I was bored...so I went blonde. And yes, they really do have more fun!!

Kids Say the Darndest...

On Jayda's last day of preschool I was talking with her teacher. She tells me that Jayda is doing really well with sounding out her words and learning to read. I tell her teacher that my goal for the summer is to start some basic reading with Jayda. Miss Elizabeth shows me some of the flash cards that the kids have been working on.

Miss Elizabeth: "See, most of the kids are learning these words." (She shows me the cards and they say "dog," "cat," and "car."
Me: "Oh, that's great."
Miss Elizabeth: "Yes, some of the more advanced kids are learning this word." (she shows me the card and the word is "Fossil."
Me: "Cool. Which is Jayda comfortable with?"
Miss Elizabeth: "This is what Jayda is working on right now." (She hands me the card and the word is......."Paleontologist.")

____________________

Jayda:" Mom, I sure had fun today playing in the water fountain at Fairfax Corner."
Me: "Yeah, me too Jayda. It felt good to be outside."
Jayda: "Yup. I loved it. I realized I need more sun in my life."

____________________

I took Jayda to get her first manicure/pedicure at the nail salon for the wedding she was in. All of the women working there were speaking in Vietnamese.
Jayda (really loudly): "Hey mom...are they speaking Spanish?"
Me: "No baby, they are speaking Vietnamese."
Jayda: "Oh. Can you tell them to stop?"

____________________

Jayda: "Mom, is Jesus real?"
Me: "Yes, Jesus is real."
Jayda: "Like really real?"
Me: "Yes, he's really real."
Jayda: "Can he come over and play?"
Me: "Not exactly." Before I could explain myself she says...
Jayda: "Oh, is it because he is old and has a beard like daddy?"

____________________

I was a bridesmaid in a wedding and Jayda was a flower girl. As I was being escorted down the aisle by one of the groomsmen during the rehearsal, Jayda ran over and said, "Mom, are you holding his arm." I told her yes and that he was walking me down the aisle for the wedding." Jayda said, "but, but, but, but, but." Then she paused for about 20 seconds and thought about it and then said, "but, but, but," and then she just glared at the poor guy! It was the first time I can remember that Jayda was truly speechless. She was obviously ticked off that it wasn't her daddy I was holding onto, but she didn't know what to say. She was so confused and pissed that she just kept repeating "but" and staring at us like we were two evil aliens! Too funny!!

Thanks a bunch Jayda

Jayda: "Mom, I have to tell you the truth about something."
Mom: "Ok, what?"
Jayda: "You are getting REALLY old."

Thanks Jayda. Nothing like a little dose of 3 year old to brighten my day!

What a difference 5 weeks makes!

5 Weeks Ago. Living in a little incubater & looking pretty weak & tiny...

Now she's home, happy, healthy...and already pushing 7 lbs!

My dearest Jayda Grace...

Times have been tough these past few weeks. I barely recognize you lately because your attitude and demeanor has been so dark. You have been a very difficult little girl (that’s an understatement). I don’t know if it is just your age, or the new baby, or the fact that I was on bed rest and in the hospital for so long with others caring for you, or what...but lately, I have found myself referring to you as “Captain Evil” (not in your presence of course). I can’t begin to describe how hard it has been to be around you because you’ve been so mean.

I have yelled at you, put you in time out, spanked your bum, cried, screamed, prayed, and everything else in between. Nothing is working. Your attitude changes on a dime and you seem so unhappy. You whine, you cry, you disobey, you do the exact opposite of what I tell you to do, you have been behaving just downright nasty.

However, I love you more each day and really felt the need today to express my love for you at this exact stage. I guess I’m putting this on the blog partly so you can read this later and know how much I love you and partly to remind myself of the sweet, heavenly gifts that you bring to my life.

