Weather man fired...

I'll bet you money that this was not in the forecast for Las Vegas. At best, the weather man likely said, "It's going to be cold, with a chance of precipitation..." We use to joke that it didn't take much to be a weather forecaster in Phoenix... the same could be said for Vegas because it's always the same! Hot, hotter, warm, and monsoon season...

Anyway, I thought it was interesting that Vegas got frosted- the pictures are cool looking to me because you just don't expect to see it this way.... Strange weather- sign of the times? ... hmmmmm...

Living a life of leisure....

I was analyzing our routine and decided that we are quite out of the ordinary these days. I think you might even compare us to royalty, or at the very least the rich and spoiled. We don't start our day too early, in fact, oft times we don't even shower and dress until noon (or later). We are very picky about our diet, so as not to upset our delicate system (mostly Maesyn's delicate system...) Mom wishes she didn't have to be so picky- I say, "where did all the spices go?... and my dairy, what happened to yogurt, cheese, and milk? They are my staples, people- my STAPLES!!!... I want hot, spicy foods... saucy yummy dishes that would have a chili beside them on the menu to warn of their "hotness"... will I ever partake of them again? Some days I fear not- because even being careful with my diet, she gets a stomachache.....



Lastly, we party late into the night- the fun is only beginning for us when the rest of you are climbing into your beds for the night..... oh how I miss my bed- I haven't been able to spend quality time in it. Last night I literally slept on the couch- not my favorite- I'll try not to do that again! This life of leisure may kill me, I miss my plain, boring, routine- and here's something I realized the other day- going to work is much easier and less frustrating than staying home... but please don't send me back too soon! I'm enjoying my kids and just being a mom for now...

Here are the pictures from her first photo shoot at Target... she wasn't overly cooperative, so I was surprised that we got anything decent. She is in her blessing dress, which swamped her- hopefully it fits better in January when she is blessed.

Asking for prayers...

It seems like everyone is in the midst of babies. I've been reading Kristen's daily updates on her little premie, and learning my own new addition. Our ward has had a little population explosion over the past several months- starting around the time that Dallin was born, I was just reading how Annabelle has blessed the lives of Lynn and Jake- we love our babies! and it seems like little ones are all over.... and yet we have a family member who is married and they want a child desperately and haven't been blessed with one as of yet. They are absolutely firm in the faith that the Lord will bless them in His own time- well, there may be an opportunity for them to adopt soon. They will meet the mother before the weeks end... if you don't mind sending up a prayer in their behalf- that would be great. I am so thankful for prayer, what a gift it is that we can communicate with our Father in Heaven. I also know that there is power in group prayers- that's one of the reasons, I'm sure, that we pray so much for so many in temples all over the world. So, again, if you don't mind sending one up that a family might be blessed with a baby and that the baby might be blessed with a family who loves them, wants them, and can provide for them in every way- not the least of which is to raise them with a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ... Thanks friends and family!

Tid-bits

A couple of things I forgot to put with her little birth story. First of all, my whole life my parents have told me about the nurses at the hospital when I was born. The story goes that I was so darn cute that one nurse turned to my dad and told him he'd better start praying for acne now to ward off boys in the future... Well, I thought, "that's a nice story and I'm sure I was gorgeous, but really?"
Well, I totally believe it now. Here are a couple of things that staff said when Maesyn was born. The first day in post partum (we got to the floor around 5 am or so, only just meeting our night nurse Jessica for a minute before she went off shift- we liked her though and she was back again the next night for round 2)... anyway- our day shift nurse, Christine came in that first morning and after seeing Mae she said, "well, I just have to tell you what Jessica said in report- she said, 'Oh, that baby is so cute she makes my uterus quiver!' ... just thought you'd like to know!"











The next morning, again around 5 am, I went down to the nursery to retrieve Maesyn from them for a feeding and when I walked in and saw a head full of dark hair in one CNA/RN's arms and so when they asked who I was there for I said, "That's probably mine with all the hair!" So they checked the name and it wasn't- but when I told them the name there was a sweeping sigh through the room and they said, "Oh, she is SOOOO cute! We've been loving on her all night long! She's our favorite, and definitely the most gorgeous baby in here!" I looked around the corner and said, "I had to look to make sure you weren't offending another parent, but you're totally right! She is the prettiest baby!" They asked what we'd named her and I said, "Maesyn Marie" they all sighed again and said, "What a cute name! That makes her even cuter!"





You think I'm making this up... I'm so not, it's all true- every bit of it.
Here she is today... we even ventured out for a bit and got a thing or two accomplished- imagine that!

I told Matthew that she was going to "out him" for being a softie... he said that's fine, if anyone can get away with it, it's his lil' "Mae Fly..." She's daddy's girl!

