More Pics!

Sakora reading books in her room

The tire swing that Kacey put up for the girls....

Easter......

Getting a tan in the bili lights...

Kaleah's Song: Psalm 34

Welcome Kaleah Rae!!!

Kaleah Rae Carr (pronounced Kuh-lay-yuh....like Leah for the Bible with a Ka in front) was born at 11:54 am on Tuesday, June 5th.  She weighed 7lbs 15 oz and was 20 inches long.  That put her at only 6 days late (Sakora was 8!) and thankfully avoided the stress test and ultrasound that was scheduled for 9:30am that same day.  I started having contractions at 5:26am that morning and arrived at the birth center at 8:30.  Kacey had just arrived at work a few minutes before I had to call and say "it's time!!".  Labor and delivery was smooth and quick (of course it always feels smoother and quicker looking back :)) with a full nights sleep behind us.  We did have a little hiccup right when she came out as the nurses kept referring to her as a "he".  yes we would have loved to have a boy too, but I was a little shocked until they cleared up the miscommunication. She was born with blonde hair/peach fuzz and dark eyes.  She has very long fingers and toes and very petite bones.

We were able to return home at midnight that same day and Kaleah has been doing beautifully!  Her jaundice was bad enough that we had to put her under some bili lights at home for an afternoon/night, but is otherwise seemingly very healthy.  After five days, she continues to be an extremely mellow, content baby that hardly cries.  She truly is a happy baby :)    Feeding has been going well, although she is not quite the avid eater that her big sis was. Another huge, HUGE praise...Sakora loves her!! She has never displayed any kind of animosity towards her and although the first few days she was a little more fussy and wanted momma a little more than usual, it is obvious that she already has a special place in her heart for Kaleah.  Ever since we set up the baby crib and changing table in our bedroom, Sakora has played with her baby dolls all the time and takes very good care of them.  I think she is already taking responsibility as the protective, care-taking bib sister.


I can't wait for everyone to meet her!  We don't have too many pics yet so I'll take some today... just wanted to give you a glimpse

Also, here is the laundry room and master bedrooms that Kacey built me!  The cabinets above the washer and dryer were hadmade by my very own husband.

Hip Hip Hooray for Spring!

Sakora getting her groove on before bathtime!

Over his spring break, Kacey organized a weekend backpacking trip to the Smokies... this particular campsite was only 1.5 hrs from our front door! Although we did not encounter any bears or other threatening wildlife, we did have torrential rains. Our poor little tent did not hold up too well so we ended up with puddles and wet sleeping bags. Unfortunately that cut our tripshort as more rains were expected but it was a lot of fun and we can't wait to take our little munchkins!!

Kacey sacrificed our tarp to save the fire and keep everyone dry.

The creeek that ran right behind our tent.... the best sleep sound ever!!

Kacey also built us a berry patch over his spring break! Sakora loved helping Daddy and even has her own set of garden tools which she endearingly calls her "tooos". She also loves being outside with the dogs. Although she doesn't let them push her around (they don't seem to understand their power and tend to knock her down when they are super excited), she gives them sticks, treats, and whatever else she can find.

We went to the UT gardens a few weeks ago and got some pictures of her in a super cute vest. most of the bushes were not quite blooming, but the magnolia treees were just beautiful. Now spring is in full swing and I am pretty sure East Tennessee is one of the most stunning places during this season. The azaleas are unreal!!

Update on Baby #2.....
The pregnancy is going well and have thankfully had no problems!! Her due date is only about 2 months away now and I know those few weeks are going to be gone in the blink of an eye. Kacey is done with school in 5 weeks and has one week off before starting his 10-week summer internship/job with Banfield hospital.... so maybe baby will come then?? I am so proud of him for getting this position. He had to go through several interviews and was competing against several other vet students in classes, but he got it! Thank you Lord!! Anyways, back to the baby... she seems very strong and is moving alot. Her kicks can hurt but I am always glad to know she is stilll active. I am getting very anxious to meet her! the other day I brought down all of Sakora's old clothes and shoes and they all seem so tiny! i forgot how little she used to be :) I have had some braxton hicks contractions, but only a few. I will try to get a belly shot in the next few days and post it. In the meantime, Happy Spring!

Back to the Blog!

Well, readers it has been so long since I posted on the blog that for a moment I wasn't even sure what the password was.  But to fulfill some requests at an update, I have buckeled down and entered this post!  I can't promise anything but a hearty "I'll try to do better!" and hope for some blogging inspiration. 

The biggest news I must share, which I hope all of you have heard by now, is that we have a second girl on the way!!! Due May 31st, we have been amazed at how fast this pregnancy has gone.  I haven't even gotten any belly shots yet.... Anyways, this time around we are doing things a little bit differently:
1). we decided to find out the gender, for planning and curiousity sake;
2). I am having the baby at a birth center (God-willing there are no complications) ;
3). the baby will be "caught" by a midwife instead of a doctor; and
4). we currently have no ideas for names!
We are super excited about the new little one and can't wait to introduce her to you, ourselves, and Sakora! (Sakora LOVES babies, I should note, and will kiss my tummy if I ask her where the baby is!)

