Andy got a bath

I have gotten pictures of each baby in their hooded bath towel post bath.  I put them all here just for fun and comparison.

Cooper seemed to enjoy Andy's bath much more than Andy did  :)

Typical Andy look

Cooper

Cooper 2

Jill

Jill 2- you can tell she was really into those pacifiers we couldn't even get it out for the picture

Thanks Mom

We were lucky enough to have my mom willing and able to come for a week when Anderson was born.  She was such a big help. Cooper and Jill adore her and were more than happy to be pampered by Grandma (or Ganma as Coop says) while I was at the hospital. She did lots of fun things with them and kept them entertained.  I have been surprised how well they both seem to be doing with their new brother.  They both came running in to meet him at the hospital saying "Where's Andy.. Where's Andy?" It was pretty cute.  The only tad of jealously I have seen is that Cooper blamed Andy for breaking his pirate sword and after using the potty he pointed out how Andy cannot do that. It'd be great if this motivated him to be potty trained!  Thanks Mom for everything. 

Cooper got this pirate vest from Ganma and he has scarcely been without it since. It was a big hit. Cooper has become very attached to his "ducky" again with the change.  You can see ducky is part of his play here.

Proud big sister

All of us together for the first time after Andy was born

Holding Andy is a favorite past time

I love Cooper's face in this one

Painting his Thomas book

Jill loves to do little projects

So grown up...

Making sugar cookies and gingerbread men

look-a-like

We've been getting a lot of feedback that Andy looks like his big sis. Not the best pic of Jill but what do you think? Its got Tuck worried that Andy will be a pretty boy. : )

Our baby is here

Anderson was born on Tuesday the 11th at 1009 pm. He was 7 lb 15 oz (same as Coop) and 20.5 inches long.  It was a strange labor because Andy was in the wrong position which was really keeping us from making any progress. My epidural also only worked on half of me which was very bizarre.  I am very grateful for our doctor and the great nurses I had. It could have all been very different if I had not had such great care. Things have gone very well since those small hurdles and both Andy and I are doing great. Thanks for all the well wishes!

proud dad

The hospital has started a new policy where they really try to focus on giving family lots of time uninterrupted after birth. They gave me Andy immediately and did any care for him while I was holding him.  (i will spare you those pictures)

brand new and already suspicious 

Grandma and the others came to meet Andy the next day

Jill and Cooper are super excited about their new brother. Coops calls him ON-dee. 

getting orange just like his siblings

I saved my one pregnancy shot this time for the very end

so sweet

The big kids on the day Andy was born

Cooper wants to hang out with the girls so bad.

The kids are always sleeping in the funniest positions.

Anderson's big day

It's hard work being a baby

Swinging

Here are the kids thrill seeking. They want to go really high and have you "measure" it.

Winter Wonderland

I have been getting cheap labor from the kids and put them to work making Christmas decorations.

And More Halloween

The primary threw the Ward Halloween party so I didn't end up getting any pictures of that. The best I have is of the cat and dog collaborating on a coloring project after the trunk or treat fun.

Frankenstorm almost destroyed Halloween but we were able to kind of salvage it.  The actual night of Halloween Jill was SO upset. We let her dress up anyways and we went to "reverse trick or treat" some friends in the storm. Then a few days later our city had a make up Halloween day. Here is Cooper with his bud Kelsey on the big day.

All the trick or treaters. I love Jill in this pic.

Just can't capture them all looking at once.

I could not get any good pictures of actual trick or treating. The kids sound so cute saying "trick or treat." You can hear them yelling it in the above video. Tucker told me at one of the first houses Cooper forgot what to say and just told them "Candy.. my bucket"... I guess that pretty much explains it : ).

Jill's preschool has been canceled for 2 weeks because of flooding from the storms.  We've enjoyed a few "pajama parties" on the unscheduled days off. 

Pumpkin carving

Me looking my best. On the fireplace you can see some decorations the kids made. They are ghosts and spiders. The kids thought the seeds were "yucky!"

Tucker really focusing here. The kids had been dancing around but paused to watch Daddy work.

Jack the Pumpkin King. Cooper yells pumpkin king at him every time we pull out of the driveway.