tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60800149767350672222024-03-14T00:34:50.010-04:00For the love of BobC and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-65308981012186342032012-05-15T13:54:00.001-04:002012-05-15T13:55:39.985-04:004 years ago todayI looked at the calendar today and remembered this happy moment occurred 4 years ago today. <br />
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That one little follicle was all we needed. The tiny follicle that we put all of our hope into. We watched it grow and grow with each monitoring appointment. It was meant to be our baby. At this point it was all we wanted. All we needed. We are forever grateful.<br />
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I absolutely love watching Matt's reaction in this video. I knew he would be a wonderful father to our children back then and his love for Ethan and Harper continues to amaze me every day.C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-82257669541156641142012-05-14T22:08:00.000-04:002012-05-14T22:08:30.017-04:00June 2011*Nearly a year behind on updating this blog and I think I started this post 5 months ago! Well, better late than never...<br />
*Just seeing the pic below makes me realize HOW much Ethan has grown, how little he was back then, which doesn't seem that long ago, and how excited I am for SUMMER!!<br />
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June is my birthday month and I usually love celebrating all month long. This year was different. There seemed to be more chaos this year. We started off with a stay-cation. We were really looking forward to having Matt at home for 9 WHOLE DAYS! Even Ethan started repeating "Daddy will be home for 9 whole days!". Matt's sister and her family visited from Arizona. It was wonderful to see all the cousins play together and for the Az family to meet Harper. We could have lived without the family drama but... <br />
Anyway... June 2011according to my iPhone pics:<br />
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We met friends at the Farmer's Market where Ethan tasted his first strawberry lemonade, which would later fall from the stroller and land ALL OVER poor Harper. She cried and was a sticky mess. Thank goodness we could clean up at a friend's nearby (Hi, K & J!). Ethan enjoyed the lemonade before it's fall and we loved going to the market. </div>
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This photo was from a local 'family fun day' event. We thought Ethan would love the activities there but all he wanted to do was ride in the stroller :) </div>
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Little Sister looking a little Rainbow Bright-ish</div>
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Finger painting at home on another rainy day.</div>
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I FINALLY finished making Harper's mobile and hung it. This is a terrible picture of it but I love how it turned out. I followed <a href="http://www.oncewed.com/24140/wedding-blog/diy-wedding/diy-fabric-poms/">this</a> tutorial but used pins instead of hot glue. Very easy.</div>
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Oh how I adore those lashes!</div>
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We took Ethan miniature golfing for the first time. Total shocker, he loved it. He scored a hole in one during the second round of his life :)</div>
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That is where we took this family photo; a favorite.</div>
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Ethan's first carnival!! He was excited about the fun slide until he went on it. Ethan and Matt flew down the slide so fast and it scared Ethan. So we moved on to COTTON CANDY!</div>
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Out of all the rides, games, and treats like cotton candy, Ethan's favorite part was:</div>
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Lemonade! I'd have to agree with him.</div>
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In nearly every picture Ethan has a car with him.</div>
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Now for the difficult part of this post, the month of June, and something that still haunts me (propelling me into vaccine research, healthier choices for our family, and more than I could ever explain in detail):</div>
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I postponed Harper's 6 month pediatrician appointment to the end of the month because it was scheduled during the stay-cation. Harper screamed for a week after her 2 month immunizations. She didn't have as strong of a reaction after her 4 month appointment so I wasn't sure what to expect after her 6 month one. The appointment went fine so we stopped at the mall, picked Ethan up from school, and headed home for lunch and nap. Everything seemed fine. </div>
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I put Harper down for her nap and a short time later I heard her making strange noises in her crib. It sounded like she was gurgling. I went in to check on her and she seemed very confused and drowsy. I thought she was still tired so I went to put her back to sleep but she vomited all over. As I cleaned her and undressed her, I called the pediatrician because I thought maybe Harper was having a reaction to the vaccines. While I was on the phone with the nurse at our pediatrician's office Harper started turning blue from head to toe. I hung up with the nurse and called 911. While on one phone with 911 I used my cell phone to call Matt. All I said to Matt was "Harper is turning blue, I called 911, come home." and I hung up the phone. I was so distraught. I had no idea what was happening but I'll never forget the look in Harper's eyes. She was terrified and so was I. A police officer arrived at our house first and after he saw Harper he called for more help. I heard him say that she was having trouble breathing and that is when I really started to panic. I tried to stay calm and talked to Harper but I can't remember what I said to her. Matt was home within minutes of my call to him and the look on his face when he saw Harper scared me even more. I kept thinking -Oh my god, she must really be in trouble. The paramedics arrived and suddenly Harper's skin color was back to normal and she seemed tired but okay. I went from freaking out inside to wondering if I had over reacted because suddenly (& thankfully) Harper seemed fine. But just moments before she was blue? What was going on? </div>
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We rode in the ambulance to the hospital. Harper's oxygen levels returned to normal during our drive. Harper's temperature was normal when we were at our house but once we reached the hospital it was 101 degrees. She was given acetaminophen, they put monitors on her, and we stayed for a few hours. The paramedic suspected Harper had a Febrile seizure and the ER doctor gave us the same diagnosis. They wanted to rule out a UTI so they tried to put a catheter in to get a urine sample for testing but after several attempts they couldn't get the catheter inserted. She screamed through the process and I stopped the ER nurses from continuing to try since it wasn't working. I knew there had to be another way to get a urine sample. The next day our pediatrician's office gave us an adhesive plastic bag to attach to Harper to collect a urine sample. MUCH less invasive and it worked to obtain urine for testing. She did not have an infection. </div>
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After monitoring, we were given a stack of handouts with information on Febrile Seizures and immunizations. I never gave Ethan Tylenol or Motrin unless he had a fever or was in pain. I didn't use it as a preventative measure. I've read that you shouldn't give it to children before arriving to their check ups/before vaccines because if they have a fever, the vaccine won't be given. If the medication reduces the fever and the vaccine is given then it can make things worse. That was the mindset I had when I took my children for their vaccines. IF I had given Harper a fever reducing medication AFTER the nurse took her temp at her appointment and BEFORE the vaccines then could the fever have been prevented? Who knows. Harper had a reaction to a vaccine. Some would call it a vaccine injury. One of the VACCINES CAUSED her fever which caused her seizure. A Febrile seizure is caused by a rapid spike in temperature. It is the body's reaction to try to reduce the fever (it's why Harper didn't have a fever when the paramedics arrived). We do not know for sure which vaccine caused all of this but she was given Prevnar and 1 in 20,000 kids has had a seizure after the Prevnar vaccine. I of course found this out AFTER the fact. Her doctor and I decided not to take the risk of another reaction and she did not receive the 4th Prevar dose. </div>
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Aftermath... at first I was terrified of another Febrile Seizure. From what we were told and what we have read, once a child has a Febrile Seizure they are at a much higher risk of having others when fevers occur. After more research I am concerned about what other damage vaccines have caused. Harper's physical development was effected by this injury. She stopped rolling from belly to back. She had been doing it previously but after the vaccines and seizure she could not longer get herself off of her belly. She rarely used her legs to help her move. After a month of observing and helping her with this, I called Early Intervention for an evaluation. The evaluation results revealed that Harper was advanced socially (haha, that is so Harper!) but more than 2 months delayed physically. She fell close to age appropriate in other areas of development. I believe and nature and nurture. I believe there is more than one influence and cause. I believe the injury delayed her, something that we are unaware of specifically, happened to delay Harper, but I also believe Harper's personality contributes to when and how she does things. Here we are about 10 months after Harper's injury and weekly physical therapy appointments for the past 8 months. She is still delayed physically, but now her personality plays an even bigger role in when and how she does things. A lot of her PT appointments were torturous to get through. Thank goodness we love our PT and she loves Harper. Harper did NOT want to do the work. She did not want you to MAKE her do it. Through it all she has made HUGE progress and is close to walking at age 17 months :)</div>
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I realize her injury could have been MUCH worse and that scares me. We are so thankful it wasn't worse. There are still vaccines left on the list that she is supposed to be given. We have more research to do and big decisions to make. I don't ever want to be here again:</div>
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Scariest day of my life. </div>
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I'm so proud of her strength. I'm so proud of her determination. Although her determination is a huge challenge for us, it's good for her and for us. Determination will get you through anything. It creates strength. Ethan has it too. These children are teaching us, strengthening us, and we are so very fortunate for that. </div>
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One day I'll post all about this little girl's personality. 17 months later and we still wonder when she is going to become a little easier (easier going/easier to parent). I don't think it's going to happen. </div>
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<br /></div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-52624613345869350582012-01-01T14:18:00.000-05:002012-01-01T14:18:57.299-05:00May 2011 continued<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now May 2011 according to my camera:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S61VPPnWPdE/TwBgU9Q9jtI/AAAAAAAACEU/g1bUcP9kSRM/s1600/IMG_5335.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S61VPPnWPdE/TwBgU9Q9jtI/AAAAAAAACEU/g1bUcP9kSRM/s400/IMG_5335.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Harper was still sleeping with us. We had made progress but this is how we managed to get sleep somedays.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KWamP7mI-48/TwBgXIgDiLI/AAAAAAAACEk/C8DVrFZ1YAs/s1600/IMG_5340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KWamP7mI-48/TwBgXIgDiLI/AAAAAAAACEk/C8DVrFZ1YAs/s400/IMG_5340.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PySa02x-zW4/TwBgX02n_2I/AAAAAAAACEs/u9TL8DyT3Jw/s1600/IMG_5341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PySa02x-zW4/TwBgX02n_2I/AAAAAAAACEs/u9TL8DyT3Jw/s400/IMG_5341.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And for my first Mother's Day as a mom of two, Harper gave me our FIRST hairdryer FREE day!!!! NO hair dryer for nap or bedtime or soothing in between. It was amazing. We listened to a hair dryer for 5 months.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ii_iESvVa8/TwBgZLbVZII/AAAAAAAACE0/MQhjFteo3uU/s1600/IMG_5346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ii_iESvVa8/TwBgZLbVZII/AAAAAAAACE0/MQhjFteo3uU/s400/IMG_5346.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qd_szLkdkPU/TwBkmvaYQwI/AAAAAAAACGU/cQ1QZv6YzhM/s1600/IMG_5347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qd_szLkdkPU/TwBkmvaYQwI/AAAAAAAACGU/cQ1QZv6YzhM/s400/IMG_5347.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me and my babies on Mother's Day morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BGigQayuCyM/TwBjy1Ith9I/AAAAAAAACFg/0RrMgx0mBqM/s1600/IMG_5350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BGigQayuCyM/TwBjy1Ith9I/AAAAAAAACFg/0RrMgx0mBqM/s400/IMG_5350.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Someone left the container of animal crackers out and Ethan helped himself :)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q95mJtXt6Iw/TwBjz0C0vrI/AAAAAAAACFo/ZDnl1gTwk60/s1600/IMG_5351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q95mJtXt6Iw/TwBjz0C0vrI/AAAAAAAACFo/ZDnl1gTwk60/s400/IMG_5351.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks, Daddy.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLiSpSbbrYs/TwBj1HcWGBI/AAAAAAAACFw/NAGYDWzGdm4/s1600/IMG_5357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLiSpSbbrYs/TwBj1HcWGBI/AAAAAAAACFw/NAGYDWzGdm4/s400/IMG_5357.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harper started to become more cuddly. A daddy and his girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1NAyoo98-k8/TwBhMjHZnbI/AAAAAAAACFM/QVEbicxFgCw/s1600/IMG_5347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23i8ZpJJIxA/TwBj1-x6V9I/AAAAAAAACF4/vbe4wyH4dpM/s1600/IMG_5361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23i8ZpJJIxA/TwBj1-x6V9I/AAAAAAAACF4/vbe4wyH4dpM/s400/IMG_5361.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Teething.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9YQKUDP1sY/TwBk-Aj3fPI/AAAAAAAACG0/keaPqc0RqzE/s1600/IMG_5399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9YQKUDP1sY/TwBk-Aj3fPI/AAAAAAAACG0/keaPqc0RqzE/s400/IMG_5399.JPG" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lollipop and first temporary tattoo after a haircut.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yVEDoEb2NwU/TwBk--lI32I/AAAAAAAACG8/j0fZbrUGl0U/s1600/IMG_5372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yVEDoEb2NwU/TwBk--lI32I/AAAAAAAACG8/j0fZbrUGl0U/s400/IMG_5372.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quite possibly my favorite photo of Ethan from this year. I had it printed on a 16x20 canvas. It had rained for days and when there was finally a sunny break we ran outside (still in pjs) to play.