Pleased to announce. . .

CARSON BRADLEY SMYTHE

Carson was born last Wednesday, March 18th at 9:01pm. He weighed 8lbs 4oz. My smallest BY FAR!! And was 20 inches long. I finally went to the hospital that afternoon around 1pm, thinking I wasn't actually going to get induced. But everything worked out great. Getting the IV was of course a total mess. You all know me and my pathetic attempt at not passing out. It did not work. As I knew it wouldn't. I warned the nurses, told them to wait and let me take the anti anxiety pill I had prescribed for me, but they are all the same. "Oh, trust me. You will be fine. I have been doing this for 30 years." Blah Blah Blah. I wanted to say, "Yeah, so have I." So, I passed out, one of the nurses almost called a "code" (how's that for special treatment?) and then I woke up.

Then the pitocin kicked in and I asked for the epidural. Mmmmm, who doesn't love modern medicine?!!!

After a couple of hours, my water broke, and I went from a 4 to a full blown 10 in an hour. Then it was time to get little Carson here. My mom arrived just in time. Literally, right for the moment. Everything went perfectly. I couldn't be happier.
For those that don't know, I use midwives. And I really do love it. I love all the meds, mixed with a really great midwife that is so helpful and understanding. This delivery was with Tanya and she was awesome. She was there for all of it. Just talking and helping.

Carson came fast. And he is perfect. I love every last inch of him. He has already added something to our family that I never knew we needed so bad. He helps make us feel complete. I say "helps" because you never know if I might just have more. Carson spent much of his first night in the NICU because of some blue coloring on his lips and had to have a blood work up done, but everything is fine. Thankfully. Poor little guy.

So, I am good. Just the normal recovery. We came home from the hospital yesterday and as I knew it would happen, last night was hard. He was up until 5am and nursing around the clock. Jason took him for me and I got to sleep from 5-7:30 this morning. Not like that is enough, but it felt good after holding him and nursing him from 11pm-4am. I knew it would happen, but I always hope it won't. :) Now I have to get adjusted to all sorts of new things. There are so many kids around now. :) Thank goodness my mom is here for another week and Jason doesn't have to go back to work until Thursday. Ahhhhh. . . . Plus, my dad came and helped with the kids while I was in labor and in the hospital. I don't know how I would have done it if my mom and dad didn't come before the birth. My poor friends would have had to take 3 extra kids and that is never ideal. :) Now that it is almost 2pm, I need to go take a shower. And then put my pj's right back on. Cute. The fair compensation for having babies would be to get super skinny right away. I mean, we had to get all huge over the course of a year and then we get to stay all juicy for practically another year. Where's the justice!?

Still waiting.

This is a quick little update. I keep getting calls and emails asking about the baby so this will be my way of letting everyone know that I think I might have imagined this pregnancy.

I am still pregnant. I am "supposed" to be induced today, but the hospital still hasn't called me to tell me what time to come in. They said it would be between 8-12, but no word yet. So things are not looking too promising for today.

I was due last Tuesday so needless to say, I am more than ready to have this baby and NOT be pregnant. I guess we will see what happens.

It's a done deal!!!

We put our house on the market almost 2 weeks ago to get ready for our move this June. And after a few days we got our first offer. It was a bad one. As in totally insulting. Needless to say, it didn't work out. Then last night we got our second offer and it wasn't much better than the first. We counter offered and they then countered back with us. Then we did it one more time to them and they decided to take the offer.

So, our house is sold and we are actually making a profit. Shocking as that is. I am so happy that it is over and that I can finally sit on my bum and watch TV all afternoon. (Because that is what us moms do all day. And eat bon bons). But just knowing I CAN sit down and not feel like I should be cleaning something in case someone wants to show our house makes me happier than I thought possible. I had really had it with the constant cleaning and showing. I am way too pregnant to be cleaning this much. It should have put me into labor by now. But no such luck. Speaking of. I went to the Dr (midwife) today and she did check me. I have nothing to report. Looks like this baby will be late like all the rest of mine. BOO!!!!

Now when my parents come to help with the baby, I won't have to constantly be harping on them to clean up their things when someone wants to see the house. I am sure my mom is most happy about that. :)

I actually feel a little sad to have closure to our house. Yes, it is small and old. But it was ours. And it was our first. There will always be special feelings for this little brick home. Feelings of love and hate. Many days of hate. :) So, farewell to our first. You were a good home, on the days you didn't make me crazy!!!!

