Big Brother and Big Sister

Having baby Henry join us hasn't been the only thing that has changed for our family over the past year. Our other two sweet babies have grown so much in such a short amount of time.

Auden James turned three in March, the day before his baby brother Henry was born. Auden is all boy. He loves wrestling and camping and playing outside. I have no doubt that he would choose to live outdoors if he could. When he absolutely has to be inside he likes to watch old superhero cartoons. He loves them all, but his favorites are Spiderman, Batman, and the Hulk. He almost always wears his boots, belt, cape, and mask. Then he runs around my house, saving the day, singing his own theme song. "Super-Auden! Super-Auden! Super-Auden to the RESCUE!!!". He made it up. He loves it.

Auden is smart, sometimes to smart. He is clever and catches on quick. One his most endearing qualities is his desire to learn. He wants to know everything about everything. He is constantly asking questions, and then absorbing the answers. I love that he is genuinely fascinated by the world around him, and he is eager to explore it all.

Auden is a happy kid, who laughs easily and is almost always smiling. He likes to be silly, and already has a funny sense of humor. He is a very loving boy. He gives me hugs and kisses without me asking for them, and is known to say such things as "You know what mama? I love you!" or "I love you, Family!" or "Get over here and give me a big love!" out of nowhere.

Margaret Kate is 18 months old, and is a true girly-girl. She likes to be dolled up, and will literally squeal with delight when we tell her she is pretty. She likes to have her nails painted and always chooses pink polish. She likes to play with her dolls, or as she calls them, "babies". But her favorite thing is definately animals. She loves them all; dogs, cats, turkeys, cows, pigs. You name the animal, and she loves it. Any time she sees one, she goes right up to it and starts petting, hugging, kissing, laughing... she just lights up and gets so excited. It makes me smile and laugh every time.

One fun thing about Margaret right now is the way her little language is really starting to come together. She knows so many words and can tell us exactly what she wants, when she wants it. I love hearing her talk, and talking back with her. She gets this little look on her face like she is so proud of herself every time she learns a new word or successfully communicates something to us. She is also a little copy-cat, and spends most of her day shadowing her big brother. While it is cute to see her running around after him trying her best to keep up, it is slightly terrifying for me to watch her as she attempts some of the same jumps and stunts she sees her older brother doing.

Margaret is a sweet girl with tender little feelings. She likes to climb up onto my lap with her favorite blanket and say "Hold! Hold! Snuggle! Snuggle!", a request that I find impossible to decline. She is sweet and loving and completely adorable, everything a little girl should be!

Auden and Margaret are both in love with Henry. They like to help me take care of him, and always fight over who gets to hold him next. I love these little crazies. Each one of them adds so much to our family, and now that they are all here I can't imagine life without any one of them.

More Henry

So... do you want to see more pictures of our new baby boy? Yes? Me too.

I'm a sucker for a baby in a hat. Did you count them? There are four. Four baby hats, one perfect baby!

Meet Henry

I really can't believe it has been more than a year since I've posted anything here. The time has flown, and once again there have been so many wonderful changes around here. When I was looking back at my last couple of posts earlier this afternoon, I laughed. I think it's sort of funny that the last time I was here, I was introducing you all to our new baby, Margaret. And now, just over a year later, I am once again introducing you to our newest addition. Meet Henry.

Henry Nathan Speakman was born on March 15th, 2012. He weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces, and measured 21 inches long. He is perfect, and from the moment I saw him I was in love.

Henry's story is an amusing one. About two weeks after we moved into our new house (yes, we moved this year, more on that another day) I found out I was pregnant. I would say I was suprised, but that would be an understatement. Of course I was happy to be having another baby, but the timing seemed to be all wrong (because we already had two very young children, remember?). As the months passed and I became more and more pregnant, I became more and more concerned about how I would handle being a mother of three-under-three. The thought of having a third Baby Speakman in our home started to overwhelm. I was tired just thinking about it.

Henry was delivered via a scheduled c-section at 7:15 in the morning, and as soon as I saw him, I knew all the previous months of worry had been for nothing. There was nothing to worry about, everything was going to be fine. We needed Henry to be here, a part of our family, now. So what if we have three kids ages three and under? It may not be right for everyone, but it is right for us.

Henry joining our family has brought such a feeling of completion. I can't explain it, but it's like now that he is here, our little family is perfectly balanced. Even though he has only been here a few months, I feel like we've known him before, like he has been with us all along. We are so happy and so blessed to have each one of our babies. And although it's a challenge to be raising three babies all at the same time, I have to say that I am doing a pretty good job figuring it out.   

