Em's Utah Bridal Shower

So yesterday was a fun day! I am not the best picture taker, so there were more people there and I swear I was there, but I do not have any pics of it. It was pink and brown the colors of her wedding, but of course I do not have any pics of the decorations either. But it was fun. Me, Becca, and Em got together in the morning and set it all up and made most of the food. And then Em's in-laws did some more games and some goodies too. Em loved it. She got some cute things. And she is so fit right now, she is going to look "Rockin" in all the cute stuff she got. We had alot of fun seeing people and meeting Steven's mom and sister and sister-in-law for the first time. We are all so excited for her and can't wait till April 11th.

Kids Growing Up

All my kids are growing up so fast. Casen is know 10 weeks and smiling all the time. I always tease that he is bi-polar because he goes from being so happy to so ticked. It is funny! He has a little temper. And he has really started to think he needs to breastfeed to go to sleep. Isn't that like any man? The way Casen eyes me when I am getting in the shower makes me feel uncomfortable. It is so funny! He really is a pretty good baby and we are enjoying him! Cade is almost 4, in about a month and he is my hardest right now! Just at a weird age. He is wanting attention, but annoying attention. Or he does the weirdest things t0 get attention. I think the baby is taking his attention and he does not know how to deal with it. He still goes to preschool 3 days a weeks. And Corey is almost 6, in May! She still loves school. She also learned how to ride her bike last fall and so she is loving that too. It has started to warm up here, spring time YEAH! And so they are outside any opportunity they can get. And I can finally bring the baby outside. I am loving it too. Now I just need a tan! AND BAD! Corey also was just in the science fair at her school and she loved that. She painted with food. She made some crazy creations with a little cocoa, beets, raspberries, paprika, etc, and water. It was fun times! I cannot believe how fast they are all growing up and that I am almost 30. SCARY!

Casen's Blessing Day- March 1st, 2009

So today turned out great! Getting everyone ready and to church by 9:oo AM was a little hard, but it turned out nice! Matt gave a really special blessing. My other kids were a little rowdy, so I was trying my hardest to hear the whole prayer, but it was nice to have my fam there and Matt's fam. And then we had a nice breakfast at our house afterwards. It was so fun having my family here for that couple of days. My kids really take to their aunties and uncle and their grandparents when they come to visit. They are just as sad as I am when they go home. I really wish we could see each other more often; weekly not every 6 months. It makes it hard. Mike could not come this time. Em & Steven had to go home early and missed the actual blessing . And Steph's family had just moved to CA. like 3 days before. So we did miss them, but we will see them in a few weeks at Em's wedding. YEAH! SO EXCITING. And one of Matt's brothers and his big family were out of town too. But it was so fun having my fam here and getting to hang out. I love them alot! And Casen looked so handsome in his little outfit. He looked like a LITTLE MAN!

Baby Casen Growing Up Already- 2 & 3 weeks old

I am still in Baby Heaven. These are a few pics of baby Casen, alot of them taken by my younger kids Corey and Cade because I am holding him, etc. One of the pics he is at his 2 week Dr. visit and gaining more than the weight he needed. He is a snacker and he does not know when to say "I am FULL." I have had him puke up fresh breastmilk on me a few times because he just ate too dang much. And it is not so much fun when it is the middle of the night. He gained 9 more oz. then he needed too. I have a feeling his nickname is going to be "Lunch" like Cade's was or "Chunk." He is really a good baby. He has finally gotten his days and nights switched around and he is sleeping 4-5 hours at night, which I am loving. He does OK in the car. And I bought this thing called a miracle blanket that swaddles him so good and I think it really helpe him sleep at night. He is also getting a little bit more use to his baths. Still not a HUGE FAN, but he is getting a little better. As long as I make sure he is fed and that the bathroom is at 75 degrees when he bathes. He hates to be cold.

