Harper Katherine

I was reminded by my dear friend, Suzette, yesterday that not everyone in the world is on facebook, and some folks are still waiting patiently for pictures of this little miss. Here is the abbreviated version:

Harper Katherine Lambert was born April 29, 2010 (yes, almost a week past her due date... she took her sweet time!) at 2:58 a.m. (because apparently all our kids have to come in the middle of the night!) weighing 8 lbs. 4 ozs. (just like Finn, who was also born au natural) and about 20 " long. She has dark brown hair, mostly in the back (mullet baby), and is perfect in every way.

If you want more details, scroll to the bottom of this post and I will divulge more. But nothing too personal, for those of you who are squeamish. ;)




I can't believe how much she has changed in just over a week. She still looks kind of mad all the time, like she does in the above picture, but a little less so. I'd be mad too if I had 4 brothers constantly running around me shouting and being wild all the live-long day.

As you may or may not know, I felt great at the end of this pregnancy. The fun started wearing off, though, more and more every day that she was late. Finally, we got a good freak spring storm which I really think put me into labor. I started having some contractions after back to back soccer games for the boys, and started making preparations to head to the hospital that night. But, the contractions never got very strong, and I eventually fell asleep. The next morning they started back up again, but nothing got very serious until late that night. By 11:00 I knew it was the real deal. I called my little brother, Lee, to come stay with the kids, and woke Jason up.

We got to the hospital around midnight (I have to add in here that I was dilated to a 6 when we arrived, which was awesome. If I had only been at a 2 or something pathetic, it just would have been so depressing.), had my water broken around 2, and she was born 58 minutes and just a few (very painful) contractions later! Holy cow! It was so fast. It surprised everyone! I told Jason to call the nurse, and when she walked in I asked in a loud voice, "IS THAT A HEAD DOWN THERE OR WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!" The nurse walked in to check me and was suddenly flailing around, calling for the doctor, breaking the bed down, coaching me not to push, etc. The doctor walked in, and I pushed her out. It was crazy.

It was harder to get her out than it was with Finn, and I have some broken blood vessels in my face to prove it. But the recovery was seriously the best. By the time I left the hospital the next day, I didn't really even feel like I had had a baby. Well, not completely. You know. But really, it was great. I know I'm lucky, and you can all curse me now. But I always knew these wide hips were good for something.

We have loved having a baby girl around the house. Finn is so fascinated by her. And the rest of the boys took longer to warm up, but now they are loving her. They gather around her on my bed and talk to her, stroke her cheek or hair, laugh at her funny faces, and just basically think she's pretty cool.

I'm still in that phase where I don't even mind getting up in the night, because I look forward to seeing her and holding her every chance I can. I know those days are numbered because soon I will be a sleep-deprived zombie, but really. What in this world is better than the smell of a newborn baby or the softness of their little cheeks? Nothing.

Marathon weekend!

The funny/sad thing is that I don't have a photo of Jason at the Salt Lake Marathon, which he ran on Saturday. That is because I was busy with a marathon weekend of my own here in Logan. I felt really bad not being able to watch him come across the finish line, but we had too many things going on. Sorry, babe. I'll be there next time. And I'm sure there will be a next time, because suddenly Jason is a running machine.

Soccer season is upon us, and with 2 kids playing, we are running around quite a bit. And you know, I really love it. It can be hectic, but it is time that we spend as a family, supporting each other, and the boys really love it.

Here we are on our way home from Bennett's first game last week. It snowed and hailed on us, and Finn's hands froze. But he would NOT let go of his skateboard.

I'll work on getting a better picture of Bennett playing. I was too bundled up to have the camera out much.

But for Owen's first game, the weather was spectacular. Here is Jason, who came by to watch the game during his bike ride.

Go, Owenator!

Maybe my favorite soccer picture ever: (Oh, and did I mention Owen scored 2 goals?! That is a huge deal for anyone who knows Owen.)

