Jaedyn's First Real Day Home

Jaedyn's first day home was last Friday night, but it was after 10 pm when we got home so we decided to do pictures the next day. I had all the boys wear pink shirts to celebrate having a girl. Josh and Jantzen were okay with this because they love the color pink. Jaron, on the other hand, wasn't too thrilled. He told me he will wear it for Jaedyn only this one time and then he's never wearing it again. I think they all looked so cute.

We set up the tri pod so we could get a picture of all of us together. So here is our very first family photo (Josh doesn't look happy at all to have a little girl, does he).


Then Josh and I took turns having our pictures taken with the kids. It's so weird not being able to say just boys anymore. Now I have to say kids or mention all of their names. I think they turned out pretty cute.



I just had to get a picture of just the kids together. They look so cute in their matching clothes. Even though Jaron didn't want to wear his shirt I think he had fun posing for all these pictures.


I tried to get a picture of the boys individually with Jaedyn, but Jantzen had had enough. Jaron was more than happy to take more pictures. He just loves his baby sister. He's always wanting to hold her.


It is so sweet to see how the boys are with her. They are so gentle and are already very protective of her. Anyone who asks if they can have her will get a dirty look from Jantzen. He will not let anyone have her but us. They are going to make very good big brothers.

Josh has not been able to put her down since she was born. He is so happy to have her in our family. I don't think I've heard him say her name very much. He's always referring to her as "princess", "precious princess", "pretty princess", you get the picture. It's cute though. I love how this precious little angel has made us all so happy.


Here is a few more pictures of just Jaedyn. She was just one day old and already has so much personality. You can see it in all of her facial expressions. She is a very happy baby that smiles a ton. I told the boys that when she smiles it means the angels are talking to her. They thought that was pretty cool. Isn't she absolutely adorable? She looks just like both her brothers when they were born and more like Jaron right now. It will be interesting to see who she looks like as she gets older.




We have been taking her picture non-stop since she was born. She has to get used to it because I still take pictures of the boys all the time. It's funny that no matter how many kids you have you still take a million pictures of each one of them. They are just so cute and growing up so fast that we want to remember these special times always.

My Big Cub Scout

Yesterday was Jaron's first official day of cub scouting. He was supposed to start last week, but it got canceled. He ate his dinner quickly so he would be on time. He has requested that Tuesdays officially become "breakfast for dinner" night so we had pancakes. After he ate Josh helped him get his uniform on (without the patches yet because I'm a slacker and haven't put them on).



Doesn't he look so cute and grown up? I can't believe he's already at that age. Before I know it he's going to be leaving on his mission...I don't really want to think about that right now. I know I'm going to cry like a baby when that happens.


As we drove to the church he looked through his scouting book and when we got there he asked what it means when you have butterflies in your tummy. I told him it probably means he's a little nervous, but that he'll be fine. He didn't act like he really wanted to go.

After Jaron was all done he couldn't wait to tell me all about what they did. They did some competitions in which they had to race around the church and see who could jump the farthest. Jaron won the jumping contest. He was so excited to tell me all about it. He now says that he likes scouts. I'm glad he ended up liking it after all.

Jaron's First Day of 3rd Grade

Yesterday was Jaron's first day of third grade...where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was taking him to pre-school. He is growing up way too fast.

Before we left we had to get our traditional picture of the siblings together. Jaron was super excited this year to get to have his little sister in the picture with him and Jantzen. He was a little nervous about going back and said that he didn't want to leave Jaedyn. We told him that he could see her after school. When we got to school he was happy to see his friends and even happier to see most of them in his class. He even gets to sit by Caitlyn again this year.





I'm actually really sad to see him go this year. I don't know if it's just the hormones raging through me, but I do know that I will miss him everyday he's gone. He has been such a big helper with Jantzen and now Jaedyn. Now I have to find friends for Jantzen to play with everyday so he's not bored.

Even though I know Jaron was nervous about starting third grade, I know he will do a good job and make more friends. Good luck Jaron!

Our Princess Has Arrived!

The following is Jaedyn's birth story. It is very long and has a ton of pictures, but I wanted to write down everything so I would never forget all that happened on this wonderful day that our family finally became complete.

Thursday, August 20th, 2009 was the big day. It was actually kind of funny that it happened on this day because August 20th was Jaron's original due date. I had to get a picture of me with the boys the night before. They had to give their little sis a big hug, it was really cute. I didn't sleep very well that night, I was really nervous, but happy that she was finally going to be here.


I got up at 4 am to shower and get ready to go and then we dropped the boys off at Tricia's house. They were both very excited to get to hang out with Jace and Joey all day. We got to the hospital at 6 am so I could be induced. I have done this before and survived, but that didn't help the nerves at all. I just had to think positive and think about how nice it will be when it's all over. Josh thought he was being pretty sneaky by taking a picture of me while I was getting ready to be hooked up to the pitocin, don't I look lovely? (I"m being sarcastic here).


