Cohen Jack Harvey

Better late than never to post about our new addition. On February 12th, 2013 Cohen Jack Harvey was born and we welcomed him with lots of love. I was actually scheduled for a c-section on February 13th, but he must have been superstitious like his dad because he didn't want to wait until the next day. I began having small contractions at 4:00am and called the hospital to find out what they wanted me to do since I have c-sections. I knew they would not want me to go into labor so I had to make sure. I stayed at home until 11:00 until the hospital called me and asked me to please come in and get checked. 

I am so thankful for friends who are able to help out at the last minute. There was no way I was going to take Brayden with me. I had to be monitored at the hospital for three hours while they gave me fluids through an IV to try and stop the labor until the next day. Well that didn't happen. In the mean time Philip was at work and was thinking he should go to his meetings before making the 1 hour commute back to the hospital. Well need I remind you that he missed Summer's birth. OK so that wasn't his fault but still. Forget the meetings I was in labor!

Philip finally arrived at the hospital around 4:30 I think.  They came and told us that it would be a few hours before going in for the c-section because there were other people ahead of me waiting for surgery. So Philip went home and helped put our kids to bed and had dinner. I called him at 8:00pm telling him to get back to the hospital because I was going in any minute as they bumped me up. So I was all prepped and ready for surgery when he finally showed up. Things are just more crazy when you have more kids and the planned c-section didn't go as planned. 

I don't know why but both Philip and I got emotional just as they were starting. I think we were both nervous and wondered if we were crazy having another baby with a busy toddler running around. Plus this time the gender was a surprise. I thought it might be a girl but of course I had no idea. Obviously I was wrong because Philip said, "It's a boy!" 

So, here he is making his way into our family. Cohen Jack Harvey weighed 7 lbs 6.5 oz and was 20 inches long. 

I insisted on naming him because Philip has named our other children. I like the nam Cohen so that's the first name. Keeping tradition his middle name is after someone in the family. Jack is my Grandpa Evans' first name. I like it a lot and am glad we got to use it. We both had a girl name we agreed on but the boy name was still undecided. Philip liked the name Van. I won though. 

Cohen does resemble his siblings, but he looks very different at the same time. I think he has my dad's nose. 

 Sleeping in the crib at the hospital. 

 Trying to open his eyes. Look and his wrinkly hands. He actually has really long fingers. Neither Philip or I have long fingers. Ours are more short and stubby. I don't know where he got these from. 

 I thought Summer was going to be so sad she didn't get a sister. She insisted it was a girl and that she knew it. Well to my surprise she was just so happy and delighted to have a baby to hold. She loves this little boy so much. Sometimes a little too much as she tries to tell me how to take care of him. She is such a good big sister. Most of all she helps keep Brayden entertained. 

 Brayden didn't know what to think at first. He held Cohen briefly and then just kept nodding his head no. He didn't know if he liked this new baby. Well he has come to like him but does get jealous from time to time. While I'm feeding the baby he will climb up and practically lay right on top of Cohen. I have to scoot him off with my elbow to protect the more fragile Cohen. Brayden likes to sing songs to him, rock him in his car seat, and climb on the swing while I tell him not to. His favorite thing is to tickle Cohen's feet and say in his cute toddler voice, "tickle tickle tickle." Oh, and he thinks poopy diapers and gas are so hilarious. That a boy for you. 

 Checking out the new baby. 

Although life with three is going to get interesting and busy we are so thrilled and excited for our new baby boy. I know we all love him to pieces already. He will fit in perfectly. It really is so amazing how Heavenly Father can give us so much love for others. I love all my children so much and I know that they are each so special and what a wonderful opportunity Philip and I have to be their parents. 

Its funny how I was thinking I was motivated and ready to keep my blog updated all through December and really it was all in my head. I still haven't even blogged about Christmas. Oh well, I will do that soon enough for my own personal records.

February is here and I am three days away from having our fourth baby. I can't believe how fast it has gone this time around. For some strange reason I am actually nervous this time around both for the c-section as well as having a third baby around the house to care for. Fortunately Philip is off work for two weeks so he will be able to help me chase Brayden around.

Philip has always wanted the gender to be a surprise so this time I went with it. I like knowing but it has also been kind of fun to wonder what it is for sure. Each time I went in for an ultrasound I looked away when they got close to the legs. After having so many ultrasounds with both Scott and Brayden I can make a lot of it out. I didn't want to ruin it. So far so good. So in a few days I will let everyone know what the little babe is a boy or a girl.

Anyhow, here are a bunch of pictures from the past since I have been horrible at putting them on here. Maybe it will motivate me to keep more updated with my blog so I will have better record of them.

 Brayden helping me clean the house or something like that. More like making snow angels but instead of snow the wet floor.

 Summer likes entertaining her brother. Suitcase ride anyone?

 This reminded me of Randy on A Christmas Story because Brayden couldn't get up off of the floor with his puffy coat on.

 Summer showing me her art from school. I love her to pieces.

 Brayden enjoying the skiff of snow we got.

