I'm gonna jinx it by blogging about it....

I am so happy to say my son slept in his crib last night for a consecutive 5+ hours. Did you read that right....5+ hours. 9:30pm-2:30am. That was the 2nd time in his 9mo of life that he has slept for 5 consecutive hours. The last time was in the car on our drive to Utah back in Sept. Now, the real question is.... Will it happen again? and sooner than 5 more months passes?

Did I get 5 hours of sleep also.... no. Brilliant mommy stayed up expecting the little man to wake up and at 12pm , I finally started to doze off my self. I need to listen to all those smart mommies who gave me the advice "Sleep when the baby sleeps". I wish I would have last night.
:::: crossing my fingers :::: it happens tonight again and that I put down my crochet and go to bed here in about 30 min :)

Playing at the park

Noah is 36 weeks old. This past weekend we took a walk and went to the park in the next neighborhood over. Brianna had alot of fun on the play structure.

She really enjoyed the slides. She is such a big girl...... all by her self.

She really liked going head first down the tube slide. She went down on her belly over and over and over.
Rocking on the sea horse:

Noah enjoyed getting out of the house too. He even got to wear his new hat. Such a cutie!!


I just love these baby blue eyes and his smile:

Short posts

Please understand that my posts will be short and sweet for a while. I am still getting used to working and balancing the rest of my life. So my time on the computer is cut way short because I am spending my time with my family. Eventually I hope to blog more.

Bittersweet

Bittersweet... That is how I will describe this next chapter in my life. Working mom.

I got a job. :) Yay
Leaving my kiddos to go to work :( Not Yay

I will be starting a full time position as a mortgage loan processor this coming Friday. It is a blessing because it will be an income. I have been unemployed since Nov '08 and Tim has been unemployed since April '09. With my unemployment income running out in just a few months, getting this job comes at a perfect time. It's in a field that I excelled at for 8yrs. I am excited that I got the position. I know I will be good at it. However, I am so sad that I will be leaving my kiddos and won't be at home with them all day.

I have enjoyed the past 19mo of being a stay at home mom(SAHM). We have been lucky that daddy has been here with us for the past 16mo also. But now it will just be Tim that will be at home with them all day. They are so lucky that at least one of us is going to be at home with them . I don't know how other working moms do it. It is killing me. I cry at the thought of leaving them all day. I know that my kiddos are in very capable hands. Actually I'm not concerned with their care at all, it just that I am heartbroken that I will be missing so much of them learning and growing. My Noah is just 2mo old and Brianna is 19mo old. Every day they are both doing something new. I know there are moms out there that are great working moms and that is what works for them. For me -I LOVE being a SAHM. It suits me. I enjoy being at home, taking the kids to playdates, cleaning the house and doing laundry. I felt fulfilled being a SAHM, just the same way I know some of my best friends are fulfilled being working moms. I have a dear friend that there is no way she could be a SAHM, it is not who she is. But for me - It's me. It what I always envisioned when I was younger. It has been the BEST 19mo. I hope to be able to do it again really soon.

At the same time - we need an income to provide for our home/children. We are the product of this fabulous economy. Both unemployed and searching hard with no luck. It took 22 months of job hunting to finally get this interview. My dear husband is still searching and still waiting for an interview. This job market sucks. I am so thankful that I was offered this position.

I know that this is what needs to be done. I just keep telling my self that, and that other moms work and their kids know them and love them and they turn out as capable good adults - but it still sucks, and is so hard. I love my children so much. Even as I sit here writing this, Noah is asleep on my chest and Brianna is cuddled up next to me watching Nick JR and I tear up thinking of going to work on Friday. I know there is so much I will still be able to enjoy and experience with them, and I know that Tim will take lots of photos and video for me - but it still breaks my heart.

I love them so much and will miss them so much.

Random other stuff

Here is some other stuff going on I wanted to share/blog

Brianna enjoying herself sitting in my lawn chair at the softball fields last weekend


The 'Binky Brigade'... all 3 of my children ...


Brianna having fun wearing daddy's batting gloves


At the softball fields, before we walked to the fields to watch daddy play.... Brianna thought she was hot stuff sitting in the front seat of our car.


While at the ball fields - Bri took a little tumble, on the concrete. Luckily her face stopped her fall. Just a little scrape - she will be ok. I have to remind myself, kids get hurt, and they are tougher than what I think they are.


Tuesday the sunset was absolutely beautiful


On July 26th my 2001 Toyota Camry hit 103,000 miles. When I bought the car in 2002 it had about 15,000 miles. Wow- I/we have driven alot in the past 8yrs.

I deserve brownie points for this one!!

I survived my first official solo outing with both kiddos.

YAY ME !!!

