Wow! I can't believe its been so long!

I thought this was going to be a good way to keep people updated on our family. And it would have been, if I had actually continued to update it. Sorry. Probably been to busy busing kids around to friends houses, school, gymnastics and ball games. Oh and cleaning up after Jess. It has been the terrible twos. With all the wall drawings and messes, I don't know if my house will be left standing by the time my kids are teenagers. But they are cute. So I will post a couple of pictures and videos to remind myself of just how cute they are, so I won't get too mad at them.

Jess

Our little baby is now a 'toddler'. Well he is walking so does that make him a toddler? He started walking between 15 and 16 months old. He has such personality. Our little ham. He is doing a few sign words to help him communicate better. We verbally understand 'eye' 'nose' and 'mom' and he can sign 'more' 'thank you' 'please' and 'sorry. What more does a kid need? He LOVES to make noise and hear himself yell. So he usually starts a screaming contest with his older brother and sister. We love it when he does that..hmhm. But he is so cute and I still love kissing those cheeks! His hair is growing now, but I love his curls and want to wait as long as I can before we cut them off. I called Katie our character...maybe Jess is more so...

Zane

Zane is so funny! Totally boy! Constantly trying to wrestle with someone! Poor Jesse.
He started preschool this fall and loves it! He asks everyday if today is the day he gets to go. He also turned 4 in November. Wow time goes by fast. He loves ANYTHING BATMAN! So I think everything he got for his birthday this year was batman related; Batman airplane, car, motorcycle, cave, etc.. He even wanted his cake Batman. Now that he has lots of Batman stuff, he needs bad guys and so has been begging for 'Joker' stuff. He did get a Joker motorcycle for his prize because he stopped sucking his thumb!! Yeah!!! We are very proud of him!

Katie

Katie had a fun spring learning new things! She likes her dance class and her softball team. I thought I signed her up for 't-ball' but they put her in 'coach pitch'. For being her first year she did really well. Doesn't she look cute at bat? I thought she looked like a bobbel head with her helmet on, and especially when she ran the bases and her little legs ran so fast! She is my little character!

Update

Wow...Time flies when you have a baby! I thought I had better add some photos of Jess. He is now 1! You shouldn't label children, but Jess has been our hardest baby. Hard because he NEVER sleeps. Still wakes up at least 2 times a night. Ended up with a calcified hematoma on his head, hospitalized with RSV, had mild torticollis and can already throw a bigger tantrum than his older siblings. But he is a cute little stinker and has the cheeks like the rest of us! Good thing he was our last child or we may not have had any more kids....
Katie starts first grade soon and Zane will be going to preschool. Wow...so soon. Right now they are loving their swimming lessons and would stay in the water all day if I let them. Hopefully I will keep this up to date better than I have been....but with three little ones to herd...I can't make any promises:)

He's Here!!

Little "Jesse Gordon Mathis" arrived June 25th at about 4:20 pm. The cord was wrapped around his neck and delivery was a bit "frantic". But he is happy and healthy now. He weighed 6 lbs and 14 oz and was around 2 weeks early--I didn't complain about that. The little chub is following in his brother's footsteps and is gaining weight very quickly. He already weighs over 11 lbs and most of it is in his cheeks:) He has a personality already and wants what he wants when he wants it--hmm..does he get that from his mom or dad? His favorite sleeping position is snuggling on our shoulders. Big sister loves him and big brother always wants him "put down." He is changing so fast..already in 3-6 month clothes. Well, I better sign out and go hold him again before he changes again! I love to kiss those cheeks!

Is It Time?

Technically I still have one month left...well, that's just technically. Physically, I feel like I will have the baby any moment now. It's very true that every pregnancy gets harder...so why do women ever have more than 3 kids? First pregnancy my thoughts were "this is easy..I could do this a couple of times.." Second pregnancy my thoughts were "Oh..this is what women were talking about..oh..that hurts." Third pregnancy and of course a lot older, my thoughts are "Are you crazy? What are you doing? My body never did this before! Never again!" And as I'm writing this, little junior just kicked me hard...can he read my mind? Yes, I have to call him Jr. because we still don't have a name yet.
This last trimester has been a worried one...first the baby's heart beat dips low and so I am having ultrasounds and non-stress tests every week at the labor and delivery dept. But his stats have improved and been almost perfect for the last 3 tests, but then my blood pressure went to 70-something over 40 something and then they were a little "concerned" about me. But yesterday the Dr. gave us both a good report and said I'm at a "4" now...(women, explain that to the men if you want.) So it could really be anytime or 3 weeks. I vote for 1 more week!!

Therapy?

While watching my dog, Meg, just lay around the house and act so bored, I decided she needed a job. I did some research and thought she would make a good therapy dog. My sister, Melanie, agreed to help. I didn't realize that a volunteer position could take up so much time and money. After a 8 hour class on how to be a "handler" and extensive grooming, paperwork and stress, we take Meg to be "tested". A bit stressful for me that someone is judging my dog. Meg obeys commands, greets people, is petted, groomed and hugged. Sounds hard for her huh. She passes with flying colors to be a therapy dog for people in rest homes, hospitals, schools, etc. I now have to take her in to have a physical from a vet, a fecal test, and her teeth cleaned. Then..I have to submit mounds of paperwork to the national organization....Hmm....more work for me (because I have to take kids with me) and money in vet fees and dues. Did I mention this was for therapy? Well..not for me..it is actually stressing me out....but hopefully will brighten the day of someone we eventually will visit and Meg will love every minute of it.

