Back in the saddle again

It's been tricky to post lately... we're all still adjusting to having Coleman around. But I'm ready to get caught up. So, below are all the things that have been going on in the last few weeks (It's a lot for one day, sorry) and I hope to post more pictures of Coleman in the next day or so ('cuz we know that's what you all really want to see!). I also plan on being a picture taking fool over the next few days and we have a lot of fun stuff coming up as a family. So, fear not! I am back on track and will have lots of good reads  and pictures for you all in the next little while. 

Happy Birthday, dear Afton! Happy Birthday "2" You!

(Picture taken 9/29/06 about 30 minutes after she was born)

Today is Afton's 2nd birthday! I seriously can't believe my big baby (that's what we call her now that there is also a little baby around) is TWO YEARS OLD!! I don't think she gets it. I have sung the birthday song to her about a 100 times since she woke up this morning, and she does sing along and even knows that we are saying her name in the song and we are trying to get her to hold up 2 fingers and tell us how old she is, but she still doesn't get it. She just keeps asking for a hat and cake. In fact, she's a little bit grumpy today... are the terrible two's officially starting? We plan to celebrate by going to dinner as a family tomorrow night and then we are having a big family birthday party next Sunday evening. Hopefully she'll get it by then. So, in honor of Afton, here are ten things you may not know about her (In no particular order):

1. Lately she has been calling herself by her whole name, Afton Grace. So cute with her lisp. She also calls us "Chris" and "Katie"... but only when she really wants to get our attention.

2. She has yet to sleep through the night and still naps in our bed (although that will be changing starting today!) However, she is my most consistent sleeper (ie. same time every day/ night) and even asks to go to bed when she is tired.

3. Is proving to be a GREAT sister. We've had no problems with the new baby and she is even quite helpful. She loves to get the diapers and wipes when he needs a diaper changed and is very protective of him, especially when he is crying. She loves her older brother and sister (when they aren't teasing her) and can't wait to get in the car to get them after school so she can play with them.

4. I guess you know this because I already posted it, but she is a big helper. She loves to help me with whatever I'm doing: laundry, dishes, dusting, etc. And, unlike most small helpers, she is actually quite helpful. She even says thanks when you have her help you. Imagine that... a kid thanking you for letting you do work around the house! She even gets excited to pick up dog poop in the back yard and, yes, she THANKS ME for letting her do it!

5. LOVES to read, color, sing, dance, play outside, ride her bike, go for walks, watch movies and her binky.

6. Has a thing for opposites... says up when she means down and down when she means up. Does it with yes and no too.

7. She has an excellent memory of promises we make, where we hide things, etc. Makes it very difficult to try to trick her out of something. The other day she asked for a "cookie chocolate" for about 3 hours even though I kept trying to distract her.

8. Is the happiest kid I've ever seen. Seriously happy to do almost anything... play outside, play inside, help mom, take a nap... anything. 

9. She has the cutest voice and lisp (as I've mentioned before). I could sit and listen to her talk for hours. She is so polite and speaks with such adult language that it makes it even cuter. I love how she says please, thanks, sorry, "mines" and other things you don't usually hear from kids her age.

10. She's a great eater. She hasn't always been (which is why she is so little), but now she'll eat anything... and tons of it!

We love Afton so much and are so grateful she is in our family. It took us a long time to get her here and we thought we may never have any more kids after Abby. The day she was born was one of the happiest days of my life and I'll be forever grateful to have her as my daughter. She is truly a little bleesing in our home!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Afton!

It's Race Time!

Max participated in his 3rd and final Cub Scout Pinewood Derby race last Friday night. He and Chris worked really hard on the car and did pretty well come race time. Just like every year, his car was red with the number 12 on it. He didn't win, but he was 2nd, 3rd or 4th every race. Most importantly, he had a great time and was an excellent sport. This was his last activity as a Cub Scout before he turns 11 and starts the Boy Scout program. It's amazing how time flies!

