Little Megan smiles & Christmas Fun!

Megan has started smiling all the time! She is about 6 weeks old now, but started smiling at about a month of age. The pics are of the kids decorating gingerbread cookies (Nathaniel just put the candy on the cookies and then took it off and ate it; Grace loved decorating them); us with our great huge group of friends at Hunter's Tree Farm for our yearly tree hunting; at Zoolights when we went with the Johnsons; and decorating gingerbread houses at the Nevil's with Crystal, Tiffany, Amber, and all the kids associated with us mamas. We love Christmas time and are so thankful for the birth of Jesus and what He has done for us!

A day in the life of the Schocks...

The day started out typical, mama and papa rolling out of bed groggy and still soooo sleepy (Baby decided to wake up twice last night...). Papa gave Grace some breakfast and left for work. Mama fed the baby and Nathaniel, got everyone dressed, endured several Nathaiel temper tantrums, and convinced Grace that she did indeed need to brush her hair. All of this while trying to figure out if Nathaniel still had speech therapy today despite the recent snowfall. After calling the number with no results and then trying to check the website (no such luck - the internet wasn't working for some reason), I called John and he looked it up for me. It said they would be two hours late like the Tacoma School District. So what does that mean if our appointment is at 10? Well, I finally tried another number for the therapy place and found out that the appointment was still a go. After bundling all the kids up and rushing them into the car, we started out (late of course). Didn't get very far before we came to a standstill - the cars were moving very slowly and there was a huge backup. After trying to take a detour and slipping and slidding all over, I decided it wasn't worth it and we turned around and headed home.

Got home, fed the kids lunch (remnants are still on the counter from our "make your own lunchable") and let them play outside in the snow since Grace really wanted to. Bundled them all up again (putting gloves on toddlers/preschoolers takes FOREVER), while trying to feed the baby who was screaming when she wasn't being fed, and let them go. Our backyard is fenced, but I was trying to keep an eye on them while feeding the baby. I looked away for a minute and then looked back and saw Nathaniel stepping into the pond! For goodness sake. I had just reminded the kids not to go over the little fence around the pond (they know the rule). So *surprise* he steps in the pond and gets wet up to his little chest. Poor guy! He was so shocked at the cold water! I put the baby down and ran out to rescue him. Grace later told me, "He wanted to skate on the icecubes, mama." Hmmm. Logical, I guess. That then led into an explanation of ice and water, etc.

Anyway, I stripped him down and ran him upstairs (stopping only to give the baby her binky) for a warm bath. While he was warming up, I sat by the tub and finished feeding the baby. Then while I was grabbing a towel, I looked back and he had pooped and peed in the tub. Grrreeaat. So here I am trying to fish poop out of the tub. After that delightful job was complete, I cleaned out the tub and then rewashed the boy. Finally, he was dressed and warm and ready for nap. Read a story while trying to soothe the baby and then got them into bed. Took the baby downstairs for a diaper change and she peed all over me and herself. I should get double pay today...

Introducing... Megan Jane Schock!

Megan Jane Schock

Born Monday November 3, 2008 at 3:59 pm

The Birthing Inn

8 lbs 12 oz

22 inches long

We were induced at the hospital on Monday morning and went to the Birthing Inn at about 3 pm. Megan was born about an hour later via a water birth. The labor was fairly quick at about 3 hours. We are so glad our precious little girl has safely arrived! Megan has been very alert and a great eater from the beginning and is doing very well! Thank you so much to everyone for your prayers and love. We are very blessed!

With proud sister Grace and brother Nathaniel fondly remembering his entrance into the world in the same tub Megan was born in.

Baby Update

We're still pregnant! 41 weeks and 3 days to be exact! It looks like this little baby girl has no immediate desire to meet the outside world. I had my doctor's appt on Thursday... they did the NST (non-stress test where they monitor the baby's mov't and heartrate) and an ultrasound to check fluids and everything looks great with the baby.

Grandma has been here since Wednesday and has been very helpful with Grace and Nathaniel. We so appreciate it since I am so tired and sore all of the time. Grace and Nathaniel have both been fighting colds towards the end of the week, so it has been really challenging.

I'm scheduled for an induction on Monday. I will call the hospital at 6am to find out when to go in. Anyway, I'm really hoping to go into labor on my own this weekend, but so far nothing! I did try accupuncture for labor induction on Thursday afternoon. It was really interesting. The accupuncturist has a 80% success rate of women going into labor within 24-48 hours of the accupuncture, but it looks like I'm in the 20% that don't go into labor within 48 hours!

