10.31.10

Happy Halloween!  Esther donned her pumpkin hat and her cat costume (she didn't like the cat hat - it was cute but I couldn't get her to wear it without screaming.)  The nurses loved her costume and hat.  I was bored most of the morning but the kids came and we watched a movie in bed together.  Peter was still having a hard time but because of Esther we would be staying until Monday morning/afternoon, after her second echo. 

There is no problem with her heart but because of family history she was going to have a second echo Monday morning to see if she all of the parts that close after birth closed correctly and that there was no indication of problems.

10.30.10

Day 2 at the hospital.  We had Liberty come and visit and bring us a cute hat to show off to the nurses.  The kids were able to come and visit again.  Mom was able to get up out of bed and move around a little bit.  They don't wait too long before they have you up and moving, whether you want to or not. 

Peter found a nice spot to watch cars and look out the window while everyone was playing with the baby.  He wanted to know why I haven't come home yet.  It is a hard concept for a child to understand why his mommy isn't at home with him.  Soon, baby, soon . . . I'll be home. . .

10.29.10 Halloween Trunk or Treat

The kids were able to go to the Trunk or Treat put on at the church with Grandma.  Thanks to Liberty for taking pictures.  We had all of the cameras at the hospital with us.

10.29.10 Welcome Esther Joy Anderson

Around 2 am this morning I got up to go the bathroom and felt a sudden gush of fluids.  My water had broken.  So off to the hospital we went.  We had been scheduled for a c-section at 8 am but since my water broke early the doctor decided to start the c-section earlier.  I was grateful since I had begun to have contractions and they were not comfortable at all. 

Esther Joy Anderson was born at 4:28 am weighing in at 7 lbs 14 oz and measuring 20 3/4 inches long.  She has brown hair and is just as beautiful as can be.  She was able to start nursing in the recovery room and has been such a good baby. 

Later that day once I was back in my room, Grandma was able to bring the kids to see their new sister.  Kirsten was totally enamored with how tiny she was and Peter seemed genuinely interested in this little baby.

10.28.10

I've been singing "my bags are packed, I'm ready to go," for most of the evening.  Dave keeps wondering how many days I'm going for.  I'm hoping to be home in 3 days.  Most of the stuff is baby stuff.  It's hard to decide exactly what to bring.  Of course we have to bring all the camera stuff and all the charger things to go with.  Tomorrow morning we throw the little bag in the big gray bag and leave. I'm not anxious or anything.  I just want to go and get it all done and over, so I can meet this little girl.  Today has been kind of slow and dragging on. 

As of 6:30 pm I haven't heard from the hospital and I have called them and was told they can call up until 7 pm.  OKAY WELL THEN CALL ME!!!!!

10.27.10

Kirsten and Peter on their way to a fun Halloween Party.  One of Kirsten's friends at school sent us and invitation to a party at his house today.  It is all that Kirsten can talk about.  They were both pretty excited.  I love the excitement of little kids.  They party was so fun and the mom had done a great job of keeping them busy.  I loved the mummy toilet paper wrapping.  Peter was doing pretty good until the kid he was doing decided he was done.  Kirsten's friend wrapped her up until she couldn't see anything.  Kirsten was a good sport about it.  She loved playing and being with friends.  I love how much more confident she has become through out the school year.

10.26.10

The Joy School Halloween party and parade.  The kids seemed to like dancing around in a circle.  They loved the pumpkin song and Peter did all the actions.  When the "Mean Old Witch" song came on, he came over and acted really scared.  I guess he didn't like the sound of the witch on the song.  It was a bit spooky.  The kids were pretty cute and had a fun time.  We were really safe with our two firemen.

10.25.10

A fun filled - gooey filled family home evening.  We carved pumpkins for FHE tonight.  Kirsten kept saying "this is the first time we have carved pumpkins."  Well at least the first time we have done it when she remembers.  The kids loved digging the seeds out as long as they got to use a spoon.  Dad didn't seem all that excited about pulling out the gooey middle.  I guess it isn't that bad to me and so I did most of the scooping.  And for an added treat the Cameron's stopped by with carmel corn and pumpkin cookies for our treat.  YUMMY!!!

10.24.10

After dinner Esther was moving around and Kirsten and Peter were laying on my belly getting kicks or punches in the head.  They both thought it was pretty funny.  I love that they get to feel her move and know that this is all coming very soon.  Like in 5 days {but who is counting?????}

10.23.10

We have sold the truck.  I now see the minivan coming early as a blessing in disguise.  The Lord knows the plan and sometimes even though you think you know best, He is in charge.  We have had it on the market for about 3 weeks.  We were getting next to no responses or people who asked questions but no return calls.  We dropped the price a little bit each week and then this week we dropped it to the price range that started getting calls.  By Friday we had heard from 3 or 4 different people that seemed more interested.  Today a man drove from Wisconsin to see the truck, test drove it, asked a million questions, bartered a bit and then gave us a down payment to hold the truck until he can get the paperwork done at the bank.  We are so happy and excited that all of this will be done before the baby comes.  Now we just have to wait for him to get the loan from the bank and we will be set.  Then figure out how to get it halfway to him when we are all ready.

Oh, yeah, Happy Anniversary dear.  Thanks for being such a wonderful man.  It has been a fun 12 years, can't wait to see what the future brings for us.  Love you!!!!

10.22.10

Kirsten and Peter found the empty eggshell carton and decide to make them into caterpillars.  Kirsten wanted to make hers rainbow colored and surprisingly enough Peter wanted to do the same.  They painted and had a fun time while I tried to put together a menu plan for the next couple of weeks.  It's kind of hard when your kids have limited things they like.  How many times can you have mac - n - cheese, chicken nuggets, noodles and sausage, Pizza and Hawaiian haystacks.

