1/6/2013 All three oldest children bear their testimonies-which means they choose to share with the entire church congregation how they feel about God and ... in this case their family. Kalani says "I love my family, even if I don't show it. ever." Good thing that's not true!
1/20/2013 We are quickly eating sandwiches before church. Susan is discussing the kind of lunch meat we have. (ham). "I like dead pig. It's delicious. Especially when they take out the bones and blood and stuff." Oh we are ALL hungry now Susan. thanks for that.
1/24/2013 Susan was sitting next to me while I was nursing. I was partially covered up. Susan covers me with the blanket saying "I'll give you some privacy Rachel"..half a second later she pulls the blanket back and says quite loudly "never mind!" and starts playing peek a boo.
1/24/2013 Quiz time... Becca asks to watch a movie. She wants the " I hid under your porch because I love you" movie. Which movie does she want?
1/28 Family home evening. Chris is about to read us all a scripture. He is standing (was he holding a baby, or just getting our attention?) He coughs and prepares his dad reading voice. He reads Alma 55:31 :"But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction. They could not be taken in their snares; yea, they would not partake of their wine, save they had first given to some of the Lamanite prisoners." He then says "this scripture refers to something we call in our family the'token Lamanite'." There is squirming among the children...they notice dad has a hot pad in his hands...what has dad done? He continues.." I have put this scripture into practice in my own life today by tasting the peanut butter cookies made for family home..." "DAD!" much laughter and admonishing by the children and ME because dad has committed the cardinal sin of eating the treat BEFORE it is TIME. Quick analysis of dad's health...he seems to have NOT been poisoned-though many children are considering it NOW. Quick, record breaking prayer and mad dash for the kitchen to see just how many cookies dad has tested and how many are left.
2/20 The older children come home from church with face paint and various designs on their arms and hands. Abi (5) particularly likes the flower on Natalie's arm. She asks for it. I ask her if she'd like me to unscrew Natalie's arm and trade with her arm. She says "Silly! Arms are connected...we'll have to break it off."
2/21 Abi (5) "Mom, sometimes food makes babies." WHAT? I ask. " You ate food and you got a big belly and you had a baby." oh yes. huh.
2/26 Susan, "Oh Rachel you're so cute...until you turn hannah's age and become a master of destruction"
2/26 "Becca get on your shoes by yourself..I just put mine on and I'm 3 minutes younger than you!" susan
3/12 Susan, "Rachel you are just a sugar plum pie! Except I would never eat you except like in kisses" mwah mwah mwah..."There I ate your brain...I'm a zombie" Happy 3 months old Rachel!
3/17 We're working on memorizing The Living Christ. I'm copying a section out and Susan (7) is reading over my shoulder. Susan reads "Under the direction of his fat hair...that doesn't make sense"...no it doesn't sue. (The line is under the direction of His FATHER). I'm not sure this is leading to the increased spirituality in our home like I was hoping...
3/30 Abi has been singing to the baby in the car (Rachel is not a fan of car seats). The song is called I'm trying to be like Jesus...only she's singing "I'm trying to be like Moses" I'm not sure if she's hoping to part seas or wander for 40 years or be a part of cursing people with plagues...
4/1 Kalani is sharing some of the things she learned over the weekend. She had a great experience reading the New Testament in two days with her seminary class. she was talking about Paul and said. "Paul is sexiest". Teenage girls read the new testament differently than I do.
4/13 Susan notices some left over bunny-easter stuff. she comments on just how great that'd be for easter. I ask "Susan, you know what Easter is really about right?" "Yes mom, Jesus and the cross" I say yes then ask "So why do you think there are bunny things around easter?" She responds "Because they are so reverent!"
4/28 After a very disappointing first day of swim team (thunder and lightening = no swimming)...ben said the prayer "Bless us that we can actually SWIM at swim team tomorrow and bless all of the sick people, there are too many to remember"
4/28 After Hannah plays connect the spots on mommy, I say "I'm part leopard...I just got the spots and not the speed"
5/29 We are on our way to swim team and the older children are singing the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FPxYDGfniM
just to reinforce the nerdiness, when the lyrics say "middle earth is saved by the smallest of things" Susan butts in to say.."really? the smallest of things? What about dust mites" Then a conversation ensues about what exactly are the smallest of things including atoms, electrons, quarks and on the other side of the conversation a discussion on what was meant by the lyrics and well. giggles-that would be me.
6/27 I sometimes refer to motherhood as my day job. On one such occasion I said "It's a great day job" and Susan interrupted with.."Sure the days are fine, it's the nights that get you! The baby waking up, the diaper changes...."
7/3 We're on our way to a new movie theater. We had left with plenty of time and had mapquested. It's just that road closures weren't accounted for on mapquest. As we are making our second u-turn Susan pipes up "Good thing Dad isn't here so we can ask for directions!"
7/12 We're on our way to an Oyster Creek Elementary school to launch rockets with cub scouts. As we are approaching the school Ben says "We don't have to go to that horrible place do we?" My mind starts going crazy trying to remember what I could have possibly have said about public schools. As I'm wondering what I could have done to poison his mind against the public school system...I decide to just ask, "why do you think this is a horrible place?" "OYSTERS mom" he says. oh. that's fine then. I'm totally good with influencing his mind against seafood!
7/13 We're watching Robin Hood...the super old Erol Flynn variety. At one point some guy says "All Hail Prince John!" and Susan says "Prince John? Hail, no." Yes we are immature, so my husband and I have since been agreeing with her and her "hail no" all against prince john of course.
7/20 My children were interviewed for the stake youth musical ( a church program for teens). They were asked some basic, open ended questions. One question was "what grow on an apricot tree?" the answer that Susan, Abi and Rebecca ALL gave? Popcorn!
Becca was asked "Who lives in heaven?" Her answer? "Lots and LOTS of dead people."
7/22 Princess Kate goes into labor. As I'm telling one daughter this...Susan is listening in. She asks what labor is. "It's the hard work a mommy's body does to prepare to give birth". "Oh she says...so it's how her body splits open". um ouch. she continues "how does her body go back together so quickly" I wonder what in the world she is visualizing. She goes on to say "Women are lucky...AND not lucky. I mean they get the babies, but the have to have them. Then they have the hardest job in the world of taking care of them."
8/5 epicly bad family home evening start. Two children had been privately spoken with, tackling was involved, a hug pile ensued to bring one child back, lots of playing,people stealing other people's seats, a crying baby and we hadn't even gotten past the opening song and prayer. I say exasperatedly "Can we at least keep it down to a dull roar?" Kalani says "Mom it's NEVER just a dull roar" "Yes it is" I say "When everyone is sleeping and dad is snoring...it's a dull roar."
The good news is we did get to the lesson and the children shared some tender mercies of the Lord that they had experienced that day that I didn't even know about.
These children are going to drive me to sugar.
8/24 I'm babysitting my nephew's son, Richard. I am changing his diaper and Hannah comes up to investigate. Upon seeing him she says "That baby's bum is crazy!"
8/25 We're watching a show and a heavily made up lady comes on with sinister music in the background. Susan says "I don't trust her, she's wearing makeup. I don't trust anyone wearing makeup." Susan looks around at her 7 sisters" No offense to anyone wearing makeup." um. okay.
