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I've been catching up on posts, so if you scroll down there should be some new ones that you haven't seen before. I'm almost all caught up! Wohoo! Also, for a more recent update, Baby is doing well and eating like crazy...I'm tired and everyone else is excellent.

He's Here!

This will be short because I'm tired :) but I wanted to post on our blog that we had our baby boy - Eli Russel Swenson - on Monday, January 19, 2009 at 1:09 am. He was almost 4 weeks early (3weeks and 5 days to be exact) but weighed a healthy 6lbs 15oz and was 19inches long. He is adorable (looks a LOT like Maddi) and all in the household have taken to him right away. :) We are so blessed and thankful for our new addition!

Maddi is a Sunbeam!!

Today was Maddi's first day as a Sunbeam! She was very excited to be in Primary now with Sammi and not "Bubble Class" (i.e. nursery). She's so cute - she has this big grin on her face the whole time and is always waving to me. She cracks me up. Keith handled being in bubble class without her a-okay. He's all about the snacks and bubbles.

Student of the Month

Yey Sammi! We got a letter in December stating that Sammi would be recieving an award the last day of school before Christmas break. We weren't sure what the award was for, but knew that the categories were Academic Achievement, Citizenship, and Sportsmanship. Matt was certain it was Citizenship...my vote was for Academic. Anywho, we went and Da-Da-Da-DAAAAA! Sammi was awarded the Student of the Month in her class for Academic Achievement! YEY SAMMI! I was very proud of her. Matt was impressed and a little surprised. I assured him that yes, she was his daughter, but that obviously the brains came from her mother. :) ]

THE QUILT

I actually finished this quilt at the end of October, but, held onto it to give to Sammi on her birthday. (Yes, I was so proud that it was finally finished AND that it was done BEFORE her birthday...pretty far in advance.) I started the quilt when we still lived in Nampa..the end of 2004. My mom taught me how to punch-embroider (a skill she used to make me a quilt when I was 6 and all of our Christmas socks...it was something I associated with her and that I wanted to learn). So, I learned and then embarked on my first project - a Princess Quilt for Sammi. My mom made me a Rainbow Bright quilt when I was little and I used it all the time...all the way through college. (I still have it in my hope-chest). I wanted each of my kids to have that from me. Since Sammi loved the Princesses, I figured that was a good theme. And thus it began....and yes, in the end, it took me 4 years to make. Now, if I had just worked on it, being focused and faithful, I could have finished it in 6 months - 1 year. BUT, in my defense, we have had a lot happen in those four years: two kids born, 3 moves, Matt graduating...so, it took awhile. Well, I finished the last Princess, Ariel, in September and then the quilting class at my church met at my place for about an hour where Ruth Call, our teacher (she's wonderful!) taught us how to hand quilt. The next day, I had help from another lady in our ward...she and I hand quilted for a couple of hours. It was so much fun! I've decided that I LOVE hand quilting...it's my favorite part of the process. Well, I ended up quilting about 90% of the quilt on my own and finished it in October. Ruth did the binding for me (thank you RUTH!) and it was complete. It felt really good, not just because it looked beautiful, but because I stuck it out and finished it. Last year I decided to not add new projects, but to resolve to finish all those I have started in the past. And this was #1. Yey! I did it!!!! Soon, I'll have to start Maddi's....(she informed me that she wanted one to, but that she wanted one with the boys on it- a Prince quilt). Prince Eric and Prince "Throw-up" i.e. "Philip" are her favorites. :)

Sammi's Birthday

I can't believe Sammi is 7! I remember when I thought that 6 months old would seem like a lot, not to mention 1 year! Anywho, On Monday, the day after our anniversary, we celebrated Sammi's birthday. We had her favorite breakfast and went to lunch. Then, we had the grandparents over for cake and ice-cream and presents. She got some very fun things and was elated over the Jonas Bros T-shirt and poster that Daddy got her. (*sigh* whatever happened to wanting Barbies?) I gave her a quilt, which, being what it was, has it's own blog entry. :) Her party theme was "Sponge-Bob", Patrick being her favorite. :) We "interviewed" her and here are some of her answers:

Favorite color: Red and Black
Favorite food: Macaroni and Cheese
What she wants to be when she grows up: Vet (Animal Doctor)
Best Friend: Ashley and Maddi and Makenna
Favorite thing to do: Play with my family
Favorite thing to learn at school: Computers
Favorite TV Show: Sponge-Bob Square Pants

Happy Anniversary!!!

Nine years!! Whew! It has gone by so fast!!! Matt and I celebrated on Saturday since ouranniversary was on a Sunday this year. We went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner (I know...not super-romantic, but the food was REALLY good) and ate and talked. It had been a bit of a rough day...Matt had planned a romantic dinner at the Melting Pot and such, but I inadvertantly messed up the plans because I didn't know that he had anything planned and had talked to Bonnie about babysitting, so he cancelled the babysitter he had, then Bonnie couldn't do it, so we were in a jam and grumpy (not to mention I was hormonal) and so it looked like it was going to be a bumpy night. Thanks be, we kissed and made up and things worked out...however, it was too late to go to the Melting Pot. I felt pretty bad about the whole mix up and of course, cried about it, but we patched things up and went out. Dinner was great and, we had agreed not to do presents for eachother - our night out was our gift - and lo and behold, Matt pulls out a box from Helzburg Diamonds. I sat there stunned and then, of course, got all teary.

