The Metamorphosis

Tim has a REALLY neat tradition with the kids that he started back when Ashley was born. Ashley was born on his 30th birthday, so he thought it would be fun to have a picture with her every month of her first year, and then every birthday after that to document her growth. He's
continued the tradition with the boys. He loves to put the pictures on slide show mode, and watch the metamorphosis of the kids. Here are a few examples from Ashley and Erik's metamorphosis, and the first picture of Connor's. I won't post all the pictures as I'm sure you don't want to see every photo snapped from my kids lives!

Tim and Ashley- 1 month

Tim and Ashley- 6 months

Tim and Ashley- 1 year

Tim and Ashley-2 years
Tim and Ashley- 3 years

Tim and Ashley-4 years

Tim and Ashley- 5 years

Tim and Erik- 1 month

Tim and Erik- 6 monthsTim and Erik- 1 year

Tim and Erik- 2 years

Tim and Connor- 1 month

I'm such a wimp

Wednesday I took Ashley to Kindergarten Roundup to find out the necessary information for next school year. I realized I'm a wimpy mom when they took all the kindergartners to the classroom for games and cookies. I turned around in my seat watching Ashley leave and almost started bawling! My baby, my baby, where are they taking you? Homeschooling wouldn't be SO terrible, would it? I hear that your first and your last are the hardest to let go of. Everyone cry with me in September!

Connor's Blessing

Update

Okay, Connor is 2 1/2 weeks old now, so I guess it's time for an update. Connor is doing really well, he's growing fast and is very healthy...or so they tell us at the doctor's office. He's had an infected umbilical, but we've been treating that and it's fallen off and healed up now. He's got a cute little outie...I don't know if he'll think it's so cute later on, but we love it. I got mastitis, and got over that..whew. He's a good little eater and sleeper. He is a fast eater, which concerned me at first. I had heard (and my other two followed the trend) that a baby should eat about 15-20 minutes on each side. I'm lucky if I can get Connor to nurse for 15 minutes....total. But he put on 1.2 lbs. in a week, so I guess he's getting what he needs. He wakes up twice at night, once at 1 once at 4 and takes a half hour total to eat, have his diaper changed and go back to sleep, so I'm not hurting too much there. Everyone keeps asking me if the baby is wearing me out. Give me a newborn anyday!!! Somebody needs to tell me how to deal with my 2 year old...he's the one wearing me out!

The other day, I couldn't hear Erik, which is never a good thing. I though he was downstairs with Tim, so I went down there, but he hadn't seen him. Guess where I found him....sitting in the sink, in the bathroom applying my makeup. I had to spend a small fortune replacing most of what he got his hands on. I'm happy to report I kept my cool pretty well. In fact Tim commented that he was impressed that I didn't "pinch his little head off". It was a near thing.

Today, I got a call from the 911 dispatcher. Erik decided we had an emergency, I guess. I told the dispatcher we didn't have an emergency.....YET. I realized that might not be a very wise thing to say when I remembered those calls are recorded. So for the record...I'm not going to maim my son....I promise. At least not today.

One word

MASTITIS!!!!!

Connor James Tremayne

Here he is! Connor James Tremayne! 8 lbs. 5 oz. 20.5 inces long. All went well. He's a happy mild little baby, and I'll post more when I'm not pecking at the keyboard with one hand cause I'm holding a new baby in the other......such is life...now...I guess.

Almost there

Well, we've just about gotten through it. The Piano Recital is over and done with, and went off without a hitch, except Erik smashing his finger in the church door. (Can't wait for another little boy :)) We've gotten through Tim's, Dad's, 60th b-day party, which was at our house on Sunday (switched from the night before the induction, thankyou Tim). Today I finish up my visiting teaching for April, and get some of the last minute shopping done (which mom tells me not to do, she can do it when she gets here- do I ever listen????). And tomorrow Mom flies in to try to make me sit down and relax (it won't work, I bet you it won't). Then......Thursday morning....6:00 A.M. we're in the hospital getting pitosin pumped into my system. If everything goes as smoothly as it did with Erik, we should have a new little hurricane added to our family by noon or 1. I'll post pictures when I get a spare second.....which could mean NEVER! Grandma Renee bought me a magnet for my fridge which reads "Mothers of little boys are busy from SON up to SON down". Hopefully I can get at least one picture posted for you all. WISH ME LUCK!!!

