Tom's Farm

On August 4th, we met up with Ian's Grandma Flo, parents and Shandra and Brooke and their kids at Tom's farms.  It was the first time all six cousins were together.  Surprisingly the five kids sat still for a pic...

until we added London, and then things got a little crazy.  From the left, Betsy (15 months), Addison (6.5), London (5 weeks), Von (3.5), Tristan (3.5), and Joaquin (2).

Shooting some guns with Dad.

Concentrating so hard on digging.

We saw a magic show there and Addi got called up to help with a trick.

Of course London slept through the whole outing.

Von and Grandma Flo riding the carousel together.

Addi and Daddy.

One week old...

I had my friend Jaime take some pics of our little London.  She was perfect throughout the whole shoot.  And so pretty...

London's First Month

Life with three kids was a big change.  Luckily, Ian was able to spend the first week home from the hospital with me, entertaining Von and Addi.  And then the second week, we shipped the kids up to Ian's parents house.

The first few weeks, this is the only place she wanted to sleep.  She would sleep there for hours.  Some nights it was the only way I got any sleep.  Now that she is bigger, she doesn't quite fit like she used to, and luckily will sleep in her crib.

She looks just like Addi did as a baby.  Addi loves hearing everyone tell her that, because it is usually followed with something like, "she is so beautiful."  Or, "She is so cute!"  

After the kids spent a week at Ian's parents, we drove up to get them.  Our good friends, Kelly and Jason, had a baby boy exactly one week before we had London.  Little Liam is so cute.  

These two are going to be trouble makers together someday.

Overall, she is sleeping really well for just 7 weeks old.  This picture was taken on a not so good night, where she didn't go down for the night until 4 am.  Lately, she has been going down in between 10 and 11 pm and then just getting up once around 3 or 4 am to eat and then goes back down until 6 or 7 am, which is fine because now that school has started, we all have to be up in between 6 and 7 am.  A couple nights a week, however, she gets colicky and will cry from about 8 pm until midnight or later.  Which is not fun for anyone. 

                                       

So pretty.

So right before she was born, we found out Addi had 4 really bad cavities.  So, we were able to take care of two of them before she was born, and then had to go back two more times after she was born to have them finished.  I have to say, Addi was a champ.  I thought for sure they would have to gas her, but Dr. Matt managed to keep her calm enough to do all of them with out any.  I don't know how he did it, he is amazing.  She had no anxiety, having to go back to the office four different times, and acted like it was no big deal.  She ended up having two pulpotomys (sp?) which took about an hour and a half each time.  She managed to be a character even while having objects in her mouth.  Dr. Matt came out after one of the appointments and said, "She thinks we are BFFs, she's hilarious."  I would send her in with her ipod and headphones and she would chat him up about all of her games and apps.  We were so pleased.  However, after paying for all of it, I hope we never have to go through that again!  Apparently, good dentists don't come cheap!

Once I was on my own with all three kids, I did my best to get out everyday, whether to the park or pool or movies.  London always slept through every outing.  This picture was at a windy trip to the park.

August 6th.  One month old.  She is so sweet.

London Jane Clawson

Little London entered the world last Friday, July 6th at 12:10 am.  She was 6 lbs. 12 ounces and 19.5 inches.  My labor started on the 4th.  All day I experienced contractions about 30 minutes apart and by Thursday morning they had shortened to about 15 minutes apart.  About noon, I called the hospital just to see at what point I should think about coming in (at that point they were about 12 minutes apart) and the nurse said it would be a good idea to just come in and get checked out.  At my doctor's appointment on Tuesday I was already 2 cm. dilated and 80% effaced, so there was a good chance I had progressed and was in actual labor.  So, Ian came home from work and we dropped the kids off at Jaime's and headed in.  They hooked me up and checked me and I was still at a 2/80% and my contractions were about 6-9 minutes apart.  After an hour, I had not progressed any and they suggested I walk around for a couple of hours and come back and get checked again.  So, Ian and I went to the mall and got dinner and at that point they had increased to about 3-6 minutes apart, so we went back to the hospital.  And as soon as they hooked me up again, they slowed down to 9 minutes apart.  After an hour of that I had only progressed to a 3, so they told me I could go home or hang out a little longer and see what happens.  I decided to stay one more hour.  And good thing I did.  At that point it was about 7 pm, and all of a sudden my contractions shortened to about 3-5 minutes apart, but when she checked me after an hour I was STILL at a 3.  The nurse said she would call my doctor, but not to get my hopes up of being admitted.  Luckily, she came back with good news and at about 9 I was finally admitted.  An hour later, I was already at a 6, and by 11:15 I was at a 9.  By midnight I was ready to push and after 5 minutes and 3 pushed our little London was born!

