Well, Marnie...that is quite amazing. I would have thought that your name was totally unique! I did google mine but the result was predictable. There is a Barbara Stinchfield who is the Director of Community and Cultural Services for Santa Monica, California. I've heard about her before...but then again I'm not a REAL BLOOD Stinchfield. I wonder if she is?

I'm down here with Tom and Tracey and the kids. Alyssa is a beautiful baby and quite good except for that nasty baby habit of needing to eat every three hours round the clock! Tracey took her to the doctor this morning for her two week check while I stayed with Hayden and Danica. She came home pretty beat so she is taking a nap right now. Hayden is quiet and content playing Lego Star Wars on the X-box...and Danica is watching Baby Einstein. They are both great kids! We went to the pool the other day and I was amazed at how well Hayden swam. He jumps off the diving board in ten foot water and swims to the side. This has all developed since they moved here.

Last night, Tom and I went to help Marnie move some boxes. Her new apartment is so much nicer than her old one...of course, it helps being able to share the rent! Some of her friends are helping her today as she hopes to be able to sleep at the new place tonight and start to get organized in her new digs!

Dad is coming in tomorrow morning. It will be fun to have him here...he always adds spice to my life....even if that consists of shopping for boats, recreational property, awnings, kayaks etc, etc. Never can accuse Dad of being limited on his interests!!!

I tried to call Brooke this morning as today was the day of Ellyn's appointment with the orthopedic specialist about her leg but there was no answer. I then was going to try at noon (9 pm their time when they are usually around) but didn't notice the clock until almost 2....not going to chance waking you up!)

Dad is going home Monday afternoon and I am returning Tuesday. I would have coordinated our exits except that I made them at different times and I get a lot better fare on the Tuesday than on Monday.

I'm trying to work on Seminary a little at a time but I do have almost a week after I get home to prepare so I think I'll go enjoy my book...I'm reading Brooke's book March by the same author that wrote Year of Wonders.(Geraldine Brooks) It follows Mr March's experiences in the Civil War (Mr. March is the father of the "Little Women") I am really enjoying it.

Well, my love to all.....

Mom

Look what comes up in the #1 spot when you Google "Marnie Stinchfield"...

1920

Henderson County, Upper Henderson/Magisterial District #4, Green River Island. ED 73, Sheet 4A/ Page 69A. Lines 36-42. 7-10 Jan 1920. -- IN DB

• Stinchfield, Chas W. Head, male white, age 38 [1882], married. Born in Indiana; father & mother born in Indiana. Farmer on general farm. Renting home.
• Stinchfield [TAYLOR], Mary. Wife, female white, age 37 [1883], married. Born in Missouri; father & mother born in Indiana. None.
• Stinchfield, Gerald. Son, male white, age 15 [1905], single. Born in Illinois; father born in Indiana; mother in Missouri. Farmer laborer on home farm.
• Stinchfield, Saunders. Son, male white, age 11 [1909], single. Attending school. Born in Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother in Missouri.
• Stinchfield, Marnie. Daughter, female white, age 10 [1910], single. Attending school. Born in Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother in Missouri.
• Stinchfield, Mable. Daughter, female white, age 8 [1912], single. Attending school. Born in Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother in Missouri.
• WILKINS, George. Boarder, male white, age 47 [1873], widowed. Born in Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother in Missouri. Laborer, general farm.

Five days and counting! Yes - I have reached the point where I am anxious for school to begin. Last week, had you asked me, I would have lamented over all that I still wanted to do with the kids and how we were having so much fun together. Yesterday, however, was hell on earth, and I am now very ready for the kids to further their education...at school...for 8 hours a day.

Today was better. I told them we'd go to Blue Lake - it's a gorgeous day - if we got the house in shape. They did and we spent a few hours there before Isaac's guitar lessons. While they played, I finally finished Anna Karenina - loved it. Dave will be happy. I have been hauling this encyclopedia-sized novel around with me for weeks, including as my carry-on on planes. I think it's fair to say that he doesn't share my passion for the classics.

Soccer is in full swing. The 'brown eyes' are playing, as Taylor would put it. He separates all we do into brown eyes and blue eyes. He noticed, and is correct, that we always seem to separate into brown and blue - at a restaurant, running errands - kinda funny. Anyway - Taylor and Morgan are playing. Yesterday, Morgan took an elbow to the eye and is now sporting a black eye, which will be lovely for the first day of school.