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C7PUo5OsmGQ/TwBlRnrneMI/AAAAAAAACHQ/_RiytP-zh-0/s1600/IMG_5428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C7PUo5OsmGQ/TwBlRnrneMI/AAAAAAAACHQ/_RiytP-zh-0/s400/IMG_5428.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bl2EcydRZC0/TwBlQGI-ltI/AAAAAAAACHI/qpfaJi-B19Y/s1600/IMG_5438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bl2EcydRZC0/TwBlQGI-ltI/AAAAAAAACHI/qpfaJi-B19Y/s400/IMG_5438.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5 Months! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Harper slept in the cosleeper for the first stretch of sleep every night and sometimes even the second stretch of sleep. After that if we tried to put her back into the cosleeper she screeched and screamed until she was next to us again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Again, huge accomplishment with not using the hairdryer. We still used the sound machine, on highest volume of the ocean sound. It is LOUD and she prefers it that way. This baby girl has a lot of preferences. Someone laughed and said we created those preferences. While, yes, we created this little being, we discovered her preferences by trial and error. If you had a screaming baby and you were reaching your breaking point, you would try anything and everything until you found what worked to stop the crying too. Honestly, you can't say that you wouldn't do that unless you've been there through this special kind of hell. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At 5.5 months Harper rolled from back to belly during the night and woke up unhappy. She continued to roll this way in her crib but we didn't witness it until June. We found her, unhappily, on her belly every day. We let her tough it out and encouraged her during the day and she finally learned to roll from belly to back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She started entertaining herself more and tolerated floor time for longer stretches of time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She reached out to hold just about anything. Ethan loved it because she reached for his face and held his cheeks between both of her hands. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIabvkP2e-s/TwBls2VshSI/AAAAAAAACHc/0j7ej1fMSaY/s1600/IMG_5463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIabvkP2e-s/TwBls2VshSI/AAAAAAAACHc/0j7ej1fMSaY/s400/IMG_5463.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">FINALLY napping in her crib. Some naps still took place in the swing at this point but we were making huge progress. Her first night in her crib was mid month too! Those sheets... They are Pottery Barn Kids Chamois sheets that I found new, in packaging at a consignment sale. I picked them up to have a spare sheet and now they are the only sheets she will sleep on (WITH a cozy lambskin underneath - this girl likes her bed comfy). I wish they weren't hot pink but I can't bring myself to buy another color for the full price.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XP9F6zvZEMQ/TwCMSkCHLxI/AAAAAAAACIk/mzUPFoMJafc/s1600/IMG_5487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XP9F6zvZEMQ/TwCMSkCHLxI/AAAAAAAACIk/mzUPFoMJafc/s400/IMG_5487.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Again, with the rain... another break in rain and we went hunting for puddles to jump in...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvbwa9aitmo/TwCMlR6QdOI/AAAAAAAACIw/2TF8YOqVSx0/s1600/IMG_5490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvbwa9aitmo/TwCMlR6QdOI/AAAAAAAACIw/2TF8YOqVSx0/s400/IMG_5490.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FP7jZ085w4I/TwCMzwnWdHI/AAAAAAAACJQ/KTL05cZJInY/s1600/IMG_5495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FP7jZ085w4I/TwCMzwnWdHI/AAAAAAAACJQ/KTL05cZJInY/s400/IMG_5495.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan was not crazy about the mud. He preferred water puddles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmemQ1w9ORA/TwCNAa9rIOI/AAAAAAAACJw/kB22qQt1rUA/s1600/IMG_5499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmemQ1w9ORA/TwCNAa9rIOI/AAAAAAAACJw/kB22qQt1rUA/s400/IMG_5499.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Haper was along for the ride.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ArumBnr98yM/TwCNK3vLggI/AAAAAAAACJ8/HZYy-JCsHWY/s1600/IMG_5509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ArumBnr98yM/TwCNK3vLggI/AAAAAAAACJ8/HZYy-JCsHWY/s400/IMG_5509.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v84L5qcH1ws/TwCNSZk1OGI/AAAAAAAACKQ/dctUyTRoyPY/s1600/IMG_5514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v84L5qcH1ws/TwCNSZk1OGI/AAAAAAAACKQ/dctUyTRoyPY/s400/IMG_5514.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-csMI1fRcWJ0/TwCNRYkwR7I/AAAAAAAACKI/OeciFLPe1nw/s1600/IMG_5518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-csMI1fRcWJ0/TwCNRYkwR7I/AAAAAAAACKI/OeciFLPe1nw/s640/IMG_5518.JPG" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kCir_xxbpgM/TwCN7OSIaXI/AAAAAAAACKc/iavYH0HGUZQ/s1600/IMG_5525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kCir_xxbpgM/TwCN7OSIaXI/AAAAAAAACKc/iavYH0HGUZQ/s400/IMG_5525.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I bought this onesie for Harper when I was pregnant with her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipfMx1tCz3s/TwCOKGw7syI/AAAAAAAACKo/hllIEkNhths/s1600/IMG_5544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipfMx1tCz3s/TwCOKGw7syI/AAAAAAAACKo/hllIEkNhths/s400/IMG_5544.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gbvIr6zbgvE/TwCOQoXs7AI/AAAAAAAACK0/8nal3ewYCkE/s1600/IMG_5546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gbvIr6zbgvE/TwCOQoXs7AI/AAAAAAAACK0/8nal3ewYCkE/s400/IMG_5546.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Very overexposed but I love his facial expression here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QFfpBIQn1k0/TwCOfpkqZBI/AAAAAAAACLA/BmzeqTzJSV4/s1600/IMG_5570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QFfpBIQn1k0/TwCOfpkqZBI/AAAAAAAACLA/BmzeqTzJSV4/s400/IMG_5570.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oe5aKXm-SgY/TwCOsf1zrPI/AAAAAAAACLM/zo50RgZyQ0w/s1600/IMG_5595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oe5aKXm-SgY/TwCOsf1zrPI/AAAAAAAACLM/zo50RgZyQ0w/s400/IMG_5595.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bhyjd-cHO0c/TwCOtfgsVRI/AAAAAAAACLU/RlyENAwHrNQ/s1600/IMG_5594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bhyjd-cHO0c/TwCOtfgsVRI/AAAAAAAACLU/RlyENAwHrNQ/s400/IMG_5594.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N7loWWP5mKU/TwCPEEVAQOI/AAAAAAAACLo/QZ0qwZpiloY/s1600/IMG_5613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N7loWWP5mKU/TwCPEEVAQOI/AAAAAAAACLo/QZ0qwZpiloY/s400/IMG_5613.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harper's love for Ethan grew.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJ8vmT_MSRQ/TwCPDQkG5RI/AAAAAAAACLg/CZzf0yjSt2Q/s1600/IMG_5619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJ8vmT_MSRQ/TwCPDQkG5RI/AAAAAAAACLg/CZzf0yjSt2Q/s400/IMG_5619.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The feeling is mutual.</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcvKm3Vj2FQ/TwCPSuMg0LI/AAAAAAAACL0/F2cTQSgNnZQ/s1600/IMG_5641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcvKm3Vj2FQ/TwCPSuMg0LI/AAAAAAAACL0/F2cTQSgNnZQ/s400/IMG_5641.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We spent a lot of time on blankets outside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KsSc4rBrBrM/TwCQBLHGJDI/AAAAAAAACMU/7m5uKEiftbw/s1600/IMG_5661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KsSc4rBrBrM/TwCQBLHGJDI/AAAAAAAACMU/7m5uKEiftbw/s400/IMG_5661.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And playing with water.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8015_JNoxd4/TwCQCOBaipI/AAAAAAAACMc/o1z8j-rVjFM/s1600/IMG_5648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8015_JNoxd4/TwCQCOBaipI/AAAAAAAACMc/o1z8j-rVjFM/s400/IMG_5648.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6q2kaFsSbY/TwCRqZp3J8I/AAAAAAAACMo/YZvj8Py131k/s1600/IMG_5726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6q2kaFsSbY/TwCRqZp3J8I/AAAAAAAACMo/YZvj8Py131k/s640/IMG_5726.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We discovered Harper's color is yellow. She looks great in it & I loved this outfit on her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T5WE7g76m1w/TwCR-CksnwI/AAAAAAAACM0/PnVZOr13RbE/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T5WE7g76m1w/TwCR-CksnwI/AAAAAAAACM0/PnVZOr13RbE/s400/IMG_5720.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Showing off her teeth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrqTuUd2hDM/TwCSIRDC__I/AAAAAAAACNA/wdQtWGdSF5I/s1600/IMG_5748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrqTuUd2hDM/TwCSIRDC__I/AAAAAAAACNA/wdQtWGdSF5I/s400/IMG_5748.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We introduced a sippy cup to Harper. She picked it up and drank from it like she had been doing it her entire life. Of course the child that doesn't NEED to drink from one at this point loved it. I remember the worry over trying to get Ethan to drink breast milk from a sippy cup at daycare when he refused bottles and all food.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0AzhDkkind8/TwCSd_Wd0II/AAAAAAAACNY/ouobsmTSG8w/s1600/IMG_5751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0AzhDkkind8/TwCSd_Wd0II/AAAAAAAACNY/ouobsmTSG8w/s400/IMG_5751.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I went to take a shower and put Harper in her crib. Ethan opened the door and thought she needed some toys. Thank goodness none of the harder ones hit her.</div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-37545659289784439872011-12-31T21:58:00.000-05:002011-12-31T21:58:33.390-05:00May 2011So, here it is the end of 2011 and I'd like to get this blog caught up.<br />
I feel terrible that I haven't documented Harper's infancy the way I did with Ethan. Please be sure, Harper, I am WITH you each moment, enjoying you, even if all of your milestones aren't documented here. You are growing and changing so quickly and I've never been busier or happier.<br />
In May according to my iPhone...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZjLyEaOJk_k/Tv-n_l9HZcI/AAAAAAAACAo/NgLoynxYeTE/s1600/IMG_0043_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZjLyEaOJk_k/Tv-n_l9HZcI/AAAAAAAACAo/NgLoynxYeTE/s400/IMG_0043_2.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harper was still in love with her froggy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UgY33jpx-ag/Tv-oLmlMcVI/AAAAAAAACA0/JNpkBEMhLdg/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UgY33jpx-ag/Tv-oLmlMcVI/AAAAAAAACA0/JNpkBEMhLdg/s320/IMG_0053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We celebrated her Christening Day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ioNQGp75Go4/Tv_Kx4n3lnI/AAAAAAAACEA/AwXYXtBOw2o/s1600/IMG_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ioNQGp75Go4/Tv_Kx4n3lnI/AAAAAAAACEA/AwXYXtBOw2o/s400/IMG_0027.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We played outside a lot. Ethan still insisted on wearing his cute boots with shorts, making them even cuter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NN77cuvilS8/Tv_EBL7y2DI/AAAAAAAACBM/D6s6Xz3pLQ4/s1600/IMG_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NN77cuvilS8/Tv_EBL7y2DI/AAAAAAAACBM/D6s6Xz3pLQ4/s400/IMG_0062.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I set Harper up under this umbrella while I golfed with Ethan one morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bXHrqWBDQo/Tv_ERZyS0gI/AAAAAAAACBY/g5vj5vJ3Ewg/s1600/IMG_0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bXHrqWBDQo/Tv_ERZyS0gI/AAAAAAAACBY/g5vj5vJ3Ewg/s400/IMG_0066.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I looked over moments later and she was sleeping. She didn't put herself to sleep at this point in her life EXCEPT while outside and when it was time to go inside for lunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6c_6TmUGP3A/Tv_Fh34eIcI/AAAAAAAACBk/JBxIKrJ1mec/s1600/IMG_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6c_6TmUGP3A/Tv_Fh34eIcI/AAAAAAAACBk/JBxIKrJ1mec/s400/IMG_0033.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Molly, a neighbor dog, stopped for a treat nearly every evening along her walk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zVnyC_pZDjE/Tv_FyPfl_bI/AAAAAAAACBw/NGVXfVlSmlQ/s1600/IMG_0073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zVnyC_pZDjE/Tv_FyPfl_bI/AAAAAAAACBw/NGVXfVlSmlQ/s400/IMG_0073.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40SBfraK4xo/Tv_GJbGWbXI/AAAAAAAACB8/1F8WXSXPBHo/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40SBfraK4xo/Tv_GJbGWbXI/AAAAAAAACB8/1F8WXSXPBHo/s400/IMG_0076.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UYfKzNVdTfA/Tv_GPb1qLLI/AAAAAAAACCI/cLW1WXes7Is/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UYfKzNVdTfA/Tv_GPb1qLLI/AAAAAAAACCI/cLW1WXes7Is/s400/IMG_0077.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harper found her feet!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVeXQinZh24/Tv_Ghyc7zdI/AAAAAAAACCU/bloPVm_ik5g/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVeXQinZh24/Tv_Ghyc7zdI/AAAAAAAACCU/bloPVm_ik5g/s400/IMG_0082.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Loving Springtime at our new house and new neighborhood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YSpd8pTCSlg/Tv_Hoi1nPPI/AAAAAAAACCg/oNGILfkhokY/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YSpd8pTCSlg/Tv_Hoi1nPPI/AAAAAAAACCg/oNGILfkhokY/s400/IMG_0093.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Days of grocery shopping while wearing a baby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJKebQJzeUw/Tv_IITbt8tI/AAAAAAAACCs/PxDEbd8KCSs/s1600/IMG_0101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJKebQJzeUw/Tv_IITbt8tI/AAAAAAAACCs/PxDEbd8KCSs/s400/IMG_0101.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eating her feet... and ahhh, that fuzzy, bleach blonde hair!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U3DDqidODZw/Tv_ItOsl36I/AAAAAAAACC4/QMo-Or_q5Sk/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U3DDqidODZw/Tv_ItOsl36I/AAAAAAAACC4/QMo-Or_q5Sk/s400/IMG_0140.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We visited Strausburg and the trains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVeT6MKoQIM/Tv_I2Kcj84I/AAAAAAAACDE/nSkc8BCrjxs/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVeT6MKoQIM/Tv_I2Kcj84I/AAAAAAAACDE/nSkc8BCrjxs/s400/IMG_0144.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Choo Choo Barn was a hit! We weren't sure if Ethan would be into it but he loved it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmz7XX4tBp4/Tv_JHnPQgeI/AAAAAAAACDQ/tPACRaMkQP8/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmz7XX4tBp4/Tv_JHnPQgeI/AAAAAAAACDQ/tPACRaMkQP8/s400/IMG_0137.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NoQI02DUdRo/Tv_JNpyMGjI/AAAAAAAACDc/MvRJnVIC4xM/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NoQI02DUdRo/Tv_JNpyMGjI/AAAAAAAACDc/MvRJnVIC4xM/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4gYEJcc-hl4/Tv_JZCd6ObI/AAAAAAAACDo/qsocmlZlkBI/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4gYEJcc-hl4/Tv_JZCd6ObI/AAAAAAAACDo/qsocmlZlkBI/s400/IMG_0134.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan was able to pet this little fawn!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qzknLA9geWI/Tv_JwCO7baI/AAAAAAAACD0/wmbQ6-xw69s/s1600/IMG_0146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qzknLA9geWI/Tv_JwCO7baI/AAAAAAAACD0/wmbQ6-xw69s/s400/IMG_0146.