Big Sister Cate

I'm going to answer the popular question: How does Cate like being a big sister?

Well, she's 2 1/2 and Ben is [barely] two days old, so the verdict is probably should still be out. But so far so good.

She likes to hold him. In fact, the first time she met him, she wasn't sure she wanted to give him up, even to Gran-Gran. We convinced her by saying she could sit right next to them. And she likes to know where he is and what he's doing. Although the options for either are fairly limited, she asks anyway. She has already gotten me things [a blanket and burp cloth] and has helped feed him a couple of times.

Moving to a new house and bringing a baby home seemingly have combined to produce this strange phase of hording her toys in a purse, bin and/or gift bag. I think she's worried people are going to start re-arranging her stuff without telling her about it. Regardless, she's had a big last few months -- well, really, so have Greg and I -- so a little hording is a minimal side effect.

Here's to hoping she continues to like holding and helping her brother, even if she's clinching a bag of My Little Ponies and plastic bracelets in the other hand.

There are more pictures here.

his BIRTH day

I suppose you all want to hear the story of Ben arriving in this world. And if my assumption is wrong, I apologize and advise you to stop reading.

I should tell you that on Saturday my sister-in-law Angela asked what my perfect timing would be for Ben to be born. I told her Sunday or Monday. Well, Monday started with me going with the birth mom to a check-up appointment. We learned at that appointment that she was 5-6 centimeters dilated. [She was just short of 39 weeks, for those of you keeping count.] Really, given that initially dilated two months ago, we were happy to be just eight days from his due date.

The doctor, who also happens to be a family friend, said he was worried that if he sent her home, then she wouldn't have enough time to get to the hospital if her water broke. The doctor sounded confident that we would meet sooner than later.

Turns out, he was right.

After we each gathered things from our houses and made childcare arrangements, we met at the hospital. That was about 11 a.m. A couple hours later, the doctor broke her water. Then a couple hours after that, Ben was born.

The birth mom was a champ. She was holding my hand during delivery, but rarely really squeezed it. I could tell a couple times leading up to delivery she was really hurting, but she grinned and bared it. She never complained and told me thank you a couple of times. Um, no, really, I kept thinking, THANK YOU. Really, thank you doesn't even begin to express how I my appreciation for her.

Once Ben was born, the nurse took him to a neighboring room to clean him up. After hugging the birth mom multiple times, we followed the nurse, who was carrying our son. She tended to him, and then we got to hold him. This great nurse even was good with the camera and took the picture at the top of the post, which is one of my favorites from the day.

The nursing staff arranged for us to have a room, so we went there while the nursery staff did the things they do to newborns. They brought him to us and then Gran-Gran and Granddaddy [that's Greg's parents, if you're wondering ...] brought Cate to meet her brother.

That's our first family picture. A family of four. How blessed we really are.

There are more pictures here.

Welcome, Ben!

Welcome, Benjamin Lucas Taylor! He born yesterday at 2:56 p.m. He weighs 7 lbs. 10 oz. and is 20 inches long.

This is the first photo taken, and it is with my iPhone so I could easily share our good news. More photos and stories to come when we are at home and I grab a few minutes at the computer.

Camping

Yes, I went camping this weekend. I know, it's November, and camping isn't listed under my usual list of hobbies, but my husband had been wanting to, my in-laws were going were and said we could use their camper, and I assumed my daughter would like it. I was right. Cate loved the experience. Greg satisfied the urge the camp. The weather was beautiful. And I didn't have to sleep outside. My iPhone even sometimes picked up the wi-fi signal from the nearby campground office.

We stayed close to Murray in case our birth mom called to inform us her water broke, or she was having frequent contractions, or anything else that would signify our son would arrive soon. But she didn't. The disadvantage of staying close was we couldn't see the lake, or any lake.

The kids, especially the girls [meaning Cate and her cousin Ethne, who she calls "Epney,"], loved playing together. Greg and Charles fall into the "kids" category, at least for the afternoon.

It was a bright, sun-shiny day, thankfully.

But, really, I've decided, evening is the best time of camping, mostly because it involves sitting around the campfire and eating s'mores. But, really, there is something nice about being around the fire because it feels good and just talking and laughing with everyone, or, in our case, playing the Name Game.

[There are more pictures here in my Facebook album.]

Thursday's Thought:Funny Friends

Putting stickers on their faces was their idea. [That's Cate with her friends Noah and Emma.] Kids are funny when they choose their entertainment.

Kitchen [another view]

More before-and-after fun from the kitchen ...

[Before]

[After]

Yes, that's my laundry room off the kitchen. I love it there!

Living Room

[Before]

We aren't really formal living room type people, so this is what we went with ...

