Splish! Splash!

The kids and I headed down to my sister's town on Tuesday to hang out with her and her kids. She took us to the Splash Pad in their area and boy did the kids have a blast! I don't have a bathing suit right now that fits, so I was the photographer, watcher-of-Ben and our things, but if we should go back again this summer I'll definitely want to get wet! It was an overcast day but HOT as blazes!!!! I was dying to get wet but didn't have a change of clothes. Oh well! Next time! Anyway, the kids ran around, got wet and had a wonderful time! As I watched Cora have so much fun I was reminded of this fun time last summer!

Cantankerous

We thought it would be nice to get a family photo on Sunday since we were all dressed up and ready to go, and David's dad was available to take a photo! Well, something about the best-laid plans? A certain adorable, cute, lovable, cantankerous two year old had other ideas! She absolutely refused to look at the camera with her body. We were able to get her to look at her Mammaw, who was trying very hard to be funny and get Cora to laugh, but Cora refused to let David hold her so she was facing the camera. When she's older, and wonders why the rest of us look all nice and happy and she's not facing the camera, I'll tell her she'll understand when she has a two year old!

We'll try it this way first...definitely not going to smile...

We try the other way and there's a hint of a smile...thanks to the hard work of Mammaw!

FIRST, 4 and 2

Yesterday was the FIRST time Ben went to church since entering this world. We had a really good time. Everyone was excited to meet him, and he did a great job of being cute! He ate, burped, tooted and slept through Daddy's sermon and was just really good. He didn't make a peep until the very end. It was so nice to sit in church and hold him on the outside rather than sit there uncomfortably holding him on the inside.

Ben all decked out in his church-going outfit!

Today Benjamin is 4 weeks old!!! Can you believe it???? How is it possible? I know I'll probably say or think this every single week/month/year of his life, but seriously! How does time go so fast? He continues to do well and is such a good baby. I think he's probably up to 10 lbs by now and he's definitely getting longer. He's starting to be a bit more awake during the day, but still will only go 3 hours at most during the night. I know we'll get to a point where he's sleeping through the night, but I wish that point would hurry up and get here!

Don't you just love those pockets?

And now I'm a mom of TWO children! Wow. When I was younger--like junior high/high school, even college--I thought I would have 5-6 kids. As the years went by, and I was still single, I decided that however many children the Lord blessed my husband and I with would be just fine. Now that I'm a mom, I can't even imagine having 5-6 kids. Right now I'm perfectly content with my two children and love them so much! I was worried while I was pregnant with Ben that I wouldn't know how to love two kids. How was I supposed to love them differently yet with the same amount of love? As soon as Ben was born those worries went away. I love these children both immensely and differently. I know as the years go by that will develop. I'm so thankful for my two kids! 

I sure love these two cuties!

Silence...

The other day I was taking advantage of Benjamin sleeping and Cora entertaining herself to get some things done in the kitchen. I suddenly realized that Cora was no longer in the dining room---where I could see her--and it was awfully quiet in the house. I wasn't alarmed because I figured if anyone was hurt there would be crying, but I also figured I ought to investigate anyway! I went into the playroom, Cora ran OUT of the playroom, and I look at Ben finding him like this...compliments of his sister, I'm certain!

Nothing like a bowl on the head to help a baby sleep!

Growing, growing and growing!

Our little boy is 3 weeks old today! Wow! How does this happen? I thought time went fast with Cora because she was our first and we didn't know any better, but it has been the same with Benjamin too. He's 3 weeks old, that means he's 21 days old. Wow.

He's doing well and such a good baby. He really only cries when he's ready to eat and then he REALLY cries--he lets us know when it's time! He had his 2 week pediatrician appointment last week and passed with flying colors! He was measured at 21 inches and now weighs 9 lbs., 10 oz. He is NOT a petite guy! The doctor was really pleased with his progress and couldn't believe how strong he is (trying to lift up on his elbows and lifting his head quite well). He's eating like a champ and sleeping about 3 hour stretches at night.

We, as a family, are doing well. I love having 2 kids. I think we're still getting used to it, but in all reality, right now at this point, it's not been as hard an adjustment as I thought it would be. Obviously, there are adjustments, but for the most part it's going well.

I'm tired, exhausted really. But, making do! David has been wonderful, letting me take loooooong naps when it's possible while manning the home-front. I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again--David is such a wonderful husband. He's working hard not only at his paid job, but also here at home, where he's not paid. He's doing such a great job with helping with the kids, things around the house and feedings at night. And, as always, without complaint.

Cora continues to do well, adjusting of course, but doing well. The discipline issues we've had have been minimal, and she continues to just love, love, LOVE her brother.

All in all the Hardins are doing well, all FOUR of us!

