Little Merek David

On August 27th we welcomed our third and finally baby into the world, Merek David. He was 7 lbs. 6 oz. and 19 inches long. He is our littlest baby and almost three months later still our smallest. He is actually still wearing 0-3 month clothes the other two were out of those by the time they hit one and a half months. The labor was fine especially since I planned it and have drugs that make it so I don't feel a thing... until afterwards. It is a little nerve racking being in the operating room and Dave and my doctor will agree that I get a little chatty. I asked if they could put on some music and everyone seemed to enjoy that, we listened to 70's rock. So to those of you who have c-sections I would definitely recommend you requesting music it makes it go by a ton faster.

They got him all cleaned and stamped up and took him up to the nursery, while I went to recovery.


After I came up from recovery I got settled into my (much larger than last time) room, and was able to hold little Merek for the first time.


Shortly after my mom was able to bring McKenna (after her 2nd day at school) and Reeve to meet their new little brother. McKenna was wonderful with him and knew just what to do but Reeve on the other hand was a little weary. He didn't really want to go near me and just didn't seem to understand what was going on. He liked seeing the baby but didn't want to have much to do with him. He did however give him a little kiss which made us all happy.




The next day Dave had a interview in Twin Falls for a full time lifeflight job (which he did get). We live a crazy life I tell ya. Anyhow, my brother Jeremy and his wife Amberlynn were able to come up from Rexburg and spend the day with us and help my mom with the two kids. They are so good with kids and it was just so wonderful to have them there with us.




I am so thankful to my mom that she could come from Washington to be with me for the birth of all my babies and for Jeremy and Amberlynn for coming up to help as well. My sister-in-law Mindy came and helped me and also my mother-in-law came. I really couldn't have done it without them. Most of all the help Dave gave me through recovering from the c-section. He is such a good daddy and his children and I love him so very much. We are so thankful to have little Merek in our lives even though he was a bit of surprise. He is the best surprise I have ever had. He is such a sweet little baby and so very loved. Here is Merek getting ready to leave the hospital.

Kindergarten

McKenna is officially a kindergartner! She has been looking forward to this day since she was three. The day started out with waking up extra early. School starts at 7:55 am. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a morning person so the early mornings have proven difficult (especially after being up with a baby and sometimes babies). I gave McKenna a ride to school which she was not happy about because she wanted to take the bus. She is such courageous little girl. We took a couple pictures in front of the school before she went in.


I brought her in and sat her down and gave her a few words of encouragement like, "Listen to your teacher." and "Be nice to the other kids." and "Be a good girl."

By this time I had tears streaming down my face. It was time for me to go.

It is so cute in this picture it looks like McKenna was sad to see me go. She actually was upset that I was crying. She is such a caring person. Just thinking of that day just makes me well up. She is such a big girl and I am so proud of her.

When school was over I went to pick her up and she apparently wanted to take the bus home. She cried all the way home. I told her she is the only child I know that cries when she leaves school. She has loved kindergarten so far, making new friends, learning new things, and of course taking the bus.

Our Salisbury Summer

Ohh how I miss summer already. There are so many things I love about it and long for throughout the long long winter. Julie Andrews put it best "these are a few of my favorite things."

Watermelon and lemonade are a staple during those hot summer months. Of course who doesn't love flowers (especially my favorite kind that my husband got me for my birthday).



Jumping on the trampoline was a favorite pass time this year. McKenna especially liked putting the sprinkler underneath and jumping.

Who doesn't love the smell of freshly cut grass?

Just lounging.


Every day we went to the park for free lunch. The kids played and I got to sit and chat with all my friends.



Dave bought McKenna and Reeve a Power Wheels. They love cruising up and down our street with their friends.


We spent many days in the front yard playing in the pool.



At the end of each summer day we would have a bbq dinner together on our back deck. I just love my family and this is just a little of the fun we had this summer.

Rexburg Spray Park

I have to admit I do miss Rexburg sometimes. It has this great spray park out there with slides and water that comes up from the ground. The kids love it and best of all it's free.





Right next to the spray park is a great carousel that has been McKenna's favorite for year's. I remember one year we got a summer pass. I cannot tell you how many times I rode that thing that summer. Reeve had his first ride and was very nervous at the beginning but warmed up to it once he saw how much McKenna loved it. That is the way he is with most things. He just looks at McKenna for the way he should react to things or even people. It is so funny to watch.


Another thing I miss about Rexburg is two of my best friends Susan and Shera. Since I have moved to Pocatello and Shera moved to New Mexico we haven't been able to see each other that much. It was such a wonderful treat to meet up for lunch and take the kids to the park. It is crazy to think when we first met there were only three kids. Crazy! Here are all the kids. Maci, Lexi, Katie, Lyn, Nathan, Reeve, and Kenna. I can't believe how big these guys have gotten. I just seems like yesterday that they were all born!

It was such a fun day and I am so grateful to have wonderful friends like them.

