37 Weeks and still Pregnant!

Anyway as far as the baby front goes.........I am pretty bummed today. I had my 37 week appointment today and I was ready for some good news. And that's not what I heard!

He checked me and I wasn't even dilated and she was really high. So after I got dressed he came back in and we made a plan. He felt really bad that he had promised me a New Years baby (which can still happen), and he knew I was really disappointed. So I go in next Wednesday at 3:10pm and regardless if I am dilated or not we will set a date to induce later that week. He said it won't take much to coax this kid out! I will be 38 and a half weeks next Wednesday and by Saturday I will be one day shy of 39. So they can legally induce. I like that better anyway. I have never been in labor at home which totally freaks me out. I would rather just stroll in and have it planned. That's how it was with Madison and Zachary.

So I have given up any hope of a New Years baby and have resigned to the fact that she will have to be forced out aka evicted! I don't think I have ever been so ready for a kid! The kids are chomping at the bit! Zachary more than Madison. Which is pretty cute. Madison is a little apprehensive about the whole thing. Stay posted and when I know you will know!


I just found this picture and it pretty much sums up how I feel!

Christmas 2010 part 2

Well here are the pictures from Christmas day! The kids slept in the same room and were asleep by 9pm. We however told them that they couldn't come out until 8am when Madison's alarm clock went off. I got up just before 7:30am to use the bathroom, and they were still asleep. But as soon as that alarm went off they came running into our room!!

Here is a picture of what Santa left for each of the kids! I do mean each, Brynley even got something!!
Christmas Eve after the kids were asleep and before we went to bed!
Madison's Santa gift! She is finally into playing with barbies, so this was right up her alley!
Zachary's Santa gift. It's the bat cave! I don't think I have ever seen him really use his imagination! He has not stopped playing with it!

And a little something for Brynley! Since she will be using a lot of Madison's stuff and Madison was born at the end of July when it was 100 degrees. We don't have warm fluffy blankets! This stocking was Travis's when he was little!

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I think we were done opening by about 9:30am, then we had breakfast. Then the real mayhem began! Opening all the toys! For one of Zachary's toys we had to use a screw driver just to get the thing out of the box!

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For the past several weeks Zachary has been pretending to be a hunter! He hides behind a couch and pretends to stalk people, aka animals! He got creative and was using a hanger for a bow and arrow. So when I found one at Wal-Mart I couldn't pass it up! I just love the look of surprise!

He was so thrilled!

Last year we started the sibling gift exchange! The weeks leading up to Christmas we ask a lot of questions to make sure they each pick out something that the other would really like!

Madison wanted the Tangled polly pocket! And since Zachary is completely obsessed with rescue vehicles Madison got him a box of 5 that he didn't have!!

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Now for the loot! Travis grew up with taking a picture of everything they got! So we have started that too!

Some of Madison's highlights......an Easy Bake Oven!! I had one when I was about the same age! Zhu Zhu pets (which Travis hates!:)) And a Taylor Swift singing barbie!

Some of Zachary's highlights, an Oregon Snuggie! Bumblebee car, and a Hot Wheels race track!

And Brynley made out like a bandit! Lot's of clothes and onesies! Socks, blankets, and a stuffed lion from Nana and Papa!

Okay this is the last set of pictures!

Travis definitely had a "Go Ducks" Christmas! Some of his favorites were a National Championship shirt, fleece pants and an Oregon shirt from my parents, and of course President Monson's new biography!

And my stuff! I got the perfume I wanted, new knives that are very sharp and with which I have already cut myself with! New slippers, a gift card to Kohl's for after Brynley is born. And a green and yellow party set from my mom so we can decorate for the big game!!! (You may have noticed Zachary's Oregon Snuggie in 3 of the pictures! Well it's adult size! So Travis and I use it too! Zach uses it on his bed like a blanket!!)

We had a wonderful Christmas and we were very blessed! Thanks to all our family! Have a great New Years weekend! And pray for a baby!