Jayda I love you more than words can describe. I love your sweet laugh, your bouncing blonde curls, your big blue eyes, your sweet-tiny dimpled hands, and the sounds of your feet running around our kitchen in your dress up heels. I love seeing you dance and lip sync to Queen’s “We are the Champions” (who requests Queen at 3 years old?? LOVE IT). The sweetest sound in the world is when you say “I love you mommy.” I adore the times you hold my hand and reach up to me with open arms, I cherish the quiet moments where we are alone and you snuggle up to be held and I truly savor each kiss. I am blessed to be the one to kiss away your tears and wipe away your hurts. I love that you need me and that you are mine. You are my soul, my life, my breath, my heart. Please know that regardless of how you feel or act at any given time I love you unconditionally and irrevocably. I love the sound of your voice, I love that you look just like your daddy, I love seeing you sneak in sweet kisses to your baby sister. I love you. I love you. I love you. Forever and ever.

I love you to the moon and back little Jayda Grace!
Xoxo,
Mom

Quick update and proof that Jayda will be a helpful big sister!

Things are great here! I am finally home from the hospital (after 6 long days) and am back to resting in my own bed. Sierra is still in NICU, but she's doing great. She just needs to eat, grow, and maintain her body temp and she should be home in no time. We can't wait to bring her home so we can all be together. It's difficult having one car, one toddler at home, Russ needing to work, me having blood pressure concerns which still make me really REALLY sick, and a baby in NICU...there's just not enough time in the day...yet we realize how blessed we are and wouldn't trade this for the world.

I just wanted to share the below picture of my sweet Jayda Grace. I went downstairs to get something today and when I walked back to my room I found Jayda sitting in my spot with the Breast Pump next to her. She had "hooked herself up" and was watching a movie on my lap top computer. When she saw me she smiled the sweetest little smile you'd ever want to see and said "look mommy, I'm pumping my boobies so I can get some food for my baby sister!" She was so proud of herself. She's so stinkin' cute!!!!!!

She's Here!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is with gratitude to the Lord that we welcome our new little daughter, Sierra Bella, to our family.

Sierra was born Monday night (March 16th) at about 11pm via an emergency c-section that was needed due to Cori having preeclampsia (high blood pressure). When we got to the hospital to have Cori checked out (she had a bad tummy ache, headache, felt like her heart was beating really hard, and was having a lot of contractions) her blood pressure was so high and they were concerned with the immediate risk of stroke or seizure. Her doctor made the call that we had to have the c-section right then to make sure Cori was okay.

Sierra came into the world, even though she was 6 weeks premature, kicking and screaming. It was the most beautiful sound you'd ever want to hear. She weighed in at 5.3lbs and 18 inches long. Although she currently lives in the NICU unit at the hospital, she has not needed any medication or breathing assistance. She eats well, breathes well, sleeps wells, and has been pretty good at maintaining her body temperature. They tell us she is doing fantastic and doesn't need much of anything other than time to grow. They expect her to be in the hospital for the next 3-6 weeks. She looks super tiny to us, but the nurses and doctors say she's a great size for being just under 34 weeks along. She has a little bit of dark hair around the crown of her head and her eyes are still too new to tell what the color will be. She coos at her mama when she's being held and sung to and she grasps her daddy's finger as he feds her. She has already brought us so much happiness in these past few days and we are beyond thankful to have her. She instantly became the love of our lives right along with her big sister, Jayda. We are eternally grateful to Heavenly Father for the gift of her life and her good health. She's our little miracle baby and after a rough pregnancy (and a year of trying to get pregnant to bring her here in the first place) we are all on cloud 9...Although Cori may be on cloud 12 now that her pain medication has finally kicked in!!

Jayda Grace hasn't met her little sister yet, nor will she be able to until Sierra can come home because NICU doesn't allow children under 12 into that area, but she is super excited to be a big sister. Jayda has brought such an unbelievable amount of joy to our lives and we can only imagine how much fun it will be to watch her become a sister, mentor, and friend to Sierra.

We can't thank you all enough for your well wishes, prayers, and help during this stressful, yet blissful time. We love you all and can't wait for you to meet little Sierra Bella!

With love and gratitude,

Russ, Cori, Jayda Grace and Sierra Bella