New Addition

So our new little one has arrived, Lydia Grace Clark.  Lydia was born on Dec 17th weighing 8'6 and 20 inches long.  I had to have another c-section due to the health problems that happened last time and some new additional health concerns.  I was really nervous and felt guilty for having to have another csection, but all went well. I have to say getting an epidural without having the pains of contractions to distract is really painful.  The recovery went smoother this go round.  It was difficult though because I could pick up Leah at all.  This was hard because that meant I have to have someone with me pretty much everyday for two weeks.  I didn't think about all the little times I pick her up like putting her in and out of her crib, changing her diaper/clothes, putting her in the chair to eat and etc. 

So having another child brought on a ton of emotions for me.  I felt guilty that I wasn't able to show the one on one time to Leah. I was upset that the newborn needed me so much and I couldn't spend more time with Leah.  When Leah came to the hospital to see the baby and me I had a mini breakdown.  I felt bad that I couldn't go home with her and that her life was changing so much. After she left the waterworks came on, I missed her, and the nurses and the cleaning lady saw me craying in my room and all came to make sure I was okay. Needless to say I have adjusted and now life is wonderful.  Leah adjusted so well to having a baby in the home and sharing the attention.  We do watch alot of Elmo DVD's while I nurse.  Speaking of nursing, I forgot how time consuming breast feeding is and how needy infants are.  I'm already ready for the newborn to  be sleeping through the night and be on the same schedule as Leah.  It's amazing that sometimes I am so busy tending to the children that I don't even have to time to eat or clean.  I feel like my whole day is taken up with feeding the kids, changing diapers/clothes, and putting them to sleep. Having two young children this close in age is very difficult. 

Kevin has been so helpful during this whole process it has been great to have such a wonderful husband.  He helps to keep me calm if I am starting to feel overwhelmed and really helped out with my recovery process. My sisters and mom also helped alot.  I don't know what I would have done if my family hadn't been there. My older sister, Holly, who has two children of her own came and stayed in the hospital with me for two nights so I didn't have to be alone. My mom has came and cleaned my house several times while she was also recovering from a surgery.  Then my younger sister who is in her last month of pregnancy came over to help take care of Leah for me.  

Lydia has had super bad acid reflux, we have already had to increase her medication and she is scheduled to see a stomach specialist. I can tell she doesn't feel well, I hope we can figure out what is going on and get her feeling good. 

I am enjoying my maternity leave, but I feel that it is going  by to fast. Kevin has started school again and is working so hard at that, it takes up most of his free time.

                                              us getting ready to go into the operating room

                                                              baby Lydia

 first time Leah saw me at the hospital, it was a very emotional moment for both of us

                                          Leah bowling and she knocked down some pins!!

                                              Gran-daddy helping the sisters meet

                                                                   Leah bowling

 Leah's Christmas present, there are no ball pits to play in these days, so we got her one for the house

 Leah and Briggs eating at the new "kid's" table

1 Year!!!

Leah is ONE Year old!!! I know everyone says the first year goes by so fast, and I was always like yea yea everytime I heard that.  But it is so true, I can't believe she is one year old, seriously where did the time go?!

Well we had a very lovely birthday party for her.  She did so good at eating her birthday cake and made the biggest mess ever!  We also had a swimming party, she loves to be outside and play in the water.  She got some new toys and outfits.  She loves her new grocery cart, she is in the phase of putting things away. 

So with her being a year old we had to switch to cows milk.  I was giving her the same amount cows milk as I did formula.  However Leah quit eating and I was super worried.  Come to find out that they are not supposed to get that much cows milk, so when I decreased the milk she started to eat again. WooHoo  With that said she has suddenly became a picky eater.  She won't eat vegetables, its crazy because I love veggies.  I hope she will learn to love them eventually. 

I love to watch her play and her excitement and interest in things.  She points and says "who that"..so cute! I love having her in my life.  It is a really harder road then I thought, but it is so worth it.  I just want to give her the world. 

Another challenge I have with her is getting her "trained" to sit through church.  I feel like I am the only mom that cannot do this.  It's like nothing entertains her at church, she won't even eat her treats! I'm hoping that with consistency she will eventually get it.  It's hard for Kevin because I have a calling and so he has her for the last two hours. 

                                       This is what she does, pull everything out of the cabinets!

