Baby Girl

Kylie Reese, born May 7, 2010, weighing 7 lbs. 12 oz., and 20 inches long.

We went in to the hospital for a 7:30 am induction (actually arrived about 7:45--surprise, surprise), hoping for a quick labor and delivery. Didn't happen! She was high up in the birth canal and didn't want to come down. After turning sideways a couple different times, requiring a little extra love and attention from Dr. Hasket, (and succeeding at making things a little more difficult), and after patiently waiting for her to make her move, she finally decided to join us about 4:30 pm.
Everything was good at first, but then after several hours, for some reason, her oxygen levels started going down. However, after a round of antibiotics, and a couple extra days in the NICU for monitoring, she got to come home. And wouldn't you know it, the night before coming home she got a little jaundiced. So we got to bring home the "lights" for her to sleep under. Wow, how many girls can say they spent the first week of their life on a tanning bed? What a lucky girl!
And speaking of lucky....I'm a fortunate man to have such an amazing wife, incredible family, and a new, beautiful, and healthy baby girl!

Anticipation

The day of arrival had come. Everybody got up bright and early to give mom their last loves, hugs, and kisses before she headed off to the hospital. Grandma came to watch the kids for us (thanks, Grandma). Karin never imagined she'd experience Kristen's pregnancy and deliver as a part of her foreign exchange experience! Mom was a little emotional (what do you expect from a 9 month pregnant mama-cat) as she said goodbye to her children. The time had finally come....

Maternity Pics

OK, so it's been a while since I've updated this blog of ours. Life gets so crazy I just can't seem to find the time. However, I've decided it's time to get going again. Although I have a gazillion things I could try and update, I'm not going to. Just a couple major ones.
So to begin with, probably the biggest thing to happen this past year was Kristen getting pregnant. It took a while, but finally happened. Since we're pretty sure this is going to be the last one, Kristen wanted to get maternity pictures. She actually wanted to get them before, it just never happened. So the week before she delivered, she got some pictures taken. Since I happened to be there while they were taking the pics (and looking as sharp as ever, of course. Ha ha.) I got in a few of them myself. It was a lot of fun. We haven't done that since we got married. So here she is--my beautiful bride!! :)

(of course, no woman would dare go deliver a baby without having her toes done, right?!)

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

EIGHT IS GREAT!

Eight years old is a pretty great age. Why? Because it's the age you get baptized. In July, Mr. Kaden turned 8, and on August 8th he was baptized. Kaden was already such a sweet boy--and now he's even sweeter!

The newest member of our family

No, we didn't have a baby (although Kristen would really like one). And no, we didn't get a new pet either (although everyone but dad would really like one). We actually became the proud parents of a beautiful teenage girl.

Karin van der Velde, 17 years old, from the Netherlands, is our new foreign exchange student. She will be staying with us for 10 months, while she completes her senior year at Lone Peak High School. The kids are very excited to have a new"big sister", and all of us are excited to have her as a member of our family.

A small lesson in female anatomy

Tonight while putting the boys to bed they were telling us about their new teachers at school. Kaden mentioned one of his teachers that he really likes, Mrs. Overy (with the accent over the "e"). The conversation then went something like this:

"Mrs. Ovary", I said.

"No," Kaden said, "Mrs. O-vEry!".

"Good thing it wasn't ovary" (trying to be funny, while Kristen grinned at me).

"What's so funny about that?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Come on, tell us please."

"Really, it's nothing."

"Pleeeeeeeease."

"OK. It has to do with female parts."

(chuckle chuckle) "Oh no!" (giggle giggle)

"See. Now you don't want to know, do you?"

"Well, OK. Tell us anyway."

"Ok. The ovary is part of a woman's body, on the inside, that has little eggs that can become babies."

"What! Mom has eggs in her?"

"Yes, all women do."

"Oh no, mom's not a mammal!"



The sweetness of innocent boys.