Christmas 2010

For the last several years we have a tradition with a few friends to go to McDonald's on Christmas Eve. This year all of our friends decided to go out of town! So we went by ourselves. We still had a good time! After we ate we headed downtown to the "Winter Wonderland." It was really windy and freezing cold but we still had fun.

Travis and Zach
Me and Madison
Madison and Zach by the water. They were cold but happy!

Travis and Zach found some big rocks to climb on. I just realized that Travis's eyes are closed! Ooops!

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When we got home we decorated cookies for Santa. Even Travis decorated cookies. I think he did more than I did. Cookies and carrots were ready to be set out!


After we decorated cookies, we did our traditional Christmas Eve festivities. We read from The Bible and The Book of Mormon about Christ Birth and why we celebrate Christmas and what it means to each of us. I think the kids understand it a little more each year.
Then we open Christmas pj's and read The Night Before Christmas. This year Madison read the story and did a fantastic job.
Then the phone rang and it was from the North Pole!! It was Santa! (We had been tracking him on Norad) He made sure the kids had been well behaved that day and told them to go to bed on time and stay asleep so he could come! He also ask for a 1/2 a cup of milk specifically, because if he ate and drank too much that night he wouldn't fit in his sleigh! Thank You Santa for calling!
Christmas pj's. (yes, Kristen they are the some as Brandon's! The first thing Zachary said was, "These are the same as Brandon's")

That was Christmas Eve. Later I will post Christmas!! Hope everyone had an awesome weekend!

Lazy Tuesday!

Today was a lazy day! Madison is still in her jammies and it's past 3 o'clock! Well
for the record I too am still in pj's! I took a shower this morning and
decided to put fleece pj's back on! Hold on that was a contraction.........wait for it, wait for it..............done. Anyway, we stayed home all day and made these.........
Brownie loli-pops!

A little bite of goodness! I have never made them, and I had gotten a free Christmas treat cook book in the mail and this was one of the recipes! I couldn't resist! Now I need to make cards, and package them up! Most are going to friends, however I am taking a nice package to my OB's office tomorrow as a thank you for working 3 days before Christmas!! Maybe it will work as a bribe too!!

VIP, Ding Dong Dash and 35 weeks!

Well this month Madison received the VIP award for her class for the month. Madison has worked really hard so far this year and she was finally rewarded for it! So far about once a month Miss. Harris will send Madison a postcard in the mail with an encouraging message.

For example, "Madison, Thank you for working so hard last week to try your best and to be a good example to your peers! You are a great student! Keep up the wonderful work! Miss. Harris."

A few weeks ago I got this email from Miss. Harris,

"Hey Ann, I just wanted to let you know that Madison is having a fabulous day! I know that she usually has wonderful days, but I thought that I would let you know anyways (it is always nice to hear good news). She is being extra helpful, and her participation in class lately has been wonderful :)"

We are so proud of Madison and all the hard work she does to stay at the top of her class. She is really excelling in Math and enjoys a good story problem!
Tonight at bedtime she told me that she thinks College will be funner than 1st grade and that she was going to get a job tomorrow! Such a goof!

VIP includes a certificate, special lunch table, book, popcorn, happy meal, free shake at Red Robin, and parents get to come for lunch!!

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Ding Dong Dash!

Well every year we have a host of friends that bring gifts and goodies during the weeks leading up to Christmas. We call them neighbor gifts! And ours will go out on Sunday!
Anyway last night we had our first ding dong dash of the season! The porch light was off, they rang the doorbell and ran off before I could even get to the door!! The kids were so excited to find a bag of surprises!! Each thing in the bag was labeled with an "open" date! So today was the first day! It was a horse! Madison and Zachary have both figured it out already and can't wait until all the pieces are open! So if the family that has done this reads our blog, Thank You!!!!


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Week 35!

