We're alive...

We're just busy with Christmas, remodeling, preparing for the baby blessing, and living our stinkin' busy lives. More to come, when I have time... (so maybe never! haha)

Merry Christmas everyone! Be safe and have fun this holiday season!! :)

Having a Blast With Our Girl!!

Ash still has her teeth!! The pediatrician suggested to have them pulled, so we went to our pediadontist and she said that they were pretty solid and she didn't think that they would fall out. So she said we could just watch them and check to see if they loosen up, but they will just keep growing and getting stronger roots so she should be safe. Yeah, because we like her teeth! They are cute. The funny thing is that everyone's concerns are with me and nursing her. Yah, she does bite me, but not hard and not often. I can handle it. It's hard not to be able to tell her not to bite, though. haha! She smiles a ton!!! Usually while sleeping, but so often that I have been able to catch her smiles on camera! So cute!! And I love that she still has her hair...

And I can't leave out the boys. They are still loved even though we are obsessed with our cutie-girl right now!! They were the wolf pack for Halloween. Aren't they way cuter than the real Quileute Tribe?? Heck yes!!! (I drew their tribal tattoos on with a sharpie)

Ash was a princess, but my sis has the pics of her on her camera. Our camera broke! :(

I can't believe she is already a month old!! Man, time flies!!!

Ashlyn Nikelle Baker is here!!!!

Everything's going good. More info when I have more time, but click http://ko-photography.blogspot.com/ here to see a few pics! They are the 3 of the baby girl, the post is titled "congratulations T"

p.s. Yes, she does have 2 bottom teeth!

Little Update

Does this happen? By the time you are pregnant with your 5th kid, you are so laxed about what you need to do to get ready for the baby, that you do nothing? And you're less than two weeks away from delivery?? We gutted our bedroom 4 weeks ago and are still "living" in the family room. At first, Ashlyn will go in our room when she comes, however, we don't even have a room, therefore, she doesn't even have a bed yet. We can't put her in her own room, because Jonny doesn't like the paint job I did, so I need to change some of it and haven't. I don't have a hospital bag ready, I don't have any of her stuff washed, I don't have her "special" outfit for her to come home in. I do finally have her carseat, and I do have diapers. What more does she need, really? I guess I can try and throw a blanket or two in a load of laundry, I mean, I do about 3 loads a day. Then at least she'll have a blanket. And I guess I can set up the pack n play in the family room at the end of our bed, or she can cuddle right up in between us, that could work. I can try and finish her room and then sleep on a blow up mattress next to her crib. Hey, now there's an option. Hmmm, any ideas from anyone else who may have ever been in this situation? I doubt it, because I doubt anyone else out there is lame enough to start projects only weeks before a baby is to come to their home. What is this whole thing called? "Nesting" I think I heard someone say. When you need to get all of these things done to feel adequate enough to bring a new baby home. What is it called when you get started and don't finish in time and the baby gets to come home to chaos??? Anyone know?

P.S.

If anybody is interested, (hint hint, haha) I am registered at Walmart and Walmart.com. I obviously have absolutely nothing for girls in my house. I have had a ward baby shower and am having a couple more with family, but am still in need!... Thanks!! (you can have gifts shipped directly to my house or to my walmart store for me to pick up! How convenient!!)

Really, I have had a lot of friends and family who have asked me what I need. I'm sure that I'm forgetting essential things that I don't remember needing for babies, but I think I've got most of it on my registry!! Besides, who doesn't love to shop for girls???

Haha, Thanks!! ;) Here's a link http://www.walmart.com

Baby's on it's way....

