The Coverdale Chronicles

Twelve Month Post

2009-08-25T21:21:00.000-05:00

Harrison is one year old!

From Week 51: Birthday Party with Family

Favorite Things: Singing/talking, dancing to music, balls, books, blocks, cars, pears, eggs, Backyardigans (especially when they sing), baths are still his favorite time of the day, petting Lilly, electronics (cell phones, blackberries, laptops, dvd players, cable boxes, etc.), the DVD player in Mom’s new car, birthday presents

From Week 49

Least Favorite Things: Being sick, cutting teath, getting in his carseat, being held still, wearing hats, not getting exactly what I want (spoiled a little?)

From Week 51: Birthday Party with Family

Tricks: Walking (!!!), lots of new words (baby, “baba” (bottle), go, no,) plus all the old ones (mama, dada, ball, doggie, kitty, hi, bye), he tries to copy most things he hears and makes lots of funny sounds, he gives kisses and hugs, waves hello and goodbye, feeds himself with a spoon

From Week 51

Foods Facts: Harrison is using a sippy cup more and more and is down to only two bottles everyday, he feeds himself at most meals (he is getting better using a spoon everyday) and his favorite foods are eggs, pears, turkey, cheese, applesauce, bananas, pudding and yogurt. He had his first taste of ice cream this month and loved it! He also had birthday cake (white cake with white icing) this month. We expected him to dig in with both hands but he was surprisingly neat. He just picked a little off at a time put it in his mouth.

From Week 49

Sleeping schedule: His sleeping is about the same. Other than the week of teething and sickness, Harrison has been a pretty good sleeper. I think he sleeps through the night (10 – 12 hours) about 4 nights a week. The other night are usually just brief wake ups and we can usually pat his back and get him back to sleep. He also seems to really enjoy napping these days and has been a really good about taking naps this month.

From Week 51

Big Events:
Harrison took his first steps this month. He walked right across the living room and was such a good walker that we think he was practicing when we weren’t looking.

Harrison started Kindermusik this month. He and I go for one hour every Monday. He loves all the singing and dancing. He especially likes the musical eggs and the teacher’s Cabbage Patch doll. He and his new friend Gracely also like getting in trouble and exploring the classroom when they are suppose to be participating in class.

Harrison also started Mother’s Day Out this month (halleluiah!!!). He goes every Wednesday for 5 ½ hours. After the first day, his teachers said he was a really happy little boy. They said he loved music time and he really loved to talk (sounds like they already know him pretty well).

Harrison cut another tooth this month. He cut his bottom left lateral incisor this month – he now has seven teeth. We know the right tooth with be cutting through in the next few days.

Harrison went to Pensacola and Fairhope for his first birthday*. We celebrated with both sets of Grandparents and his Uncle Matt and Aunt CJ (who is expecting a little boy in the next few weeks!)

*Birthday post coming soon.

Eleven Month Post!

2009-07-25T22:48:00.002-05:00

Harrison is 11 months old!

From Week 47

Favorite Things: Balls, Books, taking the mustard out of the refrigerator (I don’t know why), climbing, drinking from glasses, throwing food on the ground (or to Lilly), tackling Lilly, stepping on Lilly, pulling Lilly’s fur (poor Lilly!), pulling hair, playing in the water, driving things (and making vroom noises), talking/screaming/singing, wearing his sunglasses, the Backyardigans theme song, his cousins Mattie and Austin, eating (especially snacks)

From Week 44

Least Favorite Things: Holding still to have his diaper changed or clothes changed, being put in his car seat when he doesn’t want to, having things taken away from him, wearing little hats

From Week 45

Tricks: Climbing up on the furniture, walking along furniture and walls, he has taken a few independent steps but not enough to really call him a walker, putting his face under water, parroting what we say (some of the funnier words have been “captain,” “fishies” ), he is now using some words in context (“dada”, “mama,” “ball,” “bye bye,” “dog,” “illy”), fake laughing to get attention, clapping for himself and others, stacking toys and blocks, sorting toys, hugging, melting his mommy and daddy’s heart over and over again

From Week 43

Foods Facts: Harrison still loves to eat. He is eating a lot more solid food and I haven’t found a food he won’t eat yet. However, if he isn’t in the mood for a particular food he will spit it out at you or throw it on the ground for Lilly. Harrison particularly loves eating off of other people’s plates and has come to realize that mom and dad usually have something worth begging for. Harrison also got a special treat this month and had a very small piece of cake. He loved it! I think his first birthday cake will be a sight to see!

Sleeping schedule: Just when I thought we would never get any sleep ever again, Harrison decided that he was ready to start sleeping through the night. We still have plenty of bad nights mixed in but we all really appreciate the nights that we don’t get a baby wake up call. He has also shifted his nap schedule a bit. Most days Harrison only takes one long nap in the middle of the day. He still likes to take a cat nap in his high chair or in the car seat every now and then.

Big Events:

From Week 44

This was Harrison’s first 4th of July. Unfortunately a few unplanned circumstances prevented us from seeing as many fireworks as we were hoping to. Despite a few setbacks we were able to see the Germantown fireworks. We spent the day with our friends Don and Heather. Harrison had a lot of fun crawling in the back of the truck while we all waited for the fireworks. Once the fireworks started he was spellbound. He loved all the lights and loud noises. He wasn’t even the slightest bit scared!

Harrison started going to the nursery at the YMCA this month. So far he has loved the playtime and mom has really loved the opportunity to visit the gym and have a little independence. He is really excited to get dropped off with the other children and most days he seems a little sad when it is time to go home.

His Coverdale Grandparents came up to Memphis this month to take care of Harrison while Sam and I went to Veronica Ayala’s wedding in New Orleans. I think Harrison kept his Grandparents on their toes. Thank you two so much for keeping him and giving us a weekend away!

From Week 46

We had another very special visitor this month. My cousin’s daughter Mattie came to Memphis to play with Harrison for a week. While Mattie was here we visited the zoo, went to the Peabody Hotel to see the ducks march, went to the pool, played in the park, and did all sorts of other fun activities. I know Harrison misses his playmate.

From Week 47

Harrison, Mattie and I travelled to Birmingham towards the end of the month for a vacation at the lake. We joined my Mom, Aunt Mary, Melanie, Austin, and Suzanne at the lake. It was a fun week of shopping, swimming, eating, talking and lots and lots of laughing.

From Week 43

The good times keep flying by! I haven’t gotten to post to the blog as often as I would like – we are just having way too much fun to stop and look at the computer. I can’t promise I will be any better as the months roll by but I will try to hit the highlights as I have time.

I love my new shoes!

2009-06-25T21:51:00.003-05:00

Harrison doesn't spend much time in shoes yet but who can resist these adorable red shoes? These were a gift from his Uncle Chris and Karen. His feet still have a little growing to do (they will be perfect by the time he is walking on his own). Even without a perfect fit, Harrison enjoyed taking them out for a trial run in the backyard.

If you would like a pair of your own, you can get them from Rileyroos.

Ten Month Post!

2009-06-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

From Week 39

Harrison is 10 months old!

From Week 41

Favorite Things: Books (he loves to read and to be read to), balls of any kind, music, Lilly’s food and water bowl, being tickled under his neck, the refrigerator, the dishwasher, toilet paper, playing in the water, anything electronic that lights up (laptops, cellphones, printer, tv, etc)

From Blogger Pictures

Least Favorite Things: Having his diaper changed (it sounds like he is being tortured!), being told “no,” not being held when he wants to be, being held when he doesn’t want to be, going to sleep – we have had a really tough time with bedtime this month

From Week 42

Tricks: Crawling with his belly off the ground, cruising across the furniture (he gets braver and braver every day), making “vroom” sounds when he pushes a toy car, locating a few toys by name (i.e. – “Harrison, where is your ball?”), talking a lot (“dada”, “mama”, “illy”, “ook” (book), “itty” (kitty)), climbing, waving bye, gesturing to be picked up, getting into trouble in a split second!

From Week 43

Foods Facts: By the end of this month Harrison is having three meals a day, three bottles a day and one afternoon snack. His favorite food is banana but he will eat just about anything you give him. He loved spaghetti noodles – we skipped the sauce this time. On a side note, keeping Harrison from eating Lilly’s dog food is a constant struggle!

From Week 43

Sleeping schedule: Harrison is finally sleeping through the night consistently. Unfortunately, he has decided that it is much more fun to be awake and his been fighting going to sleep this month. We are working hard to get his sleep schedule back on track. Most nights he will go to sleep with a little rocking (and the occasional “cry it out” approach) but it doesn’t take very much to throw his schedule completely off track.

From Week 40

Big Events:

Harrison attended Vacation Bible School at Germantown United Methodist Church – Harrison was in the Little Bird Group but was often moved up to the 1 year old room since he liked watching the older children play. Harrison was very well behaved all week and even brought home some artwork (a footprint) on the last day of VBS.

Harrison helped his Daddy and Uncle Matt with some home repairs this month. He also enjoyed loving on his Aunt CJ while they visited us in Memphis. I know Harrison can’t wait for his cousin to make his debut in September!

Harrison celebrated Father’s Day by giving his Daddy some grilling tools as well as a card with his own personal message (“dadadadada”). He even signed the card himself!

From Week 42

This month really flew by! I feel like we just celebrated his 9 month birthday. I guess it is his new mobility but it seems like the weeks go by much faster than they ever have before!

What Being a Daddy Means...

2009-06-22T21:05:00.004-05:00

He loves me unconditionally...

From Daddy Pics

He takes care of the dirty stuff...

From Daddy Pics

He teaches me about football...

From Daddy Pics

He is willing to look a little foolish...

