Merry Christmas

We just got back from Christmas in Rexburg.  We had a great time.

We actually took a picture all together Christmas morning.  Yes we all had matching pj's and yes...Cortney's are the footsie kind that zip up.  He looked awesome. 

 I have tons to post but only 6 minutes of battery left on my computer...and at least 6 hours of laundry to do.   I will post...soon. 

P.S. Have I mentioned my parents are coming home from their mission in 12 days??  Can't wait. 

My man

Today is Cortney's 35th birthday. It started off on a bad foot when Henry and Rob were sick throwing up in the night. Then Theo was having some gas issues (for the first time ever). When morning came around we were both pretty tired. In the afternoon Cortney watched the kids so I could go and get some last minute Christmas stuff. Poor guy It had to have been the worst birthday ever. He did go play racquetball tonight but came home to a major clogged drain in the kitchen (which he is still working on...and still all sweaty from playing racquetball, but he can't shower until it is done). Poor guy. Luckily I had a birthday dinner/survivor night on Sunday for him. Tomorrow we are going to try again. Maybe go out to dinner or something like that. I feel so bad for him having a birthday so close to Christmas. He got some new glasses for his birthday...he has been needing them FOREVER but we could never afford them. We are both excited for them to come, it will be nice for him to be able to take his contacts out when his eyes are tired. The man has a huge beard right now. HUGE. What can I say? I am grateful everyday for the man Cortney is. He is so kind, and loves me no matter what. Happy birthday babe.

spreading a little Christmas cheer

Carolina video recorded this little gem the other day. I almost had a heart attack when I watched it because...those of you that know Rob know that he isn't one to perform a song...let alone a song with actions. I love it.

due

Yesterday was my due date.  Instead I have now had Theo 22 days (and it is still hard for me to call him Theo...for some reason he is Henry to me...just like Henry was Rob forever). I always miss being pregnant.  I think really I am always just sad that the exciting part is over.  There really is nothing quite as exciting as delivering a baby...it is as good as it gets for a mom.

Today Theo gets circumcised.  He hasn't been big enough for the procedure.  I have NEVER been to a kids circumcision and now today I have to take all my kids (minus Oli) with me to get it done.  That sounds pretty horrible.

This week around here

We have been really trying hard to really celebrate the Christmas season. To make Christmas more about traditions and family and less about presents and electronics.  It has been a little hard since I don't leave the house and we can't really go anywhere outside all together.  We took the kids to see the lights 2 mondays ago (the lights at riverwoods) Cortney and the kids walked around and I stayed in the car with theo.  It took about 15 minutes before the kids got in trouble and we had to leave.  (Cortney never gets them in trouble so they must have been being REALLY bad).  This week we made gingerbread men for family night.  Can you see my gingerbread man holding a cute little baby???  how adorable is that??

Mom and Theo, Cortney, Oliver, Rob and Henry.  I did something that is hard for me a didn't tell my kids one time how to decorate theirs.  I did however have to make Cortney re do his since all he put on his was chest hair and armpit hair.

We watched Elf on Wednesday and then on friday we got a sausage stick and cheese and crackers and watched The Christmas Story (originally we had wanted to watch Griswalds Christmas Vacation...but Cortney and I had totally forgotten  how inappropriate it is for kids. hahaa We turned it off after Clark flips the other car off but before he talks to the lady at the lingerie counter...it has been years since either of us had seen it)

Theo has these preemie gowns that are the cutest things i have ever seen.  Every time he wears them I can't get over how adorable they are.

I took a picture of him next to the preemie gown and then next to a normal newborn sized gown from the same comapany...so you can get an idea of how small the gowns/Theo is. 

I think he is going to have dark brown eyes like Rob. 

Henry has been doing a lot of this lately.  We all stayed home from church (stake conference) today because we all as a group aren't feeling too hot.  Boo.  

On the plus side.  Oliver's eye is looking almost all the way better. 

It really is the most wonderful time of the year.  I absolutely love this time. I wish now it would just snow. 

p.e.

I have been so good since Theo has been born.  I haven't taken him anywhere.  I haven't left the house.  I NEVER do this when I have babies.  I always am taking them all over the place.  I have been trying so hard this time to avoid RSV.  All of my other babies have had it.  Not this time.

However....my other kids, I can't keep them away from germs though.

Oliver woke up this morning with a NASTY case of pink eye.  I wanted to die.  I hate pink eye.  It is the worst.  He has an appointment this afternoon...I want the strongest medicine possible.

Henry also had a fever last night.

Theo is officially off limits to all the kids.  Luckily...he and I spend a lot of time downstairs by ourselves.  And you wouldn't believe how much this little guy sleeps.  I don't know if it is because he is so little and he just needs to spend all his time growing...or if he is just a good sleeper.  He is ALWAYS sleeping.  I have to wake him up almost every single time that we feed him.  After eating he goes straight to sleep.  So it won't be that hard to keep him away from the other kids.

Henry watches TANGLED as much as he possibly can.  He absolutely loves it.  I think it is so cute...and am actually quite in love with the movie myself.

Ahhh yeah

My baby Theo is a superstar! In the past 7 days he has gained 10 oz. Which is tons, by the way. He now weighs 4 lbs 15 oz. So close to 5 lbs! It makes me feel good because all I do is sit in my house and feed him. At least it is working. He is now almost drinking 2 oz at each feeding. When we left the hospital he was only drinking 1/3 of an ounce, which is about 2 teaspoons. What a good boy! The dr said I didn't need to come back until his 2 month appointment. I was in shock. Everyday this baby amazes me.

taking pictures of a preemie is hard...

like really really hard.  Not that Theo is really a preemie...but he is small.   For some reason too...our babies NEVER will sleep through a photo shoot.   This was a lot of work.  We had to heat the house real warm too...because he isn't supposed to be out and about with no clothes on.  Cortney and I were sweating. We did manage to get some cute pictures regardless of how hard it was to get them.  All three of us were exhausted when we were done.  

I was trying to rub his forehead so his worry lines would go away.  Haha.  I love how small he looks next to my tiny hand. 

Worried baby. 

He smiles all the time.  Not real smiling but when he is sleeping he is always making this happy face.  I absolutely adore it. 

We should have put more of a contrasting color under him...but I wanted to show how small he is with this leaf.  

I gave him a little break and he went right to sleep.  

Oliver is such an artist.  He dreams of getting something in the friend.  This is a picture of him getting baptized. 

Henry is going through a stage right now where he won't wear clothes.  He takes them off and throws a MAJOR tantrum if we get him dressed. 

Love this foot sticking out at the bottom. 

A beautiful blanket my aunt Gail made when I had Oliver.  One of my favorite things. 

Theo's onsie says little brother.  

Look at this chubby guy jump.  He loves that he got his clothes off.  To get the clothes back on I had to say, Don't you want to go get a doughnut?  Luckily he forgot about the doughnut later.

He looks just like his mama when he has this look on his face. 

"boys rule"  I had to get a quick shot of him in this outfit.  When I saw it I knew I had to have it with my 4 boys now...this is my new motto.  Isn't it just adorable??

Look at that bum. (this baby does not want to be on his tummy.  AT ALL. 

I had to include these because you can really tell how small he is when there is someone else in the picture.