Christmas Highlights

Bode's first Christmas proved to be very uneventful. He woke up before the girls, long enough to eat and konk right back out! He woke up again just in time to open stockings. Poor kid...Santa only brought him practical stuff. Diapers and binkies. Maybe next year...

I think Claire was the most excited of the three for Santa. On Christmas Eve, Steve pulled up Santa's location on Norad, showing the girls how close he was. We told her that if he came and we weren't asleep he would skip over us. I've never seen her run so fast yelling, "I'm tired right now!" She was right too, she went right to sleep, only to wake up around 4 to come in our room and let me know that Santa had come. She was thrilled with the Dora tent Paige gave her, and the Tinkerbell Tea Set, Dora video game and Polly Pocket cruise ship she got from Santa! She also loved the cupcake jammies she got from mommy and daddy, so much she still has them on!

Paige really struggled going to sleep on Christmas Eve. Does that surprise me?? Heck no!! Steve finally snuggled her in our bed until she fell asleep around one. She was thrilled with her High School Musical Barbies and Easy Bake oven. However, she was a little disappointed that Santa didn't bring her the biggest thing on her list. It was so sweet, it read "Moslee I wot Brady". She misses her cousin on his mission so much! Lucky for her, this is his last Christmas in France! And he was sweet enough to send her and Claire presents, so I guess that made up for it.

Steve and I had decided to forego gifts this year and buy each other a treadmill so we could be "looking fine in 2009!" We were both happy with our choice but were very surprised by all the snow that Santa brought with him this year. So, after hours of shoveling and one heck of a sore back, Steve talked me into a snowblower too! Too bad they had flown out of the stores Friday morning. We finally got it today, so I'm sure there will be no more snow this season!

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

This year Claire danced in her first ever recital. She performed at the Festival of Trees and in the Christmas recital. Her dance was "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". It is the same one that Paige performed her first year in dance. It was even the same costume, so we got double use out of it! (And I must admit, it was so stinkin' cute TWICE!)

I was a little unsure of how Claire would do since she will never perform for me at home. Her first performance was darling. She danced a little bit, but was more concerned with singing along. We could hear her from our seats! Steve and I couldn't stop laughing, she looked so dang cute. Last night's recital was totally different. She danced so well, she hardly missed a step! Except for the part when she slammed into the back of her friend, Ali, nearly bowling them both over! We loved watching every minute of it! Paige sat on Steve's lap and danced right along with them.

We have been lucky to have Claire's little friend, Ali, in the same class. They have so much fun together and it has been great to spend time with the Andersen's even though we moved away.

We have also been blessed to have found Miss Tiffany. Both the girls love her and she is so great with them. We ran into her at Chili's after the recital and she was so sweet to stop and say "hi". Paige is so excited to start back up again once her feet heal and Tiffany has promised to save her a spot as long as we need.

They're Gone!!! Now what?

After six long weeks of asking "Is it December 4th yet", Paige finally got her casts off! She was so excited she could hardly sleep the night before. She just kep saying, "Tomorrow I am going to be movable!" Little did she know...

We had explained to her what would happen. They would use a machine to cut off the casts, but it would not hurt her, just be noisy. But I don't think anything could have prepared her for this. She was terrified once they started cutting and was horrified at the sight (and smell!) of her legs. We knew she had lost some weight with her casts on, but her little legs were so skinny! She just kept screaming, "I'm hideous, put them back on!"

Once the casts were off, it took four people and Steve to hold her down to scrub her legs with warm water. They found two large wounds from the incisions on her feet and instructed us to soak them everyday. (I have pictures, but they are not for the weak of hearts! They even made me a little woozy)

Now the real wait begins. With her feet in a different position than she has ever walked on before and her legs stiff as boards, she has to learn to walk all over again. The scabs on her feet terrify her, so she hates to have them unwrapped and soaked. She has stood a little bit, and will take a few steps, but needs to be reminded to put her heels down too. Unfortunately for her, my patience has run out and I am SO ready for her to start moving! For now, we just keep pushing her a little bit each day and continue to check up with Dr. Santora weekly.