Training continues, though some days are better than others. My right knee is bothering me - runner's knee, I think. (Right now Buffy is shaking her head at me, thinking, I told them!) I am trying to strengthen it, but continue to run on it. It makes a pretty sick crunching sound. Paige is stellar and is running circles around us - I am so proud of her - she is awesome.

Isaac served sacrament for the first time on Sunday. He did great, other than the big wad of gum he was chomping on. He starts 7th grade next week. I'm not even going to dwell on that frightening prospect. If any of you post-seventh-grade-adolescents have any advice...share.

Brooke - lest you think you are being ignored, Dave knows you have camera questions - we are ships passing in the night, and I don't know if he has had a chance to look at the blog. If I could help, I would, but I am clueless when it comes to cameras.

Before this gets too long -
Adina

Hey guys. Sorry for the lack of blog contributions from this end. No good excuse here. I have not been using the computer much these days and have not been looking at the blog either.
I am in the groove with the work thing but am finding that the weeks are wizzing by and the free time just goes by faster. I thought that once grad school was over I would have more time but I am beginning to think that will never be the case.
I really love my job and laugh when I think about how chaotic my days are with running from patient to patient every half hour like a big juggling act and somehow fitting in time to dictate notes on everone when there is no time alotted really. So far I have been getting great feedback from patients and other staff about my care of them (since I have started here) which sure helps to balance out the insecurity that comes with being a newer clinician.
Brent and I are getting excited for our trip we have been planning with the Anselmos. We are flying down to Irvine and will be doing Disneland as well as visiting the San Diego Stinches. Then we are doing a 3 day road trip back up to Vancouver up the coast in their new Odysey (sp?). We are also going to make a quick trip up to Canada (Vancouver). This will all be happening from September 17th and into the next week. We will certainly post pictues.
Other fun news... Amy (my sis) has started making baby items with a friend and selling them online at a cool all hand-made website. Her first posted product is a dad's diaper bag made in camo print... very cool. Here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6902672
One of the pictures she posted has her daughter Kate in it. I hope we have a kid soon cuz I will certainly not mind some cute hand-made baby things!
Well, I better go to bed since I am so not an early morning person.
Take care all and you are in our prayers. By the way, congratulations Tom and Tracey!!! What an adorable baby :) .
Buffy

FYI - I just posted a new review on "From the Upper Right" about the film, Becoming Jane. For those of you who are interested - check it out!

Oh and to the left is a little something I did while playing around today, not my best work but a fun little quick job. :) Anne Hathaway has a really long neck!

(I wrote this last night but was interrupted by Alyssa waking up so many times I never got back to it... I didn’t get in bed until 4:45am... and then Danica woke up crying at 5:30...oh the joys...anyway, this is what I wrote!)

Well, the kids are finally in bed and I should go to bed because I have only an hour and a half before Alyssa will wake up and I need to feed her again but I am finally realizing that I will never have a spare minute to write a blog so I had just better make a minute! We posted some pictures but didn’t really write anything about the excitement of her birth and such! After the blog I wrote at 3:00am on the 17th we checked in the hospital at about 5:30am and things began to progress normally.  At about 10:30 they thought I would have several more hours (I was at a 5) but things progressed so rapidly we suddenly didn’t think the doctor would make it back!  He had gotten off shift but said he wanted to come back to do the delivery so they called him. He was racing back but they kept saying he wouldn’t make it even though he was only about 10 minutes away!  They literally got everything ready and they had just said they would give him one more minute when he rushed in, straight into the gown and gloves and Alyssa was born!  She was perfectly healthy and I got to hold her right away which was really nice, I didn’t get to do that with the other two kids.  My recovery has been fantastic, especially compared to the c-section I had last time.  My hospital stay was short, just over 24 hours and although I didn’t want to come home to take care of the kids it was nice to get home to my own bed. 

Life’s been a little hectic at home with the kids adjusting and my recovery but fortunately my parents came for the entire week and took great care of all of us!  Danica likes “baby” most of the time but has her moments and definitely competes for my attention. Danica likes to sit on my lap whenever I try to feed Alyssa which is obviously challenging. My parents have been gone for one day and already the house is a disaster and I am exhausted. Thankfully Barb is coming tomorrow so I am sure we will survive another week! So far Alyssa looks a lot like the other kids but is totally different in every other way so it keeps me guessing and learning every day to find out what she likes. Danica didn’t seem to have an opinion about anything but Alyssa is more like Hayden, she knows what she wants. For instance, she doesn’t like to be swaddled, she didn’t want her pacifier (but is warming up to it) and tends to want to eat every 2 hours (not every 3 like the other kids did) or she screams her lungs out! But as I figure her out she is getting happier and is so sweet and cute. She loves to cuddle and just lay on me, it’s great.

