How Can Something SOOOOOO Adorable.....

be SOOOOO stinky?!?!

Oh, how much I forgotten the sweet smell of newborn baby TOOTS and POO and Little Miss Taylen Jae can definitely compete with the best of them!!! So far in her five days with us, she has managed to poo at the Dr.'s office, the photo studio, and at the check out line. Just how many times newborns poo is QUICKLY coming back to me. How on Earth had it slipped my mind that I'd (we'd) be changing 10+ poopy diapers a day??? (and, on top of it all, I'm LOVING it!!!)

Today has been yet another fun day of getting back into the newborn care grind....funny how much I take my potty trained, self-feeding kiddos for granted!! Taylen...someday, you will be there too!! Until then...POO AWAY!!!

Newborn Mommy-Hood has come rushing back to me without skipping a beat. Today contained the perfect example of how babies follow their own schedules and don't care about just how many diapers they go through....

Taylen and I joined Daddy for a quick lunch. We decided to meet for a quick "date" and enjoyed each other's adult company....not that we don't enjoy the discussions that our 4 and 2 year olds usually dictate, but it was nice to catch up and stick to "adult" topics for a change.

At lunch Taylen slept the whole time in her carrier and didn't make a peep. As Daddy left and headed back to work, Taylen and I dropped off a few bills at the post office and planned a QUICK trip to Herberger's to take back a few boy outfits we didn't end up needing.....

While on our way to Herberger's, Taylen managed to fill her diaper with what seemed like the longest and loudest poo. At this point I was expecting a major blow-out. No biggie, though because I'd just do a quick change before we headed into the store. Well, as I looked at the clock, I realized it was about time for a feeding, so I decided to pull into the back of the parking lot (waaaaay away from others) and surrender to a quick nursing session in the back of the van (I knew this mini-van would come in handy!)

I park the van, perform my quick diaper changing skills on Taylen, and proceed to nurse behind the well tinted back mini-van windows. Sounds easy, right??? Well, as I nurse her, she proceeds to fill her pants once again. So, after nursing, I change her and put her back into her car seat in order to pull up to a closer parking spot so I don't have to haul her in the chilly temps the entire length of the parking lot....

Just as I'm getting her carrier out of the car...I hear that VERY familiar sound...Miss Taylen filled her pants again. At this point, we've already been in the parking lot for at least a half hour, but I decide to stick with my plan and change her AGAIN and head into Herberger's. She's sound asleep in the carrier and enjoying the ride as we do a little shopping. We find a few new outfits for summer and head towards the check out counter.....

Apparently, there aren't many workers during day hours over at Herberger's because there is quite a line developing behind us at the counter. The lady ringing us up makes a mistake and has to re-ring everything. At this point, Taylen begins to fuss (just a little bit)...I'm assuming that she's just getting sick of sitting in that carrier. So, the woman proceeds to check us out and just as she's handing me my bag of goodies, Taylen rips the cutest, biggest, toot and fills her pants with the FOURTH poop in the past 60 minutes!!!!!

Everyone giggles as we head towards to doors to make our grand exit and prepare for ANOTHER diaper change!! Good thing I brought a lot of diapers with me and so much for our QUICK pit-stop by the mall.

Oh, isn't newborn life GRAND??

Love you, Stinky Pants!!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day!!

What a fun, fun GREEN day! I still can't believe it's already St. Patty's Day...seems as if 2011 is just flying by! Things were pretty laid back around here today. Little Miss Taylen is 4 days old and has already changed so much. She spent the majority of today learning how to focus those cute eyes of hers....so neat to watch her work it out herself....started with a little cross-eyed action and now she's an old pro...looking around and taking in everything around her. She had her check-up this morning, where she filled her pants with a stinky poo, but otherwise, everything was looking good. After the Dr, we were off for her first photo shoot...where she did great!! We can't wait to see how the pics turned out....

The weather here was gorgeous...up around 70 and the kids couldn't get enough. Trey & Tylee played a little Tag and Hide & Seek out back this afternoon and were in hog heaven. FINALLY, some nice weather. We all hope it sticks around for a while and are definitely ready for Spring around here.

The kids also had a blast getting all decked out in their "Green Get-Up"....as they are always into the whole St. Patty's Day spirit thing...Thanks to Maw-Maw Cindy they even got to put green sprinkles on their mini chocolate pudding pies. Trey said he squirted his whip cream up really, really high and poured on lots and lots of sprinkles....too fun!

Everyone has enjoyed their time with Maw-Maw Cindy this week....treasure hunts, pizza making, pie decorating, many many games of Go Fish, War, and Old Maid, painting nails and getting pretty, lots of picnics with the baby dolls, and many trips to the "kitchen" to create a smorgasbord of plastic food creations. What a week!! Thanks Maw-Maw Cindy for making it exciting!!! We are bummed she has to leave tomorrow...seems as if all visits go by way to fast!!!

