Memorial Day

I've literally had 3 different people come up to me this weekend and say..."I can't believe that the Starnes family is staying in town for Memorial Day!" Cracks me up. We're not gone THAT much are we?

Alas, YES we did stay home this weekend. We had a really great time doing so. Saturday was GROSS and WINDY and FREEZING outside. These are OPTIMAL conditions for a nesting mom. I put my boys to WORK deep cleaning this house and the garage. We cleaned closets and threw lots of JUNK away. Such a great feeling. Little do they know......I've only just started. Bwahahaha.

Monday we headed to the zoo with Dad since he never comes with us.We wanted to see the new tiger that just moved to our zoo this past week.

After that we jumped in the car and drove out to 17 mile cave. We thought a little spelunking sounded like a good family activity. We had a blast. (Minus a few of the words the boys were trying to read on the walls...yikes)

We stopped at good old Reeds Dairy on the way back. Then we came home and I watched the boy do some yardwork while I prepared a little BBQ. Parker decided he wanted to learn how to mow the lawn. Must be in the Rock genes I guess. ;)

He did an awesome job helping Dad!

To my unborn daughter......

Dear baby girl,



Well here we are, you and me, with less than six weeks to go before we meet face to face. I can hardly believe it! It seems so long since I've dreamed of you and waited for you - taking over a year to conceive you; now a little over a month away from your due date.


I want to put into words what I've been thinking about before we're thrown in the mix of your dirty diapers, crying fits and sleepless nights. Before I become zombie mom once again and I am walking around with one sock on, no bra and haven't brushed my teeth or showered all day.


You're going to be my very first daughter, my fourth child. But that in no way means that you will be lost in the mix or the forgotten caboose. Sure you'll get your big brother’s hand me down toys, blankets and more. But you'll still be You, my beautiful little girl. The little girl that I have waited for. You will be your own unique, individual self unlike any other. You'll be just as special, just as lucky and just as loved in our hearts.


In fact I think you're getting the better end of the deal because you'll have so much love around you right from the beginning. Three big brothers have been waiting to meet you for so long. That's right, from the beginning and even before you are born. You have grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, a mom and a dad and brothers all of which love you! They tell me that they can’t wait to meet you and pray for you every single day. I know they love you already. They ask about you. They rub my belly and talk to you. They hug you. They can't wait for your arrival.


Can you feel this love, I wonder? Will you feel loved right from your first breath into the world? You are one lucky loved little girl.


I cannot wait to see you. I cannot wait to hold you. I feel you moving inside me all the time and I just wonder what you'll be like. Will you be another baldy with light colored eyes like Dallin? Or will you come out with dark hair and dark skin, more like Parker and Landon? Will you snuggle with me and let me rock you? Will you know me instantly? When will you first smile at me?


I may not have read all of the pregnancy books this time around. I haven't journaled this pregnancy like I did with the boys (other than the blog) but it's because I have more confidence this time. I have more faith in you and me. I hope that confidence will be instilled in you somehow, that you'll just know you are special and destined for greatness.


You may have to cut me a little slack in the beginning. It's been over five years since I've dealt with the baby stage (aka the high maintenance phase). I may be a bit rusty in knowing what to do or how to calm you but I promise we'll get through it. I am always here for you and you will be the first priority for me.


I feel like with you around, our family will finally be (and feel) complete. I've always envisioned myself with a family of six and you're my last piece of the puzzle. I can't wait to see the new joys you'll bring us and all the laughter we'll do over watching you grow, explore and shape our lives.


It will be amazing to watch your big brothers hold you and talk to you. That special bond you're going to share with your brothers will be incredible! You will (hopefully) have best friends and protectors for life. I'm so happy I can give you that gift of friendship right from the day you are born. I hope you and your brothers will nurture each other and foster a positive relationship for the rest of your lives.


