Summer 2012 in words

I found this today and had never posted  it so I am going to post it even though it is a month overdue:)

My little Josie came home from preschool today informing me that it is now Fall.  And yes I know it turned fall a couple of days ago I decided to recap our summer here before more time has gone by and I have forgotten everything.
It was an eventful and BUSY summer for us.  A little different one for us with 4 little ones and the adjustment of another newborn in our home.  We didn't let that stop us though from getting out and doing things (well maybe a little it did ;)  this mama is still trying to figure out the whole 4 kids thing)
Some of the highlights were:

• Going to Boulder, Nevada to the Pirate House for a week!  One of our favorite spots in the whole wide world!
• While we were there our neighborhood was evacuated for a fire... glad we were gone!
• This momma turned the big 3-0 the end of June... crazy!  I feel so old now.  It was a good birthday though and  I was spoiled by Marcus and the kids.
• We blessed our sweet little Mason Parker July 1
• My sister Sarah had her baby Brooklyn on July 3
• We celebrated the 4th of  July... some of it was good and some was not.  We were going to go up to Logan fireworks on the 3rd and camp out and Grandma and Grandpa Reeders but our van got a flat tire and we couldn't get it fixed til the 4th.  We were able though to go watch fireworks  and swim with Dan and Jenn-lee and family. 
• Uncle Matt came and stayed with us for a week or so.
• Our little rascal Micah turned 2.  He is SOOOO much fun!  We got a bouncy castle and had a low key party with some of Marcus's family.  A couple of weeks ago he was VERY obsessed with Yo Gabba Gabba, Mickey Mouse, and Thomas the train and while he still likes all that his new obsession is SUPER HEROS like his brother Hayden.  We love him to pieces and are so glad he is in our family!
• This one is not so much highlight but more of a lowlight... Micah got really sick and had to go to the ER on a Sunday.  He was throwing up so much and had diarhea and couldn't keep anything down.  It was SOO awful and we were super worried about him.  He literally laid on the couch without moving for  a couple of days (which is so not like him).  He was pretty sick for a full week.  And we are so glad he is over that.
• On August 17th my sister Leah got married to Jaron!  WE love him and are so happy for them.  It was over in Logan and we made a little trip out of it and stayed in a hotel for 2 nights.  It was lots of fun especially the swimming.  The only hard part was that Marcus got sick and Micah still wasn't feeling the best.
• On the way home from Logan we stopped at my mom's where my brothers Joel and Stephen were trying to cut a huge tree down.  Marcus went to help.  It ended up falling the wrong way and hitting into telephone lines and knocking out power... and it started a small fire by the road (thank goodness that got put out quickly)  The fire department ended up coming to check on things and it was very eventful especially for all the kids.
• Marcus's mom and brother Zac moved in with us for a couple of weeks the end of August
• We put our house up for sale toward the end of August and that has been a crazy adventure.  Hopefully we will be taking it off the market soon!
• On August 26 I took Josie and Hayden to meet my mom so they could stay at her house for a day or two.  On the way back Mason started screaming and I needed gas so I stopped for gas.  I got Mason out and of course Micah wanted out so I let him out to "help" me.  Right about then Marcus called to see where I was.  Micah darted away from me and there was a car coming so I screamed at him and ran to grab him and tripped over the gas hose.  Micah came back quickly when he saw me fall.  Needless to say Mason and I ended up in the ER.  Mason with a broken femur and me with a fractured arm.  It was  an awful night and I don't wish to remember all of it.  The next couple of days were absolutely awful  and that is all I will say about that.
• Mason only had to have his cast on for about 2 weeks which is actually quite remarkable and such a blessing.  My arm didn't have to be casted just in a sling which got old really quick!  I am grateful that is behind us and we are doing much better.
• Josie and Hayden both started preschool on Sept, 4th and they both are loving it!  It has been so good for the both of them.  They go on Tues and Thurs.  They go to different places but at the same time.  It has been so nice having some time with Micah and Mason.
• On September 8th our little Josie Jos turned 5!  She was thrilled... she has wanted to be 5 since her last birthday!  We had a little movie night with some little girls the night before and the day of we had a family day and did whatever she wanted!  We ended up going to Cabela's for a fishing pole (she has been begging  for one) and then we went to the Gateway to play at Discovery Center and eat at Costa Vida... Josie loves that place.  We sure love  our little 5 year old girl!  She is so much fun!
• I was able to take the kids  up one Friday to go through the Brigham Temple.   My mom helped me and it was a very good experience.  That night was Box Elders Homecoming game so we went in and watched them light the "B"... Uncle Stevie was on the mountain helping and that made it lots funner!

