Teeth.

We've had some pretty big teeth issues around here lately.  

First....the good teeth news.  Camry lost her first tooth!  Finally.  It happened on Thursday the 8th, the day before I had Maren.  We were up in my bathroom, hurrying to get her hair blow dried before Megan came to pick her up and all of a sudden she says, "Mom!  My tooth fell out!"  And I think literally, it just fell out of her mouth because she would hardly touch the thing.  She was super excited!  It was all hurry hurry hurry since it was right before school so I don't have a good picture and she refused to take the tooth out of the bag but it happened and it was awesome.  And I do have to say that the tooth fairy is pretty awesome because despite all the craziness of going into labor that night, she still came. :)  

Second, the bad news.  Well, hopefully it will be good news that Pacen doesn't have to have surgery later to correct his jaw but for now it's bad news.  Here is Pacen with his head gear.  His face mask, if you will.  Than took him to the orthodontist on the Monday after I had Maren and the first time he put it on I could barely look at him I felt so bad for him.  I think it was all of my motherly hormones being in full force but I was seriously emotional about him having to wear this thing.  You never want your child to have to go through something painful even if it'll be better for them in the end.  

So, the goal is to move his top jaw forward 4mm in 4 months.  To do that, he has to wear this face mask for 12-14 hours a day.   The more he wears it, the faster it'll move.  And really it has gotten better for him each day he's worn it.  The first day he said that it hurt pretty bad but I just asked him this morning and he said that it didn't.  It's more of an inconvenience than anything.  A little harder to sleep. The first night I let him fall asleep on the couch next to me.  And just making sure that it is on in enough time to make sure that it's on for 12 hours before he has to go to school.  7pm to 7am is the goal.  It's worked so far except for the one night where Than took the kids to the BYU vs. St. Mary's basketball game.  

Here they are at the game.  It's been nice for Than to take some of the kids to do something in the evening so I can have a break and just chill.   This night Claira and I watched the Lion King and held Maren and went to sleep early.  It was fantastic. 

And can I just say what an amazing kid Gentry is?!?!?  She has made the transition to being the big sister so easy!  She just loves Maren and is always giving her kisses and loving her and has never done anything mean to her or me really since she's been born.  It really is quite remarkable.  

I did have to stop her the other day from giving Maren a piece of Pirates Booty.  She was just being a sharing older sister! :)

She really cracks me up. On the right was her sad face. 

Claira has been a great older sister, too, however it took her a little longer to warm up to the idea.  She was all about it when I was pregnant, but when Maren came, it took her a few days to process everything but now all she wants to do is hold Maren. 

I love this one even though the light is horrible on it.  

Claira took this picture but it is very telling of Camry being the little mother.  

This was just the other night before scriptures and prayer.  

It's a Maren-holding-fest every night and morning. 

And I had to take a picture of him reading his stinking Calvin and Hobbes books.  I'm constantly "encouraging" him to read real chapter books but he just reads these over and over and over again and then will be all excited and show me one that he thinks is particularly funny.  I guess any reading is good reading.  

Gentry has slept with him the past few nights.  I don't really mind if it gets her into bed easier and Pacen likes the company so I guess it's a win win.  

But seriously, who wants to sleep with that thing on?!?!?!  He's a good little guy for putting up with that.  We just keep saying, "It's better than surgery!"  The ortho did talk to Than about his jaw situation, and what it would cost to get it done and she said it would be like $13,000 per jaw!  He doesn't have any pain with it but there could be some potential problems down the road.  He's not planning on getting it done right now but I guess it's always an option someday if he wants it.  Lets just hope that the other kids have my jaw instead!  It'll be a lot cheaper that way. :)

Five Day Old Maren.

First week.

Five kids.  That's a lot of kids if you weren't sure.  Thankfully, Emily was here and saved the day.  I really can't thank her enough for coming out here and taking a whole week to help us out.  She cooked every night.  She cleaned and did the dishes and folded laundry and ran to the store.  All the while I got to spend most of my time holding Maren and feeding her (you forget how long that takes!).  Seriously, she was a life saver.  Along with Megan who did my carpool for me and obviously Than who worked from home all week so that he could do some of the household stuff too.  It really made for the best first week home I could ask for.  I got lots and lots of time to snuggle with my sweet little baby and just focus on her because we all know when tomorrow comes, and the kids are off to school again and Than is back to work and I don't have anyone here to baby me, I'm not going to have time like that.  But I really enjoyed it while I had it.  

Here is Emily slaving away for us.    

