Baby Names

I'm linking up to Kelly's Korner (one of my favorite blogs!) for her weekly "Show us your Life" series. This week it's about baby names and how you chose what you did (or plan to for future babie, but that does NOT apply to us--HA!!) So here we go:

Arielle Treacie Marie: We did not know ahead of time that she was a she--Fortune knows that's what I was hoping for though!! I knew that I wanted uncommon though--not off the wall wacky that you'd have to constantly spell, but not so popular that she'd have to be known as "Brittney B." (Brittney was VERY popular that year!) Arielle was a name that I thought was very pretty. Treacie is a mix of Therese for my Mom and Tracy just because I like that name (in fact, when the business office came back to get the info for the birth certificate, we didn't even know HOW we were going to spell it yet!) Marie is my and my Mom's middle names.

Parker Henry Michael: As will all of the boys, we had prior knowledge about his gender! His Dad was pushing for Michael, I argued that it was too "plain" after having an Arielle. So then he mentioned Jordan and it clicked--he wanted to name him after a professional athlete! NO FLIPPING WAY was that happening!!! I came across Parker in a baby name book and HAD to have it. I knew of no Parker's and as with his sister, he is the only one in our district with that name (unlike Brandon--VERY popular in his age group!) Henry is his Dad's middle name and I did like Michael, just not as a first name!

Paxton Frederick Lincoln: He was tougher. Kurt liked Nicholas and I nixed that in a heartbeat--way too common (#4 on the list that year). He also liked Tristan, too much of a tongue-twister with our last name. Paxton was a name I mentioned first and it grew on Kurt. Frederick is for his Dad/Grandpa and Lincoln is because we are both history-lovers. No duplicated of Paxton either--unlike Aiden!!

Beckett Melvin Thomas: We had his middle names ready to go as soon as we knew it was a boy. Melvin is my Dad's name. When I was pregnant with Arielle, he thought Melvina would be a fabulous name (gotta love his sense of humor, right?!). After her came 6 grandsons. Each time he dropped the hint that Melvin would be a great name, yet in never happened. So when the tech at our amnio appointment said "it's a boy", I knew right away that Melvin had to work into the name lineup. Kurt agreed =) If either of the little boys had been girls they would have been Greer Annelise Grace--Grace was Kurt's grandmothers name. Sine that didn't happen, we were able to use Thomas, which was Grandma Grace's middle name. So ___________ Melvin Thomas was set. As far as Beckett, I had been drawn to it in a baby name book and LOVED it, yet hadn't said anything to Kurt about it. At one of our OB appointments (he always just met me there since I came from work and he was at home), he said he had been thinking about names and what was my thought on "Beckett"? Winner!! When the nurse came in to the exam room and asked how we were, I said "I think we just named the baby!" LOL!! And now not a week goes by when someone doesn't mention that Beckett is definately a mix of Melvin and Grace!!!! And the Aiden trend was still going strong when he came--dodged that bullet again!!

Flashback Friday!

Looking back at the pictures I took of the kids for our Holiday card this past season always makes me laugh when I get to these. The kids were going to stand along the stream while I shot them from the bank. The big kids helped the little boys down and as I was changing lenses and they were getting into position, I hear Paxton ask, "what's that?" and then Arielle: "EW MOM!! There's a dead racoon down here!!" and the 3 of them came scrambling back up the bank (they gallantly lifted Beckett back up!)
Parker tried to convince Paxton that a bear had gotten the racoon, but Paxton was not falling for it! The little boys talked about that dead critter for weeks. If you look close, you can see him in the picture!

Paxton's Birth Story....