From Daddy Pics

He tells me stories...

From Daddy Pics

He keeps me snuggly and warm...

From Daddy Pics

He takes me to church...

From Daddy Pics

He reads to me...

From Daddy Pics

He helps me to soar to new heights...

From Daddy Pics

He plays a little rough...

From Daddy Pics

He plays sweetly..

From Daddy Pics

He shows me new things...

From Daddy Pics

He teaches me to drive...

From Daddy Pics

He helps me see things from a new perspective...

From Daddy Pics

He is strong...

From Daddy Pics

He is never very far...

From Daddy Pics

He is MY Dad!!!

From Daddy Pics

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Vacation Bible School

2009-06-15T21:46:00.003-05:00

Harrison attended VBS last week.

From Week 41

I was volunteering as a craft station leader for the 1st graders. Since Harrison hasn't had a lot of time apart from me, I was a little nervous about leaving him for a little over 4 hours each day. We had 85 first graders coming to the craft station each day and I knew the other volunteers would really miss me if I had to step away to comfort a fussy baby.

Harrison really exceeded my expectations. He was a little angel! He loved the nursery and especially loved watching the older (1 year olds) playing.

He seemed excited to go to Bible School each day and seemed a little sad to go home each day. Luckily for me, he was really tired after the long morning and took lots of great naps each afternoon. VBS was such a success, I have started looking for Mother's Day Out programs to enroll him in one day a week.

Go Check Out These Awesome Giveaways!

2009-06-11T21:36:00.003-05:00

Tip Junkie is giving away tons of freebies all week. Check her site daily for lots of goodies!

Weekend Activities

2009-06-10T22:39:00.002-05:00

We had some very special visitors last weekend. Sam's brother Matt and his wife CJ (who is expecting a little boy in September)came up to visit us. What a fun weekend!

The guys worked on some home repairs.

From Week 40

CJ and I did lots of visiting and talking about pregnancy and labor. She is such a cute mom to be! I can't wait to meet Harrison's future playmate. I am so excited that he is going to have a little cousin to play with.

Harrison loved all the attention from his aunt and uncle. He also loved watching all the activity around the house. He was NOT a fan of his daddy being so far away but luckily he is also very easily distracted. I don't think it will be long before he will be helping out with home repairs.

From Week 40

Nine Month Post

2009-05-28T09:54:00.002-05:00

Harrison is 9 months old!

From Week 36

Favorite Things: Animal Train Toy, bouncy balls, bubbles, playing in the pool, playing “Where’s Harrison?” (aka Peek-a-boo), reading (eating) books, watching and petting animals, music (when Harrison hears music he immediately stops what he is doing to listen and often sings and dances along), climbing mommy, daddy, and furniture

From Week 37

Least Favorite Things: holding still to have his diaper changed (we have to sing “ABC’s” to distract him – he usually joins in with his own version), changing clothes (it’s kind of like trying to bathe a cat!), having his face wiped/cleaned, having things taken away from him, the baby gate, the vacuum cleaner

From Week 37

Tricks: Sings and dances when he hears music, sits up by himself, pulls up on anything that holds still (furniture, the dog, mom and dad), cruises across the furniture (every now and then he takes a couple very daring steps by himself), crawling (which is still more like a slither than a crawl), falling on his fanny

From Week 38

Foods Tried: Harrison has three meals a day and one afternoon snack. I try to feed him a small version of what we eat most nights. He still loves applesauce but he is especially fond of food he can eat all by himself. He loves banana pieces, mashed potatoes, banana puffs, and cheese curls (the baby food version). He is definitely a southern boy and loved trying his first taste of cheese grits.

From Week 37

Sleeping schedule: Harrison is a decent sleeper. He takes two naps during the day (and usually one very short nap). He falls asleep around 8 or 9 and wakes up around 6 or 7. He was waking up every night but there have been a few nights mixed in where he has slept completely through the night. He does great when he isn’t teething or when he doesn’t have a cold – unfortunately there have been a lot of both this month.

From Week 37

Big Events:
• Weekend with the Coverdale grandparents while Sam and I dad visited Nashville for a wedding

• Week in Fairhope with the Heacock grandparents while Sam studied for an exam (he passed) – Harrison loved my parents pets, especially the “itties”

• Harrison switches from nursing to formula – this switch was surprisingly easy for all involved

• Harrison becomes incredibly mobile and quickly goes from crawling to sitting up on his own to climbing up on EVERYTHING. This is nothing stopping him now!

• We take a family trip to the Memphis Zoo over Memorial Day weekend – Harrison loved the monkeys and the polar bears.

• Closes out the month with a cold (boo!) and two new teeth (top incisors) – neither slows the little guy down.

From Week 36

Mom is having to come up with clever ways to keep me out of trouble!

Pudding Painting

2009-05-21T23:54:00.001-05:00

In a moment of insanity, I thought it might be fun to do a little pudding painting with Harrison. Despite a few little mistakes on my part (I forget sometimes how mobile Harrison is right now), Harrison had a blast!

From Week 38

While Harrison was napping I fixed some instant vanilla pudding. Once it was mixed I filled three baby food jars with pudding and then added red, blue and yellow food coloring to each jar.

From Week 38

I set up a little painting area outside. This would have been perfect for an older painter but I should have just taken the high chair outside for Harrison’s painting. That didn’t stop us from having fun though; it just made it hard to contain a crawling baby once he started getting bored.

From Week 38

Harrison loved the texture of the pudding and shrieked with delight when I put his hands into the little mounds of color. He quickly covered the Kraft paper and himself in a mixture of color.

From Week 38

I won’t hold my breath on art scholarships just yet but I was pretty impressed with his first masterpiece.

From Week 38

Clean up was actually pretty easy. I just put Harrison into the sink (clothes and all).

Gasp!!!

2009-05-20T16:03:00.004-05:00

From Week 38

I walked into Harrison's room this morning only to see a baby standing up in his crib looking back at me. I don't know why I was so surprised since he has been pulling up by himself for several weeks now. Regardless, there is something shocking about seeing a baby standing in his crib.

At least he usually has a smile on his face when he has pulled himself up. I love walking into his room to see my sweet little boy smiling back at me.

Eight Month Post

2009-04-28T22:20:00.003-05:00

From Week 34: A Trip to the Zoo

Harrison is eight months old!

From Week 33

Favorite Things: Water, Feeding himself, Lilly’s toys, Lilly’s water bowl, Lilly’s food bowl, Shoes (as long as he doesn’t have to wear them), biting things, being outside, other children and babies, flirting with strangers, cell phones, remote controls, calculator that we gave him to try to keep him away from cell phones and remote controls, daddy coming home from work

New Foods tried: Shredded chicken, egg, rice, pasta, cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese, mangoes, corn

Harrison is trying a lot more adult foods these days and is feeding himself most of the time. It is messy but fun!

From Week 32

Least Favorite Things: Having his diaper changed, having his clothes changed, ear infections, teething, bedtime

From Week 32: GUMC Easter Egg Hunt

Tricks: He loves to scream and does a funny growl like yell (we call it the Incredible Hulk), he is a lot more vocal these days – “dadada” is being used constantly, “illy” is another favorite, he also says “hi”, “bye”, “go” and “ba ba” (do you think that is close to “mama”?), he is a great little walker as long as you hold his hands, he can click his tongue on the roof of his mouth, he has perfected a crawl like move – he drags his tummy along the ground but he travels all over the house like this and is surprisingly fast, he is also getting much better at pulling himself up, he can open and close cabinet doors

From Week 31

Sleeping schedule: Sleep was totally messed up by the combination of teething and the ear infection. He is just getting back to a normal schedule again.

From Week 34: Baptism Gown

Big Events: Easter and two Easter egg hunts (he slept through one), baptism, first professional photo shoot, first trip to the zoo, lots of teething – he now has four teeth, first ear infection

Catching Up

2009-04-23T21:37:00.003-05:00

Sorry I haven't been posting. We have been super busy around here but I am hoping to gather my thoughts and get caught up over the weekend. Here is a quick summary of some of what we have been doing this last week:

* Recovered from Harrison's first ear infection
* Harrison cuts his top two front teeth
* Grandmother Heacock (Nanoo) comes to visit for a week
* Harrison's first professional photo shoot
* Harrison is baptized at Germantown United Methodist Church
* Nanoo and I took Harrison to the Memphis Zoo (his first of many zoo trips)
* Cheered for dad at his first kickball game of the season (they lost but we all had a good time)
* Enjoyed a visit from my cousins John and Dora Hinkle as they passed through Memphis

I hope to post in more detail about these events over the next few days. Stay tuned!

Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-12T22:10:00.004-05:00

Harrison attended his second Easter Egg Hunt this weekend. His first Easter Egg Hunt was a little disappointing since he slept through most of the event. Being that he is only seven months old, we have very low expectations for these events but it would be nice if he would stay awake for some of the activities.

From Week 32: GUMC Easter Egg Hunt

This Easter Egg Hunt was put on by our church. For all the Memphis readers with young children - I highly recommend the Germantown Methodist Church Easter Egg Hunt. It was very well organized and had plenty of activities to keep most young children occupied.

From Week 32: GUMC Easter Egg Hunt

Harrison liked "finding" Easter eggs. There was a special spot for children under two but it was WAY too crowded. We decided to pick a small corner in the three year olds area to allow Harrison to hunt for eggs and take a couple of pictures. Kids will be kids of course and it wasn't long until the little three year olds were taking Harrison's eggs from him. Pretty funny...

