Happy Birthday, Claire!!!

Happy birthday, Claire Bethany Seale!

You were born August 20, 2009 at 1:51p.m.
You weighed 6lbs. 11oz. and measured 20 inches long.

(my mom says she looks just like me when I was born)


Your father and I arrived at the hospital at 5:30a.m. We were so excited that today would be the day we would finally meet face to face.

You were the easiest of my deliveries. As soon as you were born the nurse put you on my chest immediately. I was so shocked at all of you hair! Both of your brothers were practically bald. We all laughed about your dark brown hair before you were even completely delivered. I wonder how many parents can say they have a blond, a red, and a brunette?!?!

As soon as I was "put back together," Your Daddy went to the waiting room to get everyone. You boys got to come to the delivery room to meet your sister when she was about 15 minutes old.

Ethan's first look at Claire

Doug had to take Davin all the way outside because he was throwing a full blown tantrum because he wanted to hold you by himself! He still wasn't very happy upon their return.

When it was finally time for Claire to go to the nursery your Uncle James and Aunt Whitney took you boys to watch her bath, etc. through the window.

Postpardum was full so it was almost midnight before I got moved out of labor and delivery into my official room long after everyone else had gone home. It was so quiet and peaceful as I patiently waited with my beautiful baby Claire!

Final Four photo

It was the evening of August 19th, and I am scheduled to arrive at the hospital the next morning to be induced. The boys are spending the night with Grandma and Grandpa, and I decided to get one last photo as a family of four. Of course, it wouldn't be easy.....

Davin almost never takes a photo without putting up a fight!

Most of the time it is because he wants to hold the camera.

I had no fears or worries about the events that would take place the next day at all. I was so nervous about having Davin because I was positive that I couldn't love another baby as much as I loved Ethan. After Davin was born I learned that your love just grows, and you do love your 2nd just as much as your first, and I will love Claire with all my heart as well.

I was also afraid that Ethan's entire world was going to be destroyed by the addition of a sibling, and it wasn't. He even loves his little brother!
I know that Ethan and Davin will be just fine. They will love Claire, and one day they will all be glad to have each other.

This was as good a photo as we were going to get.

On our final night as a family of four, we are elated knowing that we will be adding one more!

End of Summer

We stayed busy the last few days of summer. Friday we completed last minute errands such as haircuts for both boys, getting my watch battery changed, etc. Davin is perfect when he gets his hair cut for a 2 year old. The boys enjoyed being at the mall.


I also decided to treat the boys to one of their favorite places for lunch, McDonald's. It not necessarily my favorite place to be, but they loved it!




On Saturday, Doug painted the top half of the nursery a very light shade of pink as advised by Cindy and DeNae. It was great advice because the room looks much better, and the pink doesn't seem so over powering now. I just need to get the pictures on the wall and the nursery will be all done.


The old red neck drive gang also had a red neck style gathering on Saturday night. I can't believe I didn't get out my camera!!!!!!

We decided to make one last summer visit to the water park on Sunday afternoon. Our last trip was extra fun because Daddy joined us!



Look at Daddy's tan line! Now you know why he wore his shirt!


We all survived mommy's first day back at work today even though getting up this morning was not pleasant for anyone. The boys had a great time with their Grandma as usual.

4 moms, 12 kids, and a water park

We decided to meet some friends at the water park today for a last major summer outing. We had 12 kids total between the 4 of us. Some we're friends that were brought along. They weren't all ours! The older kids took off and did their own thing while us Moms and the little guys hung out in the toddler area.



Davin trying to give himself an enema????
















Fun in the splash pool!


























Rachel and Ethan enjoyed lunch in the sun. All Davin ate was a bag of Doritos. There was just too much to do!

Funny faces.

Ethan preparing for the big race at 2:30. He talked about it all day!

On your mark.....get set.....

Swim really fast.....

Until you get too tired and the life guard helps you finish the race :)

His "Victory" Dance

Almost time to go home.

Dry off time with Davin the towel monster!

What a fun day!! It makes me sad summer vacation is coming to an end :(

Summer and school

There are something things I am really going to miss about summer. I love how the boys wake up and snuggle on the couch together to watch cartoons in the morning. It is one of the few times during the day they aren't annoying each other!


I am very lucky that my parents took the boys for the day today so that I could go get my room ready to start school. They had way more fun with them then they would have with me. They even went to lunch at Rainforest Cafe, and snow cones at Bahama Bucks.

I guess I had that "nesting"urge to have my room totally ready to go for my sub just in case. It took all day, but my mission is accomplished. Many of you have never seen my classroom, so I thought I would give the photo tour.Here is the bulletin board outside my door I did in the dark with no AC. Didn't get all the wrinkles out. Oops!
I made a pseudo-office out of the pointless entry way so that I would have more space in the classroom for movement, etc.



That's pretty much all there is to it. Exciting isn't it ;) !

Workin' on the weekend

Well...kind of. More like Doug was working on the weekend. He finished painting the trim, etc. of Claire's room on Saturday. My parents gave us a ride to Home Depot Saturday evening so we would have a vehicle long enough to put the chair rail in so Doug could get that finished. I REALLY miss my vehicle!

Doug painted the chair rail in the garage first thing this morning! I have to say I LOVE the color Denae choose for the rail! It couldn't have been a closer match to the blue in the bedding. I am still dealing with the pink. I do not love it to be honest, but don't have the heart to make Doug repaint it right now so it will have to do!




Of course we still need to hang pictures, put the shelves together, and probably rearrange furniture, but it'll get done!


While Doug was working on the nursery, I was supervising Ethan's bedroom/game room clean up. He always throws a fit that could rival that of the most terrible two year old when he has to clean up! It is absolutely amazing! Today I had it and put half of his belongings in a trash bag and told him he wasn't going to have to worry about cleaning up anymore because he wasn't going to own anything to clean up (I shocked myself that I went there)! Doug finally took over because I was too angry and got him to clean up (after he spanked him). Ethan got even more angry when he thought he was done, and I went and got the trash bag and made him put all that stuff up too!

If he would have just picked it up without a fit he would've been done in 20 minutes. Instead, he made it almost a 4 hour process! I wish I was kidding! Lord, I hope he outgrows this!!!!

The boys "went to work" on the lot next door to ours again this evening. Today, they enjoyed playing in the massive dirt pile. I have never seen my boys as filthy as they were tonight. They were so gross that Shelly took them in her backyard, let them strip, and "bathe" in her little swimming pool. They had a blast, and I really wish I had a picture of it now. Too bad the only reason I don't is I was too lazy to walk my fat butt across the culdesac to my house to get my camera. Sad, isn't it....