"C" for sure!

Ok so tomorrow morning I go in for my C-section.  Doc took a look at the ultra-sound on Tuesday only to find the baby standing up in my belly.  Since her feet are straight down it is too dangerous to even attempt to turn her so it is a c for sure.  Not really looking forward to the long recovery but it will be nice to get a few little added knots while they are in there!  We'll let you know when she gets here.  We can't wait to get her out!!!.... whatever way she chooses!

Becoming Friends!

Every since Neeley started Kindergarten, Kayla hasn't known what to do with herself.  She misses her and has been really bored.  I have been waiting for her to discover that Lilah can be a pretty good playmate.  Well, today they discovered one another and had a great time.

Kayla had fun dressing them both up with various pairs of underwear and taking Lilah for a ride on Dad's suit case.  Let's hope this is the beginning of a long friendship between sisters!

One of THOSE moms!

Lately Lilah has been testing who is boss.  Yes, those terrible two's have arrived!  Yesterday she managed to dump 2 entire boxes of cereal on the floor throw a huge "I want juice, not milk" tantrum.  

Today was a trip to Walmart.  You know the scenario.  You see a mom with her kids and you think to yourself, "I will NEVER be like that lady!"  And then one day, it happens to you; you ARE that lady!

I thought it would be an easy trip because Neeley was at school so I only had two kids with me.  It started out with Lilah grabbing at everything she could in the cart and opening it.  Candy will fix this, so I let her have some.  Everything seems to be going pretty smooth after the bribery began, that is until we arrived at the checkout counter.  Huge lines and I have coupons, I have price matches, I have a full cart and 10 minutes before it is time to get Neeley at school.  Then I get up by those stupid candy shelves right by the checkout stand.  If you ask me, any damaged merchandise at this point should be fault of Walmart for putting those stupid things right where the kids can empty them while you wait for your turn.

Before I know it, Lilah has a pack of M&M's, has them open and is downing them as fast as she can.  So naturally, I snatch them up, pay for them and put them in a bag.  There is no way I am letting her have them after that.  That is when the screaming begins.  You know, you have seen it, that blood curdling scream that can be heard back in electronics.  It goes on, and on and on.  All the while I am trying to juggle getting the groceries on the belt, holding Lilah down in that dumb seat belt that doesn't really restrain them, look up my price matches and fumble to get out my coupons.  And everyone is staring and laughing.  Oh and did I mention Lilah's face full of snot!

Yes, today, I was one of those MOM's!

All Heart!

One of my favorite things to do is style my girls hair. They will go through stages from letting me create masterpieces to wanting just a barett. We have been in a slump lately so I let them look at a hair blog and pick whatever style they wanted. This is what they came up with and I have to say it was really fun! In another life I am going to be a hair stylist.

Nesting Complete!

With every pregnancy I get this extreme nesting impulse.  For months I have been checking off my list and adding more to it each day.  I am happy to report that as of today, we are ready for baby.  Some time around month 4 (when I finally get over the sick stage) I start my long process.  I first make a list of anything  and everything that has been on my mind to accomplish whether it be little like tightening a loose screw somewhere or tackling the biggest of projects  like cleaning out everything.  There is just something about having a fresh start when baby comes, with nothing pressing on your brain and no loose ends to tie up.  It really is liberating and I think it is something everyone should do a least once a year.  So here is a sampling of what my nesting has entailed:

Clean out every drawer, closet and cupboard.

Detail the car.

Wash car seat covers.

Organize food storage and pantry.

Stock the freezer with a dozen freezer meals (Thanks to Angela for our team effort on this one!)

Get out baby cloths and wash and put them away.

Wash windows.

Deep clean everything.

Get the girls photos taken.

Get Halloween costumes put together.

Have birth announcements ready to insert picture and mail.

Sew car seat cover and blankets for baby.

Pack hospital bag.

Get baby's seat ready in the car.

Get hair done and a pedicure.  (my personal favorite)

Have one last GNO before baby!  (can't wait for tonight!)

And the list goes on......

So, other than keeping up on laundry and one last scouring of the house, we are ready!!!  BRING ON BABY!

How to be a Fairy!

Invite all of your favorite friends to your 4th birthday party!

Practice the "art" of magic wands.

Go on a treasure hunt through Pixie Hallow to earn your wings.

Get sprinkled with Pixie Fairy glitter dust.

Eat Tinkerbell cake.

Open presents.

Break open Tinkerbell's pinata shoe to get out all of the candy.

Show off your loot and play with your friends!

Happy 4th Birthday Kayla!  We love you!!!

Just the girls!

I got the girls dressed and ready for the day and realized how cute they all looked together with their matching outfits.  So off to Target we went for pictures.  I have decided this is the way to go.  Spur of the moment, not too much planning made it way less stress to go get pictures taken!  Little Lilah thought she was just as big as the rest and wanted to do everything they did. It is so nice when they cooperate! 

The BIG "C"!

I was  a little taken back when the doctor told me this week that he was going to schedule me for a c-section.  Kate has been "stuck" in the same position this whole pregnancy.  She really has gotten comfy being breach.  So today doc said that we may not be able to change this.  

