Just a little catching up!

Yes, I am still alive, for those of you who were wondering. I know I have been extremely bad at keeping things caught up, but I guess that is what four kids will do to you. I forgot how much work a newborn is. Life has been fun and busy. The holidays were wonderful. I am still adjusting to life with a baby again, and really don't have that much free time on my hands. I am hoping to be all caught up here in the next couple of days. Here are a few of the things you have missed since my last post. I will be adding our holiday pictures very soon. (I hope!) Thanks for being so patient.

Brothers and Blessings

Dennin just loves his new brother. I have to watch him very closely with Jace though because he is still a little rough. His favorite thing to do is lay down on the couch with Jace and put his arm across his chest and just look at him. It is SO cute. Jace doesn't seem to mind either. I hope this is a start to a great friendship!
Seeing these too like this reminds me of the saying from the movie, "Brothers don't shake hands, brothers hug!"
We blessed Jace the first Sunday in November. Tyler gave a beautiful blessing. We had our family all there and it was just a wonderful day. Doesn't look so handsome in is blessing outfit. Like a little old bald man. (He lost all his hair he had been born with!)

Happy Halloween

This year for Halloween Taelor was a cat, Kinley was a Indian, and Dennin was a pirate. They had a blast Trick-or-Treating. We went down to my mothers neighborhood. We went with a some friends from our ward and their kids. It was such nice weather for a change and the kids made a haul in candy.
He are all the kids getting their picture taken before we head out for some candy!

SCORE!

Taelor and Makinley both played soccer this fall. They just loved it. (Why wouldn't they??!) I was suprised at how quickly Tae picked up on playing positions. She got really aggressive towards the end of the season. I think she scored in almost every game as well. This was Kinners first year and she did well. She is by FAR the smallest one out there. She was so funny though, she would run with her arms straight out to keep the other girls away from her. It was so funny. They are both looking forward to starting again this spring.
Taelor playing defence and stopping a goal!!
Kinners going for a goal.....as long as the coach gets out of her way!
Kinley doing her famous "arms out" move. She is the little number 5.

Oh BOY.....He's here!

We are so excited to announce that our sweet baby boy Jace Bennett was born on Monday September 22nd at 11:18 am. He weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz. and was 21 inches long.

Here's how it all happened....... I was scheduled to be induced the morning of the 22nd. Something I was not excited about at all. I really wanted to go on my own. So I was very excited when at 3:00 in the morning I woke up with contractions. My Dr. had told me that if I started on my own at any time to get the the hospital very quickly because they wanted to start the antibiotics as soon as possible (for the Group B Strep). So as soon as I knew they were real contractions, I called my mom and as soon as she got to our house we left for the hospital. We got there about 5 am. They took me straight to a room and started my I.V and got the antibiotics going before they even checked me. When they did finally check me I was dilated to a 7 and was completely thinned out. The nurses were a little worried because it looked like I was going to go pretty fast and wouldn't get the medicine I needed. Well within about 30 minutes of arrival my contractions pretty much stopped. I would only have one like every 8 or 10 minutes. In the mean time of all this happening I got a epidural. This is something else I was not excited about. I kind of wanted to try natural, but man the contractions reminded me of why I had epidurals with my other kids. They came into do my epidural and I just didn't feel good about it, but let the Dr. do it anyways. Should have listened.... It felt really different and not right. The Dr. was extremely fast. Well my left leg got tingly and then went numb, but that is it. Nothing else. So I told the nurse who told me to go to my right side and pushed the button for more medicine. The left leg went even more numb and nothing else. So we waited to see if it would slowly take effect. So since my contractions pretty much stopped they were not to hard to handle which turned out to be a blessing because it bought me the time to get all my medicine in my IV. As soon as the IV was done (a little after 10) my Doctor came in, broke my water to see if it would jump start my contractions again, and oh man did it ever. Almost instantly I was having major contractions, and yes my epidural never took effect. So now I am getting the natural birth I kind of wanted with a totally numb dead leg that I couldn't even wiggle my toes on. They called the Anesthesiologist in to see what he could do, he tried pulling the line out a little and said that if that didn't work within 10 minutes and I hadn't started pushing that they could repeat the epidural. That Dr. must of though I was crazy if I was going to let him anywhere near my back again. I said screw it and we went on with labor. I dilated to a 10 like that and once I started pushing (which sure made the contractions not hurt as bad) 3 contractions later I had him. WOW! That natural stuff is hard, but I am glad I got to experience it at least once. Jace is happy and healthy has no affects of the Group B Strep. He is such a cutie and is such a good baby. He is easy going, but when he is hungry he wants to eat right then and he lets you know about it. He already sleeps really well for a newborn. The kids just love him and are always wanting to hold him and kiss on him. Things are starting to settle down now a little and we just love our new little guy!
Here is Taelor and Makinley holding Jace for the first time. They were so excited to see him.
Dennin got some help from Dad with Jace. Tyler is showing him how to be soft. I don't think Dennin even knows the word soft. He is such a boy and it will take some time and work. He is doing really well with him for the most part.
Jace decided to open his eyes for me to get a little picture of him. Sorry I don't know how to turn the picture around.
Here is my little angel having a little nap. He is 5 days old here. He is so much fun. I just love you baby Jace!

Prego Update

Well it has been awhile since I posted anything, and nothing is really going on here in the Anderson home so you all get a prego update since that is about the only thing on my mind right now. I am officially 38 weeks and 3 days. If I make it past today this will be the longest I have been pregnant. All of my other kids would have been born by now. I am not one to complain about being pregnant because I have great healthy pregnancys, but I am DONE! I am ready for the next phase. I think my house is the cleanest it has been in a long time, because I am constantly cleaning trying to help this baby along. At my Dr. appointment today I measured at a 3 (which I have been for 3 WEEKS now) and 80% thinned. I also tested positive for Group B Strep. I didn't even know what it was. I have never had it before, so that throws a whole nother kink into my plans. Not something I am very excited about. So now if I don't go on my own by Monday my Dr. wants to induce me. Which really I am ok with except that I really don't want to be induced and I really don't want to wait till Monday! So all of you think positive thoughts for me this weekend because this waiting game is really getting on my nerves! Hopefully the next post will be a happy, nice, upbeat, new baby arrival post. Now I am off to go get a Pepsi free and some chocolate.........

First Day of School

Taelor started First grade today! She has been counting down the days for a while. She was so excited. She was also a little nervous about being gone all day, then she reminds herself that she gets 3 recesses and lunch and she gets over it pretty quick! We walked her to school and I dont think we could have gotten there fast enough for her. It was so cute to see her go right into her room, and find her desk with her name on it. I had to pry a hug and kiss out of her. When I got home the phone rang and it was Taelors teacher telling me that she was a little overwhelmed about the lunch choices for the day. I started laughing so hard. Tae is known to be a picky eater. She put Tae on the phone and I asked her what was wrong, she said she didnt want either of the options for lunch and didnt know what to do because we didnt pack her a lunch. I told her not to worry about it and I would bring her a lunch over and put it in her backpack. She was a happy camper after that and enjoyed the rest of her day. Her teacher was so sweet to her about it. Taelor is going to love her. She had a fantastic day and cant wait to go back. I love you Taelor!
Here is Taelor after school with Zach, a friend of hers from our ward. Our familys are friends and they get along great together.