick that it was Sebastion Bach and he was like "ok." Well, I didn't know he thought it was Poison up there...until Sebastion was just about over and he was asking the crowd if we were ready for Poison and then Nick says to me "oh I thought that was Poison up there." Ha ha. He's so funny!! Can you tell he's a big fan??
Anyway, Poison came on and it was a good show. Brett Micheals looked pretty good in his tight pants, I have to say...and that's SO not my type! He said there is going to be a season 3 of Rock of Love. Gee...who couldn't of guessed that would happen?? Guess it didn't work between him and Amber.
It was such a nice time it just being Nick and I. It's been awhile. I hope we get a chance to do it again soon! Thanks to my aunt for watching Daxton :) They wore him out...he didn't wake up until noon on sunday!! He was one tired boy!!

Well, I'm off to hopefully get some sleep!! Wish me luck!!

First Pics Taken In Manual!!

2008-07-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

I met Heather for a little photo lesson on friday at the Klehm Arboretum. She showed me how to put it in manual and what to do. It was my first time shooting in manual...I usually shoot in AV Mode. I was pretty intimidated, but they didn't turn too bad :) The first one is my favorite. He likes to rub his tongue over his new teeth. You can check out the pictures she took on her blog . Scroll down and you will see him.

I've been practicing a little since then, but not with such good results. I'm going to keep practicing and hopefully I will get it!! I get so frustrating with not knowing how to do it and be able to take the kind of photos I want already!! But she promises I will get it, so that's reassuring! So thankful that she's willing to help me out!!

In other news...I go to the doctor on friday for my SIX MONTH CHECK UP!! Holy cow has it been flying by and lightning speed!!

DAXTON TURNS 11 MONTHS ON MONDAY!! Talk about a shock!! I don't know how that's possible :( I have to start planning his party!! I'm pretty sure we are having it here...which means we don't have much time to get all the things on my list crossed off. I think it would be pretty much impossible!

Gotta run and do something...there's never a time when there isn't something I should be doing! Until next time...