Ultrasound

We had our first ultrasound. We were very relieved that there was only one baby (Mom just feels very big already) and that baby appeared to be normal and healthy. The little stinker was head down and tummy down so they were not able to get a good look at the heart or gender. Plus the baby would not hold very still--is that a sign it's a boy? The ultrasound also showed that my placenta was a bit low and they will want to keep on eye on that. So...we will be going back March 20th to have another look. This time we will find out if it's a boy or girl. Katie keeps giving us baby girl name suggestions..like Sally or Teresa. We don't know whether or not to tell her...we might want to keep it a secret so family will be surprised!

Little Sprout Update

Went to the doctor on Feb 5th and we heard the heartbeat again. Mommy's tummy is getting bigger. Going Feb. 19th to Salt Lake for the Ultrasound. Who wants to know the gender?? Hmmm... maybe we will tell you:)

Little Sprout

We discovered we are expecting our third child! Katie wants a girl. She thinks another Zane "would be very embarrassing." Maybe that's because he does know how to throw a big tantrum.
My first prenatal visit was January 6th and all went well--we heard a heart beat! Mom has been very sick the first trimester and it is starting to ease up a little bit now.
We can find out at the end of next month what the gender is...to know or not to know...that is the question. It doesn't really matter because we already have one of both. However, if the first few years of life are any indication of things to come, a girl would be easier....at least for now. We will keep you updated on this blog of how things are going. We mostly just want healthy.

No Cowardly Lion Here

Zane looks like a friendly and smiley Lion, but you should hear him ROAR. Katie taught him how and they can do a pretty good job of sounding like a pair of lion cubs in the wild. Well to Jared and I it sounds like a pair of HURT lion cubs in the wild, but maybe when their voices deepen....

Katie learned it from watching Lion King over and over and over and over again. Practice makes perfect. Oh if they could just stay cubs forever....

Halloween Queen

Happy Halloween! According to Katie (several times) this was the best Halloween ever! I will admit that I thought it was pretty good too. It was easy this year. My sisters got the kids' costumes and then after about 15 houses they had "tons" of candy. So with about 15 pieces each, we got to go home! Katie then was the self-designated candy giver. Jared sat on the porch with her most of the time and then I did for a little while and I think I like that the best--the sitting on the porch part. They can come and get their candy without knocking and us getting up and trudging upstairs and then opening the door. (I know, I'm making it sound so hard.) It just sped the whole process up. I think the older kids liked it to because they were in and out and to the next house fast. Although Katie like getting candy, she liked giving it more . I wonder if it was the power she felt. I would see her look at the candy and decide which kind and how much each child would get. To a child, deciding candy type and amount must be a powerful feeling...I think she felt like the Halloween Queen. Well, I know she liked it because she kept saying over and over that this is "the best Halloween ever"! I didn't have the heart to tell her she is only four and I'm sure she doesn't even remember her first Halloweens.

The Lion and Cowgirl Kate!

Ward Chili Cook-off

By the title of this post, many of you are thinking...."Oh no, did Corinna have to cook?" Yes I did. Did I win? No. But even more impressive than that, was my chili was eaten all up before I could even have my own bowl. I did take a small taste test at home while it was cooking and I thought it tasted pretty good, but Jared wouldn't taste it. Many of you who know Jared very well, know that he will eat ANYTHING, which started when he was on his mission to Brazil (where he probably ate things he didnt even know what they were). So when he didn't want to even have a small taste of my chili...I was a little worried. But when my chili pot was the first one to be emptied at the Willow Creek Ward Chili Cook-off, I gloated to Jared and said I wouldn't make it again so that he will never know how good it really was. The lesson to this story is you should taste my cooking while you have the chance, because once I cook something..it goes fast!!

Learn to Say No

Everyone does things they know they shouldn't...but when it's a favor for someone who needs it, it is hard to say no. So again last week I said "yes" to the neighbor, I will tend your kids. This doesnt seem like a big deal...but EVERY time I tend her children, my family gets sick. This time was no exception, darn't! She decides to take one of her children with her because he is sick. "Wow", I say to myself, "This time she is keeping the sick child and we won't get sick. Yeah." Well, the day is half over and I get a call pleading with me to take the sick child too because she has a meeting she can't miss. I softly say "Yes." Well, that was Wednesday and Saturday morning I call her up (she wanted me to tend Sat. too) and tell her that Zane has been throwing up in the night and sorry but she probably doesn't want to bring her kids over. So begins my fun. Warning: gross part. Poor little Zane. As the youngest he, of course, gets it the worst. Between the throw up and the watery diarrhea, my washing machine has been going non-stop. Well, Tuesday I think this has gone on long enough and decide to call the dr. After a hour and a half wait and a five minute check up, there is nothing they can do. I really hate the word virus. Last night Jared complains about dizziness and Katie wakes me up "not sure" if she is going to throw-up. Here we go again......next time I will say "no".

Another First for Zane

Last night we heard Zane put together his first two words!! He said "Nigh Nigh Dada" as I was rocking him to sleep and Dad came in to say Goodnight. This is a big deal to me, since Zane has not been very talkative....we'll that we can actually understand anyway. He can say no, juice, nose, ear, mama, dada and of course, peepee, and he's not talkin about his urine. Zane is my little wall artist and thank goodness for Mr. Clean sponges, which I have to buy frequently now along with his diapers. I've been thinking about painting my house with that chalk paint and let him do the decorating. He also loves to wrestle and tackle his big sister...well actually mom and dad too..anyone who sits on the floor. Well I need to run and see what's happening..I'll write later.

Hi Family and Friends,
Our new email address is jaredcori@gmail.com. We switched to google.

Hi Everyone!
I decided to start a blog so if anyone is ever curious what 'wild and crazy' things are happening at the Mathis household...you can read about it!
I hope I can remember and keep it updated so you will want to come back often to check out the latest. Hmmmm.....what to write about....