Just a few random pictures!

Auntie Beth commented that I am sucking it up with the blog these days so I'm trying to post every few days - at least a little something. Gotta keep the aunties happy!

Since the kids aren't allowed to watch TV during the week we usually have a family movie night on Fridays. Last night they all looked adorable in their little sleepers watching the Wizard of Oz together. Pete was home sick on Thursday and Molly Doll has a cold so we are trying to keep it low key this weekend to avoid missing anymore school this early in the year! The docs decided that I shouldn't really go to Worcester this weekend so Bob is going to take his Mom up to Worcester with Annie to meet his brother - a little treat for Grandma's birthday - she hasn't seen Tommy in almost a year. Sunday is "Harding - Wheeler Oragnize for Lizzie Day!" The poor kid's bassinet is filled with maternity clothes and her newly washed baby clothes are still sitting in a laundry basket!

The three kids in their footies watching the movie!

My handsome son goofing around for the camera.
Sweet, silly Annie!
Annie wants to do EVERYTHING that the big kids do so she made herself comfy on the floor and actually watched the movie with them.
Peter Westley having fun!
Annie Bananie chilling out!


Molly preferred her spot next to Daddy on the couch after a while.
Annie in Tyler's sleeper - she looks so cute in blue!
Ann's new trick - when you ask her old she is she says "One" and holds up one finger - how cute!
Attacking Peter during the movie!
"One"

So this is a boring series of pictures taken because Annie had just had a shower one day and looked so cute with her shaggy hair! We're pathetic and we know it!
Annie still has only three teeth - not sure when the rest are coming in because they are showing no signs of popping up! I love those eyes!
Crazy hair!
Notice BOb behind Annie with her baby on his shoulder - everytime he tried to take it down Annie would screech and put it back up there - pat its back, and than watch to be sure BOb didn't move it! She looks so old in this picture!

Baby Elizabeth did great at the doctor yesterday - they are now estimating an 11 or 12 pound birth weight and boy does she FEEL like she is that big!

I'm sure there will be more posts this weekend so stay tuned!

GNM - ILY!

Welcome Home, Papa!

My Dad came home from haiti on Monday night so my Mom had a welcome home dinner for him tonight - we get to see my Dad and a home cooked meal that I didn't have to cook - now that's a good night!

The kids were so excited to see Papa - Annie's little piggies started wiggling and she was pointing at him until he finished saying hi to the big kids and finally took her from Bob - she put her head on his shoulder and stayed that way for a while - very sweet. Molly ran out of the car screaming for Papa when we got to the house and, of course, Peter, flung himself at Papa and refused to let go. It was a long week but it was nice to hear my Dad's stories from Haiti. We did Best and Worst for Papa's Haiti trip at dinner - the best part of the trip for my Dad was the orphanage - holding all of the babies and playing with the kids. The worst - My Dad didn't give us one but we did hear a story about a friend traveling with him who took his sheets off the bed one morning to find a giant Tarantula under them - the Haitian man escorting them told the man that he had probably slept with the spider the night before! EWWWWWWWW!
Peter wearing his hat that Papa brought the boys from Haiti!
Peter wishing Uncle Ed a Happy Birthday - his birthday was September 11th but he was out partying that weekend so we just got around to celebrating tonight.
Bob and his beautiful goddaughter - she had a death grip on the popcorn ball!
Papa and the babies!
Happy Birthday, Uncle Ed.

The kids helped Uncle Ed blow out the candles on the cake.
Molly wearing the necklace and bracelet that Papa brought home from Haiti for the girls. She said that she wants to wear them for picture day on Thursday!
My handsome boy!
Peter wishing Uncle Ed a Happy Birthday!

Molly and Abby ended the evening by putting a show on for us - they are very talented but very silly! They had fun and we were only charged a penny for admission.
Our dancing girl!
Katie falling asleep on Uncle Pat!
Annie hanging out with Papa - she didn't want to leave him!
The girls taking a bow!

My Mom made a great dinner - Veggie lasagna (a meat one for the boys), salad and homemade bread - does it get any better than that? I'm miserable today so I sat in one seat and made everyone bring me my food and dessert - thus the pictures are all from one or two chairs today - I know, I'm pathetic. We also left my poor Mom with a messy kitchen and kids toys everywhere but it seemed easier to just leave than to try to get the grouchy, tired kids to pick up.