I was pretty sad and scared when Emily left.  I loved having those extra hands here and just being able to visit with her and play with her kids was super fun.  I'm really glad that she was able to be in the room when Maren was born.  It's awesome having another voice in there telling you everything is going well.  

And here is Maren working with Than.  I totally think having a baby on your lap will help you with your sales calls. :)

So when Than picked me up from the hospital, he surprised me with a brand new van!  I don't have a picture of it but it seriously is awesome!  And it was a total surprise.  He did such a good job and it's so unlike him to do something like that.  But it was the perfect thing to do because we loaned our old van to the scouts for a scout trip and it broke down!  And like a bad break down where they think they need to replace the engine.  WE feel terrible for them but at least it made us know that we made the right decision in buying a new car.  Every time we drive around in it, it just makes me happy. 

And then when we got home from the hospital, we had some fun things waiting for us.  

The kids made lots of signs and notes for me and Maren.  It is really so fun to bring a baby home.  Those are some of my favorite days.  It's just so amazing that you all of a sudden have a new member of your family and you just carry on.  

Here is our first new family picture.  Look at all those cute kids!  It's amazing. 

Most of the week has totally been low key and been a week just to see who can hold Maren the most.  I'm pretty sure I won but the kids were definitely giving me a run for my money. 

My absolute favorite activity.  

So Maren is freakishly strong.  This picture is of her at 3days old and she could totally hold up her head!  She's crazy.  She was lying right on Than's stomach and just lifts her head up and holds it there for at least a minute.  I told her that she wasn't allowed to do that because she is a baby and she needs to stay small as long as possible.  :)

This was her first little outfit I put her in when we got home.  I love the way newborns want to stay all curled up.  She is a very looooonnggg baby.  Most of her newborn outfits already don't fit and some I'm just taking back because I know that they won't fit.  I did open one and I couldn't even get the leggings on her.  What is up with that?!?!?  It's alright.  She's super adorable so I can handle her being a little big as long as she slows it down a little bit.  

I think she's like four days old in this one.  So sweet. 

Look at those long feet! 

I can't even handle how sweet she is. 

 We did buy her a little swing so I'd have a place to set her down in the kitchen.  In my head, when I'm thinking about what life will be like, I'm afraid of the hours of like 2:30 to 8pm.  When the kids get home and they need snacks and help with homework and it's dinner time and bedtime and it's busy so hopefully little Miss Maren won't feel too neglected and come to love her swing while I'm helping everyone else.  

Valentine's Day happened this week.  Than was feeling guilty that he didn't have something amazing planned but I was like...ummm, we just had a baby.  You bought me a van.  We're good.  And lets be honest, I didn't have a thing planned either.  

Started the morning with pink heart pancakes.  

Painted Claira's nails red.  She is a holdiday fanatic and I love it.  She set out her red valentine's dress three days before v-day just so she'd be prepared and "no one would take it".  She made lots of valentines for her friends and neighbors and could not wait for her Valentine's preschool party.  Than was saying all day that she should have been born into Kaylee's family where they really go all out for Valentine's day.  But I think we did a good job under the circumstances. :)

Here was our sweet little Maren Valentine.  

 

Gentry loved her so much she had to give her a little lick.

 That day Than and I went out to lunch with Emily and her kids and then headed over to Camry's school because they were having their annual first grade Sock-Hop.  Camry is so cute at school.  There is a difference in at-home kids and at-school kids and I love to see it.  She was a little nervous having us there but I think she was very proud to show off her new baby and have Than there.  

She said that after we left she started a conga line and all the girls got in it and that Mr. Siegel called them the conga girls. Very happy about that.  

One other great thing about Emily being here is that we get to spend lots of time with her kids.  Her kids are so dang cute!  Livia is just a chunk and is at a super fun age of being able to sit and play with toys but not go anywhere.  I love that stage. 

Seriously!  Look at those cheeks! 

It's fun to watch Emily enjoy being a mom.  She's really good at it.  Her kids are super happy and well behaved.  I'm so glad that she decided to have kids! 

Since Than played pillow fighting with Roman in Vegas, he insisted that they play again.  As soon as Than would walk in the door he'd say, "Nano.  Pillow fight?"  It's a good bonding experience.

This was another day when Em was playing with them outside.  The weather has been fantastic but is getting cold again now.  

And can I just say how much I love that I have my iphone to take pictures with??  I love my camera but just having my little camera has been so great.  I would have missed all of these little moments. 

A little smile....

Some kisses....

Hanging out on Daddy's lap...

Overall, just a perfect week with a perfect baby and perfect family.  Well, almost perfect. :)