Quaid is here!!!!

He is here! Our 4th and last child has arrived. He is healthy and absolutely PERFECT! We couldn't be happier right now!

I had a scheduled c-section on Friday, October 7th, 2011. He was born with no complications at 12:41 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs 13 oz and was 21 inches long. So, he is our lightest and longest baby! He sure cried a lot when he came out. It was one of the sweetest sounds I have ever heard. I was so happy and relieved to hear him and know that he had arrived healthy and strong!






My mom was able to be in the delivery room with us. She has been there for all of our kids. I know that she cherishes the experience! My dad was in my room waiting for us when they finished with the surgery. Dave's parents were to the room within about 20 minutes. I am so grateful for our parents who are so supportive of Dave and I.






We had a lot of visitors come up to meet our little guy. We, unfortunately did not get pictures of everyone who visited. That was my goal, but I actually got only a few. Here are some of our family who came:


My brother and sister-in-law, Andrew and Stephanie, and their son, Haiden


My grandpa and grandma Johnson, Quaid's great-grandparents


My Uncle Chad and Aunt Debbie


My dad


My mom


Dave's mom and dad

Among those who visited who we didn't get photos of were: Dave's brother and his wife, Brandon and Erin, my sister-in-law, Jackie's sweet mom, Lori, our good friends, Mike and Kalli, my sweet relief society president, 6 of my greatest friends, Penny, Shari, Kara, Christy, Angie, and Teresa, my cousin, Chelsea, and Dave's sister, Tammy and her son, James. It was so awesome to have visitors come up to the hospital. It gets a little boring in there and I was always happy for a friendly face to walk through the door!

My mom stayed up at the hospital almost the whole time which was so nice. She stayed Friday and Saturday night with me since Dave needed to be at home with our other kids. I was so grateful to have her company and help.

It was so wonderful to see Easton, Paisley, and Avery come into the room and meet their little brother for the first time. They had been anticipating his arrival as much as Dave and I. It has been such a fun experience for the whole family!








The child that I have been most surprised at is Easton. I knew he was super excited to have a brother finally. But, he just hasn't been able to get enough of him! The second night we were there, my mom took the kids for the evening so that Dave and I could be up at the hospital together. On the way home, Easton started crying silent tears. When my mom asked him why, he said that he really missed Quaid. He didn't feel any better by the time he got home, so my mom called and explained the situation. Dave decided he had better go get him and let him spend quality time with his brother. It was very neat to see Easton hold Quaid. When he got up to the hospital that night and sat to hold him, he again got all choked up. It brought tears to my eyes. I asked him what made him so emotional. He didn't really answer. I asked, "Is it because you love Quaid so much?" He said yes. I am thrilled that he loves his baby brother so much. It is going to be awesome to watch their relationship develop.




My mom took pictures of Quaid as he got his first bath from the nurse in the hospital. The first of the three following pictures shows him with his hands all up around his face. We have decided that he must have had his hands by his face a lot in the womb because that is where he always wants them. He doesn't really like to be swaddled because of that. He always squirms enough to get his hands free and near his face! :)





I spent three days in the hospital. It was so nice to be able to just focus on Quaid and hold him and love him. It really is a love at first sight experience that is hard to explain.






Here are a couple pictures that we took on the day he came home:





It was so fun to finally have him in our home. He brings such a sweet spirit of peace. None of us can get enough of him. He is almost always being held by someone. He is definitely going to be spoiled! We just can't help ourselves.




Avery and I gave him his first bath at home. Here are a couple pictures:






Quaid is 6 days old today. I feel as if I have known him for much, much longer than that. He truly is the perfect baby.

A few random comments about Quaid:

He hardly cries. He has a sweet fussing sound that he uses when he is hungry or unhappy. He really doesn't like to be undressed or have his diaper changed. That is about the only time that he really cries. He is very easily soothed. He is a super cuddly baby. I LOVE to just hold him on my chest and rest my chin on his head. He smells SO good. He has dark blue eyes that I am really crossing my fingers turn to brown. He has already smiled a few times, and not just in his sleep, and it is BEAUTIFUL. He has the cutest little ears. He sleeps so much that we all practically celebrate when he is awake. He loves to be held and often wakes up when he is laid down. He has only woke up one time during each night to be fed. I truly only lost about 45 minutes of sleep each night! It is awesome!!

I am so in love with this little boy. I am eternally grateful that we made the decision to have one more child. He has brought us so much happiness in the last 6 days. We know that this is our last baby. I am content with that. But, at the same time, I am savoring every second with him. Each day goes by too fast. I am really trying to enjoy each moment and cherish his every move.

We are truly blessed.

Dance Time!

Last Saturday we signed Paisley and Avery up for the local high school dance clinic. It was a fund raiser for the dance team. They got to spend the day learning some dances, having lunch, and having FUN! :) I debated on signing them up because Easton had a football game that same morning an hour away and it was going to be crazy. But, Dave was the one who convinced me that the girls would LOVE it and needed to go. He was right.

