Whitney meets her family!

I am feeling so blessed and happy with the precious little bundle of joy the Lord has blessed us with.  My original due date was Oct 4th.  Jenae was 2 weeks early & Aubree was 2 days early so we really did not know when to expect little miss Whitney!  I went into labor about 6:30 yesterday morning.  I had a doctor appointment scheduled for 9:00.  I despite being in labor, I was actually feeling pretty good.  I decided to go to work for an hour before my appointment.  When I got to work I started tracking my contractions and they were 6-7 minutes apart.  When I got to the doctor, it did not take him long to decide I needed to be checking into the hospital as opposed to going back to work.  I was already dilated to a 5.  By the time I got checked in to the hospital I was already a 7.  Kyle headed up to the hospital and got there just after my epidural.  My progression slowed way down after my epidural, but I didn't care, as I didn't feel a thing!  Whitney made her grand entrance at 3:02 yesterday afternoon.  Chip had been in town most of the day & kept checking in with Kyle through out the day.  Marilyn picked up the girls after school and they came up to meet Miss Whitney.  Jenae & Aubree were both pretty shy & had a lack of word at first.  It didn't take them long to settle in and start acting like themselves.  I have a feeling Whitney is gong to be getting a lot of love in the Whitaker house!  Jenae & Aubree went home with Chip & Marilyn so Kyle could spend the night in the hospital with me.  We kept Whitney in our room with us.  She was a very content baby.  She only woke up at 2:00 to nurse and she went right back to sleep. 

It sounds like Jenae & Aubree were both pretty wound up last night and this morning talking about their new little sister.   I talked to Jenae on the phone this morning.  She was all worried how she was going to concentrate at school today thinking about Whitney.  She said to me "Mommy, should I just pretend that you have not had Whitney yet?.....but I can't do that because I need to tell my classmates that she was born"  Marilyn said that Aubree kept forgetting Whitney's name.  I am afraid there is going to be some fighting as to who gets to hold her first when we get home.  I am so thankful that they are both so excited about their baby sister!!

Our first family picture as a family of 5!

Happy Daddy with his baby girl!  I think she already has him wrapped around her little finger!!

Jeane takes her turn with Whitney!

Aubree finally getting to hold Whitney.  She has waited a long time for this moment!

Chip & Marilyn holding Whitney for the first time!

Whitney Faith has arrived!

I am feeling very bless and happy that our baby girl Whitney Faith came into this world at 3:02 this afternoon.  She is doing so well & she is just perfect.  She was 7 lbs 9 oz 2 1/4 inchs long. 

Rounds 2 & 3 of the Mid-States Rodeo Finals

I got up Saturday morning and made a trip to Norfolk to get stocked up on baby supplies.  It was not a "fun" shopping trip, but a good feeling to have all of the necessities for Baby Whitaker to arrive.  The Madison County Fair Board hosted a Husker party equipped with 2 big screen TVs.  It was a lot of fun to be able to watch the game right there on the fair grounds.  The game went right up to the time of the rodeo & Kyle was able to go get saddled up during half time and get ready for the rodeo.  

  Night 2 of the MSRA finals was another cold and wet night.  It never did rain, but there was a wet mist in the air all night.  Kyle had a good night at the rodeo.  He was 79 on his bronc, 4.6 on his steer & 11.0 on his calf.  Jenae & Aubree went home with my parents after the rodeo.  Kyle and I went to the dance for awhile.  It was a good chance to visit with some friends, but we were both pretty tired so we went back to the trailer and called it a night.

Sunday when we got up we could tell it was going to be a much nicer day!  They were calling for mid 70's and lots of sunshine!  The weatherman was actually right!!  It was a beautiful day!!!  The girls even got to enjoy ice cream during the rodeo :-)  A huge change from the other 2 days of rodeo!!  Kyle & I went to Cowboy Church service in the morning & my parents brought the girls back about the time church got over.  Jenae was very eager to get saddled up and start riding firecracker. 

