Random Thoughts and Pictures

Usually when your six year old says they have a joke, you prepare yourself to laugh - regardless of how dumb the joke might actually be. So imagine my surprise when Sydney says, "Why did the bunny go to the grocery store?" We dutifully say, "Why?" She says, "To go grocery hopping!" What? That was actually funny! And she says she made it up herself. Smarty pants.

Then there is the dog, which Kassie has taken to carrying over her shoulder - just like the baby. He doesn't know what to think about all the noise the baby makes. He sniffs at her feet if I let him but otherwise, he just stays in the kitchen.

The girls are usually such good helpers, to me at least. I'm not sure Sophia would agree. One day I laid her on her blanket in the toy room and the girls put on a Pretty Pony show for her. She really liked it. Apparently she just didn't like them trying to shove her binky in her face.

This week Sydney and Kassie took tennis lessons everyday from 8:30 to 11:30. It was so hot! Luckily there is a splash park next to the tennis courts so the instructors let them take a break half way through and play in the water. They had fun and hopefully the whole family will be able to play together.

Then there is Caroline. She has enjoyed having her parents to herself in the mornings while the girls are at tennis. Just like old times. But if you leave her to her own devices long enough, she will find trouble. Usually it's getting into treats for breakfast but the other day it was trying out the baby's swing. We wouldn't have know except she yelled for help because she was stuck. Funny kid.

Pictures I Couldn't Resist Posting

4th of July

Thank you Aunt Tricia! (She made the tiny pink shoes!)

Thank you Aunt Debbie!

Caroline is the best and holding me and singing to me to get me to go to sleep.

The Cuteset Thing Ever...Baby Feet

You see the tiny shoes and you think there is no way they are going to fit. They will definitely be too big. Then they are too small! It makes you stop and think about the miraculous little body that God has made and that something so small could be so perfect. I am humbled to be taking care of something so precious and it inspires me to savor every minute I have with my babies - big and small. We truly are blessed.

What's Even Cuter Than That?

Translation:

Dear Daddy,

Why do you have to work every day? When will you come out to play with me? I love you, Dad.

Love, Sydney

Dan works at home and it has been really hard for the kids to ignore him. This week is especially bad as the end of the month reports are due. Yesterday Sydney spent a long time trying to convince Dan to come out and play (the other of us girls in the house weren't fun enough). Poor Sydney.

My favorite part is the droopy, sad flowers.

What's Cuter Than This?

A friend of ours invited us to do a little dance class for the girls Caroline's age. This is a picture of Caroline the night of the performance. If I had a digital camcorder, I would put video up, too (if anyone reading this blog has footage posted somewhere, please let me know). There were 10 little girls and they all had matching shirts and hair bows. They were supposed to go barefoot but Caroline could not abide going barefoot when she had these wonderful ballet slippers. So she wore them. She really had a good time and did a wonderful job. It was good for her to be the center of attention and do something the other girls have never done. She loved that.

Sophia Anne (with an "e")

We've been looking at her for a few days now and what we see is Sophia Anne. The most important requirement was that it fit her, and with those exquisite features and soft head of hair, it does. But secondly, it's French but can be pronounced properly by Texans. And the kids like it. Then of course, to my kindred spirits, Anne. I've been trying to get that one in for three kids now. Mission accomplished.

So we didn't get to come home from the hospital until Father's Day. The pediatrician said she had to stay for 48 hours because I didn't get the antibiotic in for four hours before she was delivered. But we are all healthy and happy to be home. I was a little surprised at how much my big kids missed me (Sydney especially had a hard time and cried when they had to leave me at the hospital on Saturday). They helped me give her a little wash down today and even Caroline was rather helpful (and read her a story after she was done).

It has been nice to have the quiet time with the baby to remind you of why you became a parent in the first place and to maybe even make resolutions about how you're going to be a better parent. Last night the girls were trying to get away with something and I reminded them, in a fairly stern voice, what the rules of the house were and that they would get in trouble if they did not immediately cease and desist. Then I looked down at Baby Sophia and said, "And that goes for you, too, Missy." Then of course I sat there and gave myself a guilt trip about why did I even have a new baby if I couldn't be a better mom to the ones I already had. In the end, I decided I wasn't a terrible mother, just one with room for improvement and also with a new little reminder of why I wanted to be a better one.

We have been very blessed to have this new baby. She has certainly done things on her time table. We didn't know whether another baby would ever come to our house, and we were okay with that. Then in the midst of Courtney having cancer, surprise! Of course I spent almost the entire pregnancy trying to be rational and reasonable about whether the baby would make it and be healthy. Even right up to the end I was paranoid hearing terrible stories that keep you awake at night. We only had to make it till the 13th and then our wait would be over. But it seems like Sophia said well, if you're going to make me come out, I'll do it on my own terms. So before we could force her out, she came on her own.

We are so happy she is here. Sometimes it seems surreal but I'm sure in a few days it will be all too real. Thank goodness for good friends and family who have helped us so much. Thank you.

She's Here!!!

She's here! Whoever she is. Yes, it's true, Melissa still has not come to her senses and chosen one of my super terrific names such as Matea ( my favorite), Isabella, Ciel, Sophia, or Audrey (another favorite). The nurses are all calling her Miss Perkins, (wierd!). So for all of the women reading I'll give the details (the ones men only pretend to be interested in).

Melissa's water broke at 5:30 am. Only an hour and a half before we were scheduled to go in. Melissa said she wished she had filmed my reaction. I've never woken up so quickly. We were at the hospital minutes later. A few contractions, a few pushes - literally and the baby was born at 8:12 am weighing 6 lbs. 15 oz. and 19.5 in. long. She cried right away and both Melissa and baby are doing well. (I'm fine too, just incase you wanted to know :) More to come. . .