From Week 32: GUMC Easter Egg Hunt

He enjoyed the petting zoo. There was a cute little pig that made him laugh. He also seemed to like the duck (or at least the duck's cage). The other animals were interesting (sheep, miniture donkey, goats, bunny, chicken) but I think all the other kids were more interesting (distracting) than the animals.

From Week 32: GUMC Easter Egg Hunt

There were lots of other activities (Thomas Train, Bunny Hop, and some craft areas). We stuck to the simple stuff like the bubble machine and the pinwheels.

From Week 32: GUMC Easter Egg Hunt

We also paused for a quick photo with the Easter Bunny. Harrison was very interested in the Easter Bunny's fur and big pink nose. I thought their high five at the end was so adorable!

From Week 32: GUMC Easter Egg Hunt

By the time we got back to the car, Harrison was exhausted and was practically sleeping on my shoulder. I don't think we even made it out of the parking lot before he was fast asleep.

From Week 32: GUMC Easter Egg Hunt

What a great day! We look forward to many more GUMC Easter Egg Hunts :)

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday: First Ear Infection + Teething = Lots of Rest Needed

2009-04-08T14:07:00.002-05:00

From Week 32

Wordless Wednesdays: Time to start babyproofing...

2009-03-31T22:34:00.001-05:00

From Week 31

Seven Month Post

2009-03-25T06:55:00.004-05:00

Harrison is seven months old!

From Week 29

From Week 27

Favorite Things: Hugging his mommy and daddy, cruising in his walker (“wheeeeee”), baths in the sink (he loves splashing), Lilly’s dog toys, remotes and cell phones, talking – Harrison has been exercising his vocal chords this month - his favorite words so far are “hi,” “dada,” “uhoh,” “baby”

From Week 28

New Foods tried: Melon, blueberry, strawberry, plums, prunes, avocado, apricot, biter biscuits, cheerios, bread, apple juice from a sippy cup

Oh, and he is now eating solids three times a day...he is such a big boy!

From Easter Practice Shoot

Least Favorite Things: avocado (not a big hit), being put in his carseat, having something taken from him (like Lilly’s toys, the remote, or my cell phone), being put down (he has gotten a little more clingy this month)

From Week 28

Tricks: Sitting up on his own, pulling up into a standing position, walking with assistance, drinking out of a cup and feeding himself finger food (cheerios)

From Week 29

Sleeping schedule: Harrison is on a consistent schedule. He goes to bed each night at 8pm and wakes up at 7am (give or take an hour). I think we are all enjoying getting a full night sleep again.

From Week 28

Big Events: St. Patrick’s Day, a special visit from his great grandfather, his first extended weekend without his parents (big thank you to the Coverdale Grandparents!), trip to Nashville, staying in the nursery at church

Whew!

2009-03-23T23:41:00.004-05:00

Wow, it has been a busy few days.

On Friday we packed up the car and headed to Nashville for the weekend. We stayed the weekend with our friend Josh. It is always fun to expose single guys to a weekend with a baby. I think he was probably unpleasantly surprised by the 7am wake up call each morning (sorry Josh!).
Saturday we attended a wedding shower for our friends Lisa and Danny. I was a little worried about Harrison since the party started at 6pm but Harrison was an excellent guest. He enjoyed flirting with the ladies and laughing at all the men. He even stuck with his 8pm bedtime (BIG SHOCK!!!).

He was a really good traveller but I can tell that he is getting a little more stubborn about getting into his infant carrier. He really doesn't like to be restrained. I am curious if he will be a little happier in a full size car seat?!? It probably won't be long before we have to upgrade!

A Little Time for Crafts

2009-03-20T11:58:00.002-05:00

I love when I can find a little time in the day to do something crafty. This week I decided to make an Easter wreath for the front door. I found instructions on a fellow mom's blog.

The instructions were super simple and I think I ended up with a REALLY cute wreath!

From Week 29

Harrison helped by eating the eggs.

From Week 29

Baby Logic

2009-03-18T22:47:00.002-05:00

Baby has a super soft rug to play on that is full of toys:

Baby ends up here:

Baby succeeds at thoroughly confusing his mommy!

Wordless Wednesday: The view from a springtime walk

2009-03-18T15:08:00.002-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-16T20:50:00.001-05:00

From Week 29

An Extra Special Visitor

2009-03-14T16:38:00.003-05:00

From Week 28

We were absolutely thrilled to have an extra special visitor this weekend. Sam's Grandfather came through Memphis with Sam's parents this weekend. We loved the chance to introduce Harrison to his Great Grandfather. I think Harrison really enjoyed having another person to spoil him with love!

Hopefully we will be able to get up to Iowa sometime soon so he can meet his Great Grandmother.

Wordless Wednesday: The Little Chef

2009-03-11T20:52:00.001-05:00

From Week 28

A Little Late

2009-03-10T20:14:00.003-05:00

I back-posted the monthly milestone post (better late than never!)

You can either scroll down or click on this link to read the post: Six month post.

Packing

2009-03-04T08:00:00.003-06:00

Harrison has been enjoying a visit from his grandparents this week.

Sam and I are getting really excited (and a little nervous) about our first mini-vacation! Grams and Granddad Coverdale came up to Memphis to take care of Harrison and Lilly Dog while we go down to New Orleans for a long weekend. We know he is in really good hands but it is always a little scary leaving your baby for the first time. I know this will be a lot harder on me than on Harrison. I am sure he will have a blast playing with his grandparents.

Our friends Angie and Pete are getting married this weekend in New Orleans. We are so excited for them and can't wait to celebrate with them.

We will be leaving for New Orleans tomorrow morning and returning on Sunday afternoon.

Church Family Portrait

2009-03-01T15:19:00.001-06:00

We had our picture taken for the church directory a couple of weeks ago. Definitely not our best picture but I think it turned out pretty good considering our session wasn't until 8pm and we practically had to force Harrison to stay awake

Six Month Post

2009-02-26T20:08:00.000-06:00

Harrison is six months old!

From Week 22

This has been such a busy month! Despite cutting two teeth, Harrison has become so much easier and I finally have started to feel like I am really getting the hang of this whole mommy thing.

From Week 25

Favorite Things: Mardi Gras (particularly the marching bands), animals (Harrison loves all animals especially Lilly), baths and his bath toys, hanging upside down, walking in his walker, toys (Harrison LOVES to play), putting things in his mouth, barking dogs (particularly Winston and Cash)

From Week 23

Favorite Foods (in order of preference): Apples, bananas, pears, sweet potato, squash, & peaches

From Week 23

Least Favorite Things: Green Beans (YUCK!), having his face cleaned, putting clothes on, not getting his way (we have developed a stubborn streak in the last month)

From Week 24

Tricks: Rolling over in all directions, sitting up on his own, standing with assistance, walking with assistance, drinking out of a cup, putting a spoon in his mouth (we still haven’t perfected this with food), “talking” and laughing all the time, scooting across the room

From Week 25

Big Events: This was a BUSY month! Harrison got his highchair this month which has made feeding much easier. Harrison and I went down to Fairhope (by ourselves!) for a week towards the end of this month. Harrison went to two Mardi Gras parades, visited the beach and fed the ducks and seagulls, and enjoyed a swing set for the first time.

Six Month Check Up

2009-02-26T10:29:00.001-06:00

Harrison had his six month check up yesterday.

Here are the stats:
Weight: 19 lb 10 oz (75 - 90%)
Height: 27.5 in (75 - 90%)
Head: 45 cm (75 - 90%)

Overall, he seemed to enjoy the doctor’s appointment. He entertained all the other parents in the well baby waiting room by “talking” and shrieking constantly. He particularly liked the 4 month old sitting next to him and flirted shamelessly with her and her mommy. As always he loved the exam table. The large mirror and the paper lined table was a wonderful distraction while we waited. By the time Dr. Miller came in to see him, he had shredded the paper completely and had tried to eat half of it.

We didn’t have many concerns this time to talk with Dr. Miller about. The acid reflux medication seems to be working well so we are going to continue it a little longer. We also got the go ahead to move on to Stage 2 foods (they are still purees but just a little more complex that the stage 1 foods) as well as some soft table foods over the next couple of months.
He had another round of immunizations (1 – oral, 3 – shots). He really did not like the shots this time but the nurse was quick and did a very good job. He cried huge alligator tears but was comforted fairly quickly.

Harrison doesn’t have to go back to the doctor until his nine month check up. He is finished with immunizations for a little while so he won’t have to get any shots next time. I think everyone we came in contact with was happy to point out that little fact.

The combination of a missed nap, the excitement of the doctor and a round of shots really wiped out our little boy. He fell asleep in the car on the ride home and didn’t wake up when I put him in his crib. He took a 3 hour nap and then woke up in fairly good spirits. This morning he seems to be back to 100% and ready to play!

Happy 1/2 Birthday

2009-02-25T16:06:00.003-06:00

It's Harrison's half birthday!

We celebrated by going to Harrison's six month checkup (sorry little guy!). More update on Harrison's doctor appointment later.

Another Day of Firsts

2009-02-22T09:00:00.004-06:00

Feeding the ducks.

From Week 25

Sinking our toes in the sand.

From Week 25

Swinging at the playground.

From Week 25

Relaxing after so many "firsts" by the Fairhope Pier.

From Week 25

Happy Mardi Gras!

2009-02-21T14:06:00.004-06:00

Harrison went to his first Mardi Gras parade on Friday night. Fairhope has several Mardi Gras parades. We attended the Maids of Jubilee parade - those ladies sure know how to have a good time!

From Week 25

My parent's house is just a few blocks from the parade route so we bundled Harrison up and loaded him up in the stroller. After a short walk, we found a family friendly spot to watch the parade.

