Happy Halloween

We had so much fun this year on Halloween. Clare enjoyed dressing up in her costume and loved saying "Trick or Treat." We went over to some friends of ours who were had a soup potluck it was a lot of fun. The women stayed behind while the men took the kids out trick or treating. Most of the kids were older so Clare rode on Mitch's shoulder and he ran from house to house. She came back with a bag full of candy for her parents. The girls were lady bugs for halloween and had matching halloween outfits courtesy of Uncle Ed and Aunt Denise.

Clare loving on Leah.
Clare so proud of her Little Sister.
Daddy and his two little lady bugs.

Clare ready to go trick or treating.

Clare showing us her muscles.

Happy 80th Birthday Grandpa/Great Grandpa Corky!

Mitch's Grandpa Corky turned 80 this year. The family threw a suprise party for him two weeks after Leah was born. At first, Mitch was just going to head over for the day with Clare but I was feeling well enough to go along. We took our first trip over the pass with both girls who did really well. We only had to stop once to feed Leah. Mitch's grandfather has been such an inspiration to him and has truly helped shaped him into the great husband/father he has become. This is who Clare is named after. Mitch wrote a speech about his Grandfather's life and it was so heartfelt.

Great Grandpa Clarence (Corky)
Great Granpa and Great Grandma admiring their 9th great grandchild.

Great Grandma enjoying holding Leah.

Great Grandpa with his Best Friend at the party.

Who Wants Ice Cream?

Our first outing as a family of four was to Baskin Robbins. Clare got her first strawberry ice cream cone. She absolutely loved it and half way through it Mitch and I both wondered why we hadn't thought to get her sugar free. She definitely had a sugar high. It was a lot of fun and we look forward to many more trips to the ice cream parlor with the girls.

This was a child's scoop, I thought it was a little large.
Clare really enjoying her ice cream.
Clare didn't want to share her cone but wanted some of everyone else's.

Still going strong, she ate most of it until I convinced Mitch to eat the rest.

First Week Home

Leah is such an easy baby compared to Clare. She is a great eater and sleeper. Here are a few photos from the first week. You definitely take a lot less pictures of the second child than the first.

Clare showing how she is a "Big Sister."
Clare is always kissing on Leah.
Leah ready to eat.

Leah's expressions remind us of a old man sometimes.

Leah wishing her Mom would stop blinding her with the flash.

Clare is always wanting to be in the midst of everthing we do with Leah.

The girls watching football with Daddy.

Leah just loves sleeping in the boppy.

Daddy enjoying time with the girls.

One of the few pictures of Leah and Mom.

Introducing - Leah Lanore Richards

We are so excited to introduce Leah Lanore Richards who surprised us all by being so petite. She was born at 12:40 p.m. on Thursday, October 8 weighing 6 pounds 15 oz and only 19 inches long. She was exactly 2 pounds less than Clare. In addition to being smaller, she has very dark hair and her complexion is very dark. It is amazing how different the two little ones are from one another in appearance. Things are going well but pretty exhausting. I will post more tomorrow but I thought I would post a quick update before we head to bed. Leah currently has her days and nights mixed up so we are trying to work through this.

Leah's Birth Day

One of the best things about the c-section was knowing exactly when you are going in. We were able to spend the morning at home with Clare and get everything ready. It was so hard dropping her off at day care knowing that I wouldn't be able to see her for at least a couple of days. We arrived at the hospital and were a little disappointed when they informed us that we would be sharing a room. We just couldn't imagine sharing a room with another couple and newborn but at this point we had other things to worry about. We went into surgery about 12 and at 12:40 Little Leah entered this world. The procedure went rather quickly and I before I knew it we were in recovery. Leah came out crying loudly and wanting to feed. She started feeding even before we left the recovery room. Before we left the recovery room we received the great news that we would actually have our own room. It was so nice to have our own space. Mitch was so helpful in the hospital and he was an old pro taking care of Leah. My recovery has been phenomenal compared to my first delivery.

Clare's last morning as an only child.
Daddy feeling Leah kick inside Mommy for the last time.

Daddy waiting anxiously for Mommy to be moved to the OR.

Daddy ready for surgery, which he saved for his halloween costume.

Little Leah!

She was very hungry.

Meeting Mommy for the first time.

Leah being introduced to Grandma Millican.

Leah meeting Grandma and Grandpa Strand.

Resting after a long day.

She definitely was very content resting in the boppy.

Daddy and Little Leah anxious to head home to meet Big Sister.

Mommy was definitely ready to head home to see sister.

Homeward Bound!

Clare's First Camp Fire

We finally were able to enjoy the fire pit that Mitch built this summer. Clare did pretty well around the fire pit but we definitely couldn't take our eyes off her. Hopefully, we will be able to use it this winter.

Clare roasting her first marshmallow.
Clare saying "cheese."

Heading inside for the night. She thought it was pretty cool being outside in the dark.

Tomorrow's D-Day

Today I went in for my Pre-Op and tomorrow we will welcome our little girl. I'm excited and anxious at the same time. We had a great evening as a family of three tonight. Clare and I went to Starbucks to share a strawberry/banana smoothee. We then went and watched Daddy get his haircut. Then the three of us went to Olive Garden and Clare was so good, which Mitch and I can only hope this next one is as sweet as Clare. We spent the evening at home wrestling/tickling Clare and building things with her blocks. We are all a little tired since we were all up most of the night with Clare who is cutting her 2 year molars and eye teeth. What great timing! I'm most concerned about leaving Clare tomorrow but I know that she will be in good hands with my Mom, who is more like her play buddy/best friend. We have to check-in at 10 then the C-section is scheduled for noon. We should be out of surgery and resting as a family by 2. The next post we will be revealing the stats of the new baby and name.

I'm sure going to miss this smile! She is such a Momma's Girl.

Pumpkin Patch

We took Clare to a pumpkin patch the weekend before Leah was born. The pumpkin patch was located on a farm, which had many farm animals, tractors, and even a canon that shot pumpkins. Clare wasn't so sure about the canon shooting pumpkins. We had a great time and we found a pumpkin for each of us to carve. We will see how this goes with a 19 month old.

Clare riding out to the pumpkin patch.
Clare enjoying the dog at the farm.

Clare sitting on the pumpkin she wanted.

Clare with all our pumpkins.

The rotten pumpkin that she insisted on keeping.

Riding the fake pony.

The pumpkin canon.

Daddy and Clare waiting for the pumpkins to be shot off.

We took Clare to a pumpkin patch the weekend before Leah was born. The pumpkin patch was located on a farm, which had many farm animals, tractors, and even a canon that shot pumpkins. Clare wasn't so sure about the canon shooting pumpkins. We had a great time and we found a pumpkin for each of us to carve. We will see how this goes with a 19 month old.