Liv got to be in the Homecoming Parade in the end of September. I think the anticipation of the event was way better than the actual event. She didn't love riding on the trailer all that much & I think maybe next year she'll decide to catch candy instead. At the time, Evelyn was going to be Batman for Halloween, so the highlight of her day was meeting the real Batman at the parade. (Since then she has changed to being a Monkey for Halloween.)

Some freaky carrots from the neighbors yard.

Liv played with the camera again & photographed her favorite things.

Guess who started rolling over recently.

FHE picking out the pumpkins & ice-cream

Evelyn squared

Leaf joy

Cool date: 9 – 9 – 09

So much going on, so much to record, so many photos.

On the baby front, Lilly Jane is doing great. About 2 weeks ago she turned over a new leaf. She has been more predictable, sleeping way better, & eating betterish. She has started going to bed between 7:30 & 10:00 & sleeping until 4:30 or 6:00. I while ago I started putting her in bed with me because I was so exhausted. I was an all night wet bar. Slowly she has been staying in her bed longer before coming in to bed with me. I feel like a nearly new woman, if only these extra blubbery pounds would go away! No longer is Lilly a pure brand new infant but turning into a baby. It makes me happy & sad all at the same time. She sure is a mamma’s girl which is hard because when I’m gone, she cries & that makes it hard to be gone. She is nearly laughing & smiles all the time. She’s such a happy little thing, especially in the morning. She can go from crying to grinning in the blink of an eye. Today Jared put her in front of a baby Einstein’s water love DVD & she loved it. So did Liv as an infant. I wonder if Lilly be a water lover too.

Jared is going to hurt me for posting these of him, but these were taken when Lilly first started to smile.

Liv started kindergarten at Edith Bowen a few weeks ago & absolutely loves it. Her explanation of things like the lunch line (which she gets to do every other Wednesday) is hilarious. Her teacher, Mrs. Roghaar is amazing & has the best teaching philosophy: learning through child directed playing. Liv is anxious to learn how to read & has been tagged as the artist in her class.

Every night the girls lay their clothes out so the morning will go smoothly. Choosing the "perfect" outfit is a hard, tedious task for Olivia, so we do it the night before. for the record I have nothing to do with their choices of clothing.

This is Liv getting a healthy start for her first day of school...fruit loops.

And she's ready!

Off she goes!

Teacher, Mrs. Roghaar greets Liv at the door

Liv finds her hook in the classroom.

And the reading nook.

And her art box nook.

And the reading rug.

And the marching position "Hand on hip, finger on lips."

And at home, Evelyn & Lilly wait for their big sister to get back.

Evelyn started her library class today. We go once a week for 30 minutes of story time. She has been looking forward to it for several months.

Jared is still unemployed but filling his time with house projects, bike maintenance, & bike riding. LOTOJA (Logan to Jackson) is this Saturday & we are looking forward to that. Mom & Dad’s from both sides will accompany us so it should be fun & well supported.

Pam was in town for 3 weeks so we spent quite a bit of time at mom & dad’s house hanging out. Liv & SerraV got along famously, Rosie & Evelyn okay, & Weston & Evelyn not so well. Evy doesn’t like anyone younger than her.

Charlilly meet for the first time here on earth.

SerraV meets lilly too.

Trampoline fun during the Brower Family Reunion

Eating is always a part of a reunion too.

Liv had a hard time because she was tired.

Liv liked to attack Evy with the water tube.

Oh, & Jane...what a beauty!

All of the Arnell grandkids

During the Ocre mountain temple dedication, we played that day too.

We spent one day at Bear Lake enjoying the sun, wind, & crying babies. Lilly & Charlotte weren’t too impressed but we still stayed for 4 hours. Jared joined us after riding his bike over the river & through the woods. I don’t know how he bikes Logan Canyon but somehow he manages to do it several times during the summertime.

Serra feeding baby Jane in a laundry basket in the back of the subie. Jane spent quite a bit of time in that basket. You'll have to ask Serra why she confines her like that.

Water fun. Isn't Bear Lake beautiful? Liv, Evelyn, SerraV, & Rosie show us how water fun is done.

Jane

Charlilly in the back of the subie trying to escape the wind & sun.

Landon

Leaping Lizards Evelyn!

