concentration & chubby cheeks

lounging lucy

childlike wonder

I just wanted to make one more entry about Huntleigh's experience at Elmo Live. I actually was really excited to take her and I know Josh was, too, when the first thing he did when we got there was to buy her a Big Bird stuffed animal. I was convinced that Huntleigh would be frightened by a big Elmo singing and dancing on a stage right before her very eyes, but rather than fear, I just found childlike wonder. This picture of her doesn't really capture how beautiful she was to me as I was watching her watching Elmo. In fact, I spent the first half an hour crying because I was so happy to see her so happy. I am such a sap, seriously. You can see my red nose in the bottom picture. Josh just lovingly laughed at me as I cried and as Huntleigh was wowed by these silly singing characters and as Lucy slept in the Baby Bjorn, completely unaware of all the commotion happening around her. I love my children and I love being a family.

you know you've really arrived in life when....

1. you listen to "Here Come the ABC's" by They Might Be Giants every time you get in your car. (It's actually pretty tolerable and enjoyable. I would highly recommend getting it. Josh and I love tracks 10 and 13.)
2. you are excited about getting a double stroller....on a Saturday....at Babies R Us.
3. you have a family date to go see Elmo Live.

i couldn't resist this photo op.

No, this is not where Lucy sleeps. Yes, this is the baby doll cradle my dad made Huntleigh for her birthday this past year and I discovered one night that Lucy fit so snugly inside of it. She really does have her own bed.

my fluffy-headed new babe

torture?

Yeah, so Lucy hates the bath. And she hates having her diaper changed. And being naked. I guess she's our modest one.

first fye face

"Fye" faces (a.k.a. smiley faces) are a fun thing around our house. We make fye faces out of all kinds of materials: playdoh, clementines, mustard, magnets...you name it. These pictures capture the very first fye face that Huntleigh drew all by herself. We were so proud....and so was she, as you can see on her face here. I love that proud little look she has. It is so sweet to see her have the good kind of pride when you do something and you are praised for it. I love building up her self-confidence. I mean, check out those fye faces! They are awesome!! (Mom, they look just like your fye faces!)

playdoh with poppa

first bath

This was Lucy's first official bath, even though her cord has not yet fallen off. She cried through almost the whole thing and then pooped on my hands.

flying

sisterly love

burper

my sweet new babe

little mommy, big mommy

When Lucy was born, my parents gave Huntleigh her first American girl baby doll. Josh and I got her a little diaper bag and baby bjorn carrier to go with the baby doll. Here we are, carrying our babies together.

polka "otts" baby

pure sweetness

noses

yes, sometimes she opens her eyes

going home

My discharge day was supposed to be Friday of this week, but seriously, if I had to look at any more of that hospital mystery meat for one more meal, I think I might have jumped out of the window....and then we really would have had a problem. So my doctor cleared me and Lucy to leave and we were home by 4 pm. It's so much better to be in my own bed where I can sleep next to my husband and know that my daughters are next to me and in the next room. But two is going to be a challenge...especially while my body heals. No more mystery meat, though. And Josh treated me to sushi tonight in Clayton. That has to be worth all this exhaustion.

sisters

baby "you-see"

independent babe

mid-yawn

take these hands

Lord, and let them move, at the impulse of your love.

up close and personal

daddy and daughter

Lucy Lennox

She's here in the world and she is beautiful and healthy. 2:28 p.m. 7 pounds 15 ounces. We are so full of joy and thankfulness to our Lord. And she is awesomely mellow...at least as of yet. I don't think Huntleigh knew what to think last night. I think she was more excited about the big sister Dora dvds that "Lucy" gave her. Of course, there will be more pictures to come.

foreshadowing

No more belly after 1.30 p.m. tomorrow!

teammates

Today did not go how I would have loved for Josh's birthday to be. To begin with, I wish I was not 39 weeks pregnant. I wouldn't have used the afternoon to go to the grocery store with my husband and child. I wouldn't have done laundry. The day would not have had all the ups and downs that it did. I would not have cried or gotten mad or frustrated as much as I did. No, if I could have scripted it from start to finish, it would have been a much more calm, emotionally low-key day filled with a big fat home-cooked breakfast and perhaps some Asian food for dinner and then ended with a fun party with excellent wine and beer.

