Welcome Finley!

I was blessed to be a part of Finley Fredrick's birth today. I was amazed at the process from an entirely different perspective:) Both Mommy and Baby are doing great! Finley weighed in @ 5 lbs, 4 ounces (just a little guy) and was 18.5 inches long. I cried and laughed and prayed as he fought to come into this world. It was an amazing experience, I'm thankful for the opportunity to be there.

Introducing my new buddy, Finley...

Here comes baby!

I've been asked by a friend to photograph her baby's birth. She is due mid March. I just got a call that they are on the way to the hospital! I've been slowly preparing for this, not knowing when it would happen of course. We worried about child care and working spouses, etc. Thank goodness Baby B waited until Friday evening:) Perfect timing for everyone. I've got all my gear including my camera equipment, comfy clothes, a book, lots of caffeinated pop, toothbrush and a brimming well of excitement. I'm honored that they've asked me to be a part of this amazing event and pray that I bring a sense of peace and support if needed. Please pray for a healthy mommy and a healthy baby. I'll get back to you soon with news of the new baby:) Boy or Girl? Whats your guess:)?

Fun in theTub

We enjoyed the sunshine today but got quite muddy doing so, so in the bath the kids went. I haven't taken pics of them in the tub for some time, they had a blast hamming it up for the camera. I wish that I would have thought to use the video camera, the laughter was priceless!

Baker Extraordinaire!

Today I was shamed into baking...My sister-in-law made wheat thins...from scratch...made from whole wheat flour that she milled. I couldn't go home and serve my family a boxed noodle dinner with the taste of those amazing crackers still on my tongue. I had a recipe for whole wheat pita bread that was on my "someday" list. I pulled it off the shelf, dusted it off and gathered my ingredients. I had to do some substitutions, it's not like I was planning this crazed baking stunt. I fired up my kitchen aid mixer and two hours later, we had fresh chicken salad and cheddar cheese sandwiches in warm pita bread. I must admit that I'm slightly surprised that they turned out so well, I haven't seriously baked since Gavin was born. Who knows, I may just start being Suzy Homemaker again, wouldn't that surprise everyone:)

A New Pet...Don't worry, it's very low maintenance

Grandma Trina brought over a new friend for the kids this weekend, A full sized jumping/rocking horse named "Brownie." He's very friendly and doesn't take much upkeep:) Kyla loves that we have a horse in the house and Gavin loves to jump until he can jump no more, it's great way for him to expend his unending well of energy.

Introducing "Brownie"

Toothless Wonder

Kyla lost her first tooth this evening before bed! She's been having me check it everyday and finally asked me to pull it. One little tug and out it popped. She's super excited and looks quite cute:) Here are pictures of the event...

On a School Bus Again

I was asked to be a parent helper for Kyla's first field trip with her Kind. class. We left Lafayette this morning and arrived at the Tillamook Forestry Center a long while later. The kids had a blast and I can't wait to go back when we can go at a slower pace and look at everything. 20 5 and 6 year olds don 't have much patience for reading exhibit info:) The weather was a bit chilly but the sun was shining and the kids' excitement was high.

After a quick run though of the museum, we piled back in the bus and made it back to the school in time to hear the bell ring signalling the end of the day. Kyla fell asleep on the way home and two kids got car sick, but we survived the trip and I know that I learned a lot:) Anyone want to join us this summer for a field trip of our own?

Sunshine!

Yesterday afternoon we had some beautiful sunshine and two kids who desperately needed to run and play. Kyla said she was feeling like a monster (I had to agree with her). That was the deciding factor, outside we went:)

It was still pretty chilly so I bundled the kiddos up and we went out back. The kids enjoyed the sunshine and the freedom to run and I enjoyed the end consequence, kids who feel asleep quickly at bedtime, my ultimate goal since Chad was working late again.

We found our first sign of spring, some buds on one of our bushes and Kyla found her first sign of spring with a dandelion:)

What fun we had! Can't wait for spring to really come to Oregon!

We've been invaded by the evil "Why" monster!

