-The Potter Family-

..5 month update..

2010-10-14T19:21:00.024-07:00

Here ya go - a really long post!! not only is it an update of what we have done over the past five months but it is a celebration because today is T's 5 month BIRTHDAY!! so the update will be sporadic and crazy but hopefully you'll get the idea that we are a busy little family and we are having adventures every day! D found daddy's old missionary name tags and so daddy slapped one on him and sent him out and I immediately burst into tears looking at my future missionary.. I love this little boy and I love to hear him pray.. he loves nursery and he loves Jesus. He thinks that any person with a beard is Jesus.. there is a wooden statue of big foot/Sasquatch at Ranch and Home and every time we walk through there he has to say (at the top of his voice of course) - "HI JESUS, LOOK MOM IT'S JESUS!!" Daddy and mommy are headed to Hawaii in 6 weeks as part of a give away at a car dealership they qualified for (the car post is later) and so mommy is working her tail off to look really good in her swimsuit.. daddy bought her an elliptical and some work out dvd's and the boys like to go crazy while mommy is working out.. one day I couldn't resist their silliness since they were making each other laugh and so I took the opportunity and grabbed my camera and played with my boys - they are more important then a perfect body anyways!! D got tired of his picture taken and T is teething so we got the "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil" going on in this picture.. I have been working on some projects.. My mother taught me how to crotchet while I was pregnant with T because I was literally going crazy with nothing to do all day since we were ready for him about 4 months early.. it's really easy having a boy after already having a boy.. there's not really a whole lot of prep work that goes into having another one :) you just pull out all the stuff you already had, wash it, and put it together.. so I had a lot of time on my hands.. I started out making a blanket for myself but then I found out that one of my best friends was having a baby so I made her a blanket for her little girl.. then I found out that my other best friend was having a baby, so I made a blanket for her little boy. Now, I am currently working on a blanket for my sister in-law who is having a girl :) my fingers are sore but I am happy with how fun it actually is.. I love my old lady hobby :) We got a whole bunch of clothes from a friend of my parents and we were sorting them out one day and I found this awesome pink Hawaii shirt.. and thought "well, I don't have any girls it will go on.. I'll put it in storage I guess and when I have a little girl and she is big enough we'll pull it out and she can wear it.. well D was rummaging through his closet one day and came out with this shirt and wanted to know if he could put it on.. I laughed and thought "sure, your dad will kill me because it's pink but I'll get a picture for a good laugh.." - put the shirt on him.. told him to give me a face and well.. yeah.. my son is tough enough to wear pink! I showed his daddy and he said "looks good on him, and he obviously likes it." - we have had to hide this shirt because D won't take it off. yup my son is tough enough to wear pink :) Our little T is such a smiley guy. He is always laughing at something, even the wind in his face when we take car rides with the windows open. He is such a joy to have and I can't believe how blessed I am to have two awesome sons! Not only do I have awesome sons, I have the best husband int he world, I mean look how cool he is! He is a great dad! He loves them so much that it's hard to mistake that he is their father. He loves playing with them and I love hearing all the play sounds that are in my house. I have: monsters, cars, trucks, planes, helicopters, dinosaurs, dogs, trains, motorcycles, and anything else you can think of.. We took our boys up to the mountains for FHE to watch the sunset. We figured it was a great way to teach them about the beauty of the Earth and how Heavenly Father creates each and every day for us. we ended up taking a million silly pictures of us as a family and only 10 pictures of the actual sunset.. T was laughing so much at his dad and brother being silly that we caught the best picture of him.. this really is his personality all day long. This is one of the pictures we caught of the Sunset over the Walla Walla Valley.. I love the beauty of this town. I'm a girl torn between Country and City. I love the country, I was born and raised in it.. but I have a soft spot in my heart for Seattle! We got to go to Seattle for Daddy's birthday and we got to spend lots of time with Grammy and Grand-Dad. We love being in this beautiful city. Jesse was raised here and this is where we met (well we met in Bellevue technically but you get the idea) we went on so many dates to and around the Space Needle that we had to come back and visit. Grand-Dad and Grammy took us out to dinner and T was so exhausted he fell asleep with Grammy. Then they took the boys for a night while mommy and daddy had a night out to themselves and it was so beautiful to just walk around and sleep in. We are so blessed with such great parents who are kind and love our kids so much. They are supportive and helpful and we love being a part of their family! D loves watching mommy put on her make-up and I guess he thought he could use a little color on his face as well because he came out and said "look mommy I color!" - of course I had to take a picture and laugh because usually it's girls who mimic their mommies but I guess if I'm going to have all boys I better get used to seeing my sons do very silly things ;) We also, got a GREAT deal and traded in our broken down VW for this FORD ESCAPE!!! I love it! It's a 2006 so it's not that old. and it is super comfortable. We also got a trip for two to Hawaii just for purchasing this car! so in 6 weeks we are headed to Hawaii (without our children, Grammy and Grand-Dad will be watching them) for a whole week in a 4 star resort on the Big Island of Hawaii right near Kona. We are thrilled! T loves his feet - loves to kick them, loves to grab them loves to suck on his toes! I'm still amazed that at 5 months he still can.. it will be fun to see how long until he can't reach his toes. He is a big kid and I love him to pieces. he was 17lbs at his 4 month check up.. and of course is still growing and eating like crazy! I have a very sneaky feeling that my children will be taller than me.. I'm going to be that short little momma with the 6ft basketball players. My parents had a great opportunity this last summer to host some Baseball Players for the Walla Walla Sweets (city baseball team) The Player in the middle is one of those players that they hosted Danny Poplawski, he is the sweetest guy you will ever meet. He and Chris (who is not in this picture) were awesome to D and they even got him some baseball toys to play with. They were just so much fun to have and I am now a baseball fan.. if only I could get TV to actually follow baseball.. maybe next year. For mommy's birthday and for the 4th of July we headed up to Columbia Park up in Tri-cities. (T was only about a month and a half old) but we got to watch the fireworks on the river and I got this picture of D giving kisses. D loves being a big brother and he loves to help out. He helps us by bring blankets or grabbing diapers or bottles out of mommies bag and grabbing binks. I am so proud of him for being such an AWESOME big brother. Our little guy T holding his head up so well.. now (5 months later) he is rolling all over the place, squealing with delight over anything at all.. and thinking about maybe wanting to crawl.. I always tell him "Slow down T, you've got plenty growing up to do." The best part about having cousins over is slumber party at Aunties house!! this is D and Bubba and Bear having a bath after a much messy dinner.. they had a blast and my floor was soaked but it was SO worth it to hear these three guys laughing and splashing. memories I hope that they will remember for a lifetime. I loved hanging out with my cousins and these guys are such close friends! I guess you have to be close friends if your gonna bathe together :) This is D being an great big brother when T was just a couple weeks old. D has always loved helping out and he has been such a blessing to me. so there it is - our 5 month update - HAPPY 5 MONTH T!! we love you little man and we can't wait to see what you will do :)

