Easter Egg Fun

We have been having fun celebrating Easter. I bought a bunch of Easter eggs a couple weeks ago and they have been the toy of choice everyday. They are a 101 ways to play with Easter eggs. Here are a couple we have discovered.
1. At first we put them in a big box and the kids pretended they were taking a bath in them. They would "wash" each other in eggs, so cute. And Davey was o cute, he would splash in them like it was water.
2. Then there was always the dumping them out of the box and throwing them all over the house fun. I think I picked up those eggs a thousand times. ahem
3. We had a contest of who could launch the egg the farthest with their mouth. Mama had the clear advantage on that game. But they didn't care, it was always an up roar of laughter as soon as the egg flew from my mouth.
4. We hung the eggs on the bush in our front yard. I think Abbey felt like she was decorating a Christmas tree all over again. But the Easter egg bush has been a hit. I have seen several people walking by take pictures of it.
5. And then there was the o so creative swimming pool idea. Abbey's imagination is in high gear lately so when we picked up some swim goggles at the store from the summer she came up with this idea one rainy morning.
I am sure the kids will continue to find new ways to play to with the eggs this week. But if you have any more ideas leave a comment.

1st Food, Crafts and Pies, O My!

Yesterday was the best. Davey had his first bite of real food, smashed banana with milk. He loved it! I like making baby food and having them try new things but what I don't like is the extra time and mess involved. That is why I have held off as long as possible but with a week of him waking twice a night I thought we better get this show on the road.
The highlight of the day was making crafts with some friends and our kids in the morning. It was so fun but wild with 6 kids, hence no pictures of the actual craft making. I think it is better to enjoy the moment then capture it. At least that is what I tell myself.

We did start the morning off right with coffee and blueberry scones. yum!
Then we were off on an adventure with the kids to find colorful leaves. With our baskets full of leaves we headed back and made these beautiful turkeys. and of course we made colorful hands prints of turkeys too.
The kids had a blast! And I so enjoyed spending time with other moms. Our conversations don't get to go super deep. We are lucky if we can finish a sentence let alone a conversation without a little voice yelling; "I got to go potty", "she took my toy", "i want juice", "mom, Mom, MOM!". But there is something about going threw this crazy stage of life together that is encouraging.

Continuing on with the best day ever: the kids took a nap at the same time (first time in a month, yah!) so I made apple pies for Kevin's Bible study. That's right not one but two apple pies. You wish you were in Kevin's Bible study now don't you? Anyways,I had bought one of those apple peeler, slicing, coring gadgets after my friend Cara convinced me that it would change my world. Well, I loved it. You end up with all these pretty apple peels.
So, I tried sprinkling them with cinnamon sugar and baking. The result was a failure, oh well. If anyone has any tips on how to make them crispy just let me know. After cleaning the house, getting dinner on the table and kids into bed I felt like June Clever. Trust me that is not a typical day for us. I promise, I can prove it to you with my messy house today. But it did feel good to spend time with friends, be creative with the kids and be productive. What a good day.

6 months

Davey is 6 months old to day. I can't believe how fast these months have gone by. It is definitely not easy. I get frustrated, sometimes angry with my lack of sleep or I wish I could wear a shirt that doesn't have baby puke on it or I want to cry sometimes cause I don't feel like I know what I am doing with these contantly changing little ones. But then I look at my baby with his toothless wide mouthed smile it just melts away any feelings of frustration . And when I hear the unhindered, out of control, roaring laughter of my little girl brought on by simply watching the rain run across the car window, it wells up this joy inside of me that pushes out any feelings of inadequacy. Yes some days are hard but I love life with my kids. So today I have overwhelming feelings of thankfulness and I feel blessed. So glad you are in our life Davey!!
At 6 months Davey likes

• jumping in the Johnny Jumper
• loves and I mean loves Abbey
• cuddling
• his orange monkey
• being on his stomach

He is rolling over, pushing up on his hands, still waking up once a night, and puts anything in his month that comes near his hand.

We love you Davey!!

Davey at 3 months

They say that the cloud lifts at 3 months after a baby is born. I think that is happening in our house. Now I don't want to jinx it but Davey has started to sleep better this week and it has made for one happier mama and a happier Lamb household. He is sleeping from 8pm to 8am with one feeding at night. I know, I know that is amazing. And now starting this week we has started to take a nap longer then 30mins. He is so much happier because of it too.
Right now the things Davey likes are: milk, riding in the ergo, cuddling, being outside, looking at his monkey car mirror, his lamb mobile and of course is mom and dad. He is starting to make those cute baby noises when he is happy. But he is also easily startled which results in the saddest scaredy-cat cry. So sorry Dave but you are just gonna have to get used to your loud energetic sister who wants to always show her affection toward you.

David's birth story

David James Lamb was born on May 6th at 4:15 in the morning. The day before was a normal day. Friends from the Berkeley staff team were in town so we walked downtown for dinner at Moe's and ate pulled pork sandwiches. By the time we walked home I wasn't feeling well so I decided not to go to Bible study. Instead I got Abbey to bed and rested on the coach where I fell sleep till Kevin came home around 11pm. I got up to go to the bathroom and then I felt a pop. I thought I was peeing but that would have been a world record for the longest pee. I definitely knew then that my water broke and this was it. I called for Kevin and we both wondered around the house in circles anxiously gathering all the things we needed.
After Caellin Douglas came over t o watch Abbey we made our way to the hospital. I still wasn't feeling any contractions at this point and didn't for another hour. Then they started...at first they weren't too bad and I thought I can do this. I was planning on not getting any drugs, I figured my labor with Abbey was short, I can do it natural again.
I labored for 3 hours through intense contractions on one of those exercise balls. I was feeling proud of myself because I was much more relaxed then with Abbey but then the contractions became long and hard with little rest in between. I wasn't dilated any more then when I came in and that is when I thought, what if this labor isn't short, I can't do this any more. So I asked for an epidural. I was frustrated that I asked for one but I didn't think I could make it. I didn't know then but when you get to the "I can't do this any more" stage that is when your body is in transition right before you start to push.
Well, by the time the anesthesiologist got there an hour later, I felt like I had to push. My doctor hadn't been called, I was so scared and in so much pain. Kevin and the nurses convinced me to relaxed and then I pushed this little baby out in 3 pushes. My doctor never made it and the nurse did the delivery and yell "It's a boy". The nurse placed a boy with a full head of brown hair on my chest all goopy and it was love at first sight. I looked at Kevin and he was a mess, weeping with happiness. I found out later that He came out with one arm out (ouch!) and with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. It was lose but still scary. David is healthy and gaining weight like crazy. We feel so thankful to God for two beautiful and healthy children.

It's a BOY!!

On Thursday May 6, 2010 at 4:17 in the morning David James Lamb was born. He was 8lbs and 21 inches. He beautiful and perfect! Birthing story to come but for now I am sleeping whenever possible.
CLICK HERE to see more hospital pictures!
CLICK HERE to see more pictures of Davids first week!