Turkey Break

There were a couple of things worth celebrating over this break and a couple of things that were equally heartbreaking.  

This is my brilliant cousin Caleb and my gorgeous sister Kitty! We were celebrating Brandie's wedding to Devin.  It was a quaint wedding with a special set of guests.  I count it the highest honor that I get invited to weddings of my family and friends.  I LOVE weddings and I know that so many people have such a hard time deciding who to invite.  I know that people lose sleep and worry about hurt feelings and agonize over their guests.  I adore being among the chosen and actually getting those invitations!  I will do anything I can to attend them all!

And then there is this kid who apparently doesn't know that you can sleep in on breaks.  

Suns up so I'm up MOM!

Wretch.

I got to spend a few evenings sitting in the woods with my daddy.  Yes, I hunt deer.  Yes I wear makeup while doing so.  And of course I had in my pearl earrings.  What if I killed something?  I would need to look cute for pictures.  I am so grateful my daddy took time out of this week, which was possibly the worst of 2015 for him, to spend some time with me.  We didn't see the first deer to shoot, but it was good quality time together.

Buddy

I don't even know that I'll ever be able to verbalize or write how this whole relationship functions.  They are almost one in the same.  Same love.  Same laugh.  Same silly attitude.  They love each other SOOOOOOOOOOOO big.  It is precious and overwhelming and so much fun.  Buddy was the first person in our family who got to see Miss SpenBrynne via photo right after she was born and I do believe it was the beginning of a beautiful love song.  They are hilarious together.  In person, via FaceTime, on the phone, via Snapchat... You name it and the silly spans miles.  If ever she needed anything, I have no doubt that her Boppy would be first in line to donate an organ, or dollars, or anything else she required.

Heck, he might just give up his right arm if she asked for it!

I love that they have so much fun together!

Seriously?

When was the last time you saw someone smile that big?

Please ignore SB's giant forehead bruise.  She had been stair diving.

Its fine.

Snuggles and Hugs from friends

I love this girl.

She's the best baby girl ever.

She had a great birthday month and we celebrated her several times.

I think this was my favorite moment though.

Sleepy baby snuggles.

Man,

I love this kid.

Last year she was 6 days old at Easter.

This year she hunted her own EGGS!

Love her.

This is Delilah.

She is Libby's BFF.

They have such a sweet love for each other.

I love this blonde and the joy she brings to my sassy girl.  

Happiness for days

If you want to know what makes me happy, its this.

Laundry piled up behind the people I love the most.

Clean laundry, dirty laundry, laundry I hate... 

Either way, it is my favorite thing.

I love these people.

I love the smiles.

The genuine and the fake.

The silly and the serious.

They are the best things God ever gave me!

Ever.

Also, genetics are annoying.  

Does ANYBODY look like me!?  

NYE

I have a fearless child.  She knows nothing of that word.  She's not afraid of the dark.  She's not afriad of noises.  She's not scared to tell you how she feels or what she thinks.  She does what she wants.  And yes, she woke up like that.  She arrived like that.  She came to us with no fear.  She is determined and stubborn and a mess.  I  love her and her zeal for life!  

Fireworks, no problem.  She was disappointed that we wouldn't let her shoot the BIG BIG ones.

Still love this guy.

Happy New Year (in March)...

6 years of NYE together and we still smile.

SB

Those lashes are gorgeous and she doesn't even wear mascara!

Waffles, french fries, fruit, muffins, any breakfast food... her favorite.

Happily exploring the bathroom drawers and finding mischief...

Practicing her pirate face for summer posing with Hayes...

She's such a blessing.  Just the other day Daryk said, "I'm so glad I let you have a 3rd one."

Me too Dad, me too.

The Herd

Sometimes my heart is just so full it could burst.

I love watching those littles toddle, run, collide, and leap into church every Sunday I can.  I love that my littles are learning about Jesus and the wonderful things He has done and CAN do for us.  

Also, those guys aren't too bad either.  They are both pretty good helpers with the littles.

Almost home.

Caution:  this will be a husband/dad brag.  Read accordingly.  Or skip because you aren't interested...

This man is wonderful.  Last year about this time he looked at me one night after dinner and said, 'If you really want to have another baby, we better get it done soon.  You have until August and then we are done trying.'  My heart almost leaped out of my chest!  I had just left the doctor's offices a few weeks prior with a birth control prescription and I hadn't filled it yet since we were not quite decided on that plan or not...  I know he wasn't too sure about baby #3, but he knew I really wanted one.  Sure enough, we 'tried' for about 3 months and we got pregnant by August.  We actually found out we were expecting SB the last week of July.  I was thrilled!  

