Happy Birthday Merris

July 2009

3 years ago today we held you for the first time. You came into this world fast & furiously. I have to say your personality matches your birth. You are the fast little feet we hear first thing in the morning on the wood floors. You are still so tiny but the loudest one in the room. We love to watch you pretend and create. Everyday you amaze me a little more. So grateful you chose to come to our family. Happy Birthday to our sweet little girl!

When It Rains It Pours

Jabba The Hut & Zoe

I love this picture of Zoe, love it! Me not so much. I'm not used to having three chins, lol :) I feel as big as I look too. The good news is my due date was a little off. I was so grateful to find out my actual due date was the 24th not the 13th. It was a huge relief. I just cried in my midwifes office. She was sweet and let me blubber for a few minutes. I have never gone over a due date before. So I was starting to worry a bit. I feel way more relaxed knowing I'm just a few days over. This pregnancy has been so very different from all the others. This little guy is taking his own sweet time coming into this world. I wouldn't mind so very much but I can hardly walk these days.

On Friday Dean was working out in the front yard adjusting the sprinklers. He went to jump over one and landed on his right foot, felt it start to twist so he jumped to the left foot and felt it give out, heard a snap and fell over. He knew he had broken it. Poor guy I was inside and we had all the fans running. I couldn't hear him calling me to turn off the sprinklers. He was like, Summer, help! Then the sprinkler would come around and spray him in the face. We had a good giggle over this later in the ER. He dragged himself across the yard to the front door and shouted for help & that he had broken his ankle. At first I thought he was joking. Dean rides dirt bikes and works construction and works on roofs & never has had a bad accident yet. So I was in complete shock seeing him on the ground. I drove him to the ER and the xray confirmed it. He had a positive break of the distal fibula, possible posterior malleolus fracture and mortise displacement. This basically means his foot and ankle were swinging in the wind. Yes it looked as gross as it sounds. Ankles & legs just aren't meant to bend certain ways. The good news is it was a clean break or they would have had to do surgery that night. I'm taking him to the Orthopedic Surgeon on Wednesday. We'll find out weather he will have to have a rod inserted or if they will give him a hard cast. He's been a trooper. Dean hates to sit still. He even works on projects around the house after working all day. So I knew this would be hard on him. So far he's been really good at taking it easy. I'm glad because this will help in the healing process.

On Sunday after three days of Aris wetting herself she started crying when she went potty. So I knew something was wrong. I took her to urgent care and sure enough she has a bladder infection. She started antibiotics and just this evening has started getting some relief.

::The silver lining::

I really feel that despite all the craziness over the last few days we have been very blessed. Things could be worse. It's probably a good thing I haven't had the baby yet. I might not have been able to help out as well when Dean hurt himself or when Aris needed extra snuggles because she wasn't feeling good. My mom has been in town and has helped out above and beyond around the house and the yard. The girls are eating it up and I have been able to spend time with her. Tonight a family from church came over and helped rake the rest of the weeds from our back yard into bags. They just showed up and asked if they could help out. It was amazing. So despite a few bumps in the road life is good. I know we are very blessed!

More Catch-Up Please!

Zoe riding off into the sunset

My 4 loves

Merris

Grandma Cindy with the girls

Thought I'd play catch up once again with my photos. My mother in law Cindy came out for a visit & was so very helpful. I think I said in my last post how very helpful it is to have an extra set of hands around. I was a little sad that she wasn't able to be here for the birth. I think we both were. At the rate things are going my mom is not going to be here for the birth either. I've had all this wonderful help around and no new baby, lol, Murphy's Law hard at work.

Cindy spoiled us all. Not only did she help out around the house, she also spent one on one time with each of the girls. Something they all enjoy. Sloan and Grandma Cindy went for a birthday pedicure one afternoon. Another day Cindy & I went out and she bought the most lovely crib for the baby. It touched my heart. It's the first crib I've ever had for my babies. Sloan slept in a hand me down & Zoe did also. I had to give the crib back to my friend when Zoe was out of it. Little Aris slept in a pack-n-play until last month. So you can imagine how much I adore this generous gift. We also had some very fun lunch outings with grandma. I think I gained a good 5 pounds from all the yummy food we ate.

