Jack's Storyboard from Tami!

These are pictures from Jack's newborn photo shoot with Tami. AKA Tami Tripp Photography:D

Also, from that shoot, a couple of my big guys:




How gorgeous are these?! I *heart* Tami!

Jack's favorite way to travel.

Jack's favorite way to travel., originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

A Mei Tai from my Freddie carrying days. Loving it with a newborn!

Pure Joy riding Swipers Sweepers

Swipers Sweepers, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We took Freddie for unlimited rides on his birthday at Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America. He and Sammy rode Swipers Sweepers A LOT. They loved it. I loved listening to their contagious laughter every time they swung around the corner.

For more birthday pictures check out the Flickr set

Freddie's birthday lunch at Highland Grill

Big guys at Highland Grill, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Happy Birthday Freddie Freds!

Today we celebrate Freddie's 3rd birthday by sharing the following recent " Freddie-isms."

His new favorite thing to do at the park is "run for fun." He'll say, "hey guys, come run for fun with me."

A few weeks back as we tried to get him to put on his socks and shoes, a resistant Freddie told us he "didn't want to be sockin' right now."

And finally, this past weekend, Freddie's hair was in fine form after his nighttime slumber. After we called him Don King, he responded by saying, "No, you're a donkey!"




His very own sense of style. Our wild child...

Big Brother

Big Brother, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sammy was most excited to show off his bracelet and to check out the snack kitchen at the hospital. He's done the new baby thing before. No biggie.

Product placement.

product placement, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

A picture of Cutie Face taken at the hospital. Burt's Bees for size comparison.

Brothers

Brothers, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Cody and Ashley visit!

The boys' Godparents Cody and Ashley traveled down from Duluth on Friday to meet our newest family member! Sadly I was a total slacker and didn't take one picture while they were here, but Ashley took some and has already been playing around. Here is what she has sent me thus far. Thanks, Ash!

Codes-n-Ash had the boys at the park while Jacob was picking Jack and me up from the hospital on Saturday morning. Here are the big guys in action:





And a couple of the baby guy:


Watercolor J.D.


Abstract Jack

Announcing Jack Dylan!

also to be known as J.D. or Cutie Face

Thursday, April 15th, 2010
11:11 a.m.
8 pounds 15 ounces
20 inches long

Tami put together this slideshow of the incredible photos she took of Jack's first hours. Watch to feel like you were there, too. Bring tissues! :)

Baby show-off!

All this stunning newborn photography by Tami Tripp Photography! Thanks SO much, Tami.

Baby is here!

He is beautiful! Quick and easy labor from about 9 am - 11:11 start to finish!! More details later, and hopefully some fantastic make-you-misty-eyed brand-new baby pictures thanks to Tami!

Holly's awesome craftiness!

Lookie what's on it's way to us!!



Thanks so much, Holly! I *wub* them! :D

Big guy!

Big guy!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Freddie didn't lose any teeth but he needed a picture, too. Mr Cute Stuff.

More missing teeth!

Toothless, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Two in less than fourteen hours! Sammy lost another bottom tooth (his 4th) last night and then this morning his first front tooth fell out. He's growing up so fast! (Thanks to tooth trauma of December 2007.)

Not only is cloth cuter, but check this out:

Disposable diapers are made of plastic. One baby will use at least 3,800 diapers, which amounts to 715 pounds of plastic. Non-renewable. Non-biodegradable.

Snagged from a gDiapers email. Here's more:

What does it mean to be plastic-free?

Give it up for technology! But sometimes technology can be deceiving. For instance, did you know that disposable diapers are made of plastic? Sure they feel soft, not at all like plastic. And some of them aren’t white, looking more like paper. But it’s true. They’re still plastic. There are a lot of reasons why we’re not crazy about that. Here are a few:

Plastic doesn’t biodegrade. It’s not good for the earth.
Plastic doesn’t breathe. It’s not good for baby.
Plastic is non-renewable.

Dang I wish I had an adorable newborn in cloth picture to post here. Soon, friends! :)

Baby can be born now!

Baby Blanket, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Per our agreement, Jack can be born now that I've completed The Biggest Thing I've Ever Knitted aka his Mod Concentric Squares Baby Blanket! (okay I'm nearly done I just have to weave in ends - bleh - and block)

Feel free to gush away at my awesome craftiness. M'kay. Gush now. Thanks. ;)

Happy Easter!

Sammy was so excited for Easter Morning he woke the entire household up before daylight. It was painful to get out of bed that early but seeing his little kid excitement (and super silliness!) was contagious. He brought the flashlight to church this morning -in case it was dark like it was at the Good Friday service.


His brother woke him up an hour too early this morning so Freddie was a little extra, er, opinionated. He "needed" to bring his balloon to church this morning. Why? "Because I do." Of course, I ended up carrying it.


Sammy picked out the purple polo (Vikings color) a month or so ago and I thought it'd be perfect for him to wear for Easter Sunday. Found a solid purple for Freddie and matching shorts. How cute are they?! Can't wait for our third to arrive so I coordinate them all :)

KP, Gage and Holly

KP, Gage and Holly, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Every few months Holly makes the trek from Wisconsin back to the Twin Cities to iron over a dozen of Jacob's work shirts. This trip she also made us Muddy Buddies (dessert after our trip to the 5-8 Club), crepes for breakfast, and washed dishes. She even slept without a pillow. Thanks, Holly!

