Six Flags Holiday in the Park!

 We did our annual trip to Six Flags Holiday in the Park w/ the Henrys and it was COLD and FUN as usual :)  Thought we weren't going to be able to pry our kids away from the karaoke...the Henry kids were not at all interested in karaoke.  All the kids were really into the kid rides :)

 

The only ride Peter got to ride this year was his stroller, but he was cool with that.

Anna's Wedding Shower!!!!

 Back row: Cindy, Suzy, Aunt Nancy, Gail, Evelyn

Front row: me, mom, Anna and Peter, Jennifer

My sweet Aunt Nancy and her daughter, my cousin Jennifer, threw a BEAUTIFUL shower for my sister Anna!!  They have some serious talent at making delicious food and throwing the most beautiful parties!!!!  My mom met Peter for the first time, too - they hit it off :)

Peter's 1st Football Game!

 

Peter really got into the game.

Jon's high school holds up the L for Lake Travis...they didn't get the memo that L is for loser which is what his team is going to be tonight...

 GO MIDWAY PANTHERS!!!!  (That screen in that stadium is really something!)

Peter went with Jon and I and Jon's parents to the *NEW* Cowboys Stadium for the 4A State Football Championship...my high school, Midway, vs. Jon's high school, Lake Travis!!! What are the chances our high schools would  both go to State the same year?!?!  Well, unfortunately Jon's Caveliers beat my dear Panthers by a lot and set a world record of the only team ever to win 5 state football championships in a row.  Boy did we both feel old when we realized the players were Peter's age back when we were in high school!

The 3-Week Miracle....

I am not going to lie...after having Peter I thought things might never be normal for me again physically because I was so torn-up from the delivery and had the horrible thrush and so much pain, discomfort and abnormal symptoms and nursing that hurt so bad it would make me cry and my anemia was so bad that I couldn't even catch my breath and I felt faint and tingly like I was going numb all the time...I joked with my OB/GYN, Dr. Chhutani, that "I'm here for my daily appointment," b/c I had to go in to see her so much...BUT it was like a miracle...at 3 weeks the pain was gone and everything was and felt healed - Praise the Lord!!!!  And I can even fit into my pre-pregnancy pants which has NEVER happened before several months (at least) with the others...there's totally a muffin-top, but hey, I'll take it :)  It's totally a miracle...so at the risk of being overly greedy, all I want for Christmas is for Peter to sleep through the night b/c while I may be all healed up, I am one pooped mama - ha ha :)

So we ventured out to a family advent-calendar-event favorite, The Bar Association Family Christmas Party. 

Love the face-painting and fun things there.

And Santa!!!!!!!

Caroline's not so sure about Santa....

....til she figures out he gives candy to kids who sit in his lap:)

He is such a sweet little trooper!!!!!!!!

Since Peter's been home...

My dad, aka Bubba, has SAVED THE DAY...TWICE!!!  I am terribly anemic (I get very faint if I stand up very long and can't walk very far at all!) after this delivery, we've had thrush and I have had a difficult recovery...so since my mom got a job and hasn't been able to come and meet Peter or help, my dad came up for a week and he was an AMAZING help, chauffer, cook, cleaner, babysitter, etc...  He did it all!!!  I am sooooooo thankful for him and that he could come and help us :)  Then I still needed him this past week and he came back to help again!!!  Thankfully, despite the physical challenges, I feel like I am doing really well emotionally and enjoying a very slow-pace and being home-bound all the time....we pretty much just go to a doctor if we go anywhere :)

In this picture Caroline is reading (an upside-down story :) to Peter and J.R. is doing a "play" for Peter with his Noah's Ark and dinosaurs and Peter LOVES it!!!  He is soooo social!!!!!  He LOVES being around his brother and sisters!!!!!!!!!!!  And Anna Kate comes home from school and holds him and sings to him and he LOVES that too :)

Meanwhile, Peter has been growing so well - he gained 2 lbs and grew an inch in 2 weeks.  And Jon has been an AMAZING dad doing breakfast and lunch duties and lots of parenting and keeping up with and doing all the Advent Calendar family activities all himself, all while working long hours as he has had a big case lately.  Caroline's thoughts on Jon when she woke up one morning and immediately ran to me (I'm still in bed) and said, "I so hungry.  I need breakfast." Then I told her daddy had already made her breakfast and it was on the table waiting for her and she stopped and thought then said, "Daddy is a gooooooooood daddy."  I couldn't agree more :)  I am indescribably thankful for my husband that could not be more perfect in my eyes.

