Colton Meets President George W. Bush

My mom, Grant and I went to Rise tonight for dinner and as we were walking in Grant was telling my mom that it was one of the Bush's favorite restaurants. Then, we see a secret service agent! Ten minutes later George W. Bush, Laura Bush, Condoleezza Rice and a lady that we don't recognize sit down to dinner about 10 feet from us!!! We were in shock!! We had left the baby with DD and Big John, but I sent Grant back to get the baby so hopefully he could be our ticket to a picture. My mom was brave enough to go up to their table and ask for a picture. I was way too nervous to do it. They were gracious and we got two pictures. We were so sad that we didn't have a camera and the pictures from my mom's phone are a little blurry, but we still got the proof! I also wish we had a picture with Laura Bush, but we didn't want to bother them any more. So cool!

Back to School

Cadence is in 4K at Scofield Christian School and her teacher is Mrs. Worth. She goes Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:15am - 3:30pm. She sometimes fusses about school, but she always says she has a good time at the end of the day and she is excited to show us her school work and art projects.

Jack Ranger goes to Parent's Day Out at Preston Hollow Presbyterian. He is in room 118 with Kay Weatherford and Linda Collin. He goes to school Wednesday and Friday from 9:15am - 2:15pm. Jack Ranger was SOOOO excited on his first day of school and wanted to wear his backpack from the moment he woke up. He ran into his room and started playing with cars immediately.

Love that sweet face and cute uniform. She wears her jumper every day even though there are more casual uniform options.

Waiting outside the classroom.

He looks like such a cool little man!

Checking out all the cars in the classroom. He was too busy to even hug me good-bye!

Birth Story: Colton Alexander Walsh

Friday, Aug. 16 was my last day at work and I was SOOOOO ready for that baby to arrive! I stayed active all weekend to encourage the baby to make an entrance. On Saturday evening the kids, Grant and I went to Chicken Scratch for dinner with the Gallets. Then on Sunday morning we decided to go to Six Flags! Actually, Grant was going to take Cadie to Six Flags and we told her not to mention it to Ranger. Right before they left Cadie said, "Ranger! Dad is taking me to Six Flags!" Once Ranger heard that he was so excited to go and I decided to tough it out and we all went together. I didn't ride any rides, but I walked around the park all day.

We headed home around 4:30pm and right around 6pm I felt my first contraction! Just a few contractions later my water broke. With the other two kids my water broke once we were at the hospital, so that was a new experience. Mary was home and we told her to cancel her plans - she was on Cadie/JR duty for the evening :) - so glad she was there! Grant and I did some last minute packing, showered and then got to the hospital around 7pm. My contractions were every 3-4 minutes apart at that point. I labored in the bed and on a yoga ball until about 8:30pm and then decided I had enough and got an epidural. My sister Courtney and DD and Big John arrived around 9pm. At 10pm it was time to push and our baby boy arrived at 10:18pm! 8 lbs 13 ounces and 20 inches long. My OB, Dr. Todd Ruk, is AMAZING. He let my sister Courtney who is an ICU nurse put on scrubs and basically deliver the baby. She had not seen a birth before and she loved it. She was the one who actually held the baby as he came out. When Grant announced, "It's a boy!" I was shocked! I know I should not have been surprised, but I have felt like the baby was a girl all along. I even have girl clothes to return - glad I kept receipts. We went through a few boy names in the hospital before finally deciding on Colton Alexander Walsh - I LOVE it. Such a strong name - I know God has big things planned for him. Other name contenders included Dean Foster, Dillion Foster, Marshall Alexander and Trooper Alexander.

Colton and I went home on Tuesday morning so our time in the hospital felt short. But I had an easy delivery with no complications so I felt pretty good besides not too much sleep. I was also just so glad to no longer be pregnant.

