After Baby

I have started a new blog. Check it out. It is about my weight loss journey post Baby #3!

www.postbaby3.blogspot.com

I am counting on you to hold me accountable!

My Babies at Two Months Old

Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas!
We had lots of visitors. Josh's parents, sister and Grandma Shirley all came from Washington to share Christmas with us. His Uncle Bruce and Kathleen came from Washington too!
And Santa came from the North Pole!

He brought the boys a Nintendo DS,

And he brought Jaelyn (and her mommy) an infant/toddler bath tub!

Aunt Stephanie held Jaelyn for us all of Christmas day
while the boys played with their new toys.
Grandma Joan and Grandpa Cork hosted a wonderful Christmas dinner,
and then on Sunday they took us bowling at their recreation center.
Grandma Shirley and Grandma Joan took care of Jaelyn for us while Josh and I bowled.
We left for an afternoon lunch at Macayo's.

And then it was back to the recreation center for some miniature golf.
Jaelyn put on her leopard pajamas and after a fun filled day it was off to bed!

Jaelyn Smiles!

Jaelyn's first smile was about 2 weeks ago, but it wasn't until the last few days she has been doing it consistently. Here is a VIDEO of her at 8 weeks old!

"I am going to be a great dad!"

James said today, "I am going to be a great dad because I am going to YES to EVERYTHING!"

Las Vegas

We just returned from meeting my sister in Las Vegas. She has not seen the boys in over a year or met her new niece yet. The drive was great. Jaelyn slept the whole time and the boys did great as well thanks to not being able to sit next to each other anymore!

Friday night we went out while Bethany watched the kids. She woke them up at 10PM and kept them up until 230AM so that she could play with them. You can imagine how well behaved they were the rest of the trip.

On Saturday, we got all dressed up to go see Santa. Jaelyn was in her beautiful Christmas dress and did not spit up on it at all!

And the boys did not get their shirts or pants dirty in the least bit. Santa, however took a dinner break while we were in line and wasn't going to be back for an hour. So we decided to take a family picture (our first of the five of us) and call it a night.

It was then Jacob asked me why I call "baby sister" my sweetie pie. I told him because she is my sweetie pie. For the rest of the weekend and still now, he tells me "Your sweetie pie is awake mom." "Your sweetie pie is hungry."

Bethany watched the kids for us AGAIN so Josh and I could have a nice dinner in Vegas. We are there so frequently, I have stopped taking touristy pictures, but I couldn't resist this one from the new bridge that connects to the newly opened city center.

We attempted Santa pictures the next day after we checked out of our hotel, but I didn't think having Jaelyn in her dress the four hour drive home would be such a good idea so the official Santa pictures are more casual than planned.

The trip was short and I was not ready to leave. I realized I had not played any games with Bethany and insisted we drive back to the strip so that I could play with her for an hour before we left. So I did and I hit the Jackpot playing the Deal or No Deal penny slot! The lady next to me had been sitting there playing it for five hours trying to hit it. I cashed out and we hit the road, but not before I won $50 more dollars playing craps.

It was great to see Bethany and Joey, however we did not get to see them together because when we were hanging out with Joey, Bethany was watching the boys for us. We will have to try to meet up with them again there in early 2010 while we still are offered free rooms.

Another Tooth!

James lost ANOTHER tooth yesterday!!! Tooth #6!! He swallowed it with his food at lunch time and then didn't even tell us. Josh noticed.

Lion Costume

Jacob watched the video of himself. He said, "I was just kidding there is a tail."

Later he put the costume back on and since he could not see the tail on the shirt - still looking behind his behind he said, "Mom, the tail is only on the movie."

I pulled it around to show him where it was. He got the biggest smile on his face :).

oh Jacob... You are one of a kind!

This was Jacob's Halloween costume when he was six months old.

Jaelyn Marie: 1 month check-up

Check-up went well today. She weighed in at 8.2 pounds (25th %), 21 inches (50th %), and Head Circumference of 35.5 cm (22nd %). Although, I don't think her height is accurate because she was not quite touching the top of the ruler they use when they did it. Hard to explain but I believe she is probably a quarter of an inch or two shorter than they wrote down. She got her second Hepatitis B Shot and will take a bath later to soak, as I will message her little leg where the shot was given. Also, the pediatrician heard a click in her hip and wants to get an ultra sound to make sure it is not popping in and out of the socket. I am sure it is nothing. The same thing was heard when James was born, however he never had an ultrasound. It was heard in the hospital when he was born, but not at his check-ups after that. I am sure hers will go away too! :) Other than that, her pediatrician said to keep up the good work!

Baby Girl is One Month

She is holding up her finger, "I'm one month old, Mommy!"

We made the switch to Cloth Diapers! They look so pretty!

James' Thanksgiving Program

James and Gray on Thanksgiving with their Mohawks.

The Kindergartners. James is in the front row, third from the left.

James disguised his turkey as a Cardinal Football Player.

James was an Indian Man.

Jacob's December Hand

Jaelyn's First Black Friday!

In line waiting for target to open... picture taken some time between 2:30AM and 5AM.

Funny Things Jacob Says...

When given a choice of ice cream or candy he chooses one, eats all but one bite, then says "I was just kidding, I did not want this one. I wanted a different one."

When he can't hear what you are saying, instead of saying "I can't hear you" or "Talk louder" he says, "Talk loudest of all!"

Daddy's Birthday, Halloween, & It's A Girl!

It was a very eventful weekend! WOW! It all happened so quickly! First we were singing happy birthday to daddy...

Then, we were in our costumes trick-or-treating...

(James and Jacob were Power Rangers)


It took Jacob quite a few houses before he went all by himself, but when he did it, he was so proud!

Then, after debating for 3 hours about whether my water broke or I had peed myself, I finally went to the hospital. When I got there, I finally realized that I wasn't constantly peeing myself and my water had ruptured, I called Josh and said get here, it was a good thing because less than 2 hours later SHE was born.

IT'S A GIRL!

She weighed in at final 6 pounds 13 ounces.


For the first time, I got to spend my recovery time with my new baby!


And daddy too...


Then, she bathed and was right back with me...


And daddy too...


She was oh so precious, and had a mohawk...


We had lots of visitors, starting with her first: Great Grandma and Great Grandpa McDanold.


Then, friends Jen and Kristen arrived a short time later.


Kristen came despite her long day with her 3 kids and our 2 boys.

Nana arrived (early too) the next day.

Daddy fed her after I did so we made sure she didn't go hungry.

The three of us. James and Jacob were not allowed to visit due to new hospital rules: swine flu.

Kristen came back two days later with another friend, Teresa.

And by Tuesday, I was up and out of bed.

We had lots of time to sleep together between guests. We stayed at the hospital as long as we could to get some soon to be needed rest.

Good friend, Tonja visited too. Her baby girl, Gianna, is due at the end of the month.

Here she is, Jaelyn Marie Pelham. By Wednesday, she finally had a full name.

Big yawns. We always call our baby, "little foot" because it reminds of us the Land Before Time, when the baby dinosaurs yawn.

So small in the car seat. We are ready to head home to meet big brothers, James and Jacob.

The boys helped daddy put together her bed.

They took turns holding her. James was so proud.

He can't believe how small she is...

"Her foot is smaller than my finger!"

She even has the class pets visiting. Jacob got to bring home, Hope Bear, and James got to bring home the Cat and the Hat.

Six Days old and so cozy.

Here are some videos of the boys' first reaction of her arrival home.