getting the hang of things

I think that I am starting to figure out this business of having 3.

If i dont have dinner planned and figured out by 3, then it doesn't happen.

If I let Neal play in the bathroom with the faucet on, he will flood the bathroom and the maintenance guy will come barging through your front door while you are in your underwear cleaning it up

If Grace wants orange juice she will get a sippy out of the drawer and pour it herself and leave just a little puddle on the kitchen floor

If I want a shower it must happen while Josh is still home in the morning

If I lay Patten down after feeding him and I do not get his burp out, than I will end up right back in the shower (my worst spitter upper)

If I want a nap it must happen when Neal is down and right after I put Patten down

If I want to get anything done on my todo list then I cant take a nap:)

If the dishes are going to get done and the table wiped and the floor swept it can only happen while the tub is running and the kids are getting themselves undressed to get in. This is about a 5 minute window

If I want to do ichat or facetime it has to be done on the desktop or else the kids will fight over who gets to hold the ipad

If I forget to give Neal tylenol for his teething and an overnight diaper on his bum he will wake up more often than the baby during the night

If Grace wants to color and Neal is awake it must be on the kitchen counter or table. Neal thinks markers and crayons taste like candy

If I plan on getting back into shape any kind of running and working out will need to take place before 8am. If I wait till 10am Neal will think my tummy is a hippity hop while im doing crunches

If I want to grocery shop I will need to remember that it is not physically possible to hold Neal, push the cart, keep an eye on Grace and keep to my list. This week I ended up with a bag of gummy bears and a box of peanut butter cookies in my cart (oh and I even ran over Grace's big toe and ripped the entire nail off) I think I will go alone next time

If I didnt love being a Mom, all of this would get annoying and feel way to complicated. But really, I am totally down with it! It makes life fun.

3 weeks old

brothers

Gwendolyn

Cari had her baby!

Gwendolyn Rose Nethercott

7/22/11
7.12oz
19in

these are mine

Patten is a good baby

When my Mom was here visiting Josh and I snuck out to go see a movie and Patten took a bottle perfectly.

After a few days he got a hang of the whole "full feedings" concept and has been eating every 3 hours since. (and will want to eat in about 11 minutes so I better type this faster)

We have a pretty great schedule. He wakes up and eats, then he has awake time until he gets tired or fussy and then I swaddle him and tuck him into his bed or carseat if we are going out and he sleeps. Sometimes he is a little fussy so I give him a binkie to fall asleep.

He is such a good baby.

in the hospital

Patten's story..

On Sunday we all went to church and I wasnt feeling very good so Josh brought me home and went back to be with his Mom and our kids. I took a nap and woke up and around 5 the contractions started but I didnt want to make a big deal of it because I was worried that it wouldnt be real labor. Around 6 I mentioned to Lorna and Josh that I was having some good contracions and Lorna and I went for a few walks around the block to encourage things along. My contractions continued to be between 3 and 11 minutes apart so I went to bed at midnight and woke up to painful contractions at 3:00am. By 5am they were pretty strong and 3 to 5 minutes apart so I called my midwife and she said to come into the hospital. When I got there I was dilated to a 5 and about 70% effaced so they admitted me and hooked me up to all the monitors and machines. At about 8am I was 7cm waiting for my epidural which only numbed my back for some reason so the anesthesiologist had to come back and give me more meds. I pushed a few times and as Patten's head came out my midwife told me to grab the baby and help pull him out as I pushed so I did! it almost scared me he came out so fast and they put him right on my chest for me to hold and see. He was so handsome to me.

This was by far my easiest recovery. I didnt tear and I really had hardly any swelling. I am so blessed to have had such an awesome delivery and recovery. Two weeks later and I feel almost 100%. (and I have already been to the pool 3 times) The hardest part for me will be to actually get enough sleep and make it to the store all by myself with 3 kids. THAT will be a challenge.

who looks like who

Grace, Neal and Patten

Patten Brent Collette

7.11.11

7.8 lbs
21 3/4 in
9:08 am

cupcakes

july 4th

we spent the 4th of July at a park with family this year. I was so glad that it was low key because I was having contractions all night and I thought that I was going to go into labor. I didnt, but it was nice to keep it low key.



