Blood Buddies

You know that song:

I love mother, she loves me

We love brother yes sirree

He loves us and so you see

We are a happy family

I love daddy, he loves me

We love sister yes sirree

She loves us and so you see

We are a happy family

(or something close ish to that)

I love my family. I especially love my family when they are loving each other. We have normal kids that do normal kid things...like yell and hit and cry. BUT they also all love each other so much that I can't imagine a more blessed life. They are connected by blood but also by sincere friendship.

Once my mom told me the best gift you could give a child was a sibling. When I first heard that I thought ya right...There will be less of my attention and love for each one. After we had Taryn I realized the truth of what she said. I realize it more and more with each child. My love for each person isn't at all diminished. It grows for each one when I see how much they love someone that I do too. A sister and now a brother is truly the kindest way I can show my kids I love them...

So even though I think four makes a really nice complete family I am so grateful that these four (and Brent) are mine and that they have each other. Our family wouldn't be as perfect any other way.

Jocelyn with her inability to restrain the love and Creed with his ability to accept such fierce love.

Last Saturday Creed got woken up an hour early from nap time and he was fussing just a little. I was ignoring it so he'd go back to sleep and finish his nap. Cami asked if she could go get him and I said no just let him go back to sleep and then he'll feel a lot happier later. She couldn't take no for an answer. I went down the hall five minutes later and this is what I found... I guess maybe "happier later" was less happy than cuddling and happy now...

Taryn is in afternoon kindergarten and every morning she and Jocelyn are busy making mischief together...It is a good thing Jocelyn still takes an afternoon nap because she would be lost without a sister to play with- a sister who is teaching her the ropes of how to be girly and fierce...

Again Cami's favorite spot...every day after school. She and Taryn both race to the car after school yelling "I get to hold baby bubba (his intrauterine nickname) first!!!!" "No I do!" "No I said it first!" At which point I usually say no I did, I said it so early that neither of you were here to hear it.....then they take turns...

Pillow fight gone dog pile...Too bad pictures don't have volume or you would have to turn this one down...They love each other really loudly sometimes...

The morning play date....Taryn and Jocelyn finding "fashionable" outfits...

My daddy is my favorite pal and I help him everyday...Its plain to see I want to be like him in every way...

Before Cami's baptism she just really wanted a picture of her and Creed...What a good little boyfriend he is to all these girls in this house. I don't think it will every be possible for him to doubt he is LOVED!

Where oh where has my little creed gone?

So four kids seems like a lot more kids than three kids...For one thing there is a whole lot more laundry...This is how we get 'er done at our house. Creed cooperating beautifully.I almost forget he's there...playing himself to sleep among all the clothes...

PS I think 4 is the new 8....8 used to be a big family but 4 seems pretty hefty to me...BUT it is fun and we are very thankful for our brood...

Each one is so different that it is amazing they all have the same genetics! It sort of makes me want to have 50 babies to see how each one turns out but then I look at the laundry and regain my sanity... :)

Soccer Season Baby!!!

I LOVE this time of year! Fresh cut grass smell and stinky shin guards. Cami is old enough to play in a competitive league now and it is so fun to watch. She is not the most aggressive girl but you can tell she thinks through everything and tries to play smart. I think if we put Taryn on the other team the aggression level would definitely be upped...

Taryn decided not to play this spring and it nearly broke my heart. It took everything I had to let my kid be herself...instead she begged to sign up for tap dance classes....Like I said it's taking everything I have...I am hoping she will miss it and want to play again in the fall....Please pray for us :) ! (I hope you all know I am kidding-I am sad but mostly just happy that she is happy)

Creed's first soccer game...not too into the BRIGHT sunshine or mom cheering loud enough to wake him from his happy slumber....It'll grow on him...

Cami in all her awesomeness and ginormous shorts....

