TYLER AT TWO

Tyler.....

loves his new baby sister, "Baby Addie" as he calls her

loves Buzz Lightyear (Buzz Ight-ear); He runs around the house saying, "To Infinity and Beyond!" He saw this swimsuit and he could not let go of it....and wore it for 2 days straight before I could get it off of him!

loves swimming!! Jumps right on in (thank heavens for life jackets) and when he jumps he yells out, "To infinity and Beyond"!

always want to watch "The Three Little Pigs"...I found the original 1930's version on You Tube...he'll watch it over and over...and sometimes, if I'm lucky, he'll fall asleep watching it!

(still on the Three Little Pigs) saw this guy dressed up for the DARE program "Dr. Slaughters Haunted House" and thought it was the Big Bad Wolf; he wanted to have his picture taken with him (I'm sure the guy was a little annoyed that he wasn't seen as some scary creature, only the Big Bad Wolf)

3 SISTERS

Three sisters - pregnant at the same time and due within 4 weeks of each other:

All three babies arrived happy and healthy!!

KID FAVORITES

Here is our annual 2010 "favorites" list from the kids:

McKenna
favorite color - red
favorite book - Fablehaven book 1 (currently reading)
favorite toy - ankle jumprope
favorite song - Love Story by Taylor Swift
favorite food - snowcone (not surprised - she is our SUGARBABY)
favorite movie - Despicable Me (we just saw it last night)
favorite tv show - Wizards of Waverly Place
favorite thing to do - play softball and swim
favorite place to go - Disneyland

Harrison
favorite color - blue
favorite book - Pirates of the Caribbean
favorite toy - guns (yikes!)
favorite song - Let's Get it Started by Black Eyed Peas
favorite food - snowcone
favorite movie - Pirates of the Caribbean
favorite tv show - Spongebob Squarepants
favorite thing to do - play with dad and mom
favorite place to go - Salt Lake hotel because they have a swimming pool and hot tub

Tyler
favorite color - blue
favorite book - Ping Ping Panda
favorite toy - Buzz Lightyear
favorite song - I'm A Be by Black Eyed Peas
favorite food - fruit snacks
favorite movie - Toy Story 3
favorite tv show - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
favorite thing to do - dance
favorite place to go - Bear Lake cabin

MY LITTLE BABIES

Addison's jaundice levels were high enough that she has neede to be on a billiblanket for a few days. I went into my room to check on her and found my two little babies asleep:

I have actually had a hard time calling her Addison - I keep slipping and calling her Tyler because he's been my baby for so long. It's funny how the baby of the family "grows up" when a new baby joins the family!

WELCOME BABY #4

Our family has grown with our new baby girl!! Baby Cromwell #4 was due on July 4th, but she decided to come a week early (of course, in the middle of the night) but we are SO EXCITED to have her here - happy and healthy!!

Here I am getting ready to get things going and anxiously awaiting my epidural!! When I was in labor, Dr. Leavitt came in and asked Adam to "scrub in"; he was able to assist in the delivery (I wish I would've had my camera in hand to take a picture of him in the scrubs, but I was a little busy...

So, here SHE is - happy as a clam to be here:

A few weeks before Addison was born, I was talking with McKenna and Harrison about the birth of babies and we got on the subject of the baby crying when they are born. I told them how doctors use to spank the baby's bum to make them cry; that was one of the first questions asked by McKenna after Addison was born, "Mom, did the doctor have to spank her bum?!?" As you can see by the pictures above, she didn't need any help with learning how to use her lungs.

I have been lucky to have an epidural every time I have given birth, but for both Kenna and now Addison, the epidural has caused a peculiar side effect on me - "saggy eye" - I call it...so annoying while in labor because I feel like a pirate with one eye - I guess I should've gotten me an eye patch just in case:

Oh, how great to be a mother!!

LUCKY #7

Our sweet little McKenna is now 7!! I cannot believe how quickly she is growing up! She was the first granddaughter on both sides of our family and our first child!! I had her name picked out when I was 16 years old (from the movie "Somewhere In Time") She is such an awesome girl!!

Some cute pics from her last 7 years:

Birthday "loot"

McKenna is an avid reader; she'll be reading 2-3 books at a time! She also loves to go swimming and has really enjoyed learning to snorkel with her dad at grandma and grandpa's pool. Kenna is ALL GIRL and loves fake nails ("glue nails" as she calls them), earrings, bracelets, necklaces etc. We also had to include some candy in there - she is the epitome of the saying "SUGAR and spice and everthing nice, that's what girls are made of"!!

Kenna decided on a salon birthday party this year - we had mani/pedis, facials, hair and make-up. All the girls loved getting done-up!! I think the favorite was the cucumbers with the facial; they all giggled and had to see each other during their facials!

I decided to make the cake this year (staying with the theme...fingernail polish) and thought it turned out great!! Adam even got involved and frosted the cake - great job huh?!?

the "little ladies"

DANCE RECITAL 2010

I cannot believe this is McKenna's 4th year in dance!! She really is enjoying it and loved that they started jazz this year as well. She is growing up way to fast for me!

Her goal is to make it to the 5 year award, which will be this next year. The only thing I'm not sure of is if there actually IS a 5 year trophy or medal that her instructor gives them. See, a few years back (as a motivational tactic) I told Kenna about the award...not necessarily thinking there may not be an actual award just a posterboard with the names on it...so, I may be buying her a 5 year trophy come next spring!

Either way, she deserves it for sticking with it and she is a great dancer!

HERE'S #2

Harrison, within one week, noticed his next tooth was loose. Our kids definitely have Adam's teeth - I didn't even lose my first tooth until I was in 1st grade! Our kids get their teeth early and start to lose their teeth early as well:

Looks like we need a visit from the Tooth Fairy:

1..2..3!

Harrison is our brave little boy - he has his first loose tooth and can't wait to pull it out!! In fact this was our 3rd day trying to pull it out!

READY...

SET....

PULL.... SUCCESS!!

Way to go Harrison!!

(Don't mind the road rash on his face...that's a whole other story!)

WE'RE HAVING A....

GIRL!!

We just had the ultrasound last week and found out the exciting news...we are really excited to "even things out" in our family and can't wait to meet our little girl in June/July 2010. Right now the official due date is July 4th, but I have yet to have any of my kids on their actual due date. Kenna is a bit worried that I'll miss the parade and fireworks if I have the baby on the 4th...she is a little "worry wort" like her mother.

Here are a few cute pictures from the ultrasound:

- this is a profile with the little hand resting over her eyes and the other hand on her chest

- is this not the perfect profile picture?!? And her cute little hand under her chin

- here she is looking right at you - the kids are afraid of this picture...they call it the skeleton picture..do you see it?!?

We told McKenna and Harrison that, after the appointment, we would take them to lunch and whatever color the drink we got was (i.e. pink = girl, blue = boy) that would let them know what we were having. On our way to pick up McKenna from school, Harrison mentioned that he really hoped it was a girl for Kenna...so she could have a sister like he has a brother. We told him that we weren't the ones to decide which the baby would be. He started to cry because he was so concerned about McKenna having a sister...it was the sweetest thing!

We've been trying to let Tyler know that we're having a baby and so I showed him the pictures and told him, "this is a baby growing in mommy's tummy." and pointed to my tummy, and ever since then he will grab the pictures and push them up to HIS tummy and say, "baby in tummy."...I don't think he's grasping it quite yet!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

I came across this cute idea for the kids valentine's day cards and they loved making them! I thought they turned out really cute too!

SLEDS AND SWINGS

It was a great day (for being February) to go sledding at the local park:

It was quite the work-out walking back up the hill, and I don't remember sledding being so jarring to the joints!?!

Then the kids spotted the toys and decided they were done with the sledding:

Time for a little nap!

MEGA FROSTY

Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman....once there was a snowman - tall, tall, tall!!

Adams brother, Jed, along with a few friends and family built this 15 ft snowman!! (complete with all the accessories) This puts EVERY snowman I've ever made or seen to shame!

CREDIT MUST BE GIVEN!

