*Cheese* Or Cheesy?

In an attempt to blog more frequently, I give you 4 of the 78 takes from
our church directory photo shoot.

Moving

We are on the home stretch, packing packing packing.

I've got no blog posts.

The pile of packed boxes is getting bigger than the pile of empty boxes.

And yes, I let my baby girl eat cheerios off of the floor. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Mother's Day

Last week one of my kids had a "secret assignment" they were working on at school. The week before Mother's Day? What could it be? He needed a few photos of just him and mom. I was stumped. As I dug through my hard drive, I had all sorts of photos of the kid and a lot less of me, but almost none together. And that inspired my one request for Mother's Day. I didn't care if I got dinner out, or flowers or anything else. All I wanted was a photo with me and my crew and individual shots with each of them one on one. Nate humored me.

But I also got pancakes. Heavenly.

Intentional Living. In List Form

I'm trying more and more to live in the moment. Not always looking to "the next big thing" but loving right where I am. Here are some thoughts from today.

• Everly sits in the middle of the room. She can't quite crawl, if you consider forward motion to be crawling. Scooting backwards until she is wedged into a corner or under the couch doesn't count. I'm enjoying the babble that is almost "mamamama" and the fact that she mostly stays where I put her. I'm enjoying how her face lights up when I enter the room. Her smile is almost too much for her little face.
• I'm enjoying the last few weeks of having Gemma home during the day without the big kids. Next fall it's backpacks and new pencils and off to kindergarten.
  
• I'm savoring these last couple of weeks in this little house. Breathing deeply of all the flowers I have tended to over ten years here. Making a few more memories in these walls before we are off to a new adventure just a few miles away.
• I'm loving the sunshine this afternoon. Cloudy days make the sunny ones so much sweeter.
• I'm trying to talk myself into enjoying the fact that Toby is still in diapers. The end result of potty training is glorious, the interim, not so great. So I'm enjoying the calm before the storm.
• Early morning temperatures have been absolutely perfect for running. 50 degrees means shorts and a long sleeved t-shirt. In a few weeks it will be tank tops and ponytails drenched in sweat, even at 5:30 am.

Everly Sleeps

She's four and a half months old and I'm not sure exactly how that happened.

Fit Baby

This morning Everly was watching from her bouncy seat while Gemma played a little Wii Fit. I was in the next room and few minutes later Gemma said "Mom! Come see what Evy is doing!" One step into the next room revealed Everly, in her Bumbo, on the balance board, Wiimote in hand. So cute but not so great at Super Hula Hoop.

She's Warm, That's for Sure

Poor, poor Everly.

Randomess, Because it's Been Awhile

Last year we inadvertently missed most of the Christmas specials on TV. Not this year. I pulled out a piece of poster board and made a master list including date, channel, and time. We have a date with The Grinch on Monday night at seven.

In other news, Everly rolled over for the first time. And not just a fluke, "How did that happen?" type roll. She actually did it again and again and again. So that's fun.

What else? I haven't blogged for so long, I don't even know where I left off.

Nate and I were able to get away together for a few days at a Youth Leader's Retreat. It was really fun. We had a great speaker and good times with the other youth leaders in our denomination. One of the nights we went to see the movie 2012. Yeah, it was pretty funny but I don't think it was supposed to be. Let me give you a summary: It's the end of the world and you meet a group of people who will miraculously survive all sorts of natural disasters and manage to escape by the skin of their teeth every. single. time.

The retreat was held only a couple hours from where our friends live now. We decided to make a quick trip to visit them and two other families that are dear to us. It went way too fast but we had lots of laughs with good friends.


I love the interaction going on in this picture, there may or may not have been fighting over the baby.

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving. Nate's Mom really outdid herself making dinner for a houseful. It was delish. Also, there were four different kinds of pie and they were all fantastic. Believe me, I know. I ate a piece of each. And so this morning I felt obligated to go for a run. A run the day after a holiday can be labeled a guilt driven run. It was pretty darn cold out there and I wasn't quite dressed for it. By the end I couldn't feel my thighs. But who needs thighs anyway? Oh wait...

Does anyone else have a running list of Christmas song that drive them crazy? I tend to be drawn to the classics lately, all the sappy emotional ones just kind of tick me off. Wow. I really am the Grinch. Geez.

If Only They Were ALL This Comfortable

A girl has to start her shoe collection right from the get go.

Another Photo Post. Surprised?

