Sunday, May 26, 2013

Party of 4

Our party of 3 became a party of 4 about 4 weeks ago at 7:44 a.m.  Ella Kate is thrilled.  Why was I so worried about her?  She thinks he's great.  She says he's "adorable", "so nice", and "so cute".  Bradley and I are amazed that a baby can be so easy.  He sleeps!  Thank you, Lord.  He (so far) is really laid back.  He gets that from his Daddy.  He also looks just like him. We've all adjusted fairly easily over the last several weeks.  I continued to send Ella Kate to MawMaw's and Papa's during the week so I could have some time with John Hudson.  It's been a sweet time.  Before Ella Kate arrived I envisioned countless hours of relaxation and reading while she slept.  Ha.  That didn't happen.  EVER.  The reading.  The relaxing. Or the Sleep.  This time has been so much different.  We get up once during the night.  I don't know what to think.  So we'll just be thankful.

I am a worrier, and a new baby brings new worries.  I even called the doctor the first week because he slept all the time.  I watched him constantly the first several nights at home.  I've been known to stick my finger under his nose to make sure he's breathing.  I had a small breakdown on our 3rd night at home because I let the worry consume me.  I talked to a sweet friend and spent some time looking at several verses that put my mind at ease.  God has been so good to send encouragement and reminders of his presence about this worry that I struggle with.  On that particular night, Ella Kate came into the living room where I was in tears.  She was singing Jesus Loves Me.  We sing this all the time, but I fail to hear the words sometimes.  It was so what I needed on that night.  God loves our children and he watches over them, even when we sleep.

We took our first trip to the beach yesterday as a family of 4.  Bradley says he looks like a beach contractor carrying our stuff to the beach.  We were thankful to have Uncle G, Courtney, and her friend, Nancy with us yesterday to help carry stuff.  I was a little nervous because Ella Kate HATED the beach her first summer, but it went great.  And the extra people were great entertainment so that we didn't have to stay in the water the whole time.  According to EK, you aren't at the beach if you aren't "in" the water.  It was a perfect day, except for the places I missed on Bradley's back with the sunscreen.  Sorry, B.

We're off to spend the afternoon with some long lost friends of ours and their baby girl.  And back to the beach with some great friends tomorrow.  I need a nap, but I have all summer, right?

Feeling extra blessed today,

Hope

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Change is Coming...

We just tucked our baby girl in for the last time as our only child.  This makes me sad for her for some reason.  Her world is about to be flipped upside down, and I hope she handles it well. As excited as I am for what we're gaining this week, I'm sad about being away from Ella Kate all week, and I'm worried that she'll have a hard time adjusting.  It makes me a little emotional.  Maybe that's just the crazy hormones already.  Or maybe it's a combination of things.  I rocked her to sleep yesterday at nap time and had a good cry while I rocked.  We never rock her to sleep.  She rarely asks to be rocked.  But I needed it yesterday, as much as she did.

We are so excited about John Hudson's arrival.  Stay tuned for pictures. Coming soon...

Sunday, April 21, 2013

The Countdown is ON.

We haven't dropped off the face of the Earth...nope we're still here.  Just being a blog slacker I guess.  I'd tell you I'll try to do better, but you see, there's a little baby boy about to join this household in no more than 9 days and I remember how this new baby thing goes.  CRAZI-NESS.  That's exactly what it was the first time around.  I was INSANE, EXHAUSTED, MOODY, MEAN, etc.  I have plans to be a little more sane this time, but I'm not making any promises I can't keep.  Regardless of the madness that comes with it, I am PUMPED.  I've been checking things off my to do list this afternoon, and it's only 1:30!  Bradley has been a champ.  He swears he's hung the same curtain 4 times, but hey, the 4th time, he got it just right.  He's been checking things off our list too, and I really appreciate him.  He does it with a smile.  He has even taken Ella Kate out for a few hours just to give me some "Mommy Time" as he calls it.  That's why I'm finally getting to blog today.  They went to MawMaws for lunch and I'm laying in the recliner watching HGTV... Ahhhh.

I will attempt to keep you posted on John Hudson's arrival.  We ordered one that sleeps on a schedule this time.  I forgot to check that box when we ordered Ella Kate.  In fact, we're still working on her schedule.
Looking forward to an exciting couple of weeks.  Hope yours is great too!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

I'm BACK!

So it's been awhile. It's been a long while.  Sorry for the delay.  Life has been busy and interesting as usual.

Ella Kate is growing up so fast.  She makes us laugh all the time.  She has a bit of a strong will.  Sometimes I'm not sure how to handle her, but we're all learning together.  She's been sick a few times in the last couple of weeks.  This is new for us.  She had only had 1 sick visit until a month ago.  We've been blessed in that area.  And we've seen the doctor twice in the last month.  I hope she's on the mend.  And I hope she's learning to sleep in her own bed again.  This momma is tired.

John Hudson is also growing fast, as am I.  We'll be scheduling a c-section again, so I'm hoping we have about 10 weeks to go.  I was beginning to think his nursery would be pink and he would have no clothes, but we're getting there.  B painted the nursery 2 weeks ago, and I've been thrifting to find a dresser and rocker. I've also bought out Carter's.  We found a dresser today at the beach.  I'm pretty pumped, although I wish I'd offered less than I did...pretty sure the man would have taken it.  Either way...it's coming along and maybe we can finish before he makes his arrival.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about 2 babies.  Ella Kate will be a big help, but it hasn't been so long that I've forgotten how hard it was the first few weeks after we brought her home.  Honestly, I thought I was Losing. My. Mind.  I cried.  A LOT.  It's possible that I cried more than she did, but it got easier.  I remember one particular night during that first week when I was sitting at the kitchen counter sobbing.  B asked me what was wrong and I told him through tears, "It's getting dark!!!  It's about to start again."  I'm hoping we'll settle in a little faster this time. Regardless, we'll survive and he will be worth the sleepless nights.  We're excited, and that's an understatement.

Life has brought about some uncertainties lately as it often does.  I guess we never really know what lies ahead, but as Bradley has to remind me, God has a plan.  I also made a decision to resign from cheerleading...a decision that makes me sad, but excited for time with my family.  I do love my girls.  They are sometimes my escape from the real world.  I love listening to their stories.  They make me laugh.  They make me proud.  But I realize that the demands of 2 children will be greater, especially during football season, and couldn't figure out a way to make it all work.  I know it's the right decision, but as exhausted as I get during basketball, I texted B during the last game Thursday night and told him it made me sad to watch the season end.  This sounds crazy to some of you, but I spend countless hours with these girls.  I am thankful for the opportunity.  They've taught me as much or more than I've taught them.  If they don't remember anything I've ever said, I hope they remember to never settle for just ok...in a husband, in a job, in life.  Wait for the best, girls.

I took a personal day yesterday.  It was AMAZING.  B took Ella Kate on to Maw Maws.  I watched the Today Show in my pj's.  When I finally did get dressed, I treated myself to a manicure, a pedicure, and Sonic.  When I got home, I sat in the backyard and read my Kindle.  I might have caught a few Z's in the sunshine as well.  I had an appointment yesterday afternoon and was still home alone, so I blared a cd from my college days while I got ready.  Pure BLISS.  I needed yesterday in a bad way.  We left late and spent the night with B's brother and his wife in Freeport.  It has been an extra good weekend, and it's only Saturday night.  B has a fire going and I'm snuggled up on the couch.  After I post this, I plan to Pinterest until I hit the sack, which may be sooner than later.

I promise to make a better effort on the blog.  Hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend.