The Darndest Things

 Tate and Avery enjoy classic Michael Jackson, and recently we were listening to his " I Just Can't Stop Loving You" duet with Diana Ross while in the car.  Avery asked what the song was called.  I told her and added that I will always love her and Tate.  Then Tate said, "One day you will get married Avery.  Maybe you could even marry me!" Keepin it in the family, people!

Today Tate and I were building a train set.  He was quite excited to have my help.  At one point Avery got on my lap and I said that I can't build with her on my lap.  So Tate offered his lap.  "Here Avery, I'll sit down and you can sit on my lap.  I'm comfortable.  See, my pants are soft."  The funniest was Avery's reaction.  She was hesitant to leave her cozy spot with me, but intrigued.  She slowly walked over to him and gently felt his jeans.  Then it was forgotten and they both started playing with the train.  I was very amused.

Blessings

 Here's Uncle Tony holding their new baby girl, Ember Dezzie Spratling.  She was born just 3 days shy of Father's Day, and 26 days shy of her July due date!  She surprised us all by making her arrival on Thursday, June 13, 2013. Henry and I were there to witness the entire FAST miracle that unfortunately Tony didn't make it in time to see.  More on that experience later. She's a healthy little sweetie-pie weighing in at 5 lbs 9 oz, and 18.5 inches in length.

 I love that Ember's middle name is Dezzie because Henry was born just 3 months prior and my dad's parents are Henry and Dezzie.

We have been so blessed.  Last year during my first trimester of pregnancy, I had some spotting and blood work revealed that we would most likely lose the baby.  When he survived into the second trimester, we were told that he will most likely live, but have Down's Syndrome.  Later ultrasounds revealed that he no longer showed signs of any abnormalities.  Then we was born in March a perfectly healthy baby boy.

For two months after his birth, I had four rounds of strep throat and feared I would need to remove my tonsils.  Stress levels rose when Eric was told he had 60 days left of work at Enterprise.  By the way, this was by no fault of his own as he is an excellent worker, but I won't go into that story.  The day after being told that, Eric had a job interview, and the next week he was offered the job.  So far he has been enjoying it, which is another huge blessing. With the job change, we were left without insurance for a couple months.  I was worried about taking care of my throat while on the temporary, but not very good, insurance I purchased to cover us until the coverage with the new company kicked in.  Thanks to prayers, my throat finally healed up.  I thought it never would without some major intervention!  I am so grateful for our family's current health.

I want to comment on Bre's latest blessing.  She went into labor at our home on a Thursday afternoon.  It was quite the surprise as she was over three weeks away from the due date.  Eric just happened to come home, thanks to his new schedule, just as we were contemplating taking Bre to the hospital to see if this was the real deal.  So he was able to watch all the kids while we went.  Tony was in Spokane for work meetings and left for home as soon as Bre called him.  I fed Henry and away we went to the hospital.  Ember came within 30 minutes of our arrival!  I am so grateful that Bre was at our home when it all went down because I don't think she would have been able to drive herself.  Plus, what would she have done with Lane?  I am grateful that Henry was fed because he spent the entire delivery on my hip and didn't make a peep.  I am happy that I could be there for Bre to have a familiar face, plus it was just really amazing to see my first birthing experience when I wasn't the one having the baby. Bre did awesome and the doctor arrived just in time to catch the baby.  Bre only pushed for 45 seconds and Ember was here!  They are all home now and doing well.

Finally, I want to do a quick comment on another blessing that has been on my mind lately.  My husband Eric has been so strong and helpful through this process of having a third child and then losing and finding a new job.  He is always serving the kids and I while at work and home and he never complains.  He does anything I ask of him.  He is a spiritual leader in our home.  I love that he helps us enjoy peaceful Sundays by playing his Mormon Tabernacle Choir station on Pandora =)  I  appreciate that he fasts and prays to know what's best for our family, and he can often be found listening to the scriptures and conference talks on his phone.  He's a great example to me of stepping it up and relying on the Lord when trials come. I love my man.  And by the way, Happy Father's Day!  Our kids adore him, even if he often plays the "bad cop" in our little "good cop/bad cop" scenario.