Valentines Day Tradition

This year for Valentines I added a tradition to our usual china family dinner. I decided to ask each person for three of their favorite foods and chose at least one thing from each person to make. I was hoping to add a little lovin' food style to each person. Cami chose queso and chips, Taryn chose rice and fruit dip, Jocelyn chose black berries, Brent chose Fish Tacos. It was a serious random smorgasbord. I have never made fish tacos before and I don't think I am brave enough to try again...kind of disaster but i did try courtesy of Rachel Ray...Hopefully despite the tacos we will keep this tradition next year.

This is MY BOY...YES!!!! My BOY!!!

Creed is a cute baby. That's all there is to it. His eyes are so blue. They remind me a lot of Cami's. And he has the cutest mile wide pout. He does this silent cry face all mashed up and red thing before his real cry. He may have a dimple in his right cheek. He giggled right out loud in church on Sunday and I spent the rest of church trying to get him to repeat. He is my only baby without a crooked bum crack and I am pretty sure he'll have an outie belly button. His little head is of course a bald little Weight baby head-small and fuzzy. His hair does seem a little darker like Taryn's but it is going lighter each day. He and Jocelyn have straight pinkies that I just want to eat. He is my only kiddo who got Brent's ginormous toes. They are like half of the size of his feet.

Even with all this physically cute things his personality is cuter. He makes eye contact and then just glows at me. He connects and tells me a million things with his eyes. He is my little boyfriend. I feel his love and its amazing. He has such a patient, kind spirit. I feel like the luckiest mom in the world. I admit I was terrified of having a boy at our house. Boys are crazy and loud and dirty...BUT I could not be more in love with my little boyfriend. Seriously I am the luckiest mom alive.

My little man looking like a little man.

Checking out the animals on his blanket and contentedly just hanging out in chaos.

My sister in law made this cute little duck outfit for him.-Seriously she MADE it. Impressive. It was adorable but he kept trying to bust his hands out-he is not a burrito fan.

Happy Nappy

Sleep has become a very hot, rare commodity at our house the last couple of months. Creed definitely had his days and nights reversed in a BIG way. Once we conquered that, we still had the Creed is hungry every two hours business. He clung to that in a BIG way....Finally when he was about 10 weeks old he started having a (yes a as in a single) four hour streak (11 pm-3am). Now at 13 weeks he sleeps from about 8 to 11 or 12 and then he goes until 4 am then we go back to the every two hours until the next night.

With all this eating he better be growing like a crazy man. At his two month appointment he had nearly doubled his birth weight (up to 11 pounds 1 ounce) which is usually done by 6 months. He is definitely a porker in comparison to his sisters and we love it.

Anyway Brent and I have discovered that if Creed is fed and the girls are willing a nap is totally heaven. Creed is so soft and cuddly and pudgy. He just nestles in and makes himself at home. Not to mention a nap with a baby is one of the best things in life.

8 is GREAT!!!

Cami, my beautiful Cami, made me a mom 8 years ago and they have been the best 8 years of my life. Serious they have with no schmooze intended.

She was the answer to so many prayers and so much heart ache. With her life was finally what I wanted it to be like....happily married with children...She is a good kid. She has a conscience a mile wide which is so nice for us-she can't do wrong because she always confesses too fast if she tries. :) She makes us feel like good parents even though we have no real claim to her goodness. She is a fierce protector of her siblings and a great baby sitter (while I shower). She is a reader and thinker and has a great imagination. She creates so many scenarios playing house or army or box car children that I can hardly keep up with her ideas. She definitely directs the play at our house. She is a totally picky eater and Brent tells me she just has a very refined palate. She is getting a funny sense of humor and understands double meanings. She is growing up so fast that I just want to hit pause but at the same time I really love the girl she is becoming and I want to see more and more of who she is. I love her more than I can say and I am truly blessed to be her mom.

