The welcomers...

Brigham was the name of our dog when I was in highschool/college. I wasn't a particular fan, BUT I hopped the back fence every midday and fed us both lunch. He loved me, not as much as he loved Andrew, but he did love me. When I came home from BYU, Brigham was my best greeter. He jumped so high I could see his mussel in the top glass part of our door even before I got out of the car. Then he would go nuts running around, back and forth, and jump up and down. Made me feel like a million bucks. He was an amazing welcomer.

Eric is not much of a dog lover, but I don't think he is missing out on being welcomed home with gusto. Tonight, as I tucked Isaac into bed I asked him what was the best part of his day. He replied, "When dad came home." Seth liked the tractors but that's beside the point.

I love this series of pictures taken a little over a month ago:

Just hangin' out, oblivious to the excitement that is about to hit. Except, can you see the direction Seth is looking?

Seth saw Eric first and obviously got a head start. Eric, in the far distance, is as happy to see them as they are to see him, I guarantee it, though he didn't run.

Isaac sees his papa and turns into an olympian runner.

Seth gets full marks for his running tenacity.

If Eric didn't scoop them up in his arms, I think they would just jump in them anyway...or maybe they would tackle him. Good scooping, honey.

They are less furry than Brigham, BUT I do feed them both lunch every midday. So maybe that is the key to being the best welcomers on the planet, Jenny has to feed you lunch.

And whoever said happiness isn't tangible?

It is.

Welcome Home Daddy-o!

Art grand

If I say "art grand" with a french accent it may help me better appreciate our budding artists.
Jacob's ladder is a ladder to heaven, described in the Book of Genisis, that the biblical patriarch, Jacob, envisions during his flight from his brother Esau (straight from wikipedia). In this frame we have a true gem. The precursor to Jacob's ladder, was Isaac's ladder...naturally.
And really, who wouldn't rather use a bright colorful gate entrance, as opposed to a boring dull wood one?

We are hiring them out, $5,000 per fence. It's a deal for this spectacular art.

This just screams welcome, yes?

Such detail. Art grand (french accent) indeed.

Woo-hoo, look who's 2!!

08/08/08 is an easy birthday to remember. I remember it being so calm in contrast with Isaac's emergency c-section. Seth weighed 9.5 lbs. And even before he was weighed one of the assisting nurses said, "He is a big baby! What have you been eating bon-bons?"
I LOVE my boys first birthdays...it means I kept this totally dependent individual alive for a whole year. It sometimes seems too colossal. But boy-oh-boy, my heart does a colossal flip when I look at this little face, one of the greatest joys of my life-SETH! or Sethy or more commonly Seffy.

At 2 years he is almost 20 pounds heavier and even more of a heart throb. I am head over heels in love with him. His daddy isn't far behind me in the adoring department. People often say, "Seth is a little miniature Eric!"

Happy, happy birthday Seffy dear...

In all fairness, Isaac was very patient and excited for Seth. But it cracked me up when he jumped in to help on this present. Isaac is Seth's very best helper, best friend, best example, best everything.

Seth wears Buzz Light Year wings EVERY DAY! Dad gets another A+++ for the Toy Story toys he bought for Seth's gift. Hats off, E.

Seth wanted a Buzz cake, then a train cake, then a buzz cake, then a something else cake. He loved this cake that only took me 20 hours to finish (exaggerating...slightly). Cool to have toys on a cake...just ask Seth.

He did a pretty good job of blowing out the candles...and only spit a little bit. Just kidding. I LOVE being Seth's mommy! He is so kind and generous. Good golly I am starting to get teary just thinking of the blessing I have to be his mommy.

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY SETH!!

We love you

We Can't Dance?

Please follow the link to view our initial foray into the world of music videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y46HBQ-7z0

XX? or XY?

We cheer for the Y around here, and evidently we selectively choose for Y chromosomes as well.

I spoke with the doctor before going into the sonogram room and he gave me a good scare about the risks for babies born to diabetic mommies. It was sobering. But Eric told me a few months ago that he felt confident this baby was going to be healthy. Eric is pretty close with the spirit and that really buoyed my spirits...plus he gave me a blessing that said as much. That means we were batting with a 100% chance that we were going to bat a 1000. Good odds. BUT when the tech zoomed over a well developed spine I breathed a sigh of relief anyway. And when she exposed that amazing pumping heart and specified the four chambers, I was impressed again that a true miracle is growing inside me. I started to cry I was so happy. He is a miracle. My actual thought was "She is a miracle."