I had another NST and extensive bloodwork today and got great results - Lizzie is doing great and so am I. Neither of us is retaining fluid anymore and her heartrate rose up to 180 everytime she moved - she was perfect! Ahhh - big sigh of relief!

Annie Bananie has a cold - yuck. She feels horrible so we may be in for a late night tonight!

It is also Grandma Betty's Birthday today but we are going to celebrate with her on Saturday when we take her up to Webster to see Uncle Tommy (Bob's brother) for lunch!

Bob and I have been watching Dancing with the Stars for 30 minutes now despite the fact that we both hate it because both of us are too lazy to get up and get new batteries for the remote - sure we're ready for our 4th baby!

GNM - ILY!

A Wonderful Sunday afternoon!

Since Bob forgot the camera on the field trip last week my friend Tracey was sweet enough to send me a few pictures of Peter on the trip! Phew...............

Peter and Ari on the trip to the Apple farm!
Peter, Ari and some of their classmates on the field trip to the Apple Farm!

Thanks, Tracey!
On Sunday my family threw me a very special baby shower. Hoe many women get a baby shower for their 4th baby? On top of it KK and my Mom decided to make it all the better by asking people to bring infant items to be donated to DCF for foster parents bringing home babies instead of gifts for Lizzie and I. When I got the call from DCF to pick Peter up at the hospital I had to call friends to find a baby carrier and an outfit to bring him home in. Once we got home I realized that I had no baby shampoo, bottles, formula, diapers or clothes for him and I had to pay for everything on my own. It was overwhelming to have a new baby at home never mind to have to go to Walmart and stock up on supplies!

KK also had cute little baskets with crowns and Hannah Montana favors for the little girls at the shower. Annie loved her crown for about 5 minutes!
My littel beauty in her crown. Molly helped plan the shower with Kk and my Mom. Molly wore a pin that said "Biggest Sister" and Annie had one that said "Big Sister".
Grandma Betty and Auntie Lisa and Ella working on their shower games.
Auntie Kake, Brigid, Annie Bananie and Julia working on their games.
The 2 teachers kicked butt on the games - with help from Abby!

Grammy looks like she's confused!
Auntie Jane and Auntie Sue not really working together!
Julia, Abby, Korin and Molly - Molly could not have been prouder of all of the hard work that went into the shower!
Mollly girl had her dress on but changed to get more comfortable.
We were able to make up 8 diaper bags filled with bottles, clothes, homemade blankets from Grammy, homemade burp clothes from Auntie Ann, pacifiers, socks, booties, shampoo, diapers and wipes. I was so touched that my family (I hear it was Kk's idea) came up with such a personal and loving way to celebrate Lizzie's impending arrival. Even better was that I got to call Mary - the social worker who placed Peter with me and followed us through our nearly three year adotion process right up until the ceremony where she signed the final adoption papers with the judge and tell her about the gifts for new foster parents. She is in so many ways responsible for the success of Peter's adoption and my ability to have an open adoption and have contact with his "tummy mommy" - I am so grateful for her and was unbelievably proud to call and tell her about the shower my family threw for me.

Just a quick note that my friend at DCF in NB shared with me - Last month she alone placed 9 infants with foster families straight from the nursery at HH. 4 of them were in the hospital for up to 6 extra nights because they could not locate a home for them within the 4 day period of their regular stay in the hospital nursery - one was there for 15 days awaiting a foster family!

Molly went with Auntie Ann and made beautiful cupcakes for the shower - they were red velvet with cream cheese frosting - yummmmmmy!
Abby came home with us after the shower for a while and the girls went wild with the Barbie hair and make up heads that Grammy and Papa gave Molly for her birthday!
There was glitter and hair accessories everywhere but they were concentrating so hard that I thought it was adorable!
Abby adding some glitter to her Barbie head - she then wanted to comb KK's hair with the same brush!
Molly - still wearing her pearls and very proud of her hair style!

My shower was wondeful - a true tribute to the family that Lizzie is being born into - lucky little girl! Molly was very proud of herself and is still talking about everything from the decorations to the food! Now all we need is to get our baby girl into our arms!

