Harper's Birth Announcement

Happy Friday! 

I wanted to share with everyone the birth announcement we are sending to all our family and friends.

Midweek Confessions

Well, after a break from Midweek Confessions I decided to come back for more :)..

~ Since, I have had Harper (2 weeks ago) I have stayed in my pajamas until at least noon each day. It is crazy how fast the day goes by when your taking care of a newborn.

~ Labor was not that bad at all. The worst part was when I was home having pains but when I got to the hospital I was given an epidural and felt GREAT! I wish I had not second guessed all my friends comments on this.

~ My husband is in a competition with me on who changes diapers faster. Needless to say, I'm winning the competition, but he wins the funniest diaper song award. Will feels compelled to make up songs to sing to Harper during the diaper changes and they are Hilarious. (Maybe, I will secretly videotape him while he is doing this and put it on here )

~ One of my favorite shows East Bound and Down started a new season last week . I love this show for the humor and it being taped in Myrtle Beach, SC. However, I would not let Harper watch this show for some of the inappropriateness :)   This season though is not that funny and has been rather disappointing. So, I got a new favorite show. I really like the Ricky  Gervais show Life is Too Short about Warwick Davis the guy who played Willow. It is hilarious!! The whole show is pretty much making fun of him and his slow paced acting career. They also have guests like Johnny Depp that add to the humor.

~ I had the most delicious dessert last week. One of our guy friends made us these Rice Krispy treats dipped with chocolate and peanut butter.They were so yummy and did not last more than a few days.

~ Since, I am home during the day I have realized that there is nothing on TV between 12 and 3. I really have no clue what people watch during these hours. I mean I can only watch Judge Joe Brown for an hour not four :)

~ Will and I have decided to get the whole family (including Lilly) out of the house on Saturday. We will see how Lilly does with a car seat and a baby in her space.

~Link up and tell your confessions!

Date Night

I cannot believe it is already Wednesday. It is really amazing how time gets away from you when you have a newborn. I must say, I have really enjoyed this time with Harper. She is such a great baby. Last night, she slept from 12 until 6:30 which made me a happy mom. I could not believe that I got a full 6 1/2 hours of sleep. So , she has made this transformation into mommy-hood pretty easy for me. I just hope nothing changes :) We think it is so cute how she always sleeps with her either one or both of her arms up near her head

Harper doing her sleeping pose

In the last two weeks, we have had some really great help and support. Many of our friends last week came by and brought us dinner each night of the week. We were so overcome by how thoughtful everyone was. And of course, our parents have been so helpful. This Sunday my parents came for a visit and to give us a night out. Since, I had not been out of the house since Harper's birth it was so nice to go out and have dinner with just Will and I. I do not know if I would be this comfortable leaving Harper with anyone else but my parents and Will's dad for the evening (so far). 

My mom (grammy) feeding Harper

For our date night, we decided to go to a local Japanese restaurant, Kabuki. Will and I always enjoy going to this restaurant because of the good sushi, hibachi and entertainment. 

Kabuki

I really love all the jokes that the chefs make while cooking and how you always have to act like you have never heard them. You know what I'm talking about. The joke about the onion volcano, ketchup bottle explosion, the rolling of the egg and calling it an egg roll and the water bottle that looks like a boy peeing. I just find all of this so humorous. 

This is the water bottle supposed to look like a boy peeing.(hah)

Onion Volcano

We also have this running joke between Will and I about the shrimp catching event. Since, Will and I have been together he swears that he is the "World's Best Shrimp Catcher" and that he never misses.  However, this night the chef saved about 5 shrimp for Will to catch and not one was caught. Of course, Will blamed it on the throwing technique of the chef not being accurate and that it should not count towards his record of shrimp catching. 

Enjoying my night out  but missing Harper girl..

** Check back later today for Midweek Confessions**

First Week With Harper

Well, we officially survived our first week of parenthood. It was such an exciting and exhausting week. We are so in love with our little girl, Harper. We are already proud parents.