She had a family party where all she wanted was to eat was clam chowder, canned green beans and ice cream cake. She was very specific...She had a friends party and since creed was only a couple weeks old and I didn't have a party in me we hired the party out. They went to a gymnastics place and did tumbling etc then had pizza. She also got her ears pierced about a week after her birthday.

I wasn't sure she would go through with it (she has a serious aversion to anything that might remotely hurt) and I really didn't care if she got them done or not. I was really proud though when after the first ear was done that she cried but sucked it up and said do the other one now...It took a lot for her to do it. It was also SUPER traumatic when she discovered she had to take them out at soccer games....oops! Bad timing on my part.

Eight is a big birthday in our church because you can choose to be baptized which Cami did. I was also really proud of her for showing courage at her baptism. Cami would rather drive nails under her own fingernails than be the center of any attention (remember her aversion to pain and you will realize this is big). When she realized people might be watching she broke down in tears. I talked to her and told her she didn't have to do this but I would help her if she wanted me to. She said say a little prayer with me and we did and she wiped her tears away and got up and walked into the fount. She is so powerful when she overcomes obstacles and I love being part of it.

Anyway here she is in her white dress, opening a present, and having her party. I love this kid!

Creed's big day

Now before you look at these pictures I do want to say that Creed did not really spend his whole day crying...He was just feeling a little overwhelmed by the camera...I hope it doesn't last.

On March 3rd Brent blessed Creed. He was officially named Creed Lewis Weight on the records of the church. We were really lucky that Brent's parents were able to come down and support Creed on his big day since his mom has been so sick so much of the year.

Other than them it we just had the in town immediate family there so it was a small party but it was nice to be able to focus on Creed and make it a day about him. We are so lucky to have Creed as part of our family. The girls all love him-honestly they all fight over who gets to hold him first every day. Creed has such a loving and patient little spirit. He loves to be held and hates to be changed or get naked...He is the wiggliest baby ever but he is really content even in all his wiggling. Anyway, we were thankful to be able to bless him and name him and claim him as ours. Pray that we don't screw him up. Love this kid!

Creed and Daddy-I just couldn't do the white baby tux thing...finally I found a sweater and pants online and it was perfect. Not goofy or uncomfortable.

Creed Brent and Papa...my boys!

One of Grandma too because she sacrificed a lot to travel down here and we really appreciate it.

Brent and I and Creed because I sacrificed a lot to get him here.... ;) He is mine after all! :)

Our whole little family and now Creed is definitely done with pictures!

Just FYI

Hey to all our friends and family!

I know it is usually done more formally with a beautiful picture and invitations but since we aren't remotely formal at our house....

Cami has decided to get baptized as a member of our church. Her baptism will be February 4th at 10 am at the church building across the street from the temple. A baptism usually lasts about an hour and is a wear a dress event.... If you are available she'd like it if you came. Thanks!

The way Creed went down...

So we proudly welcomed little man Creed last Sunday. If you want to know how the whole birth went down read on-if not scroll to the end and enjoy the pictures...

Just before church I thought hmm that was a contraction...By the time we got to church they were consistently every five minutes but not horribly uncomfortable...At least I didn't think it was SO bad...apparently they were strong enough I was walking funny and people noticed. But I wasn't feeling like man I need to go home or go to the hospital etc...Brent was camped outside the primary room where I was just in case and was keeping an eye on the situation not really believing I was just fine.

By the time we got home 3 hours later Brent was on his high alert mode and was ready to go...I on the other hand just wanted to take a bath and relax. After about 30 minutes of pacing and stress for Brent while I relaxed in the tub, he convinced me it would be good just to go get checked-that way if it was the real deal we could get checked in without all the annoyances of Jocelyn's birth admittance...

So he had all ready called my mom who took the girls to her house (like before we had even left church) and he got the bags in the car. When we got to the hospital around 5 pm I explained we might be in labor and the nurses got me into a room and said why don't we just check you or do you want us to hook up the monitors...I said check me please and surprisingly I was a 7+ and completely effaced...You should have seen Brent's face...I would say it was total relief we were there mingled with a very small I told you so and then a lot of adrenaline...

