Miss Monet

Still not real. Did I really grow this little person inside me and now she's mine? For some reason this pregnancy and birth and baby has seemed more surreal than any of the others. The others were taken in stride, crazy medical stride and all. She seems more like a miracle, did my body really grow her, her little spirit and identity forming inside me.
Maybe it's because she's the completion of our family, so I'm taking more time to contemplate the process. And to feel more gratitude for her, sleepless nights and all.

First bath.

Talin and Tatum.

He adores her and has the patience to go with it.

She inherited my snarl, and that's not a good thing.

This photo session was cut short when she peed all over.

Surprisingly gentle with his little sister, I didn't have high expectations for their relationship, but it's going great so far.

First day of school for Talin and Collin was yesterday. I can't believe how tall and old they are. Talin is in fourth grade and Collin is in second, it's crazy.

I love this picture. And I love my little family and feel such a completion with these four, and that is truly a blessing.

Baby Tatum

I was suppose to go in to be induced Thursday night, but they were booked with ladies going into labor so I kept getting pushed back. Finally falling asleep at 10:30, waiting for my hospital phone call.
11:30 pm-my phone rings and it's the hospital telling me to come in.
12:00 am- we get to the hospital, wait in the waiting room, register, all the fun stuff.
12:45 am- my IV is in, my pitocin started and we wait.
1:05 am- Dr. Durfee comes in and asks if I'd like my water broken. Yes! She checks me, I'm at a six, and she breaks my water at 1:10 am.
At this point I'm not really contracting and we're just dosing and watching tv. Within five minutes of her breaking my water the contractions from hell start.
I can manage to breath through the first two contractions, but then I start to cry and whimper like a baby.
Tom and I are alone in the room at this point and I beg him to get me an epidural. Screw going natural. But I know it's too late because I can already feel her coming out and I know there is no going back. Tom calls for the nurse who comes in to "check me", yea right, baby is practically crowning. So Dr. Durfee comes in just in time to deliver while I writhe and cry and refuse to put my feet up in the stirrups, try to leave the room, try to curl up into the fetal position. It's quite embarrassing. I think I slowed her down by just not opening my legs, I was insane.
1:31 am -she was officially born. It was the fastest, craziest birth ever. 0-60. I didn't expect to go from no contractions to holding my little girl in 20 minutes.
Looking back I'm glad I went natural, but I'm even happier that this is my LAST baby and I never have to do that again.
Going home from the hospital. They released us Friday afternoon. Kind of crazy, we were there for less than 24 hours. I guess when it's your fourth they assume you know what you're doing. I was happy to get home for sure.
Getting washed up from the nurse. She was pretty gunky, they don't think she was full-term. Seriously? I don't know how much I believe that one, she was huge.

Tatum & daddy.

Aren't they cute?

Sorry, these are in no particular order.

Getting her hair washed.

Meeting the boys.

Caleb has been surprisingly good with her. He doesn't want to hold her, but he's very interested in helping out to dress her hold her hands and feet.

The old pros. Can't believe how big they are. And there have been no uncomfortable nursing comments, I guess they knew what to expect.

Meeting Grandma Cyndee.

Believe it or not I didn't pose them for this picture, which makes it that much cuter.
Wouldn't you love to be that adored?

She's here!

She is finally here! She was born this morning at 1:31. She weighs 8lbs 2 oz and is 19.75" long.

Tonight's the night baby!

She's gonna be huge, and hopefully she's gonna be born tonight.

Weight guess:
Tom-8.3
Me-9
Cyndee-8.6

I should be at the hospital birthing like right now, but I'm not. They were super busy and I've been pushed back to 7:30/8:00 tonight.
I blame Talin.
My prophetic child proclaimed last week that she was going to be born on the 22nd. He just might be right.

39 Weeks-Tomorrow

Holy hell.

I'm walking around in this body, not MY body mind you, but this body that belongs to HER, shocked and dazed that I'm still pregnant.

STILL PREGNANT.

This is a record for me. And of course the longest pregnancy has to be accompanied by the most
miserable/painful pregnancy of my life.

SHE has taken over. And she is more stubborn than me, which is quite a feat.

I've been dilated to a three since at least 36 weeks. No way I'll go past 38 weeks is what they say. But 38 weeks has come and gone and I'm dilated to a five, fully effaced and fully confused.

How can I still be pregnant?

Thank goodness the misery has a promised end this Thursday. This Thursday at 5:00, in the afternoon, I'm still trying to be okay with the time frame here, but I'm honestly not. Today would be a better day. I thought July 2nd sounded like a fabulous birthday for the girl. I have to admit I was nervous she'd come on the 7th, which is claimed by me, and I'm not great at sharing MY day. And then 7-11-11 sounded super awesome to call HER day, but she refused to come. Then I set my heart on the 16th, a shared day with Aidan who was baptized. She was a no-show. I've tried everything, well Tom has helped in trying everything. Still she hangs out, snug inside me. But the time has come and she has definitely worn out her welcome.