On our way to watch the fairfax fireworks we rolled down all the windows on the truck and blasted some fun music going fast on the freeway. The kids thought that it was a blast and wanted more. Neal pointed like this all night saying "wook" and we all couldnt get enough of it.

he will have fuzzy hair

Grace told me that the baby is going to come out with fuzzy hair and shoes on that he can wear in the tub. I hope she is right about the fuzzy hair.

thoughts before the baby

My Mom sent me pictures of the beautiful quilt she made for our baby. I cannot wait to wrap him up in it and kiss his tiny face.

Today I had one of my last doctor appointments and the midwife that saw me was cold and quick. I wish that I was delivering in Utah because Dr. Jones is so incredibly nice.

We rented our house and signed a lease with our tenant this last weekend, which is so nice to have done right before the baby comes. But you know what was sad for me? Tonight after I put the kids to bed I did an official change of address. And that means that we are moving to california after the summer. I am really sad to leave all that I love about Lehi behind. I will really miss our wonderful ward and friends and the sweet set up we have out there living 4 houses down from Brandon and Hill. Maybe someday we will move back?

This week my goal is to kiss Grace and Neal as much as possible. I know that they dont really understand how things will change when the baby comes and that i will not be able to run to their every need and want. So this week I am wrestling with Neal on the ground, catching earwigs in the grass to put in glass jars, and playing barbies with Grace. Oh and last night I even held Neal on the couch at 2:53 am and just enjoyed watching him drink his bottle with his eyes closed while he rubbed his monkey against his cheek.

My ongoing list is actually getting smaller! I need to buy some big pillows this week so that I can nurse in bed all trough the night. I want to make and freeze a bunch of blueberry muffins so that the kids can eat those for breakfast while I am busy with baby.

We still are not sure on a name. Any suggestions are welcome!

Haircut?

Cari and Beth were watching Grace for me and showed me this when I got home. Apparently she is very passionate about her hair.

aunt buff saves the day

she carries in my groceries just about every time we go to the store

she takes out my trash

she lets my kids face paint with chalk

she makes an amazing bacon, cheese, lettuce, avocado sandwich

she is such a huge help!

thank you aunt Buff for spoiling all of us

our iDad

Josh is such a fun Dad. We love spending time together on Sundays wrestling after church on our bed. Happy fathers day Josh! we sure love you

Josh turned 27

Some of you know how dedicated Josh is to his job, and for those of you that dont, dedicated is an understatement. His hours of work are from about 10 am to 1 am. I am being totally serious! When I convinced him to let us steal him for 1 hour to go out and celebrate being 27 I got a little teary eyed on the way. I was just so excited to be with him and spend some time together out as a family.

Josh has so many qualities that I really admire, but one of my favorites is how he makes people feel about themselves. When you talk with him he gives you his full attention as he quietly listens to understand where you are coming from. Then he carefully gives advice or suggestions (when asked) as to what he thinks with ONLY the best intentions in mind. I have seen and heard him talk with so many people over the last few years and it is always so impressive to me how careful he is not to offend, but yet so genuinely honest. This is a talent that he has been blessed with and I am so grateful for it.

Josh is also extreamly motivated and driven. We have a dream (thanks to him) of living in a sunny place that is driving distance to the beach. Lots of children running through our modest home surrounded with green grass to run on. And guess who is going to make that happen? You bet! My handsome husband. The other day he came home from work really late and we chatted all about this life that we will have. Its going to be beautiful. Josh even promised me that we can have the ginormous garden that will grow "out back". He knows just what I want.

Happy Birthday to my Josh

so grace

5224 rental

5224 is FOR RENT! Our ad is here if you know anyone in the sacramento area who might be interested! We are so excited to find some good renters who will take good care of this place for us. I will even give you a $50 gift card if someone you refer signs a 1 yr+ lease with us!

before and afters-














(thanks mom and beth for taking all the pictures)

5224 is officially done! The ups and downs to remember..

-having long conference calls (sometimes up to 4 hours) with Dad, Josh and Alec
-4 backyard sized loads of stuff to go to the dump, including a pool
-making trips to home depot pregnant with 2 kids in the cart who would decorate the aisles with cheerios, fruit snacks, and rock candy while I shopped for tile, a tub and house numbers
-finding out that Dad had some design opinions of his own. (I love you Dad!)
-our contractor ripping us off in the middle of the project, and leaving his levi pants behind
-finding out that said contractor didnt even install the drains in the tub and showers

(more ups and downs coming)