A little side note on her name, I wanted to name her after my great grandma Alice who was very influential in my mom’s life. My mom’s dad died when she was only 6 and they lived with her grandma Alice for a while and it was her grandma who took her to church throughout her childhood and teens because my grandma didn’t go. However, even as a middle name we didn't love the name. But we both liked Alyssa so it works as an updated version of Alice. As for Kennedy, it’s a name we liked and thought it was great that it will help her to remember her fantastic grandpa Kenn!
Well, my spare time is short so I need to end but I just wanted to give the update!  I'll try to send more news later!

Adina, kids, and Dave- I do that in order of who I know was responsible :). Thank you so much for the birthday cards and Jane's gift certificate. We were both so pleased. I'm sorry you aren't hearing from us till now but I hadn't been to the post office for about a week and I finally made it there on Friday. We sure miss you guys (that can include all Stinchfields, Perrys, Olsens, etc...). We hope you have a wonderful last few days of summer before school starts. Jane's first day of middle school was today and yes, a few tears were shed as the bus pulled away. I just can't believe I have a middle schooler. Sadie doesn't start kindergarten till next Tuesday, talk about torture. Okay, have to go read up on the camera. love, me

This is to Dave and Tom- I know I'm being a total user blogging when I need something. Mike took my digital camera with him to Iraq and told me to get a new one that will do movies as well. After looking at some reviews I picked up a Canon SD 1000. But of course when I got home I was looking something up and discovered the Canon TX-1 a digital camera and a video camera but it is also $200 dollars more but it does do HD. Mike told me a while ago to get your two opinions, which I did not do before I made my purchase today. However, it was Jane's first day of middle school and I realized that I did not have a camera yet. So obviously I am now questioning my purchase, wondering if it really worth the extra money. I have so many baby purchases coming up (yes, that is what happens when you think you are done and give everything away, also when you fear for the infant's life because you have an unscrupulous three year old). I have to have something small enough to fit in my purse or pocket because I will have the baby and occasionally Ellyn in my arms AND I don't want it to blur because that was my biggest issue with my last one. It blurred inside. If one or both of you could take a moment from your busy teeth cleaning days to answer my question I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Brooke
P.S. Anne, my phone is being stupid. I will try to figure out what is wrong. I did try to call you on Sunday but I had hit the redial from HSM2 night and I thought it was something wrong with the redial and I was too lazy to get on the computer, it appears to be a bigger issue. Love, me

Check out the new web Gallery @ http://gallery.mac.com/stinch#gallery

I am having another Shade showcase because I want to meet more of the people that live in our apartments since I feel like I don't know anybody. I didn't know if anybody wanted anything.

It is free shipping again and the Half Yearly Sale is going on. I have the showcase tonight, but orders are able to come in until Monday. Also Maternity gets 5% off. I just didn't want anybody to miss out if they did want to get something. Either e-mail me at perrykt@gmail.com, call or leave a comment.

Thanks!
Kimberly

Well I guess we are long over due for a blog. I have been busy getting things squared away for school starting on monday. I have had to jump thru a ton of hoops in order to finally be able to apply for graduation this fall. Yes I am graduating in December pending approval from my graduation application. I am so excited that this is the last semester but it will be tough with 18 credits of classes but I can do it.

Recently, Andrew has become a big fan of our electric toothbrushes that we use. Every time I am brushing my teeth he just sits there and stares in admiration waiting for his turn to brush his teeth. After I am done, I get his brush ready and as soon as I get close to his mouth with the toothbrush, he starts to make a humming sound like the electric toothbrush. It is hilarious to see but he loves to brush his teeth. We recently broke him of his pacifier and I am soooo excited that we did it before school started back up. He has been so good going to sleep now with little to no crying. We do have a cry session every so often but not that often. He is growing and becoming smarter everyday. He just amazes me with the things that he figures out.

We have our next appointment on the 31st but won't find out what the sex of the baby is until the 20th of September because they won't do the ultrasound until 20 weeks. I am so impatient that I may see if my doctor can pull some strings at my next appointment. I am so not wanting to wait a month to find out.

