Hello there baby.

Here's a little peek at baby #4.

I laid on the ultrasound table for about 40 minutes before the baby cooperated enough to get all the measurements needed, but everything looked great.

The umbilical cord was bunched up around the legs and feet so the ultrasound tech wasn't able to get a clear shot of the gender....I knew it was too good to be true when they told me we might get to find out at 13 weeks!

I'll have another ultrasound at 18 weeks and then we'll know more.  

Until then, say hello to baby #4!

Early Birthday Project

My friend Jake got a pretty sweet birthday present a couple weeks ago-- his first 4-wheeler after being a lawyer. That's a big deal. We put on suits every day and pretend to be interested in big business and politics. We help people solve their problems. We sue people. But all we really want to do is go camping and ride four wheelers again. Like back in the days when we were REAL men.

My birthday order finally arrived. So I spent some time today installing it.

This is the part I'm still not sure about. If you are out doing manly stuff, pulling your four wheeler trailer and lighting stuff on fire in the desert, but it's the minivan that got you there, it still counts right? That doesn't un-manly it?

Graham Cracker Barns

Every few Thursdays Keresa goes to some girl party with her bffs. Who knows what they do or how it could be fun, but all I know is as soon as she walks out the door, the kids look at me and say, "What fun thing are we going to do tonight for Daddy-Daughter-Son-Son?!" Usually the fun has to wait until we put Carter to bed. So then it becomes Daddy-Daughter-Son.

I thought we were making graham cracker houses. But the kids let me know since we had no ginger bread guys, they couldn't be houses. We did have animal crackers, so they must be graham cracker barns.

Dad made one

Whistle while you work

This is harder than it looks

The whole setup

Jackson said, "I'm going to have some pets!"

"Doesn't mine look cool with all these sprinkles?!"

"DAD! Jackson used all the sprinkles!"

(but she cheered right up when I told her we would eat them)

She learned on Ratatouille to close her eyes so she could see all the flavors

"The milk melts the glue and the cracker!"

Trying to figure out why it tastes SO GOOD!

So go have your girl parties, and do whatever it is you do, because we have a so much fun at Daddy-Daughter-Son.

Yes, it's true!

There is a "babee in my belee".

I'm a little over 11 weeks along and almost past the "sick" stage.  I feel better every day...now if I wasn't SO tired!

Sydney and Jackson are very excited.  Jackson concluded that the baby lives in a dew drop in my belly.

My official due date is August 29th, but since I'll have another c-section we're planning on the 22nd.

I'm scheduled for another ultrasound a week from Wednesday and they will try to determine the sex.  I've never known this early!

Carter and this child will be 21 months apart and just one year apart in school.

Sydney and Jackson were 20 months apart and one year apart in school.

Yes, we planned it this way...crazy as it seems.  ;-)

Life will be crazy, hard, hectic, emotional, and tiring.

BUT

We're excited and ready for the challenge.

Now I need to go take a nap!

(I wish!)

Another one of Sydney's creations.

She had another birthday!

In January Sydney turned 6 years old.

It's a crazy feeling to be the mother of a 6 year old.  

How could it have been that long ago that I had her?

Weird.

The festivities started off a couple weeks before her birthday when we went to Disney on Ice with some cousins.  It was great, the kids loved it, and we had some yummy dinner before.

Jackson and Sage (below) were completely amazed.  They were asking questions the whole time. 

My favorite was during the scene from the Sorcerer's Apprentice where the brooms were skating/dancing.  The performers were wearing costumes where their heads were covered (and eyes) to look like the handle of the broomstick.  Jackson looked at me in amazement and asked,

"How can they see even though they are blind??"

Oh man, it was fun to watch the kids get excited about all the characters.

Then, those same cousins got to come have a sleepover at our house and they brought along a dancing game for the Wii. 

Even Carter would grab a wiimote and dance.  It was fun to watch.

The night before Sydney's birthday the boys went to pick up a new book shelf while I took Sydney out to shop for her birthday cake ingredients.  Before we went to the store I surprised her and stopped into Applebees for some dessert.  She was almost in tears with excitement that "just the girls...not even Carter!!" got to go out together.  She talked my ear off and had a great time.  

This will have to become a more regular thing.  We had a blast.

Carter and Jackson helped me bake her cake. 

Sydney made an invitation to her "party".  Jackson had been pretending to be her dog "roofy" that day, so it invites him also.

"Dear Dad and Mom and Roofee, please come to my birthday"

Grandma Gifford, Aunt Sherri, and Aunt Kelly surprised her with a visit after school.  They brought lots of presents.  She's at that age where she acts like nothing impresses her (what, is she 14??), but she loved her gifts.

Then of course there was the cake.  A cinnamon swirl/vanilla ice cream cake.  Her choice.

My camera went missing while she opened the gifts from McKay and me.  I think McKay snapped some pictures on his Droid, but I haven't seen them yet.  She got a Barbie that rides a bike, the books Goldalicious and Purplicious, and a razor scooter.  There was no hiding her excitement....she was thrilled.

Lastly, I walked in on this this morning.  Made my day.