Owen's First Family Party

So, Owen attended his first extended family party, at the ripe old age of 8 days old.  It was my Grandma's 80th birthday party, and we'd planned a surprise party for her.  My sisters and I set up shop at my Mom's house, while my parents and Aunts and Uncles had my Grandparents out to dinner.  Before my grandparents and the older generations of the family (um, sorry Mom) showed up, we played around with the camera and took some of the first 'family' photos where Greg and I both show up in the picture with all four of our children.

One of the surprises for my Grandma was that my sister Star had gone by the home my Uncle Karl lives in, and picked him up for the party.  Karl LOVES birthday parties, and hates to miss any of them.  He also had been talking about meeting 'Baby Owen' ever since he heard I'd had the baby, so we couldn't wait to get some pictures of the two of them meeting for the first time . . .  

Karl giving Owen 'eskimo kisses' on his arm

 My Aunt Judy and Uncle Jerry meeting Owen for the first time.

My grandparents had fun holding their two newest great grandchildren.

Here's the birthday girl herself with my niece Bailey and my Grandpa with Owen. 

 

 I had to get some pictures of Owen in his car seat . . . the first was when he was first put in the seat, the second was approximately 4 minutes later.

It was fun to have my extended family all get to see the kids -- cousins, Great Aunts, Aunts and Uncles, all getting to meet Owen for the first time.  It was even worth my anxiety about all those germs :-)

Happy Birthday Connor!

My oldest nephew, Connor, turns five today!

The girls could not be more excited for his birthday, even if he is several states away.   They happily made videos for him this morning (Annie practically cut her phone call off with him this morning so she could get back to video making).  :-)

(Also, Annie's eye is all red and puffy due to some kind of allergic reaction to something this morning.  We're not sure what it was, but it's really bugging her, the poor thing.  Benadryl and allergy eye drops both on board, and hopefully it looks better soon, or we may just be heading in to the doctor's office.  It has been almost two weeks since we were there last, so it kinda makes sense . . . )

(I apologize for the craptacular video quality -- my normal camera is at my sister's house, and we attempted to just get by this morning using my old Mac's PhotoBooth.  It kinda worked :-).)

Happy Birthday Connor!

We wish we were there with you today!

Happy Birthday Bug!

I call Isaac 'Bug' all the time -- but before my son, there was the first Bug in my life.  My baby brother Cody.  Or Cody-bug as we liked to call him.  Which annoyed my Dad.  Who prefer we try and think up a more masculine nickname.  Like Snake.

Today is Cody's birthday.  I won't see him today (or anytime soon), since he's off gallivanting through Uruguay.  He's on an LDS mission, with a bit more than a year left.  He's having an amazing time, we get to email with him every week, and I send him more pictures that he knows what to do with. 

I've been thinking about him today.  I miss him.  Mainly, I miss my girls' "Uncle Cody", who is one of their best friends and favorite people in the whole wide world.  He's been gone nearly a year, and they still talk about him all the time.  Anyone who dares try to play with them in the sandbox, be prepared to be told all the dozens of ways you're not as good at it as Uncle Cody.  Every single time Ellie says it prayer, it goes like this, "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the food.  Please bless Cody on a mission."  Every time.  (Even if it's not meal time).  

I'm a little sad he's not here with us on his birthday -- but at the same time, I'm thrilled that he's having the time of his life celebrating in an entirely different hemisphere, surrounded by new friends and a lot of fun people.  People kind enough to invite him over to help kill and roast a pig.  And a companion who bought a chocolate cheesecake.  It makes me happy that other people are looking out for him when I can't be :-)  (And frankly, if he'd been home with me, I would've NEVER let him kill and roast a pig -- so he's probably better off where he is.  I may have given him cheesecake though.)

Happy Birthday Bug!

McShrimp the Third?

