End of an Era

This is the end of an era... I ran out of space on google/blogger and I don't want to pay money to maximize the space. So I made 3 blog books this morning... 2008, 2009, and 2010... and I started a new blog.

www.richandbrittani2.blogspot.com

So update your blog role, delete your browser history with this old blog address and check out the new one. I am excited to start fresh with our family reunion.

Night Night

Lately we have been putting the girls to sleep in different rooms and then moving Ryann back into her bed after Cara falls asleep. Rich kept mentioning that he was finding my kindle book light under his pillow. I laughed because I had no idea what he was talking about until tonight.

I found my little munchkin reading her book in bed with it!

That seems very familiar to me... I am sure her mom used to do that when she was little too.

Worts and Cunning

I am in love with this apothecary shop that is in Tempe. It has the sweetest herbalist who loves to talk and teach and share her knowledge. She also has an etsy shop HERE

 Since I don't have time to drive out to Tempe very often I usually have her ship my orders. My most recent order came in this cute box. I am a big fan and it may be because she is a huge fan of Harry Potter.

 Seriously, a huge fan. 

 This order was for my "super rainbows love go" powder that I put in my green smoothies. We all know we need a happy Brittani with all this lack of sleep I am getting. 

Packing

I started packing today for our family reunion trip to Aspen Grove in Utah.  We don't leave until Friday, but given my past history of NOT being home over the last month due to an overwhelming amount of babies being born, I thought it would be best to get it all done for the girls tonight.

And done I did. Ryann and I tackled that project like no other. Her shoes in one spot, socks in another, PJs in another, she even kissed her new "sketchers" good bye for the week as she packed them away.  She is in love with her sketcher shoes because they have commercials on TV.  

Thank you ROSS for making these new "running shoes" so affordable.  

I will have to post a picture of them soon. 

Growing Up

I think I will have like 4 breakdowns before the first day of kindergarten. 

Then 1 major one on the first day. I might need to call in sick. Just to drop her off and then wish I could text her teacher all day for pictures and then wait in line to pick her up and see how things went. 

But for now I will freak out a little more and just count down the month and a half left before kindergarten starts for my precious girl who made me a mom. 

Packing Up

We are anxiously awaiting our summer vacation over 4th of July. 

The girls wanted to make sure I don't even think about leaving them behind. 

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to a wonderful husband and father. The girls have been waiting all week to give him his presents. Yesterday we stopped at target to pick up some last minute chapstick for him.  On the drive home Ryann kept saying, "Cara, don't tell daddy, you can't tell daddy what we got him."

As soon as we get home Cara runs upstairs and says, "I can't tell you what we got you, but we just bought you a present that twists at the bottom."

Nice little hint Cara. Needless to say, Rich was spoiled this Father's Day. Breakfast in bed, some cool gifts, and I think he especially loves his Pillow Pet, Giants edition. He has carried it all over the house today.

Gotta love him.  Thanks hun for being such a great day to our girls. I know you spend way  more time with them as of late because I am off delivering babies, but they love you and you mean the world to them. I always know they are in good hands!!

Library Day

Every Saturday Rich likes to take the girls to the library. Fortunately this Saturday my patient in labor wasn't very active so I got to go with them. I introduced the girls to the world of Library computers and headphones.

 My favorite part is when they "quietly" yell for me to come help them, since they don't know how loud they are with the headphones on.

Despite Ryann's grumpy face, she was having a lot of fun on the computer. She loves this stuff.

Hand Foot Mouth

Here are the close up pictures of Cara's Hand Foot Mouth disease. Here is the little report I found on the most reliable Wikipedia! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand,_foot_and_mouth_disease

 So basically Cara has had no pain, itching a little bit for one day, and hasn't had any problems. I think she might have had a fever some time last week, but if so it was in the middle of the night and so mild that I blew it off to her covers being on top of her and when I took them off she was fine. 

Ryann hasn't gotten it and has no symptoms what so ever, so I think we are in the clear from being contagious now. I haven't talked to our sitter yet, but we will see if her kids get it or not. 

I have a feeling that Cara must have gotten this from someone at swim lessons?  I have really no idea. Either way it doesn't bother her... but it looks like it should!

 Chalk this one down to awesome childhood viruses.

Well Child Visits... sort of

I am a little behind on their well child visits. Ryann turned 5 in February and Cara turned 3 in April. Oh well. I took them in today and as soon as I walked into the waiting room I looked at Cara's face. I hadn't looked at her face when I picked her up from daycare because we were hustling and bustling around, but as soon as I looked at her face I took her to the sick child entrance. 

I figured out she had hand foot mouth disease. 

The past 2 days she was whinier than usual, but not that much. Then this morning she had an "owie" on her toe and an owie on her hand. But they were just slightly red. She has sensitive skin so I wasn't very concerned. 

But this afternoon she had about 3 blisters by her mouth and 2 on her chin, as I started searching they were all over her feet, legs, hands, and inside her mouth too. Sorry Cara!