Well the staff started hoping-like literally there were about four nurses starting an iv, monitoring the baby, calling the Dr (who luckily was there and on call as the hospitalist anyway)...By about 6 things had settled into a good routine and the nurses this time were really supportive of natural childbirth. They helped Brent with a knee trick thing that was amazing but probably gave Brent sore biceps... So it was good.

Apparently I was Strep B positive so I needed to wait a half an hour for the antibiotics to run in then I could have the baby according to the Dr. (Although he said don't worry though if you need to have him sooner that is OK...) Because of the strep B and the preterm timing they told us the baby and I would have to stay for 2 days.

By about 7 Dr came in and checked me and I was still only an 8 (shocking since I usually do the birth thing pretty quick). He broke my water and waited a little longer. Things definitely got more intense. The nurse felt like maybe the baby was posterior and stuck. I confirmed that every contraction he was getting mashed into my pelvic bone and was definitely stuck-the perk of a natural birth is you can feel what the heck is going on.

Finally I decided it was time to push and the Dr agreed that Creed was posterior. He manually got him to flip his head half way but I couldn't wait and popped him out shoulders side ways and all. Apparently not only was he positioned funny but the cord was around his neck (which Brent conveniently didn't tell me until a couple days later)...No wonder Brent was worried that he wasn't pinking up fast enough.

So Creed Lewis Weight joined the family January 8th at 7:47 pm weighing 5 lbs 15 ounces, 19 inches long. He has chicken wrinkly legs and stinkin' long fingers and toes. He is darker in color like Taryn was as a baby although he did rub his dark hair off the front/top of his head on my pelvic bone....He loves to be cuddled and held, especially while he is sleeping. Luckily his three sisters love to love him and so far they have been gentle. He seems to be a pacifier baby like Cami and Taryn which we are thankful for. His belly button is funny and gives him character as it will definitely be an outie.

We are thankful that despite his "preterm" entrance and his low birth weight entrance he eats like a banshee and breaths great on his own. Basically we are so in love with our little man. What a spirit of love babies bring to a home. My favorite quote of the day was when Brent said "Wow you look good. You don't even look like you just had a baby!" Luckily when you are dressed up for church with make up on you can greet your child looking like you combed your hair and put make up on that day....Brent was so supportive and helpful-natural child birth wouldn't be half as much fun without a helper like Brent. I just would glance at something and without talking or thinking he would get it for me (ice, chap stick, etc). Seriously couldn't have done it without him.

He's here!

He's a boy and he's small but very wiggly! When the nurses were trying to measure him he wouldn't hold still and she said "wow he's a wiggly one" and I said "yup he has been for 9 months..."

Cami meeting Creed the next day-smiling and excited but trying to act grown up...She was so excited at school that her teacher had all the students write Creed little letters and they made him a book. My favorite letter said "What are you going to name him? I think you should name him awesome!"

Taryn meeting Creed-She begs to hold him every chance she gets and hasn't stopped smooching him yet...I hope the affection and gentleness lasts.

Jocelyn meeting Creed-she calls him Baby Brother and it is the cutest thing in the world! She is really into babies right now so thankfully she can play with her babies while I take care of mine.

Ready to come home-luckily he passed his car seat test and we didn't have to hang out at the hospital any longer than the 2 days we had to...

Creed's first bath at home-not such a fan- but maybe that was because of all the commotion from the helpers that went along with the bath (one to take pictures, one to help with soaping, one to help with lotion and a grandma to prevent anyone getting over zealous)...

Look at all the hands trying to get in on the action....Creed should never have any doubt that he is a VERY loved little boy.

Christmas came and went in a hurry...

