Baa Baa Black Sheep

Well, another beautiful fall day found us in Worland again today, so we spent a lot of time outside. I love this weather! Natalie has been demanding all of Grammie's attention these last few days, so I insisted she take a break today for three whole hours. I took both kids to lunch and the park with friends, then to run a few other errands. Natalie was very good and listened well, and it seems the last few days she's been adjusting well to me having to divide my attention with Beckett. It was good practice for me. We had to go to the hospital for a billing question (and to see Gina!), so while there we weighed Beckett again and he is now at 9 pounds! He was 9 pounds 2 ounces with clothes and a diaper on, so we figured around 9 or so. Our little man will not be little for much longer! I can't believe how much he's changed in the last 3 weeks.



Speaking of change...here he is having his first bottle feeding today. Daddy remembered just what to do, and he took to the bottle with no problem. Now if I can keep pumping, Daddy can help with early morning feedings!

And here is Grammie feeding horses this morning with Natalie in the red wagon. It was so cute to see her riding around in the wagon with a stack of hay! We are so glad to have Grammie's help!

Here is a quick video I got of Natalie today giving her rendition of Baa Baa Black Sheep. She realized toward the end that I was filming her! She loves to read to Beckett.

Not much else is new here...just enjoying our babies and the fall weather, and I'm excited to get out of town for a night with Kyle tomorrow. I guess that's bad when Cody seems like a vacation! Hope everyone else is well and has a good rest of the week!

P.S. We can't wait to see Aunt Karrie and Cousin Madison this weekend!!!

Two Is Better Than One!

"We must become the change we want to see in the world." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Well, I can't believe how the days are flying by! Kyle went back to work this week and my mom has come out to visit and help out. She has been so great at entertaining Natalie that I'm afraid she'll be bored to tears when Grammie leaves! Beckett is doing great and loves to watch and learn from his big sister. It is so sweet to see her want to interact with him, and for the most part she is very careful.

Some fall weather returned this week, but it was nice and sunny last week and through the weekend. Kyle and I went out on a nice ride Saturday in the hills, and it was so much fun- except for me being a little sore the next day! It felt great to be "back in the saddle," so to speak! We are headed to Cody Thursday and Friday for a water seminar Kyle has to take (he's on our rural water board for the county), so I get to go with him and have some time alone with Beckett while Grammie and Natalie hang out at home and go to school.


I think he looks more like Kyle every day!

Bath time in the kitchen sink...

And here is the pictureI took and tweaked on the computer to make into his first baby picture. I won't get the prints for a few days, but I put a nice border on it and changed the color to sepia, which is black and white with brown tones. I did the same for Natalie's first picture, so I can't wait to hang his next to hers.

And here is the little man with his grandmas. They have both been so helpful the last few weeks.

Not much else is new here...just adjusting to life as a bigger family. I am totally convinced that two is so much better than one (Curt and Diane, see how lucky you are right from the beginning?). I am constantly amazed that I can love two little beings more and more each day, and we truly, truly feel so blessed. I'm going to try and update more than once a week, but no promises any time soon! We hope all is well with everyone, and we look forward to seeing those far away over the next few months so you can see how Natalie has grown and meet her new side-kick. Have a blessed week and hugs to all.

"The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen, not touched, but are felt in the heart." ~ Helen Keller

One Week Old

Well, We've survived the first week! All in all, things are going great. Beckett lost some weight and is now 7 lbs 14 ounces, but the doc said he's just fine and had a little extra to lose! He's nursing well about every 2-3 hours, but was only up twice last night! He is a good sleeper for now, and this little man is such a joy. He rarely fusses and just loves to watch us and see what's going on. He loves to watch Natalie act out her plays and read stories, and she's very good around him. She wants to hold him all the time and even offered to help feed him...when I told her she really couldn't, she lifted up her shirt and said yes she could because she had nipples too! It was great.

Speaking of great...my husband definitely fits that title! Kyle has been home all week and has been such a help- everything from dishes to sleeping on the couch to get up with Natalie and letting me sleep in until 8 every morning! I don't remember the last time I got to sleep in that much! So far, juggling mornings has been the hardest, simply because there's so much to do to get ready to leave the house, and she's up so early. But things are so amazing and we feel so blessed. Having two beautiful, healthy children is more than we could ask for.


"I do not understand the mystery of grace- only that it meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us." ~ Anne LaMott

Natalie has been asking if Beckett can sleep with her, and tonight she settled for having him next to her during her bedtime story.

Here she is holding him. She loves to rub her nose on his soft hair.

Here I am cuddling my little man...I just want to hold him all the time and keep him from getting any bigger!

Sleeping baby boy...

Awake baby boy...

And here is a video below of Natalie playing with him on the couch. He just loves to watch her, which is good because she's so busy she never seems to slow down! We went out and rode in the nice fall weather today (Kyle and Natalie did. I'm still not feeling up to it) and we're looking forward to my mom's visit this next week. Hope you all are doing well and enjoying the cooler weather! Hugs to all.

Welcome Baby Beckett!

Once again we have been so blessed and are so grateful. Beckett Lee Tharp joined the world yesterday at 4:45 p.m. He weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces and is 21 inches long. I went into labor Wednesday night and had a longer and harder labor than with big sister Natalie, but all is well now. He has a mess of blonde hair and blue eyes, which we hope stay blue! This little man stole our hearts right away. He has a wonderful peace about him and is very calm. We came home this afternoon, and Natalie already loves to kiss and hold him. We're going to rest up this weekend, but I'll write more later this week. Thanks to everyone for the calls and visits and good wishes.

"Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." ~R. Tagore





Big sister Natalie finally understands she has a real baby brother and will get to take him home!

Grandpa Guy

Grandma Jill

Beckett's namesake, Great-Grandpa Chauncey Lee McMillan

"Making the decision to have a child- it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~ Elizabeth Stone

First Day of Preschool

Well, Natalie had so much fun at her first day of preschool yesterday. I think she was a little nervous, but she went right in with no problem. She got up today wanting to go back, but she'll only go Tuesday and Thursday this first year. I got my crying done in the shower that morning, so she didn't see any tears from me. Kyle got to go with us, and she wanted him to go in and play with her. When he said he had to go to work, she simly said "OK" and marched on in herself. It is so gratifying to know your kids are going to a good place with good people and that they'll love it.

Here are are morning pictures. It was a little chilly, so we dressed in jeans. She insisted on taking her backpack, which is a horse head. She only needed to bring a change of clothes since they provide all supplies, but she was so excited when they showed her her own hook to hang it on, complete with her name and all.

This one kind of shows the backpack...

And here is the preschool yard. It took a little coaxing just to get her to go inside and not start out playing right away...

All is well with us, just trying to be patient. The doctor said all looks good and I'm dialated to 3, so it really could be any time. If not by Monday he said we may discuss inducing to help keep my sugars in check and not let him get too much bigger. I hope it doesn't come to that, but we'll see what the rest of the week brings! Either way, I'm ready. We have had some nice cooler weather in the 50's and 60's, which makes me excited for fall and a trip to the pumpkin patch soon! Hope you all have a great week. Hugs to all.