 And a couple more inches makes it a bit more fun.

 Brayden in his office while waiting for a haircut. The haircut never happened because he was too wiggly.

 I taught Summer a fun way to use a sleeping bag. I remember doing it when I was little.

 Summer got 100% on her spelling and so I treated her to hot chocolate and a donut. She had worked really hard for a few weeks to finally get them all right.

 Finally a haircut! Still wiggly but a little more cooperative when given a sucker. The next day he doesn't seem to cheery. Maybe he doesn't like his haircut.

 Brayden loves holding an umbrella, the only thing is he still needs to master holding it with both hands so it doesn't tip over. He will get a lot of practice here as it rains a lot.

 My kids both love playing in the kitchen. I gave them each a piece of dough and they went to town.

 Philip had a birthday on January 10th. He usually requests peach pie so that is what I made him. I even used the peaches I canned.

 Not in love with the car seat. I wouldn't like being strapped down in a five point harness either.

 More skiff. They like playing in it no matter how little we get.

 Reading buddies.

Brayden's new favorite thing to do. He is a typical boy. The problem is it pushes his diaper down so when he pees at night it occasionally gets all over him and his bed while leaving his diaper dry. Very annoying.

 Just a happy boy.

 Brayden getting his hockey on. I guess he is a true Canadian boy.

 Summer had her first piano recital. She played Mr. Moon and A Tea Party. She was so nervous but did great. 

 

A new way of wearing a baby. LOL. Uncle Andrew going to check the mail with Brayden.

Somehow Summer has managed to break her glasses three times in less than a year. Fortunately we had the protection plan which made them inexpensive to replace. However, since her prescription changed we ended up purchasing new glasses all together. I'm crossing my fingers that she will take better care of them this year.  

 Here she is so excited to receive a package in the mail. What is it. Her new glasses of course. She is so happy. 

 Summer likes to draw and write poems. She showed me this one and told me it was the picture hanging on our wall. I was impressed by her drawing. Especially because I am 31 and I still draw stick people. She did a pretty good job. 

 Making a Valentine craft. 

 I like to call Brayden my Curious George. He is into everything and climbing on and inside everything. Completely different than Summer when she was his age. He is a busy boy who likes to run especially when I am trying to catch him. It's not easy being 38 weeks prego and trying to catch this little guy before he runs somewhere he shouldn't. 

I have such an amazing family and couldn't have asked for better kids. I love them so much and they keep life interesting. It will be interesting to see the changes come with another baby added to the mix. Wish us luck. 

December 1st

One of our traditions is to decorate for Christmas the weekend after American Thanksgiving. So, after going across the border and hitting up all the black Friday deals we got to work on decorating. We put up what we could which included these lights and garland that Brayden loved seeing. We also had a artificial tree which is in our basement but we really had to wait until today in order to finish. We were waiting for a real tree at Costco. Finally they arrived today so we decided to finish. Here is a look. 

Brayden loving the lights. Fortunately he hasn't bothered with them much. 

The picture is a bit dark, but here is the fresh tree we got from Costco. I love it! It is our first grown up tree. The one in the basement is the kids' tree full of our cheap handmade ornaments that Philip and I painted when we first got married. It is mixed with handmade ornaments from Summer as well as an ornament that we get each year to remember our son Scott. I forgot to take a picture of it. 

I love the red sparkly hydrangea flowers I found. Thanks Joann Fabrics for the awesome sales. 

 We hit up a Christmas party for kids that Philip was invited to. It was a lot of fun. Brayden tried out Bowling for the first time. Five pin bowling is great for kids because the balls are small. I am horrible at it though. I am use to the heavy balls with holes for my fingers.

Summer had a lot of fun. She is working on getting the ball to go a little faster. 

 Of course we have to start December off with a visit from Santa. I didn't realize it until I looked at this picture but my little Summer is not so little anymore. I can't believe how tall she is getting. She had fun sitting on Santa's lap and of course receiving a gift. Santa was very generous.

This is how Brayden felt about the whole sitting on Santa's lap thing. He obviously didn't like it. As soon as I picked him up he stopped crying and waved goodbye to Santa.

 He was not shy about peaking into the gift he was given. He was so excited to push some buttons on the truck. Thanks Santa you made a little boy and girl very happy today.

 Last but not least we can't forget the advents. Philip brought two of these Lindt advents home from work yesterday. One for Summer, and one for me. Summer didn't wait long to open her first window. She came in my room at about 7:30am with a big smile on her face. She is definitely Mary Harvey's granddaughter. I opened my window up and gave the chocolate to Brayden which he loved.

When I saw this Lego calendar at Costco a month ago I had to get one. Philip loves Lego so I thought he would really like it. That he did. He and Summer both put this little guy together this morning. 

So, I hope your December is filled with a lot of Christmas cheer. Remember that Christ is a key word in Christmas. What a wonderful time to reflect on his birth and also his life. I am looking forward to teaching Summer more about it this year as she will understand more and actually remember more details. Merry Christmas everyone.