Two Weeks Ago Today

The night before the big day. I was a mess--so nervous! Turns out I didn't need to be.

Fresh out of the womb. The picture is a little blurry, but you get the idea--proud papa!

Just after the delivery, getting warmed up.

All my boys meeting their little brother for the first time.

Finally, my baby makes it to my room and we get to spend some quality time together.

On our way home after four lovely days in the hospital.

Our first day home with the little guy. Don't I look awesome without my make-up and hair being done.

One week old and getting his first "bath" from Grandma Walters.

One week old chillin' with his big brother.

Two weeks old.


Two weeks ago today on August 9, 2009 at 7:52 in the morning our world changed again with this handsome new addition to our family. There really isn't much of a story since this was my first planned c-section and everything went off without a hitch, but I will share a few details of the day anyway. Scott and I had to be to the hospital by 5:30 that morning and because it was planned I figured I should look decent, since for the rest of my children's births I looked like a hot mess. So I woke up at 4:00, got ready and we headed for the hospital. I'm not sure why they had us be there so early unless it was so that someone could find a vein and start the IV before they started cutting. My veins are so small that they finally had to call in the anesthesiologist to put the IV in, but only after several nurses left huge craters up and down both arms! Then Emily showed up to help ease my nerves, followed by my mom and dad. We enjoyed some laughs together before Dr. Nance showed up and I was off to the OR(I invited my mom, Scott's mom and Emily to watch the birth from the window and they were all there supporting me). It was kind of funny because I kept expecting them to wheel me off to the operating room, but they all just stood there looking expectantly at me until I clued in and was like "Oh, do you want me to walk?" They laughed and said yes realizing that I had never had a planned c-section before and had always been rushed to the OR with the epidural already in place. I think that is why I was so nervous this time, I was expecting it and knew when it was going to happen instead of it happening with no warning or anticipation. Anywho, after I got to the OR the anesthesiologist took over and gave me my spinal and kudos to him! He was amazing, I hardly felt a thing. Not only that, but with every other c-section I have always been horribly nauseated, but not this time, I felt great and could actually focus on what was happening. We still hadn't decided on a name for sure and because it was the anesthesiologists birthday he kept teasing us that we should name the baby Brady after him. Brady even let me listen to his 4 year old sing him happy birthday on his cell phone, during the surgery! How cool is that! Needless to say it was a much better experience than I've ever had with c-sections and hopefully one I will always remember. Cute little Dallin Tyler Rogers was born at 7:52 A.M. and weighed in at 6 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19 1/4 inches long. I really thought he was going to be my biggest baby yet since I was actually able to eat this pregnancy, but Tanner remains my biggest baby at 6 lbs. 4 oz. The rest of the day was spent with visitors, sleeping, and oogling over the new addition to our family.

The last two weeks have flown by and we are more in love than ever with Dallin. He is such a sweet, content baby, who sleeps when he is supposed to sleep and eats when he is supposed to eat, and poops A LOT! Sometimes we still can't believe that we were blessed to have another baby, but we feel so grateful for him and can't wait to see what the future has to hold with four very energetic boys running around the house!

Scott's parents came for Dallin's birth and stayed for the last two weeks to help with the twins and Tanner and the new baby and our sanity. I am still amazed at what a sacrifice they made on our behalf and am full of gratitude and thanks and really can't even put into words how thankful we were to have them here with us. I just love his parents and never would have survived without their help. I don't think it is often that you find in-laws happily willing to sacrifice so much to give to others. Not only am I lucky to have such amazing in-laws, but my children are blessed to have such great grandparents! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! They left today and I am already in mourning! I'm not quite sure what I am going to do without their help, but I guess I better figure it out fast! :)

While I'm at it, I need to give a HUGE shout out to my mother. I never, and I mean NEVER would have made it through the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy without her help! At 35 weeks I was put on bed rest for a week and then after that I was told to take it very easy. Which meant I couldn't lift my needy two year olds, I couldn't clean, I couldn't really do much. So my sweet mother took over and came to my house every day to feed my children, change them, bath them, put them down for naps and bed, pamper me and clean my house. She sacrificed so much of her time for me and Dallin and had she not been willing to do this I'm pretty sure Dallin wouldn't have been a planned c-section! Thanks mom, I love you! In thanking my mom I must thank my dad for living without his wife for nearly a month solid. I know that was hard on him, but I am truly grateful for all the time and help they put in on my behalf!

