Making Adjustments...

I can't believe it has been three weeks since Brenna was born. Time flies by when you aren't continuously tossing your cookies! We are all learning how this sweet baby fits into our lives. Dave is still getting sleep and thinks this baby is the cutest little squish. I am adjusting to the sleep deprivation and all other physical demands that come with a new baby that are best not mentioned here! It is always amazing how you don't really need to make room in your heart to love another child, you just find that you had a capacity that was untapped! It is strong and all consuming and awesome.

Grant is all over Brenna...and I do mean ALL OVER her. He constantly hovers and while I am feeding her, he constantly asks if I am done milking yet... as if I didn't already make that connection in my head with how I feel! He is fascinated by all she does. He discovered my pump and has requested to borrow it for Star Wars because it looks like a space satellite....awesome. He asked me to take the baby somewhere else the other day because couldn't hear his game on the computer...hmmm, so sorry to intrude! Another day,he was giggling as she wrapped her little fingers around his and I told him how she was saying she loved him. He said, "No, she is saying I WILL DESTROY YOU!" Ah, the power of an infant!
Katelee has only been kind to the little babe...but she is still figuring out where we all fit. Most days she is even more emotional than ever, which is extreme for our live in drama queen. Here is a glimpse of how she looks most days: All in all, we are adjusting smoothly and are so happy Brenna is here! Most of the time, I think she enjoys it as well!

Welcoming Brenna

Brenna Catherine arrived Wednesday evening at 10:52pm. While I had plenty of forewarning with my labor starting early Tuesday morning, we may have waited a bit too long to leave for the hosptial...considering I was in the delivery room for 20 minutes before her debut!

She weighed in at 8lbs 4oz and is 21 in long. We all adore her completely! The kids have been enamored and I have averted some near smotherings...more to come of that I am sure!

Dave and I met on Valentines Day at an Institute church breakfast. So, every year to be sentimental and cutesy, I suppose, we go out to breakfast. This year, we obviously opted to stay in, but I can think of no greater way to celebrate than to be with our "big kids" and welcome our new beautiful daughter. It is definitely a Happy Love day!!!

Birthday Boy

Grant recently had his birthday and I would declare it was a success! He counted down the days until it arrived and the night before he wanted to verify with me that I would come get him in the morning, like it was Christmas. It was really cute. However, as he is one year older I think he has entered full boy battle zone...gone are the days where he would pretend he is a chef, the garbage obsession has fizzled (not too sad about that, plus he still has occasional trash pick up days with his trucks and toliet paper around the house), but every night before bed he picks a new super hero name. Sometimes he makes up a name (like Super Slice, a dangerous foe who could dash you to bits with his fingernails) or he chooses a standard marvel character (ie Wolverine or Ironman). So, his birthday gifts consisted of light sabers, strobe laser guns, Batman, Spiderman toys etc. He chose a crocodile cake and was pleased with how it turned out:
We had a lot of fun that day and he got to sleepover at grandma's house after, so it was a birthday to remember! We also got to say farewell to my sister Paige who left on her mission a couple of weeks ago! The kids pray she will have no troubles on her mission, especially learning Spanish...I am sure she will appreciate that! We tried to spend lots of time with her and here we are at the Sweets Candy shop. I can't get Grant to part with his flattering hair net, he said he is keeping it forever....

Christmas Cheer

We hope everyone's Christmas was merry and bright! We had a nice holiday and are already getting questions from the kids as to where Santa is now and when it will be Christmas again.

Who knew such refined princesses eat candy canes with their feet! Who teaches these people manners?!

We didn't send out Christmas cards this year but please know how much we appreciate and love our family and friends! I haven't been feeling great and have been opting out of a lot of things on the account of never ending queasiness! A couple of weeks ago, I was really not feeling well, hauling the kids around with my barf bag ready in my purse. We approached Costco, and I really didn't want to go in, so I asked Grant and Katelee if they wanted to go home or go to Costco. Of course, Grant wanted to go home and Katelee wanted to go in. I told them to work it out and let me know in a few minutes what was decided. I listened in as Katelee whined and pouted and Grant attempted bribery and persuasion for his side. Finally, Grant let out a sigh and said, "Alright Kate, will it make you happy if we go to Costco?" The little drama queen sniffled and said, "Yes." Grant announced we could go ahead and go in. I told him that it was so nice of him to do that, to which he replied, "Well, I am just doing my job!"
While it made me smile and it was a cute reply, I have thought that is going to be one of the things I would like to work on in 2010...making it my job to put others first and see to it they are happy! Happy New Year!

Things We Will Never Do...

Do you ever look back and laugh at all the things you said you would never do because you realize that you broke that vow long ago. Things like: I will never let my kid sleep in my bed, I will never have an artificial tree at Christmas (promise broken for the McArthurs Christmas 2007, and it has been a glorious fake tree time since), or I will never pay someone to put up Christmas lights. This last certainty is yet to be done away, but after our lighting of the house this year, we may consider it in 2010. Here's our neighbor's house:
We envisioned something like this for our home, but it ended up like this:
It's fine, I know, but mini-lights are not my thing for outdoors, I requested the large ones, but this is what we got. Now, that isn't the reason for the possibility of paying someone to do this for us next year. Dave, in all his handy glory offered to help our neighbor hang his lights on his tall house because they could do it faster if they worked together and our neighbor is slightly squeamish with heights. (different neighbor than the one who occupies the picture above). So, as Dave was on the ladder at our friends' house, the ladder slips and Dave is hanging on to their house by the rain gutter. After the ladder punched a hole in the stucco and dropped to the ground, Dave knew it was also his time to release to the concrete below. Our neighbor caught Dave and they landed with their faces inches from each other and eyes as wide as could be. Grant, witnessed the whole thing and came inside to tell me. He said, "Mom, Dad needs you. He fell off the ladder on Mr. Taylor.....it was AWESOME!" Everyone is fine and honestly, it is pretty funny. He wasn't too high off the ground, but we may be considering other options for next year!

The other day Grant handed me a french fry (anyone out there say their kids would never eat fast food:)?) . I told him thanks and he said " I want to give you this fry mom because that's what Christmas is all about-GIVING." Excellent reflection time for me at the local Wendy's. I was glad to be reminded of all I have been given and want to give. Thanks Grant!