Happy 2nd Birthday Leighton

Two years ago today B and I welcomed our second daughter, Leighton Elizabeth Jordan (after her Great Aunt Beth) into our family. I feel compelled to share with all of you "her" labor story or at least the events leading up to.

It was a Friday March 30th, I went to work feeling like I couldn't fit through the doors of Noah's Ark if I had to, you know the feeling, if you've ever had a child. Anyway, I remember getting off work early and picking Hayley (still just 15 mos. old) up from the sitter. I also remember telling her sitter not to give her a nap because I am on the way home and we will take a nap together. Hey desperate times calls for desperate measures!! And that we did, we napped and napped and napped. I woke up to B standing over me reminding me that our dear friends the Skelton's were going to be here in an hour for dinner. So I roll out of bed. We were having steak, salad, some other things I can't remember, and garlic bread. Garlic bread! I forgot! So, Katie and I hop in her car and go to W/D. That's when it happened. I remember looking at the clock in her car driving down Pine Street. 7:00. The first contraction!!! We get through dinner and finally sit down on the couch. By now it's 9:30, another contraction. My dear friend didn't want to leave b/c she could tell they were coming sporadically but, more importantly, they were coming. (The contractions that is - keep up!) So, they left - I mean they have kids to put to bed too. B stays up to watch t.v. and I went to the bedroom to watch t.v. The contractions seemed to be getting closer together, so I started writing them down. 11:12, 11:20, 11:28, 11:36 and so on for 1 hour. Something told me I should get up and get ready. So that's what I did. I did what every smart woman would do, I hoped right in the bathroom to shave my legs and blow out my hair. After all the grooming I got my bag and pillow and headed down the hall. By now B is asleep. This is where it gets good! I kept telling myself one day this will all be funny!

After all my efforts to wake him, he tells me "It'll be okay, go back to bed." He wanted to sleep in his own bed, at home. (Selfishness is not normally in his nature. I don't know where this came from - wink, wink) After showing him the times of the contractions he agreed. It was now 1:00am. My labor pains were all in my back and consistently 5 minutes apart, but we had to stop at Flashfoods to get gas ok, understandable. It now was drizzling rain. For once I was happy to have a husband that drove 120mph EVERYWHERE, even in the rain. Not this night! I'm praying Lord please get me there ASAP, and B driving 45mph down US 1. Then stops to get a Coke at the gas station in Dinsmore!!!!!WHAT!?!?

Ok, we finally made it to BMC downtown. If you don't know there is a pull up place for Women in Labor. That would be me. B gets out, goes up to the door, that is not automatically opening for the safety of the 95 year old volunteer working the labor check in desk. So B is having to yell to the woman through the door. She thinks we are here to SEE someone who HAD a baby. (B/c that's what we do at 1:00 in the morning) She tells B to park in the garage and WALK down the STAIRS to the security guard. One would think to be inquisitive - Do these directions also apply to women screaming and shouting about epidurals? NOPE, NOT B! NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!!!! So we make it to the security guard and he thinks we are there to see someone too (I guess the look on my face, the baby about to come out of me, this HUGE belly, and the pillow under my arm wasn't enough). The security guard asked,"What's the patients name?" B answers,"Kasey Edwards" EXCUSE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First of all I AM the patient, technically I am not even a patient b/c we haven't even made it to check in. Secondly, last time I checked we were married so that would make me Jordan, Kasey Jordan.

Daddy's Girl

You know there is sooooo much pressure being a mother. I don't know about your house, but at mine the kiddies ALWAYS prefer Momma over Daddy. If they are sick at the daycare and momma can't come get 'em, Daddy will do, but they really want Momma. In a way it is rewarding, but at the same time - EXHAUSTING!

This is the story I got from B during the song/worship time at church. (This is like one of the only times we get to talk alone without the kids- PATHETIC!!!)

