The smell of cimmamon gum

The other day I was in the checkout line at Target and this cinnamon Trident gum was calling my name, so I bought a package.

Last night as I got a piece out to chew, the smell of the gum all the sudden took me back to when I was around 8 years old. I was in my frontroom at home in Richfield and my Grandpa Stott was there.  When I was younger, he was a very big man, so he would wear blue suspenders and always had Trident gum in his pocket shirt. I was taken back to a time when Grandpa and Grandma had come to visit my family. I remembered how Grandpa would give us each a piece of gum. It is funny to me how a smell can remind you of a memory. Froot Loops also has the same effect. My Grandma Stott always had froot loops for us when we would go and visit them in Green River. I can't eat fruit loops without thinking about all the wonderful memories of visiting my grandparents. 

My Grandparents have both passed on, but I'm so grateful for the good people they were and the love that I felt from them every time I got to see them.

Crossed eyes

Jacob discovered the other day that he can make us all laugh when he goes crossed eyed. After he got lots of laughs, Danny had to also try and go cross eyed. We told him to look at his finger to make his eyes do what Jacob was doing. I have laughed and laughed watching these two with their new tricks!

Nathan's Blessing Day

Sunday, March 20th, we blessed sweet Nathan. Doug blessed him and we were lucky to have all of our parents here. 

My Mom came out to help us on March 10th. My Dad flew out on Friday, March 18th and Doug's parents drove out and arrived on Friday.

It was a GREAT weekend to have our house full of Grandparents! We watched LOTS of collage basketball and ate lots of GOOD food!

Andrew cried this morning when the house was empty. He had so much fun watching the brackets with Grandma Hobbs. He sat and watched the games and followed each team he had chosen.

My sweet 4 boys.

Getting ready for church.

Our neighbor across the street wanted to make a cake for Andrew for his birthday. He was sad that no one would be here for his birthday in 9 days, so we had cake with everyone here. I think this is the best cake Andrew will ever have for his birthday. It is a Phineas and Ferb cake. Andrew obviously LOVED it!

Here is Nathan getting a bath.

It was WONDERFUL to have my Mom here for 10 days. She cleaned the house, filled our freezer with food, and watched the kids so I could sleep a lot. While I slept she played games with Jacob and Danny. Every morning Danny would wake up and say, play games!!! He didn't want to eat breakfast, just play games all day with Grandma Stott.

She also read to them and took great care of our family while she was here!

Here I am in my lazy boy where I spend a lot of time right now feeding this HUNGRY GROWING boy!

Grandpa was helping getting dinner ready. Danny wanted to be right where Grandpa was.

What a great couple of weeks it has been. Thanks to our parents for making the effort to be here with us at this special time in our family!

Nathan Blake is here!

On Tuesday, March 1st, I went for my last doctor appointment. I was dilated to a 3, but not a whole lot was going on.  On Friday, March 4th, I had not gone into labor, so Dr. Freitas said she would induce me.

We took Andrew to his friend, Zach's across the street. He was very excited to eat breakfast with his friend and get on the bus with him. We also dropped Jacob and Danny off at our AMAZING friend, Abby Kacher who watched the boys all day for us.

We arrived at the hospital around 7:00 a.m. They got my IV started and then around 8:00 a.m. the doctor came in and broke my water. I started to have some good contractions by 10:00, so then I got my epidural. I still was only at a 4, and the epidural really slowed down my contractions, so then the pitocin was started.

Around noon I was finally to a 5. Things were progressing, but not very fast. Doug went and got some lunch and we watched some tv just enjoying the afternoon.

Around 1:30 the nurse said she would empty my bladder and then check where I was. The nurse did warn

me that sometimes having a full bladder can slow things down.

When she checked me I was only to a 6.

The nurse left to do some other things and I had 2 more contractions. When she came back I said I needed some more medicine because things were really starting to hurt. Then I had one more contraction and he DROPPED! I told the nurse he was here and I needed to push. She checked me and I was at a 10 and ready to go. 

Nathan's heart rated kept dropping when I would push, so they had me roll on my side. This was a little awkward to push, but his heart rate when right back to where is should be.

Doctor Freitas came in and I rolled on my back and pushed for about 10 minutes more and little Nathan was born at 2:37 p.m. It was an amazing moment when they placed his little purple body on my chest. He was prefect!

When they went to cut his umbilical cord it squirted blood all over my face.

On Saturday, Doug brought the boys into see Nathan. Danny came right in and wanted to know where baby Nate was. He wanted to see him and stayed right where he was. He really didn't want to hold him, but stayed close to him the whole time he was there.

Jacob wanted to hold Nathan and love him. He loves to touch him and give him lots of kisses. Jacob is always concerned when Nate starts to cry.

Andrew wanted to hold him and see him, but then wanted to watch tv. He is a good big brother to all 3 of his little brothers!

All 4 of my boys.

This is more of a real picture of my boys!

Nathan has been a great little guy so far. He is nursing really well and sleeping a little bit.

Everyone has been asking me who he looks like. At first Nathan looked like Jacob, but he is starting to have his own look. It will be fun to see who he ends up looking like.

Andrew - 8 lb 3 oz - 20 1/2"            Jacob - 7 lb 5 oz - 20"

Daniel - 8 lb 3 oz - 20"               Nathan - 8 lbs 6 oz - 20"