Auntie Robin visits and Halloween

Baylor in Auntie Robin's arms just after her arrival here in Arizona Friday morning!!! We were looking so forward to our visit with her, as it had been 7 long months since we had seen her. Auntie Robin was looking forward to getting her hands on her newest nephew :o). Baylor quickly found himself comfortable on Auntie Robin's shoulder. It was also so nice for mommy and daddy because it gave us a chance to get some things done without having to hold little man. I guess now that she has returned home, work around the house will go on hold again :o).

At the sand pumpkin patch (LOL), only in Arizona would you go to a sand pumpkin patch!!! On Sunday our church had a fall festival fund raiser for the school called Rocktober fest and we had a great time there despite the very warm temps. (close to 95 degrees)

Bennett and Brayden on the train at the festival Sunday.

Monday morning Aunt Robin, Mommy, Brayden, and Baylor (Bennett was in pre-school) went to our Mommy and Me fall party.

Mommy and Baylor at the party(notice mommies red nose, the other mommies were talking to mommy and Aunt Robin about her leaving the next day and mommy was already getting upset just thinking about it. Look out Tuesday morning it's not going to be pretty :o( )

Brayden at the party, he decided to dress up as The Thing. He was having snack and eating worms and dirt(pudding, crushed Oreo's and gummy worms Yummy!!!)

Auntie Robin brought a Haunted House craft to do with the boys on Monday afternoon. The boys are always ready for craft time, I guess they get it honest from mommy and Auntie Robin.

Brayden fussing about taking his photo with his art project, so Aunt Robin jumped on the floor with him :o). We also went to Bennett's karate class that afternoon, he was excited to show Aunt Robin his skills!

Monday evening we decided to celebrate Bennett's 5th birthday since Aunt Robin was here (his actual b-day is 11/1). We did a whole spooky theme with ghost chips, mummy's in the blanket, ghost plates, pomegranate juice (for blood) his still asking for more pomegranate juice, and Aunt Robin made cupcakes with the boys, so we decorated them as Monster cupcakes! What a fun night.

Bennett opening his gifts. He received a Nintendo DS, clothes, pirate puzzle, and gift card to Target.

Baylor at the party, taking it all in. His little Monster pumpkin :o).

Bennett's one eyed Monster cupcake.

Brayden creating his Monster cupcake creation, he was the one who had the ides of Monster cupcakes, and was looking forward to this project. Thanks Aunt Robin for making cupcakes with us!!!

Daddy's Monster cupcake, yes we even got daddy in on the action.

And Mommy and Aunt Robin's Monster cupcakes. They were quite yummy and so moist, my weakness is b-day cake/cupcakes. :o)

We also carved our pumpkin and the boys decided on a pirate skull and crossbones. Whew, what a busy fun filled day, we were not looking forward to the day coming to an end because it meant the next day we had to let Auntie Robin go back home Boo hoo.

Mommy, Brayden, Bennett, Aunt Robin and Baylor just before taking Aunt Robin to the airport. Again notice mommies red eyes and nose from crying the blues. Oh so sad to see my sister leave and still crying as I sit here and type. She was so amazing and such a big help, in addition to just enjoying her visit with us. She would make the boys beds, get them dressed and ready, empty dish washer, start, dry and fold laundry, make food and clean up after meals, hold baby and quite cries. Oh how I wish we were closer for my own sake as well as the boys being able to spend time with their cousins who they miss dearly. I'm sure the post partum blues don't help the matter much, but I'm feeling particularly sad and home sick.

Halloween night Brayden wanted to wear Venom, Baylor a cute little pumpkin, and Bennett was The Incredible Hulk. We spent the evening at our church, for a performance from the Children of Hope choir . They were amazing. The choir is made up of of children who have been orphaned, abandoned and robbed of their childhoods because of poverty, civil unrest, and preventable diseases. What a privilege to get to see them.

After the performance, we went to the parking lot for our first annual Trunk or Treating. We sponsored a car, and had a good time handing out candy and seeing all the kids. The boys especially liked giving the candy out and saying Happy Halloween. Baylor slept through it all.

Bennett as The Hulk, he actually looked quite scary, and some of the little girls from his class were really frightened. Just like a boy to scare the girls :o).

Sweet baby Baylor, he looked so adorable in his costume. I'll post our Birthday boys pictures tomorrow, whew this one got long! Anyway tomorrow would have been my mother's Birthday, so it is still a very special day! Enjoy the pictures.

My sister is coming TODAY!!!