Oh the horrors! The evil "why" monster arrived at our house yesterday morning with guns blazing... why this, why that, why this other thing and so on. Must eradicate the horrifying word! ( I say that with a slur to my words and a tick in my eye) Oh how I dislike this phase, I had forgotten how very much I disliked it:) Just this Monday, Gavin was a cute little boy who only drove me nuts a small percentage of the day. How is it that one little word can make you absolutely, mind numbingly insane?

It probably isn't helping that Chad is working late almost every night (real late) and he worked all weekend with the probability of working this weekend as well. My patience meter is at an all time low and my frustration meter keeps exploding off the charts. The good news is that I have a weekend of scrapbooking just around the corner. If I can just survive two more weeks. I'm just not sure that I have the fortitude for that extended amount of time:) We shall see.

Kyla just started Young Friends Singers with her cousins. It's a children's choir through the Friends church in Newberg. She's excited about it and I'm excited for her to get involved in something just a bit out of her comfort zone. She is becoming such a little lady, I daily stare in wonder at the person that she is becoming!

I ask humbly for prayer today. Life is seeming a bit out of control and I'm overwhelmed and feeling under appreciated. Not a good mix for the "Great Mommy" recipe:)

Oh, what a week!

This past week has been a busy one. Chad has worked late all week and worked all this weekend as well. Kyla had gymnastics on Tuesday, I worked at the shop on Wednesday, and Gavin had a Dr's appointment on Thursday, his 2 year checkup and got his second dtap immunization. Friday I went to the dr's and then Saturday morning we dealt with Gavin's body having an allergic reaction to the immunization. After three calls to drs and one to a nursing hotline, three hours of waiting impatinetly, and 3/4tsp of benedryl, he's on the mend. Well, as much as can be at this point. He may be dealing with the reaction to the shot for up to 8 weeks! Who knew. No more dtaps for my boy! Through in some babysitting and you have a pretty clear picture of the week.

Back to Gavin's appointment...He weighed in at 22 lbs and is 33.5 inches tall. That puts him smack dab average for his age. The dr is impressed with his communication skills and his amazingly hard head (proven by a fall while the dr was in the room:) ).

Kyla spent Saturday afternoon with her Grandma Trina, her Aunt Michele, and cousins, Hannah and Meira attending a children's musical up in Portland. She got all dressed up and had a blast.

I helped lead worship early this morning and Chad is already working...should be a long day for him again. My patience is wearing a bit thin and we have a long week on the horizon. Now I'm frantically brain storming some ways for the kids to blow off some steam. Yucky weather outside and a frustrated mommy inside, not a good recipe:) Ready, set, here we go to crazy land!

Kyla Meets Gymnastics

Kyla was asked to go to a local gymnastics class with her cousins for their "bring a friend" day. She's been excited all week and was barely able to stay in her carseat on the drive there. Kyla was the youngest there and you could tell by her coordination, she just was a bit behind the rest of the kids:) She's in the black leotard with the blue tights.

Kyla and Meira on the balance beamHannahKyla watching Hannah do her thing

She was full of smiles and willing to try all that was asked of her. Thanks to Hannah and Meira for thinking of her and inviting her!

Oh, another exciting thing happened to kyla today! When she got off the bus, she smiled at me and I noticed something was a little off with her teeth. I checked and she has two bottom teeth loose. She is so excited. She hadn't even realized that they were loose, but now that she does, she can't keep her hands out of her mouth:)

Happy Birthday to Gavin!

Gavin turned two yesterday and we celebrated this momentous occasion with a tractor party! We had the grandparents, cousins and an Aunt and Uncle here to help. I had already sent out his invites, when I realized it was going to be the same day as the super bowl. Opps:) Not only did we have a b-day party, we had an impromptu super bowl party with Pizza too:)

We started with presents, Gavin's big present being a ride-on tractor from all his grandparents. He was in tractor heaven! Check out the John Deere shirt too:)

Our resident cake decorator made the required tractor cake. Chad is becoming quite the cake artist:) Gavin loved the cake! We had cake and rushed to the TV to watch the kick off:)

Happy Birthday to our Little Boy!