My thoughts are having four kids....Four kids is definitely NOT psychologically and emotionally overwhelming like it was to change numbers to 1 or 2 or 3 :)    I LOVE having the bigger space in age b/w Caroline being almost 3 and the others not even being 2 when the baby was born.  We threw away a bunch of stuff and it's much simpler.  I always wanted to have 5 kids...we are still hoping to make it to 5...I personally think the bottom-line on feasibility is how helpful and tolerant and patient your husband is ;) 

My thoughts on Peter's name...The name Peter was inspired by my DEAR cousin named Peter Hill that was an amazing and very special person of Faith in God, father and husband that passed away this year at age 30. I was very newly pregnant (with baby Peter) at Peter Hill's funeral and I thought at that time that I would like to name my baby Peter if it was a boy.  Jon was very stuck on William for a while (he's a big William Wilberforce fan), but naming him after the apostle Peter (who is my favorite person in the Bible and wrote my favorite book in the Bible) finally won out :) Also, I really love names that sound legitimate with "King" or "Queen" in front...preferably historical British monarch's names...but "High King Peter" is one of my favorites as well...of Narnia ;).  And his middle name Charles is after Charles Simeon, the great preacher…never heard of him?  Well, Jon and I hadn't either but Jon wanted Peter's middle name to be after a pastor so I researched and found this one just so that we could use the name Charles (and Charles is a historical British monarch-name...you just can't go wrong with those :). 

Baby Peter...and Christmas Pictures with all FOUR kids...

SWEET picture my friend Sarah took!

Our Christmas card picture...Christmas cards coming soon!!!

Brothers :)

Can I just say this has been the most pleasant year for Christmas decorations because the kids have not touched the ornaments on the tree since we decorated it????!!  Amazing!!!  I think it mostly has to do with their ages...next year Peter will probably have a few of his own ideas for our tree, but this year, I'm enjoying it staying decorated soooo much :)

Peter's Arrival at the Hospital...

Our beautiful sweet Peter arrived on his daddy's birthday, November 22.  The delivery was going hunky-dory until we found out he was looking up...it's called a "facial presentation..." I had no idea that even existed.  AND he was side-ways....not sunny-side-up, not face-down either.  So we thought he might be a c-section delivery, but then Dr. Chhutani decided I could push him out, so that's what we did. And the tear (due to his positioning) made a great ending to my "Journal of Pain" that I have been keeping through the whole pregnancy so that I can keep my sanity without complaining to every one all the time.  

But I tell you what, pain and all, I am totally in love with this little guy.  I'm really not even so much of a "baby person..." I love my babies, but I normally just hope the time flies until I'm done nursing and the children can talk just b/c those two things make me such a happier mom, but with Peter, I am just thankful for his babiness...and the craziest thing is that I am so glad we didn't do any tubes tying or permanent options b/c he definitely makes me want to have more babies...."Journal of Pain" and all :) 

I can't wait til he starts smiling...he has super cute dimples like his dad!!!!

I wonder if he'll be athletic since I ran and did Zumba so much when he was in my tummy...ha ha.  Also, wonder if he'll like cheeseburgers (especially Smashburger!) and anything chocolate/nuts/caramel and decaf Earl Grey Tea since that's what I craved the whole pregnancy :)

He LOVES his sisters and brother....

and they love him!

It's like J.R. felt so special to have a sibling like him...a boy and dark hair :) 

My L&D nurse, Kylie, ROCKED.  I loved her so much.  She had tons of personality and a great Australian accent. 

Father and son.

Meeting their new brother!!!

Every one was sooo excited, but Caroline was a little apprehensive as you can tell by her face in this picture.  It seems like new babies affect the youngest sibling the most b/c they just got "bumped" from their "baby status."  J.R. didn't talk to me for a week after Caroline was born.  Caroline didn't seem upset with me, but she didn't want to hold or touch Peter for a few days. 