Ashley's first Piano Recital

Piano is over for the year and I'm thrilled and relieved. The recital was excellent, all the kids played really well. I always tend to get just as nervous for them as they get for themselves. But this year was really nerve wracking. Ashley was playing for the first time, and I had the mom nerves along with the teacher nerves. She did really well. She's a really great little student. I always vowed I'd never teach my own kids, because it's a nightmare. She wouldn't take from anyone else, so I finally agreed.....conditionally. As soon as she starts fighting me with the practicing it stops, and she gets a different teacher. So far she's really self motivated and reminds ME when she needs to practice. Hopefully that will continue. She just started taking lessons about a month and a half ago and REALLY wanted to play in the recital. I was hesitant since she's been playing such a short time and she's so young. I finally gave in, and she did really really well. The video is the first song she played (memorized) called "the zoo". Tim wasn't able to get her second song, Erik was sitting on his lap, and wasn't going to allow it for anything, which is unfortunate. Her second song was even better than the first. I'm very proud of you, Ashley!

Pregnancy pictures.

Alright, this post is for those who have asked for pregnancy pictures. I warn you again....I'm not cute during pregnancy, and I look like a whale! The last two pictures are of my family, and me with Ashley....SHE looks cute The last 3 pictures were taken on Sunday.

The sound of silence

So, normally Erik won't sleep unless he's in his own bed or in the van. If he falls asleep in the van I can usually transfer him to the couch and he'll continue to sleep (see previous post). I have never had him fall asleep in the middle of play. So anyway, Friday Myken, a friend of mine, and I took our kids swimming for a couple of hours. Apparently this completely wore Erik out. Myken took him home and dropped him off with Tim, while I stayed for Ashley's swimming lessons. Tim could hear him in the kitchen playing with the child lock on the cupboard doors on my island. Suddenly.....silence. And this is what he found when he investigated the silence.

Silly kids

Here are some cute pictures of the kids. 2 weeks to go!

Help, I'm a meanie!!!

My patience level has dropped with my comfort level. My poor family. I don't remember being this mean with my other two, in fact, Tim has said I wasn't this mean. Of course I didn't have 2 other kids with my other pregnancies either. Just one example; I got a new pack n' play the other day, and I set it up to make sure it was what I wanted, and Erik kept touching it....just touching. It drove me bonkers! He was in tears, I was frustrated. Help, how am I going to make it another 3 weeks without my kids hating me, my husband hating me, and me hating myself for being such a monster???!!! Where's the intervention?

Doctor's appointment

Well, I had a doctor's appointment on Friday. I knew going in that since this is the last 4 appointments, all modesty was out the window. However I didn't anticipate having the doctor walk in with a group of nursing students. Nice. He introduced me to them all, and asked if I minded if they observed. What was I going to say? Get out? In for a penny, in for a pound I guess.
Anyway, everything is looking good. He's head down, and has definitely dropped (the doctor could feel his head). I'm a WHOLE half a centimeter dialated, and 50% effaced. I was a little upset cause I put on some weight, dang birthdays anyway. 3 1/2 weeks!

4 1/2 weeks? Too Long!

I know in the past I have said that I wasn't ready for this little boy to be born, because, since I have 1 boy I know how rambunctious and energetic they can be and it is easier to keep this one on the inside. Katie, I don't know how you do it!!! Twin boys....eeeesh. I've changed my mind. Get this child OUT!
I had heartburn all last night (even after taking 4, YES 4, tums), so I added a pillow to elevate myself, and woke up with a splitting headache. My sciatic nerve is killing me, and I'm having those awful ab muscles stretching pains. I don't have ankles anymore, just donuts wedged up over my feet, and I cut myself twice shaving my legs, cause I can't seem to get to them anymore. CAN I BE DONE YET????
Up side....I can't reach my feet, so Tim finally put my lotion on for me last night. I haven't gotten a foot massage since I was pregnant with Ashley.
Oh, and by the way....HE has a name now....Connor James Tremayne.

