Daddy and His Mini Me

They look alike in so many ways - especially with receding, thin hair on top and thicker on the sides :).

P.S. Jeremy is not always that mean-looking... he didn't know I was taking a picture with my phone.

He's Here!

Owen Jeremy made his appearance on Monday, February 21, 2011 at 3:00 am. Weighing in at exactly 8 pounds and measuring 21 inches long, he is just perfect.

This is the last picture taken of me pregnant, just a couple of days before delivering.

Owen went right along with my plan - to come on the weekend when Daddy was in town.

I started having contractions Saturday night. They weren't regular until Sunday morning. By Sunday afternoon when they were close and stronger, we headed to the hospital. Once there, they slowed way down and I was still dialated to a 3 (as I had been at my dr appt earlier in the week) so they sent us home. I was so depressed, but knew that I was in true labor. Several hours later the contractions were close again and much, much stronger than before. We headed back to the hospital and this time I was dialated to a 5 and ready to go.

Here is a picture shortly after getting the epidural... you don't want to see the ones Jer took before the epidural :).

7 hours after arriving at the hospital, Owen was born. Although the epidural was fabulous at first, it didn't work long on my right side so I can proudly say I was able to experience 1/2 of a natural birth - I felt everything on the right side of my body from contractions to the stitches after - YIKES!

Things are going well now, other than the aftermath of delivering a large 8 pound baby. The kids are adjusting as to be expected - lots of drama and chaos! Thankfully Jer is home this week so we are trying to enjoy the family time, even if it is crazy!

Here are some more pics:

Maya's Birthday

Finally posting pics of Maya's birthday party. She had been so excited about having it at Chuck E Cheese's so she could go in "The Ticket Blaster." It blows the tickets up in the air and they get to keep all of them that they can catch. She loved it!

All of the girls loved dancing up front and dancing with Chuck E. when he came out.

It was a fun party and I was happy to leave the mess there and go home after it was over. Can't believe she is 6 years old!

Weekends

When Daddy comes home on the weekends there is lots of work to do. Things like mowing the lawn, raking up leaves, fixing broken disposals, closet doors, TVs and other stuff like that. We try to find a balance between work and play so that the kiddos can get ample of time with him. We also try to throw in a date for Mommy and Daddy. Busy weekends! Last weekend we headed to Freestone park to feed the ducks and then grabbed ice cream cones on the way home.

Mom got to lounge in a chair and keep the snacks stocked


There is that belly!

This weekend: date night last night, Maya's birthday party today and lots of other responsibilities to get done before he leaves tomorrow. Hope to have some fun birthday party pics to share!

The Farm

Last week Kenyon's preschool took a field trip to a farm. It was so fun to spend some one on one time with just Kenyon.

This Mama cow had just delivered twins

Happy Birthday Maya!

Today my little girl turns 6. Last night I was looking for old pictures of her and came across lots of video clips of when she was a toddler/preschooler. She was the only child and the center of our world. Wait a minute... she still is, but has 2 1/2 brothers that have joined her there! In the picture above, she was 14 months so just around Devin's age. I love that she was already sporting her braids and beads!

Some of Maya's milestones this year are starting Kindergarten, losing more teeth, learning to ride a bike without training wheels, learning to read and add and subtract, learning all about music at her Let's Play Music class, becoming a jump rope queen who can out-jump Grandpa Gary in a contest, and so much more.

I have been telling her that when she turns 6, she has to start changing diapers. One day she told me she didn't want to turn 6 so I had to tell her I was kidding. That said, I know she could change diapers and run this entire household if she needed to. She will inform me of what Devin or Kenyon want/need before I get a chance to assess the situation. She gets Devin out of bed some days and entertains him until Mom can pull herself from bed. Truly, she is an amazing helper!

We are celebrating by letting her pick where we eat out tonight and then we will have a party with Daddy and friends this weekend at Chuck E. Cheese's.

Happy Birthday Maya!

9 years later...

And we are still in love!



Happy Anniversary Jeremy!

We are real romantic around here... He is not even in town. I told him he better start saving up to take me somewhere special next year... Hawaii, New York, or even where it all began - San Diego. Something to look forward to!