A Whole Year

Can you believe it's been a year since this post:  Mark 1:11?

Wow it has been an emotional year!  I can't believe all that has happened.  Crazy that I just felt comfortable talking about being pregnant 14 weeks ago  and now have and (almost) 4 week old, little Corbin to cuddle with.  Sure makes a pregnancy fly by!  Ha!

I'm ALMOST done with my injections!  It's like the song that never ends! Ha!  A few weeks to go.

This was such a lonely time last year.  We had just moved here and were dealing with the loss of our little boy, with no support system.  So I just want to give a little shout out to a few:

1.  God.  We've leaned on you so much this year.  Thank you for always sneaking answers to our questions in our daily lives.  Thank you for reveling the many blessings we have in our lives to us daily.  And thank you for the peace you've given me on the multiple accounts of shocking news we've dealt with this year.

2. John.  I'm so thankful it was you who bought me that first beer (of the night, he he) at NorthGate almost 9 years ago today.  See, you really can meet your husband at a bar! ;)  Thank you for being such an understanding, supportive and loving husband.  Once again, our love and relationship has grown through this struggle.  I love you so much!

3. My Mom.  Thank you mom for always being my BFF to talk with about everything going on in my life.  You are a constant encourager.  Your unconditional love is always comforting.  I love you mom!

4. Friends and Family.  Thank you for your constant prayers!  We love you guys!

Crazy what can happen in a year!

Reflecting, do I feel totally happy and fine with what happened?  No.  Still a lot to think about.  Even a year later.

Do I see the amazing blessings we have in our lives?  TOTALLY!

And this may sound strange, but after delivering Corbin, my doctor told me "See, you were made for this.  You were made to be a Mama."  Still makes me tear up thinking about.  Best words she could have said to me.

I guess, the one thing in my life I've always known, is that I wanted to be a Mom to multiple children.  And I was feeling like maybe I wasn't made to have my own children.  Yes, I had Carter, but that still went through my head a lot.

OH so I guess I should also give a shout to:

5.  Canadian Public Health Care's FINE Doctors, Specialists and Nurses.  What an amazing Health Care System they have here.  They helped us through a lot this year!  THANK YOU!

End of Soccer (and End of Help)

Well, as of last week, soccer is officially over.  It was awesome.

Carter's enthusiasm from the first practice never died however, it did change.

He did join the ranks of the other Under 3 Year Old's at the playground shortly after practice started.

Those darn Tonka Trucks will get'cha every time!  He'd last about 10 minutes and off with his buddies!  It was a blast and he looked forward to it every week!

Thank YOU Aunt Shae for this awesome soccer uniform!

*Please notice the black on top of his shoes.  Those are not his socks.  They are shin guards from a Build a Bear "Soccer Dinosaur."  He wears them every time he plays soccer now.  Yes, it's ridiculous.

With the End of the Season Soccer Cupcake.

Totally awesome to Carter.

"Cheese"  Only way I can get him to not look sad in pictures.  Not sure if this is any better.  Ha!

Group shot.

Please excuse my paleness...it's really no biggie here in Canada, but you Texans are all lookin so fine and tan!  And yes, I just finished nursing Corbin.

In other randomness.  Here are some pics from my last day with helpers in the house!

Thanks Grammy for all of your help!  We miss you!

Grammy with Corbin.

Papa made it out too!

VanSickle Grandparents!!

McCoy Family!

CORBIN (Weeks 1-3)

Week 1 Old

2 Weeks Old

3 Weeks Old

Corbin Man, I don't seem to remember this very short newborn phase with your Big Brother.  AND China had some pretty crazy internet laws so I couldn't blog much.  So I don't have much of a memory to compare but this is about you!

You weigh 9.9 lbs!  You've gained 2 lbs in the past 3 weeks!

You are sleeping a ton.

Crying quite a bit.  Poor guy.

Have the LOUDEST toots/poops ever heard from such a tiny bottom.  (Totally embarrassed me in the nursing room at the mall. All the other mamas laughed and commented.  True story.)

With those loud toots come an upset tummy.  Or the other way around. Which makes you cry at night.

You are sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's bed, snuggled with mommy, which makes it easier to tend to you several times a night.  AND considering you are 3 Weeks Old, I'd have to say, I'm seeing improvements in sleeping.  Or maybe I'm getting used to this??

Your big brother, Carter, is in LOVE with you!  He loves to kiss you and hold you.  However, he does not like it when you cry.  Who does?  It makes him very sad he tells me.  He also tells me that he thinks you are so cute.  AND finally, he tells EVERYONE else, that he has a brother named "Gorman."  He's very proud of you.

I forgot how demanding this time is.  I somehow remember it as just a tiny baby sleeping all the time.  Which is partly true.  BUT know this, we are so beyond excited that you are here!!  We've been waiting for you for a long time.  We are enjoying your sweet new baby smell, tiny, yet changing, features and look forward to learning more about you!

Welcome to our family sweet boy!

Apple Tea

Let's take a break from the craziness that IS our current life for a little tea.