Tyler Daniel Potter

2010-06-23T10:49:00.006-07:00

WOW, I am terrible and keeping updated. Tyler Daniel Potter was born May 14th, 2010. He was 8lbs. 11oz and was 21 in. long. I was scheduled to be induced at 6am but I started having contractions about 3a.m. so I decided that I should start getting ready. Since my awesome mom had taken Dylan the night before, we didn't have to worry about getting him up so early. So, I did my hair and make-up and got my clothes ready and put all of our stuff by the door (all the while Jesse is still asleep, I didn't want to wake him up) and about 4:45 I told Jesse that maybe we should go early since my contractions were about 7 minutes apart but they weren't unbearable but they were definitely getting more intense. So, he got ready and we left the house about 5:30. we got to the hospital and the regular doors weren't open so we had to walk over to the after hours doors.. laughing the entire way because I'm having contractions but it doesn't look like it does in the movies where the lady is screaming!! they get me started on my antibiotics and I have to have 2 doses before I can begin pushing so we get that done, then the anasthesiologist comes in to give me my epidural and along come 3 newbie students!! awesome! so they all watch and as he has me hunch over so he can jab this horse needle in my back and then he says "oh your spine looks a little crooked.. oh well -POKE!!!" jerk. you have me hunched over and bend as far as I can over a HUMAN BEING!! of course my back is gonna be a little bit crooked!!! So then we wait.. and wait.. and wait.. and at Noon they tell me to start pushing! 45 minutes later - pop - out comes Tyler Daniel.. and what does my Dr. say?? "WOW, HE'S BIG!! I'm glad we didn't wait another week for you due date, because he's big!!" - side note: I had been telling my Dr. for 2 weeks that my pelvis had been hurting, it hurt to sit, stand, walk, sleep. maybe if he had listened to me at 36 weeks when I said "my pelvis hurts.. I'm done!!" oh well. good story eh!