9/1 The scout master walked in front of our van and waved to us. He used what I call a light bulb wave. My first thoughts were of calculus in high school. I say this to my children. They are obviously confused. So I say "Do you want to know what I learned first in Calculus?" Natalie immediately responds "That you'll never use it again?" "No!" I say "I learned how to wave"
9/22 "You have never worked full time until you're a mom." susan.
10/7 I'm in trouble. Susan AGE 8! is watching the end of some disney teen thing with her older sisters. The annoying little couple kiss at the end and susan says, "Now THAT'S what I call lip-synching!" yes she does actually know what lip-synching is. I later gave Chris a quick kiss and she told me "MOM! That is not lip-synching!" then goes into great detail... sigh.
10-20 Abigail "Mom. I know why you call dad 'honey'…it's because you can't have sugar."
10-30 On the way home from picking up Kalani from Jr college Abigail starts talking about just how painful childbirth will be. Then she asks "Mom, how do babies get out?" Making sure I don't answer much more than she needs at age 5, I ask…"What do you mean?" "I mean if you are wearing pants..how does that work? I don't want to have a baby in my pants!" "OH." I say. "You take your pants off first" "Okay" she says…then changes the subject. That was it! kids. you NEVER know.
11-9 Part of Raymond's birthday breakfast included Cocoa Puffs. They have star wars pens and Hannah(3) was looking at all of the characters who were to be featured on the pens. She noticed Obi Wan and said "Look mom! Jesus!"
Fast forward to a bit later. Hannah says she is still hungry. I ask her what she wants to eat. She replies "Meatball Jesus!" oh. I say, and walk over to the cupboard to get the cocoa puffs. I speak toddler.
11-10 Hannah (3) "A long time ago I was a baby! then I grew up and now I'm a HUMAN!" Susan…"you were already a human!"
12/25 We had a family nativity. My favorite parts? the frantic Joseph, Mary fell off the donkey, the hopping angel baby thieves-who were so giggly the shepherd's fake fear was just funny, Rachel stealing the baby constantly…and when it came time for baby Jesus to be born...surprise Mary...twins. never a dull moment.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
2012-the year of the funny
1-31 Susan(6), Raymond(12), and I were talking about Sinbad. Susan said, "I think he's a nomad." I was curious as to her reasoning and word choice, so I asked, "What's a nomad?" She replied, "Someone who's never mad? You know they have no mads?"
2-1 At first I thought it was temporary holiday confusion...but it's still going strong. Over the holidays, 1yo Hannah started calling Chris...momma and me...dad. I thought it was just because Chris was home more and she could go to either of us for anything. It is not really a problem per se...but it does get a little strange sometimes, like today at church, when Chris came back in sacrament meeting and Hannah yelled "MOM!" and ran to him. ***update..we are now both mom. Very rarely she calls Chris Dad...still don't know why.
2-10 We made brownies..whole wheat flour and honey. I put two on my plate and Susan says "Who are those for?" "For me!" I say. "Mom!" she says, "You can't have those." "I can sue...there isn't sugar in them, it's okay" "But mom", she says "If you want to have another baby you need to eat healthy and brownies aren't healthy!" my very own nutrition nazi/baby pusher.
2-12 A Restful Sunday afternoon finds me sitting alone in the rocking chair dinking around on Facebook. Susan comes up "Mom, since you're bored, I brought two books, a pillow, a blanket...and ME!"
4-15 So we're in church singing the hymn before taking the sacrament (the Lord's super). Well Chris is singing beautifully and I'm distracting the toddler by letting her put stickers all over my face. She finally is interested in another past time and I work on removing the stickers. I think they're all gone, but I don't want to go the whole day with a random sticker on my face. So I lean over and interrupt my husband's intent singing with a simple question "Do I have a sticker on my nose?" He looks at me like he has never heard of stickers, is completely unfamiliar with children and isn't so sure he knows me either. He points to where the last remaining sticker is and returns to singing..very confused. I lean over and say "Hey...you prepare for the sacrament your way, and I'll prepare for the sacrament my way!"
9/2 We are talking about Rebecca and Susan's birthday. We are talking about how Grandma Kelly has died, and that's why they didn't get a birthday card from her. I said "There just isn't a post office in heaven, why do you think that is?" Susan says "Because they don't have electricity yet?"
12/12/12 Susan comments on my very squishy post baby belly..."It's SO soft and squishy, no WONDER Rachel liked it in there!"
12/12/12 We have a wonderful baby and name her Rachel Barbara. Her middle name reminds us of Chris' wonderful mother. Our children never called grandma by her given name so instead of bringing to mind their grandma...they think of this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpcf_qD3GW4
12-22 Ben has a great love for his now 15yo sister Natalie on her birthday, so although his 9yo self must sing that she looks like a monkey,and he did notice she climbs like a monkey, he doesn't think she smells like one!
12-24 We read Luke 2 and act out the story...it starts out with 16yo Kalani mimicking MY pregnancy waddle. It was so funny. The story continued with an angel dressed in black. A shepherd who cowered then climbed said angel to see the baby better. The three wise men who were unsure about the direction east, and dressed -one with a tutu on her head and another as a leprechaun chef. Never a dull moment.
12-31 As part of our new year's eve festivities we were playing charades. Chris chose this last moment of 2012 to court death by pretending to be pregnant me--I would ask if I really walk like that when I'm pregnant but I DON'T want to know. Especially funny was the 16yos outrage that dad would mock his wife when she did hte very same thing days before.
2-1 At first I thought it was temporary holiday confusion...but it's still going strong. Over the holidays, 1yo Hannah started calling Chris...momma and me...dad. I thought it was just because Chris was home more and she could go to either of us for anything. It is not really a problem per se...but it does get a little strange sometimes, like today at church, when Chris came back in sacrament meeting and Hannah yelled "MOM!" and ran to him. ***update..we are now both mom. Very rarely she calls Chris Dad...still don't know why.
2-10 We made brownies..whole wheat flour and honey. I put two on my plate and Susan says "Who are those for?" "For me!" I say. "Mom!" she says, "You can't have those." "I can sue...there isn't sugar in them, it's okay" "But mom", she says "If you want to have another baby you need to eat healthy and brownies aren't healthy!" my very own nutrition nazi/baby pusher.
2-12 A Restful Sunday afternoon finds me sitting alone in the rocking chair dinking around on Facebook. Susan comes up "Mom, since you're bored, I brought two books, a pillow, a blanket...and ME!"
4-15 So we're in church singing the hymn before taking the sacrament (the Lord's super). Well Chris is singing beautifully and I'm distracting the toddler by letting her put stickers all over my face. She finally is interested in another past time and I work on removing the stickers. I think they're all gone, but I don't want to go the whole day with a random sticker on my face. So I lean over and interrupt my husband's intent singing with a simple question "Do I have a sticker on my nose?" He looks at me like he has never heard of stickers, is completely unfamiliar with children and isn't so sure he knows me either. He points to where the last remaining sticker is and returns to singing..very confused. I lean over and say "Hey...you prepare for the sacrament your way, and I'll prepare for the sacrament my way!"
9/2 We are talking about Rebecca and Susan's birthday. We are talking about how Grandma Kelly has died, and that's why they didn't get a birthday card from her. I said "There just isn't a post office in heaven, why do you think that is?" Susan says "Because they don't have electricity yet?"
12/12/12 Susan comments on my very squishy post baby belly..."It's SO soft and squishy, no WONDER Rachel liked it in there!"
12/12/12 We have a wonderful baby and name her Rachel Barbara. Her middle name reminds us of Chris' wonderful mother. Our children never called grandma by her given name so instead of bringing to mind their grandma...they think of this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpcf_qD3GW4
12-22 Ben has a great love for his now 15yo sister Natalie on her birthday, so although his 9yo self must sing that she looks like a monkey,and he did notice she climbs like a monkey, he doesn't think she smells like one!
12-24 We read Luke 2 and act out the story...it starts out with 16yo Kalani mimicking MY pregnancy waddle. It was so funny. The story continued with an angel dressed in black. A shepherd who cowered then climbed said angel to see the baby better. The three wise men who were unsure about the direction east, and dressed -one with a tutu on her head and another as a leprechaun chef. Never a dull moment.
12-31 As part of our new year's eve festivities we were playing charades. Chris chose this last moment of 2012 to court death by pretending to be pregnant me--I would ask if I really walk like that when I'm pregnant but I DON'T want to know. Especially funny was the 16yos outrage that dad would mock his wife when she did hte very same thing days before.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Rachel's story-the long version
To really understand this story you do kinda need to know that the last two labors were whirlwind, sprinty, high concentrated craziness. One ended abruptly in an emergency elevator birth and the next ended in a much more prepared-before the midwife home birth-but definitely fast and furious. Both were Chris and I alone. This time we definitely wanted ATTENDED childbirth. I wanted both my husband AND the midwife there and prayed that would all happen...then I chose a midwife who lived about 2 miles away ;). We also definitely wanted to stay home. After being home last time, I can't fathom going back to a hospital for anything other than a medical reason. Home is at least as safe. Home is so much more comfortable and peaceful and warm and...wonderful. If you are unsure that home is equally at safe...find ONE study that proves otherwise...make sure it doesn't compare out of hospital births with IN hospital births. There isn't such a study..but if you'd like to look, knock yourself out.
December 11th had been a busy day...library, midwife appointment, and a little Christmas shopping. I had a happy birthday phone call with my sister and wished I could have a baby on her birthday. With the midwife I had discussed the possibility that I could go 2 weeks late and that would be December 27th! AGGGGHH. I was planning my due date belly pictures. My husband, on the other hand, had been commenting that this week would be better than next because he has finals next week.
That evening I had settled down to read a bit and was having a few contractions and thought'd I'd just go to bed. I'd been having quite a few nights filled with contractions and little sleep. I was hoping to get some rest. I read maybe a few pages when I felt a very familiar pop. I ran to the bathroom and discovered my water had broken. It was 7:40pm My darling 4yo Abigail had been reading with me, so I sent her to go and get Natalie. Natalie got my phone for me and alerted Kalani. I called Chris. Chris is coaching basketball and was at an away game. He had driven his own car for this very reason. All I said was "Chris my water broke" and he took off. He made the 40 minute drive in 26 minutes...thanks Houston traffic for cooperating! I called my midwife and explained that I wasn't having contractions and although I was shaky (cold shaky) I didn't think we were at critical point. I told her to eat her dinner-she was just sitting down-and I'd call her or have a daughter call if it got crazy. Natalie and Kalani sprang into action. They prepared the bed for delivery and worked to get the little people to bed. Natalie said at one point "Well you have US!" We had talked briefly with both girls on what they might need to do and what they would be willing to do. I was and am grateful for them.
I was still feeling only extremely wimpy contractions scarcely worth mentioning. I was considering sitting on the couch and watching a movie, were it not for my constant leakiness. I was on the couch relaxing when Chris came racing in the door in full adrenaline and catch the baby mode.
The midwife and her assistant arrived at 8:30pm. I was dilated to a 6-7. If I could just have some contractions we'd have a baby. Instead we chatted and joked and laughed. We heard about how Amanda met her husband and her two children. we told them our story. I joked that we had been praying so long that we would have enough time to get everyone here for the birth that God in his infinite wisdom, mercy and humor heard...what? she wants a longer labor? SURE!! How about 7 hours! I was having contractions 2-5 minutes apart, but only while I was pacing-still very mild. If I sat down they'd space out. The baby was fine...though VERY VERY wiggly. Every heart beat check involved many swooshing sounds of baby movement. Chris was starting to talk about a 12-12-12 baby. By 11 o'clock there was still not much happening. And right here is where I was SO glad to be home. A midwife doesn't manage labor and she doesn't control it. She observes labor and cares for the mother and baby through labor. I was tired. This is already a few hours past my bedtime. Chris gave me a blessing and we decided to take a nap. Natalie and Amanda each grabbed a couch. Chris stayed up and read sports stuff and fell asleep in the rocking chair and I laid down on the bed. I worried I would be in labor forever, or that I would get my hopes up on sleep, get just enough to be groggy and then have real labor. My contractions spaced out to about 11 minutes apart. They were different. Starting to be more serious. But 11 minutes? That's a ton of thinking time. I was prepared. I repeated my birth hymn (http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/when-faith-endures?lang=eng) I repeated my mantra words (receive, hope, love) and listened to relaxing music. After an hour of this I was annoyed. I didn't want to do this alone, the contractions were getting annoying and I wanted Chris' help. I woke him up and he laid down with me. He would sleep in between and wake up for contractions to help with counter pressure. After an hour of that (now 1 am) Chris woke up Amanda. After watching a few contractions...now 6-9 minutes apart and hard enough that I was vocalizing through them...think Ha breathing or making myself relax my jaw and remain open. After a little more than an hour of that they woke Midwife Natalie.
At this point I was confused. How long was this labor going to be? Sure the contractions were PLENTY hard, but 9 minutes in between? I wanted to start counting contractions(normally when they get this hard I'm 10 contractions away...it's just that 10 contractions at this pace would be another hour and a half!) Midwife Natalie was starting to comment that it was close and that whatever position I was currently in (hands and knees, side lying and kneeling beside my bed) were great birthing positions. She said I could push if I wanted and that's when I realized Rachel was not where I could feel her to push her. I thought the midwife was crazy, but I try and trust the people around me in labor...try being the operative word. I felt I would be in labor forever---which is a typical transition labor thought--but this time I felt it was justified! I tried to trust that maybe I was close. With so much time in between contractions, I could move and think for a few minutes. I needed gravity, so I got down next to the bed kneeling. My right hip and leg were sore and tired and not supporting me well. I had a very strong contraction there...then thinking time-another 6 minute break, while Chris continued to massage my back and love me. I was desperately trying to maintain the one contraction at a time concept--I really wanted to hold my baby. With the next contraction I could feel Rachel move down and I started to push. Chris, Natalie and Amanda all encouraged me to breath, and go slow and let the baby come. I had the irrational thought that were I to wait I might not be able to feel her to push again-or that I would have to wait again...carpe diem...patience be gone. My body needs time to stretch and the baby needs time to get ready to breath and I know this so I half tried to breath and push gently, when I heard those wonderful words...there's her forehead, and her shoulders, no cord issues...and finally she was born.
Rachel Barbara Kelly. Rachel is the name I thought of at her ultrasound...she was just Rachel...clear and simple. I love the Rachel of the Bible and her inspiring faith and strength. I have a friend Rachel who is an inspiration to me. Barbara is Chris' mother's name. His beautiful mother who died earlier this year. She is a wonderful, wonderful lady! She is so childlike and sweet and loving. She had been with me at some births, has been a fabulous mother in law and grandma and we really miss her. We are thrilled to be able to remember her with Rachel's name. Chris' aunt Barbara also endears the name to me. I love aunt barbara.
