Ashtyn Update

My sister, Paula is a photographer and I asked her to do a photo session with Ashtyn. I am now kicking myself that I never had these kinds of pictures taken with my other 3. I am in love with every picture she took and I want to print large 8x10's of all of them, but I am afraid my other kids will get a complex, so when I can finally decide which I love the best, I will go with that one, ok and maybe a few more.
Again for journaling, I decided to write a quick update on Ashtyn. She was born weighing in at a whopping 7 pounds 5 ounces. When we took her in at 3 or 4 days old she had dropped significantly to 6 pounds 7 ounces. I was worried, and the pediatrician recommended I supplement along with breastfeeding, so I did. We took her back the next day and she was up to 6 pounds 10 ounces, yay. We all were happy and figured we had given her the jump start she needed, so I cut back a bit on the supplemental formula. She seemed to be doing well, but was very fussy. Tyler and I figured she had gas troubles so we used Mylicon and spent a lot of time awake with her. At her 2 week appt, she was still only 6 pounds 10 ounces. I was a little panicked about that. So I put her back on formula, but not at every feeding. So this past Monday we took her in and she had just hit her birth weight, I got scared, I was starving my baby. So, she is getting a supplemental feeding each time I breastfeed. And now, she is doing amazing. She is not fussy anymore, she sleeps so well and she is wonderful. It kind of makes me sad to think she was fussy due to hunger.
I don't know why I had such a hard time accepting having to give her formula, somehow, the fact that my milk wasn't cutting it made me feel really sad. But I am ok with it and her health is the most important, so I will do whatever works. We will take her back in next week and see where she is at, but I am just glad to have a happy baby. I am head over heals in love with her.

Just look at these pictures, she is amazing!!!She has the most kissable cheeks!

Her toes are so long

Oh my goodness, she is like a little doll

It's like a cotton candy baby!

Look at her long arms, she's gonna be an outside hitter, folks!

She is still so curled up

Cutest baby butt ever!

Look how she is holding the stocking!

This is Tyler's hand with hers

I kind of think this one, (above) might be my favorite.

and this is just too cute!

So many changes...

Does anyone else think it is time for me to post again? Warning: This post is long and more for journaling purposes, so I am not promising entertainment, read at your own risk. I have heard many times the statement, The only constant in life is change and I think that pretty much sums up the last 6 months of our lives. There have been so many changes, some have been anticipated, others were sprung upon us, and the rest have come about based on the previous 2 kinds.

Change #1, Ashtyn is born
The first major change in our lives is the arrival of Ashtyn Scarlett. She was born on August 6th, which happens to be our 10th Anniversary. That in itself is crazy, I can hardly believe we have been married for 10 years, the best years and I wouldn't trade them for anything, Tyler is my best friend, an amazing dad, and the best husband around. I am excited for what the next 10 years will bring.

Me and Ashtyn

Tyler and Ashtyn

Cute little, pudgy swollen baby

Ok, back to Ashtyn, her delivery was really good, I went in to the doctor on Tuesday, Aug. 4th for a check-up, and learned I was already dilated to a 5, I think the doctor was quite surprised, but that has been pretty much par for the course with me. I was not in labor, so I came home to continue the waiting game. Thursday morning contractions started at 9:00 and by 9:30 they were about 2-3 minutes apart, but not really very intense. Knowing I was already at a 5, I figured we might as well go in, so we did. We checked in at 10:30, I was at a 7-8 cm, but again, not very strong contractions, so the doc broke my water, I got an intrathecal, (a one time pain shot) and Ashtyn was born at 1:51 that afternoon. She weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces, our biggest baby. She was 20.5 inches long and came out with a vengeance. Much like Elise, Ashtyn came out with a whole lot to say, she cried and cried for quite some time. I loved it. It means she's healthy, right? I felt really good after delivery and we were very excited to add daughter #3 to the family.

Ya, this bed was a little crowded this time.

All of the kids were thrilled to come and meet her, and despite my concerns about Reagan not getting a brother, he has absolutely fallen in love with her and couldn't be cuter with her.

Reagan and Ashtyn

Ironically, she was our biggest baby, but when we took her in at 4 days old for a routine check, she had dropped almost a pound, that was a little scary, but she is back up and doing great.

Her name is not a family name, we just really like the name Ashtyn and her middle name comes from my favorite book, Gone with the Wind.

She is still so curled up, it makes me laugh, she tucks those legs in as tight as she can.

What are you staring at Ashtyn?

Elise thought this was pretty cool the way she laced her fingers together.

Here she is with her eyes open again. Look how little she looks in my hand.

OK, change #2. Tyler is back in school.
Tyler was accepted into the CSI Surgery Tech program and begins on Monday. He will finish that up next summer and then we have about 2 or so years of getting some pre-requisites done, and then he will apply for PA school (Physician's Assistant), which is a 2 year Master's program. We are not completely sure where, but ISU is the most likely locale. I have had a lot of people give me sympathy on this, but truth be told, I am thrilled. Tyler's BS degree is in Human Resource, which has been great, but at this point, and with the economy where it has been, he felt like he needed a more specific degree. He took 15 credits this summer, and did awesome in them, and really enjoyed the introduction he got into the medical field. Best part of all, he is really excited for this career change. I am so proud of him and excited for what the next few years will bring.

Elise, Reagan, Ashtyn and Mollie, I love my kids!