From Week 25

Earlier in the day we walked around town and my dad bought Harrison a light toy at the toy store. This was perfect entertainment as we waited for the parade to arrive.

From Week 25

I wasn't sure what Harrison would think about the parade. I sort of expected him to cry when he heard the loud sirens and bands. I never expected him to be so excited. He LOVED everything about Mardi Gras. He kicked his feet and jumped up and down as the bands marched by and he really loved all the bright lights on the floats.

From Week 25

I have been to a lot of parades but this was the most fun I have ever had at a parade! It was so much fun seeing the excitement in my little boy's eyes.

From Week 25

What a wonderful first Mardi Gras!

From Week 25

A Very Successful Trip

2009-02-20T17:35:00.004-06:00

Harrison and I departed Memphis at 12 on Wednesday afternoon and arrived in Fairhope at about 7:45pm. The journey started out really well. Harrison played quietly as we left Memphis and headed into Mississippi. Shortly after entering Mississippi I noticed that Harrison was being really quiet. I don't know how I got so lucky but Harrison slept all the way to Jackson (3 hours out of Memphis). We stopped for a little break outside of Jackson. I needed to stretch my legs and I know Harrison was probably tired of his car seat. After our little break I gave Harrison his Podee bottle. This little bottle really is a lifesaver for a traveling baby. It allowed Harrison to feed himself while I was driving. After he finished his bottle we stopped for a quick burp break then headed towards Hattisburg. He made it past Hattisburg and about half-way to Mobile before he started getting fussy. The last hour of our trip was filled with fussing and took a little longer than I would have liked since we had to stop several times for comforting. I think we both were really happy to pull into my parents driveway.

Harrison immediately turned on the charm when he saw his grandparents. I thought he was going to fall right to sleep after the long drive but he got a sudden burst of energy when he saw my parents. I am sure he was excited to have so much attention after 7+ hours without much interaction.

I hope our return trip will be as peaceful. I definitely feel more confident about traveling after our trip down.

Wordless Wednesday: Traveling for a Weekend with a Baby

2009-02-18T23:44:00.001-06:00

From Week 25

A Sudden Change of Plans

2009-02-17T23:09:00.004-06:00

I have never been very good sitting still too long. My mom ran into my old softball coach from when I was a little girl. They reminisced about my softball days. Out of the hundreds (maybe thousands) of little girls that this brave women coached, she still laughed about me coming off of the field chanting "boring, boring, boring."

Just like those little league days, I have been having a "boring, boring, boring" week and since I am not very good at sitting still I decided to take some action. Harrison and I have packed our bags (well we are almost finished packing) and we are heading out sometime tomorrow to spend a long weekend in Fairhope.

I am excited and nervous all at once. I don't know if we will survive the drive but you never know if you don't try! Wish us luck!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T20:05:00.002-06:00

A Day in the Park

2009-02-12T23:27:00.004-06:00

Not to brag, but we had a beautiful day today. We took advantage of the nice weather and put on our walking shoes. Well, one of us did...the other was sporting bare feet.

From Week 24

We walked up to the park that is about a mile from our house and then did a lap around the walking path. Harrison ate (the Podee bottle ROCKS!) and slept through most of the walking portion. After getting our exercise we decided to lay some blankets down in a shady spot and enjoy the spring-like day a little longer. It was fun people watching and listening to the birds sing. Harrison seemed to really enjoy himself and happily alternated between eating his rattle and blowing raspberries. We hope to make this a daily routine as long as the nice weather sticks around.

From Week 24

Harrison enjoying a warm winter day.

From Week 24

Harrison's view from his blanket - what an amazing day!

Wordless Wednesday: Precious and NOT Precious

2009-02-11T00:23:00.000-06:00

From Week 24

Tasty Toes

2009-02-10T21:49:00.002-06:00

We were getting Harrison ready for his bath tonight when he surprised us with another milestone...he put his feet in his mouth.

From Week 24

"mmm...these feet are tasty!"

From Week 24

"what?!?!"

From Week 24

"Back to eating my toes."

Before I was a mom I would have never considered this a milestone but according to the baby book it is in fact a milestone. Ah, the things we mothers celebrate :-)

Wordless Wednesday: New Highchair

2009-02-04T09:44:00.002-06:00

From Week 23

The Greatest Toy Ever!

2009-02-03T08:00:00.004-06:00

We introduced Harrison to a new toy tonight and I think it was a success. This little snail plays a little tune and moves across the floor. Harrison was mesmerized! I was holding him in my lap and he struggled to be free (AND SIT ON HIS OWN!). He was so crazy about this toy that I really thought he was going to crawl after it. Unfortunately he couldn't quite lift his big belly.

In case you would like one of these wonderful toys, here is a link.

From Week 23

"This toys is SO worth sitting up for!"

From Week 23

"Maybe if I try a little harder I can crawl to the snail."

From Week 23

"Maybe sticking out my tongue will help."

From Week 23

"I have got to get that snail!"

Upside Down

2009-02-02T11:12:00.001-06:00

Harrison loves to be upside down. Whenever he is sitting in my lap he flings himself back so he is dangling head first off my lap. I am so scared we are going to drop him on his head one of these days. You have to keep a tight grip on him all the time now. He also loves to lay on his back and throw his head back so he is looking at things upside down.

From Week 16

I don't know what to think about this. Is it normal for a baby to want to be upside down so much? Can all that blood flow to the head cause permanent damage? We laugh about it all the time but deep down I am secretly (in a crazy momma kind of way) worried that this is the sign of some serious disorder?!??

UGH....

2009-01-31T04:32:00.003-06:00

It is 4:30 (AM!) and I am still awake. I don't know what caused this?!? Harrison is sleeping soundly (he woke up once at 3am but I got him back to sleep), Sam is snoring softly, Lilly is even off the bed and sleeping in the living room. As I type this I hear her "talking" in her sleep. I don't have anything to be stressed about - my thoughts are relatively clear.

I have tried everything (natural) I know to go to sleep and it has all failed. I thought only babies got their days and nights mixed up. Maybe I will have another glass of milk, that usually helps.

Photo Lessons

2009-01-30T22:46:00.004-06:00

Sweet little hands...

From Week 22

and cute little toes.

From Week 22

Just a few shots I took after reading the photography book my dear friend SK sent me. I think it is already paying off. (THANK YOU!)

Teeth

2009-01-29T21:19:00.004-06:00

As promised, here is a picture of Harrison's new teeth.

Harrison's second tooth popped through today. He is being a good little baby but I know it hurts him at times. He will be playing sweetly and then he just starts screaming in pain. I hate that there is very little I can do to help him. Those real tears just break a momma's heart!

Five Month Post

2009-01-29T02:10:00.002-06:00

Harrison is five months old!

From Week 21

Sorry to post late again! Our little five month old has been keeping mommy very busy!

From Week 19

Favorite Things: Playing with toys, blowing raspberries, Lilly (our dog), being lifted up into the air, playing peek a boo, being naked, taking baths, kicking his feet, being tickled, applesauce

From Week 19

Least Favorite Things: Teething, putting clothes on (particularly stuff being put over his head), lack of mobility (he really wants to be able to crawl), the cold weather (we can’t go on our afternoon walks)

From Week 19

Tricks: Rolling over (usually back to stomach), sitting up (but he usually topples over), standing (with a little help), making lots of new sounds, holding his bottle when being bottle fed (he gets a bottle very rarely), blowing raspberries (especially fun with a mouth full of food)

From Week 19

Big Events: We started solid foods this month. Harrison really enjoys eating and took to solids without any problems. He gets really excited when he is put in his bouncy seat (we haven’t gotten a highchair yet) and even more excited when he sees a bowl and spoon being pulled out. So far he has had rice cereal, carrots, applesauce, bananas, pears, and peaches. Homemade applesauce is by far his favorite food but I think he will eat just about anything.

Harrison also started acid reflux medication this month. The medication has been working really well and he seems to be doing a lot better.

From Week 21

Sleeping Schedule: Harrison’s sleeping schedule this month has been a little off. He has been falling asleep just fine but then wakes up one or two times in the middle of the night. Usually he goes to bed around 10pm but then wakes up (demanding to be fed) at 2am. I think the sleeping problems are due in part to teething and I am really hopeful that we will be able to get back to our normal sleeping patterns soon!

From Week 21

Evil Nemesis: The washcloth! Harrison hates having his face cleaned especially after eating!

Wordless Wednesdays: Harrison Loves Toys!

2009-01-28T19:07:00.001-06:00

From Week 22

We have...

2009-01-26T22:55:00.002-06:00

TEETH!

Harrison cut his very first tooth tonight (bottom right). I guess this explains the excessive bubble blowing and drool these last few days. Maybe it also explains why he was so fussy last week and he has been in such a good mood today. The little guy is probably finally getting a little relief from teething.

We haven't gotten a picture of the little tooth yet but we have caught a few shots of the little guy blowing raspberries (pretty funny):

From Week 21

PS - I haven't forgotten about the 5 month milestone post. We have just been a little preoccupied. More on our weekend and Harrison's 5 month milestones over the next few days.

Wordless Wednesdays: Harrison and Lilly

2009-01-14T23:33:00.000-06:00

From Week 20

Roly Poly

2009-01-13T20:36:00.004-06:00

Our little man rolled over last night. He has been rolling onto his side (from his back) for sometime now but finally decided to come all the way over to his tummy. It was funny, I could tell when he woke up yesterday that he was going to roll over soon. He was much more focused on the act of rolling over than I had ever seen him. I don't know what motivated him to finally roll over but now he is doing it all the time. He is pretty funny once he rolls over. Sometimes he is content to just play on his tummy but other times he gets really upset. When he gets upset I usually slowly roll him back over but that just makes him more upset. I swear he is dying to figure out how to get up and crawl. I know it is selfish to think this, but I really hope that milestone will take a little longer to reach!

