Sister Sister

Today is Friday and Morgan is 1 week old. I cannot believe how much our lives have changed in just a week. My heart is so full and I am so completely content. Everything I need at this moment is under my roof. We have been pretty busy with the new baby so Kim made Thursday night Big Sister Night. We ate pizza and tater tots for dinner and watched the movie Enchanted as a family. It was a wonderful evening. If you haven't seen Enchanted, please do. We loved it. Here are my girls snuggling on the couch as we watched the movie.





This morning before school, McKenzie decided to read her sister a book. I hope she always loves to read this much.





I picked up some patriotic outfits for the girls yesterday and here they are being silly before school.



We're being so careful not to let anyone feel "left out" with Morgan here. Kim and I are making extra efforts to spend a few moments individually with McKenzie and Madison. Apparently, McKenzie is doing all she can to make sure the lower ranks don't feel left out either.

Morgan - Day 6

Today was Morgan's first visit to the pediatrician and she she did great. Her birth weight was 6 lbs 1 oz. She left the hospital at 5 lbs 12 oz and today she weighed in at 5 lbs 14 oz. Kim and I think her face is filling in. Of course, she sleeps all the time. It seems like Aunt Nenee is the only person she has really come to life for. Here she is chilling out with Mama today:





I have to show everyone the beautiful cookie bouquet Julie sent. Of course, most of the cookies are gone now, but I will never forget this unique gift. It is beautiful and so incredibly thoughtful. Thank you Julie!

Eyes Wide Open

Well, Morgan finally opened her eyes for more than 30 seconds last night. Our neighbors waited patiently for her to wake up. They finally left and she came to life!




Kim and I thoroughly enjoyed giving Morgan her first bath. Of course, Morgan didn't. Here she is getting a quick sponge bath.




McKenzie had a chance to love on Morgan this morning. I sat with Morgan and McKenzie while they checked each other out. McKenzie did "this little piggy" on Morgan's toes. In response to my talking to Morgan like a little person, McKenzie said, Mommy she can't talk. Too cute!!

Morgan Grace Rasmus-Ford

We are proud to introduce you to the greatest unexpected blessing of our lives. Morgan was born on Friday, May 16 while Kim and I were on a date at Outback Steakhouse. Morgan arrived at the house on Sunday night to a very excited gathering of neighbors, sisters, and moms. She weighs 6 lbs on the nose. She is a very good baby and we have yet to hear her cry. Kim and I are so in love.

I never thought I would have children and now I am the mother of 3. I am so blessed. I feel overwhelmed. Without further ado, here she is!



The social worker could barely get us to sign the papers for all the hugs and kisses and pictures.






Madison is completely in love with Morgan. She is being an awesome helper. Maybe even a little too helpful.





McKenzie was worn out after all the waiting. I was too. Here she is at the end of the first day with new baby sister.

Girls of Summer

The temperature is rising so the hair is braiding! Madison wanted her hair braided the second her friend, Halee, had hers done. So off we go to Ms. Julia's. The next night was McKenzie's turn. Both of them did such a great job sitting still while Ms. Julia braided every strand. Here is McKenzie in the chair.





We went to Halee's house when the hair was complete. Here are the little girls of Hal Sutton Cove - Halee and baby sister Kendall with Maddie and McKenzie.



While putting away laundry upstairs yesterday, I saw McKenzie reading to her stuffed animal. God bless her.

Hair

White women have had it too easy for too long. Take my hair for example. I have 1 hair style. Some days it looks good, some days it doesn't. Regardless, it will always be the same style.

Fortunately, my children have the greatest hair in the world and I can be incredibly creative styling their hair every week. For the most part, I enjoy it immensley. There are moments when I would love to send them to bed in a pony tail or just not do their hair because I am exhausted, but this isn't possible for little black girls. Their best buddy at the moment is Halee, who lives down the street. Halee just had her hair braided, so now guess who MUST get their hair braided. I love the idea. It gives me a 3-4 week hair vacation!

In preparation for the braids, Maddie convinced McKenzie she could try to "do something with your hair". Note the earrings on McKenzie.

Cooking for Nanny

We are so excited that Mom was able to come to Texas for a week. We thoroughly enjoyed having her here. I wish there were a way to move Savannah closer to Austin. If anyone has any insight on how to do this, call me. Mom flew into town a few days after her birthday, so we celebrated her birthday with singing and a cake. I thought the children would like to be involved with the cake baking, so Kim took control of the batter and this is the chain of events.

Prep Work - Madison and McKenzie dress the part



Finally, the cake has made it to the oven. Now, we wait...




On the appointed night, we invited some of the neighbors over to meet Mom and have some cake. I shared with this small group a very personal story I will now share with my blog readers. Just before Mom came to visit, I bought my first and possibly my only pair of Spanx. For anyone who doesn't know what this is, let me call it an old fashion girdle with some high tech upgrades that has become incredibly popular for all shapes and sizes largly in part to their #1 fan - Ms. Winfrey.

So, for $22.50 I buy this contraption I now believe is made of Nasa tested materials that are able to sustain some force and stress that nothing can tear this material. I could hold one leg and Kim could hold the other. We could run in opposite directions around either side of the house and never split the middle. I swear.

I've heard a lot about Spanx. What I didn't know is a bottle of some sort of lubricant is required to put them on. When I started the process, it was about 2:15 in the afternoon. I'm not really sure when the process ended because I am fairly certain I lost consciousness at some point. Anyway, I knew it was a bad sign when I thought it was tight on my calves. I had a long way to go at this point.

I never was able to get the thing on by myself. I waited until Kim came home from work and together, we were able to get me in something that should have been more accurately labled 5T. Apparently I'm not the only one who has trouble getting into Spanx because what I thought was a giant hole in the fabric was intentionally placed in the crotch as a "pee pee hole". Genious! I cannot imagine going through this much grunting, groaning, sweating, cursing, and loss of consciousness in a public bathroom! Even with Kim's help, I could never get that "pee pee hole" in the right place, if you know what I mean. I fear I will now have to pee like the dog.

I tried on the Spanx under my clothes for this delegation of friends and family in my kitchen the night of Mom's celebration. Kim helped me and we brought our time down by at least 6 minutes. Just think if we have 6 hands instead of 4! Imagine putting a goose down pillow in the smallest pillow case ever. A Barbie pillow case!! That's me getting into Spanx.

I didn't think they were worth all the trouble until everyone at my kitchen table dropped their jaw when I exited the bedroom. It cost a mere $22.50 to take 10-12 inches off my waiste! Not bad! I may even wear it out of the house someday!

Time Out

It gives me great pain to break this news to you, but my children are not, in fact, perfect. Sometimes, we have to sit in time out. Like yesterday, when my young artist began coloring the window sills upstairs, she had to go into time out for 2 minutes. Apparently, this was about 30 seconds too long and she literally fell asleep in time out. Here she is in "extended time out".