santa

This morning we took the kiddos to the mall to see Santa. They were SUPER excited!! Well, Claire was just tired...but the boys were excited! We tried to see Santa yesterday at 10 AM when the mall opened and the line was CrAzY! So, we took them to the movies instead. Today we got there at 9 AM and we're 2nd in line! We had an hour to kill, but the boys did great. They had this...

to look at. LOTS OF TOYS!

They probably stood there for 45 minutes and didn't touch one! (surprisingly!)

Andrew told Santa he wanted a pirate ship and Blake told him he wanted a black train. Thankfully everyone was happy and nobody cried!

getting ready for Christmas

Last weekend a friend in Andrew's class had a Christmas party. We all showed up in our jammies and had pancakes and made crafts. The kids had a blast. Blake even cried when it was time to leave.

This was the only decent picture I got...the kids making crafts.

Then today Andrew's school put on a Christmas play. It was really cute! I was so proud of him! He sang his heart out up there!!

Andrew and Blake with their friend Lauren. Blakers is hamming it up!

Does Daddy look a little proud?

I've tried uploading a video of Andrew's part in the play...but durn blogger isn't cooperating. I'll try later...

blakers

Blake loves his little sister...

and he wants her to love her pink bunny as much as he loves his blue bunny.

ANYTIME I put Claire down...Blake is right there with Claire's pink bunny ready to give it to her.

Of course she just wants to eat it. No matter where she is her pink bunny is right there! We all know how much he loves his bunny!!!
You gotta love this sweet boy!

can't come up with a title!

Matt"s worked nights the past couple of nights so Claire slept in her crib for the first time during the day. I'm pretty sure she liked it!!

Gotta love those chubby cheeks!!These boys sure do love their sister. They constantly are giving her kisses on her head. Andrew loves to hold her and Blake just wants to be right by her. There hasn't been any jealousy...yet. I'm sure it's because the boys have each other to play and fight with. And I'm sure when the "newness" wears off there will be some jealousy...but right now, I'm enjoying it!I can't wait to see how the three will be in a year or two!!

snow!!!

I'm sure most of you know....WE GOT SNOW!!

Doesn't Andrew look like he's having a blast? It wasn't doing much at this point and Andrew wasn't really amused! :)

And then it started coming down.... but this was the most we got... it was just a dusting.

And a little while later the sun melted it all. :( It was fun while it lasted tho.

Poor Miss Claire slept through it all!!

blah!

Well, I haven't updated or taken pictures for that matter because the boys and I have been sick. The boys still have runny noses and coughs and now I've got a cold. Thanks boys! I'm just hoping that Claire doesn't get it.

Claire is doing well. She's been going 5 hrs at night. You would think I would be rested more, but I'm not! Dumb cold!

Today I'm going to try to get some pictures for our Christmas card of the kiddos. I'm not holding my breath tho and not sure I'll really get anything out. I'm pretty sure it will be stressful and I'll give up. :)

random pics

This picture was taken when we got home from the hospital. The boys were excited to check out their new sister!!And here's Claire in her coming home outfit! sleepy head!

In her new swing. Not too sure what she's thinking.

Taking a sponge bath.

And I don't have many pics of the boys with Claire because Andrew started coughing the day after we got home. We took him to the doctor yesterday and he has bronchitis. He has to use the breathing machine and the medicine is making the boy HYPER!! I seriously hate it!! It does seem to be working tho. And, of course, Blake is now coughing. LOVELY!

My parents are here. It's been very nice having the extra help and extra hands around. They got here Sunday evening and are leaving Friday...the same day Matt goes back to work. I'm sure it will be pretty chaotic that day!!

claire update

We took Claire to the doctors yesterday for a check up. She weighed in at 8 pounds 4 ounces. We go back Wednesday for another weight check...and to make sure her color is getting better.

So far she's done fairly well at night. We had one night where she was not a happy camper, but Daddy gave her a bottle and that was all she needed. I usually wake her at 2 AM and 6 AM to eat. Not sure how long she would go if I let her, but since she's a little jaundice I wake her. We are still in the honeymoon phase tho...you know, where they just eat and sleep all the time.

Showing off her muscles!

The boys are adjusting really well. Better than I expected. It probably helps that they have each other to play with. Blake loves to come sit by me while I'm feeding but there isn't any jealousy there...yet! :) Andrew loves to hold her, but he's had a cough so once he gets better he'll be able to touch her again.

Checking out the fish!

I have realized what free time I did have is no longer. :) Someone is always needing something. I'm sure my first day alone with all three kiddos will be interesting.