From Week 19

Wordless Wednesdays: Enjoying Christmas Toys

2009-01-07T21:42:00.001-06:00

From Week 19

Time to do some serious eating...

2009-01-06T23:00:00.002-06:00

We gave Harrison rice cereal for the first time last night. He was really excited about the whole experience (until he decided that he was disgusted by the whole thing at the end). I should have known that Harrison would enjoy eating "solid" foods. He was really interested in putting the spoon in his mouth and instantly opened wide for the incoming food. Since then, we have tried eating cereal two more times. He is not quite a cooperative about the whole thing now that the novelty of the spoon has warn off. I am not too concerned though. I am sure he will be excited about it again soon.

Four Month Check Up

2009-01-05T12:17:00.002-06:00

Harrison's four month check up went really well. He really enjoyed the exam table, the extended naked time and the mirror in the exam room. He had to get more shots but he didn't seem too bothered by the whole experience. Truthfully he fussed more about having to put his clothes back on. Silly little boy!

The doctor and I talked a lot about feeding since he will start on solids this month (we are going to try to start solids tomorrow night - Sam wants to be there to see the experience). We also talked some about Harrison's spitting up and gas. Based on a few baby books, I was thinking that he might have acid reflux. Dr. Miller agreed that it might be a problem so we are going to try giving him Prevacid. Hopefully it will help cut down on the spitting up and his discomfort.

Here are the stats:
Weight: 17 lb 6 oz (90 - 95%)
Height: 26 in (75 - 90%)
Head: 44 cm (75 - 90%)

He is still a big boy!

Sam was really sweet and (unexpectedly) joined us at the doctor's appointment. It was really nice to have him there with me for moral support and baby assistance :-)

Harrison has been sleeping since his appointment at 10:10. All the stress of the outing along with the shots really wore him out!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T16:16:00.001-06:00

From Week 18

Harrison (and his parents) had a wonderful New Years Eve. Our friends Gary and Teri Smith threw a kid friendly New Years Eve party. I think every age group under 6 was represented along with quite a few expecting moms. Harrison fell asleep around 10:00 and slept right through the new year. He was a really good guest and seemed to enjoy all the attention he received. We were so appreciative of the Smith's for inviting us...we assumed that we would be ringing in the new year at home. This was MUCH nicer!

The Greatest Sound of All

2008-12-31T10:00:00.001-06:00

This time last year Sam and I saw and heard Harrison's heartbeat for the very first time. Just thinking about that moment brings tears to my eyes. It is hard to believed that little thump has turned into our sweet little chunk!

This was Harrison a year ago today:

Four Month Post

2008-12-30T23:41:00.006-06:00

Harrison is four months old!

From Week 15

Sorry this post is a little late but Christmas made it hard to post on time :-)

From Week 18

Favorite Things: Blowing raspberries (a very messy hobby), laughing, screaming as loud as possible when he gets excited, kicking his feet, playing with his Grandparents, being naked, taking baths, and eating his hands, blankets, stuffed frog, burp cloth, clothing…basically anything that he can fit in his mouth

From Week 14

Least Favorite Thing: Putting clothes on, being put in his car seat, being sleepy (it is a fight to calm him down when he is sleepy), when something doesn’t fit in his mouth

From Week 13

Tricks: Still working on rolling over (he gets over to his side but doesn’t seem motivated to roll all the way over), sitting upright when supported, blowing raspberries, making lots of funny sounds, laughing at things he thinks are funny, finding his knees and feet (it won’t be long till they are in his mouth), producing 3x his weight in drool

From Week 17

Big Events: This has been the month of travel. Harrison has taken two car trips down to Fairhope. He sat on Santa’s lap twice and was very well behaved for both Santa’s (most of the time). He saw lots of Christmas trees and lots of Christmas lights. He visited both sets of grandparents, met his aunt and uncle, and LOTS of cousins. He visited his very first “farm” at the Johnson’s house and got to see chickens and the adorable miniature donkeys.

From Week 14

Sleeping schedule: Harrison finally got on a schedule this month. Just like magic Harrison decided to start going to sleep at a reasonable hour. Most nights he falls asleep around 9:00. We have started a nightly routine (of sorts). Around 8:00 we take a bath. After the bath we usually play quietly and read a book or two. After the book (sometimes during the book) Harrison has his last feeding of the night and then we rock and sing until he goes to sleep. He usually sleeps between 8 and 10 hours (we have even had a few 12 hour nights mixed in). Of course every now and then we have a bad night but overall we feel incredibly lucky to have such a good sleeper!

From Week 16

Evil nemesis: Teeth (Harrison started teething towards the end of this month)

Happy (Belated) Christmas!

2008-12-30T18:49:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I hope to catch up the blog soon. We had a great Christmas down in Fairhope/Mobile/Pensacola. We did a lot of traveling (Harrison was such a good traveller!) and we saw a lot of people. Both sets of grandparents did a wonderful job spoiling him. Harrison really enjoyed meeting his Uncle Matt and Aunt CJ. He also enjoyed spending time with all his relatives in Mobile. I am going to have a really hard time keeping him happy after all that attention. Luckily, he received a lot of really nice toys for Christmas so we will have lots of fun items to keep us busy now that we are back in Memphis.

Traveling Again

2008-12-19T00:07:00.003-06:00

Sam, Harrison, Lilly and I are getting all geared up for our trip down to the coast this weekend. I feel like we have packed up the whole house. We have quite a load between all the Christmas gifts, our suitcases filled with clothing, Lilly's special food and medicine, and all the baby stuff. Luckily I left a few things (pack 'n play) down in Fairhope last time - I probably should have left more. I am having crazy bipolar packing dilemmas. I tried to rationalize everything before packing it but I keep debating one minute if I should add a few things and the next minute if I should take a couple of things out. Other than the last minute things we all need, I am going to try to leave everything as it is.

We are taking the truck since there is no way we would all fit in my car. Of course there is rain in the forecast. Since we don't have a cover for the bed of the truck (and that is where most stuff will be packed), I am ready with giant storage containers and huge Ziploc bags. Hopefully everything will stay dry.

We decided to take the dog down with us this year. I think she will really enjoy hanging out with all of our family (she is incredibly social) and I am really happy we don't have to board her. She can get a little high strung when traveling (don't we all?!?) so we have a sedative she can take. I know it is wrong but I really wish they made a baby and mommy version!

After our trial run a week ago, I am feeling much more confident about traveling with the baby. Harrison was so well behaved on the trip back to Memphis last week. I really hope we can have a repeat performance.

Hope we all get down there in one piece!

Wordless Wednesday: Harrison the Chubby Reindeer...

2008-12-17T22:54:00.001-06:00

From Week 16

While I have been gone...

2008-12-17T00:15:00.004-06:00

I am sorry for the lack of posts recently. Between the trip down to Fairhope and getting ready for the holiday, there has been very little time for anything other than family time.

It seems Harrison is growing bigger everyday. He is starting to look a little small in some of his 6 month clothing (he just started wearing them a few weeks ago!) and he just moved up a size in diapers. It is sad to think that he will be in big baby diapers soon. I will really miss the super soft swaddlers. He is also doing new things daily. It seems like once one development milestone occurs several others follow.

Harrison learned to blow rasberries right before our trip back from Fairhope. It was really funny driving back to Memphis and hearing the buzzing of little lips in the backseat. Thankfully (for many reasons) my mom was in the backseat cleaning up the spit that accompanies rasberries.

Harrison also seems to be teething. He is putting everything in his mouth and has started biting down hard! I think we are going to be in big trouble once those little teeth come in.

Harrison has gotten so much more alert in the last few weeks and he has also become much more mobile. He is constantly moving his hands and has found his knees. He started grabbing at his feet today so I am sure they will be in his mouth before too long. He is rolling over to his side and comes so close to rolling over. I am almost certain he could roll over if he wanted to.

Harrison is also learning to vocalize his feelings. When he is happy the house is filled with laughter, babble, and lots of squalks. On the flip side, when Harrison is unhappy he has learned that yelling at the top of his lungs is really effective. While I am sure they will get old really fast, these little tantrums crack me up.

As you can see, Harrison is keeping us really busy but we are having a lot of fun. I totally understand why moms say that their children grow up way too fast. At this rate, I feel like he will be walking and talking before we know it!

Santa Visits Harrison!

2008-12-08T18:29:00.004-06:00

This has been a busy week of firsts. Harrison really laughed (versus the shrills he has been doing regularly) for the first time this week and I think he is getting really close to rolling over on his own (back to front). In addition to all the major milestones, Harrison also met Santa for the very first time and had his very first Santa pictures taken.

From Week 14

The photographer was really nice and let me take some pictures. This picture is one of mine but we also had some professional pictures taken. The Santa was so beautiful, patient and very kind. We were so happy that he was in Fairhope this weekend (he is also going to be in downtown Fairhope next Sunday as well). We also took a bunch of pictures for the Christmas card. Hopefully we got a cute one!

Traveling

2008-12-05T17:08:00.004-06:00

Harrison and I are in Fairhope visiting his Grandparents.

From Week 14

I think we are still recovering from the 7 hour drive down! Harrison was a really good boy and is loving all the attention he is getting. We have been busy visiting family and friends. I will be back on to post more sometime in the next few days. Sorry I have been neglecting the blog!

Busy Momma

2008-11-29T02:41:00.003-06:00

We have been keeping ourselves pretty busy this holiday weekend. I hope to get on at some point with a few more updates. Until then...I thought you might enjoy a baby's first Christmas sneak peek.