I had these two tiny little girls.  Then along came my big ol' 8 lb. baby boy.  Who quickly doubled his birth weight in a matter of just a few months, and topped out at 95th percentile on the charts in weight, and in the 70's in height.  I'd never had a kid above 30-something percent on height before!  But Isaac, he was different.  He was big.  Then, as is often the case with breastfed babies, he stalled out, and his chart has a downward curve.  And at a year old, he's ALMOST 21 lbs. at 19 percent on weight, and just over 29 inches, at 29 percent on height.  The only thing that kept growing was his head :-)  That was at 93rd this time, up from 91 percent at 9 months.  :-)  My boy has slimmed down quite a bit, and he went from 60th percent in height to 29% in less than three months.  My kids are just shrimpy, I guess . . . even when they psych you out for awhile with huge numbers and rapid gains.  He seems to be settling in to where he fits at in the curve, which happens to be smaller than we'd expected.  (Even with all the non-stop, from morning 'til night, eating!) 

Fortunately, we have a pediatrician who isn't hung up on numbers.  Instead, she takes in the whole picture, seeing this active little boy who's happily pointing out everything in the office, and asking, "Mo?"  (Which means, "What is that, Mom?")  At one point he said something that sounded to me like, "Ah at?"  To which the doctor exclaimed happily, "I think he's asking 'What's that?' . . . he's a genius!  He's going to be talking in sentences before you know it!")  She was thrilled at all his pointing and clapping and verbalizing . . . she oohed and ahhhed over his motor skills (both fine and gross) and made me feel like an awesome Mom to an obvious genius child, and didn't even make me feel bad about the double ear infections Isaac was sporting that I didn't know about.  She gushed, and was a tad sad, about his good looks that are reshaping his face from that of a baby to a toddler.  She teased me about my children's GINORMOUS heads, but assured me he looks completely normal and proportionate :-)  Even pointing out what Greg and I had already noticed, that our kids' head size is mainly from the forehead to the back of their heads (i.e., they have deep, not wide heads.)  I like having a pediatrician who acts like a gushing Aunt.  And though I'm sure she's like this with all the kids, she always makes me feel like my kids truly are exceptional.  Which, of course, they are.  :-)

The one dark spot on the day was, of course, those pesky ear infections.  I tried to treat the last ones holistically, which blew up in our faces, and we ended up with an ear infection that resisted TWO whole rounds of antibiotics, and took a third round to knock it out.  I'm a little nervous to see what this one holds for us . . .

Look Who's One!

Wow.  My baby boy turned one today.  I can't even think of what to say beyond that, 'cause it's still sinking in. 
I could not love this little kid any more than I do.  He's growing up right before my eyes, and I'm constantly amazed at what he's doing, learning and how well he navigates the world around him.  I can't imagine my life without this little boy -- and I get a bit emotional at the thought of my baby only being the baby in the family for another six months . . . 

I love you Bugaboo!

Happy Birthday!

Isaac was pretty taken with his GIGANTIC (53 inch) teddy bear that Grandma Karine surprised him with today!

Isaac opening his first wrapped gift (and yes, I know the wrapping paper says 'Noel' . . . my Dad mocked me mercilessly . . . have I mentioned I feel like throwing up the vast majority of the day?  I'm not exactly bringing my 'A' game this year on the birthday party front!  I've had a few people ask me when his birthday party will be . . . to which I respond with a 'deer in the headlights look and an, "awww, man!"  I knew I forgot something this year!)  He ripped that one piece of paper, then we let his sister's rip everything else open, since he had about zero interest.  Then on the bottom, Ellie fell asleep at the dinner table, sitting straight up in her chair.  She was so tired (and grumpy!) today while Isaac was opening gifts!  And lastly, before she melted down and fell asleep, here's Ellie giving Bear a piggy back ride.  Isaac loves the bear -- his sisters love it approximately ONE TRILLION times more.  They've never been so excited about a toy they didn't actually receive!

Isaac's First '1st Birthday Party'

We had a bit of a birthday party for Isaac for his first birthday this weekend (since several family members would be out of town on his actual birthday -- which is tomorrow.)  It took him a minute to warm up to his chocolate cupcake, but then he really dug in.  He also got a new toy Elmo he was quite excited about.  He also thought that Grandma Ruth's front room was the bestest place ever to walk, and he was taking 5 and 6 steps and more every single time he'd stand up. He's getting so big!

