News

Every time I complete a post, I really do plan on a quick update (like within a week or two).  Well, once again, I waited a few (ok, 3 1/2) months.  Ah well...it's the thought that counts, right?

I have recently gone back to work.  At the beginning of March, I started part-time assisting a local Keller Williams real estate agent...and I LOVE it!  I remember leaving the kids the first day thinking "maybe I won't be able to do this...Sophia is only 7 months old...how can I leave her".  Well, after the first day, I realized how much I had missed being out and about among people who can get their own water.  The great thing about it is I'm only in the office for about 6 hours a day and I can do some stuff from home...it's like the best of both worlds for this momma.  Paul and I are lucky enough to have both of our mothers close by and wanting to watch our kiddos so we've got them splitting child-care duties with a sprinkle of cousin Lisa every now and again.

How we torment our baby when the big kids

go to bed...poor kid.

After about a week of working, I had to have surgery to remove my gallbladder.  For about 6+ months, I would have these episodes of just the most excruciating pain I've ever felt in my life (can't really compare it to labor, since I never really had labor...but I imagine it hurt just as bad...maybe).  I didn't want to go the doctor for the longest time because I really thought it was something brought on by having a c-section and I had to just learn to buck up and deal with the pain (plus I hate going to doctors).  About a month ago, Paul made me go...the episodes were becoming too frequent and the pain was getting worse.  That's when they found the gall stones and because I had let it go on too long, surgery was basically my only option...I'll never learn.  The surgery went great and other than not really being able to pick up Jake the first few days, I'm recovering fantastically.


We are currently in baseball mode as Ben has started his 2nd year and Jacob has started t-ball.  I am so excited for games, but truly wish this weather would warm up and cooperate.  It will sure be interesting as Paul and I will be having to split time between kids and teams and who's going where and with whom...as it goes with multiple kids in sports at the same time.

Jacob & Sophia enjoying the beautiful day

at Ben's baseball practice.

Sophia is just getting more and more personality every day--and she's 8 months old today...so big!  Paul says this is his favorite age.  She'll shriek just to be heard and will laugh at silly things (like daddy).  She does have an odd habit though: she growls at us (and we don't even have a dog).  She'll growl more if we growl back at her...something her brothers love to do.  I keep trying to get it on video; but, much like photos, she just turns serious and solemn when there is any kind of camera nearby.  Sophia has been trying so hard to crawl, but with little success on the hard-wood floors.  She was getting quite good at scooting herself backwards but only to get frustrated when she'd reach a wall.  We thought we'd help the situation by getting a rug, but now she can't scoot as well.  We're thinking she'll get the crawling thing down in the next couple of weeks...we'll see.

Random Pics:

 Sophia with her great-uncle Robert...

I'm sure she was a bit star struck with all the

Reyes' at this gathering.  :)

 Gavin & Ben climbing rocks

at the Boise Train Depot.

 So of course, Jake and Miley

had to see how high they could climb...

Miley preferred to stay closer to the ground.

Miley Turns 4!

Today our little girl turned 4!  We've been down this road before, but with boys...and she is all girl.  So, bring on the barbies, babies, strollers and princesses...all foreign to this mamma.  She's been thinking the last 3 weeks were her birthday since that was how long ago we put up our tree...as soon as the tree goes up, she knows her birthday is coming.  It finally came and when she woke up, I said "Happy Birthday, Miley" and her reply was "Happy Birthday, Mommy"...confused, but sweet girl.

We spent the day taking pictures of her and getting her dolled up in her favorite color of pink as well as painting her nails--a favorite thing for her to have done.  After daddy came home, we also welcomed Nanna, Granny and her cousins Liberty and Lisa and had a family party complete with cake and presents.

*Posing*



*Happy Birthday to Miley*

*Loves those stickers*

Miley is certainly coming into her own...not an easy task with 3 older brothers.  At this stage, she is starting to speak up more clearly about her wishes and goals.  She plays contently with her baby dolls and barbies, talking for them as if she's playing "house".  It's hilarious to listen from the other room and hear her repeat things like, "it's time to clean up the room" (if only the dolls could clean up after themselves) or "don't hit...it's not nice to hit"--I suppose some of what we say does get through.  She is not the most graceful 4-year-old and at least once a week will trip over her own feet...my clumsy girl.  :)  She is slowly discovering crafts (thanks to friends) and I think it's time to put some of my own OCD aside and allow her to involve herself more with the 'arts'.  She loves hugs and must have Daddy put her to bed every night.

Happy Birthday to our big girl...we love you!

November 20th

Dates.  I've always been pretty good at remembering dates.  I can remember the day I started my first job over 20 years ago, the day I passed my driver's test and received my license, and of course I remember special occasions like birthdays and such.  Most of these dates bring with them happy memories with only a few sad memory dates...November 20th will forever be a bittersweet memory date.  Only 4 years ago, I didn't think too much of November 20th...it was a pretty typical Tuesday.  Fast forward one year and November 20th became a very sad date for our family as we lost our sister, Penelope Josephine.  I began to hate this date and for 2 years didn't much care for the holiday season as they were too close to this date and memory for me.

