3 Weeks Old

Time flies when you are having fun....not sleeping, nursing, changing lots of diapers! Last Friday and Saturday night CC (my mom) covered the middle of the night feeding so Daddy and I could get some sleep. Before I went to bed, I joked that that would be the night you all would go a long stretch......and it was....4 1/2 hours...both nights! Since then, you both are wanting to eat about every 2 hours.
Lyla James, your hair has gotten thicker and it's beginning to darken a little. You still peak out of one eye and grin when we talk to you!
Mary Connor, you love being on your tummy and would prefer to sleep that way. You have started sucking your thumb...Anna Cate is thrilled and thinks it's so cute!
We love you both more every day!

This Week in Pictures

Two Weeks Old

Wow! I can't believe y'all have been here 2 weeks!

Lyla James

• You weigh 6 lbs 10 oz and you're 19 1/4 inches lomg

Mary Conner

• 
  You weigh 7lbs. 4 oz. and you too are 19 1/4 inches long.

You are both such sweet babies and add so much love to our family!

Thriving on Chaos

This first week at home has been full of adjustments, but all in all, I'm quite proud of all of us. Granted, we have shed a few tears and spoken a little sharply to each other during the 3am feeding, but things have come together.

Anna Cate and Brian have been dressed and on time to school thanks to my younger sister. She has been with us all week....I can't even think about her leaving.

Yesterday we juggled play practice, phonics meeting at school, dinner, and babies. Amazingly, everyone got to where they needed to be and ate dinner- thank you Meredith for providing that dinner!

Anna Cate and Brian's expressing their feelings about having to wake up "in the dark" for school.

Mary Connor relaxing in her swing...she moves herself to sit like this every time!

Unwinding with Daddy on the zipline after school.

One Week Old

Lyla James and Mary Connor, you are one week old today!

The cute decorations Miss Kathleen made for y'all on Friday...we didn't know we wouldn't be coming home until Saturday, but they were so precious anyway!

You both have changed so much this week! Both of you love your swings and are becoming a little bit more fond of the bouncy seats.

Mary Connor

• You have outgrown your preemie diapers and outfits (except for the bubbles) You weight is back up to 6lbs. 8 oz.


• You are a very content baby. You will wake up and just lay quietly observing your surroundings.

Lyla James

You can still wear preemie sizes, but just barely. Your weight is 5lbs 12 oz. I think you must know you are a little smaller because you love to stretch out and make yourself look bigger.

• Your personality is hilarious.... if you are unhappy, you let us know!

Settling In

Things are going well here in the house of the Sparkman's. Of course, we have lots of arms willing to rock a baby to sleep, dinner being brought to our home, and adrenaline on our side.

The babies went in for their (almost) 1 week check-up and they are doing great. Both have gained back a lot of the intial weight they lost.

It 's hard to believe Lyla James and Mary Connor haven't even been with us for a week....I feel like I've known them forever!

After several false starts, we were all finally released from the hospital this afternoon. I can't begin to explain how exciting it as to ride in a car and watch the scenery go by after sitting in a hospital room for close to 3 weeks.

The babies have done beautifully since being home and Anna Cate and Brian jockey for position to hold them. We are so thankful to all be under the same roof and to have our sweet babies home with us.

First Day of School

Today was Anna Cate and Brian's first day of kindergarten.....no tears or jitters from them, only from the parents! Despite well-made plans, I didn't get to take them or walk them in their first day. Todd took them and ended up being the one who was teary!

Introducing......

Lyla James and Mary Connor Sparkman

They arrived yesterday, August 10, at 3:37p.m. and 3:38p.m. respectively.

Lyla James weighed 6lbs 3 oz/ 19 inches.

Mary Connor weighed 7lbs 1 oz/ 19 inches

They are healthy, beautiful girls.

Anna Cate and Brian agree they are the most beautiful babies they have ever seen.

It's baby day!

36 Weeks

I never imagined we would get this far! Everyone is breathing easier knowing the babies are more or less full term at this point. Have I mentioned how ready I am to meet these girls?

32 Years

Tomorrow marks 32 years I have been on this Earth. As I sit in this hospital room tonight, I am so thankful for the life I am living and can't wait to see what lies ahead. I feel so loved and supported by my friends and family. I feel content and blessed to be a mother and a wife and hope I learn to be better at both of these roles.

Two years ago at my 30th birthday party, I remember having a conversation with a group of friends about what I was going to do in my 30's. The details of the conversation are a little cloudy, but I feel certain I wasn't imagining being here awaiting the arrival of two sweet sisters for Anna Cate and Brian.

What I'm Reading

Because I have quite a bit of time on my hands, I have been reading A LOT! I thought it would be fun to share some books I've enjoyed and I would love to hear any that need to be added to my huge stack. Some of these are favorites I have read many times and some have been passed on from sweet friends who know I need lots to keep me busy!

1. Parenting By The Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising Your Child by John Rosemond- my most favorite parenting book

2. The Crosswicks Journal: Two-Part Invention : Book 4 by Madeline L'Engle

3. Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

4. Remember by Karen Kingsbury

5. Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

6. 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter by Vicki Courtney

7. The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge

8. Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

9. Stieg Larsson's Trilogy: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

10. The Blue Camellia by Frances Parkinson Keyes-one of my favorite authors

Our Little Actress

Back in the spring, Anna Cate came home from school asking if she could audition for a part in Peter Pan with our local Little Theatre. Todd and I both believe if the children show interest in an activity or sport, we want to make it possible for them to explore it. After a little research, I found out the play would be held mid-August....right in the midst of school starting and our precious additions making their debut. In the end, Todd and I decided life is going to have to go on around these babies, so Anna Cate tried out. Brian decided he too would audition, but only if he could play the part of Peter Pan....the biggest role of the whole production! When told that part would be for a middle school boy, he had no interest in trying out!

Anna Cate walked right up, got a number, had her head-shot made, and went to sit with the other children in the front of the theatre without ever looking back. When her number was called, she calmly walked on stage, sang her song, and later read script with a group. I was, of course, so proud of her, but also filled with admiration at her confidence. A few days later, we found out she was cast as a fairy.

Practices started in May...3 times a week for several hours. A huge committment for all involved, ahem, but Anna Cate has really enjoyed it. As "showtime" approaches, her excitement is building and she was thrilled with this picture in our local newspaper.....she has told us all many times that she is famous!

A List of Updates

1. Anna Cate and Brian start kindergarten next week...where has the time gone? It has been challenging trying to order uniforms, get physicals, get haircuts, go shoe shopping, etc. Todd has handled all of it with ease (as always).
2. The babies are doing very well. Their 35 week ultrasound showed them both to be over 6 lbs (give or take 1lb). My blood pressure is still high and hospitalized bedrest seems to be working since no other symptoms of preeclampsia are showing up....in other words, I'm going to be here for a while.
3. Brian's dog, Jake, got out of the fence last Friday when our landscapers were working, but he was found yesterday! He is Brians puppy and as Brian says, his best friend, so we are so grateful he is home safe and sound.

35 weeks!!

Today we are 35 weeks....so happy to have reached another milestone! We are all doing well and hanging in there.