From Week 13

If only we could all be filled with such wonder and excitement!

Three Month Post

2008-11-25T21:28:00.009-06:00

Harrison is three months old today!

In honor of Harrison’s monthly “birthdays” I thought it might be fun to document monthly baby milestones, important activities, like/dislikes, etc. To see the two month post click here.

From Week 11

Favorite Things: Talking (our house is constantly filled with baby talk), riding around in the moby wrap, putting things in his mouth, making spit bubbles, sneaking glimpses at the football game on TV, being sung to sleep by his mommy or daddy

Favorite Songs: Mr. Sandman, Blue Heaven, Sweet Baby James, Godspeed, Beautiful Boy, We Are the Boys (University of Florida Third Quarter Stretch Song), Boom Boom Ain’t it Great to be Crazy **Favorite song selection changing nightly!**

From Week 10

Least Favorite Thing: Having a cold, getting tired, being put down to sleep before he is completely passed out, Lilly kisses in the face or ears (this will probably be a favorite thing one day)

Tricks: Holding his head up, kicking really hard, getting close to rolling over, lots of “conversational” talking, falling asleep while playing with his toys (really big deal to parents of a baby that normally fights falling asleep)

From Week 10

Big Events: We have been very social this month. Harrison has gone to a few parties and even hosted a few small parties of his own. He is very social right now and loves being around different people. Unfortunately with all the extra exposure to people we also experienced our first cold this month.

From Week 12

Sleeping schedule: Harrison is a night owl just like his mommy. He is an excellent sleeper and usually sleeps between 8 and 10 hours a night. Unfortunately his bedtime is still a little unpredictable. On a good night he may fall asleep at 10:30 but most nights it is closer to midnight with a few 1 am nights here and there. He will sleep for at least 8 hours and then get in bed with mommy for a morning feeding and a nap for another hour or two. He usually takes a 30 minute nap several times a day and about once a week he will throw in a two or three hour nap.

From Drop Box

Evil nemesis: Nasal Aspirator

Getting Peed On...

2008-11-21T15:08:00.004-06:00

Maybe it is the cold making our reflexes slower (yes, we all have the cold now) or maybe Harrison is getting faster but we have been peed on a lot this week. Actually I blame the new diapers. I thought I would save a little money and buy bargain diapers (Luvs) this week rather than our normal Pampers. The new diapers are a little smaller in size (even though the weight range and size is the same) and they are a little more complicated to open and put on quickly. This has resulted in a lot of little accidents this week. The other night I actually got peed on twice! You would think I would learn my lesson the first time?!?!

Pampers have been working great so why mess up a good thing? Normally I buy diapers in bulk but Harrison is on the verge of going up a size in diapers and Target didn't have a small container of size 2 Pampers. I thought this would be the perfect time to try the bargain brand. My first impression of Luvs is mixed.

Positives:
Really cheap
Cute illustration of dogs and cats (not really a quality factor but it makes me smile)
Blue tinting that turns bright when wet
Don't smell like pee when the diaper is really wet (after the morning nap)
No leaks so far even with super stinky diapers

Negatives:
Not as soft as Pampers
Feel plastic on the outside (makes me worry about diaper rash - we haven't had any with Pampers)
Doesn't seems to wick away wet as well (see diaper rash)
Smell more perfume-y than pampers
Not as roomy as Pampers (hard to get on a squirming little boy)
More complicated to open (results in baby boy sprinkler)

I think we will be sticking with Pampers for now. We have tried the Kirklands brand (sold at Cosco). Based on our very limited testing I think it is the best of the bargain brands. Once we get a Cosco membership we might switch over.

Wordless Wednesdays: Beating the Cold and the Cold Weather

2008-11-19T11:34:00.001-06:00

From Week 12

Harrison's First Cold

2008-11-17T19:11:00.003-06:00

Poor baby boy is sick today. I guess we over did it this weekend. Last night I noticed that Harrison's nose was a little congested and his eyes looked a little watery. I was pretty worried when I put him down to sleep that we were going to have a long night but other than a short crying spell at 2am he slept really well. He sounds really pitiful but has been in pretty good spirits considering he probably doesn't understand what is happening to him. He hasn't had a fever so I think it is just a cold.

I have been trying to keep him as happy as possible. I gave him a nice warm bath earlier (I always enjoy that when I am sick) and have been keeping him wrapped up in soft cuddily blankets. We also went out tonight and got a humidifier for his room. We have been using saline spray and the aspirator. The latter does not help with the happiness factor but is a necessary evil.

Hopefully the little guy will start feeling better. I really hate seeing him like this!

Wordless Wednesdays: View from a Walk

2008-11-12T23:55:00.002-06:00

From Week 10

Let there be sleep...

2008-11-11T20:20:00.000-06:00

I am almost scared to post this since it is probably one of those things that is easily jinxed but I am going to go ahead and say it anyway. Harrison has been a REALLY good sleeper for the last few days. He has been taking nice long naps and then sleeping at night for up to eight hours at a time. I think Sam and I are better people as a result! It is amazing how much better we all feel with a full night sleep.

On Saturday night (after a really busy day) he fell right to sleep at 10:00 and then slept until 6:30. At night he sleeps in his crib but we usually bring him into our room when he wakes up in the morning. I fed him in bed and then put him in between us for a couple of hours. We slept on and off until about 9:00. It was heaven! I thought it might just be a one time thing since he was normally only sleeping about 6 hours straight but he has been following the same schedule all week. Maybe he is just going through a growth spurt but we are going to enjoy it while it last!

From Week 10

Good night and sweet dreams to all!

Wordless Wednesdays: Couch Potato

2008-11-05T19:38:00.003-06:00

From Week 10

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T01:00:00.005-05:00

Happy Halloween from our little lobster!

From Projects

Mom and Dad had to have costumes too!

From Week 8

Two Month Check Up

2008-10-30T11:21:00.004-05:00

We tortured the baby today. Poor little guy had to get three shots and one oral vaccine today. He liked the oral vaccine (he loves anything that can be eaten) but wasn't as crazy about the shots. He turned bright red and screamed really loud. Luckily he could be comforted really quickly and within a few seconds seemed to be back to his normal happy self. I have heard him cry much worse in the past so I don't think it was that traumatic for him. I think I was probably more worked up over the shots than he was. I cried a little this morning just thinking about what he was going to have to go through.

Other than the shots, he really seemed to enjoy the doctor. He only fussed a little when they measured his length and again when the doctor checked his leg and hip movement (I don't know why that bothered him so much). Most of the time he was happy. He loved the exam table and really liked Dr. Miller (who wouldn't - she is really sweet and super cute). He smiled a lot, kicked his feet in excitement and talked our ears off. I am glad he was so happy. I don't think there was any doubt that he is developing socially.

Here are the stats from his check up:
Weight: 14lb 8oz (95%)
Height: 22 3/4 (50%)
Head: 40 1/2 (50% - 70%)

That's right, you read the weight correctly. He really is a chunk! Dr. Miller wasn't concerned about his weight but did suggest that we be a little more strict with his feeding schedule. She was thrilled that I was still breastfeeding and said that it is really common for breastfed babies to put on a little more weight since it is hard to monitor the amount fed. She said to try to limit his feeding during the day to every 3 hours. We are getting close to that but there are times when he insists on eating every 2 hours. Once he gets over the shots I will try to be more strict about the feeding schedule. I am not looking forward to it. I am pretty sure I will need to invest in some heavy duty earplugs!

All in all we have a healthy little boy. He seems to be handling the shots well so far. He fell asleep on the way home from the doctor's office and has been sleeping ever since. The doctor said that babies are usually either really fussy or really sleepy. I am hoping since he is sleeping so well that he won't be too fussy. I have heard him crying softly in his sleep but he hasn't really woken up much. I just went in to check him and he felt a little warm so I am going to give him a little baby Tylenol just to be on the safe side. Hopefully he will have a nice peaceful day!

Happy Birthday Sam!

2008-10-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to wish Happy Birthday to the best new dad in the whole world!

From Online Edits

Thanks for sharing your life with me! xoxo

Wordless Wednesdays - Killer Smile

2008-10-29T19:55:00.003-05:00

From Week 9

This time last year...

2008-10-28T01:04:00.004-05:00

This post is a couple of weeks late but it is something I have been thinking about a lot in the last couple of days. This time last year I was recovering from a miscarriage (October 15th). Because we have so much joy in our lives, I am happy to say that the one year anniversary passed us by without sadness.

After I had the miscarriage I talked to lots of different moms that had similar experiences. The two months before finding out I was pregnant again were very emotional. I tried to put on a strong face but my hormones were all over the place and I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster. My heart goes out to the moms that struggled or still struggle to get pregnant.

I had a dear friend tell me that she knew all our little angels were playing together in heaven. It fills me with such joy to think about a place where little angel babies play.

I feel so blessed that we were given a second chance so soon. I never imagine this time last year that I would be holding a 2 month old baby in my arms. It definitely makes me appreciate the miracle of life!

Two Month Post

2008-10-25T13:00:00.002-05:00

Harrison is two months old today!

In honor of Harrison’s two month “birthday” I thought it might be fun to start a monthly post documenting baby milestones, like/dislikes, etc. Hopefully I can stay disciplined enough to keep this up.

