The Howe Family

This post is for my dear friend, Sarah. Yesterday on the phone she asked what we were doing this summer. I casually said we weren’t really doing much. This morning I was thinking through the past month and realized that we’ve had a brilliant summer. So, Sarah- here is my real answer about our summer:

I have LOVED this summer because we added Adele to our family. Having a newborn has forced us to enjoy staying close to home. And honestly, I love my home! We have worked really hard to make it our heaven. I have loved watching my toddler boys enjoy the kid-summer-stuff like making popsicles, swimming in pools, scratching bug bites, hunting for worms, drawing masterpieces with chalk, watching fireworks. I remember how good things are when my kids can run around a backyard without a care in the world.

Phin is really into worms. He brought some in the house this morning so they could watch him eat his snack. He says that the worms, “wiggle when they are happy.”

Phin can also identify parsley and chives in the garden and bring them into me when I cook. I am still working with him on deciphering the difference between thyme and oregano.  Eli likes to pick chives, too. But he feeds them to our next door dog, Goldie. That poor dog.

We are off to Fort Collins today to go on a toddler hike and play in the splash park. Life is so good. Here’s to lazy summers and popsicle-stained faces.

All three children are napping. Miracle? Yes.

After three whirlwind weeks with a newborn, I am ready to share the long awaited birth story. Once upon a time, I thought my water was slowly leaking. (I’m not one to gush amniotic fluid without the assistance of the OB’s crochet hook.) It was either me losing bladder control or amniotic fluid. It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference there at the end without scientific equipment. So, I headed to the hospital on Sunday afternoon looking for some of that scientific equipment. I wanted to be sure before Nate headed into Greeley for a church meeting.

I went into the hospital with nothing but my wallet, sunglasses, and cell phone. The sweet nurse informed me, as she held up a black q-tip, that I was going to be admitted right then and there. I was a solid 2 cm and 50% effaced with leaking amniotic fluid. I thought that was fabulous news. I called Nate and then started calling around for a babysitter. Our friend came over to watch the boys while my fabulous Labor Team drove to Fort Morgan. (Our friend was supposed to be running a Girl’s Camp Meeting at the church- so she just changed the venue to our kitchen table.)

The big rush of momentum once I was admitted was great. I was totally excited and ready to push out a baby in a few hours. Hook up the Pit! However, in a small town, things don’t always work out how you want. My doctor wasn’t coming in until the morning. She told the nurse over the phone, “just have her go to sleep and then she’ll be rested for the morning, if she wants an epidural, page the nurse anesthetist now so you don’t wake him up later tonight.” It was truly 14 hours or so until I saw my doctor from when I was admitted.

Nate came to rescue me with board games and snacks. He also brought toasting glasses and bubbly to celebrate. (Disclaimer: Our bubbly was a tasty Grape-Cranberry Martinelli’s.) My Labor Team arrived a few hours later and I didn’t have anything exciting for them to do. I wasn’t progressing on my own and I was having very little pain. I sent them to my house to sleep on real beds and Nate and I played board games and listened to great music on a mix provided by my best friend, Chelsea.

I knew I would want that epidural, so in came our good friend from church to hook it up. (Again, small town reality…). He was fabulous and in minutes I couldn’t even feel the awkward pain from full-term pregnancy. Seriously- I could actually sleep! In the morning my nurse came in and announced that once my OB was done with her shower, she would come and break my water. Still no rush. Nate ate the scary breakfast tray, complete with a rubber-egg-disc, and I wasn’t even jealous.

My doctor broke my water around 7:00 am and then things finally got moving. I progressed quickly and really enjoyed having the epidural so early. With my other deliveries, I always waited until I was super cranky and mean to get the epidural. With Adele’s labor, I had it in before I ever had real pain. This delivery was almost dreamy. I felt great and enjoyed it! When I transitioned it was time to throw up and then push her out. (That’s how it always works with my babies: transition, puke, push.) Nate was so excited for my nausea that he pushed the call button to get a nurse in to check my dilation, etc. I didn’t want an audience to watch me puke and called my sweet husband a jerk.

After pushing through 2 contractions she arrived! She had the cord wrapped around her neck, so after she was set free, we met face-to-face.

I needed Adele. I am so thrilled that I get to be her mother.

*Photos were taken by Chelsea Ellingson.

I am thrilled to announce that we did plant a garden this year. I didn’t think it would happen because of crazy May schedules, hail storms, and mostly a big pregnant me. This is our second year of gardening- but you wouldn’t be able to tell. We were far less ambitious than last year. Here is the roll call of our garden:

• Tomatoes (Mr. Stripey Heirloom, yellow pear, better boy, and celebrity)
• Red and Yellow onions
• Cucumber
• Zucchini
• Yellow summer squash
• Snap peas
• Green beans
• Peppers (green bell, yellow bell, jalapeño, and banana)

Thankfully, all of our perennial herbs came back from last year. So I am happily making fresh herb vinegarettes using thyme, chives, and oregano. We also have sage, mint, and French tarragon. I haven’t done anything yet with the sage or tarragon. The tarragon has a anise-y flavor which doesn’t appeal to my pregnant nose. We also have really happy strawberry and raspberry plants that survived the dry winter and hail extravaganza.

Here’s to growing season! What are you growing?

I finally had the front tire on my double jogging stroller repaired. I was tugging the wagon around in the meantime- which was less than comfortable or efficient. (Also, my pregnancy waddle didn’t look so hot without something to hide behind.) So, my return-to-mobility celebration today was at Riverside Park. It is one of the gems of Fort Morgan. There is a giant playground, sand volleyball pits, basketball courts, inline skating/hockey rink, baseball fields, duck pond, horseshoe pits, walking trails, swimming pool, and an impressive disc golf course.