6 weeks!

My baby turned 6 weeks on Saturday and it is a bittersweet kind of thing!  Where does the time go?  It has gone by WAY too fast!  But on the other hand it feels like  he has been with us forever.  I sure love this new little guy and marvel every day at what a beautiful and GOOD baby he is!  Truly he is just amazing!  Such a good eater and sleeper and snuggler and patient with his older but not so old siblings!  All 3 of the kids just love and adore him and want to be a part of everything with him!  I LOVE this!  But at the same time I really have to keep my eye on baby Mason especially with Micah who thinks it is his job to bring him to me if he is crying.  Seriously this has happened and poor little Mason was scared to death I am sure being dragged by the neck by his 21 month old not so big brother.  I have really been trying to keep him in safer places now.
I really believe that both God and Mason knew that I needed a good baby and so he has been a perfect little angel!  He has come at time that is a bit overwhelming with all that I have going on and with 3 other young children but he has already been such a blessing and I am so grateful that God knows what I and our family needs and helps us through the whole process!  I feel so blessed!  I am just trying to hang on to all these precious moments that I am having with my sweet little baby and also with Josie, Hayden, and Micah.  These days go by way too fast!  I keep thinking how I just LOVE the stages that all of them are at and find myself wishing they would stay just like this but each stage is wonderful I suppose so I will just cherish each and every moment.

Mason is really starting to fill out and is getting some chub on him!  I just love it!  He is such a HAPPY baby!  He started smiling at 2 weeks!  And really hasn't stopped but this last week has been endless smiles at everyone.  At first it was mostly just for me when I talked to  him but now he smiles even when he is just sitting there.  I have never had a baby so content to just sit and look around and listen to all that is going on.  I have also never had a baby who will go longer than 3 hours between feedings.  He doesn't do it all the time but he seems to know when I can't feed him right away and usually just waits patiently.  There have also been nights when he will go 4 to 5 hours between feedings which is a first for me too!  Again he doesn't do it all the time but I am thankful when he does.  He LOVES the tub and bath time!  Just sits there and looks so content whenever he is in there.  I am so thankful for my little Mason Parker and his sweet spirit and the joy he has brought to us!

Some pictures of Mason's First Month

Mason Parker Hadlock: his birth story

l The weeks flew by for me on this pregnancy that is until the last one and then it dragged on and on and on! It took me a little longer on this one to prepare myself mentally for another child and the thought of going through labor again but by 39 weeks I was feeling pretty ready! The week before I was able to have a fun girls night with my sisters and mom, I got my hair done, got the kids' haircut, went to the temple, got my nails done, packed my bags, and cleaned the house and tried to keep it that way! I thought it would be nice to have a baby right before conference and then I could just sit and cuddle him through the sessions but he had different plans.

Marcus's mom flew in the day before my due date and that evening I started having contractions... I thought well isn't this perfect BUT they never got more than 20 mins apart so then it was April 3rd my due date. I had told myself before that I was prepared for him to come late since Micah did but something happens when you hit your due date and there is still no baby! The next couple of days were very hard. I had regular contractions through the nights but then they would always stop by 4 or 5 in the morning. Marcus wanted to be home from work cause his mom was here and he had already told his work that I was having contractions but still we waited! I knew deep down that this baby would come at the perfect time but I wanted the perfect time to be now! Anyway on Thursday my good friend Joann (who was due the same day as me) decided to go out walking until these babies decided they were ready to come! We took a good long walk (I had walked with Joann the day before Micah came so I thought this would surely do it)! Then after our walk I went with Marcus and his mom and the kids to IKEA and we walked some more! By the time we left I was having some good steady contractions and thought surely this was it! BUT they again continued through the night and stopped around 4 in the morning!

