The Incarnation of Who They Are- Part 2: Elizabeth Barrington

Hearnlet #2

Elizabeth Barrington aka Lou

Contrary to what most people believed, Tucker and I were thrilled to learn we were having another girl. Sisters!
In addition to all of the challenges that are present when you name your first child, a special obstacle exists with the naming of subsequent children. You need to make sure the names sound good together. For instance: If someone named their first child Marilyn, then naming a son Mason might result in scary images of large breasted male rock stars. (ie, Marilyn Manson)
We knew we wanted to stick with the traditional and feminine, but I really liked the idea of having the strong sounding middle name as we had done with Emily.
Elizabeth's name actually came about pretty easily. Tucker and I each have one sister. My sister's name is Beth (Elizabeth Louise), and his sister's name is Barrie (Anne Barrington). Merger!! We get both the sisters covered in one fell swoop! My sister has NEVER gone by Elizabeth, so there was no concern over confusion. In addition to Barrington being his sister's name, SHE received her name because it was their paternal grandmother's maiden name. Home run! Beautiful and strong. Elizabeth Barrington.
Irony here- Sometimes it just doesn't matter what we parents decide. When Charlie was young, he began calling Elizabeth "Lou Lou" because he couldn't say Elizzabeth. He outgrew that eventually- but not before Patch was born and caught onto it. So Patch learned to call her Lou Lou. It wasn't long before we all were going along with it. It got to the point where whole groups of people only knew her as Lou. About a year and a half ago she told Tucker and I she actually perferred Lou to Elizabeth. This year she went by Lou in school, and friends who have known her as Elizabeth for their whole lives caught on quickly. It really was pretty easy. She just really is Lou. That being said, there will be no trips to the court house; her formal name will always be Elizabeth Barrington!

Best Friends

I think the greatest gift that I have given my kids is the gift of each other. Emily is 3 1/2 years older than Lou. After almost 3 years, Charlie was born, and 3 1/2 years later came Patch. For 10 years I had babies. I always knew I wanted more than one child but how many and the time span in which they were to be born was something I just never really thought about. I just kinda "knew" when it was time to start trying for another. Thankfully, pregnancy came extremely quick for me. (although some might say too quick in the case of that first one. ahem.)
When we decided to try for a baby after Emily, I prayed she would have a sister. Of course, the visions of two beautiful girls dressed prissily in matching frocks polluted my mind, but my overwhelming desire was to "grow" a best friend for Emily. Tucker was of like mind, although everyone just assumed he wanted a boy. He still talks about how annoyed he was when people used to comment on how disappointed he must be that it was another girl! Emily loved her baby sister from the moment she found out she was on her way. Although they have the occasional sibling squabble, they truly are best friends. They are together most of the time and understand one another like no other.
When we decided to have our fourth, which literally was a split moment decision, I thought how fabulous it would be for Charlie to have what Lou and Em have! The girls loved Charlie, but it was undeniable the bond that they shared as sisters. Could having a brother be just as wonderful to my son? Ironically, we were told very early on in my fourth pregnancy that we were expecting a girl. We were happy, but disappointed Charlie would miss out on having a brother. (surely no more Hearnlets after 4!!) For weeks we referred to the baby growing inside me as Clara, and mentally prepared ourselves for little girl #3. However, during a routine ultrasound it was confirmed that this last little baby was in fact a boy! Our little girl had grown a winkie!!
Charlie and Patch are to each other what Lou and Em are. They understand one another in a way no one else does. They are "bubbies" and they are best friends. They have each other now and will forever.
I know I had no hand in my children's birth order, but I marvel at God's perfection. He gave my children each other in the most perfect ways imaginable. They are better people for having each other and I am so very thankful.

My Lou

Remember when we were kids and we would go to those little junk stores and buy those "grab bags?" That sealed paper bag with unknown contents would make my imagination soar. Although the price was usually right around a dollar or so, I would just know that MY bag would contain some very marvelous and valuable prize. The element of surprise was really the treat, because the contents were usually something that would easily break or otherwise be deemed useless in a matter of minutes. I felt that same sense of excitement with every pregnancy. You just never know what you're gonna get!
From the moment I found out I was pregnant with Elizabeth, our lives changed. My pregnancy with her was wrought with danger and I was put on bed rest for many weeks. Tucker and I could not believe how we could have such complications after such an easy pregnancy with Emily. When we finally were told we were "out of the woods" with the pregnancy scare, we began to imagine what our new little girl would be like. We already had a beautiful curly-headed blond who was the apple of our eyes, and we felt sure that the birth of Elizabeth would ensure us another one, just like the first; a matching set!
I delivered Elizabeth and the doctor immediately handed her to me. Wow. This baby was beautiful, but so unexpected!! Instead of the fair skinned baby I was imagining, I had in my arms a perfect dark-complected, brown eyed, baby with a fine, silky layer of dark brown hair covering her head. I was so shocked at her coloring, because I was always the most pale person anywhere. Within days it was very evident that the baby did not take after her parents but rather her Aunt Barrie. (Tucker's sister) To this day everyone jokes that it may be impossible for Barrie to ever have a child that looks more like her than Elizabeth does!
Everything about Elizabeth has been a surprise. She is quirky and smart and has the most hilarious sense of humor. She is more sure of herself and who she wants to be than most adults I know. She developed an athletic spirit before she could walk as she began scaling bookshelves and tabletops when no one was looking. Her adventurous streak even led her to break her leg when she was only 4 years old! Now she is in her 7th season playing soccer. Somewhere along the way she became Lou, (a name given to her by her brother who couldn't say Elizabeth) and she feels more comfortable with it than any of the millions of variations of Elizabeth and nicknames she has acquired over the years. I am amazed by her. She is everything I would have loved to be when I was that age. She is truly the type of person who will write her own story instead of having it dictated to her. I admire her so much for that.
In many ways having her has been like getting one of those mystery grab bags. I could have never imagined what was inside. Thankfully, though I finally did get that marvelous and valuable prize!