A few memories from Colton's birth:
- When we told the kids we were headed to the hospital, Cadie was so excited! She said, "REALLY, is Peanut really coming?!?!"
- Before we left for the hospital, Cadie, Jack Ranger, Grant, Mary and I prayed together and it was a sweet final moment for our family of 4 before we welcomed our new family member.
- I felt emotional about an hour before the birth and cried with Grant, but I felt calm and excited during the delivery and when the baby arrived.
- I loved having Courtney deliver Colton and I know she also will treasure the experience.
- I was so thankful Colton decided to come a few days early! (original due date was August 22) Pregnancy and I were no longer getting along.
- The excitement of finally finding out if we had a boy or a girl! My surprise and then my happiness over having two sweet, handsome boys to look after our beautiful Cadence Nicole.

Thank you God for a healthy baby and for the beautiful family you have entrusted to God and I. Our cups runneth over.

My handsome boys at Chicken Scratch.

Looking HUGE at Chicken Scratch.

Jack Ranger grew a few inches over the summer and was able to ride his first roller coaster!

Last family of 4 picture

Arriving at the hospital

Excited to have a baby!

Aunt Courtney made two onsies so we were covered for a boy or a girl.

DD and Big John were there for the birth. Such wonderful in-laws!

 

It's a boy!!!! And he is wonderful!!

Proud grandparents.

Everyone wants the Mamma.

Meeting baby brother for the first time.

Our awesome family of 5

He is so beautiful

Ready to take my baby home.

Coming home for the first time.

A lot can happen in a month!

I can't believe it has been a whole month since I have blogged! I need to catch up on the end of summer, Colton Alexander Walsh's birth, the start of school, nanny Mary moving out and so much more! My goal is to blog at least once every two days until I am caught up. Wish me luck!

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For her last activity of the summer Cadie attended two of Miss Lowry's camps: "Fairy Tales and Heroes" and "Reading is Yummy." She was originally only signed up for the Fairy Tales and Heroes camp, but at the end she wanted to go back we signed her up for the next week which was "Reading is Yummy." Miss Lowry's "camps" are at her house which is basically a preschoolers dream house. There is stuff everywhere! Aquariums, dress up clothes, art supplies, toys, games, books, etc. It is a little crazy and the first time Grant went there with me he asked if Cadie was safe.

The "Fairy Tales and Super Heroes" camp had a theme song! Super-Kid theme song, to the tune of Superman:

"We're super kids...we're soaring up high. 

We're super kids...up high in the sky!

We'll use imagination to save the population, 

Using our powers for good;

We're super-kids!"

The quote for the week was: "I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble..." Spiderman

For the "Reading is Yummy" camp, they would read a food kids book and then do cooking activities, games and role plays related to the books: Stone Soup, If you give a Pig a Pancake, Curious George and the pancake breakfast, Green Eggs and Ham, Strega Nona, Scrambled Eggs Super,  Jamberry by Bruce Degen, Cook-A-Doodle-Doo, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

The chant for the week was:
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum, Something smells good, Yummy-yum-yum-yum!
Is it coming from the kitchen? Let's go and take a look.
No, it's coming from the pages of my book, book, BOOK!

Here are some of the fun games they did at camp, as told my Miss Lowry's brother, Uncle Jake:

"-YES IT IS!  We passed around common household objects (a cup, a jar of peanut butter, a spoon) and took turns pretending them into something else.  "This is a Hippopotamus!"  And everyone says, altogether, "Yes it is!"  This is a great way to get our imaginations working quickly, and to get in the collaborative spirit of agreement and encouragement.  It helps us to be brave and silly while our peers are supportive - Very helpful when we're about to start making plays and stories together.

-GROUP TRANSFORMATION  For this game, we split into two groups and, with our group, formed frozen pictures.  A circle.  A square.  A zoo.  A playground.  While one group froze in their tableaux, the other group would examine and talk about what they saw.  This helps prepare us to be considerate and kind audience members, and to be comfortable being looked at while we're in performance mode.  And frozen lions and monkeys are pretty hilarious."