Everything else is going well here. We are finishing up some landscaping on the house so that we can sell it early next year to early next spring. We love you all and hope we see some of you soon.

Love, Anne

Some photos from the Groban concert two days ago. Dad

So I guess I will post a "real" post since no one is posting and I keep looking back to the blog only to watch "Foux De Fa Fa" again. And as fun as that is I think I'll try to give the blog a jumpstart.

Let's see. Last week I waited with bated breath for Alyssa to arrive. I stayed at T&T on Thursday night and watched the kids when I wasn't at work on Friday. I got to see Alyssa on Sunday and she is very cute. A newborn, so mostly she was just sleeping and making odd faces the whole time but she is very cute. The best part is watching Danica sulk. She will just walk a few steps away, turn away from everyone and bow her head in silence. Poor girl - she stills get plenty of attention though!

Not too many exciting developments for me. I got my hair cut again last week. Went for a shorter bob-ish style. It is longer in the front and short in the back. It is much cooler - temperature wise and nice to not have hair on the back of my neck. It is also a lot easier to style so that is nice.

I have been a total slacker this last week with training for my race. I always have the problem of going after work right now because I am tired, I have to go somewhere/do something else and/or it is just so freaking hot! It was like 90 degrees outside when I got out of work last night and I just don't do well running in heat like that. So my possible solution was to try to wake up earlier and go in the morning before work. I tried this morning and the waking up actually wasn't too big a problem but when I did wake up I looked out the window and it was still really dark (at 6am). I live on a really busy street and the places where I usually run that are close by are kinda wilderness areas - so all places that I really wouldn't feel comfortable or safe running when it is dark outside (I'm sure Dad will appreciate that). I can't go any later in the morning because I have to be ready to leave for work by 745am. Any ideas?? I know it will cool off in the next few weeks but I really need to continue training in the mean time. I am definitely feeling it that I haven't been going.

In my free time I am packing my stuff for my short move. I will be moving my stuff slowly starting next Weds through Sept 7th (when I have to be out of my current apt). So right now my apt is in disarray - boxes, shoeboxes, bags, piles everywhere - so that is kinda throwing my routine out of whack too.

This weekend I am going up to LA to see a play that my friend Matthew is in and next weekend I have my 5K at Disneyland, which I am very excited to do again. I'll also be doing the other 5K that I did last year in October. It is in Balboa Park on a Saturday night which is a fun change. I think I might drag Tom to do it with me.

Mom comes down next Monday to help out Tom & Tracey and Dad is coming Labor Day weekend so it will be fun to have them in San Diego again if only for a little while.

Tonight I am going to dinner with my old roommate Sandy. We are taking the ferry from downtown SD to Coronado and having dinner at a restaurant on Coronado. Should be fun!

Would love to hear from all of you! Especially those we haven't heard from in a while...coughBrentcough... Love you guys!

Because Tom hasn't posted this yet (and he said he would) and because I am so excited that I just found out that HBO decided to renew this show for the second season, I am posting this video below. I promise there is absolutely NOTHING offensive in this video...unless you take offense to the French - although this is kind of making fun of them so you can't even use that as an excuse.

I don't know who looks more beautiful-mom or baby. Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for all of you. The girls and Mike are excited for you too.

Love, the Mike Stinchfield clan

Well first of all, Congrats to Tom and Tracey! She is beautiful and we can't wait to meet her! Hope everything went well!
Also Happy birthday to Brooke, Jane and Isaac! We hope you all had great birthdays!
We have been busy with work and Treven's parents came in on Sunday. They were heading home on Wednesday when they pulled off in American Falls (about 1 1/2 hours away) and their transmission went out. They rented a car and came back up to stay with us until the car is fixed.
Pertaining to the title, yesterday I had a interview with Customer Service at work which is a 2 dollar raise. They have been trying to get me over there since I got back from maternity leave. They finally got a shift that is only Tuesday and Thursday 5pm-10pm and one Saturday a month. The shift is a rare one since everybody else in Customer Service is working almost everyday so I lucked out on this one. They offered the shift to me today and I start a 2 week training next week.
We went and saw Star dust on Wednesday and it was awesome. We absolutely loved it especially because we were able to enjoy it since Melia slept through the whole thing. But ti was great. I have been recommending it to everyone at work and to my friends. Thanks for telling us about it Marnie!
Well there is a little update with us! I will write more later!