I cannot go any longer without letting everyone know how AWESOME Adam is at woodworking!! From the day we were married, he has made a great amount of furniture for our home and family (and usually with minimal complaining) He just finished yet another great piece for Harrison - I hope these pieces stay around forever!!


Like I said, from the day we were married... Adam started off making our bed (I unfortunately don't have a picture of that because it is currently being used at his family's cabin) and yes, I loved it, but it was a queen and we have since moved up to a king-sized bed!


Next, when McKenna was on her way, I pulled out my trusty Pottery Barn catalog and showed him this picture:

and before I knew it, he had construced this great changing table!! It has now made it through 3 kids and will surely make it through #4!!

Now, a few months after Kenna was born we moved into our home - and a new house needs some new furniture right?!? So, out came the trusty Pottery Barn catalog again with a picture of some end tables for the living room:

aren't these just great!! ( I have two of them)

When we found out Harrison was joining our family, I knew we needed to finish our basement...but it was FREEZING down there! So, we went to buy a fireplace and saw some great designs. But then Adam decided he would just do it all himself - we bought the insert and Adam's woodworking talents finished the rest - I love it!

of course, we also needed to find housing for the monstrous t.v. and our many DVDs - Adam to the rescue!

When Harrison was old enough for a bed, we went searching for one, but then I received another Pottery Barn catalog in the mail and just couldn't keep my eyes off of this bed!
Adam went right to work and I still love it!! It has been a great bed for Harrison!

We had completed most of our basement except for the bathroom, until Adam got the woodworking itch again (double vanity and all):

Oh...the "needing and wanting" never end for more furniture right?!? Well, we then needed more toy storage....toy shelves to be exact:

And now for the latest piece - Harrison's dresser - once again, pulled for that darn Pottery Barn catalog (I couldn't pass up the matching dresser!!)

Thank you, Adam, for all your awesome work!! I must, as I'm giving credit, thank his dad as well! We wouldn't be so lucky to have all this without Adam's dad being a woodshop teacher for so many years and taking the time to share his skills with Adam and all his siblings!!

(please don't judge me for the clutter around - that's the one thing I'm good at!!)

SPEAKING TYLER-NESE

Tyler is now 22 months old (which I cannot believe) - I had to put this picture on here...he loves being wrapped up in his "beebee" and just walks around like that. Speaking of his "beebee" or blankie, he is talking up a storm. Just like all my babies, he says some of the cutest things just by how he says them. Here are some of our favorites:

finger = minger

blankie = beebee

fruit snacks = nuit nacks

brother = brudder

Kenna = Nenna

open = opeese

Christmas = meemus

t.v. = tb tb

rockabye = boobye

His favorite book right now is "Monster at the End of the Book" = Monster lalalalala book

Everytime he sees lettuce he says "rio" - meaning Cafe Rio, since we frequent there atleast once a week!

CHRISTMAS FUNNIES

I know, I know, I am finding it hard to keep up with blogging right now, but I've got to post these before I forget them!

McKenna

On Christmas day, McKenna wa admiring her new blendy pens when she looked at me and said
"Mom, I just love Santa Claus...he gives you whatever you want without you having to do anything for it! And he always knows exactly what I want!"

**obviously the statement, "if you're not good, Santa won't bring you presents" means nothing to her**

Harrison

Adam's birthday is on the 23rd and so Adam and I usually go out that night. We left our kids with Adam's parents and while they were there, someone in Adam's family asked Harrison if he thought he was going to get any presents from Santa this year. Harrison replied with, "(sigh) Well, it's going to be close! Sometimes McKenna just does things that make me hurt her!"

**I guess he knew how close he really was to gettting coal for Christmas**

Tyler

This is Tyler's first Christmas where he has really noticed things like the Christmas tree, presents, Santa Claus and especially the Christmas lights outside. So, everytime we would pull out of the garage, be it daytime or nightime, he would enthusiastically say, "oh, MEEMUS!!" (which in Tylernese means Chrismas lights) He was so cute this holiday season!! He even learned to sing Jingle Bells and Must be Santa - he would just walk around the house humming and singing the words he knew all day!