Holding his little purple hand...

And oh yeah, Thanksgiving!!!!!!  We got home from the hospital on Thanksgiving morning and had a very special Thanksgiving meal with Jon's beautiful family thanks to his parents taking care of everything and the kids the whole time we were in the hospital...and thanks to Aunt Jen and Gabby for the special visits in the hospital!!!  I am sooooo thankful for them!!!!!

He's here!!!

peter charles mureen was born 11.22.11 and weighed 7 lbs 8 oz. It was a painful delivery but he's a sweet little guy and I'm rea glad he's here :)  ...so i have a million more sweet pictures of him that i'd love to post and things i'd love to share about him, but the problem is that we are just a little overwhelmed right now and i can't sit up or stand for more than a few minutes, so after a few weeks of healing, i should be back in business :) 

There is only ONE explanation for this kind of productivity...

Hormones.  So last week I think I literally hit the depths of despair.  I was in such a funk of depression and the only solution I saw was to get the baby OUT.  So I did everything to get him out...drank all this black and blue cohosh, drank the juice from 3 pineapples, crawled around on all fours, did push-ups and jumping jacks, and everything else yahoo-answers suggested :)  And between my mad efforts to go into labor, I cried and cried.  He was NOT coming out. Then I talked to Prisca who said that her water broke the day after she got a prenatal massage...ding ding ding...that's what I needed...so I had a coupon in the mail for one and went the next day.  And I tell you what, to this very day Peter is STILL not budging, but that massage changed my life.  It was so amazing.  I felt relaxed for the first time as long as I can remember.  And then my sweet friends Libby and Sarah took me out for some girl-time that night and that was also theraputic.  And since then...oh man...have I delved into the projects.  I have done all kinds of things I just assumed would NEVER get done in this lifetime...and I was ok with that.  I organized all the kids' clothes, got rid of all the girl clothes that don't fit Caroline any more, organized all the toys, the bows, cleaned out desks, refrigerators, pantries, closets, cabinets and washed comforters and curtains and got all of Peter's things washed and ready...my blog is even updated :).  And just now at this very moment, my to-do list is empty.  Yes, you saw that right.  All the laundry is done, the house is clean...it's even decorated for Christmas.  There is one last thing on my list and you will NEVER guess what it is...re-painting that green office I painted twice.  I think I was just on the wrong-track with greens...it needs to be a lovely color called Tyler Taupe...and I KNOW this color will be right b/c I saw it in Libby's house and when I copy ideas from Libby's house, I always like them :)  So even that room will be repainted before Peter's arrival, but not by me (thank heavens) b/c Jon is letting me get it painted professionally so I won't have to get on any more ladders b/w now and Tuesday -- when we are inducing!! Can't wait to see Peter's little face!!!!!!  And can't wait to take a deep full breath b/c my tummy won't be so full of baby it hurts!!!!

MPE Auction Night...

So Jon and I got to have a fun little night out for Anna Kate's elementary school's big annual fundraiser called Blue Jeans and Bling. 

 Thankfully our dear friends Kenny and Libby were there to make us feel better about the money we spent since they spent more :) AND got what-some-would-say was the "grand prize" --- a KC Pool membership...this is a HUGE DEAL where we live with a 4-yr waiting list to get a membership to this pool that is only for the too cool. 

Was rockin in my pregnant-zebra outfit...wish you could see the whole belly...it's SO HUGE.

Jon's 30th Birthday Party!!!!

I had a fun party for Jon's 30th bday a few weeks before his actual birthday (just in case Peter came early) with friends from his Bible Study and law school.  I got this yummy giant sub for the party...I will not lie...it's probably not what Jon would have picked, but it's what I wanted to eat :) 

With his friend Craig :)

With his friend John :)

With friends Prisca and Colin (and their new cutie Celia)  :)

His German Chocolate cake...I bought and didn't make it...

 but folks still liked it :)

and, of course, Anna Kate did a little performance of her latest song...isn't that what parties are for?  :)

All that said, I am so indescribably thankful for Jon and to have him for my husband...and to have him join me for some 30s.