Happenings

January 26th we celebrated Ainsley's 5th birthday. She is such a stinker!!! She definitely keeps it fun around her. She is the boss, the whiner, and according to her sisters she gets away with everything! She loves to go to preschool with her best friend Mia. She is so smart I can't believe it. She can remember anything and everything (this is not always a good thing and usually backfires on us, especially her daddy). She has more common sense than most adults I know.

For her birthday she got an American Girl Doll Kanani. She takes such good care of her (she is still in the box and nobody is allowed to touch her). WE LOVE YOU AINSLEY PAINSLEY!
We also made a trip to Cedar City to watch our niece Taylor play basketball with the Bryce Valley Mustangs for Region 20. While there we stopped and visited Will's 94 year old grandmother. I can't believe how sharp she is! I only hope that if I have to live that long I can have the memory she does. And of course we had to snap a few photos.

We also blessed Aniston on February 6th (my parents 40th wedding anniversary) but I will have to post about that later because Mace has ALL of the pictures.

Oh yeah...and Taylor and the BV Mustangs won the Region 20 tournament. They weren't so lucky at State, but 2nd place is still great. She did a great job and we love her to death. Heck the way we figure for being a freshman she was amazing so by the time she is a Senior the state championship will be cake!

just like her momma...

Aniston's first photo shoot went a little like this...

Rock, feed, burp, rock, rock, rock, rock, feed, burp, feed, rock, picture, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, bounce, feed, burp, bounce, bounce, picture, rock, rock, feed...

Get the picture?

3 and half hours! She would not give in and go to sleep. She was very wise that something was going on and she wanted to watch. She would take 2-3 minute cat naps and as soon as we would lay her down to take some pictures. POP! Her eyes were open and she was wide awake.

Anyway, thank you Lauri for not kicking us out. Click on Lauri Terry Photography on the right in my blog links and check out the so cute pictures we were able to get!

Aniston Laura Talbot

On December 3, 2010 we welcomed the newest addition to our family, Aniston Laura Talbot. She was supposed to be born on the 2nd, but my body would not cooperate and neither would she. I was induced on the 2nd at 7:00 AM. At 9:00 that night and after very little progress, we decided I needed a rest. We started again at 3:30 AM on the 3rd. She was finally born at 11:40 AM. Everyone is loving this little girl. So far things are going well, in fact so well that I feel guilty when I am sitting around doing nothing.

She is perfect in every way possible! Her sisters have been pretty good thus far about taking turns with her and helping. They are constantly checking on her. Ainsley is always worried about her and gets worried if she cries or fusses (she hasn't cried much). Will is always poking her and trying to wake her up with his whiskers. She is pretty good at ignoring him.

She weighs 7 Ibs and was 21 inches long. She has more hair than any of my other babies and it is black! It is mostly on the back of her head, so hard to see in the pictures. We are so excited to be home and enjoying this new little bundle of joy!

Memories...

Today a friend posted on facebook that her husband picked out their Christmas tree and it was not pretty...

It brought back a memory that I had almost forgot. A few years ago, like 6 or 7, we went in the foothills by Greenwich to get our Christmas tree. The snow was deep that year, so we couldn't go to far. For some reason I didn't get out of the truck, must have been the snow. Will ventured out by himself and came back with a tree.

Things must look smaller on the mountain...

We got the tree home. It took us a good half hour to get it through the door. We literally had to FORCE it through our door. I am sure that if I checked there would be scratches in the frame around the door. It took me 2 weeks just to clean the needles up around the door. They kept coming out of nowhere.

After a day or two the off centered tree fell over. Then again, then on Ashley, then on me. Ashley would have only been 7 or 19 months old (can't remember what year it was). Will's gift that year was a nice metal tool box about 4 1/2 feet tall. In order to save the children and myself from being traumatized, I went out to the hay stack and grabbed a few twine strings. That's right, the string that holds the hay bales together. I used those lovely strings to secure the tree to the tool box. That is how our tree stood for the remainder of the season.

The first thing that went down after the holidays was that dumb tree.

And yes, we had to FORCE it out of our door. And again, I spent two weeks cleaning up pine needles.

Getting closer...

I now have 2 weeks left. Technically I have 3, but the dr. is going to induce me the week before. It is a lot different with this one.

Example 1: I already feel like I have had this kid...enough about that one.

Example 2: I am so nervous about having this kid!!! Calm as could be with the last 3, no worries at all.

Example 3: I packed a diaper bag for the first time in 4 years. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH STUFF YOU NEED IN ONE OF THOSE??? I started out with diapers and wipes. What more could you need? nursing pads, nursing cream, burp clothes, receiving blankets, clothes, socks, beanie, head band, binkies, and the list goes on. We kept packing and packing and well, I now need a bigger diaper bag. It doesn't help that we packed for a boy and a girl, but still. The stylish little giraffe print bag is going to burst!

Example 4: I worked the day before I had Alysen, Ashley, and Ainsley. This time, it doesn't matter if he induces me on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, my last day will be november 29th. I feel like such a wuss.

I have a dr. appt. tomorrow (although I tried to move it back another week, yeah, they DON'T like it when you do that at this point in the game). I am hoping that things are progressing on their own, but after 3 kids, I doubt I will ever experience normal labor and the excitement of rushing to the hospital.

Ainsley is determined that the baby is sleeping in the basement. She has been sleeping with us or on our floor for over a month now and is determined that is where she will stay. Alysen and Ashley are still determined we are having a boy. Why on earth would we need another girl? (still trying to convince them it has NOTHING to do with NEED).