More Margaret

My wonderful friend Sara did a couple of photo shoots with us a few weeks ago, one of my sweet baby girl and then one of our whole family. Sara's pictures are stunning, and as always, everything turned out beautifully. I am completely in love with these photos. Here are some of my favorites from Margaret's shoot.

Update - Very Overdue

This one is for you, K...

I was checking my email this morning and I noticed I had one from a dear friend of mine, practically demanding that I update my blog. My first thought was, "What blog?". I haven't thought about this blog in months. Probably because my life has been one big blur since about the middle of November. So much has happened, and so many things have changed for our little family. Time seems to be moving forward so fast that I barely have time enough to stop and catch my breath every once in a while. We have a lot of catching up to do. Let's start with the biggest change of all here at the Speakman Home...

Introducing:

Margaret Kate Speakman

Margaret was born on November 22, 2010 at 5:11 pm. She weighed 8lbs 1oz and was 19 inches long. She had long, dark black hair and big, bright blue eyes. She was tiny and sweet and lovely and pink, everything a little girl should be. In a word, perfect.

She fits in so perfectly with our little family, it is just like she's always been here. I don't know how we ever did without her. Auden is happy she is here, He loves to talk to her and touch her and play the helpful big brother. Nathan loves to hold her, and every time he does he just stares right at her and says "She is so pretty". He is already wound tight around those tiny little fingers. I am so in love with her. Every little thing about her is wonderful. She is my little darling, and I am beyond smitten.

Not only is she the cutest thing ever, she is also the best baby ever. She is so happy all the time, all I have to do is look at her and she smiles. When she smiles, she smiles with her whole body. Her face lights up and she pulls her chubby little arms and legs in close to her body. When she is happy, she is happy all over, and it shows. She bats her long dark eyelashes and makes flirty faces and coos at me pretty much all day long, it is absolutely heavenly. I can think of no better way to spend my days. She eats like a champ and sleeps like a champ too. She is already sleeping 8 hour nights, so I cannot complain. Like I said, the best baby ever!

We love our little Miss Margaret so much!

I Heart Fridays

Tonight was date night with my handsome guy and it a good one. We left our little one at home with his grandma and grandpa and headed out for a night on the town. We started off with dinner at our very favorite little Japanese food place... Yokos. Seriously one of the best places you can eat in Mesa. We've been coming here together since we were in high school and it is so good. For me, Yakisoba without the eggs and meat. For him, Koom Pong Kee. Yum.

After dinner we headed across the street to Mesa High to enjoy some of the finest entertainment in town, the fall musical. This year it was 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' and it was super fun. Both of Nathans little brothers were in it and they were awesome. Kind of reminds me of my own Mister Speakman, about 7 or 8 years ago...

When the show was over we headed home. Along the way we stopped by Starbucks for one of our very favorite deserts... Venti Vanilla Bean Frappacinos. If you've never had one before just know that it is like a vanilla milkshake on crack. After our Starbucks run we saw a crazy guy driving his car on the curb going about 40 mph through our neighborhood. And because we are law abiding type of people, we called our local law enforcement to make a report. That was awesome. Hope your Friday was awesome too.

Spicey

I was feeling 'Spicey' tonight.

So my nails got a fresh coat of paint.

Something to better reflect the mood I am in.

On my toes, "All Fired Up"

and on my fingers, something fun called "Pop Apricot".

Spicey, indeed.

Halloween 2010

Last night's Halloween festivities were absolutely wonderful. Halloween around our house always brings with it so much fun, and this year was no different. The night started with our traditional Halloween dinner with the whole family at my parents house - Halloween sloppy joes with jack-o-lantern faces, french fries, and hot cider served right from a pumpkin. For dessert, graveyard cupcakes, each with our own personalized "head stone". After dinner we got dressed in our costumes and readied ourselves for a full night of trick-or-treating.

Auden with his trick-or-treat buddies - Nevaeh, Anthony, and Alayah

The night was off to a great start, but it came to an early end after my first time trick-or-treater lost his dinner (not once, but twice) all over my mom. Poor Baby! I mean Auden, not my mom. But yes, poor her too, because really... who likes to be barfed on? So I took my barfy smelling baby home a bit earlier than we had planned. Besides all that, the night was lovely.

We were all dressed as skeletons this year. All 4 of us! Yes I said 4, look close and you'll see...


I like that all 4 of us were represented this Halloween. I also like that this baby isn't even born yet, and I'm already putting pink bows in her hair! By the way, baby girl is due in exactly 3 weeks from today. That is only 21 days, for anybody who is counting (and I am!).

Happy Halloween!

Auden making his scary halloween face, just for you.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM THE SPEAKMANS!