From Week 7

Names: Harrison, Prince Harry (when his dad isn’t around), Tub Tubs, Rooter Tooter

From Week 6

Favorite Things: Mr. Jingles, silver rattle, rain maker, taking a bath, diaper changes (bonus if he pees on mommy), being outdoors, kisses on the lips, his play mat, staring at the ceiling fan and air vent

From Week 8

Least Favorite Thing: Getting out of the bath, being given his pacifier when he doesn’t want it, not getting fed the minute he decides he is hungry

From Week 6

Tricks: Smiling, making lots of noises and some little laughs, kicking his feet, standing (ok, not really but he is freakishly strong when he is fighting gas), turning his head so his mommy can kiss him on the mouth (I am going to try to get this on video soon), he rolled over from his tummy to his back the other day but I don't think he did it on purpose and I think it surprised him more than it surprised me.

From Week 6

Sleeping schedule: What schedule? Harrison has a mind of his own and likes to surprise us nightly. He consistently falls asleep each night at midnight. On a good night he sleeps until 6am. On a not so good night he wakes up at 4 am for about an hour and then sleeps for another couple of hours. He is a morning baby and is happiest right after he wakes up. After the morning feeding he likes to get in bed with mommy and sleep on and off for another hour or two.

From Week 8

Evil nemesis: Gas

Bathtime Adventures

2008-10-24T22:55:00.002-05:00

Harrison has really started to love bathtime. If he is getting fussy just running the water is almost enough to calm him down. He is so happy in the tub. We give Harrison his baths in a baby tub that fits over the kitchen sink. He gets so excited that he usually makes quite a mess splashing the water around with his feet.

From Week 8

Sam and I have started a bathtime ritual. We give Harrison a bath at night. I have started using the sleepy time bath wash in hopes of encouraging sleep (no luck so far). Sam takes Harrison to the back to get him out of his clothes while I fill the tub with water and a little sleepy time bath wash. When I have the bath tub filled I let Sam know and he carries Harrison to the kitchen and puts him in the bath.

Tonight Sam got a little surprise when he was carrying Harrison to the tub. As he was walking through the den he felt something warm and wet against him. Yep, that's right, Harrison peed all over him!

I guess we will have to change our bathtime ritual a little to include diaper removal AFTER getting to the kitchen!

I Smell Touble

2008-10-21T00:24:00.003-05:00

From Week 8

Harrison has gas.

During his first few weeks this gas was causing him extreme discomfort. Poor little guy would turn all red and scream, grunt and push. We tried everything we could think of to relieve his pain. Since I am breastfeeding I monitored my diet and tried to only eat bland non-gas producing foods. We tried giving Harrison Mylicon and Gripe Water. We tried warm baths and baby massage. Nothing seemed to help at the time.

Now that Harrison is a little older he doesn't seem to have as much trouble with pent up gas. While Harrison isn't crying as much, his gas is still producing tears.

Harrison poots all the time! I swear the little guy could clear a room. It is to the point that I am a little nervous about taking him out in public when he is gassy. I don't think anyone would believe that the sounds and smells could possibly come from someone so little. I am sure they will think it is me. How embarrassing!?!?

He doesn't seem to mind. In fact I think he is amused by our reaction to the gag producing poots. We have a doctor's appointment next week so I look forward to seeing what she has to say.

Date Night

2008-10-18T16:50:00.004-05:00

Sam's parents were visiting this weekend so we took advantage of the free babysitting service and went out on a date. We had a really nice date. First we stopped by happy hour at Newby's to visit with Amy and Murph. It was so nice to share an icy cold beer with friends (thanks for treating us guys!). After drinks we headed over to Pacific Rim for sushi. I have been craving sushi since before I was pregnant so I was pretty excited. Pacific Rim didn't disappoint - we really enjoyed our meal.

It is really funny how much Sam and I had to talk about over dinner. I don't think we have talked so much to each other since we first started dating (ironically we went to Pacific Rim on our first date). I don't think we realized how little we have talked in the last 6 weeks. Between tending to a crying baby, feeding a hungry baby and playing with the baby I admit that I probably haven't been the easiest person to carry on a conversation with. When you combine that with the revolving door of house guests (which we have really appreciated and enjoyed) and alternating sleep schedules, there hasn't been a lot of time for quality conversation. It was really nice to take some time just to focus on us.

We headed home around 9:00. I was pleasantly full and a little tipsy from my glass of wine with dinner. It was really nice to just be a couple for a few hours and to have a little break from being parents. It was also really nice coming home to our little baby. When we got home it was really hard not to rush right to Harrison and squeeze him. I used a little will power and waited about 5 minutes to rush over to him and squeeze him. :-)

Play Date

2008-10-14T20:33:00.003-05:00

Harrison had his first play date and I am happy to report that he did really well. We went over to one of our new friend Anu's house. She has a 17 week old little girl named Arya. Ayra is a sweet petite little girl and our little 7 week old is just about the same size as she is. It is pretty funny to see our little one next to a baby that is 10 weeks more developed and mature.

Obviously the play date was more for the grown ups than for the babies but I think we all enjoyed ourselves. Harrison seemed to enjoy the new surroundings and had lots of fun playing with Arya's toys. I really enjoyed seeing Ayra and how much she was already doing. It really makes me look forward to seeing Harrison at that age. I also really enjoyed comparing mommy notes with another mother. It definitely helps to talk about things with someone else that is going through the same experience.

I think we are going to try to have play dates on a regular basis. Even if the babies are a little too young to really appreciate them, I think they do the adults a lot of good.

Sleeping Arrangements

2008-10-14T01:01:00.004-05:00

From Finished Nursery

Harrison slept in his crib last night for the first time. Up until last night he had been sleeping in a moses basket in our room. Since he was starting to sleep longer at night and since he was starting to look a little big for his moses basket we decided it was time for him to graduate to his own room.

Harrison did really well and slept like normal. The baby monitor was another story. At one point the battery indicator went off so we plugged it into the wall. Throughout the night it continued to make mysterious noises. We still aren't exactly sure what caused all the crazy buzzes and beeps but my guess is interference. There are multiple channels so I guess we will have to play around with the settings.

The monitor hardly seems neccessary since Harrison's bedroom is right across the hall from us. That combined with his amazing lung power makes me think that we wouldn't have any trouble hearing him should he wake up in the night.

My biggest problem is hearing phantom baby cries. I have heard other moms talk about this in the past but I didn't really understand it until recently. Harrison often naps in his room during the day. Since our house is small, I can easily hear him from our den. At least once a day I will turn off the TV volume because I swear that I hear him crying. Nine times out of ten Harrison will be sleeping peacefully. These imaginary cries can make you a little crazy especially when they wake you up from a peaceful night's sleep. My mom says that these kind of things never stop and I really feel bad about all those late nights I probably kept her up worrying when I was out on the town.

Harrison is sleeping peacefully in his crib as I type this so I am off to my bed for (hopefully) a nice long (I am praying for 6 hours) sleep.

Grown Up Night

2008-10-12T22:10:00.003-05:00

Sam and I went out on our first adult outing since Harrison was born. Our friend Matt was celebrating his birthday so we went over to his house for a party. Other than my morning at work, this was the longest that I had ever been away from Harrison. My mom was still in town visiting so I knew he was in good hands but it is still hard leaving your baby behind. That being said, it felt really good to get out and visit with friends.

After getting a beer and greeting all the other guest I did what any new mom would do - found another new mom to talk about babies with. I think it only took us 15 minutes before we were on the computer sharing the latest pictures of our little ones. We also set up a "playdate" on Tuesday. I am sure the childless people at the party were laughing at us and I don't really blame them. This time last year I probably would have been laughing at me too. You truly do not understand what it is like until you have one of your own.

We stayed at the party until 9:30 then headed home (we are party animals!). It was nice to spend time with friends but it was also nice to come home to our sweet baby boy!

Smiles

2008-10-08T21:18:00.004-05:00

Harrison started smiling about a week ago. At first it was a really rare event that required lots of effort (we had to tickle his lips or chin) but now he is smiling all the time. It is such a relief to see that he has a pleasant disposition. Trust me, those first few weeks when they are either screaming or sleeping you really start to worry that your baby is just plain crabby.

The first time Harrison smiled enough to know it wasn't gas was about a week ago. We were laying in our bed and I was singing to him and baby talking. His nose scrunched up and he gave me a huge gummy grin. I think I immediately teared up...it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! Since that day he smiles a little bit more and more each day. We even get a few laughs when he gets really worked up.

It is really hard catching the smile on camera. This is the closest we have gotten. He loves this toy (a gift from Sam's mom) and smiles a lot when we shake it in front of him.

From Week 6

Out and About

2008-10-07T11:19:00.006-05:00

We have just started venturing out with Harrison. We had taken him on walks around the neighborhood, to the doctor's office, to the grocery store and to Baby's R Us but we hadn't taken him anywhere beyond that until last week. I know that most people are out and about with their babies a lot sooner than this but due to my postpartum depression I really struggled taking him places. I have had people ask why I was so worried about taking him places and I can't really answer that question. It wasn't that I was worried about germs or anything like that. I think part of it was that I worried that he would cry and I wouldn't be able to comfort him but more than that I think my crazy hormones resulted in a subconscious desire to protect him. I didn't like the unknown or any situation that I couldn't control completely.

Now that my hormones are finally back to normal, we are getting a little more adventurous. Friday Harrison and I went to Sam's kickball game. The park is only a few blocks from our house so it was an easy place to go. I was a little worried about the outing since he is normally having a colic attack around the time we would be there. I totally imagined him screaming bloody murder the whole time we were there. Boy was I wrong! He was an angel and slept through the whole outing. We went on a big outing yesterday. Since it was my last day at the office I wanted to bring him by the office so all my coworkers could see him. He was so sweet and I think he really enjoyed seeing all the different people. He was especially cute with my manager Russell. Russell is a grandfather so I knew he would be good with Harrison but I didn't expect Harrison to be so impressed with him. It was so cute, Harrison smiled and even laughed a little (he has only laughed once before this). We were both pretty exhausted after our outing but we also both had a lot of fun. Today Harrison, my mom and I went out to do a little shopping. We only went to one store and I think that is probably his limit right now (or maybe it is just my limit!). He fussed a little but it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. It didn't take him long to calm down and before long he was fast asleep. All in all I think we both did really well with our outings and I feel a lot more confident about taking him out places.