Just one more reason to love Target!

I have always had my kids pictures taken at Target simply because I felt like they did a decent job at a really great price. They always have a coupon online for $3.99 or $4.99 a sheet plus a free 8x10. They don't charge a sitting fee and when you pick up your pictures you get a coupon for your next visit (if you do an online survey, which I always do!) I wanted to get Bode's blessing pictures taken and I wanted the girls to be in them, but was hesitant considering Paige's situation. I explained our plight when I called to make the appointment and they were so accommodating! I scheduled the appointment for November 13 as I have to keep myself busy that day every year to avoid staying home wallowing in the misery of missing my mom. Mom definitely came with me to Target for photos that day because they turned out perfect!! Our sweet photographer Sarah, (who I will request for eternity!) was so great to help. Who would guess Paige is sitting in a wheelchair with bright red casts on both legs?

She was able to catch Bode's first ever smile! Not just a gas bubble, but a true smile! She was thrilled too. Neither photographer had ever had that happen before.

My all time favorite pic was apparently hers too because she asked my permission to display it in their studio! When I picked up the pictures two weeks later they showed me the enlargement (I think it is 20x24) and the spot they had in mind to hang it! She told me it would be after the holidays since it will be replacing a Christmas portrait, so come January check out the South Towne Super Target for the famous Vincent Beauties!!

The Purple Woobie

Apparently the lesson this week in nursery was about gratitude. Claire's teacher brought her to me in Relief Society for a potty-break and she was so excited to tell me that she had drawn a picture of her "purple woobie". When I picked her up after class I was told that they drew things that they were thankful for. The purple woobie actually started out as a pink woobie. The Relief Society had brought over a rather odd-shaped pink fleece blanket to welcome Claire into the world. It was too small to really use so I just threw it over the back of the rocking chair in the nursery. One day while snuggling, Claire reached back and grabbed it. She pulled it to her face, sucked her thumb and went right to sleep. She took such a liking to it I had to get more, just in case! However, not just any fleece would do, I ended up calling the R.S. president to find out where it had come from. When we got to Jo-Ann's Claire reached right out to touch the purple fleece, so that is what we got! I just bought a little bit and cut it into two snuggle sized pieces. We would rotate between pink and both purples, but when one purple got lost, the pink one lost its luster and Claire wanted nothing to do with it. We have tried to buy more "back-up" woobies, but they just aren't the same. The way this one curls up on the edges just so is irreplaceable.

The purple woobie is obviously an important part of Boo's life. She doesn't sleep without it and nothing fixes tears better! Over the summer we had a real scare with the woobie. We had been up to visit friends in Clinton and didn't get home until after midnight. In putting Claire to bed we realized the woobie was gone. The tantrum of all tantrums ensued. We searched the entire house and retraced our steps of the day. The last time I remembered seeing it was at lunchtime at Wendy's. Daddy saved the day by calling Wendy's to see if we had left it there and sure enough, there it was! The dining area was closed, but since you can "Eat great, even late" Steve went through the drive-thru. Claire was so thrilled to see him walk through the door with the purple woobie! I guess it is part of her babyhood, but we just can't let go! I know she won't take it to kindergarten, so what is it hurting? It's just part of what makes Claire...Claire.

My Cup Runneth Over...

