Taylor Mae

For all of you eagerly awaiting, I introduce to you Taylor Mae.  The birth story will come later but here are a few pictures for your enjoyment!

Just before heading into the hospital.  I was super psyched to be going in with a definite end in sight!

Miss Taylor minutes old getting checked out.

She weighed 8 lbs 9 oz, 21 " long and was born at 4:52 pm.

Interesting side note, Benson and Kimber are both born on the 26 of the month, Daniel and McKay share their birthday, the 14, and Taylor and I were both born on the 6 of the month.

Happy to be all wrapped up after her initial check.

The Bateman Frown.

Taylor and Mommy having some snuggle time.  I love her so much!  Here we are settling into our room.

The kids came by this morning to meet Taylor.  Kimber loves to hold "baby Tayor".  She lasts a few seconds and then is ready to leave.  She is really good at telling us she is done though and has you take her before she moves on.  On our way home Kimber got super excited and told us "Baby Tayor wake up, her look at me!" I hope this excitement continues!

Benson spending some time with Taylor.  He really was enjoying it although he doesn't look like it!  More than anything he was looking forward to watching a movie on our portable DVD player we just got.  He kept asking to watch something on it I made him a deal that he could watch something when he came to the hospital to see us.

Taylor all ready to go home.

McKay didn't pay much attention to Taylor in the hospital but once we were home he was hovering over her carseat and just staring at her and loving her to bits and pieces.  I think I am going to have to keep a close eye on him though.  I put him on my lap to take his sandals off and the transformation of being my baby to here's my little boy happened!  How quickly that happens!

She is such a good little girl!  She cried when she was first getting checked out but that was about it until she had her bath a few hours later.  It is amazing how quickly babies can grab your heart and have you wrapped around their little finger.  Just a short little blurb about the delivery, I went from 4 cm to pushing in about an hour and a few pushes later she was out.  It amazes me that after going so much pain that I can just love her so much.  Then I take one look at her and think, who wouldn't?  She is a real blessing to our family and we are excited to get to know her.

July...

I will start with this sweet picture.  Kimber gave Jared a big hug after he brought over her birthday present from him and Jade.  She was super excited to get Mrs. Potato Head!

Here is breakfast this morning.  We had chocolate toast.  I forgot we had some Nutella until Benson asked for some and got it out for us.  This was even after Kimber had been wiped down once!

My cranky pants of a son.  Every morning he does this.  I don't know what to do for him.  The following video is of him doing his freak out.  If you don't watch it I don't blame you but Nana, do you have any ideas?

I put Enchanted on for Kimber this morning.  McKay was suddenly a very nice boy and was laughing at the ogre while Kimber was asking me to turn it off because it is too scary.  I made her watch more.  Between the ogre and the evil step-mother it scares her a bit.  I love the face she is making in this picture!

Kimber being scared of the movie and McKay happy as can be!

Here are a few belly pictures for those that aren't close enough to see it in person.  I got a little winded in this one!

I am just so enthused here!

I have 2 weeks and 1 day until my due date.  I told Daniel that on Friday night after we have gone to see the new Batman movie he can start massaging my ankles to bring on the labor.  We will see when our little girl decides to make her debut.  I have been feeling pretty lousy lately so I am hoping sooner than later!

Parties all around!

We have had a busy couple of weeks!  It was my FIL birthday a couple of weeks ago so it all started then!  All the adults in the family went to Chianti's for dinner.  Unfortunately I wasn't feeling so well that day so I wasn't much company to be around but we had a great time being out with the family.

The next week was Father's Day.  I just want to take the opportunity to say what a great dad Daniel is!  I love watching him with the kids.  They love when he comes home and plays with them.  There are a few new babies in our ward right now and Daniel is like a moth to a flame.  He is quick to pick them up and take them so the parents can have a hand free.  I keep saying he is more baby hungry than I am right now but I love seeing him with babies and how gentle he is.  I am so grateful for all of his hard work that he does for our family.  It has been a crazy 6 years since we got married between school, kids and a somewhat crazy wife at times and he handles it so well.  I love you!