It's always fun to look back at old picures. By "old" I mean a year ago. I was looking back at last fall's photos on my hard drive and I came across some fun stuff. Let me share.

Last labor day, Jack was stung my a bee that flew up his nose. Here, let me show you.

(last year)

Poor kid. It doesn't even look like him. That was taken the day AFTER the traumatic incident.

Ok, so just the other day we were driving from school to school to school, doing the daily afternoon pick up and lo and behold, there was a bee in our van. I assured the kids, just leave it alone and it will leave you alone. Not ten seconds later Toby is sobbing hysterically. It stung him on the right ear. This picture makes me chuckle.

(This year)



Remember this?

(Last Year)

(Last Year)

It was one year ago that Gemma, through difficult circumstances, found her perfect haircut. We've kept the bob-with-bangs all year and it suits her. The hair on the side is completely grown back out, she can even do mini-pigtails now. And we keep the scissors on top of the fridge.

(This year)

And then there's Randall.

Oh Randall, you have become a beast of a salamander. I never thought you would survive a year in our home, and yet here you are. You've grown so much on your diet of whateverthekidsdigupforyou. Here you are the first day we met you, practically a baby and here you are today.


But the biggest difference between last fall and this fall is this little girl. Most photographed child in Sept-Oct '09. Sorry other kids.

A Year

It was one year ago yesterday that I ran a marathon. Today I can't even run one mile.

I'm not bitter. Okay, maybe just a little bit. I really, really miss running but I know it's because of cute little Everly that I was sidelined for awhile. I've got one year to get myself back up to 26.2 again. October 2010 here I come!

But for tonight, I think I'll eat a spoonful of marshmallow creme while I snuggle a bald baby girl.

Priorities.

Boochies

Almost all of my kids have been blankie kids. Except they don't call them blankies, they call the boochies. Not sure exactly which one couldn't pronounce blankie when they were little but boochie stuck and that's what we all call them now. A big throw for an adult to snuggle up on the couch with while watching tv? Blanket. A big fleece for on the kids' bed? Blanket. Anything made of flannel that can be held in one hand while sucking your other thumb? Boochie. Many boochies have come and gone over the years. The ones that last become unrecognizable as their former self after much love. We have had "square boochie", "kissy boochie", "car boochie", "circle boochie" and many more.

Today I received a package in the mail and this is what was inside.


I may have giggled out loud. Aren't those the cutest fabrics ever?! These are sure to become "bird boochie", "yellow boochie", and "flower boochie". My friend Jenn stared up an Etsy shop selling these receiving blankets and she sent Everly three of them as a gift. They are incredible.

I love the description she wrote up:

These are great for swaddling squirmy newborns, of course. But beyond that, they're great as nursing cover-ups and for covering carseats to protect baby from sun or bugs. They're nice, sanitary surfaces for tummy-time or changes, they protect furniture from crummy cracker-eaters, and they can mop up those improbably-huge "glurps." Keep one in your diaper bag at all times!

As baby gets older, they will find new life as Superman capes, picnic blankets, and coffee-table tents, and later still, they can be re-purposed for buffing cars and polishing violins. (They also roll into a nice whip!)

To show you how big they are, I took a picture of Everly chilling on one of them in the middle of the living room floor.


I defiantly recommend checking these out if you've got a little newbie. If you don't, they would make great gifts. Her Etsy shop is called "Shoe Dweller". With a whole bunch of kids of her own, you can believe she knows what she's talking about when it comes to babies and blankies.

I know my kids are going to be fighting over them. Sorry guys, these belong to The Everly.

Thanks Jenn!

The Question of the Day

Everly is one month old, but according to her ever-so-wise, still in diapers himself, big brother Toby, she is still "the New Baby". Like, that's her name. He can say "the Ah-ver-lee" and he says it with such a charming English accent, but for the most part he calls her The New Baby. So I'm wondering when that newness will wear off. When she'll become a regular old part of the crew and her celebritydom will cease to exist according to her big brother.

Will it be when her infant acne finally clears up and her skin returns to it's original porcelain state? Or maybe when (please dear Lord) she starts sleeping through the night. Right now she's very bi-polar when it comes to sleeping, some nights are awesome, some are miserable. According to Noelle, she's nocturnal.

Maybe her newness will fade when she spits up on big brother for the first time. Not so cute when she's projecting goo all over you is she Tobes? Maybe it will be when he loses interest in her "toys". The pacifier is so enthralling and what two year old boy can resist trying to sit in a gorgeous pink and brown bouncy seat?