Big News

2008-09-30T19:34:00.004-05:00

It's official! I am turning in my letter of resignation at work tomorrow. After a lot of discussion, Sam and I have decided that it will be best for me to take a few years off work. It was really hard making the decision to leave International Paper after seven years of climbing the corporate ladder but I know in the long run this is the best thing for me and my family.

I am going to return to work on Monday to clear out my desk and say goodbye (more like see ya later!) to all my coworkers.

I am a little nervous about not working. It is hard to imagine being unemployed - I always thought I would be a career mom. I worry about losing touch with the outside world. I really valued the interaction I had with all my coworkers. That being said, I do not have any regrets and I really look forward to all the quality time I am going to get to spend with my son and the new opportunities this will present!

Clean Bill of Health

2008-09-29T21:56:00.006-05:00

I had my 6 week check up today. Hard to believe that 6 weeks have already past. I am still recovering in some ways but the doctor said I looked good and was healing nicely. They want me to stay on the anti-depression medication for 6 months. It seems like a long time but the doctor said that it will help me stay level. I know I want to stay on it for at least another month, I guess we will see how I feel after that time.

On a more humorous note I think it is it is funny how different my postpartum recovery time has been than what I thought it would be. By this point I really thought I would be working out and really focusing on getting back in shape. What a joke! The only exercising I have time to do is walking the stroller around the block several times a day to stop a crying baby. There is also I lot of baby bouncing going on too (great for the abs!). Despite all the nice meals we have been eating (+ dessert) and the lack of quality exercise, I was happy to see that I am getting much closer to my pre-pregnancy weight. I probably won't be able to fit in my pre-pregnancy jeans for a few more months but at least the weight is coming off.

Nothing else to report. Harrison took lots of naps today. I followed the "sleep when the baby sleeps rule" so I am feeling well rested. After all the naps, I have a feeling it will be a LONG night. I am hoping he will prove me wrong.

10 Things I Have Learned From Harrison

2008-09-27T17:22:00.005-05:00

10. When you are hungry scream at the top of your lungs and thrash around like a crazy man. It also helps if you try to suck on any available body part regardless of the holders gender - arms, noses and chins are favorites.

9. Baby nails are sharper than razors but nearly impossible to cut. Don't even get me started on baby toenails.

8. Formula poo really is much worse than breast milk poo.

7. All hell breaks loose at 4pm.

6. Walking outside solves almost any problem.

5. Day and night mean absolutely nothing.

4. Lights are profound and mysterious things that must be stared at.

3. A new clean outfit should be spit up on immediately (bonus points if the adult does not have a burp cloth handly).

2. Always scream at the top of your lungs when guest are present. Quite down and act like an angel as soon soon as they leave.

1. Gas is your biggest enemy!

Tub Tub

2008-09-26T21:33:00.004-05:00

We weighed our little chuck this afternoon. It was a very unscientific process (I got on the scale with Harrison and then I got on the scale without Harrison) so it might not be the most accurate measure. Either way, Harrison was a whopping 13 pounds! It doesn't surprise me at all...I think I can practically see him growing right before my eyes!

Since we showed a picture of Harrison screaming yesterday, I thought I would show the other extreme. Here is Harrison at his best :)

From Week Four

I'm Back

2008-09-25T21:53:00.005-05:00

I want to apologize for being away for a while. I am hoping that I will have more time in the next few weeks to post more frequently. For those of you that I haven't talked to, I have been having a little trouble these last couple of weeks. About two weeks ago I started having panic attacks when going out in public or when people would visit. Each time I would have one it would be worse than the one before and they started getting more frequent. When I was having an attack it felt like I was drugged and I had very little control over myself. I couldn't sleep or eat and I would have trouble breathing. It was a very scary time and I am so thankful Sam was there to help me through it.

I have been put on medication (Zoloft) and it is really helping. I have also been limiting my social interactions since they seem to trigger the panic attacks. I have been on the medication for about 8 days now and I am finally starting to feel like myself again.

I just wanted to share this with everyone so you would know what I have been going through and why I disappeared for a while. It is good to be back!

One Month Old Today

2008-09-25T21:35:00.003-05:00

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!

From Week Four

Harrison showing off one of his favorite nightly activities.

Announcements

2008-09-21T09:24:00.003-05:00

From Announcements

I thought I would post the announcements I created. I was pretty proud of how they turned out (except for a little mix up on the back, darn printer). I am hoping to start a little side business of doing announcements, calling cards and maybe even little hang tags like the closet dividers in my spare time. I just need to figure out how to get started. I have a printer right now but I am not happy with them...I would like to find a local printer I could work with. I really enjoyed making the announcements and came up with 10 different templates before Harrison was born...have lots of ideas for others in case anyone is interested just let me know :-)

Harrison's New Swing

2008-09-10T15:59:00.004-05:00

Fisher Price Rainforest Swing: $65

From Week Three

4 C Batteries: $6

From Week Three

1 hour of peace...

From Week Three

PRICELESS!

Birth Story Posted

2008-09-09T10:32:00.002-05:00

I have back posted my birth story on Harrison's actual birth date. If you are interested in reading the specific details of Harrison's birth either scroll down to that day or click on the following link:

http://coverdalechronicles.blogspot.com/2008/08/disclaimer-i-have-been-asked-to-post.html

Harrison's First Doctor's Appointment

2008-09-08T18:06:00.004-05:00

Harrison had his first doctor's appointment today. He is in great health! His weight is 9lb 3oz (50%) and he is still 21 inches long (75%) and his head circumference is 36cm (50%).

We talked a lot about sleep schedules and feeding habits. We were also concerned about Harrison's right arm since he seemed to favor his left arm. Turns out he has a broken collar bone from delivery. Evidently this is really common with bigger babies and the broken bone heals quickly on its own. We have already seem improvement in the right arm but it was nice to know what was causing his lack in mobility.

We really liked his doctor and look forward to seeing her again for his two month appointment. Harrison was pretty pooped from the whole event!

From Week Three

Happy Birthday to Me!

2008-09-06T17:49:00.005-05:00

Today is my 30th birthday! Nothing big planned - I think we are going to celebrate with a party in a month or two. My day has been great though.

From Harrison Week Two

Sam has done a lot of the baby duties and cleaned the whole house. I got to take a long nap, take a shower, and run out to Target. Before the baby this wouldn't have seemed like a big deal but now being able to do all three and still eat breakfast and lunch were huge. Tonight will also be special. Our friends Amy and Matt have been sweet enough to offer to come over and fix us dinner. I am really looking forward to the adult company!

Quick Update

2008-09-05T09:41:00.002-05:00

I have been working on a few post to share soon. I have been a lot busier than I ever thought I would be. Between feedings, diaper changes, cuddling, and trying to get in a little me time the hours in the day really fly by. My mom has been in town the last two weeks helping out. She did some of the nighttime duties and gave me an extra set of hands during the day. She also helped with the confidence issues that come with being a first time mom. She left to go home on Friday and I am now flying solo for a little while until Sam's parents come up. I really miss her and I was really sad to see her go. I look forward to her next visit!

I promise to post again soon. I have Harrison's birth story all typed up. I am also working on a daily schedule that I hope have completed next week sometime. I am sure there will also be a lot of pictures to share.

From Harrison Week Two

Bath Time

2008-08-29T19:31:00.004-05:00

We gave Harrison his very first bath today. I was happy to have my mom here helping out. I was pretty nervous about the whole thing. We did really well and Harrison is now squeaky clean. I don't think he was a big fan of the whole experience though. He screamed through most of his bath. Harrison doesn't like for his clothing to be removed. I think once he gets snuggled up he really wants to stay that way. Who can really blame him?!?!

He didn't like the bath too much but he was perfectly happy once we wrapped him in his little towel. He looked absolutely adorable! I love these little hooded towels - I wish they made a big person version.

We decided to follow up Harrison's bath with a little mini photoshoot. We got him all dry and dressed him in a pretty little gown. He decided that this was the perfect time to show us how good he was at spitting up. He had never really done that before so we weren't prepared with burp cloths or anything. We really learned our lesson! After a little cleaning up and a change of clothes we tried again and got some really cute pictures.

Hospital and Homecoming Pictures

2008-08-27T17:00:00.002-05:00

Harrison and I were released from the hospital today. While it was really nice to be under the care of medical professionals, it is so good to be home! Harrison did really well during the trip home. I think he liked being in his carseat and really enjoyed riding in the car. When I got home I was greeted by a large stork in our front yard announcing the arrival of our baby boy. It was so cute!

I haven't been very good so far about updating the blog but I am going to try to be better. Some of the post may be out of order but I am going to try to document the milestones.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the first couple of days:

Meeting Harrison for the very first time:

Trip home from the hospital:

Look what the stork brought us!

To see all of our pictures check out our Picasa album.

Harrison is Here!

2008-08-26T00:36:00.002-05:00

Harrison was born at 6:03pm on Monday, August 25th. He was a BIG boy weighing in at 8lb 13 ounces and was 21 inches long. It looks like he has light brown hair but his mommy thinks it might be red. We think he is about the cutest thing we have ever seen!

We will post pictures and a more detailed birth story soon!