We Wish You a Merry Christmas or How I Fianlly Updated this Blog.

It's time for my annual blog post! It's also going to be my Christmas newsletter. Sadly, that's the best I can manage.
What a year! Here is our top 10 happenings for 2013:

1. Arthur went from being a baby to being a toddler. Wow, he grew a lot. He started walking and talking and getting into everything! Of course he is adorable, bright, and fastidious. He even cleans up after himself (sort of).

2. Alex can read! Happy day! Alex is in first grade and his reading skills have improved tremendously. He loves science, Star Wars, Legos and anything humorous. He takes after his daddy quite a bit.

3. We learned a lot more about Quinn. Our sweet little Quinn is in preschool and loves it. His craniofacial medical team convinced us to get genetic testing done on him. Frankly, now I wish we had done it sooner. We found out that he has a genetic condition called 22Q deletion syndrome. A tiny piece of one of his chromosome is missing. This explains the cleft palate and various other problems. We are extremely lucky because so many kids with this syndrome have much more severe medical problems including heart problems, seizures, and immune problems. But it does help explain a lot about Quinn. He is still sweet, affectionate and obsessed with Star Wars and light sabors. Everyday he is a new character :-)

4. Employma is gaining momentum! Erin and his family are launching a business that will match employers and job seekers like never before. Job boards and traditional recruiting suck. There, I said it. But in all truth Employma will do it better, faster and cheaper. Everyone wins. It has been a crazy year trying to make ends meet and start a business. It's not for the faint of heart.

5. We traveled. A little. Although the DeSpain family lakehouse is gone we still managed to get the gang together several time this year. Memorial day, 4th of July, baptisms and Thanksgiving brought Erin's family together. We also managed to get to Utah this summer. We had lots fun this summer and the kids even got to have swimming lessons thanks to Grandma T. Erin traveled the most this year though. He went to Orlando and Nashville for business. Ironically, he doesn't really like traveling.

6. Two special grandparents passed away. In March my Oma passed away. She was a special lady. One of the best cooks I know. She was crafty before it was hip. We miss her a lot. Although I couldn't make it to the funeral, I was able to see her shortly before she passed away. In the summer Erin's grandfather passed away suddenly. Erin enjoyed calling his grandfather in Colorado and talking politics and philosophy. We are thankful for the chances we had to visit him over the past 11 years.

7. My grandfather remarried. That might surprise some folks, but my grandpa was quite lonely. My grandmother had been in a steady decline over the past year. He married a very nice lady, who is originally from Cuba. My grandfather is quite the linguist and speaks German and Spanish (self taught).

8. I cooked and baked a lot. I enjoy the culinary arts. Most of the time. I also enjoy good food. By virtue of starting a business and being broke that meant we ate out a lot less. And even when we did eat out it was not at many fancy places. I got a lot of help from the Food Network Magazine. With forays into intricate lasagna, rolls, cheesecake, and even gluten free food. I think we eat pretty well at our house. Lest I give you the wrong idea, not all of my efforts pay off. But I don't give up. Not often anyway.

9. Erin got his patent. After a couple of years of writing, submitting, resubmitting and defending the patent was finally granted this fall. I know it sounds like a lot of time, but in terms of a patent it was actually pretty fast. That was one of our miracles this year. If you want to know what this patent will do see #4.

10. We learned it's the little things that make life good. Playing chase with your kids. A tasty meal. Watching fireflies. So many good things in life that don't cost much. Don't get me wrong, I miss some luxuries like new cars, vacations, new clothes and such, but I've learned that you can live without them. Gratitude and humility are the antidotes to pride and envy. I've got a lot to be thankful for.

Happy 3 Months Baby

I can't believe it's been 3 months since our little guy was born. Sometimes we call him Arthy, sometimes we call him little Thor. Often we call him Big Baby, because , well... he is a big baby. He is about 16 pounds. But he is the sweetest happiest baby. He makes me smile everyday. This is what we have been up to in the last couple of months. Berry picking, preschool art shows, lakehouse fun and just hanging out.

More Arthur

Boy have hospital pictures come a long way. Yay! Here are some more picture of the new baby.

Introducing A. W. R. D.

We just call him Arthur.
Here is the story if you are interested.