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lucky, lucky boy :)</div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-46636161276770659142011-12-31T14:09:00.000-05:002011-12-31T14:09:42.715-05:00Harper's Christening DayWe started off the month of May with Harper's Christening Day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQX5KATRnkVszTP6Y8IVm76YNu8gJIwO_FxsrRo9wKoA6rlx2Mw5fo0i1xSlf9Wcey0rON_kTk4kH8JN-RLr5fWJXIbm5xrY0hwXUIu0H3TVzztoEz0-ZlQvxuMc24vjL2QyMsXBcsng/s1600/IMG_5091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQX5KATRnkVszTP6Y8IVm76YNu8gJIwO_FxsrRo9wKoA6rlx2Mw5fo0i1xSlf9Wcey0rON_kTk4kH8JN-RLr5fWJXIbm5xrY0hwXUIu0H3TVzztoEz0-ZlQvxuMc24vjL2QyMsXBcsng/s400/IMG_5091.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvRWGRU0rrc7a7mMkQRJd8pe00Otq8YE7WDpu3C6R-9VLI0W2lC5IWF-J3RXCf4aTab4k1Hq_Acd6GFJmak7Tij33azu7SrFVMoo4_k4gzWr0vgEoAr01u-xcUaBjOZD0KGB0-WMoEkg/s1600/IMG_5089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvRWGRU0rrc7a7mMkQRJd8pe00Otq8YE7WDpu3C6R-9VLI0W2lC5IWF-J3RXCf4aTab4k1Hq_Acd6GFJmak7Tij33azu7SrFVMoo4_k4gzWr0vgEoAr01u-xcUaBjOZD0KGB0-WMoEkg/s400/IMG_5089.JPG" width="242" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfBQmQMH9dNmzXmuhWCbgvMOLDquPSBZ_cwYLfJQsk_fHa4OXgAWgXl0fXbueuX-V4oEdsPNPojp3dPMXTsEX3ATUkPLMZRIFlUhzielgrPvEnKY3zYocy9qGDCzewKdYMDpMFM_9v2w/s1600/DSC_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfBQmQMH9dNmzXmuhWCbgvMOLDquPSBZ_cwYLfJQsk_fHa4OXgAWgXl0fXbueuX-V4oEdsPNPojp3dPMXTsEX3ATUkPLMZRIFlUhzielgrPvEnKY3zYocy9qGDCzewKdYMDpMFM_9v2w/s400/DSC_0312.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Father Snyder told a story about how the beautiful stained glass windows in our church used to hang in an orphanage. It was the same orphanage his mother lived in. He shared that he likes to think of how his mother prayed under the same windows as he does today. I'm grateful that he told that story on this day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqlKDuIR9zLL1I-nfollADqfTOu4XoaI9T0Cm2VGTBmqHLcPxZQb9lBODD53P0OkzgnFQML2C7MIpL9djqekJc1yT51rTuJOlPM7CH8sA6y4v1_4Y-jB_N6nCNTnHjsuAD9NG9SlKz6Q/s1600/DSC_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqlKDuIR9zLL1I-nfollADqfTOu4XoaI9T0Cm2VGTBmqHLcPxZQb9lBODD53P0OkzgnFQML2C7MIpL9djqekJc1yT51rTuJOlPM7CH8sA6y4v1_4Y-jB_N6nCNTnHjsuAD9NG9SlKz6Q/s400/DSC_0314.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAWPHsQ7RDbZKj6pa-qGsiLgN0ycGHSKaBSZ8q4ywzEMO0YOaS5r8odTQkVp494tbpfPhcOlD3_j7g7d1RkQy6WT6m9y7hqwawYU8NKh6rWRpvaPe7QrzlmN2Lj6t0xLIyggdYT__px0/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAWPHsQ7RDbZKj6pa-qGsiLgN0ycGHSKaBSZ8q4ywzEMO0YOaS5r8odTQkVp494tbpfPhcOlD3_j7g7d1RkQy6WT6m9y7hqwawYU8NKh6rWRpvaPe7QrzlmN2Lj6t0xLIyggdYT__px0/s400/DSC_0315.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0DkQe7YAzPhguq6z7dtLEqleAuFuXMYNCXiKCaJiDVFRi2kjz8OR19EJy8k_EoU-fmApGf0X1c9a3psIZGzsHqfVekA0THSdnX8xum-htbGCVcvehg423XKk1ET2UUPAVNGPbY1znRM/s1600/DSC_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0DkQe7YAzPhguq6z7dtLEqleAuFuXMYNCXiKCaJiDVFRi2kjz8OR19EJy8k_EoU-fmApGf0X1c9a3psIZGzsHqfVekA0THSdnX8xum-htbGCVcvehg423XKk1ET2UUPAVNGPbY1znRM/s400/DSC_0331.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everyone commented on how well Harper did during the service. It made me laugh because I wondered if they saw what I had to do to keep her content. I never stopped moving even trying to pay attention and responding during the ceremony - there I was keeping my baby in motion while sitting in the pew. Finally, Harper had enough and cried through photos. Here she is with her Godparents. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsVIAwWlAF7mij_OmYfsnTuZx0938eTgpAarz6x-wuuQnKVC1dt1qI4hvap94yIeKwkG8bCyI95x1DOdd7XRxVheWKhFfdZXZIYoMT2jQAlIFQWNezEjCaHWpQwE4nVEnpdYYHITZCIw/s1600/DSC_0334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsVIAwWlAF7mij_OmYfsnTuZx0938eTgpAarz6x-wuuQnKVC1dt1qI4hvap94yIeKwkG8bCyI95x1DOdd7XRxVheWKhFfdZXZIYoMT2jQAlIFQWNezEjCaHWpQwE4nVEnpdYYHITZCIw/s400/DSC_0334.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then her froggy calmed her down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2ECw53RYOsqaNZ5EPTMZ-gnN_utv3duoX6DxAwQicPU7DE140XZ1_jxqNVgIPRmv1FiE7wzV0_-Fi7db-2KRUbfXVROqc8551WqPqn7mZyoYU2AKNM2BDYdEnZ81vwCPfwWNIrZl41c/s1600/IMG_5103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2ECw53RYOsqaNZ5EPTMZ-gnN_utv3duoX6DxAwQicPU7DE140XZ1_jxqNVgIPRmv1FiE7wzV0_-Fi7db-2KRUbfXVROqc8551WqPqn7mZyoYU2AKNM2BDYdEnZ81vwCPfwWNIrZl41c/s400/IMG_5103.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I loved her gown and bonnet and can still smell the anointing oil when I look at this photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd74cy8vJWt273puWssL0TZ-j3zen6rYG_wNZQwf2Ll0uwzGMuoXNvmHuktNIyPKerbztBmAx2TwHa9QNtbQAwhds7Zk8FxANsHJNRu5__N2zbi2d9yFjoqgHMcgPphtbEzWiXMoqd0Jw/s1600/IMG_5104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd74cy8vJWt273puWssL0TZ-j3zen6rYG_wNZQwf2Ll0uwzGMuoXNvmHuktNIyPKerbztBmAx2TwHa9QNtbQAwhds7Zk8FxANsHJNRu5__N2zbi2d9yFjoqgHMcgPphtbEzWiXMoqd0Jw/s400/IMG_5104.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dBY1FjW7dfvEAGZPCHWyOs9eZ_CIlpFmCMkEfdMrHHxy_Y3FqaSDWy7OQ41jWz2dhmjHDB6BOzRIG-KqQlReyu_aZIYRh8QEzKRCbOsr0z5e5s1WDmoxwHSoOoHRZKlEuj9sf4L_m2k/s1600/IMG_5107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dBY1FjW7dfvEAGZPCHWyOs9eZ_CIlpFmCMkEfdMrHHxy_Y3FqaSDWy7OQ41jWz2dhmjHDB6BOzRIG-KqQlReyu_aZIYRh8QEzKRCbOsr0z5e5s1WDmoxwHSoOoHRZKlEuj9sf4L_m2k/s400/IMG_5107.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With her Great Granddaddy </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqjbK5Xa3PTXewCsdVmPJIX-OHpgz3TOC2uHQR7ttOqOKJbeOqvTZ7QaPskZNvHyNQpB3iHkeKbooQeHyqjMFoWhB-PhkRB2wR2rqhCHZAGU1T5zH_TLiH5KbIi971ia1o7Zp34Yjjm8/s1600/IMG_5110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqjbK5Xa3PTXewCsdVmPJIX-OHpgz3TOC2uHQR7ttOqOKJbeOqvTZ7QaPskZNvHyNQpB3iHkeKbooQeHyqjMFoWhB-PhkRB2wR2rqhCHZAGU1T5zH_TLiH5KbIi971ia1o7Zp34Yjjm8/s400/IMG_5110.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time to change into her party dress!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1k7KJPvlXHB2TVsFXSb9hSy6ZCI7E4TxoSSx35jSWxSQchHqTAOJ6lofn4EjJ5_5nJmX0yR21dwcTgVGieQcbuIbLUGcvc3dBzwnY5c-3KKRNRJPGCdmm1kBJvvM6BWJSRj5ATWwY1E/s1600/IMG_5113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1k7KJPvlXHB2TVsFXSb9hSy6ZCI7E4TxoSSx35jSWxSQchHqTAOJ6lofn4EjJ5_5nJmX0yR21dwcTgVGieQcbuIbLUGcvc3dBzwnY5c-3KKRNRJPGCdmm1kBJvvM6BWJSRj5ATWwY1E/s400/IMG_5113.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHN1wSqHGharYh4ntTIBUbmzF-jcXBM4Kw8y5Og7g5WFxaHzENFdXYhzFHm_YOT99OjzC5aYA3x6q3qNMXFr1ZhVJ5GI_-a7X84H1bQoAQlF3TRxydqRc02kDqMxSGJo3SKmcGMMKXwA/s1600/IMG_5115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHN1wSqHGharYh4ntTIBUbmzF-jcXBM4Kw8y5Og7g5WFxaHzENFdXYhzFHm_YOT99OjzC5aYA3x6q3qNMXFr1ZhVJ5GI_-a7X84H1bQoAQlF3TRxydqRc02kDqMxSGJo3SKmcGMMKXwA/s400/IMG_5115.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DGtVfJv6GXjfnQy1jmFw87JuSWbqqQ4vVEVeaW2Fi_F8Ns6-Y1BR0p6zXT1em0MZ8TuYN8JfJ4Qd0swpLcqon3TH3-MaFCWdtWXvV_6zFJfS58sPcHD3JQggeDfrfFt7rbckgYVwvZM/s1600/IMG_5136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DGtVfJv6GXjfnQy1jmFw87JuSWbqqQ4vVEVeaW2Fi_F8Ns6-Y1BR0p6zXT1em0MZ8TuYN8JfJ4Qd0swpLcqon3TH3-MaFCWdtWXvV_6zFJfS58sPcHD3JQggeDfrfFt7rbckgYVwvZM/s400/IMG_5136.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So peaceful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKGeqcGwyEURphW9VkG2hQ3GeAEagHqjLoPfQZXsoVNklx-OFRDF3hFqnW-7m4CU24yDA7sQpZUrLfrRGh1_1I4vaXdrTisgAtUEz9I-PKGByMXohKH8a7PX88UyFWiBTr9eB3zX04HM/s1600/IMG_5119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKGeqcGwyEURphW9VkG2hQ3GeAEagHqjLoPfQZXsoVNklx-OFRDF3hFqnW-7m4CU24yDA7sQpZUrLfrRGh1_1I4vaXdrTisgAtUEz9I-PKGByMXohKH8a7PX88UyFWiBTr9eB3zX04HM/s400/IMG_5119.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP2F1btkdL1OsbwhDyN6Y0L7hwBuB0hHYm1jVdeBJgwCxpjvXaHv1CLMQ50vEy1yz8kcfGKdWCG8pmlrMzTc0Y68vRcEvLUkrfHpOCyZ4FcxroEfBZbz8SxIQDEfduFH8DvXwLhbjXT8/s1600/IMG_5128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP2F1btkdL1OsbwhDyN6Y0L7hwBuB0hHYm1jVdeBJgwCxpjvXaHv1CLMQ50vEy1yz8kcfGKdWCG8pmlrMzTc0Y68vRcEvLUkrfHpOCyZ4FcxroEfBZbz8SxIQDEfduFH8DvXwLhbjXT8/s400/IMG_5128.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCLHd65RmUHds9oOtsF1eo7yk1mW_9ZgJJEzZ8pXog_16Vu9BGki6OU6VTO1vgWxmw6F5W3zh4h5oK_FrCtr0lbbzyW6ZiSuMeM8QcEtPJpq54c6NKUkvF7jFBfNoSX422Dri3XXh_9E/s1600/IMG_5143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCLHd65RmUHds9oOtsF1eo7yk1mW_9ZgJJEzZ8pXog_16Vu9BGki6OU6VTO1vgWxmw6F5W3zh4h5oK_FrCtr0lbbzyW6ZiSuMeM8QcEtPJpq54c6NKUkvF7jFBfNoSX422Dri3XXh_9E/s400/IMG_5143.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan loved the ham, edible fruit arrangement (fruit on a stick - of course he loved it!), and his favorite - the cake! Here we asked him where the icing went.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXH_0t3-9GY/Tv9ZGnLdeFI/AAAAAAAAB-M/bnyM6E2RSGE/s1600/IMG_5165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXH_0t3-9GY/Tv9ZGnLdeFI/AAAAAAAAB-M/bnyM6E2RSGE/s400/IMG_5165.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ybtFOS0n3OI/Tv9aShk5mrI/AAAAAAAAB-w/-Sgcaf6WCMI/s1600/IMG_5183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ybtFOS0n3OI/Tv9aShk5mrI/AAAAAAAAB-w/-Sgcaf6WCMI/s400/IMG_5183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UyR9WrIVXhk/Tv9bNEqZLII/AAAAAAAAB-8/tGfGDSVy_n4/s1600/IMG_5307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UyR9WrIVXhk/Tv9bNEqZLII/AAAAAAAAB-8/tGfGDSVy_n4/s400/IMG_5307.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiaHp1NFJoY/Tv9buc1LczI/AAAAAAAAB_U/f2RF5ijZCq8/s1600/IMG_5246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiaHp1NFJoY/Tv9buc1LczI/AAAAAAAAB_U/f2RF5ijZCq8/s400/IMG_5246.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKyCFn4lxX4/Tv9b-KUM7GI/AAAAAAAAB_g/zY0sIWvcXhw/s1600/IMG_5251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKyCFn4lxX4/Tv9b-KUM7GI/AAAAAAAAB_g/zY0sIWvcXhw/s400/IMG_5251.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VfHevmxYoBI/Tv9cMPJ0jwI/AAAAAAAAB_s/g0HR_mjDmZE/s1600/IMG_5257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VfHevmxYoBI/Tv9cMPJ0jwI/AAAAAAAAB_s/g0HR_mjDmZE/s400/IMG_5257.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CXq-wotuvcE/Tv9cjGJiOfI/AAAAAAAACAE/6DIryKjXLVk/s1600/IMG_5264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CXq-wotuvcE/Tv9cjGJiOfI/AAAAAAAACAE/6DIryKjXLVk/s400/IMG_5264.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jA85-DAhOxk/Tv9crdDyiAI/AAAAAAAACAQ/hSoTKAO2g_E/s1600/IMG_5271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jA85-DAhOxk/Tv9crdDyiAI/AAAAAAAACAQ/hSoTKAO2g_E/s400/IMG_5271.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looking at these photos makes me want to go squeeze her and smell her bonnet to see if it still smells like the she did on her special day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHN1wSqHGharYh4ntTIBUbmzF-jcXBM4Kw8y5Og7g5WFxaHzENFdXYhzFHm_YOT99OjzC5aYA3x6q3qNMXFr1ZhVJ5GI_-a7X84H1bQoAQlF3TRxydqRc02kDqMxSGJo3SKmcGMMKXwA/s1600/IMG_5115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-6670943520030575902011-10-09T20:10:00.000-04:002011-10-09T20:10:17.986-04:00April 2011We started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Harper wasn't screaming quite as much. We made advancements in sleep. Half way through the month Harper didn't need the hairdryer on to fall asleep anymore. It wasn't silent but quieter as we weaned her from the hairdryer to the sound machine set on "ocean" at it's highest volume. We also weaned her from using the "swaddle me". At first we swaddled her with an Aden and Anais swaddle blanket (best things ever!) to put her to sleep and by her 2nd or 3rd nursing session of the night, she was completely unswaddled. We were still cosleeping and Harper was still nursing nearly every hour of the night. To get her to sleep I snuggled next to her in bed and nursed her. When she was fully asleep I slipped away until her first wake up, an hour later. For that HOUR of not having a baby attached to me... I joined Matt and Ethan for Ethan's bedtime routine or cleaned up from the day and dinner or just sat and watched tv or at the computer. I re-read what I just wrote and wonder if I'll look back on that time and miss having a baby attached to me for so many hours a day. Yes, I will miss it but when you're in the trenches of a cranky baby and nursing every 2 hours during the day and every hour at night, and listening to the hairdryer or a loud sound machine for hours every day, that hour that I had partially to myself was sweet.<br />
<br />
Harper's 4 month milestones:<br />
Enjoyed blowing raspberries and bubbles.<br />
Reached out for our faces with both hands - SO CUTE!<br />
Weaned from hairdryer and swaddle me at night.<br />
Weighed 16lbs, 6oz and measured 26 3/4 inches long at her 4 month check up.<br />
Her first and second teeth broke (left and right bottom, central incisors) through at 4.5 months old. <br />
Celebrated her first Easter.<br />
Started grabbing her feet to play with them.<br />
Laughed for Ethan for the first time!<br />
<br />
Ethan was still a busy boy ...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC09mgBDZna9R1_j9sodqEEq1GWaz8JT7NcEsdqUPcgp2kzhk5wCIuKA0mT-e8-euaKboKxwPFQXyiytYvrvpOK90jOVP7-rEe78FbpRIgxWnV_djIRBKv6TZA854VlTM5zYC1LIVlf4w/s1600/IMG_4506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC09mgBDZna9R1_j9sodqEEq1GWaz8JT7NcEsdqUPcgp2kzhk5wCIuKA0mT-e8-euaKboKxwPFQXyiytYvrvpOK90jOVP7-rEe78FbpRIgxWnV_djIRBKv6TZA854VlTM5zYC1LIVlf4w/s400/IMG_4506.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lyXQ9h9-CVv94FLTEopnQqpAbOoJdP4EkjuYyNW5gHaTdpmj7hTp5E-qfH17MD9uPHRcYSwDWZ2qrdtGbelaoN81K5PfS0ZuRzHPs6rNXPzG4jmEU2xYX7Bo_JGKTYEvmXgfyRG149w/s1600/IMG_4509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lyXQ9h9-CVv94FLTEopnQqpAbOoJdP4EkjuYyNW5gHaTdpmj7hTp5E-qfH17MD9uPHRcYSwDWZ2qrdtGbelaoN81K5PfS0ZuRzHPs6rNXPzG4jmEU2xYX7Bo_JGKTYEvmXgfyRG149w/s400/IMG_4509.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Shortly after we moved into this house Ethan learned how much fun racing cars, trucks, buses, etc up and down the hallway is. What makes it even cuter is those jammie pants! I love them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjVUFHSBoZ8IpyXhZLUACauqIjaeDEQsSayV_nwjA2gZ2dm5DkYtCJga2wo7Z5FQ9oWt4_OgiYiumQeoinBKqe1VF0GEwleR7_rUVVEZWJhNA0J43HaCjL_PaSzGQYR5iaBVKqnhK_24/s1600/IMG_4523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjVUFHSBoZ8IpyXhZLUACauqIjaeDEQsSayV_nwjA2gZ2dm5DkYtCJga2wo7Z5FQ9oWt4_OgiYiumQeoinBKqe1VF0GEwleR7_rUVVEZWJhNA0J43HaCjL_PaSzGQYR5iaBVKqnhK_24/s400/IMG_4523.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Having a picnic with a monkey. Pretend play is growing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcJDdkoDKZNQafgK5KO-y-kt8HCmSimkE_7QKeMVRK89kJOIhIDL_Wj0-zA4SYhuO0bifHsrYWgLfklt9bog1GpR10hgce4fsQLnwKfdR3lsioYfbiGif3QQmp5o84U4kcRZGu2iDqRo/s1600/IMG_4535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcJDdkoDKZNQafgK5KO-y-kt8HCmSimkE_7QKeMVRK89kJOIhIDL_Wj0-zA4SYhuO0bifHsrYWgLfklt9bog1GpR10hgce4fsQLnwKfdR3lsioYfbiGif3QQmp5o84U4kcRZGu2iDqRo/s400/IMG_4535.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time to play golf outside again! YAY! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sZL6oEf9B4UXW3uGgSWPCaW8LOpd06cVmnythdbpf8dS0ihFF3-DmiAdIhsj-KY2gYaImHHwohmdmokEaLFsUbVG434Y1z7xGxbf2EzDr-fuqxqrA4FvP_RV2X9pO8dqKW6FImBQfpU/s1600/IMG_4527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sZL6oEf9B4UXW3uGgSWPCaW8LOpd06cVmnythdbpf8dS0ihFF3-DmiAdIhsj-KY2gYaImHHwohmdmokEaLFsUbVG434Y1z7xGxbf2EzDr-fuqxqrA4FvP_RV2X9pO8dqKW6FImBQfpU/s400/IMG_4527.