3

My favorite picture

Watching a movie with the girls

We love this little boy!

Carter

 

Raspberry Picking

The Saturday before Carter was born we took the girls to a local Berry farm to pick Raspberries.  It was a beautiful day and we had such a good time.  We really live in a beautiful place and scored with over 11 lbs of delicious berries!

Carter

Introducing Carter Wayne Tonks

6lbs 11oz

Born 7/21/2010 9:21 AM

No baby

Being overdue stinks

We'll keep you posted

Fishin'

We didn't catch anything, but we sure did have a good time.  We just love it when dad can be home to play with us!

T Minus 14 days and counting

I can't believe that our baby boy is going to be here in the next two weeks or so.  It seems like we have been waiting for July to come forever and now it is finally here.  I have been anticipating his arrival and trying to prepare everything that I can so that it will be as smooth a transition as possible.  Starting with preparing freezer meals to fill our new deep freeze (insert ooohs and ahhhhs)

I teased Aaron that it is a little lame at 26 years old that I am getting so excited about a darn freezer, but it is going to make my life easier in so many ways. I also felt the great necessity to change the throw pillows on our couch, and in the spirit of frugality, I recovered them myself.  I am very happy with the outcome, but the process ended up being a little more time consuming and brutal on my fingers than I thought. (I had to whip stitch all around the outside by hand)  It wasn't something to needed to be done but I've been wanting to do it for a while and what better time right? 

                         (I recovered the large blue one (There were 3), the others are from target)

Nesting has taking over my life and it is exhausting and gratifying at the same time. I've organized the girls room a million times, secretly throwing out old &/or broken toys, organizing markers and coloring books, and sorting bins of Barbi dolls, blocks, and play food.  I've also tried hard to really prepare the girls with what is going to happen after brother comes home.  Brooklyn is going to be 4 1/2 and Anna almost 6 by the time he comes to I think they pretty much understand what is going on.  I've explained that he is going to cry and sleep a lot, and require a lot of my attention.  I explained to them that mommy has to feed the baby a lot too (with the "baby feeders" they call them.)  I've caught Anna feeding her baby under her shirt a few times and I think it is so sweet. I love to breastfeed my kids and I hope that things go smoothly and well because I love that bonding time together.  Last but not least the most important thing you can do is go and get pampered! I told Aaron that I will definitely be able to push better if I am staring down at pretty freshly pedicured toes.  He didn't agree but what does he know about giving birth right?

I know that Aaron is excited and nervous about this baby coming. There is something that is scary about the 3rd baby. Everyone who has three seems to tell you how hard it is.  I am banking on that Anna and Brooklyn are a little older and so things may not be quite as hard.  My biggest worry is that right after the baby is born is Aaron's busiest tax season of the year. (August - September 15th) and in previous years I am a single parent during that time. I am lucky to have helpers coming in from out of town to help sporadically during that time so that will be my saving grace and wonderful friends here who I can count on if I am hitting rock bottom. 

I marvel anytime I think about this life that I have grown inside me.  I can't wait for him to join our family and finally be in our arms.  It is strange to feel so many emotions at once from sheer panic, excitement, anticipation, and knowing that your life is about to change so much, even though it is for the better.  It has been a long time since we've had a baby in the house and in a strange way I am looking forward to the diapers, the spit-up, the tired days and nights, because I also know that I am going to be able to drink in the sweet smell of a  baby, experience first smiles and giggles, watch the girls embrace, hopefully, their little brother, and watch Aaron with his first son.  This is Grand baby #16 for my in-laws, and #10 for my side. Wow! What an incredible thing that we know families are forever.  What a gift.

Surprise

My baby shower was a couple of weeks back and I received a huge surprise. About 4 pm the day of the shower I got a knock at the door. I just thought it was the neighbor kids wondering if the girls could play. When I opened it though no one was there. After a couple of seconds Angie pops out from around the corner followed by Diane.  I of coarse started to cry and shake (they teased me later about my reaction and I said, "What do you expect when you surprise an 8 month pregnant woman like that.")  They flew in from California together and I couldn't have been more excited.  They didn't get to stay very long because they both have families they needed to get home to but we made the most of the short time they had here.

Thanks John and Dad for holding down the home front, making it possible for them to come!

 Grandma Wood with Anna, Brooklyn and new babies

unintentional trick

Tonight I made fish for dinner

The girls thought it was chicken

I didn't correct them

They loved it!

Seaside Oregon trip

 Aaron's parents reserved a condo in Seaside for a week this year. The girls were so excited and have been talking about it for months.  We were able to spend about 3 days with them and had such a blast.  The weather could have been a little warmer, (we've have an unusually wet and cool spring), but we had one day of sunny weather and just made the most out of our time together.

Thanks Gary and Lynette!

 The girls had so much fun riding on the carousel.  I get too dizzy so dad was a trooper and rode with them

 There was a small but fun aquarium where you could feed seals, touch some sea life, and look at some very interesting fish, an octopus, crabs, etc. Brooklyn had so much fun touching all the creatures, but Anna wasn't quite so sure about it. She left that up to Brook.

 Brooklyn loved the "slimy star fish"

 The water was so cold. Dad was fun and took the girls out to frolic in the water.

I took pictures :)

 In front of where we stayed

 The heated pool was a huge hit

 Dad found Brookie a huge sand crab and even Anna held it.

 Gary and Aaron flying the kite. It was a great beach for kite flying and I think we had the coolest one there.....a huge dragon

 I hesitate to post this picture but I wanted to document the 34 week belly. 

 At our picnic lunch

One day we decided to drive down the coast about and hour and tour tillamook cheese factory.  They have the best ice cream and I would say it was definitely worth the drive.