Is she still new until she quits bathing in the kitchen sink and finally moves to the tub with the rest of the big kids, soaking amongst the squirty toys? Is it when we have to start picking up choking hazards because she is on the move? Maybe she isn't the new baby any more when she starts pulling hair and biting. Maybe when she says her first words.

I don't know when. I know right now it feels like she is such a mystery. I find myself looking at her and wondering who she is and who she's going to be. While at the same time it feels like she's been here forever and I can't remember life without her. I think in my mind, all of my kids are still "the new baby". Even the 14 year old in football cleats. Do you think he would be embarrassed if I started calling him that from the bleachers?

Everly's Birth Story

Just a heads up for those of you with a weak constitution or any men who don't want to read about the details of labor and delivery, you might want to skip this post. You have been warned.

We have late babies. It's not uncommon for me to go a few days or up to a week past my due date. It became our normal and so during my pregnancy with Everly, I just expected it. Turns out she was an on-time little lady, being born smack dab on her due date.

The evening before was our church's potluck and baptism. Braxton hicks had become a way of life for the last week or two and so I was used to a contraction here or a contraction there. That evening I knew something was different. I sat on a lawn chair at the city park with a huge plateful of food on my ginromous lap and I had the thought..."what if it really is labor? Do you want to see this devil egg again?" But like a good pregnant lady, I snarfed down every last morsel on that plate, even the peanut butter pie. Especially the peanut butter pie.

Then we headed over to the swimming pool for baptisms. Since Nate was going to be in the water helping with the baptisms, I figured I better give him a head's up. Just in case I had one of those moment like you see in the movies, one huge contraction, eyes popping out of the head, and declaring "It's time to go to the hospital, we're having a baby!". As I sat beside the pool the contractions kept coming about fifteen minutes apart or so. Nate kept giving me questioning looks but it was all good. No sudden turn of events.

We figured the best plan was to just go home, go to bed, and if it was real then labor would wake me up. So that's what we did. Nate fell asleep immediately, I laid there wide awake in anticipation. But not before packing my hospital bag. I packed my bag right before I got into bed. Procrastination is my middle name. I was able to fall asleep for a little while but sure enough, every ten minutes a contraction would wake me up. I got up out of bed and walked around for awhile and they were getting pretty uncomfortable. At few minutes before 2 am I woke Nate up and told him that we should probably head up to the hospital. He was tired, I was tired, and we both were wishing we could just hit pause, catch a good nap, and then do this later. No such luck. We called to have my mom come over and stay with the kids and we headed out.

Walking from the parking lot to the entrance caused a couple more doozies of contractions. They asked me if I wanted a wheel chair to get to the other side of the hospital or did I want to walk? I opted to walk and then halfway there, regretted it. Wow, these were some painful contractions. Not fun at all. When we got to OB they did all the stuff they do. Paper work and hooking me up to a whole bunch of machines and all of that business. The nurse asked how dilated I was at my last appointment. I was at 2 cm and maybe 50% effaced. She informed me that I was exactly the same, nothing had changed, in fact the baby was still really high. This is where I had a moment of "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" I was so, so shocked and sad. What in the world were all of those contractions doing all evening? Seriously? Dang it.

It took about an hour for them to take care of all of the stuff they had to do to get us admitted. They called the doctor, gave her the update on where I was at and she gave me two choices. I could get an epidural and try to rest or I could get up and walk around and try to get things moving. I opted to just lay there and weigh my choices. By now the nurses had left the room, Nate was chilling on the couch, and I was deep in negotiations with myself. The contractions kept coming, painful but not too bad. I was tired. I wanted to sleep, but I also just wanted to get this over with. If it was going to go on for hours, I just wanted that epidural and a nap. But what if I got up and walked, maybe it would happen soon. For about 20 minutes I laid there, thinking.

Then there was a contraction that felt different. Lower. Weirder. I told the nurse and asked if she could check to see if anything was different. I was hoping for a five, maybe even a six. At this point her eyes popped out of her head. She said, "You're complete!" in a panicked voice. And the flurry of commotion began. They called the doctor, started running around the room in preparation, and I just laid there. Seriously? That was it? We are ready to push? Alrightythen.