We will be leaving in about 2 hrs. to go pick my sister up from the airport. It has been 7 months since I've seen her and I'm so happy she will be here visiting with us for the next 5 days :o). We have lots to do and the boys are looking forward to hanging out with Auntie Robin, in addition she will get to meet her newest nephew for the first time. I'm sure I'll have lots to post after she leaves on Tuesday after I dry my tears.

Parties and a Tournament

We have been quite busy since our last post and have had many nights without much sleep, so therefore have not had that much time to post. Baylor and I went to our baby sower that was rescheduled from his early arrival and mommy got lots of awesome Creative Memories stuff to create his baby scrapbook. It was held by some of mommies wonderful friends Cathy Beachy, Rebecca Harrison, and Creative Memories consultant Trisha Kirby. ( Tricia had her baby girl the day before mommy had Baylor 4 weeks early, so clearly we were not meant to have the shower on 9/8/07 :o)) Mommy and Baylor at the shower, we were able to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful 80 degree weather in Cathy's backyard. She has an awesome backyard with a beautiful water feature and an awning to die for! Thanks so much for offering your beautiful home for the shower Cathy we had a wonderful time and it was so nice to sit and relax with all you beautiful mommies!!!

On Friday October 19th we had a joint Birthday party at Chuck E' Cheese for Bennett who will turn 5 on November 1st and Brayden who turned 3 on September 24th. The boys had a wonderful time with their friends and it was great for mommy because she had both parties at one time and no mess to clean up at the house :o). Maybe next year we will have a triple Birthday party and have Baylor's 1st, Brayden's 4th, and Bennett's 6th!!! Just Kidding.

On Saturday October 20th, Bennett competed in another karate tournament and took 3rd place. He had several good opponents to compete against and did an awesome job! He is so proud of himself for earning another trophy and keeps saying, "mommy and daddy are you so proud of me for winning another trophy?" Way to go Bennett, we are so proud of you buddy!!!

Bennett and his new trophy

Baylor today at 6 weeks, waving Hi!!! Baylor getting ready for bed (zzzzzzz)

One Month Old Today

Today our newest little love turns 1 Month Old!!! I can't believe it has been 1 month already. He went to the Doctor on Thursday for his circumcision, PKU screen, and weight check. He was 9lbs. 1 oz. and had already stretched out 2 more inches and is now 22 inches long. His little head had also grow by 1/2 inch, so good news his little brain is growing well. Life as a family of 5 is going well and it seems that it has been easier to go from 2 to 3 kids,than from 1 to 2 kids. The "big boys" as I now refer to them are so in love with their baby brother and can't keep their dirty little hands off him :o). Here are some pictures of Baylor Daven at 1 month enjoy!!!

Baylor modeling his cute little Halloween socks and bib from "Aunt" Joy. Thank You!!! I'm the cutest Little Pumpkin in the pumpkin patch :o)

More Birthday fun and Brayden's 3yr. pictures

This morning we went to get Brayden's 3yr. old pictures made at Kiddie Kandids. When we arrived for our 10am appointment (bearing in mind I only had until 11am to get these done chosen and wait for them to print before picking up Bennett at school at 11:15am ), Brayden decided that he was going to be shy today. O.K. we don't have time for that Brayden so please just take your picture real quick and then we can be on our way. The many faces of Brayden: Luckily he quickly warmed up to the photographer, ( in Charlotte we had this place we went to and Mr. Gary could always get the boys who are particularly difficult to photograph to smile, guaranteed.) This is the one we choose for his 3 yr. pictures and just shows a delightful smile, not necessarily Brayden's normal disposition but adorable none the less. Brayden and No, I'm not going to smile face.

Brayden and his Superhero look face.

Oh you want to take a picture of me face.

Brayden clowning around with the photographer face.

Brayden's Spiderman Superhero cupcake for his 3rd birthday!!!

O.K. maybe the blue icing was not such a great idea ;o)

Bennett making a silly face with the blue icing ;o)

Earlier in the day I had my 2 week post check up with Dr. Newman from the c-section and I got a picture of him and Baylor as I always like to have a picture of my Dr. with the baby that they have cared for in my tummy. Baylor was trying to eat his face :o).

Sweet baby Baylor!!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Brayden Daniel !!!

Brayden Daniel was born on this day September 24, 3 years ago. It's hard to believe our middle son is now a Big 3 year old. He arrived via emergency c-section at 1:47am weighing 8lbs. 4 oz. and 20 inches.

