Little Miss Myah

Myah was born at 6:42 pm. on Sat. March 29 (yes sat. not fri.---my induction was cancelled and I had to wait an extra day!) The labor and delivery went reletively fast and thanks to modern medicine as pain free as a birth can be. She weighed in at 8 lbs. even and was 20 in. long. To our suprise she has tons of DARK not blonde hair (as expected) that goes pretty curly when wet. She is a bundle of joy and we all just love her so much! We had a hard time with the name--mostly because Myah wasn't a front runner, but when she came out that is just what she looked like! We just love her to pieces and are sooooo glad she is finally here!



She is a pretty good mix of the boys as babies. From the nose up she looks a lot like Camden and from the nose down a lot like Carter.
She already has her daddy wrapped around her finger! And look at all of that hair!

Here we go!

So I haven't posted my easter pictures yet, but promise to do so soon. We had a really fun Easter and the boys loved all of the festivities. The past couple of weeks have been a waiting game for me. I thought for sure about 3 nights that I was going into labor---but no such luck. In fact I went to the doctor yesterday and was still at a 3+, all of those contractions for nothing--oh well that is typical for me I guess. However today is the day. I am scheduled for an induction but have to wait for the hospital to call me back. I guess a few women were lucky enough to go into labor on their own so I have to wait for a spot. My parents have the boys so Darin and I are just hanging out. We were able to go to dinner and a movie (Vantage Point---review: pretty intense, lots of shooting and killing, but overall I give it a 7). It is a tradition we have started since I have had to be induced with all of my babies. So now if I can handle the waiting today hopefully we will have a beautiful baby girl in our arms by tonight! We will post pictures soon!

I think I'm ready!!!

So I am ready to have a baby! Now if only someone could let her know that and we could get this show on the road. I am just about 38 weeks. Last week I was dilated to a 3 and 70% effaced. I have never been that ready so early---I actually have been induced with both my boys so the thought of going on my own would be great! Especially if that meant I would go early. I will however have the opportunity to be induced at 39 weeks if I would like so that means by the end of next week I should have a baby! Anyway I have been working hard to get the nursery ready and give our house a touch of pink. My mom convinced me to make my own bedding--which I am happy with, but was WAY more work than I had hoped for!!! In fact I hadn't even pulled out my sewing machine since before Camden was born and that was the days of teaching junior high life skills "otherwise known as Home Ec". Anyway it is done so I thought I would post a few pictures. The first are my before pictures when my nursery was all boy---afterwards is the updated girl version!











And here is the pink stuff!


The Diaper stacker.




I found these cute vinyl like flowers on the Internet and thought it would be an easy way to spiff up the room. You just rubbed them on and voila! (you can't see from the pictures but they go all the way around the top of the room) If you are interested check out instant murals .com or prestoroomchange.com. They had some really cute stuff! Also the curtains---of everything they were by far the easiest to make--I highly recommend trying it if you are in need of a new valance.






So I loved this big flower and bought it on a splurge but didn't really now what to do with it. So for now it will sit in the garbage and look as though it is potted!
This is the quilt and some random decorations. Don't mind the baby picture of Carter---It just was cuter to leave him in the frame than to leave it blank.

Here are the basket liners---what can I say--I'm having a girl, I had to go all out with the flowers!





And here is all of the bedding put together. My mom actually did the dust ruffle for me. You can't really tell from the picture, but she lined it with tulle (spelling?). It turned out pretty cute.
Overall I am pretty happy with it, but before you decide to go gun-ho and try this yourself--know this. All of the fabric cost about the same as a four piece bedding set from pottery barn---and you have to do all the work. Granted I got a diaper stacker, basket liners and curtains out of it and have enough left over to do a few more things like cork boards. But you have to decide if it is worth the time. In the end I guess it was for me! I still need to do a little more decorating, but until I have pictures of her or a name so I can get letters for her wall this will just have to do!


As for me I am also feeling very ready! Here is the belly shot that was requested---feel grateful, I am not one of those "embrace the belly" people and really don't like looking at myself this pregnant but for the record this is what I currently look like! I have had my hair done, my toenails done ( really who wants to look at ugly feet when they are pushing) and my house is about halfway through my crazy rush to have it sanitized and spotless before the baby comes. So all that is left is to have this little bundle in my arms! Hopefully she will make her entrance soon! I am getting a little anxious!

GO AGGIES!