Despite the stinky poop, the spit up, the worrying, the teething and the fears, I know that this next year will be one to cherish between you and me. You'll be receiving my improved mothering skills, my better attitude and my whole heart . You see, I've gone through this before; therefore I know I can do it again with you and it will be easier and I can focus on enjoying you, not just getting through the day/night. I won’t be chasing after tiny little boys this time around. Things will be different. You will be different. You are different. I am different and we'll be an amazing team, you and me. We'll be a sassy, non-stop duo. And with your Dad and your brothers, we'll be great.


Just wait and see my lovely daughter. Wait and see.


That's what I'm doing.... waiting to see you. Waiting for your arrival. Waiting to love you even more than I already do. Waiting to see how much happiness you bring us all.


I love you, now and forever.


Mom

End of the school year!

Landon graduated from preschool this week. I hosted the graduation at my house again. I decided against cap and gown since the kids just toss them anyway. This year we made t-shirts with everyones handprints on them. Everyone received a diploma, a necklace, and a slide show video of all of things we have done this year. We topped it off with some yummy cake. It is crazy to think we have been doing this preschool for a year and a half. I am so glad so many moms and kids wanted to join along. I am especially grateful for the extra time it gave me to make memories with my Landon.

The boys finished up their school year today. I can hardly believe I will have a 4th and 2nd grader AND a kindergartner next year! Whaaaaat????

My boys have done so incredibly well in school this year. Dallin never received anything below an A. Parker was on the honor role and received a citizenship award as well. Well done boys. Mom is SOOO very proud of you both!

I am excited to have the boys be out of school but at the same time I am terrified about trying to keep them busy and happy...especially when baby gets here! I'm trying hard to focus on the things that we CAN do instead of the things we CAN'T! I guess we'll just cram it all in over the next 6 weeks. ☺

Maternity Photos

My sweet sister agreed to take a few maternity shots for me. She got a really nice camera for Christmas and she did a fantastic job taking some pictures of my brother for his senior pictures last year. I've never had maternity photos done and I wasn't thrilled about the idea of paying someone a lot of money to take a bunch of photos that aren't necessarily going to be going up on my walls. I just really wanted to document this special time of life. This is our last baby and my last time being pregnant. She did an AMAZING job!

So here they are......33.5 weeks pregnant. ☺ 

AND......for a good laugh. Here are the "out takes" if you will. There were lots of WILDLIFE in Kathryn Albertsons part this particular evening. Geese were EVERYWHERE.....POOP was everywhere. And we even met up with a deer who wanted to get in on the photo action.

This one is by far my favorite!

Boise Shower

My my my! So MUCH to catch up on! We headed over to Boise last weekend and played hard every minute we were there. It continued when we got back home and today is the first time I have a second to try to do a little re-cap.

We got into town late on Friday night but decided a run over to Merritt's HAD to be in order! We met up with the Perrys and the Koppings for some late night scone action. Jason decided to join us and ring in his 19th birthday at his favorite hole in the wall place as well! We stayed until about 1am! So much fun.

Saturday my wonderful, fabulous, stupendous, incredible friends threw me a baby shower. I haven't had a shower since I was expecting my Dallin boy.  I was without a doubt showered in love. Instead of a game everyone went around in a circle and had to say something about ME. They shared a favorite memory, or some sort of thing that they loved about me. I was so overwhelmed and humbled and taken back by all of the sweet words. Needless to say, I was bawling my eyes out. I jokingly said that it felt like I had just witnessed my OWN funeral! I will honestly treasure those words the rest of my life. I have such an incredible support system. It is without a doubt the thing I miss MOST about living in Boise.

My sweet neighbor (when I lived in Boise) made these DELICIOUS and DARLING cupcakes. She is seriously the BEST baker I know! They turned out SO cute. Thanks again Chels!

I got SO MANY darling little girl outfits and thoughtful gifts. This little one is going to be dressed to the nines. Thank you especially to my dear friends Nikki, Nicole, and Abby for putting this all together. It was without a doubt one of the very best days of my life. One I will NEVER forget!

Later on that evening, we celebrated Jason's 19th Birthday and baby Bryan's very FIRST birthday at Nat's house.

Even LATER that evening, my sister took some maternity shots of me over at Kathryn Albertson's Park. I'll start working on that post tonight!