It has now been a little over a month and we all just LOVE Tyler. Dylan wasn't too sure about him at first but now when he hears Ty crying he comes running to me and says "MOMMY, Tyler Crying!!" and if I don't drop the dirty dish that I am washing he will try and grab my arm and pull me to wherever Tyler is. He loves to hand us binkies and bottles and get blankets for us. He loves to give kisses but isn't sure about holding him yet. He's only asked to hold him twice and even then it's only for about 10 seconds at most.

Tyler is doing really well at holding his head up, he hasn't had much tummy time yet since his umbi-cord hasn't fallen off yet, but when we hold him he loves to just pop his little head up and look around. he loves his crib mobile and loves to kick his legs!!(I'm just glad he's not kicking in me anymore) So, here are some pictures of our little family and how we all love baby Ty, Ty Ty, My Ty, Tyler Daniel Potter! Welcome to the world little man, we can't wait to see what you will do!

~Happy Birthday Dylan~

2010-03-03T20:41:00.014-08:00

Our little man is turning 2! I love looking at pictures of him all tiny and new and I can't believe that two years has gone by this quickly. He has had our full attention and we can't wait until he can meet baby brother. Dylan has been more than I could have ever hoped for. He is sweet and loving and definitely all boy. He can't pass a truck or tractor without saying it over and over until either parent will acknowledge that "Yes, that is a tractor. Good Job!!" He loves to be out side and to play with his Bella. There have been a couple times where he will go to hand me something and he's actually handed me bugs or spiders.. I now make him open his hand before he hands me anything.

He has the best smile that can make my heart melt, even if it's been the roughest day, he still loves me by bed time. He reminds me of his dad all the time and I feel so

blessed to have such wonderful guys in my life. Dylan and daddy are the best of friends and I just smile when I watch the two of them play together. Dylan loves Lasagna, Hamburgers, Cereal, Toast, Cheese, Apples and any other food that I happen to be eating at that time. He has taught me more patience then I ever thought I could have and then some. He has taught me how to fully love and how to just let go. He really is my every joy.

He loves playing with his cousins and has just figured out how to say each of their names. He recently has gotten into Buzz Lightyear and it has been SO fun to watch him get into some movies and learn all sorts of things. He loves cars and trucks and trains and tractors and anything with wheels that goes "vrooom" - I don't know if I'll ever break him of it or if I want to try :) I feel so blessed to have his huge spirit be apart of our family. He loves to have prayers with us and he loves giving hugs and kisses! We have been extremely lucky to have such a great little guy in our home. I guess I've said that a million times already but it will never feel like enough. I just can't believe that two years has already gone, it gives me hope that his Mission will go by this fast! I guess I'll just post a couple of my favorite pictures of the last two years and say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIL MAN!!" mommy loves you "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow too." (one of his favorite books)

Count Down

2010-02-10T15:03:00.002-08:00

The Countdown has begun! We offically only have 12-13 weeks left. I thought everyone would like to see what my 6 month pregnant belly looks like. We are getting so excited to meet this little guy and no, we don't have a name picked out yet. We are hoping to get that done very soon. Dylan doesn't quite get the concept that he will no longer be the only one but every time I ask him if he wants a brother 70% of his answers are "peease". Every thing is going well here, we were looking for houses but have decided to wait until Jesse finds employment in the State that he would like to be in (i.e. Idaho, Nevada or Arizona). We are just taking one day at a time and enjoying our little family.

ITS A BOY!!!!