So those of you who know my family, know that we are big Utah State Aggie fans! My parents have season tickets so we get to take the kids to most of the home games. My boys have become huge fans of Jaycee Carroll. For those of you who don't follow Aggie basketball he is a senior this year and has become the all-time scorer in Utah State history. I think he is only about 70 pts. from becoming the all-time scorer for the entire state of Utah. Anyway he has been fun to watch and my kids idolize him. It is so funny to watch them run around the house trying to make baskets pretending to be Jaycee Carroll. In fact that is the best way to get them to clean up. They throw their toys into the baskets while pretending to be him. Even Carter being only 3 knows his number and can pick him out of the crowd. He likes pretending to be him even more than Camden. Anyway last week my dad arranged to have their picture taken with him after the game. Carter was so excited---Camden was a little nervous but you wouldn't think that by looking at the pictures. Here is my niece and nephew along with Carter. Camden was too nervous and wouldn't be in the picture. Carter hardly showed the excitement he was feeling. He looks kind of afraid but I think he was in total shock that Jaycee Carroll was holding him!
After the other kids had their picture taken Camden felt bad and had my dad take him down to get his picture taken. He was pretty excited. They both keep talking about it and are pretty excited about it. Now the Aggies need to go to the WAC championship and bring home a trophy. They are going in as the #1 seed so we will keep our fingers crossed! Darin was going to go and cheer them on, but decided to not leave his wife only weeks from delivery! What a man---now I just need to go into labor this weekend to really make it worth his while for staying home! (wishful thinking on my part!)

Random fun!

Well we haven't had anything really fun to post about, but the kids were having fun on Sunday making some macaroni and cheese before church. We have church at 1:00 now (ughhh) so we have lots of time to waste in the morning. It's funny how often we are still late to church even though we have so much time. Our ward is HUGE so unless you are at least 15 min. early you will be sitting in the gym on hard folding chairs. Camden is in CTR 5 and is loving it. However he still hasn't got a ring and he is pretty bummed about that. Hopefully he will get one soon! Carter is still in nursery and loves playing basketball with all of his little buddies. Darin and I are also in nursery---hopefully for only a few more weeks! It has been fun though. We are really hoping Carter will survive without us in there! Our ward is bursting at the seams with little kids. In Dec. we had over 60 kids in nursery. About 36 of them went to Sunbeams so we are back down to a little under 30 but should be back up to 60 by the end of the year. Primary is huge as well. Last time I heard I think there were about 180 kids in there. They just had to graduate from the primary room to the chapel---to many kids to fit in that room. I think we will be spliting some time this year. It is a fun ward though! There are about 7 of us all having a baby together, at least we are all due within a couple weeks of each other. We have really loved living here!

Carter the Artist!

Carter got some new paints for his birthday and he loves them. We have to strip him down to his diaper (which actually the last week has been underwear YEAH!!!!) before he can begin and he still hasn't quite caught on to the fact that his body is not a canvas!

Carter's many parties!

So I am a little late getting all of Carter's birthday photos on here. I swear we had an entire weekend long celebration. We had a lot of fun though. It all started on Fri. morning. We weren't' going to give him any presents until later that night, but Camden (yes Camden not Carter) started throwing a fit that Carter wasn't getting any presents and it was his birthday. So we caved in a let him open one small gift. Carter was just thrilled to throw off the paper but ended up loving the gift as well. Just for your info---we gave him the Leap Frog DVD "Letter Factory" and it is great! He already has learned so many more of his letters and the sounds they make so if any of your kids learn as well as mine by watching shows (I swear they have no attention span when I sit down with them and try to teach) then this is a great!
On Fri. night we decided that instead of having our big family party we would take the boys down to the ES Arena and see the Monster Truck rally! Now you moms of all girls just wait until you get a boy! I read of all of your princess dresses and girly stuff, but just wait until the excitement of cars crashing and unbelievable noise!! I didn't tell the boys until that afternoon, mostly because I didn't want a week of questions wondering when we were going. Camden was actually more excited than Carter---for some reason Carter was afraid that the monster trucks would spit fire at him. I reassured him that there would be no fire spitting and off we went!

We stopped first at Lesli and Brandon's house for dinner and a very quick speed party. We were done in about 45 min. We were running a little late. We had a yummy Italian dinner (Thanks Les) and some party cupcakes. We brought one more present for Carter to open and did a quick rendition of "Happy Birthday"! Carter loved all of the attention.

Here is Lesli and her cute Hubby and baby Clara!

Camden's favorite holiday is anyone's birthday. He just can't wait for the presents, candles and cake! He just keeps wondering when it will be his turn for a party---only a few more months!

Quick family shot! Say cheese!