My doctor is awesome!!! He has been so easy going with this pregnancy. It has been nice!! I guess once you have as many kids as we do, most of the docs kind of let you call the shots. On not so important things, anyway. I got to choose whether I wanted to take the glucose tolerance test, I got to choose to start seeing him every two weeks or wait a little longer, AND the best of it all? I get to choose my due date. As early as 2 weeks before my actual due date!!!
To tell the truth, I am miserable and would actually like to have her now, but the doc says it's a little too soon, which I know, but I am ready. My home is not ready for a baby yet, but I am definitely ready to be done being pregnant. I have been done since the day I found out that I was pregnant!!!
Reasons to be done?
1. I no longer have ankles.
2. My belly feels like a rock and there is NO more room for baby to grow.
3. I get a total of 4 hours of sleep at night.
4. I live off of cereal. (preferrably lucky charms)
5. I no longer get on the scale facing forward at the doc's. I get on backward so I can't see the numbers.
6. Our front and back yard look like a jungle because I can no longer bend over to pull weeds.
7. I have chronic back pain.
8. I asked my doctor to sedate me from now until the baby is due.
9. I started contracting at 3 and a half months along (not kidding) and they have gradually become harder and more often. The other day I was having them 4 minutes apart.
10. I am just starting, but starting nonetheless, to be curious about what this little girl will look like. What if she's ugly???

There are other issues, but they aren't appropriate for this blog. I'm sure all you people reading with any knowledge of pregnancy issues knows and maybe can even feel my pain!!!

Anyway, blah blah blah! The baby is growing at a normal pace and as far as I know, she is healthy, so that's good, right?

So, opinions. I had decided on a date for this baby to come, and now am having doubts, first of all, because of Jonny, and second of all, because I get everyone else's opinions and it confuses me! So, your opinions please? And I will say now, they will not completely effect my decision, but may influence it a little!

I will either have the baby around October 6th, and my doctor will be there to deliver her, OR, I can have her on October 10th, and her birthday will be 10/10/10, (this is the day Jonny REALLY wants), but my doctor will be gone, and I will have another doctor deliver. So, should I choose the date or the doctor? (btw, I really like and trust my doctor!!)
Let me know, would ya???

So far this summer.... and not much left to go... :(

We have had a ton of fun!!! Of course, there's always the falls that come with being outdoors. (he really fell backwards and into the bucket and was stuck!)

We put new sod in our backyard (I laid more than half of it by myself, 5 months prego! I really had no choice! It needed to be done and there was nobody there to do it but me.) and the kids are enjoying it with grandpa. We don't just throw water in water fights, we through the whole cup!
We've had a trip to Bear Lake. Fun in the windy, partly-cloudy sun!!

We've been to the zoo. This particular time was fun because Lanece and Griffin came with us. It was his first time to a zoo. He didn't know what to think of all the animals, but like all boys (and I guess all kids for that matter), loved it!!

Lanece and Griffin came and stayed with us for a whole month!!! It was the best month of summer so far!! (and no good plans for the end of summer, so I guess they win)

This is the first thing we did when school got out for summer. The very next day after the last day of school, Tayten was baptized... finally!! We tell people he was so naughty that we had to wait a while to baptize him. The truth of the matter? I was too sick to plan anything until now. He didn't mind having to postpone for a few months. He was a good sport. He says that he feels so different now that he's baptized. Like he can feel something with him all of the time. He says that it makes him happy. We're glad he knows to look for those feelings.

We attended Spencer's baseball games. He played for the Phillies this year. They actually started out ranked the lowest, and ended up going to championships and got 2nd place!! (The team they played in the finals was undefeated, obviously they won 1st) They did great and Spence is really learning the sport!!

There have been plenty of other things going on this summer. Lunches at the elementary, swimming at the rec center and to Gateway with grandma, aunts and cousins, bike rides, walks, seeing Eclipse a few times, and having the premiere party before-hand, other great movies that we've taken the kids to or rented at redbox, Jonny and I going to Phoenix for our last trip to school, rearranging bedrooms so that we can get a room ready for baby, birthdays, working in the veggie garden, picking cherries and apricots, watching our pumpkins grow and getting excited to pick them for Halloween, the boys have been very much into street hockey, they went and bought hockey sticks at the DI with their own money, staying up late and sleeping in (and on and on and on..)!!!

Best of all, Jonny got a new job!!! He is so far enjoying every minute of it, and I am enjoying the normal Mon-Fri schedule. He has decided to stay at [B]Lowe's part-time, just until we get the things we need to finish up our home projects, and then he's out of there!! And even if we don't get done before the baby comes, he'll still leave by then!! New chapter opening up for us! We'll let ya all know how it goes....