At 37 weeks I found out that I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. That made me hopeful. Even though my babies always take longer than their due date. My due date was March 14th. At 38 weeks I was 2cm dilated. Each day would start with the hope that it would be the one. One evening the contractions were going and we headed for the hospital. Only to be told that I was still only at 2cm. A serious disappointment.
At week 39 I was 3cm. Hooray! I must be very close! My in-laws were nearby to help with the older kids and my mom was on her way soon. 40 weeks came and so did my mom. Still 3 cm. I was not surprised but I was bummed. 41 weeks came. Major bummer.
The day after my 41 week appointment I went in for a biophysical profile. I did not want to do that but I did. They checked the baby. He was fine. Then I went back to my midwife's office and it was time to get down to business. She stripped my membranes and gave a mud like concoction to help bring on labor. By 2:30 we were at the hospital and things were moving. I had to have an iv of penicillin because I was GBS positive. I had my second child without an epidural and I thought I might do that with this one too. I was unprepared for the pain this time. At the point when I thought I might die I found out that I was only about 6cm dilated. The thought ran through my head, "If I am going to have anymore children I better get an epidural. If I don't this is going to be it."
So I caved and I asked for an epidural. After a time that seemed like forever the anesthesiologist came and gave me my epidural. By the time he was leaving the labor and delivery room I was telling him that he should eat at Cafe Rio during his medical conference in Salt Lake. He gave me an outstanding epidural. I could still wiggle my toes and I felt the pressure of the contractions but not the pain. By 7pm I was dilated to 10cm and my little guy was ready to come out. We thought for a few minutes that the amniotic sac would come out intact with the baby still inside. But alas it burst after a push or two. After some pushing he came out into the world, and hallelujah I didn't tear. No stitches. Best delivery/recovery yet. He was 8 lbs 7 oz and 21.5 inches long. My big bruiser. He took to nursing right off the bat. Little Arthur is a great little eater. And he is a sweet baby. We are very thankful for his sweet disposition and his safe delivery.
His brothers are excited. Alex is more interested in Arthur than Quinn. Quinn is having an adjustment period. But that is to be expected. More pictures to come soon.

Quarterly Update

First of all, we had a nice Christmas. We went to Northern Virginia and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Erin's family. Lots of fun and cousin time for the kids.
We finally broke down (not literally) and got a mini-van. You pretty much need one with 3 kids. We traded in our beloved Corolla for a Sienna. It's a year older than our Corolla, but on the plus side the insurance is lower. We call it Big Blue and we are starting to become attached.
Also, it might interest some that we have finally put our house on the market. It is bitter-sweet. I'm relieved that it is on the market and the housing market has some activity. On the other hand I dread moving. We've lived in this house the longest since we have been married. Three years has gone surprisingly fast. The next task will be to find a suitable rental house. It's slim pickings right now in the area we currently live in.
The boys are doing pretty well. Alex's preschool teacher gave me a very favorable report of his progress. That is always nice to hear. He is a fun and unique kid. He loves collecting bugs and learning things about the world. Quinn is doing well, other than a few cavities. His speech is improving though. He carries his best buddy everywhere with him (George). He loves to sing and dance. It will be interesting to see how he handles the new little brother next month. Only time will tell.

Christmas Newsletter

In the absence of a paper newsletter, we have a virtual Christmas newsletter this year. It's the green thing to do, right?

Obviously the biggest news of 2011 is the upcoming addition to our little family. In July we found out that baby DeSpain #3 was on the way. The pregnancy started out wonderfully, and by wonderfully I mean with lots of nausea and fatigue. The second trimester was much easier. At the end of October we found out baby #3 is a boy. We expect baby brother to arrive sometime in mid to late March.

Alex turned 5 at the end of August and won't let us forget it. He started a Pre-K five day preschool program in September. I was a little skeptical about five days a week but I find that it is actually a very good thing. He enjoys school (most days) and has made some new friends too. He is determined to become a scientist and has also developed an interest in prehistoric creatures. His favorite thing to do is play outside, but when he can't do that he draws, cuts snowflakes or makes things.

Quinn turned 3 last month. He is a charismatic little fellow. He started speech therapy at the local elementary school two mornings a week. His speech has improved greatly this year. He loves to point out clocks wherever we go. He also loves Pocoyo and Curious George. We think that he may be an athlete, actor, or musician someday. He sometimes practices his fake sneeze, that is when he isn't playing ball or singing/dancing.

Erin has started a new venture this year. He is developing a business that will help people find jobs online. He finished his MBA in August and he has kept very busy even after his schoolwork was done. We are excited to see what will happen this next year with the business.

2011 has been an interesting year. It had its ups and downs, just like 2012 will. We are thankful for our family and friends and all the support they give us. We know that we have had many blessings along with the challenges. We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Sneak Peek

Some of you might be wondering, "Why is she posting so much?" Yes, my posting is much more frequent. More than twice a year. If you caught my last post then you know that baby #3 is on the way. The good news is that I am feeling much better. The bad news is that life is too busy. There is a lot going in our family, mostly good things but it is keeping us very busy.
I am 20 weeks along now. Half-way! And yes, we went for our 20 week ultrasound. So, yeah, we know. Keep reading if you want to know. If not, then stop reading. Erin was sure that baby 3 was a girl. I made no guesses. I was kind of hoping for a girl, but God has other plans for us. Yup, boy #3. I am getting some good ideas for Halloween next year though. When Alex found out he said, "Yeah! I got my wish."