Ch-Ch-Ch Changes

This will go down in history as the summer we changed everything. Well, hopefully not everything, but we are doing a whole lot of home improvements. In addition to the kitchen remodel, we have hired a landscaping company to clear out and grade the backyard. It was a collection of massive over growth, and it will be so nice when there will be such room for the kids to run around!! To get the job done, the landscaper has brought in 2 giant, tractory-looking machines. I'm not sure what they are, but the kids sure were excited to see that they had been left behind after the workers called it a day. All 4 kids enjoyed hopping up inside for photo-ops. (Although, I'm quite sure that was not why they were left!!)

A Quick Brag

Yesterday Tucker was outside doing yard work while I ran errands. He decided it would be a good idea to encourage the kids to help and maybe earn a little extra money. The task at hand was to dig up Monkey Grass from the back yard, separate it, and plant it around our front natural area. Quite an arduous task, indeed. About 2 hours into the morning I receive a call on my cell phone from Elizabeth saying Daddy has cut his hand and it is bleeding very bad. So when I got home I cleaned and bandaged Tucker's wounded paw, and put him on yard work restriction. He had wanted to go back out and finish, but we both felt like his wound, which wasn't too pretty, would do much better to rest.
Here comes the brag...
Emily and Elizabeth spent the next 2 1/2 hours finishing the job. They weren't told to keep going after Daddy came in, they just did. Not only did they do the lion's share of the work, but they did a really good job. Everything was spaced beautifully and planted very well. When they were finished, they were beaming with pride. They were rewarded with dinner at the Olive Garden as well as being able to choose a new game from the used game store.
I say it ALL the time, and I know people are tired of hearing me say it, but my kids are awesome. They are really nice and thoughtful people. I am so thankful for them. Not just because they are my kids and "you have to say that about your kids," but because I am grateful for being able to know the people who they are becoming. It is because of them that I aspire to be a better person. There is a whole lot of hope for this world when you see such remarkable young people.

Friends Forever

I have four children. Everyone who knows me, knows I'm that lady with the four kids. When we descend upon a grocery store or a public event, the world seems to know it. That being said, I have 4 of the most well behaved children I know. (and in my line of work I know A LOT of children!!) But still, no matter how good they can be, there is still four of them, and I often get those "haven't you figured out where they come from yet?" comments.
I really enjoy being a mom. It is the best thing I have ever done, although I have had some challenges as of late. Apparently, having 4 kids, fairly spaced out in age, presents unique challenges. For example, the 11 year old is on her cell phone, conducting very important business, while in the background the 1 year old is asking for a clean diaper. Alternate universes. It can be a lot to handle.
So, as I try to do in everything, I look for that proverbial silver lining; the nugget of inspiration and hope to carry me through.
All of us went to a party tonight for one of Patch's little school buddies. It was an outdoor party, and the kids spent 2 hours running around in the Georgia heat, and loving every moment. By the time we packed up to leave, our little Patchy had really begun to melt down from exhaustion. His daddy was holding him and talking so sweetly to him, yet all he would cry out for was "Lou Lou." (his name for his sister, Elizabeth) The 8 year old did what neither Daddy or Mommy was capable of at the time, and calmed him down and comforted him as we got in the car and drove home. Once home, and clean, my daughter and my son, snuggled up and fell asleep. Together. All is right with the world.
So, yes, being the mom of 4 is hairy at times. I get frustrated and overwhelmed and feel under appreciated. But tonight I was reminded what an awesome gift God has given me and my husband and children. We have the gift of each other. My kids will ALWAYS have their siblings. When Tucker and I are old, and go crazy, as is inevitable, I'm beginning to believe, they will have each other to lean on. We have each other to learn from, and to grow from- to play with and to spat with. We enhance each other's lives.
Whether it is just a much needed bedtime snuggle, or a personal crisis, we are friends in the truest form-forever.