Birthday, Birthday, Birthday

All of my children now share a birthday within a month of each other. Danielle is September 12, Brian is September 23, and Emily is October 10. So we had a big birthday party while my mom was still in town. We had a pink princess cake for Emily, and a cool Star Wars cake for Brian, cooresponding decorations and lots of presents. We sang happy birthday twice and blew out candles twice.

Emily got lots of princess stuff, a Sleeping Beauty doll, princess bedding, and dress up stuff

Brian's Star Wars Cake

Brian got the ride on car he had been wanting a Huge Monster Truck; Grave Digger

Emily's Princess Cake

Danielle's Blessing

We decided to bless Danielle last Sunday, while my mom was still in town. We had brought her a white dress, I had shoes that Emily had worn, and I picked up a pair of tights at Target. But I still needed the Blessing Bouquet just like the one Emily had when she was blessed. Cynthia Johnson had brought it as a gift when Emily was born, and it is so special that I wanted Danielle to have one too. I had looked online trying to find one, but was unsuccessful. Finally, I called Cynthia to ask her about it. Turns out she makes them! No wonder I couldn't find it anywhere. She was working on one for Danielle. Now we were all set.

I got up early to get ready for church (it starts at 9:00am) to make sure that everyone would be ready and on time. I also wanted to get our traditional family picture before we left for church. Sometimes even best laid plans don't always work out. Just as Brian finished breakfast, he said his tummy felt sick, and then he threw up. We were going to scrap the whole thing, but everyone else was already dressed, so I figured we would at least take a picture. So we got him ready too, and he seemed fine, and we went ahead to church.

Danielle was blessed by her daddy, standing in the circle with him were her Grandpa Ralph Jones, our friends Bud Bailey, and Dave Deschampes, and Frank Opitz who is the second counselor in the Bishopric. It turned out perfect. She looked like the most beautiful little angel in her white dress.

I Sunburned My Baby

Danielle had a touch of jaundiced a few days after she was born, so I was making sure that she got some sun. I was careful to only let her in the direct sun for a few minutes...maybe I lost track of time, new mommy brain?

Thumb vs. Pacifier

Danielle was the quickest baby to learn to nurse (she was ready at birth, and I let her try after several minutes), and also the quickest to find her thumb. For the first 48 hours all she wanted to do was suck. Eddie was ready to give her a pacifier after the first night, but I didn't want to have supply issues or nipple confusion. My milk came in on Sunday evening and she was more satisfied. Then she had a couple of episodes of gorging herself and throwing up later that week. Finally, by the next week I broke down and conceeded that she has high sucking needs and a pacificer would help. But unlike a thumb she loses it, and cries, and it hides her cute face.

Emily has been sucking her thumb since she was about two months old. I think it is perfect, she always has it with her, it didn't interfere with her talking, and it is a geat comfort when she is tired, hurt, or in a new situation. I know, I know, her teeth are going to be crooked, and I can't take it away, and I certainly can't cut it off. I am just not a fan of pacifiers.

Emily 2 months

Daddy Watches Danielle

Last Tuesday I went to pick up Emily and Brian from school, while Eddie put the finishing touches on the birthday cakes for our party that night. This was the first time that I had left Danielle, I was gone less than an hour. When I arrived home...this is what I found.

Danielle has a pacifier

and is watching Chicken Little

Our Baby Girl Has a Name

It's official, we finally named our "baby." Danielle Kate Jones.

Danielle--
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my Judge.

It is not too popular, it was ranked 122 by the U.S. Social Security Adminstration for 2007.

So there you have it, we have decided, and no it is not up for suggestions or negotiations, Eddie and I have completed that process.

It's a Girl

All my babies

Brian got to cut the cord.

Our newest family member arrived on September 12, 2008. She came into the world in a hurry at 6:08 pm. She was born at home, in the bathtub, into her daddy's hands. Just as we had planned. She was covered in a thick layer of vernix, and has a head full of dark hair. It took us a couple of minutes to discover that she was a girl. She weighed 7lbs 11oz, and is 20 1/2" long. She peed and pooped on me before we ever got a diaper on. And no she does not have a name yet, nine months was just not long enough to decide. Besides, I figured we were having "Conner".

Taking Off the Training Wheels

Brian noticed this summer that some of his friends at school could ride their bikes without training wheels. Today he asked dad to take the training wheels off of his bike. He did great, Brian peddled up and down the street with dad running behind. It was HOT outside so it didn't last very long, but practice makes perfect. Perhaps, I should have been the one running behind Brain, it may have encouraged this baby to hurry up and get here!

Labor Day

No news on the baby watch. I am 39 weeks today. It didn't come in August like it was instructed, so it will be sharing a birth month with Brian.

Here is how we spent our long weekend, while waiting for the baby. Eddie labored; he cleaned carpets, cleaned the minivan, and mowed the lawn. We did have fun too. We took the kids to this new park downtown, by the river market. The park has lots of climbing places, water fountains, and a long slide.