rain

Last night our dry and thirsty land finally got a drink!!  Thank you Lord!!!

Who knew rain could be so much fun!!!

another year

It's funny how I have a hard time remembering details of last month, last week, or even yesterday for that matter.  But then there are moments that are etched on my heart.  So defining, it is as if the moment just happened.

Three years ago today, our precious baby girl made her grand appearance into this world.  A day that is forever etched on my heart...as with the birth of my other two kids.  (It funny how I can see it so clearly.)

It was our annual family trip to Wonderland.  Let me hear a WOOHOO!!!  I had an OB appointment, so I went in around lunch to the dr., was going to pre-register at the hospital, run errands, and meet the family for supper and a night of fun!!

I remember...

...being excited because this was the first OB appointment Dr. Carrillo would check if I had dilated.

...being disappointed when Dr. Carrillo was out of town and only the nurse would see me.  She wasn't even going to check me because I was still about 4 weeks from delivery.  I had been having contractions for about a month (since we walked 4,000 miles in Pittsburg and New York City...not one of my smarter decisions!)  But she did!!

...the shock as she said "You wanted to have a baby today!!  You're dilated to a 5!!"

...thinking Robby is working, we are going to Wonderland, my suitcase isn't even finished packing.  I have pre-registered at the hospital.

TODAY??  REALLY??

The nurse wouldn't let me move until she had called the hospital to tell them I was coming.  She made me feel like a ticking time bomb!!

...calling Robby while he was having lunch at his mom's.  I told him the news.  Part of me was so excited, yet nervous and scared...all in a moment.

...trying to coach my mom via the phone how to finish packing my bags and what to bring to the hospital.  Robby was just coming...nothing in hand but my pillows!!

...the nurse telling me to drive straight to the hospital.  The nurses were waiting my arrival.  Sounds so glamorous...not really!!

...the hospital was packed with mom's having babies or had just had a baby.  There were no rooms in the inn.  They had to just stick me in a triage room and wait, and wait, and wait!!!

Because Dr. Carrillo was out of town, I was in the hands of the doctor on call.  The first one didn't want any part of delivering me because Cydney was almost 4 weeks pre-term.  When he told us of all the problems that could occur with a baby that early, it sure didn't ease our nerves at all.  But still, I was dilated to a 5. (One thing I failed to mention is that with my other two babes, I delivered both in 30 minutes or less of pushing.  Yeah, I know.  I just lost some of you right there!  Life isn't fair sometimes.  I am sorry some of you had to push for days!!)

Thankfully Dr. Carrasco came to our rescue and realized I could not go home.  They admitted me, moved me to a room, gave me an epidural (which didn't work), broke my water, and we had a baby.

I remember...

...feeling horrible during delivery.  Childbirth hurts without epidurals.  I was throwing up.  Not comparable to the cake walk of my other two.

...the moment she was born, it all went away.

...the first time I saw Dr. Carrasco hold her up.  Oh my, she was so tiny.  She only weighed 5 pounds 10 ounces.  It was almost as if she was a baby doll.

I am so thankful for the that precious blessing.  She brings us so much joy everyday.  She is pretty darn cute too!!

Today, we celebrated her birthday with just us.  Three year well check at the pediatrician.  You will be happy to know she has come a LONG way since 5 pounds, 10 ounces.  She has made up for it!!  Calleigh bought her a princess sash...that she won't wear.  Tomorrow is the birthday party.  She is so excited!!  We were walking tonight at a friend's birthday party, and she told me "I just want a birthday party."  Awww!!

Tonight as she climbed into my bed, she hollered at her dad.  "Dad, I love you!!"  He replied with I love you too Cydney.  About a minute later..."Dad, I still love you!!"

It's the little things that make the world go round.  Happy birthday Cydney Claire.  We love you dearly!!

Dad, Mom, Calleigh & Carson

all in a days work

simply relaxing

Who would have ever imagined that a pillow and laundry basket in the middle of the kitchen would keep this two year old entertained for such a long period of time.

Maybe she just needed a break from the busy week and this was the closest place she could find.

Anyway you slice it...just simply relaxing.  Every girl needs a moment like this every once in a while.

sweet face

oh, how i love this precious little girl.  what an amazing blessing she is to our entire family.  she completes us so well.  thank you lord for knowing just what we needed, when we needed it.

new kitten

Meet Cinderella Snowflake Sophie (Cydney chose Cinderella, but was quickly overruled by her brother and sister.  So Snowflake it is.) Update...her name changed again.  This morning it is Sophie!!

The newest, tiniest, most scared member of the Kirkland Klan.
Bless her heart, she was just thrown into the lions den kids that can't keep their hands off of her.

Cydney is certain that wants to be anywhere BUT a nice quiet place where children can't reach her.  Preferably under the lamp table next to the couch.  The picture above is Snowflake in her quiet solitude before a child came along and snatched her.

Right into little hands that hold much too tight for her liking.  Voices that talk much louder than the home she came from.

better than brownies

batter that is.  

nothing that my family likes more

than to lick the spoon (or the bowl)

yummy!!!

looking for beetles

On most days she is my girly girl.

But even in her dress, flip-flops, bow and...

a sucker.  She looks for beetles!!

hills

As I look out my back door, in the pasture that lies behind the yard, there are 5 very small hills.  Why we have these hills in our back pasture is really beyond me.  I have no idea who created them, or why one would create these 5 hills...so small, but evenly spaced.  It strikes me as rather odd.

