Ohhh, Sweet Music

So my family came up a couple of weekends ago to see the new baby, and they brought along with them a very fantastic gift - our upright piano. Yes, this baby is old, but it works just dandy (all the keys are functional and it is tuned). I LOVE IT! I have always wanted a piano, but we have never even been serious about looking for one because we didn't have our own house. Now that we do, it was perfect timing for my family to be getting rid of our old one because we were happy to take it off of their hands for free. Sean got me a nice keyboard a couple of years ago for Christmas (which has been great), but when I sat down to the piano, I was reminded of the difference. LOVE IT! Plus, it reminds me of lots of wonderful memories with my Mom, so it's even more special.

7 Years and "Forever" to come

It was Sean and my 7th anniversary yesterday. My family was here in town so they watched the kids (even the baby) on Saturday night while we went to dinner. It's funny how it can feel like just yesterday that we were married at yet at the same time it's hard to think back on life without each other. It has been a wonderful 7 years, and I can't wait for all the years and years to come. I love you Sean!

Conquering the Jeans

Exactly two weeks after my little guy was born, and I have conquered my jeans. Yep, I am comfortably wearing real button up jeans. Granted they aren't my skinniest pair, but they did fit me fairly well before I was pregnant. I get a little anxious about trying on my "regular" clothes after I give birth. I start trying things on in the first few days, and it's pretty exciting to be able to get a new pair buttoned almost every day. Oh, the benefits of nursing..... Of course, there is still work to be done with this changing body, but it's always nice to know that there is definite progress being made...and for the fourth time around, I can't complain at all.

Just for Fun

Here are just some pictures of the kids in the past few weeks that I thought were pretty cute.


Look at Caelan way up there....





Looking a little cross-eyed.



New Spider Man PJs from Grandma.

Nathan Michael Dick

Our little guy has arrived. Actually he was born on September 25 at 3:20 AM. He was 7 lbs 13 oz and 20.7 inches long. He had a perfectly round head and was just beautiful (you know how some babies can look when they first come out - he wasn't squished or bruised or anything - just perfect). I started having contractions at home at about 6:30 PM the night before (actually it was during the presidents speech to the nation about the economic bailout - I guess that just put me over the edge...HE HE HE). They weren't too hard, but they were getting pretty consistent, so we went into the hospital at 11:30 PM. I was only dialated to a 3 (which was a little ridiculous), but I progressed to a 5 within an hour. They admitted me and gave me some IV pain medication, which took the edge off for a little while. After an hour or so, it seemed to wear off, but I was too close to delivering for them to give me anything else, so I just did the rest on my own. YIKES! At least it didn't take too terribly long, and when it was time to push, he was out in about 2 pushes. Then he ate for almost a full hour - I was shocked, but he just kept on eating. Overall, it went just fine, and I was/am so happy to not be pregnant anymore. And I thought it was very thoughtful of him to come a day early. So nice! The great thing about natural deliveries is that the recovery is so quick and easy. I felt great the next day (except that I was a little tired from being up all night). And my overall recovery has been the best so far. He is a good little baby. He really only cries when he needs something, and then he is pretty content. The kids just LOVE him to pieces. Caelan and Ben are always wanting to hold him and kiss him. It's very cute.

9 Months Pregnant

There's a reason we have to have our 9th month of pregnancy...it's so we are so exhausted and worn out and uncomfortable that we don't care at all what the labor brings. I am there, friends. My official due date is this Friday, and I just keep telling myself, "You can make it for one more week (and hopefully NOT much longer than that)." My kids seem to love it in this home I make for them, and have thus far decided to stay in as long as possible (6, 10 and 4 days late), but there is still a part of me that hopes that maybe, just maybe this little guy will decide to come a little early (a girl can wish, right). I have to admit that my pregnancies are really pretty good (I don't get sick, there aren't any complications, and frankly I don't get huge beyond all reason), but by the 9th month, enough is enough, and I am ready for any and all of the challenges that come with a new little one in the house just as long as they come OUT!! So, here is to hoping for a "productive" week.

Singing in the Rain

About a week ago we had a great monsoon storm come through town. It dumped all sorts of rain (which I loved). The kids wanted to go straight outside and use their umbrellas in it (they found the umbrellas in the closet a few weeks ago and periodically pull them out just for fun, so to be able to actually use them for their real purpose was pretty great).