Sleeping Beauty

Skylar in her co-sleeper. This was taken before she realized what time it was. When she realized it was nighttime, she immediately woke up and cried/fussed for the next 8 hours straight, until she finally settled down around 6a.
This shows that even a chubby, 8 lb 15 oz baby can look small.

All four of them

Wow, that's a lot of kids...

A Starr is Born

Skylar Hope Starr

January 22, 2007

1:45 pm

8 lb 15 oz, 21 in

Ashlyn's eye

This is what happens when you get in a fight with an end table...
and lose.

Baby Update

First, I would like to share that exactly one hour after the delayed start time of school yesterday all the elementary schools were closed. Pretty much someone made a bad decision and then made a worse one, and mass chaos ensued. Luckily for us, Scott dealt with it while Owen and I sat in the warm car and watched some unsupervised kids have a huge snowball fight.

The baby will be born on Monday. We have to be at the hospital at 7:30a, which is nice, because that is the EXACT SAME TIME the girls have to be at school. Now that we have a specific date I am able to make plans and get everything in order, so look for my water to break at some inoportune time this weekend.

Also, today all the snow is just about gone but supposedly tomorrow we are going to get the mother of all snowstorms here. The worst one in like, 20 years. This is supposed to last all weekend. It should be loads and loads of fun. I'll keep you posted.

Let it snow

Yesterday it began to snow. And snow. And snow. It was coming down impressively when I picked Ashlyn and Haley up from school, and throughout the evening it started to accumulate. Everyone was very excited at the prospect of missing school, but it was not to be. All the school did was delay the starting time two hours, which is odd because the roads were covered with snow and there is supposed to be another two inches in accumulation by 3 this afternoon.

I have a doctor's appointment at 11:15 today but I don't expect anything exciting to happen. I have decided I don't like my doctor much as he is the holder of drugs that for some reason he refuses to part with.

Well, I will post more later. Right now I have to start the car so it can warm up enough to keep Owen from griping about being cold (which he gets from Ashlyn), and I have to find his "boggin", as he will not go outside without it if anything is falling from the sky because God forbid some snow get into the gel in his hair.

The Upcoming Holiday

This is a conversation with Haley:

Mama, we don't have to go to school on Monday.

Why not?

It's Martin Lucas's day.

Who is Martin Lucas?

He was the blackest American king, and he wore all black, and he was nice, but some people didn't like him and they shot him.

Oh.

Yeah, that's exactly what happened. You know, Grandmama should know a lot about him because it was a long time ago and she's the oldest person I know. But Papaw is pretty old too, so maybe he knows about it. Anyway, Martin Lucas helped the lives of a lot of people so they could eat at the same restaurants and ride the buses and stuff. You know...equal nights.

A bunch of monkeys

My father took this picture before my parents left to go back to Georgia after visiting us at Christmas. I refused to be in it.

My mother: But at Thanksgiving I tried to take a family picture and you said I could take one when we came back at Christmas.

Me: Yeah, well, I lied.

No, not yet...

Yesterday as Owen and I enjoyed lunch and a showing of the movie Cars, (chicken nuggets for him, kung pao chicken for me) I noticed that my contractions were strangely close together. 4 minutes exactly. So then I was in a pickle, because it was 2:15 and the girls get out of school at 2:45 and Scott was unreachable at the range and Oh, What to do? What to do? So I called MAJ Somers' office.

*About two weeks ago Scott and I had this conversation:
I don't like the fact that I call and call and I can't get in touch with you.

Well, if you can't get me, call MAJ Somers' office. There's ALWAYS someone in there that will answer that phone, and they can come find me.*

To make a long story short, and to use as few bad words as possible on the blog, we'll just say that no one answered the phone.

I called Scott's office hoping that the training NCO would pick up and lo and behold Scott answered. Scott, who was supposed to be at the range from 1 to 4 answered the phone in his office at 2:20. I politely explain the situation. Scott begins to fidget and cuss a little.

Bob Ventura (Becca's husband) comes and gets Owen and Scott meets him here with the girls, who he's picked up from school early. Scott and I go to the doctor's office. I am subjected to a pelvic exam (YAY). 3 cm. I am then told to go home and wait for the contractions to "intensify." I was told this by a man doctor, who, being a man has therefore never had a single contraction in his life and has also never pushed a baby out of his body. But I must say he did give me more vicodin and told me to take no more than three a day so I don't dull the contractions too much.

The contractions are intensifying, but not all at the same time. Some are not bad, some take my breath, some sting, and some hurt. It's a good thing that I believe variety is the spice of life.

