This is the cutest video of Cole dancing during a special Handy Manny movie on Disney. He has really gotten into music and dancing lately. It cracks us up every time we watch it - hope you love it as much as we do.
Can it be true??? Is Lily Kate already one week old? Man, time flies. Our first week as a family of 4 has been absolutely wonderful! Cole has loved having a buddy to love on and share life with. He still wants to have Lily be involved in everything he does. Rhonald did manage to get him out of the house (without his sister) today for a morning of "guy time." It was so good for them to have that time together and for Lily and I to have time to rest. She is the sweetest most laid back baby ever. Seriously...I think she has cried 3 times since we brought her home from the hospital. I know she doesn't exactly have a routine yet but normally she follows similar patterns every day. She eats every 2-3 hours during the day and every 3-4 hours at night. Lily Kate is normally very alert and awake for about 2-3 hours after her 6-7 am feeding and then again after her evening feeding. Throughout the day she will be alert for 30 or so minutes at a time. She likes to be in her swing but would much rather be held and cuddled. We do swaddle her a night but she is just as happy to sleep in some one's arms. She has the sweetest face and loves to be talked to. Rhonald and I are so much more relaxed with her than we were with Cole and I can't tell you enough how much that has helped this week run smoothly. We have definitely learned the true meaning of teamwork and have really enjoyed this time together. Tears came to my eyes today when I thought about him going back to work. Not because I am afraid of being alone with 2 kids (although that has crossed my mind) but because we have had so much fun together this week. I cannot tell you how blessed we feel to have Lily Kate in our family. Lily Kate is the most amazing addition to our family and our hearts runneth over with love for her. I know there will be hard times...as with any new baby...but I feel like she is just perfect for us and we all completely adore her!
Cole has been, in a word, AMAZING with his new sister. We did not know how he would actually react to her once she was born and we have been both impressed and thankful for the love he shows her every day. Cole loves to help change her diapers, burp her and he is anxiously awaiting the day he can give her a bath. He loves to be the one to get things for us if we need them (diapers, etc). The first thing Cole asks for when he wakes up is Lily Kate and he wants her near him wherever he goes. He loves to read to her while she eats and "play" with her when she is awake. It has only been a few days but I am so thankful to report that we have not had an jealous incidents from him. When Cole first met Lily she had a gift for him which was a big hit. Another thing we have done is that we have a basket full of craft projects and new books and coloring books for him. It is in my closet and the few times that he has seemed bored with our "at home lifestyle" we pull something out and do it together. I think having that one on one time with him has helped very much. While we were still in the hospital Cole made a birthday cake for Lily Kate and after dinner on the night we came home we had a birthday party for her. He seemed to enjoy celebrating her birthday as much as his own!!! Yesterday at school he was proud to tell everyone about his new sister and he even got to take cookies to share with his class. When you are 2 1/2 that is big time! I can see them becoming very close friends...and getting in trouble together as they get older. I could never imagine in all my life loving 2 people the way I love Cole and Lily Kate. What blessings they are from God above...we are so amazed every day with the life we have and the family we have been given.
Our beautiful and precious baby girl, Lily Kate Searcy, was born on October 7, 2010 at 2:13 pm. She weighed 6 lbs 13 oz and is 19 1/2 inches long. Isn't she awesome? She looks so much like Cole when he was born - and so much like Rhonald. So...here is a semi short version of our labor story. We went in for an induction that morning around 5:00 am. When I got there the nurses started my IV, did all of the paperwork and I even got my epidural. I was hesitant to get it since I was not even contracting yet but I had such a horrible epidural with Cole that I went ahead and agreed. Let me tell you that a good epidural is a very good thing!!! My Dr came in that morning and broke my water. Things were moving somewhat slowly which was a little frustrating...after all, we just wanted to hold Lily so much! I was dilated 4 cm forever (ok...a few hours but it seemed like forever) when my nurse, Rebecca, came in and said "Let's turn you all the way over onto your side and see if it helps her turn and you to dilate." I agreed and during the first contraction after I turned over I told Rhonald "I feel lots of pressure." He told me to call Rebecca but, being the labor and delivery nurse that I am, told him that I didn't want to tell her I thought I was progressing and then find out I was still 4 cm. However, he said by the look on my face that I had to call her and when I did she told me I was completely dilated. She called the Dr and 15 minutes and one push later our sweet baby girl came into this world! Lily Kate came out screaming and full of life. I remember looking down at her thinking she looked so tiny! It was amazing to hold her in my arms and know that she really was ours to love forever and ever. We were blessed with lots of alone time that day which we cherished. Lily nursed well from the start and has not slowed down since. We took her to the Dr today and she has already gained 2 oz! Lily Kate had some trouble with jaundice and was in the hospital a little longer than we thought she would be - we were thankful for all of the people who visited us and brought food to us and shared in the joy of our sweet baby. It was such a different experience than when I had Cole. I felt great all throughout the day and afterward as well. I enjoyed my labor experience and was able to share in the day with Rhonald instead of being in so much pain and being so tired like I was when Cole was born. It was such a perfect and wonderful experience. We still cannot believe that this sweet girl is home with us. Becoming a family of 4 has been wonderful. She truly completes our family. Yesterday when Cole woke up from his nap the 4 of us laid in our bed and watched cartoons and it simply felt perfect. I know you are all wondering how Cole has handled all of this and I will tell you ... soon ... but now I think I am going to take a quick nap while both of my kiddos are asleep!
The weather has been amazing for the past few days and since Rhonald is now off for awhile due to Lily Kate's pending arrival we really wanted to enjoy being together and being outside. Rhonald suggested going to the Drive Thru Safari and I am so glad that he did. We have been a few times and it really seems like Cole loves it more and more every time we go. Almost every animal came right up to our car when we were driving which was so funny! Cole would introduce all of us to almost every one of them. He is very into telling people that his name is "Cole Searcy" these days. The biggest shock of all came to us after we enjoyed our picnic lunch. If you have spent much time around Cole at all you would agree that he is very cautious of all things. He is careful in everything that he does and will try new things once he has time to warm up to them. Well, today he announced that he wanted to ride the camel at the park. We both said ok and shared the "he'll never do it" look. Weren't we happily surprised when Cole jumped on that camel and rode around (by himself) and had the time of his life! I have never seen such confidence. When he was finished he ran over to pet an 8 foot long Python that was slithering on the ground. Rhonald and I fought over who had to go with him...I pulled the "I'm pregnant" card and got out of that. And then, to our amazement, he asked to ride the ponies! He loved that so much too. He asked the man in charge the name of his pony and smiled and laughed the whole time. Rhonald and I were shocked. While these may not seem like big things to many parents they were for us....our little boy is really growing up and is really gaining confidence in himself and his abilities. It was wonderful to see!!!! He fed the animals in the petting zoo without a bit of fear or trouble and then we saw him plop down on his tummy and start talking to a Kangaroo. Precious!!!! We all had a blast but after about 3 hours we were all pooped. We came home, took naps, watched football and ate a yummy dinner prepared for us by Rhonald and Cole. It was a great last Saturday as a family of 3. I cherish these boys and I cannot wait to see Lily Kate tagging along side of us as she grows up. I cannot believe that next Saturday she'll be curled up watching the Razorback game with her Daddy and big Brother (and maybe her mommy - if I can stay awake).
Can it be true???? Our sweet baby girl is due in only 4 more days (Wednesday)....our induction is already scheduled for Thursday and we are finally ready! Lily Kate has continued to grow at a slower rate but is growing non the less so my doctor is very happy with that. She is still a wild woman in there - kicking and rolling around all of the time. I am going to miss that so much. She is pretty low now so I don't have her booty in my rib all day and night which is nice. This may be too much info for some of you but .... I am dilated to 3 cm and 70% effaced. When I went in to have Cole I was not dilated at all so this is a huge difference for me. I am feeling great. Lots of energy - so much so that I can hardly sleep sometimes. I keep thinking of things to do and what needs to get done before she is here. We cannot wait to hold her and gaze into her sweet eyes! All I kept thinking about today was that this time next week she will be home with us! Cole is super excited and very curious about all that he is going to get to do to help with her. He is so tender hearted and loving towards her already. We are so anxious to have her here and enjoy her. Until then, though, we wait....and wait...and wait!