Chez Mitchell: July 2008

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Piper's first concert

We took Piper to see some good friends who have a band last weekend. She was so excited and easily the cutest person there. The band has a pretty big fanbase here in Brandon but most of their fans are high school and college aged kids. I was reminded that I have left that demographic when I showed up with my 6 year old daughter. The band (Look Mexico) was awesome and so excited that Piper was there. After one of their songs they even mentioned that Piper was there and how excited they were to have a small fry in the house. She of course LOVED that! She sang and danced her heart out and had a grin from here to California on her face. After the show was over she got pictures with all the guys and even got to play the drums for a bit. One guy even commented that they were super impressed that she knew all the words.

It is a lot of fun to see her grow into this little person and share these things with her. I love driving in the car with her and cranking up one of my favorite cd's and hearing her sing along in the backseat. I must say I have a pretty cool kid. I take full credit for that ;)

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Memories of Us

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! 2. Next (if you choose to), re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

YAY! This will be way fun!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Through the eyes of an artist

I just wanted to share some pictures of the kids that Matt has taken. Piper loves to model for Daddy and is always setting up photo shoots. I am as always, amazed at how Matt is able to perfectly capture our kids in his photos. Enjoy!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Our Weekend Update

Is it really already back to Monday? The weekend went by too fast as usual. We spent Saturday cleaning and doing yard work. That evening we went to P.F. Changs with Matt's dad and stepmom for his belated birthday dinner. It was YUMMY, but next time we will leave the kids at home. We headed home for some of Nanna's famous chocolate cake, which I have renamed Chocolate Crack Cake. I swear she puts something in it to make it so addictive. We were joined by Ian, Amanda and Finny for cake and wii. The evening was nice and exactly Matt's speed- low key and laid back.

Today we went to Mass with Ian and Amanda. Don't worry we aren't planning a conversion just yet. Today was special day because Finn was baptized. We have known the Lancaster's since Dax was a baby. They have become our family and we love them all dearly. We were excited to be able to share this event with them. Finn looked so handsome in his outfit and his new baptism shoes. I love watching Dax and Finn grow up together. To see them share these kinds of moments together is pretty neat. We all feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends in our life and we look forward to many more memories to come.

Of course Uncle Matt brought his camera. I can't resist sharing some of my favorite pictures of the day

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Happy Birthday Matt!!

Sunday was Matt's birthday. We had a fun filled and exhausting weekend and by the time Sunday arrived we were pooped. The arrival of a tummy bug didn't help matters. We are planning on making it up to Matt this coming weekend with dinner at PF Changs.In the meantime I wanted to share some of the reasons we love Matt so much!

10 reasons Sarah loves Matt

1. He makes me laugh
2. He loves me even at my worst
3. He is an amazing Daddy
4. He works so hard for our family and never complains
5. He is an incredible artist and has turned our home into an art gallery with all of his amazing pieces of art
6. He is a talented photographer who takes wonderful pictures of our kids all the time
7. Two words- burrito fete
8. He has stood by me and supported me through both of my surrogacies
9. He is a man of morals and integrity
10. He is my best friend

10 reasons Piper and Dax love Daddy

1. He is handsome, sweet, kind and loving (Piper)
2. He protects me (Piper)
3. He is funny (Piper)
4. He loves me (Dax)
5. He plays trucks with me (Dax)
6. He lets me work in the yard with him (Dax)
7. He plays yagos (legos) with me (Dax)
8. He is smart (Piper)
9. He cuddles me (Piper and Dax)
10. He loves Mommy (Dax)

We are obviously blessed and beyond lucky to have Matt in our lives. When we got married 8 years ago there was no way I could know just how amazing a man he was. I love growing up with him and seeing our lives change and evolve. There is no one else I would rather have by my side! Happy birthday Matt!!!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Fourth of July!!

We had a wonderful 4th of July this year. We started the day by going to the Brandon parade. We got there early and thanks to some friends we had an awesome spot. We joined up with a few families from church and all of the kids had a blast. It was really hot, but we still managed to have a good time. After the parade we went home and showered all the sweat off and took naps. Well Dax and Mommy napped while Matt ran errands and Piper got into mischief.

