Tyler's newborn pics

I honestly wasn't really thinking much about getting Mr. Tyler's pictures taken when we first came home from the hospital. I was feeling like absolute CRAP dealing with shingles and I thought that pictures were overpriced anyway. The last thing i wanted to do was leave the house.

Then on day 3 of having him home I was just starring at him and thinking about how quickly these newborn days last. I had a complete change of heart. I didn't care how much it cost anymore...I was going to get them done. My friend Amber does the best job. When I called her up and asked if she had any time to do newborn pics which I knew was a gamble because she is SO busy. She responded.."ANYTHING for you!"

Wow! I have some great friends and we live by some pretty amazing people. We went over the next day. You'd never even know that the first hour was a waste because he was so cranky! 

They turned out beautiful! I love them!

I LOVE him!!

Mr. Ty's first few days at home!

Here is a little re-cap of Mr. Ty's first few days at home.

He came home from the hospital. He wore the same outfit his OLDEST brother wore when he came home from the hospital 11 years go!

He slept lots and lots in mommy and daddy's bed. It is the MOST comfortable place ever in his opinion. (He lets us know that HIS bed is not his favorite at all!)

He was loved on a lot by his brothers and sister.

He celebrated his very first Thanksgiving. Actually, I think he slept through the eating part.

And he was held and loved every second! Especially by his sick Mama who has been fighting shingles ever since we got home from the hospital. Mr. Ty has been the BEST medicine of all during the worst of it.

It's true. Once a baby joins the family, you being to wonder how on earth you ever lived without him. He is the perfect little addition to our family. We're SO glad he is here!

Meet baby Tyler James

 Last Wednesday the 20th of November was a very special day indeed! I opted to be induced with baby #5. I was concerned about getting family here to watch my other kids and I was feeling like I needed to try to plan what I could. I had to call at 6:30am to see if there was room for me in the hospital. They told me to call back in an hour. Pure. Torture. Is there anything worse then a pregnant woman who had not slept a wink with nerves and anxiety flowing throughout her body? I thought for sure they would turn me away. I called back at 7:30 on the dot and they told me to come on in! Phew! I was so relieved. I was SO tired of being pregnant and miserable. Plus I was over the moon excited to meet our new little man.

The pitocin started flowing at about 10:00. I was already measuring at 3 cm before the medicine kicked in. I went from a 3 to an 8 in ONE HOUR! Oh, it was painful. This was the first delivery where I was in tears due to the pain. Dr. Leavitt came in and broke my water and told me to get ready to meet our little man within an hour.

 At 1:30 Dr. told Nate to suit up. I love that my doctor gives Dad's the option to deliver their own babies. It is such a special thing indeed. Of course the Dr. is right there in case he is needed. It is a pretty special thing to know that Nate was the first person in the world to hold our babies. (Baby Ty and Anna)

After 3 contractions baby Tyler finally came out. He was facing the wrong way and he was HUGE! Anna pretty much fell out...I had to work to get this guy out. 8 pounds 11 ounces is my biggest baby of all. He looked great though. Nice and big and beautiful!!!

We are all in love with our little guy. He has a short little temper but he is a great sleeper and quite the eater. He's only been here for 10 days now and we can't imagine life without him. He is a true blessing and a joy.

More pictures of the first week to come. Time to go feed that hungry little guy again!!!!

A letter to our little boy

Dear little boy,

In less than 24 hours I will get to see you, smell you and hold you in my arms. (If all goes according to plan.) I'm nervous about tomorrow but I am so excited at the same time. Not finding out that you were coming to our family until I was almost 9 weeks pregnant and dealing with the shenanigans of this past summer has make this pregnancy FLY by. November always seemed SO far off and now all of a sudden we're here and tomorrow is just around the corner. It's crazy to me.
We're ready though. I'm definitely ready. I'm done being pregnant. Your room is ready, your brothers are ready, your sister has no idea what is about to rock her world, your daddy is excited, and your grandparents are on their way as I type this.
You don't have a name which is a long story in and of itself but hopefully we'll be able to figure it out once we see your sweet face. It's the first time I haven't had a baby named months before arrival. Hopefully you'll give us a clue.
You must be a very special little boy. After being told over and over again that we wouldn't be able to have any more babies you really threw us for a loop. I am thrilled though. And I am sure that Anna will be thrilled too one day. She will now have a little brother to grow up with and get into mischief with. I'm so glad for that. I'm grateful that Heavenly Father saw fit that we needed you. It's overwhelming to think about sometimes but I know that we'll get through this together. You are a sweet blessing and I recognize that wholeheartedly. You are the prize, the reward, the cherry on top of the sundae after this crazy year we've been through. I'm so humbled by the blessings in my life. I'm blessed to be a mom.....I'm so excited to be your mom.

