Growing, growing, growing

Kennon is growing like a little weed.  He is beginning to show signs of the pudgy little rolls I love so much on baby legs and arms which is a true sign of a healthy baby in my eyes.  He smiles and rolls from his belly to his back.  It is such a joy to see him changing and growing.

Kids of Character - Smoking Kills

Recently, on a rare occasion when only Brayden was in the car with me we were out running errands when we passed a woman in another car who was smoking.  The conversation went like this:

Brayden: "Mom, that lady is smoking.  Smoking is bad.  It kills."

Me:  "You're right.  Smoking is a very bad choice and the effects can kill you, but how do you know this."

Brayden: "Well, moooommmm, you told me that Papa K used to smoke and that his dog Sami died.  I just figured Papa's smoking killed Sami."

Me:  (after long pause to avoid laughing out loud) It didn't happen just like that, but you are right to some degree.  Smoking does kill.

Kids - their minds are so literal yet so very creative all in the same instant.

Summer Fun

We kicked off the summer fun with a quick trip to St. Louis.  It was really a Trader Joe's road trip for my mom, sister and I disguised as a special outting for the boys to Grant's Farm.  We bought TJ's out, had a great (hot) time at Grant's Farm and took the boys swimming.  The boys were attacked by the goats at Grant's Farm.  Now that we talk to others we realize those wild goats attack everyone.  Talk about being overserved.  Those goats drink from bottles all stinkin day and then still attack all the unassuming toddlers.  I think the bottom half of my shirt was consumed by a couple of them too.  Hogs!

I should note too Kennon was barely three weeks old and a real trooper. 

Mother's Day

I'm learning quickly that being mom to three boys under the age of five is a challenge, but certainly a challenge I am capable of taking on.....hopefully with style, grace and patience.  I just pray I teach them all the core values - faith, honesty, responsibility, hard work, compassion...the list goes on.  Each day offers an abundance of opportunities for me to help my boys grow into wonderful men.  I am so very thankful for each of them and their unique personalities.

Flowers in bloom

We are enjoying a fun filled summer and somehow managing to give the flowers a drink often enough that they are still pretty. This is a big accomplishment for us. Gardening and flowers are addictive. I'm learning to control my addiciton to stop by the greenhouse once a week to avoid having a completely overgrown flowerbed. Silly as it may sound I treasure the perinnials that originated in my grandparent's yards decades ago.

Fun on the Farm

One of our absolute favorite activities in the summer is hanging out at Nannie and Papa's on the farm.  It is always anyone's guess what we might be caught learning and doing while there.  We sit in the barn and relax and visit, jump on round bales, watch the garden grow, play on the tire swing, bale hay, feed cattle, ride the tractor and four wheelers, have cookouts and the list goes on. 

Brayden and Grayson love going on adventures in their JD Gator.  They haul sticks for Nannie and hay for Papa. 

Side note - for anyone who may be wondering - no, you cannot buy a shirt like the one my dad is wearing above.  It is a one-of-a-kind hand made number you can not find anywhere.  It is priceless.  Pricelessly hillbilly-esque, that is.  Joking aside, those cut off shirts are a sign of summer around my parents house.  Summer just wouldn't be the same without them.  Dad works in the hot sun most of the day and these beauties provide some much needed ventilation.  It amazes me how the simplest things sometimes become the "traditions" we cherish most.  These shirts are one of Dad's hallmarks.

Thank Heaven for Nannie B

This post is long past due as a very small tribute to my mom (also known affectionaly as Nannie B to her - now four - grandkids). We were very blessed for Nannie B to move in with us for two full weeks after Kennon was born. Having her here was like a dream. Her presence gave me the opportunity to focus on the baby and spend time with the older boys as we adjusted to life as a family of five. Brian's schedule was busier than ever those two weeks and his appearances at home seemed rare which made Nanny B's help even more valuable.


The picture above captured a rare moment when Nannie B was just relaxing while cuddling baby Kennon. The rest of the time she was busy doing laundry, shuttling Brayden and Grayson to and from school and their other activities. She also served as cook, housekeeper, laundress, nanny, shuttle driver, gardener, counselor, errand girl, recycling advisor, lactation consultant and - like any job - many other duties as assigned. We appreciated her help beyond words, but most of all we appreciated her loving company.

Thanks, mom, for being you. No one else could live life the way you do. I've said it before and I'll document it here again - if I am half the mom (and someday a friend) to my boys as you are to me I will proud.

Welcome Home, Baby Kennon

After a two day stay at the hospital we brought our new baby boy home to his big brothers on 5/6. Brayden and Grayson were excited to see us and completely in love with their "new baby". Kennon looked so tiny in his car seat. I know, though, that in just a matter of weeks he will start filling in and the car seat will look smaller and smaller as he gets bigger and bigger.