Polka Dots

My daughter LOVES polka dots, or "poke dots" as she calls them! She has jammy bottoms with  "poke dots," her diapers have "poke dots," and she has even commandeered on of her brother's blankets that has "poke dots" on it. And, isn't this girl so lucky? Even I, her mother, has "poke dots" on her! How do I know? Well, the other day we were outside and Cora pointed to the freckles and moles on my arm and says VERY excitedly, "Momma!!! Poke dots!!!"  Yeah...I love this child...

Cousins!!

Now there are FIVE little ones for us to chase around! My sister has 3 kids (Sophia, 6; Riley, 3 in August; Hadassah, 1) and we now have 2 (Cora, 2; Ben 2 wks). There's always fun to be had when the cousins all get together. Lots of running around, screeching, merry-making and running the parents ragged! But, I love that we live close enough to my sister that our kids can see each other on a regular basis. Growing up in the wilds of Africa my sister and I were not able to do that with our cousins. We love that our kids can grow up together and not only be cousins but be friends! Anyway...Sunday my sister, BIL and their 3 kids came up to spend the afternoon with us. My BIL and the kids hadn't yet met Ben so there was extra excitement! My sister's MIL made all the kids matching t-shirts to celebrate the birth of Ben so we had them all decked out and took some photos. Here are some photos of the fun they all had on Sunday!

A Great Big Sister

This little girl loves her baby brother. She loves to lay next to him on his blanket and hold his hand...

She loves to just sit next to him...and hold his hand...

And, she LOVES to give him kisses...this little guy receives MANY kisses throughout the day. I love how she loves him, and I can't wait to see them grow together as brother and sister and learn to love each other. 

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Last week I took Cora and Ben (still getting used to having TWO children!) outside so Cora could run off some energy. My sister is always telling me how a little water and some containers can entertain a toddler for a long time, so I filled up a pink container (sent home with me from the hospital) and gathered up some containers. Indeed, Cora had LOADS of fun with it! Ben chilled in the shade in his baby papasan, and I stayed in the shade myself. While we were out Molly decided to take a drink out of Cora's tub of water. At first Cora was upset, but I told her it was OK for Molly to get a drink. After Molly was done Cora decided it seemed a brilliant idea to drink water from the tub so she bent over as far as she could, stuck her head in the tub and drank! I did what any wonderfully, attentive, good mother would have done and told her to stop took pictures! I'll let them speak for themselves!

Strawberry Shortcake

Cora was the happy and excited recipient of a new hat that she received in the mail the other day! I think she makes an awfully cute Strawberry Shortcake! :)

To My Little Girl

Your life, as you know it, is about to change.

You're about to become a BIG SISTER to a baby BROTHER!

You'll do GREAT! I have no doubt!

You'll show your baby brother everything there is to learn about this crazy world and teach him everything you know.

And you'll make Mommy and Daddy so proud! I can't wait to see you be a BIG SISTER!

Let the Battle...End!

So, last year at this time we were trying to get Cora to love, like, tolerate, just simply look at grass without crying. It took most of the summer, but we were successful!!! I wasn't sure how she would be this summer. We've had a minor set back as so far she seems to only want to be in the grass if she has shoes on. Oh. Well. At least she's playing in it! Last summer she loved her pool and though she was barely 1 she loved to sit in the water and splash around! I was hopeful that this summer we wouldn't have any issues with the pool. Our neighbors have their kiddie pool out and have invited Cora over to play in it with their girls. The first day she was a bit timid when it was just Mommy and Daddy out there with her, but as soon as the other girls came out she was splishing and splashing and going down the wee slide in the pool! I was shocked, but so glad we overcame that little obstacle quick enough.

So, what do we seem to have to overcome this summer? It's almost as evil as the grass was last summer. This summer, it would seem Cora will ONLY wear shoes if she can also wear socks! This is causing me great frustration. I know it shouldn't, but it is--probably the pregnancy hormones! In any case, at the start of warmer weather I bought her 2 pairs of sandals at Target--one for daily wear and one for Sundays. She REFUSES, and I mean REFUSES to wear them unless she can also have socks on. It's as though I'm asking her to strap broken glass to her feet and walk 5 miles. Sigh...She is also very insistent that she wear her tennis shoes a lot, although she doesn't feel the need to always have socks on with those!

I am learning, with this child, to eat the words/thoughts/preconceived ideas I had pre-children. I no longer look at a toddler wearing a strange outfit, crazy hair or socks with sandals and think the mother is a nut job or that she just must not care. No, no, I'm sure she DOES care, and I'm sure there was some kind of battle at home before going out in public and the fairy dress, striped socks and tennis shoe outfit was decided not that big an issue. I'm learning that though I would LOVE for my daughter to have a cute hair-do to match her cute outfit and have her wearing the right sandals (without socks) before we leave the house, it's just not worth the battle and meltdown. I mean really, in the whole scheme of things is it really that big of a deal? At least I can be thankful I got clothes on her!