He says whispering,"I go into Hayley's room this morning and I say to her I need some covers. So she pulls the covers back and she is (picture him mimicking her pulling the blanket over his shoulders). As she is blowing her dragon breath all in my face she says,'Daddy I love you.' And lays her head on my face. Then 5 seconds later she says,'Where's Momma? Is Momma here? (like where else would I be at 8:30 on a Sunday morn.)I wanna go see Momma.' Then she very sllloooowwwlllyyy edges off the bed keeping both eyes on me like I'm not gonna notice her backing out of the bed. She runs out of room to go find you. It was nice while it lasted." Shrugging his shoulders.

I had tears in my eyes from laughing and everyone around me must have thought I was having a spiritual moment singing Oh The Wonderful Cross.

Daddy's Girl

I Dedicate This One To You My Love

As a Christian parent one of my top priorities is shielding my children from the evil of this world. You spend soooo much time teaching them not to say "stupid & shut up" or calling them into a different room when you know that the part in the movie is about to get scary. I try so hard to guard them against all evil things. I know that I can't keep them in a bubble their whole lives. Anyway, back to my point, all this effort and the little boy at day care spouts off at the mouth about his homework. There went all that hard work right out the window! Suddenly, my three year old has a new vocab and I am constantly saying,"Where did you learn that!" Right now Hayley will notice me folding laundry on the couch and she will see that I have washed her nightgown and she will pick it up with a HUGE smile on her face and say, "Oh, kankyou mommy!" This morning topped all. She climbed up in my bed (me still 3/4 of the way asleep) leaned over and said, "I love you, mommy." Finished off with a hug and a kiss. All I can hope is that she stays this way FOREVER! My ultimate prayer is to have a fulfulling and prosperous relationship with my daughters. There is this song that sums all of this mumbojumbo up. I ALWAYS sing it when I am in the car, and I used not to be able to get through it without bawling I mean tearing up - I am getting better!

So I dedicate this song to you, Hayley.

In my arms by Plumb

Your baby blues

So full of wonder

Your Curly Que’s

Your contagious smile

And as I watch

You start to grow up

All I can do is hold you tight

Knowing

Clouds will rage in

Storms will race in

But you will be safe in my arms

Rains will pour down

Waves will crash all around

But you will be safe in my arms

Story books

Are full of fairy-tales

Of kings and queens

And the bluest skies

My heart is torn just in knowing

You’ll someday see

The truth for lies

Clouds will rage in

Storms will race in

But you will be safe in my arms

Rains will pour down

Waves will crash all around

But you will be safe in my arms

Castles they might crumble

Dreams may not come true

Cause you are never all alone

Cause I will always

Always love you

Wachovia meets Hayley

Hayley's been really into finances (very young I know and this may or may not even be a real opening story) and, now more recently, very concerned about the economy. I mean you can't hide the news it's everywhere - the magazines, newspapers, and TV. She came to me today holding a broken baby doll very concerned about the quality of work going on in the United States today and decided it was time she do something about it. Soooo....she wants to start investing.



Today I took Hayley to the bank to start her own savings account. I don't think she understood, because when I told her we were going to the bank to give the lady her money she replied, "and then her's gonna gimme some more?!?"

I thought it would be very picturesque for her to walk in carrying her precious little piggy bank. Then it occurred to me that this half filled with change pig is probably just going to tick them off when they have to count all this out. But the reaction was right on key.

"Oh, that is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Look at her bringing in her piggy bank!" LOVED IT!

She thought 3 years worth of birthday "monies" for 2 suckers (not even pink like requested) was an even trade.

My Apologies

First of all I would like to wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This past Sunday after church we all went out to eat at a restaurant in Hilliard. For some reason Brandon starts bragging to everyone that he's got Girl Scout cookies waiting on him when he gets home. I leaned over to Uncle Josh (He's not my uncle. He's my kids uncle, but there's soooo many Joshs I just always refer to him as Uncle Josh to minimize the confusion) and said,"You know I can't see paying $5 for 12 cookies, when you can go IN the store and get a whole bag of Kebler Elf for like 2 bucks." He agreed but didn't make as big a deal as I. The waitress wiping down our table turns to us (me) and says, "I'm a Girl Scout troop leader and it's for a good cause." Yelling back over my shoulder as I was crawling under the table from sheer embarrassment I call out, "I used to be a Girl Scout!" (Don't you laugh...I know you are laughing)

So, what did we (I) learn from this, well first of all I probably should be diagnosed with Footinmouth Disease. I've heard the FDA hasn't approved treatment for this yet, but when they do I'll be the first one in line at the drug store.