I love you little one.

We'll meet you tomorrow! I can hardly wait!


Momma

Simplify.

Baby countdown is on. Went to the Dr. on Tuesday and I'm still at a 3 and 80% effaced. Doctor said I probably won't make it to my due date. I'm fine with that though. I swear I got up every hour on the hour last night to go to the bathroom. I can't wait to have my body back. Pregnancy is seriously the equivalent of ALIENS taking over the body! It's exhausting. At least when you get up all night with a baby, you get the reward of looking at a sweet tiny little face.

I've had my moments these past few weeks where I've wondered how on earth I am going to survive 5 children.....2 babies at the same time. I can hardly keep my head above water with all of the things we have going on in our lives currently! I'm not sure how or where a newborn is going to fit into all of this chaos!

I have decided to make a goal though for the next few months. I think this one word will help me get through and try to enjoy these sweet baby filled moments as this will be our last time experiencing them.

The word is: SIMPLIFY.

I finally decided that it was time for the boys to attend the school that they are supposed to attend. Now that we have moved and are SO CLOSE to the new school...I won't have to drive them to and from every day. They can walk or ride their bikes! I'm tired and worn out from having to do the back and forth each day and packing up 2 babies in the early morning sub temps wasn't sounding too appealing. We'll finally have some cohesion in life. Boys will go to the same school that they go to church, scouts, and play sports with. It was a good first week for them. Some things were a little tough but I think they will do well here. Dallin isn't pictured because he was already in his new classroom meeting his new teacher!

I cut my hair off! My hair was too long, and took too long to dry every day. As I left for the salon my husband said, "Well, I'm sure you'll look exactly the same when you get back! You always do!"
That was it. I decided it was time for something drastic! 9 inches were cut off and I had it dyed a dark brown with some light brown and red highlights. I'm loving how quickly it takes to get ready in the morning! It is SO short in the back. I'll be saving some money on shampoo and conditioner that is for sure! And yes, Nate was shocked. He says it's almost like he has a "dark haired mistress!" haha.

I went to Sam's club tonight and spent a small fortune on food for my family and easy quick freezer meals. Trying to take care of everyone even if I'm out for the count for awhile. Simple. Love it.

I'm also doing a ton of de-crapifying which is such a good feeling. I took a huge load of stuff to the DI yesterday. Less is more. I thought I got rid of stuff when we moved over here. Looks like the process is continuing! I honestly feel so much more calm and at peace when I am not drowning in "stuff."

The other thing that I've been trying really hard to do is say NO. No, I can't help out in the classroom right now. No, I can't help out in the nursery right now. No extra sports for the boys this winter. I just don't want to be trying to lug a tiny baby around and chase after Anna at all of these germ infested sports places. The answer won't always be no.....but for awhile it will be. And I'm sure we will all survive just fine. Parker is playing basketball but with Nate as the coach, I don't have to worry about being there. It is SO hard for me to say no.....it's not in my nature. It feels good though and I know it what I need to do for the time being.

Usually by this time of year I am in full fledged Christmas mode. Not this year. It's causing me to stress out too much and I don't need the stress. I'm sure Christmas will come together. It may not be the Christmas with the most beautiful Christmas card. We may not have the cutest family photo. The gifts might not be quite as labor intensive as usual. We'll spend that energy loving on a tiny new baby and remembering the real meaning of Christmas this year. I'm looking forward to the spirit that comes with having my focus on the things that matter most.

Happy November!

Happy November! Yay! Those words mean one major thing to me......no more being pregnant after this month. EVER! I'm ready to meet our little man and ready to not get up to pee 10 times at night and deal with leg cramps. Ouchie!

Halloween was so great this year. Nate took the kids around our new neighborhood while Anna and I handed out candy. We had quite a few trick or treaters! Then the kids came back and we switched places and I took the boys over to the Cottages neighborhood where we went and visited Aunt Dayvne and enjoyed some chili and cornbread at her house. On the way back home we stopped because one of our neighbors here was cooking scones and serving hot chocolate in their garage. SUPER fun. I love this neighborhood so much already.

We were invited to dinner with a couple in our ward this past weekend too which was so much fun. I continue to be so impressed with the kindness of all of these new people that we are meeting.

I finally finished the baby's room this weekend as well. I love how it turned out. My friend Nikki made the cute vinyl on the wall for me. I always sing "Twinkle Twinkle" to my babies but I always change the word "star" to "Starnes." Since this is our last "little Starnes" I wanted it up on the wall.

Nate and I got some of the last few things checked off our to do list before baby comes today. We pre-registered at the hospital today and bought a few last minute things that we need. We're all ready to go whenever he is!