The only reason I even thought that is what it was is because I have had one friend in Oklahoma post some pictures of her kids who had it, and then I have heard of some other friends local who have had it as well. 

 But I will post more details and pictures tomorrow.  For today I will celebrate my cuties. Cara is 26lbs and 36 inches. She is on her growth curve so we have no problems at all with this petite little lady.

My Ryann did phenomenal and she is 42lbs and 43 inches. Neither girl had to get shots so that was a wonderful surprise. Cara wouldn't have been too happy about that.

Over all Cara is doing remarkable well. We have put some benadryl cream on her blisters and I gave her some benadryl. She hasn't had very many complaints of pain as of yet though... so we will see how tomorrow goes. 

I am a Midwife Because…Part I

I am a Midwife Because…Part I

This video has a friend of mine in it!  It isn't short, but there is some fun stuff in there about midwives.

Hazel Pop

 Look at this cute picture of miss Hazel. She is such a happy baby. 

 Here she is eating her daddy's hair. Grandma is nervous with her up there. 

 Here is Addie tickling Hazel. 

I am trying to find times to book a flight out to see her this fall in Nebraska with her mom and dad.

Baby Emery

What a blessing it was to be at the birth of Miss Emery June. She conveniently waited until after I had delivered my second baby of the day. 

 6#7oz and so sweet.  

Congrats to Heidi and Wes!  I am so happy for you guys. She couldn't be anymore perfect. 

Artist

Here is my little artist. This is a horse, not a unicorn. Unicorn horns are much larger apparently. 

This one is Jewel from Rio. The Blue Maccaw, girl version, not the boy- blue. 

She is growing up!  Kindergarten count down is less than 2 months. 

Mirror Mirror

This is what sisters do when they find a really pretty mirror. 

 They strike a pose!

And take more pictures of it.

I am missing out on a family run around Lake Tahoe this weekend. I am a little sad to be missing it, but very happy and busy this weekend delivering lots and lots of babies. 

And trying to catch up on sleep.

More Swim Lessons

Rich did not disappoint in the picture department during swim lessons. 

Ryann making her ever silly faces. 

Cara has the same swimsuit as the girl next to her, she doesn't fill it out quite as well, but come on, my Cara still wears 12month PJs to bed some days. 

Proof that there was some "lessons" going on and not just sitting on the side of the pool. 

They splashed a lot. Ryann told me they are "digging for bones" when they paddle with their arms in the water. 

Cara looking cold.

Ryann kicking with her teacher Jessica.

I wonder what is going on in Cara's mind here... "oh my goodness you splashed me?!" not too sure, but it is a pretty funny picture.

Party Time

While in Napa I was able to go to my brother and sister in law's house warming party. When I got there, Addison came running up to me with the biggest smile on her face and gave me a big hug. It was so fun to see her again!

 Then I went over to Dean. Dean doesn't know me as well and it takes some time for him to warm up. He was not into taking a picture with me. It took multiple rounds of "rolly poly" to get him to smile and have fun with me. Even if I am not his favorite Auntie (who is??? Claim it!) I will sure try my hardest to become that.

I can't wait for my family reunion next month where I get to spend a week with these kiddos!  I love them!

First Day of Swim Lessons

I made sure Rich got off early today and had the camera in order to document the first day of swim lessons. 

There are super cute pictures he took of the girls in the water, but I am having a hard time choosing which ones, so that will be more for another day.  Because right now I am tired and must go to bed.

Goodnight. 

Chickens in Napa Valley

My brother has the coolest chicken coop and chickens. They are fixing up their house and backyard, they have put in a chicken coop, a garden, and they are getting ready to have a goat pen.

 Isn't this the cutest little coop? The 4 windows are where you can open to get the eggs. It will be fun when all the chickens are laying eggs. 

 Oh yeah, and this is the view from their backyard. I would say these chickens have a pretty nice view. They better be laying some nice eggs to be treated so fancy. 

10 Year Reunion

I was my senior class president. 10 years ago.

Who made the rule that senior class president plans the class reunions?

Whoever did should be shot. I really wasn't thinking that I would live 2 states away, be married, have 2 kids, and that I would deliver 3 babies the day before my reunion. 

 With that being said I am so happy that I did it and that it came together. I had a wonderful group of people who worked with me and helped me with all the advertising, promoting, invitations, decorations, and everything else. 

 We had music and dancing and dinner. I made a super quick speech and I didn't have to entertain anyone the entire night. I was afraid that I would have to make introductions or have people talk about themselves, or something not so much fun. 

 I am also happy that I have a cute sister who let me wear her clothes so that I didn't have to worry about anything or even pack for the reunion!

 And a big shout out to my brother in law Jason who was our "bouncer" and collected all the money that was raised at the door.

What a fun night and I am happy to be stress free for the next 9 or so years until I have to think about this  one again.