Fun with Amy

Our friend Lorena came by yesterday with her children, Edgar and Amy. Edgar was one of my students many years ago and is now in high school. Amy will be going into third grade next year. Jack had a great time with both of them. He shared his cars with them and dragged Amy around the house for hours. After tearing the couch apart looking for a remote, Jack decided he liked it better disassembled. We decided to turn it into a fort. It was very fun. Thanks for coming by!

Penne Pomodoro

Last night was bocce night for Rob, so Jack and Mommy headed to Santa Barbara to support our favorite player. Jack loves Arnoldi's restaurant and has been dining there since he was a tiny little baby. In case you are ever there and unsure of what to order, Jack recommends the penne pomodoro. He wears it well. And believe it or not, there was even more in his tummy than on his face.

Mohawk Boy

Jack's hair is so long that his shampoo mohawk won't even stay standing. Despite his hairstyle malfunction, he was having lots of fun in his bath last night. Lightning McQueen joined him for a while and he turned his submarine into an airplane, complete with "whooshing through the air" sounds. We are all headed to Long Beach this weekend for haircuts. Jack's is especially overdue. I can't wait to see how handsome he and Daddy will look in their stylish new dos.

Jack and Rob will also get to meet Max for the first time. I can only dream of the mischief these two little cousins will get into in years to come.

Max Trani Hardin

Here is some early video of the newest member of our family. I checked in on them at the hospital before I came home yesterday and they are all great. Troy finally went home for a shower and a nap after trying to sleep on the tiny, little, squeaky loveseat in the hospital room to two days...God bless him, he is such a wonderful guy! Nikki was feeling good. She was moving a little slow, but she was up and moving which was more than I could do 24 hours after Jack was born! I'm so glad she didn't get a c-section! She'll be back to normal soon. The baby is perfect! He just finished his hearing test as I arrived, passed with flying colors. He was mostly drowsy from Tylenol after his own little surgical "procedure" that morning. Max and his mommy will both be walking a little cautiously for a few days. They will all be headed home today to start their life together. Good luck family!

Fresh From the Oven

Introducing... sorry, still no name. Check in again tomorrow. But here is a picture of Jack's cute new cousin. He is adorable. He looks very serious complete with furrowed brow. I think he's trying to figure out how he wound up in this world. As we left the hospital, his pediatrician came in to announce that he is perfect...I could've told her that.

Anyway, Nikki came through labor in 12 hours. She had a pretty rough night, as they gave her some drugs to kick start things and it did. She started at only 1 or 2 cm. When I arrived at 6:30 this morning they were just giving her an epidural. She went quickly to 6 cm by 8:00 and then 9 cm by 9:00! The nurses were racing around to get things ready. By the time she hit 10 cm, they were chasing the doctor down to hurry and get there. She actually had to stop pushing to wait for the doctor to arrive!! At 10:57, the baby arrived. In the end healthy baby, healthy Mom, relieved Dad. Everything was great. Everyone is so thrilled to finally meet our newest member of the family. Congratulations Troy and Nikki!

Baby

8 lbs 6 oz 20 in. Mom and baby are doing great!

Coming Attractions...

If you've wondered why I still haven't posted about my nephew, it's because he has yet to make his appearance. I'm headed down to Redondo Beach tonight to be close to Little Company of Mary Hospital (which Rob likes to say is the BEST hospital out there...it's the one where he was born!) Nikki will go in late tonight to get round 1 of her induction medications. I hope to post by this time tomorrow about my darling nephew and the quick, easy delivery that Nikki experienced! Keep them in your prayers tonight and check here tomorrow for updates.