Going Home.

I know my posts are out of order, but I just down loaded the pics and figured people won't mind the order as long as they get to see the baby.

So here is little man Sawyer getting ready to leave the hospital. Daddy is getting him dressed in his outfit. It's a preemie outfit too.

I must say he is dang cute too!

2 weeks.

Sawyer is officially 2 weeks old now. I can't believe how fast the time has flown by. He had his regular scheduled check-up and passed with flying colors. He is now 21 inches long. That's up from 18 1/2. Guess he's gonna be as tall as Dawson. His weight is now 6lbs. 8oz. That's down from his birth weight of 7.5. The doc wasn't too worried but, would like me to bring him back in a week to get his weight checked. Typically they like babies to be back to their birth weight by their 2 week appt. However, Sawyer is so alert and aware of life. That he's obviously thriving.
As I said, Sawyer is very alert. He seems to be consistent with awake times and sleep times. He typically is awake around 12-3. Sometimes he's up the whole 3 hrs. He'll just lay on the floor or in his swing and take in the world around him. He opens his eyes wide and lets his baby blues see what's happening around him.
Thank goodness he is not a 'cryer'. He has his moments, don't get me wrong. But, for the most part he only cries when he's hungry. gets a diaper change, or had to be in the bilibed. Thank goodness the bilibed days are now behind us. He was a trooper for the first week of his life as I drove him back into the hospital daily to have his heal pricked and blood drawn. He even slept through it a couple times. Now that's my boy!
His brother's and sister absolutely love him to death. Sometimes too much. They fight over who gets to hold him and who held him longer. Dawson seems to be OK with sharing mom all day. I was a little worried about him. After all it's been just me and him for years. But, like I said he is doing great and he's a huge help.
As for mom and dad, we are adjusting well to our new routines and schedule. Ty has proven to be able to sleep through anything including a screaming baby getting a diaper change 2 feet away from him. How would that be???
As for this momma, life hasn't slowed down. I am still doing my callings,getting kids ready for school, carpooling, and doing the gymnastics thing. Now we've added baseball to our schedule so I get to figure practices and games into our schedule. It's all part of being the mom.
The kids already talk about our next baby. I'm not quite sure what they're talking about. I did mention I could do this again. If I could be guaranteed a girl. But, Ty would have to be on board and let's just say he's jumpin' ship.
I am so thankful for this little addition to our family. We definitely wouldn't be complete without Sawyer.

new baby, new thoughts

As I'm sure everyone is aware, I have very curious boys. And why should this end just because there is a new baby in the house. It's good to know that with a new baby comes many new and unexplored questions.
Some of the normal questions are:
What's on his belly button: Clamp.
Why does his private look so funny: He has his circumcision ring on it.
What's Jaundice?
How long does he have to stay in his tanning bed?
These questions are all very easy to answer and I don't mind them. It's the other questions I am having a hard time with.
How did you get the baby out your private? Can one come out mine?
Why do you bleed?
And the most popular, How does the baby eat from your chest?
Breast feeding has brought on a whole new exploration for the boys. Dawson especially. Xander knows he doesn't stare at mommy's chest. But, the comments that come out of a 4 yr olds mouth makes me laugh.

Here are just a few to smile on your face.

"I don't have milk in my red spots."

Said, after I took a drink of milk, "Do you drink milk so then the baby can have it?"

Said, after I finished pumping, " Are your cow parts all empty now?"

"I'm glad my milk in is a container in the fridge."

"Could you make that kid stop crying."

"I think Quinn is so cute." Um, his name is Sawyer. "No, I like Quinn."

"I'm an awesome big brother."

"He's all me, not Xander." He means Sawyer looks like him and not like Xander.

Those are just a few of Dawson's thoughts on his new brother and the changes he has brought to our family.

A Few More

Sawyer Kenneth Keith

7 Pounds 5 ounces, 18.5 inches

Ahhhh!

OK. so just a few random thoughts before tomorrow comes and this little guy arrives.
As most people know, I'm not a stressed person at all. And this whole pregnancy hasn't changed that. This has been the easiest pregnancy I've had yet and I have no complaints. Morning sickness was completely non-existent. I never slowed down really. I worked out until I was 8 1/2 months pregnant. Actually I was still walking a mile at 9 months prego. Hopefully that will help me loose this baby weight fast.
But, now as I think about what tomorrow brings I'm a little nervous. I can't believe we're going to have a new baby in our family. Oh my goodness. We are really starting over. No more sleeping 8-10 hrs. Now our nights will be filled with diaper changes, feedings, and crying. Notice I said 'our' nights. Tyler is a very hands on dad. He helps out so much. He has always bathed our babies from day one. And he has no problem changing a diaper. Which is good because he has no choice. :)
This is definitely an exciting time. I can't wait to meet this little man and see what he looks like and give him loves. Ohhh the anticipation.
I'll keep you all posted!