The rodeo was just so so for Kyle.  He did not draw the greatest in the steer wrestling and he knew he had to be quick to try to win something.  Well he was a little too quick & broke out.  He made a nice run in the calf roping and was 3rd in the round with a 10.9 & ended up 4th in the average.  Then it came time for the bronc riding.  He drew a horse that really bucked, but kind of stalled when the gate opened.  In my opinion the judge made a really bad call and said Kyle missed him out.  I guess that is rodeo!!! 

We got home about 6:00 that evening.  I was busy trying to get things unpacked and clothes washed.  Bless my mom's heart, she had washed all of the girls clothes before she brought them back on Sunday.  That was helpful, it saved me 1 load of wash :-)

Now that MSRA finlas are over it is time to get ready for this baby to arrive!!  Still lots to do, but I am feeling much more prepared after having the day at home yesterday to get the room ready!  The count down has begun until the arrival of Baby Whitaker!!! 

Aubree, Brooke & Allyx with Brooke's pony Pepper.

Another cold night at the rodeo.

The sun is shining!!!!  We were all so happy to see the Sun on Sunday!
My parents, Erin & all the girls getting ready to head to the rodeo




Chip, Jenae & Kyle riding around before Sunday afternoon's rodeo, they actually
are riding around without coats on!

 

First Round of Mid-States Finals

The first night of the Mid-State Rodeo Association Finals was a cold one! I took Friday off & we got Jenae out of school around 1:00 so we could get to Madison and get checked in for the rodeo.  All week long I had been checking the forcast and it was looking pretty good! Originally they were calling for low 60's on Friday, upper 60's on Saturday & 70's by Sunday.  Lets just say the forcast was a litte off.  Friday barley made it out of the fifties & it was a cold damp night. Jenae was so excited to get to take her horse, Firecracker, along for the weekend. She has been wanting to take her along a few other times this summer, but it didn't work out.  I was suprised how well Firecracker handeled her first trip away from the Whitaker Ranch.  The fairgrounds at Madsion it a fairly big & busy place with lots for a young horse to be around.  Firecracker never seemed to get upset or spooked at anything. 

Kyle had a good night at the rodeo.  He was 2nd in the Saddle Bronc rididing with a 75, he was 4.6 is the steer wrestling, which was 4th in the round & he was 16 on his calf.  I know he was not happy with his calf run, but the calf kicked when it came time to tie him.

Jenae & Aubree had fun playing with their cousins during the rodeo.  The Herchenbach family came over to cheer on Kyle & Dusty so the only cousin on the Forre side that was not at the rodeo was Riley.  Aubree went home with Brooke to spend the night at her house & Jenae went home with my parents.  I have to admit it was kind of nice to have a quiet night at the trailer!  I didn't realize traveling being almost 9 months pregnant would be as hard as it is, so I have been very thankful for the extra help with the girls.

Kyle & Aubree on Rambo.  Jenae on Firecracker.

Jenae working Firecracker

Jenae & Aubree with their cousins at the rodeo.  You can see by how they were dress how cold it was!

A birthday party for Ben & Bree

Kyle made it home early Sunday morning from a rodeo in MN.  The girls were so happy to have him home!  He gave Aubree a really cute pair of boots for her birthday.  Hard to believe, but I did not have my camera in my hand taking pictures of her opening her gift that morning.  She is pretty happy with her new boots!!! 

We all went to church in the morning and spend the afternoon getting some things done around the house.  We went over to Hope's house for supper to celebrate Ben & Aubree's birthdays.  Their birthdays are just 2 days apart.  Hope made a delicious supper & it was a beautiful night to spend some time outside. It was a fun evening!

Ben, Aubree & Trey with the yummy Birthday dessert Hope made.

Aubree eating hear dessert! As you can see, she REALLY enjoyed it!

Aubree opening her gifts.

Happy Birthday Aubree!!