My husband has figured the art of manipulation. The things that drive me nuts, he now asks permission for, knowing I will cave. I don't know how he does these things, he always gets what he wants. Friday I was headed on a shopping trip after I worked for Mike, now I will be working sheep. Yes, at almost a full 9 months pregnant, I will be working sheep. He says "think of the stories you will have to tell the kid." The only story I need is how his father is still alive due to the pregnancy waddle and the inability you have to run at 8 1/2 months pregnant. The only reason I am cooperating is because maybe this will make me go into labor on my own. (you should see him smiling, maybe that how he does it, the smile:))

Still feeling bad about missing the NFR...tears...

Over all things are going well and we are blessed. Thanksgiving is going to be HUGE this year. We are going over to Will's mom and dad's with his family. Out of 8 children, 7 will be there with their families. That's HUGE! and of course we will follow that up with some black friday shopping and setting things up for Christmas. Happy Holidays!

Christmas Dresses

I have decided that the longer you wait sometimes, the harder it is to find what you want. I have noticed for years that retailers are pushing earlier and earlier for consumers to start shopping. In years past I have thought, well I'll just hold out and then they will get the picture that it's too early. What actually happened was they didn't notice my one man effort and I went shopping to find empty shelves, dented boxes, and broken displays.

So for the last couple of years I have been starting early. I hate shopping when everything has been picked over and handled by every other shopper. My big Christmas shopping push is the day after Thanksgiving sale. I get a lot accomplished in just a few short hours. I don't go in with any big expectations, knowing there are limited items for the masses of people. I really go because my sister in laws and i have a great time at it. Lisa and I go each year and then sometimes Amanda joins us. Last year I learned that you can shop online and get about everything you want anyway.

One thing that I do not wait on is Christmas dresses. Every year I have been lucky enough to find the cutest dresses, reasonably priced. Three years ago when I found them, I waited. When I went back they were gone and couldn't find anything that was even close to acceptable. By the time I found something I liked I had to pay a ton (Well, what I consider a ton). So last year and this year in October, that's right, even before Halloween, when I find the perfect Christmas dress, I pick them up. Believe it or not, I have found dresses each year at Costco. Each year I fear that it will be the last year that I can put the girls all in matching dresses and then the next year I luck out. This year was no different, I did get one more year in, but I am sure it is the last.

The girls wore them to church 2 weeks ago for their program. I was going to make them wait until the Sunday before Christmas to wear them again, but decided what the heck. What good is a dress if you only wear it 10-12 times? I found their cute flowers in their hair at the Mistletoe Mall last weekend. the one in Aly's hair is really growing on me, I wasn't so sure about it at first. It has a red, black, and silver flower, with black and white polka dot feathers. The others are just red flowers with cute buttons in the center.

Ainsley was begging Will yesterday to put up the Christmas tree. Then last night we went shopping at Wal-Mart and they had one up. She decided to create a song to help plead her case, since Christmas trees were going up "everywhere". I told her that if we put the tree up now we would just end up having to dust it. She didn't care. She said, "Thats ok, we dust everything else." We listened to her song from Richfield to Glenwood before we had to shut her tune down.

35 Weeks

So today I had a doctor's appointment and I am 35 weeks. Wish I was counting days instead of weeks, this pregnancy had been harder than the ones before. I am going back in 2 weeks on the 16th. After that I will have two more appointments and on the last appointment we will schedule to be induced. It's a little weird to be able to "pick" you delivery date. I have done this with my last two and I don't know why, but this time it seems weird.

Which day do you choose?

Is there criteria for this?

We have a 4-5 day window of opportunity, so I guess we will see what the weekend before brings and go from there. Of course, Will doesn't want to have to miss any work. So his vote is for a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. But then those are his days to get "his" work done and those days don't really work either...Not sure how to handle that one other than to tell him when it is and he'll just have to make it work. He is so funny about things. I think if I would tell him he didn't have to come at all he would be cool with that and just show up once the baby is here. He is terrified of needles and there is something about an epidural that just makes him weak. Plus it is a really long day for him in a small room. He wants to be out doing something. I think that the girls will be giving up a nintendo ds to help with his boredom.

I am counting down the days at work. It gets harder and harder to be sitting down. Luckily the days fly by because I am busy trying to get things done and out of the way. It's not like I could stay away, even if I wanted to, but its nice to be caught up for a little while.

Brit wants everyone to "vote" on names. She is voting for an "A" girl name and is sure that it is a girl. To be honest, I haven't even thought of boy names. I guess that I am so used to girls that those are the only names I can think of.

I suggested the name Brock to the girls. Ainsley gave the most disgusted little look and said, " Are you serious mom? That is the dumbest name ever!" Foolishly I asked what was wrong with the name Brock. Ainsley, " It's dumb. Why would you want to name a kid Barack? Like Barack Obama? It's just stupid." And then she rolls her eyes. Yes, Ainsley, how could I have been so stupid. Did I mention she is 4?

So if you have any great names, let us know. If it is a girl, I will be sticking with an "A" name. If it is a boy i will not be going with an "A" name. If it is a boy it's middle name will definitely be William. If it is a girl I have two middle names picked out. Won't be sharing those until I decide on one.

Ainsley had decided she is no longer excited to get a baby. It is going to cramp her style. Oh things will be fun at our house in a month!