Kenzie turns '9'

I look back at my life 9yrs ago and smile. Here I was 24yrs old awaiting the arrival of my precious daughter. My sweet Mackenzie Marie was born at 5:04pm.

She was absolutely perfect.

Mackenzie is such a joy in our lives. She brings smiles to everyone who meets her. She is a very enthusiastic girl with lots of spirit and spunk. Her spirit drives her to do her best. School comes very natural and easy to her. And it's that same spirit and spunk that drives her to do her best at gymnastics. Again, a talent that has come natural to her since the tender age of 3.

Mackenzie isn't just my first born or my only girl, but she's also my best friend. I love our mommy- daughter dates. It is so fun to go shopping with her or to see a movie together. And it seems all our outings end in ice-cream. It doesn't get any better than chatting over ice-cream with your daughter. Even at 9 Kenzie has so many deep thoughts and worries.

Her heart is so huge and full of love for everyone she comes in contact with.

I love you Mackenzie!

For her birthday this year Kenz wanted to do hula theme. We made hula skirts for all the girls out of garbage bags cut into strips. Each girl also got a lei. We had a limbo contest and parachute games. As a craft/goodie bag the girls each got to decorate a sand bucket. They used puffy paints and foam stickers to decorate with. The buckets turned out very cute and as individual as each girl.
Kenz wanted simple pink cupcakes for her birthday. She wanted them to spell out 'Happy Birthday Mackenzie' I managed to spell out 'Happy Birthday Kenzie' My pan was too short to fit all of Mackenzie. So she settled for Kenzie. They turned out cute though! And how easy for mom.
I learned one thing with this experience. I can do anything 9 months pregnant. Shop, bake, clean, decorate, wrap, and entertain! But, I don't want to do it again pregnant. Now we'll see what I can do for Xander's party with a 1 week old. Bring it on!
Happy Birthday Mackenzie! I love you!!!!

Easter Pics

I finally got these pics down loaded. Enjoy!

So, I'm a little behind getting these pics on, but actually I'm not. We just took them Sunday after church. Because of General Conf being on Easter we had the kids wear outfits last week to church. Getting the kids to look at the camera and trying to get them to smile at the same time proved to be a challenge. And then Dawson wouldn't take his dang thumb out or put elephant down. And Xander kept sticking his tongue out through his missing teeth hole.

Oh what little monkeys!

Nadia Kenzameci

Kenzie had a 3rd grade biography fair. All the students were to pick a famous person living or dead to do their report on. Mackenzie picked a very famous gymnast named Nadia Comaneci. Nadia is most famous for her performance at the Summer Olympics of 1976 held in Montreal. At the young age of 14, Nadia's performance on the UN-Even Bars led to the first perfect 10 score in summer gymnastics history.

The scoreboard wasn't even equipped to flash a 10 so it read 1.00. It took the spectators a few seconds to realize they were seeing history being made with the first perfect 10. Nadia went on to earn 6 additional perfect 10's at these Olympics. She also earned 3 golds and a bronze.

Kenzie was most excited to be able to wear her gymnastics leotard and warm-ups to school. She proudly displayed her poster and some of her own medals she earned.

Parents were invited to come walk around the classrooms and see all the different characters. Dawson and I just happened to show up at Kenzie's class the same time Xander's class was walking through. So I was able to get a pic of all my kids together at the school. It was pretty cool to be able to go and support Mackenzie and her efforts she put into her report.

Easter

Easter was very laid back this year. We all enjoyed sleeping in. I got to sleep till 10. That made for a very happy mommy. However, when I opened the blinds I was shocked to see the ground covered in snow.

While the snow melted, we decorated Easter eggs. The kids had a blast. So did daddy!

Here are some pics of the kids coloring their eggs.

We had a very thoughtful Easter bunny that waited till after the snow melted to hide the Easter eggs.

What a very considerate Bunny!

The kids ran outside to find as many eggs as they could. I think they did pretty well.

Here are pics of the kids finding all their yummy, candy filled eggs.

Easter 2010

Going to Idaho!

This is how we kill time in the car heading up to Idaho. Gotta make the car trip fun some how!

Funny little monkeys!