Happy Birthday Duncan! {Eleven}

We have a semi-tradition in our family about unusual gift wrapping methods. Especially when we want to conceal the gift for as long as possible.

This year, Duncan really wanted a Nintendo DS for his birthday. We'd already told him that it was a little out of our target price range, but Rod and I started talking and realized it had been quite a while since Duncan had gotten a "big ticket" item as a present. For Christmas he had actually asked for a present that he know Owen wanted instead of something for himself. So, we ended up getting it for him. But, we had to torture him a little first.

We wrapped the DS in Ashlinn's diapers and put it in a shoe box.

He was pretty happy once he got to the actual present. So was Owen!

After presents, Duncan got to go on his traditional shopping trip with Rod's Dad.
Grandpa started taking the kids for a one on one shopping trip for their birthdays  back when Devon and Connor were just little. It's now one of their birthday highlights.

Then he came back home for homemade pizza and store bought cake ( Hey, I had surgery less than 2 weeks ago and Devon gets sick of cooking now that she works in a bakery) with Kristi, Simon, and Carlitos.

Carlitos had more fun with Duncan's cake than he had with his own birthday cake last month!

Ashlinn thinks her nephew is pretty cool.

Carlitos was more interested in the toys though. He was especially interested in the basket the girls brought him toys in which was actually the flower girl basket from his parent's wedding.

All in all, I think Duncan had a pretty great birthday. He's been too engrossed in his new toy to tell anyone though!

Ashlinn {2 Months}

I decided when Ashlinn was born that I would take her picture on her blankie every month for the first year of her life and give or take a day or two I've managed to keep up so far. I haven't, however, managed to keep up with posting the pictures, so here's a catch up post of her 2 month pictures.

I can't believe how rolly-polly she is. I shouldn't be surprised since all of my kids have been at this age, but since all the rolls disappear once they start moving, it still startles me.

Devon came in to help me take pictures (her camera is MUCH better than mine). She took a few pictures and decided she was done since Ashlinn was boring and didn't do anything yet.

So, Ashlinn rolled over! I'd been pretty sure she was rolling before this since I'm careful to leave her on her back when I'm not watching her and I'd found her on he stomach a few times, but this was the first time I'd caught her in the act!

She was pretty proud of herself!

Ashlinn {4 months}

Ashlinn was 4 months old yesterday! She now weighs about 16 lbs. She is wearing a medium onesie in these pictures and 6-9 month size pants. I can find out for sure how much she weighs soon since she will FINALLY be added to our insurance June first and I can take her in for a check up. I can't believe how complicated adding a newborn to insurance is now. I highly recommend having a baby in December when it is still open enrollment time.

Ashlinn rolls over from both her back to her tummy and from her tummy to her back. She scoots on her back and is trying really hard to scoot forward on her tummy. She now plays with toys, much to the delight of her youngest older siblings!

Happy Birth Day Ashlinn!

You might be the 8th (10th) child if it takes your parents over a week to download your birth pictures off the digital camera. Unlike the first child, where we'd gotten actual prints developed before we even left the hospital.

We had a c-section planned for Monday the 26th, but at my appointment on Thursday, things weren't going so well. Baby wasn't reacting the way the doctors wanted to the non-stress test and her fluid levels were right on the borderline of being too low. Add in the fact that my blood pressure had taken a huge jump upward again and the doctor decided to put us in the hospital overnight for fluids and monitoring and move the c-section up to Friday the 23rd.

The c-section itself went much better than last time. The only complications were trying to get functional lines into my apparently non-functional veins and arteries. Once they gave up on the arterial line (after 3 failed tries) and finally got one working and one partially working I.V. into me the rest of the surgery went off without a hitch. The standby trauma nurse never even had to come into the O.R.

Baby Ashlinn Sophia weighed 8lbs. 5.9 oz. and was 20 inches long, so not quite as big as the doctors were expecting although plenty big enough for being barely 37 weeks.

long skinny feet, just like all the other kids

Can you believe those cheeks?

Unfortunately, the younger kids all got sick and weren't able to come to the hospital for a visit. The older kids managed to kick their colds in time though.

Carlitos wasn't allowed to visit with his Mommy. Nieces and nephews have to be at least 12 even if they are the baby's nieces and nephews, not the Mommy's nieces and nephews.

Grandma's service dog, Barkley, was allowed to visit. He found the baby to be quite fascinating.

Ashlinn wasn't too excited about her carseat at first. She was much happier once the car started moving.

Her siblings were sure excited about her coming home! Even Owen who really wanted a brother, not a sister. It took him about an hour before he was telling us how much he loved THIS baby even if she was a girl.