Change #3, We are moving.
As mentioned above, Tyler is going back to school, full time. I am still working for IDLA, but this requires a little adjustment in our living arrangements. So, we are moving into my parents' basement. They have a basement apartment, that is awesome, and we will actually have more space there than we have been living in for the last 4 years here at our house, so I am really excited. My mom and I are best friends and so living there is really easy and fun. If all goes as planned, (knock on wood) we will be there about a year and then we will find a place to rent until after PA school.


Change #4 Elise goes to Kindergarten

My Elise

This one is a tough one, and just like Reagan, every time I think about it, I get very sad. Elise has been my helper and sidekick for the last few years and I am so sad to not have her around all day. She makes me laugh, she helps me with cooking and cleaning, and best of all, she is a great big sister. She is excited, but I can tell a little nervous. Reagan has been the best help of all to her, getting her really excited and talking it up. He loves school and will be a 2nd grader this year. They start on Monday and I miss them already.

Mollie Girl, I just had to throw this picture in.

So, there you have it in a nutshell, big changes, so forgive me, for having not been blogging, my mind has been mush for a while.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my sweet little Elise who is turning 5 years old today, I can't believe it!

Big Bellies

The other day, I was ichatting with 2 of my sisters, Carrie, who lives in Michigan and Rachel who lives in Provo. While we were visiting we started talking about our big bellies as all three of us are pregnant and due within 2 1/2 months of each other. We each stood up to compare bellies and Rachel took a screen shot of it. Carrie is on the top left, due May 31st, I am on the top right, due August 17th and Rachel is on the bottom, due July 7th. It was a pretty funny picture, so I thought I would share. It is funny we were all wearing black as well, I guess it is slimming, right?

I haven't posted for a while and my sister Rachel told me it was time so, I figured I would do a picture post. These are some of the pictures I have taken recently, thinking, aaw, this would make a good post and then I don't post anything. So, here is for randomness.

Sickness!

These are 2 of my sickies. Reagan is on the mend and I did not get any pictures of him, but these 2 have been fevered for 3 days and been throwing up a little. Right now the worst is the cough and congestion. This last week has been pretty pathetic at our house. Reagan missed 4 days of school. He was really sad because he wanted the perfect attendance award this quarter and when I told him he could not go to school, his reply; "Well, there's always 2nd grade."

Reagan's 7th Birthday

Apparently I missed posting Reagan's birthday. He turned 7 on March 26th, 2 days after Tyler turned 31. I can't believe how grown up he is (he meaning Reagan, not Tyler). We did just a small family party and then on Saturday we went to Monsters vs. Aliens, we all loved it.

Crazy Idaho Weather

So, Idaho weather is infamous for being weird. This picture was the beginning of April, the girls had a blast and with Tyler's help they even built a very nice snowman. And yes, that is Mollie pulling Elise on the sled, she wanted her turn, one day, she might sit back and enjoy being pulled, but for her the fun was the pulling. But see the falling snow...

...this picture was the very next day, Spring had returned, and that was what was left of our snowman.

CRAZY!!!

Funny dad!
This is my favorite. From the time Reagan was a baby, Tyler has taken the kids' baby blankets and tied them around his head just for kicks and giggles. Sometimes, it bugged the kids, but most of the time, the kids thought it was hilarious. Well, Mollie has 2 blankets and so whenever Tyler puts a blanket on his head, Mollie wants her other blanket on her head. So we see this quite often at our house, my 2 little pink headed pirates. One of those weird, yet endearing things that make me laugh!

Easter Fun!

Happy Easter 

Park City Weekend

For my mom's 60th birthday we gave her a girls weekend in Park City. Rachel's husband, Matt, hooked us up with a sweet condo for a sweet deal.

Our home for the weekend.

We headed there on Friday afternoon and came home yesterday afternoon. My sister Carrie wasn't able to join us (she is 7 months pregnant and lives in Michigan) but the rest of us were there. Dad and EJ even joined us after Priesthood session on Saturday night. Melanie went home to watch Conference with her family, but came back Saturday night with her two girls. We had a blast! Even with all the snow in April, we loved it!

We...

...watched conference.

...hung out in the hot tub (those of us who could).

The few who braved the cold (it snowed Friday and Saturday) to get in the hot tub. Melanie, Jenna and Alyssa (Melanie's daughters), and Paula and Jacque (not pictured)

...had a yummy dinner at Ruby Tuesday and then enjoyed home-cooked meals the rest of the time.

Yummy dinner! We seriously talked about the salad bar the rest of the weekend - ya, it was that good.
Jacque, Melanie, Paula, Mom and Rachel

...went shopping and got spoiled by my Mom (wait wasn't this her birthday present?!)

Some of us at the outlets.

...watched cousin Stephenie in the Making of Twilight.

...talked.

...arm wrestled - isn't that what all girls do on their girls nights? - and found out that Jax is incredibly strong.

Jacque and Melanie, "Bring it on!"

They paired up the pregos...it was a fair fight - especially since we couldn't stop laughing.

...visited.

Dad, Paula, Melanie and Rachel

...chatted.

EJ got in on some of the fun! Ya, what's up with the hair dude?

It was a very nice weekend - And to top it all off, when I got home, Tyler had been preparing homemade Chile Rellenos and Carne Asada tacos with homemade corn tortillas. He even made homemade Green Salsa. Can I just say yum, I'm swooning!