This is a sneak peek of baby boy. Not the best 3D ultrasound pic, but it's something.

Some News

So, I thought it was about time to do one of my semi-annual blog posts. Seriously, the more time goes on the fewer blog post I write. Sorry folks. Anyway, some of my friends that aren't on Facebook may not have heard some news. The third baby DeSpain is going to make it's debut in March.
This has made the past few months, er... interesting. Thank goodness my Mom came and stayed with us for a few weeks in August. This meant that someone would surely make dinner and everyone had clean clothes. She helped us out so much!!! We also had some fun excursions too. Of course we went shopping, we went to the lake house, and on labor day we went to the zoo. We also celebrated Alex's 5th birthday. On his birthday we went to the Science Museum to see the rats that play basketball and see an IMAX movie. It was a great day. We also had a co-birthday party at the Lake house for Alex and his cousin, Ethnie. The kids (little and big) enjoyed wacking the pinata. Although Alex did comment that next year we should do the pinata at home. I think he didn't like sharing the candy. What can I say?
Oh, and we survived an earthquake and hurricane. Fun times.

Family Pictures

When we were in Utah in April my good friend Nicole took some family portraits for us. They are wonderful! Check out Nicole's blog for more of her work.

My Sister is Married

In April we went to Utah for my little sister's wedding. I was lucky enough to be a bridesmaid and be part of that beautiful day.

Goodbye Trees

This spring we had a few dead trees removed from our yard. It was kind of sad, but also a relief, because I won't have to worry about them falling on our house. If you live in Utah, you probably don't have this problem.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Don't come to our house on St. Patrick's Day if you aren't wearing green. Or any day for that matter. You might get pinched.

Bi-annual blogging. The new cool.

Okay, so I haven't blogged for like 5 or 6 months. I've been busy. Give me a break. Anyway, I'm going to make up for it with a few months worth of I-pod photos. So I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures, but it is better than nothing.

Snow = Winter, Right?

I never get tired of this view.



Snow equals winter, right? That is what Alex thinks. He woke up to snow and was thrilled.

Food Challenge

I found this food challenge through a blog called There are No Rules by Jane Friendman.

The rules are:
1. Copy this 100-item list on your blog or site.
2. Bold the foods you've eaten.
3. Strike through foods you will not eat. (or put an X by them as I did)
4. Post a comment on Very Good Taste (where the challenge originates).



————

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush (I think I've had this)
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses (I had to look this one up)
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes - X
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn or head cheese (looked this one up too & it is not what you think) - X
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar - X
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly - X
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more - X
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini _- X
58. Beer above 8% ABV - X
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin (I must be missing something here)
64. Currywurst (apparently Germany's favorite fast food)
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini (I've had caviar but not with blini)
73. Louche absinthe - X
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu - X
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong - X
80. Bellini (I thought this was something else) - X
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare (I think I've had this)
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam - Not sure
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee - X
100. Snake

I started to see a pattern, if I had to look it up I probably had not eaten it. I looked up a lot more than I thought I would. Try this and see how adventurous you really are (or well traveled).

Summer Days

I have been negligent in posting to this blog. Here is a taste of our summer activities. I need to get my camera up and running again. Until then these pics are from my phone's camera.

Long Overdue

This post is long overdue. Grandma has been waiting for this blog post too long. Alas, I am remiss in my blogging duties. I have found that I am too busy living life to blog about it.

This past month we discovered this awesome museum in Norfolk. It is called Nauticus. We loved it! It was great for kids and adults. There was even a full sized war ship there.

Alex taking a rare Sunday afternoon nap. I loved it.



I've been meaning to record this cute little dance for a few weeks now. This video gives just a little taste. It delights me every time I see it.

Our New Obsession: Lost

Okay, I know we are a little late but we just started to watch Lost on Netflix. So far we have just finished the third season. I never understood why people were addicted to the show. But now I know, it is addicting! They say the human brain cannot abide a mystery. The writers from Lost keep you hooked by mystery after mystery. I have a love/hate relationship with this show. I love how it keeps me guessing but I hate how I need to keep watching. I also dislike the violence, and yet I can't turn away. It is a sick thing. Oh well, I guess we'll join the rest of the millions of Losties.
Maybe tonight we will find out who the parachuter Naomi really is and if Charlie dies (but I don't think he does).

Snow Days

Here are some of the highlights of the snow days.
Alex loved playing in the snow. We've gotten 27 inches so far this year, which for Richmond is a lot.
Quinn loves eating my creations, especially chocolate cupcakes. A recipe will be in my other blog.
My three year old also helped me reupholster my dining chairs. A project 5 years overdue.





The green chair is the new fabric. Long overdue.

Happy New Year

Thanks Grandma for coming to visit us.





Our little elves had a great Christmas.