Caitlin's Fieldtrip

Last week Caitlin's preschool class had a fieldtrip to the Riparian Preserve. They had just finished a unit on dinosaurs and were so excited to see the Preserve's Dinosaur Dig exhibit. They all got a shovel and brush and were able to uncover "real" fossils in the ground.




Caitlin got to eat lunch with all her friends under the ramada at the park. They also spent some time playing on the playground and with a parachute. Then they all got to enjoy nature as they took a little walk/hike around the lake. I'm so grateful for her school and teachers. They get her so excited about learning and experiencing things.


Caitlin with both preschool classes(am & pm) and her teachers. What a great day!

4 Kids

I was curious to see our kids side by side since they seem to have looked pretty similar.

Here they are leaving the hospital:

Ethan, Caitlin, Avery, and Noelle.

And at 3-4 weeks old:

Ethan, Caitlin, Avery, and Noelle.

I think Noelle is starting to look less and less like the rest of them. She definitely has the darkest hair. We love having her here. She is such a sweet baby and is still sleeping a lot. We are so thankful for our great kids and love them bunches!

Noelle Claire Dopp

So, it's taken me a while to post about it, but baby Noelle is here!

Introducing
Noelle Claire Dopp
Born Sunday, January 3, 2010
At 10:31pm
7 lbs. 1 oz. 19.5 in.

We had a cesarean section scheduled for the morning of the 5th, but I guess she was anxious to get here.

All day Sunday I was having contractions, but they weren't painful or very close together. At church I was joking about not making it till Tuesday, and I didn't. When we got home from church I thought I should probably start timing them. After an hour or so they were 2 minutes apart, and starting to get a little painful. I called my doctor and he said to just go on in. So, I went in and as soon as I laid down on the bed my contractions pretty much stopped. Hmmm...maybe I should have tried that at home first. Oh well. My doctor said that since I was already there he would do the c-section anyway. He also had another patient there already too.

At that point I was dilated to a 4, but my contractions weren't too close anymore. And since I had recently eaten they wanted to wait a few more hours before starting the c-section (BOO!)

The night before Bryce's car had been towed (stupid Waffle House) and the only time they would let him pick it up was that night, unless he wanted to pay an extra day (BOO!) So while he drove to Phoenix to get his car I sat in triage and waited for 10:00 to come. They were pretty busy that night with a ton of c-sections, so I heard quite a few women go back before me. Every once in a while someone would peek in on me and say "you're the one who ate the bagel, right?" Yep, that's me. One little bagel apparently equals three extra hours of labor.

It wasn't too bad a wait though and pretty soon Bryce was back and we were getting ready to go into the operating room.


Yay! Almost done!

The surgery went pretty well, although I did hear my doctor say "hmmm..." a couple times. What is that supposed to mean? Noelle was still up really high and I think he had to manuever things a little to get her down. I felt a lot more pulling this time than last time.

So at 10:31 she came out and we knew she was ours. Our kids all look just alike. The first thing I said when I saw her was "she looks just like Avery". Everyone always seems surprised by our childrens' hair, but by now we expect it. Noelle's seems to be pretty dark though, so she may not go as light as the others.

So, now we are at home recovering and adjusting to having four! So far, it's nothing compared to what three did to me. It has been a little different this time with Ethan and Caitlin in school. And Bryce has had this whole week off which has been really great and such a help.

Thanks so much to our family and friends for the meals and all the help. We are doing great and having fun with our new little sweetheart.

If you would like to see her birth announcement on the Mercy Gilbert Medical Center website, click this link:

Mercy Gilbert New Baby Page

Christmas 2009

Well, we survived Christmas, but just barely. It has been a crazy few weeks. This year we had our big Christmas Slumber Party with Bryce's family. Here are my sweet kids in their new Christmas jammies on their blow-up beds.


They went to bed pretty early. They were so excited for Santa Claus to come and were pretty worn out from such a fun week. Ethan did come out quite a few times to tell us we were too loud. I think he was worried that if the adults didn't go to sleep soon, Santa might never come.

Here's all the loot. Keep in mind, this was for all Bryce's extended family, too. But good grief!


Here's some of us after the pile was divvied up.


Poor Avery has been sick for so long and was really feeling bad during Christmas. She didn't want to open anything, so we just skipped her turn, mostly. This was her reaction to her present from Santa Claus.


The kids got some fun stuff, and I got spoiled with a new mixer. Yippee! Santa must love me.


Bryce's parents bought us a new carseat for the baby, so we are finally ready for her to come. Unless you count the messy house and Christmas decorations to be put away...oh and the whole sleepless nights thing. One week from today is the big day!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all a very

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love, The Dopps

Christmas Pictures

We had our Christmas photos taken a few weeks ago. It was definitely an adventure. What crazy kids we have. Our pictures were taken by Cal Artistry. Here are just a few.


The whole family and then one with just the three kids together.


And here is one that didn't quite work out so well. Are anyone else's kids this crazy? Good grief!


Thanks Crystal!

Caitlin's Big Day

Last week Caitlin started preschool. We have been waiting a long time for her to get in and she was so excited. She will be going half day, 5 days a week. So, now I get to be in charge of entertaining Avery...with a new baby in tow. I sure will miss my little helper.


Her first day was Wednesday. I had been up all night with Avery throwing up. So it was a challenge to get breakfast and clothes ready for two kids on time. After Ethan left for school, we drove Caitlin over to meet her teacher and start class. She was a little shy, but seemed like she would be okay. Then right before I left she told me that her tummy hurt. Her teacher thought she was probably just nervous to start school, but I wondered.

So, Caitlin made it about an hour into her first day before she threw up into her lap during circle time. Poor girl! I got there and she was so sad and not feeling good. Some first day! I took her home to sit and watch movies with her sick little sister. By the way, I got it later that day and Ethan got it in the wee hours of the next day. We were a sad bunch. Luckily, it was really short lived and we were all feeling better by friday morning.

Caitlin was the least sick of any of us and was better that same night. I still had her stay home thursday, but let her go on friday. Which was really important because that was the first day she got to ride the bus. How great is it that they bus them to and from preschool? She was sooo excited to see the bus. Here she is waiting and watching out the kitchen window. (Don't judge my kitchen sink, we were sick...and a little lazy).


And here she is about to board the bus. Look at that smile!


My kids are all growing up. Sniff, sniff.