Made it a few more months!!

My last post said I made it a week. That makes me laugh. I feel like every week I look back and say, "Whew,  I made it another week".  Here's my attempt to sum up the last 3 months without being too boring, because let's face it, you really just want to see the pics.....



First, Philip moved and started his new job and loves it. There were a lot of concerns, complications and logistics to work out, but in the end, it has been a good move and hopefully will open some doors for him. If anything, it has renewed his faith in his degree, the law and his self esteem.  I say that's worth any inconvenience we may have had in the process.

Next, we had a baby. Miles Joseph born April 3 at 12:37pm. He was 8 pounds 10 ounces and 22 inches long. I basically gave birth to what Ben was at 3 months old!! He's patient, quiet, our "blondest" child (which makes the toe-head side of the family laugh), and growing like a weed.  The older kids ADORE him. I have to chastise them for things like messing up the closet to find the perfect outfit for him, brushing his hair too hard, kissing him too hard, or trying to make him smile while he should be sleeping and other sweet things like that. My delivery was a pain. Literally and mentally. I had 4 false alarm hospital visits with 2 minute contractions thinking every time that would be the day he was born, but due to some crazy hospital policy I wasn't allowed to have pitocin until my due date so I kept getting sent home. Finally 2 days past my due date I got the magical drug and 1 hour later he was born. I still cringe thinking about how it all would have been so much easier if they would have given it to me the first time I went in (or told me the policy about pitocin) and saved all the people who had to be involved a big huge headache for the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy. But what can you do... I guess it all worked out.

Miles and family in the hospital

Miles from 1 week to 6 weeks old

Then, we moved. 3 days after I gave birth. Never again would I do this, nor would I suggest it to anyone. Thankfully Philip's parents came and basically kept us alive. I have no idea how it would have happened if they weren't there. I probably would still be trying to clean and pack. It took us 2 days to make the trek and we still are trying to figure out what to unpack, but we have a great house with TONS of inside and outside space. Something we never really had in CA, but when you live in a small town in the middle of nowhere, I guess you can have all the outside space you want!!  The kids love the fact that they can do normal kid things like ride their bikes and jump on the trampoline and see birds and pick weeds. OK almost all of those.

Top: Our backyard Bottom: kids bird watching, Miles soaking rays when he had jaundice, kids making angry faces

Left: first day of school.  Right: last day of school.

Amelia (started again) and finished kindergarten. She had quite an adjustment but finally made it inside her classroom without crying on the last day of school. Better late than never I guess. She is already bored and ready to go back to school and it's been 1 week. I have a long 3 months ahead. Look how much she's grown up!! She looks like a little angelic baby on the first day of school. Now she looks a little bit more mischievous!!!

Where's Waldo......Amelia's kindergarten program.

We are really excited to be closer to family and even some old friends.  If anyone is bored and wants to stare at fields, you are welcome to come to our house anytime!!!

Time with cousins