Since the doctor lives about twenty minutes away, she knew she wouldn't make it in time. So they called in a local doctor, a good friend of ours. But while he was on his way, they brought the ER doc in. He stood by the bed and waited, just in case any baby catching was suddenly needed. And yet I had no overwhelming urge to push. The contractions were still coming five to six minutes apart and they really weren't that bad. Turns out my water still wasn't broken and that was just enough to keep things from progressing all the way. When the local doc arrived a few minutes later, he took over for the ER doc and stood guard. Again, no overwhelming urge to push, so we just stayed in limbo. Limbo with feet in stirrups is no fun but whatevah.

Finally the OB came walking into the room and was very surprised to see that we hadn't delivered yet. She got all gloved up and said "Let's do this." She broke my water and wham, there it went. I'm just going to skip the description of pushing because all mothers know there are no words that can capture it completely. No words except for OhMyGoshWhenWillThisBeOver?

And then there she was. Another moment that there are no words for. A Holy moment. She was beautiful. Seven pounds, five ounces of me and Nate. And yet her very own person. How can anyone not profess that it is a complete miracle?

Everything went great after that, for a couple hours. Then, as they were about to take her away so that Nate and I could rest, everything turned bad. I really, really, really had to go to the bathroom. I must have consumed a lot of fluids before labor. The nurse accompanied me to the restroom, as is protocol. This is the conversation that followed, Nate listened from the next room.

Me: "I'm a little dizzy."
Her: "Are you ok?"
Me: "Yeah, I'm ok."
Me: " No, actually, I'm really dizzy."

And then loss of consciousness. She called for Nate to come help while she pulled the nurse call button. Nate and the other nurse went in search of a wheel chair. I don't remember any of this. I do remember a wheel chair to my right and them saying they were going to put me in it. I remember not really caring either way. Nate says my eyes were open the whole time but it was clear that no one was home. My face had gone completely white from such a rapid loss of blood. It turns out I had majorly hemorrhaged, my uterus hadn't been contracting and tightening down. They got me back in the bed and by then had called a code blue. This brought the ER doc, the lab, and a whole bunch of other people to the room. By now I was on oxygen and my IV was hooked back up. I was conscience by now. I remember laying there, looking up at the ceiling in a haze. Weirdest feeling ever.

Nate and the nurses kept asking my questions, trying to keep me awake. I was just so tired. I knew by now that I was going to be ok, but I just didn't have the energy to do anything except nod. So tired. So, so tired. They gave me a shot of something or another in my leg and a bunch more pitocin in the IV. Then they proceeded to practically pound on my stomach to get that dang uterus to tighten back down.

And it did. And I was fine.

We opted to turn away visitors for the first few hours. Both of us were exhausted physically and emotionally. We slept most of the morning and then we were ready to see friends and family by noon. It was a story we didn't share with our kids. The older ones got the modified version.

And so that is how Everly came into this world. It's funny how just three weeks later, it seems like she's always been here. Recovery has been a lot slower than the other births. We've had a lot going on, life just doesn't seem to slow down at all. But I'm trying to cut myself some slack and just take more time to sit and hold her. This morning she smiled at me for the first time. How is it that no matter if it's the first baby, or the eighth baby, one little smile can absolutely melt you and bring tears to your eyes.?

I guess it's just the awe of a little bundle of miracle.

Miscellany

Newborn babies demand a lot of awestruck staring. Sorry I haven't been around, I've been cooing and talking jibberish to an adorable little bundle of pinkness.

And we've been up to other stuff. Everly is two weeks old. In that two weeks we have:

• Had a visit from all three of my out-of-state brothers and their wives and/or girlfriends. (Two are married, one has a girlfriend, not whatever else you were thinking)
• Had a visit from two ladies I know from the internet who are not axe murderers. *phew!*
• Gone shopping with my 7th grader for all things volleyball related.
  
• Been a single mom of eight for three days while Nate was out of town.
• Caught a killer cold. While he was out of town. Does it get any funner?
• Freshman football games.
• Played nurse when Husband catches the cold/flu/whatever it is and ends up on the couch for three days.
• Gone to a baby shower for a dear friend.
• Had a super fun visit from a now-living-far-away-crazy-family that we miss so much.
• Snuggled a baby girl. A lot.

In other news, Caedmon broke out in an itchy rash all over his torso yesterday. Immediately I thought "chicken pox" and kept him home from school today. I took him in to the doctor this afternoon and low and behold...poison ivy. Seriously?! But it gets even better. They put him on some steroids and warned me that it might cause HYPERACTIVITY! That I might not want to give it to him after 4 pm or he might have trouble sleeping. Ohgoodgracious no. No, no, no.
But so far, so good. He is sounds asleep in his bed. Phew.