We also were happy to spend some more time with Aunt Andrea before she moves away later this week!  Got lots of fun pictures with her and the kids . . .

They Say It's Your Birthday, Na na na na na . . .

So, today is my birthday.  Greg got the day off of work, 'cause I'm that special.  (Or 'cause my birthday is Memorial Day -- but it's probably more the 'that special' thing.)


Greg brought me toast in bed before I even sat up . . . but then again, he's been doing that every morning, 'cause I feel like puking if I don't eat before I get out of bed.  Yay for ever-increasing-morning-sickness.


I had the weirdest realization about my birthday this year.  I'm pregnant on my birthday.  Just like I was LAST YEAR.  How crazy is that?!  It's times like that when it suddenly hits me just how close together these two pregnancies really are.  :-)


Well, I'm off to celebrate being 32 . . .or more accurately, going to various cemeteries and visiting distant relatives.  Y'all just wish your birthdays fell on national holidays!



(Here's last year's birthday post, where I realized how far I've come from being the month-long-birthday-girl who reveled in her Memorial Day birthday where tons of second cousins twice removed remembered me as the birthday girl at our annual family reunion, to now, where both Greg and I keep forgetting to plan anything for our birthdays 'cause they just kinda sneak up on us!  The best part was where last year I recounted an exchange between Greg and I, where the night before my birthday he was all, "Um, I forgot to get anything ready . . . ", 'cause we had the EXACT same conversation last night.)  :-)

Another Cupcake Breakfast (and Therefore Another Birthday)

Ellie's tribute from last year, since the laziness continues.
I took all kinds of pictures of the kids eating another cupcake breakfast, and opening presents, and Ellie riding her new tricycle and them making cupcakes -- but, Greg has the camera, and he's gone all day with the girls (went somewhere with his parents, but I'm not feeling so hot, so I'm home with Isaac), so I can't add pictures yet.  I will though, soon.  I just didn't want Ellie's birthday to go unmentioned.  So, Happy Birthday Ellie!  I can't believe you're three already!  (Way weirder to me than Annie being five years old, for some reason.)
Ellie's been saying for awhile, she'd potty train when she turned three, so when I asked her on her birthday if we should get on her panties, she said, "No, Mom, I'll just wear a diaper. Thanks."  "But Ellie, I thought you were going to wear big girl panties when you turned three . . ."  "Well Mom," she reasoned, "I am not really that tall . . ." as she held her hand just above her head to indicate her shortness, and therefore, 'too-little-to-wear-panties-ness'.  Sigh.  :-)

Breakfast of Champions (or Birthday Girls)

Today is my little girl's 5th birthday. 

Happy Birthday Annie!

We had our traditional 'breakfast cupcakes' we get on birthdays -- which means we had them today for Annie's birthday and we'll have 'em again tomorrow for Ellie's birthday.

 I'm too tired and lazy to go through and pull all the old pictures of her on various other birthdays, but I did a nice little tribute last year, so let's all just go check that out instead . . . :-)

Annie is very bummed that Daddy works late tonight, 'cause we don't get to open presents 'til 6:30 tonight now . . . but I keep assuring her, it'll be worth the wait :-)

 Ellie was enjoying the cupcakes today too -- and she's pretty insistent today is her birthday too.

None of that waiting for tomorrow crap Mom keeps talking about :-)

Sunday Dinner

Yesterday we had another family party at my Mom's house. Cody was ordained an Elder, preparatory for him leaving on his mission in October . . . so the family (all my grandparents, and several Aunts and Uncles) gathered together for that and to celebrate the FOUR birthdays we have in my immediate family this month -- my Mom, my Dad, my little sister Lacy and my baby brother Cody. (Well, Lacy didn't end up making it down for the party in time, but made it into town for today and tomorrow.)

