Hakuna Matata

A week before I went to have Spencer Brynne at the hospital I took Hayes to see THIS!  Mom was able to get tickets for us to go and enjoy this fantastic show.  We had dinner at Chick fil A on the way into the city and then we met Buddy and Leigh Anne at The Fabulous Fox theatre.  Hayes was thrilled to see those two and just as excited to see the show!  He was totally convinced that the large truck below transported those 'animals' back to the zoo once they were done with the show.

He loved the sign outside the theatre and talked about it several times after we left.

I am so thankful that I was able to have some one on one time with Hayes before we had a baby girl.  The look on his face once those 'animals' came to life inside the theatre was amazing.  I know it brought me to tears!  It was super special that we got to share that time with Leigh Anne and Buddy!  If you've never seen that show, do yourself a favor and GO NOW.  It was one of the best shows I have ever seen and my 4 year old LOVED it!

My 2014 Goal List: 5 months done...

My 2014 To Do List

1. I am going to grow plants this summer.  I'd like to grow a lot, but I'll settle for a few.  Tomatoes, beets, cucumbers, carrots, squash, and zucchini, to start with.  I'm researching methods via Pinterest right now and will start seedlings as directed once the time is right.  I suppose I'll need to do this on the back porch or in the garage for the meantime.  I plan to use the small area by the garage to grow my veggies in large planters or raised beds.  Who wants to build me those?
   
   Working on tomatoes and cucumbers.  I think that's all I got.  
2. Run races.  As in, plural.  I have run my pregnancy races and I have one more to go.  I'd really like to be able to run a few more races after the baby comes.  I know I'll need time to heal since I will be having a child via surgery in April... I'm hoping I can schedule some races in June/July.
   
    Signed up for 2 races this fall and planning to do the Thanksgiving HALF in ATL.  I need a babysitter that day?  Who's coming over?
3. Buy the dang minivan.  This is a lingering 2013 goal... I wonder if I knew that my husband was going to let me have another baby AND we were going to and that's why I made that goal in 2013?  Either way, I cannot wait to be the proud owner of a minivan.  I see this happening in March.
   
   DONE AND DONE!  Best purchase ever.  I love it.  
4. Build my business.  I suppose this means I need to work on the business.  I have several of them I could work on, but none that I really focus on.  I love Advocare products.  I use them regularly.  I also love Mary Kay products, they are lovely.  I have a great love for my sewing machine and should use it more often.  I would like to be able to grow one or all of those into something successful that generates income so that I could stay home with my babies one day. Yep, another goal for another year, but I'll work on it in 2014.
   
   Started working more often with Mary Kay and I'm planning my official 'debut' party next week.  I need to work on that one and get some pink sales.  I love my Mary Kay!
5. Paint and decorate the kid's rooms.  We have to move Libby to the bigger room and put Hayes in the smaller room since we will be housing two girls.  This project was on my agenda for Christmas break, but it is not likely to happen this week.  I have to buy Libby bunk beds and then we can make the move.  Hoping for February?
   
   Both kids rooms were painted and moved prior to Spencer's arrival.  Write that down.  They have pictures on the walls, working on decor and such also.   
6. Plant flowers in the yard this spring and summer.  I love seeing my neighbors lovely yards and I'd like to have my own this year.
   
   Flowers have not happened yet.  Perhaps I can adjust this goal to 'plant bulbs this fall for Spring 2015'...
7. Develop a budget/plan to save for future Disney trips and eventually yearly passes.  I love going to see The Mouse.  I love that my kids want to go there often as well.  I want nothing more than to take them there all the time.  As a matter of fact, we could just move there and I'd be thrilled.  I'm working on this part.
   
   Trip officially booked for September with FREE dining.  Thanks for saving us that money Disney!  I am working on our 2015 dates now.  Hoping for yearly passes soon...
8. I would love to be able to use my blog as a venue to make some extra income for my family as well.  I am going to investigate that and look for income via my blog while on maternity leave.
   
   I haven't looked into this, but I have been diligently increasing my traffic to the blog and plan to continue that through Facebook and Pinterest.  Hopefully I can be blog famous one day (or at least make mom-ney, so I can stay home)...  Ditto this for months...
9. Purge.  Clean out the closets, rooms, drawers, cabinets, and garage and rid this house of unnecessary objects, clutter, junk, and excess.  We need to learn to live with less and be happy with that.
   
   Cleaning out all areas of the house as part of my random 'nesting' occurs.  So far I've found a ton of things to donate and decorate with.  Worked on the maternity clothes and some of the kids clothes as well.  Summer plans are to clean out the garage... AGAIN.
10.  Wake up earlier during the week and make time for myself.  Enjoy coffee, or a book, or the quiet.  I could make breakfast for myself or the littles, or just put on my makeup like a normal person.
    
    I continue to fail at this.  I'm going to blame my newborn for the lack of sleep for now.  She's a great sleeper, but I can't manage to get up and be motivated to do anything.  Hoping that since summer break is coming I can get up, exercise, and then make breakfast for the family.  

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.

Cochran's Dinner Theatre

The scene:  a weeknight at the Cochran's house.

Characters:  A Minnie Mouse and a Bumble Bee (who needs a new costume)

The action is too much for words, but just enough for laughs.

I'm so thankful my parents didn't have the internet for my obnoxious childhood moments.

Just a bunch of pictures in a book or an envelope....

Not that I print photos... so my kids are all stuck in the computer.

Life with Libby

Life with Libby usually starts with a tall glass of berry or chocolate milk each morning.  She's not a huge breakfast fan like her momma.  She doesn't eat much in the mornings at home.  She is more of a snacker and a lunch/dinner girl.  She usually continues her day begging for some sort of cosmetic products.  Lipstick, lipgloss, and fingernail polish are among her top favorites.  She puts them on with gusto and has recently tried mascara.  I think it is working its way up the list.

She doesn't meet a stranger and has energy for days.  Sometimes I wonder how the rest of us keep up... but we manage.  One day at a time... one morning at a time... one of those grins at a time.

Also, she never wears shoes and she dresses her self.  Do NOT judge me.  

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.

She's photogenic, what can I say?

I cannot handle the squishy baby face.  I have to laugh at her multiple chins, her chubby cheeks, and her leg rolls.  She is the perfect example of baby perfection.  Third time is the charm, right?

Baby yawns are enough to make you swoon.

Y'all, the hospital they make these hats with bows.  As in, my nurses made it for her one night while I was asleep.  She rocks that bow like a true lady.  The bigger the bow... the closer to Jesus.  

I just can't even.

I just love her.

I never thought I'd say things like, 'I'm done having children'...

But I do believe I'm done.

For a multitude of reasons, which I'll explain in a later post.

For now, I'm going to soak up some baby snuggles and neck sugars 

...before she turns two and says NO all the time.