All I can think about was the easy labor and delivery of all of my girls.  I could get up the next day and hardly even know I have had a baby.  Then I start to remember what a difficult time I had when Lilah was 2 months old and I had to have my gal bladder taken out.  I just remember how hard it was to try to nurse her with my incisions and how tired I was.  Now add the recovery from being pregnant and delivery to that mess and I think it all sounds a little daunting.  I am sure I sound like a baby, since many woman have to deal with this, it is just so sad to think about it when this is probably our last and I have had such good experiences so far.  

So the plan is this:  October first go in early in the AM and get my epidural right away.  If her feet aren't straight down (too dangerous to try if they are this way) they will try to turn her.  Happy about the whole epidural thing before any pain!  If she flips (cross my fingers) they will break my water and deliver her.  If not, then the big C will follow.  

I just keep telling myself there is time.  Lots of time between now and then for her to do a little summersault!  And that priesthood blessing Jeremy gave me on Sunday is bound to help.  So for now I am holding on to faith, lots of prayers and a little head nudging!   

Hot Rocks!

I found this project while blog stocking one day and have wanted to try it ever since.  We finally got the chance to try it today!  Heres how you do it:

Bake rocks in the oven for 10-20 min. until hot.

"Color" on them with crayons!

It was a bit scary with them being so hot, and the girls almost forgot a time or two not to touch the rocks but in all it was a really fun activity which they have already repeated once!

Pop-pop!

Lilah tries to follow her big sisters everywhere.  When that isn't possible, sometimes she gets sad.  In an effort to ease that sting, I decided to make popcorn with her today.  I have never seen her so amazed and excited.  She loved every minute of it, from helping me pour in the kernels to munching on the yummy snack.  She felt like big stuff and I enjoyed our time together!

Tooth Fairy Time!

I have a loose tooth, 

A wiggly, jiggly loose tooth,

I have a loose tooth a hanging by a thread!

Someone stole my loose tooth,

My wiggly, jiggly loose tooth,

Now I have a quarter and a hole in my head!

My "baby" lost her tooth today!  She came running in while Jeremy was reading their bedtime story to show me her tooth.  She said she had something in her mouth and pulled it out to see what it was.  Then she felt the empty spot in her mouth and knew she had lost her tooth.  She was so proud and excited, as were we!  First kindergarten now this, how grown up she is getting, and fast!

We put her tooth in a small baggie so the tooth fairy could find it easier!

Then Neeley put it in her special tooth fairy pocket on her pillow!

Kayla had to check out Neeley's new smile!

Sew fun!

Neeley has a loose tooth!  Her first one and boy does it jiggle!  So much in fact that we knew we had to run out and make her special tooth fairy pillow just in case it falls out!  Off to the fabric store we went to pick out some fabric for their special project.  Kayla instantly fell in love with the Frosty the Snowman fabric.  At first I thought, snowman in August??? but then why should I care, so snowman it was for Kayla.  Neeley on the other hand was a bit more careful and picked something that would last the whole year, Hello Kittie!  After picking out a few things for baby Kate too, we headed home to make our projects. 

Kayla's project was a Frosty book that she now uses for a pillow.  Neeley opted for the pillow case with the special tooth pocket so the tooth fairy could easily find her tooth.   It was fun to teach the girls a little about sewing and they loved helping with the projects!

Deprived!

It is amazing how deprived our kids can be sometimes.  Neeley's bike had gotten too small for her, so small that her knees would hit the handle bars as she road it.  She was fine with that, and even put up with it as she learned to ride with no training wheels.  Then the unthinkable happened... TWO flat tires.  Being the handy people we are, a bike with two flat tires means a bike that cannot be fixed.  So she even put up with this dilemma by riding Cade's bike when he wasn't around.  Then the other day an aweful thing happened, all of the kids wanted to ride their bikes at the same time!!!!  GASP!!  I got right on the phone to see what Jer thought of the situation, wondering if he could take her bike shopping after work.  Knowing how deprived Neeley must feel, he rushed home from work right then and there with a shiny new Barbie bike complete with a little bike for Barbie too!  We haven't seen Neeley since, she truly is in bike heaven!

What Fun Is!

Going to Lagoon is a family tradition.  For the past couple of years we have had season tickets so we have been able to enjoy going several times throughout the summer.  This year my family all got together and went on the same day.  Neeley and Kayla loved going on rides with their cousins and got pretty daring trying to keep up with some of their cousins that are just a bit older.  Lilah has decided she loves all of the rides and cries when it is time to get off!

Elizabeth, Linzie, Kayla, Neeley, Cassidy, Haylie, Lilah, Shelby, Tyson

Beth and Kayla (Kayla wasn't sure she liked this one!)

Danny, Addison, Ward and Sammy

Cassidy, Linzie and Neeley (Neeley's first time on the scrambler!  She loved it!)

Tyson, Sammy, Neeley, Linzie and Kayla

Aunt Karen, Shelby and Haylie

Neeley finally got brave enough for the Lady Bug again and liked it!  It has always been Kayla's favorite!

Lilah's first time on the planes.  Neeley is showing her the ropes!

4 eyes!

I went to my eye appointment with the intention of picking out some fun and cute new glasses. When I wore them the first time, this is what the girls had to say about them.

Neeley: "I don't think those are your style, Mom.  They look like two lips."

Kayla: "I think you should bring Daddy with you next time to pick them out!"

Lilah:  Blank stare and then a smirk

So how much merit should I place on their opinions?