Will

First week at home...

I have to type fast-right now Will is content to wave his arms and stare at the ceiling fan. That will not last long!

The past week has been a blur-but a good one. Will is breastfeeding beautifully, sleeping very well (wakes up every three hours to eat but goes right back to sleep), and overall is a very easy newborn. I am enjoying this time so much! There is nothing better than holding a newborn and watching all of those baby expressions on his face.

Layton is doing great with his new role as big brother. He begs to hold him every few minutes and will stop playing just to kiss Will's head. He talks about how he is bigger and stronger but that Will is cute and sweet and they will play together one day. I have been amazed at how relaxed he has been! I am praying that this continues in the weeks to come.

Laura Grace hasn't skipped a beat. To her, Will is this fabulous new toy that she can hold and love on. She understands that I need more rest right now and that I am too sore to do very much. She reads me books while I am breastfeeding and seems totally unconcerned that Daddy is doing all of Mommy's jobs!

My inlaws stayed all weekend and did all of the cooking and cleaning. They also kept Laura Grace and Layton both nights so Clay and I could focus on sleeping and bonding with Will. This week my mother in law will be in and out as much as possible. Layton has preschool two days a week and Laura Grace is in school so I think it will work out well. I am still at the point where I need a nap after taking a shower. I am ready for my body to heal and my energy to come back! Until then, I am just going to enjoy sitting and holding a precious baby boy!

William Thomas Hardy

Will is here!!

He was born at 9:43 Wednesday morning. He weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long. He came out screaming and perfectly healthy! So healthy that the doctors let him come with me right after they briefly checked him in the nursery. When Laura Grace and Layton were born I had to wait several hours to see them. However, I only had to wait thirty minutes to hold Will. I was so excited!

We are now home and doing great. So far Will is eating every three hours and is very easy going. Laura Grace and Layton have handled it pretty well. Layton wants to hold him and kiss him every chance he gets. Some of that holding gets a little rough and an overwhelming urge to play dentist or eye doctor takes over... Laura Grace acts like a little mommy already. She is a little clingier to me but that is the only noticeable change so far.

Today is mine and Layton's last full day together! Well, the last day of it just being me and him. Tomorrow he has preschool and the baby is coming Wednesday!

He spent the morning making playdough worms and pancakes. I pretended to be grossed out by those worms and of course, thrilled to eat the pancakes.

When I tucked him in for his nap he said, "We need a prayer, Mommy!" It makes me feel so good that my children enjoy praying with us and talking to God. Precious.

New Haircut...and belly.

I woke up this morning and decided that if I had to battle with my hair one more morning I would lose my mind. So...I got a haircut. It is nothing drastic-nor is it too short. I have made that mistake before!! Nothing screams postpartum like chopped off hair and a swollen moonface. Anyway, here is the new cut... and my 38 week belly.

I don't know whether to laugh...or take a vacation

Yesterday, Layton and Laura Grace were in the backyard playing. Clay looked over just in time to see Layton hit his sister. Layton immediately realized that Clay had seen and burst into tears. He then RAN over to Clay, hand cradled against him, sobbing that "sister hurt his hand."

After explaining that we do not hit, we did not feel sorry for his injured hand, and that he was being unkind, Layton went wailing into his room.

Laura Grace followed behind him, anxiety all over her face. I asked her what was wrong and she said, "Poor Layt! It's okay that he hit me! Really, it is! It didn't hurt much! I don't want him to be sad like that!" She then went into his bedroom and curled up with him on his bed while he waited out his punishment.

I thought this was precious.

This is the SWEET side of Laura Grace. She has another side. A demon possessed one.

This side tells her to do things like throw her plate in Sunday School because she is "bored". Or, one that tells her it is perfectly acceptable to tell her uncle she doesn't have to listen to him because "he doesn't worry her."

You never know what you are going to get when she wakes up. Some mornings she is a ray of sunshine-I drop her off already missing her sunny smile. Other mornings I pray the whole way to school that her teacher will not murder her.

Ahhhh....the joys of parenthood.

I suppose this is just part of having children. Layton is already displaying these tendencies to completely blindside me with outlandish behavior. At lunch today I asked him to wipe his mouth. He tilted his head to the side, tapped his chin with his finger like he was deep in thought and said, "Hmmm...maybe I will. Tomorrow."

When I asked him to stop running in the house he responded by collapsing on the floor and wailing, "But I can't!! I'm too tired to stop!"

Somehow my children will become adults. I just worry that I will totally lose it in the years between now and then!

Blessed

A woman at church has a phrase that I love. "God restores the years that the locusts have eaten."

We all have these years or phases in our lives that could be described as nothing but barren and empty. I certainly have. I love days like today when I can look at the faces of my family and see God's restoration and grace. He is amazing.

We are ready!!

My mother in law gave me this diaper bag today for Will :) I can't wait to fill it with tiny diapers!! My friends are throwing me a diaper and wipes shower Tuesday night so I will have lots of diapers to fill the bag with!

While we were shopping for misc. baby items, my sweet husband and father in law worked on my to do list. When I got home the flower beds were mulched and fertilized, the carpets had been steam cleaned, the crib skirt was on the bed and the boy's curtains were hung. I feel like I can truly sit back and relax. Well...not truly RELAX, there is none of that when a baby is kicking your bladder. I can at least ENJOY the knowledge that everything is done and we are ready as we can possibly be!

Just Wondering....

why is it that when your body needs rest the most it rebels?

I was up most of the night, tossing and turning. And timing contractions. Contractions that were a very promising five minutes apart for several hours. Unfortunately, my husband suggested that I drink water and guess what? They stopped.

I wasn't happy, yet at the same time relieved because I have more to do before I am ready for a baby. My mother in law snorted when I said this and reminded me that I will ALWAYS find something that needs to be done. However, I have a list and I want everything crossed off on that list!!!!

I tried explaining this to my unborn child last night. He responded with a very sound kick to the ribs. I think he is going to be fiesty.

First Day of 3 yr. old Preschool!