Phone Picture Catch-Up

 ***The following posts are mostly a bunch of pictures from my phone.  Every couple years I print and bind this blog, as it is our family photo album/scrapbook.  

You could say that these mostly picture posts are my ode to photo albums of my youth: random unedited yellowing pictures stuck to a sticky page with a plastic cover and no narration.

 I never figured out what Avery had gotten into and mashed into her hair as shown here.

 This is how Avery fell asleep one night.  I like the way she organized her shoes just so before konking out.

 Bed head after nap time.

 Okay, this even was absolutely adorable.  My friend threw a girly party at her home while most of the men were at the father/son outing.  Avery got all dressed up and filled her purse with make-up.  She was soooo excited.  They played dolls, dress-up, put on the make-up and did a fashion show.  She rocked the runway, but my pictures were too blurry to post.  A few weeks after the even I suggested she wear this dress to church and she said, "No!  That's my party dress."  We definitely have to throw another girly party soon.

 Tate often puts on this hat that Uncle Eli bought him in Afghanistan to wear to bed.

 Playing in the mud with the neighbor, Nicki.

 Tate likes to build stuff and then asks me to take a picture to show Grandma.

 We got to dog sit Grandma Hibbert's baby, Charlie, one afternoon.  Avery was very happy because she LOVES animals.

 Aunt Carley appropriately dubbed Tate's picture here, "Oil Can Henry".

 Our first sno-cone experience at the park was a hit a couple weeks ago.  I think the last time I had a sno-cone was as a 10 year old little league player.  Sno-cones have come a long way since then, upgraded from the cone shape to a cup and they turn into a slushie.  Yummy.

 We spent Memorial Day in LaGrande this year.  Eric took the kids on their first overnight camping experience on the mountain in Grandpa's trailer.  It was a hit.  We then visited Grandma Gertie's grave and I found some Stoddard sites right next to the Hibberts.  This is my dad's aunt and uncle.

 Grandma Stoddard buys Avery's wardrobe.  This was one of many pictures I took as Avery tried on every outfit given her.

 An interesting way to eat a melon.

 My little 80's workout girl.

 Just like his mother, all of Henry's weight goes to his thighs.

 Here's Avery looking cool while avoiding sleep.  We put her to bed on the couch until Tate is asleep in the bunk-bed.  She's just too much fun to let him sleep otherwise. Then we transfer her to the top bunk.

 So young, and Henry already enjoys watching some quality tennis with Grandpa Stoddard.

 This is a very common situation- Avery getting too close for comfort and making weird sounds and faces at Henry.

 This day at the park is memorable because Eric got a new job and gets home in the 4 o-clock hour.  This is the best change ever to me.  I love that we were able to visit a park together last week after his work day.  My back especially appreciates that he could tote Henry around in the baby carrier instead of yours truly.

Here and There

 The kids and I took a walk to the park when Henry was about 3 weeks old.  Tate likes to take blankets for a pretend picnic.

 Everytime we visit Grandma Stoddard, Avery runs straight to the closet to put on her fancy purple dress. .

 Tate has been into puppets for quite a while.  He was showing off some shadow puppets made from the cricut.

 Henry wearing his tie in honor of turning one month old.

 Aunt Melissa made us this beautiful height chart.  Here's Avery being measured for the first time.  It would be cute to snap a picture with each measuring and attach it to the chart one day...

 I enjoy Avery's method of eating marshmallows here.

 Decapitated!

 Here's Henry at 6 weeks old.

 Thanks Aunt Marie for the cute onesie.

 We like going to the gymnastics gym for free play.  This picture was taken on their pirate day.

 I got a chuckle when Avery brought me this string and requested I belt her nightgown.  Tiny little waisted girl.

 Adorable baby taking a bath. I love this bath flower from Aunt Jennifer.  No more fear of dropping my baby during a sponge bath.

 Fancy Tate playing dress-up.  This is what happens when your most popular playdate is your sister.

 Avery's version of dress-up: Dad's underwear on her head.

 Henry: "But I don't want to be a pirate!"