December in Review

We have had fun this month establishing new Christmas traditions in our family and watching Lyndsee continue to grow. I'm still adjusting to having 4 kids and so Eric did a lot of the shopping for Christmas this year. I'm thankful for this and also thankful for the turkey Eric made Christmas Eve so that we could have a special dinner to celebrate this wonderful holiday.

Here are pictures of some of things we did during this past month.

Taylor marched/danced in the Boulder City Light Parade with her dance group.

Will and Mommy took advantage of the truck-pulled trailer that led the dancers down the parade route and rode in the parade.

Reagan and Lyndsee were pushed in the stroller by Daddy down the sidewalk as they followed us down the parade route.On the following Saturday, Taylor's dance group performed at the Winterfest in downtown Henderson on Water Street. She performed a dance number on the outdoor stage near the Convention Center.
Reagan, Will and Mommy waiting in the audience

Taylor dancing with her friend Abby.

Taking a bow Eric went out with the missionaries one night dressed as Santa so when he was done he came by to visit his naughty kids and give them warning. Of course, they recognized him instantly. No fooling them! They loved seeing their Daddy dressed like Santa.Nappy Nap Time - Lyndsee at 5 weeks

Eric got a free ticket to the "Gift of Lights" drive through light display at Sunset Park. The kids loved this and I was glad it was free.

The Saturday night before Christmas we went to Ethel M Chocolate Factory where they decorate their cactus garden in Christmas lights. It was really well done and I was so glad we went. It is the closest thing we have to temple square here in Las Vegas/Henderson.

Lyndsee looking at the lights

Waiting in line for Santa. Will decides to take a lick of the candy cane.

Taylor and Will were relieved to have a chance to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Reagan was a little hesitant in approaching Santa but did sit on his lap. Lyndsee was just done for the night.
Nothing more beautiful than a sleeping baby (especially when you are making last minute Christmas preparations)!
Christmas Eve Dinner - Taylor wanted the turkey leg.

The little kids table.

Lynn and Nikki's family joined us for Christmas Eve dinner.

The kids always get to open a present on Christmas Eve giving them new pjs to wear to bed that night.

Mommy's favorite present this Christmas was Lyndsee's new smiles for me.
Trying to get a smile for the camera

Hooray! I caught one (even if it was off-centered)!
Santa brought Reagan a bike
Between Grandparents, Aunt Marcy and Santa, we have a closet full of new games!
Pretty "La la" (Cinderella)

Christmas day was spent playing new Wii games.

Taylor on her new sewing machine
Eric and I also had our first date night since the baby was born. We got to go to Olives Restaurant at the Belligio overlooking the water fountains there for Eric's work Christmas party. The food was incredible and it was nice to get out for an evening even if it was just for only a couple of hours. Thanks to his company for providing that lovely time!
I missed some old traditions of the past like singing in Handel's Messiah, lights at Temple Square, and Christmas Eve dinner with extended family, but I enjoyed finding new activites and traditions with friends. We didn't travel this year for Christmas but many of our family will be coming next week for Lyndsee's blessing.

Missing Brain Cells

It must be true! Pregnancy kills brain cells. After being pregnant 4 times, my brain is really missing some power. Case in point: My previous post speaks about "Reagan" and Bailey being 11 days apart when I should have said "Lyndsee". After all, that is what we named our most recent daughter. The really funny part about this is that my SIL Robin pointed it out to me on our family site saying "You did put that Reagan and Bailey were due at the same time. Just thought I would let you know." I questioned her saying that I didn't know what she was getting at and that Reagan and Bailey were due at the same time--right? SO I not only made the initial mistake of calling Lyndsee Reagan but a second mistake when I honestly couldn't see what Robin was trying to point out to me. Finally, I asked Eric what he thought Robin meant and it was at that moment that it all dawned on me and I couldn't stop laughing. I do call Lyndsee Reagan out loud all the time. I don't know if its because this is the first time I've had 2 girls in a row or because I have a cousin named Lindsay and so no one else in my brain can have that name except for her. Either way, I really wish a person could regrow brain cells.

Baby's First Month

Wow! Its been a month now since our baby Lyndsee was born. She's been an angel and a challenge all at once. We are still working on getting on some kind of schedule and she still gets me up at least a couple of times at night. We've been so blessed to be surrounded with lots of help from friends. We've been spoiled with lots of meals brought in as well as calls and visits from friends who really care. Grandparents came into town to see Lyndsee and play with their other grandkids. That was definitley a help as most days I feel like my older kids get neglected. Most of my time has been spent feeding a hungry newborn and taking care of 4 little kids. Eric had that first week off of work and he was great to keep the house under control as well as take care of all of us. I so appreciated his loving care during this first week. The house is out of control and I sometimes wonder if we'll get our Christmas tree up anytime before Christmas but I am starting to adjust and recover and things are definitley on the up and up.

