Almost Wordless Sunday

1) Nikels:

2) Lukey:

3) Hazel:

Posting and such. . .

Okay, so much to post. . . Many have asked about Hazel's homebirth. It was wonderful :). Details (kind of) to come in another post.

Here are a couple recent and not so recent pics:

Happy Hazel. She is seriously the happiest, easiest child ever:

The boys loving them some Hazel. She's not so sure:

Hazel and her cousin Olivia on their blessing day:

The happy parents who forgot to take many pics (poor third child):

Loved her little bow (courtesy of Caitlin -- thank you!):

And here are a couple cute stories:

Concerning LUKE -- Hazel was crying one night. Hard enough that it woke up Luke. He comes wandering out into the hallway where I'm standing and hands me his special stuffed bear, saying, "Here's for Hazel," wanders back to bed and goes right back to sleep. If it had been my sibling, I would have woken up hollering "BE QUIET" but Luke is so empathetic. He has the sweetest disposition.

Also, today we were at a friends house today and everyone had already gone in the door except me because I'd run back to the car for a couple things (namely Hazel). When I got to the door it was being held open by Lukey - "I hold door for you Mommy." Love that kid.

Concerning NIKOLAI -- Nikolai and I have been talking lately a lot about obedience, obeying your parents even when friends don't choose too, not following the crowd, etc. . So today we were at the park with a friend. . I'm not sure exactly what happened but at some point he chose to obey something I guess his friend didn't. He came up to me and let me know that, "I wasn't following the crowd mom." Good for you buddy.

Until 2 minutes later when Nikolai takes off running toward the busy street. His friend follows HIS example and takes off after him. I'm yelling at him to stop and he doesn't. .doesn't. . doesn't. . until FINALLY I yell, "Don't follow the crowd" and he stops. Nikels walks back to me and says, "I chose not to follow the crowd mom." My friend turns to me and says, "uh, what if you are the crowd?" I was dying - I would have busted out laughing had I not been trying to play strict face. Guess he's still got a little bit to learn :).

She's Here. . .

June 11th, 2009.

7 lbs 12 oz.

We are thrilled to welcome . . . . Hazel Young Hales.

Post #2 -- Happy Birthday to Steve!!!

Happy 34th Birthday Stevie Wonder!! Here are a couple of my favorite things about you.

1) You were my McDreamy before PD ever came along. I mean, check out that goatee:

2) He's always been a cuddle bug:

3) Loves me:

4) Amazing father:

5) Loves his family:






6) Loves his friends:

7) Sports fan/player extraordinaire:

8) He's my own "handy manny:"

I hope you have a fabulous birthday!!!
love, your wifey

Breaking My Silent Streak - Post #1

Okay, I'm breaking my silence with 2 whole posts.  The first is a convo I had with Nikolai today.  

I was using my laptap trying to post what will be my second post when he came over begging to watch youtube airplane videos.  I told him I'd be happy to give him a turn when I was done.  He proceeded to tell me that we share in this family.  When that didn't work to make me turn over the computer to his waiting hands he said, "Mom, do unto others as you would have others do unto you."  Don't you love it when they turn your words right back on you? 

Nikelisms

1) Steve was reading the story of Alma the Younger to Nikels from the Picture Book of Mormom. Nikels needed to be reassured many times that angels were good, not bad. Finally after Steve had convinced him he asked, "So Dad, are there angels in Alexandria?"

2) My friend Beth was sitting next to Niko in primary today. Their conversation follows:

Beth (leaning over to Nikels after singing time): You sure are a good singer.

Niko: Yes I am. Didn't you know that?

Luke Post - So that my "days may be long in the land" (Exodus 20:12)

Ode to Luke

So little face time 

goes to you

on Mommy's blog. . .

Poor #2

So finally now

at least one post

Just about Luke. . .

For the other coast

This ones for you mom, since you asked so nicely :).  

Money Money Money

My cousin-in-law Steve B. had this clip on his blog. Freidman articulates his points so well -- such a great blend of humor, intelligence and insight.

I've had some of the same questions posed by Donahue about the role of government and the weaknesses and strengths of free markets. Freidman's answers articulated why I don't trust government to do more even though the free market isn't perfect and does in fact "run on greed." Thank you Stevie B!



Oh and I can't end this blog without a thought on the legislation that just bulldozed it's way through Congress.

First, a big thank you to Harry Reid for making sure that the American people are getting $8 billion dollars (instead of the already wasteful proposed $2B) to build a high speed train from Vegas to Disneyland - it will only take 2 hours! No self-interest here folks, just pure desire to help the struggling economy. Oh and it will include a couple other high speed rail projects . . maybe. Very very stimulating! Pretty sure they're planning to start tomorrow so if you've lost your job recently, send in your resume.

How exactly did we get, "a congressional process as unseemly as ever; an emergency bill that barely addresses the emergency; a "stimulus" bill short on stimulus" (William Kristol)?

Help or better yet, don't! I actually feel sorry for Obama right now -- Pelosi and Reid are formidable stumbling blocks to a successful presidency.

What Tired Looks Like

One of these things is not like the others . . .

Our baby is a HE. . . . no a SHE. . .Huh?

I've made no secret of the fact that I want a girl for #3. We thought about not finding out at all and just waiting till the delivery but I couldn't do it. So we had a "secret" ultrasound about 3 weeks ago. I wanted time to prepare myself in case it was a boy without having the pressure of everyone asking what it was. The tech was running late, comes in, puts the wand on my belly and asks me what I have at home. The convo follows:

Me: I have 2 boys at home.
Tech: Oh well, sorry to tell you this is another one.
Me: (nothing because I was about to cry at how disappointed I was and how rude she was).

The ultrasound was over in 5 minutes and Steve and I left feeling rather dejected.

Three days later I was starting to feel okay about adding another boy to the fam although we still couldn't convince our firstborn Nikolai that it was a boy. Every time we talked about the baby he told us it was a girl. After the ultrasound when I was trying to prep him so he wouldn't be too sad, he told us that we were wrong, it was a girl. Sigh - not an auspicious start to their relationship :).

So we went in for the 20 week comprehensive ultrasound today to make sure all the organs and stuff were okay . . . there was only one organ missing. Not sure what happened between the first and second ultrasound but the he is now most definitely a she. The conversation with the Dr. follows:

Me/Steve: He this, He that. .
Dr: Why do you keep calling it "he?"
Me: Well, we had an ultrasound a couple weeks ago and they told us it was a boy.
Dr: Uh, I think this is not a boy (said in his cute Iranian accent).
Me/Steve: (mouths gaping open) Huh?
Dr: This is definitely not a boy. There is no ____ (you fill in the blank -- I don't want my blog to be R rated).

He must have checked 5 or 6 times just to be sure and because we were so shocked. I was laughing so hard he couldn't keep the wand on my belly. Especially because I had just finally told someone last night that it was a boy.

One of these things is not like the others and I'm so happy about it.

Nikolai Sledding

It took him an hour to get up the guts to go sledding but once he started we couldn't get him to stop. He cried for 1/2 hour after we left.

Marketing, ie. . . Brainwashing

So today our cousins invited us to go with them to Chuck E. Cheeses. It is the first time either of my kids will ever have been there. We were telling Nikels all about it to get him excited to go. He finished up our description with the following:

"Mom, did you know Chuck E. Cheeses is a proud sponsor of playhouse disney?"

Um, no but I do now. How exactly did you know that?