A day in the life of the Chipmans is never complete without tackling daddy a few times.
What a cutie!
What a cutie!Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Baby Kaitlin
We have a new baby! Kaitlin Elizabeth Chipman was born last Monday at 4:51 am. She was 7 lbs 6 oz and 20 3/4 inches. The birth was so smooth, I feel quite lucky and spoiled. I was having slight contractions all day, but nothing serious so I decided to walk up and down my stairs a million times. When that didn't work, I resolved to get ready to teach the next day and the second I got my lesson plans done and ready, my water broke (about 11:30pm). We went into crazy mode and got to the hospital in plenty of time. It turns out my water only ruptured. I was at a 6 when we got there so my two worst fears came to naught. I made it to the hospital in time (we live 1/2 hour away) and I wasn't turned away once we got there (we didn't know what we would do because we live so far away. Probably walk around the mall for a while.)
A couple of hours and an epidural later, Kaitlin joined our family. The guy who gave me the epidural reminded me so much of my older brother Lance. They looked and talked alike and they even have similar mannerisms. As strange as it might sound, it was comforting. Like in some strange way, the brother I always looked up to was kind of there. It made me feel happy and peaceful. Or maybe that was the drugs talking.
Kaitlin has brown hair, darker skin than Emma and Anya and a dimple just like Anya's. She is a great sleeper during the day and she is usually really calm when she is awake. Nursing has been easier with her than with the other two, she was a natural and latched on right away in the hospital. I was completely amazed because I remember a lot more stress involved previously.
I can't get enough kisses from her. You forget how soft their skin is and she doesn't squirm away like Ms Anya always does. It's funny the things you forget when they are new: how the car seat swallows them whole, checking to make sure they are breathing when they are napping, that tiny little newborn cry, snuggles with someone who isn't a wiggle worm - I just love it.
Mike is already completely smitten with her. They will just sit together and snuggle when he gets home from work. I am sorry to say, but with three adorable little girls, he is just in for it because he just loves to spoil us.
The labor was very fast, the nurse had me try to push and stopped me immediately because she wanted to get the doctor. Kaitlin was ready! He was only in the room for about 20 minutes. Which, I am sure he appreciated because we woke him up from a nap.
Mike brought the girls to see her later that afternoon. They both looked exhausted and Anya was a little hesitant. But, only a few days later, they both really love their baby sister.
When we were talking about Kaitlin coming, Emma had a hard time with the fact that Anya was going to be a big sister. I had to assure her that she would always be the biggest sister no matter how many kids we have.
I love my little girls!!!!!!!!!
After seeing this picture, I got really overwhelmed because it looks like so many people and we are out numbered . . . I think we might make it, maybe.
A couple of hours and an epidural later, Kaitlin joined our family. The guy who gave me the epidural reminded me so much of my older brother Lance. They looked and talked alike and they even have similar mannerisms. As strange as it might sound, it was comforting. Like in some strange way, the brother I always looked up to was kind of there. It made me feel happy and peaceful. Or maybe that was the drugs talking.Kaitlin has brown hair, darker skin than Emma and Anya and a dimple just like Anya's. She is a great sleeper during the day and she is usually really calm when she is awake. Nursing has been easier with her than with the other two, she was a natural and latched on right away in the hospital. I was completely amazed because I remember a lot more stress involved previously.
I can't get enough kisses from her. You forget how soft their skin is and she doesn't squirm away like Ms Anya always does. It's funny the things you forget when they are new: how the car seat swallows them whole, checking to make sure they are breathing when they are napping, that tiny little newborn cry, snuggles with someone who isn't a wiggle worm - I just love it. 
Mike is already completely smitten with her. They will just sit together and snuggle when he gets home from work. I am sorry to say, but with three adorable little girls, he is just in for it because he just loves to spoil us.
The labor was very fast, the nurse had me try to push and stopped me immediately because she wanted to get the doctor. Kaitlin was ready! He was only in the room for about 20 minutes. Which, I am sure he appreciated because we woke him up from a nap.
Mike brought the girls to see her later that afternoon. They both looked exhausted and Anya was a little hesitant. But, only a few days later, they both really love their baby sister.
When we were talking about Kaitlin coming, Emma had a hard time with the fact that Anya was going to be a big sister. I had to assure her that she would always be the biggest sister no matter how many kids we have.
I love my little girls!!!!!!!!!
After seeing this picture, I got really overwhelmed because it looks like so many people and we are out numbered . . . I think we might make it, maybe.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
What have we been up to?
It's been a while since our last post of what we are currently up to. I guess that comes with the territory when school is just starting. We haven't been up to much:
- Mostly just hanging out.
