S-T-U-F-F-E-D

This past week was absolutely stuffed full of fun! I have the best in-laws in the world - mother, father, sisters and brothers-in-law - and that's why it was so, so great! Really, it was the perfect amount of time, activities and relaxation together. This post won't be able to give you the full effect, but I will do my best... **Thanks to Angie who actually took pictures of the week and then gave them to me! I was so bad about remembering to snap pictures of the goings-on.**

We got there on Monday night and had fun just hangin' out. We met Monica Jayne (4 wks old) for the first time. What a great baby. I think I heard her fuss like three times the entire week. I loved holding her and thinking that I am going to have my very own little woman in just about three months! It was so nice to just be together. It's never dull when the Foster Brothas get chatting about life - past and present.Max and Cal had fun playing together....

and bathing together.... all of the cousins got along so well and Max loved each of them so much! Joy was especially sweet with him.
Tuesday held an early birthday surprise for Tyler. I had arranged to whisk him away for the night to a bed and breakfast in downtown Denver. I told him we were just going to go out to dinner and that I'd made reservations. Well, we pulled into The Gregory Inn and he read the sign and I said, "It's a bed and breakfast." I waited for a few seconds while it sunk in. :) He was very excited and very impressed with his sneaky wife. We checked into our great room and then went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory where he had a meal that "Knocked his socks off" (his words) and then back to our super cool room with a fireplace and hot chocolate...it was so nice. Max had a great time with his cousins that night and was excited to see us the next morning! Truth be told, we were probably more excited/anxious to see him than he was to see us. This was our first time going overnight together without our little man! Lots of dates, but no romantic getaways.

Oh, and on Tuesday we also got to meet our sister-in-law-to-be, Laura Knight, for the first time! Such a sweet, impressive, all-around great person whom we are so excited to have join the family! We can't wait for January 18th!!!Wednesday was the first full day that everybody was there. Now, there were a total of 19 people staying the whole time under one roof. Good thing there are 3 1/2 bathrooms! It never seemed overly crowded, just so fun to all be together that much. We were all given an assignment that day to make a film with our family to be entered into the Foster Family Film Festival that would take place on Saturday night. Out of a "hat" we all drew our genre, two characters to be featured in the film, and a line that had to be used. It turned out super hilarious! I'll have to see about posting at least ours. We met Simon for the first time as well (2 months). Such a cute little dude! We also got to enjoy Wendi's amazing Butternut Squash Bisque. Oh man, you've never had soup like that! Later on we watched a video Jeff made of our pictures from the reunion this summer. Tyler also got to give our Christmas present to everyone - he has been transferring all of their old 8mm videos onto DVD and putting them to music. There are many left to do, but he got 6 done to show to everyone. They, of course, loved them!
Thursday started off with the First Foster Family Turkey Trot (thanks for the idea, Marleen!) It was like 24 degrees outside, but we bundled up - well, most of us did anyway - and hit the neighborhood. Notice the nicely accessorized Foster men. I love them! Some walked, some ran. Drew, the youngest Foster brother, is on the BYU track team, so Tyler and Jeff did a few laps seeing if they could at least keep up with him. It nearly killed them, but they did it. I ran for the first time in months! Well, I've been exercising, but not out-of-doors running with the cool, fresh air in my lungs since July when I did that 4-mile race. I felt great the whole time, but afterward was reminded that I am 6 months pregnant by lots of little contractions/cramping that persisted off and on throughout the day. Guess that's the last time I'll push myself that hard until Kelly makes her debut. I'll just have to stick with the elliptical. Anyway, I would call it a resounding success!

The Mags and The Mick

Ty, Max and the pregnant lady

Monica, Jeff, Angie and Callahan

Laura and Adam

Kristen and Drew

Megan


After the Turkey Trot it was time to get the grub ready and head out to the Erickson's home for the big dinner. Mickey's sister and her family all live there in Colorado so they get together with them every year. We are growing in numbers and it gets more and more crowded, but it is so fun to see each other! We had TONS of food and fun. Your eyes aren't playing a trick, we are eating in a garage - the cleanest, most organized, heated garage! I could have picked food up off the floor and eaten it without worrying. I didn't, but I could have. It was so nice. Thanks to Jon and Mackenzie for hosting us all!