Sisters

Pene acting like Pene...loved that girl's humor



Then came the fall of 2010.  For 2 months, I had been sick and we couldn't figure out why.  Nothing seemed to cure me and on November 20th, we found out why: I was expecting my greatest gift of my lifetime...after years of being told I may likely never be able to get pregnant, we learned that Sophia Josephine was on her way.  Although I still greatly missed my sister and will always remember the day she left us, I was so excited to hear this news that I decided November 20th will be remembered as a day of celebrating life.  Celebrating my sister's short life and how she impacted my life and also a celebration of my future baby's life.

November 20th of this year marks Sophia's 4-month birthday.  I know, not the great 1-year-milestone just yet; but a milestone all the same.  She has already blessed our lives more than I'm sure we even realize.  She is such a happy baby and is surely in love with her family (especially those big brothers).  Her whole face lights up when her brothers come home from school and then again as soon as Daddy walks through the door.  She has been a gift to me in more ways than one and has filled holes in my heart that I thought could never be filled...and for that I celebrate November 20th.

Family Pictures

So, I have a few minutes before the boys get home and Sophia wakes up.  A couple of weekends ago, we had some family pictures done.  Not an easy task with a 2-month old, but we were lucky that the photographer was so understanding (she herself had a 3-week old).  We didn't get as many as I would have liked but only because Sophia was pretty much done with the whole thing and both Gavin and the photographer were stung by some angry wasps.  Here are some of my favorites.

(my cranky baby)

(mean-mug packers fans with happy dallas fan...

probably because dallas has more superbowl rings)

(the binky she couldn't be without)

(after Gavin was stung...really forcing that smile)

2 Months

So, I'm starting to think the pediatrician's office is the social hangout for moms...for the second time, we ran into friends.  It was good to see Becky and the girls and Miley kept looking for Audrey after our appointment was over.  :)

Sophia had her 2-month appointment this morning and she just growing so stinkin' fast! (They all grow way too fast.)  She is currently 11.81 pounds (jumping from the 39th percentile to the 68th in only 6 weeks...what are we feeding her?!?!) and 23 inches (78th percentile).  She is also a straight up formula-fed baby now.  We both gave quite the effort (more me than her), but since I had to supplement because I couldn't produce much, she apparently became spoiled and realized this bottle thing doesn't require near as much work on her part and started rejecting me all together.  Little sad, but as long as she gets her food, I'm happy.

Our little Squeaker (Paul's nickname for her) has had a few milestones recently.  On Sept. 11th, she finally smiled!  I don't mean just a little grin, this was total giggles and gums showing as her dad was getting her out of her car seat after church.  I ran over to witness and she even gave me the smile and giggles.  It made my heart melt.  She has been grinning and flirting with us ever since.

On the 18th, she was dedicated at our church.  I was so grateful that she was well behaved during the dedication.  Of course, she had to make sure everyone knew she was awake just after we got off the stage...quick diaper change and off to visit her friends in the nursery.  :)  It was a good day and her favorite football team (Dallas Cowboys) even won a game (I'm pretty sure that was for her special day).

My Precious Baby Girl...

eyes like her daddy

My smiling baby

(and new favorite picture)

Boise

Well, we're finally back in Boise.  We're still getting situated, but the kids are coping pretty well.  All three boys started a new school on Monday and they all love their teachers.  Gavin thought it a bit strange to go back to elementary school (Nampa has 6th grade as middle school), but he's adjusting.  Ben was the only with minimal changes and has already made new friends.  Jacob is so excited that he gets to go to school everyday now (Nampa's kindergarten is only 2-3 days a week).  Miley, Sophia and I are refining our schedule everyday but are mostly unpacking for now.  And Paul has already taken a bike ride to work instead of using his car.  I have a picture, but I told him I wouldn't post it until he gives me reason to.  :)

I LOVE being so close to everything and everyone.  Kay-Cee and Eric were able to walk to our place over the weekend and my niece took all the kids to a nearby park.  As much as we loved our previous house, I'd take location over layout any day.  As we took our walk yesterday, I thought about how nice even walking around a neighborhood can be...especially when you came from just one loop of a subdivision and the view got pretty boring.  Now, we can just make a different turn for a change of scenery...Love, Love Love.

Moving!

We have about 10 days left in Nampa...and I am so glad to be leaving!  We found a house in SE Boise and were lucky enough to be able to get the boys all in the same school - they will start Sept. 12th.  Unfortunately, Gavin won't be able to finish football in Nampa and we haven't been able to get him on in Boise (registration has already closed).  We haven't told him yet...not quite sure how to break the news.  On the other hand, basketball is only a few months away...

I have never moved this many people with a newborn also requiring all of my attention and it's starting to feel like I won't be able to get it done by next week (no wonder--I'm sitting her blogging).  Trying to just get one room done a day...fingers crossed.

Back at it.  :)