Eric's parents spent a couple of days with us.

Eric and my dad took the kids to a Nellis air show while my mom and I hung out together with the baby. My parents came bearing gifts from family in Utah including these wall hangings that my SIL Nichole made to match the beautiful quilt my sister Dawn had already made. Aren't they so cute!
At the last minute, we decided to make a trip to Salt Lake for Thanksgiving. I was feeling well enough to do so plus we had our neice being baptized that same weekend and I didn't want to miss that. We also decided we wanted a minivan and there are a ton more of those on the market in Utah then there are here. It was nice for Lyndsee to meet her extended family as well.
Aunt Mary with Lyndsee

Cousin Anna with Lyndsee

Cousin Spencer with Lyndsee

Another really good reason we had to make the trip to Salt Lake was to see our new little neice Bailey. She was due the same time as Reagan but they ended up being 11 days apart. You can tell that Lyndsee is the bigger baby. It was so adorable to see these precious little babes together. I'm sure they will be good friends as they get older.

Uncle Mike holding both of his neices. Its hard to believe that he will be a grandpa to a new little baby girl in less than a month from now! Eric's parents will be great-grandparents soon!

Aunt Robin (the new mommy!) holding Lyndsee.

There is nothing more precious than a sleeping baby. Lyndsee is one month old now and in this picture. As challenging as this time is in our lives, I'm trying really hard to enjoy this time. I love snuggling with this little bundle! They grow so fast that I know this time is a rare opportunity.

Lyndsee Dawn Schroeder arrived to our family on November 4th. We had a scheduled c-section bringing her to us a week before her due date and a day after my birthday. We weren't scheduled to be at the hospital until 3:30 and I spent much of the morning trying to get ready and keep my mind off the fact that I would be cut open later that day and off of food that I wanted very much to eat but couldn't. I got so nervous that I started getting very emotional. Once we were on our way however, the excitement really set in. She was born at 5:25 weighing 8 lbs 1 oz and was 20.5 inches long.This is Lyndsee right after being born. Not too happy about it.

Lyndsee

I had heard that in Utah hospitals the siblings of babies being born weren't being allowed to visit at the hospital so I was relieved that that wasn't the case here. The kids looked like it was Christmas morning as they came into the room looking for their new present (baby sister). This particular picture may not show it but Reagan was quite excited as well and hasn't shown any issues of jealousy.

All the kids checking out the baby. Will was so stinking cute with his new sister and every bit as nurturing as his sisters towards her. He kept telling me how cute Lyndsee was and he couldn't wait to bring her home.

Here is my helpful sister who was able to take a break from the kids to come for a visit and a cuddle with her new little neice.

Getting to know you.

Eric was able to bring both Taylor and Will both individually to the hospital and Will was the lucky one who was with us when we brought the baby home. He was so excited to take part in bringing her home.

Will and Lyndsee

Welcome baby girl!

Halloween with Cousins

We were lucky to have my sister Erin and her family come to town for Halloween and the week to follow to help with our kids while we went to the hospital to have a baby. Saturday morning of the 31st, we went to see Taylor dance with her dance group at a Nevada Day celebration. The weather was very warm and nice.

Aunt Erin with Reagan (who warms up so quickly to family when they come to town) and Adam and Noah.

Taylor dancing to Michael Jackson's "Beat It"

The weather was nice enough we had to do a hike. We took Kyle and Noah to one of our favorite hikes at Red Rock. It is so kid friendly and pregnant lady friendly that we had no problem getting this one done with happy smiling faces.

One thing kids love when they are hiking are rock stairs.

Erin and I comparing tummies. Erin is due the end of February and is expecting a girl as well!The board walk toward the end of the hike was just another point of interest for the kids and kept their little feet moving on their own.

Noah coming down one of the many stone stairways on the hike.

As if the hike at Red Rock wasn't enough, we also took a hike around our neighborhood that evening to trick-or-treat. Taylor is a princess (of course), Will is Darth Vadar, Kyle and Noah are Batman and Robin, and Reagan is a ballerina. Adam is the crazy guy in the mirror's reflection trying to get all the kids to smile and look at the camera.

Reagan was obsessed with her costume and insisted on putting it back on over her pjs and wore it to bed that night as well.

We loved having our cousins in town to go trick-or-treating with and Mommy enjoyed the distraction of having her sister in town while waiting for Lyndsee's birthday. Thanks for coming and hanging with us guys!