Crazy Wonderful

It's so hard to believe that Jenna is already a week old. Time flies so quickly! As crazy as it is trying to adjust to life with a newborn, there are so many wonderful moments. I have loved holding her and watching her silly expressions while she sleeps -- the frown, the half-smile, the scowl, and her little sounds. Dave says she sounds like a squeeking dinosaur. She has some great awake time now and is constantly gazing off - almost like she sees something we don't. I'm sure that's the case though... She is such a sweet & good baby - we really are blessed to have her in our family. Anyway - here are a few more pictures.

This was last night - she had her first good scrub-down. She didn't really like it too much though..

Here is her half-smile I was talking about -- isn't it adorable!?
Another one of my favorite looks - babies are always smacking their mouths around... it's funny
Proud big brother :) CHEESE!
I love that she still has the form of a little frog when she's laid down. Ribbet!

~4 days old~

Okay - so our household is a little baby obsessed right now :) Here's little Jenna LaRille - a whole 4 days old! Yay!

When we checked out of the hospital on Saturday morning the pediatrician was a little concerned with the amount of weight that Jenna had lost. So, they wanted us to bring her in today to weigh and make sure she wasn't losing any more weight. Usually they like babies to be back to their birthweight by 2 weeks -- well, Jenna was back to 7lbs 3 oz today - only 1 oz less than her birth weight. Yay for hungry Jenna - it gives me hopes of getting a baby with fat rolls!

She also had to get another billiruben check done today, and has to get anohter one tomorrow - it's so sad to have them be poked up :( Hopefully it will be her last one.

Here's Jenna during nap-time :)
And - getting ready for bed. More to come soon :)

More pics!

We've been home about 24 hours now and the fam has thoroughly enjoyed Jenna being here.

Derek is LOVING being a big brother

... and Hailey is like a little mother hen - she is going to be such a great helper!!
Our little gift!
My sister Christine came to cook for us tonight - she is gourrrrmet! She made a delicious caprese salad with a variety of about 7 or 8 different tomatoes, freshly grown basil, fresh mozzerella, then made chicken courd'on blue some little lemon parsley puffs, a delicious pasta salad and a white nectarine compote on fresh shortbread. Let's just say it was the bomb! Thanks Christine!!
This is Derek advertising the sweet little sign that Auntie Chris brought for Jenna - it will look fantastic in her nursery.
It's been a whirlwind day and a half being home between eating & sleeping schedules, trying to be up and mobile & function through the engorgement phase - ugh!!! Jenna is doing great though, and we're adjusting great. Jenna is just a little bean of a baby - she's so snuggly & little, and she doesn't cry! She's just totally content - yay!

We'll post more updates soon!

Jenna has arrived!!!!

Our little Jenna is here! She made a speedy arrival on 8-21-08. We got to the hospital around 6:30 at night, they checked me and I was already dilated to a 7! Yahoo! After about an hour I got an epidural, and she was born at 9:22, weighing 7lb 4 oz. She is my littlest baby, and is soooo sweet! Every baby is truly a miracle, and I feel that way about her too. She will make a perfect addition to our family. It's amazing how each family member contributes something perfectly unique to make the family even more complete. I'm anxious to see what she will bring. She is a SUPER calm baby (minus the picture right below). She has spent all day today sleeping, and eating very well when I could get her to stay awake. Her cry is more like a little grumble, and is SO sweet. Derek & Hailey are LOVING their baby sister. Hailey will be a great helper, as will Derek. I'm so glad for my three wonderful kid-lets!

Thanks to everyone who has been so great in visiting & checking in on us! We're all doing great!

This is Jenna at about 5 minutes old

This is after her bath - about an hour & a half old :)
Here are our kiddos, loving on Jenna! This is her almost one day old.
Do you think she's going to be loved by her big brother & sister?? :)

Hormones....

Today Derek & I took a little outing to the "live-berry", or as I call it, the library. He had a great time picking out four million books for me to read to him. I had to share what a crack-up pregnancy hormones can be. I was reading him the following book "Love you Forever", which is a really adorable, sweet book, but as I was reading it, I started getting all weepy. What the heck is wrong with me I wondered, but as I kept reading, I stayed nice and teary. Derek just kept looking at me like he didn't get what was wrong.

Note to reader: Don't read sappy books in public places, out loud, when you are pregnant, because then you'll join me on the boat of looking like you've totally lost your mind :) (Which perhaps I have!)

Back to School...

Well Yesterday marked the beginning of 4th grade for Hailey. She began her morning dark and early at 6:45. She didn't seem too excited when I tried to show her that the sun hadn't come up yet :) But, after eating some breakfast & heading out the door she was more ready than ever for the big event! She's been switched to "A" track this year, so she catches the bus at 7:33, instead of last year's 8:30. She'll adjust and I'm sure she'll love having free time after school.

Hooray for back to school!