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He loved hitting balls out of the dirt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7EXe1QX6TkNVk4O8c6HfU_hjGbK7pk99xTB2x5DpF0WE_LiKexUOfGrzM2vpvjElGax-Uok5elInvpJIuATURr-vUVoQt39WDEbyvHIh6QeXgK-FtAP3y84VpBB6SsYsJ6kzEEK_ErA/s1600/IMG_4532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7EXe1QX6TkNVk4O8c6HfU_hjGbK7pk99xTB2x5DpF0WE_LiKexUOfGrzM2vpvjElGax-Uok5elInvpJIuATURr-vUVoQt39WDEbyvHIh6QeXgK-FtAP3y84VpBB6SsYsJ6kzEEK_ErA/s400/IMG_4532.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pointing to where his shot will go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4H89Vn6Q6na85vA4MPDIGtOubCpBiZV8fdZFtH_7DPlHjhRAdEitPmtLvRtBDWvkUEyUvIOIxxh2ZiE6dI_Dv3XZULFgBACTareYuGKyg04QNG60QoFLJcqrm5SLU3i7g4o0SK98nms/s1600/IMG_4542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4H89Vn6Q6na85vA4MPDIGtOubCpBiZV8fdZFtH_7DPlHjhRAdEitPmtLvRtBDWvkUEyUvIOIxxh2ZiE6dI_Dv3XZULFgBACTareYuGKyg04QNG60QoFLJcqrm5SLU3i7g4o0SK98nms/s400/IMG_4542.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdI6_3de_e5uTV9qKXCgutZ1TCqqthETlQNJulJtxuh2-sFX3eT6W7AFabTs2oFNAnc7oK5KbenrDdhb-xJBYrUXlUISLBHQOeK1xejNdTDyYo-xoQtG9XRvL26kk3iPNH5pMEsM_fko/s1600/IMG_4555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdI6_3de_e5uTV9qKXCgutZ1TCqqthETlQNJulJtxuh2-sFX3eT6W7AFabTs2oFNAnc7oK5KbenrDdhb-xJBYrUXlUISLBHQOeK1xejNdTDyYo-xoQtG9XRvL26kk3iPNH5pMEsM_fko/s400/IMG_4555.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXP_vXqa6u_TFz0ZCsR8-hOtc8iLFbf0NB_kzafZaHh0ev9fKIJkzLhT5yjhpwWLxNvsOvuvz8ThyY8LiQp4JIC8B6GuiAzLI_Rv-BB5GEXb5FW6yz9VpGolyHiGhdPJUCsispvrkFoQ/s1600/IMG_4569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXP_vXqa6u_TFz0ZCsR8-hOtc8iLFbf0NB_kzafZaHh0ev9fKIJkzLhT5yjhpwWLxNvsOvuvz8ThyY8LiQp4JIC8B6GuiAzLI_Rv-BB5GEXb5FW6yz9VpGolyHiGhdPJUCsispvrkFoQ/s400/IMG_4569.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNjR6g5kC72La7kYcD8JpIhaaxdVg-OoigQWT9sXIGmGxLLC4bEL4GaZfV2U6GdYc5cxNCtGDw0AG6Wy_-mEE5HDzOic5gWwaL8sSArt8zfGwqG3Ge3pwnGErmd4wrYb3xWPQ4SmI76Y/s1600/IMG_4570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNjR6g5kC72La7kYcD8JpIhaaxdVg-OoigQWT9sXIGmGxLLC4bEL4GaZfV2U6GdYc5cxNCtGDw0AG6Wy_-mEE5HDzOic5gWwaL8sSArt8zfGwqG3Ge3pwnGErmd4wrYb3xWPQ4SmI76Y/s400/IMG_4570.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Teething baby</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYTvEy9lR_2cMGoQlHcQ-k7XbL3tNKOVyJB2sB3jN4Q23MEGJ1EDa7_momz_qoDraD9pHfRoXYiiBXFjWk1Qi9wbmr1a3ABpUJ3ejJLuavHb9UQKst0NfpBubjwODRRySC2Zqmey-AaU/s1600/IMG_4592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYTvEy9lR_2cMGoQlHcQ-k7XbL3tNKOVyJB2sB3jN4Q23MEGJ1EDa7_momz_qoDraD9pHfRoXYiiBXFjWk1Qi9wbmr1a3ABpUJ3ejJLuavHb9UQKst0NfpBubjwODRRySC2Zqmey-AaU/s400/IMG_4592.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is cookie dough all over Ethan's face- we were making dairy, egg, and soy free sugar cookies for Easter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByPn79czEevEsL60zVRh1z9gRvV4GMLnp-OanPIJ9W_9YB_pnwV75YLvLoYuDwkCzUoyzFrhkwMUVY8jxtCeBcIXpP9S98BtFbXRoT4nJ5Zv1zIPAYW42UytoqAh5sKuyQVM7w16Meow/s1600/IMG_4593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByPn79czEevEsL60zVRh1z9gRvV4GMLnp-OanPIJ9W_9YB_pnwV75YLvLoYuDwkCzUoyzFrhkwMUVY8jxtCeBcIXpP9S98BtFbXRoT4nJ5Zv1zIPAYW42UytoqAh5sKuyQVM7w16Meow/s400/IMG_4593.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY04bhvMlwdKmAfVQWsVrtDbLlJLFu5q_ktvQ7LXBV0_Lf8wHf9MmAWzwzqxHcczQqJV0nqN1LE_WMYs7RiTOIfnnMK8oO5q7RA5jLPNXubkO1aWy-Q0vSyZualeB1odzxD2iayEZ-ivg/s1600/IMG_4595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY04bhvMlwdKmAfVQWsVrtDbLlJLFu5q_ktvQ7LXBV0_Lf8wHf9MmAWzwzqxHcczQqJV0nqN1LE_WMYs7RiTOIfnnMK8oO5q7RA5jLPNXubkO1aWy-Q0vSyZualeB1odzxD2iayEZ-ivg/s400/IMG_4595.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan is saying "Baby's too wittle for cookie dough." He loves to remind us that she's too little for just about everything that he gets to do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKroW8DTrvQHAOi-jg5uVjO8fz9rmCV9KORUCl8icYbrcFHZbVUEkg473nt0Tr_SQdBlwVASIxRiUU52Wyi18clFZy8zHojs0lynI0HbIrQu2VHq53dztGvbbtvafZuXzI2ZH7xpXTy7o/s1600/IMG_4597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKroW8DTrvQHAOi-jg5uVjO8fz9rmCV9KORUCl8icYbrcFHZbVUEkg473nt0Tr_SQdBlwVASIxRiUU52Wyi18clFZy8zHojs0lynI0HbIrQu2VHq53dztGvbbtvafZuXzI2ZH7xpXTy7o/s400/IMG_4597.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> My little pea pod.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAltoH2TjW2ibW4KEe0ektS8fJw9gCDBjathBQ5i2-9YUSdlR5LPpUv8aXbDFGQ4vmx6RwPlx_g0AYoGCTcVlNdgbGPbdPRsskiCcg7XuA22ym_3lfglSuboIAhZ3hDinG5GGaCrsCz7c/s1600/IMG_4599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAltoH2TjW2ibW4KEe0ektS8fJw9gCDBjathBQ5i2-9YUSdlR5LPpUv8aXbDFGQ4vmx6RwPlx_g0AYoGCTcVlNdgbGPbdPRsskiCcg7XuA22ym_3lfglSuboIAhZ3hDinG5GGaCrsCz7c/s400/IMG_4599.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course she's chewing on her hands behind there!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7tOk_nre6OgTrLjYWAxln-Iy8O5ObRVjQVWSkhOJxjlBdycVJrW2vrpLqUk6mTjfWAxKxnOeFZbKEl7q5rnLHcBCGMDmqaCQsPdIzXZCEnd0jXUKTfDtOzK1lbTqDsvFIKjdebL1RxU/s1600/IMG_4601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7tOk_nre6OgTrLjYWAxln-Iy8O5ObRVjQVWSkhOJxjlBdycVJrW2vrpLqUk6mTjfWAxKxnOeFZbKEl7q5rnLHcBCGMDmqaCQsPdIzXZCEnd0jXUKTfDtOzK1lbTqDsvFIKjdebL1RxU/s400/IMG_4601.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sibling love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDHGAQknb0yG-jDURQpq69N2g7uz5PVhxJLec8eCzyvBHkPtuidcglHedAts6dMpiFaHU8is71abEUk4hZkAqBaVLbYBvCfBce2PDhpVn2aKi-XvJ4mft6GtschboSVMwFiGUGuGGslU/s1600/IMG_4604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDHGAQknb0yG-jDURQpq69N2g7uz5PVhxJLec8eCzyvBHkPtuidcglHedAts6dMpiFaHU8is71abEUk4hZkAqBaVLbYBvCfBce2PDhpVn2aKi-XvJ4mft6GtschboSVMwFiGUGuGGslU/s400/IMG_4604.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6W4123gcVlp515NCEBPV4-P3-DpRdTSBbakoQ1WBFNegmeAg_hv-D1zqaYucT3u_ZCtsq6YJBaAx-25WHC0jAKdRsEGB1_oS4vB-z3amIwknwveE9WWINFudXauYmoOl_L0qfBJ7dSAo/s1600/IMG_4625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6W4123gcVlp515NCEBPV4-P3-DpRdTSBbakoQ1WBFNegmeAg_hv-D1zqaYucT3u_ZCtsq6YJBaAx-25WHC0jAKdRsEGB1_oS4vB-z3amIwknwveE9WWINFudXauYmoOl_L0qfBJ7dSAo/s400/IMG_4625.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Party of Four.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VnTwXoOWNPayhZiPfFeCxcViFxgAr-hZ7LH-W7xQs6VqfqY_d7TBw2KrWimS0P5iyqoOQYd6L7m21BqMasNDolEqiI2RaJiNFwdqorlLY_zlkW1p63-OZrWqyFblGN3O-IptDPWEfqo/s1600/IMG_4643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VnTwXoOWNPayhZiPfFeCxcViFxgAr-hZ7LH-W7xQs6VqfqY_d7TBw2KrWimS0P5iyqoOQYd6L7m21BqMasNDolEqiI2RaJiNFwdqorlLY_zlkW1p63-OZrWqyFblGN3O-IptDPWEfqo/s400/IMG_4643.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJu0YCXPWEge9JMtCMTN2PB3TogsKHWMSRCkXzcGIW0-3MPrNClTLYCdeLhNBu2r9ziNCPa4gUAaXpD4RTm6iszFmA84aGinvZTe4eAMTTbWXBWIgr7lm48JPnL8XvGYSfe2v2d7S7Lw/s1600/IMG_4644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJu0YCXPWEge9JMtCMTN2PB3TogsKHWMSRCkXzcGIW0-3MPrNClTLYCdeLhNBu2r9ziNCPa4gUAaXpD4RTm6iszFmA84aGinvZTe4eAMTTbWXBWIgr7lm48JPnL8XvGYSfe2v2d7S7Lw/s400/IMG_4644.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan learned to catch a ball. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAaRNp3sbNMtgy776cfYbbT_r6RVeP4yApIvqP-w3L1f5uI5IFsdOqfxKJZVh9zjil_0jrrrqgfXEzOoFsflOy3NJ7cmF1yL7u8Kh0GXI1Wl26hJNL7OiFGvs6dVVwFJOuvYCGT9Kg8w/s1600/IMG_4646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAaRNp3sbNMtgy776cfYbbT_r6RVeP4yApIvqP-w3L1f5uI5IFsdOqfxKJZVh9zjil_0jrrrqgfXEzOoFsflOy3NJ7cmF1yL7u8Kh0GXI1Wl26hJNL7OiFGvs6dVVwFJOuvYCGT9Kg8w/s400/IMG_4646.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cold cuddly mornings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGthHC8C7pDlpw9blD90tOZgH47MnXxIedF_ahbKBgrr_X3KazzL79fsCWKjhTdP8S1GSyBdeQXekTzU2aEIklEynPPMAr2Sm376MQVB0zoz8RiN72wV-C3YrRPZLjJ6HPAtXd6XgTok/s1600/IMG_4650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGthHC8C7pDlpw9blD90tOZgH47MnXxIedF_ahbKBgrr_X3KazzL79fsCWKjhTdP8S1GSyBdeQXekTzU2aEIklEynPPMAr2Sm376MQVB0zoz8RiN72wV-C3YrRPZLjJ6HPAtXd6XgTok/s400/IMG_4650.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan is really into cars, tractors, anything that can be pushed, rolled, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJ_6m0B7ukJHElD1opWeYD5MuK_XpU57pUNqqS-WwgsVwj_Z96PraOkdoaIBZ3EuEBzZZOyn2YgIj9k9XXNgqu0gJHh0gY_i602LC16L5HhdhdhpMsFtHQObdGbeLOXp-NMTJYSiLKV0/s1600/IMG_4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJ_6m0B7ukJHElD1opWeYD5MuK_XpU57pUNqqS-WwgsVwj_Z96PraOkdoaIBZ3EuEBzZZOyn2YgIj9k9XXNgqu0gJHh0gY_i602LC16L5HhdhdhpMsFtHQObdGbeLOXp-NMTJYSiLKV0/s400/IMG_4652.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Matt cuddling his girl before heading out to play golf. He didn't get to golf as much this year. I'm sure he'll make up for it when the kids are older.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyu0mrekQgO0jPRgE9w7FxvdXTFOoeDsU1LAAyrRh3GuPPJcyJgT2tToSJlSy9Fzrwjlz0sw1sUg05A_Z5uj0aVGVEjM86PHSD__BManzT5CKS8f-VrIZYc45PmvYpnvbZBHtd80z4s4/s1600/IMG_4660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyu0mrekQgO0jPRgE9w7FxvdXTFOoeDsU1LAAyrRh3GuPPJcyJgT2tToSJlSy9Fzrwjlz0sw1sUg05A_Z5uj0aVGVEjM86PHSD__BManzT5CKS8f-VrIZYc45PmvYpnvbZBHtd80z4s4/s400/IMG_4660.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqXRDRmk1LMAqrfikTLK6d6YrPWbiVDbD8-Smplg_6jY1Nl_sLjEX5E2RVX3j0VSj-GpyxAlM2nirC_vHpK_H6GHtdhL8fIHZwxSG_83H-SGkFxu8U8Is3xFQ2zJyj1zddPk5DF1GfNk/s1600/IMG_4665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqXRDRmk1LMAqrfikTLK6d6YrPWbiVDbD8-Smplg_6jY1Nl_sLjEX5E2RVX3j0VSj-GpyxAlM2nirC_vHpK_H6GHtdhL8fIHZwxSG_83H-SGkFxu8U8Is3xFQ2zJyj1zddPk5DF1GfNk/s400/IMG_4665.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6NZ3QddGUK2oDBxago6_gF4bKYUu_JOuplv_zvYE7E2f1x7EJo-oY_5orc5Fb75nca1OYAzNDeiv328T6CB2njUntJ2ajVTCNIoamvp0ufWGrRait-3FhKPhWk-c3KZ9WcgT39cuLik/s1600/IMG_4666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6NZ3QddGUK2oDBxago6_gF4bKYUu_JOuplv_zvYE7E2f1x7EJo-oY_5orc5Fb75nca1OYAzNDeiv328T6CB2njUntJ2ajVTCNIoamvp0ufWGrRait-3FhKPhWk-c3KZ9WcgT39cuLik/s400/IMG_4666.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4MOaIjGhXdmN4AAVpOMZYzQdjMxVJOg7QyFhBSwjliuq_85mAul9AlvADqRAe10h33zxGIZ_c4NTn00Pjwahlz-4hcFI5qrrBUqZe1TsZWTZnX9wqKapWJFwZJMEzYK5YRf3hbxRogo/s1600/IMG_4673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4MOaIjGhXdmN4AAVpOMZYzQdjMxVJOg7QyFhBSwjliuq_85mAul9AlvADqRAe10h33zxGIZ_c4NTn00Pjwahlz-4hcFI5qrrBUqZe1TsZWTZnX9wqKapWJFwZJMEzYK5YRf3hbxRogo/s400/IMG_4673.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Golf. Lots and lots of golf. Our neighbors walk by, cheer him on, and compliment his skills. Some even thought we didn't have any other activities b/c Ethan is always playing golf :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-hwsMw-x5pL7kVAuPuovRkrnY8ahwP1C-zRNhlfgwOnsUxGPDR9IhJ47Ctscpn8ljcLvcAGK2hM-iNQZJPRKCMFDJ1sTlL33KtzZFnVfpjyeYMyqrip4VIPDwbyODPxfpTKB4wr8iwA/s1600/IMG_4680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-hwsMw-x5pL7kVAuPuovRkrnY8ahwP1C-zRNhlfgwOnsUxGPDR9IhJ47Ctscpn8ljcLvcAGK2hM-iNQZJPRKCMFDJ1sTlL33KtzZFnVfpjyeYMyqrip4VIPDwbyODPxfpTKB4wr8iwA/s400/IMG_4680.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SPRING!! After a long winter these were so happy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFvEk4cCzJXpcuWPkF9SbY3SSHKz4N3XhyKah2M0q5MbWMqlfQHYRqahvT9EFGj8H4dlvVFb3IyyWUh3csOMzp-ESaceTHajZZ5jGG4eoprqNp2N_KjEfqxD83YioSSG9NqKPDPooXr8/s1600/IMG_4692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFvEk4cCzJXpcuWPkF9SbY3SSHKz4N3XhyKah2M0q5MbWMqlfQHYRqahvT9EFGj8H4dlvVFb3IyyWUh3csOMzp-ESaceTHajZZ5jGG4eoprqNp2N_KjEfqxD83YioSSG9NqKPDPooXr8/s400/IMG_4692.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was my favorite spring dress for Harper.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEeBZwWQ2G9QRpOGiXYE-uG83Nmojzii5DL_uP-A0QBPktCWkQhVFf_FxxeAwotcot9SKyypnrssOqtWFiSPeK8pM_wQJwBV-awA7OeHU9ou5QLgKx97Dzh9FWvtrjb1K44lqFxtXeWU/s1600/IMG_4703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEeBZwWQ2G9QRpOGiXYE-uG83Nmojzii5DL_uP-A0QBPktCWkQhVFf_FxxeAwotcot9SKyypnrssOqtWFiSPeK8pM_wQJwBV-awA7OeHU9ou5QLgKx97Dzh9FWvtrjb1K44lqFxtXeWU/s400/IMG_4703.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOsTnMm0vF8fndtoChs_1ftG1uXaQ7ndKjH7hoqEJrIB7q-rzIFjrEx68OqYXz0EaaRSaH97PeVprrcYhjYIptjVsKLOg0n4MRbwiNrnGzk_tap02wMMbB03uAEx6jtRJGnmJAKbjf4M/s1600/IMG_4701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOsTnMm0vF8fndtoChs_1ftG1uXaQ7ndKjH7hoqEJrIB7q-rzIFjrEx68OqYXz0EaaRSaH97PeVprrcYhjYIptjVsKLOg0n4MRbwiNrnGzk_tap02wMMbB03uAEx6jtRJGnmJAKbjf4M/s400/IMG_4701.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDx4NEAuxaSzDW9Bt4c0o8cApAfx0Lmyl4zyr1R-Ap7hyphenhyphenKQdIrBx2QtGifxgYJysoxKBN4jQVcJWvkmX-GNiZn3uu-UQ-LDJt4X8jyRjBPWENEJ0V43KEKEPvg27Jm0-nXxAM41XMW_I/s1600/IMG_4702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDx4NEAuxaSzDW9Bt4c0o8cApAfx0Lmyl4zyr1R-Ap7hyphenhyphenKQdIrBx2QtGifxgYJysoxKBN4jQVcJWvkmX-GNiZn3uu-UQ-LDJt4X8jyRjBPWENEJ0V43KEKEPvg27Jm0-nXxAM41XMW_I/s400/IMG_4702.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ready for sun shiny days ahead!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiO6iac5H-ztYQbG3V5ldtlc7OkKJfKg6F2LmCHyWQbVIWb_pDq65C1L6QkgL9uaBjfCnXm3UsrGxgg87RTmdjIMBe2buyhoz8bRGTwC61VAd2p62HSNII99Aun1NbkFfL8BLGCV4Hr8/s1600/IMG_4704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiO6iac5H-ztYQbG3V5ldtlc7OkKJfKg6F2LmCHyWQbVIWb_pDq65C1L6QkgL9uaBjfCnXm3UsrGxgg87RTmdjIMBe2buyhoz8bRGTwC61VAd2p62HSNII99Aun1NbkFfL8BLGCV4Hr8/s400/IMG_4704.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-2icrhOj7C_Qqy5Zm_q2IAtbUk2Fao6GvuKldN4eOyM1vxNCFY32IwXVcHoBdlXEDJ6jdEMnUF-eV29SYxw0YQvQi5pb0PGtG-OYgbPTPWf-9lOg7bm78mxjHImllpgdhwplBEudxNo/s1600/IMG_4707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-2icrhOj7C_Qqy5Zm_q2IAtbUk2Fao6GvuKldN4eOyM1vxNCFY32IwXVcHoBdlXEDJ6jdEMnUF-eV29SYxw0YQvQi5pb0PGtG-OYgbPTPWf-9lOg7bm78mxjHImllpgdhwplBEudxNo/s400/IMG_4707.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">FOUR months already! And I caught a smile for a monthly photo :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmV6KB017J90ilmsoY1ugsQS-BUH3mty5hoF0eZwh12chby4U1VVkGQCOyJzi-RTl7lgzKLpHe9F_atXzbeqwVNLLBS1NesM0zSjIELh1sPCTx_dL50PpEh2XAZZ5PxmOtgSra8qseZA/s1600/IMG_4745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmV6KB017J90ilmsoY1ugsQS-BUH3mty5hoF0eZwh12chby4U1VVkGQCOyJzi-RTl7lgzKLpHe9F_atXzbeqwVNLLBS1NesM0zSjIELh1sPCTx_dL50PpEh2XAZZ5PxmOtgSra8qseZA/s400/IMG_4745.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCoQ3zBsySSHNtITA5ogQJSHrYqRFY_AKLgO2bwzjL0kwwKnCx6cbHDX4QV2ulh2SLNhfZ9e_nFbZKF2cN5RXJOG1HBl5x09-l290XAXutYrCp9kxIhuZ8zZ_oQnLfPUvSsjNCn9q4Cs/s1600/IMG_4750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCoQ3zBsySSHNtITA5ogQJSHrYqRFY_AKLgO2bwzjL0kwwKnCx6cbHDX4QV2ulh2SLNhfZ9e_nFbZKF2cN5RXJOG1HBl5x09-l290XAXutYrCp9kxIhuZ8zZ_oQnLfPUvSsjNCn9q4Cs/s400/IMG_4750.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-Rlma8dgd0ybaqSC-i3I1TaYcbyIY5MggHic14fA9irKhGiMQK0puTpymb6UeYsJqtEJMGu-AUJjYmVkQ496HcGBKKLfxUEpE1XWFph20gs6ZqlP8OtMsVtGhCLCmIDfBUN9jgZrhu0/s1600/IMG_4759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-Rlma8dgd0ybaqSC-i3I1TaYcbyIY5MggHic14fA9irKhGiMQK0puTpymb6UeYsJqtEJMGu-AUJjYmVkQ496HcGBKKLfxUEpE1XWFph20gs6ZqlP8OtMsVtGhCLCmIDfBUN9jgZrhu0/s400/IMG_4759.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktqa0r_uEqGeq2946lwepV91cHgwqmSkOVdVpW8TTnPir_3F7g0GH9YwwEBCQ8iexKW48EsBSLKwO5BHJnEBpJNmz-c9vYtyf9FXK0dm7YQ46LpilgADXWnz0g1rUhZVQrHfUZaTIDIw/s1600/IMG_4768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktqa0r_uEqGeq2946lwepV91cHgwqmSkOVdVpW8TTnPir_3F7g0GH9YwwEBCQ8iexKW48EsBSLKwO5BHJnEBpJNmz-c9vYtyf9FXK0dm7YQ46LpilgADXWnz0g1rUhZVQrHfUZaTIDIw/s400/IMG_4768.