Overall, we had a great St. Patty's Day and hope you did too!!!



Home SWEET Home...

Well, after a wonderful delivery and hospital stay, we are FINALLY home with Taylen Jae and I can't express in words how fabulous it feels! The doctors and nurses were great during the hospital stay, but nothing compares to being able to relax in the comfort of my own home. I'm curious to see just how much "sleep" we'll get tonight, but am embracing every second.....

Here are a few shots of Taylen enjoying her last hour or so at the hospital and then here at home with Trey Jacob...

WELCOME HOME, Taylen Jae....

Taylen enjoying her last nap at the hospital....

So Sleepy...Think she needs another nap?!?!

Binky Baby...already!!!

Headed home with our new little addition!!!

All ready for the ride home....

Trey & Daddy SUPER excited to have her home!!!

One SUPER PROUD Big Bro!!!

Off to bed...here's to a good night of "sleep"...or at least a solid hour of shut eye!!

Taylen,

We are so glad to finally have you home!!! Let the fun begin!!!

~Mommy

The Wait Has Definitely Been....

WORTH IT!!

I am so PROUD to announce that Little Miss Taylen Jae Weite joined our family on Sunday, March 13th at 4:54 am, weighing in at 8 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 21 inches. She is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT and we could not be more thrilled to welcome her to our family!!!

The BEST part of my day today (as I spent the entire thing here at the hospital) definitely was watching Trey and Tylee meet their new little sis this morning before they headed to school. I was so stinkin' excited, but also was wondering how everything would go. Tylee has been so excited for the past two weeks for the baby to come out of Mommy's tummy, so I had no question about how she'd react. Trey, on the other hand, has been excited as well, but I wasn't sure how things would go the first time he saw her. I didn't think he'd have a negative reaction, I just more or less thought that he'd look at her, say Hi, and go on with his day.

BUT, Trey absolutely blew my expectations OUT of the water. From the second he saw her, he was in absolute AMAZEMENT. He got the biggest grin on his face and immediately wanted to hold and love on her. He carefully and gently held her as he focused on supporting her head and rubbing the top of her head with the most perfect touch. He stared at her for a solid 15 minutes and could not get enough! It reminded me of EXACTLY how he was when he first met Miss Tylee Jean up here at the hospital. I know, without a doubt, that Trey is going to be one FANTASTIC big bro (not that I doubted it before!!!)

As Trey held Taylen's head and upper back, Tylee sat right next to him and held Taylen's legs and feet. The entire time, Tylee was also in awe, but full of 1,000 questions. She wanted to know where Taylen's shoes were and why she wasn't talking. She LOVED her little nose and could not stop mentioning how Taylen was no longer in Mommy's tummy. She kept telling us how Taylen was "learning" and how cute she was. She also wanted to "help" do everything....it was definitely PRICELESS!!! Tylee is in love with her little sis and is going to be such a great big sister!!!

Thanks to Daddy we were able to get a few pictures of this special moment.....

All ready for the nurse to wheel Taylen in....SO.EXCITED.

Meeting her for the first time....this is one of my favorites!!

Proud Momma and her little Munchkins....PERFECT.

LOVE Trey's expression in this one...totally sums up the entire morning!!!

Taking it all in. I cropped the pic, but you can still see Trey's hands totally supporting the top and underside of Taylen's cute little head....what a great Big Bro!!!

Scheming already?!?!

Tylee couldn't even take her eyes off her to snap a quick pic...TOTAL.AMAZEMENT.

A little photo fun....What a sight and what a way to start the day!!!

Dear Little Miss Taylen Jae,

WELCOME to this big old world and WELCOME to the Weite House!! You've been an absolute blessing and totally complete our family. You are such a beautiful baby and are doing a fantastic job adjusting to life outside of that cozy little spot you've called home for the past 279 days. Enjoy the next few days (okay, YEARS) of constant chaos and don't ever forget just how many people love you to pieces!!! Lots and lots of hugs and kisses....

XOXOX

~Mommy

It's KINDERGARTEN...

Round-Up Time and I absolutely, 100%, positively CANNOT believe it!! It's beyond mind-blowing to think that Trey Jacob will be starting KINDERGARTEN in approximately 6 months...

Tonight, I had the privilege of accompanying my Little Man as he visited his future big kid school, James Elementary. We enjoyed a little tour and peek at what he's going to be doing once he starts school. Needless to say, his absolutely FAVORITE part of the tour was the LIBRARY....he couldn't believe how many books there were. We've ventured to the public library here in Ottumwa many times, but he was super impressed that this library would be at his school! After the tour, we sat in on a little informational meeting and met the two kindergarten teachers. He didn't find out who his teacher would be, but he did get to meet both of them. After the meeting, he picked up his goodie bag and we headed home.....he talked and talked about how excited he was the entire time!!