Love,
Kimberly

Can't wait to see her. Nice to hear everything went smooth. We will be in OC in Sept and would like to come down or have you guys come up. Let's figure it out.

Brent and Buffy

I will give Tom and Tracey the pleasure of announcing the name although I know that a few of you already know it.

I also don't know the exact time but it was about 20 or so minutes ago I think. She is 7lbs and 2oz and 21" long. Mother and baby are doing fine. Tracey was feeding her when Tom called me about 10 minutes ago.

Tom will be coming up to get me and the kids later this afternoon so we can go down and see her. I promise to take pictures and post them as soon as I can. :)

So I stayed at Tom & Tracey's last night since I had already driven up there and in case she went into labor during the night. At about 4:30am this morning Tracey came in to tell me that they were leaving for the hospital. Then they left and came back (I don't know why but I heard them come back and I think they left the garage door open - don't worry, nothing is gone) and left again.

I got the kids and myself up and ready this morning, which actually went surprisingly smoothly. They got a short ride in Remus over to one of Tracey's friends house and they are staying there while I am at work until 1pm.

I haven't heard any updates from Tom. I talked to him briefly at about 730am but they hadn't had the baby then. Anyway - I will keep you posted if I hear anything as I have much more access to the computer than they do! :)

Well it’s nearly 3:30am and I”m at the computer after laying in bed timing contractions for the last hour... yes, we were on our way to the hospital because the doctor felt I was far enough along he might as well induce me while he was there to do it so I didn’t have to wait out the weekend (in case you want the details I was dilated just past a 3 and 75% effaced). But right as Marnie arrived and we were ready to leave he called and said that things had suddenly exploded at the hospital and there weren’t any empty beds now... so unless I was actually in labor there wouldn’t be room for me. He felt really bad because things had been so open just two hours earlier but there was nothing he could do. He did say we could call at 4:00am when Tom gets ready to go to work because maybe I could just come in then. So anyway, we went to bedding just hoping my contractions would get more regular so they would be forced to take me and I woke up at about 2:00 and they have been about every 7 minutes since then. I stayed in bed for the first hour but then I got too hungry and bored... so here I am eating a pop tart and writing to all of you. If things keep going this well I can hopefully call at 4:00 and he’ll say to come on in. But fingers crossed, worst case scenario the contractions will die down and I will go back to sleep but they will pick up later and they will still have to take me sometime today!
Hayden is so excited and just keeps talking about how he can’t wait to meet his new baby sister! He kept hugging Danica and trying to get her excited and kept telling her she was going to get a friend soon! Danica on the other will be much, much, less than thrilled at this new arrival as she is still my baby and doesn’t like it when even Hayden is sitting on my lap...I know I’m in trouble with her! I got a new swing for this baby and when I had it out to clean and get ready she loved sitting in it (and still fit and meets the weight requirement of course!!) I hid the swing in my closet because I can only imagine how happy she’ll be when she understands it’s not for her... good thing she is so adorable!
Okay, of course we will keep you all posted! Thanks for listening to my early morning ramblings...

As most of you know I've been on a "sister's week" with Martha and BA...the last three days we've been pretty out of contact with no computer and only intermittant phone connections. I missed calling on Jane's birthday...then tried the next day and couldn't get through...then missed today until I noticed it was 2 pm and too late to call. Of course with Isaac at scout camp, I couldn't even try!

My oldest two grandchildren are so special to me...you are both growing up so fast...and so well. I feel privileged to be your grandmother! Jane, you are such a responsible girl and help your mom and sisters out so much...but I love to see you just enjoy being an 11 year old. I'm glad you were able to have your party!! Isaac, I'm impressed with your merit badges...you are quite an achiever!

Today is also Dad and my anniversary...38 years. I just wanted all of you to know how blessed I have been to be able to share my life with him. He is such fun...and can be serious when it is needed. He is truly my best friend in every way and I look forward to many more years together.

I am hoping that baby girl Stinchfield enters this world tomorrow. Marnie just called and said she was on her way to T & T's so that they could go down for the hospital...very exciting!

We've had a very fun week here. On Tuesday morning, we went down to SLC to attend President Faust's funeral. We are really glad that we did. We didn't get into the tabernacle but we were in the Assembly Hall and everything was shown there including the arrival of the cars etc. Probably a better view than from the tabernacle. I think it was on BYU TV too and I'm sure will be repeated. There were very inspirational messages and tributes to a great man.