Rachel is 9lbs 14oz. She is 22inches long, but has short fingers and toes.
Shortly after birth, I delivered the placenta, bathed, and was back relaxing in my bed. One teensy tear not worth stitching (thanks midwife!). Everything was cleaned up, I had already had my shake (thanks Kalani it was perfect!) and my omelet (I'm starving after labor and I LOVE being home and not having to wait for food!) Amazingly no one woke up until Kalani and Natalie woke at 4am. They held the baby and dressed her, then got ready for seminary. Midwife Natalie and assistant Amanda left around 5am and we attempted sleep.
Click on the photo for more Rachel pictures and comments from the children about their new baby sister.
December 11th had been a busy day...library, midwife appointment, and a little Christmas shopping. I had a happy birthday phone call with my sister and wished I could have a baby on her birthday. With the midwife I had discussed the possibility that I could go 2 weeks late and that would be December 27th! AGGGGHH. I was planning my due date belly pictures. My husband, on the other hand, had been commenting that this week would be better than next because he has finals next week.
That evening I had settled down to read a bit and was having a few contractions and thought'd I'd just go to bed. I'd been having quite a few nights filled with contractions and little sleep. I was hoping to get some rest. I read maybe a few pages when I felt a very familiar pop. I ran to the bathroom and discovered my water had broken. It was 7:40pm My darling 4yo Abigail had been reading with me, so I sent her to go and get Natalie. Natalie got my phone for me and alerted Kalani. I called Chris. Chris is coaching basketball and was at an away game. He had driven his own car for this very reason. All I said was "Chris my water broke" and he took off. He made the 40 minute drive in 26 minutes...thanks Houston traffic for cooperating! I called my midwife and explained that I wasn't having contractions and although I was shaky (cold shaky) I didn't think we were at critical point. I told her to eat her dinner-she was just sitting down-and I'd call her or have a daughter call if it got crazy. Natalie and Kalani sprang into action. They prepared the bed for delivery and worked to get the little people to bed. Natalie said at one point "Well you have US!" We had talked briefly with both girls on what they might need to do and what they would be willing to do. I was and am grateful for them.
I was still feeling only extremely wimpy contractions scarcely worth mentioning. I was considering sitting on the couch and watching a movie, were it not for my constant leakiness. I was on the couch relaxing when Chris came racing in the door in full adrenaline and catch the baby mode.
The midwife and her assistant arrived at 8:30pm. I was dilated to a 6-7. If I could just have some contractions we'd have a baby. Instead we chatted and joked and laughed. We heard about how Amanda met her husband and her two children. we told them our story. I joked that we had been praying so long that we would have enough time to get everyone here for the birth that God in his infinite wisdom, mercy and humor heard...what? she wants a longer labor? SURE!! How about 7 hours! I was having contractions 2-5 minutes apart, but only while I was pacing-still very mild. If I sat down they'd space out. The baby was fine...though VERY VERY wiggly. Every heart beat check involved many swooshing sounds of baby movement. Chris was starting to talk about a 12-12-12 baby. By 11 o'clock there was still not much happening. And right here is where I was SO glad to be home. A midwife doesn't manage labor and she doesn't control it. She observes labor and cares for the mother and baby through labor. I was tired. This is already a few hours past my bedtime. Chris gave me a blessing and we decided to take a nap. Natalie and Amanda each grabbed a couch. Chris stayed up and read sports stuff and fell asleep in the rocking chair and I laid down on the bed. I worried I would be in labor forever, or that I would get my hopes up on sleep, get just enough to be groggy and then have real labor. My contractions spaced out to about 11 minutes apart. They were different. Starting to be more serious. But 11 minutes? That's a ton of thinking time. I was prepared. I repeated my birth hymn (http://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/when-faith-endures?lang=eng) I repeated my mantra words (receive, hope, love) and listened to relaxing music. After an hour of this I was annoyed. I didn't want to do this alone, the contractions were getting annoying and I wanted Chris' help. I woke him up and he laid down with me. He would sleep in between and wake up for contractions to help with counter pressure. After an hour of that (now 1 am) Chris woke up Amanda. After watching a few contractions...now 6-9 minutes apart and hard enough that I was vocalizing through them...think Ha breathing or making myself relax my jaw and remain open. After a little more than an hour of that they woke Midwife Natalie.
At this point I was confused. How long was this labor going to be? Sure the contractions were PLENTY hard, but 9 minutes in between? I wanted to start counting contractions(normally when they get this hard I'm 10 contractions away...it's just that 10 contractions at this pace would be another hour and a half!) Midwife Natalie was starting to comment that it was close and that whatever position I was currently in (hands and knees, side lying and kneeling beside my bed) were great birthing positions. She said I could push if I wanted and that's when I realized Rachel was not where I could feel her to push her. I thought the midwife was crazy, but I try and trust the people around me in labor...try being the operative word. I felt I would be in labor forever---which is a typical transition labor thought--but this time I felt it was justified! I tried to trust that maybe I was close. With so much time in between contractions, I could move and think for a few minutes. I needed gravity, so I got down next to the bed kneeling. My right hip and leg were sore and tired and not supporting me well. I had a very strong contraction there...then thinking time-another 6 minute break, while Chris continued to massage my back and love me. I was desperately trying to maintain the one contraction at a time concept--I really wanted to hold my baby. With the next contraction I could feel Rachel move down and I started to push. Chris, Natalie and Amanda all encouraged me to breath, and go slow and let the baby come. I had the irrational thought that were I to wait I might not be able to feel her to push again-or that I would have to wait again...carpe diem...patience be gone. My body needs time to stretch and the baby needs time to get ready to breath and I know this so I half tried to breath and push gently, when I heard those wonderful words...there's her forehead, and her shoulders, no cord issues...and finally she was born.
Rachel Barbara Kelly. Rachel is the name I thought of at her ultrasound...she was just Rachel...clear and simple. I love the Rachel of the Bible and her inspiring faith and strength. I have a friend Rachel who is an inspiration to me. Barbara is Chris' mother's name. His beautiful mother who died earlier this year. She is a wonderful, wonderful lady! She is so childlike and sweet and loving. She had been with me at some births, has been a fabulous mother in law and grandma and we really miss her. We are thrilled to be able to remember her with Rachel's name. Chris' aunt Barbara also endears the name to me. I love aunt barbara.
Rachel is 9lbs 14oz. She is 22inches long, but has short fingers and toes.
Shortly after birth, I delivered the placenta, bathed, and was back relaxing in my bed. One teensy tear not worth stitching (thanks midwife!). Everything was cleaned up, I had already had my shake (thanks Kalani it was perfect!) and my omelet (I'm starving after labor and I LOVE being home and not having to wait for food!) Amazingly no one woke up until Kalani and Natalie woke at 4am. They held the baby and dressed her, then got ready for seminary. Midwife Natalie and assistant Amanda left around 5am and we attempted sleep.
Click on the photo for more Rachel pictures and comments from the children about their new baby sister.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
2011
Happy New Year from the Kelly's: Raymond (12), Britt, Hannah(1), Chris, Natalie(14), Lydia(10), Kalani(15), Abigail(4), Ben(8), Susan(6) and Rebecca(6).
My 40th birthday trip to San Diego was fabulous! I loved having uninterrupted time with my parents and sister and brothers.
