Baby Weston

He is here! We are very excited. He was born Wednesday, July 20 at 5:25 PM weighing in at a perfect 7 lb 2 oz and 20in long. He is pretty much the most handsome little boy I have ever seen. Not sure who he looks like. Labor and delivery went very smoothly. The doctor actually had me pull my own baby out. It was crazy. He had me push out the head and shoulders, then he told me to grab underneath his arms and pull. So I did. At the moment it was really gross because he was so bloody and goopy, but it was really a cool experience. I came home the next night. I don't like sleeping in the hospital. Since bringing him home he has been really good and easy. He eats like a champ and yesterday he was back up to his birthweight. I can't think of any other details to add. I am kinda sad it's over. My sister related having a baby to getting married. There are nine months of anticipation and waiting and planning. Everything builds up to that moment and then it's over in the blink of an eye and it's kinda sad that it's over. Oh well. I guess that's why I will just have to have another one. :) I feel very blessed to have two beautiful healthy children. I am also so blessed to have such a loving supportive family. My mother-in-law took Raegan for two solid days (no easy task) and my mom flew out Thursday and has been here helping and cooking and losing about as much sleep as I have. And lots of other people have been so nice to come visit and to offer to bring treats and meals. 

Yay for the IRS

So being poor can definitely have its perks. We originally got back about $1800 for our tax return (which was awesome). THEN a few weeks later we got a letter from the IRS in the mail telling us that we were probably elligible for an additional tax credit. I was dubious and didn't want to fill out complicated paperwork. (Why didn't our tax guy catch this in the first place for what we paid him?) But the paperwork was actually really simple and I thought, what could it hurt?

Fast forward to today: We got a FAT check in the mail for $2500!!! Sweet right? (Before you get too jealous, please remember that we actually have 0 (zero) income.) And if you're asking yourself what plans I have in store for this money? It will be going in the bank to help us feed our starving children. Trust me, we have enough bills to use it up very quickly without doubling our return on a new RV.

The point? I just wanted to say thank you to the IRS for giving us a heads up and helping us out. Now that's honesty for ya. What pals. They get such a bad rap. By the way, is it tacky for me to write the actual amount we received? I'm never really sure.

Hammock Time

Not to be confused with Hammer Time, which is a separate but equally awesome time.

We got this hammock back in January when my parents moved and didn't want to haul it around. (I bet they're sorry now.) Whenever anyone gets on it, the kiddos want to join them.

Here are some pics snapped from my phone. Nothing too exciting, but I thought I should get them on here. 

Has anyone ever seen "My Neighbor Totoro" besides my weird family? Well we loved it as kids, so then I got it for Raegan. There are actually two versions. The original version from the 80's that we loved and a new version voiced over by Dakota Fanning. I now own both versions because I paid $30 on Ebay to get the original. The good news is, Raegan loves it as much as we do. So Michael took it one step further (without consulting me) and bought her this giant Totoro plush. 

This picture of Raegan looks just like me when I was her age. It's kinda freaky. I sent it to all of my family and they were all sufficiently freaked out too.

Daddy horse rides. She doesn't hold on so good.

Grandma saw these pajamas and had to have them. Carolyn knew me as a child and seems to think (who knows why) that Raegan gets her sassiness from me. I blame Michael, of course.

Not sure if the video will work. I thought it was too funny though.

So sophisticated with her "pearls" on.

Again, not sure if the video will work, but Raegan is "counting to three" She only really says "two, two, daaaaaaa"! over and over.

Odds n Ends

Here are some little pics I've collected along the way. The next post will have to be similar. Pregnancy update: I am 33.5 weeks along and feeling great. Well, as great as can be with a giant baby in my stomach. Actually, I'm feeling better now than I was a few weeks ago. It's weird how it got better. The doctor says he is about 4 lbs now and will be about 7 lbs when he's born, which is perfect. I'm trying to get his room all organized. He is WAY more calm than Raegan was. He rarely kicks and isn't living in my ribs like Raegan was. BUT I am having a TON of contractions, which I never did with Raegan. Whenever I bend down for anything or go to the bathroom or pretty much move I have a contraction. It's weird. Nothing painful though. Anyway... that should be an update sufficient enough for anyone. 

Raegan and Mack watching TV together. They love each other!... sometimes.

 I babysat for a friend. Her baby is about 6 months and super cute. Raegan liked him, which is a good sign. But when I held him to feed him a bottle she wanted to sit in my lap too. Not a good sign.

 This is a little red couch grandma is letting us borrow because Raegan loves it. She was watching her show in this position which Michael thought was hilarious. (We don't let her watch that much TV, I promise... even though she is watching it as I type this. Oh well.)

 Raegan loves washing her hands. She thinks it is so much fun and always asks to do it. She also loves brushing her teeth. I wonder how long this will last?

Baking Exploits

After four years of marriage I have finally grown brave enough to try to cook something that contains yeast. The results have been varied, but edible. The cinnamon rolls were actually really delicious. The bread is still in need of some practice. It was good, but I need to work on it a little more.

Side note: I am really mad I bought a Kitchen-Aid when we got married. I wish I would have bought a Bosch. The Kitchen-Aid just doesn't hold enough... it just doesn't do the trick. Next time I make bread I'm gonna have to half the recipe and only make two loaves, just so it fits in the machine. But who wants to go to all the trouble of making bread just to get two loaves? Not me! 

Pre-baked

 I almost forgot a picture, so they're half gone. The recipe has you coat the bottom of the pan in butter and sugar so when they're cooked it's like there's toffee or something on the bottom. Amazing!

Easter Continued

Here are the rest of the Easter pics. We went to a super fun Easter party at Grandma Carolyn's house, but there weren't really any good pictures from that one. Rest assured, Raegan enjoyed herself. It prepared her for her second egg hunt, which happened at Great Grandma Shumway's house. she loved picking up the eggs, but didn't get the "put them in the bucket" concept. So after she would pick one up, Michael would take it from her, which of course motivated her to pick up another one. So she didn't do too bad. We had a really great time. I love the picture of her with her Great Grandma in front of the sweat peas. I'm so happy she gets to know her great grandparents, hopefully for many years to come. :)