Welcome to the Family

Beware:  I am way behind and this post may contain information that is old news to you, but in hopes of remembering every moment ( or at least what I can find time to post) I am posting it anyway!

Kelsey Rae

Kelsey was born on March 2nd!  I finally had a baby a little early (Her due date was March 9th) .  She was born healthy, happy and beautiful.  Kelsey weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz.  19 3/4 in. long at 4:48 on Wednesday March 2nd.

Kelsey's birth was all I had hoped for.  Her being the fourth and final baby to our family, I really wanted to go into labor on my own.  I wanted to do it naturally; that is by my definition of natural... With the drugs! but not induced.  The night before I slept very little due to timing contractions.  I was sure this was it.  But because I had been induced for all the other kids, I didn't really know what I was waiting for.  It sounds crazy that this was my fourth child and I still didn't know what I was doing!

We went into the hospital at 11:30 am.  I was 6 cm.  yeah!  They decided to keep me and prep me for the much anticipated epidural.  I was terrified of getting too far along and not getting the epidural in time!  At 3 pm I got that wonderful epidural at 7cm. and they broke my water.  I was quite disappointed in the relief my epidural was giving me.  If I had not felt that huge needle going in my back I would have told you they lied and didn't give me anything!  At  3:30pm I was 8cm. At 4:15pm they finally listened to me and gave me more drugs.  The nurse said she would check me in 5 minutes.  I told her I was feeling a little pressure.  About a minute later I was really feeling pressure!  I sent Kyle to get the nurse.  I had reached the much anticipated 10 cm. and was ready to push.  Now where was the doctor?  Waiting for the doctor!  These were not the most comfortable moments!  Waiting and praying the doctor would hurry!

With three easy pushes she was out a 4:48 pm.  It was a beautiful delivery.  The first time I actually saw my baby come into the world.  What a gift she is. 

Two Proud Parents

Kelsey was extremely alert when she was first born.  Even the nurses were commenting on it.  More than one  person made the comment that she had a mission and she needed to get busy.  And sadly each one also said she was going to grow up fast.  Now I know that was just their observations, but it seems to fit her personality.  Time flies so quickly and wish I could wrap her up and keep her small forever.

Naming her proved to be a challenge.  I had hoped we would be given her name to us by divine intervention, because nothing seemed just right for this perfect baby.  Unfortunately, it took a lot of prayer to give her the name Kelsey Rae.  It seems right now, but boy was it stressful.

Because we had three little ones at home, and my Mom wasn't able to come out for the birth things were a little different this time.  With in a hour after Kelsey was born, Kyle was off to get the older kids and for the first time I spent the night in the hospital alone.  Just Kelsey and I.  It was cherished time.  It was so wonderful to fully devote my attention to my beautiful baby, especially because once I went home I would have to figure out how to make all four of my children feel special.

I only stayed 24 hours in the hospital.  When it was time to go home we tookKelsey home as a family.  Another first!  Before, just Kyle and I had taken the baby home.  This time I had many hands to carry things out and many proud faces beaming as they took their sister home and showed her each room of the house.  It was so cute!

I am so blessed to have four healthy, happy, beautiful children.  My cup run-eth over! 

We love you, Kelsey!

Kelsey's 2 mth appointment

 Kelsey had her 2 month appointment today.  It was a little early, she is 5 days short of 2 months.  She weighed in at 11 lbs. 6 ozs. 24 1/2 inches long that put her in the 100th percentile in height and 75th percentile in weight.  She is shaping up to be a big girl!

I love to see these two loving each other!  I can't wait until they can interact a little more.  Sometimes I just don't know who to feel for Kelsey who is getting mauled or Ryleigh who just wants her sister to play with her.  I hope they always look at each other with such love and yet I know there will be those not so loving moments too.  I just want them to enjoy their sisterhood as much as I have.  I can't imagine life without my sisters!

Atlanta Temple Open House

The Atlanta Temple has been remodeled and therefore is being rededicated.  Before they rededicate it they allow the public to go inside and take tours.  We wanted to take the family so the kids could have the opportunity to see the inside of the temple.  It was a wonderful experience.We could not take pictures of the inside but I made up for it on the outside.  It was a fun little photo opportunity for me and torture for everyone else. 

Brennan said he liked the baptismal font the best.

Connor liked the little booties we wore on our feet.

Ryleigh loved the Sealing room.  She said,"I just can't wait to get married here"

Kelsey is 7 weeks old and was just a great baby to travel with.

As we were walking out the kids just couldn't contain their energy an longer and ran through the perfectly plush green grass.  We haven't seen grass quite so perfect since we left Utah.  What a wonderful day!

While we were in Atlanta we went to check out a popular attraction, Stone Mountain.  It is a state park/ amusement park known for the giant rock the size of a mountain.  We took a Sky tram to the top and took pictures.

 The boys were playing around to make this look like they were climbing up the rock wall.

 I was trying to catch them in mid air, but I had the wrong camera.

 Always the dare devil.

Growing up stories

A few nights ago, after putting the kids to bed, I heard someone crying.  I found Ryleigh sobbing!  She was holding Brennan's baby book.  Her exact words were, "Brennan will never be a baby again!  I just love this picture, Mom.  Which one is your favorite?"  I think she may have some early hormones!