2009-12-31T11:50:00.002-08:00

It's not quite the way I wanted to announce it but my scanner isn't working so I can't post our ultra sound pictures.. but YES, we are expecting a boy in mid-May!!! We are very excited about having a house full of boys! unfortunately this little guys due date is actually on our anniversary, May 20th! so I am hoping and praying that he decides to come early. I have had really bad sickness for the last 17 weeks, so this has been a really hard secret to keep!! I am so excited to start feeling him move, we got some really awesome pictures in our Ultrasound. we got a couple of him looking right at the camera and you can see the pupil and the Iris and everything! it's pretty cool, which is why I was bummed that my scanner isn't working.. but I guess that's what you get when your computer is almost 6 years old. but that's our news!! Happy New YEAR!!

Summer update: 2 of many

2009-08-07T21:58:00.015-07:00

So, I think I've figured out the mass blog postings... post all the pictures you want to write about first.. and THEN put your words around them :) So we'll start off with this shirt.. I got Dylan because Jesse is trying to get onto a police department.. it says "Dad's Lil Lieutenant - 2nd in command - after mom that is" I thought it was so stinkin cute. We also bought Dylan a pool for the summer.. he has loved it so far and so does Nana.. She got a new swimsuit and she is sooo cute!!! as you can tell.. Bella also loves the pool as a GIANT drinking dish! We have spent almost every day over in this little pool. it, by far, has been the best $15 we have spent this summer. After we went swimming one day, we came home and Dylan found a box to sit in.. we have been working on smiling for pictures for the family reunion so that he's not just looking around when someone takes a picture... so far we have a lot of work ahead of us.... These are some super cute shorts that Grandma Potter bought for Dylan. Our smiles are getting better :) and 4 pictures later.... SMILE PERFECTION!!!!!! now he smiles on "command" or "demand" (which ever you think is less offensive) for any picture and LOVES to look at the pictures after you have taken them. My car, has been in the shop since Jan. Jesse got in an accident in the snow and it's just taken forever for them to find the parts and get it fixed... so for 6 months we lived with borrowing and hitching rides everywhere.. well.. for Jesse's Birthday/Fathers Day/ Anniversary.. we bought him a new/used car.. it is a 2004 Saturn Ion.. it came with the windows tinted and with the rims already on!! sweet! We've loved having a camera again in our lives.. we took some really fun family pictures on a day when we were really bored and somehow ended up hanging out on the kitchen floor! this is Dylan in Jesse's motorcycle helmet..

awe what a fam!!!

those are my funny funny boys!

MOMMY KISSES.... Dylan:"uhh, really do I have to?" So, one day, I was making lunch and Dylan was being especially cranky so I pulled out some pots and pans and some spoons so he could make a whole big racket... well after about 15 minutes it got REALLY quiet.. so I called out Dylan's name and I heard this little "uh"... So I walked around the corner and around the couch and this is what I find... a Dylan Salad!! he wasn't too happy that I went and found my camera instead of getting him unstuck. He loves putting on my sun glasses!!! and we had a blast hanging out with Granddad when we were learning how to walk... about 2 weeks after they left... he walked on his own... More to come....

Summer update: 1 of Many?