Surprise Shower for me! :)

Friday my friend Melanie had invited me over to her house for lunch w/ a couple other friends. Little did I know she had orchestrated a surprise shower for me! Thanks Mel!! It was so fun to visit w/ everyone, and so nice of everyone to come!

Here is Shanelle & Mindy

Amber & Heather
Little girl clothes are SO cute!!
Here is (LtoR) Emily, Karalee, Emily, Kathy & Sharonda
Here's Amber & I w/ our big bellies :)

I'm really glad to have so many people that care about me! I was totally surprised w/ the shower, and had a great time! :)

This & that...

Between the crib, and the glider, the car seat and various other things, we've had a TON of huge boxes around the house lately (they're so inconvenient to dispose of!). Derek & Hailey, however, have been having a grand time playing in the boxes. Mostly Hailey just boxes Derek up so he's no-where to be found. Here, Derek is jammed in between a few pillows, and can't get out!

Isn't it funny how kids are w/ boxes -- I totally remember playing in boxes when I was little, and just loving it!

Friday I took the kids over to the animal farm. Derek LOVES riding the horses. But, with his current bug phobia, he had a little panic while riding, because he had one fly on each of his legs, but didn't dare let go because he didn't want to fall off. He's such a nut.
Hailey hadn't been here before, so she enjoyed riding on the horses as well. I think she had grand notions of riding around freely in the fields... but, she was satisfied with riding around the circle :)
Yes, it's a TRAMPOLINE!!! This is the THIRD one we've gotten, and we think this one will actually stand against the elements. Here, Derek is loving jumping pre-safety net. He played on it for at least a few hours yesterday... I think it helped him sleep in - yay!!
Jim - Dave's dad has this tradition w/ the kids & grandkids of being the "bull" for them to ride on. Derek has just recently been introduced to the bull, and he LOVES it! The rule is, he can only hold on w/ one hand, and has to wave the other one around in the air - he's pretty hillarious when the bull starts bucking. Can you tell he's having fun? :)

I've been tagged...

Fun - I haven't done this before -- here goes...

Four Movies I would watch more then once:
1. How to Lose a guy in 10 days
2. Without Limits
3. My Best Friend's wedding
4. The Pianist

Jobs I have had:
1. T.C. Luigi's Pizza & Greek food in Az
2. Supercuts (receptionist)
3. Venture Data - I worked in every position here, and finally left after marrying dave... they stole 6 precious years of my life :)

Places I have lived:
Banks, OR
Elmira, NY
Phoenix, AZ
SLC, Sandy, Saratoga Springs, UT


Places I have been to/visited:
All over Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Yellowstone, LA/Orange County, San Fran, Monterery, Tijuanna, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Quebec, Adirondak Mountains (NY), NYC, DC, NJ coast, VA coast, Williamsburg VA, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, San Juan PR, St Thomas, St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, St ???, And, I'm sure there are some other little destinations in between, but these are the main ones :)

Favorite Foods:
1. No bakes (I've been making these like 2-3 times a week for the last month. Pregnancy & cookies.....)
2. Seafood
3. Sushi
4. Italian

Places I would like to visit:
1. Italy
2. France
3. Australia/ NZ
4. Guatemala
5. Florida (silly, but I've never been there...)

Things I am looking forward to:
1. Having my baby!!!!
2. Starting to exercise again without having random contractions :)
3. School starting
4. the approaching fall/winter holidays & being w/ family

Friends I am tagging
1. Sharonda
2. Angie
3. Jennie

I am crafty... but only with supervision...

So, a few months back I decided that I would be domestic, and make the bedding for the baby's room. You know how expensive every little thing can get, so I opted to do it myself. Well - I use the term loosely, because I didn't do any of it by myself except for purchasing the stuff.

My friend Bonnie was nice enough to help me do the quilt, and then dear Sharonda helped me crank out the bumper pads. I'm so excited to have them done!!!

Please note the pink ruffle on the quilt - it is EVIL! Putting a ruffle on anything is just asking for disaster. I will forever more appreciate a ruffle when I see it. They are NOT easy to do!! Thanks to my nice friends who can offer instruction so I too can be crafty!!

Assembly required...

Okay - so a guilty pleasure... as lame as it sounds.. I love to put things together! Last night we got the crib & glider chair that we had ordered. I got right to it & put it together - and the best news of all -- it didn't fall apart ha! :)

And, here I am enjoying the fruits of my labor -- sitting on my tush gliding! Please note -- I think dave took this picture with a wide angle lens....that must be the case, because heaven forbid..... :)

My building boys!

Derek has been on a roll with building blocks. It's so funny how kids go in spurts with their toys. He's had these blocks forever, and probably hasn't touched them in 5 months. Last night he did some serious building w/ Dave -- he was so excited to build a "castle" that was bigger than him.

Yesterday morning while I was showering Derek created this masterpiece. He was SO pleased with himself - he came running in to me to say that he built a castle with "ALL" the blocks. Doesn't he look thrilled with his efforts :)