Pictures

I've been trying to gather good "wall" pictures of our family throughout the year. I need some serious updates on the kids - we did get a family one done in December - maybe two people managed to print out copies for themselves - oh, and the one we gave great-grandma at Christmas. Nothing more came of that. Then we when the family was visiting, we had more done - and though they certainly aren't bad, it was a week and half before I had Jacob and, for me, that just doesn't make sense to put on the wall... I need one with Jacob here in person and my not looking like a big old ball.


Anyway - today - amongst other things - we took (or I should say, tried to take) a few pictures. I have one picture of the kids which I think I really like (considering I've got two who have hit the "I barely ever smile, especially for pictures" stage - and thank goodness Gabi has come out of it).

And the family one - well... the best one has my hair across one eye - anyone know how to take that out without the picture looking crazy? There's another - but you'll notice the rather odd look on Jeremy's face. And, of course, Jacob had just fallen asleep - no eyes for him!

I did break down a kid picture into just the boys - because that part looked cute and I thought a just boy picture would be nice. I took the other kid picture and the two family ones and tried them out in a couple of different ways - Tell me which ones you like most... I need to finish up these pictures this week and get copies off to family! (Oh - and I still don't have a good picture of Peter aside from the sweater one by himself, so I'll probably end up using that... we'll see!)

If I Only Had The Camera

Since the milk incident this morning, the kids and I got to spend the day at Grandma's house. The girls were invited up the road for a play date and the boys were playing with the slip and slide (which Peter calls a Slippery Slide). Not using it quite right, they were rather running, hoping and such up and down the slide. Which would result in landed on their bottoms and slipping along from time to time. Then they were running the wrong way - down the slide - and flopping down towards the end that opens to the grass.

During this, Peter runs along singing and talking as he goes. Apparently he forgot to flop down soon enough because when he attempted to do so, he jumped up a little, his feet slipped and went flying, and he landed, face first, in the muddy grass! His whole body bounced and flopped over and he came up with a mouth and face full of mud - and I could hardly stop laughing.

When he came to me for help to clean off his face, I was still laughing and he asked rather innocently, "Why are you laughing?" Oh to have had a camera and shown him an instant reply - he'd have been laughing too!

Morning Drama

Welcome to a day in the life of a mother of five 8 and under! Though this is not a typical day, it shows some of the drama that can and often does happen in our house!

Being a summer morning, I got up to close some doors / windows after feeding the baby some where around 6:30am. All four older children were awake. I went back to bed to be interupted several times about random, meaningless things. Then, I was kept from going back to sleep because I got to listen to Bob and Peter in a morning "hug trap" routine. Off goes Peter and so Bob and I begin a simple discussion of life - you know, kids, morning, life...

Enter Beth and Jeremy as fast as little feet can run yelling "EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY!" Full attention is turned to the two and we learn that Peter has thrown the milk and it's busted and spilling out all over the carpet. Yes, that would be one type of emergency and so I sprang out of bed - none too happily I'll admit - and raced out to see just what the problem was. Sure enough, there's the milk jug, upside down, pouring and spurting milk out as fast as anything. I grab it and run to the kitchen sink, where I discover the hole is on the bottom, the lid fastened tight - keeping it upside down, I then leave it settled in the sink to address the real problem - a milk soaked carpet! AND IT'S NOT EVEN 8AM YET!

Where the milk had been, the carpet was now bright white instead of the medium tan it should be. Towel after towel is being saturated and still the carpet is very white. I look around and notice there is milk splattered all over the entire dining room. (And yes, the dining room has carpet in it... not our choice, but we're currently renting) Despair is now setting in - I'm imagining the horrid stench we will soon be smelling - and never be able to get rid of and trying to figure out what would possess a three year old to throw a full gallon of milk!