Loves her swing

On Saturday, they released both Harper and I from the hospital to come home. We knew that this was going to be a big transformation for us and Lilly. So, to get Lilly introduced to her little sister we had Lilly sleep the night before with Harper's blanket. When we brought Harper into the house we had Lilly sit on the couch, so she would not jump on us. Then, I put Harper in her swing and told Lilly to come meet her. It was such a cute experience.

Lilly watching her little sister

Lilly was so gentle and was just trying to figure out who she was while turning her head side to side and sniffing her. All week Lilly has come next to me when I am feeding Harper, lays down with her when she is playing on her mat, and will go and lick her feet while she is on the swing. ( No worries, we watch very closely to make sure Lilly is not trying to make out with Harper)

On Sunday, Harper experienced her very first snow storm. It was the first snow storm of the 2012 winter season. It was perfect timing. On Sunday, my family left leaving Will and I alone with Harper and Lilly. It was so nice to be snowed in as a family :).

Harper also had her very first pediatrician appointment on Tuesday. We went to a pediatrician who was recommended by many of our friends and we were beyond pleased. Harper did such a great job. All she did was sleep and when we the took her clothes off for examination she did not even cry. All she did during the whole appointment was stare at our doctor. Our doctor said she is very healthy and to enjoy this time with her. So, in one month we will have our next pediatrician appointment. 

On our way to the pediatrician

Harper has also been a really good baby , so far. The only time she ever cries is when she is hungry which is every 3 to 4 hours, when she has a dirty diaper, or when she wants to play. Her sleeping schedule has gotten  so good this week. During the early part of the week she slept until 2 am then would wake for a 20 min feeding. Then, at 4 am for another feeding and diaper change and sleep until 8. The last three nights, we have kept her up until 11:30 by having her play on her mat and giving her a bath. This has given us more sleep than earlier in the week. She goes to bed after her bath and feeding around 12 and does not wake until 4 am. (Funny thing, she would move in me every morning at 4). She then wakes up around 8 am , so we have made progress this week. 

Her towel with owl ears.

We feel very fortunate that she is already sleeping this much. If I can get at least 7 hours of sleep I am golden So far, I have been able to get a lot of sleep. I am hoping that this does not change.

Sleeping like an angel

So, this week has been one that I will always cherish as she grows up.

Harper Has Arrived!

Harper Nicole has arrived! After 20 hours of labor, we finally were able to meet our precious little girl. She is absolutely gorgeous and we are so in love.  I thought that I was going to have all this time to blog during the first week but getting adjusted to our new life took longer than I expected :).. So, thanks for being patient but I am back!

These were on our mailbox when we came home from the hospital.

Harper was born on February 16, 2012. She weighed 7 lbs and 8 oz. She measured 19 inches in length. Which, explains why I was always feeling her kick my stomach with those long legs. Her head measured 13 1/4 inches and chest 13 inches. Overall, we think she is perfect:)

Right now, we think we got blessed with the most content baby. She sleeps all the time and only cries when she needs to eat, get changed, or wants to play. We have been so fortunate with her sleeping. She goes to sleep at  midnight then wakes up around 4 for a feeding. Then after 20 minutes she goes back to sleep until 8 am.  So, I am getting plenty of sleep and feel blessed she that she loves it. We keep joking that she got my sleeping genes because my whole family loves to sleep all the time. So, I am glad I was able to pass that on to her :) Hopefully, this is something that does not change in the future months.

Below are photos from her birth to her hospital stay. 

Harper and I on her second day of life

Will being a proud dad the night she was born!

Harper dressed and ready to meet our friends who visited us at the hospital.

Harper dressed and ready to go home.
This was the exact dress I wore home from the hospital when I was born.

Harper loving her swing.

Harper with her proud granddad. I love how she is looking up at him. 

Sleeping on Grammy.

Harper with Uncle Bryan and Shelby..
It was so sweet of them to make the trip from NOVA to see her the day she came home.

As you can see we are proud parents and are loving every moment with our little princess.

Happy Valentine's Day

(Yes, I am still pregnant and just waiting. ) This Valentine's Day was very different than any year in the past. This year, we decided to take the laid back route. We enjoyed a nice LONG walk this morning (hoping to start my labor process) followed with a wonderful lunch at my favorite sushi spot Ben Gui Sushi. However, I only ate tempura sushi but it kicked the sushi craving I was having.  