Susan being her sweet self
Natalie being her creative self
Lydia being her playful self
Ben was baptized in November!
Our Christmas eve pjs are evidence of Lydia's help, my time sewing, and Natalie's creativity with our dragon shirts.
Natalie's first stake dance continued our family tradition of Dad being her first dance. This involves some embarassment on the part of the daughter in question.
Susan and Rebecca enjoying a twin moment
Britt, Raymond, Susan and Hannah listening to Chris read Christmas stories
Raymond on top of things as usual
Abi rocking her mask
Abi enjoying her very first trip to the gulf
Ben, Kalani, Natalie and Abi demonstrating the ever so slight difference between brothers and sisters
Kalani helping out a blacksmith
Chris and Britt on our 17th anniversary
Kalani enjoying the princess dress she made...and unsurprisingly reading a book
Rebecca and Abi jumping in puddles
Abi, Becca and toothless Ben greeting me at the door
Hannah, on our trip to Lake Hugo with the Hamson's, was a darling little water seeking missile.
Rebecca and Abi enjoy kissable Hannah.
Lydia demonstrates an appreciation for the flexibility of homeschool.
Abi, Susan, Rebecca, and Ben enjoy the first day of homeschool.
And this is how Hannah filled her time and emptied our cupboards while we learned.
Ben and Raymond have to stick together.
We're going to assume this is chocolate on Hannah. We're also going to assume she looked about like this at least once a week and that this picutre covers for the time she dumped out the cocoa, climbed on the piano and the bar, emptied out some food storage, and destroyed various and assundry items.
Good thing she's cute.
Let's see...we didn't move. We didn't have a baby. Chris stayed at the same school. Huh. All of that stability opened up a whole world of opportunities for the Kelly's. This is how some of us remember the year:
Raymond - Hannah became a big monster that's trying to destroy the world and I got the priesthood.
Kalani - received her personal progress award for YW.
Natalie - wrote in her book every, single, day, and we're hoping she learned the value of SAVING documents.
Lydia - remembers swimming with grandma and grandpa.
me - 40th birthday in San Diego
Raymond - Hannah became a big monster that's trying to destroy the world and I got the priesthood.
Kalani - received her personal progress award for YW.
Natalie - wrote in her book every, single, day, and we're hoping she learned the value of SAVING documents.
Lydia - remembers swimming with grandma and grandpa.
me - 40th birthday in San Diego
Monday, January 31, 2011
2011 kelly kids
1-3 While playing Apples to Apples, Kalani gets tongue tied trying to discuss a certain ear accoutrement and calls them "earlings"
1-16 Becca(5) has an old aunt moment as she asks Natalie (13) "So when did you grow up?...I mean wake up?"
1-31 Surely younger siblings have different experiences than older siblings... Raymond(11) is waiting patiently for his computer turn. He is walking around the house swinging his stuffed dog. He sees Hannah and says "I know what I'll do, I'll show Hannah what mock super space wars look like!" Of course! That's what I myself would have done!
4-22 Ben(7) sitting in traffic on the way to a dentist appointment "So did we come here to just stop or what?"
5-1 Susie(5)...that girl sure travels in her brain. She and Abi(3) are helping me make pancakes. They are up on chairs. I come up behind them and give them a kiss and a hug, because I can't get close to the batter or pan or pancakes anyway. Susan says " It's good to hug standing on chairs, BUT NOT ON A CLIFF!"
6-10 We're at the lake with the Hamsons. I follow Becca and Susie(5) into the room to change out of my swimsuit. Susie looks up at me strangely, so I say "Can I come in with you and change?" Susy responds "Ya, it's alright, I promise not to laugh". thanks Sue.
6-18 In the rules you thought you'd never have to make as a mother section: "We don't build things on kitties" said to Becca (5) as she builds a lego contraption on a sleeping kitty.
6-20 For Family Home Evening, we were taking a quiz to check ourselves and how we are doing...before taking a section of the quiz called "humility", Lydia(9) says emphatically to Raymond "I'm going to do better on this part than you!"
7-17 Over dinner we're talking about what we learned in church. Lydia (9) says 'we talked about the parody of the sheep and the goats"
8-11 Natalie(13) while explaining her sense of humor to a friend, "You'd have to be mean to understand that!" "wait...I mean ME! You'd have to be me!"
8-14 Natalie (13) finds Susan's (5) shoes in our attempt to get ready for church. I inform Susan, "don't you have a great sister!" Susan replies "well, she's not THAT great."
8-14 1yo Hannah climbs onto the couch and starts unpacking Natalie's bag. As Natalie picks Hannah up I say "I'm sure glad she's cute" Natalie agrees "Ya people might not like her if she wasn't" To which Raymond responds "I'd hate her if she wasn't cute." Upon seeing our faces he says "What? She's a handful!"
8-25 Becca (5) struggles to carry a gallon of milk and says "Moms weigh more than a gallon of milk". "Yep" I agree. Susan (5) comes in saying "WAY more! No one can pick them up........except Jesus". The good news is her faith exceeds her concept of my weight.
9-18 We're at church and a kind lady has gotten up to bear her testimony with ferver. She says "LDS ROCKS!" about 5 times. After the last time Becca(6) leans over and asks "LDS frogs?" then adds ribbit...and the rest of the meeting there were frog noises from that side of the bench and Abi quickly adjusted to taking care of her little pet frog.
9-18 I love my ward. To sing Hello to visitors we get to choose what language to sing it in. I'm not sure what the die landed on but the lyrics were "Was'up was'up, was'up. was'up..."
10-18 Abi, Raymond and Hannah are off in the van going somewhere. I don't remember what Hannah had just done-something exciting to be sure. Raymond says "Hannah is going to destroy the world". "No she's not, I say" Abi (3) pipes up "Yes mom, she is. She's like superman only with poop!"
11-12-11 A view inside my twisted mind. I catch my daughter with weed . This makes me giggle because it's Hannah the 1yo and it's dilly weed, but yes it was all over the place.
11-16 Raymond reminding me that everyone is different in their view of what's fun... talking about his new rubber band gun "Sometimes I like to shoot myself in the head at point blank range for fun"
11-30 You know that great feeling after you exercise? Sometimes it goes away faster than other times...for example. After a run in the crisp morning air I come home and lay down to do some sit ups. Of course Hannah jumps on me. Next Abi comes and puts her very cold wet hands on my face. "Why are your hands wet?" I ask. "I washed them in your bathroom because of the peanut butter" "Is there peanut butter in my bathroom?" "Yes...because when I had the peanut butter by the computer Hannah would scream" ah. well then. good feeling gone and I'm off to check the computer.
12-24 We come home from Christmas caroling our neighbors. Kalani says 'That was fun!" and Susan adds, "Even though I thought some of them were Aliens." !!
1-16 Becca(5) has an old aunt moment as she asks Natalie (13) "So when did you grow up?...I mean wake up?"
1-31 Surely younger siblings have different experiences than older siblings... Raymond(11) is waiting patiently for his computer turn. He is walking around the house swinging his stuffed dog. He sees Hannah and says "I know what I'll do, I'll show Hannah what mock super space wars look like!" Of course! That's what I myself would have done!
4-22 Ben(7) sitting in traffic on the way to a dentist appointment "So did we come here to just stop or what?"