We then left to go up to Afton, Wyoming which is in Star Valley (about 60 miles south of Jackson Hole) We went there because our great grandfather, William Walton Burton, moved up there during the persecution for polygamy. He ran the first general store and started a creamery there. He was the first counselor in the first Stake Presidency for Star Valley. We stayed in a little cabin up one of the canyons by a creek. For dinner the first night we went to "Tootsie's" in Thayne (also in Star Valley) Despite the outward appearance of a very ordinary small town dive, the food was delicious...really gourmet!

The next morning, Martha and I went on a walk about two more miles up the canyon and back. On our way back, to our surprise, we saw a bear lumbering across the road a bit in front of us...then to our further consternation, we saw a cub following her. We paused for a moment to make sure they were gone then started up again. After a few more steps, another cub came out from our right, saw us and then dashed back. We weren't sure WHAT to do then. We had to get past the spot to get back to our cabin and safety...but didn't want the mama to think that we were threatening the other cub. After waiting a few more minutes to see if the cub would cross again, we decided to go ahead...and we are alive to talk about it...thank goodness. We went again this morning and had no such excitement...just saw a deer on the road.

Anyhow, after our bear encounter, we went out to breakfast and then headed up to Jackson Hole and the Great Teton Park. When I was 2 or 3, our family came up to the mainland and stayed at Jenny Lake. Of course, Martha and Beppie Anne have great memories of that so we went and saw the cabin that they stayed in. We then went down to Jackson to window shop a bit...and regular shop for some! Beppie Anne educated me on why the town is called Jackson but people always refer to it as Jackson Hole. A "Hole" is a valley high up in the mountains.

We then went to the Bar J Ranch for a chuckwagon dinner and show. It was excellent...both the food and the show. We highly recommend it! They fed about 500 people in 20 minutes...really impressive organization. I'm sure you all would love the experience and the show.

Today, after our walk, we went to the historical museum and saw a bed, ledger and tools of W.W. Burton. We then found one of his barns (still in use for storage), the stake center (also well preserved and still used). We also went up to see the creek where Martha Burton (my grandmother) lost her sister and her sister's friend in the river.

We then drove back down the SLC and went to see Charlie and Linda Burton and Brenda (Burton) Bensch and had a good lunch with them at their house in Highland, remembering old times together as we grew up. So we are back up here in Eden tonight and after a delicious dinner are getting some rest...I'm the only one left up.

I love you all...so nice to hear from both Brooke and Mike...I just LOVE my family!

Love,

Mom

I’m sorry we are so slow with all the birthday wishes! What a fantastic birthday week, we are hoping to add one more to it!

Jane: You are fantastic! We are so lucky to have such a great niece and cousin! You are so much fun and so sweet! I bet you’re taller than me now!! Happy Birthday!

Isaac: Wow! Hayden is going to die with excitement when I tell him you are twelve because he walks around all the time telling everyone about his cool cousin Isaac that’s 11...he just idolizes you! Thanks for being so awesome! Happy Birthday!

Brooke: I don’t even know where to start with you! I am trying to blame my emotions on the pregnancy hormones but I am constantly amazed by you and Mike and all that you do for the rest of us. I have such respect and admiration for you as a person and a mom and for the sacrifices you make for our country! Thank you for being you and for all that you do for us as such a fun sister-in-law and aunt, as an army wife who gives so much, and for the inspiration you are to me. I know it all sounds cheesy and Tom would insist I delete it if he were home but I really do mean it. Happy Birthday!

Lastly I would love to say Happy Birthday to the new baby, we are hoping for Friday, it would be perfect timing for everyone...yeah, as if we can choose! There is good news though: we decided on a name. At this point it seems we have drawn out the process for so long we might as well wait and make the announcement when she is actually born. The other good news is that things are progressing! I decided to go to the appointment on Tuesday and took Danica with me while Hayden played at a friends. Well of course, this is the only time I didn’t wait in the waiting room at all and actually spent a lot of time with the doctor while he discussed not having another C-section and such. He was really nice and made me feel like he was actually paying attention to me as a patient and not simply on his way to the next room. It’s best if I go into labor on my own to keep the risk of c-section as low as possible. I’ll spare you all the graphic details but I am dilating and he wants me to come back tonight while he’s on at the hospital to try to push things along further. So hopefully that will work and I’ll go into labor and he can deliver her tomorrow!
Well due to my plans of being busy tomorrow I have a ton to do today and better get going! Brooke, I know what you mean about them supposedly being easier when they are on the inside but I’m definitely done with this and just can’t wait to me meet her and hold her, see what she looks like and have so much fun! (And it will be nice to be able to breath again, walk, bend over, not have hourly practically useless yet painful contractions, etc. etc. etc...)