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harper is still in love with her froggy and we love how she holds onto his legs and cuddles him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkYKj7tgXvW5IZhfCVrOapdVmFagUipqXrgVGb9z1xaK7tcmERCGfx6r7fii-BWLLAbz_EWBz4vhaLXlvPZXzNO4TzOqOteE3pkV-Qij0iYe7MhKMtV1y-yMEQ8vu2fGl7wozzSeP5_I/s1600/IMG_4770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkYKj7tgXvW5IZhfCVrOapdVmFagUipqXrgVGb9z1xaK7tcmERCGfx6r7fii-BWLLAbz_EWBz4vhaLXlvPZXzNO4TzOqOteE3pkV-Qij0iYe7MhKMtV1y-yMEQ8vu2fGl7wozzSeP5_I/s400/IMG_4770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Matt and Ethan had been practicing Ethan's "follow through". Yes, in the house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9f9up9R_TPkWA47QUjEr_aGNC6DKw-Mbfz6vEr94_tFykWkDH6U4AVBOpvkzIJUOECJ0x0mwSauKCfJ8M-4l4ETy9YAgK4zMxi1Ehm4o5nS_0Vg4o2QjmCoQUSGCQLYhIj5h_OTZpIA/s1600/IMG_4771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9f9up9R_TPkWA47QUjEr_aGNC6DKw-Mbfz6vEr94_tFykWkDH6U4AVBOpvkzIJUOECJ0x0mwSauKCfJ8M-4l4ETy9YAgK4zMxi1Ehm4o5nS_0Vg4o2QjmCoQUSGCQLYhIj5h_OTZpIA/s400/IMG_4771.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ethan found party hats and insisted that we wear them. Harper was not amused.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRIuanYj0aAeB0GmQj5H3a8iaWwc-7siZsstWYdMubNJ6YQ6T0nsF2YZysKbW5fBjk_reRhfCkJo143wjY15EyjfQT5zy26pdmwsbhkIs2Lr7Ft12InthKHZkOM3-C33Ooq8y4ay2Pic/s1600/IMG_4781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRIuanYj0aAeB0GmQj5H3a8iaWwc-7siZsstWYdMubNJ6YQ6T0nsF2YZysKbW5fBjk_reRhfCkJo143wjY15EyjfQT5zy26pdmwsbhkIs2Lr7Ft12InthKHZkOM3-C33Ooq8y4ay2Pic/s400/IMG_4781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Attempt#1 at getting bunny ears shot of both of them - obviously a failure but still funny.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXpCKpoUhSMDJBz6bUxGr9xNyEPi4DY1BP8T99gmi_TyNrkQ_ZXHrL1RLYcaMylMyEZ3gUS0zlgIuj2vd9ooMgwok-KUbmCdykXuGF9_wfBXwV3gMZ2PFJHA6bm4UIKGLuZD8hsXwTqo/s1600/IMG_4786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXpCKpoUhSMDJBz6bUxGr9xNyEPi4DY1BP8T99gmi_TyNrkQ_ZXHrL1RLYcaMylMyEZ3gUS0zlgIuj2vd9ooMgwok-KUbmCdykXuGF9_wfBXwV3gMZ2PFJHA6bm4UIKGLuZD8hsXwTqo/s400/IMG_4786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQgwcyyENx2PBMs5qTFmhxBqSMh-VoMiXOnNw7KMkU04DlcLRdXMiFgD3Wi81HVjBrmY9cfbCY68aQ-h-8FU0XM1YHYIzV8xqGv2WfAYkdG4eC8zkIg2roP9FmXi2gLnhf46619UI7qA/s1600/IMG_4789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQgwcyyENx2PBMs5qTFmhxBqSMh-VoMiXOnNw7KMkU04DlcLRdXMiFgD3Wi81HVjBrmY9cfbCY68aQ-h-8FU0XM1YHYIzV8xqGv2WfAYkdG4eC8zkIg2roP9FmXi2gLnhf46619UI7qA/s400/IMG_4789.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQCvIfj2D44eWqRD2PZzC9oRcyG3hRxdxTB3NbysU00TA8dhhbMFxpriqwrlZlN5P2Hb2E2OQfYtMegL34rMtrVIy2oryEv7HETl7JlkDbhwmuAzO8IXejC_mCLGMAhKek9Oa3s2LCag/s1600/IMG_4792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQCvIfj2D44eWqRD2PZzC9oRcyG3hRxdxTB3NbysU00TA8dhhbMFxpriqwrlZlN5P2Hb2E2OQfYtMegL34rMtrVIy2oryEv7HETl7JlkDbhwmuAzO8IXejC_mCLGMAhKek9Oa3s2LCag/s400/IMG_4792.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoLBrB04GZIPR6kpUjvZGycAWoXIiAQT77yhnPw7KDP9FLw486tVw4mfGyoIV4W65oijasG96nl7Zgch8Z7i2ebgtSSkTR6p1U9shXTLfAFNyOLZwNPr9JjSuo19cGPTUDJ57SfzOIYw/s1600/IMG_4795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoLBrB04GZIPR6kpUjvZGycAWoXIiAQT77yhnPw7KDP9FLw486tVw4mfGyoIV4W65oijasG96nl7Zgch8Z7i2ebgtSSkTR6p1U9shXTLfAFNyOLZwNPr9JjSuo19cGPTUDJ57SfzOIYw/s400/IMG_4795.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimD4iyD5oc2Vz_xJbdjpsSzBw-zHwBaPeqIF7zpxsWkVOJNlZnCJ7kqJCnCgDyK9F-IyyI2DC6DizAVtmC76Zp03YfzBb1mp-uO5whBf0nbxAc3fQHTRIekXlfsE3gHF91HDFiLgyfkj8/s1600/IMG_4793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimD4iyD5oc2Vz_xJbdjpsSzBw-zHwBaPeqIF7zpxsWkVOJNlZnCJ7kqJCnCgDyK9F-IyyI2DC6DizAVtmC76Zp03YfzBb1mp-uO5whBf0nbxAc3fQHTRIekXlfsE3gHF91HDFiLgyfkj8/s400/IMG_4793.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVky0ecGoOo_wrTK3Amfq366iNGB-WyybRX26PS1I74SzkqjhlGhhVkv_DmSeOPrjeJAL3vOAyv2C5qmBeDyT0T_PqNh6qG8rF-mGOPJusqAJsC4a2Q9h4oGaSJV_DNZrq3s0zRoZDPM/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVky0ecGoOo_wrTK3Amfq366iNGB-WyybRX26PS1I74SzkqjhlGhhVkv_DmSeOPrjeJAL3vOAyv2C5qmBeDyT0T_PqNh6qG8rF-mGOPJusqAJsC4a2Q9h4oGaSJV_DNZrq3s0zRoZDPM/s640/IMG_4794.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan's art show at school. One of the cutest events we've been to. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7Cd_nzHWqkw9v5oIr4Ck41xJhtakzj_Fg85VV8AFiclbsF18ntocQdCi6wv7IIhw5NeXR-sH6sboErtiZQIj1bJ_aYTeYnE1FSsptStkqy3TzJW5KQe_baHP3pKKsuB2-C1MgUpl3mM/s1600/IMG_4798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7Cd_nzHWqkw9v5oIr4Ck41xJhtakzj_Fg85VV8AFiclbsF18ntocQdCi6wv7IIhw5NeXR-sH6sboErtiZQIj1bJ_aYTeYnE1FSsptStkqy3TzJW5KQe_baHP3pKKsuB2-C1MgUpl3mM/s400/IMG_4798.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
Easter Egg Hunt at Ethan's school. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei7lWLPxbTnAikgPP3BbttXkfRrB5Gm0VTH3PzZIsbq783QWUMwsbaMzsq9xowCoiVAuBljM6IDJXd7JIitigVo1ZJaDlORRdSpZMVUo7YiVUPTDWE7182-nUDtb8_7SpcwkoLEnmwKs/s1600/IMG_4809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei7lWLPxbTnAikgPP3BbttXkfRrB5Gm0VTH3PzZIsbq783QWUMwsbaMzsq9xowCoiVAuBljM6IDJXd7JIitigVo1ZJaDlORRdSpZMVUo7YiVUPTDWE7182-nUDtb8_7SpcwkoLEnmwKs/s400/IMG_4809.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> He's given that look since the day he was born.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp_VgDim8mRIqD2sVdV2Fi52RffvH2x1F71z0GFzW4-PN52V0-5egTuI-DuxhqrFcDZlL817c-oO2QvRGxn40JBbn6oX_Oq7uWfI0FmNxGX4hgru3STfEaY6CwQAxJFQB69BjYz01q5w/s1600/IMG_4813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp_VgDim8mRIqD2sVdV2Fi52RffvH2x1F71z0GFzW4-PN52V0-5egTuI-DuxhqrFcDZlL817c-oO2QvRGxn40JBbn6oX_Oq7uWfI0FmNxGX4hgru3STfEaY6CwQAxJFQB69BjYz01q5w/s400/IMG_4813.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ0cGtL79EU8IVGUcEHguS7lTkVzmjg0fxuRancR1k2B9ln8CEibE1u-gmHP0EYRLnm5cNeUyHaKWmCFLDgMCYxvhMX9pHviauTplYLU4Y7u5O0F43OjMFMxtTBYI9kZI-yDRotpmFpM/s1600/IMG_4822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ0cGtL79EU8IVGUcEHguS7lTkVzmjg0fxuRancR1k2B9ln8CEibE1u-gmHP0EYRLnm5cNeUyHaKWmCFLDgMCYxvhMX9pHviauTplYLU4Y7u5O0F43OjMFMxtTBYI9kZI-yDRotpmFpM/s400/IMG_4822.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FWLu0ybZ5wvxL4ilnX-E8c2EsoEBtIqaYs0a2ZtHs4mfa3qeauwFG5bhboWOBEGIGnC8CZeCqP4aV21jy0UAv-8vWkAOHo4AahRgB21ouGQv5USadoF9yoj3CyN1cLaBi_YBfxAHQ0s/s1600/IMG_4829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FWLu0ybZ5wvxL4ilnX-E8c2EsoEBtIqaYs0a2ZtHs4mfa3qeauwFG5bhboWOBEGIGnC8CZeCqP4aV21jy0UAv-8vWkAOHo4AahRgB21ouGQv5USadoF9yoj3CyN1cLaBi_YBfxAHQ0s/s400/IMG_4829.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I bought these boots for Ethan during the winter months but he wanted nothing to do with them. In April he decided that he liked them because he could put them on "all by myself" and they became his favorite shoes. This led to wearing boots everyday -even when it warmed up and was time for shorts! Cutest little boots, even with shorts.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAXhbjyDZvF-oIKkAM98y3YvILr6Ti_dxDx-kiz45RILjlIhLcr8E72cMgdreUvjnYKEb4EgO38bVqnOdefvpAejLDELKpLeE8jLLXwyYSEBI_f8SAwYWL9IidJF8ZofXL62zhBpT3Pk/s1600/IMG_4835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAXhbjyDZvF-oIKkAM98y3YvILr6Ti_dxDx-kiz45RILjlIhLcr8E72cMgdreUvjnYKEb4EgO38bVqnOdefvpAejLDELKpLeE8jLLXwyYSEBI_f8SAwYWL9IidJF8ZofXL62zhBpT3Pk/s400/IMG_4835.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWel4oBWB3gIInl_FZNzZsa5nzHhcYRjKTD53cwwX8RYQF5xnbx2WavQjBEDHFhPlM-eP4deJpjpmnXHNbaAtZT3kfhaB2UWx-1RClfwl545ACQ08VOn1HSMZMDsnHr_SxAlm0Wpfwt4Y/s1600/IMG_4836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWel4oBWB3gIInl_FZNzZsa5nzHhcYRjKTD53cwwX8RYQF5xnbx2WavQjBEDHFhPlM-eP4deJpjpmnXHNbaAtZT3kfhaB2UWx-1RClfwl545ACQ08VOn1HSMZMDsnHr_SxAlm0Wpfwt4Y/s400/IMG_4836.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tH8KiI99yJtXOKu762EMmM7nfMqkePDvpADzaFWrWRhGE0M7VON2_jzEtVZevFG7kUNksIP9mh-VfFZlJV0yu8ZbOICIsZXvf97kxiMcXl-ZXcehxVFZlvKSiz2F0GvQ-7wrg8gRWEk/s1600/IMG_4837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tH8KiI99yJtXOKu762EMmM7nfMqkePDvpADzaFWrWRhGE0M7VON2_jzEtVZevFG7kUNksIP9mh-VfFZlJV0yu8ZbOICIsZXvf97kxiMcXl-ZXcehxVFZlvKSiz2F0GvQ-7wrg8gRWEk/s400/IMG_4837.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan insisted that Matt have a soapy beard too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04ee9dGMNUADSzfso085EhmlKK4sNo4GpQRM7oz00Es-R_33JCq-usOjrQXxyt6m9HBikagskwcTWrFNYFWnOENlbOBZL-nH4rIUpc5buOkuLEzXxYaZCtzrv3xocGQGzA3GA2ZIz2Bk/s1600/IMG_4864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04ee9dGMNUADSzfso085EhmlKK4sNo4GpQRM7oz00Es-R_33JCq-usOjrQXxyt6m9HBikagskwcTWrFNYFWnOENlbOBZL-nH4rIUpc5buOkuLEzXxYaZCtzrv3xocGQGzA3GA2ZIz2Bk/s640/IMG_4864.JPG" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Attempt #2, got it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj38WyNhxGzjKvdciEm1EJ8iTrx1UBk2aO9hqnBSRbZMyOqSGDAg9xtUeTzfqktSw4_Wz8xOkf1pwZcXVUHiDSW-C02VG9FBasS-PhELoSdALtcAO2Qv16ZZJsPEOWV0n6Pa-vwmPrzA0/s1600/IMG_4881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj38WyNhxGzjKvdciEm1EJ8iTrx1UBk2aO9hqnBSRbZMyOqSGDAg9xtUeTzfqktSw4_Wz8xOkf1pwZcXVUHiDSW-C02VG9FBasS-PhELoSdALtcAO2Qv16ZZJsPEOWV0n6Pa-vwmPrzA0/s400/IMG_4881.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time to roll out the dough we made!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWK0LCDA7n1WMrL_BxVXpvUhbYwf5CwR0_-BEo4HSw3O6Mxoik9D7X0nnCdQbC7HM-mp07b3M2qLN-oC9Q9YSP6A8ZhSc12gEtawV_tSM4HpFADeVxFXz3pXXxqeTlG7LtgY0yL28cMc/s1600/IMG_4882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWK0LCDA7n1WMrL_BxVXpvUhbYwf5CwR0_-BEo4HSw3O6Mxoik9D7X0nnCdQbC7HM-mp07b3M2qLN-oC9Q9YSP6A8ZhSc12gEtawV_tSM4HpFADeVxFXz3pXXxqeTlG7LtgY0yL28cMc/s400/IMG_4882.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Time to decorate them! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzpRIEE8yZ1Ooy7a2WQxEmxlNTrnITaFpBODSVPT_Gvvgntc1s1Il5YcR4BBT7I6IVwmctXu_VxsIPPa2f-KBJpQcGDLtGpamJs65Pw0dcEXsOVFZGIu7PC9lMaT_AB5WlEg3lGLUrm4/s1600/IMG_4884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzpRIEE8yZ1Ooy7a2WQxEmxlNTrnITaFpBODSVPT_Gvvgntc1s1Il5YcR4BBT7I6IVwmctXu_VxsIPPa2f-KBJpQcGDLtGpamJs65Pw0dcEXsOVFZGIu7PC9lMaT_AB5WlEg3lGLUrm4/s400/IMG_4884.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Snacking on sprinkles<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3W3JyzAgTvTq4LtC1k5_dIjp-7baIjZdDmEDOz-DrRpeaRsHjw0RCs-xaoN7exZqOZ94UlfCHx6xMiXJpxznI4sEhwGzRwOvr7_0je8O0rfuXFvvYoEqS-bvLRVs14jFeSiCAGGh_Ho/s1600/IMG_4887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3W3JyzAgTvTq4LtC1k5_dIjp-7baIjZdDmEDOz-DrRpeaRsHjw0RCs-xaoN7exZqOZ94UlfCHx6xMiXJpxznI4sEhwGzRwOvr7_0je8O0rfuXFvvYoEqS-bvLRVs14jFeSiCAGGh_Ho/s400/IMG_4887.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Zy0rrJ3gD6i90SZd8aF-354omsGfgy9kQn33uQW22nvsQbZu24Z2VqqFcanIaEr2U0OikdDjJ3Cm6-Sy5leTX4XSIhw2DZsdK0kQ1QzBI-to2FEpjqnVxKYveatK11fwjnIjNAZcW74/s1600/IMG_4890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Zy0rrJ3gD6i90SZd8aF-354omsGfgy9kQn33uQW22nvsQbZu24Z2VqqFcanIaEr2U0OikdDjJ3Cm6-Sy5leTX4XSIhw2DZsdK0kQ1QzBI-to2FEpjqnVxKYveatK11fwjnIjNAZcW74/s400/IMG_4890.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We did this instead of dyeing eggs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZkhLU1EgAtGxa6R4xJq8N5b6yHid0VAK4e6oNg82pwPrFCeHAa-Ez8E6M9MsVeZpSp9DkSm-j1uhjLEZOjSqNOjJTySjJwD2C_mRndOB4jtBCc7g-bkBQF7vmmqAt91raO_n8VdqVmo/s1600/IMG_4909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZkhLU1EgAtGxa6R4xJq8N5b6yHid0VAK4e6oNg82pwPrFCeHAa-Ez8E6M9MsVeZpSp9DkSm-j1uhjLEZOjSqNOjJTySjJwD2C_mRndOB4jtBCc7g-bkBQF7vmmqAt91raO_n8VdqVmo/s400/IMG_4909.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He loved them! They were delicious - recipe <a href="https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=188653434513053">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUDSLGujD5BCCQBZQ45Yimz6frU3wsA48lozUneoTqeg9AoX8YauGM0sery8nPBDvAaUPKCwyF-CW53FQcnuNOvKtNfWWJjgC9REGPEzG9d3kUsnd_DIqDqII9n4agFsQvTc-bJo96jg/s1600/IMG_4936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUDSLGujD5BCCQBZQ45Yimz6frU3wsA48lozUneoTqeg9AoX8YauGM0sery8nPBDvAaUPKCwyF-CW53FQcnuNOvKtNfWWJjgC9REGPEzG9d3kUsnd_DIqDqII9n4agFsQvTc-bJo96jg/s320/IMG_4936.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzXDaoMTpRDtvZcNs45v7WowVgAH-UHmbODTlhXefg6g5S5sxIiZ2Y7XABn37RAzQ4eZue6E9DnApRxqmCqY7OJx4OVedyM8fGF3y7ITRX913S3tNmxJzgnlmQhpXihn5cVlKw-2yP6Y/s1600/IMG_4916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzXDaoMTpRDtvZcNs45v7WowVgAH-UHmbODTlhXefg6g5S5sxIiZ2Y7XABn37RAzQ4eZue6E9DnApRxqmCqY7OJx4OVedyM8fGF3y7ITRX913S3tNmxJzgnlmQhpXihn5cVlKw-2yP6Y/s320/IMG_4916.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>Waking up on Easter morning - dragging his "airplanes" (his old Aden & Anais sleep sack - it's incredibly soft!) behind him.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwMAFMQqIYCxqyLoo4eLN8-o252Cb34beo-r2TlU96qSQFUlZ4GGpi00d6IV_-aM7QF4NqbvHLfRmEoC-CkdI0BV8mLYaufe1tknT5DRVvDUecEpjWOwqYpJ2GY2YQKEIeX2_xON1XH8/s1600/IMG_4924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwMAFMQqIYCxqyLoo4eLN8-o252Cb34beo-r2TlU96qSQFUlZ4GGpi00d6IV_-aM7QF4NqbvHLfRmEoC-CkdI0BV8mLYaufe1tknT5DRVvDUecEpjWOwqYpJ2GY2YQKEIeX2_xON1XH8/s320/IMG_4924.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>His first chocolate Easter bunny! From <a href="http://www.divvies.com/">Divvies</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSPB5_B1YBwfSGYt_aA0_jtrTPVbNTifN7uM0FQCgHQCxQZFoKyqS0aTzzD2mAJ-5GF-sKiec3h2VYAPPuYZKs9sxgiL0XXD8RtWLr_V-jZw9GPeHj-N1pdbDVTdDZAKQiSsRoDj1tFM/s1600/IMG_4933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSPB5_B1YBwfSGYt_aA0_jtrTPVbNTifN7uM0FQCgHQCxQZFoKyqS0aTzzD2mAJ-5GF-sKiec3h2VYAPPuYZKs9sxgiL0XXD8RtWLr_V-jZw9GPeHj-N1pdbDVTdDZAKQiSsRoDj1tFM/s320/IMG_4933.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXkKgj6242V5yWwLAIrJy_h5efJ6ctgx1LhxH5-hgqT0IJ3aIESpKWWz5y4GiobhtJeLyscoGbhg6DTj1Tk5Lv23AJ2oGfgwOsihUvsL3G8I9fSttZ2hmbSG8QhrF916Csq3BxtLvRbk/s1600/IMG_4934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXkKgj6242V5yWwLAIrJy_h5efJ6ctgx1LhxH5-hgqT0IJ3aIESpKWWz5y4GiobhtJeLyscoGbhg6DTj1Tk5Lv23AJ2oGfgwOsihUvsL3G8I9fSttZ2hmbSG8QhrF916Csq3BxtLvRbk/s320/IMG_4934.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Mouse bowling!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjsuRxi0QE1OzErBdGUjXoahEPHBkiUz417irVPw5OIXI7cCAiJRIKLFrU4gpQlBWJY0D2r_OD5CFcncl7QkfgTtE63irN8Ted4p3-YYIl9yIT_LmVzPZO1G7HyH22PGRUq3KUpGTIZc/s1600/IMG_4935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjsuRxi0QE1OzErBdGUjXoahEPHBkiUz417irVPw5OIXI7cCAiJRIKLFrU4gpQlBWJY0D2r_OD5CFcncl7QkfgTtE63irN8Ted4p3-YYIl9yIT_LmVzPZO1G7HyH22PGRUq3KUpGTIZc/s320/IMG_4935.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBRaxH-SiMNGS-XxvBZ_u6itFj_QYwlNiwUDtu0PFNibojtkB_mRT5iclhlDJk_gU9N1xcLd-4awgbYIm0Kzr2RI6qLvUsQRlePblHqM2a17JOeKt2Lkz7f-aGTAZ2KDQyFw7FehWvD8/s1600/IMG_5004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBRaxH-SiMNGS-XxvBZ_u6itFj_QYwlNiwUDtu0PFNibojtkB_mRT5iclhlDJk_gU9N1xcLd-4awgbYIm0Kzr2RI6qLvUsQRlePblHqM2a17JOeKt2Lkz7f-aGTAZ2KDQyFw7FehWvD8/s320/IMG_5004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Ahh, Springtime. Windows open! Ethan is in love with lollipops and seeing the school bus every day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8m_Rp8O1KM64p__iL093qH5eq_cc9ygRkkapi2981bhCGQy050AnUmYCNfdUQMCtl35NS9F2m89pcGBzrTYL4rP2UEE8mfYMFrxbKdHEJXuoqfCyVlYAJe82z1QKNDYmsC0GfL1RF2AU/s1600/IMG_5014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8m_Rp8O1KM64p__iL093qH5eq_cc9ygRkkapi2981bhCGQy050AnUmYCNfdUQMCtl35NS9F2m89pcGBzrTYL4rP2UEE8mfYMFrxbKdHEJXuoqfCyVlYAJe82z1QKNDYmsC0GfL1RF2AU/s320/IMG_5014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought I loved my babies in fleece footed pjs but these seeing them in these skinny pjs & bare feet melts my heart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKEv4JFmWrvGTjobDm2-xcQHIqVOTjviIw6V0KnFZlRtuKT65B75XGHmCsfUmhxto6VyO1CTPEk9-jIEHFW885QlGJqYPKEMDrq5VBJFXj7DjOvTHmbKcnJmFSry2qs2O3zODxCriEBc/s1600/IMG_5078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKEv4JFmWrvGTjobDm2-xcQHIqVOTjviIw6V0KnFZlRtuKT65B75XGHmCsfUmhxto6VyO1CTPEk9-jIEHFW885QlGJqYPKEMDrq5VBJFXj7DjOvTHmbKcnJmFSry2qs2O3zODxCriEBc/s320/IMG_5078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A local "touch a truck" day. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrpZe5yQ7Zq4euFaIn-YeSPHjeY1rZZRsr8im4-uIrH7iN6evPJHfy68rKk4qShP3AavH0pB9GpkFcEYVOrfdhxNl-0uD7zfMknTuepd4PRgS3Kx1dNNj67Zojm7_iPvIfUrURzrWPD4/s1600/IMG_5020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrpZe5yQ7Zq4euFaIn-YeSPHjeY1rZZRsr8im4-uIrH7iN6evPJHfy68rKk4qShP3AavH0pB9GpkFcEYVOrfdhxNl-0uD7zfMknTuepd4PRgS3Kx1dNNj67Zojm7_iPvIfUrURzrWPD4/s320/IMG_5020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Matt has his eyes closed but I still like this one of the 4 of us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-13015505474660571382011-08-22T16:14:00.000-04:002011-08-22T16:14:20.304-04:00March 2011I think of March as a transition toward easier times until I stumble across an email in my drafts box like this one: <br />