I know now is the time to count your many blessings and be grateful for what you have, but when I went to bed the night before Thanksgiving, I just wasn't feeling it. The girls had done nothing but fight all evening, Bode was the fussiest he had ever been, I was up to my eyeballs in sweet potatoes and I was pouting a little bit on the inside that it was not my family's year to join them for Thanksgiving brunch at Little America and instead we were meeting at my in-laws assisted living facility for dinner.
Somehow during the night I had a change of heart. When Bode woke up at 5, instead of thinking about how little sleep I had had I was grateful that it had been five hours since his last feeding instead of the usual 3.5. I looked to my side to find two little girls who had made their way into our bed during the night and instead of cursing the 4 cubic inches of my king size bed that I had been able to claim I was thankful for the opportunity to be their mother. I glanced over at Steve and was filled with gratitude that despite an alarm on it two nights in a row, his CPAP machine was still working so that he could rest. Watching him reminded me of our first Thanksgiving together nine years ago where I watched him with my then 4-year old niece and realized what a perfect fit he was in my life and decided that I wanted to be with him forever. As I tried to drift back off to sleep, I was kicked in the shin by Paige with her solid casted foot and instead of cursing the burden, I was grateful for medical technology that her feet could be fixed and for Shriner's hospital in providing her the best of treatment. It reminded me of my favorite part of the movie Hope Floats when the granddaughter Bernice snuggles up to her crazy Grandmother who simply says, "My cup runneth over". I find myself using that quote so often in my life as I have so much to be grateful for and I truly find my cup "running over".

TAG...I'm it!

This was actually an email and I must admit, I have been tagged before, and I am amused to read them, but I have never actually responded before. But today, the baby is asleep, the hubby is at a football game and the girls are actually getting along, so here goes...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, there is a headstone next to my Grandma Palmer's of a little girl named Brooke Roper, my parents liked it. Also, my dad knew there was no hope of getting a son, therefore Brooke Lynn
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Yesterday, Paige told me I was stupid and ugly, a terrible combination!
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Ehhh, not bad!
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Ham
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Only the three cutest ever!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Heck ya! I'm a riot!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? NEVER! :)
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Nope, lost them in eighth grade
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No, way too scary
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Do Oreos and milk count? Cracklin Oat Bran, it looks like cat food, but dang good!
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Far too lazy
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Getting there from lugging Paige around
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Cookie dough or homemade Cherry Vanilla
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Boob size, I'm not a lesbian, just jealous.
15. RED OR PINK? pink
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I hate the back of my knees.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? This is easy, my mom
18. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Barefoot, I just painted my toenails
19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? McDonalds and it is sitting like a rock!
20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? My daughters calling each other names, so much for getting along
21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? periwinkle
24. FAVORITE SMELLS? Anything Bode (except his poop, but even his little breath is cute) and rubbing alcohol
25. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My sister Michelle 26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yep, thanks Manda
27. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Do I have to?
28. Hair Color? Roots or ends?
29. EYE COLOR? Blue
30. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? not anymore, too much work
31. FAVORITE FOOD? Today I am dreaming of Zupas Tomato Basil soup.
32. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings, even though they are totally predictable.
33. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The new Tinkerbell, kind of cute
34. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Purple, it barely fits, I should probably take it off, but I refuse to get back into maternity wear!
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? SUMMER, I hate snow!
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Depends on who they are from, if it's my kids I will take whatever I can get!
37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Any and all, lately my friend Bethany's Cookie Dough Brownies
38. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Probably no one
39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Everyone I know, after all I never do!
40. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Who has time to read? Stephenie Meyer hasn't written anything new!
41. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? a lot of blue!
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Grey's Anatomy and can I just say...WHAT? I don't get it! He's dead!
43. FAVORITE SOUND? Laughter
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles, especially when my girls sing Octopus' Garden
45. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Germany, although I liked Switzerland better.
46. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? No, when I was pregnant Steve always wanted me to show that when I shook my hips my belly would go the opposite way, but I don't dare try it anymore. I don't want to see what else shakes!
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah
48. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anyone and everyone, it was actually kind of fun!

Flashback to the Pumpkin Patch

Yes, I realize this posting is nearly a month late.

One Saturday afternoon in October we went over to the pumpkin patch to pick out our jack-o-lanterns. The girls were quick to fine theirs and ran to check out the corn maze. While we were waiting, we ran into some friends from our old ward who have girls the same age as ours. The four girls ran through the corn maze while we chatted. I bet we threatened "just one more time" for at least half an hour and before we knew it, it was dark!

By the way...I don't typically take the girls out looking so lovely. It appears it was a "do it yourself" hair day. Give me a break, I had just had a baby, I was lucky to get my own hair done!

