January Accomplishments

Thomas learned to ride a two-wheeler on the first try.

Kaitlyn potty-trained in one day. Wahoo! I didn't have the energy I had with the others to read, sing, and be super excited about it, so I'm glad she caught on quickly and that she has 5 older siblings who love to cheer her on.



I don't know why this ended up down here, but here is a video of Thomas riding. The part where he wiggles his handlebars a lot is because Spencer was doing that all the way around the cul-de-sac and he wanted to try it.

The Baby's Birthday

With less than two weeks till the due date, we are all guessing when the baby's birthday will be. Everyone's first choice is today, January 31, because we don't have any January birthdays and we already have Madalyn's in February. So far all of us have our birthday in our own month. The kids thought if we have 10 kids plus 2 parents we could have a birthday in every single month. Nice plan, but it doesn't appear that this baby wants to come early. I'm feeling great today. So we all picked a day around the due date, February 10, that we're guessing. Most of us like even numbers and Madalyn's is the 4th, so we didn't pick that.
February 6- Alexis
February 8- Mommy
February 9-Kylie
February 10- Daddy
February 11-Spencer
February 12- Madalyn
February 16-Thomas

Some things we've been thinking of:
The girls and I were also trying to avoid picking numbers that we already have birthdays on (in different months.) We have a 3,4,7,10,12,13,16,17, and 30. What do you have in your family?

Groundhog's Day would be fun. I was hoping Madalyn would be born on 2-2-02, but she waited two more days. (She was 7 days past her due date of January 28.) Now I could have this baby on 2-2-12.

All of my babies except one were born at the beginning of the week:
Sunday-Kylie
Monday-Madalyn
Tuesday-Spencer, Alexis, Julianne, Kaitlyn
Friday-Thomas
So odds are this one will come at the beginning of the week too. My first choice would be the beginning of the week after my due date so that I will have done 2 out of my 3 sharing times in primary. That would be ideal. But that means she would be born on the 13th or 14th. Nobody wants her to be born on Valentine's Day. Since most of my babies are late and most are born on a Tuesday, that's probably what's going to happen! We'll see!!
Now you see how limited our choices are: most prefer an even number, beginning of the week, not a number we already have in our family, not Valentine's Day. What do you predict? We can't wait to find out. That's the best part about the last 2 weeks: the anticipation! My doctor is begging me to induce but I say no way! I've waited 9 months to know which day God is going to send a new little spirit into our home. I absolutely LOVE the last 2 weeks. Every day I wonder, "Is it going to be today?" or "What if I went into labor right now?" I would hate for that fun to be ruined by a planned birth. Besides, each of my children have come into the world with a wonderful story that I know the Lord had planned. From my water breaking at a neighbor's apartment as he told us the story of his wife's labor to paging Nathan while he was on night float and him getting to announce to his team he was leaving because his wife was in precipitous labor, all of the stories are unique and special. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I can't wait to find out this little one's!

December Happenins

In December I take all the kids on Mommy Dates. Usually it's a one-on-one time where they pick out a present for a sibling whose name they drew. I also take them to a restaurant of their choice. I love and cherish these dates and look forward to them. We also do them in the spring where they pick out a summer outfit at Once Upon A Child.

Spencer picked Chick-Fil-A and wanted Thomas and Kaitlyn to come with him so that he would have someone to play with on the playground. The boys had drawn Kylie's and Alexis' names and bought them the same things: My Little Ponies, so it worked it out.

Madalyn picked Ruby Tuesdays where we got a small lunch and a chocolate cake to share.

Alexis had gone first (sorry these are out of order) and had picked Panera Bread. She got a giant cinnamon roll and talked the entire time, taking most of it home for later.

Kylie baby--sat while I took the kids on their dates. The next morning while Nathan was still home I took Kylie and she chose Panera Bread also but I forgot to take a picture.

Madalyn took these and a bunch more of Kaitlyn eating fudge and showing us (as well as smearing it on the fridge.)

Doing the Nativity on Christmas Eve

The presents Santa left as seen before the kids saw them. From left to right it was Spencer, Thomas, Nathan & Marcie (sharing the corner couch), Alexis, Madalyn & her buddy in my tummy who she wanted to put out a stocking for and who got a dress and paci, Kylie and Kaitlyn on the long couch.

The kids lined up ready to go down to see what Santa brought on Christmas morning.

The family after church on Christmas

Kylie, Alexis, and Madalyn

This week we went to Washington DC to visit some friends from BYU with 8 children. The first night we saw the temple and the program they had there.

The second day we went to the air and space museum, Nathan's favorite.

Waiting in line to go into an airplane.

Nathan playing a game with 8 of the 14 children that were all in an 1100 sq. foot house plus basement.

Four little girls playing a game together.

The third day we rode the metro. Thomas didn't believe us that the train was underground but once he saw this huge escalator he believed us. It was a great ride.

Madalyn and Thomas

Kaitlyn and Kylie

Alexis and Spencer