I am presently hoarding the vicodin pills so I can sell them on the street corner to some of Scott's soldiers.

Drugs

Last night was another uncomfortable night filled with lots and lots of pressure and pain so this morning I called and moved my appointment from tomorrow to today and went to see the doctor. We all agree that it is too early for the baby to be born, but I still needed something for the pain.

After a pelvic exam (YAY!) and some crying I successfully scored some Vicodin. The entire appointment the doctor kept talking about Tylenol so I thought that was what I was getting. When I got in the car and looked at the prescription I was confused because I honestly didn't know what vicodin was. Well, now I know!

Scott went to the pharmacy and got the medicine and I took two pills along with a chocolate milkshake from McDonalds. Vicodin is WAY better than any tylenol! Scott told me that after taking it I couldn't operate any machinery so everyone had cereal for supper tonight as I was afraid to try to work the stove or microwave. Also, at some point during my euphoric state I apparently slept for almost three hours AND talked to my father on the phone, which I don't entirely recollect. The pain has dulled considerably....to the point where I am up and about, happy to clean or whatnot, though the pressure is still there and Scott keeps telling me to sit down. I am still having contractions, and I go back to the doctor next Wednesday.

Almost ready?

Update:
Last Wednesday I noticed that I was having a lot of contractions so I decided to time them and found that they were about 9 minutes apart. I called the hospital and they told me to stay in bed all day. My parents were here so they took care of the kids and Scott only worked a half day so it all worked out. Plus, I got to lay in bed all day.

Friday night there was a small sequence of events that began around 11 that led me to call the hospital again. I was told to come in to be checked out and put on the monitor. Scott stayed with the kids while my friend Midge met me up at Labor and Delivery. It's a good thing she met me there because if you go in between 11p and 5a then you have to go through the ER and I would still be walking around the hospital looking for the Labor part because their signs suck.

So the nurse checked me out and found that I was 2.5 cm dilated (no biggie) and 75% effaced, which the nurse called "impressive, given how far along you are right now." The contractions spread out as soon as they hooked up the monitor, which is what always happens, so I got to come home about 2a with the instructions to "rest as much as possible in the bed." I was also asked if I had my bags packed for the hospital, which I don't. The nurse said to go home and pack them because after my appointment this Wednesday there was a good chance I would be sent down to have the baby. So I came home and Scott and I both freaked out a little bit.

Saturday we went to Dillards and bought the baby an outfit to wear home from the hospital. Walking through Dillards caused intense pressure and pain. Probably not good. We also ate lunch at Applebee's, where I got the Nacho appetizer as my meal, and Owen ate a jalepeno (he calls them pee-nos) and it was very funny; I wish you all could have been there to see that.

Yesterday we went to Denver Mattress and bought a new mattress and boxspring for our bed, to replace the one we've had for almost 11 years, and last night I embroidered some burp rags for the baby.

Other than those few things I am resting uncomfortably in the new bed or on the new couch that was finally delivered last week trying to not do the unthinkable: Go into labor while Tennessee is playing in a bowl game on television.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to all of you from Ashlyn, Haley, Owen, Yao Ming and

Bob and Larry!!!

Congratulations Stuart and Amy!

Congratulations to Stuart and Amy Phillips on the birth of their son, Sam, on December 14th. Older sister Emma is 1 1/2. We met Stuart and Amy in college. Stuart played baseball with Scott.
Sam's hospital picture is here.

Seeing Santa

Saturday we all went to the Battalion Christmas party. After we ate Santa showed up. In what can only be described a "classy", he rode up on a Harley. After he got off the motorcycle, MAJ Spencer, I mean Santa, quickly readjusted his bowl full of jelly tummy because for some strange reason is was up near his shoulder and then he fluffed his beard, which was windblown.
Owen sat with Santa because he had no choice. Scott walked him up, plopped him down and walked away. Before Owen could panic Santa did a wonderful job putting him at ease. Owen told Santa he wanted "tools, tools like Daddy has, so I can build things in our house, and a Pablo that sings and dances and candy and maybe gum, gum for peeing on the potty, but not for pooping on the potty, because Owen doesn't poop on the potty, Owen poops in my diaper."

At this point Owen is asking Santa why his beard moves independent of his face.

Ashlyn asked Santa for "surprises and clothes, because Mama said we can't ask for any toys this year because we don't keep our room clean."

