New normal

So, I am now the mother of 2.  It's very surreal.  Saying, "the kids" when speaking of my offspring is the strangest thing ever.  Elliot Claire Tracy may be the best behaved baby ever.  I have no doubt that God knew that I could not handle another spitfire like Leighton Paige Tracy.  There is only room for one of those in the family. 

Elliot was born on November 27th and weighed in at 9 lbs 7 oz.  She was 21 inches long.  Leighton weighed 7lbs 14oz and was 21.5 inches long.  I have no idea why my second baby was so incredibly large.  My doctor even said that most 2nd babies only vary about a pound from the first.  Elliot must not have got that memo.  Her birth was far from boring.  The doctor barely made it in the room in time to deliver her.  Her heartrate dropped and she was ready to come out.  Her shoulder got stuck and she wouldn't breathe when she first came out (I think because of the trauma of her being stuck.)  They rushed her to the newborn intensive care unit in order to get her breathing.  It was the scariest 3 minutes of my life.  The nurse came back in to tell me that she was screaming, which meant she was breathing, and I could too.  I kind of felt like all of that happened in slow motion.  I am so grateful for my doctor.  He stayed very calm, therefore, keeping me calm. 

Leighton LOVES her little sister.  She loves her so much that I am afraid she is going to squeeze the breath out of her.  This was expected though.  LP is very demonstrative, just like her daddy.  I just think Elliot is going to end up being a very tough little girl because of her big sister. 

Chris is absolutely in love.  He adores LP too, but she would barely allow anyone to hold her but me when she was a baby so Chris is loving how laid back Elliot is.  She just lays on his chest and chills.  He wants to hold her all the time, which is so sweet.  I am really grateful that he is getting to experience a different kind of baby. 

It's almost Christmas and LP sang "We wish you a Merry Christmas" at her Christmas program at school yesterday.  When it was over, Santa came to visit.  Leighton stood in line, but when her turn came, she said, "Momma, I like Santa, I just don't want to sit on his lap, but I like him though."  She wanted to make sure I was aware that she had nothing against him.  I said, "That's okay, I wouldn't want to sit on his lap either."  Maybe that wasn't the right thing to say, but you know what, we teach our kids to not sit on strange men's laps, so I am proud of her.  Plus, he was creepy, as are most Santas. :)

Here are some pics of the past few weeks:

This picture speaks a thousand words. :)

XOXO-Merry Christmas
Stacey   

give thanks

I am 40 weeks pregnant, and you would think that it would be fantastic to be pregnant on Thanksgiving, as did I.  However, when you are 40 weeks pregnant, you can eat a snow pea and feel so full that you can't even breathe, not to mention the intense heartburn that accompanies anything that goes in your mouth.  So tomorrow, instead of a day of gorging, will be a day of reflection and togetherness, as it should be. 

So much has happened since I last blogged.  I have learned that the people that you love the most in this world will also hurt you the most.  This is just something that is so hard to accept, but so true.  Humans are flawed.  We all know this, but it isn't until you are betrayed by your loved ones that you realize that people are so messed up.  All we can do is help each other through this life and put our complete trust in God, not humans.  We are all broken, we are all sinners.  Acceptance of that is extremely hard.  I'm working on it constantly.   

On another note, Elliot Claire Tracy is scheduled to enter this world on Sunday November 27, if she doesn't decide to make her grand entrance during my turkey dinner tomorrow.  Never tried induction before, but I hear you get your epidural right when you get there.  Amazing!!  I won't know what to do if I am able to have a child without 12 hours of excruciating pain.  Praise God for modern medicine and anesthesiologists!

On the eve of this Thanksgiving, I want to reflect on the many things that I am thankful for in my life: 
1)  a healthy 40 week pregnancy
2)  a healthy rambunctious 3 year old
3)  a great job
4)  a large family that loves me and supports me
5)  fantastic "TRUE" friends.  The kind that would stand by me no matter what and are more like family.  The kind that love me for me, the deep part, not the surface, shallow part.  In saying that, I am also grateful to be one of those "TRUE" friends to others.
6)  I am grateful that God gave me the wisdom and the personality to keep my mouth shut.  I've learned that this is extremely difficult for alot of people.  I am grateful that this is not my struggle.
7) I am grateful also that God made me trustworthy.  My husband has always told me that he loves that I am so loyal.  I personally think that this is the way we are all supposed to be.  We are not supposed to hurt each other.  We are supposed to stand by each other and do whatever it takes to support each other.  This life is hard and there is absolutely no need to make it harder on our own account. 

