Haven turns 5!

Haven turned five this last Saturday and we celebrated Friday night with a garage full of games and activities, pizza and cake! Haven had 11 girlfriends over and we partied hard! Haven wanted a "Littlest Pet Shop" theme, so we went with it... hence, the animal decorations. I have to give credit to Auntie Julia for turning the garage into a birthday pet shop and becoming the game director for the evening.

It is beginning to look like a California Christmas...

We are transforming the inside of our home to prepare for Christmas even though outside is sunny and 70! Strange for me. I miss the cold and snow... but only until December 25th, then I am over it. So, really I am not complaining of the San Diego climate. I just want it all - the snow and the sun. =0)

We have had lots of help and family in and out of the Speer abode. My parents and grandmother were here for the week of Thanksgiving, then my in-laws came, as well as Aunties from LA! Being that I could not do much, I REALLY appreciated having extra hands around to help. Thus, the Christmas decorating was accomplished, the girls were fed and bathed and we had clean plates to eat on... thanks again, family!

I also have to mention that my parents to the girls to Disneyland - their FIRST time! I was a tad jealous I could not make it (I was in the hospital learning how to walk again), but glad they were making memories with grandpa and gigi. I should have pics soon...

Rowyn Jade arrives...

Well... Rowyn came in a very different manner than I anticipated, but really how many times do things go according to our expectations? For me, not that much. But I naturally assumed that my third little girl would come into this world with some contractions and a few pushes. I would stay at the hospital for two days and arrive home in time to pull myself up to the dinner table for turkey, potatoes and stuffing.

Instead, I endured over 14 hours of contractions and two hours of pushing... Rowyn was not budging and had found herself in a very comfy spot in my pelvis and was not descending, even with the help of the vacuum. So, around midnight, the doctor, Nate and I made the call to go in and get her via C-section. C-section. The procedure I really I thought I would avoid after having two successful and fairly text book vaginal births. Oh-well, gotta let go of those expectations!

Rowyn Jade arrived at 12:45 am on November 24th weighing 8 lbs 4 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. She is my biggest, fattest baby yet - and I just love the chub! She is eating like a champ and all is going well considering that I just had major surgery. I will be going home from the hospital on Saturday, the 27th. My parents are here till Tuesday and then we'll find a way to get through the next few weeks with the girls - a prayer request for sure! I did have a small melt down today at the hospital when the nurse told me no driving for two weeks, avoid the stairs, and do not lift anything heavier than the baby. Ugh.

BFF Kamille comes...

While Nate hunted in Montana for five days, Kamille was able to come and stay with me - to not only keep me company, but to help me with the girls. I basically told my husband he was NUTS to leave me all by myself at 37 wks pregnant and thus, he needed to remedy the situation by giving up one of his frequent flyer Southwest tickets to someone who is more compassionate. Since I haven't seen Kamille in a very long time, I was praying and hoping it would all work out for her to come visit. She has three girls of her own, so I know it took a lot of work on her end to free herself up so she could come and have a fun weekend with me! I miss her already and her effortless ability to bend over and sweep up droppings with the dust pan (a job I hate at the moment).

Baby Shower!

My beautiful host, Jody, and her mom.

I tell ya what... for a gal who moved to San Diego six months ago, I was not expecting a shower for girl #3... even more so, enough friends that would want to come! But my dear friend, Jody, hosted a super fun and oh-so-stylin party for me and Rowyn (pink OPI nail polish for parting gifts - how cute is that?!). I was tickled (pink) to have friends from church, my neighborhood, my aunties Dea and Lori (father-in-law, Bruce's, sisters) and Kamille all surround me with lots of laughter and love! Plus, Rowyn now has a few "new" things to greet her when she comes.

Happy Trick or Treating!

Haven took the following pics to show Nana our porch she decorated...










This is the 3rd princess dress Haven wore for a Halloween event over the past few weeks. I don't think there are any other options out there for Halloween costumes in the mind of a 4 1/2 year old girl besides a beautiful princess! Then there is Parker who can't wait to wear her giraffe costume for the 3rd time. The theme of their costumes this year is: Beauty and the Beast (even though she is the cutest giraffe ever in my opinion).

Parker's Post

And... here is Parer wishing she could attend preschool to play on the amazing playground.

Crazy Hair Day at Preschool... Auntie Julia comes to the rescue!

I left Thursday for Spokane to be with my two moms and Missoula friends at the Living Proof LIVE Beth Moore Event (which, by the way, was A-W-E-S-O-M-E) over the weekend. Auntie Julia, who lives just outside of LA, wanted to come down to help Nate with the girls while he worked. In Haven's mind, this meant The Fairy Godmother would be arriving soon, and just in time for Crazy Hair Day at school! I know I could NEVER have pulled off this hair-do. Thank you, Auntie Julia and your great hair pieces!!