Happy Birthday to our sweet Paxton! He turns 7 today, I just can't believe it =( Since I wasn't blogging when he was born, I'll post his birth story here today--because I remember it like it was yesterday--HA!!
We knew that Paxton was breech. He would do HUGE half and full gainers in my belly and I remember driving to an OB appointment at about 20 weeks and he did one of those earth-moving flips into a head-up position and at that appointment I asked our MD when he was going to stay put. The answer was "any time now". And he was right, because he never did another flip again--stayed breech. As time went on, we had to start discussing our options about what to do with the little bugger. Our MD was quite certain that turning him (or external cephalic version) was worth a try, and so after MUCH thought and discussion between us, we decided to give it a shot. The odds were against us--MOST versions are unsuccessful and those that are, MOST babies turn back to breech. We were able to get him into a head down position and he did in fact stay there. They like to do this procedure at about 36 weeks--there is still a little wiggle room at this point AND if something happened, delivery would be fine.
Fast forward 5 weeks from then and I was still pregnant. We had an OB appointment at 41.1 weeks and he said all looked good, we could let him go another week, or schedule an induction. This big ol' Momma opted for the induction!!! We set it up for the very next day =) We were scheduled to be at the hospital at 7am--we were running a bit behind because it was important to me to have shaved legs--and that's not easy to accomplish at this stage of a pregnancy, LOL!! We got checked in, monitored and started up that pitocin. We clicked along pretty smoothly until about 4pm--the contractions were pretty strong and they hurt. I hadn't had an epidural when delivering the older kids (I did have one when he was turned--my first!) and at this point I did ask for one. The anesthetist usually working at our hospital was on vacation, so the one covering from the nearest hospital had to come. They had checked me when I requested the epi and I was 4 cm dialated. Well, lots happened while waiting for our CRNA to arrive.
When he got there he said "I can see how much pain you're in, lets get this going and we'll worry about the paperwork when I'm done." He asked if I had any allergies and he got to work. After he was done and we were finishing the paperwork, I was still squirming and concentrating on breathing. He said "are you still feeling those?" When I said yes, he said "you really shouldn't be. I bet you're more than a 4". The staff was readying the room for delivery and my MD had arrived. I was still visibly uncomfortable and he said again: "someone should check her, I don't think she's a 4 anymore!" My MD dove in and announced that I was at 10!! So in the 20-25 minutes it took for Dave to arrive, I dilated 6 cm!! I hastily scrawled my name on the epi consent and we got to pushing!!
I pushed just a few times and my MD said "you need to push now" and I said, "but I'm not having a contraction now!" He said "push without one, we need to get him out" So I did =) I pushed about a dozen times and out came Paxton. All the nurses kept saying "he's so big"!, "holy cow, look how big he is!!" I said to my MD "he's not THAT big is he?!" He nodded and said, he's a big boy!! I asked how big?! He went over to the warming crib thing, picked him up and said "I'd say 9# 6oz" and as he handed him back to the nurse he told her "quick, weigh him b/4 he pees!!" I remember saying "NO WAY!" and then the nurse says "9# 13.5oz"!! Egads! I pushed that bucket head out basically without the benfit of an epidural!!
And that was Paxton's arrival. Kurt said later "he looked pretty big to me, but I was the least experienced one in the room, what did I know?!"
And because I was sick last night and still don't feel 100%, I am too pooped to scan in any newborn photos of our little dimple face, so you get more birthday party pics--HA!!

Wordless Wednesday

Tech Ed Night

Last week Parker had an event that showcased what's been going on in his tech-ed class (actually, several schools were represented there). There were basic displays and some very complex one that were tied to computer programs designed by the kids. (Parker's was on the basic side!) The little boys and I went to admire his work (and take pics--HA!) Arielle went too, but perhaps it was more because her boyfriend had a project there too, LOL!
The little boys really enjoyed some of the projects, especially ones involving trains!
And yes, I realize that I have more pictures of the little boys at Parker's event than I do of Parker. Want to guess which subject is easier to shoot than the other. He complained that I had my camera with me (HELLO! HOW long have you known me?!) but I was most certainly NOT the only Momma with one =)

Menu Planning Monday

Well, last week I had the greatest of plans!! But, throw in Mother Nature with an attitude that caused havoc with the golf schedule and the boys with a craving for pancakes and my carefully laid out dinner planning ran amuck--HA! Could happen again this week, we'll see! I also had planned a meal for Sunday, forgetting we were doing Paxton's B-day party and I NEVER cook dinner on party days--we nosh all afternoon!! We're TRYING:
Monday: Class for me!
Tuesday: Roast beef with garlic slivers, mashed taters, gravy, beans
Wednesday: Continental Steak, baked taters, corn
Thursday: Golf--supposedly!
Friday: Chicken--probably roasted with potatoes and veggies
Saturday: Not planning anything concrete yet--HOPING to make it to golf
Sunday: Tilapia fillets, rice, veggie

Will be doing my usual link up!!

Birthday Party for Paxton!

It's hard to believe, but Paxton will be 7 on Thursday!! We had his birthday party today (with beautiful weather I might add!) Both sets of Grandparents, Michelle and the boys and his Godmother Melissa and Patrick made it =) What a lucky and happy little boy we have here tonight!! He got pretty much the entire line of the Fisher-Price Imaginext Batman set, some adorable clothes, real live frogs, a butterfly garden, a new Spongebob game for his Nintendo, Aliens in the Attice DVD, a Trio building blocks set (he's really loving these sets), new birdies for his badmitton game (pretty sure all of the other ones ended up on the roof, in trees, or lawn mulch via the lawn mower--HA!) and a savings bond.
The cake was batman themed as well and tasted FAB, but the dye used for the coloring was pretty potent, to say the least!! He had a wonderful day and is a pretty contented young lad this evening!