Haley asked Santa for "surprises, you know, like surprises of clothes. I love clothes. And shoes, I always like new shoes. So surprises like clothes and shoes....and make-up. Mommy doesn't let me wear it very much, but when I do my face looks...I don't know...my face just looks really really pretty, very pretty actually, so I think surprises like clothes, shoes and make-up."

The last supersquad event (sniff)

Last Thursday we attended our last supersquad event. Supersquad was an adventure and a pain in the neck all at the same time. I think had I not been pregnant it would have been a great experience for everyone involved. Supersquad goes on year round but with the baby coming we have decided to focus on basketball, as the games are only on Saturday mornings so Scott will be more than able to attend while I stay home. As a send off for the girls, the instructors worked Ashlyn into one of the stunts. They tried to lift Haley, but she thought it was too high and cried. Ashlyn did great. She was lifted the highest out of all the stunts of all the schools. The crowd oohed and aahed and I nearly had a heart attack because I hadn't seen it beforehand.
Here's Ashlyn and Haley after the stunt getting ready for the dance.

The Nativity

As we unpacked our Christmas decorations we came across the nativity sets Nana has bought the girls. One I believe she bought in Mexico, or someplace near Mexico. Anyway, I think (I hope) they were inexpensive sets because Owen treats them like Weebles. Anyway, I sent Owen and Haley into the living room to arrange the sets on the coffee table. This is what they decided on:
note: this is somewhat better than last year, when all the people were in a large circle and the baby Jesus was right smack in the middle.
Ashlyn then came along and rearranged them. She also took the next three pictures. She is a talented photographer, much like our friend Becca, who is going to make baby announcements for us for free.

A nice read

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
Alone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing outhere!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled,
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Christmas at Old Fort Concho

Last year we did not go to Christmas at Old Fort Concho as it is pretty much a waste of time and money. It's great for the older crowd though... Anyway, this year we were forced to go because Ashlyn and Haley were participating in a Supersquad event. Each school performed; Glenmore's time was 11:15. The stage was really small so they had to break them up into three groups. Ashlyn went in the first group and Haley went in the second and we sat through the third out of respect for all the parents behind us who were filming. They did one cheer and one chant and due to technical difficulties did not perform the dance, but we have another shot at that on the 14th, when they have their Fall Preview. (I don't know why it's a preview and not a review)

After the Supersquad event we walked over to the horse riding corral and petting zoo. On the way we had to stop several times when they shot off the cannons because it scared the daylights out of Owen and he would scream and cry and beg us to go home. Once, right when we were walking by the cavalry, or whoever they are/were, they got ready to shoot and we stopped to take a picture. It was very loud and my hearing finally fully returned sometime Monday.

The horse riding at Fort Concho

Of course, this made Haley's year! It went very slow. For $3 you got to make three loops inside the corral. Owen didn't want to ride, but then they brought out a miniature pony that came up to my knees and he said he would ride that one. Scott went to put him on and all of a sudden Owen hesitated and while the guy was trying to coax him onto the horse the stupid cannon went off again and it was too much for him to handle and he started screaming and chose not to ride.
Ashlyn rode too.

The Petting Zoo

After riding the horses we took to girls into what was being called a "petting zoo". It cost a dollar per person, and I had to pay for myself even though I did not pet any animals. The animals consisted of a sheep, a horse, a llama and a goat. All in all not the best, but better than nothing.

FYI-Scott lent out some of his tents for the petting zoo. That's one there in the background.

He looks tough, but can he play?

Every year before the real Army/Navy football game they have one on base, so Friday we braved the cold wind and watched Army defeat Navy 33-6. It was pretty much a blow-out. Scott played defense (I think). I have to thank Drill Sgt. Furman for this picture...I took my camera and did not take one single shot.

Happy Birthday Haley!!!

Today is Haley's 6th birthday! Happy Birthday Haley!! We went to WalMart to pick out some cupcakes for her to take to school and as soon as she saw the horse one she was sold.
For her birthday dinner Haley chose spaghetti and corn on the cob. Amber and Arden came over and ate with us. Today is actually Arden's birthday too. For her cake tonight Haley wanted chocolate with chocolate icing and yellow letters. She also wanted me to make it, so this is what we ended up with.

For Mary Kate

This will truly be a Christmas to remember.
http://www.babygadget.net/2006/08/the_babykeeper.php

Wintry mix

it's SNOWING!

Fess up

"Look at your son."

"I told you you shouldn't have smoked that stuff while you were pregnant."

What Christmas present?

Pops, how old are you?

Oh Haley, I forget.

Does it start with 70?