By this time, Bob has come out to help me. He wasn't there before because he was beginning to discipline Peter - who was, I was told, sitting on our bed in time out. A very quick assessment and some water and it was decided we needed to deep clean the carpets - oh what a way to spend the day! But, the alternative was not pleasant in any form, so renting a cleaner was the only real option. Clean up quickly shifted from the milk soaked carpet to clearing out that room (and several others - hey, if you're going to rent a carpet cleaner, you might as well do everything, right?).

Why did Peter throw the milk? Well, according to Beth and Jeremy, it was because the cap was on too tight (it was a brand new gallon jug of milk which Beth and Jeremy had tried to uncap - but they broke off the ring thing that keeps the cap sealed tight). When Peter was asked, he said "I wanted to show Beth and Jeremy how strong I am."

Still Growing Well!

Had our second dr appt for Jacob today - He's a whopping 22 inches long and 11 pounds 11.5 ounces! Still growing like a champ - though a little slower than before - doing just perfect! My favorite part of the day was when we were in the room after Jacob had been weighed. He was wrapped in a blanket in my arms so as not to have to undress him again when, with a huge smile, he looks at me and starts cooing and babbling. It was so sweet! I loved every minute of it. That was a first... and, so far, it's not happened again..... but what a sweet boy!

Jacob Was Blessed

Only two and a half weeks old and we had him blessed. That's not uncommon for us - we normally try to have our little one blessed on the first Sunday of the month following their birth. It was bitter-sweet for me. If we had waited a month, there was the possibility of my dad being able to come - though it would have been a whirlwind if it was able to happen. But, that would also have meant we would have been in the middle of the start of soccer, dance and school. All of which are chaotic - especially at the start. We figured that would have just been one more thing and we needed to not pile it all on at the same time.


My mother has been to all of my other children's baby blessings. Of course, she lived only hours away by car at the time. Since we moved, it would require several hours by car and many more by plane, plus more by car. That in and of itself would not have been an issue, but she's caring for one of her grandsons and at the time we discussed this (and that was long before Jacob arrived), my nephew was struggling with tantrums that were more difficult and self harming than we'd like to think is normal. Putting him on an airplane might have been fine, but should such an episode arise on the plane, well, that would have been way too much to deal with. I can certainly understand and do not begrudge her the decision at all.

However, my mother made the blessing suits for both Jeremy and Peter. I was going to make Jacob one of his own since everyone else had their own outfit. I knew I could, I waited until he was born to be sure it would be the right size. But I hated the fabric I had for choices (when I finally got around to really looking at it) - and part of me felt odd because my mother had made the other two. I'm sure if I had realized how much it meant to me, I could have asked my mother to make one for Jacob and she would have... but it didn't really sink in until the night before.

So... I opted to put Jacob in the blessing suit made for Peter. Peter was very happy to share his special suit. And I felt good knowing it was still from my mom. I don't know how that will all work out when the kids are grown and on their own having their own children, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

The blessing, was, of course, very special and wonderful. I love that Bob is worthy to hold the Priesthood and able and willing to bless his children. It's always a special moment for me to watch him with his new child.

Jacob slept through it - so it was a peaceful, quiet and easy to listen to blessing. I tried to take pictures before church - but the lighting was off for what I wanted and I couldn't get the flash to work. Bob pointed out that I had not changed the setting back to normal from burst (I was trying to catch Jacob's smile and dimples first thing in the morning). So I might redress him sometime this week and try again. We'll see. And I got the picture of Bob with Jacob after we got home. I kept trying to get Jacob to open his eyes, but in the end decided it was fine that he was sleeping for the picture because he had been asleep during the blessing.

We missed many of our old friends who have stood in the circle with the previous babies. But were grateful to have Bob's dad and several family friends here to join Bob for the blessing. Thank you all.