After getting all cleaned up.  

Day 2.  She looks just like Addi did when she was born. 

Her favorite place to sleep is on my chest.  She is so sweet.  Once we got home, she started sleeping really well for a newborn.  Last night she was only up once!  Which is a dream.  We are now trying to put her down in between 10 and 11 and then she is up in between 4 and 5 am and then again not until 8 or 9.  Hopefully she will keep it up.   

Her little profile.  She is so tiny.

Because she was born in the middle of the night, they wouldn't discharge her until Saturday. The first time the kids saw her was once we got home from the hospital.  Addi was immediately in love.  Von, not so much.  He is finally coming around and paying a little attention to her.  The other day, I asked him, "do you think she is cute?"
"No," he said.
"Pretty?"
"No."
"Beautiful?"
Again, "No."
"Well, what is she?"
To which he replied, "She's bad."
He has officially been replaced as the baby.

Our first picture as a family of five.  Ignore how hideous I look.

We are so happy to have her home with us!

The Rest of June

June was a busy month for us.  Once school ended, we were constantly on the go trying to keep the kids entertained.  We were up in Orange County, and made a stop by the Aleeda warehouse to get the kids new rash guards.  They just happen to make the costumes for The Aquabats! Supershow!  And of course, Addi had to have the helmet and goggles.   

Von all tuckered out after a long day of being on the go.

Father's day weekend, we met up with Ian's family at Paradise Point.  There was lots of pool time and relaxing.

Jaime and Luke invited Addi and I to see a sneak peak at the new movie Brave.

The kids took swim lessons at Westview High the two weeks after school got out.

We've been hitting up the local library every Thursday for the different shows they've been putting on.  Last week was a Mad Science guy.

And now on to me...last week was a stressful one.  I had four doctor's appointments and three ultrasounds due to low fluid levels.  They were really low on Monday.  If they had been any lower, they would have had to induce me, but through the week, they gradually creeped up to an almost normal level.  I had to stop working out and lay low.  Luckily, the kids are pretty good at entertaining themselves, because we haven't left the house much with the exception of all of my appointments.  I have two more ultrasounds this week to make sure I don't need to be induced.  We will see what happens.  Hopefully, I will deliver this baby on my own sometime this week!  On top of all of that, I had two baby showers and put on a garage sale last weekend with Jaime and Dan (I'm not so good at laying low).  My ward hosted a shower for me and Ian's department heads threw a "surprise" shower for me last week.  It was suppose to be a surprise for Ian and I, but Ian's boss luckily gave Ian the heads up so he could prepare me for it.  

Last Day of School...

I had Katie take some pictures of Addi before heading out for her last day of kindergarten.  Of course, Von couldn't be left out.

He has grown so much in the last year.  Here he is on the last day, and here he is on Addi's first day...

I have to admit, I am liking his shaved head more and more everyday.  I, more than him was really attached to his mop of hair.

And here is Addi on her last day, and her on her first...

At the beginning of the year she was 3'8" and 40 pounds and she ended the year at 3'10.5" and 43 pounds.  

She has been looking forward to summer for so long now.  This picture pretty much sums it up.

I took this as she walked out of her classroom for the last time.  She has learned so much this year.  Her report card was phenomenal.  She scored 4s (which is the highest score you can receive and means she is achieving above the expected level) in every single subject and category, which is an improvement from the last trimester.   We are so proud of her!