I have the best partner.  He knew that this last baby was a true desire of my heart and he let me have it.  Yes, I could have created a surprise baby.  Yes, we could have had an accident.  I don't believe that would be a good way to bring a baby into my family.  Not to mention the whole, 'lying to your spouse' thing.  Yeah, just not okay.  And he listened to me complain and whine and fuss and be grateful and loving and a bit hormonal for 39 weeks and 6 whole days.  He listened to every single bit of it.  He reminded me that I chose this and that I wanted it.  When I got tired he rubbed my feet or rubbed my head.  He didn't complain when his 'daddy work load' got harder because I could do less.  He stepped up the game.

He has always been a hands on dad.  He does bath time every. single. night without fail.  He helps fold tiny clothes and puts them away.  He helps dress a little girl who changes her mind at least 3 times each morning.  God help us when she becomes a teenager....  He brushes teeth and wipes bottoms and kisses all the boo-boos.  He cuts up food and cleans up the kitchen.  He does everything I ask him to do and goes above and beyond any expectation I had for a spouse or a father.  I am so blessed.  

But this 3rd baby journey was harder on me than the other baby journeys.  Caring for 2 littles at home while being pregnant is HARD.  Women who have lots of children are to be admired.  Period.  It was more difficult than I anticipated.  Physically, my body is tired.  3 babies in 5 years is no small feat.  Emotionally, this baby was difficult to carry and the delivery was difficult too.  My body has taken a beating and this recovery has been, and is STILL challenging.  I am taking it one day at a time and trying to let my body heal.  Daryk has stepped up, again and is taking great care of me, my big kids, the baby, and our household.  I never doubted that he would, but it is hard to cry it out and just let him help.

I am fiercely independent and would like to think I can do everything all by myself.  I wonder why my 2 year old says that same sentence all the time... and I find myself having to ask for help this go round.  I needed a lot of it from the start, and he's been here the whole time.  He held me when I cried because I was tired and too hormonal to function.  He helped me out of bed when I couldn't get up alone.  He has been amazing.  I am thankful to God for him every minute of every day.  I couldn't have chosen a better partner to 'do life with' than this man.  

And just because every post should have a picture of THIS cuteness...

There you go.

A baby bunny with socks for hands because she had Wolverine size claws upon delivery.  

And she has the best cheeks ever.

The end.

The day I had a toddler at birth.

Busily trying to distract myself in pre-op.  Notice I'm STILL WEARING MY WEDDING RINGS.  File that under things that never happen the morning of delivery.... I was BEYOND ready for that child to come out of my belly.  I was also shocked to discover that I was contracting pretty good that morning.  Once I was hooked up to the millions of monitors I learned that.  Too bad the contractions just hurt my belly and produce ZERO dilation for delivery.  And all the time I thought Spencer kept moving around, but I was wrong.  Contractions.  I had the best pre-op experience possible.  We got there SUPER early (much to early for my liking) and I was more than ready to go.  I was also more than ready to eat.  That's the worst part of a surgery, not eating after midnight.  I didn't cheat this time.  No food or drink after midnight for real this time.  I've cheated with the other two.  I'm a rebel like that.  

Arrival at Northside:  6:30 a.m..  Actually, we were kinda early.  Huge thanks to Emily and Doug for letting us stay in their guest suite the night before.  It was so easy to drive the 2 miles over at 6 a.m.  We were parked, checked in, and ready to go around 6:45 a.m.  We stayed in pre-op for a bit since it was a busy day.  Funny, 4-14-14 was a really popular induction and c-section day.  It was my 2nd choice, but it worked.  My surgery was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. but we had a bit of a delay since they were so busy!  I got wheeled back and they started surgery.  I had a fabulous anesthesiologist and my doctor is always fabulous.  I love her dearly and I do mean that.  She is a wonderful person who is so *warm* when dealing with my healthcare and babies.  

She narrated the whole process and we were done with delivery around 9:03 a.m.  I heard that time and was betting that was Spencer's weight, but I was wrong!  Spencer came out kicking and screaming, a sign of things to come?  She also promptly peed on the warming bed... so that was fun.  She got checked out and sent to recovery after that.  I got put back together and sent to recovery myself.   My big kids both had breathing distress upon delivery, so I didn't get to hang with them during recovery.  They both spent about 4-5 hours each in the transition nursery.  Spencer was perfect and I got to watch her get a bath while we were both in recovery.  I also got ice chips!  Praise Jesus!  