On August 30^th, Jared blessed Lillian Jane in sacrament meeting. He gave her such a beautiful blessing. For someone who says he’s not good with words, he sure squeaks out wonderful blessings for his daughters. Lillian wore her great grandfathers blessing dress & tatted hat & booties from her Grandma Jan Arnell. 60+ people gathered at mom & dad Arnells for dinner: Navajo tacos. It was really fun to have so many people gathered in one place but was hard to get equal chatty time with each guest. I decided I don’t like both my families gathered together because I never know who to talk to or hang out with. Stacy gave our girls a beautiful plaque that says “Sisters – Different Flowers from the Same Garden.” It made me a bit teary which is weird because I am so not into word things but that saying is really lovely.

My mom, Lilly & I

Dad, Mom, Jared, Lilly & I

Four generations: Dad, Grandma Arnell, Lilly & I

Great Grandma with Lilly

Jared, Evy, Liv, lilly, Julie, Margo & Lynn (Jared's parents)

Good time laughter. Aunt Karen Uncle Al & my dad...soo jolly!

The Smarts & Scott Anderson

Todd, Stacy Simmons (Jared's sister) & Lynn, Margo & Tanner

Jen & Rob Hougaard (Jared's sister) & Dave, Melissa Arnell & Brian anderson

I’m tired of typing. I don’t know what else we did but we were sure busy.

Oh, we went to first dam & fed the ducks/geese our leftover scones. Evelyn got bit in the booty by a goose… goosed by a goose. That’s hilarious.

Oh, & we did photos of Lilly & Charlie together…Charlilly. So cute.

Oh, & Liv hosted a movie night with 10 of her closest friends. They all gathered for pizza, popcorn, & a lame Garfield movie at Grandma & Grandpa on a mission’s house.

Ruby

Rosie, Tasha, SerraV, Olivia, & Layla

Jade & Evelyn

Am I missing anything?

Mom believes that if it rains on your wedding day it means good luck. Well I hope my wedding photo shoot believes the same thing. I’m back in the photo saddle again. This is my 3^rd shoot since Lillian was born. I’m glad to make a little extra cash during the time of unemployment.

I sure love having Jared home. It takes the load off a little. Often time in the evening I have an overwhelming feeling of ciaos. I feel like my life is in shambles; I don’t get anything done, laundry is piled high & the stuff that is washed is all wrinkled because I didn’t fold it, clutter is scattered everywhere, my hair is rarely looking good, & my girls don’t get lunch because I’m too busy to think about feeding them. Somehow everything is okay though. Jared has gotten more comfortable hanging out with Lilly & I think that’s because she has started smiling & doesn’t cry every time I set her in his arms.

Our nights are still just an extension of our days. I don’t get too much sleep but Jared is good to take her when I’m about to lose what little sanity I have left. Evelyn was such a good sleeper. Liv was not. Lilly is not. Does this mean I need to have a 4^th kid to make it even? It’ll take a lot of convincing for me to get to #4, maybe an accidental pregnancy is the only way.

Lilly's first pool trip! She slept most of the time. I stayed out of the pool to care for her. It was very hard for me to do as I really love the water.

Evy got warn out from the day in the sun!

I took the girls to visit Grandma with the wrinkles yesterday. I LOVE going to Bear Lake. I’ve expressed my feelings about that not too long ago. I think I feel the presence of my ancestors there. As I walked around the yard, I wondered who else walked these exact footsteps. The wind was pretty intense which only made the smell of the valley more intense. I just love that place. So much like home.

Grandma treated us to lunch at the Bear Cave. Serra & Jane came too! That place is a rip off but Grandma loves it & we love going with her. She even brought place mats! I thought it was funny when she brought everything home that we didn't eat even the glasses of water.

Last weekend Margo, Bailey, & I took the girls to the Cache County Fair. First we enjoyed some of the livestock who were up for prancing & appraising. I felt horrible for the black & white dairy cows who appeared to have not been milked in several days to make their utters larger. They were so engorged, veins popping out. They couldn’t even put their hind legs together!

We bought $20 worth of tickets & that bought 3 rides for each girl. I couldn’t help but calculate how much I was spending every time they each went on a ride, “Oh look, that slide that lasted 3 seconds cost me $6. I could have gone to the movies. “ But alas, the girls had fun & we only had on melt down. Liv wanted to use her last 2 tickets on a game: 1 dart = $2. She threw the dart, popped a balloon & pointed at the life size stuffed tiger. “I want that.” I should have explained the rules before we played. The carnie worker gave her a choice of 3 stuffed lame toys & she was quite upset. I couldn’t convince her otherwise, so I grabbed one of the toys & handed it to Evy & dragged Liv away from the game kicking & screaming. It was a good lesson for all of us: don’t go to the carnie, don’t play games at the carnie, & if you don’t follow rule one or two, explain the rules of the game BEFORE letting your kid play them.

