Life and Times of the Sharp Family

Act III, one of our favorite bands, made an appearance at the Cascades Falls recently for a kids and family night. Colby and I attend Act III performances regularly. They even provided the music at Evan and Laura's wedding reception, which was so much fun. The fact that our favorite band was playing at the place we went to on our first date was just about, well, perfect. We took both kids and met up with the rest of the Sharp clan. I think it's safe to say that the little boys had a great time... Dharia is getting so big already! She isn't sleeping too good yet, but we can't hold it against her because she's just so darn pretty. One thing we're noticing is just how dainty and content she is, especially compared to Breslin, who we have begun to dub "The Tornado". Here are some more pictures of Miss Dharia.

I had to take a picture so those of you who have known me for any length of time would believe me. I CAN SEW! It's true. I have now sewn 8 curtains for the house, Dharia's dust ruffle, and 2 crib sheets. Now I have conquered boxer shorts as well. Colby has 2 new pairs of boxer shorts. One has smiling skulls and crossbones and the other one is a baseball pattern. I was all-state in two sports in high school and was honored with the President's Cup 4 years in a row at Alma College, but I'm not sure I've ever been more proud of myself than I am right now. Seriously. Ask my mother. I am not in any way, shape, or form, domestically inclined. She tried her best, poor soul, to do her motherly duty and teach me to cook, bake, clean, sew, put on make up, do my hair, etc. Ironing didn't take. Cleaning house definitely didn't take. It looked hopeless for a long time. But, look ma! I can sew! Wow, lots of new things have been going on in the Sharp household lately. It...

Today we went to McDonald's and let Bres play in the PlayPlace there. He had a great time! This video is one minute that sums up the giggly fun! I am falling in love with Miss Dharia. She is a sweet, content little girl. While I was pregnant, I never understood how I could possibly love another baby as much as I loved Breslin. Now I know that there's nothing to understand, you just do. She is beautiful and perfect and I thank God for such a healthy and happy little girl! A diaper size study comparison...match the diaper below with the correct Sharp child.

Our little boy is struggling to adjust to big brotherhood. His world has been effectively rocked. What the heck is going on? Breslin spent some really fun days with his Nana, but as we continued to spend more and more days away from home, his moods deteriorated. After we came home from the hospital, we decided to go up to Clare to see my grandparents and introduce them to their first great-grandaughter. Bres did not fare well, but it was nice for Cobly and I to have some extra hands available to take care of the kids. Here is Dharia with her great-grandma and the four generations of girls on the Evans side: Since we've been home, things have been better, but Bres is still out of sorts. He isn't mean or aggressive toward Dharia, he just is grumpy and more bratty than usual. It's so odd to see him like this, because I'm used to my sweet little boy. We have had a couple of great brother-sister moments already, though. When Dharia was in her swing, Breslin leaned over to...

She's here! Dharia Lou Sharp was born Wednesday, July 30th at 12:15 pm. She weighed in at 7 lbs, 13 ounces and was 19 inches long. Tuesday afternoon I took advantage of a gift certificate my brother and sister-in-law (Evan and Laura) got me for my birthday and got a nice spa pedicure and haircut. Afterwards, Colby picked me up to take me out on a date. We went to the new buffalo barbeque wings joint in town. After dinner when I went to the bathroom, I thought that maybe my water had broken, but I just wasn't sure... You'd think that after two times through this, I'd learn. I guess I'm just not that quick. Colby and I picked up Bres and went home. I woke up the next morning at about 8 am to contractions. We dropped Bres off at Grandma Sharp's house and went to the hospital. I kept thinking to myself, "This is so different than last time. I wonder if I'm really in labor..." I was dilated to 5 cm by the time we got to the hospital. By the time Colby a...

As we count down the days to the arrival of our new baby girl, we have been soaking up our last few days as a family of three. I'd have to say with all of the fun summer stuff and one one one time with Bres, life is pretty good for the little man. This weekend was my grandpa Stuart's 77th birthday party and Bres had no shortage of doting family members who set him up in royal style. Check out the Bres-sized lounge chair accompanied by a drink and chips. Oh yes, and a ball for a foot rest. Bres had a great time hanging out with family, running around my grandparents' property and eating lots of Pringles and hot dogs (healthy, I know). The week previous we visited South Haven and Bres had his first Lake Michigan trip. It was so much better than I was expecting. The water was warmer than I EVER remember it being and Bres actually spent a lot of time in it. He found the sand fascinating too. Bres's favorite activities were running from the beach into the water and back, get...

We had a bit of a scare last night. Poor Bres had just been so tired and fussy that I finally decided to take his temperature. Now this isn't something I plan on winning the mom of the year award for, but I knew he had felt warm throughout the previous day and figured he was just getting a tooth and he would sleep it off. When I finally did take his temperature under his arm, it was a frightening 102. The kid was burning up and miserable. I gave him some Tylenol and rocked him, but I was sweating just holding him...and those of you who know me well enough know that I can put out a significant amount of sweat. :) I called my mom because I didn't know what else to do (gosh, I hope that my kids don't expect me to know everything someday!) and she said if the fever didn't go down in a half an hour to take him into the ER. Well, it didn't go down, so we loaded him up with his blanket, stuffed frog, and juice and headed to the Oaklawn Hospital eemergency department. When...