Birthday Lunch and Bowling

Due to the fact that Stacia was only 11 days old on Hoyt's birthday, we decided to have a family day on Hoyt's actual birthday and do a friend party a few weeks later.  When we asked Hoyt what he wanted to do the day of his birthday he said, "Go to McDonalds for lunch and then go bowling".  So that is exactly what we did.  The boys enjoyed their happy meals at McDonalds and they played in the play land for a while and then we made our way to the bowling alley. 

I'm not sure where Hoyt developed his love for bowling, but the kid absolutely loves it!  He had a blast bowling a few games with Jett and then made his way over to the arcade games and played a few of those.  Stacia was a perfect baby the entire time and slept the day away (even though I would pay for it that night)!  When we got home from bowling Hoyt opened a few more presents from grandma and grandpa Murray which included an Indiana Jones hat, vest and whip and a Chima Lego set.  I think he is one lucky little 6-year-old boy!  Here are some special things about our boy:

• Hoyt loves school, is eager to learn and is so ready to start kindergarten.
• He loves all things Star Wars and all things Lego.  He would watch Star Wars all day long if I let him.
• He loves to play sports, ride his bike, and be outside.
• His best friends are Lea Lambert, Wyatt Vinson and Natalie Zaugg.  He plays with them all at least once a week.  (Lea more like every other day)
• He loves his primary class and going to church.  He is great at saying his prayers and blesses Caleb, Seth and Austin (who are on missions) in every prayer.
• Wants to be a farmer (or work with farmers), like his dad, when he grows up
• Is a great reader
• Still loves to dress up in a costume every chance he gets!   

Happy Birthday Hoyt!

My mom and Marissa left the day of Hoyt's birthday, but it was fun for him to wake up and have them here to wish him a happy birthday and open presents.  This boy loves balloons and donuts, so that is what was waiting for him when he came downstairs for breakfast.  He also opened a cool glow in the dark Nerf football game from grandma and grandpa Hoyt and a new Star Wars gun from mom and dad.  After grandma Hoyt and Marissa left, we got ready for a fun-filled day with Hoyt.

 

Funny Jett

Jett sure is quite a character.  He loves to be outside, ride his bike (in all kinds of costumes) and take "selfies" with our i-phones.  I will regularly look at the pictures on my phone and see that he has taken at least 20 of himself.  What a funny boy!

Grandma Hoyt is Here!

My mom and my sister Marissa arrived a few days after I came home from the hospital with Stacia.  They stayed for a week, and while they were here my sister Noelle and her kids came over from Pocatello.  We certainly had a full, and fun, house for a few days!  It was great to have my mom here, because she helped with everything from cleaning to laundry to baby holding.  What we would do without moms to help us out after having a baby??  The boys were sure excited to have her here and get them all to herself for a few days - they felt pretty special!

Big Brothers

A few days after we arrived home, Hoyt and Jett felt that Stacia needed to play with some toys or at least look at some toys.  They brought out their castle, some stuffed animals, a spider man mask, etc. for her to look at.  They were pretty certain that this would make her happy! 

Hoyt has been concerned about Stacia from the moment we came home.  He wants to be by her constantly and tells me that he is just making sure she is OK.  He can usually be found sitting next to her seat, helping her with the pacifier or just looking at her and talking to her.  He came to me one evening and asked me if he could sleep by her bassinet in our room.  When I asked him why he said, "Well, I just think I should be by her in case she needs me!"  So sweet - he is a pretty great big brother.   

Bringing Stacia Home

Two and half days in the hospital is plenty for me, so I was ready and excited to get home; even though going home to two rambunctious boys with a newborn was a little daunting.  She seemed so tiny going into her carseat, as newborns always do, but she seemed especially small to me because she was just under 7 pounds when we left the hospital.  The boys were so excited to see us and went to work right away trying to be good big brothers!

Stacia Starr Murray

And here she is!  Stacia Starr Murray was born at 11:17 on Tuesday, August 20th.  She weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz. and was 20 inches long.  Ryon and I keep saying how tiny she is, while all of the nurses agree that she is average sized.  (I just keep telling them that I am used to 9 pound boys!)  My C-section went very smoothly, even though I was nervous.  I had a great anesthesiologist and great nurses, so my experience was definitely a good one. 

After they delivered Stacia I was able to see her for a minute until they took her to clean her up a little and take all of her vitals.  Ryon went with her while I finished up with my fun operation!  In recovery they brought her to me and she was crying and crying.  She finally calmed down after I held her and nursed her, but she was definitely upset.  The poor, sweet thing did not like being taken from her warm, comfy home and brought into the cold world!  When I was put in my room she was calm and decided to sleep the rest of the day away. 

Later that afternoon, Ron and Kathy brought Hoyt and Jett to meet their little sister.  They were both enamored with her, especially Hoyt who wanted to hold her the whole time he was at the hospital.

I have always know that if I had a girl I would want to name her Stacia after my sister who passed away shortly after birth.  She would have been about 18 months older than me.  I also knew that her middle name would be Starr, which was my great-grandfather's first name and also my brother Gareth's middle name.  I have just always thought that Stacia Starr was the perfect girl name and I'm so happy that we could use it.  How excited we all are (OK....maybe just me) for bows, headbands, frilly dresses, accessories; I could go on and on.   

For now I'm going to try and treasure every moment with her because I have a feeling that she is our last.  We will not be doing any other rounds of in-vitro so I think she is our final, sweet baby doll.  How I love her smell, her tiny fingers and toes, her sweet pink face and perfectly shaped lips, again I could go on and on.  I will try and remind myself often to slow down and cherish this last baby of mine!