Couldn't Leave These Out...

I couldn't resist sharing these adorable shoes that Kelli got for Dulcie! One day Kelli said to me, "I found the perfect gift for Dulcie but if you've seen them you already bought them!" She was right on....if I had seen them I would have! They are so me! (And because I am a long time skull and cross bone lover despite it's increasing "trendiness"!) Thanks Kell!

And since we are on the subject...a pic of my all time favorite DQ ice cream cake that I enjoyed on my birthday this year!!

Dulcie's Newborn Pics

A friend of mine took some pictures for me of Dulcie when she was two weeks old! Aren't they adorable...even though she is a beautiful model she was not a very cooperative one but luckily- thanks to a talented photographer, it all worked out!

My Mom made my kids matching outfits- even a matching tie for Declan! I love them- the outfits and the kids! It's funny how against matching I was when my Mom was always matching me and my sister and now I love it!

Dulcie's First Campout

We took Dulcie up to my annual family camp out a couple of weeks ago. We spent the day with everyone then spent the night at a hotel and went back the next day. Declan kept busy riding his bike and playing in the dirt. Delaney entertained herself by talking to Aunt Heather and Granny or running around trying to keep up with the boys! Dulcie enjoyed being held all day long for pretty much two days and did pretty well traveling! Of course this will be the first of hundreds of camp outs for her!

Delaney's New Bike

Delaney's cousin gave her a bike she had outgrown and Delaney loves it! She rides it every chance she gets and looks so big doing it!

Declan Goes to Kindergarten, Again

Does that look like a K? (Maybe more like a F? Pretend it's a K)

Declan was all set to start first grade at the school that he went to last year. We had new school clothes, school supplies, everything set for him to start and then the Friday before school started I got a call that he got into the charter school that we had been on the waiting list for except we had signed up for Kindergarten because of some concerns we had during Kindergarten last year! I completely stressed myself out deciding what would be best for him...full day? another year of half days? Kindergarten?1st grade? New school? Not? Driving every day? Walking? Well we prayed about it and talked about it till there was no other way to look at it and decided that the best thing for Declan would be to go to the charter school and do kindergarten again. That meant a new school supply list and uniforms- in 2 days! Three weeks into it and I am feeling great about our decision. He loves school, he loves his teacher, and he has made some good friends! It's going to be a great year!

Delaney Goes to Preschool!

Delaney started preschool at The Big Brown House! She absolutely loves it. I was a little surprised at just how outgoing she is being. I feel like with Delaney I am always crossing my fingers hoping she won't scream and cry and cling to my leg! I mean after all she still is reluctant to go to nursery at church! After I picked her up on the first day she asked if she could go play at her friends house that she had just met! It probably helps that she has an all girl class, loves her teachers, and has Aunt Ramie as one of her teachers!

First Few Days At Home....

Notice the little people in the bouncer next to Dulcie. The funniest part was actually before I took this picture. Dulcie's hand was holding onto the purple ring...practically straight above her head thanks to Delaney. The look on Dulcie's face along with her hand holding on was so funny...if only the camera had been closer!

Declan and Delaney don't go more than a few minutes at a time without knowing where Dulcie is at! I know it is normal for the 3rd kid to get smothered but sometimes I can't handle it! Just give the baby some space! I just have to remember that they are sweet and they absolutely adore her!

Maybe if I wasn't so far behind on blogging I would remember why Delaney has those alligator tears rolling down her cheeks. I do remember that the only thing that made her feel better was cuddling up with Dulcie!

This is the sweetest picture of Declan and Dulcie! He is busy playing a game but has his hand gently rested on Dulcie's head. The funny part is that below is a picture of him doing nearly the same thing with Delaney...touching her head while he was watching cartoons!

My sister, Jacinth was here helping me the week after Dulcie was born and she spoiled us all. She took great care of me (and the dishes!) and took each of the kids on a special date! Declan got to go to Boondocks and Delaney got to go to the American Girl doll store and choose some special things for her Bitty Baby!