Sammy, Freddie and Kennedy

Sammy, Freddie and Kennedy, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

I tried to get a good picture of the three kids. To see how we went from this (probably the best) to the Goofballs! shot check out my flickr photostream. :)

Goofballs!

Goofballs!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sammy and his hoe

Sammy and his hoe, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sammy: "I'm going to take my hoe down the slide."

He cracks me up.

Freddie!

Freddie!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Nothing quite like a good nostril shot.

Jacob and Sammy

Jacob and Sammy, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We've been parking it a lot this week, thanks to our awesome HOT (consider the source) spring break weather.

Shower Flowers

Shower Flowers, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Last Saturday my friends threw me a super sweet baby shower. I am so touched by their kindness and generosity and I can only hope to someday repay them (personally, or by filling a similar role for someone else). There was delicious homemade food, virgin margaritas, flowing conversation, non-embarrassing shower games and gifts! (seriously, gifts? for #3?!)

Many thanks to you all! Each one of you have been such a support to my family and me throughout this pregnancy. I don't know what I'd do without friends!

38/39 weeks shadow, taken the evening of 3/29

38/39 weeks shadow, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

And I think we *may* be a go this morning (3/30), Blogger friends!

We'll keep you posted! Please pray for me!

3/31 no baby yet! Just a day full of painful back labor with no progress. I am feeling better today - no back contractions so far this morning. Whew. Many thanks to all our friends and family for their kindness and encouragement through a very uncomfortable day.

New seating arrangement.

This morning was beautiful so while Sammy was at preschool Freddie and I switched around the car seats in our Mazda5. I am sure I looked ridiculous doing this at hugely 37-weeks pregnant but it had to be done. We have an appointment with a CPT Tech at the Fire Station on Saturday to check the installs, but here's what our car looks like now:

This is the third row in our Mazda5. Seat belt install with top tethers.

Britax Marathon and Regent.

Freddie in the Marathon. He's nearly outgrown this seat, but it'll work for the moment.


And the adorable Combi Coccoro for Baby!

I love this little seat! But I totally need the tech to get the install perfect. Mine is flimsy. Well, I actually took the seat out until Saturday... but this what it'll look like.

And here is Sammy's Graco Turbo Booster in the second row. It doesn't sit as well in the third row but installs beautifully in the second.

He loves this seat, so he may be sitting next to baby once Freddie outgrows the Marathon. But I dunno...

Nana and Sammy and assembled co-sleeper!

Nana and Sammy and assembled co-sleeper!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Another project tackled by Nana over her five-day visit. Add to this piles of laundry, dinner preparation, mountains of dishes, dirty floors, grocery store runs, active boys, boxes of baby clothes... and cheesy puffs! Love you, Mom!! :)

Nana to the rescue!

Freddie helps Nana build the changing table topper., originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Last week I was feeling overwhelmed by the physical demands of being a mom to two active boys *and* an active baby in the womb, and worrying how I would be able to take care of them, myself, the hubs and still manage to get things ready for baby. After a couple whiney phone calls from me, my mom hit the road last Thursday for a day of driving from Arkansas to Minneapolis. As Mo called it, a true act of "Motherly Sacrifice."

Thanks so much, Mom! I wish you didn't have to leave at all before the baby comes, but I can hardly compete with a trip to Vegas!

Here's a picture of Nana and Freddie assembling the changing table topper for our IKEA Leksvik changing table dresser. One of the many projects she helped with!

I's cutes.

I's cutes., originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Freddie looks more like Jacob every day. Just prettier ;)

Solar Power critter!

Solar Power critter!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sammy really enjoyed this Solar Power information station at the Como Zoo. He is such a Little Scientist these days :)

Tropical Gardens!

Tropical Gardens!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

At the Como Zoo in St. Paul. Apparently a great place to go in the dead of winter, sadly we made this discovery the first weekend of March! The camera is all fogged up thanks to the glorious humidity!

Third trimester third baby photo shoot.

Sonja strikes again! We headed over to Minnehaha Falls this Saturday for a maternity photo shoot. Thanks SO much, Sonja! I can't tell you how much it means to me. I am so thankful to have these beautiful shots documenting my last pregnancy.



I am just about 35 weeks along in the pictures. With a big baby belly measuring two weeks ahead of due date!



Just before she took the above picture I picked up an abandoned "booze bag" with the hopes of sitting on it and spilled nasty beer all down the leg of my jeans. There is nothing quite like a hugely pregnant mama reeking of beer.



Thankfully I look like a hot mama rather than someone experiencing the full onslaught of the third trimester! (Right?!)

Still a ton of snow on the ground!

Sammy swinging, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

It makes for a nice lower swing height for the boys :)

March in Minnesota

Sammy and Henry working on getting muddy, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

My neighbor Ruth and I took our boys to the park yesterday afternoon because it's been so nice! Things are melting and it's comfortable to be outside (well, as comfortable it is for a mom in the third trimester!).