And now the Sakora update....

Life has been so funny with a little toddler toddling about!  Although teeth, sickness, and some sleep issues have given her a more frequent case of the grumpies, she is still an overall absolutely delightful and happy child.  Some of her cutest habits include saying and signing "please" (we have found this innocent and polite plead very hard to turn down, so she has ended up with more fruit snacks, candy canes, and chips than I care to admit).  She has discovered the joy of climbing things and is now constantly clamoring to go outside.  We have started morning chores in which she feeds the dogs and then "helps" me do any outside work on the garden or yard that needs to be done. Music seems to speak to her in a special way and whenever we turn off the music or stop singing she signs for more. It is amazing how much she understands and can usually follow just about any request we have for her (that is, if she wants to, of course!). It seems she has developed her own language and jabbers alot, although she has started to repeat words and says things like cheese, church, bye, ball, poo, night-night, moon, baby, eat, etc. 

About the videos from her b-day....I'm not sure why they did not work! But, my dad (Greg McCoy) posted a good video on his facebook that you can check out if you would like. Here is a photo catalog of recent happenings over the past few months...

Sakora after throwing up for the first time.  This was unfortunate timing, being only about 2 hours into our at least 9 hour trip home over Thanksgiving.  After a new set of clothes, a wipe down of the car seat, and car seat/doors, the smell was still very nauseating so I have never been so thankful to have allergies and a stuffy nose.  Poor Sakora seemed to have just eaten something bad and did relatively well the rest of the way, although we ended up spending the night in Champaign at Kody and Katie's (Kacey's brother and wife).

Here are the cousins in their matching ballerina nightgowns.... it was very hard to get a picture with all of the girls smile and look at the camera!

We took Sakora to the Knoxville Zoo for the first time this winter to see the animals that were still out and to visit Santa's Village where she got to sit on Santa's lap! I have to commend her on a job well done as she did not cry at all...although she was a little suspicious and I think was contemplating how to make a successful grab for his beard or his glasses.  THe zoo was tons of fun and we can't wait to go back, especially this spring!

It was hard to capture her expression at exactly the right time, but she was just thrilled evertime she spotted another animal. Her favorite animal is now the lion...she roars and gets super excited when she spots any lion pictures or figurines.

 Sakora with her (2nd?) cousin Olivia at Papi and Grandma La's house in the cutest Christmas dress ever!

Sakora's reaction to the big John Deer tractor at Grandpa and Grandma Bachman's.  Although she was scared to take a ride over THanksgiving, during the trip up a few weeks ago, she and Isaiah went for a ride and she loved it. She was also so excited to see the cows that she was shaking!

Christmas this year was a lot of fun with Sakora. We stayed in TN and spend lots of time with Kacey's parents, brother and wife, and some extended family.  It really was a beautiful season, although I have to say I missed seeing snow (not that we had too many white CHristmas' in IL either, though!) She had fun opening gifts (below she is riding one of her favorite gifts....a princess carriage!) and loved seeing family .  She was also quite intriqued with the Christmas tree and would grasp a little Christmas tree light in her fingers and say "buzzzz!"  :) .  Sadly, I did not get hardly any pictures, so I'll have to snag some from the grandparents and share those.

We occasionaly brought the dogs in at night for various reasons this winter and Sakora was always besides herself with enthusiasm.  Giving dogs treats has become one of her favorite pastimes. Speaking of our other children, yesterday Mighty and Bear caught a racoon!  The day before they had treed one and it was up in the tree all day!  It must be mating season because they are getting pretty daring. This now adds to the list of things the two dogs have caught: racoon, rrabbits, squirrels, snakes, possum, wild turkey, and coyote (the turkey and coyote were both in the cotton fields in Arkansas).  If we ever have to hunt for food, I guess they will be a big help!

 Over Kacey's Christmas break, he finished the laundry room!!! Woo hoo!!! THe pictures of the completed room are still on my camera so I will download them later to show you.  I absolutely LOVE it and do tons of laundry!  Sakora and I both were thrilled to have Kacey home during the day, despite the fact that he was behind the fleece blanket most of the day.  About every hour, Sakora would start shouting a "conversation" to Kacey and would stand at the blanket or door and say "please! please!" to go in and see him.  Although couldn't always help Daddy work, she did always get a kiss!

Here she is visiting the future master bedrooom.

Milk mustache! and gotee!  Enjoying a banana smoothie...one of her favorite treats.

Ok, so that's all I have time for right now, but hopefully that gives you a little glimpse into our fun, chaotic, and blessed lives in Knoxville, TN!