5-1 Susie(5)...that girl sure travels in her brain. She and Abi(3) are helping me make pancakes. They are up on chairs. I come up behind them and give them a kiss and a hug, because I can't get close to the batter or pan or pancakes anyway. Susan says " It's good to hug standing on chairs, BUT NOT ON A CLIFF!"
6-10 We're at the lake with the Hamsons. I follow Becca and Susie(5) into the room to change out of my swimsuit. Susie looks up at me strangely, so I say "Can I come in with you and change?" Susy responds "Ya, it's alright, I promise not to laugh". thanks Sue.
6-18 In the rules you thought you'd never have to make as a mother section: "We don't build things on kitties" said to Becca (5) as she builds a lego contraption on a sleeping kitty.
6-20 For Family Home Evening, we were taking a quiz to check ourselves and how we are doing...before taking a section of the quiz called "humility", Lydia(9) says emphatically to Raymond "I'm going to do better on this part than you!"
7-17 Over dinner we're talking about what we learned in church. Lydia (9) says 'we talked about the parody of the sheep and the goats"
8-11 Natalie(13) while explaining her sense of humor to a friend, "You'd have to be mean to understand that!" "wait...I mean ME! You'd have to be me!"
8-14 Natalie (13) finds Susan's (5) shoes in our attempt to get ready for church. I inform Susan, "don't you have a great sister!" Susan replies "well, she's not THAT great."
8-14 1yo Hannah climbs onto the couch and starts unpacking Natalie's bag. As Natalie picks Hannah up I say "I'm sure glad she's cute" Natalie agrees "Ya people might not like her if she wasn't" To which Raymond responds "I'd hate her if she wasn't cute." Upon seeing our faces he says "What? She's a handful!"
8-25 Becca (5) struggles to carry a gallon of milk and says "Moms weigh more than a gallon of milk". "Yep" I agree. Susan (5) comes in saying "WAY more! No one can pick them up........except Jesus". The good news is her faith exceeds her concept of my weight.
9-18 We're at church and a kind lady has gotten up to bear her testimony with ferver. She says "LDS ROCKS!" about 5 times. After the last time Becca(6) leans over and asks "LDS frogs?" then adds ribbit...and the rest of the meeting there were frog noises from that side of the bench and Abi quickly adjusted to taking care of her little pet frog.
9-18 I love my ward. To sing Hello to visitors we get to choose what language to sing it in. I'm not sure what the die landed on but the lyrics were "Was'up was'up, was'up. was'up..."
10-18 Abi, Raymond and Hannah are off in the van going somewhere. I don't remember what Hannah had just done-something exciting to be sure. Raymond says "Hannah is going to destroy the world". "No she's not, I say" Abi (3) pipes up "Yes mom, she is. She's like superman only with poop!"
11-12-11 A view inside my twisted mind. I catch my daughter with weed . This makes me giggle because it's Hannah the 1yo and it's dilly weed, but yes it was all over the place.
11-16 Raymond reminding me that everyone is different in their view of what's fun... talking about his new rubber band gun "Sometimes I like to shoot myself in the head at point blank range for fun"
11-30 You know that great feeling after you exercise? Sometimes it goes away faster than other times...for example. After a run in the crisp morning air I come home and lay down to do some sit ups. Of course Hannah jumps on me. Next Abi comes and puts her very cold wet hands on my face. "Why are your hands wet?" I ask. "I washed them in your bathroom because of the peanut butter" "Is there peanut butter in my bathroom?" "Yes...because when I had the peanut butter by the computer Hannah would scream" ah. well then. good feeling gone and I'm off to check the computer.
12-24 We come home from Christmas caroling our neighbors. Kalani says 'That was fun!" and Susan adds, "Even though I thought some of them were Aliens." !!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2010 funnies
1/08 We've had a stomach bug in our house, so when Ben woke up holding his stomach I asked him how his stomach was feeling. He replied, "It's feeling like if you don't feed it, it will die!"
1/13 Susan informs me that both Han Solo AND Luke Skywalker are my husbands(the action figure sized guys). She asks me to keep them in their plastic containers and keep them safe - one wonders at her concept of husband and how to keep one.
1/14 I take Natalie purse shopping and she cringes at the thought of leather..she's fine eating animals, just not wearing one...until we find THE perfect purse which is snake skin. So really if an animal skin looks good enough you can go ahead and wear it...especially if the animal wasn't all that snuggly in the first place. I will talk to PETA - perhaps along with calling fish "sea kittens" we need to rename snakes.
1/15 We're talking about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the "I Have a Dream" speech. As I'm explaining his vision Natalie says, "We already have that! He was right!" I wonder, how much should I tell her? I wish everyone saw through her eyes. We have come a long way...how young is too young to know just how many stupid and ugly people there still are?
1/17 Ben, age 6, has a substitute for Sunday school. The teacher is talking about how we are different and how we have similarities. We have different eye color, different hair color...but we are all children of God. Ben, listening intently and wanting to contribute: "I have a penis and you don't." Can't argue with that now, can you? Please also note that this particular teacher STILL as an adult NEVER uses ANY proper names for ANY slightly sensitive body part.
1/24 Ben relaying his version of Article of Faith 2: "...men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transmission." (Is this a common little child assumption?)
2/19 Watching olympics with the children and Susan (4) says, "Let's go back to Dad's on Ice!" (We assume she meant men's figure skating - unless she intended to carbon freeze her own father.)
2/22 So last night in the middle of Family Home Evening (Monday night - our church sets apart as a time for families to be together - talk about the gospel, sing, play, have a treat...that kind of thing) Susan is sitting on my lap. She turns to me and touches my belly and asks with her darling little voice and fluttering eyelashes...
"What man put that baby in your belly?"
"Dad!" I say, somewhat shocked.
"Really?" she asks again.
"Yes, really, it was Dad" I say.
"Oh, good" she says... conversation over, leaving me completely incredulous! Kalani heard it and was laughing, but Chris missed it entirely.
3/2 Every morning Abi wakes up happy and ready to snuggle. It's a wonderful morning routine. After a few minutes she generally asks for a "na" (banana) or a "bapple" (apple). Sometimes the request shifts to a "dink o' yilk". The last two mornings, however, the first part of the morning has continued but her request has shifted...she requested "chocklit."
3/19 We're watching BYU play basketball against Florida. I hadn't seen the BYU coach in a while and commented on his hair color: "Didn't he used to be black?" I say. Chris explained that during the course of his cancer treatment he'd gone white. Raymond, listening to all of this - or perhaps only half of it - says, "He used to be a black guy?"
4/28 I'm resting and reading a book. Susan comes up and colors me a cake. She divides it up with her pen and proceeds to pretend to serve it to me. After a few pieces I tell her I'm full. She says, "Mom, I want you to eat it all and get really big so our baby will get really big and be ready to come out today!"
5/5 We're off to the hardware store to buy a few miscelaneous things for bikes and scooters and various things. At the last moment Natalie had asked for a bolt for her bike. So I was saying on the way to the store "nuts and bolts, nuts and bolts..." Kalani, after hearing me for a little while said, "Mom, we don't need both; we just need the butt." Um...
6/7 Raymond gets me a glass of water just how I like it, and very politely. I thank him and he replies, "No problem. I'll help you anytime mom... at least until the baby's a few months old." I knew there was a catch.
6/12 I'm discussing chores with Kalani, and she's not in the mood to do them all. She's trying to think of some reward and says, "Can we have the baby when we're done then?" ...Sure!