And with that, I'm off to bed. Miss Everly is asleep and I should be too.

An "In The Meantime" Meme

I've been meaning to write up Everly's birth story but just haven't found the time yet. Imagine that...

I saw Linda created this Meme and I thought it might buy me a few more days. Plus I couldn't resist the graphic, it was making me hungry.




1. When you go to Wowmart, what one thing do you get every single time, besides a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration?

Myself a treat. Usually Reeses Peanut Butter Cups or a Snickers. Hey, I was good in the store...I bribe myself.

2. What is something that people are currently "into" that you just don't get or appreciate?

Twitter. I feel like it's basically just Facebook status updates. I'll stick with Facebook.

3. What is something that really hoists your sail that other people might feel "ho-hum" about?

Do I have to say it? Podcasts. Particularly Matt Chandler, Mark Driscoll, and Francis Chan. The three tenors of sermons.


4. Favorite song to sing in the shower or car?

It definitely not my favorite but it gets in my head and I CAN'T. GET. IT. OUT! Poker Face by dang old Lady Gaga. Uugh. Hate it.

5. A really great salad must have this ingredient:

Fruit of some kind. Yummy.

6. Advice in a nutshell to new bloggers (one or two sentences):

KISS. Keep it simple stupid.

7. What was the alternate name that your parents almost named you? Do you wish they had chosen it instead of the one they gave you?

If I was a boy, I was going to be Matthew. I'm glad I'm a girl.

8. What in your life are you waiting for?

A bigger house.

9. You get a package in the mail. What is it, and who is it from?

It's chocolate from Ann.

10. Today--what song represents you?

In honor of my sister Mariah who just landed the role of Adalaide in the school play "Guys and Dolls" I choose Adalaide's Lament. Specifically because of the line "A person can develop a cold". Which I am. Dang it. Shouldn't there be a six week immunity for mother's who just gave birth? I really don't want a cold right now.

11. What is one thing that blogging has taught you about yourself?

That I need to enjoy the little things in life, the daily stuff with my kids.

12. How are you going to (or how did you) choose the clothes you're wearing today? What do they say about you in general or specifically how you're feeling today?

They are pretty much the only ones that fit right now. Hooray for stretchy pants. What do they say about me? That I just had a baby. That I'm "thick". That I don't dare go anywhere in public with out my baby girl or people might ask when I'm due.

Thanks Linda for an easy post! You are a good meme maker.

Squeaky Clean

Everly's first bath. Photography by Gemma.

Everly Ivy is Home

Little Miss came home from the hospital today.

Still Nothing

No baby yet. But it's still early, I'm not due until Monday. That means we are looking at Tuesday or Wednesday at the earliest.

We are down to the last Sunday at church. You know, the one where you don't want to go because everyone will be saying "You're still here?" But if you don't go everyone will think you are at the hospital, giving birth. Maybe my answer to the "You're still here?" and "You haven't had that baby yet?" should be a snarky "No, I had it three days ago but we left it at home. And I'm still really, really fat."

The last week makes me so grouchy.

On a more cheerful note, things I am looking forward too:

• Nursing a newborn
• Wearing the baby in the Moby Wrap
• Being able to tie my own shoes
• Being able to roll over in bed in under 5 minutes

Still no names.
Still haven't packed my bag.

More Than Just the Top Gun Love Theme Song

"Take My Breath Aaaaaaway." Brings back great memories doesn't it? Ahhh Goose, Iceman, and Tom Cruise in aviators. But that's not what this post is about.

Up until now, there have been certain things that have left me breathless. The list varies from person to person but mine included things such as:

• A slow, vibrant sunset
• A baby's belly laugh
• A good, long, kiss from my husband

It wasn't until recently that my list changed. A lot of things have been added, things you wouldn't expect. As my belly swells and my lung capacity lessens, my list now includes:

• Walking up the stairs
• Folding socks
• Unloading the dishwasher
• Making a sandwich

Etcetera, etcetera. Seriously, I attempt domesticness and then I have to sit down and rest. Who knew that pouring a bowl of cereal could be exhausting?!

Dude, I can't breathe any more. 38.5 weeks and we are in the home stretch. This weekend we head out of state for my little brother's wedding. (Shh, I haven't told my doctors.) The hope is that the baby stays put until we get back. But whether it's in our home town hospital or on the side of the interstate, I guarantee you that meeting this baby will take my breath away.