<br />
"Harper is getting worse again. We are wondering if this liquid prevacid is not working as well as the solutabs. She has had screaming fits the past couple of nights... also tougher to get her to sleep. Thurs night she screamed at 8:45 and last night it was all of the sudden at 11:45 then all throughout the night - like she couldn't get settled. We unswaddled her so she didn't sleep as well and I've been up since 6 with her. I just want her to feel better. I feel like if this isn't working, then what?! I can't imagine if we have to switch to that expensive formula :("<br />
<br />
My heart aches as I remember that again. It was a special kind of hell. 3 months of trying to soothe Harper as she screamed. By March she had stopped screaming every night. She was still fussy, cried a lot, and had some screaming fits but she didn't seem to be in as much pain as previous months. The dairy and soy should have been FULLY out of her system, her digestive tract was likely continuing to heal, and she was on consistent reflux meds. <br />
<br />
In March we took Harper to Johns Hopkins. The doctor switched her to a liquid Prevacid and at first it didn't seem like it was working. The doctor also prescribed Zantac for use before bedtime because some studies show Prevacid doesn't work in the middle of the night. We didn't notice a difference in Harper's (lack of) sleep if she had the Zantac or not so we stopped giving it to her. We tried it out of desperation during screaming fits some nights but still, there was no difference. The doctor also prescribed Erythromycin to see if helped to have Harper's stomach emptied faster. We discussed this medication with her doctor. Matt and I never felt comfortable giving it to her. It is an old antibiotic that is no longer used as an antibiotic but used for the side effects it caused - emptying the stomach. The doctor said that it wasn't necessary to use so we didn't.<br />
<br />
Mornings continued to be Harper's happiest time. Throughout the day she napped in her swing, swaddled, with her pacifier, and hairdryer running or in the car or while I wore her. We continued to try putting her down while asleep in an elevated bassinet, bouncer seat, or cosleeper but she woke after only a few minutes. At night she slept next to me and nursed usually every hour. If we tried to give her the pacifier at night she screeched and cried. And she's a princess so I gave her what she wanted. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XN3II_OYdlDMg_pyDeFbvhg0-JItAL22Kq89p18BH8JpIO2ql9zgbkZj08-NlSlE6NdS1HDhZhak9hAc2WBxDKKCjtmG9Vlyx2LJoDF58Q4MGPHVQHURQlX2D3WayX8KoUwXPLro-Zw/s1600/IMG_4292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XN3II_OYdlDMg_pyDeFbvhg0-JItAL22Kq89p18BH8JpIO2ql9zgbkZj08-NlSlE6NdS1HDhZhak9hAc2WBxDKKCjtmG9Vlyx2LJoDF58Q4MGPHVQHURQlX2D3WayX8KoUwXPLro-Zw/s400/IMG_4292.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Harper's first tiara, 3 months old.</i></div>Kidding (well, sort of. I didn't let her continue to screech so I nursed her). Her grandmother gave her this little tiara. <br />
<br />
During March Harper's cry turned from sounding like a newborn to an infant. She weighed over 14 pounds. She giggled for the first time, started chewing on her hands a lot, and started blowing raspberries/spitting. We took her to the chiropractor that I saw during my pregnancy. He was incredibly helpful to me. Unfortunately, we didn't see similar results with Harper. Actually, Harper seemed to be even more upset in the days following the appointments so we stopped taking her. <br />
<br />
Some photos from March.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgOTmId1VQuDO3vyPJHZNt6vWu7bsGqMGk-BBuUj9UWXsHjdV3tMjx2jkJfiE1udFdsrpa-gpv9SO4SlYhoK67ajSYoSPM4DVLxgOsZsoiOoGn4eva5EQbkvRfh3ip_BdEDKcgP6D-V8/s1600/IMG_4276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgOTmId1VQuDO3vyPJHZNt6vWu7bsGqMGk-BBuUj9UWXsHjdV3tMjx2jkJfiE1udFdsrpa-gpv9SO4SlYhoK67ajSYoSPM4DVLxgOsZsoiOoGn4eva5EQbkvRfh3ip_BdEDKcgP6D-V8/s400/IMG_4276.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harper enjoyed bath time. She relaxed until you tried to wash under her neck rolls, then she cried.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KJdUbPAtEr7k4XhP7EJAUpbg0w7EGpDGKMrFZaR6we3FFyjPQocuxDG6J2t5WInZa25yhcPSLleFc9k2F_iSHmAbbNxclhRA4bdHqrsuSzRL-SC8Cp5GaheH2wD8qddueIEiLdHG684/s1600/IMG_4313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KJdUbPAtEr7k4XhP7EJAUpbg0w7EGpDGKMrFZaR6we3FFyjPQocuxDG6J2t5WInZa25yhcPSLleFc9k2F_iSHmAbbNxclhRA4bdHqrsuSzRL-SC8Cp5GaheH2wD8qddueIEiLdHG684/s400/IMG_4313.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan loves bath time too. He requests bubble bath and blowing bubbles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDBIU22Q6CfjgomIYicGqQVzOyncBRLNt92rRyANssaSq91r1wu_hZvz_78MiqFEdVk6lDb7Rir40HCfW-FVkKvOo49Cb0CU3VxU30VHV7gUY9lTeu9aq3hXirio5rwKacTRIiist35M/s1600/IMG_4305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDBIU22Q6CfjgomIYicGqQVzOyncBRLNt92rRyANssaSq91r1wu_hZvz_78MiqFEdVk6lDb7Rir40HCfW-FVkKvOo49Cb0CU3VxU30VHV7gUY9lTeu9aq3hXirio5rwKacTRIiist35M/s400/IMG_4305.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNK475whBmqBOSMC_0d790AWe54pRMJe3Qyc2j9nf6d8zTf_bJdRdKRP17Rqr93UlTZBLnVuJeMrde-irQKAdLU1ohhoYc7ddHinwqbeELsi7-XKo7CU42UI21rmF4v3utWWyfSDEfDU/s1600/IMG_4344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNK475whBmqBOSMC_0d790AWe54pRMJe3Qyc2j9nf6d8zTf_bJdRdKRP17Rqr93UlTZBLnVuJeMrde-irQKAdLU1ohhoYc7ddHinwqbeELsi7-XKo7CU42UI21rmF4v3utWWyfSDEfDU/s400/IMG_4344.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Relaxing, watching Mickey after nap. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkRDP4-4FuWwoRxEblruzY1QzR8lqTimW0xq14g1L_Gif3F1zK-07cJHDnx4kyXbcRW_uS6JaVrrjesElEba8QE4vCNV0c6Fp52QSn2iq7NjIVPvPGRDcJiGMS0kmjS6wDJn5viwvPdU/s1600/IMG_4345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkRDP4-4FuWwoRxEblruzY1QzR8lqTimW0xq14g1L_Gif3F1zK-07cJHDnx4kyXbcRW_uS6JaVrrjesElEba8QE4vCNV0c6Fp52QSn2iq7NjIVPvPGRDcJiGMS0kmjS6wDJn5viwvPdU/s400/IMG_4345.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grabbing and batting at toys for the first time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0nimV1AzkDXxsZml9dKS_dLmxqanlXqRQZ0SHbidW3_sUOAdhKTOZAM2GjJ2s9zZdcVsEq0_QopwIqMtwqKM8jqKZWgr8yFz2_diSf-KK_20s4T6D4Q9llKoeoC6SBq0VEhfVA6Imlc/s1600/IMG_4359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0nimV1AzkDXxsZml9dKS_dLmxqanlXqRQZ0SHbidW3_sUOAdhKTOZAM2GjJ2s9zZdcVsEq0_QopwIqMtwqKM8jqKZWgr8yFz2_diSf-KK_20s4T6D4Q9llKoeoC6SBq0VEhfVA6Imlc/s400/IMG_4359.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3 Month photo with cute shoes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrBXynZe0clUCmB827rG1F9BAIeKt9gV6RuRP9uloTtwHaQkjW_q_SiUnSzSENd95garCTcj92lW4liZqD2mnxdem-wi_SvICKMh9WgaxHhr9IxCwIoGJVU-jNJDiFQZelUftuMfz9Po/s1600/IMG_4377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrBXynZe0clUCmB827rG1F9BAIeKt9gV6RuRP9uloTtwHaQkjW_q_SiUnSzSENd95garCTcj92lW4liZqD2mnxdem-wi_SvICKMh9WgaxHhr9IxCwIoGJVU-jNJDiFQZelUftuMfz9Po/s400/IMG_4377.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"I thought things were supposed to get better after 3 months/the fourth trimester?!".</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJRAdMRssfsGuPfz6nQEL9f5fmDvvLYPaxm5-nSQmej0AMOU9wdO5aP4tg2WsdOEnmVVuOeoj8juS-nG0bpZGNQquKFylOpChVmGW7M2i6p-16d6MKNGcadzAH8fiWHx-BKmDT7u_vGY/s1600/IMG_4388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJRAdMRssfsGuPfz6nQEL9f5fmDvvLYPaxm5-nSQmej0AMOU9wdO5aP4tg2WsdOEnmVVuOeoj8juS-nG0bpZGNQquKFylOpChVmGW7M2i6p-16d6MKNGcadzAH8fiWHx-BKmDT7u_vGY/s400/IMG_4388.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Still doing newborn-like leg lifts and keeping her hands and feet clenched closed most of the time. A quick stretch here to reveal she's still storing lint in between her toes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7okHDYHfE9IoV5S4iFwtJLJ1kJsBSpslDFKzR1K-IqV0sNSTTDUwqlBQ0P5BMpyz4-Pg0Mc3xiJS5wZOcLlazcwQ2EePIfRXKXnZOp4YdRcrbB9FjMqQY1-B8M3SPrNh2lfj73J8gx-c/s1600/IMG_4408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7okHDYHfE9IoV5S4iFwtJLJ1kJsBSpslDFKzR1K-IqV0sNSTTDUwqlBQ0P5BMpyz4-Pg0Mc3xiJS5wZOcLlazcwQ2EePIfRXKXnZOp4YdRcrbB9FjMqQY1-B8M3SPrNh2lfj73J8gx-c/s400/IMG_4408.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fussy or not, Ethan adored his sister. He was trying to help her put her sock back on here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_7Whql6IjSrC6mk_UmLTgKS0s5kNW8zdOEz3vE6Gtc9Jghwk7phiWZFvtfcd5x9RYXRRXPtUd0fBZhso6OsGUPTk9Gop6Mvcug80p1r0H3V7OhttVzYtwEGl3kE_-F8KXarIS9zifgI/s1600/IMG_4433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_7Whql6IjSrC6mk_UmLTgKS0s5kNW8zdOEz3vE6Gtc9Jghwk7phiWZFvtfcd5x9RYXRRXPtUd0fBZhso6OsGUPTk9Gop6Mvcug80p1r0H3V7OhttVzYtwEGl3kE_-F8KXarIS9zifgI/s400/IMG_4433.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Do you see that SUPER long single eyelash? It nearly touched her eyebrow when she had her eyes wide open. Crazy long and Matt probably thinks it's crazy that I took a picture of it. I used to show it to him all the time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaT3b2itQR8jkBaZctVyhnV4QO6pSdIAi-1rpkH4kSf4B22uFZypsVRtMQbq0dCADf0sbpXavDqTfkLGrruRkdvdczPy_kKPpmbYE3XyC2yi0Qu7vp4cXjrW4ttqDg_0J9nFKZ-H5u5A/s1600/IMG_4445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaT3b2itQR8jkBaZctVyhnV4QO6pSdIAi-1rpkH4kSf4B22uFZypsVRtMQbq0dCADf0sbpXavDqTfkLGrruRkdvdczPy_kKPpmbYE3XyC2yi0Qu7vp4cXjrW4ttqDg_0J9nFKZ-H5u5A/s400/IMG_4445.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When Ethan's love of matchbox cars began. Have you ever stepped on one of those bad boys? They are EVERYWHERE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGIqW5ADs42YPRM8I6_ISElXWpOL1lmSJXfrAdkgBa4nS56Cnlhqbs4RtooSN-NsXwecp7zBwIG8KdaswmFaoTvIUKaHLtL1PxCBBmi9p34ewYV4B52OJWFPQYMR5drckxFG4pRHMZ-Q/s1600/IMG_4449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGIqW5ADs42YPRM8I6_ISElXWpOL1lmSJXfrAdkgBa4nS56Cnlhqbs4RtooSN-NsXwecp7zBwIG8KdaswmFaoTvIUKaHLtL1PxCBBmi9p34ewYV4B52OJWFPQYMR5drckxFG4pRHMZ-Q/s400/IMG_4449.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y1nNaZoP5KYNDmcR-Udck77sM3PcpT1VgUQhXC7cSRp_N2hYYGa15g8TMzk4K3nsLXjIMVfOfZo8VS031MXtGXgCYwHngbdDoZUFBB9yZTcQrSV_R6zjLBEyC5PR0xKKq03pEtF2w3Y/s1600/IMG_4454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y1nNaZoP5KYNDmcR-Udck77sM3PcpT1VgUQhXC7cSRp_N2hYYGa15g8TMzk4K3nsLXjIMVfOfZo8VS031MXtGXgCYwHngbdDoZUFBB9yZTcQrSV_R6zjLBEyC5PR0xKKq03pEtF2w3Y/s400/IMG_4454.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Both Matt and I think one of the cutest sights to see is Ethan eating. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA0fzOG6wvkqSv5zr9MiCVpXHHaPcEdmW2JcldbB7pwsly65wmk1yU8OihPWhC6GaykH3JYmhWlEoFyzvmN61-mw4CADHBP4SKgjiwyrzRKcp50vZrbs79l-7DFuHXAbH88EepCjjElk/s1600/IMG_4463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA0fzOG6wvkqSv5zr9MiCVpXHHaPcEdmW2JcldbB7pwsly65wmk1yU8OihPWhC6GaykH3JYmhWlEoFyzvmN61-mw4CADHBP4SKgjiwyrzRKcp50vZrbs79l-7DFuHXAbH88EepCjjElk/s400/IMG_4463.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">L.O.V.E.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCpDqhJHKRVUVtS_fVdNPXBFJSf2yF8ciIsGKxeKTJMOfbA840w4g0wZ1Xm_RScPSMFMMUmyiddYvqzXW3dw3EN_ATGbwp3UXitto23YEJvGTjSzj8u4bkdWDOKAnvl7RaUSP0Cr9brw/s1600/IMG_4465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCpDqhJHKRVUVtS_fVdNPXBFJSf2yF8ciIsGKxeKTJMOfbA840w4g0wZ1Xm_RScPSMFMMUmyiddYvqzXW3dw3EN_ATGbwp3UXitto23YEJvGTjSzj8u4bkdWDOKAnvl7RaUSP0Cr9brw/s400/IMG_4465.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Ethan mimicking Harper putting her hands in her mouth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZx3NcmpX9bwhBRdDf0j2u3XvNonG05MO1MARdyDCjT_pE1IukvgcwN7gM-10zcXrwByRy42ZoqDB8z1o1L7d-2RuNKa63CrXE5f4B-ixWbmfMiWbSzWeIX0V-Z4FSXG2nVveEqe3SQ8/s1600/IMG_4466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZx3NcmpX9bwhBRdDf0j2u3XvNonG05MO1MARdyDCjT_pE1IukvgcwN7gM-10zcXrwByRy42ZoqDB8z1o1L7d-2RuNKa63CrXE5f4B-ixWbmfMiWbSzWeIX0V-Z4FSXG2nVveEqe3SQ8/s400/IMG_4466.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And wanting to be just like Daddy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhyUDnHTXVPDkxuGfQzgejcEqXaGOSlbyqcCFm02R6T3K5n29L84AQsAKZEF3gUURO3Ntj1pX1D_wOmC1wKbuHRMSG9x1JTAFun4nNjWRgS1MFC7EDNAN6Bsd95jPHE8xUGfPmXcrpG4/s1600/IMG_4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhyUDnHTXVPDkxuGfQzgejcEqXaGOSlbyqcCFm02R6T3K5n29L84AQsAKZEF3gUURO3Ntj1pX1D_wOmC1wKbuHRMSG9x1JTAFun4nNjWRgS1MFC7EDNAN6Bsd95jPHE8xUGfPmXcrpG4/s400/IMG_4324.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A favorite outfit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GwrcXboRQbJoIO5Rtb6vMHag1p6UXB6X4z1dGXxT36-z0YPkMoC5Ds_6abdIYCQYDPZ-uo2tmLwYLb_e0637Ic7-JgGlcC8pTQVRmKO6q8-YVzVkYNy92SaZB-FjBJvqmLgqgQheNOA/s1600/IMG_4451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GwrcXboRQbJoIO5Rtb6vMHag1p6UXB6X4z1dGXxT36-z0YPkMoC5Ds_6abdIYCQYDPZ-uo2tmLwYLb_e0637Ic7-JgGlcC8pTQVRmKO6q8-YVzVkYNy92SaZB-FjBJvqmLgqgQheNOA/s400/IMG_4451.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another (so much so that she has those pants in size 12 months too)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOsZNy7jyzNV9hF98Y3_w3BlTNkT6si7GEuKlkWzidkWXX9r9caEH9C0fs0r54XyhFlvD0gxkBSGfWBcOSP5UiZ6wsocC6mSaLro-RzavPo0WDIPUQJ_qRx03Rk8bUsBIfUKGnwLVIAw/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOsZNy7jyzNV9hF98Y3_w3BlTNkT6si7GEuKlkWzidkWXX9r9caEH9C0fs0r54XyhFlvD0gxkBSGfWBcOSP5UiZ6wsocC6mSaLro-RzavPo0WDIPUQJ_qRx03Rk8bUsBIfUKGnwLVIAw/s400/IMG_4474.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And another.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1UTZsG-_3KJOSwShHeQ8Fd_fPWP2SEslVEjh07tkFGLvmpIBSsi2S0fDXannYqgLjw_s14bwiwHTETGItwQC0MCvvqwh3htwNtWHgVa5cb436WAUpEU6vIB2JJOGkYw5cKooLfA4CK8/s1600/IMG_4488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1UTZsG-_3KJOSwShHeQ8Fd_fPWP2SEslVEjh07tkFGLvmpIBSsi2S0fDXannYqgLjw_s14bwiwHTETGItwQC0MCvvqwh3htwNtWHgVa5cb436WAUpEU6vIB2JJOGkYw5cKooLfA4CK8/s400/IMG_4488.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2rKriZx0ItQJaq1ZFQ1EY_hBVSSNT1R2RGfiRaB9Xqqlc2y5nkM_cLeZ9n7Nj0IHFsK9aEB0elU83xsK2H9du1KgEEVNtXF0wUmNVzumcCvGZk8NplrFIgQxNuiQLY7wbRferxKyXBQ/s1600/IMG_4489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2rKriZx0ItQJaq1ZFQ1EY_hBVSSNT1R2RGfiRaB9Xqqlc2y5nkM_cLeZ9n7Nj0IHFsK9aEB0elU83xsK2H9du1KgEEVNtXF0wUmNVzumcCvGZk8NplrFIgQxNuiQLY7wbRferxKyXBQ/s400/IMG_4489.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmh_54JpHEx68aGejPm1yQ_KqOva49_H_rxvl_9gOfSSumQVgOkFssCOBtsPW9WszLnswITyb3avemnf608RFpGR8H8qC05-TsFzGW7vtROBMSu8jDBz0Cro2rP_FMpRYmlpRhfT4G8o/s1600/IMG_4491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmh_54JpHEx68aGejPm1yQ_KqOva49_H_rxvl_9gOfSSumQVgOkFssCOBtsPW9WszLnswITyb3avemnf608RFpGR8H8qC05-TsFzGW7vtROBMSu8jDBz0Cro2rP_FMpRYmlpRhfT4G8o/s400/IMG_4491.