There is so much more, but I'll stop on that note.  Next time I blog, I'll have a newborn.  YIKES!!!  Not sure if I am ready.............

dancey dance party

We had LP's 3rd bday party at our house this weekend.  Thought I would share some pictures from the day.  Leighton had a great time and was so excited when she opened her gifts.  Yo Gabba Gabba was the theme and we even had a special appearance from DJ Lance (aka Chris).  I have no pics of him though because apparently my camera wasn't cooperating.  I'll WILL get some pics though.  I'll post those later. 

XOXO
Stacey

Happy Birthday LP!

Leighton Paige-

Yesterday was your 3^rd birthday.  You made sure everybody knew about it too.  You asked your grandma to sing Happy Birthday to you many times throughout the day.  When people told you Happy Birthday, you said, “Thank you, Happy Birthday to me!”  I know when you are a kid, it seems that time just drags.  However, as an adult, the years keep going by so fast, you can’t catch your breath.  I can attest to this.  It seems like just yesterday when we brought you home from the hospital and I had no idea what to do with you.  My love for you was huge enough to help me learn though.  Our lives were shaken up by this little screaming baby.  (You did scream for the first year of your life, but I forgive you.)  You are such a sweetheart and you never let me leave the house without a kiss and a hug.  You have been waking at 5:45 a.m. and even though I am exhausted, I love our sweet little talks at that time.  This morning you told me that you loved me so much!  You also say good morning to Elliot in my belly and kiss her.  It’s the sweetest thing.  This life is extremely short, and you won’t realize that until you are much older.  I am writing this to tell you to love like you do right now as much as you possibly can in your life.  I know you will be stubborn, just like me, but life is so much better without anger and bitterness.  This is the best way to live.  I love you so much and know that you will make mistakes, as we all do.  However, as long as you learn from them, life is grand.  Happy 3^rd birthday little girl.  You are the light of my life and I couldn’t be happier.  Your daddy and I love you so much!  

XOXO

mommy

Daddy does better with hair clips

So, LP has been waking at 530 a.m.  Not sure what is causing this.  Yesterday and today, I told her to grab my phone and play.  She did, and she turned on Netflix and found Tangled and watched it quietly for all of about 10 minutes.  Then she wants cereal.  I tell her that it's not morning yet and she says, "yes it is."  Not sure what is causing her to wake at this insane hour, but tomorrow is Saturday, so we have to nip this quickly.  I tried putting her to bed later last night and it didn't work.  I gave in and got up this morning and we ate pop tarts and talked.  Maybe this is God's gift to me.  We have very sweet talks in the morning.  She tells me that her birthday is coming up and suggests new people to invite.  Yesterday she suggested, "Poop."  This is my aunt Ginger, whom we all call "Pook."  Easy mistake, I guess.  lol  The sweetness of LP's heart amazes me though.  I just love it.  Chris and I both lived a quarter of our lives not wanting children, and I am so grateful that God changed our hearts.  She is such a blessing in our lives.  Yes she is the most stubborn child that I have ever encountered, however, it is the stubborn ones that go on to do great things. (At least that is what gets me through) 

On another note, as I did LP's hair this morning, she said, "Momma, my daddy isn't very good at ponytails, he's better at hairclips."  Pretty sure she has heard her daddy say that a few times.  A day doesn't go by that she doesn't make me laugh.  Love her. 

XOXO
Stacey

Oh my, it has been a long time since I have blogged.  I really had good intentions when starting this, but apparently I didn't stick to them.  Today is a new day!  I am just about to start my third trimester of this pregnancy and I still feel amazing.  I am so incredibly grateful that no pregnancy is the same because I feel so good.  I mean, I am starting to get uncomfortable big, but that is normal.  Carpal tunnel is starting to come back a little, but nothing like the intense pain that woke me up in the night when I was prego with LP.  Also, this pregnancy has just flown by.  I guess it is because I have a toddler to worry about, therefore, I am not so focused on myself.  Speaking of that toddler, she is such a mess.  She had hawaiian week at school last week and Chris and I let her bring her hula skirt that we bought her in Hawaii to class.  She was the envy of the toddlers.  When I came to pick her up she was in the middle of a circle of kids twirling.  She is quite the glory hound.  I think we all know where she got that and it wasn't from me.  I also picked her up from school the other day and all the kids were quietly sitting in their seats listening to the teacher read a story.  LP was standing up in front of the teacher.  I asked why she was the only one standing up and the teacher said, "She just asked if she could stand there while I read, so I let her."  I am so grateful for Miss Jennifer and Miss Tina at LP's school because they allow her to be the free spirit that she is (within limits).  I am so afraid that she will get a teacher in school that doesn't understand that she can be spinning in circles and still hear every word that you say to her.  This is just the way that her and her daddy work. 

On another note, we sold our old house and we close next Friday.  Praise the Lord for this.  Just a bit of advice:  Don't get yourself in the situation where you have 2 electric bills in the hottest summer of record in 30 something years.  It was not fun.  I will be so grateful when we only have one house to worry about. 

