Valentines Day, Sushi, Pots

I decided to do an herb garden on my kitchen table right next to the widow where we get good sunlight. The only problem was my the pots I had were ugly and I didn't think I could stand looking at them every day. So the kids helped me out and we painted them a metallic brown. Now we just need to plant... More to come later.

Yummy Sushi I made with steamed cabbage instead of rice. James isnt huge on cabbage but he liked this after I made him try it with his eyes shut. Its cruchy goodness. I got the recipe off of fatfreevegan.com

Happy Valentines Day to myself from James. James got me the best present ever (well I actually picked it out and ordered it but he let me) a treadmill. It was just irrational to spend the money on a triple jogger so I opted for this instead. Can I tell you how awesome it is to be able work out at home whenever I want while watching a movie. If I would have known how much I would love it I would have bought one a long time ago. Also we got it at Costco because the return policy is awesome (Return it whenever without a receipt or original packaging) so if we ever have issues with it back to the store it goes.

Disney Family Fun magazine has quickly become one of my favorite reading materials. They have tons of fun stuff for kids. Not just random weird stuff. Ideas I would actually do.
Thats where we got this idea for Lukes Valentines. Go to there web site for instructions

Work Trips

Febuary was a fun month. James had to go down to San Antonio ever week for work trips and we went down with him 2X. It was good times at the hotel. We got to see James mom and dad down there, his brother Joe and his family, my Dad was in town with his new wife Debbie and my Aunt Beverly and her husband Jim.

I have caught this little guy sucking his thumb a few times.

I have a picture of Luke and James just like this so I made James pose for this one.

It was to cold most of the time we were there to go into the pool so the kids enjoyed the hot tub. There were two days that were warm enough but wouldn't you know it they closed the pool for cleaning those days.

Whoo Hoo Outdoor World (Bass Pro Shop) We spent a good two hours here. Great place!

Luke and Bella slept on the pull-out couch. They were so cute snuggling together

Royce completely loves his carseat now. I can put him in it whenever I need him to take a nap.

Look closely. He has a little Mohawk

Thats the I will get mommy to do whatever I want face

Grandpa George and Debbie

Luke is really good with Royce and just loves being a big brother. He is very excited about all the things he is going to be able to teach Royce how to do.
My Uncle Jim

Three can be a crowd but more often the more the merrier.

Royce Week 1

We are loving having this little man with us. He gave James his first real smile on Friday (8 days old), which is amazing since Luke and Bella didn't start smiling (really smiling not just the random sleepy ones) till they were a month old, but I guess he was in utero 5 weeks longer than they were so that would put him at about the same age. Since then he has smiled in response to me and grandma. He melts my heart with the little dimple he has in his right cheek.

He is very alert, has fully developed lungs and is very hungry! Eating during the day every 1-2 hours for 10-15mins on each side. The dr. confirmed that this is completely normal espeacially for such a big boy. At his Dr. apt. this week he was only 3oz shy of his birth weight.Big sister taking care of baby Royce

Sleep deprived mommy

The Mortensen Clan

Our little burrito

Snuggling and watching a show

Grandma Betty reading with Luke

"You can take him now mom"

Bouncer

witch, princess, fairy ??

Going to the Dr.

Royce stretching out on the couch

Bella drew this picture and when I asked her what it was she responded "It's a big storm cloud"!

Grandpa Marc and Royce nappin together

So cute in his little outfit. He later pooped all over it!

This is a video from the hospital right after he was born.

Royce Benson Mortensen

Born:
January 27th at 12:38pm
Weighing 9lb 11oz
22 3/4in long

Our sweet little boy has joined our family! We are overjoyed and completely in love with this little man! He is named after his Great Grandpa Roy and Great Uncle Bruce (we combined the 2) and his middle name is after the Prophet Ezra Taft Benson. Below is the story of his coming into the world.

We had originally planned a home birth from Royce but due to his delay in being born we opted to be induced I was one day shy of being 43 weeks according to my original due date, after Royce was born the Dr. said he looked like he was about a week and a half overdue.
We were suppose to be induced Weds night at 8pm but on our way out the door they called and canceled and rescheduled for the next morning Thursday, January 27 at 7:30. So that morning James went to get the kids from where they spent the night and dropped them off at our friend Cookie and Lesik's. Heather (James sister) and myself went to the hospital got registered and checked in.
At 9:30 the Dr. Cummings showed up and we talked about what was going to happen and he broke my water around 9:45am. He told me to walk around to get the baby to drop and to get contractions going. James and I walked around for a while and some medium contractions started going.
Sometime around noon the nurse wanted to check me and the contractions were getting stronger, I was at a 7 and from that point on everything happened super fast and it was kind of a blur. When she told me I was a 7 I freaked a little and started thinking I was going to be able to handle the pain. James and Heather were under strict instructions not to let them give me any pain medication even when I begged for it so when I started asking they did a good job diverting me. A few minutes later the nurse checked me again and I was at an 8. I told her I felt like I needed to push. She immediately got on the phone and paged the Dr. he was there within minutes and they got everything set up and within a few contractions I was pushing. Heather and James were helping me breath through the contraction and I just started pushing, all I could think was that I had to get the baby out before the next contraction because they hurt so bad and within minutes his head was out and they told me to wait so they could get his shoulders. After his shoulders were clear the Dr. let James pull the rest of him out and he handed the sweet angel to me. At the moment all I could think was I can't believe its over and then I realized I still didn't know the gender. I asked and no one else knew yet either so I picked up the blanket to looked and it was a Boy! This little man had a 14in head, I had told the Dr. when he was breaking my water that under no circumstances did I want an episiotomy and he reassured me he wouldn't and that I shouldn't even tear and he was right he did his job well that day and recovery has been great. Heather has been staying with us the past few days and helping out which has been so wonderful because I have been just enjoying snuggling and bonding with Royce and not being pregnant!