2015 AUGUST

Oh August what a dreamy month you were. Kyle took the boys coyote hunting the week of my due date. They actually got one which really surprised me! Kyle came home and said the tooth of the coyote went through his shoe and pierced his skin. I was not happy, the last thing before I deliver is to have my husband get rabies. Luckily  he said the coyote looked healthy (still didn't reassure me). He also took them fishing the evening before I had Jack. It was perfect because I was able to finish my gallery ledge I made! Kinlee came over because her parents were going to Stg. so I conned her into holding the ledge up while I used power tools to anchor that sucker to the wall. If only I had pictures of me 40 weeks pregnant and using power tools. I think Jack waited until I got all of my projects completed. The ledge was the last one on my list and I started having contractions 6 hours after it was complete.

Grandma Linie gave us the biggest cucumber ever that had a cool crook. Gus the storm trooper is holding it.

The picture of the boys with a plate of fruit and veggies is from our FHE on the word of wisdom. Kyle bought some weird and random fruits and veggies at Lins and we talked about the different colors and what they are good for. We had the boys try everything. Gus ate an entire raw brussel sprout. It was a great FHE, because we have been having a hard time getting them to eat anything. I have to say it has helped Gus and Oliver eat the past month!!

The Birth Story

I went to bed pretty late, late for us is 11 pm, we are old. Before going to bed I thought maybe I will have it tonight because it was raining and the barometric pressure had dropped. You know all of those wishful thinkings you have when you are 40 weeks preggers. Around 11:30 I started having contractions that hurt. I had been having contractions the week before so I didn't think much of it. Then they started to interfere with my sleep. Ain't nobody got time for that. So with nothing else to do besides try to sleep and endure the pain I started to time them. They were pretty consistent. Every 3 minutes lasting anywhere from 30-90 seconds. I kept telling myself that they would go away as they had the week before. Nope 3 hours and 30 minutes later I decided to wake up Kyle. He was sleeping on a camping pad in the front room (which is very normal, I know in your mind you are thinking we have issues. He sleeps on the floor a lot. weird. weird) So I wake Kyle up, finish getting Gus and Oliver's stuff ready for whoever was going to watch them. I did the laundry, emptied the dishwasher all whilst trying to not puke during every contraction. I go to Kyle again, who had fallen back asleep because he didn't think I was serious, or didn't know when I wanted to leave. Either way poor kid was tired, I tell him again we should probably leave. This time he takes me serious gets ready tries to call his mom or dad. I think he called 2 times and they didn't answer. Great, now who do we call. My sister Amy and her kids were leaving to SLC in the morning to go school shopping so they were out. Kyle tries his Dad again and he picks up! Hooray! He comes over like a champion to stay with the boys. It is raining, my favorite weather in Southern Utah during the summer. Kyle is driving like a mad man. I'm trying to breathe through contractions, it was blissful. We get to the hospital and they put me in the observation room. Lucky moms go there to see if they progress in an hour. If I did I got to stay and have the baby if not they would send me home. Seems so mean to just send a pregnant lady home. Anyway we knew the nurse, Brother Butler's wife, she made sure I progressed which I did without having to stretch the truth. I got admitted at 4:30 or 5. Got my epidural around 7:30, which seemed like a really long time to me. The epidural saved me, and I was a happy camper after that. By 11:30 in the morning I had progressed to a 8+ they checked me at 12 and I was a 9 so they called Dr. Lunt and by 12:23 pm I had the hairy little stinker. I only pushed once, didn't tear at all, but got the pukes after. Jack Thomas Ballard was 7 pounds 19.5 inches long and born at 12:23. I loved my nurses this time. Jack swallowed meconium so they had the Nicu team come in to make sure he was ok. I guess he was retracting and they had to suck his stomach out, but luckily he was really good after that and after I breastfed him. 

The boys have been really good with Jack. Gus is the biggest helper, more than I thought he would be. Oliver has no interest in him. Well he does, he just doesn't ever want to hold him. He loves smelling him, he loves the new baby smell like me. 

Kyle has been beyond amazing. Trying to do all of the housework, let me sleep as much as possible, and keeping the boys entertained. He took the week after off. It was so nice, wish we could have it like that all of the time. He even pressure washed the entire house that week.

Gus started preschool at La Verkin Elementary (I know what you are thinking Adam and Slum) but my sister works there and it was just easier to send him there. He was really nervous about it. Poor kid has lots of anxiety with new things. We prepped him like crazy the week before, and luckily he only cried for a second when I left him sitting at the table in his classroom with a book. What a champ

The month of August has been full of all things baby. I felt like I blinked and it was over. I have lots more pictures but for some reason they aren't on my photo stream. I will have to update them later.

2015 JULY

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We were gone for cousin camp at Aunt Aprils and she was kind enough to give us the stuff they missed out on. They threw chalk at each other, painted beautiful canvas', Oliver drew Hulk, Gus drew a rainbow. Such a fun idea!