10.21.10

Grandma is here.  Now we can have the baby.  Oh, that's next week. 

Grandma is here after a delay at the Salt Lake Airport.  She arrived safely and we are excited to have her here.  She will be such a big help with the kids and the new baby.  {And maybe my house might get a little more presentable, it's been hit and miss in the cleaning department lately.}

10.20.10

I love presents and even more so presents for my cute little girl.  Liberty was so excited and didn't want to wait until the baby was born to bring this cute little number and a number of other darling things for the baby.  I love that she can be all covered up and people can't touch her.  Liberty is just glad I didn't make one for myself.  I think she was getting fed up with me making things for the baby and making it more and more difficult to find something to give me.  Thank goodness I decided to wait until the spring to see if I could make one of these, because this one is sooo cute.  You can't see that the butterflies have sparkles on them.  Thanks Liberty you are amazing and so talented.  Good thing I taught you everything you know.  Hee!  Hee!

Of course Kirsten loves it too.  She is all about sparkles, pink and baby.

10.19.10

$2 thrifted jacket + $4 fireman helmet = Happy boy!

He wears this almost everywhere we go (yes including the helmet).  We go to drop off Kirsten in it, we wear it to preschool, we wear it out shopping.  I'm pretty sure he loves it.  THANKS Liberty for finding the Jacket.  It has been the best thing around at our house for the last couple of days and I'm sure into the future. 

I'm Peter Thomas Anderson, FIREMAN!!!  (Anderson family joke right James?  He even has the right middle name.)

10.18.10

I don't see the resemblence, do you?  Hopefully my "pumpkin" isn't as big as the ultrasound said today.  She is measuring in around 7 lbs 12 oz or so.  Umm, she might just skip newborn size clothes at this rate.  About 11 days left to go, but who is counting??????

10.17.10

Nothing like a big cardboard box and a box of markers to keep two kids busy for an hour or so.  They were a bit disappointed that they didn't get to play in the rest of the refrigerator box that "Aunt" Linda brought by.  But it is Sunday and it wouldn't fit in the house (thank goodness).  Hopefully tomorrow will be a nice day and they can play in it.

10.16.10

Nothing like some free labor to clean up the yard.  Kirsten thought she could build a pile and jump in it.  Sorry sister, we don't have enough leaves, but I'm more then happy to let you clean up what we do have.

10.15.10

Yesterday at the doctor's office she asked me if I had my bag packed. . . Well, ummmm no.  It got me thinking, we only have 2 more weeks from today and here I sit without my bag packed or the baby clothes washed.  So I washed baby clothes, blankets, socks, and burp clothes.  I figured I better get every thing washed that I thought I might want for the baby and for the nursery.  I guess it has been in the back of my mind but I just haven't had the prompt to get it done until yesterday.  So now I am working on getting my bag packed and putting together what I am going to take to the hospital.  (I even started one of my famous lists - I make lists for everything and this should be no exception.)

10.14.10

Every child has something that you can bribe them with.  My kids it can be candy, slurpees, ice cream cones, you name it. . . . They will be good for just about anything.  Because they have been sick this week I didn't feel good about dropping them on my neighbor and sharing our germs.  So I took them to the doctor with me.  They had come last week and were very good and they didn't dissappoint me again.  So we stopped at 7-eleven for candy.  I'm easy.  If you are good, then I want to reward you.

10.13.10

I'm sure Santa's workshop looks like this after some marathon days.  Since the kids were sick I have taken the last couple of days to finish some projects.  Some are Christmas, others are for the baby and some are special orders.  I have a deadline to get all these things done and I think I am getting to the end of my current TO DO list.  I'm sure now that I have finished these projects I will find a couple more things to do.  That is just my nature.  I have a never ending list of things I want to sew, craft or put together.  I figure I am going to be on a slight hiatus after the baby is born and then we will see what I can accomplish after that.  My goal is to be back in the swing of thing around January or February.  We will see this baby's temperment and my tolerance for sitting at a sewing machine. 

Now if I could just get those silly little elves to clean up the place I would feel better.  Hee! Hee! Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho!?!?!  (They're coming to take me away . . . To the funny farm - I think the song goes.)

10.12.10

I think Kirsten wanted to stay home from school one more day this week.  No, I'm kidding.  I'm sure she could think of a better way then to throw up last night.  I let the kids stay in their pajamas and watch TV almost all day long.  Kirsten did feel better by the end of the day and I was happy.  Peter on the other hand has had the liquidy diarrhea since Saturday.  I hope it clears up soon.

10.11.10

Today was another one of those warm days - I think it hit 80 again.  We played outside with our bikes and our airplane.  I kind of felt a bit too warm and was glad to go back inside and "cool" down.  The kids don't seem to mind it a bit, but this pregnant mama don't like it.

10.10.10

Fall is just beautiful around here.  I just can't resist taking pictures of all the beautiful trees that we pass as we travel around.  I am so grateful for the beauty of this time of year.  I love the golds, reds, yellows and browns that are around.

10.09.10

At the Halloween party today, Kirsten the princess was asked to come up and kiss the frog.  She didn't want to and kept backing up as he brought him closer to her.  I don't think she realizes the concept behind kissing a frog.  And that is okay with me.  I am always surprised when she decides to volunteer for something.  I think she is growing up and I am proud of her.  I don't think I would have kissed him either, he was pretty big and ugly.

10.08.10

I have to keep reminding myself that we are in October.  It was 78 degrees when we went and had a picnic at 6 pm at a park.  It is predicted to be over 80 tomorrow.  This is just weird to be wearing coats one day and then shorts the next.  Although the warmer temperatures are nice it just doesn't feel like it is the first part of October.