The "Fairy Tales and Super Heroes" camp

Miss Lowry told me Cadie wore this dress for most of the week.

The "Reading is Yummy" camp

I am not sure who is who, but the Reading is Yummy campers were:

• Henry
• Charley Jane and Kate
• Addison
• Sage and Avery
• Ada-Grace
• Marlee
• Jackson, MacKenzie, and Ryan
• Owen
• Ashley and Lauren
•  Cooper
• Ansley and Claire
• Cadie

Good-bye Ron Scates

Jack Ranger and Big John were featured in the HPPC Connect magazine recap of the pastor Ron Scates good-bye celebrations. So cute!

Colton Alexander: Hospital Pictures

I LOVE the pictures from the hospital photographer. Grant and I both were shocked at how much some of the photos looks like Jack Ranger! Colton is such a sweet, calm little man. He is doing wonderfully! I, however, am in still in the newborn haze which is difficult for me. I struggle with the lack of sleep, getting into the rhythm of nursing and giving attention to the other kiddos that need extra love while they get adjusted to our new family member. God is good and He has provided lots of help! Our new nanny, Sarah, is amazing and I have had tons of support from friends and family. I feel better overall at this point than I did after the births of Cadence and JR, but life with a newborn is still day to day. Grant is a rock and is willing to get up with me during nighttime feedings and also take care of the other two while Colton and I bond.

Colton is HUNGRY and is still generally eating every three hours. He is a bit of a lazy nurser so I am mostly pumping milk and giving bottles, but I would like to try to get back to nursing soon. There is nothing like milk directly from the source! I just need Colton to also get on board with the plan :). He smells just delicious and he is the mostly snuggly, happy baby. We love you Colton!

Getting ready for baby

Since we don't know the gender, I plan to get the nursery ready after the baby comes. But, we do have a sweet little spot all ready for the baby in the corner of our room. This is a mini-crib that Cadie used at Mimi's house from 6 months - 2 years. It has all new bedding, including a new mattress, and looks perfect for our new little ones' homecoming. Of course, it also happens to be a great place for Cadie and Jack Ranger to have a kitty cat bed underneath.

I have diapers, clean newborn clothes and Cadie and I made a run to Buy Buy Baby last weekend and picked up most of the essentials. Baby, we can't wait for you to arrive!!

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I don't feel like I had too much baby brain with the other two, but it is in full effect right now! A few examples:

1) I wanted to have a girls get-together at my house since there are a lot of friends I haven't had a chance to see lately and then after having a baby I don't get to get out much. So, I sent an evite for a Sunday evening dessert party. The evening of the party I had a few appetizers ready, drinks and had made brownies, a cake and a pastry. Grant helped me get the house all ready and the kids were at DD and Big John's. My friend Michelle Garner arrived and we were having a great time chatting, but I thought it was strange that one one else had showed up. I texted a friend and she said she was coming - NEXT Sunday. Yes, that's right. My invite said the party was the next Sunday!! Michelle and I were glad we were both confused so that we could spent quality time together, but it was crazy that I planned the party for the wrong night! I did the party again the next Sunday, about 8 friends came and we had a great time.

2) I was planning to work from home last Friday and Thursday night I went to my computer bag to get my computer and it wasn't there. I had left it on my desk at work! My commute is 30-45 mins. depending on traffic and I was so bummed to have to go back to my office on Friday to get my computer. I NEVER forget my computer. My amazing husband actually took my badge and went and got my computer after I went to bed so I was able to work from home after all. Thank you Grant!

2) I am forgetful about so many little things. This morning I made coffee and didn't put the coffee grounds in the machine so I had a nice cup of hot water. (Yes, I haven't fully given up coffee - just one cup in the morning). I can never seem to find my cell phone and I forget entire conversations. It feels strange and definitely not the way I am used to operating. 

I hope my neurons start firing back up shortly after this baby arrives!