Naptime Pals

Afton and Roxy

Sweet Afton

I've been meaning to post this since about a week before Coleman was born but never quite got around to it. I don't know if it was the fact that I was so close to having another baby, but for a couple weeks I was feeling very... I'm not sure what the right word is... maybe nostalgic, sentimental, I don't know... whatever it was I was just loving Afton so much. I think part of me was feeling sad for her: that she was losing her spot as the baby, that it wasn't just going to be the 2 of us at home during the day, that her world as she currently knew it was about to change forever... My other kids had 4 or 5 years before the next kid came along to unseat them and Afton only got 2! It didn't help things that she really is the sweetest baby ever! Seriously. I think I was noticing all of her little sweet things even more because I knew what was coming and felt like I needed to enjoy her more and appreciate everything about her before I got distracted by the new baby. Afton truly is a joy. She brings so much love and happiness to our home. She is my little buddy... she follows me around during the day and wants to help me clean- and, unlike most almost 2 year olds, she is actually helpful- she is so polite- I've never heard a kids her age say please, thank you and sorry as much as she does without prompting. She loves to laugh, dance, give hugs, sing, play outside... I seriously can't stand how happy she makes me sometimes! I once told Chris that I felt sorry that other people didn't get to know her like I did. I know that sounds really odd, but I really did feel sad that more people couldn't be blessed by her "melt your heart" smile and joyful personality. She has changed my life. She makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to be a better mom. I am so excited to see what she does with her life and for more people to know her and love her like I do. (PS I took this photo of her the other day. She has become obsessed with that hat and wears it almost nonstop!)

We'll miss you, Bryn!

It's official! My baby brother, Bryn, is officially a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was set apart this evening and leaves bright and early tomorrow morning. He's headed straight for the Missionary Training Center in Preston, England. I am so proud of him and am excited to hear all about his adventures. We went over tonight to say good-bye, wish him luck and give him one last hug (and enjoy yummy root beer floats). It is so strange to me that he is actually leaving... Bryn was MY baby! I was 14 when he was born and I still remember the details of the day so well. I remember rocking him, and singing to him, and playing with him... he was my little buddy. He was seriously the chubbiest little baby you have ever seen and he had bright red hair and this deep voice that shocked you the first time you heard it. As he grew we had the opportunities to do a lot of fun stuff outside of the normal "brother/sister things": he was in a performing group that I taught and we traveled to Las Vegas and California for performances, and we also did some plays together. It was always fun to have him around. I will miss him so much but am so glad he is doing what he is. It was very hard to leave tonight. Max actually cried... Bryn is truly one of his very best friends and greatest examples. I am so proud to be Bryn's sister and I am grateful to have him in my life. He has always been such a great friend and a joy to be around. I know he is going to be an awesome missionary! I love you Bryn!

Introducing...

Coleman Somers Higbee
9/10/2008 @ 4:47 pm
6 lbs. 4 oz. and 18 inches

Just a few minutes old.

One very happy mother... he's so sweet and tiny! I'm so grateful that he's here!

The whole family! I can't believe we have 4 children (and a bonus kid)... CRAZY!

About 30 minutes old. He is so alert and aware.

A couple hours old. We are madly in love with the little guy.

Everything went great! We arrived at the hospital about 10 am but didn't start the induction until around noon. The delivery went smoothly and I feel great (well, as great as can be expected). All the kids were there and they were so cute. Max is just thrilled to have a brother, Abby kept patting my hand and telling me how brave I was and that she was so proud of me, and Afton was extremely protective... she didn't want anyone to hold him but her and she would get very upset when he cried. I think she is going to be a great big sister. We are grateful to Cassidy for being with Afton all day and getting the kids at school and bringing them to the hospital just in time. It was a great day and we are so grateful for our beautiful baby boy. We feel extremely blessed to have this little guy join our family.

Ready

Tomorrow morning we go in to be induced and we should have our baby boy in our arms by this time tomorrow night. I am SO ready... at least as ready as I can be. The crib is set up, the car seat is in the car, the clothes and blankets are all washed and folded neatly in their drawers, the stroller is all set up, the house is (mostly) clean and organized, the kids are prepped, arrangements have been made for the next few days... I'm sure there is more, but we are ready! I am ready physically and emotionally as well.. I am so tired of being pregnant (although I have tried to enjoy it as much as I can, seeing as this is my last) and I am ready to meet this little guy face to face. I received a beautiful priesthood blessing from my sweet husband a couple hours ago and I have felt so much peace since then. Anyone who knows me well knows that I tend to worry A LOT and I am so grateful for the priesthood and for the blessing. Now I can relax and enjoy the experience instead of stressing about things that might happen! I haven't taken a single pregnancy picture this entire pregnancy (I know, what kind of scrapbooker am I?) so tonight we set up an impromptu photo shoot in our garage and took a few pictures to commemorate my pregnancy with Coleman. Here are a few of my favorites:
These were a challenge to get... let's just say the kids weren't exactly cooperative and the lighting was not great, but, they turned out okay and we got some great individual shots of each of the kids (see sidebar). (The one of Max is a little dark... I edited it weird, but I'll fix it when I get back.)

