7 weeks today!

And a big thank you to Auntie Ciara for the sweater!

Christmas!

 Here are some pictures from Gma Linda of our Christmas.  More on Alaska Jane!

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Daddy time!

 We went up to Chicago this last weekend for the annual Swift Cookie Party.  I failed to take pictures during the event, as I was having a blast chatting and introducing Harper to guests, but while things started winding down, I got a few of Harp with Dan. 

Altogether now...d'awwww!

5 weeks

Growing.  So.  Fast.

Because it's Wednesday

1 month check-up

Harp went to the doctor this morning for her 1 month check up.  I'm happy to report she is healthy and growing...like a weed!  She has gained 3 inches in length and 4 lbs. - she is currently 11 lbs 10.5 oz and 23.5 inches.


There is a whole pile of clothes that are too small already - she is already in 3 month sizes!  It's all going so fast!

Water baby

It doesn't look like it from this photo, but Harper loves bath time. 

She also loves to sleep.  Yep.  She is definitely my daughter. 

Wearing Cloth

I posted a while back about finding cloth diapers.  Well, today I took the plunge and put the things to work!  My friend Meryl had loaned us cloth diapers of the newborn variety, but with traveling to Chicago for Thanksgiving and the overall business of being a new mom, we didn't end up using those.  And now Harper is big enough to fit into her Bum Genius cloth (already!). 

And today went well.  We only took a short trip to Audrey's house, then to a local cheese farm (for part of Dan's birthday present).  She did her business and the diapers held, with no blow-outs or leaks.  Success!  The diapers still look a bit weird on her, as they are a bit bulky in their "small" size, but that was expected. 

We now will begin the whole process.  Updates will be posted on major events in this area :)  We will now get out wet bags for laundering, and maybe some smaller ones for on-the-go, and then we will be a cloth diapering family!  (I don't know what we will do when we visit the fam in Chicago...we still have several packages of disposables to go through, so we may forgo using them over this coming holiday...hmmmm...)

One Month!

 Harper is one month tomorrow!  Tomorrow is also Dan's birthday!  Woo hoo! 

 Comma seems to be the only cat in the house that isn't scared off by Harp and all her baby sounds/smells.  She will still come up and try to find room on my lap for some pets.  Here is some proof :)

Today we went over to a good friend Audrey's house and had a great time.  Harper even busted out her dimples for camera!  It's been a fun month.  Yay for mommy-hood.

Auntie Nora came to visit

 

I am amazed everyday by our little bundle.  She is calm and curious.  Dan and I don't know how we got so lucky to have a baby that seems content to just...be.  (Granted, she may change her mind about all of this and become a terror tomorrow.)

 

 Dan's sister came down this week to send three days with us.  It was wonderful to have an extra set of hands about.  Aunties are wonderful!  

All the little things, like changing diapers and spit-ups, are still cute and we are still happy to be the ones to clean up after her.  The newest development is that Harper loves the water.  She thinks baths are just the bee's knees.  And I love that when she comes out, she smells like apricots. 

 And she has some of the best faces!  I have yet to capture her "turtle face" but it's a good one.  I'll keep trying so you can see the cuteness. 

Three weeks!

Two weeks old

 At the baby shower that was in Chicago, I told a little story about how my mom used to use the washer and dryer to calm fussy babies.  Here is our little Harper, not fussing, but still enjoying the motion.  This was Thanksgiving morning, her two week anniversary!  The basket she is napping in is the same bassinet that Dan and Nora used as babies, as well has their mother, Linda, and her brother David.  It has a lovely stand with wheels, but we've taken to placing the basket about the house without it. 

 Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you all had a great holiday!

Our Caring Neighbors

I have shared with some of you (over the phone) that Dan and I have the sweetest neighbors.  Ibrahim and Aysha have two small children and have been living across the hall from us for the last year or so.  Our friendship started last winter when Dan saw Ibrahim trying to scrap his windshield with a credit card.  Dan offered to let him use his scraper, and for the next few days, it was passed back and forth in the hallway until Ibrahim was able to pick up one of his own. 