I think the thing I am most grateful for is her willingness to take time from her busy schedule and stay with our loud and busy family. I miss living by family. Having so many visits in one month is a dream come true. It's going to be pretty lonely around here at the end of the month. Thankfully we should be heading down to San Diego the first part of July. That will make it a little more bearable.

Well I'm heading to my midwife appointment this afternoon. I'll let you know what she has to say. I hope you all are having a most wonderful week.

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day

You were an answer to prayers prayed for so many years

You are a wonderful husband

An amazing father

My best friend

You work harder than anyone I know

We love you so very much

Hope you know how very special you really are my sweet

10 Years

The Birthday Girl with her Daddy

Hard to believe that 10 years ago today I was holding a brand new baby in my arms. I am sure at that moment a flood of many feelings were abounding. Some of fear, fear at not knowing how to handle the job of being a single mom. Joy, joy of you being so perfect and precious. It was hard to believe I could love someone so instantly. You were an answer to prayers. Because of you I took a different path in life. A happier path & I wouldn't change that decision for all the tea in China. It was just you and me kid for oh so many years. Now you are a great big sister, a wonderful singer, and a budding artist. I am in awe at how strong you can be. You inspire me. I am so grateful that you chose me to be your mom. I think that I adore you a little more each and everyday. Happy Birthday sweet Sloanie!

Love, Mom

Backtracking

I've been a little behind in my postings. So I thought I'd catch up a bit. One of the last mornings in the old house I woke up to three little girls. All had eaten breakfast thanks to little Sloan. They also had all given themselves tattoos thanks to Sloan giving them each a pen. Zoe' was the most impressive.

She put hers on her leg, "Just like my daddy's" she told me. Thankfully hers wasn't a skull with snakes coming out of the mouth and eyeballs, lol :)

This is the space the girls spend a good portion of each day. Our huge porch. Words can't even express my love for this back porch. Seriously it is tops in my book.

So grateful for the warmer weather we have been having here. Dean bought a huge box of Otter Pops a few weeks back and it's fun to send the girls out on the back porch for snack. Only 5 carbs each so even little Sloan can enjoy 2 of them without any guilt.

Last but not least we have had so much fun with the family visits. Grandpa David is Deans dad. The girls love when he and Grandma "Berta" Roberta come for a visit. Roberta wasn't able to make it for this past trip but we so look forward to seeing her at the end of the month. David was able to take Sloan to school and pick her up a few times. They went and got snacks together. I was able to take longer naps thanks to his help. At night David, Dean & I would sit out on the back porch or inside and chat. It was really nice. I took more pics but the wind was blowing so hard that afternoon the other pictures didn't turn out. I do so love this one though. Grandpa David we love you tons and can't wait to see you and Roberta at the end of the month.

Waiting

We have been super busy. Dean has finished painting all the bedrooms (pictures are on their way) finished planting the last of the trees brought over from the other house, & I have slowly started placing artwork on the walls. Although things have been busy, time has slowed a bit. My father in law came to visit for a couple of days and the day he left my mother in law flew in. She has even stayed longer in hopes of being here for the birth. I'm sad she is leaving on Saturday. The only thing that makes it easier to handle is my mom will fly in that evening. It has been so nice to have an extra set of hands around. I've been able to spend a little one on one time with the girls and grandma has done the same. The girls are eating it up. Me, well, I'm feeling a little spoiled. All this help will be sorely missed when goodbyes are said at the end of the month.

We are still waiting. Waiting for little Omri to make his grand entrance. My due date was this past Sunday. I have been having lots of on again off again contractions but nothing solid. Last night Dean and I went on a 2 mile walk trying to get things to move along with the birth. No such luck. I'm still at one cm. I know this could change, so I'm not going to become discouraged. However I do feel a little like Jabba The Hut these days. My hips and back are in so much pain, and only three things fit me at the moment. Mostly I feel a little anxious. I've never gone over my due date with any of my kids. So this is all a little new to me. The good thing is no one has ever been pregnant forever. My friend Hillary reminded me of this just yesterday.

