One Month Old

My little Noah,

In the blink of an eye a whole month has past. Some of the newness is wearing off, you've gained some weight and filled out some of your wrinkles :) We have started to settle into a routine and you are a sweet little guy! You are content most of the time and even let mommy get rest at night. The only thing that really seems to bother you is messy diapers, you appreciate being changed promptly. You are well loved by everyone here and recieve lots of daily kisses!

MAP Testing

Within the homeschooling community I've heard a lot of pro's and con's about having your kids tested. I'm still not sure how I feel. I don't really feel like I need to test them, I think they're doing ok. I do wonder, though, about how I am doing as their teacher. If they are tested and they do alright then that means I must at the least be an adequate teacher, right? Well, we bit the bullet this morning and my oldest two kids took the MAP test (Measure of Academic Progress). Now we just wait until next week to hear the results on how they did. I was glad that the test focused on math and reading only not on history, social studies, science etc. None of the questions were over controversial matters, thank goodness! They did seem to ask a significant amount of questions about syllables, more than I thought necessary. All of this really means nothing to me though until we get some results.

So, how about you? Do you test your kids?
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Outside fun in the sun

Apparently I've been MIA around here for a week! I guess that's what happens when Washington gets a bit of sunshine. It's rare so we are out enjoying it!

In a recent post I told you about a mini bike that my husband fixed up. The kids really like it but it has a downside...only one rider at time. So my Dh has been searching for a solution. He was thinking a go kart that would seat two, but he came across this mini car on Craigslist.

It's in rough condition, but with some elbow grease, a few new parts, and some modifications we're hoping it'll work out great. The plan is to make it with bench seats so it will seat a driver and four small passengers :)

Here the kids all pitched in to scrub it up a bit.

This little guy doesn't see the need for something gas powered, he's happy with Flinstone style!



Then we took a drive down to the beach to play.

It was fun and we came home with lots of sand :) (you know, in our shoes)

The kids spent some time playing around with a remote control truck....

and last but not least is our new friend....

We've learned three times, yes THREE times, this past week that if the door off our kitchen gets left open swallows will fly into our house. Twice I've found one of these guys flying around my kitchen and once there was one flying circles around in my bedroom. Funny you say? You know when you're walking outside and a bird is above you? What is your fear? That it will poop on you, right? Well, what do you think will happen to your bed when the bird is flying around??? Oh yeah, that part's NOT so funny!!

Do you have hobbies?

I have a few. I used to have more but I’m sure that all of you know that when you have kids it puts some limits on your life. One of the things I’ve tried to maintain is scrapbooking.

I may only pull the stuff out once or twice a year, but it’s something I’m not willing to give up. For each of my kids I’ve tried to accomplish a scrapbook of their first year of life. I pulled out the box of albums yesterday to look at a picture and realized that I’m behind.

Shocking right? Haha.

I’m about halfway through the first year of my fifth child. Looking at all the finished albums I felt all inspired and ready to pull out all the paper, stickers, etc to get caught up.

Then I remembered why I stopped halfway through an album.

No photos.

It’s not that we haven’t taken any pictures, they are just ALL on the computer.

Digital images.

Nothing I can put my hands on, cut out and make it look all neat. I’m sure it’ll take me awhile but today I’ve started uploading pictures to order prints. Hopefully in a couple of weeks when the pictures finally arrive I’ll still be inspired.

I've been a bit bored today. I'm not even sure how it happened. I mean, how can a house full of little kids, laundry to be done, dishes, vacuuming and all other sorts of things not keep me completely busy? I'll tell you how. This here computer. Yep, that's my excuse. I played around. The sink is still full, the laundry is still in folded piles (it's clean), the house is messy...but aren't these photos cute?

I usually just upload my pictures from my computer, but Emily has introduced me to Flickr and there are just some fun tools to use!! The picture can go from ordinary to extraordinary. Okay, that was a lame line, but you get my point right? So, now I need to go get some things done so my Dh won't be ashamed that I told all of you on the internet that my house was messy. I may even get the sink so shiny Flylady would be proud!

How to choose a church?

Lately my husband and I have been pondering the purpose of church. Since moving onto the island here we've attended two churches on island and one off island. Each church is different, of course. There are aspects of each that we like and also things we didn't like. We keep coming back to the same thoughts though. What is it that should be the determining factor? Do we go where we like the people best? The worship? The sermon? We are told not to forsake the fellowship of other believers and to gather together....but just what is that supposed to look like? We are at a place in our lives where we want to find a church to really plug into. We want to meet people to actually get to know them and them us. We want to grow spiritually and be challenged, sharpened, refined.

With that said let me describe the three places we've been (as they are pretty much our only options at this time)

1. A church on the island about 10 minutes away. The people are very nice and friendly. The sermons are good, the music is alright. Going there seems okay, just not inspiring.

2. Another church on the island less than 2 minutes away (we can walk). The people are nice, though it seems like 90% are over the age of 60. I liked the music here as it was more old hymns (which makes sense with older people) maybe weird but I liked that. The sermons were good, but again nothing that seemed to challenge me or make me think.

3. A church off island, commuting being a slight pain. It's a big church, part of a mega church to be exact. The people seemed very friendly, lots of young married new families. The sermon was fantastic, the music more like going to a concert than worship.

So then I'm back to my questions.

What is it that we go for?

If it's the teaching, well the one I like the best (#3) has a video podcast I could watch at home.

Is it the worship? I could crank up a CD with the family here.

I lean towards thinking it's to be with other believers. We could really plug ourselves in at any of these churches and try to connect with people.