Uncle David successfully learned and mastered the football hold, getting my overly tired 5 week old to sleep. Yay David!

A better shot of their hands . . .

Ellie & Star

Great Grandma holding a sleeping (GINORMOUS) Isaac.

Uncle Karl with Star and Annie.

Cody juggling -- two inflatable rings and a birth ball. The kid is seriously a very talented juggler.

Cody sporting the new Oakley's Star gave him for his birthday/mission.

Grandpa trying them out.
I assume having a little brother isn't much different than having a trained seal :-)

Why I wig out a little whenever Greg throws Ellie into the air . . .

Daddy & Annie chillin' in the new patio chairs Grandma got for her birthday . . .

The Boy With Two Middle Names

(Birth story and pictures coming soon -- there's some pictures of Isaac on facebook for now (my sister in law Andrea took and posted some great ones), but until I'm home I can't upload pics off my camera).

We've had Isaac's name picked out for quite awhile. Since before the ultrasound even. Isaac Clark. Isaac was a name we just 'fell into', no particular reason (although it does further our accidental 'vowel names' pattern Annie-Ellie-Isaac, A-E-I). Clark as a middle name holds a lot mroe signifigance. It's Greg's middle name, and his Dad's, and his Grandfather's and his Great-Grandmother's maiden name. So pretty much as 'family name' as you can get it. And I love it (I wanted to use it as a first name, but Greg was never convinced.)

But then something happened. I went overdue. Like, almost a full week overdue. And Isaac picked a very signifigant date to be born.

Thirty four years ago on July 6th, my mother in law, Ruth, gave birth to her first child. Kevin was born far too early though, and only lived for 8 hours or so.

Thirty four years later, Isaac Kevin Clark was born on his oldest Uncle's birthday.

We chose to use both names as middle names. It makes for a longer name, of course, but it carries so much signifigance to us, that we can't imagine a better name for our little boy. Add to that, when you just use initials for the middle names, it becomes Isaac K.C. -- and Greg's Dad goes by the name KC.

Thus, the boy with two middle names.

Happy Birthday Greg! And a Bunch of Other Randomness

It's Greg's 31st Birthday today! Happy Birthday, hon!

Last year, I wrote a long birthday post that perfectly sums up the sheer amazingness of Greg -- he's the best husband, the greatest father and the most exceptional man I know. I had a lot of fun pictures of him as a baby, plus more recent photos with the kids and I. This year though, I'm in my last few weeks of pregnancy and his two (already-birthed) children have been just this side of crazy lately, so I'm tired and lazier. Here's a recent photo of him with Annie though!

Happy Birthday Greg -- I love you even more than I did last year (who knew that was possible!?) -- but since I'm having another of your kids anytime this month, and I spent a solid hour cleaning gobs of silver fabric paint that your four year old smeared all over our couch cushions, this is all the birthday post you get this year! Love you! :-)


Unrelated to Greg's birthday -
Here's a bunch of random photos taken of Annie for her dance class. Greg's Mom and I ordered some 8x10s of a few of our favorites, but until they arrive, I just have a couple low-res screen shots to hold me over . . .

Um, more unrelatedness -- I had my 36 week check up this week. The baby was again determined to be healthy and extremely active, and my blood pressure was an impressively increased 96/60 (which means no more ordered modified bedrest! Woo hoo! I am supposed to start laying down again if I have more dizzy spells though. Hopefully I can keep it above 85/44 for the rest of the pregnancy! Man, was I tired when it was that low all the time!). I feel so much better, and have more energy -- not something I was expecting as I entered my final month of pregnancy! (I am getting more and more sore and achy though, so it's a trade off.) Ellie was so excited to find out I had a doctor's appointment today that she walked around the house saying "Beep, beep," all morning until we finally left. (Which is her way of saying we'll get to hear the baby's heartbeat.) As soon as my midwife walked into the room, Ellie pointed at my stomach and said, "Beep, beep!" and showed a great deal of impatience for the 'talking' portion of the exam. She squealed with delight when the midwife got out the doppler and found the baby . . .
36 weeks though. Wow. That means I should (in theory, quite possibly) have my baby this month (give or take a week or so, let's keep our fingers crossed for June though, shall we?) I should probably pack a diaper bag or something? Or tour the new hospital? Ooooh, should I be filling out pre-registration forms? When do you do that again? We should get a carseat in the van sooner or later . . .
This is all happening very fast :-) And really slow. All at the same time. :-)

One last random thing -- Ellie's speech is coming along remarkably. It really was like one week something 'clicked' and she suddenly 'got' the need for verbal speech, and it's just exploded since. Her Speech Therapist (or 'Tee-sure" (for teacher) as Ellie calls her) is in awe when she comes every two weeks of the progress Ellie makes . . . in fact, she's starting to wonder if there's much more she can do for her at this point. Ellie's speech is less lazy now (rather than just Dada, Nana, Mama, Lala, she will say our names as Daddy, Annie, Mommy and Ellie (or La-lee, which is cute too) -- not always, we're still Mama and Dada a lot, but more and more we're hearing two different sounding syllables throughout Ellie's speech.) She's putting words together now -- which is helpful, 'cause now she can yell stuff like, "No! Mean Mommy! Mommy mean!" Makes me wonder why we wanted her to talk so much? :-) She used more words and less gestures to get what she wants, even asking my to get down one of her favorite books the other day by asking, "Hola pato?" She went from barely using a dozen words a few months back to asking for the book "Hello duck" in a second language. :-) She suddenly loves talking on the phone, and will chatter away with whomever we can find available during the day. She sings constantly. She blows her teacher away by pointing out letters and saying appropriate words like, "A, Annie! D, Dada!" She jabbers way more often (an essential language-learning skill that Ellie completely lacked just a few months ago).
This brings up the question of did we worry over nothing? I've had people recently say to me, "I guess she never needed the Speech Therapy afterall, huh?" I wouldn't go that far. I always hoped for the best, that it would just suddenly 'click' for Ellie (the desire to talk, the ability to do so) and we'd see monumental progress made practically overnight. And it's happening, we're watching it every day and it's amazing. Had we 'left her alone' would've it happened anyway? Yeah, probably. BUT, I really feel that the Speech Therapist has been pivotal in Ellie's progress. Those things that 'clicked', they all came from her teacher. It was Julie who somehow got Ellie to see the need to speak. Julie trained her to just try -- to mimic sounds, to attempt words, to just give it a try -- something Ellie would never do for us.
Yeah, these things probably would've all 'clicked' sooner or later anyway, but I really feel it was Julie's intervention that has Ellie speaking as much as she is now. Plus, each time she's here, she teaches me dozens of new techniques and games and little ways to encourage Ellie's speech that I wouldn't have come up with on my own. Ellie would've spoke either way, but I think it's happening much faster (and before this next baby is born!) because of the Early Intervention program and professionals. I haven't regretted a minute of our time working through this program!

Family Birthday Extravaganza

Sunday afternoon we celebrated our birthdays with family. The party was for Annie, Ellie, Greg and I -- and it was so much fun. We had a ton of people there, and the girls had so much fun.

Here's Ellie showing off some pictures of herself to Grandpa KC.

Uncle David told Annie to feel his hair (after a recent hair cut) -- Annie's look cracked us all up. (Including Grandma Ruth, in the background.)

Annie opening gifts.

Ellie happily showing off one of her new dresses. The girls each got three new dresses/skirts, which means most of the night was spent changing the girls' clothes. This one was from Great Grandma Betty, and Annie has a matching one.

Here's my Grandma Betty and me

Uncle Karl loves tearing up wrapping paper.

Ellie decimated her birthday cake.

Annie was a bit more refined -- although they both stripped their cake of all sprinkles and frosting by the time they were done.

Ellie very excited looking at something with Grandma Ruth.

Ellie trying to put her new headband on Great Grandma Kay.

This is just a video of Ellie dancing to some music on Sesame Street from last week. This child dances for literally hours of the day.