So, as my "baby" gets ready to begin the next chapter in his life, I can only sit back and smile and watch him soak up every second of the journey......

As much I want to avoid the camera right now, I just had to snap a Kindergarten Round-Up pic to document this moment in Trey J's life. After all, we'll never get this second, minute, hour, or night back!! (Please be kind with the oooh's and aaah's of my 39 4/7 week pregnancy "look!!")

Posing by the PWIM poster. Looks like fun and Trey actually read all the words to me....all except BACON...he didn't know what that word was. I thought that was hilarious!!!

Trey asked me to take the pic of him in front of the cool "milk jugs house," as he called it...then proceeded to ask me if we could make one at home. How many weeks of milk drinking do you think that would take?!?!

His fun little supply list...

Waiting for the informational meeting to begin....SO.EXCITED!!

Headed home with his goodie bag in hand...all smiles, as you can see!!!

Trey J...you did a FABULOUS job tonight and I can't wait to take you to your first day of Kindergarten in a few months. There are so many fantastic learning opportunities ahead of you and I'm excited to see you embrace each and every one!!! This time in your life seems to have come so quickly, that enjoying your big night together, makes it even that much more special!! I love you bunches!!

~Mommy

Sunday's SEVEN Minute....

Park visit was so much fun, while it lasted. The kids and I have pretty much been cooped up for the past couple days. Aside from a run to the movie store on Saturday afternoon, a couple trips to the recycling bin in the driveway, and a mail-box check, we haven't been out of the house....sad, I know....

So today, with the temps hovering around 40 degrees, we attempted to go to the park. We were all pumped and ready to slide with the best of them. I should have gotten a clue when there was NO ONE else at the park...always a true sign that the weather isn't cooperating. I swear, the second we stepped onto that playground the winds picked up and after about SEVEN minutes (okay, MAYBE ten) the kids were ready to go. Trey said the bars at the park felt like icicles and that he would have to have some hot chocolate when we got home....too funny!!!

Okay, so maybe a park visit wasn't the best idea, but we tried!!! I was able to snap a few pics and then we were off to Target instead. Funny how the park was free, but we didn't make it out of Target without spending a small fortune. Seems like that always happens!!! On a side note, I did get the kids some spring and summer jammies that were on clearance....

Hope everyone has a FANTASTIC week!!! Here's to SPRING being just around the corner & A LOT more (WARMER) visits to the park.....

Trey's first trip crossing the "shaky poles," as he calls them....

Tylee having fun on the slide...her favorite!!!

Someone was on top of the world.....

Tylee Jean...climbing up and ready for some more slide action!! (This was about 2 minutes before she told me she needed her MITTENS!!)

Back for more "shaky pole" action...lol!!

Last pic of the afternoon...my 39 week pregnancy shot. Yes, call me the headless pregnant woman because I HATE (and, I'm NOT exaggerating) my face when I'm preggo! Blows up like a hot air balloon...and scares everyone in its path (and, I'm still NOT exaggerating!!!)

Happy Sunday and here's to only having SEVEN more days left!!! I am definitely ready....

This Andy Warhol Quote....

Sums Up EVERYTHING Perfectly!!!

Just a lazy Saturday around the house...prepping for little "T" to enter the world in approximately 9 days!!! I'm officially 36 hours away from being 39 weeks pregnant and feeling great. I had a Dr. appointment with Coleman on Thursday afternoon and everything was looking good...heartbeat was 135 bpm and everything was measuring the way it's supposed to. It's so strange because, at this point in my pregnancies with both Trey & Tylee, I was measuring big and had to have additional ultrasounds. This baby just may come into this world being my "smallest" baby!! We'll have to see...

The plan is that, if this little one doesn't arrive before the due date, I'll be induced on my due date, Monday the 14th!! I'm not a big fan of Pitocin, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything comes naturally and progresses on it's own....I'll keep you posted!! SO EXCITED to meet our new little addition!!!

As for today, the Munchkins and I have been playing Cars, Kitchen, Puzzles, Wii, Babies, Balloon Keep Up, Koosh Ball, and Coloring all morning...and, it's ONLY 8:45 AM! I'm trying to relax, as much as possible with a 2 1/2 and almost 5 year old!! Trey's been a big help, but Tylee is always going a mile a minute!! As much as I love being pregnant, I can't wait to lose this big old belly so I can keep up...or at least so I can bend over without losing my breath and sit Indian style without cutting off the circulation in my feet!!

So, the rest of the day will be filled with A LOT more playtime, a little bit of laundry, nap time (hopefully!!), and more playtime!

Have a fabulous weekend and here's to Uncle Nick hitting his big money lifts over in Columbus, Ohio at the Arnold Expo this afternoon!!!