Princess Robyn

I just want to give a big thank you and a "You are so cool!" to all those friends and family who recognized the seriousness when Hunter asked that Robyn be a Princess. We all took it to heart! She will definitely be seen as Our Little Princess.

Memories, anyone??

Alright, Toni--we'll give it a shot and see what happens. Here's the instructions to all who read:

Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.If you leave a comment, I will do the same on your blog, and if you don't have a blog, we can email :) And if you have never commented, do it now so we can play "trip down memory lane".

Oh, and just for Toni:

Jaren Fort with Cerise O'Connor at Haystack Rock in Seaside, OR (Jan. 2006)

Robyn meets "The Boys"

In just a few days, here are the new "things" that I've discovered with the addition of our little girl (if you haven't noticed, I LOVE lists).

*I'm still getting used to having a "new" name in the house. Hearing and saying "Robyn" isn't natural for me yet.

*I catch myself calling her "he" all the time because I'm just not used to having another female in the house.

*I'm reminded how newborns certainly do EAT, SLEEP, and POOP (though, the sleeping part is kind of "iffy" sometimes with her). Remember it's been 5 years since I've had a baby.

It's been fun to answer all the boys' questions about certain things:

*Her "belly-button" (yes, you had one like that too)

*Nursing (yeah, this one has been rather...interesting to explain)

*Her sleep habits (and why mommy is tired and can't seem to get out of bed in the morning)

*Her "floppy" head

*Why she HATES getting her diaper changed. They've told me not to do it because it makes her so sad.

*They understand now what an "explosion" on the changing table means...yuck! Hunter will tell you that story over and over again if you ask.

*They are obsessed with her eyes!

*Still learning to LEAVE HER ALONE when she's sleeping.

*They rush to her side with every little whimper, yelp, squeal and coo...they run far away when she's screaming (surprise, surprise).
* Hunter is concerned that she's not acting much like a "princess".

*I've never seen Aidan as giddy as he is when he's "playing" with her.

Here's the Photo Evidence

Ashley and Robyn

Aidan & Robyn "She's better than a babydoll!"

"She's too heavy to hold by myself!"

Hunter with Robyn

Along with the pictures, here are a few tidbits:

1. Yes, she came 16 days early (surprised, but ready).
2. If you scramble her birthdate, 7-21-08, you get Ashley's birthdate, 1-27-80.
3. Our kids have been born in a numerical order:
Hunter: Oct. 19
Aidan: Dec. 20
Robyn: July 21
4. Jaren got to name her (I think he's had that name picked out for quite sometime and was glad to finally get to use it)!
5. She shares her middle name with her grandmother, Kay Fort.
6. She LOVES to "talk"!
7. She was born exactly one month later than her Mason cousin (almost to the minute).
8. Her nickname is "Princess" and has been for months (courtesy of Hunter). So, it's perfectly okay to call her "Princess Robyn".
9. She is Great-Grandchild #78 to my beloved Grandma Gold.
10. The boys agree that she is SOOOO much better than a babydoll but can't wait until she's old enough to "play".

She's Here!!!!

This is Jaren writing:

For all you folks out there in the real world (because it does not feel real yet) . .

We have an announcement:
Robyn Kay Fort was born this morning at 10:47am Central Time.

She weighed in at 7lbs, 11.8 oz. 19 inches long.

We don't know the color of her hair as it is difficult until we can get her out clean into the sunshine.

Mom and Baby are doing fine. Us boys are hanging out at home while the women recuperate at the Hospital.

We hope to have pictures and a full account up tomorrow after we get to bring them both home.

We love you all!!

The Boys at Home

The Baby's Room (so far)

For those who are interested (I know I've had some family really wanting to know how it's been going). So, here's the room so far:

The paint color is called Celery (thought it was too bright at first, but it's growing on me).

Decided to get some inexpensive curtains for the closet rather than put up doors. I had to make them slightly longer--just sewed on some satin ribbon. The boys and another little friend helped by painting the murals!

The curtain over the window was an unused white bedsheet that I cut, trimmed with satin ribbon and dotted with flowers.

The hanging pictures are actual pictures that I took of flowers from my yard (that was the funnest project).

The storage units are from Ikea and hold everything from diapers to toys to clothes (including laundry). Made the changing table myself (with wood, foam, fabric, ribbon, craft flowers and velcro--you can figure out how it all goes together).

These are shadow boxes (though I think I want to get three more) with flowers and duplo-like picture frames in them. The various kiddos that have been in and out of my house helped draw pictures to put in these frames.

There's still quite a few little things to get finished (like paint touch ups) but it's coming along well. If the baby came tomorrow, she'd have a room!

Though I've posted these pictures, they really don't do the room justice. Many things are hard to see, so you may have to still use your imagination!

What's worse than raining cats and dogs?!

Hailing Taxis! (haha)

Okay so my oldest LOVES to tell jokes. We recently purchased a new joke book for him--it includes jokes that are on his reading level that both brothers could understand. Until now he would read from some of daddy's OLD joke books--many of which he didn't understand. Since having this new book, the funnest thing has been reading through them as a family. Here are a few for your entertainment!

I especially like the clip including the "#6" and "Incorrectly." The boys are just priceless!

He's finally lost it!!

This has been such a BIG DEAL in our home these last few days, that I just had to post it. At the end of the school year my first grader was so concerned because he was the only one in the class who hadn't lost either of his two front teeth. It really worried him!

Yesterday, it was so loose that he literally could not function...he refused to eat or even play afraid that it would get knocked out or worse--he might swallow it! He certainly isn't the type to just give it a good yank to get it over with. Around dinner time he decided he had had enough. So, he spent the next little while in the bathroom slowly pulling it...no blood, no pain. It was interesting to witness because it's not like this is his first tooth to lose. But, apparently it has been the most stressful one to deal with thus far.

And let me tell ya, when it finally came out he was so EXCITED, HAPPY and very relieved that it was finally out of his mouth. He did comment on how "funny" his gums felt without one of his two front teeth.

I know that losing a tooth is a big deal to our young kiddos--but I was not prepared for this drama. Losing that first front tooth WAS a big deal. Course, the other one isn't really even loose yet.

A Holiday for Projects!

So, I know most of you spent your 4th July celebrating the independence of our great nation with fireworks, get togethers, etc. We spent ours working in the baby's room. It was now or never...that much I knew. With Jaren having Friday off I was able to have his help and get her room painted. He got the ceiling fan and light switch replaced as well as several other little things! I'm grateful for his willingness to "see my vision" and do whatever I ask him to do in that bedroom. When the room is actually done (at least mostly) I'll post some before and after pics.

We did take a two hour break and attend an ice cream social at a friend's house. We had gotten there right after the rains, so the boys were actually able to enjoy the waterslide and trampoline.

Actually we did see fireworks!! About a block away someone was letting off LOTS of fireworks in their yard. We were able to witness them from our big back window.

On Saturday we gave the boys some undivided attention (since they had been neglected for the past two days as we worked tiredly in the baby's room). We went and saw WALL-E at our local Movie Tavern. The biggest thought I walked away with: if you love the movie Hello Dolly you'll love WALL-E. It wasn't exactly what I expected but nonethe less another good Pixar movie. We certainly enjoyed it.

Maybe next year we'll make a bigger deal of it. It just didn't happen this time.

Slidin' & Divin'

We've spent this week having fun with water!!

Here's a few video clips to show the fun!

A few things to remember:

1. The pool waterslide slides into over 4 ft. of water and my youngest is still learning to swim. So, he was VERY hesitant about going down the slide knowing he wouldn't be able to touch. I tell ya, he mastered the idea of swimming "straight to the edge" if that's what it took to go down the slide.

2. And for my oldest the diving board is the "best thing ever!" He could go off the diving board over and over again all day long.

3. And then there's just a short clip of the slip n' slide with friends!