Bwamma and Papa (Vickie and Jim) are back from a 3 week epic trip.  We are so grateful that they are home.  They brought LP back a cowboy hat that lights up.  She ADORES it.  She has been sleeping with it and yesterday she asked if she could take it to school with her.  She puts it on after she gets out of the bath.  Therefore, she is completely naked except for her hat.  I would post pics if I didn't think I would get arrested for child indecency.  My kid loves to be naked.  She would much rather run around the house with no clothing than wear anything.  Such a silly girl. 

LP and Chris have a morning routine that is so cute.  They sit at the dining room table and eat their breakfast watching the rabbits and birds in the front yard.  Then, she follows Chris to the bathroom while he gets ready.  He sprays hair product on his hair (Hair putty) as he calls it.  LP then says, "Daddy, I need some hair putty."  He sprays it on her crazy curls and calls it good.  Another reason I am so grateful for Miss Jennifer at school is that she does LP's hair.  Thanks Jenn!!!

I can't wait to see how LP acts with Elliot.  She talks to her all the time in my tummy.  She has started finding some of her old stuff and saying that it is for baby Elliot.  She already loves her little sister.  Hopefully, she will be okay with sharing her momma once this baby is here. 

XOXO
Stacey

Independence Day

It has been a while, again.  Pregnancy has really improved.  I feel like a normal human being, which I didn't think was possible while pregnant. This summer is hotter than ever.  We are now on day 437 of over 100 degree heat.  It feels like hot breath when I step outside.  I broke out our Montana pictures last night and remembered snowmobiling in West Yellowstone where it was so cold that my fingers were almost frozen solid.  It was painful at the time, but the memory makes me happy. 

Leighton has been kissing my belly goodnight every night.  It is so sweet.  She gets upset when she forgets.  I just want to freeze these moments so I don't forget them when she is 15 and thinks her parents are retarded.  Chris and Leighton have gone running the last couple nights and it is so incredibly cute.  They go out front and stretch, then they head out.  She runs around the entire block.  She is so proud of herself when she finishes.  Soon she will be running her first 5K.  I love it!!! 

The bite chew (pacifier) fairy came to get all of LP's pacifiers this week to give them to the little babies that need them.  LP is a "big girl" so she put them in the mailbox for the fairy to pick up.  So far so good.  :)

The new baby girl officially has a name now.  Elliot Claire Tracy is very active already and I can't wait to meet her.  Here is the last ultrasound pic:

Elliot Claire Tracy-supermodel or skeletor-only time will tell  :)

Here are some 4th of July pics.

LP practicing her left kick

BFFs

I'm taking Leighton to see Winnie the Pooh tonight.  She just told me that she is ready to go see "shampoo." That's my cue to leave and introduce my child to Winnie the Pooh rather than "shampoo".  Yikes! 

XOXO

Stacey

moving, more girls, and Florida

Wow, it has been a long time since I have blogged.  So many things have happened.  We moved for starters.  We also put our other house on the market.  If you are looking for a cute little home, check it out. 
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/219-N-Anthony-St_Muskogee_OK_74403_M74228-07222. 

I am now 17 weeks pregnant and we found out we are having another girl.  I am extremely grateful because I get to use all of LP's cute stuff again.  I'm not sure what I would have done with a boy.  I'm sure I would figure it out.  I just love how my little girl loves to wear dresses, but also likes to get dirty.  I love how she is so sweet, but is not scared to jump right in to the deep end of the pool.  I love how she loves to have her toenails painted, but she also loved the bungee jumper in Florida where she went higher than I would ever go, and much higher than the 8-10 year olds around her and LOVED every minute of it.  I also love how she was being bullied by 2 brothers on the bouncer slide in Florida, and I watched her push one of the little boys down because he wouldn't let her get by him.  Of course, I told her not to push, because she made the little sissy cry (he landed on a gigantic balloon for goodness sake), but I was secretly proud of her for standing up for herself.  I love how she doesn't live in fear.  Even though she is incredibly difficult to raise because of her strong will, we will survive 18 years of this ( I think).  I just pray that as an adult, she is as strong and fearless as she is now.  I also pray that in the process of parenting our strong-willed child, Chris and I don't break her spirit.

We just got back from Seagrove Beach, FL for the week.  LP loved the beach.  She thought the white sand was snow at first.  She bodyboarded with her daddy, napped on the beach, swam in the pool, chased lizards on the front porch, chased crabs with a little flashlight at night, and was pretty much the entertainment of my family for the week.  Here are a few pics:

pretty sure this is the little boy that she pushed.  At least she was smiling before she did it. :/

XOXO
Stacey