All by myself.......

My help has all abandoned me. I was feeling pretty good about this three kid thing with my parents here helping and Rick taking time off work....and then everyone went back to their real lives, including me. We're surviving over here on short amounts of sleep and a not to spotless house, but it was great having my parents and Rick home to help for awhile. Here's some pictures of the kids with my parents...... We went out on an airboat tour (I left Rick home with Cole and a bottle...) to see alligators...who were apparently all sleeping underwater that day...

We had to hit up Jaxons for their famous ice cream

And we even took the kids to a water park for a work event for the fire department (which was sadly how Cole got his sunburn under a lifeguard umbrella)

The rest of the time was spent playing at our house, swimming, and going to Chicfila.

Thanks mom and dad for helping out so much....what would we have done without you??? The kids have a countdown going now for Idaho and Thanksgiving......

Cole's Blessing

This past Sunday we blessed Cole at church. It was so special especially because both our parents were there. My dad has never gotten to fly out for my other babies, so it was very special that he could help bless Cole. Our best friends, the Wernlis came too....love this picture.Sweet Cole had a rough weekend....he got pink eye and a mild sunburn. Welcome to the world!

Eight years

Rick and I celebrated our eight year anniversary yesterday. We escaped and left my parents with the THREE kids while we grabbed dinner. Cole will actually take a bottle unlike my other two kids, so I can actually leave for a few minutes every now and then! It was nice to get out and spend some one on one time together:)We couldn't help but remember that just last year for our anniversary we got to spend a week on a cruise together......ahhh.....that won't be happening again for a LONG time.....it was a good time. I'm so thankful for Rick and for how much fun we have together!!

Preschool

Carson started real preschool today. Sniff. In Florida it is free for kids to go to preschool the year before they start kindergarten. So Carson will be going everyday in the morning for three hours. He was a little hesitant at first this morning when he wokeup, but got over it by the time we left. HE was very excited to go with his backpack. I on the other hand was a mess. I held it together until I had to leave him there....and then cried like a baby in the car in the parking lot for awhile. Sniff....here I go again. Carson went right in and started playing... And then sat down on the rug when the teacher said it was time for the parents to leave....I would've stayed... :(

I can't believe I have a kid this old. I am so proud and excited for him though. I think. Sniff....

One Week Old (yesterday)

Happy one week birthday to our little man. I started this yesterday and it took me a little longer than I thought to figure out the video....but here it is. I have a little more free time than before to blog while I'm stationed nursing half the day:) Hope you like it!

Hanging out

We've just been enjoying our time together as a big new family of five while Rick is off of work:) Heres some pictures:

Cole checking out his activity center......

Cole's first bath....he loved the warm water!

One of these is Carson and one is Cole....same jammies....couldn't resist....which is which? Any guesses?

Top is Carson, bottom is Cole. So fun to compare them.

The Circus begins

We're home! We are a little crazy.....getting no sleep....you know the usual. We came home yesterday morning and suprisingly actually got out of the hospital faster than expected, so the kids ended up meeting us at our house instead of the hospital. This poor woman who had to push my out of the hospital could barely walk....I was like....I can walk? The FIVE of us.....how weird that soundsCarson and Brynnli had so much fun showing Cole around the house....they are too cute with him.Pretending to sleep for a few minutes in his cradle....that was the last time he slept there I think...for more than five minutes....we're working on that.

And here's a few pics leftover from the hospital....

I am in love with this baby. He is such a little sweetie, I'm glad I didn't get a girl like I had thought I wanted:) He's perfect.

Baby Cole

He's here! He came yesterday at 12:52 and weighed 7 lbs 6 oz. I was pretty much in labor all night at home and then got to the hospital around nine in the morning and out he came...I was sorta hoping to get a nap after my epidural before it all went down....but he was ready to come out. He's a sweetheart. You'll have to excuse the fact that I look AWFUL. A few days before having Cole I came down with a nasty cough etc. which turned into double pink eye by Saturday, right before having him.

The kids came over yesterday and were super cute him and wanting to look at all his fingers etc. Carson was also very curious about what I was feeding Cole.....

Love this last picture. We are so blessed.

Not to mention we got an awesome night of sleep last night. I'm sure we're in for it now though.....

Roughing it....

Rick and I wanted to take the kids to do one last fun family outing before we have the baby and things are crazy for awhile. We decided to go camping an hour or so north of here at this place called Lion country safari. We did it last year and it was great. We went with Rick's parents in their camper, which is the only way I would ever camp in July 9 months prego. It was really fun. Eating smore's is a must

The kids helped Rick drive through the park to see the animals

We played at the water park

Fed giraffes

Went on rides

And hungout in the camper

The kids weren't too sure about eating dinner outside becasue they were soo distracted by all the flies! We'll have to work on that...

It was really nice to get away for a few days and have an excuse not to clean and get ready for the baby.