We will be sure to let everyone know when our baby makes her grand entrance! We can't wait to meet her!

Keepin' our street clean...

About a month ago we adopted a street near our house. It has been a great service project for us and the kids love helping. They like to wear the orange vests and use the "grabbers". Grace has gotten quite proficient with hers! Papa graciously took this picture so that you all could be blessed by seeing my 39+ week pregnant self! This morning when we were out picking up trash we found a croquet ball, underwear, a white tank top, a cell phone that had seen better days, and the typical various empty alcoholic beverage bottles among the usual basic litter. Fun times! Nathaniel took great interest in the croquet ball.

Corn and mud as far as the eye can see...

Saturday October 11, 2008Here we are at the end of the huge 2.1 mile Chronicles of Narnia themed corn maze! We made it through the whole thing and even got all 6 punches on our card (and we beat the Johnsons!!). Grace and Nathaniel both did really well. Nathaniel kept saying, "Wowww". Here's some pics of Nathaniel in the Pumpkin House and Grace pumping water in the kid area.

Here's Nathaniel making some fine music and also some of our friends.

Epic Fun at the Puyallup Fair 2008

We visited the fair on Sept. 19th with Grandpa! We all had a great time seeing animals, "milking" a cow, riding rides, drinking our free chocolate milk, and sharing an elephant ear. Nathaniel especially loved milking the cow and petting the cows (he insisted on petting all of them that were in the row).

A fun project for kids...

Found this at Wal-mart; Grace loves it! They have other ones too, they're all great! Especially for moms like me who aren't very creative at craft time...

KinderKord... No match for the boy!

I always said I would never use a "leash" with my kids... then Nathaniel came along. Try as I might, however, he proves any leash futile. Those of you who know Nathaniel at all, you know that he is very busy and fast. He can be right by my side one second and the next second be half way across a parking lot in someone else's car. So when I decided to go to the fair last week, I thought an investment in a new "leash" would be prudent and wise (Afterall, I'd rather have a kid that is tied to me vs. a lost or abducted kid). Having tried many other "leashes" on the market with no success, I went to Babies 'R Us and bought the mother of all leashes - KINDERKORD - A safe way to stay connected. Yes, it has the mother of all price tags, too! The box said, "You'll wonder how you ever managed without it!"

Anyway, dreaming of how it would solve all my problems, I pulled it out at the fair. I placed one of the wrist bands on the boy, one on me and we were connected with the retractable cord! I was ready for a fun, safe day at the fair. Nathaniel instantly undid his wrist band and promptly threw it on the ground. Greeeaat. I attached it to his back belt loop, and he was obessed with getting it off. He kept twisting his body around to try to take it off. No walking was happening. When I did pull him along, his pants twisted around. Once he realized he couldn't take it off his pants, he came directly over to me and undid my wrist strap. So much for KINDERKORD!!! I'm beginning to think leashes are for kids who don't run away anyway...

Adventures in Portland Sept. 9-12

The Oregon Zoo

On Thursday mama mustered up the energy to take the kids to the zoo. Grace was very excited. Our hotel was right near the MAX line (light rail in Portland), so we hopped on and rode the MAX for about 30 minutes until we got to the zoo. It is really cool, because the zoo stop is underground; you get off in this big tunnel, ride a huge elevator up and it lets you out right smack in front of the zoo gates! We loved the zoo - it had so many animals that our zoo at home doesn't have. We saw zebras, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, bats, and much more. The highlight for mama and Grace was definitely the brand new baby elephant though! He was only 3 weeks old and so cute! Nathaniel wasn't that impressed. We got to watch him walk around and nurse - did you know elephants nurse through their trunks??!!!

Feeding the Lorakeets - Nathaniel loved this! They are such beautiful birds. Grace was scared.

Oak's Amusement Park

On Wednesday we went to this cool old amusement park in Portland. On Wednesday mornings they do a preschool play thing where you pay $6/child (adults are free) and get unlimited rides on the little kid rides. Then they have a storytime and milk and cookies. It's a great deal! I wish they had something like that here at home. Nathaniel wasn't so impressed...

But the carousel and big huge slide was a hit with both the kids. They also had fun mirrors to look in, all the typical little kid rides and a roller coaster that was labeled "kiddy" coaster, but let me tell you - it wasn't so "kiddy". Someone I lost my sanity momentarily, and thought that I could ride it with the kids, despite being 34 weeks pregnant. Can't believe they let me on the stupid thing! I guess I figured - how bad can a kiddy coaster be? Well, Grace picked the front car and the belt thing didn't really hold me in since my belly was so big. The whole time I seriously felt like I was going to fall out and it went so fast! I felt sick after that, but the baby is fine. Grace loved it! In fact, she loved all the rides and couldn't get enough! When we went to the fair, I let Grandpa ride the coaster with Grace!