I didn't think I cared if this baby was a boy or a girl, but I was certain this baby was a girl.

So I didn't cry while I was a gely-belly...

nor when we went out for dinner...

and not when I drove home by myself (Eric met us at the office and drove our little gents home).

But I admit disappointment, and I cried in the safety of my home, which made me feel let down at myself.

Augh! I should be grateful, generally I am a grateful person, and this was something to be grateful about. But I had started watching tiny girl hair-dos, and imagining what a feminine impact a girl would have on my boys. Now I think that if I were a little boy spirit up in heaven THIS is exactly the family I would want to come to. He has a perfect daddy to emulate. And his two brothers are Fun, capital F. We laugh a lot around here at these two comedians. And I like to think we are the ultimate MTC.

We are thrilled to have another Hatch boy.

I am grateful he has Y chromosomes...he had four heart chambers...he is a miracle.

Life as we know it...

I just got back from taking the boys to the pool. They LOVE it! It was just me and my little gents, so we ALL got in our swimming suits before heading over. As we got in the car this was Isaac's and my conversation:

I: Mom, the people are going to see you naked.
M: No they aren't. I'm not naked.
I: Yes you are.
M: Isaac, I'm wearing a swimming suit.
I: (concerned) Yes you are. There's a man...but he didn't see you naked. There's another man...but he didn't see you naked either.
M: Good.
***30 seconds later***
I: Mom, can you roll down my window so I can warn the people that your naked.
M: (humored) Okay. (roll down window)
I: (yelling) HEY PEOPLE! LOOK STRAIGHT CAUSE MY MOM IS NAKED.

It's good to know he has my back...or maybe in this case everyone else's.

One more sad note. Isaac is a DC baby. Not only does he have to be concerned about his mother's modesty, but he is often reminded that getting around in this area takes extra time because of traffic. I just noticed him playing cars on our window seal. As he pummeled his cars into one another I heard him say "Traffic! Traffic!" Hmph.

The happiest place on earth...

really is Disney World. At least when Seth in driving the race cars, we are talking squeals of delight. But interestingly enough, the happiest place on earth moves to the swimming pool when Seth is there. It, the happiest place on earth, generally follows Seth around and is currently in my front room. He is delightful. Eric has to unfold himself out these crazy contraptions...and airplane seats.

Isaac likes to relay the story about his ride with Eric. "My daddy said, 'HEY! Who's driving this crazy car?' (chuckle chuckle) And I said it was me!"

Eric took our family to Disney World for my birthday. And he didn't just buy everyone shirts before we left, along with a few tickets and then call it quits. No. No. No. He carried Seth around three parks...for three days, cleaned Isaac up when he had a major accident and then Seth when he had a major accident, and he packed the bags before we came home while I slept. I am telling you the man is a total STUD. I was brilliant for marrying him.

At Pizza Planet we found a little $ oasis. $5 for a kids meal: a tiny personal pizza, your choice of carrots or apple sauce, a cookie, and a healthy drink. AND the Caprici Salad was the best thing I ate in FL. We ate at a buffet the day before and I am embarrassed to say how much it cost. Ew. And we spent Isaac's whole college fund on water.

Here's my studly knight carrying our charges.

When Isaac saw this storm trooper picture he asked, "Is that a Storm Farmer?" Uhhhhh....close.

He also calls them Storm Supers.

DANGER: Energy level falling. I was tired. And I am pregnant. Our baby is due Thanksgiving.

The Mickey hat has an annoying elastic that is meant to go under one's chin. Seth liked the hat...sort of...I mean he chose it himself...but that elastic....

And here is Seth sporting the glasses from Isaac's favorite ride. "Andy's Room" is what we call the Toy Story Mania attraction.

Zurg! And my two favorite boys on the planet.

"To infinity and beyond!" That's how far we walked.

It was great. Thanks Eric for the best present ever. We'll be back.

Other observations to remember:

The line for the Dumbo ride is far to long.

Isaac and Seth are funny together. Like when Isaac kept repeating the line from Cars,"Hey Tiny, you gotta clean these tires up." And then Seth would say to his daddy, "Hey Tiny." Made me laugh every time.

Favorite rides: E=Kilimanjaro Safari, J=It's a Small World or Peter Pan,

Isaac=Toy Story Mania or Barnstormer, Seth=Race Cars

Sometimes PowerAde IS better than water

There is a LOT of sulfur in the water in and around Disney World.