Kinda what I was thinking it would be like...

Sending these two outside in order to get something done...I do that a lot.  But I find myself standing at the window watching them to see what fun they are up to.  If the dog survives him, these two will be good friends.

He really just wanted her to drive his little car!

Sweet faces!  Don't choke the puppy Spencer!  It's my new favorite phrase.

He worked so hard only to have her jump out a second later.  "oh puppy!"

But this is my favorite, playing fetch.  This could go on and on and on. Nobody tires of it.

Pretty soon though Spencer was racing Daisy to the toy.  Such a silly boy.  I do love that this is what my days are full of right now.  Spencer has just decided recently that he's pretty big stuff.  It definitely keeps each day interesting around here.

Exhibit A: (from today) He thinks that battery is going to fit into that train.

Exhibit B: Maybe a bigger tool will help. 

Parker is in cubscouts

and anyone who knows me at all knows how I feel about that.  But I do have some cute pictures of him at the Raingutter Ragatta with some fun friends.  He even took second place! 

Here he and Elijah are taking the boat for a test run.  I don't bring Alexia to the pack meetings.  Is that bad?  I just don't want her to notice the difference between what the boys get to do at scouts (every week) and what the girls get to do at activity days (only twice a month).  And I'm sure she'd notice the difference.  She is her mother's daughter.  It's better she doesn't know. 

This boy has been asking for years...

and he's finally getting his wish.  I've done some research for a while for a dog that would be hypoallergenic, low shedding, and good with kids.  This little thing is coming to our house November 1st.  Her name is Daisy (picked by Alexia) and we're excited!

Our New Room

I'm too tired to be creative and crafty with this post.  This week went by so fast and most of my days were spent in one room.  Many of you have been asking to see pictures and I did remember to take them so here are a few from the week. 

This is what the back porch looked like on Monday. 

Day 1 - we took out the back door and framed in the two side walls, installed the window Darren and I had taken out of our room and the back door in the new walls.

Day 2 - Insulation, 2x4's secured to what used to be the outer wall of the house, archway created, some drywall installed.

Day 3 - Electrical work done, rest of drywall installed, seams taped.

Day 4 - Mud and texture put on walls.

Day 5 - Sanded down walls, finish texture after mud dried all night, primed walls and ceiling and painted walls. Bought cabinet for window seat.  Day 6 - Flooring installed, window seat made, window fixed.

The new view from my kitchen sink.

The view from my entryway.

My window seat.  Jerry is building me two cabinets that will sit on either side of it.  We found the door fronts at the same place we got the white cabinet.  We also moved the tall cabinet from the dining room into the new room.  We still need to do floorboards and paint all of the cabinets white, install a built in desk and touch up paint and it's done.  I love this new room!  Putting the flooring in made me want to junk my carpet sooner.  :)  I think we need a break though.  Jerry and Teressa, thank you so much for all of your help!  We love and appreciate you!

Spencer is Two!

Spencer is into Elmo right now...big time.  Thank goodness for 85 episodes of Sesame Street on Wii Netflix because some days we just can't get enough of Elmo at our house. 

This boy knew just what to do with those candles.  Nobody had to tell him to blow them out.  What a pro!

He needed a little help getting into this package.  Bryce stopped by for the celebration and filled a bag longer than Spencer's arm with fun stuff.  The red filler was just as much fun as the toys in the bag!

Anyone who knows me well knows I don't buy toys for my kids.  Well Aunt Rachelle would be proud.  The big hit of the party was an Elmo Rockin' guitar.  It makes so much noise it should be against the law, but I'm also at the point of motherhood where I can pretty much tune out anything. :)

Spencer, Bryce and Melissa rocking out to "Elmo's World."  Spencer's got moves like you can't believe.  Aunt Melissa taught him everything he knows...except the booty shake...I'll take credit for that.  All my kids get an early lesson in shakin' their booty!

This is Melissa's boyfriend Bryce.  We've been seeing a lot of him lately.  My kids think he comes over just to wrestle with them.  Hmmm...I kinda think it's a totally different reason. :)

So we let him have two cupcakes and then cleaned him up.

Then it was time for his Elmo jammies!

This little guy has a good hold on my heart.  He's yummy enough I could eat him for breakfast.  He misses his "guys" while they are at school and asks me all day long, "where da guys?"  I feel like he is more verbal then the other two boys at his age and he likes to sing.  He sings to the prerecorded songs on the piano all the time.  The ABC song is a favorite right now with "la la la p" as my favorite part.  He boogies to any kind of music.  He calls his pacifier his "where da go?"  He loves two light blankies.  He falls to sleep with a string from his crib bumper wrapped around his toes or stuck up his nose (grody!) and his arm around a teddy bear Aunt Becca brought to him.  He loves Elmo and Choo Choo (Thomas).  Right now he loves to put the train tracks together and play with the Elijah's train set.  He goes to bed at 7pm and wakes up with the other kids at 6am.  He takes a three hour nap in the afternoon.  He's generous with his hugs and kisses and hands out full body squeezes to most anyone who wants one.  He loves our home teachers and plops himself on their laps while they're visiting with us.  He likes to go to the gym with me and loves rides on my bike.  He wants to wave to the garbage man and when he hears the truck coming down the street we have to make a mad dash to the front yard to watch the action.  When dad, Aunt Melissa, or the kids leave we have to walk them out and wave "die, die." He has no fear of the water right now.  Taking him swimming this year just about gave me heart palpitations.  He loves to wrestle, play "giyup" with anyone who will give him a piggy back ride, and right now is in a biting phase.  We're under house arrest for that.  At our house we love this kid.  We tickle him, sing to him, love on him, read books to him, build towers with him, snuggle with him.  We can't get enough of him.  Spencer, I'm so glad you're a part of our family.  We weren't complete without you!  Love, Momma

On the day of his birth two years ago, I had a friend with me at the hospital.  Shortly after he was born, I asked her if she would share her thoughts about the day.  I thought I'd include it here.  Her words take me back to one of the five most special days of my life.

