3 weeks already

I guess I should start at the beginning. I was supposed to be induced on the 12th of February but when I called in to the hospital the night before I wasn't even on the list. My doctor had gone out of town and didn't let me know. I was devastated! I was so ready and felt very frustrated that I wasn't told about the change. I was on the Schedule for Monday the 14th, Valentines Day. My Mom was already in town and Michael had mid terms the next week this is why were wanting to have her on the weekend. Come Monday we went to the hospital around 7 and got ready to have Baby. They started me on Pitocin and we waited for the doctor to come in. The pit was making my contractions harder so I asked for a epidural. I was a little nervous because with Chloe I passed out because the had a hard time getting it in. They had be lay down this time so wouldn't but he still had a hard time. I guess I have a curve in my back he had to try Four times before he got it. Finally, the doctor came and broke my water and I went from a 3 to 10 in 40 minutes. It was so fast the the epidural wasn't keeping up. Gratefully, it did kick in before I started pushing. Claire Dixie was born at 1:40pm On February 14th. They were a little concerned because there was a complete knot in the umbilical-cord but they checked her out and she was fine.

Our Healthy baby Girl
(Sydney went to a Valentines Day party and got this little dog and gave it to Claire)

Chloe hanging with Daddy
Look at that hair!

I little while after Seth got there to see the Baby Mike was going to take the kids to the cafeteria for dinner and Seth said, "It's okay Dad I am not hungry I am just going to stay here with Clarie." So sweet!
It was so nice having my Mom here to help out. She amazing and just took care of all of us, Thanks Mom!

The is Grandchild number 13 for my parents.

Favorite picture I can't believe they are all smiling.

A Valentines to Remember

Our Littlest Love!

My One and Only!

Look at him....Really can he be that big! It's funny how with each new baby you think about the first and all that you learn from them. I have learned so much from this little guy. It has been a pleasure to be his Mom and to learn and grow together.
(He loves to do the dishes and will get mad if we do them after dinner....I will take the enthusiasm while it lasts...probably until next week;)

Sometimes I feel bad for him I mean I had no idea what I was doing (some days still feel like a don't). I had a really hard time when I found out we were having another girl. I really wanted Seth to have a brother to have someone that he felt was on his side, would look up to him and want him to teach him all the fun boy things. But from the very beginning he wasn't even that disappointed he just said that he was going to have a lot of girls to take care of. He loves his sisters and they adore him.

Seth was VIP In his class last month and I made a poster for him. After it was finished I asked him which was his favorite. I thought he would choose the fishing, or hunting picture or one with his Dad in it but this is the one he chose. I asked him why this one and he said, "Just look at it. We looks so happy and she is my sister."
I love that he is their Big Brother and that he wants to take care of them.

Baby Fever!

I have sat down many times to update the happenings in the Eaton home but would never finish them. Life seemed at a stand still in January the days have been dragging on. And the nights have been even longer. But we made it through. Even with staying busy getting things ready for Baby I thought the month was never going to end. I was lucky to find an awesome crib with mattress for only 50 bucks. It was a steal. My Mom got me the bedding for Christmas and I love it!

The kids all got pillow pets for Christmas and they love them. We saw this little one and the kids just had to get it for the Baby.

We put all 3 girls in the same room..... I'm not sure if I am setting myself up for punishment but the arrangement seem to be the best. I am grateful my kids are all deep sleepers; so hopefully things will go smoothly.

Sydney helped me wash and fold baby clothes. I told her that she could pick the one Baby should wear home, and she kept changing her mind. It was so cute! I would say that besides me wanting Baby out she is most excited!

Seth seems a little nervous about it and says that Babies are so much work. When I said that I do most of the work he said. "Well I always had to help Chloe out of her crib when she was fussing." I had to smile. I know that he will be a big help even if he says babies are hard work. Now, I am not sure about Chloe. It will be interesting to see her reaction. The one thing that I think will help is that she is a Daddy's Girl. She wants Daddy to do everything. It's nice....Except he isn't always around, so we get a lot of "I want you" and "hold me". I am sure it will be an adjustment. I just hope it isn't to hard for her or me.

