Jonathan David Esplin is here!

Wow, two posts in a month, that is pretty impressive for me. Well, our biggest news is that our baby boy was born on December 10, 2012. He and Michael have a day apart birthdays, but that is okay. As following with tradition, he was a big boy - 10 lbs 7 oz and 21 inches long. Also, following tradition, we chose a name for him after he was born. The conversation went something like this: Time: About 10 minutes after the baby was born. In the room: just Robert and I and perhaps a nurse. Me: "So, really, what are we going to name him?" (some names we had come up with but never really stuck were anything that sounded decent with an "E" to start out with - not too many of those, but Ezekiel almost sounded right, calling him "Zeke" for short, Andrew is what the kids liked, Pinocchio made the list only because it ended in "O" - side note - MichaeL,  HyruM, EvaN, so naturally something with an O at the end would come next. Less of those American names than names that start with "E". )

Robert looks down at the baby for a bit and says, "Jonathan." Hmmm. Hadn't thought of that one since Michael almost got that name (I had already put a J on the birth certificate when Robert says, "No, no - Michael Johnson Esplin". Okay, I will cross out the J and write Michael instead). So, Jonathan for a first name. I then suggested David for a middle name. Robert was thinking more along the lines of Barton - his middle name and the middle name Michael would have gotten had he been named Jonathan.  David is my dad's name and where the "D" comes from in my name. My dad had five daughters and no sons so not too many people he  could pass the "David" to. I told Robert to think about it and I would think about Barton. I found out that Robert agreed with "David" when I read his post on facebook announcing the birth of Jonathan David Esplin. The name works for our little one.

He is a really good baby so far. I guess even though Evan is four years old, I still remember that he was not such a good baby. Even in the hospital when he was born he was a screecher. I would hear the nurses bringing him back to my room and he would be screeching all the while. I just prayed that they were going to the next room over and not mine. No such luck. So Jonathan is the complete opposite of  that. He sleeps when I want him to, he eats when I want him to, and the kids love him to pieces. Except Evan. He just can't seem to like the baby, and that is okay with me. I will still make more of a conscious effort to have more one on one time with Evan.

Without further ado, here are some pictures of him at the hospital. He has been home for three days now and I still haven't taken many pictures of him here, so I will have to take some and post them later.

Hanging in there.....

What a busy time we have had these past few months. School started for the kids and I guess you could say for me, too. I am PTO president this year so I feel as if I am at the school a lot. However, I say I will be taking December off due to the fact that I will be having my baby soon. He is not due until Christmas day, but I have never made it to a due date yet.  We don't have any names picked out, but the other day the kids thought Pinocchio would be a good name. I think we will keep thinking about names.

We had a good rest of the summer and in September I was able to go to California to be with my sisters and mom at our annual gathering. This time we went to Big Bear, California near Shantell's house. It was good to be there, but boy did I hate getting up and down the mountain with getting car sick. What a journey. My pictures from that trip are still on my phone, so I will have to post them later. But here are some pictures from other happening, because, let's be real, pictures are why people look at the blogs :) .

Molli got invited to a Zombie party before Halloween and had a great time.

Picture day at school

Picture day

Picture day

Evan's birthday cake

Hannah doesn't like the smell of the matches

Pirate Halloween Costume

Vampiress, Ron Weasley, and Egyptian

Fish costume that Grandma made - his cousin has an identical one

We got our Christmas tree the day before Thanksgiving, but I wouldn't decorate it until at least Thanksgiving.

The tree decorated, but all you can see is the lights.

 After my trip to California, I decided I was done traveling anywhere. The kids and Robert have been to Logan a few times to be with Shennie and Chris and their kids while they were visiting from Korea and to have Thanksgiving out. there. When Shennie and Chris were there, the whole Esplin clan was there but me. I am okay with that.I wanted to have Robert get a picture taken and air brush me in, but that didn't happen. Robert was here for Thanksgiving so the two of us headed to my friend's house and enjoyed dinner over there. By this point my doctor told me that I absolutely could not travel anywhere. So I enjoyed some time at home getting more ready for the baby.  Life is still good :)

Enjoying our Summer

 Wow, the time sure flies when you are having fun. August is already here and school starts in 3 weeks, unbelievable. We had a good July and here are some of the highlights. But first, as promised, pictures of the 

kids saying good bye to our old mini-van and a picture of our new 12 passenger :). (These pictures are from two cameras so they ended up out of order, but such is life - enjoy the journey of our summer).

Hyrum and Seth climbing the Throne

Aidan, Shennie and Jenika enjoying the morning of caamping

Enjoying the Lake at Payson Lakes

My sister and me after "conquering" our fourth 4th of July 5k together.

Waiting at the Parade

Michael and Hannah decided to do half and half... Walk down the Parade route until they came to where we were sitting and join us there.

Hannah and Molli meeting their new cousin, Jenika, a day after she was born.

First of the season sunburns, they are sure to wear sunscreen now.

Some of us even won medals

Iona days 5K Fun run/walk

More of the Splash Park (out of order, should be further down the page)

Can't have a summer without getting their one ride at "The Fun Park"

It is not that great, but they like it.

Michael found a peacock feather at the zoo.

Molli and Hannah showing off their new dress and skirt they made.

The lion yawning

Camping at Payson Lakes: Michael's Throne

The snow leopard rolling around

Riding a ride at Circus, Circus in Las Vegas

At the airport ready to fly to Las Vegas

Daniel and Erika coming out of the temple after they got married. Shennie did a good job finding the right yellow tie for Daniel.

At the St. George Visitor's Center

Hannah wanting to touch the temple

Some hawks in a tree, weird.

St. George Splash Park with the cousins

At a rest stop near Orderville

Hyrum climbed way high on some rocks

After returning home, we went to Yellowstone Bear World

This wolf looked so hot and tired

We got to follow a Curator Tour van

Their favorite ride at Bear World

Ready to head home.