In the meantime, a few more weeks of summer and then we'll have a 4th grader, a 3rd grader, a kindergartner and a preschooler. Shortly after that, a newborn!!

Crazy lives of the Bakers... tune in for more!!!

Anti-Facebook

Is it just me, or does it seem like nobody really blogs anymore??!! I know the new fad is facebook, but I just will not join in on that. I signed up a long time ago just to find one friend, and then I kept getting all these emails from people who wanted to be my friend on facebook and I don't even have anything set up on there, just my name. I finally closed my account, only to have Jonny accidentally re-open it for me. So now the emails are coming in again. Please, nobody be offended by me not inviting you to be my friend, it's just because I don't do facebook. I'm not a fan, and I can't exactly pin-point why, I'm just not. I didn't even want to be in the blogging world, but my sister changed that for me by setting me up!! I now keep up, occasionally, and I can't say that I'm not just as bad, I haven't posted anything in a while, but come on people!! I like my list of bloggers, and I want you to update so that I can see what you all are up to. Not all of us see you on facebook, so think of others, please!! (ok, I'm probably the only one who doesn't facebook, but still...)
Ok, well, there is my facebook blow-up for the day. I don't hate it, I just don't want to be involved with it. It's not my thing...

Sorry!!

Now that that's out of the way, I will be posting some fun things that have been going on here soon... bare with me...

Yes, it is

WE ARE HAVING.........................





































A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our little Ashlyn is finally arriving after many, many tries. (and this time we didn't try. I guess that was the trick all along. huh.)

...HELLO...

Things may actually be looking up. I'm finally feeling pretty much better. I still have all of the other pregnancy symptoms going on, such as, fatigue, headaches, backaches, cravings, hot flashes and fattness, and I still have nausea, but no throwing up, which is good. My stomach is gigantic already-I look like I'm 7+ months along-and I feel like I already waddle, but at the same time, I am still wearing my regular, pre-pregnancy pants, and can button them. I guess that's the benefit of throwing up for 3 months.

I am 18+ weeks now and find out what this kid will come out to be next week sometime. I say boy, I am one of the 2 who voted for boy on my poll. It just seems routine for me.
The only thing that brings suspicion that it may be different is that all 4 of my previous pregnancies have been the same; same cravings, carried the same, etc. This one, not so much.
I crave different foods this time, cereal, dairy, and lime juice, this baby doesn't move around as much as my 4 hyper-active boys have in my stomach, and I carry this baby way high. That's probably why my pants still button. Those are the only 3 differences, and who's to say that it's caused by the gender of the baby? Think about it. Why would a girl baby cause different issues than a boy baby, or vice versa. They really are wive's tales, I suppose. I am definately gearing up to see boy parts in the ultrasound. Yah, I will still bawl, but at least this kid will have a name before it's born, unlike my last baby, whether boy or girl, we have a name for either gender, so it's all good...

A note from the (real) Editor...

Hey ya'll... This cute blog will have more pics of fun times and lots of crazy boy things as soon as June comes around! Can't wait to be in Utah with my sis and her boys!! :o) Stay Tuned...

Also, make sure you vote for what you think Taleesha is having!! If you guess right, you just might win a surprise at her baby shower this Summer!! (can you tell I'm such a proud auntie?!)

love,
Lanece

12+ weeks

3 months now.
Thought things might be looking up from here.
Not yet.
Got worse last week and feel like I'm starting over on trying to feel somewhat better again.
I have felt the baby move though, for the last 2 weeks, and it kind of helps me get by.
Went to the doc, had an ultrasound. Seems like a boy to me. Not that I could see anything yet, it
just seems like the routine thing with our babies and pregnancies, to have the outcome be a boy.
Therefore, to me, its a boy. If I soon find out something different, I'll let ya all know!
In the mean time, thanks for the prayers! This might seem silly, but when I have really bad days, I can really feel the spirit comforting me and I can feel all of the prayers that have been given in our behalf. Prayers really do work and help a lot!
Always pray for people who need it, it helps more than you may know! :o )

Update...

