Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you! We love you and wish we could be together this holiday season! Love, David, Julie, Gracie, Sammy, and Benson

Nerdy, nerdy, look who's 30!

Happy Birthday David! I just want to tell you how much I love sharing this life with you. I love this adventure that you have brought us on during medical school. I love being the mother to your children. I love being your wife. I love you. I wouldn't trade a day of my life with you for a million dollars. I am so proud of you. You are the best husband and father a girl could ask for. Gracie, Sammy, Ben and I are the luckiest people in the world!

Quick update.

Benson is getting so so big. He is going to be two months old on Tuesday. I can't believe how fast the time flies. We are still adjusting to having three kids in our house. The occasions where I am brave enough to go out with all three of them by myself are rare. It seems like when we do go out Gracie runs one way and Sammy runs the other and neither one of them will listen to me and there is no way I can carry Benson in his car seat and Sammy and hold Gracie's hand, so for now we are content to stay home when David isn't around. David has been so good to us. He studies from home sometimes and lets me get out with one or two of the kids or even by myself when I need to. Benson has started to smile but of all of my children he seems to be the most shy. He doesn't really like to be held by other people and cries for almost everyone except his mommy and daddy. Out of all of my children he is the best sleeper too. I nursed him at midnight right before I went to bed last night and he didn't wake up until 6:00 when his siblings woke up. He loves to sleep in his cradle, his swing, and his mother's arms. I worry that he sleeps too much sometimes actually. Don't we always find something to worry about as mothers? I think it comes with the job description.

Sammy is the biggest tease and loves to toment his sister, brother, mother, and father on a regular basis. Can't you tell it by the smile on his face?

I tricked Gracie into taking a nap today. Those of you who know her know she doesn't take naps except by accident. She is so sweet when she is sleeping (and when she is awake too).

Benson loves this swing. I bought it at a second hand store and David tells me it was worth every single penny that we spent on it. Look at his perfect round head! There is just something so peaceful about a sleeping baby. Just looking at this picture makes me need to go give him a hug and a kiss!

He speaks!

Sammy has all of a sudden started talking. He seriously says like 5 new words every day! This has been so fun and amazing. Gracie didn't start talking until after she turned 3 so this is so new and fun for me. One of my favorite things that he says is "Ha!" For some reason this means yes. When I ask him what he is doing he answers, "Nothing." He calls every drink "wawer" and it is up to us to figure out what he really wants to drink. He says sentences too. "I wanna bite" or "it's a ball." I just love to hear his gruff little voice! Of course with the good comes the bad too. He has a sassy "NO" when he doesn't want to do something! Sammy is so sweet though that I can't stay mad at him for long. He has been sick this last week and he has really been adorable (is that terrible that I think my kids are cute when they are sick?). He has only wanted to sit by his mom and dad and cuddle. He is the cutest little stinker around.

I want to share...

Gracie got a piece of candy today as a reward. Sammy went up to her and started crying because he wanted it (even though he already had one). Gracie went right up to her dad and said, "Can you cut my candy in half? I want to share it with Sammy." Can I just tell you my heart melted! It has been an extremely difficult couple of weeks with her. I think she has probably gone to time-out at least half a dozen times every day this week! Then out of the blue she says something so sweet that I just wanted to get all of the reward candies out and shower them both with treats!

Benson's Blessing

We had Ben's baby blessing last Sunday. David's family was in town and Ben's cousin Asher was also blessed on the same day. It was so fun to be together with all of them on such a special day. It has only been a month since Benson arrived, but already we can't imagine our lives without him! As you can see from the pictures, Gracie and Sammy love having Benson for a little brother. I am so thankful for each of my children. Each one fills a very special place in our family!

Sammy's first haircut!

Sammy got his first haircut last week. People who know him keep telling me that they don't even recognize him anymore. I loved his whispy blond hair. It made me cry to cut it off because it means my little boy is growing up.

Before

During

After. Thanks Grandpa for cutting his hair. You did a GREAT job!

Looking good Sammy!

Happy Birthday My Beautiful Daughter

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I love you Gracie. I can't believe you are turning 4!!! My little baby girl is turning 4. How did that happen? I am so so happy that you are my daughter. There are so many things I love about you, but I want today I want to list 4 of them.

1. You have a happy happy spirit. I remember one day when you were 2. You were looking out the window and watching a little boy in the neighbors yard playing in the sprinklers and laughing. You weren't whining and crying to go out, you were just watching him and laughing. I remember crying at that moment because I was blessed with such a happy girl.

2. You have the most contagious laugh ever. I cannot hear your laugh without smiling myself. You love to laugh! You can get Sammy giggling too just by laughing yourself. There is almost nothing sweeter than hearing you and your brother laughing.