I know the quality of the pics aren't that great. I took them without a flash and didn't have time to photoshop them.

Well, that's it from here!

Claire Elizabeth

I can't believe she's finally here!!

8 lbs 13 oz

21 inches

11/16/2009

2:49 PM

With her proud big brothers...

We are all doing well! We got home today and are trying to get into the swing of things!! Andrew is smitten by Claire and talks about how beautiful she is. :) Blake just smiles when he sees here, but tells me he's so excited I am home. We are definitely blessed with some sweet kiddos!

the big day!!!

So, it looks like Monday we will FINALLY get to meet Miss Claire Elizabeth! I went to the doctor and while I'm not a 2 she said she would go ahead an induce me. I'm SO ready!!

Until then....

camping

Matt's been dying to take the boys camping out back now that the weather has been nice. He figured he'd better do it now before Claire gets here.

Here's their setup....

The boys were ALL excited. It's definitely all they have been talking about today. Before Matt got the tent set up I asked Blake where he was going to sleep tonight and he told me the grass. :) Pretty much in my opinion!

Waiting on Daddy to say it's time!!!

I think they are just a wee bit excited!
It's 8:00 PM and the lights are out. (almost an hour past their bedtime!!!) I told Matt if they don't make it through the night not to wake me!! :)

deep thoughts by Andrew and update

A: Mommy, you have a big ol' belly!

Me: Thanks, Andrew.

A: It's like a big ol' balloon!

Me: Yes, it kind of is.

A: Is it going to pop once Claire comes out?

Me: No, it will probably take a year to get rid of it. :)

A: Huh?

The things that boy comes up with crack me up!

Anyway, I went to the Dr. Thursday and she said I'm barely a 1. If I'm not a 2 by next Thursday she doesn't want to induce the following Monday...Nov. 16th. I was NOT happy when I heard this news. I'm really ready for Claire to get here! I wasn't a 2 when I was induced with Andrew (who was 5 days late) and I wasn't a 2 when I was induced with Blake who was a week early. I get induced because it's just easier with Matt's schedule and stuff and she won't do it until I'm 39 weeks. So, I need some prayers that I'm a 2 by next Thursday or y'all might see me on the news for going psycho on my Dr.!!! Seriously, I know God's timing will be perfect and it will all work out.

happy halloween!!

Thomas the Tank and Darth (or Dark as Andrew says) Vader!!

Family pic before going out to get the goods!!

This is BIG PUMPKIN as Blake calls him. This was Blake's favorite blow-up. We had to drive by it all the time to see if it was up. Blake was SO excited to get his picture made with BIG PUMPKIN!!!

Andrew's favorite was mean ghost. This was another blow-up we had to drive by and look at. I'm glad we have a month before Christmas blow-ups are up!! The boys had a blast trick-or-treating and the weather was perfect! It's crazy to think next year we'll be taking 3 kiddos trick-or-treating!!

u-g-l-y

I must say that the ugly pumpkins aren't so bad at night...it's just during the day!

pumpkin patch

Yesterday afternoon we took the boys to the pumpkin patch at Andrew's school. In the past we've always gone with friends, but we've had a lot of rain lately and being prego, I'm not up for much.

Cute picture of Daddy and his boys!

An attempt at a family pic.

Matt was teaching Andrew how to pick the best pumpkin. Andrew was trying to teach Blake, but Blake could have cared less.

Blake was in deep thought and wouldn't pose for the camera. Andrew was all over trying to find the perfect pumpkin and wouldn't pose either!
He did end up picking the perfect pumpkin. Daddy will carve it for us on Thursday...can't do it too early here because it will turn to mush in two days.

jumpin, playin, helpin, and boys!

Here's what we've been up to lately...

We met some friends at Pump It Up. The boys LOVE this place and ask daily to go. I just sit my prego self on the bench while Matt keeps up with the boys. I think he enjoys it as much as they do. :)

We went to the neighborhood park with some friends. We will definitely be doing this more. The boys could do everything on their own and I could sit my prego self on the bench!
Hanging out in the tunnel. The boys helped Daddy put new tires on his truck.
Not really sure what exactly Blake was doing that he got dirt all over his face.

Matt took the boys to Wal-Mart one day and they HAD to get these pumpkins. I could not believe Matt let them get these UGLY pumpkins, but I guess they really wanted them. I had to suck it up and let them put them out front. The things we do for our kids!

Andrew asked me to take his picture with his pumpkin. Why...because that's Andrew!

I've got about 3 weeks left and I'm VERY ready! I'm such a slacker these days as I have NO energy!! Matt has definitely been picking up my slack. He's awesome!

Other than that, not much new!