Then we met up with our friends the Thayn's and had yummy BBQ. From there we headed over to watch the fireworks. We were being chased by a pretty ugly storm and weren't sure if there would be any fireworks at all. Lucky for us the rain held off and we had a great time. Sarah (Thayn) brought glow sticks for all the kids and all types of glowing jewelry was made. By the time we got home we were all beat and headed to bed with no complaints.

Thanks to the Thayn family for hanging out with us all day and night. We feel lucky to have such wonderful friends to spend time with and make new memories with.

Dax and Nate

Our sweet set up for fireworks

Jesse and Dax watching the fireworks

Dax and the fireworks

Fun with glowsticks

Mommy and Dax

Piper, Jesse and Elle

Mommy and Piper

Piper and Dax

The little Mitchell family

Miss Independence

All the kids lined up and ready for the parade

Nate, Sarah and Jesse Thayn

Kassi Pope

Dax aka Mister Independence

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Piper's ballet recital

Piper had her third ballet recital in June! She was awesome!! I will admit I was a bit worried after watching her in class. She never danced the dance the whole way through but would insist she knew it. She was right, she danced the routine perfectly for the big show. She has a natural talent as a ballet dancer and I love watching her dance. She has decided that next year she would like to take hip hop. The dancer in me agreed as long as she sticks with ballet. She loved watching the dance company girls perform and now can't wait to be old enough to try out for the company. At that point we will have to set up some kind of recital fund. Those costumes are expensive!!

Our tiny dancer

Update

Sorry this is overdue. You would think I took time off to have a baby or something. Oh wait...I did! Baby Kate was born on June 19th at 1:59 am. She was 6 pounds 9 ounces and 18 inches. That made her an ounce bigger and an inch smaller than her big sister! She is beautiful just like her big sister and oh so loved!

The labor and delivery were amazing. We went to the hospital on Wednesday night and my OB broke my water at 10:30, I was 3 cm and planning on going all natural. After about an hour we had to start the dreaded pitocin. It sucked! Luckily for me I had Matt and my best friend Amanda there for support as well as Kate's mommy and daddy. The contractions were intense but I hung in there. When I hit 8 cm I had my moment of weakness and begged for something....ANYTHING! With the help of my support team and a wonderful nurse I was able to make it through. After just a few pushes Kate was here, sunny side up and all. OUCH! The natural delivery was painful but so gratifying for me. It was a goal that I had set with Abby and was not able to meet, I am pretty proud that I was able to achieve it this time. Not so sure I am ready to do it again though. I told Matt after Kate was here that next time I wanted the drugs...lol.

Baby Kate was perfect and so alert. I feel so incredibly proud and beyond blessed to be a surrogate mom. Besides the births of Piper and Dax, having Abby and Kate are two of my most incredible moments. Seeing the girls in the arms of their parents is a gift with no comparison. It is pretty amazing to watch people become a family. I was very lucky to be able to catch the first meeting between my sweet surro girls. Looking at them together fills my heart, knowing that they will always have one another makes me so happy. And of course seeing their parents with them and the love that radiates when they look at their girls is beyond words.

I am now a retired surrogate mom. I look forward to the next part, watching them grow up and seeing them become little people. In some ways I can't believe it is really over. I have wanted to be a surrogate mom since I was only 12 years old. I feel so lucky that I was able to have one of my dreams come true and in doing so give someone else their dream come true, not once but twice! Even with the bumps that came with being a surrogate mom I would not change any of it. There are two precious beautiful girls in this world and that trumps everything else!

So now we are settling back into a routine after having Matt home with us for a week and a half. It was so nice to have him here with us and spend time together as a family. We watched lots of Disney movies and were well fed by our wonderful friends and family. I think Matt's favorite part was playing our new Wii. Abby, Katie and their parents gave us a Wii as a thank you gift to the whole family. How awesome is that?! Matt bought a racing game and once the kids were in bed he headed to the track...lol. The kids and I are also having a good time, playing Mario and trying to Surf...lol.

Thank you for all the love, support and meals. It means so much to us to have friends that care so much and love us without conditions!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures!

Last belly shot before heading to the hospital