Pinewood Derby Car Prep Begins

'Tis the season for the Pinewood Derby and one of the main reasons Joseph wanted to be in Cub Scouts.  He has been so excited to start.  He's a little engineer and has been planning and sketching designs to figure out what will produce the fastest car.  I hope that his expectations are not too high; he fully expects to win.  I just hope he is not disappointed, it is his first year and I know he has a lot to learn!

 

Gangsta Oliver

Memere sent Oliver this sweatshirt.  He was SO excited to put it on.  He also insisted on wearing the hood and the necklaces, I didn't have anything to do with it.  :-)

Like Mother Like Son?

Since baseball was a bust and Joseph hasn't shown much interest in any other sports, we decided to try basketball.  I think he was really bored playing baseball and needs to run.  It turns out he is actually pretty good!  Maybe someday he and I can play some one-on-one (when I am not pregnant :-)

Epidural?

There hasn't been much to do here, while we are stuck inside all day.  All I have been thinking about lately, besides a name for this baby, is labor and delivery.  Thoughts about the date that is looming have been consuming my mind and most of these are fearful.  I have had three babies without an epidural.  The natural delivery appealed to me, in the past, but now I am not so sure.  I kind of feel like I've been there, done that and proven to myself that I can do it.  I also had a pretty awful time with Oliver and it has traumatized me.  
I have talked to countless friends about what they have chosen to do.  Some have only had an epidural and would not have a baby any other way, some have gone natural and had an epidural and say that I should just go for it again.  I am very confused and most of this is caused by guilt.  I have always felt that if I didn't have a natural birth I was short-changing my baby.  My biggest concern with an epidural is that the baby will be drugged and not breastfeed as easily.  I also worry about slowing down labor too much.  
 I am honestly terrified about going natural again.  I was so angry last time that I couldn't even be happy when they put Oliver on my chest and I don't want that feeling again.  I would love to hear from some other women and what their choices have been.  So what have you done? Epidural or no epidural and whatever your choice has been, what kind of side effects did you experience?  

1st time for everything

7 years of being a mom and this is the first time we have had a kid who needed to get stitches....pretty amazing especially considering they are all boys!
So the story isn't very exciting: Henry was running away from Joseph, who was shooting at him with a Nerf gun (thank you Uncle Paul) and ran into a wall!  I heard a really loud smack and thought he just hit hit head (which happens all the time in our house) then I saw blood gushing out of his head and thought....great we're going to the ER.  Thomas had just walked in the door and dinner was ready, so at least I didn't have to take all of the boys with me and the others had dinner already.  Thankfully the brand new Urgent Treatment Center is only about 5 minutes away and they were open until 7pm.  Henry doesn't look too upset in the picture, he was so brave and calm, he didn't even cry.  I promised him McDonald's for dinner if he was good so I think that helped!  I hope we don't end up back at the UTC for more injuries but I have a feeling this will not be the last trip!

Still here...

I am still here, even though I haven't blogged much.  I have been dealing with temperamental children and yucky weather and haven't been motivated to do anything.  Does anyone else get depressed in the winter?
Anyway, I just realized that I haven't bought a baby book for still unnamed baby boy #4.  I usually buy them during my pregnancy and start filling in the information.  
It dawned on me that maybe I don't need to get a baby book that is very similar to the one MY mom had for me way back in 1978.  
I guess I can now move into 2011.....Has anyone made one of these for their baby?

I am just wondering if this would be a good way to go for the 1st year....not sure though.  I wonder if you can add the growth info, teeth info etc.  The only downside to the custom photo book is is that I can't actually make it and order it until he is at least 1.  
I am just wondering how these books actually turn out.  I guess I can keep thinking about it, I have nothing else exciting to do this month!

Ready for Normal

Silly me, I thought that Christmas break was going to be a break....I was wrong.  I am finally getting back to normal after the holidays.  Here are some picture thoughts because I am too tired to write much.  I am dreading tomorrow when we have the usual adjustment day of getting back to school after too much time off.  My least favorite month has begun, followed by my second least favorite month...ugh.  I am just hoping for unusually warm weather and that the next 12 weeks FLY by!

The boys before Christmas Eve Mass.

 Santa came!

 One of Henry's favorite gifts from Santa.

 Joseph was thrilled...can you tell?!

 Oliver feeling a little overwhelmed.

 Thomas got a sushi mat and a book on how to make sushi for Christmas.  We had it about 4 or 5 times over break..YUM!

 Grandma and Grandpa came for a week too, the boys always love their visits.