LiTtLe PlAyThInG

I guess this is what happens when you have two big sisters...

You become their living doll!

The End of an Era

I knew when I met him that Steve would be a dedicated, hard-working husband. In our life together he has provided me with everything I could ever want, a beautiful home, 3 amazing children, and a best friend.

Steve's career at G&K Services came 5 years ago as an answer to our prayers. Although the job he had then with Jostens was great, it was requiring us to uproot our family and move out of state with Steve continuing to travel every week. Steve was desperate to find something here in Utah and came across G&K from a referral from our good friends who both worked there. Even though he came home filthy and exhausted, his first week there he was home to see Paige pull herself up for the first time. It was the first "first" Steve had been in town for and it made the career move all worth it! Over the years, Steve was promoted from Route Service Rep to Route Specialist, which really just meant a lot more responsibility with a lot less recognition.

Earlier this fall, just as Steve was nearing the end of his rope, G&K's sales manager approached him encouraging him to leave the service side of things and join his sales team. Steve was apprehensive, but was able to finally turn in his striped shirts and orange truck for a shot at sales. Steve made the change about a month ago and it has been great! He spends a lot more time at home and is so much happier! I am so glad this opportunity came along for him, I know it is a field he will excel in. But most of all, I am so grateful to him for working so hard to provide for us. Your efforts don't go unnoticed, babe...I love you!

Princesses and the Pea

Once again, I have deemed myself officially insane. On top of having a brand new baby and a six year old in half body casts, I committed myself to once again, sewing Halloween costumes. This is a tradition I started when Paige was a baby and every year I end up swearing and crying the night before Halloween and vowing to never sew again! Yet somehow, when the cheesy, cheap looking yet quite expensive costumes come out, I head to JoAnn instead of conforming to the commercialism of Halloween. But this time I mean it...no more!

I had seen the idea of Princess and the Pea years ago in a scrapbook magazine and wanted to copy it forever, but never had a baby small enough to not move so that I could pull off the Pea. This year I thought it would be perfect...Bode made a great Pea and Paige the Princess could hold him in her "chariot". The girls took some talking into, Paige wanted to be the tooth fairy and Claire was dying to be a cat, but no, like an idiot I pushed my idea!! True to years past, I spent all day Thursday making Claire's costume and altering Paige and Bode's to somewhat fit. Why couldn't I have just been happy to let Bode wear his $3 ghost shirt? He looked cuter in it anyway!

We started out with our cousins at the County building and really cleaned up! The kids got so much candy, all without being in the dark and cold. Everyone asked about Paige's legs and she loved the attention! We tried to get her to come up with funny stories about them, but she wanted to be honest and tell them she had club feet. We stopped by to see Grandma Terry and by that time Paige had warmed up to the idea and told everyone there she had either crashed her bike or that karate kid Keaton had karate chopped her legs! By the time we got home, both girls wanted a nap, and poor Bode just wanted food! Steve was really disappointed, he had always wanted to take the kids trick-or-treating and now they were too pooped to go! After a short rest and promises of roasted pumpkin seeds upon their return, the girls loaded up and went on their way. It was really quite nice to stay home and pass out packets of hot chocolate to the kids, enjoying the smell of burning pumpkin from our front porch every time I opened the door.

So...despite the lack of sleep last night due to sugar high, the drama of homemade costumes and the burn of my biceps from lifting that wheelchair and Paige all around town, we had a great Halloween. But really...next year will be a totally different story!

McHy Triplets

When Paige was born, she was the first of three little granddaughters within six months of each other. The three girls became the McClure "triplets". We always thought this was such a unique thing to our family and would never be seen again. Since then, we added six brothers and sisters to our family and lo and behold...another set of triplets!
From left to right...Henry Hyer (son of my step-brother Chris), Van Bromley (son of my step-sister Molly) and Bode Vincent. Henry was born in August. Van was due four days after Bode, but actually came three days before. We are so excited for these three boys to grow up together!