3. You have such a fun imagination. You love to play ponies and imagine that you are a pony and that everyone around you is too. You also love to play with your doll. This has become even more fun since your brother Ben was born. If I wrap Ben up in a blanket, you need a blanket for your dolly. If I give Ben a bath in the sink, you need to give your baby a bath in the sink. You are going to be a fun and amazing mother someday.

4. You are growing up to be so amazing! I took you to the store a couple of days ago. We saw a pink princess chapstick and I bought it for you because you loved it. Through out all of our shopping that morning though, it got lost somewhere. I could see how sad you were about it. I saw the tears forming in your eyes and your lip start to tremble. I told you that it would be ok and that maybe you could ask Santa for another one. Slowly a smile spread over your face and you just said, "Ok, that will be good." I cried all the way home after that because I was so proud of you! You are getting so mature. You love to share with your brother and you love to sit next to Ben and take care of him and help him be happy when I am cooking or doing the dishes. You are the biggest helper a mom could ask for. I wish I could tell you to grow up slower! I am not ready for you to get big! You can't wait to be big though. You seriously want to drive a car. Any time you are in the car for a minute without me (like when I am loading groceries or when talking to someone outside the car) you get your car seat and put it in the drivers seat (at least you are trying to be safe I guess). You told us the other day you didn't want to turn 4 on your birthday. You wanted to turn 16. You said "4 is boring boring boring!"

I love you Gracie. You are amazing. Some days I just wish I could freeze time and save these precious moments forever!

A post by Gracie...

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(So my sister told me this post was on my blog. Gracie must have decided she wanted to write something on my blog. I am so amazed at the stuff she figures out sometimes!!! The funny thing is is that she has done this on my calendar on my computer and also on my moms palm/phone in the past. I don't know how she knows how to do all this stuff! I don't even know how to write stuff on my online calendar!)

Thanksgiving ABC's

Things I am thankful for.....

Autumn
Ben
Chocolate
David
Eternal Families
Fun
Gracie
Holidays
Ice Cream
Jesus Christ
Kind Strangers
Laughing Children
Moms
Naps
Orchestras (and Music)
Presents (Given or Received)
Quiet Times
Reading Books
Sammy
Temples
Underwear (what would we do without it!)
Vehicles
Water
X-rays and All Other Medical Wonders
Yesterdays
Zoo

So because it is Thanksgiving I decided to start my own Thanksgiving Tag and I tag everyone! I want to know what everyone is thankful for. Just find one thing for every letter in the alphabet that you are thankful for and post it on your blog.

My big boy!

Benson is getting so big! I can't believe it! Seriously, he has almost gained 3 pounds since he was born. Everyone keeps asking me what I am feeding him, but I swear I am not giving him cookies and chocolate when no one is looking (I eat those myself!). Look at those sweet round cheeks!

I took off most of his clothes except his undershirt so you could see that big round tummy! He sure does like his milk!

So sweet!

I think his head is growing and not his hair. Oh well, bald is beautiful. I seriously can't help myself with this kid. I just want to love on him and smooch him all day and cuddle with him all night! Love you Ben!

Tagged again!

Okay so I am finally getting around to doing some of the tags I have gotten in the last little while. Sorry to those of you who I didn't do your tags. Nothing personal... just busy and forgetful!

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. I was in high school. Go Pine View!
2. Home work!
3. Singing in the school choirs and playing in the orchestra.
4. Eating whatever I wanted and not gaining weight (those were the days huh?)
5. Thinking about the future and what I would be when I grew up as if it was some far off place and time!

5 things on my to do list for today:
1. Laundry

2. Play with my kids
3. Go to the grocery store

4. Go to a baby check up

5. Go Christmas shopping! :)

5 favorite snacks:
1. Oranges

2. Swedish Fish
3. Homade Bread
4. Any fruit in season
5. Treats! Or as Gracie calls them "Preats"

5 jobs I've had:
1. MOM!
2. Zions Bank Internet Department
3. Latter Day Stuff
4. Rent a video and pizza
5. Babysitter

5 things I'd do with a million dollars:
1. Pay off medical school loans
2. Pay off house
3. Buy everyone I know a present
4. Go on a family vacation
5. Go visit my family

5 things that made me laugh this week:
1. Sammy keeps calling Daddy "Mama" (that is because I am his favorite)
2. I forgot to put the salt and baking soda in the cookies... annoying at the time, kind of funny now
3. Watching the funny faces Ben makes
4. Gracie telling me she wants exactly what I already bought her for Christmas!
5. Just being with my family all together makes me happy enough to laugh!

5 friends I tag to do this on their blog too:
Oh anyone who wants to!