Evy stayed on the low riding rides; Liv wanted the high flying, fast rides. I was glad to send Bailey on the spinning rides with Evely as they make me quite dizzy.

Can you find Livy?

Boyd & Phyllis Smart invited us to their cabin in the wood for homemade corn dogs & FHE. The Gibson & Waetchler family joined us too. We had a great time hanging out in the wilderness. The dad did FHE. The reinacted the story about Nephi breaking the bow & arrow trying to find food. Bobby Waetchler was Nephi, Jason Gibson & Jared were Lamon & Lemuel, Boyd Smart was Lehi. I think the kids got something out of it but were more excited to see Bobby shoot the bow.

Liv made sure everyone was obeying the laws of the flourist (she still gets some of her words mixed up.)

The girls tried to empty the river onto the banks.

Lilly slept the whole time.

We collected snake grass or river bamboo or connector grass.

FHE

Evelyn got really upset when she bit into her s'more & the graham was rancid. I guess those crackers were a little old.

A bike ride to visit Mayer & the chickens at Dougs.

We had a waps (that's how they say it in the south) nest in our tree. It is the size of a small baskbetball. Freaky!

And Jade & Evelyn: Partners in crime...

Some pics of Lilly:

Morning time at the Kirby's

Monday - Wednesday, July 13-15, 2009 (It took me a while to write this.)

I have a 7 day old. Can that really be true? I have photos, I have stories; I have it all; I am here to report.

July 4th Hyrum Parade

Weirdos

Tuesday night the girls & I enjoyed an evening alone together whilst Jared went on the Tuesday Night Ride (affectionately referred to as the TNR). We took one last prego belly shot & then Liv asked me to photograph her & her beloved bunny. We got some cute candid shots. She loves that thing. Evelyn prefers to stay out of the lime-light & played quietly in the sandbox. I was content to sit in the shade, camera in hand, & wait for what the next 24 hours held for our little family.

Wednesday morning after showering, packing a small bag, & eating breakfast, we sat around preserving energy for what lay ahead. We waited anxiously for the hospital phone call saying, “We’re ready!” That call came at 10:30am & mom came right over for the kid handoff.

Man it’s a weird feeling purposely heading to the hospital in fine condition knowing what was to come shortly.

After getting all checked in, Jared & I were sitting waiting for the midwife to come break my water to get labor started & I got so nervous. I had an out to all this upcoming pain & I wanted it! So pitocin was started at 11:30 & the contractions started shortly thereafter. Knowing what pitocin would bring, I asked for an epidural as soon as I was allowed to get one. It was around 2:00 I think. It’s sure different getting an epidural when you aren’t really in pain. It makes the epidural a lot less pleasant. I don’t like the popping feeling it gives you when the needle breaks through the ligaments & then the ice-cold water feeling running up at down the spine as the drug is administered. My midwife, Deb Flansburg, came to break my water but wasn’t able to break through both sacks. She tried really hard but my sack was mighty strong & unbreakable. This slowed labor & she came back 1 ½ hours later to break the 2^nd sack & was successful. Eventually I got to transition. My epidural was only working on my right side. Transition isn’t fun on ½ the body. I can’t imagine what it’s like on the WHOLE body. The baby was posterior so I labored on my side for a while. Posterior babies cause a lot of back labor & man could I feel it. Oooo eeee! I pushed the “more drugs” button & it was determined that oops the line had a kink in it so not only was my left side drug free, but my right side wasn’t numbed enough. Eventually after using gravity, we got the left side numbed & my right side paralyzed. My body wouldn’t efface 100% or dilate past a 9 due to the baby being posterior. I was in transition for about 2 – 2 ½ hours. For this reason alone, I love the inventor of ye ol’ Epidural! My contractions were lasting 60-90 seconds & were 1 ½ - 3 minutes apart. Awesome. The pit drip was turned off during this time. Eventually I sat up to get ready to push even though my body wasn’t 100% effaced or completely dilated. Upon getting in the sitting up position, wammo, everything was how it needed to be & within 10 minutes Lillian Jane made her way into the world. My epidural was so great. I could still feel exactly what I needed to do but the pain wasn’t there. It took an addition 10-15 minutes to deliver the placenta. Deb commented on what a strong sac it was. I make good sacs. It’s one of my many talents.