Today I saw something that I have never seen before. The feelings I had left me feeling amazed, touched, so close to the other side, love, patience, understanding, wanting and wishing I could take away the pain, proud, happy, thankful, amazed...Deep breath...sigh... and a little Baby Hungry...

Today I watched My friend Heidi Stewart, give birth to her little boy Spencer. Spencer is Heidi's 4th baby, 3rd un-medicated birth. She asked me to be there to video the birth. She has always delivered really quickly so we all anticipated that again. Today just turned out to be a little longer, but fabulous just the same...Exactly 3 years ago today I was doing just this...Today is Lauren's birthday.

I of course have been present for my 3 childrens' births and 1 (Lauren's) was un-medicated. I remember so clearly the moment that each child came into this world, cried for the first time, the first time I held them, the tears that I cried looking at these perfect babies for the first time and thinking they were the most beautiful thing ever! But I have never watched a birth until today.

Today I got to watch the miracle happen. It brought back a whole flood of emotions as I watched Heidi progress through each stage of labor. I got to watch as her husband Darren held her, and rocked or 'danced' with her during her contractions. He was there every step of the way helping her sit, stand, lay back, propping pillows, rubbing her feet, gently talking her through her pain, reminding her to stay calm and relax, giving her drinks, talking to her, laughing with her, walking with her, and loving her. I watched Heidi work through the pain, and when it became un-bearable for those last few seconds before the baby came into this world I watched her bury her head into her sweetheart and sob. I really felt their love for each other.

And then it was over. He came into the world a healthy baby boy.

The first thing Heidi said when they put Spencer in her arms, is "Oh Darren, look how beautiful he is!" I was hiding behind the camera, tears, pouring down my cheeks, trying to be invisible, trying to capture each moment. The first time he took a breath, the first time he opened his eyes to see his Mamma and Daddy, Darren cutting the cord, Mom and Dad looking at him, watching him, trying to memorize his features, all the things that are truly the most spiritual and special moments when a child is born.

I didn't expect to feel as much as I did. I didn't think that it would be as spiritual or as special as it was when I gave birth. I didn't think it would or could be as exciting, I didn't expect to feel that he was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen or that I would cry or be emotional but I was, and I did!

The miracle of birth is truly that, a miracle. I am in awe of this new little life and the sweet spirit that he has. I am amazed at the strength of Heidi all that her body had to go through and endure to bring this little one into the world. I am amazed at the support and love of Darren toward his wife.

Today I saw something I have never seen before. I am so touched, and honored I got to be a part of it.

Welcome into the world Spencer Chase Stewart You are so lucky to have so many people to love you!

Introducing Spencer Chase Stewart
9 lbs 9 oz
21 inches long
September 21, 2009
5:52 pm

I've been wanting pictures like this...

...and they turned out exactly like I'd hoped!

The bridge is 5 hours away by my sister's house and I've been dreaming about it for a year now.  These pictures are going up on my walls in my room.  I love them!  Thanks Melissa!

So....

I've got some major catching up to do.  I'm sure it's mostly just family who checks this so they'll love seeing all of the pictures even if they are old.  April was really the last time I posted with any regularity so we are headed back to those summer months.  Stay tuned for lots of catch up posts.

First Day of School

My kids have been in school for two weeks now. Thought I'd better get some pictures posted.  I've now got the three big kids in school leaving just Spencer home with me during the days.  Wow... it's fabulous! That first day was a killer though.  

This girl is headed into 5th grade with three different teachers, Miss Mazzola, Mrs. Pekara and Mrs. Nassar.  The work is piled high onto these kids.  She's a trooper though and so far loves her teachers.

Ah Parker...seriously why do I send this kid off everyday?  I ought to home school this guy just for the company.  He is very much a self motivated learner who things the library can solve all mysteries.  He hates spelling...who can blame him.  He's a third grader in Mrs. Milot's class this year.

Elijah started Kindergarten this year and is in Mrs. Watson's class.  I have been really nervous about him starting school and whether or not he would like it (he didn't like preschool at all).  No worries now.  This boy loves going to school!

This little boy was a little nervous about his first day.  I walked them all to school, dropped the bigs off at the back of the school and took the littles to Elijah's classroom.  I helped him find his desk, showed him where to put his stuff, and then tried to talk myself into walking out of the room.  I found myself stalling.  Big time.  All of the sudden as I was giving him a hug I realized I was going to start bawling.  I couldn't stop myself.  Here is the kid that has given me my parenting stripes.  The one who makes me dig deep to be a good mom.  The kid who at a year old I prayed so hard to be able to feel love for.  My post-partum depression really did a number on our bond.  Heavenly Father literally poured love for this kid into my heart that night and the morning of his first day at school that love was filling my eyes and overflowing.  I shoved my sunglasses on and ran out of that room with the tears streaming down my face.  I almost made it home without running into someone I know.  But a good friend was dropping her kids off, saw me bawling and offered a hug.  That's what good friends are for.  So he loves school and I'm so glad.