September updates...

It's hard to believe September is half over already! We have been busy this month. The first part of September, John went to Austin, TX for work for a few days. While he was gone, we kept busy with our first HFG (Home Fellowship Group) of the Fall, a doctor's appointment for me, and a fun berry picking outing at Ft. Steilacoom Park with Tiff and Cooper.

The next week, Sept. 9-12, we went with Papa to Hillsboro, OR cause he had to work there. It was fun to stay in a hotel, eat out and enjoy some of the kid-friendly options in Portland. Although we did miss Papa since he ended up working 16 hour days! See the next post for more info!

Nathaniel has also been going to speech therapy once a week for the last couple of months. He loves going to see Miss Julie and we've seen some progress. Just yesterday he said "Sa Sa" while doing the sign for "sorry". He also says "ball" (before it was just "all"), "chicken", "all done", animal sounds and a few other things. The progress is slow, but steady and we are grateful for each new word! Meanwhile, he has mastered numerous signs which has helped in daily life.

Mama also goes to weekly therapy - physical therapy that is for my back/sciatica pain that has mostly gone away. But I get to keep going - I love the massage part of the therapy!

Last week everyone but mama got an icky cold, but we're all healthy again now. We went to the Fair on Friday the 19th with Grandpa and had a great time. The kids loved seeing the farm animals and drinking the free chocolate milk.

John & Shari Escape daily life; kid free!

Back in August (Aug. 28-30), we got away! It has been over a year since we've gone somewhere overnight together, just the two of us. We had a great time! We rode the Victoria Clipper to Victoria, B.C. and pretty much did nothing for two days. It was fun to look in all the little shops, especially the bookstores, which we both enjoyed. Besides that we really only slept (uninterrupted, praise God!) and ate! Thanks so much to Grandma Dodge, Grandma Schock and cousins Heather, Tristan & Zach for taking care of our kidlets while we were gone!

Beach Vacation ~ Lincoln City, OR

August 13-17, 2008

Our annual trek to Lincoln City, OR was once again great fun! This time we rented our own little place near John's family (Auntie Lori, Uncle Sean, Justin & Luke, Grandma Schock, Auntie April, and soon-to-be Uncle Jeff). It was nice to have our own space and we didn't have to worry about the kids waking everyone else up at o'dark thirty each morning. We enjoyed lots of games, sand and water play, a *gasp* date night, walks, cave and tide pool exploring and shopping (well momma just enjoyed that last one!). Papa rerouted a little runoff river with driftwood to make a big pool for the kids to play in. Nathaniel thought the waves were so much fun until he realized how cold the water was. Grace didn't think the water was cold at all. It seems so easy to connect with God at the beach - His beauty and creation are amazing!

Climb! Slide! Bounce!

So a couple of weeks ago I was driving to the grocery store... when out of the corner of my eye I see this big box on the sidewalk next to someone's house. It had a big "FREE" sign on it. I was a little apprehensive, but decided to check it out anyway. I pulled over and inside the box was a huge inflatable jumpy slide! The house it was near is in a decent neighborhood, so after momentarily pondering whether I should take it or not, I lugged it to the car. We got it home and it works great! It is like new - the original instructions, patch kit and all the parts were in the box. The kids are estatic!! Papa had a little too fun on it one day and ripped part of it, but after several hours of sewing it up on my machine (I've now met my life long goal of sewing outside), it was fixed.

Free Fun in Tacoma!

Earlier this month we decided to try one of Tacoma's spraygrounds - we had a blast! Cousin Heather was with us too. We went to the one at South Park http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=886 near the Tacoma Mall. We also ended up getting a bonus free lunch! They hand out yummy lunches there each weekday at noon.

Grace the blossoming photographer??

Grace enjoyed taking pictures of her most treasured items with the camera one day...

Our boy gets a buzz cut!

Before (a little apprehensive)...
All done! Now he looks so grown up!

Fun at the lake!

We love going to Grandpa's house on the lake - it is so much fun!! Here's John and Grace in the canoe and Grace after her jetski ride with Papa - she loved it!

Nathaniel loves the water and sand - his favorite toy is a bucket so he can get water and dump it out.