In other quick news - Papa is coming home tonight. Too late for the kids to see him but they made signs and got balloons so that he would know how excited they were the second he walks in the door. It has been a long week without our Papa!

Peter's huge gangly tooth (the left eye tooth) has finally fallen out! It was the biggest tooth I have ever seen and it took forever to get it out! Bob brought the kids to work to see me today and with the encouragement of some of the docs and staff Peter let Bob pull it out! It is now resting under his pillow awaiting the tooth fairy! He was a little disappointed that he won't get to show it to Papa but we convinced him to put it under his pillow tonight anyways - who knows - Papa may get to see it somehow!

One last thing before I go - a great big fat Happy Birthday to the best cousin, friend, aunt, godmother, nanny, psychiatrist, bridesmaid and confidante EVER! I have a feeling that this is your year, KK, so get ready! We LOVE YOU!

GNM - ILY!

Fall is here!

Our yard is covered in leaves and the sweatshrits are littering the front hall of our house. I could barely figure out what to put the kids in for clothes this week - one day it was gorgeous and sunny and the next day they got on the bus in 40 degree weather. Either way it is my favorite time of year and the kids are loving being outside working and playing in the yard. And it isn't fall until we visisted the Saint Andrew's Pumpkin festival - which we did on Saturday!

Molly loves the tiara that uncle B gave her for her birthday!
Everyone hanging out in the pumpkin patch at the Pumpkin festival on Saturday - Peter is squished in between Bob and Molly in case you missed him!
I can't edit the pictures on this computer and my other computer is still not cooperating so this is a cute picture but you can't really see those gorgeous faces!
My gorgeous girl with the bright sun on her face - they loved the hayride!

Annie waiting with big bird for the hay ride!
My boy hamming it up while we waited for the hay ride!
Molly girl - we finally managed to get her hair up in braids - yeah!
Annie, Daddy and Pete on the hayride!
Peter was so proud because he held Annie on his lap for the enitre hay ride - she reached for him when it started because she got scared and then she wouldn't leave him!

Annie loved the pumpkin patch - she was trying to pick up all of the pumpkins!
She managed a few of the smaller ones - this is the pumpkin she ended up picking to bring home!
Annie and her pumpkin!
She couldn't quite manage the bigger pumpkins but she grunted and groaned while trying!
When she realized she couldn't pick up the big pumpkins than she started kissing on them - too cute!

The kids were very careful picking their pumpkins - checking each one out!
The best I could do to get a picture of the three kids in the Pumpkin patch!
The big kids were, at least, cooperating!
Annie didn't want to leave the pumpkin patch so we sat and talked to the pumpkins while the big kids went on the rides!
Daddy came over to find Annie trying to hoist herself up on a big pumpkin!

Molly and Peter brought all of the little baby pumpkins over ot her so she could pick hers.
Hard decisions!
My girl hanging out on the hay bales - she could no understand what hay had to do with fall and pumpkins!
My pretty girl with her face painted!

Banana loving the pumpkins!
My handsome boy in his favorite orange outift fits right in in the pumpkin patch!
And we have a pumpkin!
Auntie Kake had a mass for my grandparents and my uncle last night and than invited us all over for pizza after. Molly made Bob wear the hat with the long braids because he was sitting in the living room with the ladies. It was so nice to be able to talk to the kids about my Mom's parents and my uncle - My grandfather died before I was born and my grandmother died when I was three so I have very few chances to share things from my life about my grandparents with them. My mom has wonderful stories about her parents and I love to hear them but I also want the kids to hear them and to know my grandparents in some way! The mass was a great chance to talk with them and celebrate the life of three special people in our lives! Molly - as she always does - brought up Auntie Mary and how she misses her. I think it's sweet and kind of telling that Molly talks about Auntie Mary so much since she was there when Auntie Mary died.
And there you have it - our four baby pumpkins - Pete's is the big one and the rest are the girls! Molly wanted one just like Annie's so it isn't very big but each kid picked their own and the big kids searched high and low for the littlest one in the patch for Lizzie!

We're off to celebrate KK's birthday with a "bacon bash" so stay tuned for those pictures. Molly went up early to clean toilets and be the servant - now that I need a picture of!

GNM - ILY!

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