A Late Happy Easter

So, yesterday we returned from our long Easter weekend in southern Kentucky; Russellville, KY to be exact.  We met up with Tarren's younger sister and her family from South Carolina and this place was just about in the middle.  Tarren's dad researched and chose this vacation rental house here.  It was built in 1811 and was pretty cool.  It more than accommodated all of 12 of us.  There were even beds to spare.  We didn't break many of the antique items in the house.  They were repairable a least.  Everyone had a blast.  Liesel got to meet three of her cousins for the first time.  She loved them of course and learned so much from them over the weekend.  Here are some pictures of the fun.  It did rain the whole time but we still managed to have fun.  This first picture is from when we made a pit stop in Metropolis, IL.  And, no, Liesel did not get that Nerf gun in her Easter basket.  It was just in the picture and belongs to someone else. 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Taxes

I have to commend the Oklahoma Tax Commission.  We just sent in our tax return last week and already got a refund check in the mail.  Talk about fast!  I am impressed with the deadline being tomorrow and everything.  Way to go OTC!

Friends

 
Finally, something worth posting about!  Haylie came over for a visit today and the girls had tons of fun.  Liesel kept trying to give Haylie her cup of milk  It was almost compulsive but Haylie was always gracious and took her milk every time.  Thanks, H!  Then they fought over who would get to sit in the child size rocking chair and thankfully took turns in the best one year old fashion.  Then they played chase around the couch which is one of L's favorite games.  You can watch here.  It is kind of bad video but at least you can see how cute they are!  

Spring cleaning / garage-sale-prepping fever

We are participating in a garage sale at the end of April (courtesy of the Cornell fam).  I am going crazy going through stuff that we need to get rid of.  It is so weird how this desire to purge and organize just hits me.  It is also crazy that even though we had a garage sale just last year that we still have more stuff to get rid of.  Does anyone else do weird stuff like this besides me?  My only hindrance is a certain toddler that won't allow me total concentration on anything except her until she goes to bed.  Thus there are only a few truly productive hours in the day but we make do.

Hi again

I want to start posting on here again but it has been so long I don't know where to start.  So here is my start.  I am sorry to anyone who actually reads this.  I will try to think of some good stuff to blog about.  Don't worry.  It will include Liesel.  I am sure it will be mostly about my sweet Liesel.

Happy Thanksgiving!

One year ago today

I almost can't believe I am sitting here typing this.  At this time one year ago today my body was working to deliver a gift so amazing that nothing could have prepared me for it.  I remember at this time in the morning, around 7am, my midwife, Charlee, came over to confirm that I was in active labor.  She told me to go for a walk to make things progress more quickly.  So off Tarren and I set around the neighborhood.  We would walk a few paces and I would have a contraction so I would hang from Tarren's shoulders for support.  People would drive by on their way to work and I can only imagine what they were thinking.  Hopefully they had babies of their own so they understood.  Still, how often do you see a laboring woman on the street on your way to work?  I finally decided I had had enough walking so we went home.  Plus, I was getting cold.  We went back and the next several hours are kind of a blur to me.  I went from laboring in bed to the pool in our room to the shower.  Charlee and Tarren were the only people there with me and they took such good care of me while I concentrated on relaxing while my body worked.  Finally around 2pm it was time for a baby to be born.  We worked and we worked and finally at 310pm Liesel Carmen Condict was placed on my chest; all 9lbs 4oz of beautiful, slimy, wiggling baby.  It was such a miracle.  We had no words to express our awe.  Charlee cleaned us up and put us in bed.  She helped us nurse for the first time.  Liesel was a champ!  She checked Liesel out and weighed and measured her.  Everything went just perfectly.  Tarren went and got us dinner from Sonic.  Then our new family, exhausted from a long day, went to sleep in our own bed.  We knew it was the beginning of a grand adventure.

This is how much she has changed in just one year.  

Liesel, we are so blessed by God to have you as our baby girl.  I never could have imagined that I could have so much love for another person as I have for you.  My heart overflows with it.  You are such a gift to us and I love being your Mama.  Happy Birthday, baby!