What were we thinking?!?

When Paige was born with her club feet, we were so lucky to find Dr. Steve Santora at Shriner's Hospital. I have not run into many people who understand the amazing things that are performed there. Shriner's Hospital is run completely by private donations and the doctors there perform the orthopedic procedures necessary without all the taboo of insurance companies. Being there has made me so grateful that although Paige's feet are a big deal to us, they are relatively minor.

We always knew there was a possiblity that the serial castings Paige had at birth might not be sufficient to completely correct her feet. We have continued yearly follow-up care and were told last spring that it was time for something more. We thought we had carefully scheduled this surgery...Paige was off track and wouldn't miss much school, I would be on maternity leave from work and could stay home to care for her. However, as it got closer, I realized it was a BIG DEAL! Paige went into surgery Wednesday morning. Claire had slept over at her Aunt Valerie's because we had to be at the hospital at 6:30. The staff was amazing. They had gifts waiting for her on her bed and explained exactly what was going to happen. It reminded me a lot of last week's episode of Grey's Anatomy where George was dealing with the defiant child and finally just showed him everything and the boy wasn't scared anymore. Paige was most nervous about the stitches and getting a needle in her arm. She had some medication and a gas mask and was out long before the IV went in. The plan was to clip a muscle in the ball of her feet to help turn them out. However, once that was done, her foot placement still wasn't quite right, so Dr. Santora also did some tendon lengthening in her calves. So what we were told would be a 3 hour procedure turned into 4 and 1/2.

Paige slept so hard that we had to request her to come back from recovery. She was so excited the night before that she hardly slept, not to mention that she was woken up hours before normal that morning. She came out with hot pink casts and pretty loopy. I knew she wasn't all there when she didn't even notice Bode was there. She stayed until Thursday night, when they tried to give her Percocet and she decided to come home. Her recovery thus far has been trying to say the least. We are really trying to be patient but also teach her some manners in asking for help. The lessons seem to be going well since she really can't do much for herself. Bode seems to be the best medicine for her. Her first night home, they snuggled up together in our bed with her whispering in his ear, "You have the best big sister". She has a wheelchair that brings her a lot of attention, but she spends most of her days in bed. Which means, I have seen everything Disney ever made, TWICE, I am champion of Old Maid, and we have been through three boxes of crayons. This is bound to be a LONG six weeks!

Bode's Big Day

I can't believe nine months has flown by so quickly! It seems like just yesterday that I was having blood drawn at the lab to find out in front of all my work friends that I was PREGNANT!