So tonight I figure I should take the chance to soak up a few more special moments of one on one time with my girls, hang up some artwork, and make the yummiest breakfast for dinner. Who knows about tomorrow. We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Growing Season

Our Garden

One of the first projects Dean started when we moved to the new house was the garden. We have had an amazingly long & chilly winter. The weather is just starting to warm up over the past two weeks. The warm weather is just delicious. Dean bought little gardening gloves for the girls and they help him out as often as their little attention spans allow. I sit back and watch. I'm looking forward to making lots of yummy things to eat with all of the bounty we harvest.

Before & During

Master Bedroom

Before

Master Bedroom

During

Bedroom #1

Before

Bedroom #1

During

Bedroom #2

Before

I haven't posted any after pictures yet because there are so many other things that need to be done to the rooms first.

::The list of things to do::

scrape ceilings

install can lights

install lighting fixtures

buy/make curtains

hang artwork

hang shelving

paint furniture

Beadboard in the girls rooms

All of these things are being done on a tight budget. Paint has been the cheapest way to make the biggest impact. I love the colors that we chose. They are so calm and I feel will be enjoyed for years to come. I'll post the painted rooms tomorrow & then share the rest when everything is finished. Hopefully sooner than later :)

Locks of Love

Zoe has been begging to get her hair cut for quite a while now. I have a dear friend with a daughter that has short hair. Zoe has been begging for "Clarabeara hair" for well over

a year.

I talked to Zoe about where the hair would be going and I think she understood enough to realize she would be helping someone who was sick. That made her happy.

I think she was super happy to finally have her "Clarabeara hair".

She looks like such a big girl now. I almost cried when she got it cut. Almost.

Lost Things Found

Me:: What are you doing Zoe?

Zoe:: I'm making a trap.

Me:: Who are you trying to catch?

Zoe:: I'm making a trap for Peter Pan.

Me:: Zoe, where are you going?

Zoe:: I've got to catch him mom!

Me:: Did you find him?

Zoe:: Nope, still looking. Maybe I will catch him tonight.

I finally found my camera cord yesterday. You would laugh if I told you exactly where I found it. At the top of the box. The first cord I pulled out. No joke. So I figured over the next few days I will do my best to catch you up on everything. More pictures to come, I promise. Until then let's all make a wish that Zoe can find Peter Pan ;)

A Compromise

I know it's tiny but this is the color Dean is painting our master bedroom.

I really wanted white however Dean was worried about hand prints. Not just the kids messy little hands but his big messy hands also. He works construction all day and no matter how much he washes his hands they always look dirty. He's notorious for leaving black marks on the fridge and cupboards. Sometimes the doors and walls. So last night we went to Lowe's to pick out the color of our room. I took before pictures and will post them this weekend. I'm so excited with the color change. If I couldn't have white walls this is the next best thing. Dean picked it out & it was very close to the color I had chosen so we went for it. It is called Lyndhurst Gallery Beige & it's from the Valspar Historic Preservation Collection of paints. I like that it had more of a grey base rather than a peach or purple undertone. It really looks great on the walls. So much nicer than the mustard yellow & muted ketchup red.

Dean really wanted to get our room painted before the baby came. We wanted the smell to be gone and also a calmer environment for him to sleep in. I love the fact that everything looks so good with it. It's pretty neutral so we can do so much with art and different accessories. Because we don't have a bedroom set yet, when we can afford to buy one the sky's the limit. Pretty much any wood finish will match. I'm also hoping to use some of the scrap moulding that he has left over from other projects to make frames for some of the art canvases I have. They would just need a nice coat of black spray paint and everything would have a real finished look to it. I'll keep you posted on that little project.

Dean should be finished painting our room tomorrow. Then on to the girls pink monster of a room. I can't wait to share the pictures with you this weekend!