What's in a Name?

For anyone who doesn't know about our strange naming habits, little Madi's middle name may have come as a shock that you still haven't figured out. Even if you do know, but are unaware of what the reference has to do with Michigan, I will try to shed a little light on the subject! First, for anyone completely in the dark:

To make a long story short, we decided when naming our children that we would give them names that have a special meaning to us.It started with Kody - since we met in Alaska and were finally able to get pregnant our last summer there, it only made sense that his name would be something Alaskan. So rather than look in a baby name book we pulled out the map and came up with Kodiak. It's actually his middle name, so there have been a few people who thought we actually named him Kody Kodiak - we're not that strange people!

When baby #2 came along I just really loved the name Mollie, so we took out the map again for her middle name (we were living just south of Marin county when she was born).

Have you figured it out yet? The map of Michigan wasn't very helpful, unless we wanted to name her Kalamazoo, Petoskey or Ypsilanti. Ann was an option, but we have too many friends with the name Ann or some derivative.

Brett had mentioned the name Madeline, and we had joked about naming her Maizy for this reason and then when it came down to it we put the two together and really liked it!

That's the story for our crazy naming habits, and we're sticking to it!

p.s. Be assured that even though Papa Bear has adopted the wolverines and his youngest has a middle name of maize he still bleeds blue, royal blue that is; although the cougars are no longer royal blue papa bear grew up with royal blue and that is still in his blood. GO COUGS, and Wolverines!!!

The Moment You've all Been Waiting For...

As you know, the newest cub in the Bear Family has arrived. So without further ado, let me introduce you to Madeline Maize...The stats: born April 23 at 12:45pm, weighing 8 lbs. 1.5 oz. and measuring 20 1/2 inches.The vote is in, and we all adore her!Kody and Mollie took to tiny Madi immediately, with lots of hugs and kisses . They both wanted to hold her, and they couldn't wait to open up the burrito blanket to see her little toes. Mollie kept saying, "I want to see she toes" until we finally agreed to unwrap her.

The baby is here and healthy and Mama Bear is doing great. To be continued....

Baby Time?

Well we are at least in the hospital and have been since 2 am (it is now 11:15). So here is the good news bad news stuff.
Good news - we are in the hospital.
Bad news - we are still in the hospital.
Good news - The epidural finally seems to be working (after 2 babies with unsuccessful epidurals). Bad news - it was really hard and painful to get the epidural placed.
Good news - the epidural seems to be working.
Bad news - the contractions stopped after the epidural was placed.
Good news - they carry pitocin at the hospital.
Bad news - after the pitocin started to bring on the contractions the epidural didn't seem to be working.
Good news - they upped the epidural and the pain went away.
Bad news - Mama Bear got sick.
Good news - they had some medicine to take care of the nausea.
Bad news - the antiemetic knocked her out.
Good news - she can sleep now.
Bad news - she has to wake up to deliver.
Good news - the epidural still seems to be working and she can start pushing as soon as she wakes up.
Good news - the baby is doing great
Good news - the baby won't be born on our anniversary, so Mama Bear doesn't have to share her special day and neither does baby.
Good news - I think I can get out of my craniofacial anomaly final for a little while longer
Good news - they have cable here
Bad news - daytime television stinks
Good news - they have internet here
Bad news - daytime television stinks and they have internet here so I blabber on on Mama Bears blog as she sleeps.

Ocho

Happy Anniversary Papa Bear! Thank you for eight wonderful years, I wouldn't have wanted to spend them with anyone else! We've changed and grown in so many ways (I'm afraid I've grown a little more than you) and been through so many ups and downs together. I feel like you lift me up and have helped me to become a better person. I sometimes wonder where I would be if I hadn't taken that summer job in Alaska, and the one thing I know is that someone was helping me out because He knew how good you would be for me.So, in honor of our anniversary I am going to fulfill my obligation to a request from a friend. Amber tagged me way back in December and I just never got around to doing it, but this is a perfect time to ask forgiveness and give you a little info about me and my true love!

