One Year Ago...

I realized earlier in the week that this week (actually October 6th) marks the anniversary of finding out that we were having a baby boy. During my pregnancy, I had quite a few unplanned ultrasounds for bleeding episodes. They were so numerous that after the first couple, I usually would travel to the OBGYN for the ultrasound by myself. The way we saw it, it wasn't worth Nate taking off work to come to the doctor with me to find out that everything was okay. So on October 6th of last year I had another episode of bleeding. We knew more than likely what was causing it, but to be on the safe side I was told to come in to the OBGYN office for a checkup. The only thing that was a little different this time was that my Dr. was out of town and the nurse practitioner was unable to perform an ultrasound. Because of this, they sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound. I didn't think anything of this and took off for the appointment by myself. Once I got there, I realized the appointment was going to be a little bit different in the sense that instead of just doing a quick ultrasound to check on baby and what was causing the bleeding, the tech performed the growth and anatomy scan that is usually performed around the 20 week mark. Towards the end of the scan, the tech asked me if I wanted to find out the sex. I was so tempted, but I wasn't quite sure if it was such a good idea without Nate there. I thought about for only a second or two before I decided that the risk was totally worth it (plus I don't think I could have really willpower to say "no"). The tech pointed out that it was a boy (complete with arrows...I was so surprised that I was having trouble comprehending what I was seeing!) and after that the rest of the ultrasound was a blur.
After the ultrasound I treated myself to Panera Bread (where I swear, I could not wipe a ridiculously huge smile off my face). I had the rest of the day off of work so I used a gift card to JC Penny's to shop for a few boy clothes and picture frame to display the "proof" that we were having a boy. I talked to Nate a couple times that afternoon, but completely played dumb about what was going on. I hurried home and displayed all the goods on the cabinet like this:

and waited patiently for Nate to get home. When he came home I was peeling potatoes at the sink and it took all I had not to turn around the aforementioned goofy smile, but I held strong and waited for his reaction. And waited, and waited....Finally he said something to me about going shopping. Um....yeah, I went to shopping, do you notice anything about what I went shopping for? Hello....?????? Finally, it dawned on him that the clothing was blue and it was for a baby and then, finally, I got a reaction. It was the best reaction I could have asked for. Nate was so surprised, I don't think he even knew what to say. It was just so awesome...definitely one of the best days of my life.
And now, from a mere 14oz in his ultrasound picture last year to 17+lbs today, Josiah is here, safe and sound and a complete blessing to our family. He is such a joy and we are so thankful for him.

And so it begins....

Well, I started this blog earlier and then decided that I didn't have anywhere near the time I needed to keep up a blog, so I let it go. That is until I was talking with another mom a couple of weeks ago and she mentioned that she has a blog that she uses to record the details of her childrens' lives that would normally go in a baby book or scrapbook. My ears perked up at that idea because I have baby books for all 3 of my kids and all kinds of scrapbooking stuff, but I have done nothing with either of them. I've always meant to do it, but, it's never happened so far. (This may be because I had 3 kids in 31/2 years, who knows...)

So hear goes my attempt to actually record the happenings in my childrens' lives....

Abby and Josiah had their well baby appointments last week. Abby just turned 4 and Josiah is 6 months...

At 4 years Abby is 40.5 inches tall (75th percentile) and 33.4 pounds (30th percentile). She completely shot up this last summer -- I think especially in the legs. Her Easter dress fit perfectly at the beginning of April, but by June it was too short, as were most of the rest of her dresses. A HUGE problem given her love of dresses! ;) I think she'll end up having my body type. It's crazy how much she is like me in pretty much every way. Looks, personality, she appears to be a mini-me. Kate on the other hand appears to be very much Tasler in all ways. We'll see if it stays that way.

Josiah is 6 months old. Time is flying by and he's starting to look like a little man. He is still super laid back, but has no problem using his lungs if he feels like he's not being heard. He's rolling all over and stretching for toys that he sees, but no crawling yet. He loves his baby food and I've finally figured out after 3 kids that making your own baby food really is that easy! He's holding steady at the 50th percentile for both height and weight. He's measuring 26.75 inches and weighs 17.6 pounds. His head circumference is actually on the chart at the 90th percentile instead of off of it like his sisters. What can I say? Our kids need those big heads for their big brains! =)

Abby on her very first day of dance class. She is having a blast and loves going every week.

Sweet Josiah playing outside while camping earlier in the fall.