Friday was Tyler's birthday...Happy 30th, babe!!!...and also our day to cook dinner. We made this awesome Chicken Rio salad, much like the one at Cafe Rio. It turned out so, so good! That morning was also the traditional basketball face-off among the brothers. Max and I went to the Church to watch for a bit. My man can play ball! Later that afternoon we had a great family council and got all set with calendars and updated news on everyone. We took family pictures that I haven't seen yet. Then we had our good dinner and afterward a little celebration for my hot husby who is now 30 years of age! I love him so much! All 7 of the Foster siblings!
Margaret, Megan and Mickey

The Mark Foster Family

Saturday morning several of us were able to go to the Denver Temple and do sealings. Those always make me so emotional. Especially being there with my family. I am so blessed to be sealed to them. Saturday afternoon was the BYU vs. Utah football game. (Three cheers for the victorious Cougs!) That night was a beautiful recital by my sister-in-law, Megan Foster. She sang and played wonderful songs for her Personal Progress project. We loved every minute of it, Meg! Then we had the Foster Film premiere and the best laughs of the week. It was a hoot!We got to stay through Sunday and Monday and didn't get back until a little after 12 a.m. this morning. I loved the whole trip and feel so grateful to have had all of that time to spend with everyone under one roof! Not a dull moment. It was the best week; I wish that we could do it all over again....

Kelly Anne

Kelly in the works at 25 weeks...

This name that we've chosen for our sweet little girl has some special meaning to us.

About a year and a half before Tyler was born, Mickey and Margaret welcomed a sweet baby girl into their family, Kelly Carson Foster. She was born at just 26 weeks and was, of course, incredibly small and fragile. She wasn't expected to make it. But she exceeded expectations and left the hospital a few months later. Shortly after she came home from the hospital, however, she was called back to a different Home. Her time on this earth was very short, but her influence and presence is still felt today. I am so excited to someday meet this sweet sister-in-law who didn't need to go through mortality to prove herself to our Father in Heaven. When I was expecting Max, I often thought of Kelly. I don't know exactly how things work on the other side of the veil, but I like to think that she knows these precious babies who are coming to her family here on earth. I like to think that they have interaction and relationships. Tyler, on his mission, had some neat experiences where he felt very close to this older sister he'd never met and he decided then that if he had a daughter he would name her Kelly. We both agree that it just feels right for this little woman who will be joining our family in a little over three months.

Anne is after two people I love whom I also hope Kelly will emulate - my grandmother, Ruthann, and my sister, Adrianne. We had to pick a spelling since one has an "e" and one does not. But the meaning is still there.

The pregnancy is going very well and Kelly is still very active. Lately she has been quite a roller, which provides a lot of amusement for me and Tyler. Yesterday I felt a big lump above my belly button and pushed on it, realizing it had to be a foot or a hand. I never had something like that with Max; he was a lot more relaxed. :) I told Tyler to feel it and just as he did she gave a good kick/punch. Feisty little lady. I feel her often throughout the day and I love it! I really love being pregnant and feel privileged to be carrying this tiny human and to be her mom. Just about three months left!

Stats on the Max

Here are the stats on our little man, Maxwell Tyler, at his 18-month checkup:

23 lbs. 11 oz. (25th percentile)

32 " tall (abt. 50th percentile)

49.2 head circumference (81st percentile)

Now, looking at the percentiles one would think that our son has a disproportionately huge noggin' or that his head would make that lightweight body tip over. I assure you that he looks just as he should. Cute and healthy and more active all of the time! Nursery was great today, by the way. I didn't see him again until the end of the block of meetings. Although I was told there were occasional "Mama" cries. What can I say, the boy loves me! And who can blame him? :)

Pregnancy Perk!

I am in love with pregnancy for many reasons, but today I am going to share just one...I currently only have to shave my legs once a week! Actually, I could totally go longer but it feels weird to me to not shave on Saturday in preparation for a skirt on Sunday. This is because the hair on my legs is growing at like 1/3 of its normal rate. My mom had the same thing happen when she was pregnant and so did one of my sisters. I never thought I could be so lucky, but alas...I am! Wahoo!

Drama in the Nursery

Max started nursery last week and I was so busy with other issues that Ty took Max in and dropped him off. I had been kind of emotional about it that morning, but didn't really get a chance to think about it since someone else needed me for a moment, which was good. Max seemed to love it and was excited to see us at the end of the block. I was happy that everything went so well!

Today I wanted to drop him off and he went in and started playing right away. I left the room a happy mom. Then they brought him to me a little while into Young Women. They thought his diaper had leaked and he had accidentally seen his dad so he was feeling sad. I checked the diaper, but he must have just sat in some water. I then took him back into the nursery where he sat down to color. He was happy to be there and so I left quickly. I just peeked in the window to make sure that he wasn't going to freak when he realized I had left...well, I looked just as his little friend, Adam, was hitting him repeatedly in the head as fast and hard as he could. I fought the impulse to run in, thinking that one of the teachers would see it. But after a few more whacks and seeing Max go from confused to super sad and hurt, I went in and got him. I'm pregnant and Max is my first babe and I've cried about this at least three times since.

