Date with Garrett

I wanted to go see High School Musical 3 (no mocking-I know you all have seen the first two and will be going to see the third if you haven't already!) so I asked my boys if any of them wanted to go with me. I'm totally ok going to movies by myself, but High School Musical by myself? A little awkward. None of the boys have seen either of the first two, but they've heard of them. All of them said "Ew! No! Disgusting! That movie's for girls!" Brent was relieved. So I asked my friend, Crystal, to go with me with her three girls. Then Garrett decided he wanted to go too!

Some quotes from Garrett during the movie: Halfway through the movie he said-"Hey! Is this movie all about love?" When there was some smooching-"Are they gonna keep doing that?" And when Troy's understuday had to go on-"Alright! Now we're talking!" Gotta love that kid. He even shared popcorn and snuggled with me for the whole movie. He said he liked it, especially the songs. Thanks for going with me bud! I had a great time!

Pumpkins and Baby Smiles

After a few weeks of a smile here and there, Max started smiling like crazy on Wednesday! We love it and we all try to get him to smile. My cheeks hurt today from trying!! I love that he smiles as soon as he sees my face and hears my voice. That just makes being a mom worth it, doesn't it?

We went to the pumpkin patch and the kids all chose their pumpkins. It was fun to see them run around together-they were running from one end of the field to the other. I guess they had extra energy to use up! If any one of them changed directions they all changed with him. It was pretty funny to watch. It made me think of the werewolves in Twilight that can read each others thoughts and move as a pack. (Can you tell I'm excited about the movie coming soon?) I love everything about fall and the annual trip to the pumpkin patch is a simple thing that me and the kids look forward to every year.

Blessing Day

On Max's blessing day last week the kids woke us up way too early to tell us that it had snowed! We had to bundle him up because I had gotten him a little romper to be blessed in. Go figure that it snows in early October. But we'll always remember his blessing day because of it.

Max looked handsome in his blessing outfit. I always get a new outfit for each baby but we've used the same blankets with all of them. My mom and dad and Brent's parents came out for the blessing and I could kick myself for not taking a single picture of them with the kids-especially Max. I can't remember the last time the four grandparents were all with us. Our old friends, the Austins came to the blessing, too.

Brent busted out "the suit" to give Max his blessing. My dad, Brent's dad and our friend Wyatt were in the circle. We are grateful all of them could be there. Wyatt has helped bless two of our babies and my dad (who I think has a goal to help bless every grandchild-he has 17 and none of them live in the same state as him or each other) has been there for all but one of ours. We were glad Brent's dad could be there this time, too. Max cried for most of it and was wide awake the rest of the day. He was just passed around for everyone to hold all day and I think he loved not being put down all day!

The boys were so excited for Max to be blessed. Luke had been telling us since we brought Max home, that he needed a blessing. One day I caught him putting his hands on Max's head, closing his eyes and whispering words. Aftewards he said that his blessing was taken care of. At the church when it came time for the real thing, Luke was MIA in the bathroom and missed the whole thing. He was crushed.

Good Morning!

Note the time of this post (for some reason it says 1:30 but it's really 2:30). I've been awake for a couple of hours hanging out with my sweet baby who won't go back to sleep! We're shopping online for Christmas, watching DVR'd shows and just spending quality time together. Who needs sleep, right? I have a feeling I'm gonna read this tomorrow and it won't make any sense. Wow. This little man is showing no signs at all of going back to sleep. Good night-or good morning?- everyone! Hope you all wake up well rested and ready for the day. That was said with no sarcasm whatsoever. Really.

Max is 1 month old

Max is 1 month old today! I guess that's occasion enough for me to FINALLY get around to posting some pictures of him! The time has flown by. I can't believe a month has passed. It is always like that when we have a baby-seems like I was just pregnant, but also seems like the baby has been a part of our family forever.

I was due Saturday, August 30 (sorry it didn't happen on your birthday Dad!) but I went overdue like I almost always do. My doctor scheduled me to be induced on Wednesday, September 3 if I hadn't had the baby before then. She didn't want me going too over my due date.

The night before we were scheduled to go in I went to bed about midnight and as soon as I laid down I started having contractions. I was up all night and couldn't sleep because they were regular and strong enough to keep me awake. I was excited that I was going into labor on my own and wouldn't have to be induced that morning-I don't love being induced. It was about 4 a.m. and the contractions were close enough and regular enough that I woke Brent up and got ready to call our friend to come over a little earlier than we had planned. Then the contractions completely stopped. That had never happened to me before so we weren't sure what to do. We decided to just wait and go in at 7 a.m. as scheduled.

Me at the hospital. I would not have broadcasted a picture of me this pregnant, but my mom requested it! Enjoy, Mom!

I ended up needing to be started, but because my body was already starting early labor it went fairly quickly-about 5 hours from being started to delivery. My only complaint was that my epidural made me too numb! It was really bugging me, so we ended up turning it off completely and I felt much better. My nurse and doctor were great and my friend, Emily, came to take pictures for us. Brent was outnumbered with all of the women in the room! We were all talking and laughing and having a good time. I know that sounds kinda weird for a delivery room, but it really was fun.

September 3, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. Max was born and I became the mother of 5 boys!

My friend, Emily, took the three pictures above (love them!) and the six pictures below. Thank you for everything Emily! It was so great to have you there. I hope it was a good experience for you too!

Max weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz. and was 21 inches long.

I was so tired but happy to be holding my sweet baby.

Brent has his basketball team!

I loved my doctor, Gretchen! She was very sweet and supportive throughout my pregnancy.

Garrett, Eli, Luke, and Owen love their new brother. If I can just teach them not to bring him to me every time he's crying-scary! Poor baby had no idea what he was coming home to! Youngest of five boys. Should be interesting!

This is Max in the hospital right before we brought him home. He has already changed so much! He has been such a great baby. The first night he was home we thought we were in for a tough time because he was up all night long. But he figured things out pretty quickly and has been doing awesome at night ever since. Thank goodness-we're too old for all-nighters! He wanted to be held all the time for the first couple of weeks, but little by little is hanging out and going to sleep on his own more. Everyone who sees him says he looks just like our other boys-"just like a Milne". I see a little bit of all of them in him but he seems to have his own little look too. I'll try to get some recent pics of him up soon!