Well I guess that was more than a few details, but I am using this blog as my journal and these are all memories that I never want to forget and hope my children will enjoy reading about some day!

My Babies Are Two & No Longer My Babies!

So on May 25th my boys turned TWO! WHAT! How on earth did that happen? It seems that just yesterday I was telling their doctor at the hospital that I couldn't take them home because they were too little and they scared me. I thought they had to be at least 5 lbs. before they could come home from the hospital, but to my horror they let them come home at 4 lbs. 9 oz.(Mason) and 3 lbs. 10 oz(Porter). Although looking back I must say that I am very grateful that they were healthy and strong and didn't spend one minute in ICU and that they got to come home with me. What a blessing! They have continued to be a huge blessing and to bring so much joy to our family.

MASON
Who started out our shy little guy and didn't hand out smiles easily, has blossomed into quite a character. He is fun and funny and once he warms up he is a social butterfly and hard to resist. He likes to imitate and tease and he takes on the role of big brother amazingly well. He is always looking out for Porter and always telling him what he should and shouldn't be doing. On occasion he likes to taunt Porter and take his toys away and run like mad. Mason finds this very amusing, Porter, not so much! He still loves to cuddle with mom and dad and his blanket, which makes me happy because I have never had a cuddly child before. He loves to run and play outside and with grandma and his older brother Tanner, but mostly he just likes to chill with his brother Porter and usually where one is you will find the other. I can't imagine our family without Mason and enjoy every minute of the love, joy, and chaos he brings into our home!

PORTER
Has always been a charmer and continues to be. His smile is irresistible and contagious. He is independent and can occupy himself for a long time with books and cars and legos and trains. He loves putting things together and lining things up, just like his older brother Tanner used to do. He loves to play with Tanner and Mason and he loves to curl up in any ones lap who is willing to sit and read to him for what feels like eternity, and I wouldn't change it for the world! He loves to laugh and make funny faces at you. He also likes to throw a fit when he is disciplined or when Mason takes one of his toys. I am trying to teach him to man up and take his toy back, but he usually just walks around the house pouting until he thinks he has gotten his point across. He and his brother like to keep me on the run, but I wouldn't want it any other way and I can't imagine our house without this little guy either!

They are now, 21 lbs.(Mason) and 20 lbs.(Porter) and starting to talk up a storm. Their newest fascination of course is their baby brother Dallin and they are always asking where he is when they can't see him and are very concerned about him being sad when he is crying. They both have different food preferences and something that they may have liked yesterday they won't touch today, which makes feeding time at my house the most dreaded time of day! Porter will eat almost anything, but I can't get him to even pretend to be interested in fruit. This baffles me and makes me grumpy, hopefully it will change. Mason is much pickier about his food choices, but loves just about any fruit you put in front of him, except bananas. What kid doesn't like bananas? Although all of our children so far don't seem to eat the things that normal kids eat. Hot dogs, forget it. Mac n cheese or spaghettios, never. Pizza, are you kidding me! But we are going to keep them, food woes and all and love every minute of our time together--well, almost every minute! :)

So to their party. Nothing too big this year, just friends and family in the backyard with some gorgeous weather and yummy food. I planned the menu weeks in advance and had almost everything made and ready a few days before their party so that the day of all we had to do was some last minute assembly and cooking. Austin, Emily and their kids stayed the night so that they wouldn't have to make the trek the day of the party and were enormously helpful in pulling it all together the day of the party. Thanks guys! We couldn't ask for better friends!!! Besides the homemade ice cream, I decided to do all finger foods and I think it was enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Just for future reference, this is what was on the menu:
Mini pillow dogs
Fun & Festive Fajitas
Turkey-Provolone Pitas
Pineapple-Pork Tenderloin Skewers
Ham & Cheese Strudels
&
Banana Bread Sandwiches
I got all of the recipes from Paula Deen's May issue, except the pillow dogs and ice cream, and I would recommend them all!
Now it is time to start thinking about Tanner's party. Will it ever end?!