The Softball fields over the weekend don't count... Tim was there, and so were other friends/parents that helped keep an eye out for Brianna.
Tues night I needed a few items from the grocery store. Tim was at softball and I decided to pack up both kiddos and trek off to Fred Meyer. Freddy's has bigger carts. I had my list and reusable grocery bag and off we all went. Of course there were no close spots, so I carried Noah in his car-seat, and held Bri's hand and we walked into the store. I placed Noah in the shopping cart and Brianna in the seat. I made sure that the items I needed were just a few things so that they would fit in the cart with Noah, and also fit in 1 reusable bag to carry to the car. We did good. I got everything on my list and made it home.

2 hours later while on the phone with my mama, I realized that 2 of the main items I went to go buy, I don't remember putting away when I got home. I find my receipt- I did pay for them. So, I went out to the car and looked in the trunk, nope- they didn't fall out of the bag. "Are you kidding me?" is what ran through my mind. I take both kids to the store and the checkout lady rings me up, and these 2 items don't make it into my bag to take home. So after all that I accomplished... I now have to go back to get these 2 items I needed. Just my luck. No I didn't pack up the kids again and go that night- both were sleeping. I did call Freddy's and they told me to just come in and they would make sure I got my items I paid for. Very easy fix. So Wed afternoon while Tim was home and both kids were napping, I went back and got my items.

But even with having to go back to get everything I paid for.... It feels good to know that I can do it. I can make it out of our house with 2 kids, under the age of 2, and make it home in one piece.

Week 1

Noah is 1 week old.

It was just only one week ago that we welcomed little Noah into our family, yet it feels like so much longer. It is so natural to have him here. I really feel like our family is complete now. We love him so much. It is amazing how much your love multiplies when you add a new family member. I am overflowing with love. Love for my wonderful husband for taking care of me while I recover and for giving me an amazing family. Love for my son Noah, and love for Brianna and how sweet she is with her little brother.

Brianna seems to have adjusted really well to having a little brother. My oldest sister gave me very good advice for when Brianna came to meet her brother for the first time. She recommended that when Brianna comes into the hospital room to see us that I have my arms wide open for her, and that we then bring brother to her to introduce them. That way Brianna would not see or feel like Noah would be between her and I. Well we did that. When she came to the hospital Fri the 18th, Noah was in the crib and I was sitting on the bed with my arms wide open for her. She came and sat up on the bed and we gave each other loves. I was so excited to see her. Then Daddy picked up Noah and introduced her to him. It was funny, she just looked at him like "ok- that's a baby... now what". Then she wanted off the bed and wanted to explore my hospital room. She seemed fine with all that was going on.

My younger Sister and her 2 kids were able to take care of Brianna while we were in the hospital for 2.5 days. We are so lucky to have family so close to be able to help out. Brianna has so much fun with her cousins Cody,11, and Jessica,7. Jessica really enjoys holding Noah as much as possible. The photo above is Brianna checking Noah out while he is being held by his big cousin Jessica.

Brianna holding Noah and giving kisses. She loves to give him kisses.



Today I placed Noah in the bouncer so I could do a few things around the house, and I had Brianna bring me his blanket to place over him. I placed it on him and then Brianna went and grabbed her blanket and sat in her chair and placed it over her legs just like brother. It was adorable.


When I am holding Noah, Brianna will come over and do the sign for 'more'. Not sure exactly what she is trying to say to me- but it I think she wants to see Noah and say hi or give kisses. Here she is getting all excited sitting next to him right after I had fed him and was trying to burp him. I really wish I could understand what she is saying sometimes.




Brianna is already starting to share with her little brother. Here she is trying to share her toy cell phone. What a great Big Sister. Let's just hope this sharing phase lasts.



Tuesday the 22nd we had our first 'outing' as a family of 4. Here is Brianna and Noah in the truck all buckled in and on our way to the DR's office.

Noah and I had a Mother/baby appointment at our Kaiser clinic. . It is a appt to make sure if I have any questions about being and new mom or about a new baby that I get answers. It is also to make sure that if you are breastfeeding, which we are, that baby is latching and feeding correctly. Which he is. He is a power nurser just like his sister was. They also check him out and weigh him to make sure he is growing. When Noah was born he weighed 8lbs 8oz. When we left the hospital he weighed 8lbs. (up to 10% weight loss when you leave the hospital is normal) At this appt at 5days old he weighed in at 8lbs 7.5oz. Yay- almost back to his birth weight. The pediatrician will want to see that they are back to their birth weight by their 2w appt. Our big guy is just doing it a few days early. :) It will be fun to see what he weighs at his 2w appt on Fri 7/2.