Pray I go tonight. Tom prays for my patience and comfort, I think prayers are better for her imminent arrival.

Happy 4th of July!

Counting Down, Really Early

Collin and Caleb got hit hard with the fever bug. Never turned into anything, but it was nice to have them calm and tired with raging fevers. It's the only time these two will sit down. Ever.
And I got the rare opportunity to cuddle Caleb while he slept. My big belly is making it difficult for us to get too close, but we manage.
(don't you love the feeding tube resting on my massive cleavage, my body is ridiculous right now!)
Speaking of pregnancy, it's miserable. I'm on a partial bed rest, I'm huge, and I'm having a harder time with that than I thought. I can't wait to be unpregnant, I can't wait to shed sixty pounds, yeah, you heard me correctly, it's been a rough eight months. I'm crying to Tom about it all the time, and he assures me that everyone gets the "pregnancy butt". And those of you who don't are NOT normal. No names.... Whatever makes me feel better, right?
Speaking of Tom, this is where he spends all of his time, in the kitchen. He has been Super Dad since I've had to taken it easy. Seriously, he does everything, cooks dinner every night, feeds Caleb, bathes Caleb, cleans the kitchen, mops, cleans bathrooms and even puts laundry away. I don't know how our little family would survive without him. Despite being physically incapacitated I'm emotionally unstable as well with this pregnancy. He is the rock of our family right now.
And here are the two spunky boys after the Tylenol kicks in. Two speeds I tell you. 100 MPH or sleeping.

Summer Already

Today we mourned the last day of Caleb's preschool.
He was so cute with all his friends.
Cupcake celebration. Caleb enjoyed his usually syringed snack.
This was Caleb's teacher, Mary, and the two kids behind him, Tony and Talise were in his classroom. I'm so appreciative of all the teachers and aides and therapists and school bus drivers that took care of him while he was at preschool. I know he did not make their day any easier with his g-tube, but they took it all in stride and fell in love with him. Only two more months and his new year starts, thank goodness!
Talin and Collin had crazy hair day today. Literally five minutes before they had to walk out the door we busted out the razor and did some designs.

We've nicknamed Talin Joe Dirt, we just need to work on growing out that mullet this summer.
Just kidding. I told them they could keep the craziness until the weekend, then we're cutting!
And I married Peter Pan. Not that I'm complaining. I'd rather a jolly, young at heart companion than an old man attitude.
This is everyday for Tom, jumping, otter pops and squirt guns and sometimes a little DS time.

9 Years

April 22nd, Talin turned 9 years old. We headed to the valley for Easter weekend with family and decided to invite everyone to the park to help us consume his massive chess cake.

Are all 9 year olds this silly all the time? Mine is. I still love him, but he makes us all crazy.

Talin, Ryder, Wyatt & Noah.

We had lots of cousins come and play and eat cake.

Wesley, Talin, Ryder & Wyatt.

It's crazy to think he's 9!
Time is really flying by, it seems like just yesterday he was my only baby.

Wyatt, Reagan, Collin & Davyn.

Wesley's awesome wrapping job. Who needs a ribbon when you've got painters tape?

Caleb & Savannah.

This picture is significant because Savvy usually does not like Caleb and finds him to be quite annoying, which I totally understand. But I think they bonded.

They put the soccer ball to good use at the park. Especially with the army of children around.

Squirt gun from Grandma and Grandpa Chambers. They had lots of fun with this.

Our family is so blessed to have Talin in our family. Despite his silliness, he's always trying to do the right thing and he brings a beautiful spirit into our home. I love you Talin and am proud of the older brother you are and the example you are to our family. You are so smart and I often call you the "absent-minded professor" because you're so busy dreaming and coming up with brilliant ideas all the time that you don't have the time for life's little details. You make you're mother crazy, but I look forward to watching all your creations and ideas come to life over the years. I love you like crazy!

Easter Sunday

From Left to Right: Standing-Wesley, Noah, Caleb, Talin, Savannah, & Wyatt. Sitting-Reagan, Ryder, Collin & London
Our crazy Easter gang. Mine, Tyler's and Mandi's kids.
It was great food and company.

Just in Time for Easter

The night before we left Cedar City, Shane told Tom and I that he had a little piece of Utah for us to take home. 4 Baby Chicks.

My boys were beyond thrilled.

It took me awhile to find my manners and say, thank you?

So they chirped and chirped the whole 10 hour drive home.

Thank you.

But we've grown to love them and even bought two more expecting some to not make it through their chick phase. But they're all super healthy and chirpy and fast.

You should see Caleb catch them, it's hilarious.

Tom did an awesome job building the chicken coop. It turned out great. I painted. We make a perfect team, he builds, I paint.

Although I ran out of white paint, I need it for the roof.

He even built openings to reach in and grab the eggs everyday.

They love their new home. Probably just happy to get out of the box they were living in. They grow so quickly.

Talin keeps telling everyone that we're going to have "farm fresh" eggs by July.

And Tom's cute butt. He's actually throwing the chicks down the ramp.