The next morning Marcus headed to work and I went to my foot zone class while Grammie Pammie watched the kids. And as I am driving to my class I got a text saying Joann had had her baby... if it would have been anyone else then I would have been upset but since I knew she knew exactly how I felt then I was thrilled for her! We got home and had a nice dinner and decided to do a movie night with the kids... we watched We Bought a Zoo. That evening the contractions started again... I knew deep down that this was it but I stayed calm and didn't say anything cause I wanted to be sure. Around midnight I knew there would be no sleep for me and Marcus was still up so i told him we better just head in. I started to feel really sick too and I did not want to be throwing up in the car and usually when I start throwing up then the end is fairly near. I called my midwives on the way in and let them know we were coming. We got there and settled in at about 1 that morning. They checked me and said I was a 3... not going to lie that was pretty depressing for me seeing that I had been feeling stuff for almost a week now! I guess they thought it was pretty depressing too cause they did not want me in the tub and wanted to send me home until I was in "active labor". Well being a 3 or not I was in VERY active labor!

An hour later they checked me and I was a 5. Things started to intensify for me and I got really sick and started throwing up. They told me last time that throwing up makes you dilate faster so I tried really hard to appreciate the throwing up. I kept asking if I could get in the tub to try to relax a little and they continued to tell me not until I was really progressing. I felt like I was progressing quite quickly but they though differently I guess. I was starting to feel a little panicked because I was exhausted and didn't know how much more I could handle and they seemed to be telling me that I had a ways to go still. Finally at about 3:30 am i asked once again if I could get in the tub... the student midwife said she would fill up the tub and then came in and said she did it too hot on purpose so that I would have to wait til it cooled down to get in. I was feeling very overwhelmed at this point but decided to just focus on having this baby!
The tub had really helped me with Micah to take the edge off of things and to be able to really focus and concentrate. So at 4 am I asked again if I could get in the tub... the midwife and 2 students then came in and sat down in my room and told me that they really only wanted me to stay if I was in "active labor" and that it might be better to go home and relax in my own tub until I was closer to having the baby! I just stared at them in disbelief and then looked to Marcus for help who was staring as well! I knew there was no way I would be able to climb in the car and drive 40 mins home let alone go home and "relax" and come back in. (Seriously who relaxes when they are in labor?) I just said I don't' think I will make it home and back in time. SO they decided to check me and I was a 7 so they said I could get in the tub but that I needed to get out if the contractions slowed down. Trust me they DID NOT slow down or lessen!

However, the tub helped me immensely get through the rest. The contractions kept coming one after another this time and I wondered how much longer this was going to be... they made it seem like I still had hours. At one point I looked at Marcus and said I didn't think I could keep doing it. He kept reassuring me and so I kept going, praying for the baby and the strength to get through. And then when I really, really thought I was done I stood up in the tub and felt like I was pushing. The midwives asked if I was pushing and I couldn't answer because as soon as that one was done then the urge came again. This time the urge did not stop, it literally lasted a couple of minutes ... the pressure was immense and I felt like I was going to collapse. I didn't have any idea how close I was and then I heard Marcus ask if that was the babies head. The student said no it is her sack and Marcus said no it is the head. And then I knew I could do it so I lowered myself into the tub and out came his head and 2 seconds later (all in the same push) came his body. He came out still in the sack which they cut open and then handed him to me.
There are no words that express quite what a mother feels in that moment. LOVE, relief, happiness, hope, LOVE, admiration, thankfulness, more relief, so many feelings at once. He came out so dark and with all this dark hair, I could hardly believe it. He is so beautiful and so perfect. He didn't cry at first just looked at me and Marcus. I had to rub his back to get him to cry and clean his lungs out. We sat there and just admired our little miracle. I believe that giving life is about as close as one can get to heaven here on this earth. I truly felt that my Heavenly Father had been there and helped me especially in those moments when I didn't think I could keep going on. And I guess that is how life is... He is always there when we need Him most and He will carry us through when it feels like we can't do it anymore.

There is no greater feeling for me then to look at my new little one with Marcus and know that he is ours and that we both helped create him and bring him here. We are so so happy to have our little Mason here with us! He was born at 5:06 am and weighed 8 lbs and 2 oz and was 21 inches long. After getting out of the tub and getting situated in bed I tried feeding him and it only took him about 30 seconds to figure out what to do. He is a champ!