The second half of our day was much better than the first half. We went to see a movie and then tried this little neighborhood Italian tapas bar in Dogtown for dinner (sans child...except for the one in my belly). Let's just say this has been a really hard week for us. Josh put it into perspective for me when he said that it's like we're running a marathon together (the marathon being this pregnancy) and someone on the sidelines (someone we love so very much) fell down in our pathway and instead of being able to run around them, we tripped over them and skinned our knees and were hurt fairly badly. The difficult part has been pulling ourselves back up and continuing to finish the race as teammates, as injured as we are and as worn out as we have become. It has been no easy task. I know there are women out there who just love pregnancy, but I will have to admit that pregnancy is not like that for me. It's difficult to begin with and my skinned knees and bruised side are almost more than I have been able to bear.

The truth to which I continue to return is that Josh and I are good teammates. In fact, we're the best of teammates. I could not have imagined a better teammate to run this race alongside me. We're so close to the end of this marathon, but this 26th mile, it has been a steady, uphill battle. The fight has been tough on our bodies and on our souls.

So Josh, Happy Birthday, my friend. Thank you for being such an excellent teammate to me, even when I have not been such a good one to you. There is no one with whom I would rather run this race. I hope 31 is a good year for you.

preparing for the babe

Huntleigh has been fascinated with all these new baby things that keep coming up from the basement. I'm not sure why we even got her any Christmas presents....had I known how exciting all these things would be to her, we might have re-thought all of those gifts. I have been encouraging her, however, to bring her favorite face-less baby (Ami) and put her in the baby swing, or buckle her into the baby carseat, or put her in the bassinet. H spent a good portion of the morning moving L's rattles in and out of the bassinet, and throwing the Boppies on the ground (and then herself on top of them) and carrying around L's teeny tiny botchies (that's our family word for pacifier). Clearly, she also enjoyed laying in this baby bath chair. I think all the novelty of these items might wear off when baby L comes home and Huntleigh realizes she is the reason all these things are coming back out. I just wonder what a shock it's going to be for all of us.

baby L's Christmas present

This was our unborn babe's most amazing Christmas gift. Aunt Abby lovingly made this with her own hands. She discovered this amazing fabric, reupholstered an antique rocking chair, and created the font for the fun "L" monogram. It's a beautiful chair and a priceless gem.

now this is a good friend

I actually asked a friend of mine if she would be willing to bake me a cake and she didn't even blink an eye when she responded with a heartfelt "yes!" This coconut cake is to die for and it is such a treat. She told me it weighed like five pounds and it really does. It was certainly a labor of love. If anyone would like to join me for a piece in the next few days before the babe comes, please don't hesitate to call me or to just come over and get a piece. Aud, thank you so so much. We love you so much.

peace offerings to a fake Kate

For those of you who have been to Raccoon Ranch, this dog may look familiar to you. It's just a big figurine, of sorts....I'm not sure what to call it, but it's part of the establishment. I always have this weird fear that it will start talking to me whenever I walk past it. We spent New Years up there and Huntleigh seemed more interested in this dog than ever before. She kept calling it "Kate" and would hug it and give it her cup and such. Apparently, puzzle pieces balanced on the nose and head also make a great gift for the fake Kate. I think this is Huntleigh's ideal puppy right now. She can love on Kate without getting knocked down or jumped upon or licked or what not.

it's a new year

Well, this is what would have been my Christmas/New Years picture for the letter that I intended to write, but never did and will not be sending out. I thought I would just post it on the blog, because the picture I will send out in another few weeks will include a new family member and it seemed odd to send out a picture of the three of us, when we will soon be four.