Michael

Baby number 2....our little firecracker Michael! Born on November 21, 2005. Only 16 months after Gabe was born! Weighing in at 7lbs even, making him the runt of the pack. But what he lacks in size that boy makes up for in SPUNK!

I was also induced with Michael, but this time it was simply because my parents were flying in from Iceland and my dad could only be there two days and I wanted to make sure he met little Michael! I was induced just a day before his actual due date. Rather uneventful labor....except just Nick with me this time. I wasn't as quiet this time though...not mean or yelling crazy stuff, nothing like that. Just not quiet. No epidural, as planned and no high blood pressure this time. The only slight problem was michael was determined NOT to come out, we still joke that he was hanging onto my rib for dear life! They had to vacuum that little booger out, and he had a huge purple bruise on the top of his head for days. We should have know he would be our strong-willed one, when he refused to be BORN. Never thought my heart could love so much! He was very much a momma's boy from day one...and I still like to think he is! He is four years old now and I love him to pieces!

My babies!

My precious first born, Gabriel Daniel, born on July 22, 2004. He was 7 lbs. 2 oz.

Just to clarify, the picture of me pregnant with Gabe shows quite a bit of liquor, but don't worry, none was consumed at the baby shower..... :)

I went in for a checkup three days after my due date had passed. I was feeling fine, just very swollen and fat...but who doesn't at nine-plus months pregnant?! The doc. said my blood pressure was high, and bordering on pre-eclampsia so he sent me to the hospital to be induced. We quickly ran home to grab our stuff and headed to the hospital! I got evaluated and monitored that night and was scheduled to be induced early the next morning. I had my mom and dad bring me my favorite pregnant meal, which was a sonic breakfast burrito and tater tots. Even though they gave me something to help me sleep that night, I still couldn't. My sweet husband slept in the hospital bed with me (which looking back must have been pretty difficult for him since I was very, very huge....) He slept, I didn't. (watch for this theme in all of my labors...) I was just too darn excited about what was to come!! Around 6 am, the doctor came in and started the pitocin and later broke my water. I had my whole family here for this labor. Everyone except my brother Deke. Mom coached me through this one, with lamaze-type breathing. My sister rubbed my back and took care of my hair (thanks Sus!) dad pretty much just narrated the video tape he was recording. I honestly don't think I said much at all through my very first labor. Until somewhere around 9 cm I sat straight up and declared, "oh my, the baby is coming!" and indeed he was. A couple minutes of pushing and there he was! I had some complications with Gabe though. My blood pressure continued to rise through labor and they had to put me on some sort of medicine for that....I forget the name. His heartrate dropped dramatically once and they talked c-section for a while, but thankfully they turned me the other way and gave me some oxygen and he was fine. I had a couple doses of stadol (which really did nothing for the pain, but just made me feel very very drunk and loopy) but that was it! He was the most precious, handsome newborn I have ever seen! I loved that boy from the minute I saw him! And here he is today, at almost six years of age

Just wanted to try this out!

Is cooking a hobby? If so, maybe I do have a hobby ....

Ok these are are out of order...but here is the finished Rum Cake I made, really should have put an icing on it but ran out of powdered sugar. It was very yummy. Next time will put more chocolate in it too.

This is the rum glaze I poured on top cooking down, hubby thought the cake was too "rummy" I said that's why I give the kids some cake right before nap time... he he

right after it came out of the oven.

Then I tried homemade Chicken Salad. Roasted the chicken with some spices and olive oil the night before and then chopped it up and added lots of goodness....

It turned out quite yummy too!

Michael's Valentine's Day party at his preschool, here he is with his friend Conner!

Showing me the card he made!

doing the "I love you" sign, but Mommy didn't quite catch it

Here's a heart for you mommy!

Look at that little baby girl's face, she was trying to steal food ;)

Yummy cupcakes!

saying their prayer

his little place setting!

beautiful table scape...for three year olds!

notice how my son is the only one NOT sitting on the mat, his head is not even in this picture. that's how out of the box he is.

Michael (4) and Jo Jo (2) reading!

Michael and Joseph "reading". I have a video of Gabe reading Goodnight Moon, but its taking FOREVER to load, so maybe sometime later I"ll put that one up!

Only 44 more days....

Gabe's T-ball awards ceremony


You can see Nick up front there, and Gabe got to sit in the very front seat of this section, you can only see the top of his head!
The boys goofing around in Joseph's soon-to-be "big boy" bed. This bed has been through all the boys and used to have rails on each side...however they are now "ladders" that the boys play with.

one more picture...

Isn't he the cutest??? Always happy when he's eating :)

more baby shower pictures

Joseph singing and Baby Shower!

Oops!

I can't believe I did this....our new baby boy's name is Caleb ANTHONY, not Andrew!
Too many boys names to keep in my head I guess!

Been a while...

almost 32 weeks....

Gabe and Joseph watching tv together

Gabe at his graduation from pre-k with his teacher behind him

Joseph watching Gabe graduate on Mom's lap

Family picture at church for Joseph's dedication

Just thought I'd start using this blog again for pictures and videos...here are some recent ones. I am now almost 32 weeks pregnant with baby boy #4...Caleb Andrew!

Videos for you

Here are some videos of crazy Joseph (11 months)....I guess this is what happens when you have two older brothers!