(Just a little side note. Our agent was AWESOME!!! His name is John Adair with Coldwell Banker. He helped us a ton and gave us great advice and feedback. If anyone is selling their house soon, we highly recommend using him. If you live in Pittsburgh too :)).

He turned 5!!!

Jackson turned 5 years old on January 28th. I seriously can't believe that I have a 5 year old. And I love it. I mean, sort of scary that I have TWO kids in Primary now. CTR 5 and Sunbeams. And I am loving it!

In the morning when Jackson woke up he asked for chocolate chip pancakes and so we made a yummy breakfast together. I really should share my pancake recipe. It is my mom's and it the BEST pancakes ever. I never had pancakes from a mix. In fact, Jason is the one the introduced me to pancakes like that. And let me assure you. . . .there is no comparison! So, we all chowed and had a fun filled day, INDOORS. There was no school and the snow was relentless. (To put it lightly).

We let Jackson pick a favorite place to eat that night and he choose Red Robin. Unfortunately the weather was dangerously FREEZING (shocking) and so we couldn't leave. The roads were terrible and it was snowing non stop for hours on end. We decided to order pizza and stay home to be safe.Jackson got a Wii. He had asked for one since we visited Grandma and Grandpa Kohler during the summer. Then Grandma and Grandpa Smythe had one this last Christmas and they ever had Mario Kart. . . Jackson's new obsession. So, that is what he wanted for his birthday.
I wrapped everything in a big bag and after Jackson unwrapped all of the different parts, he said, "Is everything for the Wii?" Ummmm, yeah. (He also REALLY wanted a Scooby Do coloring book that he saw at Costco for $4.97. I went to get it and it was gone. He goes from one extreme to the other I guess. A Wii or a coloring book. He couldn't decide entirely which was better.
But seeing how much he begs to play the Wii, I would say we got the better gift for him. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Smythe for Mario Kart. He LOVES LOVES LOVES it.

So, my little Jackson is 5. Where have the last 5 years gone? Oh, I remember. To having more babies. :)I love you Jackson. There is no way another little boy could take your place in my heart. Everything about you makes you special and perfect. . . for me. I know you are growing up to be someone amazing. We are so proud of you for all the good decisions you make every day. Jackson has a gift with being a peace maker. I have never seen anything like it. He saves me so many days from losing my mind. And he is the world's GREATEST big brother. Anyone that knows Jackson know just what I am talking about. I don't know what I would do without him. We love you very much!!!! Happy Birthday!

Shift worker

Jason told me he overheard the boys playing last night and this is what they were saying.

Noah: "Ahhh, Father Bear,why can't I go to work with you?" (They love Little Bear).

Jackson: "You know. You can never come to work with me when I have to go to work in the middle of the night."

Sounds like they were playing house or something like that.

Jason thinks it is sad that they think their dad is a "shift worker" and works grave yards here and there. But I hate to break it to you Jason. . . you sort of were for awhile. I am glad those days are over.

Why do I want to live in California?

For the simple reason that the temperature never drops below ZERO!!!!

This is the second day that my pipes are frozen and my kitchen smells like B.O.!!! That's right, you read it. There is no running water. We made some pretty awesome Chili Verde Burritos a few nights ago and have been enjoying the leftovers for a couple of days. Had I known my kitchen would end up smelling like little Mexico, I would have just stuck to simple P.B's and J's.

Also. . . I haven't been able to do much for fear of my little children freezing some part of their body off. School was cancelled for dangerously low temps. And as I have been selling some things on Craig's List people are saying, "Well, good luck with your move. I hope you are heading off to somewhere warmer."

HA! That would not be Ann Arbor, MI.

Today we loaded up a storage unit of all the pure shwaaaaa that we have somehow accumulated and poor Jason is FREEZING. I bet when he is done he will only have 7 fingers. This freezing weather will surely take a few.

But you know what? It feels so good to have so much gone out of our house. Yes, I know it is awaiting me for unpacking time in Ann Arbor, but for now, I feel like I have been frugal and only purchased things I am using. So, I'm starving, my kitchen stinks and it is FRA-E-ZING!!!!!

Love it!

So, I just listed a few things on Craig's List and was going back to look at the add and this is the first thing listed in one section. I love it!

Free Children