I was actually started at 8:15 am and I was only dialated to a 1 1/2. I knew this was going to be a painful delivery. That was the very same situation I had with Jantzen and I think I barely made it through labor with him. The contractions started out slow and very uncomfortable, but they were tolerable. I was thinking that this meant I was dialating. The nurse came in to check me a few hours later and I was only dialated to a 2. I was so frustrated! I couldn't believe it was going so slow. She tried to break my water to help speed things up, but was unsuccessful so they had to do it later.

To pass the time I watched a movie on my iPod, while Josh did the same. He kept the ice chips coming for me and he, again, thought he was being sneaky by bringing in food for him to eat. He would put it in his pocket, but I caught him every time.

Another hour later another nurse came in to try and break my water, this time she was successful. It was kind of funny though. As soon as she broke it she had to jump off my bed because it gushed out like a dam had broke and she almost got wet. She did get out of the way in time, but my socks didn't. They changed my socks and my bed so I wouldn't have to sit in it, it's not like there wasn't going to be anymore gushes. I kept having constant contractions that were getting more and more painful so I, again, was hoping this meant I was dialating. I didn't know how much more of this I could take without any drugs. At around 4:30 pm the nurse came to check me again, I was only at a 4. I couldn't believe it because the pain was getting to be to much for me and it had already been over eight hours. My first thought was that I wasn't going to have Jaedyn until 10 pm. I couldn't concentrate on my breathing anymore so I finally told Josh that I wanted an epidural. He kept asking me if that's what I really wanted and that I wasn't just saying it because I was hurting (I did the same thing with the boys, but didn't go through with it). I told him yes, I really wanted one. At that point I was so tired and frustrated that things were going so slow that I just wanted to relax. Josh got the nurse to get things ready for my epidural. I was upset with myself that I had given in to the drugs. I had planned on doing it all natural like I did with Jaron and Jantzen, but I was just so tired. Josh was awesme about the whole thing. He kept telling me that it was okay and that he wasn't mad that I was getting an epidural, he just wanted me to be comfortable. That made me feel a little better.

It was about a half hour later before I actually got the epidural. I was reminded of part of the reason why I never wanted one in the first place. I hate needles and it hurt getting poked in my back where I was already having major back pain from labor. Right after I got it I was checked again to see where I was at. "Holy Cow" was what the nurse said. Jaedyn's head was right there ready to come out. Apparently I had dialated all the way in that last half hour before getting my epidural, but no one knew. No wonder I was in so much pain. My doctor was called so while we waited the nurses got me ready to deliver. It took my doctor between 20 minutes and a half hour to get there, he was on his way to another hospital and had to turn around. It was probably a good thing that I had gotten the epidural when I did or I would have been trying to push her out before he got there. Instead, I got to relax and joke around with the nurses until he got there.

When Dr. Martin finally arrived I joked around with him, telling him that he should have ran to my room. He told me that he's so old and fat and that he would've passed out in a not so good place on me and said that the nurses would have to resesitate him. Then he said that would be way to traumatic for me. We all got a good laugh about it. He then started joking with all the nurses. It was nice to not have my labor so serious at the end. It was good to get some laughs in there.

I was finally told that I could push. It was the weirdest feeling, or lack thereof, pushing her out. With the boys I could feel everything and it was the most relaxing feeling when they were all the way out, but this time was very different. I pushed one big push and a couple small ones and she was out. I got to hold her first and then the nurse took a picture to capture the moment.

Jaedyn Jene Gdddard arrived at 5:40 pm, weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.

Even though I was disappointed with myself for getting an epidural, I think there was a reason I did. I really did make it through everything but the actual delivery without any drugs so I'm not so upset at myself anymore for that. I strongly believe that I got the epidural when I did so that I could relax while waiting for the doctor where it took him a while to get there. It just made things a little better.



Josh went with Jaedyn to be checked out while I stayed to get stitched up. This time I got 15 stitches, it was 5 with Jaron and 10 with Jantzen. She was so pink and beautiful. At first Josh said she looked like Jantzen and then a few minutes later she looked like Jaron. Now I think she is a good combination of both.


The first people Josh called was Jaron and Jantzen. They were so excited to hear that she was finally here. Tricia brought them to the hospital to see her. They were just smitten with her as soon as they got there. They got to hold her and had the biggest, cutest smiles the whole time. They kept saying how pretty she was and how they love her. It was so cute that I almost cried. Jaedyn is so lucky to have two older brothers that love her so much who have told me that they are going to protect her for her whole life.



She has gotten nothing but hugs and kisses since she was born. She has had so many pictures taken of her so far, but we are all just so happy to have her be a part of our family. It's so weird to think about having a girl since all I have known is little boys for the last eight years, but we are all excited to have this opportunity to enjoy some frilly things.




