By Invitation Only

So, I think I have delayed long enough...I've decided to make our blog private. Please email me, facebook me, or text me if you would like an invitation!

For Angie

My boys have the most amazing aunts and uncles. Seriously. I feel sorry for everyone else out there because my kids totally scored.

First of all I'm convinced that we are going to have a meltdown of epic proportions when Jake discovers that he can't marry Sara. He loves her. Probably because Sara never says no and will follow him wherever he wants her to go and gives him anything he asks for :) Everything he does he wants to show Sara laitly. Like his easter eggs that he decorated, he wanted to tell Sara about them. And where there is Sara, there is Mike, who they also love, but slightly less ;)

Then they have Joel and Paulina. The two most selfless individuals out there. They would drop everything, even reschedule something, if you even mentioned that you might need someone to watch your kids. They also spend all of Sunday family dinner days entertaining the kids downstairs. Literally, non-stop! The boys adore them, and Jake always wants his "Mina". And Joel is learning more about animals then he ever wanted to know from Jake's little "Zoo Tours" :)

Along with Joel & Paulina, they are usually accompanied by Jordan, Holly and Kenz, who also play with them enough to make Ryan tell us that he wants to stay at Grandma's "Forever and ever." The whole trick of telling him we will leave him if he doesn't get his shoes on and get in the car completely backfires when it comes to leaving Grandma's! They are all terrific and have way more energy then I do!

And let's not forget Jen & John and Lynsie & Nathan, who are all AWESOME! They watch the crazies even though they also have little families to keep track of also. Jenni makes amazing cupcakes and is always providing us with terrific desserts, and Lynsie lets me talk her ear off all day so that I can claim I have at least some adult interaction within the span of a day.

But this post is actually for Klane and Angie. 2 Years ago this week, the uber-talented Klane landed an internship with an ad agency in New York and subsequently was hired because of how impressed they were with his work. Because of that they are living on the other side of the country and we only get to see them a few times a year for much too short visits. But when they are here, they try and make the best of it by see us as much as they can between all the people they have to see. My kids still love them too, and we always make sure we look at pictures so they know who they are when they come. And Angie gave us the best surprise when she came for Gabe's birth and totally hooked us up with the most darling photos.

So Angie, even though you aren't here, my kids know who you are, and they know that you are kind of awesome. Getting back to blogging is for you, we promise to keep you updated on our crazy life with 3 boys!

Little Sidekick

I've mentioned before that Ryan loves all things "Gabe". Most days he will inform me that Gabe wants to sit with him and watch a movie. I decided I needed to catch this on camera so I went to grab it and when I came back, Ryan had shared his blanket! This is the blanket that no one is allowed to touch. I have to be amazingly sneaky just to get it washed. He freaks out if Jake looks at it wrong. But for Gabe, anything! I'm feeling pretty lucky that Ryan thinks he is the best thing to happen to this family, because if he didn't love the little guy, life could be a lot rougher!

3 Months old yesterday...time flies!

Ahoy!

He came up with this on his own...I'm pretty sure it was influenced by a Little Einsteins episode.

Blessed

We blessed Gabe at our home this Sunday due to the extremely high volume of children being blessed in our ward as well as having to work around both Grandpa's demanding schedules as Stake President and Singles Ward Bishop! We feel so blessed ourselves to be surrounded by our wonderful family. They do so much for our little family!


Gabe was blessed in the same outfit as Ryan and Jake, which happens to be the outfit my mother blessed both my brother's in. The Blue and White blanket is from Bethlehem. She purchased it while she was there on Semester Abroad while she was at BYU.

We Love March

For the Madness!

doing what he loves best...holding Gabe

Negelct

This poor kid is so under-photographed!

(Note Ryan the helper, burping him in the background-he is always involved in all things Gabe ;)

A Little Drowsy

Since we moved into our new house back in September, Ryan has refused to take naps. That doesn't mean, however, that he doesn't still need them. These are a few of my favorite pictures of how I've found him:







Sometimes Jake doesn't quite make it to his bed either:

Spokesperson

Ryan considers Gabe his own little fan base/personal audience. He sings, dances, does tricks, and talks to him. He also shows him all his toys and tells him who all his guys are. In addition, he apparently is Gabe's interpreter. He has taken it upon himself to let me know everything Gabe wants or needs, which usually somehow ends up benefiting him, or includes that Gabe's sole desire in life is to watch everything Ryan does.

Sharing

Ryan didn't want Gabe left out of their sticker fun...

In the Middle

I've had some questions recently about my boys middle names...allow me to explain:

Ryan Masters

Chris' middle name is his Grandfathers name, so we wanted to keep with that tradition, but Ryan instead shares his Grandpa's middle name instead. Masters is the last name of some of his ancestors.

Jacob Knight

Knight Springer was one of Jakes ancestors on my fathers side. He actually fought in the Revolutionary War.

Gabriel North

Charles North was a railroad engineer on my mothers side of the family from England.

We've tried to make sure that their middle names are unique and have family meaning. So, no, we didn't just make them up :)

Gabe

Gabe's Newborn Session with Jeni Boston

New Guy #3

Angie gave me the most wonderful surprise! We had talked a few months ago about the possibility that she would be able to come out when the baby was born because her office was going to be closed. I was so excited. But it never came up again, even while they were here over Christmas, so I assumed that it was too close of a trip. Angie called me yesterday (my due date) to see how I was doing. I was so excited to talk to her and then my doorbell rang, several times, so I tell Angie, "I'm seriously going to call you RIGHT BACK! Someone is at my door and apparently I'm not moving fast enough!" I open the door, and there is Angie! Not in New York, but on my doorstep! It was the best thing to happen on the day I was hoping to go into labor (to avoid induction) and instead I was still at home! Best. Surprise. Ever.

Well, it seemed to do the trick, or maybe Gabe just wanted to make sure Ang got here before he came, but my contractions started shortly after she left to go see her parents. I had an induction scheduled for the following morning, so we already had arrangements to take the boys to Grandma Ross'. Still not letting myself think I was in labor, we went home and Chris went to bed. I called the hospital and they told me I really shouldn't come in until my contractions were consistently 3-5 min apart, so even though they were pretty hard, they were still about 6-8 min apart, so I stayed home. Finally around Midnight I woke up Chris and told him I was going to lie and say they were 3 min apart because they were really starting to hurt. We got to the hospital and checked in and when the nurse checked me she exclaimed, "Whoa, you are a 9+, let me get the doctor!" Then she said "Are you sure you want an epidural? You're pretty much done already?" ---Thanks but no thanks, I'll go ahead and not feel those contractions anymore ;) Luckily it was a slow night, so the anesthesiologist was available to come and give me a fast acting epidural, which actually made my labor almost stop, which was good because my mom, Angie & Lynsie were still on their way! Everyone made it and Gabe made his debut!

The other perk about Angie being here: she is very talented with a camera, and she came and did a mini session with us in the hospital the next day. I just randomly selected a few because they were all amazing! Thank you Thank you Angie! So glad you made it!

Welcome

Announcing the birth of

Gabriel North Ross
January 21, 2011
2:03 am
8 lbs 9 oz
21 inches

Line of Defense