Last night, when Ryleigh was told to clean her room, she asked who was going to help her.  I was doing the dishes.  So she said, I will ask dad.  This is how she asked, "Daddy, will you help me clean my room?  My tummy hurts and it is very hard for me to bend over."  I think she has heard me say that a few times in the last month or so.  In fact, last time she wanted me to help her clean her room I used this one.  Her comment to me was, " you can just kick it ( the toys) with your foot."

Paper toilet  is her word for toilet paper.

Connor is learning to read!  He is so proud of himself.  He has almost memorized his 100 Fry words.  He just moved up another belt in Taekwondo and finished his first season in basketball.  Connor is a cuddle bug!  My favorite is when I comes to snuggle and says, "I need some Mommy time!"  What a sweetie!  But don't let him hear you say that. He doesn't understand words of endearment.

Brennan stays busy with school, DSI, soccer and basketball and his friend down the street.  He is master at memorizing all the really annoying  commercials on TV and loves to be silly.  I can really see him struggling between being a mature grown up and a silly kid!  He is just looking for his balance right now.  His basketball season went well!  They were tournament champs!  Right now, multiplication is Brennan's nemesis!  He has not enjoyed learning all those multiplication facts but has done so well.  They just introduced division and while it is not his favorite either, he picked it right up.  Third grade is said to be a hard year and so far Brennan has maintained his straight A's.   Hopefully he can beat his very strong spelling nemesis!

Hard at Work

Brennan is old enough to help with the lawn!  I'm so excited!  He was too at first, but he quickly lost that excitement.  What a good boy he is!

Blue and Gold Banquet

The cub scouts did their annual Blue and Gold Banquet.  The theme was Medieval Times!  It was a lot of fun.  Each boy had a turn spearing the cardboard opponent as their leaders pushed their chariots! The kids loved the fact that silverware was not available!

My Grandmother

For Christmas I received a special gift.  It was a blanket from my Grandmother.  Not just any blanket though, a blanket with history, the very best kind.  It was made by my Mother and given to Grandmother years ago. I can literally wrap up in years of love with it!  The only thing that could have made it any better would have been if Grandmother had felt well enough to hand deliver it.  Oh how I would have loved that!

I have a special relationship with my Grandmother!  She is the only one who calls me Tammikins!  A name given to me from her as a baby.  She has retold the story may times and I have never tired of hearing about when our special bond began.  "I would bounce you on my knee and sing, Tammy is a dancer, a prancer", she would say.

There are many things I love about my grandmother!  I think her confidence is my favorite!  I have always admired the way she carries herself with such poise.  She loves to look nice and always does. I remember her Diane Freeze dress.  It was beautiful and she modeled it with pride in her little kitchen.  She is an avid believer in colors and how they make you feel.  She loves to wear red and says it makes you feel energized and confident! Of course Grandmother's slim figure can not be missed.  I will always be grateful for the bit of those genes I was blessed with. 
My Grandmother was a professional clown and I remember many occasions seeing her in her clown outfit.  I was welcomed into the clown fold at a young age.  I also remember doing a short skit with Grandmother as a teenager.

Sewing is one of the many talents my Grandmother has.  She has sewn a special blanket for everyone of her grandchildren.  And having 6 kids of her own,that equaled a lot of blankets to be made.  But her giving nature didn't end there.  She has sewn baby quilts for many of her great-grandchildren.  NowI do not profess to be a quilter at all, but what I do know is a gift given to me from Grandmother.  One year I went to visit Dad and since I was staying for three or four days, I hit Grandmother up with the idea of making a quilt while I was there.  Now, for those of you who do quilt, you know that it takes some time to compose a quilt!  Quite a bit of time!  But Grandmother didn't bat an eyelash at my idea.  She quickly got to work and taught me the skills I will forever cherish while creating memories that will last a lifetime!.

                                                 This was our first quilt made together!

                                                          This is Connor and his special blanket.
I was blessed at the age of eight to have Grandmother and Grampy live with our family for a short time.  We have reminisced many times about those cherished Sunday afternoons.  It was Sunday tradition for Mom and Dad to take a Sunday nap.  This just proved to be special time that we as children shared with Grandmother.  She makes the very best rice pudding and top notch divinity!

When I was in junior high, Grandmother lived just down the street from the school.  I often detoured to Grandmothers.  This was the same house that hosted many Thanksgiving feasts in the garage.  The only place big enough to house our large families all living in Amarillo at the time.  At Christmas time, Grandmothers house was transformed into a stocking haven!  I say that because she took the time to create miniature stockings for everyone of her grandchildren.  All very different and unique to the child and their personality.

Grandmother has been a key part of many of my life's cherished moments.  What a lucky girl I am!  She was at my college graduation, my wedding, and I even found pictures of her there in my first week of life!  What a blessing to have a Grandmother who has blessed my life in so many ways.  I love you Grandmother!

This was a gem I found and just had to include.  I am not quite sure what the occasion was.  I believe it was a young women's temple night.  I'm not sure why I am wearing pink?!  A good photo with Kandi (cousin), Grandmother and myself.

Dad this is the family reunion picture I spoke of. I believe it was taken in 1975 and I am the baby in Grandmother's arms.