New flooring. New paint. New purpose.

And, yes, one day we'll have a more adult dining room table. This kid table hasn't really found a home, although it's likely to end up in Cate's room.

Bedroom

Through the door and across the hall, you can see into Ben's room. Works out well for the nursery. Below is what it looked like before we had wallpaper stripped, yellow paint added and new carpet laid ...

Worth Repeating Wednesday

Worship, in essence, is declaring what we value most. As a result, worship fuels our actions, becoming the driving force of all we do. ... In the end, our worship is more about what we do than what we say.

--Louie Giglio in "The Air I Breathe"

Fish are friends

While Greg went to the UK-Vanderbilt football game with some guys, we took advantage the Nashville road trip for some girl time. We went to Opry Mills to shop and eat at the Aquarium Restaurant. I knew Cate would love looking at all those fish. Plus she loved the company of two fun 5-year-old girls while I enjoyed catching up with their moms, who are college friends of ours.

She's 2. She can't read "Please keep hands off glass." I told her, but she was really into the fish. In fact, 5-year-old Libby told her too and was rather disappointed when Cate didn't listen.

The mall was crowded, like mid-December-Christmas-shopping crowded. Someone told me there were pre-Black Friday sales going on. Um, why is there the need to label a sale? Just have a sale. I did enjoy finding Ben some shorts for $2.99 at Gymboree.

Kitchen

[Before]

[After]

Just traded the wallpaper [which wasn't a bad color/pattern as far as wallpaper goes ...] for yellow paint and the aged once-white vinyl floor for laminate. One day I will get a new counter top.

Play Room

And when I say play, I mean for me too.

The previous owners used the bonus room upstairs for storage, but as soon as I saw it [before we decided to buy the house] I knew I'd want a play room, partially for kids and partially for me. The hope is if I want to scrap, Cate [and sooner than later Ben] can play. Plus it's nice not to have all those toys out in her room or wherever else in the house.

[You can't see it, but my scrap table is perpendicular to the computer along the portion of the wall not shown.]

[Before]

To make it suitable for playing, we had to have new flooring installed, walls painted and a couple electrical outlets added. Conveniently, the heating and air duct work was already close, so we [not we actually, but you know, we had it done ...] were able to having heating and air conditioning vents added.

The one other thing I know I want to do in here is add a magnetic chalkboard on part of one of the walls for the kids. I have both the magnetic primer and chalkboard paint. I just need to decide where I want it. [Any suggestions?]

Waiting for Ben

We are perfectly content waiting for Ben because we know every week/day he remains in-utero is to his benefit, even if the birth mom is anxious and ready to deliver. At 37 weeks, she's still on bed rest, but the doctors said at this week's check-up appointment that he's comfortable with where she is, should Ben make his way into the world. I'm thankful the birth mom has been a good sport with bed rest and really done her part to take care of Ben.

But when he decides to come, we're ready. And even if he can't see the great colors in his room, his momma will be glad to know the room is finished ...

Here are some close-up shots of the bedding. It's called Zooptopia.

And on a random note, I'm loving his piggy bank collection. The blue one is actually his, thanks to Courtney. The red one is a pass-along from Cate. It matched her room in the old house and I really thought it looked cute in Ben's room in the new house. [Also, Cate has pink and purple pigs holding her change in her new room.] The white one, which you can't tell from here is actually features a University of Kentucky logo on the side, is actually Greg's and previously contained some Christmas cash from his parents.

Thursday's Thought: FREE!

Free is good. And it became a theme yesterday.

First, I got a free buffalo chicken sandwich from Backyard Burger because Kristen (albeit misspelled) was the name of the day. Backyard Burger's marketing ploy worked with us because in addition to my chicken sandwich, I also got fries and a drink, plus Greg's meal and chicken tenders for Cate.

Then we looked through some stuff from our church's Swap Day -- which is basically a free exchange of items -- and found some things. I found Cate two pairs of tights, a book and Candy Land. She found herself the toy phone and cash register shown above, which haven't left her sight.

'Where did Daddy's hairs go?'

I've been cutting Greg's hair for years. For those of you familiar with hair clippers, I use the one guard all over. No problem. Easy enough.

Until the one guard decides it doesn't want to stay on the clippers. Yep, it fell off while I was cutting, and I didn't notice ... until one section across the top of Greg's head was shorter [much shorter] than the rest. I didn't panic. I just put the one guard back on, thinking maybe I could smooth it all out later and nobody would notice. Then it fell off again. I noticed quicker the second time, but I had already cut a smaller section on the side of his head. No smoothing it out at this point, especially because the one guard fell off a third time.