On Friday we were hoping to leave the hospital, but we had to wait for both our doctors to check us out and give us the okay. While we waited we had family and friends come visit. We took more pictures and the boys gave her more hugs and kisses. They are so gentle with her, it's so cute. We even got a couple smiles out of her, she does like to smile a lot. I told the boys she smiles because the angels are talking to her. They thought that was pretty cool.



We finally got the okay to leave the hospital around 9 pm. It was a lot later than we were wanting to leave, but I didn't want to stay another night...I wanted my own bed. We got Jaedyn dressed in her cute little pink outfit and we were off.



I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have been given to have another child join our family. I truly feel now that we are complete. Being a mom is the greatest blessing in the world and I wouldn't change anything about any of my children. I love them all and I look forward to watching them grow more every day.

Jaedyn's Room...Part 1

Last week Tricia and Katie came over to paint Jaedyn's room for me, Amy came over to visit (okay...she did help a little). Josh doesn't have time to do it between working two jobs and I'm not very good at painting walls so they volunteered because they like to paint, and they're good at it. I forgot to take a before picture, but this was Jantzen's room and it was blue and brown as you can kind of tell in the pictures. Josh and I decided Jaedyn's room was going to be pink and brown. Pink for him and brown for me...her crib set is both those colors.




Jantzen kept peeking in to see the transformation. He was really excited to see pink in there and kept telling me, "Jaedyn is going to love it because that's her favorite color, she doesn't like blue", he said.


We had to get a vote on whether to keep the bead board brown or paint it white. Amy and I liked it brown, Tricia and Katie wanted to paint it white. Josh came home while we were discussing so we had him be the deciding vote. He did like the brown, but said he wanted it all to be new for Jaedyn so he agreed with the white paint. So, it got painted white. Jantzen wasn't too happy at first about this. He wanted it to stay brown, but now he likes it. I actually really like it white now that it's done. It makes the color of her crib stand out better just like they said it would.



Tricia and I had picked out some material for valances and Katie put them together. They look totally AWESOME! I love them. I wouldn't have been able to find valances this cute at the store, thanks Katie. So, here is what part of her room looks like all painted with the valance hung up...so cute!



I haven't gotten the rest of her room done yet. Josh put together the crib and changing table a couple days ago, but the rest is going to have to wait until after she's here. I was hoping to have it all done before, but I am a major procrastinator and didn't start doing things when I should have. That's okay though. She will be sleeping in my room for her first month anyway so I will have time to get the rest done. I will post pictures when it's all done.

I think it looks good so far, thanks to my awesome friends! Thanks girls, I really appreciate all the help you have given me on this. Josh and the boys get really excited every time they go in her room. It's going to be fun having another girl in the house. Tomorrow is the big day!

Shoe Models

In the last couple weeks the boys have been having fun playing in my closet while wearing my shoes. I guess someone might as well wear them since I can't fit into any of them except my flip flops, and sometimes I can't even fit into those because I'm too swollen. I don't know what it is about children and wearing moms shoes, but I think it's funny when it's my boys doing it.

I finally got them to hold still for ten seconds to get a picture of them, little do they know these are going to be used at a later time to get them to do what I want. Jaron always picks the tall shoes (most of my shoes are this tall) while Jantzen mostly goes for my running shoes. I wonder if it's because Jaron wants to be taller and Jantzen is always running around. Whatever the case may be, I think they are both so adorable and I'm really sad that they keep growing up. I am going to miss times like these when they are older. I know I say this a lot, but I love how these guys keep me smiling with the funny and crazy things they do.

Party Time With The Fam

On Saturday we celebrated Jaron's birthday again, but this time with just our little family (Josh finished up his training that day). Jaron was really patient about waiting until then to get his presents from us.

Jaron couldn't decide where to go to dinner so he let Jantzen help...he picked Red Robin. When we were there Jantzen told the waitress it was Jaron's birthday and when they came to sing to him, he was in the bathroom so they had to come back. It was kind of funny.

After dinner we went back home to open presents and have cake. Jaron got everything he wanted...a blue iPod, new Star Wars Lego sets, and a Clone Trooper helmet. I love how excited he got. It makes getting him presents more fun. Jantzen now wants his own iPod, in green of course, since the rest of us all have one now.



While Josh was putting together the Clone Trooper helmet Jantzen went and got the Darth Vader helmet so they could play together. Now they can both play fight each other and not actually fight over who's turn it is to wear a helmet.



After the boys played for a little bit we decided to have cake. I forgot to take a picture of the cake before I put the candles on it, but you can still see it. We sang "Happy Birthday" and then we enjoyed some cake. Jantzen sang his own little version of "Happy Birthday" with the cha cha cha in it.






Jaron picked out chocolate cake, but then didn't really want to eat it, he just wanted to play with his new Lego set and his iPod. Jantzen, on the other hand, loves cake. He eats all the frosting first and then will eat the cake until he's full.



It turned out to be a fun night with our family. I'm glad we can have fun times like this together. Now all the birthday parties are over for the year. Next year we will have five parties to celebrate in less than a two month period, I can't wait!