Whatever It Takes

I love having "older" children. They really enjoy helping with Jacob. Right now that often just means talking to him, singing to him, or giving him a binkie. And, if you're Gabi, picking him up when necessary. Fortunately Jacob really only gets fussy if he's awake and no one appears to be around, needs to eat, or wants his diaper changed. And when he needs to eat, he can take a binkie and be patient until I can get to him, when necessary. I thought Peter was patient - and he was amazingly so (just ask my mother who couldn't believe it and she had a daycare). But Jacob is by far much calmer and much more patient.

The kids often argue over who gets to be on Jacob Patrol. This makes everyone feel important when it's their turn - and makes life so much easier for both Bob and I to get some things done. But my favorite thing that has come from this is from, of course, Peter.....

I love it when he announces he's on "Jacob Control"!

Jacob - How I Love You

I love this little boy!I love his red hair! (And his smile)

I love ALL the ways he sleeps!

A First For Gabi

The fair is a big deal here. Okay, so it's a big deal in a lot of places I've lived. Just not always for the same reason (unless you count the rides).

Here, though, there is a category for nearly anything and everything you can think of - which you can do, make or whatever - and even the youngest of kids can enter. So, as a first, Grandma Nielsen helped Gabi make a family cookie / bar (family because I understand it's been past down for a few generations) - it's rocky road fudge (although I'll say it's more like a brownie and doesn't have nuts). Very yummy.

It was entered in the youngsters food, cookies and bars category... and would you believe it (okay, so Grandma expected at least one of these) she won first place and best of show! Let's just say she was very excited. And no, we didn't get a picture before the bars were entered and there were only two left on the plate - but we thought you'd enjoy seeing them anyway.

Needing Mommy

As is typically, we've had our baby and kids are acting out - okay, they started before Jacob came when I was not so available to do things with them. They need one on one mommy time. Most have even told me so. (It's nice that I don't have to guess at such things in my over-tired state of mind).

Yesterday Peter was having an especially difficult time. I had decided I need to go to the store and pick up potty treats again - I just can't handle the constant "accidents" which I know are part of his response to the baby and the time away from himself. Knowing that we were going to the store, Peter, in his hysterics, told me that he wanted to go just him and me. That he didn't want Jeremy, or Beth or Gabi to go with us.

So I asked "what about Jacob? Can he go with us?"

Without hesitation, Peter said "Yeah. I want it to be just you and me and Jacob."

At least he loves his little baby brother enough to not want to push him out of the picture - that will certainly make this fall much easier - when the older three are in school.

Too Hot

We have a limited number of fans - and we use them all during the night to help draw in the cooler air. The hope being that the house will actually be somewhat cooler in the morning thereby making it more difficult to reach the high 80's or even low 90's in the house. Normally this works well. There have been a few weeks worth of nights where the temps outside weren't dropping nearly enough and in addition, there was little to no breeze to help things along.

The master bedroom usually gets plenty of breeze and often feels cold because of this throughout the night. Because of this, we don't normally use a fan in our room. We did, for a few nights, after Jacob was born because there was no real breeze and the room was too hot for us - let alone a newborn baby.

Tonight, with Bob on a backpacking trip, Peter was going to bed in my room (a special treat for him). He knew that we sometimes would bring the fan in there and thought tonight needed to be such a night. When I told him the room was cool enough for now and would get much cooler as the night went on without a fan, he replied:

"It's too hot in my eyeball."

WOW!

This may seem a bit like bragging - for that I apologize. But you'll understand my excitement if you keep in mind this is a first - a first in 5 babies!

For every other baby, I was lucky to loose between 10-15 pounds within the first 6 weeks postpartum. That would be ALL I would loose until after I stopped nursing.

One week after having Jacob I had lost 21 pounds! From last summer - through the move and then the pregnancy - I gained 33 pounds. Now this is about average for my pregnancies - although higher is certainly not unexpected for me.