As a thank you, Aysha sent her son over to our door to offer us dinner.  It was huge and delicious.  Later, for a holiday, they sent over more food.  We sent over some pumpkin scones (a food they had not had before).  When Ramadan was over, they sent over yet more food to celebrate the end of the fasting season.

Yesterday, the family came over to meet Harper.  Aziz, their son, was thrilled with the lazer pointer and how the cats would chase it, and their daughter, Dozi, was all giggles following the cats around the house.  Aysha gave me (specific to say not to share with Dan) small cinnamon rolls to help with healing ("cinnamon is very good for new mothers.") and as expected, they were delicious.  

Tonight, more food!  I finally thought to take a picture of it to show you just how thoughtful and kind this family is.  Aziz knocked on our door, "Are you home?  My mom wants to know if you want some Saudi food."  Then five minutes later, what you see above was sent over. 

We are very thankful that we have such kind people living near us. 

Amish Rocking Chair

Yesterday I got to feel just how attached I am to this little girl, who is just now a week old.

My dad is here visiting for a few days.  He has made a harrowing journey (again) from Washington state out to see me, then to see my brother in Boston, now back to see Harper, and will be going through North Dakota to help his brother.  When he came in the door on Tuesday he says, "You don't have a rocking chair!"  And then we made plans to remedy that.

Dad has made the acquaintance of a shop just south of Champaign called Amish Land.  It is a giant red barn and inside is furniture, food, and a playground of second hand goods.  Dad's name was recognized by the nice furniture sales lady - he's a regular and he lives in Washington state!

It takes about an hour and 10 minutes to get there from Bloomington, which meant figuring out some logistics.  Baby, Mom, car, milk, room for new furniture?  I had pumped some milk on the 15th, as breast feeding is a bit of a circus in the beginning stages,and Dan volunteered to take his first solo run watching Harper.  It seemed like the only compromise outside of taking two cars.

Everything turned out fine, but for the first 50 miles, I was saying over and over in my head, turn around, go home, too soon, what if we get in an accident, what if she won't take the bottle, what she won't stop crying... and on and on.  I was texting with Dan to see how things were going, and his first reply reinforced my dread.  After about 50 minutes, all was right again, with Harper fed and already back to sleep, but I couldn't wait to get home - and we weren't even half way done with our trek!

Amish Land was pretty amazing, however.  There were beautiful hand crafted pieces for kitchens, offices, bedrooms, and kids rooms.

And while we were gone, Dan did great at home.  He mastered the bottle warmer, gave Harper her first lesson in bottle feeding, and got her both changed and back to sleep.  Success!  When I walked in the door (rushed...as fast as a healing momma can rush) he was sashaying her about the room, bouncing and talking up a storm.  I gushed a bit for both of them.  :)

And so...The Chair!

This is the chair I picked.  It is already Kodak approved, as you can see.  In fact, every time I've gone to sit in my Harper-tamer, I've had to kick him out of it.  We will figure out where all of our furniture will get placed once the stream of visitors lessens, and I'm sure this will be a favorite landing spot for not just Kodak, but the whole fam.  I don't know if it looks it to you, but this is a super comfy chair!

Thanks Dad! 

I had a baby!

Hello world!  It's been a bit of a whirlwind here the last few days.  Harper finally decided to come into the world (after a bit of prompting) and we've been enjoying her company.  I'll write on her arrival at a later date, but here are some photos from the day of the delivery, and first days home. 

Auntie Nora!

Auntie and Grandma Linda

Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma

Whoa, we made that.

D'awww!  Daddy Dan

Dr. Laura Lawson (the best midwife in BloNo) taking a gander

Grandpa Gus

Little Harper

My super supportive doula, Dionne Otto.  

My mom was the trooper taking all of these great photos of the big event. 

The Mom! 

I think this one sorta speaks for itself. 

The beginning of many photos taken by Grandma

Huh? 

Greg with is son, Oscar, on the left and Harper on the right.  They are 7 weeks apart!

Kristy claims she doesn't like holding babies. 

The Great and Mighty Harper!   

Grandma and granddaughter.