Take care!
Tracey

Another one!? And to think we will be adding another very soon with {INSERT NAME HERE} Stinchfield of the Tom and Tracey clan....

Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISAAC! I hope you have a totally awesome day! 12 years, wow!!


Love,
Aunt Marnie

PS: Great to hear from you, Brooke! :)

Thank you for all Birthday Posts! I had a great birthday.


jane

Thank you all for all of the birthday wishes. They deifinitely brightened my day. It was not my favorite day but I kind of knew that would be the case. I can't wait for Jane to wake up so she can see hers.

It looks like you are having a great summer and I hope we'll be enjoying it with you next year.
My plan is to leave here for a couple of months after school gets out and come home.

Isaac- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I could say I can't believe you're twelve, but I can. I have been thinking about you being a deacon every Sunday as the young men in our ward pass the sacrament and I have been thinking what a nice job you will do. You are such a good kid, you are fun to hang out with and talk to, and you are so good to all your younger cousins. I love you (I know, gross coming from your aunt) and I am so happy you are a part of our family. I hope you have a great birthday. Jane just woke up and said to tell you Happy Birthday!

Okay, briefly, I am going to post my comments here because they are so out of date they won't get read. Marnie, I saw a write up on Stardust (right?) and I thought it looked really great. I'm glad you have confirmed. Brent, thanks for sending the F&F card. My family really appreciated it. Anne, I know that you don't want T&T to use Cleone as a middle name because you want to use it but... I think it's kind of fun to share middle names. We have Jean, Marie, and Anne that are used ALOT in our family and we love it. Meagan, my aunt Paula, Bennett, Sadie, my cousin Monica, one of my aunt Joanie's daughters, etc... all have the middle name of Jean and it is a great little bond between them all. T&T might not use it but I wouldn't worry about it- that's my two cents.

We are excited to find out what Anne and Peter are having and we are waiting anxiously for the birth of the San Diego baby girl. Tracey, your story reminded me of the time that Sadie broke her leg and they splinted it for a few days until the swelling went down and told me to call for an appt. When I called they told me the first one they had available was two and a half weeks away. I sat on the phone speechless for a second and then I asked if they understood that I had a two year old with a broken leg who needed a cast. They told me that was the best they could do. After going round with the ignoramus one more time I gave up. Luckily my two best friends at Benning were Dr's wives and I called Mark and he got me an emergency referral and we had a cast on that day. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I am so jealous that you are having this baby now. I know life will be harder with Sawyer on the outside but he will be cute and loveable and worth it and I will be done being pregnant- forever.

Well Ellyn is awake and while she is feeling better, she has also gotten used to being spoiled and she's putting up a fuss. We love you all and wish we could be spending these last few weeks of summer with our family. Take care. Love, Brooke

I hope you are having a great day with your mom and sisters! Love you bunches! :)

Your fellow redhead,
Marnie

Happy Birthday, Jane - I hope you get to do something fun for your special day! We love you!
Love, Uncle Dave, Aunt Adina, Isaac, Taylor, Parker & Morgan

I safely arrived in Iraq from Kuwait yesterday. It is only 110 here so it feels much cooler than the insanity that was Kuwait. It was like another planet there. Unfortunately it does smell here but not much different than Kabul. I have it pretty easy for this week actually. Just some classes. Most of the free time I spend emailing or calling the girls or watching movies on my laptop.

I have a wonderful family. You guys should know better than anyone that Brooke is an angel with patience greater than any saint...I say that because you all had to deal with me too. I just want to tell everyone in my family that I truly love the woman. She is an incredible person who has made all the difference to me in my life. And she loves all of you (and would love to talk to any of you, anytime). Happy Birthday Brooke!

Jane is that awesome child who has dealt with it all. Every time Dad has left, she has been the strong one there for Brooke and now the other girls. I love the kid to death. Happy Birthday Jane.

Love you guys.

Mike

All my love's going your way today! Hope your day gets better! :) Love you!

--
Marnie