On to other things now.  On Father's Day Kimber was marching around playing with this toy but she was dancing as she went.  Too cute!

Bens' class at school decorated ties for their Dads.  We had to supply at plain colored tie and the only one we could find was the tie Daniel wore at our wedding.  It is snagged and stained so he donated it.  I was sad to see it go but he doesn't wear it now anyway.  So Daniel was a good sport and wore his gift to church on Father's Day.  I wanted a picture of him wearing it so Benson remembers that is was worn as I doubt it will be ever again!

McKay wasn't too into the whole picture thing so here is Daniel with Bens and Kimber.

This was the best family picture we could get.  McKay was sick with croup so nothing was making him happy that day!

Another project that Bens did at school was a butterfly kit.  We had two caterpillars that had cocooned and then hatched.  Bens was super excited about the butterflies!  Here we were trying to set them free.  The second butterfly finally came out of the box with some coaxing but we left it on the grass with a piece of orange by it.  In the morning it was gone so I assume it eventually flew away.

I don't feel old enough to have a preschool graduate but here we are with our big  5 year old boy.  He is so excited to be going into Kindergarten next year.  Unfortunately he doesn't understand what summer vacation is yet.  First he thought that Kindergarten started today.  Then after realizing it starts in September he wanted to eat everything he could for breakfast so that he wouldn't be hungry in the car while we drove to our vacation.  I then had to break his heart and tell him that we aren't actually going anywhere this summer because I am pregnant.

Kimber with the graduate.

Benson, just about the happiest he was the whole time.

This is more like how it was.  His friend really wanted to play with him and sit with him.  I don't know if something happened but the past couple of weeks they have been off from each other and Benson gets  grumpy around him.

Between wiggly kids and overly eager parents to get pictures this is the best I could get of all the grads.

Kimber being a great guard of my purse while I took group photos.

Bens during the playtime.  He was coming up to me to cling and be mopey.

Magic Mike came to the grad to entertain us all.  I let Kimber go sit with all the kids.  She just loved it!  She is in the pink shirt and blue skirt on the front row closest to me.  Bens was the third boy in on the back row.  You can't see much of him but they both thought it was pretty neat.  At first Bens thought that Magic Mice were coming.  I corrected him and then he said "We know a Mike, but he's not magic!"  Sorry Mike, I guess you just aren't magic!

We had Kimber's birthday party on Saturday.  She asked for a Princess party.  She is obsessed with Princess right now.  I took her to the bulk barn with me to pick out what cake shape she wanted.  I was hoping she would go for the crown but she fell in love with the castle!  My SIL came to the rescue with some icing bags and tips which made this a lot easier!

A sample of a few of the gifts the birthday girl  got.  I loved watching her face light up and the little gasps she would give.  She wanted to wear this dress a few days ago but it is a Sunday dress so we compromised and let her wear her 'fairy princess' dress to her party.

Our little pro at blowing out the candles!

We also had my nephews baby blessing on Saturday night.  My sister arranged for the blessing to be in her home so that my parents could join us via Skype from Samoa.  It was a really neat experience!  Our homes were chaotic that day with all the family around be we were glad they could all come up and help celebrate these special milestones with us.  My Grandpa came up and stayed with us and my brother and his family also made it up.

That about ends all the partying that has been going on here!  I am looking forward to relaxing for a little while now so see ya later!

I have been a little on edge lately.  I think it is mainly hitting my third trimester and the wall of exhaustion that came with it.  These two pictures brighten my day whenever I look at them.

McKay couldn't keep still so I had to keep putting the chairs together for him to lounge on.

This smile is what always brightens the day for me!

Enjoy!

Our House...

In the middle of our street.  I don't know why I have that song in my head but I do.  I also have 'I am slowly going crazy, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 switch' stuck there as well.  That one explains my day a bit though.

Here are my kiddos playing something together the other day.  I am not sure what but they seemed pretty happy doing it.