                              She loves to watch me cook, I've become a pro at one handed cooking..lol

                                                Leah and Briggs playing

                                             She's like are you done singing to me yet

                                                                Happy Birthday!

                                                                  Birthday cake time

                                  I made Briggs a little cake too! He was a more neat cake eater...haha

 Other big news!  I am pregnant again!!  This is a very unexpected surprise.  When I first found out I was sad, nervous, angry.  I felt like I didn't get enough alone time with Leah.  Then I felt that this second child won't ever get the one on one attention that Leah got.  Just crazy emotions. But there is nothing I can do, I got pregnant earlier than expected.  The baby is due on Christmas Eve.  I am already showing its crazy because I feel like I never really got my body back from having Leah.  With this pregnancy I found out I have the little C antibody problem/syndrome.  Basically I have to get my blood monitored, see a high risk OB, and possibly have to get inter-uterine blood transfusions to the baby. 

So two children close in age and it will be a tough next couple of years, but I will get through it.  I know this because I have an awesome supportive family.  My parents are amazing and still willing to watch my children so I can work to help support our family until Kevin graduates. 

Easter Fun

Leah is getting older and is now able to get excited about things.  This made Easter more fun.  I know she can't most candy yet but I still made her a basket.  I put lots of candy and a stuffed bunny in it.  Now she loves that bunny and she loves to carry around the plastic eggs and play with them.  Poor thing had a cold on Easter but I still dressed her up for quick pictures. 
Work is going well, it's keeping me extremely busy.  I am sad that a good friend is transferring to a different office.  Work is like your second family ( some weeks I spend more time there than at home)  Kevin is still working hard at school.  I mean really working hard, I don't remember putting in that much time..lol  

Nothing else new going on with us.  Enjoy the pictures!

Time Flies!

Wow I can't believe how long it's been since I last wrote.  So let's catch up.  First Leah is so big now, she is growing up so fast.  She is already 9 months old.  She can get into anything. Nothing keeps her attention long. She can walk along anything as long as she is touching something. She can stand alone, she has two front bottom teeth, has official walking shoes, loves to throw a fit, and loves to LAUGH!  She is so cute she will squinch up her eyes and just smile so big, I love her!  We finally have a routine going for her sleeping and eating.  Oh and she is completely bottle fed now.  I was ready to be done nursing (well not nursing, pumping)  I hated pumping it was so hard to fit into my work schedule.  I love the bond of nursing and hopefully on the next child if I can stay home full time I can nurse even longer. 
Let see...Leah started eating "table"food. The doc said she was skinny and wouldn't hurt to gain some weight. So I have introduced table food with her baby foods.  So far she loves it!
Recently Kevin's two sister's, Jenni and Cindi came for a visit. I love them.  They are so fun and yes again I wished they lived here.  They brought there children as well. It was fun to visit since all the children are close in age.  Jenni's child ( Brooke just three days younger than Leah) then Cindi's little boy (Jack is two months younger than Leah).  Sadly the entire time they were here I was deadly sick. Sucky timing.  I tried to not get anyone sick so I skipped out on some of the festivities.  Then after they left I was sick for another week and I am still slowly recovering.  I had a combination of illnesses at once.  It is so hard to be sick and take care of a child.  Thank goodness my loving family are so very wonderful. My Mom and Dad took care of me and Leah so I could rest.  They also came and spring cleaned my house.  Also my sister, Katie, came to clean and help me take care of Leah so I could be sick and rest. Then my sister who is going through Chemo, Holly, also offered to help.  Seriously my family is the best and most selfless.  I love that we are always there for each other through trials.  I hope that Leah recognizes that trait in our family as she gets older.
Kevin is still working so hard in school, poor thing always has papers to do. I forgot what it was like to be in school, and yea I am glad that chapter in my life is complete. But I am proud of him for working so hard at school and not being a procrastinator like me.
 I am still working all the time, work is so busy right now! I blame the stress of work for making me sick. I still love my primary calling. But new boundaries.....no sick kids in class!

                                                 Squinched eyes...lol

                                                       Leah and Jenni

                                                    Brooke and Leah

                                                        Cutie Jack

                                                               Brooke

                                                            Jack

                                                             more squinched eyes..lol

                                      look closely and you can see her ears are pierced

 The Family

Oh Where Are You Camera??

So yes I have lost my camera.  I have been putting off posting until I could locate it, but it's been to long. One month without taking pictures of a growing child is a long time!  So sorry but the update may be boring with no pictures to look at.