Recipe:  Apple Juice, in a mug, heated.

P.S. Why did I post this randomness while all of this new baby/big brother/starting over in motherhood  stuff is going on?  Because I'm deliriously tired and was having tea, with the camera and computer near by.  It just happened.

John "Corbin" McCoy

John Corbin McCoy

arrived on August 13th

at 1:16 pm.

Weighing 7 lbs and 8 ounces.

We are beyond thrilled to have him here with us!

Life is a bit crazy at the moment.  I'm still trying to figure this all out.  Certain things for both children seem to be happening at the same time...sleeping, eating and pooping.  And those three things also happen when Carter needs his bath and bedtime routine.  Hmm...I'm sure it will all work itself out.  Right?

Looking back to his arrival, I have to say it was very different than the last time.  We had an "old fashioned" delivery.  No C-Section this time around!  1 Hour of pushing and out came this sweet baby boy.

Everyone seems to be curious if you accepted drugs or not.  Here was my thought process during labor:

  Light contractions:  "I didn't need drugs with Carter...until the emergency C-Section came into play.  I can do this."

Heavy Contractions:  "D***, I remember how horrible it was with Carter for 13 hours.  I'm not doing that this time.  I've got a toddler at home and I've been up the entire night.  I know what the next 3 months are going to bring starting in just FOUR more hours.  NURSE, I WOULD LIKE THE EPIDURAL!!"

Great choice.  Because just as my thoughts reminded me, your new job starts IMMEDIATELY!

More pictures coming soon!  

Deep Thoughts by: Carter McCoy

I ask Carter "What are you thinking about?" quite a bit.  For the longest time his response didn't make much sense.  Like, he'd just make something up. Or say that he saw something.  Because let's be honest, if you really shared what you were thinking about when someone randomly asks you that, it be a really strange answer.

But lately, there've been some good ones:

"Finking bout Mommy's hair."

"Finking bout pooping."

"Finking bout zwork."  (Daddy's work.)

The best is when he presents what he's been thinking about all on his own.  2 Year Old logic, is probably my favorite thing all day long.  He'll be quite for a while, you can tell he's thinking.  Then he uses a "sometimes" or "Some people" statement.  BEST EVER:

• While riding his bike, he stopped to share:  "Sometimes rocks are broken.  Sometimes rocks are okay!" 
• While fetching our laundry from the cleaners:  "Some people say ESS.  Some people say Ugh."  The second is how he responds positively to a question.  I have to encourage him to say "yes" so people can understand him.
• While looking at a picture of the Queen with a scowl and Michelle Obama with a smile:  "Some people are nice.  Some people are mean." 
• "Sometimes it rains.  Sometimes it's dry."
• "Sometimes nastics swing on bars.  Sometimes NOT."  (Gymnastics??  Really?  He hasn't even seen much?  Not sure where that came from?!)

It takes like 3 minutes to get these out and for me to completely understand what he said.

Finally, he's given us some insight into what he imagines being a brother to be like:

While walking UP a slide:  "Gorman (Corbin) say, wow Cager, so cool walking up slide!"

While playing Diggers and Dumpers:  "Gorman will say, Cager playing backhoe is so AWESOME!"

I hope he's as big of a hero to this guy as he imagines.  Ha ha!

First Soccer Practice (Video Added)

Carter attended his first, EVER, soccer practice!  This seriously makes me so excited, not for myself, of course.  I know the "childhood sport routine"  it sucks parents in and spits them out 18 years later a different person.  BUT Carter is a HUGE sport fan, I was excited for him.  He legitimately loves learning and playing them.  He has a desire to be good, or do what goal should be accomplished.  And major meltdowns occur if they don't .  He may give himself like 3 misses or so, but after that, watch out.  Redhead temper.

Here is the deal, and I recommend this to anyone willing to start this in their own neighborhood:

Parents in our neighborhood started a "Drop In Soccer Practice."  No real age limits...but around 3 years old and up.  It's a donation of $5-$20 bucks.  We meet at a park.  They set up the goals.  Pass out green or yellow shirts.  Split up and "practice" then "scrimmage."  (Notice the amount of quotes in this paragraph?)  There is also a playground at this park, great for when your child gets bored.  Ha!  OH and there is usually a snack, when the practice isn't hailed-out.

Carter LOVED this.  He has been looking forward to it for weeks.  And now wants to go back.  After his nap, I told him what we'd be doing and he told me he needed to wear a jersey.  He doesn't have a soccer jersey so he chose his Texas Ranger's jersey.  (Pretty cute!!)  The coach told him he needed a (yellow or green) shirt, but Carter told him he already had one on.  Ha ha.  Which is true, he did already have a shirt on!

He keeps saying "I'm so proud" in the most giddy voice ever.  I ask "why?" and he explains "Soccer.  I kick soccer ball in goal." Everyone got a turn.  Ha ha.  Proud??  Didn't know he a. knew that word and b. could use it properly.  But I'm glad he's proud and happy he had a blast.

I couldn't take out the camera during practice because of the weather but interviewed him after his game: