Lucia's 1st month

Here are photos of Lucia's 1st month... she's changing so quickly already! She's still so small, the photos make her look bigger than she is since they are all close up (for proper perspective scroll down and see how she looks in her carseat). She is still sleeping so much, I've had to be patient with my camera to get photos with her eyes open. She's such a blessing to us all. Thank you for all the calls, gifts, prayers and good wishes. We are grateful!

1st WEEK (6 days old)

2nd WEEK

3rd WEEK

Christmas Eve

'Twas the night before

I know this is a bit out of order, but I just uploaded these photos of the night before Lucia was born. I had just come home from a dinner with some of my closest friends. I was thinking it was going to be just a great girlfriend dinner, but they suprised me with loads and loads of gifts. Thanks girls... I felt like a queen.

This photo one I love because it's captures a typical December evening. I've collected 25+ Christmas books for the kids and we read at least one a night to them. It's a fun tradition. Children's books can teach so much! How lucky I am that I am married to a man that values books too.

And now for one of me with the boys. Don't you love how Zack is still trying to claim my lap space even though there is nothing left to sit on but my knees.

All I want for Christmas

I already got all I want for Christmas, a precious baby girl. I wish I could say this was our baby in this photo. What a clever picture though! Merry Christmas everyone! May all your dreams come true this holiday time.

I must say I'm loving being the Santa and giving, giving, giving. I must be maturing and growing up. I'm sure I'm not too old to enjoy the getting either.

SHE'S HERE!!!!!

Yipeee... She's finally here. All went quick, safe and well! We are doing good. Wed. the 5th I was induced around 8:30 am. She arrived at 12:12, 7 lbs 9 oz, and 18 inches long. She's small, round face (chubby cheeks), almond shaped eyes, short dark hair, and reminds us most of Jena's look as a baby. She's a good nurser (yeah for that!). And her name is Lucia. It's pronounced Luci-ah.

We are all in love.

WINTERTIME in Arizona!!!!

Welcome to wintertime in Gilbert, Arizona. It's a beautiful 73 degrees. Brrrrrrr.......

Talk about good mail!!!!

You won't believe this. Today I got a baby gift from one of my most talented friends. Check her link to some of her art. She made this BEAUTIFUL baby blessing dress for our baby. It's simple, elegant, and just PERFECT. She made this amazing bonnet to go with it. The sweetest part to me is the little light pink ribbon at the waste which was inspired by my blessing dress.

Now if that wasn't enough, she also MADE this beautiful blanket. She's amazing. What a talent. What a friend! It makes me get excited aoubt a photo session in the future.

So the question is, what do you do when someone gives you something that is such a huge gift. I can try and pay her, but I know she will probably win. I don't have anything to share talent-wise on this level. What do you do when thanks isn't enough? I'm a bit overwhelmed Amanda! Some more detailed photos are on her blog. Take a look: http://chrisandamandasorensen.blogspot.com/

INDUCTION DATE SCHEDULED!!!!!

It's official. I'm scheduled for induction of this new baby girl on Wednesday, December 5th at 7:30 am. Unless I'm bumped to Thursday, I would guess she will come late on the 5th.

Very ripe mother is excited to reclaim this duplex of a body and see her sweet new face.

PURE sugar rush!!!!

What happens when a 2 year old finds the big tootsie lollipop stash? One just isn't enough!!!

My little Cheerleaders

The Fall Dance Recital for the kids I teach w

as a week or so ago. The kids all did such a good job. I was a proud mama of all 30plus of them!!!

Here is a photo of my very own two cheerleaders. They did great!

And for those wondering just how pregnant I am looking, I thought I would humble myself and share. I'm glad Troy took this, because I don't have any of my pregnant ever. It's not my favorite angle. But I bet little sister will get a kick out of it someday. Ella's the closest dancer to me in this photo.

Why I love Arizona!!!

One of my favorite things about Arizona is the sunsets. You just can't beat them. Here is a photo I took the other night on our back porch. Troy said, "You may want to grab the camera, it's another one". I never know what to do with the sunset photos once I take them, but they are beautiful- so I thought I would share.

Some RANDOM favorite photos (Historically speaking)

Don't you just love to look at past photos of your kids? I just can't believe they were ever so darn cute (joke). Really - they have grown so fast. Such a cliche but now that I'm experiencing it I get it.
I can't believe we will be a family of 7 within a month!

I think as a mom of so many kiddos, time certainly flies fast, but some days it goes so slow!

SHOUT OUT for my brother!!!

Just wanted to share a great website for those who live in the Phoenix valley. My very creative, clever brother and his equally amazing wife created the website to help children and parents have fun with book reading and do some activities around the area that correspond with the book. Have fun and I hope this is useful for you. http://www.onceuponagoodtime.com/

They have more good stuff in the works too.

I've been tagged by Shaneen

Alright. I've been tagged. I've been putting it off but I'll get it out of the way.
The rules: A. Post this at the beginning of your TAGGED blog posting. B. Then Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves on their blog. C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 new people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. Let's see. I love trying new things. As a child I took almost every kind of lesson I could: Gymnastics, dance, swimming, piano (briefly). As a teenager- I jumped around even more- diving, synchro swimming, gymnastics in high school, cheerleading jr. high through college. Still I try new sports, hobbies, skills. I get bored easily and love the challenge.

