"The First Year"

An exerpt taken from "The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood" by Vicki Iovine
"Having a baby is like entering a carnival fun house...It's a thrilling adventure, even if you do look a little distored in all the mirrors, you have no sense of direction and have to feel you way along in the dark, and even if every once in a while something pops up that you didn't expect and scares the heck out of you. You can fight it by running around looking for the exit or you can just exhale and remember, life is a carnival...."
* * * * *
And with every new addition, the carnival rides again! Get to know each kid individually; learn their unique personalilty. Watch it develop and grow and mesh with the rest of the family....enjoy!

Halloween Follow Up

This is what they usually look like.
We dress up often.
How cute, a moment of sharing.
Or are they arguing over the page?
We will go with sharing. That is my story,
And I am stickin' to it!
Mason is just "chillin" nearby.
Careful! Don't step on Mason.

Coralyn in Mackenzie's tutu again.
and again
and again.
Luke (no pants, again), in his superman shirt,
with his guns and mask on.
This is their true colors.

Coralyn spends a lot of time this way.
"Princesses do dat" she says.
She also spins an awful lot.

Finally, the halloween picture we needed for the post before.
(on halloween, she was NOT in the mood for pictures,
this is a follow-up picture)
And a great princess she is.
October/November 2008
Someone!! Buy that princess a tutu!!!!!!!!!

Halloween

The Palmers,
Luke--thinks he is a policeman
Mackenzie--thinks she is a princess
Daddy--thinks he is a "stud" (that is his work shirt!)
Mason--thank you to Uncle Corey and Aunt Kelly for the hand-me-downs

What a cute "tigger".
Mason--9 days old

My princess
Mackenzie--6 years old

My Warrior.
Luke--3 1/2 years old.

The Bunch.
Coralyn "fincess" (Princess)--2 1/2 years old.
"Me a princess, like Kenzie"
Coralyn is wearing one of Mackenzie's "tutus"
We better get her on of her own QUICK!
Halloween 2008

Two Weeks, Already!

Mason had his two-week appointment yesterday morning.
By two weeks, babies are supposed to be "back up to birth weight".
(at Mason's one week, he was one ounce above his birth weight)
At two weeks, Mason weighs 7 # 8 oz.
He is eating well, what can I say?!
His favorite time of day is still 3 AM to 5 AM.
Not exactly my favorite time of day!
Jeremy has been getting Mackenzie up and at 'um
and ready for school.
Jeremy and Aunt Becky have worked out getting
her to school on Jeremy's work days/school days.
Thank heaven for family.
Pray my sleep is restful,
since I don't get much!!!
Mackenzie is having trouble with homework.
Luke is having trouble with the schedule changes
(and that others don't uphold mommy's rules like he expects)
Coralyn is still with us weekdays.
She entertains Luke greatly.
This week they have been "Prince and Princess"
He has "rescued Her" every 5 minutes for hours on end!
Yes, he does weld a sword to protect "his princess".
They really do love each other.
November 7th, 2008

One Week

Mason Wade Palmer is one week old.
He eats, sleeps and loves to be wide awake between the hours of 3 AM and 5 AM!
He is a really good baby, except for the AM party!!
At his one-week-weigh-in he was exactly 7 pounds.
(babies should be at or above birth weight by their 2 week-check up)
That means he is doing great.
Thank you for your prayers.
Please continue to pray for sleep.
(Summer is not real nice when she does not get her rest)
October 29, 2008

Videos of Mason

I've uploaded a few videos I took of the new addition to our family. Hope you enjoy.
I set them up so you can download them and watch them in full quality.

Mason at less than 5 min old (85 mb)

Mason moving his hands around and looking at the camera, Great close up video (93mb)

Mackenzie holding Mason (44mb)

Mason Wade Palmer is here

Mason Wade Palmer joined the family at 8:40 am and came into the world at 20 inches long and 6lb 15oz. We checked into the hospital at 6:30 am and he was out by 8:40 so it was a quick delivery. Summer did great and Mason is doing great as well.

Family Photo (current for the week!)