6/15 Hannah Julia is born into her father's arms at our home...what a darling daughter!
7/4 We visit a new ward to meet a friend, Brother Goolsby, from Pampa. Afterwards, Rebecca says, "Was that Brother Frisby?"
7/8 Susan is kissing and patting Hannah and I ask, "Are you glad you have a sister?" Susan replies, "Yes! Soon we'll be hobbits!" "Hobbits?" I ask. "Yes," she says, "you know, now we are twins and soon there will be three of us." "OH! Triplets!" "Yes," she said.
7/14 Ben: "It's a miracle! It's a miracle!!" What prompts this wonder and excitement? Mom has moved the couch and found a treasure trove of cars and shapes (as well as the long lost library book)...IN THE COUCH!
8/16 We drove around looking for various craft stores to buy the appropriate whatevers for the older two to make their friend a birthday present. We found everything and only made two u-turns in the process--so not that bad. Natalie says, "That's another reason I like living in the country; you don't get lost...because you don't have anywhere to go."
8/20 While unpacking I'm sure I put our swimming floaties in a very safe place...so safe we couldn't find them. I remember distinctly holding them and deciding where they should go... After looking for a while we got in the van to go swimming-without the floaties. While lamenting my sorry memory I say "If any of you find my brain please let me know." Natalie says "I'd rather find the floaties!"
8/23 First day of school...Raymond brings me his math and sits down beside me and says "you know you're a homeschooler if your teacher is nursing during the lesson"
8/23 Ben comes up to Hannah and I and says "I think Hannah was born with cuteness" He then sings "Hooray for babies" with his own words..including "you're the stinkiest person here" He then sings the cupey cake song.
9/12 Susan comes flying into the kitchen flapping her wings around me. The evidence of her older siblings upon my dear 5yo is obvious as she says "Mom look at me! I'm a phonics!"
9/30 Susan makes Hannah smile then looks up at me and says " I can haz cheezburger? isn't that cute mom?"
10/6 over heard cleaning up for dinner...Ben (6) to Susan (5) as they clean the table "If I could just get mom out of the way I'd be the BEST!" (at wiping the table!) So if you hear of my early demise in the next little while...you know what to do.
10/11 Over dinner we are discussing Chris' birthday and it is discovered he has to WORK on his birthday. Commenting on this major injustice Ben says, "We'll have to cancel Dad's birthday?!" Chris responds "Does that mean I don't turn 40?" Raymond comments, "But he'll still be over the hill!" "No" I interject, "He's not cloose to the hill" Raymond says "I thought it was 40?"
11/07 We get home from church at 2:30, quickly try to prepare something to eat which means we are eating about 3:30 (which feels like 4:30 because of the time change). Rebecca picks up her hot dog and says "My precious!" Ben, while eating his hamburger says "This is good! I like Chinese food!"
11/10 Boys have to be creative when they have lots of sisters. Ben (7) is mastering the art. He comes around the corner dressed as spider man and holding his deadly ball of yarn. At his side, his faithful friend Becca, AKA "spider cat"!
11/11 Waiting in the optomitrist office with Becca, while watching Finding Nemo. Dori says "There's nothing in my noggin", and Becca had a funny look on her face, so I asked "Becca, What's a noggin?" She says "I don't know...a backpack maybe?"
11/13 Homeschool history teaching fail: Raymond preparing for 11yo scouts is looking through a box of Chris' stuff for a scout shirt. He comes out of the room and asks "Mom, there are a lot of weird CDs in that box that are black...what are they?" ummm "They are records son."
11/29 Becca is frustrated that we have to drive all the way home from the doctor's appointment. She asks if I know any short cuts. While talking about how long it took us to get there (why yes I did make a wrong turn and was slightly lost), she says "On the way here I saw lots of 'lost' signs. I don't want to go to lost again. If you see any lost signs don't go there." I ask her what the word lost is and she says "When you don't see any trains?...um...I don't know. What is it?"
11/30 We were talking about King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Ben, 7, who is walking around us pauses and asks, "Marie Internet?"
12/3 Ben is thrilled for the weekend and is trying to convince me it's time to watch some tv, so he says "I've got space in my head, let's watch some Pokemon to fill it up!"
12/23 Raymond and I are doing a little light, early morning reading on the fourth dimension and the theory of relativity. One internet link lead us to something beyond my comprehension. He had just started reading as I was trying to change the page, so I explained, "That's not really English...I mean it's English but.." "I know" he interupts, "it's geek speak." The next link loads and up comes Einstein in his native tongue..."Wow!" says Raymond, "that's super Geek speak!" "Son" I say, "that's German."
12/28 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.... Ben "My mom's an awesome cook!" Raymond "Excpet when she cooks like she normally does!"
1/13 Susan informs me that both Han Solo AND Luke Skywalker are my husbands(the action figure sized guys). She asks me to keep them in their plastic containers and keep them safe - one wonders at her concept of husband and how to keep one.
1/14 I take Natalie purse shopping and she cringes at the thought of leather..she's fine eating animals, just not wearing one...until we find THE perfect purse which is snake skin. So really if an animal skin looks good enough you can go ahead and wear it...especially if the animal wasn't all that snuggly in the first place. I will talk to PETA - perhaps along with calling fish "sea kittens" we need to rename snakes.
1/15 We're talking about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the "I Have a Dream" speech. As I'm explaining his vision Natalie says, "We already have that! He was right!" I wonder, how much should I tell her? I wish everyone saw through her eyes. We have come a long way...how young is too young to know just how many stupid and ugly people there still are?
1/17 Ben, age 6, has a substitute for Sunday school. The teacher is talking about how we are different and how we have similarities. We have different eye color, different hair color...but we are all children of God. Ben, listening intently and wanting to contribute: "I have a penis and you don't." Can't argue with that now, can you? Please also note that this particular teacher STILL as an adult NEVER uses ANY proper names for ANY slightly sensitive body part.
1/24 Ben relaying his version of Article of Faith 2: "...men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transmission." (Is this a common little child assumption?)
2/19 Watching olympics with the children and Susan (4) says, "Let's go back to Dad's on Ice!" (We assume she meant men's figure skating - unless she intended to carbon freeze her own father.)
2/22 So last night in the middle of Family Home Evening (Monday night - our church sets apart as a time for families to be together - talk about the gospel, sing, play, have a treat...that kind of thing) Susan is sitting on my lap. She turns to me and touches my belly and asks with her darling little voice and fluttering eyelashes...
"What man put that baby in your belly?"
"Dad!" I say, somewhat shocked.
"Really?" she asks again.
"Yes, really, it was Dad" I say.
"Oh, good" she says... conversation over, leaving me completely incredulous! Kalani heard it and was laughing, but Chris missed it entirely.
3/2 Every morning Abi wakes up happy and ready to snuggle. It's a wonderful morning routine. After a few minutes she generally asks for a "na" (banana) or a "bapple" (apple). Sometimes the request shifts to a "dink o' yilk". The last two mornings, however, the first part of the morning has continued but her request has shifted...she requested "chocklit."
3/19 We're watching BYU play basketball against Florida. I hadn't seen the BYU coach in a while and commented on his hair color: "Didn't he used to be black?" I say. Chris explained that during the course of his cancer treatment he'd gone white. Raymond, listening to all of this - or perhaps only half of it - says, "He used to be a black guy?"