2. I read about 5 books at a time. Probably related to my lack of focus (see #1). I book mark them and read whatever I'm in the mood for. I usually have 2 non-fiction ones going. Several novels, a child's chapter book just above Jena's level so when she reads we can talk about it, maybe a church book, parenting, or some other self improvement book. It's what I love. By the way I only became a reader near graduating from college so there is hope for those non-reading children out there.

3. The older I get the more I love having friends that are different from me. Older, younger, different experience, different opinions. It challenges me. As a child/teen I loved my friends to be more like me- but I'm loving the growth I get from having friends that don't think and do like I do. Of course I still really enjoy being understood, so I need some close ones that "get me". You know who you are.

4. I LOVE to teach. Mostly children. And it doesn't matter what I'm teaching: dance, tumbling, cheer, reading, roses, animals, hair, whatever. I just really enjoy teaching. I also really enjoy learning. The process is fun for me, if I can just keep my mouth long enough to learn from others. Believe it or not I really try to not talk a lot and listen, but it doesn't work out that way too often.

5. I think too much. I overanalyze and it gets me into trouble. If anyone has a solution to this please feel free to share.

6. I think I am really lucky to have married that man I married. I don't know if you would know that unless you know me well, but at least daily I think of how grateful I am for Troy and his tenderness, faithfulness, loyalty, hard work ethic, natural fathering abilities, the way he loves me so much, his job, his testimony, his lack of judging others, his untolerance of me talking about others, his ability to listen, his arms wrapping around me and melting away all the hard stuff in life. I am really blessed to have him so crazy to have fallen for me and keep falling for me. Shhhhh don't tell him.

OKAY TAGGING TIME (ha ha ha... it's easier than you think):
I tag Cara, Mindy, Rachelle, Melanie, Shannon, and Tassi!!! And if I didn't tag you, just wait I bet it comes around so be thinking...

My little guy!

I'm enjoying my little guy. With a baby sister coming to kick him out of his spot, I figure I'd list some RANDOM things I love about him.

His animated way to talking. Everything is exciting to him. He has to wear his soccer clothes to go to his siblings soccer practice and games. He says "my teams ready for me". The way he says some things (like lip lops for flip flops, or baff for bath). When he puts his arms out wide and says "I need a hug". Or even better when he says "I NEED my mom!" He points out all of his owies. It's even cute when he tattles on his siblings (won't be cute much longer I know). His buff little body running around in only a diaper. The way he comes in the mornings and says "it's cold, I need to snuggle" and crawls into bed with me for a few minutes before we get up. He's still trying to sit on my lap, it's a humorous acrobat act. He's playing boy stuff now with weapons, superhero caps, etc with his brother. He's on the bottom of his bunk bed and stays really well since we've threatened going back to the crib. He asks a lot "What's that noise?" He wants to know when it's time for his school. After a bath he says "hold me like a baby please" and we do. He wants baths in the sink. He loves water and messes. He tells everyone "I'm ZACK!" He asks where everyone is (Where's Dad? work. Where's Jena? School. Where's Ella? School. Where Jake? Down stairs). He says THANKS DAD when Dad helps him. He likes to run boy errands with Dad. He loves to dance and is really good at it naturally. He doesn't like him mom or dad to sing or dance, "just drive mom, no dance!" Anyways, I've enjoyed him as my baby and love watching him grow into a charming little guy.

What's better than a boy and his dog?

I got some fun photos of the boys and the dogs. Mostly Jake. He's getting big enough to play more with them, or them with him- I'm not sure. Either way there are lots of smiles and wagging tails.

Ella is also our dog lover. She walks Kahlua every day after school almost. This is great since I'm so pregnant, he isn't getting his walks. She walks Ben too but not as often or frequent. I'm afraid he doesn't have as good of leash manners as Kahlua. We still love him though.

IT"S FALL: He's going to hate me!!!!

It's Fall. The leaves are falling finally, but unfortunately so is Zack's clothes still. Our 2 1/2 year old still strips to his diaper daily. Well, here are the natural consequences of leaves on the trampoline, and jumping in your diaper only. Itchy!!!!

So my question: Is he going to hate me for taking these kind of photos?

Do you have an embarrassing photo or video from the past thanks to your parents?

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Our BOYS!!!

Our boys got into some craft paint that they found and painted the sidewalk in front our house and painted each other. The amazing part is the whole time Troy and I were in the front room with the window open listening to them "play so well together".

Zack fell asleep in time out, and Jake was on his hands and knees with a wire brush for 1/2 hour. He finally finished it off with Troy's help with a power washer. I do not think Jake will be trying this stunt again... cleaning up was hard work!!!!

Halloween photos

What a fun Halloween time we've had. The kids are all at such a fun age for it. It's hard to decide which photos to share!!! Zack watching the preschool dance class I teach dancing in their costumes. Kids on top of car watching the fireworks from the new mall that opened up trunk and treat night. The boys showing off Auntie Noy's gifts. And a visit to Grandpa Tom's.