Dulcie's Birth Story

Finally, only 5 weeks later, "the birth story"! Dulcie's birth wasn't exactly how I wanted things to go down! I had an appointment Monday August 1st- 2 days after my due date- to see if I was progressing on my own. I had been one centimeter for the last two weeks and felt like my body was ready to have the baby. After talking to the Dr. and seeing there had been no change we decided to go ahead with a c-section for the next day. I didn't think that my family deserved to have to deal with the pregnant, miserable, emotional, no-patience-mean-me for any longer and I really didn't think I would survive much longer either! (It really was that bad- I was mean!) I still had hope that in those last 24 hours I would go into labor on my own and just forgo the c-section all together!

Nonetheless, we reported to the hospital at 10am the next morning to get prepped. Once we got there I got nervous remembering all the little details of Delaney's c-section- the itchiness, the nausea, the weird feeling of the anesthesia, the recovery. The hospital was delayed by a couple of hours because someone had an emergency c-section but I felt uncharacteristically patient and content just hanging out with Jason and waiting. When it was finally our turn they took me back to the OR and the nurses and doctors were awesome! They asked me what kind of music I wanted to listen to and were joking around and so friendly and laid back, nothing like I expected! Shortly after....

Dulcie Jacinth Kovach

2:45pm

7lbs. 13ozs.

20 inches long

After Jason cut the cord and they were cleaning the baby up the doctor and nurses got really...excited (not sure that is the right word!) and told Jason to come and take a picture of the cord because there was a true knot. Jason didn't' really want to go "to the other side" so one of the nurses grabbed our camera and took a picture. After that they didn't really say much about it and we didn't think anything of it until later. We casually mentioned it to Jason's parents and his Mom asked the nurse something about what it meant or what the big deal was. Turns out it is a very big deal! Because it is a true knot Dulcie could have been stillborn or I would have had to have an emergency c-section or major complications. If she would have descended down the birth canal that knot would have pulled tight and cut off all the oxygen to the baby. Talk about blessings...people always say "everything happens for a reason" but usually we don't have such an obvious answer to what that reason is. So despite all my prayers and desperate attempts to go into labor so I didn't have to have a c-section- I am definitely blessed and definitely grateful that I had a c-section.

The meet and greet.

Daddy and Dulcie getting acquainted. (I love the squishy-about-to-cry face!)

Our first "family of five" picture! Declan and Delaney brought balloons and cupcakes to the hospital so we could have a birthday party for Dulcie! We did the same thing with Delaney and it's such a fun way for the kids to feel involved!

Nearly 6 years ago he actually fit in there!

Our second baby!

Declan was nervous to hold her at first, it took a little convincing!

Delaney wouldn't hold Dulcie until the third day of coming to visit us in the hospital.

Jason had these amazing flowers delivered and waiting for me once we got to our recovery room. They were huge and beautiful! The whole room smelled amazing and I was so surprised! (And there was a box of chocolates that I didn't share!)

And lastly- the picture that marks the end of the hospital stay! Declan and Delaney picked out her going home outfit! Can't believe in just a few short months she will have outgrown this.

Crazy Kids!

All of these pictures require a little explanation!!

We have waaayyy too many stickers so the other night I gave the kids each a piece of paper and hundreds of random stickers and after the paper was full Declan resorted to a new canvas. He had so many stickers stuck all over his chest! Some of them really stuck too! 3 days later he still has a rash where some of them stuck so well!

Declan and Delaney kept talking about the yellow fake guy at swimming lessons and I had no idea what they were talking about. Until today. I look over and Delaney is about 10 feet away hugging the CPR dummy and talking to it! I wish my camera would have caught the moment before she realized I was watching her!

We have already had 5 ripe tomatoes off of our tomato plants! Delaney loves tomatoes and eats them like they are apples! The kids have really loved watching our little planters and their own little plants grow this year!