They weighed her in recovery.  9 lbs. and 9 oz.  Child was a small toddler at birth.  I could NOT believe how big she was!  No wonder she hurt so bad!  She is perfect!  

First photo of her after birth.

Yes, I have on makeup.

I'm not a fool.

I know there will be pictures that day and I planned to look good.

Welcome to the world Spencer Brynne Cochran.

You complete my Cochran family and I love you more each day.

I hope we are as good to you as you are good to us.

SBC

4-14-14

9:03 a.m.

9 lbs. 9 oz.

20 inches long

5 Days to SB

5 days.  I have 5 days left to be a parent of just two children.  Though, technically I've been a parent to 3 children since early August 2013.... the government will recognize this life within my belly in 5 days.  Hopefully, not sooner.  I am just NOT prepared for her to come early.  I have literally arranged every detail I can imagine to have her on Monday and if she shows up early it will rock my world.  MUCH more so than she is rocking my belly...

She is a blessing.  Spencer Brynne Cochran is my final 'planned' blessing.  I have to laugh at all the people who tell me to just have another baby and make it an 'accident'...  Y'all, I can't do that.  I cannot lie well and I know that would be a terrible idea.  Seriously, I'd make the worst poker partner ever.  It would be a useless experiment.  So IF you hear that I'm pregnant again, you'll know it was literally an accident, as in... we didn't plan it on purpose.  We would both be shocked and terrified and delirious.

Today I go to the doctor's office for my last pregnancy visit with SB.  I have 5 days left to her arrival date and I'm anxious!  I'm ready to meet our newest Cochran and see her face.  I want to smell baby smell and I'm excited to change diapers.  I cannot wait to see how she impacts our family and our lives.  I am overwhelmed to see my babies all together and for Hayes and Libby to meet Spencer, finally.  I am still debating the kids coming to visit Spencer in the hospital... not sure if that's a wise move or not?

The plan, as of now, is to deliver via c-section on Monday, EARLY.  Caroline is coming to stay with the kids Sunday night and Aunt Patsy will come early Monday morning to help get them to and from school.  MawMaw is coming to stay with kids Monday evening/overnight until Wednesday evening.  Papa and BeBe will be here with the kids until we get home from the hospital Thursday (I hope that's when we get released)... I am fairly certain that BeBe will be the one bringing us home from the hospital.  Daryk has a track meet and he needs to be there Thursday.  Realize that the 'trip home from the hospital' is not important to me.  Save me the comments and lecture about how he shouldn't be coaching because he should be with us... I get to decide what's best for my family and the drive from N'side to Winston isn't important to me.     

I'll be home with the kids, the husband, and the newborn on Friday all day!  Here is hoping that the weather remains beautiful and that the temperatures are friendly to some outside time for me and SB.  I am thrilled for this new chapter in our lives.

I bought a minivan.

I don't know when my mind was changed, but at some point along in this parenting journey I changed my mind and decided to dive headfirst into the world of the minivan.  I had zero desire to do this until I experienced loading two small people into my small SUV and wrestling them into their car seats while freezing or getting rained on or sweating.  I made up my mind to start shopping for a new mode of transport once I realized that wrestling 3 of them wasn't going to get easier AND the car seats wouldn't fit in my Escape.  I loved my little road turtle and I was sad to see her go, but she will get to live a fun life with a college kid from here on out.  

I bought this beauty and I'm in love.

She has more gadgets than a spaceship.  The doors open at the push of a button.  Several buttons actually.  I don't have to wrestle them into their seats or the car anymore.  I'm thrilled that they can also climb into the car by themselves.  No more wrestling for me... for now.  She has a DVD player (praise God) and leather seats.  The bonus was a sunroof and a heat/ac control board that I'm still trying to learn how to use...

Ignore my extremely tidy garage shot...

The weekend we were car shopping happened to be right after the second nasty snow/ice storm and my parents were kind enough to take the kids!  We had already planned for them to go to the lake for that weekend.  Instead of watching a state wrestling tournament I managed to buy a minivan and get a stomach virus all in one day!  Pretty sure my children had a much more enjoyable Saturday than I did!

They got ice cream and played on a playground!

Leave me some love.