Picture of Brayden this morning after he got dressed. He unfortunately has a cold today and is not feeling 100%. He got lots of neat toys and Bennett being the bossy big brother is eager to show him how they all work and to remind him that he needs to share :o).

The boys got the party started early this morning at 6am. Brayden was energetic and ready to open his gifts. Poor mommy had already been up twice with the baby and had been up at that point since 5:15am.

Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy !!!

I was in the kitchen and noticed the big boys were quite and when I went to check on them I found them snuggled together playing nicely. Bennett was playing with his Pixter and Brayden was playing with a calculator.

As I've mentioned the boys love to play dress up and this is Bennett as The Thing in a costume I found at our local Kid consignment store the other day.

Brayden as The Thing, Bennett as Venom, and friend Quinn as Red Power Ranger

Bennett as The Thing and Brayden as The Incredible Hulk

Brayden with just a great smile

Baylor on Sunday after church at 9 days old

Look at those sweet cheeks, definitely very kissable :o) !!!

Baylor at 11 days

He loves to be swaddled and in this pictures it looks at if he's talking

Baylor is such a sweet baby and he has a very good nature. He does not have to be held all the time as Brayden always demanded, this is a great thing considering I have 4 BOYS now to divide my time between :o).

Our house has expanded by 2 feet!

We welcomed our third son on Friday September 7, 2007 at 10:30am. I woke early around 2:30am not feeling quite right, and went to try to sleep on the couch. I woke later around 5am and was feeling contractions. I decided to get a shower and finish packing my bags and called Dr. Newman around 7:30am. He said to come on to Labor and Delivery and let them check me and see if it was the real thing. We had to brave rush hour traffic on the 101 and headed to Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Campus. We arrived at the hospital around 8:45am and after hooking me up to the monitors they determined that my contractions were every 3-5 minutes apart and Dr. Newman said they would do the c-section at 10am. We had both boys with us, and the hospital has up to 2 hours of childcare that they offer, so Bruce took the boys down to the Kidz Klubhouse and they played while we had the baby. We were very fortunate to have had this option and the boys were able to meet their new brother with an hour and a half of his arrival. This was by far the best child birth of all the kids and I felt wonderful following the c-section vs my section with Brayden where I was green for nearly 12 hours. Our newest team member's name is BAYLOR DAVEN McKINSTRY he weighed 8 lbs. and 11 oz. and measured 20 inches. He so far has been a great baby! His brothers are so in love with him and can't keep their hands off him.

Just after birth

Check out his beautiful black hair!!! I was so thrilled to finally have a son with my hair color.

The McKinstry Family of Five

Baylor day 2

Mommy and her newest little love

Daddy and his BOY!!!

Grandma and Grandpa McKinstry arrived on Sunday to stay with us for a week. Yeah!!!

Bennett and Baylor. He is constantly asking to hold him, and is very careful to wash his hands and making sure others know to wash their hands as well before touching him. He can't wait to take him everywhere and introduce him to the world.

Brayden's new toy, Ummm I mean brother :o)

Our 3 sons, how lucky and blessed are we! This picture get me every time I look at it. It reminds me of how good God is and that each of our three boys are a true gift and miracle. Life dose not get much better than this.

Getting ready to go home.

Ready to go all snug in his car seat

One True Superhero and BIG Momma

I went to Super Wal Mart on Friday am and they had just put out Halloween costumes. The boys have been looking through any and every magazine or flyer that comes in the mail and trying to decide on the perfect costume. They finally decided they wanted Spiderman 3 and lucky for them they had them there. I decided to go ahead and get them while I could find them and they had their sizes(even though Brayden's is a bit big). Needless to say these little boys were thrilled and have worn them for the last 3 days straight and they will probably be in shreds by the time Halloween gets here. We also went and meet with our Pastor on Tuesday and had to bring Bennett along with us. He asked Pastor Paul if he knew who the only true Superhero was. Pastor Paul thought about if for a minute and thinking along the lines of a 4 yr. old figured he would say Spiderman or Superman. Bennett said that GOD was the only true and real Superhero. Pastor Paul thought so much of what Bennett had said that he used it this morning when he was blessing the children. Only problem he must not have remembered Bennett's name because he called him by the wrong name. Oh well, we still knew he was talking about our little man.

Here is a picture of me from this morning just before church. I'm feeling quite done at this point and I'm hoping for Labor Day on Labor Day tomorrow. I'm sending up my desires and hope this baby comes soon, otherwise 16 days and counting!