At least the tire is bigger than me!
October 08

Corn Box

Luke in the corn box.
Like a sand box but corn!

Mackenzie in the corn box.
(Yes, I let her pick her own clothes!)
Mackenzie said this is deer feed, not corn.
Uncle Chris hunts!

Tractor driven Cow Train
Jeremy is riding too, oh, dear!
Luke is in the orange shirt.
Mackenzie is right behind Luke.
This was the highlight of the day.
They BOTH remembered it from last year without
prompting on the drive out there!!
Great memory for a 5 and 2 1/2 year old.
Kaska Family Farm Corn Maize
near Waco, TX
October 2008

Kaska Family Corn Maize

Mackenzie: The sun is too bright!
Luke: slept in the car and just woke up!

Is that a watermelon or a pumpkin in your shirt?

My babies.
They really grow up, don't they?
Mackenzie 6 years
Luke 3 1/2 years
Un-named boy child minus days old
October 2008
near Waco, TX

1st Grade Bible Presentation

1st graders get their own first Bible.
They use it in class each week, together, so they can find the verses together.

My first Bible
October 2008
Highland Baptist Church,
Waco, TX

Pregnant Mom Brain

I just put strawberry syrup in my bowl.....
of macaroni and cheese!
It was intended for the cup of milk which was right next to my bowl.
Yes, I ate it. It was not too much, just a drop or two.
Oh, the joys of pregnant mom brain.
Oct 2008 (39 weeks + 4 days)

39 Weeks, third child

The shirt no longer covers!
No, I don't wear it in public!
Guessin' just days now,
but babies have been known for not cooperating.
Thursday October 16th, 2008
Due (officially) Oct 22.

Shower

Halloween babies,
Carla is due 5 days after me.
We shall see who gets there first.
Not fair!! She is taller than me.
Third child for both of us.
I have a girl, boy, boy.
She has a boy, girl, girl.
It has been a great time having a fellow Preggo this time around.
Thank God for Friends.

The Loot!
Thanks girls!!!!!!
October 2008

Baby Boy Shower

Yet to be named!!!!!

Aren't these the best cookies you ever saw?

Mackenzie came to the shower. I love having a girl!

2 weeks, and counting!

Carla, Heidi, ME.
Carla is due with me.
Let's see who babies first.....
October 2008

Baby Boy Quilt

Snakes! Thank you to the quilter.
October 2008

Pre-Halloween fun

He thinks he is a policeman.
but he loves the knife, grenade, walkie-talkie, and the canteen.

Princess to the core. She thinks she is a princess.
Dress up is fun no matter what the season.
October 2008

Granddad w/ Luke

Can't beat Granddad time!

Luke is 3 1/2.
Waco, TX
Sept 2008

Granny Viola and Coralyn

Chillin' with the Gran!

Let us enjoy some outside time with each other.

Coralyn is 2 and some....
We won't tell you how young Granny is.....
Waco, TX
Sept 2008

Too Much Information

If you only get to buy one swimsuit,
It has'ta last you all the way,
right?
Luke is "huggin'" baby brother.
If you can't enjoy BEING a watermelon.....
Hey, if you got it, flaunt it......
Eat, drink and be merry......
What else can I come up with?

My oh, so clever daughter,
Informed me I was stretching out my shirt
(like the kids do when they put their knees in their shirt)
and that I was going to ruin my shirt.
I should not do that!
35 1/2 Weeks
(I did "retire" the shirt, along with many others.)
Thank you smarty pants!
Sept 08

Smile, you're on self-taken photography!
Sorry for the blur. I took this one myself.
It is hard to get help some times.
35 1/2 weeks, plenty to go.
I told the girls in class,
when it gets down to the leopard mumu.......
Getting close......
Ok, not close, but closer!!!!!
Just yesterday, I was wearing a friend's shirt.
Husband said "wow, you look like a giant LIME"
Friend said "it never quite looked like that on me"
and rubbed my belly.
(She carried wider, I carry RIGHT OUT THERE)
I did look like a lime!
Sept 2008