Happy Easter

I know I have been so bad about blogging. I've been busy with 3 kids! We are excited to be going to Florida next Friday. I have a big to do list and love checking stuff off. We started counting down the days at 59, now we are down to 8.

The kids are doing great! Aaron is really into action heros and climbs the walls like spiderman to taking off his shirt to become the Hulk. He can't wait for Jeremy to get home from work each day so they can play together! Samantha is growing up by the minute. She counts, knows her colors and loves to have her hair brushed and her assortment of necklaces on. She can't wait to try out her new water shoes on the beach. John is all smiles and is very good natured. He loves watching us and looking at books. He fits in his exersaucer now and enjoys trying out the toys. I have to keep a bib on him he slobbers so much. Can't believe he is already 4 months old.

Happy Easter!

St. Patrick's Day

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, it was also Jeremy and my 10 year wedding anniversary. Hard to believe it's been 10 years since we said "I do". It was snowing 10 years ago, yesterday it was in the 60's!!

We got to go out for a nice steak dinner and Debrand's chocolates for dessert afterwards. My parents watched the kids so I ate my steak nice and SLOW savoring every bite!!

I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful husband who wants only whats best for me, is a great provider and a terrific father to our 3 children. I put together a DVD for him that captured our 10 years in pictures. It was nice watching it and remembering all we've done and think about all we still want to do!

It was a very nice day! Update on the kiddos. Aaron and Sammie love being outside again, playing in their playhouse. John is cutting 2 teeth! They are beautiful and doing great!

John is 3 months old

John is 3 months old today! He is always his happiest in the morning so I put on this outfit and we had a nice little photo shoot! He is adorable if I do say so myself! He is wearing 6 months clothes and weighs over 15 1/2 lbs!

Crazy week

I have been horrible with blogging as of late. I will attempt to do better!

Last Tuesday I brought John into the doctor because of his cough and ended up in the hospital. Aaron and Sammie had been sick for a few days and both had ear infections. The doctor tried 2 breathing treatments on John and said that it would be best if we went to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing and couldn't stop coughing. Luckily the hospital was right next door to the office.

It turned out that John had baby bronchitis, RSV and viral pneumonia. They put him on oxygen and gave him breathing treatments. It was scary and horrible watching my baby boy laying in the hospital crib suffering. We were there for 48 hours. I stayed both nights with him and was able to nurse him throughout the time. Jeremy took care of Aaron and Sammie at home and was pretty sick himself. Aaron colored a picture for John which I hung on his crib and he seemed to enjoy looking at. It was a long 2 days. We got home Thursday night. He sounds much better now! I've been giving him breathing treatments at home and it has really seemed to help. 2 days ago he started smiling again(:

It looks like everyone is getting better. Spring come soon!!!!

Cold Days

Sweet Baby boy! Aaron and Sammie enjoy "flying" around the house!

This past week the weather has been COLD!!! We've stayed in a lot which makes for some long days. One morning I popped popcorn and we had a movie morning watching "Shrek". On weeks like these I get the itch to go somewhere warm or for spring to come! I feel like the TV is on a lot and I try to scratch my head to think of things to do.

Thank goodness for MOPS on Friday. Bundling up the kids and getting out of the house before 9 is no easy task but when I know a nice hot breakfast is waiting for me it makes it all worthwhile. I enjoy visiting with friends and the kids love playing with their buddies. Aaron told me all the playing makes him tired(:

12, 26, 38

Again I am late reporting but I think this might just be a regular occurrence so I will stop apologizing(:

John turned 1 month old on December 7th. I on purpose waited because I wanted to report his weight. I took Samantha in for a late 2 year check up and had them weigh in all the kiddos!

Aaron is now 38 lbs, Samantha 26 and John 12!!!!!

I can't believe how fast a month has passed. John is doing well and obviously getting plenty to eat. He has shown a few select smiles but still sleeps the majority of the day. He is starting to look around and enjoys looking at lights. If he is fussy Aaron likes to talk to him to calm him down and Samantha pats his head lightly.

I'm so proud of Samantha! Last week she threw away her beloved pacifier (2nd one that got chewed through). And on top of that we took the front railing off her crib so now she is in a big girl bed and doing great! She enjoys telling everyone this(:

I've been really busy and think about blogging alas just not enough hours in the day. And if I do have a spare moment when all the kids are asleep I'm either cleaning our trying to take a quick cat nap myself!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Well I turned 30 on Thursday January 6th. It was the perfect day from start to finish!

