Catching up--a lot!

I haven't put anything new on here in a long time, so be prepared for lots of stories and lots of pictures!

Ummm... Where do I start? There's so much, I'm not sure if I can remember it all. Well, Alaina is just a joy to have around and she's just... well... she just fits. I don't know how else to describe it. Sometimes it's weird that I have three kids--it makes me feel old. But it feels good at the same time. Like our family was getting behind on its growth and now we're back to where we should be.

I hadn't realized just how yellow she was until she wasn't yellow anymore. I mean, I knew she was pretty yellow, but I didn't think any more so than the other kids had been. But wow! She sure was yellow! She didn't pass the bilirubin test at the hospital so they had us go for a check up on that two days later and she was okay. But she stayed yellow for a long time afterwards. Lots of people asked about her bilirubin. With Ryker, people just commented on how red he was. He was a little red monkey!

I am an evil and sinister parent and I love to collect pictures of my kids when they are upset. I just think sad faces are adorable! I told you I was sinister. But look at this face! How can you not love it...

She's only a few days old in these pictures and we were pretty amazed at how strong she was from the very beginning. She was by far the wiggliest kid I've had while she was in the womb and I guess all that working out paid off.

She's just so little! I love her littleness. It's my favorite!
I had thought (did I say this already in a previous post? I must be losing brain cells at an astonishing rate!) Alaina would be our last biological baby. We plan to adopt one or two down the road when Brice is into his career. But after having Alaina around and enjoying her so much, I just don't want her to be the last newborn in our home (our adopted kids will be toddlers when we get them, about 3 or 4 years old). So as much as I don't ever want to be pregnant again, I can't bear the thought of never having such a precious little baby of my own again. Alaina is the first of the three kids that I've really gotten to enjoy so completely. With the other kids, the adjustment period was hard (Ryker--two kids REALLY close in age, just moved to a new state, dirt poor, husband MIA because he was busy working himself to death to pay the bills) or overwhelming (Raelin) though not in a bad way, just in an "I can't fathom what this all means and all the implications of it" way. With our little Alaina, though, it has just been bliss. We're busy with school and I wish I had more time to spend with her, but I honestly coudn't care less about school right now (fortunately my classes are not too demanding and I can afford not to care too much). I just enjoy all the time I do get to spend holding her and loving her and try to hang on to her littleness as much as I can. She's already getting so much bigger than she was! :(
This was Alaina's first going to church outfit, compliments of my sister and her hubby. Isn't it cute!
Alaina's really not a fan of baths. Can you tell? Like I said, I collect sad-face pictures. But she does like showers. Until it's time to get out... She HATES to be cold. Girl after my own heart!


Brice's mom and sister came to visit at the beginning of February and the kids had a great time! They love to do projects with Mimi and they had a great time playing with their cousin, Jordan.
Raelin was putting stick pretzels in her mouth so that one end was on her tongue and the other on the roof of her mouth to see how wide she could open it.

We went to Jumpin Jacks to play one day and the kids and Brice had a great time running and climbing and jumping. For once, no one scolded Ryker for being loud and wild.
While Brice's mom and sister were here, we blessed Alaina (in the Mormon religion, babies are given a name and a blessing, typically by their fathers. A name by which they will be known and a blessing to help them on their road through life.) Brice gave her the blessing and it was beautiful! We had family and several friends in attendance and it was a special day for our girl.

My grandma also came out and was excited to get a four generation picture. She sure loves all her grandbabies! She flew out just for the weekend to be here for Alaina's blessing. It was so good to see her and visit with her.

My mom made this blessing dress for us when Raelin was a baby. Traditionally, you use the same white dress or suit (depending on gender) for all your babies, so we carried on the tradition. Pretty dress, huh.
The torture starts young. This one is known as smushy face or squishy face; I'd say this is more of a smushy face:

Aurora and Jordan (Brice's sister and her son)

We went for a walk and the kids found a little nerf gun and a few darts. So Brice started playing shoot 'em up games with the kids.
While awaiting her turn with the nerf gun, Raelin used a stick for her gun. She said to Brice, "Stick 'em up!" To which Brice responded:
And then Raelin shot him! Brice laughed and said, "Hey!! You're not supposed to shoot if I put my hands up!" So Raelin shot him some more.
And Ryker tried to shoot me, the one with the camera and the baby. But I still won! I'm amazingly agile for a postpartum mommy.
Jordan doesn't like to get dirty. Uncle Brice must have gotten him dirty. Uncle Brice LOVES dirt!

I almost got a great picture! Rats!

Uh oh! Brice's getting ganged up on!

The kids with their Mimi!

Hmm, not such a good idea, kids. But it makes for a good picture!


I told you Alaina was strong. I put her on this little mat with her chest and shoulders across the bolster thingy. A few minutes later she had kicked and wriggled herself over the top until she got high-centered.

And this, I think, is my favorite picture of the bunch. I love those bright eyes and little baby feet. Just relaxing in her big sister's lap!