I totally know that things like this are going to happen in his life. I have been there when he's been hit many times by this same little boy. Adam is our neighbor and his mom is one of my best friends. He has just been hitting a lot for the past few months. I know it's a phase and Adam is a sweetheart. His poor parents have been at a loss. He's stopped hitting most kids, just not Max. He's bigger than Max, I guess that's why. I get that Max is going to be hit and hurt in his life. The hard thing for me today was realizing that I won't always be there to protect/comfort him. The teachers have their hands full and can't see everything that goes on. Max isn't their priority like he is mine. It broke my heart, truth be told. Just the look on his face the whole time it was happening...it makes me teary now. I know that every mom goes through this. I just don't want to take him somewhere that he doesn't feel protected and I also don't want him to be afraid of nursery.

This was a hard situation for me to watch, but the reason it has me so emotional is not because of what happened exactly, but because of some things I realized as a result about being a mom and protecting your child from all harm. On a larger scale it has made me think ahead about his life. He's going to get knocked down in different ways and aspects. It's a fact and a necessary part of life. Friends, school, sports, relationships... I just hope that he always feels the safety, love and support of his family, no matter where he is or what he's dealing with. I hope to give him the foundation that he needs to pick himself up after those knocks. I am realizing (and I know this sounds silly after a tiny run-in with another little boy) that motherhood is going to have some heartbreak. It's made me think of so many things today. I've thought a lot about the Atonement. I understand why Heavenly Father had to turn away as the Savior suffered in Gethsemane. Heavenly Father's love surpasses my own. The Savior's sacrifice surpasses anything Max will have to go through. But I feel like I have a minuscule taste of that overwhelming love and protection that a parent feels for their child. It is beyond anything I've ever known.

So next week Max will go back to the nursery. I'll talk to my friend, Marcela, who is a teacher and just ask her to keep a close eye on that little friendship. Maybe he'll be hit again and he'll cry and someone will eventually notice and be there to comfort him. It's just hard to realize that "someone" isn't always going to be me. That's been my biggest realization today. Up until now Tyler and I have been "it" in his life. Always near, always available, always able to lend immediate comfort...but I know that won't always be the case. Life moves forward and we live and learn. I know that Max has forgotten all about it and he'll probably love nursery again next week. This was much more of a lesson for the mom than for her little man this time...

The goings on...

I have been meaning to post a picture of the mostly completed paint job on our home. It was so much work for my sweet husband! There is still a little bit of trim to do, but we (especially Ty) have been burnt out on the whole project for the past month or more. :) At least the areas that are left are on the back of the house so nobody who sees us from the street is aware that our trim in the back is only painted as high as this short pregnant lady can reach. Apparantly I am not allowed on the super-high ladder in my current condition.

Here are the "before" pictures (they don't show how discolored some of the siding looked just from being old and in the Washington rain for so many years):

These are the "after", although it's hard to really capture the color of the house on camera. In some lights it looks more like a brown and in others it's more green. We love it! Ty chose the door color and I thought he did a great job. In the door picture you get a better feel for the color, I think. Anyway, here they are! Sorry it's taken me so long, Margaret!

In other news...

*We finally got a start on our food storage! We went for a date night to the local cannery and got a bunch of flour, some hot cocoa, potato flakes, rice, wheat and I don't remember what else. Besides having a great time, we looked really good too so we thought that we should put this out there for all the world to see!*We got a package with packing peanuts and I decided to let Max go to town. It was fun to watch! Dad got in on the action and made a peanut angel. I love giving him permission to make messes (Max, not Ty. I never give Ty permission to make messes :) )!*Max got a toddler bed! We haven't started him sleeping in it yet - probably won't for another month or more - but it was a great deal on Craigslist and matches the other furniture in his room. So for now it's something to play on, but sometime we'll start him sleeping there. We're still trying to figure out sleeping arrangements once the baby arrives since our 3rd bedroom is occupied by Sariah until the end of the school year. We'll see what works out!

*Max had his very first sucker. I know a lot of kids have suckers a lot earlier, but we never have them in the house and until this Halloween it just hadn't crossed my mind. He loved every lick, but not the sticky hands afterward.

*We have a climber! So I thought we'd totally avoided having a crazy climber, but I was wrong. Max is all about climbing these days. We had to rearrange some shelves in his room because one day he used them like a ladder and was perched on top of the highest one. He's taken a few spills off of some chairs and caused his parents some stress. Today I was in the kitchen and hadn't heard him for a bit so I went to see where he was...

(Right before this he had taken his PJ shirt off all by himself, which was a new feat as well.) I assume he used the toilet to get himself up on the counter? You can't see it here, but there's a good gap between the two. I am pretty amazed, if not a little freaked out, by his new abilities. No rest for the mother! I love the look on his face here. :) Busted! After this he was just plain proud of himself and wouldn't stop smiling.

So that's what's up in our lives as of late...too much excitement, I know!