Here is another proud mama moment: Bennett's first piano recital. We love his amazing teacher, Launa Godfrey. He played The Chicken Dance and Skip to My Lou. I have to say I was every bit as nervous watching him as I ever was actually playing in a recital. I'm glad his first experience playing in front of a group was a good one. He was pretty stoked.

Grandpa Dean surprised us by coming up to watch Bennett's performance.

I had to post this hilarious picture of my prego belly. There is something weird going on with Bennett's shirt that just makes my tummy look totally, perfectly basketball-ish. It cracks me up and kinda grosses me out for some reason.

Next up: A birthday party for the aunties: Jaime and Cami. How I love my dears sisters.

Cami and Lincoln.

Sunday was a relaxing day... we went to Mack Park with the cousins to enjoy the beeeeautiful weather.

Kate, Clara and Lincoln:

Mr. Finnegan.

A very muscular Jake.

And that, my friends, is the update. No baby news, if that's what you were looking for. :) I'll keep you hanging for a few more days, I'm sure.

Spring break run-down...

Because I'm getting pretty close to my due date, we decided not to go anywhere exotic for spring break. Instead, we ended up doing about a million fun things locally or semi-locally. It was such a fun week. I'm not ready for the kids to go back to school tomorrow!

First, here are a couple of photos from the ward Easter party.

The 600 North posse:

Finn's tiny basket.

Jake, Evelyn and Jade: How cute are these little friends?

The ward primary put on a really fun activity for the kids. First they talked about taking good care of our bodies, and then the kids all ran around the block for a Fun Run.

Bennett gets ready to round the final corner:

Jake tries to cool down after his super-fast run.

Weird weather abounded during spring break. We've had a couple of big snowstorms since the first day of spring that I swear gave us more snow than all other winter storms combined this year!

Snow could not stop Jake from riding his bike today. I think he takes after his Dad. Except the tiger costume part.

Oh my handsome boy! Ready for church!

Owen suddenly lost 2 teeth!

The day before school got out for spring break, the 2nd grade presented their much-anticipated animal reports. Bennett chose to study mice. He was so proud of his project, which I have to say was very awesome.

Bennett Lambert, mouse expert.

We spent a night in Highland with the Jules Lambert family. Here are the kids eating a fabulous breakfast. Anytime you get whipped cream first thing in the morning is a good time.

It was a beautiful conference weekend. It was fun to watch conference with the cousins. (I use the term "watch conference" very loosely.)

Spring blossoms!

Yay, cousins!

After leaving Highland, we drove to my Mom's house for more cousin time. We had the biggest Easter-egg hunt in the state of Utah, I think.

The Easter bunny found all these kids staying at Grandma's house!

Finn loved bubbles best of all.

Grubbing on Easter treats up in the treehouse:

Bennett presented his animal report again for us at FHE. The Olsen kids were there too.

One day we drove to Ogden to visit Grandpa Stick and the Hill Air Force Base Museum.

Here's Finn:

The kids loved all these scary planes!

Owen considers his life as a fighter pilot:

Jake is ready to go, and Finn wants to join him:

We also went to Baby Animals, which I look forward to every year. This year Grandpa, Jack, Jaime and Porter came too!

Finn was so fascinated by it all.

Porter was so cute and soft with the babies.

Jake and a chick.

Owen looooooved this little bunny.

Finn has perfected his "Cheese!"

Ready to watch some mutton bustin'.

The highlight for me might have been watching the boys ride the mechanical bull.

Go, Owen!

Jason took a half day off work Friday, so we went on a picnic hike up Green Canyon.

The boys love nothing more than being with their Dad. It doesn't matter how simple the activity, they just want to be with him.

Jake and Daddy.

BFF's: Finn and Ruby.

The gang.

And for our final adventure of spring break: Hogle Zoo. Or Hobo Zoo as Bennett thought it was called.

Jake and the alligator:

Owen and Finn:

Bennett and his new little friend:

Here we go, back to the routine tomorrow... Spring break was just what we needed.