However, for Cydney Claire, and the other munchkins of the neighborhood, they provide lots of good entertainment.  When the kids ride their go-cart, they love to ride it over each of the hills.  Often getting high centered and someone having to push the go-cart off.

But with Cydney, it's not the go-cart that is most entertaining.  It is running the hills.  On many days, she will head to the pasture as we are feeding the calves or doing chores in the yard and run the hills.  Up, down, up, down, up, down.  Every now and then, the small hill that it is, poses a struggle and she must dig in to make it over.

Always careful to keep her sucker safe from any mishaps.

Not really sure why this is so entertaining, but it sure makes me smile.  Hope you smile too!!

feedin' time

little faith

I have to admit I love that Cydney is a girly girl.

On a regular basis, she loves wearing necklaces and bracelets, rings, flip flops, dresses and lots and lots of lip gloss.  I don't really remember Calleigh being too much of a girly girl, so I love it.  She looks so cute!!!  {I would think she is cute even if she wasn't this girly girl!}

Her girly girl cuteness came to screeching halt this past week.  I came home from Calleigh's basketball practice and found Cydney wearing my wedding ring.  She was playing "married" with one of her cousins while I was gone.  To be an official "married" couple I guess she thought she needed my wedding ring.  Luckily, I found saw it pretty quickly.

When I put my jewelry on Friday morning, my 15th anniversary band was missing.  I knew exactly where it had to have gone.  As I tore through my jewelry drawer, it was no where to be found.  She and her dad stayed home for several hours, but no luck.  We looked after school...practically tearing this house apart.  Still no luck!!

As I sat at my school desk Friday morning, I felt like we were looking for a needle in a haystack.  Cydney and Brock had been in every room in our house, in the back yard and even playing with the calves.  I prayed that the ring would appear as a boulder.  So obvious that we couldn't possibly overlook seeing it.

As we were looking throughout the day on Friday, my hopes for finding the ring became smaller and smaller.  {I hate to admit that I failed to trust God for finding my ring.}

Calleigh, Cydney and I went on to Lubbock for a basketball tourney.  The boys stayed home...still looking for the ring.  Robby wouldn't give up!!!  Carson called several hours later and said they found the ring.  He has been known to be a tricker, so I wasn't sure I could believe him.  Sure enough...Robby found the ring....laying on the carpet in front of the couch Robby and I both looked through the couch on different occasions.  We walked through the living room probably a hundred times.  {In front of the couch, as if it were a boulder where we couldn't miss it.} 

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and hearing my prayer.  Thank you for not forgetting about me when I seemed to lose my faith.

Be blessed!!

at the park

nap time

It's a good part of her day.  It's an important part of our day, very important. So important that it can determine the remainder of our day.

I love the quiet moments.  I love holding her close as she sleeps...although I don't get to do that much.

I love the peacefulness of a sleeping child.  I love the smell of a newly awoken little girl.  There is something unbelievably beautiful about this face.

I love that nap time is part of our ordinary day.

oh, how she loves...

...PUDDLES!!!  A few weeks ago Cydney and I were in town doing some running around while Carson was at golf camp.  That particular morning there had been enough of a shower during the night to leave puddles in the parking lots.  I never realized what a love Ms. Cydney has for puddles.  I should have known...when the sprinkler creates a puddle at the end of the driveway, that is the first place her little feet wander.  She loves to make a splash!!!

This morning I could hardly get anything accomplished because she wanted to zig-zag through the parking lot to each puddle.  I would try to hurry her along, but she would put her finger in the air and tell me “One more time!”  Oh that girl...where does she get her words???  

As I was loading Carson’s golf clubs in the car, I took my eyes off of her for one second.  Guess where I found her...in a puddle!!!  Her newly washed shoes needed a bath AGAIN!!!  But what fun she had stomping in the puddles.

potty training 101

Knowing full well that Cydney is probably too young (23 months) to be potty trained, we bought a potty seat anyway...and tried...well, kinda!!  If you call asking her if she wants to go sit on the potty and she screams "NO!!!"  I can’t honestly say that I have tried really hard.  We leave for Calleigh’s basketball tourney in Branson in a week, and I will honestly say that diapers will be much easier than finding a bathroom all day long.  Especially public restrooms...ggrrooooooooossssss!!!  So, we have just thrown that potty seat out there for a little taste of being a big girl.

She told her daddy tonight that she wanted to go potty.  He put her up on the seat.  Walked away for, like, 2 seconds and...

This pretty well explains our potty training experiences thus far.  She is obsessed with the toilet paper.  

I love diapers!!!

easter on the square

Our community had the first Easter on the Square on Saturday afternoon.  It reminded me of the scene in Steel Magnolias where there are millions and millions of eggs, an Easter bunny, and lots of cute kids. (I love that movie...I cry every time, even though I know what is going to happen.) We had all of the qualifications for a successful community Easter celebration.  A great time was had by all in attendance...sure to become an annual event.

One my sweet friends took some really cute pictures.  Sure glad she did, because guess who forgot their camera??  The pictures are just too cute not to share with you all.  Hope you enjoy.

This is my friends little boy.  

They are so glad to see each other...awwww!!

HUGS!!

One of Cydney's friends from daycare/church.

I love this picture...those eyes melt my heart!!

Cydney with "Deh"... our cousin and pastor.

Hope your Easter weekend was amazing....many blessings!!!