Four kids seems like a daunting task. Some days I already feel stretched to the limit! I was really feeling this way after Christmas, so Overwhelmed, and I wasn't sure how I was ever going to get on top of things. It seemed like everything was crazy all the time the house seemed always messy. I never knew what to cook for dinner... I was freaking out! After a RS lesson on goals I realized that even though New Years resolutions seem so unrealistic and never really work out; I knew somethings needed to change and I needed to make some goals. So, I kept it simple mostly and realized that each day I was just going to TRY and be BETTER. A better Mom, Wife, Friend etc. and I knew that with four kids I also needed to be more organized. So, that was it on my goals for the year: Be better and try to get organized. The first thing I did on "being better" was not letting easy ways to serve pass me by. So, I signed up to take dinner to a sister in the ward...I know easy, and I realized that I liked being better already! I just have to TRY and I can definitely do that. Along with getting organized I decided to have an FHE on Goals and have the kids be more responsible. They each have 3 things they need to do each Morning and 3 each evening. Again I tried to keep it simple:

AM: Make bed, Put away PJ's, Brush teeth, Say my prayers. PM: Pick up my Floor, Brush Teeth, Put Clothes in Dirty hamper or away in drawers, Say my Prayers. I won't lie to you and say it has gone super smooth. Seth had a couple weeks where he lost most of his privileges but it has been working. It is so nice to walk in their rooms and see that things are put away. They are remembering to not be as careless with things and to just put them where they go. It's been good for me too. I admit that I am not always a great example and even my room has been cleaner these days. It's Awesome! Lastly, the change that has definitely made me feel more confident about making it through the day is a weekly menu. I have tried these in the past and never really committed to them and so they wouldn't work. But I think that I have finally found a system that works for me and it has made things so much easier. I just realized that waiting to decide isn't possible anymore. I was always missing something and by the time I finally figured out what to make I was annoyed and would have to head to the store to get something, and we would end up in the Taco Bell drive thru because I was too exhausted to think about going home and cooking. Now I plan the week out on Sat. Sunday and Saturday have two meals and Monday -Friday have one. Then I go shopping for everything I need. It is so nice not to have to go to the store multiple times a week for one thing, and I have all the ingredients for 9 meals! I guess it is nice to finally feel like I have my head wrapped around life a little before it is all jumbled and messed up again. 10 Days and counting.... I will be induce on the 12th if baby doesn't come sooner! Wish me Luck!

Decemeber

Good-bye December....

December it's gone already....It's a little depressing! Now we just have the cold snow to deal with! It was a good month. Mike survived is first semester and pulled out some amazing grades (which he seemed surprised by, but I am just glad that he was doing some studying and not just hanging out with the boys;) I am officially 35 weeks and counting....Exciting but I am actually really nervous for this little girl to come. She is easy on the inside...uncomfortable but easier. Some things we did this month...

Decorated the tree..

Went to a BYU Basketball game in Salt Lake

Made Rice Krispie Christmas Trees

Went to Temple Square to look at the "Eye Candy" (that is what our kids call Christmas lights.)
Seth in the Tabernacle.
Me and my Girls

Seth made this cute Reindeer and school...
It was a great month getting ready for Christmas
We had a crazy Christmas in California this year with all the Wheeler cousin's. We had rain for 4 days but the kids made do with the Garage to play in. We also got out for a movie and Disney on Ice which was a lot of fun. The kids got spoiled for Christmas and are still enjoying there loot. The favorite for the girls was the Pillow pets from Nana and Papa and Seth can't get enough x box time in with his new Transformers game.

Nana and Papa with all the Grand-kids...

Newest Member of the Wheeler Family Callie Ann Wheeler

It seems like we can't travel without someone getting sick and poor Chloe was the lucky one. She scared us a little when you mouth turned blue and her fever would go away for the whole week. So we had to head home a little earlier than planned and get her to the doctor. She had a UTI and was put on antibiotics and perked up the next day. Not sure why she had the breathing issue, hopefully it won't happen again.
We area excited for the new year.....Bring on 2011!

Thanksgiving...

Eaton Family

All the Eaton's were together for the holiday because of these two "Love Birds." Sandra was a beautiful Bride and She got a good one, Brent just went with the flow (smart man;) ....The wedding was so nice and we were so happy that we were able to be there.