Here we are at the monster truck rally. Our friends, Cindy and Ryan and their little boy Daxton meet us there. It was fun---however it was so loud we didn't get to do much talking!

These trucks look like little toys in this picture, but they were huge! I couldn't believe that my kids little monster truck toys looked so much like the real thing!

Carter liked the 4-wheeler races the best. Camden just kept making that mean face and loud truck sounds. He was in little boy Heaven! He kept taking those ear plugs out though and it was seriously so loud I feared he might loose his hearing! It was so LOUD!!!!

Overall we had a great time---Probably the kids more than me---but it was for them so I was happy to see them smile. However one side note. At intermission they turned out all of the lights and had these two big transformers come out. They transformed and started spitting fire and shooting each other. Carter DID NOT like that at all. I felt bad because I promised no spitting fire---oh well I guess you learn you should find out more about the show before you tell your child they have no reason to be afraid!

Carter held on to Darin for dear the the remainder of the show---the funny thing was is after it was all over he couldn't stop talking about the transformers as if it was the highlight of the night! Funny boy!

Party # 2. We let Carter pick a theme for his "real" party. He wanted a "Bob the Builder" party. I looked everywhere for decorations, but just had to settle for a cake. I should have made it myself, but on the day of his birthday party, I was feeling pregnant and tired and figured that I could settle for a cake from Macey's and I think it turned out much cuter than I would have come up with. Plus the stress it took away was worth every penny! I realized I didn't really get any pictures of those we invited, but Ashley (my sis) came along with my brother Charley and his wife Holly and Max and Gabrielle. Darin's mom also came (we love you Oma). My parents were off soaking in the rays and sunshine of Hawaii and weren't able to be there. We had a fun night!

Carter was having a hard time showing 3 fingers, but he finally got it down.
Sorry the picture to the left I forgot to rotate before I downloaded. Anyway Carter was so funny opening presents. He was having a blast ripping the paper off, then he would get the most excited look on his face as he looked at his present. Then he would chuck it the other way and look for something else to open----it was hilarious.

And last but no least, cake time. He was pretty excited to blow out his candles and have everyone sing to him. I think he had a fun night, everyday he asks when it will be his birthday again!

My baby is 3!

Carter has made us smile since the day he was born! I am thankful everyday to have him in our family! Happy Birthday!!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Hi, it's me Darin. I haven't done this before so I hope it turns out well. It's actually late at night on February 13th and Joanna thinks that I'm typing some cheesy valentines card for her. I guess I am. Well, I hope I caught her off guard anyway. Let it be known unto you the reader and to Joanna especially that I love her very much. She has truly been an inspiration to me throughout my life and is very much so the love of my life. I know that I don't give her enough credit most of the time, but ohhh does she deserve it. I want Joanna to know that she means the world to me. She makes me laugh, sometimes cry, lifts me up, and carries me through some of the more difficult times in my life. She is a great support to me. She is also a great mom. She loves Camden and Carter soooo much. She would do anything for them. I know she is looking forward to having more girl power in this house and I am too. Just a little though. Joanna and I have been through some difficult times together but she has been my strength during those times. Joanna is my angel. I really like Jack Johnson's new song "Angel". I'm not really great with words and describing how I feel, but I think this song describes my feelings about Joanna pretty darn good. So go ahead and listen. Joanna, I love you Babe! Happy Valentine's Day!

Is spring ever going to come?

So I have been in a little blogging slump lately. I think it is mostly because I am feeling the winter blues and we haven't done anything really worth posting lately. We have all been sick at our house the past week---Colds and ear infections---no fun! It has been snowing non-stop. Everyday I look outside and it is cloudy and snowy. I don't really remember a winter where we have got this much snow in a long time! I feel a little guilty because we really need the moisture, but the thought of green grass and flowers is almost more than I can handle! I think being 8 months pregnant doesn't really help either because I don't really feel up to bundling my kids up and venturing out in the snow. However yesterday was beautiful! It was probably around 40 F. and sunny. After church Carter and I were standing outside without jackets and it felt great. It made me very excited for spring so I thought I would change my blog to spring colors (however I am still trying to learn how to customize my blog---I tried for an hour one day with no luck and am hoping someone out there could show me an easier way) and post a picture of my favorite flower---Tulips! Today looks nice as well, so I am just going to enjoy the sun and try not to think about tomorrow's forcast of more snow! Hopefully soon I will have something great to post about. Carter turns 3 on Fri. so I am sure I will have something fun to write about. Hope you all are having a great week!