Jeremy surprised me by taking the day off. We went to Cracker Barrel for a French Toast breakfast and then on the way home he brought Aaron and Sammie into Meijer to pick me out some birthday flowers!

We got home and Jeremy and Aaron baked me a cake. Aaron was so excited to help and kept singing me Happy Birthday Mommy Dear! At 11 we all got in the car and Jeremy drove me to my birthday surprise---A Day Spa! My good friend Hannilee met me there and we both enjoyed an hour massage! It was the kind of spa you walk into and immediately feel relaxed! I felt like a queen. There was robes, slippers, steam room and even a relaxing room with a great big fireplace! It was wonderful. The PERFECT gift!

After feeling like a new women Hannilee and I stopped by DeBrands chocolates for a hot chocolate and truffle on our way home.

After naps Jeremy, myself, Aaron, Samantha and John headed to Olive Garden for a yummy dinner. We then hurried back home to taste the great looking cake Aaron helped make. My sister and her family and my mom came by to celebrate with us. I must admit it took me a few blows to get ALL 30 candles out (even with the kids help!)

It was the best birthday I can remember!

Happy New Year!

All the Vance Grandkids!

Ok so I'm still behind. But better late than never!
We had a wonderful New Years. Our festivities started out on New Years Eve

watching the Notre Dame vs Miami bowl game at Jeremy's brothers house. Great win! Jeremy's mom got to see John for the first time and couldn't get enough of him! We named John after Jeremy's dad who passed away in 2002.

Jeremy's mom, John and Jeremy

On New Years day Jeremy's whole family came over for "Christmas". We had a huge feast and opened gifts, played games and just enjoyed one anothers company. It was an 11am to 11pm affair. I enjoyed extending the holidays for another week. Oh by the way I didn't make it to watch the ball drop on New Years Eve. I fell asleep on the couch by 10:30 but John woke me up around 12:20am to wish me a Happy New Year and for a midnight snack!

The kids loved having their cousins around but by Sunday were tired and we all just laid around the house. A great weekend had by all!

Merry Christmas (a little late)

My favorite new present!
Ok so I'm behind in my posts. But a week late with a newborn is pretty good (right?)!

We had a wonderful Christmas! I was a bit under the weather but watching the kids excitement made me feel a whole lot better!

Both Aaron and Samantha loved opening their gifts from Santa (Aaron was a bit disappointed that Santa wasn't there to greet him when he got up.) Aaron's favorite toys were a few new action hero's and this Superman and Spider man costumes. Samantha loved her Magna Doodle best of all. John slept through all the present opening and breakfast. In fact he slept most the day away. He did wake up a bit to watch some of the Tinkerbell movie with his big brother and sister.

My 2 Supermen

Samantha and her Magna Doodle

After naps we headed to my parents house! We had a wonderful dinner and had fun watching Aaron and his cousin Brandon run around in their new Spider man costumes and Samantha and Kayla bounce around in their Tinkerbell outfits. It was special being with my sister and brother on this day celebrating Christ's birth. I am so blessed!

Cousins!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Getting used to 3

Well I am now a mother of 3! The past 9 months of pregnancy passed so quickly I can hardly believe it. I am amazed at the miracle of a child who was inside me a few weeks ago kicking me is now being held in my arms. God is so good!

The kids adore John. Aaron will only call him by his full name John Jeremiah and Sammie calls him Miah. The enjoy showing him their toys and love to take turns holding him. I love to watch them interact with him. They will tell him to watch them dance or do silly things.

John sleeps pretty much all the time except when he wakes up to eat. There are a few points during the day when he is awake and we as a family make the most of it!

John Jeremiah Vance

Two weeks ago on December 6 I went out with some friends for a ladies night out Christmas dinner and program at church. We enjoyed a yummy pasta dinner and WAY TOO MANY desserts! My neighbor Becky told me she thought I was going to go into labor that night or the next day (note this is over a week from my due date and I was planning on being induced that Thursday.) Not 10 minutes after that comment and my contractions started! I was convinced it was all the sweets I had just eaten. I got home around 9pm and drank water and laid on the couch. Jeremy just looked at me and asked if we should go or what. I wanted to make sure it wasn't false labor so I waited until midnight when my contractions were about 5 minutes apart and decided to call my dad to come over because it was time. We got to the hospital around 1am on Tuesday December 7. I was 4cm dilated. They gave me the epidural and by 5:07am I heard the cries of our new yet to be named baby boy. A full head of hair weighing 6 lbs 14.5 oz and 21" long! He was perfect! Handsome! I immediately fell in love with our new bundle of joy!!