Check back tomorrow night... we'll try to have 

pictures of little Coleman up as quickly as possible.

Showered with Love

My sweet sister-in-law, Karen, threw a baby shower for me yesterday at her home. We decide to keep it small, family only, and we had a great time celebrating the upcoming arrival of my fourth and final bundle of joy. I am extremely grateful to everyone who came and for all the lovely gifts (the group gift was a much needed double stroller that I lOVE and I'm sure will get a lot of use!). We also tied a quilt together that Coleman is sure to love and I'll think of all of you when I use it. Everyone was so thoughtful and it meant a lot to me that you all took time out of your busy Saturday to be with me! It was so fun to just visit and be together... I have the greatest family on earth!

"The Quilters": Karen (sis-in-law), Abby, Ethelynn (mother-in-law), Grandma Jackie, Grandma Kathy, and Suzanne.

Abby learning how to tie  a quilt with Grandma Higbee. Abby was so proud of herself. When I said this would be a great blanket to put on the floor and have Coleman play on she looked shocked and told me this was a "special quilt". I wonder if I'll ever get to use it!

Karen and I holding up the (almost) finished product.

"The non-quilters": Melody (sis-in law), baby Sarah (niece), Aubrey (sister), Wendy (bonus mom), Saundra (my sis-in-law) and my mom, Bevan.

My super cute niece, Aubrie, and her very shy daughter, Emma.

Unfortunately a lot of the pictures didn't turn out (my fault... I had my camera on a manual setting... people who took pictures for me should not feel bad) so a lot of you aren't in here! Sorry and thanks for coming Jolie, Katie, Alyssa and, of course, Cassidy!  You all made my day.

Missionary Portraits

I took these pics of my super cute brother last Thursday. Doesn't he look ready to serve? I think they turned out really good... it helps that he is really photogenic. I'm glad they worked because this is what we'll all have to stare at when we go to my parents house for the next 2 years! Good Luck Bryn! We are so proud of you and excited for your new adventure!

Ahhh! September!

I am so excited for September... and not just for the obvious reason. Fall is a time of change and September always symbolizes a new year, a fresh start, to me... even more than New Years does. This month is going to be a very exciting one for us for so many reasons. First, my cute little nephew, Taylor (my brother, Sam's, son), is getting baptized this Saturday and then we are having a "family" baby shower for me that afternoon! How fun is that? I haven't had a baby shower since I was pregnant with Max... 11 years ago! Then the big one, next week little Coleman arrives... talk about change! I'm running like crazy trying to do as much as I can before his arrival. My brother, Joel, is due back from serving in Afghanistan any day now (we don't get to know what day for sure until his plane actually takes off). We are so grateful for his service to our country and especially grateful that he is returning home safe and sound. Can't wait to see him and give him a big hug! My other brother, Bryn (I have a lot of brothers), is leaving on his church mission on the 18th. Two whole years in London, England working his fanny off and serving the people around him. We are so proud of his decision to go and look forward to the farewell festivities planned for the next couple of weeks. Oh, and my mom is coming to visit, TWICE. She's coming today to be here for the baptism and shower, and then again about a week after I have Coleman to help out. We love it when she comes to visit. Another HUGE change for us is that Chris is leaving his job at Two Little Hands Productions and going out on his own. He plans to do the same thing he's been doing but as a consultant plus a few projects he's had stewing around in his brain for a while now. I know he is excited to be his own boss and work at home again and we're glad he'll be around more too. He is such a hard worker and I am so proud to be his wife. So, all of this in addition to school stuff, extracurricular activities (Abby finally started Tae Kwon Do, she is sooo excited), church stuff (Max's last Pinewood Derby), dentist appointments, Doctors appointments, oh, and Afton truns 2 on the 29th!!! It's shaping up to be an amazing month and I'm so excited for every minute of it... especially the baby part (5 more days, yahoo!)!!

Working Girl

Afton is on the Signing Time website again. She was pretty darn cute at the photo shoot and especially loved that her dad was in it with her. You can see it for real by going here.