- We've started venturing outside since the temp has only been in the 90's.
- We've done a lot of snuggling and movie time since mommy is a little uncomfortable waiting for baby to come.
- The girls have found ways to amuse themselves independently. Anya made a train with her snack.
- We've been growing up. Anya got moved into a big girl bed in preparation to be a big sister. She has been doing really well except for the night that I found her running back from the toy room at 10:30 pm to try to jump in bed before mommy caught her.
- Emma started gymnastics. She was moved up a class the week after she got there because she is doing so well. The coach says she is very strong. I was concerned about her craziness, but the coach says it is great. She said, "We don't need gymnasts who think, we need gymnasts who do." I think Emma might fit into that category just fine. We were really proud of her last week. She can climb up the climbing rope like a little monkey. They split the class in two teams and had a time limit to see how many times they could climb the climbing rope. Emma wanted to get down faster from the rope and so she slid down with the rope under her arm and ended up with a nasty ropeburn. Even though, she was hurting a lot, she kept going until the challenge was over in order to help her team.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Fourth of July
Huh? That's right folks! I am just now posting our summer vacation/4th of July pictures. I know what you're thinking, don't judge. ; ) We had the best summer vacation this year! It was a combination of great friends, relaxation, and fun. We went back to Utah to visit my brother (who I miss fiercely) and also our best friends there. Man, I miss them tons and there is a good chance that my overly emotional, pregnant self might shed a few tears of homesickness before this post is done. Anyway, we had such a great time.
We all had a friend to play with while we were there:
Emma and Jo
Anya and Oliver
Liz and I
Mike and Mark
Even Foxy and Windy
We spent a few days with my brother and a few days with the Sorensons. It was a tight squeeze, but we are so grateful to Liz and Mark for putting us up since I didn't plan far enough ahead to get a hotel room in Provo on 4th of July weekend. (Nearly impossible by the way.) But let me backtrack and start from the beginning.
We got off to an interesting start. We decided to bring Foxy because it was just too hot to leave her in Arizona and we didn't want to inconvenience anyone by asking them to dog sit for an extremely hyper dog for a week. Here are some important lessons that I learned about taking a dog on a long car ride (a small look into the start of our trip):
1. Don't buy the motion sickness pills on your way out of town when it is 107 degrees at 8:00 in the morning. You will be hot and sticky to start your long journey.
2. Remember some yummy food to stuff the pills in so you don't have to walk around trying to find someone who will give you some meat or peanut butter or something.
3. Don't feed your dog that morning because they will whine for about an hour and then puke in the car. (Luckily I remembered to bring towels, garbage bags, and carpet cleaner just in case.)
4. Bring lots of plastic bags to clean up the yucky stuff at pit stops because sometimes, the stores don't have something that will work.
After learning these great lessons, we actually had a really great drive. Most people hate long car rides, but I don't mind them so much. I love being all stuck together and having time to talk to each other, listen to books, and play car games. It was especially fun this trip because Emma was able to play the alphabet game with us for the first time. She didn't quite get the concept that you were supposed to go in alphabetical order, but it was so much fun to hear the excitement in her voice when she found a letter on a sign or billboard.
We stopped at the Navajo Bridge over the Grand Canyon on the way. It was beautiful! It is about 470 feet up and quite breathtaking. I'll tell you what else is breath taking, that hot boy and those cute girls right there!
The first couple of days we were there, we spent with Scott. We went to an aquarium that was small, but had some fun features. I couldn't really decide which pictures to add, so I just put in a bunch.
Emma ran from one presentation to the next with Uncle Scotty in tow. I think she saw the penguins, octopus, sharks, and stingrays get fed.
Anya preferred to just look at the fish in the tanks. 
They each got to pet the stingrays, but Anya was a little surprised by the texture and wouldn't try it again. It was hilarious.
It was so much fun to take our time and hang out with Scott. They had a cute little picture op that we couldn't pass up. 
The next few days we spent at the Sorensons hanging out and doing Fourth of July stuff. We had a little BBQ with old friends and it was a lot of fun. I wish that we would have gotten a big group picture, but with all the kids and dogs running around, it just didn't happen.
Mike had so much fun being with his guy pals and talking sports and politics. He just hasn't gotten that since we moved. I had so much fun sitting on Liz's front lawn and talking just like old times. Emma had so much fun running between all the neighborhood friends' backyards. Foxy had fun stealing all the little kids hot dogs when they left them unattended. I think she must have eaten at least 10.
Oliver found a new wrestling partner best friend.
Here's how we made sure that the kids were properly supervised.