I wasn't 100% sure about his name til we sat there holding him but Mason Parker he is! Marcus had suggested Mason awhile back and I had liked it but wanted to see him first... the kids had been calling him Mason for weeks and then one day Hayden started calling him Spiderman. I said why Spiderman? And he said cause if his name is Spiderman then he can fly! I love my little Hayd... he has been so excited for a baby and especially for another brother! So we got to thinking and decided to use Parker after Spiderman's real name Peter Parker.

Well it is late and I am tired but wanted to get that written before I forgot things but tomorrow I will post pictures and more.

How long is too long?

So I think I win the prize for going the longest without blogging! Seriously! I have good intentions but for some reason it keeps ending up at the end of my list of things to do. Oh well better late than never! So many things have happened over the past few months that I don't even know where to start and it would take me forever to catch up so I will just start with what is going on now.
Josie is 4 and a half and asking ALL the time if it is almost her 5 year old birthday yet! Oh why can't she just stay little! She is such an amazing, beautiful girl who I just adore! She LOVES, LOVES drawing and coloring and doing projects with paper and scissors and glue and tape and whatever else I will let her use. I think she has a lot of her dad's artistic talents. She is also the 2nd little mother around her and I am constantly reminding her that she actually is NOT the mother. I see a lot of the way I mother through her (some is good and some is bad). She is constantly taking care of the boys and disciplining as well. She loves princesses, fairies, babies, dressing up, and friends! She is so social! I love her constant chatter and to hear all the little things going on in her head... she doesn't hold much back! She is also taking dance right now and loving it! I love this little girl SO much!

Hayden is almost 3 and a half. He is our little protector! He LOVES wrestling and rough housing especially with his daddy. His dad is definetly his favorite person. He loves all the super heroes and is constantly talking about them and wanting to know little facts about them. Everyday he is looking around for "bad guys" to fight. He is ALWAYS the good guy. He loves hearing his dad tell stories and will sit there mesmerized for long periods of time while Marcus makes up stories for him. That is his favorite part of bed time. He is a very sensitive yet stubborn little boy! He loves being with Josie and tries really hard to be a good big brother for Micah. And he is NOT a little boy! If I or anyone else says he is a little boy he will correct them and say he is a BIG boy! One of my favorite things he does is he will randomly come over and kiss my feet:) He is so sweet! He is also taking dance with Josie right now and well that might seem a little girlish... he does NOT dance girlish... he is ALL boy!

Micah is 19 months today! He keeps us all laughing every day! He loves being with Josie and Hayden is learning to do everything they do... good and bad. He has grown up so much in the past few months. Marcus keeps reminding me that he really isn't a baby anymore (for another few more weeks though he is still my baby). He LOVES Yo Gabba Gabba! It is the one show he will really sit down and watch. He is such a BUSY little boy! Constantly on the go! We really have our hands full with this one. He bosses all of us around and while he might not have a huge vocabulary he knows how to get what he wants with every single one of us and especially with me:) He likes to push Hayden's buttons and do little things to annoy him but he loves him and wants to play with him at the same time. Lately he points out pictures of Marcus when he is gone and will say "work"... he likes it when I will let him carry around a picture of him. He is still more of a momma's boy but he LOVES his daddy and misses him when he is working. He also loves Thomas the train and will wear his Thomas jammies everyday for as long as I will let him. It is usually a battle to get them off and washed. He is really starting to say a lot and repeats almost everything we say now and most of it is really clear. He just started going to nursery and so far has done really well. He loves singing songs especially ones with actions and is really good at "I am so glad when daddy comes home" as soon as we finish a song he is saying, "more, more". I absolutely love this little boy! He makes me happy everyday!

And as for Marcus he is busy working full time and doing video games on the side. He wishes he could make video games full time... one of these days I am sure he will be able to. He has amazing talent when it comes to that kind of stuff! And he sure is an awesome daddy! The kids have let me know on more than one occasion that his stories are way better than mine.

Right now I am 35 weeks pregnant with another little boy! He is due to arrive somewhere around April 3rd. I am starting to really realize that he will be here before we know it. I still have lots to do to prepare! Organizing, cleaning, and mentally preparing:) We are so excited though and have been enjoying all of his little kicks and bumps that are not so little anymore. He is moving around so much and letting me know that his space in there is getting pretty crowded. I love those moments of feeling him! I am also busy right now taking a foot zone class one weekend a month. It goes until June. I am LOVING it so much and am so thankful that I have the chance to take it at this time! I love my instructor and the others in my class too! I am learning so much from all of them.