Towards the end of my pregnancy, my doctor kept telling me, "This is a huge baby. There is no way we are going to make it into October." But every week, I would catch up in average size a little bit and my due date remained the same. He finally scheduled me for an induction on Friday, October 10, 2008. We took the girls for a sleepover with their cousins at my sister Marnie's the night before. However, Marnie was at work all night, so Uncle Rob got to brave the storm of the Vincent girls! Steve and I went to dinner at Tepanyaki (a place we would NEVER take our kids) and then decided to see a movie! It was nice, but I was having strong contractions every hour. We tried to get some sleep, but I was too excited to meet my baby boy! We got to the hospital around 7:15 and by 8:00 I was in bed with Pitocin and my first dose of Clindamycin (for my Group B Strep). Then we waited...in fact Steve looked over at me and said, "So, we have some time, what do you want to talk about?" I started to get a little uncomfortable around 10:30 when my doctor came in to break my water. He told me that he and anesthesia would be in a C-section from 12-1 so I should get my epidural now. I had no problem with that! The anesthesiologist came in around 11:15 and it is amazing how well those can work! I was instantly comfortable and ready for a nap. My dad stopped by and took Steve for a walk so I could nap (and they could eat!) My nurse checked me around 1:30 to find me at a 6. Ten minutes later I rolled over to my side because I was feeling a lot of pressure. Another nurse came in to adjust the monitors and found me "complete". Luckily, Steve and my dad walked in just then and my doctor wasn't too far behind.
This was by far the easiest delivery I have had. In one contraction I pushed 4 times and out came our bouncing baby boy! He weighed in at 8 lbs. 7.2 oz and 20 inches long. Our biggest baby yet! Maybe I don't remember very well, but it sure seemed like the nurse kept him over in the corner for an awfully long time. It turned out his glucose was low and they had to instantly feed him some formula to try and get it regulated.
I was lucky to have my dad there with me during the delivery. I know my mom was there in spirit too. However, this time was a little different...my stepmom Terry was also there. She made it just in the nick of time and ran in just as Bode was born. They are such amazing grandparents and neither could be more excited to have another grandson.
Paige was instantly in love with her new brother and Claire gave the reaction I thought she would, "I'm done. I don't want him anymore." She loves him to pieces now! Nearly all the cousins were there, so I think both of the girls were distracted.
After my epidural wore off, I developed a terrible headache and a pain between my shoulder blades. The only comfortable position was flat on my back in the dark. It lasted through the night into the next morning. It killed me to hold Bode for feedings, and I couldn't bend my neck to look down at him. I felt awful. Here I had carried this baby for nine long months and now I couldn't even enjoy him? As it turns out, I had a small nick in my epidural space causing the pain. My anesthesiologist had gone home at the end of his shift Saturday morning, but felt so badly about my pain came back to help his partner give me a blood patch. (It sure helps that my sister knows them all! I love special treatment!) One of the doctors went back into my epidural space while the other drew blood from my arm to inject into my back. It was worse than getting an epidural, but by the time I sat up I felt instantly better. I was so glad to feel better and have the rest of the day to snuggle my boy!

He has been great here at home! The girls can't get enough of him and I am wondering if I will ever get tired of holding him and looking at him! For now, I am just loving every minute of it!

It's A Boy!

This will be short and sweet (just like him), due mostly to lack of sleep and the heavy use of Percocet. However, we are thrilled to announce the arrival of Bode Stephen Vincent!

He was born on Friday, October 10 at 2:33 pm weighing in at 8 lbs., 7 oz., and 20 inches long.

Gone Fishin'

It has been so fun decorating our little boy nursery! When we bought the house, this room was already a "woodsy" theme, so it turned out perfectly that we were having a boy! Steve and I absolutely loved the log cabin awning they had built over the window, so we decided to run with it! It is a good thing I saved all my little nick-nacks from our West Jordan house where I was more of a "theme-ish" decorator. Our family room was kind of log cabin-y in that house, so I was able to pull out some old favorites that fit perfectly!

It turns out I am not great at picture taking since you can hardly see the paint on the wall. This was just the way we bought it. All walls are painted a light tan with a fat olive green stripe and a fatter brown stripe running vertically every few feet. Maybe hard to visualize, I suck at descriptions...but the stripes are big enough and far enough apart that it doesn't look "circus-y". Having a boy, I also got to try my hand at crib bedding again. After making Paige's I swore I would never do it...but this time seemed much easier. I picked out a brick red with a tiny olive stripe to make the inside of the bumpers and the bed skirt and then sewed an accent piece of chocolate brown ribbon with some olive rick-rack to the bottom of the skirt. The rest of the bumper is a mix of plaids (I think they call it madras?). Anyway...this time seemed much easier! I found some pre-made bumper foam at Jo-Ann's and just had to make the slipcovers, which were totally easy! Of course I had to make matching sheets too because all the ones we have are pink and all the new ones they sell are pastel! Even though I had done it before and used the same measurements, for some reason they turned out too small! I was pretty upset about the casualty, but forced them on anyway thinking I would make new ones before I actually put him in his crib since he will be in our room for a while.

So, now that I have the nursery ready, don't you think he should come out and join us, since he has his own fishing room to come home to? I'm sure that is all he has been waiting for. So until he does, you will find me in the rocking chair, waiting, reminding the waving bulge in my belly that this is all for him and I don't want it to go to waste!

