Introducing. . .

Kinsley Emerson Cordrey arrived at 8:10 am on September 17th. She is perfect and healthy! We were thrilled to be blessed with another little girl. When the Dr. said, "It's a little girl!", I instantly saw through my tears the tears in Ronnie's eyes too. He is so partial to girls now after being blessed with Ella. We came home on Friday and everyone is adjusting well. She is a great baby and Ella is a great big sister - just trying to figure out all the newness around her (I don't think that is a real word, but you get the point!) More pictures to follow, of course.

One praise report - in the hospital, Kinsley failed her right ear hearing screening 3 times. They referred us to another hospital for children with special needs for a final retest. I was already preparing myself for hearing loss, etc. We took her in yesterday and she passed - no concerns! That was definitely an answer to our prayers!

For mom . . .

Ella found my old clothes from when I was a little girl today while cleaning the baby's room. She thought playing dress up was great!

Working at home . . .

So I know I have some friends who read this blog who are also working moms at home. I say working moms because it truly is a full time job to be home. This isn't new information to me, but just a new understanding. I have been home with Ella in the past during the summer months, and know that being at home doesn't mean down time with magazines and sweet tea, lazily passing the hours! A friend recently told me that she thought being a mom at home is harder than working outside the home. On some days, I agree. It is an amazing blessing, but not one without its own challenges. I recently started reading a book called "The Mommy Diaries". It is full of short little stories from other moms. I find myself laughing, but also gaining new insight and understanding in different situations. It reminded me today that I am thankful I get to raise Ella and enjoy all the special moments instead of someone else or a daycare. So, the job isn't without its challenges, but the rewards far outweigh the difficult moments!

New House Pictures!

Foyer - down the steps

Playroom

Front view

Our bedroom

Our bathroom

Baby 's room - work in progress

Banister from upstairs to family room

Ella's new big girl room

The office

Our living room - eventually

Kitchen into the family room

with Mocha the tour guide

Outdoor deck and play area

We are getting settled! We still have some boxes to unpack and all the pictures to hang for the walls / curtains to hang / etc. Other than that, we are getting there! Wehad missed living in a neighborhood for sidewalk purposes, so that is nice to have those back for evening walks and things.

We've Moved!

Pictures to soon follow, but we are all located under one roof now! We left Ella with my parents while we painted and unpacked her room. All of this in the midst of our beloved Chocolate Lab Mocha being in the pet hospital across town. By Monday evening, at least we were all back together. We are waiting for the test / biopsy results from Mocha to see what we need to do and how we need to progress from here. Please pray it is nothing major and curable.

Ella is excited about her new playroom and play area in the back yard. I am hoping to have the boxes unpacked and feel setlled before the baby arrives. We'll see . . .

Staying at home

I feel blessed that I am going to be able to stay home with Ella and the baby. In the same breath, this is new to me. I have taught since I graduated college, with summers often being occupied with PDs and planning. With that out of the focus now, I find myself craving some sort of schedule. Today, I decided I needed to go ahead and start some type of schedule or routine - even though we are still in the process of trying to sell our house / move / transition / etc. I had thought I would wait, but decided to go ahead and try some type of normal routine. This morning, after wake up / my shower (with Ella occupied by Dora) / and breakfast, I had planned time in the schedule for my quiet time. All of a sudden, she brought her Bible out and sat at my feet and began "reading" too. I realized that, too often, I am doing this when she isn't around and isn't there to see it. The purpose isn't for her to watch me, but it showed me a lot can come from living by example - in front of her and our future child.

Please pray for the quick sale of our home. It seems like just when we think we are close, something falls through (major disappointment yesterday). I am really trying to not stress about the whole deal and trust that God is just laying the groundwork for the right thing. My anxiousness sometimes gets the better of me!

It's Official!

Technically, it has been "official" for awhile. We are in the processing of a move to Louisville. Ronnie took a full time position with Northeast Christian Church, so we will be relocating this summer. We are trying to sell our house by owner, so please pray that God brings along the right buyer (the anxious side of me wants to say "soon", but I am trying to be patient and remember His timing is always perfect!)

Some have asked if I am excited about this. Yes and no. . . I am excited for Ronnie because he loves the position and environment in which he will work. It is not super exciting to be moving away from family (we technically live within 5 miles of my parents and brother/sister in law / nephew). However, I know it could always be farther - it is only about an hour and a half away from where we are now.

We haven't really started exploring housing on that end yet. I am going to be staying home with Ella and the baby next year, so I am looking forward to that. (For those of my friends that already get to do this, any advice / ideas / things that work for you / etc would be greatly welcomed!!) I was able to stay home with Ella for 12 weeks after her birth, and we had wonderful sitters! It is still different though. I am excited to be home with the baby, but also for Ella to help her adjust to all the newness around her. We are looking to move probably sometime in August, although I will still have the baby here at Leitchfield in Sept.

Six months along in pregnancy - everything is going well. I type this as I get ready to leave for my last official day of teaching in awhile. I am also excited about that! There is the quick update on our end. I could include some random pictures, but that is exactly what they would be - random! I will try to do that in my next post.