Girls Night In

So, my two guys went camping on a Father son's campout in our ward.  I was left to my own with Naomi and Linda Grace.  We went to Costco, cleaned house, played Rapunzel, read stories, cleaned bathrooms, took a bath.....tickled, and well just stayed home and chilaxed/ kindof.  Really, can cleaning and shopping for food be considered relaxing.  It is relative.  Anyway, I decided to journal  a bit tonight since it is late and there is a hockey game recording and I am bound to the computer so as to not change the sacred channel.  Naomi tells me that as soon as the light comes into my room (yes I let her sleep with me when E'lan is away), she says that it will be "up time" as soon as the sun get s up.  I try to best to explain that it is okay to sleep whilst the sun be awake...oh sleep where have you gone?  I hate giving my kids shots.  Linda got her first set this week and has not stopped sleeping for two days!  It is nerve racking for me because I have a weird fear that she will contract the disease instead of build immunity.  So, she is starting to coo and smile.  She rolled around one month old!   What the......I know she will be crawling soon...haha.  She was able to withstand the family croup/cold that all of us got.  By the grace of God she did not get anything!  Joshua is nearing the end of Kindergarden, and I confess I am looking forward to summertime. We have lots of fun things planned, movies, swimming, sea world, time togehter.  I do not look forward to him being gone until nearly 4pm next year.  But, such is life.  He is doing really well reading and learning addition/subtraction.  He is learning about counting money, tellnig time, and all kinds of stuff.  
     E'lan is nearing the end of his first semester in the MPA program at ASU.  It was a challenge for him, and us.  But, hopefully this enables him to become what he wants or place him in a position to make a difference in our crazy little world.   My list of priorties:  (in their proper order) God, Family, Friends, Chruch (not same as God), Community.  Notice that politics are not in the list :)  I unfortunatley do not have the gift of tact all the time, so I prefer avoid it so as not step on any toes. 
   Regarding myself, when oh when will I get back to the gym?  Who cares...right, I just had a baby, well I CARE!   Why does it take me sooooo long to recalibrate?  Well, Becky's wedding was my goal, now I am like ummmmm maybe next January.  I love my life and I am grateful for being home with my kids.  My son is so sweet, he took my shoes off the other day as I was trying to change baby diaper, pick up toys, cook, answer my phone, and play with Naomi....yes all at same time.  :)  Enough rambling, can you tell I am all alone and bored?

Bits and pieces

Proud  Grandpa with grandchild #9.  He is always there for us and goes above and beyond call of Grandpa!  Thanks dad.  Love you mucho.

 Joshua and Naomi holding Linda Grace for first time in the hospital. 

 This is Naomi's hand.  She wanted to hold the baby's hand.  I love this picture.  I had to hold her on my chest skin to skin for the first few days to get her blood sugars up. 

 She sucks her thumb!  My first baby to do this, and she hates the passifier, as did Josh and Naomi. 

 At night, for the first month, she had to sleep on top of you...otherwise she would not sleep.  It was precious.  She loves to be snug and comfy on your chest.  She will only sleep on her belly!

 Linda's first bath in the sink.  You can see her little umbilical hernia....no biggie will go away when she walks.

Craft day at the Vallenders.  E'lan was home in the afternoon since he went to work way early in the am.  They made silly glasses and all kinds of stuff.  He is the best dad.  They are the best kids!  God has truly graced our house with lots of love!

My Beautiful Grace

Here she is Mrs. America - Linda Grace Vallender Mia piccolina!  She is such a sweet baby.  The kids love her as do we.  Hopefully we can pull off a new family picture sooner than later.  Loves. 

New Family

This is a post with no picture because I am laid up in the house and don't feel like running to get my camera at the moment.  Linda Grace Vallender was born yesterday at 8:28 am and weighed a mere 5lb 11oz and was only 18.75" long.  She is a tiny little lady, and we are so happy she joined us when she did!  It was time for her to come seeing as how my placenta gave out (hence the small weight)...She is our third and a miracle in our lives.  I was only in labor 3 hours before she was born, by the time I got to the hospital, I was at a 7, so she came shortly thereafter.  We just got home a couple of hours ago to a very clean house with treats, dinner, flowers, decorations, and my fav. everything.  MY parents ROCK!  Joshua and Naomi had fun at their cousins while we were away, and they are so excited to have baby Lindi here!   So when I get my camera, I will put a few pics of her on.  For now, this is Ruth signing off.