Tagged

8 Things I'm Passionate About:
1. David ;)
2. My children
3. The gospel
4. Chocolate
5. Food
6. Reading
7. Music
8. Holidays and birthdays


8 Words or Phrases That I Use All the Time:
1. I love you!
2. NO!
3. Please listen!
4. Good grief!
5. Sammy! (He comes into a room and shouts Mama! in his sweet happy voice and I answer by shouting Sammy! He is so cute!)
6. Put on your seat belt!
7. Hurry hurry! Quick!
8. Eat your dinner (or breakfast or lunch) so we can _____ (fill in the blank with something fun).

8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die:
1. Go see the Olympics
2. Raise a righteous family
3. Go back to school and get my bachelors
4. Serve a mission
5. Go skydiving
6. Learn how to take really good pictures
7. Become the mom I really want to be
8. Have my husband actually be finished with school!

8 Things I currently want or need:
1. How blessed am I to say that I have absolutely everything I need!!!!
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.


8 Places I want to Visit:
1. Utah!!! "This is the place this wide open space is my home!"
2. Europe
3. Private tropical beach with my honey
4. Disney World with my kids
5. The Temple
6. Boston in the fall
7. Mt Rushmore
8. Anywhere my family is!

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. On the Border (I have only been here once and can't wait to go back!)
2. Blue Iguana
3. Cafe Rio
4. Chik-fil-a (love their lemonade and love letting the kids play there)
5. Red Lobster (can you say coconut shrimp?)
6. Taco Time
7. Does my mom's house count as a restaurant?
8. Really just about any place where I don't have to cook or do the dishes! :)



8 TV Shows I watch:
1. Dancing with the stars. That's about it. We don't watch much TV. But we LOVE movies!

I tag anyone who reads this and hasn't done it yet!

A little bit late or very early

Happy Halloween everyone. Sorry I am so late posting these pictures. We had a cute little mermaid and a cute dragon at our house on Halloween. They were so funny. Gracie went around singing and swimming and Sammy went around roaring at everything. My mom and David took them out trick or treating. They went to about 4 houses before they decided they were done. They didn't really even get enough candy for me to snitch in it!!! So we had to make carmel popcorn instead (so good!). I didn't take a single picture of my kids in their costumes (I know I am a lame mother...but I am pretty sure I was nursing a baby or something). I had to get copies from David's sister's camera (thanks Lindsay). I sure do love these little goblins though!

Sleeping...

There is just something so peaceful about sleeping babies... even the big ones.

Two weeks!

Ben is two weeks old (as of last Thursday). He had his two week check up on Friday. He now weighs 10 pounds 5 ounces! He is still 22 inches tall and his head is now 15 centimeters. He is growing so big. His face is getting so chubby! Over the last 24 hours he has all of a sudden discovered the world. It seems like he realized there is more to life than just eating and sleeping! He has actually spent a couple of hours awake looking at everything and listening to everyone. He loves to be sung to and of course to eat! He likes his bath time but doesn't really like to have lotion rubbed on him (but I do it anyway because it makes him smell SO GOOD!). He loves to sleep next to his mommy, but sleeps pretty good in his own bed too. He is very good natured and happy and puts up with all the slobbery kisses that his brother and sister give him. I can't believe he has been ours for more than two weeks now!

Trouble!

It is amazing how much trouble these three things can cause!!!!

Guess I need to be better at keeping the child lock on the pantry door closed!

Yep, I thought my kids were downstairs safely watching a movie. Gracie came upstairs and said she was hungry. I told her she would have to wait a few minutes so she decided to just help herself. Click on the picture if you really want to see the mess!

Asher and Ben

Asher and Sarah and Micah came to visit us yesterday. Asher is Ben's cousin who was born on September 26. He is the LITTLER one if you can believe it!!!

Asher says, "Help! Ben is squishing me!"

As you can see it kind of hurt his feelings.

Ben said to tell you all Happy Halloween!

The new guy.

I am so glad that the intrepid husband took over my blog for a while so that all of you could see some updates and pictures of Baby Ben before now. Things are a little bit busier around here these days! :) But I am so so happy that little Benson has come to join our family. Many of the facts you already know. He was born at 4:29 pm weighing in at 9 lbs. 1 oz. He was 22 inches long and is a perfect as can be! David told the story the way he saw it, but since this blog is kind of a journal for me as well as a way to update my friends and family on my life, I want to share the story in my words as well.