1. How long have you been married? 8 years today!
2.How long did you date? We knew each other for about a year, but actually dated 8 months.
3. How old is he? Old enough to be legal!
4. Who eats more? I'd like to say he does, but right now it's me.
5.Who said "I love you" first? He did, Christmas Eve 1999
6. Who is taller? Do you even have to ask?!
7.Who sings better? We both sing like angels!
8. Who is smarter? Book smarts, him for sure! But I happen to be way smarter in the "useless random information" category.
9. Who's temper is worse? Now I'd say we tie on that one, but I'd like to think I control mine a little better. (he might tell you different)
10. Who does the laundry? Me
11. Who does the dishes? Me again. Okay, he helps quite a bit.
12. Who sleeps on the right side of th bed? He does.
13.Who pays the bills? Depends on the bill.
14. Who mows the lawn? Lawn? What lawn? I'm sure that by the time we actually have a lawn it will be Kody!
15. Who cooks dinner? I do most of the time, but he's so much better at it!
16. Who drives when you are together? He does, I'm too directionally challenged.
17. Who is more stubborn? Again, I 'd say we're pretty even on that one.
18.Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Since I'm never wrong, I guess that would be him!
19. Who's parents do you see the most? Neither, and that's so sad. We miss them like crazy!
20.Who proposed? He did, and I was totally clueless - he took me to the lake, sang a song he wrote about us and at the end it said something about me being his wife. I looked at him and said, "are you asking me to marry you?" He was like, "duh" and handed me the ring!
21. Who has more friends? Me!
22.Who wears the pants in the family? We both wear pants; I hate dresses, and he would look pretty silly!

The Waiting Game

I'm not sure what is going on, but I keep thinking "today's the day" and then another day goes by with no baby. You may look at our freaky little baby floating off to the right and say, "you still have 10 days to go, what's the problem?" but I'm telling you that my body keeps tricking and teasing me into thinking this might be the day. I won't go into all the gory details, but I will tell you that I have been having very real, very intense contractions everyday for the past week. I didn't have anything like this with the other 2, so it always makes me think I'm starting to go into labor. My Dr. told me at my last appointment that the 3rd baby is always a little strange and I'm starting to believe her! So for now I will just keep living my normal life and breath through these contractions, and maybe sometime in the next 10 days I'll have some results! I'm just really ready to take this big giant baby in my arms and give her a big squeeze and lots of kisses and then put her in time out for being so stubborn!

*Good thing I made my rice crispy treats for primary in advance, because today just could be the day!

Cravings

The other night as I was laying in bed trying to sleep I got a sudden craving for a cheeseburger. Now, I don't mean just any cheeseburger -- I'm seriously craving a cheeseburger from In-N-Out, animal style of course. Heck, I might even make it a double double if I could! And fries and a chocolate/vanilla shake. Oh why don't I live in California anymore? Or Vegas for that matter! I don't have cravings very often, but when I do I kind of obsess about it until I am able to satisfy the beast. During my mission I craved a corn dog of all things, and I couldn't find one for over a year! I'm afraid it will be that long before I get to pay a visit to In-N-Out, but it will be worth the wait!

Not Much, but...

Here are some pictures from our snowy Easter morning that I just haven't felt like posting because I want Spring to come already! (we did have great weather last week, but now it's cold again and supposed to snow/rain this weekend)Yes, even big Mama decided to make an appearance!

The boys in their ties watching basketball before church

A tender moment (I'm sure daddy told them to do this)

What a handsome boy!

I just love her happy laughing face!

P.S. In case you're wondering, the name poll was very successful in my mind (Sophie was my first choice) but Brett doesn't agree. We're back at the drawing board, and the clock is ticking! Hopefully this little one will receive a name before she's 25, but it's been tough this time!

Happy Birthday to Me!

It's my birthday and I'm wide awake wishing I could get back to sleep. I woke up about an hour ago (the current time is 5:53am) when Kody got up to use the bathroom. Of course, I had to follow suit and since then have been unable to get back to sleep. It's funny, they tell you to get as much sleep as you can before the baby comes because you know there will be none for the next several months. Doesn't anyone (doctors and experts, I mean) realize how hard it is to sleep when you're in my condition?! I can't even remember the last time I had a good night's sleep, or even slept in the same bed as my hubby for that matter. Kody has taken over my spot and I'm in the other room most nights.

It's now much later (10:00am) and I did go back to sleep for about a half hour before Kody came in to say happy birthday and snuggle with me. Here's the conversation we had:

K: Mom, what party do you want?
(we've been discussing what theme he wants for his party next month)
Me: Oh, I don't know. I don't really need a party.
a few minutes of snuggling go by, and then:
K: *gasp* You need a cake!
Me: Yes, I guess I do but I don't really feel like making one today.
K: I love you, Mom.

Do I have the sweetest boy in the world or what?!