So, what makes you choose the church you attend?

Sometimes compliments come out in interesting phrases, take this morning for example. I was sitting drinking my coffee as Dh was getting ready for work and our 3 year old daughter was the only one up with me.

She turned to me and said, "I love Daddy!"

I said, "That's nice."

Then she said, "Even when he doesn't bring me treats."

Isn't it good to know that your kids will love you even when you're not passing out goodies??

6 days

Could I be any cuter??

Boys and their toys....and a girl too!

A few weeks ago we were given a mini bike from our neighbor, he called it a 'project bike'. My husband likes projects so he gladly took it on :) He happens to have time off since the baby was born so naturally, it's the perfect time for a project.

Here's the frame all ready for paint

After one color of paint...

A second coat in a second color...

Dh installed a new motor, clutch...welded a crack in the frame adjusted this and tweaked that (I just didn't take photos of this part)

All put back together!!

And now for the fun part, RIDING IT!!

I think they did pretty well for their first tries, it'll be a few more times before they really get the hang of it though. Dh didn't need any lessons, so for him it was fun from the get go!!

6 word memoir

Alright Emily...because you tagged me...Here is the title to my 6 word memoir.

Pizza anyone? It's all about convenience.

Here are the rules:
1. Write the title to your own memoir using 6 words.
2. Post it on your blog.
3. Link to the person that tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs.

I'm tagging the following ladies. (click on names to visit them)

Dawn~ 'cause your post always interest me and I'm curious what you'd write.
ANGEL~ 'cause the more people that tag you...the better chance you'll participate???
Leanne~ 'cause you already posted...so this justifies it :P
Robyn~ 'cause it I want to see you post again!
Kathi~ 'cause I want to see if you've fixed your links....this is a test!

There you have it...now I'm off to snuggle my baby some more!

Birth Story and Contest winner!

First off I want to say thank you for all the sweet comments! Also big, huge hugs to Robyn for coming here to watch the kids (at all hours!) and to the Fabulous Miss Em for all her help here and blogging for me!!!

And now on with the story....

I woke up having contractions on Thursday morning, not much unlike a few other days this past week. They felt a little stronger so I was hoping 'this is it'. They remained about 10-15 minutes apart and weren't really getting any stronger or closer, just annoying. I finally decided to call my doctor and see if I could come in and be checked and *maybe* be induced to speed this along. Robyn came to stay with the kids and Dh and I went off across the ferry. This just happens to be my doctor's week off, so I was seen by a doctor that was a complete stranger to me. She checked my cervix and said I was dilated 3 cm. She proceeds to tell us that they don't really even have any rooms available as they are very busy. She suggested that I go walk around for a couple hours and come back if things pick up. At this point both hubby and I are really annoyed. We both felt like we had just been casually dismissed. Since going home would take awhile we decided to just go to a few stores and walk around and see if things would speed up. There I was walking through Best Buy, then Target all the while having contractions pretty consistent...but still ten minutes apart. Finally I'm just tired so we got back in the car and came home.

I'm feeling defeated, tired and desperate at this point. I've had friends tell me about drinking Red Raspberry Leaf tea, so I decided to give it a try. In the evening I drank 3 cups of the tea, I'm still having contractions, they are still far apart.... I went and laid down thinking I'd need as much rest as I could get, even if it was in 9-10 minute intervals.

Another couple of restless hours later I start having intense contractions. After timing a few they are now 7-9 minutes apart. I look at the clock...1:38 am...the last ferry off the island was at 1:20 am and the next isn't until 4:05 am. Not for 2 hours! I'm starting to feel a bit panicked! I called Robyn and she said she'd come over. A little after 3 am she came and my contractions were probably about 5-6 minutes apart. We jump in the car and head out. We NEED to make this ferry! Thank goodness we get on the ferry! Now the contractions are 3-4 minutes apart, 30 minute ferry ride....aaaahh!

Phew, we make it across the ferry and start driving to the hospital. I've been through labor 6 times before this and NEVER has is hurt so bad. Each contraction was unbelievable! We finally arrive at the hospital and proceed to check in. It's now 5 am.

They get me to a room and the nurse is scrambling to get things prepped. I'm begging for pain meds or an epidural but she says she needs to check my cervix first. They get me into a gown prep the bed and she checks...I'm a 5 1/2 -6. The nurse calls the anesthesiologist and the doctor to come FAST! Then she starts working on my IV.

The contractions are now one after the other and so painful I'm freaking out!

This is not like me and my hubby (poor guy) is trying to figure out what to do! The nurse says she wants to check me again and this time she says I'm complete and the head is way low. Being very encouraging Dh tells me to try to hang in there the baby will be out in about 5 minutes. Me, being extremely rationally practically yell at him, "how do you know?" Then with the next contraction I felt like pushing and couldn't stop. One big push later he was born into the hands of the nurse!

The time was 5:33 am, a mere 15 minutes after walking into the hospital room.

Not exactly how I would have planned it, but hey he's wonderful and healthy and right now I'm in this new baby euphoria and am just trying to forget about how ungraceful I was :)

and now for our contest winner....

I put all the names of people who commented onto little pieces of paper and my son picked one out:

Leanne

You are the lucky winner!!

Noah

Announcing :
Noah Dillon
7lbs 13oz


The Birth Story will come in a day or two...and it's a good one! (near birth on the ferry....15 minutes in the hospital before he came....birth w/ no doctor...)

Winner of the CANDY and giftcard to be announced tomorrow.

(Posted by the Fabulous Miss Em)