Our celebration featured a frog hunt on one of the nature trails that goes along side part of the Platte River. We didn’t find any frogs, but we found lots and lots of sticks. Boys are quite content with sticks, so I didn’t have any complaints. I am SO thrilled to have my stroller back.

**Phin’s one eyed photo was taken at his request. He wanted to have a “pirate face” picture.

There are about 3 questions that we are asked constantly about the baby. They are the universal acceptable-small-talk-for-expectant-parents questions:

1. When are you due?
2. What are you having?
3. What will you call him/her?

Here is our current list of names that we like, love, or think are funny. Leave a comment about your favorites or least favorites.

• Vivian or Vivienne
• Stella
• Eden
• Ava
• Lilly
• Rosemary
• Grace
• Ruby
• Mae
• Naomi
• Zion
• Adelaide
• Charlotte
• Phoebe
• Della or Idella
• Rosalind
• Harmony
• Gwendolyn or Gweneth
• Ada
• Norah
• Opal

(And yes, we did do a google search for “lunch lady names” and “nursing home names.” Shady Acres was popular.)

Today I accompanied Phin to the dentist. I tried to take him when he was two. No dentists would look at a child that young, unless it was necessary. Luckily, Phin has no rotting teeth. Every office in Fort Morgan consistently said, “Bring him when he turns three.”

Phin turned three. I called to schedule an appointment. The receptionist said, “he’s only three? Maybe you could bring him when he is three and a half.” I responded, “My insurance company and Phin’s pediatrician wanted him to go when he turned two. Can your dentist just look at his teeth?” She said we could come for a ‘Meet and Greet.’ Whatever.

Phin was terrified and wouldn’t get in the chair. Even with me sitting with him. The dentist picked him up and tried to open his mouth. It was comical, awkward, and scary. Finally, the dentist gave up in defeat and told me (direct quote), “Come back when he turns 5, unless you see something black.”

I wanted to get a little dental expertise if we were paying for the ‘visit.’ So, I asked the dentist the top three things he would tell every parent in the world to do with their children’s oral health. This is what he said:

1. No soda or artificial sugars. He mentioned that a kid with poor oral hygiene but a great diet (no junk), will have better oral health than a kid with amazing oral hygiene and a junk diet.
2. Establish a strong habit of teeth brushing. Make is associated with putting on shoes. e.g. “We always brush our teeth right before we put on our shoes.”
3. Teach the rhythm of teeth brushing to make it ‘muscle memory.’  Front of top teeth, bottoms top teeth, backs of top teeth. Front of lower teeth,  upper part of lower teeth, backs of lower teeth.

Here’s to happy, strong teeth- void of any “black stuff.” I hope I don’t see our dentist for another 2 years.

I finally have some great 3 year old shots from Phin. These were taken yesterday at the Rainbow Bridge in Fort Morgan. (Thanks for your help, Cathy!)

Phin is turning 3 tomorrow. I’m thrilled that he is in our family. I’m even more thrilled that he was my first teacher on how to be a mama. I have truly loved spending the past 3 years (and 9 months of gestation…) getting to know him. He is my spunky, kind, thoughtful, crazy, smart, spiritual, and inclusive burst of energy. His current interests (or obsessions) are:

• “Cookie” his stuffed Rabbit
• Reading, Reading, Reading
• Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, anything involving a ball. He typically makes ‘fusion sports’ and combines elements from different sports.
• Dinosaurs and Dragons
• Climbing everything in sight
• ‘Supervising’ Eli and making sure he isn’t making any ‘bad choices’
• His favorite dish is self-named, “tomato salad.” He asks me to cut up different veggies and tomatoes and drizzle on ‘dip’ (any salad dressing). I was too lazy to cut up lettuce yesterday and he quickly sent it back saying, “you forgot lettuce!” He is also in love with oranges and mangoes.
• His favorite song is, “I Love to See the Temple.” So much in fact, he calls it “his song.” If I try to sing it- he interrupts me and says, “You can’t sing that song. It’s my song.” When someone is sick or hurt at our house he announces that he will help them feel better by singing this song. It is SO sweet. Phin also likes a lot of Eric Herman songs.

Here’s to another year of Phin!

Here is the long awaited 3D ultrasound photo of Junebug. She moved A LOT during the ultrasound, so there weren’t many clear pictures. I’m just thrilled that she is having a fun time in my uterus. Someone should be enjoying pregnancy!

A good friend took care of Nate’s middle school choir for us so that he could be there. (Thanks, Tammy!) Phin and Eli were watching from Nate’s lap, completely fixated. When the tech switched off the monitor Phin said, “I lost Junie!” He was very concerned.

We can’t wait to meet you little girl! 

Saturday was a really special day for us. We took both boys to the Denver Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has been on my “to do” list for ages. Usually Nate and I are just thrilled to find an open day, babysitting, and gas money to make the monthly date. But our ward (or congregation) is fabulous and set up babysitting at a church building nearby. We walked around the BEAUTIFUL temple with the boys and had them touch it. The weather was perfect and the spring flowers and flowering trees were at their best. It was really heavenly. After some sweet family time and photos we dropped the boys off for babysitting.

I’m pretty sure the boys won’t remember the trip, but I really wanted to have a photo of all of us at the temple to put in their bedroom. (I agonized internally about the photo because I seem to gain 30 pregnancy pounds solely in my face…But for the greater good…I said “cheese.”)

Eli pointed to the temple and repeated over and over, “pa-ple, pa-ple.” When he sees any photo of the temple now, he goes crazy over it. I’m so excited that we live only a few hours away from a temple.

For my friends who are not Latter-day Saints – Want to know more about temples? find out here.