Mother's Day!

This was seriously the BEST Mother's Day I have ever had. It was absolutely wonderful! It started out Friday with Marcus taking me out. His brother Zac was in town so he stayed with our sweet little babies! Thanks Zac! We have been meaning to do regular date nights but things come up and babysitters fall through so needless to say it had been a while since the 2 of us got out together ALONE. I have been bugging Marcus about taking me to sushi cause he goes with his work and I miss out :( so he took me for yummy, yummy sushi at Tokyo in Lehi and for ice cream after (sushi and ice cream... it doesn't get much better than that)! It was absolutely lovely! We had the BEST time together! I sure love my man!

On Saturday, Marcus and Zac went to spend the day with their brother Dan so I took the kids to my mom's house. It was such an enjoyable day. The kids just love her house and stayed so entertained. It gave us the day to just enjoy being together, talking, and watching the kids. I love my dear mother! She is so amazing! She has taught me so much and always been there! I couldn't have had a better example and I hope that one day I can be the kind of angel mother she has been.

Marcus's parents have been in town the past week visiting with us and his grandparents, so on Sunday we decided to have everyone over to enjoy Mother's Day together. It started out with a phone call from Marcus's brother Matt who is serving a mission in Africa and then we headed off to church. I loved church this week! Josie sang up in front with the other Primary kids for the first time. It was so sweet. And the kids were actually pretty decent so I got to listen to most of the talks. It felt so nice and I was so touched by so many of the things that were said. It made me realize how important the calling of mother is and that it is worth any and all of the sacrifices that come with it. And also, that I am doing a good job! I am certainly NOT perfect but I am doing the best I can and that is all that is expected of me! I think we as women are too hard on ourselves and we forget to look at all the good that we are doing. Anyway, for the third hour all the men took over the classes and all the women got to go mingle and eat cheesecake. It was wonderful. After church, I came home to a house full of family and some yummy dinner! Marcus's parents, grandparents, his aunt and uncle, his brother Dan and his family, and Zac all came over for dinner. We had a great dinner and it was so nice to all be together.

This is the first Mother's Day since we have been married that we each got to spend time with our mothers. We are both so lucky to have the mothers we do! I love my mother in law so much! She always knows how to make me laugh and feel happy. She is an amazing person with so many talents. I know Marcus is so good in large part because of his wonderful mother!
And last but not least, my day (and weekend) were so wonderful because of my 3 most precious gifts, Josie, Hayden, and Micah. Word don't express just how much I love them! They are so dear and my greatest joy and I can't imagine my life without them... each one of them bring so much joy and happiness and laughter into our home and I am so so grateful that I get to spend my days with them! Josie and Hayden went around all Sat and Sun saying Happy Mother's' Day! And I love you mommy! And you are the best mommy! And so as Josie lets me know almost everyday, I am a lucky mommy! She will tell me this all the time... You are a lucky mommy! And I will say Why? And she will say, Cause you have us kids! And that is the truth! I LOVE being a mother!

Our New Additions!

So about a week before our trip I mentioned to Marcus that maybe we should get the kids a pet for Easter or their birthdays (which aren't til the Fall). Little did I know that we would end up with not only 1 but 2 pets! And puppies at that! He LOVES cockapoopoo dogs! (yep that is what they are) and found some on KSL in Gunnison. We stopped on our way to Cali to see them with the intention of getting the little boy gray one. Well Josie didn't want a boy, she wanted a GIRL dog! The lady offered us a good deal for them both (yes I know we are suckers) and somehow we ended up paying for 2 instead of 1. On our way home we stopped and picked them up. The little boy is Rowdy (the gray one) and officially Hayden's dog and the little girl is Pixie (the sandy one) and is Josie's. The kids are absolutely loving them (and the neighbor kids too;)


I am officially nutzo too! I mean, who does that? I was NOT planning on a dog let alone 2! I have my hands full with my kids! Somehow I thought 2 would be just as easy as 1 and maybe easier since they entertain each other. For the most part that has been true. They are the sweetest little dogs and we truly are loving them. They are pretty much all potty trained now which is a plus and that is what happens when you see your kids (and hubby) get all excited over something. I couldn't help it! I am just glad that Josie is not sick of them and still so willing to help out with them. And that Hayden has learned how to hold them so they aren't getting choked anymore:)