Christmas time

So, we put up our Christmas tree Monday night. I know it's early. But honestly, with it being almost 90 degrees outside, I needed something to get me in the holiday mood.
I have barely started my Christmas shopping. I am not one of those awesome people who already have it done. Trent is by far the hardest person to buy for. I have been married to him for 7 years and every birthday and Christmas I hate buying presents for him, 'cause I never feel like I know just what he'd love. The kids are easy enough. Parents are pretty hard and in-laws. Usually I do alright for my own sibling (whomever I draw that year). Anyway, the shopping is going to be a difficult task this year. How do I get the kids gifts when they are with me at all times? And how do I shop for other people when I have 3 or 4 kids with me at all times? I have a feeling I will be buying several things online this year.
You know what I want this year? What do you mean you don't care? Well, I'll tell you anyway.

In no particular order:

-A new vacuum thing for laminate wood floors. ( Our Shark isn't working so good these days and I'm not a big fan of rolling our huge shop vac around the house several times a day.)

- A set of kitchen knives

- A subscription to a design magazine such as Domino or Elle decor or something.

- A girt certificate to Target or Ross

- A gym membership and the will, desire, and motivation to actually diet and exercise

- A hair cut and color

-New light fixtures for my front room and over our dining table ( I want a large drum shade for over the table.)

-Bedding for my bed

- A rotary cutter and cutting board

- A sewing class

- Guitar lessons

This is my dream list. The beauty is that I don't mind if I don't get any of it. I am really happy to get lotion and a couple of cd's. Maybe a mystery novel and some bubble bath. Trent is the best Santa and has never failed to please. . except maybe that one time that he thought an electronic toothbrush was an awesome gift.

Cuteness

Bedtime stories.

Trying to get in more tummy time.

Paisley in all her cute chubbiness.

Blog safety

A lot of this is common sense, but I think everyone who has a public blog should do these things.
For example, I don't use our last name and hope that people don't use our last name when linking to my blog or posting comments on my blog. There are plenty of other ways to protect yourself when blogging publicly. These aren't guaranteed to keep you safe, but can definitely help.

Paisley's Blessing

Yesterday my gorgeous husband gave our gorgeous new daughter a name and a blessing. We were surrounded by family and friends and it was a wonderful day. Mel got to sit by us and help us with our silly kids. We sat across from Lindy and her girls and her boyfriend Matt. My beautiful sister Sarah kept Henry smiling with her almost the entire meeting and one of my other beautiful sisters, Karen was sitting with Lindy and helping run little girls to the bathroom at least twice. My beautiful new sister Lauren got to meet Paisley for the first time. Kim and Dan and their two kids even drove down from Flagstaff that morning to make our 8 o'clock meeting! I was really feeling the love! I had a wonderful time and wish I had gotten to visit with everyone a little more.Neck rolls, anyone?


The food wasn't bad either, we had muffins, fruit, hot cocoa, juice, cookies, pumpkin bread, and I even made 2 breakfast casseroles and pumpkin bars.

Check out this picture from Charlotte's blessing almost 3 years ago.

The election is over

Now let's all be grateful for the end of the political calls and commercials and just pray for the best.

Another blogger friend of mine linked to this article about the current state of the economy that I found very insightful and saddening.

Halloween

click images to enlarge

We had fun at our ward's Trunk or Treat Thursday and then with Trent's family Friday at Bart and Dusti's. Tucker was a Red Power Ranger, Charlotte was a pirate (I wish the hat had lasted longer) and Henry was a chicken. Paisley wore the cute halloween footie outfit that her aunt Emily got her and for about 2 minutes wore the bumble bee costume, but we never did put on the little hat with antenea.

Smiles and more

I can't believe Paisley is 6 weeks old already. She is smiling more and cooing and I am loving it so much. I tried to capture her smile for you guys.

Is there anything better than that cute, fat face?!

Henry continues to be as hilarious as ever and I cannot get enough of him. He has been giving me lots of big, open mouth kisses, complete with kissing sound and nothing could make me happier. He spins in circles and dances and waves at everyone. He is seriously so great!

Tucker loves school. He is reading so many words now that it amazes me! He writes so well and loves computers and singing time and PE and pretty much everything about school. He even gets to be in the same class as his cousin Jack, which he loves.

Charlotte is beautiful and wild. She is shy to strangers and warms up slower than the other kids to people. She loves to do anything that Tucker does. She loves baths. Yesterday while visiting Nana she asked if she could have a sleepover. I have no idea why she would ask that, but Nana couldn't refuse her, so she spent the night. We call her Charlie Brown often and when she heard someone else mention Charlie Brown on the radio the other day she was amazed that they knew her nickname. She loves her dolls especially "Baby Fred" and her butterfly blankie. She eats all morning long like she is starving and then usually has very little interest in dinner.