Lillian was placed right on my stomach straight from birth, umbilical cord attached & all. She laid there staring at me, wiggling a bit. I brought her right up in my arms & cradled her for a minute or two. She was so silent that I was afraid she wasn’t breathing. Deb reassured me that she was.

There are no words for the feeling that comes over the entire room when a baby is born. It is the most surreal, crazy, & spiritual moment I’ll ever experience. Surreal because one second I’m annoyed that this thing in me is kicking me so hard; crazy because all of the sudden that kicking “thing” is now a human being wiggling in my arms; and spiritual because at that moment she is the closest person here on earth who just left her Heavenly Father. When a woman gives birth, how can she deny where her roots come from? How can she deny the existence of a higher power? The proof is right there in her arms.

As we stared at each other, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of responsibility for this being that I just met yet I already knew so deeply. I love that I am the only one who can truly calm her down & make her feel safe. I love that she still stares at me with those eyes that pierce me straight through to my heart. She is like fire. I can’t take my eyes off of her.

Her stats:

7 pounds 15.6 ounces (the photo shows 15.3 but that’s because Jared took the shot before it was done weighing.)

20 inches long

Born July 8, 2009 (7-8-09)

Wednesday at 7:23pm

Her feet are long & skinny. Liv & Evy’s feet were the same length as my pointer finger. Hers are ½” longer that that.

Dark brown hair aplenty, ¾” – 1” long all over.

Perfect

Lovely, greasy faced Julie with minutes old Lilly & Deb Flansburg, the midwife who delivered us. No, I did not stop to put lipstick on, I was smart & applied a bit of colorstay lipstick earlier that morning.

Mom & Dad brought Liv & Evelyn to meet their newest sister within the first hour of her birth. They came just as I was finishing nursing which by the way she is a champ at (although veeerrrrry slow.) The girls were so sweet bringing handmade cards. Evelyn pretty much watched but kept her hands off. Liv wanted right in on the action & was inquisitive about every detail from the IV to the blood remnants. Evy just wanted to see the babies bum.

Brooke Lambert, the queen of kindness, gave Liv & Evy gifts: A chirping bird in a cage & a  Kaleidoscope. So cute.

We spent the next several hours together, the girls helping with bathing the baby, Liv keeping Lillian from crying when she was scared, & when it was time to go they both broke down into a puddle of tears because they didn’t want to leave there newest sister. May they always love Lillian that much.

Of course the hospital was a nightmare. No, that’s a lie. I nightmare would mean I was sleeping & I was not. Why do the nurses have to check on us every 4 minutes 30 seconds? Can’t they coordinate something & come in all at once? Come on! I had a couple of really lame nurses who I wanted to boot out the door but in general, they were good.

Lilly is looking at her daddy in this photo. I love the look on her face.

Lillian is a gem & so even tempered. She had some issues just after she was one day old & after being inconsolable each time I nursed her, I decided to give her a bit of formula. The first time she chugged 2 ounces. For the first 4 days I would nurse her & then at the end of the day give her 2 ounces & she’d chug it each time. She nurses a lot & sleeps a lot. I am awake every 3 hours to feed her & it takes a little over an hour each time. It makes for long nights but I’m glad she is healthy.

These were taken as we were getting ready to leave the hospital.

Look mom, I'm having a baby too.

The minute we got her home from the hospital, all the neighborhood kids gathered to meet their newest friend. They were silent & awe struck by her. It was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. After coming inside the house & knowing it was time to go to bed, I got this panicky feeling like “what is this girls schedule? Do I put her to bed now too?” We’ve gotten into more of a groove in the last 5 days. Liv got up with me the first night every time it was time to feed Lilly. She is such an attentive (& tired) sister.

Olivia & Evelyn like to show her to everyone & tell them her name is “Baby Snowflakes.” They both love to snuggle & hold her & each get a chance in their beds just before they fall asleep.

Evely sharing her silkies? She must really like her new sister.

Just practicing.

So now, with the help of mom, Jared, & great neighbors, I’ve been able to recover & have food brought in. I’m very tired but that’s part of the process. My body feels like stuff is wrong & will continue to be that way but in general I can’t complain.

"HI I'M BABY SNOWFLAKES!" (thanks Melissa & Dave for the awesome onesie)

Tonight Jared is off camping with the girls & it’s just Lilly & I chilling together on the couch or in bed, wherever we want to cuddle. I love my newest doll.

I took these this afternoon. The color is weird but my laptop is broken so this will have to do.