We also went to a local party store and bought “It’s a Girl” sign for our yard and candy cigars for when she does arrive.  

Tonight, we are going to stay in and enjoy our time left with just one another. I have made homemade baked ziti and (store bought) bread. 

Do not worry, the wine was more for looks. However, I am going to have my 1 glass. :)

We were hoping that our Valentine’s Day gift would be Harper but as of right now we only have 6 more hours left of this day.  It is funny how things are already so different than years past. Last year, we spent our Valentine's Day at The Greenbrier Resort enjoying wine tastings and great meals. The whole weekend we kept saying that we hoped that by the following year we would have a little one.  So, I do not mind relaxing and waiting on her arrival. 

I wanted to take a moment and express my love to my Valentine, Will. I feel like I am the luckiest girl,  since I not only have a wonderful husband but the best friend any one could ask for.  When I was growing up, my dad always said to be sure to marry someone who gives you their all, loves you no matter what, does not give up on love, is patient, is your best friend , someone who you love to do hobbies with (like golf  for us), works hard to provide for you and your family and of course a true Redskin fan. Well, I think that Will meets this description and more. So, happy Valentine's Day my love. I cannot wait to share the next adventure in our life, Harper.

**Tomorrow, I will share our love story since it is our 7 year engagement anniversary.  So , stayed tuned :)**

The Waiting Game

   Well, right now I am just sitting on my couch with Will and Lilly waiting for little Miss Harper to arrive. Yesterday, my doctor tried to start my labor by stripping my cervix which should promote my water to break. However, she did inform me that sometimes it does not work and that it is up to mother nature. She assumed that it would work on me, since I am already dilated and effaced but as of today nothing has happened. I have been having really strong contractions but they are just false. So, I guess Harper just likes making her mom suffer through the pain :)
   So, here is my weekly pregnancy update, since I am still waiting. 

Pregnancy Week: 39 Weeks and 2 days

Size of Baby: Approximately a little over 7 pounds; the size of a mini watermelon.

Weight Gain: 30 pounds. All my weight gain is in my belly which I am hoping goes away soon after her birth.  I have had no swelling and still am able to take my wedding ring/bands on and off. So, hopefully it stays this way for one more week.  

Maternity Clothes: All maternity clothes.  So, READY for normal clothes. Cannot wait to spend my Christmas gift cards at The Loft on new spring clothes. 

Gender: A little girl, Harper Nicole.

Movement: Harper is very active. I can actually see her foot when she kicks me now. I think we are going to have a little cheerleader.  She also enjoys to be awake and busy at 12 am and 4 am. So, I am going to have my hands full when she arrives. I am just going to act like I am back in college where I stayed up all night and still made it to class the next day. Main difference, there will be no partaking in alcoholic beverages :)

Sleep: I sleep until 4 am every day. Then, she seems to move so much that it keeps me awake. Luckily, I have finished working so this week I should be able to catch up on those hours in the morning. 

What I miss: ALOT.. I miss being able to just jump into bed with no problem, not going to the restroom 100 times a day, eating pizza or pasta without acid reflux, walking with no  waddle, and being able to shave my legs without taking a bath :)

Cravings: I have been craving chocolate cupcakes like crazy. It was so bad last week that I kept going to a local cupcake shops website and thinking about what cupcake I was going to get on my way home from work. Sad part, I was so exhausted from work that all I could do was go home and take a nap. 

Symptoms: I keep having false contractions which are really painful. I just hope the real ones start soon.

Words of Wisdom:  Do not google anything related to labor. I thought that having my cervix stripped was going to be AWFUL based off the Internet. However, it was nothing. So, from now on I am not worrying. 

Best Moment(s) This Week: Being able to say goodbye to all my wonderful students. It was a bitter sweet day , since I will not be returning this school year.  It was nice to be able to say my goodbyes and wish them luck in the future. I am really going to miss my kids but am happy to be able to spend time with my own child.