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My heart could burst. </div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-41528536761304497152011-08-10T18:34:00.000-04:002011-08-10T18:34:43.746-04:00Staying home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf30Gud1l59PK0ByLPCzKlZY4DVhjpwCCid3G1ilrVUKLkx1WlPq29alSVZIEyclMvKLMwRDEwt0ZEDPRZE7xKktE4MRRVnuYkrsx6n12Jaqk1xeQlyj0ZAFf0wlA-mr4mJZI1-Aal9yY/s1600/IMG_4221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf30Gud1l59PK0ByLPCzKlZY4DVhjpwCCid3G1ilrVUKLkx1WlPq29alSVZIEyclMvKLMwRDEwt0ZEDPRZE7xKktE4MRRVnuYkrsx6n12Jaqk1xeQlyj0ZAFf0wlA-mr4mJZI1-Aal9yY/s640/IMG_4221.JPG" width="425" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look at these two. Don't they look like they are sharing secrets only siblings could understand?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mPGixOx6PMhx7aV2ZGfefbvj_iXQFfpI9XH8lESWBsIm4V6kKDr2EenwEkaA9Kt6ls_fgb5MowrY03l7c1RNEdhsDN3ix_JVxUMqOL8MnrqGUkHBqo44pLq-c3Y8iDtdvqWRxJ16pWg/s1600/IMG_4223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mPGixOx6PMhx7aV2ZGfefbvj_iXQFfpI9XH8lESWBsIm4V6kKDr2EenwEkaA9Kt6ls_fgb5MowrY03l7c1RNEdhsDN3ix_JVxUMqOL8MnrqGUkHBqo44pLq-c3Y8iDtdvqWRxJ16pWg/s400/IMG_4223.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXtfJmpzofY4iD23IAMmS-3YNwMZp4I25mQrCQw1k2g_1cWCEW-06exNckS40WKt28N9pNL9X1_l51T8L1PntIoLzN-C1FGEJnlXrHQLqF9ITqF1wCMXSk-GSxPj4d8-ZKUN4lQjG7po/s1600/IMG_4224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXtfJmpzofY4iD23IAMmS-3YNwMZp4I25mQrCQw1k2g_1cWCEW-06exNckS40WKt28N9pNL9X1_l51T8L1PntIoLzN-C1FGEJnlXrHQLqF9ITqF1wCMXSk-GSxPj4d8-ZKUN4lQjG7po/s400/IMG_4224.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmm0XiHSa1-uE7qVDK4wFHkUtqnBWiZxD5fNNqatPTgMkUXXO-bzyMLWqQCukAx-Qg3lUjNlZd_Fv91XD8ZYzWQA_xmnrwqlc-WW3jDb6tpuh0HAR_lD33_Q_YkpQ1-MF7YUqcPADZsM/s1600/IMG_4231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmm0XiHSa1-uE7qVDK4wFHkUtqnBWiZxD5fNNqatPTgMkUXXO-bzyMLWqQCukAx-Qg3lUjNlZd_Fv91XD8ZYzWQA_xmnrwqlc-WW3jDb6tpuh0HAR_lD33_Q_YkpQ1-MF7YUqcPADZsM/s400/IMG_4231.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love these photos. Dreamy moments with my babies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-JJUnP68xkC-M9A9OnpY9i_akKRp0Z1kHMNZfDO4_PXavyDsZjygPej6T0z3EMUL-dKcvB8TThrX-MbfxlGxNo7S-zUnMuGXONkrSqqJTuHrBhlRc8wAZ3RqZ-J7_Re2jIk6BIfSxWs/s1600/IMG_4233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-JJUnP68xkC-M9A9OnpY9i_akKRp0Z1kHMNZfDO4_PXavyDsZjygPej6T0z3EMUL-dKcvB8TThrX-MbfxlGxNo7S-zUnMuGXONkrSqqJTuHrBhlRc8wAZ3RqZ-J7_Re2jIk6BIfSxWs/s400/IMG_4233.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdETOUuHTdBT57b1xmwYLKUL9R2cYiP56J4cGFyMrIzp8X9O7oSnqCDYyLF3toGKwJSmisNFYaIm4Zma0v6MCoksAB5Bvj5e1iwF1Ri_szc3oNj9YozU8kZqmdS9bUWZnMW3LKAdt7PoE/s1600/IMG_4235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdETOUuHTdBT57b1xmwYLKUL9R2cYiP56J4cGFyMrIzp8X9O7oSnqCDYyLF3toGKwJSmisNFYaIm4Zma0v6MCoksAB5Bvj5e1iwF1Ri_szc3oNj9YozU8kZqmdS9bUWZnMW3LKAdt7PoE/s400/IMG_4235.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Things (moods) can change as quickly as Ethan's expressions did here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFo-AFM8ZXkad8ioO2XeqFXryHj1WuYfyWS48r3bdhIWhqxCyGzL1E8Yue4wir2iy5FYI40MBuWwut-oJLUhTc2C-Kqw3VHeEJO7WV0mgwUnTpsNZ9reLZVpKP-ip9XM40Oz62TbRzRDA/s1600/IMG_4236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFo-AFM8ZXkad8ioO2XeqFXryHj1WuYfyWS48r3bdhIWhqxCyGzL1E8Yue4wir2iy5FYI40MBuWwut-oJLUhTc2C-Kqw3VHeEJO7WV0mgwUnTpsNZ9reLZVpKP-ip9XM40Oz62TbRzRDA/s400/IMG_4236.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And believe me, they did. I should have taken Ethan's expression in the photo above as a precaution to how things would go this particular afternoon. He refused to nap, both kids were screaming, I resorted to driving to get them to sleep (when gas was over $4/gallon) and still, more crying once they woke up. I thought I was going to lose my mind. It was the most difficult afternoon. I felt everything was crashing down on me. Ethan tantrumed and cried. Harper screamed. I went back and forth trying to soothe each of them but that only led to more crying. Finally, at 4:45pm when I was trying to soothe Harper, Ethan said "no, Ethan crying". He was showing how difficult it was to adjust to being a sibling, to share our attention, and how he was dealing with Harper's crying. During Harper's first check up, our pediatrician had suggested tending to the toddler first before the baby because the toddler will remember. I held Ethan in my arms and he finally stopped sobbing and held a pacifier in Harper's mouth while I shhhed and reassured both of them (and myself). It was going to be okay. I was going to make sure of that. Did I mention that this was the morning after Matt and I had decided I would stay at home full time? What a first official day as a stay at home mom! It was like they were hazing me during initiation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2bD6qjR9lAIunahYyciWawe1Ntb00-Mhmb9cSG6I26q_nz21ULIxgKTDWDx7nlb_N4JmvkYDKyRhCtbi5cOIGU3FFWFjoqdtGL94nRMh7AWByKE0ZHAp_XMdeXTTkS5eKf5bC7i004o/s1600/IMG_4237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2bD6qjR9lAIunahYyciWawe1Ntb00-Mhmb9cSG6I26q_nz21ULIxgKTDWDx7nlb_N4JmvkYDKyRhCtbi5cOIGU3FFWFjoqdtGL94nRMh7AWByKE0ZHAp_XMdeXTTkS5eKf5bC7i004o/s400/IMG_4237.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PRCK9qb5cxey5kIvoRLchC3pclzZwmascQoEoSWXCm7zXlBPG1TDV02G-BP-1DxoK1_pQQkEOfaEytv7b8dLT7vDwCcSrAbK0d_veihQKnhGJoIVbIE4A-JVMlfXTGpZ4m3ufOYi3S0/s1600/IMG_4240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PRCK9qb5cxey5kIvoRLchC3pclzZwmascQoEoSWXCm7zXlBPG1TDV02G-BP-1DxoK1_pQQkEOfaEytv7b8dLT7vDwCcSrAbK0d_veihQKnhGJoIVbIE4A-JVMlfXTGpZ4m3ufOYi3S0/s400/IMG_4240.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harper doesn't smile for just anyone and she saves special ones for Ethan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52mQBPoIospg_KPe6QZnB0FjDRFmTwAZR-rVJJSSM4rvOK2BaP328F6sOd5FSqHjkISLh55Jp6GMB1RFLLvxqgCaH2szrCcPfKASKQx3xhacD2C22IrJ9FrSJkUMZ57C45_BNgdFgCcw/s1600/IMG_4241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52mQBPoIospg_KPe6QZnB0FjDRFmTwAZR-rVJJSSM4rvOK2BaP328F6sOd5FSqHjkISLh55Jp6GMB1RFLLvxqgCaH2szrCcPfKASKQx3xhacD2C22IrJ9FrSJkUMZ57C45_BNgdFgCcw/s400/IMG_4241.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She thinks he is fun. I do too. And I love how squinty her eyes get when she smiles. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeUXyHV1UT_zMXZqwSzKR75osBS_Ysjhx5qQkqy0IQeEmBY8npYiJWh4FONf2_3V2eel8jKYT-wH7wXeTiVE4VEzzZvfRz2uTfGZe3eYDcPpSknt_dveKXSLTiE8ppo8am6rozrVpHjU/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeUXyHV1UT_zMXZqwSzKR75osBS_Ysjhx5qQkqy0IQeEmBY8npYiJWh4FONf2_3V2eel8jKYT-wH7wXeTiVE4VEzzZvfRz2uTfGZe3eYDcPpSknt_dveKXSLTiE8ppo8am6rozrVpHjU/s400/IMG_4243.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She also gets this look that we like to describe as her "how did I get stuck with this family?" look. She's completely bored with us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaGUQW_qjq34oG6fMsQZe8zs7g5Q10g9JBIH57PM9d_gI0sIwRlJnMKLyXRBuf0xYbJyA5OhRWmM3OAzIWoFf9-aAw8n_FCoHSQv_FWWTq6gFkO-AadUTiEeL2O1k-0d7bYX4B2dBx4s/s1600/IMG_4245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaGUQW_qjq34oG6fMsQZe8zs7g5Q10g9JBIH57PM9d_gI0sIwRlJnMKLyXRBuf0xYbJyA5OhRWmM3OAzIWoFf9-aAw8n_FCoHSQv_FWWTq6gFkO-AadUTiEeL2O1k-0d7bYX4B2dBx4s/s400/IMG_4245.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He loves her so. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oUprJWOk1e8Q2xPDn6aXIg1DwQAN2ypKfEIKZZaKVK60vOjvkoY1grDf95v6vzJUtxemyQBtENTxnJ3bpTAKYRDSgS7Uw4Q_IWe_zR3A8ohvWGOhWlJUhcDPbU81BFKqrjhOgWV2mOE/s1600/IMG_4246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oUprJWOk1e8Q2xPDn6aXIg1DwQAN2ypKfEIKZZaKVK60vOjvkoY1grDf95v6vzJUtxemyQBtENTxnJ3bpTAKYRDSgS7Uw4Q_IWe_zR3A8ohvWGOhWlJUhcDPbU81BFKqrjhOgWV2mOE/s400/IMG_4246.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He loved to hold her hand when she was this little. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She always had her hands and feet clenched. I had to pry them apart to wash the lint out from between her fingers and toes. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBTF5yxmvvYP63nMyr390hEcX9_e4MhhMg6imq6_Eb9BHiuoSxosf_yQjh-sr1Z9I_WpG28xoEmELmEiiGrs2llz1gK1dhsdgg2kxpICzyga9FMt1TNHPLPY1dkeAXiJdFDF5IwTyZOk/s1600/IMG_4251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBTF5yxmvvYP63nMyr390hEcX9_e4MhhMg6imq6_Eb9BHiuoSxosf_yQjh-sr1Z9I_WpG28xoEmELmEiiGrs2llz1gK1dhsdgg2kxpICzyga9FMt1TNHPLPY1dkeAXiJdFDF5IwTyZOk/s400/IMG_4251.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoYw4gc8eo_KI2OtpwqV3M6sPEVMZKyyyn1EF8SwhC_MxCuW6I3bquLInIfaQ9eIo0GvF8648n3_8vhTqfpMOIpN6MQ_okJSkxBdDsb6cAxRBzSSH762FUg9Mlq9Gpc2dijHZlQWPDzE/s1600/IMG_4257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoYw4gc8eo_KI2OtpwqV3M6sPEVMZKyyyn1EF8SwhC_MxCuW6I3bquLInIfaQ9eIo0GvF8648n3_8vhTqfpMOIpN6MQ_okJSkxBdDsb6cAxRBzSSH762FUg9Mlq9Gpc2dijHZlQWPDzE/s400/IMG_4257.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYjs-CuLoI5MKxGyYudn0qIe8qKRLVzbM7KN1_MoIOo9YuckOyFticvCjyFZrjmDSCbBM-OFgQqQWWrI19aH-5cYCPKpiz55HB91MU0F9jdELg3B0i0h7Jkl4IYlFVZ0OTpQuMxd2XOY/s1600/IMG_4256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYjs-CuLoI5MKxGyYudn0qIe8qKRLVzbM7KN1_MoIOo9YuckOyFticvCjyFZrjmDSCbBM-OFgQqQWWrI19aH-5cYCPKpiz55HB91MU0F9jdELg3B0i0h7Jkl4IYlFVZ0OTpQuMxd2XOY/s400/IMG_4256.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See the lint? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I remember this day so clearly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Staying at home...Harper was still very difficult and needed me. We visited the daycare to try it out but we knew it wasn't going to work out even with my flexible, part time schedule. The daycare we chose for Ethan is fantastic. I knew they would love and care for Harper the same way they did for Ethan, even though she was a challenge, but Harper had needs that they couldn't meet. At this point she had requirements of being swaddled, with a pacifier, in the swing, with the hairdryer running - just to nap for 20-30 minutes (she is not a sleeper!). How was I going to ask the daycare to run a hairdryer? I still had to wear her and do "the walk" for some naps in the afternoon. One day my aunt came to visit to help and give me a break. She tried everything but couldn't get Harper settled for more than a few minutes. My aunt was working so hard and Harper was showing how our days usually go. My aunt looked at me, knowing I had decided to stay at home, and said "she can't go to childcare". It was clear to me but to have someone else see it was reassuring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We decided to continue Ethan's "school" program but instead of 3 days a week he would attend 2 half days. I knew I could socialize Ethan with our friends' children, but he enjoyed the structure and activities of school. We thought it would be best to keep Ethan in the practice of attending a program so that hopefully the transition to preschool in the Fall would be easier. He was doing much better with separation anxiety (we still have moments of that) and he was benefiting from his time at school. It also provided me one on one time with Harper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The agency I work for offered to keep me on staff on an "as needed" basis. If there is a waiting list of clients, evening clients, or a class comes up, they can call me to pick up some work. It sounds like a win-win because I do love my job as a parent educator. As with any job, there are good days and bad days. Same goes for being stay at home parent! It is not a party all the time! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It turns out work has been slow. Referrals aren't coming in and there are budget cuts. It's such a shame that families are still struggling but funds are being cut so there aren't as many services available to help. I miss seeing clients. I miss those "ah ha" moments where I felt like I really helped a parent/child/family. I miss that inspiration and motivation. I do not miss the frustrations, paperwork, and the other negatives of being an in-home service provider. The good usually outweighed the bad but nothing beats being at home with these two:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBO06FPaukgaWoJfTBKwa9F9yYfC_5kB8hDJgldIvUWudWjwxumF4bsdzMzkdFK_4bf19UzA0CbPXAr4sDp1gf51iCKj7wBuLRJBZEh2nR9JqmS3U2Xw3Enps4v5Ne8kEWmoTJzBMeWI/s1600/IMG_4270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBO06FPaukgaWoJfTBKwa9F9yYfC_5kB8hDJgldIvUWudWjwxumF4bsdzMzkdFK_4bf19UzA0CbPXAr4sDp1gf51iCKj7wBuLRJBZEh2nR9JqmS3U2Xw3Enps4v5Ne8kEWmoTJzBMeWI/s400/IMG_4270.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The decision to stay at home came with it's own challenges ... money. Most of my income was going to go to childcare but still, there was a loss of income. We are making it work. We have had to cut back in areas. We won't be able to update our house as quickly. We won't be able to take expensive trips/vacations. But we're okay with that. We knew those things going into this and made the decision that was best for our family (not for everyone). I've joked that we were given a difficult baby to force us to make the decision for me to stay at home full time. There is truth in that. I am really enjoying being at home (admittedly it's the hardest work I've ever done) and I feel it was meant to be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-82307820005538222512011-08-08T18:19:00.000-04:002011-08-08T18:19:58.931-04:00Ethan turns TWO!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IvDHI9ShILdB0Avw3NXhQRzCJNUT-EBXmRomNg5BamhhTCVYsuuE8d6xRrFQ5G_9ZggcELT_k3YtNeR3FZTxrBzTLG6B0KCCH1zst35VszkD3x9Yxdpkb7SYaHrrZDP1OAbYxs4pJ88/s1600/IMG_4004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IvDHI9ShILdB0Avw3NXhQRzCJNUT-EBXmRomNg5BamhhTCVYsuuE8d6xRrFQ5G_9ZggcELT_k3YtNeR3FZTxrBzTLG6B0KCCH1zst35VszkD3x9Yxdpkb7SYaHrrZDP1OAbYxs4pJ88/s400/IMG_4004.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>At his 2nd birthday party, with cake and icing on his face - just as it should be when you're 2.</i> </div><br />
Two! I can hardly believe it (and at this point he's two and a half)!!<br />
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By two years old, Ethan was counting to ten, identifying colors, and shapes. By two and a half, Ethan counts to twenty, identifies colors beyond primary colors, and more shapes (as we were driving this past Spring he saved me from running a stop sign by saying "there's an octagon!". He didn't know it meant stop but I'm thankful he recognized the shape!). His memory amazes us every day. From recognizing landmarks, knowing which direction to go, memories of events and people, his books, and everything in between. I can't believe how much his speech has developed in the past few months. He is forming 9 word sentences, changing present/past tense of words all on his own, and making us laugh with the funny things he says. I recently overheard him telling Harper "Mommy is freaking out." after I told him that I just needed two seconds to go to the bathroom by myself. This statement left me in hysterics and he knew it. He loves to make us laugh.<br />
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The love he has for his sister is undeniable. When she was under 3 months old I told him that Harper had a tough day and was fussy. He went to her and said "aww, sweetheart". He liked when she started cooing and would proclaim "she talking to me!". When she would cry in the car he would tell her "I know baby, I know.". Eventually when he was tired of her crying he asked her to "turn off her tears", which is a statement that we have used very successfully with him when he is melting down or having a tantrum. We ask/tell him to turn off his tears and use his words. Speaking of tantrums... they still occur but have decreased in frequency. I think we can attribute his ability to verbally express himself, changes in diet, and consistency at home to the successful decrease in negative behaviors. <br />