Thursday morning at 10:00 am on Oct. 23, David and I arrived in labor and delivery at the hospital. I was told to change into the very fashionable hospital gown (even though there was a chance they would be sending me home?) and just sit and wait for the doctor. Dr. Wise didn't really want to induce me. She was afraid that for some reason the induction wouldn't work and she would have to do a c-section unnecessarily. After checking me she decided to start me on pitocin (10:50 am), but decided that she would not break my water. That way if the pitocin didn't do its job she could still send me home and I could wait for labor to start on its own (I am SO glad that didn't happen!). I decided not to get an epidural. I had one with Gracie that didn't work and really only caused me more stress and problems. I didn't have one with Sammy and my labor with him went so much smoother. I do think this one was harder though. It seemed so much sooner that I was just trying to breath through the contractions without hyperventilating because of pain (David and my mom were AMAZING labor coaches!). We found out when the midwife came in to check on me (4:00-ish pm) that it was because I was dilated to a 9 (I don't think any of us expected it to go so fast)! My water still hadn't even been broken. They called the doctor, but before she showed up I was ready to push the baby out. They told me "push if you feel like it." I had several moments of indecision... I was really past the point of caring who caught the baby when it came, as long as someone did. My thoughts ran more along the lines of, "Push if I feel like it? Am I ready for the excrutiating pain of the baby actually coming out, or would I like to just keep having these contractions for awhile...?" I have never been given such open ended instructions in labor before "If I feel like it...". With my other kids it was always, "Push now, " or in Gracie's case, "Don't push... just pant for an HOUR while you wait for the doctor to show up..." but I digress... So I was sitting there thinking, "what kind of instructions are 'if I feel like it...'" But I decided that I did feel like it and gave kind of a half push. Just then the doctor walked into the room. Again I was told, "Push if you feel like it." Whatever with this if I feel like it crap. Who feels like pushing a 14.5 centimeter head out of a 10 centimeter hole in their body. But since that is the only way for the baby to come out I decided to get down to business. I pushed with all my strenth! Then I pushed with all my strengh again through the next contraction and the next thing I knew there was a baby laying on top of me. They put this big napkin type thing on my stomach and set the baby right on it. I remember glancing up and seeing little baby boy parts out of the corner of my eye and then laying my head back to breath (it didn't register at that point that I had another son). Then I heard my mom say something about it not being the "pinkie pie" that Gracie wanted and I realized, "I have another son!" And I couldn't be happier about it! I think I really thought that he was going to be a girl (but I thought Sammy was a girl and Gracie was a boy so that should have clued me in right there right). He was a boy and he was perfect and he was covered in slimy stuff and was laying right on top of me and I coulnd't have been happier. The medical staff just kind of wiped off the gunk while he layed there. And when they did take him they didn't even leave the room, even when they found out he had low blood sugar (common in big babies) they left him with us to care for it. He had to endure little needle sticks in his foot all night and most of the next day, as well as iron fortified formula that stunk worse than any formula I have ever smelled before, but he was so brave and so sweet and really didn't even (and still doesn't) cry very much.

David was amazing through it all. He really didn't get any studying done for the test in pediatrics that he had to take Friday morning (shouldn't watching the birth of your son count as a HUGE test in pediatrics... he got an A on it by the way). He went and brought the kids to see baby Ben later that evening and then took them home and was just an awesome dad and husband through everything. I love you David!

Gracie wasn't excited at all to have a baby brother. She just wanted a sister. She didn't want to hold Ben or have anything to do with him until I actually just scooped her up on my lap and you can see her reaction after that in the above picture. She loves her baby brother (but is still holding me to my word that she will get to have a sister some day). She sings to him and hugs him and kisses him and helps her mommy get things for him. She is a great big sister. I love you Gracie!

Sammy has loved little Ben from second one. He also hugs and kisses him and is so sweet to him (although he enjoys poking him in the face). He also loves to climb into his car seat and play with the baby bouncer and other baby things. Yesterday morning when he woke up he ran into my room and his the very first thing he said was, "Baby?" He just wanted his baby brother. He is so gentle and loving to him. I love you Sammy!

It has been so fun to have my mom here too. I know I could never do this without her. In fact she may just have to move here. It has been so fun for the kids to be able to spend time with Grandma and so fun for me to be spoiled by her. I love you Mom!

And Ben is the sweetest little baby around! Even though I know he is 9 lbs. he still feels so tiny and fragile. I hate to sleep at night because I miss him. I love to cuddle with him and look into his eyes and just know that he is there. He is perfect for our family. I love you Ben!

It's your birthday!!

Live from the hopefully the last day in the Post Partum, it's JULIE's Birthday!!

Happy birthday to you!  Happy Birthday to you!  Happy Birthday dear Juuuuuuu-liieeeeeeee

Happy birthday to you!

For Julie's birthday, the intrepid husband splurged and bought Julie, his sweet wife, an awesome new camera!  8.0 mp, Canon SD1100 IS with a 2 GB card!(for all you intrepid husbands out there, I got a great deal!)

So these are with her new camera!  It's small and compact, so no more wearing it around your neck and bashing kids' lights out with the larger one.  This one's pink too!

Happy birthday, Julie Girl!

And the name is:

The name of our new son is: 

Benson "Ben" Alexander 

What do you think?

Reporting live, this is the intrepid husband, David