And so, this summer, let the sock battle commence, or end because really, I'm just too tired. We'll see how it ends. And, if you should see my daughter, or some other child, in 100 degree weather with socks and sandals on, don't judge the mother--there was already a battle fought and it's obvious who won!

Her Story

I've realized I never put to words the birth story of Cora on my blog. I had written it as a note on Facebook, but had never put it here. I wanted to put it in my blog because I feel it's important. I love my baby girl (who isn't at all a baby anymore) and I want to be able to remember that time. I have been thinking a lot about her birth as I prepare for her brother's birth. My biggest thought is, "Lord, let it be so much better please!" Anyway, here is the story of Cora as she entered the world 2 years ago!

*** 

The story of Cora Ann Hardin began Wednesday, March 25, 2009 when I went to the hospital to be induced at 6:00 p.m. David and I hunkered down for the evening hoping things would go quickly. Wow. It's a good thing we can't see the future because I think there is much we wouldn't do if we could.

My water broke at 3:30 a.m. on TH and the contractions pretty much started then. I called my sister to join us around 5 in the morning and well, it was rough going from there on out. As the day progressed so did my contractions. My doctor highly encouraged me to start taking pitocin so that my labor would progress better. I agreed and the drug was started--just a small dose. I did the hot tub, walking, the exercise ball--nothing seemed help, I remained 2 cm for HOURS. I was getting exhausted, I was weary, my spirits were very low. I had the wonderful help of my sister and husband, who stayed beside me the entire time. They encouraged me and helped me in ways I didn't know I would need.

At around 4 or 5 p.m. on TH I was done. I could not go on. We decided I should get an epidural. They called the person who was on call and she came up to give me the epidural. Talk about a horrifying experience. This woman didn't seem to know what she was doing. She stuck me over and over, time and again, used up 3 kits and only accomplished shooting electrical shocks down one of my legs and horrible back pain. My husband was at his wits' end, I was getting more and more discouraged and my sister wasn't sure what to do. I wanted to cry. How was I going to continue on? I had been in labor for 12 hours now and was still on y 2-3 cm dilated. I still had so far to go but my body was giving out. I talked to the Dr and literally asked him to just do a c-section--something I was trying to avoid like the plague, which he knew. C-section was not necessary he said. I was devastated. I had no idea how to continue. Shortly after this conversation my nurse came in the room saying they had called the head of the anestesisologist department to come in to give me an epidural. I was elated!!!!! What I didn't find out until later was he was coming from HOME. He wasn't on call, he wasn't scheduled to work, but he was coming anyway to do this for me. I did know what to do other than praise the Lord. The man came and I told him he had 1 shot. He was in and out in 10 min, I hardly felt a thing! I couldn't believe it. Oh the bliss, the heavenly bliss. It took about 10 min for the drug to get through my system and every contraction got less and less. I was able to rest, to fall asleep and my body started to do it's thing.

I went from 2 cm to 7 cm in a matter of hours and from 8 cm to pushing in about an hour. It was time to finally finish the process. I was scared, not knowing what the pushing was going to be like, but knew I had no choice so just went headlong into it. I pushed for about 45 min and after using the vacuum, receiving an episiotomy and using the forceps Cora was born. I can't describe to you the physical feeling of pushing a head, then shoulders and then the body out of yourself but it was the strangest and most wonderful feeling all at the same time. I don't remember this, but apparently as soon as she came out I said with great force, "I want to see her!" :) I had to see for myself that I had delivered this precious baby. And then, just as my sister told me, I was full of energy.

David and I finally got to sleep at about 4 a.m. today (Friday, March 27) and are exhausted. Apart from soreness from stitches and just simply pushing a baby out, I'm fine. David has taken over his role as daddy naturally--I never had a doubt. Cora is fine, she has passed all her vital tests, etc. She is nursing well and seems, so far, to be just a really complacent baby. Time will tell as far as that's concerned! :)

We get to go home tomorrow. We're so excited to take our baby girl home. She gets to meet her big "sister", Molly, the wonder dog! :) thank you for your prayers as we struggled through 21 hours of work, pain and elation. Be watching my profile for updated photos! :)

Some Photos

I just simply love my daughter.

Isn't she beautiful? She was actually saying, "No Momma!" to taking her photo. I think it was worth it though!

Always loving to play ball...

For some reason I love how her hair is flying in the wind while she's running. So care free! 

Is she trying to figure out how to escape? 

This one makes me laugh! I love the outfit and the sunglasses add so much! 

May Days

Water, Paint, Paper...Repeat...

Water...

Paint...

Paper...

But, please, don't let it get on my hands!