Now, you need to understand the impact of this. When we were engaged we looked at rings and it was fun and they were beautiful. But, when it came down to it, I thought that a simple band looked classy and I didn't like the idea of us starting out in debt so that I could have something on my finger. So, after much persuasion, Matt gave in and bought me my wedding band - a simple thin, gold band which he had the jeweler put three small diamonds in it (this was his compromise). I loved it and have loved it since, never needing more. He, however, has always been a little bugged about it, and I told him (this was my closing and winning argument in the ring-issue) that when we could just buy a ring, straight-out, in ten years or so, then that would be the time to get me a ring and I would love that much more. SO......nine years later, in a dimly lit steakhouse :) I open a box and there is a diamond ring. It was beautiful...I felt stunned, ashamed (again revisiting the misunderstanding earlier in the day, not to mention that I honored our agreement to not get gifts for eachother...I stink) amazed and touched by his thoughtfulness and how much he loves me. *sigh* We had it saudered to my wedding band and they look PERFECT together. I'm not much of a jewelry person, but I admit, I find myself turning my hand at just the right angle so I can look at it and watch it sparkle. I DEFINATELY am glad that we waited and did it the way we did - it made it mean that much more. I love you Matt!!!

Christmas Day

For the last few years we spend Christmas morning at home...it's so much fun to be "Santa" now and get things ready for the kids. Matt was up late doing his thing. I have decided that I will no longer stress nor worry about "doing" Christmas, because he already does it and then some. He always blows me away and goes overboard and I've decided that there's no fighting it so I should just sit back and enjoy it. :)

We had the kids' socks on the table and Matt draped a sheet over the room where we had the tree so they couldn't peek. I was impressed that the kids didn't wake us up until 7am. We started out in the kitchen where we opened our socks and had hot chocolate and clementine oranges. Then we went into the living room and all of us (other than Matt) were surprised at the array of gifts. Amongst some of the fun stuff were some bean bags Matt bought for each of the kids...they were a hit. Everyone had fun and I, much to my chagrin, was completely spoiled....Matt got me new pots and pans (stainless steel), some REALLY nice hand lotion and exfoliating creme - my hands are always really dry because I wash them so much. (Note: having used the stuff for a few weeks now, it really works. My hands look younger and are now soft and smooth....almost supple, even.:) a really cute prego sweater, AND, much to my amazement, A KITHEN-AID MIXER!!!!! I love it...I have made so much bread in the last 3 weeks, it's amazing. He also got me two really nice bread pans that are fantastic!!!! I admit, I was teary (he was amazed that I would get choked up over a mixer, but seriously!!!!) I was a little uneasy because I felt his Christmas wasn't as flashy, but that's not what it's about, eh? I DID put a lot of thought into what I would get him and he seemed to like it alright. :P He always blows me out of the water though, and it's frustrating....he'll do extra jobs in the summer and never tell me about it, horad the cash for 6 months, and then go nuts at Christmas. He's so fun.

Anywho, later that evening we went to Matt's parent's house where we had a potluck dinner and gift exchange. Good times. It was a perfect day and we are so fortunate to have our family close to us. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

We spend every Christmas Eve at my parent's house where we have good food, present exchange and a little program. It was a lot of fun to be with everyone and watch their "performances". Bonnie, Millie and I played our instruments in a little trio (Millie and I on cello, Bonnie on violin) and it sounded pretty darn good! I was impressed with Millie - I had never really heard her play before and she was great! (Bonnie, you already know that I think you rock) :). Andrew played his saxaphone and again, I was blown away. He is amazing. The grandkids sang and Bonnie and I sang too. It was fun. Earlier in the evening we watched "Pee-Wee's Christmas Special" while the food was being prepared. (It's a classic:) Our program was nice though, to get things back on a spiritual side. :) It was a great time and I had a blast being with everyone!

Update...

So, I had my doctor's appointment yesterday. The baby is now head-down (woohoo!) so let's just hope he stays that way! Heartbeat sounds good and I only have one more week to go of "moderate bedrest". (Although my personal goal is to get to 37 weeks...we'll see). So, that was good. I still need to catch up on my posts with Christmas, our anniversary, and Sammi's b-day....I'll get cracking on that. Keith's birthday is in 4 days, Maddi's in one month and Matt's a month and a half!!!! Whew! I've managed to get all prepared for the baby...all I need now is some newborn socks. I'm now focusing on getting through this next week and freezing lots of meals! Good times. Anywho, that's what's up for now!

Thought I had better post something....

I have a lot to post, but, am having trouble working up the desire to sit and do it. I'll get to it soon, I promise. :) Reason for aforesaid lack of desire: As of now, I'm on "moderate bed-rest" as I started having contractions at 31 weeks. (Don't ask me what "moderate bed-rest" means....I don't really know. I'm pretty much supposed to be as much of a couch potato as I can. Hm...with three kids, we'll see how that goes...) I take terbutaline as needed and am pretty much waiting out the next two weeks to get to 36weeks. The baby is in transverse position (sideways) which complicates things more if I WERE to go into preterm labor. *sigh* So, it's hard to think of anything else and I have to be always conscious of what my body is doing, so this stretch of my pregnancy is going VERY slow. I have a hard time not being able to DO things and be normal. But, you hear of women who are on full bedrest for MONTHS so my situation is not terrible. I can do two more weeks. Anywho, I'll get online again soon and post all about our Christmas, Anniversary and Sammi's B-day (all within four days of eachother!!!!)