December was kind of a crazy month and somehow very few pictures were taken despite all the activities. We did video Christmas morning but didn't take too many actual photos. I am happy to say that Jocelyn's tubes work and she speaks so much better now. I am happy to say the flood didn't ruin too much and that the house has new plumbing. I am happy to say the dry wall is patched and repainted. I am happy to say the new washer and drier work like champs. I am happy to say the bronchitis has resolved ish and that no one coughed out the baby. I am happy three little girls had a memory making Christmas.They were so excited and believing. I am happy we got the new expedition and have seat belts for everyone. I am happy we could go to Heber to visit the Weight family and that we could meet new cousins. And I am also happy it is now January...

Decking the halls...Every year there is a debate about whose turn it is to place the angle on the tree and last year we got smart and started taking pictures of the event so we can bypass the debate....

Big girl Bed or the floor?

Just before Christmas Taryn taught Jocelyn a new trick called dive in and out of your crib head first. Since we like Jocelyn's head just the way it is (and her neck) we had to get out the toddler bed...She was not impressed and it has been a rough transition...The first week or so she was frequently found like this....poor kid. Nap time has also taken a direct hit. She still really needs a nap but it is amazing how quietly she can sneak out of bed and play...or unload all the clothes in her dresser....We love this girl and hope for more sleep and less refolding soon...

Piano Recital

Cami started taking piano lessons last summer and has seemed to really enjoy it. Her first piano recital was the week before Christmas. She played I saw three ships come sailing in and a duet of Jolly Old St Nicholas. At the recital she wanted to sit in the front row but Jocelyn had other plans. Brent went and sat with her and we were surprised that she didn't seem nervous at all; however, in her prayers that night she said "And thank you for helping me do good at my recital even though I was so nervous I just wanted to cry." You really can't ask for a better kid...And she really did do an amazing job.

Probably as good as it gets this year...

So I was really hoping to do Christmas cards this year but this is probably as good as it's going to get this year. There just has constantly been something going on as is the case in everyone's homes I am sure but I have just been slow getting life taken care of. So here's an annual top ten ish list...

1. We got a new car and have seat belts for all the kids-our current ones expected one and neighbors and carpools etc...It is a Ford of course and we were pleased to still feel a lot of brand loyalty.
2. Jocelyn got tubes in her ears and can speak in sentences now. It's great!
3. Taryn started kindergarten and has thrived! Her handwriting and math skills are amazing!
4. Cami started second grade and has become a HUGE reading fan. Currently she is addicted to some books called Fablehaven but has also LOVED the Harry Potter series and the Gregor Underlander series...
5. Brent got released from the Young Men's program at church after 3 3/4 years and has been home the last few Tuesday nights. Bed time is so much more peaceful. We are looking forward to lots more family time in the summers for boating and camping and hiking since he won't have to take boys camping hiking etc every weekend.
6. Amy enjoyed a 10 year anniversary trip to Hawaii now that we have been married 12 years (with Brent). It was so relaxing we brought home a great souvenir-a baby boy due in a few weeks.
7. Brent's business has taken off more and he now officially leases out office space instead of a bedroom at grandma's...
8. Cami started piano lessons and has her very first recital this week. She is playing I saw three ships come sailing in and maybe a couple others?
9. We took our first family trip to Disneyland and had a very magical time.
10. The girls had a great summer of swimming lessons and two great soccer seasons and a great year of dance.
11. Jocelyn is still in one piece despite her mad climbing skills which Amy claims as a personal victory-knock on wood.
12. Taryn has a loose tooth and is almost done with speech therapy after almost 3 years..She just needs to work on Rs and Th.
13. Cami got braces and lost several teeth and has been an amazing trooper over the whole process...
14. Brent has continued to sing in his boy choir and has had several great concerts. It is fun for him to fill some time with community service (lots of concerts at nursing homes and community events) and to learn more about singing.

Obviously I still can't count and the year has been full and we feel very blessed. We are excited for the little boy 2012 will bring and all the next adventures life has to offer. We hope all of you have a great 2012 and a fabulous holiday season!