I was huge - I really ought to post pictures - big enough that with extra large maternity clothes the elastic on the pants was cutting into my belly - and you can see it in the pictures! I was able to keep moving throughout my pregnancy - but that last month nearly did me in, and I wasn't moving much. (I'll try to get someone to take a picture of me today and I'll try to post that and the pregnancy one - which was a week and half before I had Jacob- side by side.)

Anyway - I was thrilled to see I could wear my "big clothes" right after coming home from the hospital, but figured I would be stuck there for a while - at least during my nursing stage. That would have been the lowest I would get (if we look back at other pregnancies).

I had noticed over the last couple of days that the "big clothes" were kind of loose... not hugely loose, but loose. So, for "fun" - I tried on my "normal clothes" (normal as of before this baby, not before getting married) and I could actually wear them. Snugger than before the baby, but they weren't biting in. I was excited. I did not, however, look in the mirror - I figured all those rolls left from big belly would be obvious.

Tonight, in the bathroom I went to open a window and I happened to glance in the mirror on the way by - and I had to stop. I actually looked good! I was thrilled. I look great - and it's only been 2 weeks (today)! I have no idea what my weight is today verses last week, seeing that we don't own a scale. I will know what my weight is next week - when I take Jacob in (cause I'll weigh myself waiting for the doctor). I'm not toned up - but I don't look flabby through my clothes - and I've yet to start any kind of exercise - being that I've been kind of restricted with my recovery this time around (and that includes walking).

Pre-pregnancy weight is not likely (seeing that I'm nursing and well, let's just say there's a bit of top heaviness that automatically goes along with that) - but I'm curious if the weight is shifting as fast as the hips and belly! (And I'm hoping this doesn't mean I'll put on weight as soon as the nursing stops!)

Cocoon Baby

Not too long ago (sometime this past week) I took some pictures of Jacob. I am determined that I will not go three years without a picture of Jacob on my wall. Yes, I was a terrible mother about wall pictures for Peter - it wasn't until we moved out here that I finally got him on the wall (with the family) and the individual pictures of the other kids that are up are from when I was pregnant with Peter. It's not that I didn't take pictures. It's not that I didn't have pictures that were cute enough. I just never seemed to get my priorities to settle on choosing one and getting it printed and putting it up. Terrible, I know. And I'm determined to change that.

So, I have some beautiful pictures of Gabi in her baptism dress. That same day, Bob took some cute ones of Beth too. I really like the picture of Jeremy in the tire swing - totally unplanned - but it shows him smiling and having a great time. It's all his personality. That's what I love in a picture. And Peter... well, he's next on my list, again. It seems that I never can get the "right" picture of that kid. I have ones I love, just not enough to put on my wall. I think my most favorite "recent" picture of him is when he's wearing the sweater I made him. That would not be a big deal, but his hood is up and I really would love to see his beautiful red hair in the picture.


And seeing that the last two family pictures included Jacob in my stomach (one much less obvious the other), that's also on the "next" list. A family picture with Jacob in person. When I mentioned this to Bob the other day he said "Already?" Jacob isn't even two weeks old yet and I'm bugging Bob for a family picture. I understand he'll be "cuter" in a family picture when he's older and holds himself a bit more. In fact, if I hold out a bit, we might even have a good chance at capturing those incredibly cute and deep dimples with his wonderful smile! The smile that seems to be reserved just for mommy and Peter, but not when the camera is present.

So... here are a bunch of pictures I took of Jacob one evening. He's in my current favorite cocoon pattern - it might have something to do with the color. It's the second one I designed and knitted for him - using a diagonal slip stitch. Most aren't what I would put on the wall, but there are a couple that I really do like. Can't wait to get pictures organized, up on a walls, and out to family!

Peter's Bike

When Aunt Hannah was up, she came over and "played" bikes with the kids before we all went to the lake one morning. Up until then, Peter didn't ride a bike (his choice). But when Aunt Hannah asked if he was going to ride his bike (he had his helmet on and was sitting on a bike) he said "No. I don't know how to."

