Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Baby Ellie is here!

Kristen was scheduled for her c-section on Monday, June 22nd.  It was one week before Ellie's due date.  Funnily enough, While they were waiting on the c-section, she started having some contractions.  I'm guessing Ellie was coming that day no matter what!  She wasn't going in until noon and wouldn't be able to see visitors until a few hours after that.  Since that's Paige's nap time, she stayed home with Cody and Harper and I headed down there at lunchtime.  We got there in time to run a few errands and get to the hospital a little early.  Something about being in the hospital when a baby is born makes it more real and fun than being at home.  So we all got to the hospital and it ended up being awhile because Kristen was having some post surgery bleeding and they had to get it under control.  It ended up making her pretty nauseous that day and a little out of it.  We only stayed for an hour or so and then headed back home.  Poor Kristen looked exhausted!  This time, almost everyone got to be there.  Since Dane and Eric had come up for the weekend, they were there the whole time and headed home afterwards.  Taylor and Carleigh met us for some shopping before and the grandparents all came up after work.  The McCools brought Grayson and Reese from school and they were so excited!  Brian came and got them so they could have a little alone time as a family before all the craziness started.  Then I went in to take a few family pictures.  They were so cute.  You could tell they had been waiting on Ellie for a long time.  They kept telling her she was pretty and that they loved her.  Grayson gave her a teddy bear and they both did a great job holding her.  While everyone was in the room, all the cousins did ok being good but some nurse buttons might have gotten pushed and some kids might have gotten a little rowdy.  But it was a fabulous day and I'm so glad that we were able to all meet Ellie.  She is absolutely precious!

Ellie Vaughn McCool was born at 12:28pm, Friday June 22nd, 2015.  Weighing 6 lb 7 oz. and 19 1/2 in long.  (I think!)  She is pretty similar to Paige, who was just a little heavier.  She has a full head of this crazy, thick blonde hair and she is just absolutely tiny.  She has long chicken legs and long toes and feet.  And of course she has the Klusman eyes and tiny button nose.  I already love her so much!




















This picture.  Only McCool.  Around 11am, Brian texted Kathryn and I with a picture of a newborn and said that "someone" came early.  I should have automatically known it was a joke, but it just didn't even register.  I texted Kristen immediately to say congrats and she was confused.  Not hers.  However, Kathryn thought it was real and didn't check with Kristen.  She woke Eric up early, called Dane at a friend's house, and they all started rushing around trying to get ready to head up to the hospital.  Hysterical.  As soon as Brian found out they were on the way up, he quickly explained the joke.  It made for an eventful day, that's for sure.




When Ellie was 4 days old, Harper and I had to go to Dallas for her eye doctor appointment.  So we decided to go earlier in the morning and take lunch to Kristen and visit with Baby Ellie.  Brian was gone for the weekend and the kids were at KK's so she had a quiet house to just recuperate after her surgery.  I was sad because I am so far away now that I am not able to see them as much as I would like.  But I'm going to go as often as I can and just enjoy it.  Ellie was still so little that I was in shock at just how big Paige had gotten in just 4 months.  We had a good visit, Kristen was feeling good, and we got some good Ellie snuggles.  Already love that little girl so much!  When we got home, Harper was holding Paige and I was laughing at what a difference it was.  These two babies will be such great friends though.  And Harper is such a great big sister and cousin.  She would hold these girls all day if she could!







Happy 4th Birthday Harper!

On Harper's birthday, we usually try to spend the day doing whatever she wants.  She can pick food, places, activities, etc.  She got her traditional birthday pancakes, which is her favorite.  Her birthday fell on Tuesday this year which is when the dollar movie for kids plays at the theater.  We got to watch Mr. Peabody and Sherman which was such a cute movie!  She really liked it and loved the talking dog.  Spiegel's met us there as well as Bullards and Shillings, plus we saw Haddocks from a different theater.  It was fun for her to have a little mini playdate and see her friends.  Afterwards, we were going to go to lunch at CJ's, but Paige was ready for nap.  So we came home and just hung out for the afternoon.  We did CJ's for dinner instead and Harper loved it.  That girl would eat a CJ's roll every day if she could.  Afterwards, I took Harper to bible study so she could play on the jungle gym with Lucy and Cody took Paige home.  I think she had a great day and I love that we get to spend it as a family every year.  A few days later, we went to Braum's to give Cody and Harper their birthday dessert (she didn't get any since she was at bible study).  She loves ice cream and is always asking for Braum's.  Both were pretty happy campers!  This girl is one of the best things in my life and I love getting to be her mom. 

Happy Birthday Harper Elizabeth!














Harper's Party (Part 3)

This is probably Harper's favorite part of her birthday every time.  She likes singing Happy Birthday and she loves cupcakes.  I wonder if she will ever ask for something other than chocolate cake.  She is pretty set on chocolate.  I'm pretty sure Reese is the same way about cupcakes. 




Harper opened her presents afterwards.  She has the best friends and family who spoil her.  And they know her so well that she got lots of things that she needed and wanted.  She got some new converse, a new gymnastics outfit for this fall, and a Sherriff Callie outfit.  When Tessa showed up in her outfit her face was beaming that she and Harper were going to get to match.  Love those two!  She got a popcorn maker because she loves popcorn and we are working on teaching her to cook this year.  And she got plenty of Frozen stuff and Minnie Mouse and Doc toys to just play with.  She is so lucky!  One thing I am always so proud of is that she truly appreciates every gift she gets.  She is such a lover and wants to hug each person and tell them thank you.  I love how grateful she is and how she understands what a generous thing others are doing for her.  That being said, this girl got plenty and was very blessed!















Love how sweet Grayson and Reese are with Paige.  They already love her so much and always want to see her and play with her.  These cousins are the best!