Finally Finished

I purchased the crib last Saturday, had my brother help me get it out of the car on Monday. . . then it sat there. . . and sat there. . . . waiting for someone to take pity on it and set it up!
Finally I called my brother Levi to help me- and he set it up on Wednesday! Hooray!
With that task finished, I started on the crib bumper the next day. I finally finished it last night! Hooray- so here are pictures of the crib and its beautiful bumper.
I found a tutorial online at:
http://www.vanillajoy.com/diy-crib-bedding-part-i-crib-bedding.html
for directions. It wasn't very complicated but it took a while since it is so loooooong. . . anyhow, it turned out so cute!
Esther, my picture stylist, added the frog. What a wonderful helper she is. :)

Baby Shower

Hello! My good friend Aleisha decided to take pity on my and do a baby shower. It's this Saturday- oh we know, short notice- at 1pm at an unspecified location that will be announced later!


WISH LIST
-a Boppy!
-a baby sling
-Graco Element Pack n Play- Melanie (you can find it at Target and maybe Walmart)
-Fisher-Price Newborn-Toddler Portable Rocker
-of course, we can always use CLOTHES ( ESTHER has been through them!)
- anything that looks like fun- just remember that if it makes a lot of noise you will PAY.
-Diapers are always a welcome addition
-cute nursing tops for me. Selfish, I know.
-One of those nursing cape things. . . can't think of what they are really called. . .
-baby gate
-World Peace!

I also think it may be helpful to know what I already have so here is another
LIST O' WHAT I ALREADY HAVE:
crib,
car seat,
stroller,
bouncy chair,
swing,
blankets,
bike trailer,
infant bike seat. . . . .
There you have it! I hope you can come!!

The Chosen Sleeping Vessel

SO, I was inspired by the car seat and stroller and when the monkies and I were in Target today I did it- I purchased a crib! I have been looking online at ksl.com classifieds and similary sites to see what was out there and really there is nothing right now that I want to buy. There are some used ones that are ancient, wobbly-looking things that they really should pay YOU for to take off their hands. . . there are also newer ones that were only used for one recent child but those people are asking for about twenty to ten dollars below what you can get a brand new one at- so I was looking online and comparing store prices and the one I got is just what I wanted!

It converts to a toddler bed, which is what I wanted-) oh and a day bed which is the same thing with the mattress at a different level)
ANYHOW, I haven't assembled it yet since I don't want to drag it out of the car myself. . .hmm, note to self: induce labor by moving large heavy box. . . hmmm. . . . Levi is coming over tomorrow so perhaps he will take pity upon his poor fat sister and help! :)
SO there aren't any lovely pictures of it in the girls' room (and I haven't made bumper pads or anything yet) BUT I got the picture from the Target.com site so you can see what it will look like!
Tomorrow I shall sew like a madwoman. I have a few projects I am working on (including crib linens) and now I have motivation for actually doing them!
Hooray for babies!

Latest Arrival!

The Graco Alano Travel System: Melanie




Esther modeling the stroller.
The beautiful girl carseat- and baby waiting to get in. Patience, baby, you have to come out first!

Yes, I am mean because our newest arrival is NOT a baby. . . yet.
We got a wonderful package from my mother-in-law (THanks, Mom Darby!) while Esther-loo and I were hanging out and watching Jumanjii and making some costume accessories. . . another story-
ANYHOW, here are pictures of the contents!
Car seat, CHECK!
Stroller, CHECK!
And they are the cutest and girliest things, ever.
I have been a bit sad about this baby because it looked like she was going to get everything handed down to her. Not that a baby cares, I know (another subject I could babble about all day like elaborate first birthdays. . . ), but I care. So, at least she will travel in girl-baby style!
Next item:
Crib. The children and I are going to go look at things today. I want one that converts to a toddler bed. . . . we shall see. . . .

Best Laid Plans. . . .

I have receiving many inquiries about my "plan" for the birth of this munchkind.
"Are you usually late?"
"Do you go early??"
The answer is: I have no idea.
Isaac was about a week early. (He was due Jan 3 and born Dec 24.) My water broke and we were induced.
Eve was four days late. (She was supposed to be a Halloween baby but held out till the 4th of Nov.) She was all natural- but does this count as my first "real" birth since Isaac was induced??
Esther was induced and born on her due date.
SO, basically the answer is: I have no idea, still.

Last night I was actually thinking about what plans should be made.
There are a few other small questions such as,
If baby comes early:
"Will my husband be present at the birth of this child or will he still be Korea?"
"How am I going to pass all my classes this semester?"
Other questions also come to mind:
"What should I wear?"
I have a baby outfit already. No carseat yet though, hmmm. . . working on that.
Since I don't know to plan for early or late or whatever, I decided to take care of the MOST important issue: Who is to watch the monkies while I am giving birth? The other questions pale in comparison to this. . . I can't let them out into the yard or duct tape their limbs and throw them into a closet. . .
There are no grandparents near enough to be called to come over and watch children so THAT's out. . .
SO considering the responsible parties nearby with the ability to drop what they are doing and come:
My dear brother Levi graciously accepted the position. Thank you, Levi!
Now that's one issue down, three hundred to go.
The rest will take care of itself.
I am packing a bag tonight, though. . . . just in case. . . .

Hilary Sighting!

Stalking your sister on a mission has never been easier! I love the internet!
Here is Hil in a lovely picture from her mission's blog:In case you are Zuster Ekstrom stalker like me and you don't have that address:
http://belgiumbrusselsnetherlandsmission.blogspot.com/
ALSO, there is her current companion's blog:
http://zusterfritz.blogspot.com/
Both have yielded some excellent Hil material!
Soon (March 11, I think) she will have been "out" for a whole year! I can't believe it.
Only six more months, about, to cyber stalk before she'll be home. . . . .

GRUB SPROUT strikes again!

Or is that Cub Scout?? hee hee
SO, today was Isaac The Cub Scout's first Blue and Gold Banquet!!!
I know, how can he be that old?? I still don't know but here he is posing for some pictures in the kitchen since our camera is being borrowed right now.
The event itself was, er, ok. Our scouting program is in its infancy so things like fluidity of program are in the works.
Maybe I was just overwhelmed by my children sneaking off every second to run screaming and chasing each other around the gymn. . . Esther and the baby insisted on being in this one. . . .