More new baby cuteness:

Red/White/Blue

In remembrance of Sept 11, 2001 Brianna and I wore Red/White/Blue today. She wore her 4th of July dress (it's now a nice long shirt)- Look how much she has grown in the past 2 mo, and how much more hair she has (if you can see it).
July 4, 2009

September 11, 2009

I also figured out the timer on my camera..... I set the timer for 10 sec delay, grabbed Brianna, hoped we were centered, and some how I got her to smile. I take pretty good pictures, if I do say so myself.


9/11/2001 ~ We will never forget.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John F. Kennedy

Princess Brianna is 15 weeks old

We have had a very relaxing week. No playdates, no softball games yet(it's been raining), bowling is over (yeah). Just kinda takin' it easy and enjoying our time with each other. Mama, Daddy and Brianna. Brianna is smiling so much, talking up a storm, and doing something new each day. She reaches for her toys on her playmat and bats them around. She is rolling on to her right side... almost ready to go over. That milestone will be soon, we can tell. She is a morning person. When she gets up, and has been fed..... she is so happy and will talk up a storm. I love having conversations with her -her cooing is the cutest thing. It always makes us smile. I know she is saying something - because she goes on and on about it. It is so precious.
Here is my favorite picture from this past week:

Before I was a Mom

I found this on someone's blog and I really liked it.

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
Or sang a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
My plants were poisonous...
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
And my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
So doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
Watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
When I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
Could affect my life so much.
I never knew that
I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
Having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
To feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
Between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
Could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
Every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth,
The joy,
The love,
The heartache,
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
Before I was a Mom

8 weeks ~ Happy St. Patricks Day

Happy St.Patricks Day!!
Brianna is 8 weeks old today. Here is her cute outfit that I found on sale for like $2. " Kiss me I'm Irish" (except for Cooper - LOL - see the following blog for details on that one: Forever Young .
We do have a littlt bit o' Irish in our family history... way back... so this onsie was perfect for today.

Brianna is begining to feel better. The antibiotics are working. We did have her 2 mo checkup yesterday. She is 10.7 lbs and 23 in long. Right on schedule and growing real good. No shots - just yet. They will give her those in a week or so when she is not sick anymore. Her fever is gone, and she is filling her diaper just like she used to before she got sick. She was even cooing at me this morning. I am so glad to see her feeling better. Dr called this morning to check on her - based on the test results so far, Bri does have a uti. They are doing more cultures to determine what type of follow up tests or antibiotics she will need/ and how to proceed forward. They did do an ultrasound on her kidneys and belly yesterday - all looked normal. So that is good. Because she is so young they want to figure out why this happened- and what we can do to hopefully not have another infection. Our Pediatrician is great, very concerned, knowledgable, and explains things very well to us. So we wait for the next step from her.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, hugs and kisses. (Even the ones given over the phone lines)

4 weeks

Wow- 4 weeks already.
We are all doing good here. Brianna is still not on any type of schedule... oh wait .. yes she is... every 1-2 hours she wakes up and needs a clean diaper and to be fed. Once in a while she may go 3-4 hours, but that is rare. Just trying to get naps in when we can. I have adjusted. You just go with the flow. If I can make it through 9 mo of being pregnant, I can make it through the first few months. Right?

Late on Saturday the 14th Tim and I decided we needed to go out- without Brianna and be around grownups. Se we left Brianna with my Mother in Law - Grandma Kay - and went out to dinner and then to out favorite local hangout, Dodge City. Yes, I actually left Brianna with someone else to care for her- for about 3 1/2 hours. I survived. I was not so much worried about Brianna - I was worried about me, and how I would react to someone else besides Tim and I taking care of her. I know Grandma Kay is qualified - she did raise my wonderful, loving husband - it's just that she does things different than me. And it is hard for me to accept different sometimes. We all survived, and Grandma Kay had a great time with her granddaughter. We might actually go out again and have Grandma Kay watch her again.... Might is key word...ok, ok, we will. I have to be a grown up sometime...right?

Here are some pics from this past week.

Thank you Aunt Jenelle for my new outfits.... we love them.

I'm a Babies R us baby - Just too cute.

Sleeping....' Mama - NO more pictures'

3rd bath...doing alot better ( especially when mama has the water temp warm enough)

Brianna ...All Clean!

2008

What a fun year.
Snowboarding in central Oregon. Amy, me and Tim


Fundraiser walks. March of Dimes~March for Babies, and Race for the Cure.


Growing a human. I went from little tummy to BIG tummy.
13w along

34w along

Our sweet creation. A little girl. Can't wait to meet her in 2009.


A little bit(ok lot bit) of softball.


Good times with friends.


Oh and we can't forget about bowling.


Graduation


And of course the 'Artic Blast'. Over a foot of Snow.


Hope you all had a good 2008...and we are so excited about 2009.