For an update, Leah is doing great. She is crawling everywhere and she loves to explore.  She is very hard to contain these days.  She also loves to play with cords and strings, it's hard to keep them all out of her sight.  Currently I am trying to sleep train her.  I am afraid I have spoiled my little girl. I love to rock her and just spend time with her at night, my excuse was because I missed her from working all day.  However she needs to learn to self soothe.  So I am currently listening to my poor little girl cry in her crib until she falls asleep.  Last night it took almost 40 minutes and I believe tonight will be the same.  Everytime Kevin hears me move he says "don't go in she's fine".  HAH she may be, but I'm not.

On a sad note my family has been going through so much.  I found out my dad has prostate cancer and will need surgery.  Also my sister has a rare type of lymphoma cancer. She has recently started her chemotherapy.  My mom and younger sister have been at her house everyday helping her.  She is so strong and is taking this all so well.  She is definitely a fighter. My dad's treatment doesn't start for another month, but I know he will also do great. I have to say I was terrified at the thought that my family might be short two members.  I am so glad to know that they both have a great odds of beating this.  I love them both so much. 

Oh so Kevin started school....Yay!  He has been so diligent at getting all of his work done.  I am so glad that he has finally started and figured out what he wants to do.  (something with computers) I am still working and wishing I was home.  I got a new calling in church, teaching the Sunbeams in Primary.  They are so fun and so far its a great calling.  But I miss being with Leah even during those two hours, man am I a sensitive mom or what?  Everyone else loves to see there child get of age to go to nursery at church. but all I can think about is that is more time I have to be away from her.  Oh I also am determined to get all this "mommy tummy" off.  I hate it!  I also hate being to lazy to work out.  But one way or another I will get rid of it.

Holidays

I am so excited it is Holiday time now that we have a child.   Now the Holidays bring more meaning with them.  I know she is still to young to understand but at least now they have more reason behind them.  It has been fun to go and do the "typical" holiday activities. 
On Thanksgiving we gave Leah some baby food Turkey, yes I was excited.  Leah didn't seem to care one way or the other about it.  I do have to say that meat baby food is gross and I do not think I will be giving her any again.  I will just wait  until she is old enough to eat meat that isn't mushy! That was pretty much it for Thanksgiving. Oh I almost forgot Kevin's sister Cindy and her family came down.  It was so fun to have Leah's cousin Jack there to play with.  I have to admit I was trying to talk them into moving her the whole time during there visit, haha.  I just love having family close by.  I want Leah to grow up with her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents all close by...just like how I had it. 
So far for Christmas we have taken Leah to get some picture with Santa.  It was really cute!  She just grabbed at his beard and had a confused look on her face.  Typical Leah story..on the way to see Santa I dressed her in a cute dress right before leaving the house.  Then when we got to the mall, like 15 min away, I went to take Leah out of her carseat and she was dripping in poo! Her dressed and tights were covered, I didn't know what to do.  I really wanted pictures with Santa and her.  So I ended up having to go into the mall and purchase another dress, but it was worth it.  She also got her first pair of shoes, yes I am that mom that doesn't put shoes on her children.
I do feel bad because our apartment is so small that we do not have room for an actual Christmas tree.  Instead we just have a tiny one in the corner. It sucks but hopefully one day we will be in a larger place or an actual home.
Kevin and Me are doing well.  Work has been extremely busy, it is very stressful managing my workload and my family time/responsibilities.  Kevin has been having to do many solo nights with Leah, but he is so great and helpful. 
 Recently my grandmother passed away.  She was such a wonderful grandma and there are so many precious memories of her that I cherish.  I wish I could have been there to say goodbye.  I just hope that she is at peace now and no longer suffering.  She was a great grandmother, she was a nurse and I remember I use to love playing with all of her nursing tools.  Oh and she always made the best homemade vegetable soup and collard greens!(I am from the south)

Leah and Briggs playing together...Notice my dad talking with Brinley in the background

Videos

Kevin made a you tube channel for us.  We have taken some videos but they were to big to email to people.  So the you tube channel was the best option so our family can see them.  The channel is www.youtube.com/imkevinclark  So go there and check on the videos.  So far there is only one video of Leah eating apples.  She hated apples, so weird.  She loves all veggies but is not a fan of fruits.