Happy 8th Birthday - Indy

My brother swore after this picture that he would grow up to start his own "New kids on the block" boy band...all he needs is a gold chain...whatever. I thought he was cute.

He asked for donuts for his birthday breakfast, cheeseburger for lunch and raviolis for dinner.

He still loves his blanket...and is never far from it.

For his Grandfather...He went and got himself completely dressed and wanted a picture...and came up with this pose on his own.

Indy is a great boy and totally obsessed with Cub Scouts (addiction assisted by his Grandfather). He loves clothes, shoes and baseball. (And his new baby sister-who wanted to come on his birthday but we said no :) Happy 8th Birthday bud...can't wait for your baptism :)

"Underbrella"

Is here.

Ella. Born yesterday around 3pm.

Due Date stats.

Fewer than 5% of births occur on the due date; 50% of births are within a week of the due date, and almost 90% within 2 weeks. It is much more useful, therefore, to consider a range of due dates, rather than one specific day...{wikipedia}

I'm trying to be good. I haven't allowed myself to waddle (maybe in the privacy of my own home...if only to evoke some sympathy from my husband.) I haven't complained and until today, I haven't been uncomfortable...but having said that. I'm done. To all the women who see their due dates come and go...I feel for you. AND NO, I will not do castor oil...just the thought sends me into convulsions, but I will be walking my hilly neighborhood today.

I thought for sure that my mom, with spicy mexican food in tow, would be the answer - the magic spark, but no. However, my kids are grateful for the distraction and love that she is providing, and I'm grateful for the sympathy ;)

My grandfather's birthday is tomorrow and my mother suggested that we name the baby after him (Russell) OR his mother "Mary Matilda Sophia Lindstrom Carlson Helquist Hansen" (I probably mispelled half of them - and have no idea why she had so many.)

Visualize {closer}

So last night Matt had a pow-wow with the kids at dinner (he had already called me and given me the same pow-wow). He wanted everyone to "visualize" holding the baby. You see, he thinks that my nonchalance with the whole labor thing is what is stalling the baby's delivery. I'm too chicken to think about it/her, therefore she won't come. So after explaining to the kids what it means to visualize something, he made them all do it at dinner. Frankly, I think he's been reading too many "The Secret/Answer" books and its starting to go to his head. However, I do find it interesting that yet again our personalities are totally portrayed in the correct light. I'm known as the "opener" the "starter" in our family. I get the job going and see it to about 98% completion. Matt is our "closer". When I've given up (on the chandelier, the crib, the house and now the baby) Matt jumps in and gets the job finished. Interesting. (We'll just have to give him credit for "trying" to finish this one, since ultimately all he can do is stand by and watch...it would be nice if he could finish for me.)

BIG League

These boys would probably give anything to quit their day jobs and just play baseball. I was secretly hoping to get a picture of a "not" winning score...so I could tell them to keep those day jobs...but they did a good job and won. Its the only game I've been able to go to since their games are always during YM/YW. Matt and Taylor eat this stuff up...softball season easily surpasses anything else in Matt's book.

Pay close attention to the many faces of "Matt-dog...the batter/runner extraordinaire"...

My favorite face is the last one...it reminds me of his Father...I don't think he was to happy with the play.

Shayner decided he didn't need to hit...just walk...and take care of other things...

(Okay it would've been a lot funnier if he hadn't been "posing" for the camera...now I know where his girls get it from.)

Year of Mother part 6

Okay...so last month I was kinda 2 for 3 and this month I'm kinda 2 for 3, but I'm trying :)

This month's "year of the mother" moment came when I opted to take both boys with Matt and I to capitalize on his free night stay at the Ritz. (Now renamed as the "Ritz-Bitz" by Indy...I know there's something seriously wrong when you're child nick-names one of the most famous hotel chains after a cracker.) Anyway, Matt serves on an accounting board and they have a yearly meeting where they put their members up the night before their meeting in the Ritz Carlton. I realize that I have become quite a hotel snob, and although the Ritz was very very nice...this was definitely a business hotel with pretty standard rooms and bathrooms (hit the Intercontinental :). They managed to eek out a pool on the second floor and I managed to play with my boy(s) (yes, Indy actually got in the water and stayed after freaking out about the water in his ears) in the pool...making up any game I could with plastic cups. Laina opted to stay in Prescott for her dance camp and so it was just me and the boys...and we all survived.








Serious water/ear issues...

All I wanted was a picture of the both of them...poor Rascal...tormented his whole life...someday Indy will look back and feel remorse...someday...until then...we'll just survive the daily morning ritual of screaming and teasing!

If I went into labor I vowed to have the baby's middle name be "Ritz" (we were a week from my due date)...but alas...no labor and I'm left to endure the most painful week of pregnancy...the final week. Not physical pain...mental pain. Every time I go to call my mother I know she's thinking..."is this the labor call???" I just keep a smile plastered on my face and say I haven't had one hint of labor...and not one hint of a contraction :) If I knew when the baby was coming...I would shout it from the mountain tops :) (see how many smiley faces I've put down? :)

Woops!

I've been telling my friends that I walk around in an anxiety-ridden daze...worried that I'm always forgetting something. My poor brain just can't keep track of everything...if its not written down...chances are slim I'm going to remember. This was the case with Sheri's maternity session. I have no idea how long I would've had the images on my computer if she hadn't asked how they were! This is my cousin's wife who has had quite the roller-coaster preganancy and is due a few weeks after me. We're glad that the baby is still in her and that we were able to get a few images of her and her kids...it wasn't easy since we had 3 others running around wanting their pictures taken as well!