Not really good news. I'm getting sicker, having to go to the hospital every day now. Wound up in the ER on Sunday, turns out its acid reflux from all that throwing up. (I wouldn't go to the ER for acid reflux, but the nurse made me! Wheeled me there herself)
I'm working on getting home care, but that isn't happening as quickly as I wish it would. Dang insurance!!
I guess the good news is that I'm still alive.

Really???

Yup. It's mine.

Jonny is... excited.

I'm... not.

The boys want a sister.

I want to not be sick.

I've already been on several medications and go to the hospital every other day for IV hydration.

And I'm only 8 measly weeks!

Lost 11+ pounds.

Don't know how I found the energy to even post this.

If you want to congratulate, leave a comment.

If you want to help our poor, chaotic family with meals, laundry, and babysitting, give us a call!!

Tagging post...

Confessions of a normal mom...

These are a few of the confessions I dare admit online. And only a few for fear of being turned in for child abuse! Haha!! (that's not really funny and it's also not really true!)

1. If me, and the 2 youngest kids don't have anywhere to go on certain days, we won't get dressed until the afternoon, if we even get dressed at all!! (usually we stay in our jammies)

2. We have cereal for dinner sometimes. I don't know about anyone else, but I run out of dinner ideas, even though I have a list on my computer, and sometimes I just don't feel like making anything!

3. I will put my boys in the shower and let them play while I sit down and take a break! Sometimes they're in there for a while! (30 min)

4. They love going next door and playing at the neighbor's house, and she doesn't mind, so I'll let them go for the whole day sometimes. (I can clean, shower, work-out, or have a nap. It's a nice rest for me, but I think she's too nice and won't send them home even when she's sick of them!)

5. I will run to the boys school right before lunch starts to take them lunches or lunch money because I forgot to do it the night before. Which leads me to #6.

6. Sometimes, (probably too often) my boys set their alarm clock, get up and get ready for school and come tell me they're leaving... and I'm still in bed!! (That's why I run them lunch later!) (And in my defense, I do have a fatigue issue, but still, I do feel bad for this)

7. I don't check the boys backpacks often enough. Sometimes I open them, and papers are spilling out!! (with very old dates on them, oops...)

8. I have let my kids eat cake, ice cream, doughnuts, or cookies for breakfast. But not all on the same day, and definately not every day!!!

9. We HATE bedtime. Sometimes, when the boys keep getting out of bed, we put them on the porch and lock the door and tell them to find a new house to live in or to go up to the mountains and live with the wolves. (they aren't stupid though, they either run around to the back door and sneak back in, or they go to the neighbors) We've also given up and let them run wild until midnight. That one backfires for days, though!

10. When our boys are making fun of each other, ie. 'you like kirstin', 'you have a potato head', we don't always get mad and tell them to stop, sometimes we join in!! :/ (don't worry, it sounds cruel, but in the end, everyone is laughing)

Well, there ya go! My February post. 'Confessions of a normal mom' at least what is normal in our house!!

I would LOVE to read some of my fellow bloggers confessions, so I am tagging everyone on my whole blog list!! I'll be checking in....

Although our last post wasn't the happiest, we did have highlights of 2009. These are some of my favorites:



Going to see New Moon at midnight on opening day. Loved it! (as I have mentioned)

My New Moon Party, 3 nights before the movie came out. It was so much fun to create and I have so many new ideas for the next one in June!!! Mark your calendars!!

Tearing down the wall between the living room and kitchen. It's still not completely finished, but man, has it made a difference already!!

Playing our annual veggie baseball game with the leftover veggies from the garden. It poured veggies, seeds, guts AND rain!! We were a mess but it was a blast, as usual.

Going to visit Necey 17 times in Vegas. I'm so glad I did too, because now that she lives twice as far away, the visits unfortunately won't get to be as often.

Going hiking, biking, camping, exploring, and all of the outdoor activities with the family.

Ripping out the front yard, and eventually getting it back in.

And our first trip to college. Our heads were spinning with knowledge!

These are a few of the memories made in 2009. We had a good time despite all of the tough times we went through. The tough times sure aren't over yet, but we are definately looking forward to making things better in the coming year.

Thanks, to all who helped us make it through 2009, you are forever blessed! We can't wait to make more memories in 2010 and are excited to share those with the ones we love!!