I didn't get many at the temple because Chloe wouldn't let me put her down(Don't worry Sandra Kara was snapping away and I do have a few :)

The week went by so fast and the kids had a blast playing with cousins. Chloe on the other had was done and ready to go home to her bed...I realized on the plane ride home that her molars were coming through and that was probably why she was extra clingy. It just gets so hard when you have a belly in the way! She got used to Daddy being around and has been fussing for him a lot the past few days. Well, Life is busy around here and I am feeling way overwhelmed to get everything done before Christmas....The whole being pregnant things really slows me down! I can't beileve that She will be here in February that seems so close...I am not ready yet! I am really nervous how I am going to do FOUR I feel stretched already.

It's Novemeber already!

I really can not beileve how fast time is going. Life is Busy with the three it seems like most days are filled to over flowing. Michael has been busy with school but things are starting to slow down a bit. He recently traveled to New Jersey to interveiw with Honeywell for an internship for the summer. It has been hard to be thinking that far ahead.....it's been a whirl wind of interviews and networking but it paid off. He was extend an offer too intern with the company. So it looks like we will get to spend the summer in Morristown, NJ. We are excited and grateful for the amazing opportunity and feel very blessed to have secured and internship so early in the year.

Seth is doing amazing! I recently had a parent Teacher conference and his teacher said that "Seth is my Shining student!" She had nothing but great things to say about what a great kid Seth is and how kind he is to he fellow classmates. I feel like he is spoiling me with how easy he is. He can sit down and do his homework without help and has been able to get 100's on all his spelling tests (and I forget to quiz him on them.)
Interview with teacher:
Favorite part of school: writing, Math and computers.
Hardest part of school: nothing
Who are your favorite friends: Joe B,. Matthew, Lauren, Sarayne
He has started taking piano and is doing very well. Seth surprises me everyday with what a great kid he is but he can also be such a challenge! He drives me absolutely batty because he is always bored!! He obsesses over things (which has been helpful in some areas like school) he will want to do somethings over and over to the point of no control....usually the computer or xbox. we love him anyway;)

Silly Sydney, sometimes I am not sure where this girl is. She has the biggest imagination that I just don't get!! Her funniest thing is she likes to collect the oddest things....Like candy wrappers and tiny pieces of paper( aka trash) but she will also have a rock and a toy or two. when I try to throw it away she gets so upset! She has a reason behind each item in her collection. She is loving preschool. I was a little worried that she wasn't catching on because at home she gets so distracted. However, her teacher says that she is doing Great and will be more than ready for Kindergarten next year. She has a ton of little friends her age that she gets to see regularly (I feel bad for Seth because there aren't any boys his age.)
Chloe is the little Mother, it's very funny. She will get onto Seth and Sydney but also try and comfort them when they are sad, it is so sweet. The other day I threatened Sydney with a spanking and before I knew it Chloe was over taking care of it for me with a very stern No! It was Hilarious! She is officially a BIG GIRL not is size still only 23 lbs. but she has conquered the potty much to my surprise...I have no secret just that she wants to be like her big sister so badly that with enough prodding it actually stuck. Because she is still so tiny most her pants slide right off her. She really needed the extra padding from a diaper:) She is a very social little girl and loves to give anyone loves. She will not watch T.V. even when I desperately need to distract her the only thing that will work is her Brother and Sister, she adores them. This Chloe after she got into my makeup!

I kinda like him..

He makes me happy...even though he is leaving tomorrow:( I know you will do great at your interveiw. Good luck!

Happy Halloween!

Three Crazy little Clowns....

I was sad I forgot to put her ruffle on in the first round of pictures....and it was too much to hope for another round.....

My mom made the girls costumes when I was little...there is even one for Michael and I. We are suppose to dress up tomorrow....this was for the ward party.

He did like is costume (I am pretty proud of myself for making it.) he is just being a Sad Clown.

We have a Two Year Old

Chloe Virginia

You can't help but love her! She is just so sweet....She is still our tiny little girl and I wouldn't want it any other way. Chloe is so lovable and wants to give hugs and kisses all day. She also wants to be just like Sydney; which she is totally okay with her at least for now anyway;) We are still working on the potty and are taking it one day at a time. She is talking so much....and has been trying to discover her independence. She wants to it all herself and lets me know it! We just love her to pieces!!