4/28 I'm resting and reading a book. Susan comes up and colors me a cake. She divides it up with her pen and proceeds to pretend to serve it to me. After a few pieces I tell her I'm full. She says, "Mom, I want you to eat it all and get really big so our baby will get really big and be ready to come out today!"
5/5 We're off to the hardware store to buy a few miscelaneous things for bikes and scooters and various things. At the last moment Natalie had asked for a bolt for her bike. So I was saying on the way to the store "nuts and bolts, nuts and bolts..." Kalani, after hearing me for a little while said, "Mom, we don't need both; we just need the butt." Um...
6/7 Raymond gets me a glass of water just how I like it, and very politely. I thank him and he replies, "No problem. I'll help you anytime mom... at least until the baby's a few months old." I knew there was a catch.
6/12 I'm discussing chores with Kalani, and she's not in the mood to do them all. She's trying to think of some reward and says, "Can we have the baby when we're done then?" ...Sure!
6/15 Hannah Julia is born into her father's arms at our home...what a darling daughter!
7/4 We visit a new ward to meet a friend, Brother Goolsby, from Pampa. Afterwards, Rebecca says, "Was that Brother Frisby?"
7/8 Susan is kissing and patting Hannah and I ask, "Are you glad you have a sister?" Susan replies, "Yes! Soon we'll be hobbits!" "Hobbits?" I ask. "Yes," she says, "you know, now we are twins and soon there will be three of us." "OH! Triplets!" "Yes," she said.
7/14 Ben: "It's a miracle! It's a miracle!!" What prompts this wonder and excitement? Mom has moved the couch and found a treasure trove of cars and shapes (as well as the long lost library book)...IN THE COUCH!
8/16 We drove around looking for various craft stores to buy the appropriate whatevers for the older two to make their friend a birthday present. We found everything and only made two u-turns in the process--so not that bad. Natalie says, "That's another reason I like living in the country; you don't get lost...because you don't have anywhere to go."
8/20 While unpacking I'm sure I put our swimming floaties in a very safe place...so safe we couldn't find them. I remember distinctly holding them and deciding where they should go... After looking for a while we got in the van to go swimming-without the floaties. While lamenting my sorry memory I say "If any of you find my brain please let me know." Natalie says "I'd rather find the floaties!"
8/23 First day of school...Raymond brings me his math and sits down beside me and says "you know you're a homeschooler if your teacher is nursing during the lesson"
8/23 Ben comes up to Hannah and I and says "I think Hannah was born with cuteness" He then sings "Hooray for babies" with his own words..including "you're the stinkiest person here" He then sings the cupey cake song.
9/12 Susan comes flying into the kitchen flapping her wings around me. The evidence of her older siblings upon my dear 5yo is obvious as she says "Mom look at me! I'm a phonics!"
9/30 Susan makes Hannah smile then looks up at me and says " I can haz cheezburger? isn't that cute mom?"
10/6 over heard cleaning up for dinner...Ben (6) to Susan (5) as they clean the table "If I could just get mom out of the way I'd be the BEST!" (at wiping the table!) So if you hear of my early demise in the next little while...you know what to do.
10/11 Over dinner we are discussing Chris' birthday and it is discovered he has to WORK on his birthday. Commenting on this major injustice Ben says, "We'll have to cancel Dad's birthday?!" Chris responds "Does that mean I don't turn 40?" Raymond comments, "But he'll still be over the hill!" "No" I interject, "He's not cloose to the hill" Raymond says "I thought it was 40?"
11/07 We get home from church at 2:30, quickly try to prepare something to eat which means we are eating about 3:30 (which feels like 4:30 because of the time change). Rebecca picks up her hot dog and says "My precious!" Ben, while eating his hamburger says "This is good! I like Chinese food!"
11/10 Boys have to be creative when they have lots of sisters. Ben (7) is mastering the art. He comes around the corner dressed as spider man and holding his deadly ball of yarn. At his side, his faithful friend Becca, AKA "spider cat"!
11/11 Waiting in the optomitrist office with Becca, while watching Finding Nemo. Dori says "There's nothing in my noggin", and Becca had a funny look on her face, so I asked "Becca, What's a noggin?" She says "I don't know...a backpack maybe?"
11/13 Homeschool history teaching fail: Raymond preparing for 11yo scouts is looking through a box of Chris' stuff for a scout shirt. He comes out of the room and asks "Mom, there are a lot of weird CDs in that box that are black...what are they?" ummm "They are records son."
11/29 Becca is frustrated that we have to drive all the way home from the doctor's appointment. She asks if I know any short cuts. While talking about how long it took us to get there (why yes I did make a wrong turn and was slightly lost), she says "On the way here I saw lots of 'lost' signs. I don't want to go to lost again. If you see any lost signs don't go there." I ask her what the word lost is and she says "When you don't see any trains?...um...I don't know. What is it?"
11/30 We were talking about King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Ben, 7, who is walking around us pauses and asks, "Marie Internet?"
12/3 Ben is thrilled for the weekend and is trying to convince me it's time to watch some tv, so he says "I've got space in my head, let's watch some Pokemon to fill it up!"
12/23 Raymond and I are doing a little light, early morning reading on the fourth dimension and the theory of relativity. One internet link lead us to something beyond my comprehension. He had just started reading as I was trying to change the page, so I explained, "That's not really English...I mean it's English but.." "I know" he interupts, "it's geek speak." The next link loads and up comes Einstein in his native tongue..."Wow!" says Raymond, "that's super Geek speak!" "Son" I say, "that's German."
12/28 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.... Ben "My mom's an awesome cook!" Raymond "Excpet when she cooks like she normally does!"
Saturday, September 11, 2010
We finally finished reading the Psalms. We started because we had recently read the Hiding Place, and I was inspired by the comfort Corrie's family found in their Dad's faith and the constant reading of the Psalms. This is what the children remember most:
Lydia :lots of themes and repititon in chapters (perfect for her as a new reader-and rewarding to read the short verses)
Raymond-the poetry and music of it (appropriate since he frequently tried to sing his verses and present them very dramatically-but not necessarily drama or voice related to the words )
Natalie :"And His mercy Endureth forever"-everyone joined in to say this oft repeated phrase and that really was the highlight for me of the celebration-having all of my children praise the Lord for His mercy. That really is what the psalms are about.
Kalani Psalms 119-the Hebrew letters and the Psalm that never ends!
We enjoyed the celebration. We had banana splits (most of the children loved the idea of it but didn't want the banana ) After I scoop the ice cream nicely out and drizzly sugar on the sugar, then put sugar on top :P they stirred it all together! of course-I remember doing the same.
Lydia :lots of themes and repititon in chapters (perfect for her as a new reader-and rewarding to read the short verses)
Raymond-the poetry and music of it (appropriate since he frequently tried to sing his verses and present them very dramatically-but not necessarily drama or voice related to the words )
Natalie :"And His mercy Endureth forever"-everyone joined in to say this oft repeated phrase and that really was the highlight for me of the celebration-having all of my children praise the Lord for His mercy. That really is what the psalms are about.
Kalani Psalms 119-the Hebrew letters and the Psalm that never ends!
We enjoyed the celebration. We had banana splits (most of the children loved the idea of it but didn't want the banana ) After I scoop the ice cream nicely out and drizzly sugar on the sugar, then put sugar on top :P they stirred it all together! of course-I remember doing the same.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
