We've been busy...

Things always seem to get so busy at the beginning of the school year. I almost feel like I can't keep up! Ammon is coming to life- he has started reaching for things, cooing and even laughs every now and then. He still spends most of his time looking at us with a slightly shocked expression- like we are all crazy and out of our minds- but he is beginning to smile more.
The girls are LOVING school and Sarah has joined the Jr. High Volleyball team. She has practices before school every morning at 6am!!! She and Rachel got a cold/flu illness and she missed some practices so she won't be able to play in the first few games but she is excited and can't wait to ride the bus to and from the out of town games with the other girls. Getting up at 5am every morning has been hard but has turned into a good thing- we all get up and read scriptures and say prayers as a family. It is really nice to have some time together in the morning as a family and to not be as rushed. Then I take Sarah into town and I often get to go walking with friends- which I LOVE and doesn't feel like exercise... except for the heavy breathing... and red face.

















Gabriel is keeping busy with his usual things- playing ball, fighting, helping Mommy and playing with his cousins- who he is in love with and wants to see EVERY day!































Rick is busy working and helping out at home. He gets bombarded when he walks in the door with hugs from the girls and wife- a 3 year old who is always hiding wanting 'Daddy Richard' to find him and a new baby eager to 'coo' at him about his day. I seem to be getting over the whole Postpartum thing just in time to spill boiling water on my arms and hands and then catch a nasty cold/flu. Thankfully my arms and hands are fine- just itchy and peeling now and the cold/flu illness is gone. Back to life!

SO GRATEFUL...

I just wanted to take a moment and express gratitude for my wonderful family and friends. It is embarrassing to admit but I have been struggling with Postpartum Depression. I wasn't expecting it and it came on strong and quickly. It has been tough and I have had to drop my pride to call friends and family for help. They have responded without judgment, quickly and with full support. I am so grateful for the days that they have spent tending my children and for the many hours spent babysitting me. I am grateful for friends that have taken kids to sleep over and to activities. I am so thankful for friends who listened as I cried and who made me call the doctor and get some help. I am SO grateful for a mother- sister & brother in law that dive in to help & get things done when even I don't want to and who are willing to help with the 'yucky' stuff! I am grateful for the hours spent at the laundromat keeping me company and teaching me how to work everything. I am SO thankful for a mother who comes running every time that I call, who cleans up my kitchen, watches my kids and that drags me off of the floor- into pants and kicks me out of my own house to go for a walk & get some fresh air...when I don't want to... then walks with me to make sure that I don't find another place to go and hide. Most of all I am grateful for patient and helpful children and a husband who tries so hard to be understanding and loving- even after working 12 hour days in the heat. Thank you everyone for being there and I am working on it- really I am!!!!!

Ammon

Here are a few pictures of our latest addition. He is getting big too fast!!!

Visitors Center

Well... we actually made it out of the house to do something as a family for once! We went to the Visitors Center in Independence. It was a warm sunny day so we sat in the grass and had a picnic. Gabe played in a tree and the girls soaked up the sunshine. We enjoyed the information and the pictorial depiction of the Saviors life. Then the kids had a good time playing around in the mini pioneer village. It was nice to get out of the house and go somewhere. I hope as Ammon gets bigger 'outtings' will be more frequent. I tried taking the kids to the park in Galliton a little while ago but Ammon was not having it. So here we sit. Ah well- here are some pictures.

A few more pictures of our little one!

Ammon and Daddy!














Ammon finally sleeping!















Ammon going for a ride in the car to 'Grandpa Grandpa's' (as Gabe calls my mother) house.

Our new little one!

Ammon Richard Wilcox has joined our family!!!
Ammon was born on Friday- June 19, 2009 at 3:18pm. He weighed 6 pounds 9 ounces and was 19 inches long. We had few complications and thanks to a GREAT Dr. who listened to his 'gut feeling' we were able to be induced and get Ammon here safely. He is a sweet little guy- long and skinny like his dad- with the longest skinniest toes I have ever seen! We are so glad that he has joined our little 'brood'. Mommy is especially happy that he is here and that she is not sick all of the time anymore! The kids love having him around- Gabe tells everyone that he loves 'baby Ammon- hims my best friend'. The girls spend a good deal of their time arguing over who gets to hold him next. come to think of it- some days Daddy has to put his foot down and insist on getting a turn. Thank goodness for older helpful daughters- I swear they are the only reason that I get a shower some days!!! Anyway... our little one is here and we are all doing great! I will try and get on a schedule and update more often.

Quick hello!!!

I thought I would pop on quickly while we are visiting my parents and give everyone a quick update- sorry I forgot my camera. Rick is working hard at his job just to come home and work hard around the house or on the land. He even got to mow the lawn for the first time this past week- one of his favorite things to do! I am counting down the weeks until 'AMMON'- as we call him- joins our little brood. I have been really sick lately and have been diagnosed with 'GILBERT'S SYNDROME'. Basically my liver does not break down and get rid of toxins correctly and they are released into my blood stream. There has been very little research into this disease and there are very few answers to my questions but it is nice to know what has been making me tired and sick with fevers and backaches and headaches and nausea and turning my skin 'yellowish' since I was 22. I have had to rest a lot and cut sugar and refined foods out of my diet- MAN I MISS CHOCOLATE!!!!
Sarah is growing like a weed and getting prettier every day. I took her shopping for an Easter dress and found myself feeling very conflicted- the dress that she looked the most darling in was also the one that she looked the most grown up in! It is stylish and pretty and she is in love with it. We have had to put a bit of a hold on her bedroom and she is having a hard time with it. Almost all of the drywall is up and she can hardly stand it!!! She is so afraid that we will not get it done in the next few weekends before the baby gets here and then she will have to keep sharing a room. Rachel is just as cute and fiesty as ever- she too is growing like a weed and is looking less and less like a 'little girl' to me. She is doing GREAT in school and really enjoys her after school Math/Science club. She is excited that the baby will be here soon and keeps asking us to go ahead and have a little girl next so she can share her room with it. UGH! She wants to be homeschooled again next year and says that she misses Gabe and I when she is gone during the days. I am all for it.... I think. We will see. Gabriel is... well.... cute as heck is what he is! He is happy and funny and loves 'his girls'. He follows his sisters around everywhere and wants to show them every little thing and do everything that they are doing. He tells us that he is not Gabe- he is 'Spiderman' or 'Batman' depending on the day... and then he will tell us when he is 'just Gabe' again. We have been trying to teach him not to interrupt people when they are talking and that he needs to say 'excuse me' when he does want a turn to talk. He hasn't quite figured it out yet- so far he just interrupts and says 'EXCUSE ME!' over again and again and again (loudly) until you let him talk. It is pretty cute. His father is coming out to visit next month and I think we have created a little monster- the last time his dad came it was around his Birthday and he bought him presents, the time before his dad got him Christmas gifts... now Gabriel has a running list of the things he wants 'Daddy Thom' to get him when he comes out. He wants a baby pool, a baby trampoline (to jump), a blue Spiderman wallet, to go and get a cheeseburger and a slide for his playground. Funny kid! Oh to be 3 again!
that is about all that is going on- because I have been TOTALLY USELESS!!! We have a garden in thanks to my parents and need to get a going on buying baby stuff- we are running out of time!!!! Never a dull moment. I will try really hard to remember my camera next time and get some pictures of the kids up. Hope you are all well and happy!!!!!!