My kids are the best.

I'll get some halloween pics up soon. But for now, check out my dad's political views at this link. I am not very politically educated and I like learning from my old man. Remember to vote!

Yes, I am superwoman

People keep telling me that I am superwoman. I keep thinking that what they really mean is that I am insane for having so many young children so close together. I have come to find that surviving these days does indeed make me superwoman. And I know that there are lots of other superwomen out there- glad you could join the club Bri.(if you want a good laugh click here)
Trent had a camp out last friday night and then was gone in Miami Monday through late Wednesday this week. Thank goodness my sister Karen slept over Monday night and helped all day Tuesday until my sweet MIL came over with dinner. I probably wouldn't have made it without the help I had that day because Monday and Wednesday evening were pretty trying. Try feeding 4 small children and getting them ready and tucking them in. It's hard. Especially with the baby and Henry needing me to personally feed them, in different ways of course. Man I am glad that I am not a single mother! Crying is pretty much a part of my daily routine lately. But you know what, so is laughing and kissing and snuggling and staring googly eyed at my wonderful babies. I love my children. And each day I have at least one moment where I really love my life (today it was Henry kissing me over and over between bites of oatmeal!) That is what keeps me going when I look at myself in the mirror and see myself in my sweats covered in spit up with my 25 extra pounds and my hair that hasn't been washed in two days.

Question of the day

For those of you who have seen The Backyardigans, what is Uniqua supposed to be? There is a moose (Tyrone), a penguin(Pablo), a kangaroo(Austin), a hippo(Tasha), and the mysterious spotted pink Uniqua- I can't figure it out!

In a nut shell

This guy is an awesome big brother.

This kid can climb anything. And usually has a bruise or fat lip to prove it.

This girl is a riot.

I am missing this man right now.

This baby is heavenly.

Blaaaah

You think after 3 other kids that I would know how to nurse a baby. Apparently I haven't been making sure that Paisley is getting enough of my areola in her mouth and now I have to bleeding, indescribably painful nipples. I am pumping for the next couple of days to let them heal a little and feeding Paisley breast milk bottles! I am excited to have a baby that will take a bottle even though the La Leche League lady told me that the nipple confusion from her taking bottles in the hospital is probably what caused the incorrect latching in the first place.

Is being exhausted enough to cry about everything and feeling guilty about not being able to give Henry enough attention depression or is that just normal?

4 weeks old

Paisley is now 4 weeks old.

Last Sunday we had a great time with family at Blake and Andrea's baby Weston's blessing.

I seem to have gotten some sort of stomach bug that kept me up all night Wednesday night.

I am suffering from a cracked nipple and had no idea it could be this painful! Youch!

I am tired all the time!

This picture of Henry pointing makes me want to say "Only you can prevent forest fires!"

Trent is being a great helper when he's home, thank goodness!

I love this picture of Hanky cruising around Tom Cruise in "Risky Business" style.

3 weeks old

Paisley is a whopping 3 weeks old today.

Last night we got to go to my mom's house and have birthday dinner for my dad.

We got to see Aunt Michelle, Kaleb, Ethan, and Moqui too.

If your bored or lonely

Come to our house and see these cuties.

We don't get out much.

4 kids

We got Paisley home on Wednesday and it has been wonderful to have her with us.

The kids seem to like her.

Baby girl

Our baby is beautiful with big round cheeks, dark hair, her mother's ears and her dad's little chin dimple. She came out with her little nose smashed to one side from however she was positioned down in my belly, it is slowly popping back out to the middle. She is a great eater and she hardly ever cries.

The labor and delivery went very well and I was happy to get an epidural. Once pushing time came, she was out very fast and it was a wonderful experience.

I have tested positive every pregnancy with Group B Strep and all of my labors have been too quick to receive both doses of the antibiotics, which means that my babies have been at risk to get sick from the strep virus. Paisley is the only one who was affected by this. Her white cell count was very high and her body was fighting hard to keep her healthy. The problem is easily and very effectively treated with antibiotics and prevents the many complications that can come with strep b. So, I was released Sunday night and Paisley is in the "special care nursery" until tomorrow. It was a terrible feeling to leave without my baby- however, seeing the other babies in there who have so many more problems than my little baby has made me so grateful for her perfect little body that works so well. We are truly blessed to have her here in such a perfect state. I get to go take her my milk often and feed her whenever I want and hold her and change her and I have been able to spend a lot of time with her. We are very excited to get her home to us tomorrow!
On the plus side, this will make one baby who can take a bottle!