A few of Reeve's favorite things!

It has been a long time since I have blogged but if any of you know me well then you know that I have a slight form of OCD. I can't blog the most obvious that we had baby number three. I have to go where I left off which was Reeve's first birthday party. I will try to catch up with the rest.

That was the fastest year of my life. It seemed to go a lot slower with McKenna maybe because I was only getting like three hours of sleep per night. I was also just anticipating every mile-stone with her, with Reeve I wanted him to stay immobile for as long as possible. Yet by his first birthday he was running around like the big boy he is.

The theme for his birthday was "All of Reeve's Favorite Things". He loves balls, as McKenna says "they are his favorite circle." His next favorite is balloons. We cannot go into a grocery store without him pointing and wanting one. I swear he can spot one from a one mile radius. His next favorite thing is eating. We had all of our friends over and had pizza, chips, watermelon...


Water - Bath time is party time at our house. Just like all the Salisbury children and grandchildren Reeve loves water. We filled the pool and the kids had a blast going from the pool to the trampoline and back again.



Of course we can't forget eating, getting dirty, and sweets! Daddy made such a good cake!

I'm gonna eat with my hands mom.

Yummy!!!!

So good!



Yep he ate it all. After that he took a dip in the pool to wash off and it was time for presents.



We did a little art project that I have yet to finish. I thought it would be fun to make place mats with the kids names and hand prints and pictures. The kids loved getting their hand painted.

It was such a fun day. Reeve and McKenna had such a good time. We are so lucky to have Reeve in our family. Anyone who knows him knows how special he is. His little dimpled smile can melt any heart. He is just the sweetest thing. Happy 1st birthday to our little Reeve.

Twinkle, twinkle little sparkler.

This 4th of July we started out by going to the parade. McKenna loves parades and is always sure to have a bag for all the candy that they throw out. I was sad that Dave had to work this year but what can you do. However, it was really cool when the helicopter flew over the parade on their way out to call, at least he stopped by, right?



Reeve even had fun. The people would give him papers, otter pops, and McKenna shared some of her candy with him. He especially liked the police cars and firetrucks (he is such a boy).


Later that night we planned to go to the big fireworks show with our friends. The only problem was that we were have one of the worst storms Pocatello has seen in ages... well besides for the one on my birthday. When I met up with them we got reports that our street was flooding again. I decided it was time to go home and check everything out and just call it a day. Our house was not flooded, the water had just come up to the front of our driveway (sigh of relief). The only thing was the hail had ruined all the plants we had just planted the day before. I tried to get some pictures of it.



After the water had receded we decided to light off the pack of fireworks I had gotten. The kids loved them. I sometimes forget that just small, simple things can make them happy. McKenna of course loved the pop-its and sparklers. Reeve was just happy to watch all the different colors.



After our little fireworks show I decided to take the kids and watch the big show just down the road from our house. It had gotten fairly cold by that time so we decided to stay in the van. Well that was...challenging. With McKenna rolling down the window and trying to hang out of it which in turn made Reeve want to do the same thing. I am trying to hold on to him, he then pushes down the horn which everyone hears. Then they hear me yelling at McKenna to get back in the van. I just had to laugh and shrug my shoulders. All I have to say is Dave better not work on the 4th next year. You know what though, it really was a fun day and I'm glad the kids got have such a good time even if it was a little hard on me. Isn't that what it's all about?

I'm 29 for real!

Okay, I have to say after being told my whole life that I look younger than I am this year is a first. It was my birthday on the 2nd and when someone would ask, "how old are you?" I would say, "29". Then they would say, "again", or "really?" because everyone thinks it's a joke when you turn 29. I'm thinking how old do I look, right? I'm now contemplating Botox or a face lift! Okay, 29 isn't that old but I remember being 16 and thinking it was. My twenties have been great, what a difference 10 years can make. I got married (21), had my first baby (23), bought a mini van (27), bought our first house (28), had my second baby (28), and will have my third baby (29). (It was a goal of mine to have all my children before I turn 30. Snuck this last one in just in time.) A little bit older and wiser too...

I had a really nice birthday (in between the bouts of pregnancy crying because... well I'm turning 29). Dave got this delicious cake from Costco and we had some friends over to share it with. Sidenote... that week (being a little depressed) I ate most of that cake and went in for my doctor's appointment and had gained 5 pounds! (That is almost a third of what I have gained the whole pregnancy. The nurse asked me if I had been eating differently and I told her I turned 29. She understood and nothing else needed to be said.) Here are some pictures of me with my yummy cake.


Lastly, it was a beautiful day around 80 something and later that night it started to pour rain. When I say pour I mean it! It actually flooded our street (not our house thank goodness). McKenna put her bathing suit on and ran around in it (how sanitary that is, I don't know but Dave seemed to be okay with it so I figured she would be fine.) Our friends even got out their canoe and Dave, McKenna, and their son Parker went boating in the street. Such crazy weather we have been having!