We spent time outside (a novelty in July for us) and enjoyed relaxing. We didn't go to any big venues, but chose to just spend time together playing games and hanging out in the yard.
We went to the annual parade and fireworks show. Here's how Mike "watched" the parade.
Watching the fireworks was a little crazy trying to keep all the kids together, but we tried our best to keep them busy with sugary treats, pop-its, and glow sticks.
The last thing we did before we had to leave was a hike up Rock Canyon. We didn't go as far as Mark and Liz would have liked, I guess we have gotten a little soft since our move to the desert. : ) It was fun to watch Foxy and Windy blaze up the trail, but come back the second we called them. The girls had fun running up and down the trail with Liz's brother.
I enjoyed remembering how beautiful trees are.
We had such a great time and I hope that we can continue the tradition of summer trips to see our friends for many years to come.
We all had a friend to play with while we were there:
Emma and Jo
Anya and Oliver
Liz and I
Mike and Mark
Even Foxy and Windy
We spent a few days with my brother and a few days with the Sorensons. It was a tight squeeze, but we are so grateful to Liz and Mark for putting us up since I didn't plan far enough ahead to get a hotel room in Provo on 4th of July weekend. (Nearly impossible by the way.) But let me backtrack and start from the beginning.
We got off to an interesting start. We decided to bring Foxy because it was just too hot to leave her in Arizona and we didn't want to inconvenience anyone by asking them to dog sit for an extremely hyper dog for a week. Here are some important lessons that I learned about taking a dog on a long car ride (a small look into the start of our trip):
1. Don't buy the motion sickness pills on your way out of town when it is 107 degrees at 8:00 in the morning. You will be hot and sticky to start your long journey.
2. Remember some yummy food to stuff the pills in so you don't have to walk around trying to find someone who will give you some meat or peanut butter or something.
3. Don't feed your dog that morning because they will whine for about an hour and then puke in the car. (Luckily I remembered to bring towels, garbage bags, and carpet cleaner just in case.)
4. Bring lots of plastic bags to clean up the yucky stuff at pit stops because sometimes, the stores don't have something that will work.
After learning these great lessons, we actually had a really great drive. Most people hate long car rides, but I don't mind them so much. I love being all stuck together and having time to talk to each other, listen to books, and play car games. It was especially fun this trip because Emma was able to play the alphabet game with us for the first time. She didn't quite get the concept that you were supposed to go in alphabetical order, but it was so much fun to hear the excitement in her voice when she found a letter on a sign or billboard.
We stopped at the Navajo Bridge over the Grand Canyon on the way. It was beautiful! It is about 470 feet up and quite breathtaking. I'll tell you what else is breath taking, that hot boy and those cute girls right there!
The first couple of days we were there, we spent with Scott. We went to an aquarium that was small, but had some fun features. I couldn't really decide which pictures to add, so I just put in a bunch.
Emma ran from one presentation to the next with Uncle Scotty in tow. I think she saw the penguins, octopus, sharks, and stingrays get fed.
Anya preferred to just look at the fish in the tanks. 
They each got to pet the stingrays, but Anya was a little surprised by the texture and wouldn't try it again. It was hilarious.
It was so much fun to take our time and hang out with Scott. They had a cute little picture op that we couldn't pass up. 
The next few days we spent at the Sorensons hanging out and doing Fourth of July stuff. We had a little BBQ with old friends and it was a lot of fun. I wish that we would have gotten a big group picture, but with all the kids and dogs running around, it just didn't happen.
Mike had so much fun being with his guy pals and talking sports and politics. He just hasn't gotten that since we moved. I had so much fun sitting on Liz's front lawn and talking just like old times. Emma had so much fun running between all the neighborhood friends' backyards. Foxy had fun stealing all the little kids hot dogs when they left them unattended. I think she must have eaten at least 10.
Oliver found a new 
Here's how we made sure that the kids were properly supervised.
We spent time outside (a novelty in July for us) and enjoyed relaxing. We didn't go to any big venues, but chose to just spend time together playing games and hanging out in the yard.
We went to the annual parade and fireworks show. Here's how Mike "watched" the parade.
Watching the fireworks was a little crazy trying to keep all the kids together, but we tried our best to keep them busy with sugary treats, pop-its, and glow sticks.
The last thing we did before we had to leave was a hike up Rock Canyon. We didn't go as far as Mark and Liz would have liked, I guess we have gotten a little soft since our move to the desert. : ) It was fun to watch Foxy and Windy blaze up the trail, but come back the second we called them. The girls had fun running up and down the trail with Liz's brother.
I enjoyed remembering how beautiful trees are.
We had such a great time and I hope that we can continue the tradition of summer trips to see our friends for many years to come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