My little girl turned 4 on Saturday!  She is growing up so fast.  I asked her that morning if she knew how old she was.  She said "I am as old as Jenae is now!"  I do not know where she got that idea!  We never know what she will come up with.  Last week she told me "Oh Mommy, look at your fat belly with a baby in it....you look like a pregnant billy goat!"

We had a really nice day at home on Saturday.  The weather was so nice that the girls played and played and played outside!  Aubree was not happy with my dinner of left over potato soup that I made, so I said she could pick what ever she wanted for supper & since it was her birthday I would make it for her.  I listed off a bunch of kid friendly options.  Of all things she wanted a plain ol' hamburger!  Jenae made her a birthday cake in the Easy Bake Oven.  Aubree thought that was special :-)  After supper I rented the movie Gnomeo and Juliet.  It was a really cute movie & a nice way to finish up her birthday! 

Aubree with her birthday breakfast!

Aubree with her cake Jenae made her!

A busy day

I had a meeting on Wednesday in Grand Island, so I took Thursday as my day off for the week.  I have been having a lot of swelling in my legs and feet so I was hoping for a nice quiet day at home.  Well no such luck!  Kyle was at a rodeo in Fort Madison, IA & Chip was off on a trail ride in the mountains in Colorado, which left the girls of the family in charge.  With me being very pregnant, Hope having a brand new baby & Marilyn with her hip, we are not is a best shape to be taking care of things on the ranch!  Long story short, Chip had a horse that needed to get to the vet.After spending the morning over at Chip & Marilyn's place dealing with the horse & the chores  Hope took the horse down to Ord  to the vet, while  Aubree & got a few hours to snuggle with Chase.  He was a tired little boy & slept most of the time he was at our house.  Aubree was really disappointed that he was not awake more!  When he did wake up, she was so exited to feed him a bottle. 

After Hope left with Chase, I got roped  into a Kirby vacuum demonstration.  Little did I know it was going to be a 4 hour demonstration!!!  I was very impressed with the Kirby, however I am not sure it is worth $2700 :-)  It was 8:00 that night until I got him out of my house!!!

So between our horse situation in the morning & the Kirby salesman in the evening, my day did not turn out to relaxing! 

Oh well... relaxing days are over rated anyway!!!

Aubree was so happy to feed Chase his bottle. She is such a little Mama!



Labor Day

I love paid holidays!  I think they may be the best things ever invented!!  Chip sold some cattle on a Labor Day sale.  Jenae rode Firecracker to help round them up.  After the cattle were loaded we got ready to go with Kyle to a rodeo in Johnstown.  The weather was perfect for a day out and about!

When we got home from the rodeo we hurried up to get chores done and then we took Jenae & Aubree to see Smurfs.  It was a really busy day and I think we were all ready to crash when we got home.  The girls really enjoyed the Smurfs.

Jenee helping to round up the cattle. 

Aubree enjoying a hot dog for dinner.

Jenae was Kyle's helper again at the rodeo.  For some crazy reason they had Kyle ride his bronc
in with the bareback riding. He had to rope his calf right after he rode his bronc.  He had Jenae get Comet
warmed up for him.  She did a really good job helping him out!

Jenae & Aubree having some fun dip at the rodeo.

A day at Lacey's

Last Sunday my parents came out to help with our bunk bed project.  My Dad build them up a little bit so Aubree would have a little more room. We made a trip up to Lacey's for dinner.  It was a really fun day.  After we ate we wondered around outside eating grapes and apples that have growing around there place.  Then we headed up to  Rock Falls.  It is just a bout 5 mile from there place.  It is so peaceful & beautiful up there.  The kids had a great time playing in the creek. 

Aubree playing in the creek.  She was all smiles!! 

Jenae getting in the water. The water was a little on the cool side!

Riley playing in the water.

Aubree & Jenae at the waterfall.

My paretns at Rock Falls.

Picking apple at Lacey's house

Aubree & Riley playing with Anne.