Adjusting...

Well, we've been a family of 5 for about 3 1/2 weeks now and are finally settling in... I think. Maesyn is doing well, sleeping 10 hours a night, eating solids, and she took her first step this morning... she's a genius really. I know you are wondering why then, have I not posted more? Well because I'm a total liar and she's a total newborn. Because I'm completely tired and overwhelmed, and she's a complete newborn. Because I post in my head instead- it's true- I post a couple of times every day- it's just that it never makes it to the computer! I'll be going along and think, "oh, this will be a great post! I'll title it this, and use this great picture that I'm sure will turn out as cute as it really is (which almost never happens)... and the post really never happens! So, if you can get into my head (and I don't recommend that to anyone in their right mind- why would you want to come into my very not right mind?) but if you could- you'd have blogs-a-plenty to read and keep up on!!!



Alas, I'll try and at least put a pic or two up here. I've heard other mothers say that the transition to 3 kids is hard. I'm to tired to tell you if that's true or not. But I do feel like my 2 older kids are getting the shaft. Especially at night when I become a single mom and it's time for after school snacks and chats, homework and chores, baths and showers, dinner and bed time.... all while the wee one is crying... or if she's not crying it's because she is in my arms- which severely limits my ability to do anything else... oh well... I'm still adjusting, and it could be a lot worse, I'm sure.



Days are frustrating because there is too much to do and not enough time once Kenna is off to kindergarten. It wasn't as hard before I had a Maesyn to feed every 2 hours and it became so overwhelming to go anywhere... she really hates her car seat... we're gonna have to get over that. Tomorrow we have to go and pick up our pictures at Target- I'll have to ask Marie how to post the ones that they sent me in the email (nope, haven't had a chance to brush up on my computer literacy and technical abilities...)... In the meantime... here are pics we've taken at home...

Pictures from week 2 to present-ish

Chillin' with cousin Gwennie- such a little mother!

Plucked straight from the berry patch! This sweet beanie cap was made by Debbie, one of Matthew's co-workers (a thank you note for which has been on my counter for over 2 weeks! along with another for Holly- just in case you're reading this Holly or Debbie- Thank you!, someday you may get the note... if Matthew ever remembers to take it!)

McKenna has been very into dress-up and dancing recently. Here she is dancing to music on a variety show that was on TV- she is so sweet- This particular dance costume needs to disappear as it is too short... first I'll have to get it off of her!

Back tracking... Here is grandma on Thanksgiving. After dinner she became the most popular wrestler in town- she was attacked by all of the grand kids...

Here is the grandpa's preferred way to spend time with grand babies... He'll be sitting next to my grandma Coy in heaven... just hanging out holding babies and loving every moment!

Thanksgiving night we went to grandma and grandpa Gibbens for card games. Aunt Christen is always a favorite with the kid-o's...

Daddy's hands, baby's sweet feet...

You want to see some chins? I've got some chins!

This is just a perfect pic of how she always has her sweet little hands at her face-

Beautiful Jocilyn- just a shot one morning before she left for school... We love our girls!

I just liked the outfit... don't know how to rotate the pic so that she's right side up... oh well.

I have pics of all three as tiny babies in a huge bed... I think it's cute.

McKenna is definitely my little mommy helper. She is so patient, and maternal with Maesyn. We come pre-wired for motherhood, don't we?

Another outfit I thought was cute, and it's kinda like she gave me a wave...

Here's that grandpa again, doing what he loves!

Pics from week one...

Here's what I looked like through most of labor... There are more pics from labor of Matthew and me, but they are on my mom's camera...

Soon after delivery...

McKenna is now a big sister! Here she holds Maesyn for the first time...

Jocilyn holding Mae for the first time...

Waiting for discharge...

War wounds... this was the day of discharge, but they look just as bad today- a week later...

This week we have held her, and held her, and held her...

... and borrowed her boppy...

and tuckered everyone out...








and we've cried... a lot... there for a couple of days Maesyn would cry, literally, for hours after feedings. A friend of ours who is a chiropractor has helped out tremendously- thank heavens!

This is me, on the way to the doctor with Maesyn because we were so concerned about the abnormal crying jags following feedings...

After we started to settle down...

All of a sudden I could spend time with her after feedings without her screaming! ... she is so sweet...

Grandma has been a huge help in the evenings when Matthew goes to work...

Grandpa and Jocilyn putting batteries in the bouncy...

Would you look at that? She is holding her sister while standing... she's been begging to do that...

A sleepy smile...

A stretchy smile...

The sisters...

uh.... what?

Maesyn's first bath...

Curls on top after the bath...

Big helpers...

What a tiger... all painted after a birthday party...

sisters...