So today I had my 35 week appointment! I am down to once a week for the next two weeks!! And so far it is very hard to schedule an appointment during the holidays!

Anyway I have not gained a pound since BEFORE Thanksgiving! No joke! Not a single pound! I know all my pregnant friends who read the blog hate me by now! Sorry! My OB said that it is totally fine! I have gained enough! A whopping 10 lbs! Brynley is growing fine, and her heart rate is normal and my blood pressure is awesome! Oh and no swollen feet! WHAT??

However, he can't tell if she is heads down. My last appointment the other OB said she was. This time he couldn't tell. So I have another ultrasound next week to make sure!! Dr. Bradshaw said that I can go anytime now and to be ready! Especially since this is #3! He told me to put on my walking shoes and get moving! He wouldn't be surprised if she comes next week!!! Aaaaahhhhhhhh! I need to have a bag ready! So stay posted and be on the look out for good news!!

Have a fabulous week!!

Music Recital and Gingerbread Village!

Over the last several months Zachary has been part of a singing pre-school. They met once a week and learned a whole Christmas Program. This past weekend was their recital.
He really enjoyed and looked forward to singing class each week. Janelle did a great job teaching the kids, and the end product was pretty fun.

Here he is before the program started.

There were 10 kids in the class. All but one of them go to our Church. They were all 3 and 4 1/2 years old. Zachary is one of the oldest and the tallest!

This was a really cute song about decorating a ginger bread man!

After the recital there were refreshments. This is Zachary's friend Natalia R. Here older brother Andrew is Madison best friend. It's cute to see Zach and Natalia be friends like Madison and Andrew. Natalia recently told her mom that she wants to marry Zach!

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Last night we made our ginger bread village. My dad and step-mom sent in in the mail last week and the kids have been asking when we were going to make it! I had never seen a village before. It was pretty cool, and Madison and Zach each got to decorate one house. There were five in all. We made a huge mess but had lots of fun. So thanks Papi and Grammie Karen for the ginger bread village!

Madison and her creation!

Zachary and his gum drop hut!

Our village and new holiday center piece!

This last video is from Zachary's recital. The song was called "North Pole, Rock and Roll."

Snow Day and Service!

Today the kids had a snow day! Madison was up bright and early asking if I had checked the news yet! It started snowing yesterday morning about 11am and for the most part it hasn't stopped. In fact it just started again! We accumulated about 6 inches over night and more since then!
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I took Travis to the bus stop this morning so he didn't have to walk in the snow! The bus came at 7am and didn't get into work until almost 10am! He said it was horrible! He's debating on going in tomorrow especially if the snow doesn't stop!
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This morning I had a desire to shovel snow! I know what you are thinking! She's 8.5 months pregnant she should not be doing that!! Well I needed to check the mail, so Zachary and I put our boots and coats on and I made one path down to the mail box. Well Jed and Eli C. came out and told me to stop, and that they would clear our driveway for me! They are such great boys and did me a wonderful service this morning! I thanked them with hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies!

Jed
Eli
Zachary felt he needed to help too. He had on his pjs and no socks! I finally convinced him to come in and put on warmer clothes!

Then Madison wanted to come out and play with Eli and Jed's sisters Amy and Alyssa! They built a snow fort, a snow man and a slide! They were outside for over an hour just playing in the snow! Zachary had frozen and dried snot on his face! (Think Dumb and Dumber!)

This is the slide/snow fort they made out of the snow from 1/3 of the driveway!

Zachary climbed the "hill" and said, "Look mom, I'm the Statue of Liverty!"

I think that is just pure joy on their faces! The hill was about 3.5 feet tall!

Zachary inside the snow cave! He thought it was pretty cool!


One of the last things they did before I made them come in, was to finish their snow man! The neighbor gave us a carrot for the nose, and we used wet sidewalk chalk to make a face and arms!

Thanks December 1st for the snow day! The kids had a blast!

Happy December Everyone!