Just a little proof

For anyone who has met our girls and witnessed the way they scream at each other, bite, hit, kick, call names, pull hair, among other modes of affection towards each other. I just happened to catch this sweet shot to prove that deep down, past REM sleep, they really do love each other!

tiny dancer

I swear this girl will never let me take a good picture of her! All summer, Claire has been dying to start Tiffany Dance Company, just like her big sister! When she got her postcard telling me her class date and time, she carried it around for weeks. I even found it in her bed.

She does act a little shy in class, but that is just Claire. She warms right up to you! Paige was so excited that Miss Tiffany rememebered her and thought she might accidently mix up the girls names.

We were so pleasantly surprised when we walked in the first day to find her cute friend Ali in class too! I had wanted them to sign up together, but Wednesday nights didn't work for them, so I was so excited when they were there!



So far, Claire seems to be having a great time. She looks back to me for approval after everything she does and is sure to help us get out the door for class so "Miss Tiffany doesn't miss her!"

6 Years Ago...

It is so hard for me to believe that just six years ago, I brought this sweet little baby home. It is so hard to believe that in those short six years, that baby grew up to learn to crawl and walk (a miracle I never thought I would see with her after all the trouble with her feet). She learned to talk and laugh. She became a big sister and learned to share (we're still working on that one). This baby learned to spell her name and to read, and just last week, I sent that baby to kindergarten! Now this baby is an energetic, beautiful six-year old girl. Her birthday this year was a week-long event! It all started last Sunday at a birthday party/dinner in her honor at Grandpa BigMac's with her cousins. Grandpa had his right knee replaced this week, so we celebrated early! Paige, Claire and I decided to experiment with dessert and ended up with a fun butterfly cake to share. The cousins seemed to love it!
Paige's actual birthday was Friday. She was able to take her favorite book, "Parts", to school and also took yellow sugar cookies to share with her class. She was able to talk on the phone with her "birthday twinner" (Paige and her cousin Katherine were born 4 hours apart). Later, we went on a family date to her restaurant of choice, Sweet Tomatoes. The birthday rolled over into Saturday where we invited 15 friends to the waterpark for lunch. Luckily it was warm, but pretty windy, so rather than play in the water, the kids mostly played on the playground in their swimsuits, while the boys caught caterpillars. But no one seemed to mind the lack of "waterpark" involved in the party. Paige got spoiled rotten with presents and we went home in Barbie Heaven! She got to spend the rest of the day playing with her cute little friend, Chailyn, who has moved too, so we rarely get to see her!
And then Sunday came, and the birthday still wasn't over. We had planned a Vincent picnic for the birthday twinners that ended up being rained out (or should I say FLOODED out). It started to pour just before the party was about to start, and of course Paige's mom and dad were too preoccupied with birthday that we forgot our cell phones when we got to the park. After eating alone in the rain, we went home to find that the party had been moved to Katherine's. So one of the guests of honor was two hours late for her own party, but still got cupcakes and ice cream and best of all, got to see Katherine! Paige seems a little down that her birthday is now over, but mommy is grateful! I am beyond sentimental about her turning six this year and ready to wait one more before birthday throws up on us again!

P is for Paige

This is the day I have taken six years to prepare myself for, yet I thought it would never come.
Today, I said goodbye, kissed these sweet little cheeks, and sent her off to kindergarten.
Luckily there were plenty of people there to hold my hand. Daddy was able to come home from work, and the four and a half of us walked to school together. We waited on the blue diamond sidewalk and then with blurry eyes, blew our kisses goodbye.
We were able to met Miss Holliday earlier last week for a personal one on one. She visited with Paige and had her to several tests for her, reading, writing, drawing. Paige said there were so many "amazing" things at kindergarten, it was a long week to wait before we could go back!
Paige had a great first day! She loves her teacher, and said she made new friends. There is a little girl in our ward in her class and her little friend, Addy, from preschool is in her class too! She said that all the boys thought she was cute because they kept staring at her, and she is the only one in the class who can read. So she spent her afternoon with kids bringing her books, asking her to read to them! What a great way to meet friends.