I ended up just cutting all of his head with no guard. Yeah, that's short. I told him it was a military haircut in honor of Veteran's Day. Thankfully, he was a good sport, but I still felt terrible. At least we both laughed about it.

Then Cate woke up, and the first thing out of her mouth was: "Where did Daddy's hairs go?" From another room, I heard Greg say, "Ask your mom."

So she did. I told her I cut his hair a little too short. Obviously.

Greg asked me to put new hair clippers on the Wal-Mart list. [I do appreciate that he blames the clippers and not the barber.] I did, but I told him there was no hurry to buy new clippers because it's going to be quite some time before he needs another haircut.

Worth Repeating Wednesday

Well the thing I find most amazing
In amazing grace
Is the chance to give it out
Maybe that's what love is all about

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was

--From "I'm Not Who I Was" by Brandon Heath

Blessings for Ben [and me]

My friends threw Ben [and me] a baby shower yesterday. The gifts, beautiful flowers used for decoration, words of encouragement and reminder that I have gracious support system all blessed me greatly. I didn't really know I was [emotionally] at a place of needing something like that. But I was. And I got.

And, seriously, aren't those hydrangeas pretty?

Emily made this beautiful, beautiful quilt. I really appreciate the fact she took the time to make it for Ben and even incorporated colors from his room. Definitely a special gift.

One friend even thought to give Cate a little present so when I came in the house with arms full of presents for this baby brother we keep talking about she wouldn't feel left out. Good thinking, Molly.

And, thanks, friends for yesterday and for being who you for our family.

Nesting

I've been nesting, so they say. Most everything has a new home in our new home, which means we're feeling at home in this place we've lived for barely more than a week. My scrap area, which is taking over what would more generally be called an office, is in the process of being unpacked.

And, really, just so you know, I want to scrap. I have pictures from Texas. And Ben's ultrasound. And New Zealand. And lots of smaller moments. So I'm not short of inspiration, but rather time. I'm looking forward to [one day ...] scrapbooking while Cate plays.

Yes, that's right, this scrap area [um ... office ...] is housed in a lovely bonus room that also features a play room. Momma can play on one end while Cate plays in the other. Of course, Ben could be born soon and then I'll probably be too tired to scrap.

Really, you know, the thing about nesting: It's rather tiring too. Perhaps that's God's way of preparing me for a newborn. Well, at least sort of. Really there's no way to prepare for sleep deprivation, especially when if you're like me. Just ask my mom. I was grumpy after every slumber party I ever attended. Just ask my husband. I still get cranky when I don't sleep well.

People ask me if I'm nervous about having two kids, and, you know, some days I am. Other days not so much. But when I do think about it, sleep deprivation always rises [quickly] to the top of my concerns. Then I think about my friends who have been here in this season of life with a toddler and a newborn, and, somehow, they've managed to function. So I assume I can too. Somehow.

Meanwhile, I'm off to fold some laundry and maybe unpack some Sharpies and scissors. Oh, and yes, pictures of the renovated new house are on my to-do list. I thought I'd hang some pictures on the walls first, though.

Big girl bed, really

We tossed around several ideas for Cate's new bedroom, specifically, her new bed, and this bunk is what we came up with. That's what happen when you wander around Wal-Mart, even if the initial intention was to find a vacuum cleaner. Seriously, do you know how many different vacuum cleaners exist? Anyway, back to Cate's new bed ...

She loves it, which is good because she's "sharing" her crib/toddler bed with Ben. Sharing meaning it's in his room, not hers.

[And, you can't really tell in these pictures, but her walls are a purple/pink/beige color ... a light mauve, you might say. It wasn't what I pictured in my head, but I like it!]

Trick or Treat ...

We took Cate trick-or-treating, sort of ... We went to the Trail of Treats that the local park sponsors annually, but the trail was moved inside to old basketball arena at Murray State, thanks to the rain that kept coming down. Plus, Trail of Treats was Friday night, which worked in with our schedule of moving to our new house on Saturday.

We ran into an inflated Tigger on the trail ...

We're in!

Our goal was to be in the new house by the end of October. Well, we moved in Oct. 31. Mission accomplished. And we love it here.

We've been unpacking boxes since yesterday afternoon. OK, so, we've taken breaks to eat dinner at Jaclyn and Bryan's house (which is in walking distance!), watch UK lost to Mississippi State, sleep, go to church, visit two friends who had babies this weekend and watch the Titans (Yes, I know, they're 0-6, but, hey, there seems to be new energy this week ...). But things are being put in their places throughout the house.

Pictures of our new-to-us house with its fresh paint, new floors and our furniture and belongings will come soon. Let me unpack a few more boxes first ...