Brian Reganism

Alright everyone, I've been given the assignment by my brother Brian to spread the good word, no not the gospel (though I'm sure he wouldn't mind that), but the good word of Brian Regan. If you've never heard of him....for shame. He's just our absolute favorite comedian ever. He's completely clean, and HILARIOUS! Listen to him here on my blog, or look him up on youtube. You won't be sorry.
I'm totally jealous because Mom and Tacee are going to see him live at the college in Missoula this weekend. :(
ENJOY!!

7 weeks left!

Well, we've got 7 weeks, and a couple days left till baby number three is born. I'm already on the books at the hospital to be induced on April 9th at 6:00 a.m.! I think I'm excited...I know how active boys are and I think Baby Boy Tremayne is easier inside, but I can't wait to see him. This has been the easiest pregnancy so far, except I feel like I've had a constant cold all winter long. I had a doctor's appointment on Monday, and I've put on a total of 9 lbs. this pregnancy. Yay!! Definitely a switch! With Ashley I put on around 60 lbs. Erik I put on about 30 lbs.
The kids are really excited about the new baby, Although Ashley has moved past this pregnancy onto the next when we'll (obviously) be giving her a baby sister. They are so cute. They love to pet, hug and kiss my belly and are always talking to "baby". It would really be nice if they could call him by name, but we STILL haven't decided on a name. Thankyou everyone who voted on the poll, but Tim decided he didn't really like any of those names anymore. ARGHH! I am open to any suggestions anyone might have.
So I told Tim that we were scheduled at the hospital for April 9th. He then told me that we are having his Dad's 60th birthday party on April 8th......fine......at OUR house......not so fine. He says he'll take care of everything...cooking, cleaning, hosting.....and that I was not to lift a finger. We'll see if things develope that way.

Groundhog day

Well, looks like Punxsatawney Phil saw his shadow. 6 more weeks of winter. Now, I never understood that.....My calendar says it's 6 more weeks of winter regardless. But who am I to question Phil, Seer of seers, Prognosticator of all prognosticators. According to Ashley, It means there's 6 more days till Christmas. My first thought was...crap...I haven't even STARTED my holiday shopping.

Winter Blahs

I think winter has me in a slump. I can't seem to get up any energy or motivation this month. So that's my excuse for not blogging more. And to be honest I really don't have anything interesting or exciting to say- I just thought I'd let you all know, I'm still alive. Here are some really cute pictures of the kids to make your visit worth it though. :)

New Year's Resolutions

Well, here's another year. What happened to 2008? I think I blinked and missed it, it went by so fast. It's taken me a little bit to even think about New Years Resolutions. Erik had the flu a couple of days ago, and Ashley had it yesterday, now I'm not feeling so hot. Figures Tim (the only one of us who DIDN'T get a flu shot) feels fine. Anyway, my new years resolution this year is a continuation of last years, which has gone on a brief hiatus until April. Last year I was able to lose about 40 lbs. until I got pregnant in July. My goal since July has been to gain as little weight as possible with this pregnancy and make sure I continue exercising through this pregnancy so I can be ahead of the game when the baby comes. I turn 29 in March and I would really like to make a good start into my thirties, feeling good and looking good. So my New years resolutions for the year are to not go utterly insane being a mom of three, and to get to my goal weight by the end of the year. Wish me luck, and I'll try to keep you updated.

Erik's (not first) haircut

Erik's hair was getting too long. He was getting a rooster tail in back, and I was wondering where his ears had gone, so Tim got the clippers out and gave him a buzz. It was pretty cute, Erik loves getting his hair cut. Usually I take him to a salon, and he sits there nice and quiet and let's the beautician cut his hair. (His idea of leaning his head forward so she can get to his neck, is to open his mouth wider :) ) Erik didn't appreciate the fact that he was COVERED in hair. But he is a pretty smart little boy, he recognized the resemblence between him, with his arms, legs, and stomach covered in hair, and Daddy. Tim may not appreciate the fact that this is now public knowledge...sorry honey! This isn't the first time Tim's hair has been discussed by our children. My 5 year old daughter, who is also a smarty pants (too smart for her own (or our?) good sometimes), once told him that he is a mammal because he is covered in fur. We got a real laugh from that one.