A little while later, he decided to take the bike - or have Aunt Hannah push him around. When I went out to take a couple of pictures, I was excited to see him begin to pedal. He was pretty excited about it too. After that little experience, it didn't take him long to figure out how to get started on his own. Now he just goes - fast, slow, racing, games, and he can stop all by himself. He loves to ride his bike.
I took tons of pictures - Jeremy insisted he needed some too - and I also took a video (which is way to long, so I'll just keep it for us to enjoy). The video was really cute, though, since Peter was dictating everything he was demonstrating.

A Little Cuteness

Just thought you'd like to see some cute pictures without all the swelling. If you look back at the arrival pictures, you can see just how swollen the eyes were. His whole face was pretty swollen - although the general idea of what he would look like was obviously there.

I love this little guy. He's happy and loves to be around people. At dinner time (one of the times he tends to be awake) he'll fuss when we all leave the room to go eat. When I come to get him, he's happy - so generally, he'll sit on my lap and look around while we eat.

Jacob also loves his bath. His first bath, in the hospital, he didn't like. I think it was all too much because the bath was basically the same as how we do it here. Until yesterday, the cord stump was still attached, so he would love the beginning - then I would lift him to do his back and set him back on the bath sling (which was then cool because it wasn't in warm water itself). He would scream for that moment, but love being rinsed off. Into his nice, fluffy, soft and warm towel to be wrapped and he'd calm right down, and just lay there completely relaxed. Yesterday, he was happy to skip the cool bath sling part as his stump was off and he could enjoy more of the warm water.

Cream Anyone?

At one week and one day, Jacob weighs 10 lbs 6 oz. He's up a whole pound from his birth weight! He also grew 3/4 of an inch - he's now 21 1/2 inches long.

Bubble Art

We had cubed potatoes last night for dinner. One of the kids (I think it was Beth) said something about not knowing we could cube potatoes and make them so cube-like. To which Bob (being silly) mentioned something about Pablo Picasso.

Peter asked "Bubble Castle?"

The Arrival of Jacob Paul

Okay - so.... Jacob Paul. (This is the birthing story - more or less - if you're not interested in that, just look over the pictures and ignore the rest)


This was a very different pregnancy for me - as those who have been following already know. It was, like-wise, a very different labor. I've never been aware of any contractions leading up to full blown active labor with my first four. This time, I've had plenty here and there - nothing that hurt though. Well, throughout the week of the family visit, I was really hoping something would happen. It would have been nice for Jacob to make his appearance when the family was around to welcome him here, but apparently he was too shy for that.


After that week, with random contractions here and there, I awoke Sunday morning for my normal nightly trip to the bathroom. I realized I was having contractions 4 minutes apart. But they were light - not hard at all. Still, they were consistent so I got up did some laundry and washed the kitchen floor - what else would you do when you can't seem to go back to sleep? Later in the day - after discouragement again, because I wasn't noticing the contractions any more - contractions were noticeable at 20 minutes apart, then 15 and then 10. But then they became less noticeable - though still 10 apart. Monday was between 7-10 but still light. By Tuesday I only felt crampy and backache - unless I was laying down I couldn't tell that anything was happening at all.


After a suggestion that I call the doctor, I laid down again and realized that the cramping was feeling more like a contraction again (light) and they were now 5 minutes apart. I went in to see the doctor and I was at the point that I should have been in what I knew was active labor. It was decided I would go to the hospital and have my water broken. It took longer to get to that point because I couldn't be found in the computer (apparently I was registered for a month later), and then it took four tries to get the IV lock in. Needless to say, it was 8pm before we started to break my water.