Secondly, and more importantly, the next day I was listening to radio on the way to work and they quoted James 1:19 ...be slow to speak... then we won't be so prone to say things we regret.

So, to wrap this up, to the lady at Little Al's with the cute bob - I apologize sincerely!

I Always Have an Appreciation for Consistency

Before I show you what I'm talking about - about the whole appreciation for consistency bit, let me tell you this short story. To me, this is the funniest story ever. I am having to hold back from laughing out loud right now. ( Another thing you'll learn about me is that I am really corny like that. I crack my self up...a lot. Yep that would be me the one who tells a joke and then while laughing, is slapping myself on the leg, it really embarrasses my husband!) As you know from previous posts we have a very hard headed child, well both of them are hard headed but one inparticular, Leighton, I mean no names mentioned. All of the sudden we have been having a terrible time getting her to go to bed. The recipe calls for: We put her in her bed she comes right out

Repeat x one hundred

So after spanking and threatening to close the door we actually did. Close the door. Well she then gets out of her bed, all demon possessed, and comes out crying and all upset. So we put her back in there. This time Brandon is on the outside holding the door shut. Of course, she gets up all upset and starts banging on her shoe rack against the door. (It's one of those that hooks over the door but is not attached at the bottom) Then all of the sudden silence. She gave up... she feel asleep... or she escaped out the window, we're left wondering. Brandon lets go of the door, my heart beat finally gets back to normal when....long pause....she walks out with shoes on. We don't back down, we put her back in there, we continues this and every time she comes out she has on a different pair of shoes. Including, my personal favorite, the fuzzy hot pink bed slippers Gaby gave her for Christmas. Last night we had a very long night with her. It started as described above, but she ended up in her bed. She must have had a nightmare or something b/c she came in our bedroom about 4:30 fully accessorized. So, with that in mind check out these pics just from the last 2 days!

Hot pink high heels while vacumming

Hot pink high heels while playing in the sprinkler with her sister.

Wordless Wednesdays

Leighton's first haircut

Last Wednesday Leighton got her first haircut. I figured since she is about to turn 2 years old and all it was bout time. You'd be surprised what a little trim can do. Of course we went all out and got the ears pierced too! Us Jordans don't do anything half way, we go all out!!! Side note- Brandon was not happy that he didn't take her as he took Hayley for her first haircut. I am going to brag just for a minute I promise. She sat in the chair all by herself, she was so big. Perfect opportunity for Mom to get some pics. Then when it was time for the ear piercing, not ONE tear! All the 80 somethings in the salon that day couldn't believe her! They were saying "I can't believe how good she is, do you remember that little boy that was in here crying and making a scene ...." mean while she is in my lap, needle ready one on each ear, my heart pounding and hands sweating like never before (because they are usually sweaty at any given moment- sorry for the people at church that shake my hand!). Here are a few photos. Sorry the pictures are supposed to be at the end here, but I am still figuring this thing out.

Since we are talking about my very stubborn child I thought the following to be appropriate. I was driving to work last week and was listening to the radio. They were talking about guiding children through life, particularly stubborn or as we like to say strong willed children. So I turned up the volume and was all ears. They were saying as a parent you should never back down if you say "no" to something stick with it don't back down. Children might act out but they really want to be lead. And here's the part that I hope I never forget. You have to prove to them that you are worthy of leading them!!!!!!!

Congratulations !!!

At least that is what people say when a new baby is born. So I found it appropriate since a new blog is born. Maybe I will remember in a year to celebrate it's first birthday, probably not. I have to say I've been wanting to have a blog for a while now I just couldn't come up with a name that wasn't taken. You know how that is- can't have a name that's too popular in the area. I am going to try to give it the attention it deserves, but life can be crazy at times, so just bare with me.