It's official...

we're having another healthy, happy, energetic boy! My heart is happy to have the image of a squirmy little baby imprinted on my brain and to know that there are ten toes, ten fingers, working and functioning organs, and a cute little nose that will soon learn how to give and receive Eskimo kisses just like his big brothers.

I was a bit worried about Wy's reaction as he has insisted from day one that this is a girl. In fact he has been very persistent in this notion and when I broached the idea that it might be a boy and could we still bring the baby home if it were he was adamant: no way! we already brought home a baby boy and Conner was his name. So you can imagine my concern when the tech said it was a boy. However just like he always manages to, Wy surprised me by his excitement. In fact he told us (or more like the tech) that this would be his best baby brother ever (sorry Conner!). He asked to see the toes, the ears, the nose and when she had shown him all these he was satisfied. Conner on the other hand had no idea what we were doing in the dark room with a TV but every time he heard baby he'd pat Brad's belly (yeah, if only) and then in mutual timing he and Wy said they were finished (even though we were still trying to get the baby to move so we could get a snapshot of his head).

I'm excited for my boy and tonight when I say my prayers I will ask for one thing: that somewhere in the world families are having girls so that my boys will have somebody to marry!

Waving hello!

A Visit to the Homestead

I can't even tell you how much I love to drive over the mountains for a visit to my parent's home in Geneva. I love the quiet, the time spent with family, the scenery; I just love going home. Every February my siblings and their families plan a weekend to visit mom and dad, get our taxes done (big thanks to Dad, Ria, and James!), play in the snow and just spend time together. We are really lucky because we all live relatively close to our parents and so we can make this happen not just in February but sporadically throughout the year as well. We are also really lucky that our parents can put up with all the noise, the jokes, the goofing around (and that doesn't even count what the grandkids add to the equation).
This year we missed the President's Day weekend visit but managed to get to Geneva for the Valentine's Day weekend. While there we spent time with my brother James and his family; my sister Mauria; my brother Jared and his wife; my brother David and his family; and my sister's two boys Kyle and Nathan. These two were staying at grandma and grandpa's house so their mom and dad could bring their new baby brother Dylan Ike home from the hospital and get acclimated to a third baby.
Saturday after the big boys played in the snow they took the little boys for a spin:
Uncle Jared and Conner prior to the big ride

Kyle waiting for Uncle David to get the snowmobile in motion
Uncle Jared and Nathan getting ready to take off

These elk have taken up residence not far from my parent's house. Brad and I stopped on our way to town Saturday morning to take pictures.

Monday on our way home we really enjoyed some wildlife sightings (just so glad they were all foraging off the road rather than on the road.

Even though Brad was excited to see all the bull elk I think he was even more excited when he spotted this guy sitting on the fence checking out the deer eating and the other birds darting around. We actually had to pull off the road so Brad could explain to Wy what it was we were looking at. Wy didn't really see the eagle until he turned his head toward the road and that's when I snapped the photo. So pretty and so amazing! I feel so lucky to live in an area where we can see all of this in just a matter of two days.

Who needs to hire a handyman

when I have such handy little men who live in my house? Anytime I mention to Brad that one appliance isn't running the way it should or an object needs to be "looked at" you can bet that I'll find these two taking matters into their hands and fixing the problem. With the help of their flashlights (thank you Santa and a clearance sale at Cal Ranch!) and all the Handy Manny tools these two really get the job done!Note: the only thing really broken in these photos would be the garbage can but at least twice a week it gets "fixed" by the boys ;)

Conner's new tricks

Conner has developed into quite the little man all of a sudden. He started walking right on cue two days prior to the 18th month mark (whew thought we were going to be crawling/scooting for the rest of his life; even had visions of me carrying him across the stage to receive his high school diploma). I have come to the conclusion that Conner's personality is such that the more you want him to do something (like walk) he will do the exact opposite. Guess this is where the curse of "I hope you have a child just like you one day" kicks in; thanks mom!
He is a total joy to watch and it is so fun to follow him as he discovers all the newness of being upright and mobile brings. For instance: he now can run away from us when he gets into trouble (true story: he was messing with the stereo so I went in to spank his bum and he turned and ran across the living room, slipped on the hardwood floor and biffed on his bum. Brad and I laughed at his failed escape attempt), he can climb up on the table, the top bunk, Wy's rocking horse, the couch, the end table in the living room - he just can't crawl down. He can tip his chair over and then yell at the innocent bystanders. He loves to rearrange all my cupboards and drawers (I discovered my cooking spray in his toy collection the other day). He loves to sneak into our room and run off with all of Brad's stuff: his work phone (he always seems to have an important call to make using this phone), his personal phone, his books, his papers, his boots, his hat - practically anything he can grab and run before we catch him. Most recently he has begun playing with the play phones we have and he walks around the house "talking" on his phone. He'll even say a word or two on our phones when we are talking to family. He has also decided that he is a cowboy. He loves hats and really likes to wear Wy's cowboy hat. I think we are going to have to acquire one for him long before his birthday rolls around! He likes to ride Domino (the rocking cow), Wy's horse, the stick horse and when all else fails...

he'll go for a spin around the living room on Toby. Poor Toby really is a good sport but the other night I truly believe he thanked me when I opened the door and let him outside. Conner absolutely loves this dog; not sure how Toby feels at this point in time.
And in keeping with his older brother, Conner likes to crawl into things that are too small for him to fit and then look at us with this helpless grin and ask for help to get out of the predicament he finds himself. We laugh, take pictures and then extricate him - just like we do with Wy. What goofy boys!

5 days...and yes I'm counting!

Thursday we get to do the long awaited Ultra Sound! We actually could have had this done two weeks ago but I was nervous for a few reasons: 1: I was only 17 weeks and didn't want to have a redo because it was too early; 2: I was really, really scared of doing it and finding out it was a boy! Don't get me wrong, I love my boys and will readily take on a third but at that moment, sitting there in the office with this gigantic decision to make I admit I panicked. So I put it off for two weeks and have spent many hours talking to this critter in utero who likes to do a gymnastic stint on my bladder 24/7 and gets really excited and movement crazy the minute I sit down to relax or sleep and have come to the conclusion that boy/girl I don't really care. I am in love with this baby already and so are my two little guys who also spend time "talking" to the baby so he/she will know voices and how much they love him/her. We are ready to know what we are having but most importantly I'm just ready to see 10 tiny toes, 10 tiny fingers and a healthy baby no matter pink or blue.