I'd love to hear from you!

Date

I made reservations for these two to go to Chick Fil A a few weeks ago for a Daddy-Daughter Date.  I believe she had more fun than she thought she would!  I let her pick her own outift and supervised, just to make sure she didn't look like a colorblind person who has no concept of pink.  I also let her wear this sweater, which she loves.  She was SO excited to go on a date with her Daddy and even more excited when they gave her ice cream.  I hope that they spend lots of time 'dating' in the years to come.  I know that he will be able to teach her lots of things about how all the men in her life should treat her.  I pray daily that she embrace the qualities God gave her.  I know that her stubborn attitude will one day come in handy.  One day when peer pressure is strong and she's being asked/told to do things I'm not happy with.  Her 'I do it by myself-leave me alone-I can make up my own mind' attitude will be beneficial to her. 

Right now, that attitude is trying for my parenting... but I'll take it. 

Five long years=a whole hand.

Engaged 2008.

Married 2009, but nobody knew yet...

First married vacation... also pregnant!

Became parents January 2010.

Celebrated our chunk child summer 2010.

Pregnant with #2 November 2010.

VERY pregnant with #2 summer 2011.

Day before we became a family of 4, August 2011.

Family of 4 and my 7 chins...

Toddler activities fall 2011.

Baby love fall 2011.

All smiles as a family of 4, spring 2012.

Christmas 2012.

Spring 2013, maybe a family of 5 on the way?

Happiest place on earth... can I go back NOW!? 2013

Christmas 2013, family of 5 on the way...

Celebrating birthday #4 for baby #1.

The first Georgia snow of 2014...

5 years.

2.85 babies.

2 houses.

1 new minivan.

Lots of love.

And a family that God built.

Every day is a blessing and I truly believe that.

Yes, I am Suzie Sunshine and I'm ok with that.

Celebrating 5 years of marriage, family, and sharing life with Daryk this week.

Daddy Time

This man.

This man who is the father of my children is an amazing human.  He comes home from wrestling practice and gives my children a bath every night.  He sits with us at family dinner and then cleans it up too.  He plays with them each night and manages to say prayers with them every night before bed too.  He lets this little girl squish his face and hit him on the head with a hairbrush brush his hair every time she asks.  He will even sit with them in the chair and let them squirm all over the place while they ask him 90 questions.  

He talks about super heroes, dinosaurs, and Disney movies with Hayes.  He makes faces and teaches him important things about being a big boy, like how to pee in the toilet and not on my bathroom floors...  He spends time coloring 'art' with him and uses every opportunity to teach him something.  He sings silly songs and will dance around the living room if Hayes asks him to.  He helps Hayes choose his clothes every single day and he even makes sure he matches.  

I understand that not everyone gets the whole 'married to a coach' lifestyle.  I knew he was a coach when I married him.  I didn't anticipate that this 'wrestling family' would become mine by default, but I love them too.  I'm grateful for the friendships and the love that community provides to my family as well.  I'm thankful that my husband, the coach, comes home to love on my children after working all day with everyone else's.  He shows my children so much through coaching.  

His love for wrestling and those wrestling kids is phenomenal.  Hayes and Elizabeth both know all those guys as 'daddy's boys' from wrestling.  As far as they are concerned, all those boys are their friends too.  I'm so proud of my husband, the coach.  Sure, there are nights I resent wrestling.  Most of the time I'm tired and the kids are trying my patience and I'm ill about the fact that I'm doing the 'parenting' all alone.  I know I'm not the only mom doing things by myself... and I know that I'll have my parenting partner home soon enough.  

And you know what, he's a darn good partner.

And parent.

And husband.

And I love him for all of those things.

Hayes Date

The ELC always does Father's Night for the kids at school.  They aren't in school for Father's Day, so dads get a special night once a year. Luckily, our times didn't overlap and Daddy was able to enjoy time with both babies!  I got time with my big baby boy while his sister was on a date with her Daddy at school.  We went to Yogli Mogli (which is ice cream mountain if you ask Hayes) and he ate sprinkles.  I'm pretty sure he had 2 actual bites of yogurt and the rest was sprinkles.  He also talked with the girl who worked there about her big belly like mommy's.  I hope she was really pregnant...

It isn't a good night our unless you get some selfies.  We took a few, just in case.  

I don't even know how he makes this pirate face all the time, but he does.  It is now his signature face.  I give up trying to fix it or deal with it.  I just have to laugh.