I am doing good. I have kinda gotten into this mode of "staying home" and I like it. Yeah I do run my crappy "mom errands", but I really go the least amount of places that I have to go and I am kinda becoming a home body. I have not had cabin fever this year, except for the fact that I would love to go walking, but it is too cold to go with the baby. And Matt gets a little stressed out if I leave the baby with him longer than like 30 minutes. But on the weekends, I would rather just make dinner or bring something home and hang out at home; rent a movie, do some picture books, etc. I love being home with my fam, instead of stressing out and trying to go out to eat, etc. Maybe the cold just sucks and trying to get stuff done on a babies schedule. You know what I mean!

But my other kids are doing OK. I feel like they have both been affected by the new baby. Corey is a little more whiny and makes stuff up to get attention, like "I don't feel good." And Cade cries alot more when he wants attention. Him and Corey have also been fighting alot more. So I feel bad and I am trying to help them adjust, but that is what is wearing me out. I really hate being referree and raising my voice. I felt kinda bad the other day. I hope I am not a clean freak nahtzee (sp?) But Cade and Corey were playing dress-up and I came in his room and it was all cleaned up, so I praised him for it and he said, " I want to clean up quick, so you not get mad at me for a messy room." I felt bad.

And for Matt, I just laugh at him. Anytime I ask him to hold the baby or anytime he willing asks to hold the baby, he expects Casen to just sit there and not move. He gets all flustered if Casen is figgity. And if Casen fusses, he always says, "I think he's hungry, Jen." I know when he needs to eat, most of the time. I swear that if men had nipples, our kids would all be fat because men think babies need to be fed every 15 minutes. Casen is just a sucker and a snacker, but I have had him throw up milk on me one too many times because I overfed him. IT IS CALLED A BINKIE AND WE ARE TRYING TO HELP CASEN TO LIKE HIS BINKIE AND NOT USE MOM AS A BINKIE.

But other than that, life is good here and life is simple and I am loving it. A little tired, but I love my family and my kids and my husband. I am excited to see my mom and dad and brothers and sisters in March, when we bless Casen. I miss them and wish they lived closer. 6 more weeks till spring, so the GROUNDHOG believes.

Tribute to MY MOM

So it has been about a week or so since my mom has gone home and I am really missing her. She lives in CA and it is so far away. I always get a little depressed for a week or so after my family leaves to go home; especially my mom after I just had a baby. She has been at every one of my baby births and I just love it. I love that she gets to share that experience with me. And I think Matt likes her there for comfort too. She likes to come up for the labor and then be there for us to see the baby the first week or so and to help us adjust. She helps with my other kids, running errands, cleaning up the house, and of course we just like her there for conversation and company.

It is such a fun time. The kids get to see their "Grandma Christy" and we get to catch up. I always feel closer to her, during her 2 week stay. I love my mom and it is always hard to see her go. She always cries too when she has to say good-bye to the new baby because they will not look like a newborn the next time they see them! Love you MOM!

Coming home from the hospital- Casen's first 2 weeks- Jan. 2009

I finally made it home and I was excited to see my other kids. They were really excited for me to come home and bring baby Casen home. It was a little hectic when I first got home, but it always is, isn't it. It took a little adjusting. But I had my mom and my sisters here and they really helped me out and helped me to adjust. I have really recovered nicely. My mom was here for a week longer and all my sisters went home. It was so fun to have her here. And I loved the company! We did just hang out and not really go anywhere, but I loved it! I really wish she lived here or at least closer.

Casen is on the wrong schedule and I am not getting alot of sleep, but he is so worth it. I just love cuddling with him. And my kids are really great with him. It really is nice having my kids be a little older , so I do not have to worry about them hurting him. Cade is a little crazy, but he loves Casen and knows he has to be careful with him.

I was really sad to see my mom go, but I am managing. Meals were brought in which was so appreciated and Matt has been awesome too. He still gets a little nervous with newborns, but he is doing better. He is a great DAD!

Casen also had his first bath and he was not a fan. I have given him a few more too and he hates them. He hates to be cold. He hates cold wipes on his butt too.

Casen does look like a mixture of my 2 kids. It will be interesting to see what he looks like as he gets older. We are so happy that he is here with us and HEALTHY!