The membrane was so thick that it took 15 minutes to break my water (that's NEVER happened before). And because Jeremy was a two hour speedy deal after breaking my water, it was thought that I would "go quickly". Not so.... Contractions took a while to get going and even then they never got closer than 5 minutes apart. They weren't really hard either - I could feel them very low, and I knew the top of my uterus was tightening, but that was it. I walked and talked through all of them until I was a 9. At about that point, things started to "feel like labor" but were still 5 minutes apart, one would be long and hard, the next short and light. It was weird.
When I was all but a 10, I told the nurse that the last time I was told something like that the nurse never made it to the door - but that I didn't really think it would be that way this time. Sure enough, she got the doctor, he came in - it was determined I could begin to push... two hours later, nothing had changed - Jacob wasn't progressing either. At that point, the contractions got a bit closer together, I finally decided on pain meds (and was allowed), decided to breathe through four and was told it was time to push again - amazingly, everything had "taken care of itself" (which is not usually how things work with pain meds... usually that slows things down) - two contractions later, Jacob made his grand arrival. All together (from the water actually being broken) it was 8 hours. Still not bad, not my longest, not my shortest.


We love having Jacob here. He looks like Peter - in fact, that one picture of the "wink" is exactly what Peter looks like in a picture of his own arrival. The difference, Jacob is shorter (Peter was 22 1/2 inches long... Jacob was 20 3/4 inches). Jacob weighed 9lbs and 6 oz (the same as Jeremy). He has red hair - slightly darker than Peters. He has grandpa's hands and my eyes. And yes, as the pictures show, he found his thumb nearly immediately! He'll take a binky (some times), and doesn't put his thumb in his mouth much... he prefers to just be. He's happy, sweet, loves to be with people, and nurses like a charm. He was a little upside down with his schedule, but it's only been a week and I think we've got it figured out!

So welcome, Jacob Paul! We love that you're part of our family!

Remembering - Honoring

Bob's brother passed away when they were kids - that's quite a while ago. We used his name as a way to remember and honor him in our own family with one of our boys. Marie and Adam have done the same (at least I think this is why they used the name). I believe it was this that encouraged the trip to his grave.

In any case, the kids each picked out two flowers from grandma and grandpa's back yard which they took (all except Jeremy who decided he could go another time, so he could stay and keep grandpa company). It was neat to watch the kids place these flowers in the vases.

A Little Hike

Thursday that week was my doctor's appointment. The family kindly offered to take the children with them on a little hike for the day (just in case we got lucky... which we didn't). The kids had a great time - and though I really enjoy a good hike, I understand there are a few good reasons I was not there. The first, of course, being that I really couldn't have hiked in my pregnant condition. The second was that there was a lot of "open" in which one could see a far way down. I don't do well with that - heights are not my thing. (It actually makes me nervous when Bob and the kids go to the "edge" to have a look).

I love the picture of Jeremy that was taken at the top - it actually looks like a photoshop job, but it's real. Anyway - Thank you so much, Marie and Adam, for taking our kids along with you that day! They loved it!

Horse Ranch

Another fun adventure was taking the kids to ride horses at a friend's ranch. A couple of years ago when we were just visiting, the kids had the opportunity to do this as well. I, unfortunately, was sick - so everyone went without me. I have some great pictures from their experience then, but I didn't get to enjoy it. This time I was well enough to go - if you don't count the "big as a house, ready to pop, pregnant and over-sized belly".

I loved riding horses growing up - and had I not be in the condition I was, I likely would have gone for a little ride myself. But it was especially fun to watch all the kids. Annie is a natural - though I've heard that's been said of her before. She really loves to be up there. Jeremy and Peter had never been on - the last time they just hung out on the tractors. They both did great.

I loved that Peter would tell me he was going horse back riding... actually, he would say "I want to ride a horse with Daddy. And you need to watch me." He did start out riding with Bob, but then (for the second time around) he did it by himself (aside from the paranoid mom in me making Bob walk beside him).

As you can tell, everyone had a wonderful time. My girls even told me they want to ride more... that probably won't happen much since they're both still doing dance. Extra-curricular activities are pretty pricey and add up - not to mention all the extra time away from family.