2009-08-06T21:18:00.045-07:00

Wow, how long has it been.. way too long. We've been having way too much fun this summer to be busy blogging. also, we've been having too much fun that we forgot to take pictures! We had a family Reunion, on Jesse's side, in Idaho at some pretty fun Hot springs. We went to Downata Hot Springs and to Lava Hot Springs (my favorite). Dylan had so much fun playing with his Granddad and Grandma that I'm sure they have pictures.. but Mom and Dad were going down too many water slides to get a good look at them. We've also had cousins over for swim.. I did get pictures of that though.. but before we get into that.. This will be a very long post since I am trying to do some ketchup.. hahah catch up! so we'll start where we left off... a good Solid.. what was that 5 months ago.. Dylan had his 1st birthday.. we've had ALL sorts of fun since then.. we woke up that morning to find him getting into his daddy's Shooting stuff.... Glasses (very Zoolander) and Earmuffs....lucky for us that's all he was interested in (since Jesse's guns are all locked away)but this is his "DJ Dylan" Face .. We got him a Tonka push truck for his birthday to help him learn how to walk (which he then did on his own about 2 weeks later) and he loved to play "mechanic" We have also had a lot of fun spiking his hair. mommy and daddy constantly are doing their hair. Daddy cuts his hair all the time and Mommy gave herself a new cut and color and so why shouldn't Dylan have some really great do's huh?? Jesse and Dylan have soo much fun together making faces and "attacking" mommy. Mommy needs to stay on top of her Ninja skills to keep up with them. and while mommy is doing her hair, Dylan LOVES to sit in his highchair and eat lunch.. he loves food of all types and usually we find a mess with him in it :) the joys of laundry...we learned very quickly to let him eat without a shirt on! I guess now would be a great time to show you what I've been working on while he's been having fun in his chair!! I gave myself a new cut and color.. this is the before and after shot...it was a two day process and I loved every minute of it. That's right, I did those foils myself! I'm very proud for not being able to really see where they were going.. unfortunately It faded a lot so I had to go back to the darker color.. who knows. maybe I'll do it again someday it was really fun!.. another fun thing that happens around our house is that Dylan is constantly making us laugh. here are just SOME of the funny things we catch on camera... Like tackling Dad in the middle of the floor, and looking very innocent. Doing Yoga with me..... Look, mommy, No Hands!!!! He is my 100% boy, he loves listening to music... He loves to watch TV and Movies (his favorites right now are Madagascar 2, he knows that one by heart and roars through the whole thing. and Cars.. because he can say "car" and say "vroom vroom") He also, for some reason, loves to play with bowls, lucky for me he hasn't tried to put a bowl full of food on his head yet..

Happy Birthday Dylan!!!

2009-03-03T21:08:00.004-08:00

Dylan had the best 1 year birthday party. He got to share it with his cousin Isaac who will be 2 on the 9th. Dylan will be one on the 4th so we decided it was time to bust out the party!! It was a construction theme and I waited all day to cry (like most mom's tell me I would) but it never came. I was just so happy that we had gotten past the first year and now we can get onto the "terrible two's" and get those over with! This little boy has given me so much joy and he makes me laugh every day. He has the best smile and, like his daddy, knows how to win your heart over in an instant! I find it strangely odd that my little boy is so engaging to strangers. He will make a wonderful missionary. anyone and everyone will say "hi" to him and smile and wave and we'll just start talking! I am also amazed at all the things he can get into especially when he thinks I am not looking. I am always scolding myself for melting at his smile when he turns around and realizes I am watching him. I cry every time he hurts himself and I love to watch him giggle at his monsters! I have been so blessed with such a wonderful little boy that I can hardly believe it has been a whole year since the day he was brought into our family! I love that he teaches me patience and love like none I have known before. I guess I am just so grateful for his wonderful spirit I never know such a little person could have. He is so forgiving and so loving that sometimes I wish he could say what he thinks, but I am relishing in the fact that he can't do that quite yet and that he'll still be my "baby" a little while longer. So here's to you: my little man, my Dill Pill, my snuggle bug and one of my best friends. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DYLAN ROBERT POTTER! mommy loves you more today than she did yesterday and will say the same tomorrow. Love, Mom and Dad!

We can Update!!!

2008-12-27T20:56:00.008-08:00

Oh how I love Christmas and my wonderful husband! Jesse was a rock star and got me a camera for Christmas! So, now I can update you all with pictures of our family and all of our good times. I think I'll start with Thanksgiving which we spent with Jesse's parents this year. We had so much fun listening to his parents giggle and play with Dylan that his mom and sister were so nice to capture so many pictures for us. Dylan had so much fun calling all of his relatives to wish them Happy Thanksgiving. None more excited than his Great Grandma Elison. His Grandma Potter was so excited just to see his face light up that she was more than willing to hand over her phone to him Tana and I had so much fun putting together the Desert cups that we had to pause for a moment of proof! We made Strawberry-Banana parfait things that were so good it would melt your socks off! and they were so pretty that they looked worthy enough to be on food network so we took a picture of them as well. Dylan was so excited for Thanksgiving dinner that he was just the happiest kid. But when all was said and done I don't think there were any two people *besides his parents of course* who could have loved this little boy more. We were very sorry that we had to leave and take all the giggles and fun away, but it just means that we are so excited to go back and visit! Now... On to Christmas!!

A non-purposeful break...