Baby

I know, WOW!  I am 3 weeks from due date, and ready to pop at any given moment, both of my other kids came 2 weeks early, so any minute right? The only reason I put this picture on is because I have never ever ever taken a pic of my prego belly.  So, figured why not this time .... something to look at and look back on and say Thank God its over and she's here!  I went to the Dr. and he said baby is breech, so we are waiting to see if she turns, but if not it looks like a c section for us.  So, we are busily getting ready for her to come into our family.  The kids are so excited, all they do is play with their babies....now with all this baby stuff all over, they are really getting pumped.  Thank you to all my friends who helped a sista out.  I gave away all my stuff after Naomi, and my girlfriends and family seriously hooked me up.  So, what goes around really does come around.  So, pray for me and baby nameless. 

Dance, earrings, and waiting

So Naomi started a Tap class, and she loves it.  She already wears her tutu daily, now there's a reason.

 Happy Valentines Day little one!  She got princess jewelry and a box of chocolates.  Joshua got a Marshmellow stick with chocolate soccer balls.  Oh, and she got her ears pierced again.  This time with 24k gold.  So far so good, and she loves them - Pink hearts!  She sat there all by herself when they did it too. 

Joshua posed like this, handed me the camera, and said take this.....so I did.  Kids are anxiously waiting arrival of baby. Soon to come a shocking picture  I should not reveal.

Time flies

Yes, I know this is my first post since the new year.  I have no idea why it has taken me so long to figure out yes, I still have a blog.  Well, with most of my time being spent preparing for Baby #3, blog was z on my list.  Today is Valentines Day, and it is the first year in my life that I really did not care!  I did not expect nor even want any type of chocolate, flowers, or anything for that matter.  Many women (lots of my friends) are nodding and saying, you are just saying that because it was uneventful and you are trying to make yourself feel better.  NO!  It's true, E'lan has made his love clear for me in so many ways that it seemed trite today to spend more money on what Walmart or Kay believes I should have.  I got him a box of honeybuns (his fav), a movie and a funny card.   The kids made cute heart cut outs and ate lots of sweets.  It was a simple day, E'lan came home from work a little early to spend time with us before he had to go to school toninght.  That was enough for me!  I am dying being in the last couple of weeks of this pregnancy.  I am so tired, and so tired, did I mention tired?   Tomorrow the Dr will see if I am "ripe" - ha ha.  Thank you to all my friends and family for my shower.  Why did you have a shower for your second girl you might ask?  Well, we gave everything away, and all those close to me pulled together and hooked us up.  So, it is true what goes around comes around.  You get what you give.  I love being a mom and I am ready to hold this little girl in my arms!

More Birthday

 Eggnog pancakes with eggs on her new princess plate and tiarra. 

Grandma Joy painted faces, made bee balloons, did magic, and danced!  She was seriously such a wonderful present to Naomi.  It was a great party.  Thank you grandma Joy!  You are the best grandma and clown and person we know!  LOVE YOU!

Catching up

I added some pictures of what has been going on the past month.  The kids and me at the Vet. Day parade, Thanksgiving day Iindian Headdresses.  We had a nice dinner with Fred and his family.  Then, it was my birthday.  And, we had our first of many more to come Missionary Mondays.  Uncle Ben talked about his experiences in Hong Kong, teaching the kids a little language, culture, and singing.  It was a lot of fun.  Then, yes we went sledding in Sunny AZ, there is a farm that ships in snow!  It was 80 degrees and the kids got to play in the snow, how does it get any better?  Then, my little darling turned 3.  Joy Clown was the life of the party, literalliy.  Her magic was mezmerizing as was her dancing!  Naomi was queen for a day waking to eggnog pancakes, pictures at Mall with Grandma Joy and a special party.  Later in the evening, we went to pick up a pizza and she fell asleep on the counter as I was paying, so she was partied out!  It was a great last month.