Blessed

I've usually done this in my personal journal. After the birth of each of my children I like to write down the feelings I have and the hopes I have for them. That was also before I started blogging. So here we are with Indie. I eventually want to get those books that you can publish from your blog and I thought this would be a good place to write this down.

It is an incredible feeling and miracle to watch this little body emerge from inside of you. And then to have him start to cry. Especially after a neighbor has lost their little boy that was born just two days before. Pregnancy is no longer something new to me, but it is still incredible every time it happens. As soon as I feel movements inside I wonder at the little miracle growing inside. Indie, we are so happy to have you as part of our family. You have two great older siblings who love you. Your dad and I love you, too. I hope that we can teach you of the love your Heavenly Father and older brother, Jesus Christ, have for you through the love that we show you. Your father and I pray everyday to be guided by the spirit in raising you and in teaching you the gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope that one day you will gain a testimony of that gospel and that you will desire to follow it. I hope that you will choose to share your testimony with those around you and also that you will choose to serve a mission. Your personality is already beginning to show. You are very placid, very laid back (a Chamberlain trait), and hardly ever fuss. I hope that you will learn to take life as it comes and to enjoy the small moments. Despite any challenges you'll face, it will be those small moments that will bring joy to your life. We love you, Indie! We really are happy to have you join our family!

Love,
Mom

Welcome Indie!

Everything started on Sunday night. I started having contractions and we went into the hospital. After laboring with regular contractions for over four hours (2 1/2 at home and then 1 1/2 at the hospital the contractions stopped and since I hadn't progressed I had to go home. They gave me pain medication and we went home. I continued to have contractions all of Monday but they weren't regular or very strong. At about 7:30 or 8 the contractions became regular again. We got to the hospital at about 11 and they started monitoring me again. After the first hour there was still no change. By this time it had begun to snow and the doctor didn't want to send me home quite yet. So they gave me some percocet and said to wait another hour. The contractions continued even through the pain medication, they even got stronger and I had barely changed from a 4 to a 4+. They told me I was staying and I got my epidural at about 1:15 am. At about three the nurse came to check me and I was at a 7. She decided to roll me over and in the process my water broke. I had a couple more contractions when we finally realized that I was soaking and she checked me again and I was at a ten. She left to call the doctor who was still at home. So I laid on my side for 20 or 30 minutes trying not to push so that Dr. Lamoreaux could make it. He made it and I only pushed through one contraction before little Indie Glenn came into the world at 3:38 am. He was 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 18 1/2 inches long. He was beautiful from the beginning (what mom doesn't think so?) and he had blonde hair. We are extremely blessed to have a healthy baby!

Christmas

Our Christmas Hoopla began with a great Family Home Evening about the Savior's birth with my mom and step-dad and siblings at my sister Julie's house. It then proceeded with Scott's family on the 23rd. We had a sibling gift exchange as well as a cousin gift exchange. Things started out really well...both of the kids were really excited to be getting and giving gifts to their cousins. Here is Annicka, holding her gift for her cousin Jake. She was SO excited...that was until she opened her present.Her gift was from her cousin Carter. The limit was $5. Apparently Annicka had her heart set on a "talking doll". The first time I heard about it was when she went BALLISTIC about the pom-poms she got instead. She had the meltdown of a lifetime. Scott said he had heard her talking about it before, but I had no clue that's what she wanted. Her expectations were not met. We had to have a long talk about being grateful for what we do get, and that we don't always get what we want. The next day, Christmas Eve, we had my mom and step-dad and all of my siblings at our house. Thankfully grandma Copple hadn't gone shopping until the night of the 23rd and was able to save Christmas with the present she bought for Annicka.Here are the kids with Grandma Copple and Papa Jim. They sure had fun with them while they were here!We also got a TON of snow over the last week or so. I'd say it all added up to at least 18 inches.We spent Christmas morning at our house with just the kids eating breakfast and opening their presents. Park was really funny! Every present he opened came with the exclamation of "WOW!" We got it on video. We then spent the rest of the day at grandma Chamberlain's eating a wonderful turkey dinner with cousins and had lot of fun making a giant snowman (which fell down before anyone could get a picture, apparently it was a little too big!). We wrapped up our Christmas celebrations with lunch at my dad's house on the 27th. We had some delicious Posole (a traditional mexican soup) and the kids had a great time playing with their cousins and aunts and uncles. We even got to go home with leftovers and some delicious homemade bread that my step-mom made. I need to get your recipe, Cynthia. We devoured it within hours of getting home. We hope everyone's Christmas was as good as ours!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Yesterday was my 26th birthday. When I was a kid I would wish for snow on my birthday. Well, I did get it lots of times, but never quite like it came yesterday. I think we got a good foot of snow.
I actually had a really good day yesterday despite the crazy amount of snow we got. Scott had gotten tickets to the Peter Breinholt Christmas concert for me. My mom is in town and she said she would watch the kids for us. Well, she picked the kids up at about 11 a.m., so I had the rest of the afternoon to myself before I went to go and pick up Scott from work. She took the kids to my brothers to decorate Christmas cookies and to play with cousins and then they went back to her and my stepdad's hotel and went swimming and had fun with Grandma and Papa Jim. I went and got my haircut and did a little shopping and just relaxed. It was great! The concert was amazing and we had such a good time. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
This is a picture of the kids in their Christmas outfits.
On Sunday after church I walked into Annie and Park's room to see what Park was up to and this is what I found! He was having a tea party all by himself!

Winter is finally here!

We finally got some measurable snow last night and so Park and Annicka really wanted to play outside this morning. What did they do? They mostly munched on the snow. Can you tell? They sure had fun though!



Right after Thanksgiving we put up the tree and let the kids have a campout in the living room. They actually slept all night and had a lot of fun.This one is entitled, "Our Boy, The Plumber." Need any more explanation? Actually, this is what happens anytime he even has a somewhat wet diaper. Nothing will stay up with his tiny waist. He gets his butt and hips (or lack thereof) from his father.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Well, yesterday. We went up to my aunt Marcia's house for dinner this year. She is the BEST cook! Her food is always delicious. There's always good company too. They have a putting green in their backyard and Park was having lots of fun putting around with Daddy.We took these family pictures for Scott's family calendar this year. I think this is the best one, and it wasn't even photoshopped!
After Marcia's we went to Grandma Chamberlain's house for pie. Kaylene was awesome and made banana cream, just because I asked for it! Thanks, Kaylene. We had a great time just chatting and getting to know Emily's Mom and brother (who is a fabulous violinist/fiddler). We are thankful to have family so close! We are especially grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives us guidance and direction in our lives every day. Especially with all that goes on in the world, the gospel has brought us so much peace. We are very blessed!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PARK!

Park joined our family two years ago, yesterday at 4:05 p.m. His sweet disposition has been a great addition to our family. We love you, Park!
His party was really low-key. He had an awesome racecar cake and Grandma Chamberlain came, as well as Uncle Ross, Aunt Emily, Uncle Ned and Aunt Rachel.
Park got a bunch of cars and a couple of board books. He wouldn't even come and eat cake and ice cream because he was too busy playing with his cars.
Who needs cousins or friends for a party when you have uncles Ross and Ned?
Yes, the frosting on the cake turned teeth blue. Although it doesn't help that all Annicka ate was the frosting.