We've enjoyed visits from more of the people we love most including Aunt Natalie, Uncle Kevin, Riley, Cooper and Macy.  They all just love babies so they took turns holding Kennon.  We don't get to see them as often as we like, but we love it when they do.

Little did we know Natalie and Kevin were harboring a little secret of their own when they visited (and for 23 weeks before).  A few weeks after their visit they hunted us down while we were out and about for a quick visit.  We just assumed they wanted to see how the baby was growing, but nope, they had surprise news of their own.   They are expecting a baby girl in early October.  We are so excited for them.   Sweet Macy will have the baby sister she has been dreaming and praying for.  Riley and Cooper may be taking on all kinds of responsiblities.

A Baby Story

Here I sit ready to document the story of our new baby boy's arrival. More than 4 weeks have come and gone and there is a quiet moment in the house to tell Kennon's story. Such is the life of a mother of three. It takes a while to get things done, but, eventually, they will get done.

May 4, 2010, the day our third beautiful, healthy baby boy made his way into the world. The day was sunny and bright just as it was the day our other boys were born when our hearts and lives were filled with more joy and blessings than we ever imagined possible.

The Friday before his arrival I went to my regular doctor's appointment hopeful that I would be able to deliver on my own without induction. As I left the doctor's office he told me to cancel my regular appointment for the following week and make my six week follow up appointment. He expected me to return over the weekend, but if not, I had a spot reserved for induction the following Tuesday. Excited, I rushed out of his office making my final prep to do list i.e. pack bags for the older boys, stock house with food and staples, paint toes, etc.

Determined to have my own water breaking-in-the-middle-of-the-grocery-story stories, I walked like a mad woman. My sweet neighbor Shelly joined me on walks around the neighbor. I walked fast at a steep incline on the treadmill. We even went to SDC with Ozark Mountain hills galore. No change. Ok, fine, I'll be patient and let nature take its course. So....along came Tuesday morning.

My parents arrived bright and early to stay with Brayden and Grayson. Brian was on call that day with no offers from his partners to take his call (not a stab just documenting the facts here) so my mom insisted on riding along with us in case Brian got called away. We arrived at the hospital, got checked in, I changed into the stylish gown, Brian ran off to take out a gall bladder and round while I settled in for a quick and easy delivery.

Around 7:30 my doctor came in and wondered where Brian took off to because he passed him leaving the parking lot. I assured the doctor he would be back in an hour. The doctor agreed to return in 90 minutes. The nurse started the pitocin around 8 am and I expected to be holding a new baby boy and sipping champagne by noon. Brian returned, but left again to do another big case. The doctor assumed I would deliver quickly and wanted to wait to break my water until Brian was almost done with my case. By this time I was glad my mom agreed to come along because it would have been a long, lonely morning without here. My sister and baby Matney joined us too to help pass the time.

A knock at the door around 10:30 brought Papa G, Brayden and Grayson on the scene. Finally, at 12:40 the doctor broke my water. Accepting reality, I adjusted my timeline and expected the baby by 2. So began the wait......again for the contractions to get in gear. Now, Papa K had joined us. With all those eyes filled with anticipating staring me down I was ready to get on with it. We waited.......taking pictures, coloring and playing games to pass the time.

Around 3:30 pm the contractions started getting more intense. The nurses were so impressed with my pain tolerance they nearly had me convinced to go on my own without an epidural. I decided that would be crazy so I went on with it. It was the epidural from hell. I swear the anesthesiologist put the epidural needle in at least two or three times and spun it around a few extra times for good measure. As soon as the epidural was in the contractions started getting wild and I was ready to push. Brian was out wandering the halls rounding on patients so my mom had the nurses page him.    Later, my dad said Brian came down the hall taking 6 foot steps. If I hadn't been trying not to push I would have taken the time to give him a "priorities" lecture.  But, really, I was so happy to see him. 

Finally, the doctor rushed in and pushing commenced....and continued....and continued some more....and more. The rest of the crew - including Aunt Natalie who surprised us and drove in - waited....and waited....and waited some more outside for more than 90 minutes.  Brayden and Grayson even had time for a power nap. 

Kennon Curtis made his way into the world at 5:29 pm. He was beautiful and healthy with a boisterous set of lungs. He was worth far more than all those extra pushes.

As I looked down and held him in my arms for the first of thousands of times my heart filled with love and joy as my eyes filled with tears. We love you always and forever sweet baby Kennon. Our lives were filled with joy and celebration the day you arrived.