I am excited that Avery is old enough to go now. Paisley has done several cheer and dance clinics in the past, but this is Avery's first. They performed for the parents at the end of the clinic. Avery did so great! :) When her little group was standing on the floor waiting for the music to start, Avery was already starting her dance. She had really learned it! It was very cute!






Paisley had a blast as well. It was fun to see her perform and really get into the dancing!





I am glad the girls had so much fun! They deserve it!

Easton's First Grid Kid Season

Easton just finished his first season of grid kid football. For those of you who aren't familiar, the grid kid league starts pads and tackling. He has played flag football for a few years, but was SUPER excited for "real" football.

They started practicing at the beginning of August. They had practice 4 nights a week for 2 hours a night. It was busy. Dave and I tried to prepare Easton for the fact that these practices wouldn't be all "fun", but also a lot of work and it would be tiring. But, it never seemed to affect him. After one of the first practices, I asked him if he had fun. He said, "Yes!" I asked him what they did. He said that they mostly ran. It really didn't matter what they did, he had a blast!!

They had a really young team. Most of the team was made up of 4th graders (in a 4th-5th grade league). So, they had a lot to learn. But, they really improved over the season. They won 2 games, lost 4. Easton's main position was corner and some time as linebacker. He played almost every defensive play. He was on the special teams. And, he played as a receiver at times for the offense, as he would bring the plays in to the quarterback from the coach every few plays.

He is really fast and aggressive which made up for the fact that he is one of the smallest kids on his team. We were always so proud of him at the games. He did great.

Here are a few pictures from his last game, (he is #17):

Dave was excited that he got this tackle on camera:







Easton with his buddy, Dylan:








After he finished his last game he was pretty sad that is over. I reminded him that 10 more months and he will start again. So, the countdown begins! :)

Happy 8th Birthday, Paisley!!

Paisley turns 8 years old today! Wow! Where did the time go? I vividly remember this day 8 years ago and the joy I felt holding my first daughter in my arms. She was such a beautiful baby and had such a sweet personality from day one. She has been such a wonderful joy in our home ever since. There just isn't another person that is like Paisley. She is truly one of a kind!

I want to try to describe what she is like now, at 8 years old.



Paisley is very outgoing, which I love. (Totally different from my own personality.) It seems that nothing scares her. She is almost always very calm and confident going into a new situation or meeting new people. She is always willing and ready to make a new friend wherever we go. Easton, being a lot more shy and reserved, really leans on her. She leads the way for the two of them when they enter new situations.



Paisley is such a great big sister. She is really like Avery's second mom. I can really depend on her to help me keep an eye on Avery when they are outside or we are in public. Avery looks up to her so much. She is always willing to read to Avery or play with her. I am soooo grateful that they are such good friends already. I never had a sister, so their relationship is very important to me. I am so happy to see the bond that they are already making with each other. Paisley really loves Avery and worries about her. One day we were at a park with lots of other children. I guess that some of the girls Avery's age were leaving her out and that Avery was sad about this. Paisley came over to me with tears in her eyes because she felt so sorry for Avery. I am so grateful that Paisley has such a large spot in her heart for her sister.





Paisley is VERY girly. She likes to say lately that she isn't and tries to act sometimes like she is a bit boyish. But, she is girly-girl through and through, and always has been. Lately she has become very into fashion. She is very conscious of what she is wearing and how she appears. She loves make-up and hair accessories. She loves, loves, loves to do her nails or anyone else's nails. She loves to experiment with the nail polish, painting stripes or polka dots. She loves glittery and sparkly things.



Paisley is a great student. She loves school, both for learning and for social reasons. She is extremely bright. She is very mature for her age. Her first grade teacher told us that there were times when the teacher was reading a story to the children, that Paisley would be the only one to "get" some of the funny parts and be the only one to laugh. I really think her mind and spirit are years ahead of her body! :) She is usually always very willing to do her homework and reading. She receives great grades. Her teachers have often times have her help struggling students with their work.



Paisley is very ambitious. She has many goals for her life. Her latest ambition is to someday open a massage parlor/nail salon. This is no joke for her. She has made a whole folder full of her plans. She has drawn the layout of the building, including the colors she will decorate it. She has lined up employees. She knows that she will be serving refreshments and what they will be. She has a price list all written out. She is very serious about this business adventure. She also has mentioned wanting to be an actress, a rock star, and a mother when she grows up. :)



Paisley is more than my daughter. She is one of my very best friends. I can confide in her at times. She is always there for me. She can tell when I am having a down day and is always very quick with a compliment and kind words. She is such a huge help to me. I know that when I need help with something that I can ask her and she will do it. Like I said before, she has a wise soul and is very mature for her age. I love being able to communicate with her on a mature level. I love the one on one conversations we get to have. She is such a bright light in my life. She is so needed in our family. I don't know what I ever did before she was in my life!



I love you, Paisley girl. You are very inspiring to me. I want to become more like you in many ways. I am a bit sad that you are already 8, it has gone much TOO fast! But, I also look forward to the upcoming years with you. I can't wait to watch you enjoy the experiences that life will hold for you. I am excited to become better and better friends as you become a young woman. Thank you for all that you are to me and our family. I love you. Happy 8th Birthday!