Kimber keeps wanting to be like Mom, Dad, and Benson and wears these sunglasses from the eye Dr's.  I got sick of putting the lenses back in so I just threw them out.   Her smile makes it even better!

McKay has been acting like a cool dude lately.  He loves wearing his baseball cap, especially backwards.

Kimber after having a breakfast of champions, long john donut, chocolate chip banana muffin and a smoothie.

McKay switching from cool dude to studious.  

So as I was about to start this post Benson came up to me bawling, consequently sounding like at dying cat.  Being the loving mother I am I mocked him before asking what was wrong.  Turns out he hit his mouth on our DVD shelf.  I, once again being loving, told him to get over it.  He continued to cry until I looked at it.  Yes, my 5 year old Benson has a loose tooth.  I proceeded to tell him what was going to happen.  He got more and more scared as I told him we would pull the tooth out but was delighted at the end to hear he would get money from the tooth fairy.  Now he won't stop touching his tooth and even has toilet paper stuck on his mouth to catch any blood that comes.  Well hopefully the next couple of days won't be too rough.

Baby Shower

Last Saturday I helped host a baby shower for my Sister and her sweet little Sylas.  It was pretty low key but lots of fun.

I made the cupckakes and supplied candy for the candy bar.

I went a little overboard with the candy.  I went to the Bulk Barn and got tons of blue candy.  30 something $ later we left the store.  Most of the candy here (the jeans have a bowl in them as well) I left for Brooke and Aric to enjoy.  We are still working on our share here at our house.

Robin made the appetizers and drinks for us.  I over ate and had little room for dinner that day!

Brooke showing off her presents.  These are Sketcher socks that look like shoes.

An outfit that came with the 'shocks'.

Mom, I didn't take a picture of your present to Brooke and Sylas but I think you may recognize it.  Brooke opened it and said it was the exact same one you gave Naomi.  Brooke loves it so she is keeping it.  They will just have to label the baby album well and look at the pictures before putting new info into it!

It was a nice afternoon.  Benson came with me and was my special helper.  I think he liked it because he got full reign on Brooke's iPad.  Lucky boy!

I just realized I didn't take a picture of the man of the hour.  I have yet to take a picture of him at all.  Well if you want to see the cutie you will have to look at Brooke's blog and see him.

May begins...

Finally I am putting pictures up of Bensons birthday!  For some reason this picture was loading sideways, so just turn your head!  Benson remembered what he wanted for his cake from February.

Do you think the cake resembles this?  I tried to get him to want something else but he wanted his snow monster.  But really this was the easiest cake we have made yet!

I postponed Benson's party a week as there was a lot of family that couldn't make it on the original date and there was NO way I was going to be ready.  It was really low key but Benson had a great time which is what matters.

Kimber is so beautiful when she eats cake.

Benson wanted his video taken too.  Amazingly enough Benson makes more of a mess eating than McKay does most of the time!  This also has the only clip of McKay this post.

Kimber came up to me the other day wanting pretty hair and handed me the wig.  It goes with her shirt so well!

I braided my hair a couple of weeks ago and Kimber has been begging me for them ever since.

Yesterday she came out of her room with the biggest poopy mess I have dealt with since Benson painted his walls in his nap.  After having to bath her to get it out of her hair etc, I braided her hair to keep it out of the way!  Today I tried to take them out to give her wavy hair and she just about lost it so in went the elastics again.  She has major frizzy bed head now.

Now back in March I tried to upload a video of Kimber singing and it didn't work so I finally got it on Facebook today.  Check it out!

Benson is doing really well with his glasses.  Ok, he is doing well for a 5 year old with glasses.  We got them 2 weeks ago today and we have already had to take them in to be adjusted and get a nose pad adjusted once.  We need to go in again and have the exact same thing done again though.  Brooke even adjusted the glasses when she was here for the party.  Ok, maybe he hasn't done well but he is getting used to them and keeps them on most of the time now!