Happy and healing

Reagan has not complained much about her "owie" bothering her.  She pulled the bandage off three times and I was dreading that it would be a fight all week long but she has left it alone since then.  She is in a very good mood, her goofy little self.  She gets her stitches removed next Monday by our Pediatrician.  Love to all, Brenda

Sunday morning....

Our Sunday rundown was like this:

10am Mass, Reagan falls off the pew (she was reaching for a music book) and cracked her head pretty good.  Off to the emergency department for a few hours.  5 stitches, lots of tears, and huge tantrums because I would not let her walk out to the van (she was still wosy from the sedative).  Snuggle time, Go Diego Go, games and puzzles, Skype from the CO grandparents, pancakes for dinner, stories and bed. 

It was a little scary.  I ran out of church with her bawling before I even saw the cut.  When we got to the vestibule I pulled her away from my chest and looked down at her little face which was covered in blood.  Head wounds bleed a lot, I knew it looked worse than it was but I was not expecting to see that!  Someone I see occasionally (don't know her name) was able to go get Craig and the other girls for me.  We went by the house for a few things and then headed for the hospital.  The cut was about an inch and a half long and pretty wide.  The physician did a nice job of closing it up and the scar should be very minimal.  

Not exactly the Sunday we had planned.  No Mass, no Holy Cross School open house.  But of course, nothing matters but our sweet, beautiful little Reagan.

Love and prayers, Brenda

Six month update

At six months old Elsie is 18lbs, 15oz; 28 inches long....

She has two teeth...

And is rolling proficiently from back to belly!

Elsie is going some nights without a bottle, though she wakes up once and babbles.  She is down at 5:30 pm, up between 6:30-7:30 am and takes three naps.  She eats 2-3 solid meals a day and drinks 4-5 bottles.  She is loving her activity center and playing in her highchair.  She is starting to be shy with 'strangers' (non-parents) and startles with loud noise (Super Bowl should be fun).  She is not the super snuggle bug that Reagan was but does like being held.  She doesn't show much preference between myself and Craig at this age.  She is sleeping on her belly a lot...you cannot keep her on her back very long!  Elsie is very smiley and observant.  She really watches our hands when we sign and smiles huge when we sign, "more eat."  She is very interested in her sisters and her dog.  She is gorgeous and super awesome and we love her to pieces! 

Christmas 2012

  Setting out cookies for Santa...

Opening stockings...

Opening gifts....

Christmas with the Grandparents

Miss Elsie (looking super sleepy) with her Godmother Grandma Dana.

Lovely Christmas tree...parden the long exposure blur.

Grandma and Grandpa with the big girls on the Eve of Christmas Eve:-)

Kid quotes

Me: "What makes someone a grandma?" Katya, "Being really old!" Me: "Reagan how did you get to be so cute?" Reagan, "By eating a lot of fruit!" Elsie: "Da da da da da."

Learning....slowly but surely

Straight-off-of-camera

Edited using Keri Meyer's Color Pop action (Seattle newborn photographer), adjusted to taste, my own touch ups and eye pop edit.

I get so excited when I learn something new and important like how to 'pop' the eyes! Baby steps....

Char Char

It was so fun spending time with my neices! Miss Charla is smart as a whip and quite the perfectionist. Her coloring skills are unreal for a three year old! I sure wish I could be around her more.

Alaina gansta

Caught a few silly Laney faces! She is so much fun. I have to say, there were a lot of great things about our Colorado trip, but hanging out with the Smith's (minus Scott:() was REALLY high on the list!

More fun in the snow...











Snow! Snow! Snow!

Charlie and Katya could not get enough of the snow! Reagan wasn't in love but had fun. Laney was not at all impressed. I wish I captured her disgust for snow face on camera!

More Christmas photos to come...

Dream Big

I have never been what I think of as a 'dream big' person.  I have never been overly ambiguous or known what I want out of life and career.  Except for one thing.  Being a mom.  And making small sacrifices to be a stay at home mom.  This was a dream of mine from far back.  Not a day passes that I don't feel incredibly blessed to have my dreams realized.  Incredibly lucky that God blessed me with the perfect partner, with fertility, with three healthy, amazing children.  But since becoming a mother other passions have been discovered that I would never that dreamed of.  Photography.  Childbirth.  Newborns.  And now I find myself dreaming big.  I don't know if I will ever persevere, learn (oh so much to learn), grow, and develop into a professional photographer.  It seems so far beyond what I ever thought possible for myself (I am not creative, I am not a self starter, I am not driven).  Yet I feel very happy and excited to be dreaming big.  And all the while living my first and foremost important dream, motherhood.

Leaving Portland

It was a beautiful evening leaving Portland to fly to Denver.  We arrived in a snow storm!  The girls did quite well on the trip.  Little E took two 30 min laps while in the air.  The flight home was a little worse, and longer but over all they did great. 

"Two years in Paradise"

I hope my Aunt Maureen doesn't mind my quoting her.  The ever thoughtful Aunt Chris sent out a family e-mail remembering their mother, my Grandma Thompson, two years hence her passing.  Aunt Maureen replied, "Two years in Paradise.  But who's counting?"  Love it.  Along with the note Chris shared a great story of how she helped a family in need during a recent trip to the grocery store.  Aunt Chris and Maureen talked about how their parents taught them to be thankful for what they have and to give to those in need.  And no doubt I have seen the generous spirit of my dad and his seven siblings.  Funny that I never stopped to think about where they learned this; obviously, from their parents. 

Lester and Eileen Thompson, May 1942

A big thank you to Aunt Chris for reminding me to spend some time reflecting on my Grandma and Grandpa Thompson.   

School research

I have been pretty stressed out the last few days regarding K-8 school enrollement for next Fall.  Holy Redeemer and Holy Cross are great private school options for us but of course that comes at a cost.  Our neighborhood public school will not work for us, it is not even a consideration (we gave it a cursory glance and stats confirmed what we thought and have heard.  It is not a good school).  There is a public carter school in N Portland that we are pursing, though they have a pretty different education style and we need to research it and decide if it is for us.  Acceptance will be done through a lottery system so either we get it or don't.  We are also looking into the public school transfer process through Portland Public Schools.  A daunting task; but we have found a public K-8 only a mile up Portsmouth with excellent test scores and other positive stats.  Getting to transfer to another neighborhood school is also a lottery process.

February is going to be very busy with applications, info nights, school tours.  We also need to decide between Holy Cross and Holy Redeemer and choose one school as our back up if other things don't pan out.  Prayers are much apprichiated.  We are hopeful that we will land in a great school that fits our children and our one income family well. 

Half way around the sun

Little E is 6 months old today!

Home sweet home

After a full two weeks away it felt a little strange settling back in...though in a good way.  It is always nice to get home.  We are SO grateful for our wonderful friends and family that made our vacation possible (the Godfrey's watching Levi, the Kirkland's loaning us their car, my parents giving up their bedroom!). 

I am busy, busy cleaning house, taking down Christmas decorations, tons of laundry, playing with children and spending time with my bff.  I will post when I can; when my other priorities have been fulfilled.  Love to all, Brenda

Good-bye to the Rockies

We have had a great time soaking up the Colorado snow and sun and now we are ready for home.  Today is travel day and we hope to be back in our home sweet home by late afternoon.