2008-10-17T14:19:00.002-07:00

We had our camera lost/stolen. It was in our diaper bag and it has been "misplaced"! So we wont be posting pictures again until we get a new camera. Dylan is 2ft 4inches and 20lbs and is "talking" up a storm! he loves to bang on things and will give the best and biggest smiles when he is being held! He loves.. "dancing" and "flying"! Jesse is doing well at work, He is getting really close to being hired on to Pasco Police Department, and we just got into an apartment here that is a month to month lease so that will be good for when he goes into the academy! Pretty much thats all new.. Will post more once we get a camera!

Bendixsen Family Reunion

2008-09-17T21:19:00.002-07:00

So last weekend we had the most fantastic family reunion EVER!!! I have discovered the joy of family get togethers. we had Sejena and Ewan, Derek, Sonya and Isaac and Gary, and Me and Dylan and Jesse all here for the weekend and we had the most fun I think I have ever had. The boys (except for Gary) went swimming in this little pool but they had so much fun! we gabbed had a Partylite party and ate TONS of junk food!! It had to be one of the best weekends ever!! anyways just thought I'd let you know what was going on with our family. Dylan has 7 teeth and is trying to learn how to crawl. he rocks back and forth and scootches backwards on the hardwood floor but he's getting there. Ewan started Kindergarten and is having a great time. Isaac (the little daredevil) is still the biggest risk taker ever and Gary is Isaacs little mini me!! We're all doing wonderfully and I hope to get pictures posted soon!

Birthday Girl

2008-07-03T23:22:00.003-07:00

So two days ago it was my 22nd birthday. and since Jesse has to work on tuesday nights, he took me out on monday to tricities (the only town that has a decent mall or shopping experience or food scene, and is also about an hour away) and took me shopping and out to dinner! it was fabulous. and then tuesday we just hung out with family all day!! it was more like a birthday weekend than a birth-DAY!! but on tuesday morning, I woke up to Jesse holding Dylan and both were "singing" me happy birthday. Jesse was singing and Dylan was just making some noises, but it was still the cutest thing ever!! My dad also gave me my grandfathers .22 rifle he bought in 1942. so yes, I got a gun for my birthday!!! It was very cool! I'll post pictures and some more details when its not almost midnight!!

New News!!

2008-06-27T20:22:00.003-07:00

Yay! Jesse passed his Public Saftey Test and so now we wait for all the departments to go over his application and call him and say they want him to work for them. So we still wont know where we will live, but it is one step closer to being back up in Seattle. In other news, Dylan has discovered his voice and not just the crying part of it. he was talking all week while we were at grandma and grand-dads. We had so much fun going to the Zoo and just playing around! We are sorry we missed Emma and Andra's birthday party, and Joe's birthday is today as well. but MY birthday is on TUESDAY!!! and I can hardly wait! I'm never usually excited about birthdays because for some reason they are always forgotten. but this year it doesnt matter what happens becuase I have 2 handsome boys to celebrate with!! and I will probably make myself a super good chocolate cake with blackberry filling and chocolate frosting... YUMMO!! Well since we just got back about 2 HOURS ago! (we took the incredibly long way home) I better get some laundry started and get Dylan off to bed.

Joining the Blogging World...

2008-06-21T17:41:00.001-07:00

O.K. So, all of my friends have quit talking to me and I find that I have to read about their lives on Blogs. and since I am tired of Jumping websites to read up on all of my friends, I decided that it is time to convert to the blogging world. Besides, it doesnt look that hard or that painful!

So update on our lives.... Jesse and I got married on May 20, 2006 (exactly a week after my best friend.. crazy huh~!~) We were living in seattle and now we are living in walla walla. OH, and we have a baby boy named Dylan Robert Potter, born on March 4th (my little warrior haha.. march forth... march fourth...nvm I thougth it was hilarious) he was 7lbs 11oz and 21 1/2 inches long. He is now 3 months old (almost 4) and he is 15 1/2 lbs and 26 inches long! I live for his smiles and his laughs! Jesse is testing to be a police office in seattle this week and we are hoping to move up there by christmas! I would hate to move in the middle of winter!

So, that's really all that is new... I guess I'll post more later, or when we get back from seattle this week!