Cars, Animals, Eggs, and Kindergarten Graduation

My first born graduated from Kindergarten this year, and like a fool I cried during the ceremony! I'm just going to blame it on pregnancy hormones. Anywho, Mrs. Lew was an amazing teacher and Tanner had a fantastic year, hopefully first grade will be as amazing!

Easter 2009. I don't know how people take pictures professionally, I was ready to hurt my children after only 5 min. of trying to get a decent shot and then I just gave up! Good times!

I didn't think I would be able to handle a trip for Spring Break this year, so instead we went all out and took the boys to Hogle Zoo :). Actually, Tanner thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to go back.

Tanner and Daddy had a great time working on his car for his Kindy 500.

Yes I just combined four posts in one, but a tired mama's gotta do what a tired mama's gotta do when she is playing catch up. If I can figure out how to get the rest of the boys birthday pictures on here that will be my next blog.

Ten Years, Already?!

Our last night in Cancun. We ate on the golf course at the Italian restaurant, yummy and beautiful!

Our room. Loved it!

So there were signs all around our resort that said "Watch for crocodiles" and "Don't feed the crocodiles." And the kicker was there were no fences! Really, is that even okay or legal?

I didn't think my six month pregnant self would be able to handle the awesome snorkeling trip that involved a catamaran and an all day trip, so we ended up here. Really lame, sorry guys! I had said that snorkeling was the only thing I really had to do while in Cancun and had talked it up to Scott big time and it was a total bust. I guess in hind sight I should have just sucked it up and tried the all day snorkeling trip, I just didn't want to be stuck in the middle of the ocean sick all day. Maybe next time, hint hint!

All of us at the ruins. It was hotter than anything here, but beautiful!

At the ruins--gorgeous!

Emily and I at the ruins.

Still at the ruins.

Our all-inclusive trip included a mani and pedi and a massage for all of us. Austin refused his mani and to this day still thinks Scott has lost some of his manhood for getting his. I'm not sure why a pedi is more manly than a mani?

While the boys enjoyed zip lining, the girls enjoyed some shopping.

So we went to the main part of town to do some "bargain" shopping with the locals and I hated the whole experience and couldn't wait to get back to the resort. So the next day when the boys headed out for their zip lining trip, Emily and I headed to the resorts gift shop and found everything we had purchased the day before for a "bargain" way cheaper at the gift shop! I'm still mad about it!

The boys checking out one of the locals while I took one of my approximate 3,984 bathroom breaks on this trip!



So back in April Scott and I went to Cancun with our best friends Austin and Emily to celebrate our ten year anniversaries. We had a blast and enjoyed some fun activities, but mostly just enjoyed hanging out and relaxing. Almost daily since we have been back I have dreamed of being there again and SOON! Thanks for the great time and great memories, can't wait to see what the next ten years has in store for us.

I am quite certain that I am married to one of the greatest men alive. He is so loving and kind and helpful and he is an amazing father. I have loved our ten years of ups and downs, good times and bad, learning and growing, laughing and loving and establishing a beautiful family full of boys! I am excited for all the years to come and cherish all the years that have past!

Here is a short list chronicling our ten years together:
1. Shortly after our honeymoon we moved to Gallup, New Mexico where I accepted my first teaching job. We lasted there for 6 long months! Not much more needs to be said!
2. We moved to Arizona where Scott accepted a job from his former Young Men's leader being a GM for Del Taco, and we purchased our first house.
3. We bought our first, and possibly last, dog Jinjer. She was our first baby and a huge, enjoyable part of our lives. She died March 4th of this year. She was born February 6th, 2000 and so she was with us most of our married lives and we truly miss her.
4. We had our first boy Tanner on November 15, 2002, and now he is a big first grader! How does that happen?
5. After many, many years of trying we were blessed to get pregnant with our twin boys Mason and Porter in October of 2006.
6. We moved back to Utah to be close to family in April of 2007 so I would have help with the twins.
7. Mason and Porter were born May 25th, 2007 and I truly don't remember the next year of my life!
8. Scott started school again at BYU.
9. On August 8th, 2009 we had our 4th boy, Dallin.
10. And that makes ten glorious years!