Oliver is absolutely obsessed with Hulk and Hulk smash right now. Gus is obsessed with Star Wars so  when Kyle saw these costumes at Costco for pretty cheap he couldn't resist. Seeing Oliver's face was worth every penny. Now we have Hulk and a Storm Trooper running around almost daily.

Kyle has been taking the boys scorpion hunting at night with backlights. I think this was their first find behind Shirley's house. We now have 2 big ones in a terrarium on our kitchen table. Gus collects cockroaches and we found a tarantula to feed them. They are pretty nasty and I'm glad the boys haven't left the lid off the terrarium.

The Wilson's came to town for their annual Wilson reunion, and then Summer went on Rachelle's river rafting retreat so Gma Linie had her kid lets for a week. We had fun playing with them. Grandma took the kids to a movie and I can't remember which one, maybe Minion's? We didn't like whatever it was (linda and I). Gus stayed the night at Grandma and Grandpa's cabin with all of the cousins. His backpack was bigger than he was, and we don't send the boys anywhere without their edamame's to eat that is the life of picky eaters. He was so excited and after the trip I heard all about how he got to sleep with Ava!! They got to snoop through Aunt Mary Lu's cabin which I am sure she absolutely loved. Even Kyle went in with them to check it out. We were teaching the pyro Noah how to make fire and burn army guys at Aunt Marylu's cabin. Which I am  sure his parents are thrilled about. Kyle with all of the kids in the boat at Blue Springs. I was laughing so hard watching Bruce and Kyle loading all of the kids in, Kyle was in the front. He didn't realize his dad wasn't getting in the boat so he was left to sea with all of the little farts. Luckily no one went overboard

The fishing at Blue Springs has been really great, so anytime Kyle can con his Dad into hanging out with him and G. O. they go fishing. Kyle is trying to work on Oliver's cast with him. So one of the pictures is of Kyle and Oliver casting on our front lawn. Kyle is seriously an amazing dad. The week before I had Jack he had taken the boys first coyote hunting, then fishing, then they went scorpion hunting, they went swimming, I think every night he has something planned for them. He is all about quality time with them. They are way lucky to have the guy in their lives. 

Skylar got ordained a Priest so we took the usual picture in the hall waiting for the bishop to arrive. I look enormous in my pink polka dot dress, but alas what do you expect when you are 37 weeks preggers.

I was in charge of our float for the 24th of July. This is as good as it gets when you are 39 weeks preggers. I had the achievement day girls help, and luckily Debra Gubler is their leader so she had lots of stuff for it.

Sometimes Kyle goes on bike rides after we put the kids to bed, and while he is gone I am busy bathing the baby and getting in the shower. 90% of the time I will come out to the living room and find the boys in a makeshift hut watching youtube kids. I told Kyle I loose control of them at night. 

Oliver watering the garden in his birthday suit. That's how we roll

On Sundays I try to keep the boys busy or they will fight and wrestle and get mad and angry at each other. So a lot of the Sundays we make slime. For some reason it turns out differently every time I make it. The batch pictured in this post was awesome if we blew air into it it would hold like a plastic ball for awhile. It kept them busy for 1 minute or so.

Our annual trip to Cambria for the 4th of July was a major success. The boys were good on the ride, Oliver didn't puke in the car going there or coming home! We were there a super long time almost 2 weeks. By the last few days we were ready to go, weird I don't remember why I just remember discussing that maybe we should go earlier than originally planned. Gus is the best sea glass finder there is. Honestly the kid could sit their for hours looking for sea glass, and he will be the one who finds the most rare colors and the biggest pieces. He has a little chunk of Grandma Scholzen in him that way. She was always the only one who found arrow heads when Kyle and I would go with her. My mom entered the pie eating contest along with Cory. She got a really cute tea towel, which was the main reason she entered. It was pretty darn hilarious was the grand champion. Kyle had the idea to enter him, because Cory could literally eat you out of your house. We were so very proud!! the last day of Cambria the ocean always turns magical and yields something special for the boys. This trip it produced these perfect blue starfish. We were lucky enough to find them! Thanks ocean.  

One of Kyle's customers kids got married and they borrowed my Instax mini polaroid camera for the guests to take mug shots and write little words of affirmation and what not. We liked our picture so much we had to remember how cute it was and how gorgeous we were. lol

My friends from high school met up at Hanks Riverwalk Grill for dinner. It is always fun to see them. The fat pregnant lady (yeah that was me) talked them into getting Kilo's Italian Ice. I tried for Nielson's frozen custard, but they looked at me like I literally was crazy so we settled for the healthier italian Ice. It is a lot like Luna's in SLC minus the custard. They just have cream or regular ice cream. The custard is what made Luna's have a special place in my heart. 

Oliver is such a character. He is constantly putting on these cool dude glasses and running around. Sometimes with a gun in his hand sometimes in his hulk costume. He seriously is such a happy fun loving little guy. If the little tyke hears music without even thinking he is dancing. He could be eating and music will come on and his booty will start shaking. Love him to pieces.