Jeremy went home to get the kids up and bring them up to see me and their new baby brother.

They were excited and greeted him with kisses and tickles. My hospital stay was nice and I had lots of visitors. The food was amazing!!

I got home on December 9, mid morning. The kids were excited to pick up mommy and baby! I was glad to be home too!

Fun in the Snow

Yesterday was a great day! We stayed home all day and played outside and watched football. The kids are very excited about the snow and their new boots we got on Saturday. We played out front and took a walk down the street. Aaron enjoyed rolling around in the snow and Sammie thought it was great to eat the snow off her mittens.

It was such a relaxing Sunday. There was a soft snow falling throughout the day and I loved being on the couch looking out the window. It reminded me of a snowglobe.

I can't believe at this time next week we'll have a new member to our family. I plan on being induced on Thursday morning. I'm excited yet nervous about the change.

Time to Decorate the Tree

The kids have been very excited ever since we went to Lowes and picked out our tree on Saturday. Last night Jeremy put the lights on and then we all decorated the tree. Aaron really enjoyed putting a bunch of (shatterproof) balls on the tree. I think he hung about 8 on the same branch! Samantha enjoyed putting her angel on and off the tree. What is so special about her angel is that it was mine as a little girl and I loved to "fly" her around the house. Watching Sammie do the same thing last night made me so happy! It is a moment I will cherish!

After the tree was up and we all ooed and awed Aaron wanted to lay under the tree. I had to did up this picture of when he was about 6 months old under the tree! Boy what a few years does to the look but not the spirit!
I so love this time of year! It is December 1st today and snowing!

Samantha is 2!

Samantha Nicole Vance turned 2 on Wednesday!!

Jeremy took off of work and we took her and Aaron to see Santa at the mall. Later on in the evening we had family over for her Tinkerbell birthday party! She really enjoyed everyone singing to her. She got a few new baby dolls, her first dollhouse, an umbrella and a purse.

I am amazed at how much she's grown in the past few months, not just in size but in vocabulary and what she can do! I am so proud to be her mother. She is such a joy to be around!

Some of her favorite things to do are dancing, singing, running, jumping, "flying" and copying Aaron. She loves spaghetti, mashed potatoes, fruit, rice and fruit snacks. She enjoys watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Tinkerbell. Sammie is really into Look and Find books.

She is really looking forward to meeting her new baby brother due to arrive in a few weeks. She likes to pat my belly and say that he is kicking her. I know she will be a big help.

Samantha I love you so much and can't wait to see each day what you will learn and what delights you!

Waiting

Boy I have been really bad with blogging as of late!

We have had a fun fall full of playing in leaves, picking out pumpkins and trick or treating.

Also my belly has been growing as we look forward to greeting the new member of our family within a month. I can't believe how fast time flies. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was telling Jeremy we were pregnant. In fact it was on his birthday (April 15). Now we have the babies room ready and Aaron and Sammie are looking so forward to meeting their brother. Aaron is anxious for his brother to be named but we are still undecided. He has been called Batman and Other Aaron in the meantime.

I have really enjoyed fall this year. We have been active between playing outside, and watching Notre Dame and the Colts. It has been such a mild fall temp wise. Now next week Samantha turns 2 and Thanksgiving is upon us. I am so thankful for my family!

Labor Day weekend

After Jeremy was gone all day Saturday for the Notre Dame game, we just hung around home on Sunday. We ventured out to take a walk around the neighborhood but Aaron really wanted to walk to the store. We told him to turn because we had to head back and he told us "I can't because my legs are taking me this way!" Oh the funny things they come up with!
I met with my cousin in Auburn for lunch at Cracker Barrel. She and I are due 2 days apart! It was nice catching up and comparing baby bumps.

Monday we put up the Jump n Slide for the kids and had a cookout with my family. After the kids wore themselves out playing we gave them baths together.

The weather again was just beautiful. I never want to go inside and it's so nice being able to have the windows open.

Go Irish

Go Notre Dame!!!

Saturday was Notre Dame's first football game of the season! Jeremy got to go to the game with a co worker so I spent most of the day at my parents. The weather was perfect for football (68) and the kids loved playing outside and jumping in a mini leaf pile!


The kids out front looking for cars with my dad before lunch.

We had fun watching the Irish win and looking for daddy (Aaron kept on saying the players were Jeremy!) After the game we enjoyed a walk before heading back home to bed. I have a good feeling about this season!