My Ironman

Nathan participated in his first triathlon this past weekend along with our friend James and hundreds of other people. This involved a 1/4 mile swim followed by an 8 mile bike then finished with a 2 mile run. My hubby completed all 3 legs of the event, which officially makes him an IRON MAN. Just go ahead and add it to the already very long list of reasons that I find him a total stud.

Nathan taking his place at the starting line in the pool, just seconds before starting the triathlon (with James to the left, starting right behind him).

Immediately after he was through with the swim, Nathan jumped onto his bike and started his way on the 8 mile course.

Nathan and James, finished biking, and about to begin the running portion of the triathlon.

Numbers 279 and 280, just minutes after completing their first triathlon. Congrats guys, you were awesome!

Pumpkin Patching

There was something almost perfect about watching my little boy, all dressed in his very cutest plaid, exploring his way through a pumpkin patch for the very first time. It was dusk, and the cool October air smelled sweet. It was everything fall should be.

Look What I Have!

A series of simple text messages to my husband was all it took...

"Maybe you should get me a box of Krispy Kremes on your way home."

followed by,

"I mean only if you really want too."

and then followed by,

"Don't come home without the Krispy Kremes!"

I love my husband!

Down and Out and Seriously Blessed

My darling husband, foot elevated and on ice

It's been a tough couple of weeks for us here at the Speakman House. It started with pains so bad that I really thought I might be going into labor. Not good, since the baby isn't due for a few more months (13 weeks, but whose counting?).

A quick trip to the hospital assured us that no, I was not in labor, but suffering instead from kidney infection and kidney stones. And let me just say that 'kidney stones' sounds really gross and for some reason it is embarrassing to admit that I had them. I don't know why, but to me it sounds like something that only really old and really grumpy people would get. Do you know what I am saying? Yes? OK good.

Only it's really not good because guess what? The gross kidney stones aren't the only thing. Now the nerves in my back are kinking up and when it happens I become so completely taken over by the pain that all I can do is curl up in a ball on the floor and cry until it goes away. These little 'episodes' have been happening about every 3 days, and last about 12 hours at a time. Nothing helps. Not stretches or massages, hot packs or cold packs, laying flat or curling up. Nothing. My doctor says he expects it will stay this way until I have the baby and all I can do in the mean time is lay flat on my back as much as possible to keep it from getting any worse. That sucks.

Last Friday, right in the middle of me having one of these really awful "back attacks", Nathan hurt his foot, and he hurt it bad. I know this because he is a manly kind of man, and doesn't complain about any sort of physical ailment unless it is something severe. His ankle is the size of a softball. It's black and blue and even a pretty shade of deep purple. So he's been hobbling around here on crutches with a brace on his foot and laying down flat to elevate and ice his ankle whenever he gets the chance. I guess he was getting tired of me getting all of the attention around here lately...

SO Since I've had an awful lot to complain about these past couple of weeks, and trust me, complain I have, I thought maybe I should stop feeling sorry for myself just long enough to count my blessings instead and you know what I realized? I have a lot to be grateful for. Like;
Parents who live across the street and come into my home every day to do the things that I am currently physically unable to do. Cooking, cleaning, taking care of my baby, they do it all so that I can lay flat and get well.
A grandma who comes over to lift my baby in and out of his bed since I can't, and who stocks my refrigerator with food for my family, and who takes me over to her house just about every day so I can lay in her pool which helps loosen up my back.
A new neighbor who just happens to specialize in cranial-sacral physical therapy and can squeeze me in just about any time I need her. My visits with her help to ease the pain when nothing else, no doctor or hospital or medication, does.
A husband, a dad, and a grandpa who are all worthy priesthood holders, and who have all been able to give me priesthood blessings at a moments notice.
An adorable baby boy who can always make me smile no matter how bad of a day I think I am having.
And most of all a husband who loves me, and who shows it by the way he constantly cares for me.

Thinking about these blessings makes me feel like maybe things aren't so bad after all...

Ready to go Back

Back in June our little family packed up and headed for San Clemente, CA to spend a week camping on the beach. It was maybe the most perfect week ever.

Every morning we woke up to this....

Walks along the bluffs above the beach at sunrise

And every day ended with this...

happy baby, bundled up, roasting marshmellows around a campfire

Our days were filled with

Digging on the beach...

Picnicing on the beach...
And long, L-O-N-G naps on the beach....

And now, my beach baby...

Like I said, best.week.ever. I can't wait to go back. Next summer might not come soon enough.

Keeping Cool

This has been one of his favorite things to do this summer...

I think he wishes he could run through the sprinklers all day long. I know I do...