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Every drive in the car is an adventure to spot dump trucks, tractor-trailers, mowers, diggers, cranes, buses -- you get the idea :) Ethan loves them all and wants to find more! He enjoys chatting while we drive... about his day, about what we're going to do next, and all the things we see along the way.<br />
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He continues to enjoy music and we have properly exposed (brainwashed) him into liking Pearl Jam. At first he thought <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0mhrqfeFjQ">Just Breathe</a> was Pearl Jam. He only wanted to listen to that song, over and over and over again. In the car, during nap, and during dinner. He would ask to listen to Pearl Jam but would say "this is not Pearl Jam" if we put any of their songs on other than Just Breathe. We love the song but after the 5th time in a row, we were ready for a change. He also enjoys listening to John Mayer, some country music, and all the songs from the <a href="http://www.musictogether.com/">Music Together</a> class that we took. I highly recommend the class as well. <br />
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Ethan has become more cuddly and affectionate lately and I am soaking it up! He has been using both hands to squeeze our faces as he gives us kisses. A few weeks ago he proclaimed "I love you, Mommy" and they very well might be the sweetest words I've ever heard. I know these cuddly moments are fleeting. He is a boy on the go... racing cars, running, swinging his golf clubs (all of which are broken and duct taped back together, showing how much/hard they are played with). <br />
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He loves our routines, talking about our plans for each day, and recalling it all when we share during dinner about how our day was. Ethan loves coming home and I love how comfortable, confident, and happy home makes him feel. I can't tell you how happy that makes us feel. C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-6404011730101030792011-08-07T21:53:00.001-04:002011-08-08T07:25:52.483-04:00World Breastfeeding WeekAs <a href="http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/">World Breastfeeding Week</a> comes to a close, I want to post a photo from our most recent photo session with <a href="http://www.elainegates.com/">Elaine Gates</a>. I will always treasure this photo. It makes me think of the special time I spent nursing Ethan and now Harper. I am very proud and feel so privileged to be their mom.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwxdqcXZslT71kjIa-WJjYjI-ixx1qQR6BMh3i4c1qUuU7wbIIryctSXccCAuMo0_AaNrJU_Bu-RS24XwWx5GBuYceJrarPybYSaQHefL5m2eGrBJ9wpNNI_HI26Nd1J_R-e3g8Mssn8/s1600/Harper+nursing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwxdqcXZslT71kjIa-WJjYjI-ixx1qQR6BMh3i4c1qUuU7wbIIryctSXccCAuMo0_AaNrJU_Bu-RS24XwWx5GBuYceJrarPybYSaQHefL5m2eGrBJ9wpNNI_HI26Nd1J_R-e3g8Mssn8/s640/Harper+nursing.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-55734539981360761002011-07-17T21:18:00.000-04:002011-07-17T21:18:49.926-04:00More pictures from Feb 2011I looked back on my photo files from February and it looks like things were easier in Feb. Harper was still having a difficult time but there were more smiles...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAx8WrF7sw1Kcv3Lj1Q5jwZicWhcF-9RqiIBYNlwRebGer0pS8QKXVZxLrgZy87j68_KSOPWO_jkn6vwk3-wdlGV1EG2AJw2LbGnyakNPTzHqwmM9bsc-op1hW-FTQF5e39qhspI_xn_k/s1600/IMG_3851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAx8WrF7sw1Kcv3Lj1Q5jwZicWhcF-9RqiIBYNlwRebGer0pS8QKXVZxLrgZy87j68_KSOPWO_jkn6vwk3-wdlGV1EG2AJw2LbGnyakNPTzHqwmM9bsc-op1hW-FTQF5e39qhspI_xn_k/s400/IMG_3851.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Still fussy but not screaming!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h9UdVzulGYXBWf9U1JBUSUOLGspxwTL4RusFbDZyERLNJOKm6mGLXHBOk_KkhTC7Iun1P4DjsZ_UbNV_5b8o9C_CeQEbgcHkhmkYyKG6dlczoFiz3_zvCrG8soaQCk8HLzJAoqdaoIw/s1600/IMG_3852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h9UdVzulGYXBWf9U1JBUSUOLGspxwTL4RusFbDZyERLNJOKm6mGLXHBOk_KkhTC7Iun1P4DjsZ_UbNV_5b8o9C_CeQEbgcHkhmkYyKG6dlczoFiz3_zvCrG8soaQCk8HLzJAoqdaoIw/s400/IMG_3852.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg793FOkEj_mCuHBbTzcuWO7wd4llwDX8qYscyxiLBi2HGlAzsS3OwCPXVf4LgdFeuyh_i-JXU4BVKV7DI5HK-lqf5gWhF0U8W5TJKoKYnswycSLDzlFh4aojNDi_rngb9yjjPE5eISQcQ/s1600/IMG_3869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg793FOkEj_mCuHBbTzcuWO7wd4llwDX8qYscyxiLBi2HGlAzsS3OwCPXVf4LgdFeuyh_i-JXU4BVKV7DI5HK-lqf5gWhF0U8W5TJKoKYnswycSLDzlFh4aojNDi_rngb9yjjPE5eISQcQ/s400/IMG_3869.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She even let us put her down in the morning!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrKkcwA-Sy_f7mafgs2alg6R7YgtjIUiIXvaqdPBc-P4tew6LSYR2AueCEYI_Vwj_4dOTMeobmIU1sf-agtmrzwSIu0aoQjE5fDjvQP2ey44aWHHLDmX4Ls3tJBNbrwdVlljVs78EOuA/s1600/IMG_3923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrKkcwA-Sy_f7mafgs2alg6R7YgtjIUiIXvaqdPBc-P4tew6LSYR2AueCEYI_Vwj_4dOTMeobmIU1sf-agtmrzwSIu0aoQjE5fDjvQP2ey44aWHHLDmX4Ls3tJBNbrwdVlljVs78EOuA/s400/IMG_3923.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course she preferred being held. I love seeing Matt hold this pink bundle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMmqNBenydx7ShfSn55bEVm42SjU2O1BjLMbJQ54BSS-4y_MTMP6oW8Voc6QB_f6O_JtIFK6doEH6os0dC6RAY-odbKG3i3KWYsUq3fyyJ4zhTS9F0zNSIjJmv7uWVDscBTNynrWZ980/s1600/IMG_3927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMmqNBenydx7ShfSn55bEVm42SjU2O1BjLMbJQ54BSS-4y_MTMP6oW8Voc6QB_f6O_JtIFK6doEH6os0dC6RAY-odbKG3i3KWYsUq3fyyJ4zhTS9F0zNSIjJmv7uWVDscBTNynrWZ980/s400/IMG_3927.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan enjoyed helping entertain her while she relaxed on her changing table - one of the few places she was happy to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IK-BNDaxGyyHkuKFy16iS3WYUrgwb-glBI16ARHAI7YhIwdvftYRbUhVPIrLkvht4lRbPYvpPUOor6OyhWKFh8wjODlXIXZ1IpXZVQIbKy4BNythk-RO6BfzKIYWyzE3XSmHvwZL2zc/s1600/IMG_3929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IK-BNDaxGyyHkuKFy16iS3WYUrgwb-glBI16ARHAI7YhIwdvftYRbUhVPIrLkvht4lRbPYvpPUOor6OyhWKFh8wjODlXIXZ1IpXZVQIbKy4BNythk-RO6BfzKIYWyzE3XSmHvwZL2zc/s400/IMG_3929.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Reading a book to her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV4KC4th-BIvQ10T5EF-Tzk5XgsFsmgstTiBmJnKGO089vnF2_oz76QjPGrWcEsmqYoJtSvPv5nb98WqATUXUb50UV5sYzYILAudyoQo3xlAj3J1OXLW7CQIuO0ew6pwkAbM1Ug1wOac/s1600/IMG_3930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV4KC4th-BIvQ10T5EF-Tzk5XgsFsmgstTiBmJnKGO089vnF2_oz76QjPGrWcEsmqYoJtSvPv5nb98WqATUXUb50UV5sYzYILAudyoQo3xlAj3J1OXLW7CQIuO0ew6pwkAbM1Ug1wOac/s400/IMG_3930.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And being a typical big brother - he thought it was funny to put it on her face.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGiGsfzMRjha7B1Ccmwnpm4LT3YAn7a6EVmR1Q8wbFdszAfWQBhyphenhyphenNVedRPYxjs2dGKe0L3jbCgyecqG0FqTjEmM6_taEUZxarYGQWdXISEno7Le_VTAhqaaPHeaRboGFrm0stLT1pyQs/s1600/IMG_3932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGiGsfzMRjha7B1Ccmwnpm4LT3YAn7a6EVmR1Q8wbFdszAfWQBhyphenhyphenNVedRPYxjs2dGKe0L3jbCgyecqG0FqTjEmM6_taEUZxarYGQWdXISEno7Le_VTAhqaaPHeaRboGFrm0stLT1pyQs/s400/IMG_3932.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We still watched Wheel of Fortune before bed together some nights. Ethan always called out "W" and one day when I asked him what he was drawing he said "W". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-taNIfLhOyiIIV5LVlXtLJdNMm7uokGaQAvyp9GPtasby-oCzfqfe0UJ8ycSpaLLWBII3bCjLVAuLBXzqNAbv_N3IqEpsdFLbgSv363k2EV7wRGWHpveXk6IkPNMxyXvALxTlza1gXM/s1600/IMG_3937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-taNIfLhOyiIIV5LVlXtLJdNMm7uokGaQAvyp9GPtasby-oCzfqfe0UJ8ycSpaLLWBII3bCjLVAuLBXzqNAbv_N3IqEpsdFLbgSv363k2EV7wRGWHpveXk6IkPNMxyXvALxTlza1gXM/s400/IMG_3937.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was still wearing her for hours every day ... walking and listening to the hairdryer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcc7CARskSwG9P5EOEDNRfZbtJNoPkdClxmdqxTOBdnUuVPEzULK8hAWkypWzZ6rQNXdJLqfZkNs-IqghtM8KZlyr7HKmqqgCkaYMa72gd_vXGzHzISQAOSUmXditH1vlwYa1i0ABcSU/s1600/IMG_3942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcc7CARskSwG9P5EOEDNRfZbtJNoPkdClxmdqxTOBdnUuVPEzULK8hAWkypWzZ6rQNXdJLqfZkNs-IqghtM8KZlyr7HKmqqgCkaYMa72gd_vXGzHzISQAOSUmXditH1vlwYa1i0ABcSU/s400/IMG_3942.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She was swaddled often too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eRcbdtPq0vjq9GT0gWssmgTwGDkkOMtLFC2mnSAwq1UwDXu6MyPSyOZcqsZFQ2AwMlQkTVMJDkpfce0c_Z19wJGqBnaFvXggHgSyICuhDUTO5DvgAuYZOVOJAkZ_5y_sVPpaIPgOzW0/s1600/IMG_3957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eRcbdtPq0vjq9GT0gWssmgTwGDkkOMtLFC2mnSAwq1UwDXu6MyPSyOZcqsZFQ2AwMlQkTVMJDkpfce0c_Z19wJGqBnaFvXggHgSyICuhDUTO5DvgAuYZOVOJAkZ_5y_sVPpaIPgOzW0/s400/IMG_3957.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I adore this picture of Ethan. He seems so little here, especially compared to now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos0wRK7l_otjnzyqqPrpZv9a0rf8VTRmtA2UBTl-AwY8GIVlk9ndSavjBvM5dvzjMDy7E7W1dAdv5rdTcZdeG8DOsYRLEBPc4mdr7YgY85RjAEloO870k355-focD-_d2MaAngy-NZZc/s1600/IMG_4015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos0wRK7l_otjnzyqqPrpZv9a0rf8VTRmtA2UBTl-AwY8GIVlk9ndSavjBvM5dvzjMDy7E7W1dAdv5rdTcZdeG8DOsYRLEBPc4mdr7YgY85RjAEloO870k355-focD-_d2MaAngy-NZZc/s400/IMG_4015.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, Harper is napping in the bathroom. This was the one nap a day (in the morning) that I was able to get her to nap in her chair with the bathroom fan on .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRJMXApZlQ6ze_fEnfA83xxmja1Qw4xU69XRQG5Nevu4PVbm7eDH4x7rkDaPtnqR5H1Uilw6gE2FKSB6HKeIgSr6Ml4hhyz0DXnR_Crlz9kvwxQvEmBZi_XG1Or5mKEVckKFj0GuCbYs/s1600/IMG_4035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRJMXApZlQ6ze_fEnfA83xxmja1Qw4xU69XRQG5Nevu4PVbm7eDH4x7rkDaPtnqR5H1Uilw6gE2FKSB6HKeIgSr6Ml4hhyz0DXnR_Crlz9kvwxQvEmBZi_XG1Or5mKEVckKFj0GuCbYs/s400/IMG_4035.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two months old here and her heat rash had cleared and she wasn't as red faced. One of my favorite outfits too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyau6EbvPxsEKleL0LDoSiiAJ8_OlfMkU8IIhrFJV7Rpid-Qk_ksjLrNcj_k3cDQbEy4MRjQz0kxEAkSm-n9jwYTM7YZRSXQl2FVTsAGleYvBrsnTvZ7I5CUBW9cCD0GvibW-IxZ7834w/s1600/IMG_4046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyau6EbvPxsEKleL0LDoSiiAJ8_OlfMkU8IIhrFJV7Rpid-Qk_ksjLrNcj_k3cDQbEy4MRjQz0kxEAkSm-n9jwYTM7YZRSXQl2FVTsAGleYvBrsnTvZ7I5CUBW9cCD0GvibW-IxZ7834w/s400/IMG_4046.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She even tolerated her playmat for a few minutes at a time! She enjoyed looking in the mirror.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuh_Ljf8Qxbqqem_8pP1MqaFc1TSCTpjtYJe-NLoU0rRtM7-rlyt7XioRRKugfXwiSvO1S_oJHFG8L13QX3eDt-q_5g8MGfG-N6eHcFo5NwqKJUP4hz_Lc5ZT06Xjk5AOkF5MGIHbA4Gw/s1600/IMG_4052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuh_Ljf8Qxbqqem_8pP1MqaFc1TSCTpjtYJe-NLoU0rRtM7-rlyt7XioRRKugfXwiSvO1S_oJHFG8L13QX3eDt-q_5g8MGfG-N6eHcFo5NwqKJUP4hz_Lc5ZT06Xjk5AOkF5MGIHbA4Gw/s400/IMG_4052.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan liked to help. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKauZeXPvP8AXaD6FDiw3MORPQluSPnvbB6eNPpiNrabL44SpD0h4U0ttxx3PACMusJ3oaUIQrHHcMsLZ1V6CmUXxFuuDyBNBNMIFnK113rQJLekTIaWdHYBE2_iBASGjJMa7CIL4Ln9Y/s1600/IMG_4047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKauZeXPvP8AXaD6FDiw3MORPQluSPnvbB6eNPpiNrabL44SpD0h4U0ttxx3PACMusJ3oaUIQrHHcMsLZ1V6CmUXxFuuDyBNBNMIFnK113rQJLekTIaWdHYBE2_iBASGjJMa7CIL4Ln9Y/s400/IMG_4047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWkRLJy9Rqd23aod44AxK4okMoIcB5wDZVm24lN5lRA2lY8PFNb0g9z7eFJ-SvDSFmdsbkIXi6H9aAOXAMMXlSMc5MiESBPyLdb7-VmtPJEKj2xMB41j35gyutae6Kh4LsazGXMs25_s/s1600/IMG_4049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWkRLJy9Rqd23aod44AxK4okMoIcB5wDZVm24lN5lRA2lY8PFNb0g9z7eFJ-SvDSFmdsbkIXi6H9aAOXAMMXlSMc5MiESBPyLdb7-VmtPJEKj2xMB41j35gyutae6Kh4LsazGXMs25_s/s400/IMG_4049.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3rYLagqPxL_R1FxlMS7mbeiKn3V8SJvf8Qu0lBIuhQt1SP8ujKJag8H1aFe52fWhX7q9Zzdsfh9_RdT9F6NsYofetHcllKl2QlAjgDoZXtOEr0V9nkxdqIYYy3wCVtI2JHfujS9iITM/s1600/IMG_4050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3rYLagqPxL_R1FxlMS7mbeiKn3V8SJvf8Qu0lBIuhQt1SP8ujKJag8H1aFe52fWhX7q9Zzdsfh9_RdT9F6NsYofetHcllKl2QlAjgDoZXtOEr0V9nkxdqIYYy3wCVtI2JHfujS9iITM/s400/IMG_4050.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harper asking him to please back up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAhwfKR7w4dolafOuMojxzqjpmyOkKXiU1KoIiMKwrwvk1XFJvpMYAzS3i4I3VflTO6__JVtZbgHh0hKnez-y-qjIiRbSor-Epv8TPtMtIMo09xeONN8di3wIqZS6LFJZuKBPPmaClzQ/s1600/IMG_4051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAhwfKR7w4dolafOuMojxzqjpmyOkKXiU1KoIiMKwrwvk1XFJvpMYAzS3i4I3VflTO6__JVtZbgHh0hKnez-y-qjIiRbSor-Epv8TPtMtIMo09xeONN8di3wIqZS6LFJZuKBPPmaClzQ/s400/IMG_4051.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's better. And it melts my heart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFZOIjQSfeW170X3iMCC2Yz-7US7K5d_G5nComXta76TWYM3bYQ3zJH_zKqZJdYRnkWBpm7AaLgG6ivgT4ws6J0tEeNeeHqA09x-qtYKXRConlK5uEJhD3zQGtMCYiAdPEVYf1WibTAE/s1600/IMG_4063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFZOIjQSfeW170X3iMCC2Yz-7US7K5d_G5nComXta76TWYM3bYQ3zJH_zKqZJdYRnkWBpm7AaLgG6ivgT4ws6J0tEeNeeHqA09x-qtYKXRConlK5uEJhD3zQGtMCYiAdPEVYf1WibTAE/s400/IMG_4063.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She was NOT a fan of tummy time and still doesn't like to be on her stomach. I remember taking this picture before getting set up to sleep -- so we were still sleeping on the sofa together at this point (mid Feb).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMQtSCJaXoD0KpinoFJgsQrrmRxhm1TqeERKFoe_gs7vhg6UkOeFPeLTIDx04Yn-tiyiP1vpEmgiNNR-CfDHn_q6HJ11nwJXz66qyBBYTL42PNpA_7ym7lxJpNedwTQSfS4IDZ6N06zU/s1600/IMG_4124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMQtSCJaXoD0KpinoFJgsQrrmRxhm1TqeERKFoe_gs7vhg6UkOeFPeLTIDx04Yn-tiyiP1vpEmgiNNR-CfDHn_q6HJ11nwJXz66qyBBYTL42PNpA_7ym7lxJpNedwTQSfS4IDZ6N06zU/s400/IMG_4124.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Documenting another cute outfit and unhappy girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-n83HbN5kv3I5a05gPJ194V7vbDPOt63uRV0gX4h-cjhCUbJLh8JhgN3shmrJSiLs3xaLXarHOGaA6k-zr23vAxYfMUKONd9Y9waD6qPBe9-_rxskSUz4GokPN8wr06a4IHNOSP-uOb0/s1600/IMG_4142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-n83HbN5kv3I5a05gPJ194V7vbDPOt63uRV0gX4h-cjhCUbJLh8JhgN3shmrJSiLs3xaLXarHOGaA6k-zr23vAxYfMUKONd9Y9waD6qPBe9-_rxskSUz4GokPN8wr06a4IHNOSP-uOb0/s400/IMG_4142.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Talking to herself in the mirror was a daily activity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWk6mRo1FOWmuKynyHc_-TrGnuXnQzPAYfd5_qCoqnXMYD2Bg_Vf3tkfRyWCgOupLPaGuIdUbSLWFSigbC8tMzD35RIlQ1GvbAn5FA5Dj_gAsKYcGHcq1ciOtSZwMNaF5NNYZMnFnKS0Q/s1600/IMG_4129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWk6mRo1FOWmuKynyHc_-TrGnuXnQzPAYfd5_qCoqnXMYD2Bg_Vf3tkfRyWCgOupLPaGuIdUbSLWFSigbC8tMzD35RIlQ1GvbAn5FA5Dj_gAsKYcGHcq1ciOtSZwMNaF5NNYZMnFnKS0Q/s400/IMG_4129.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan's first lollipop. He was in love. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzilyPaB1ynw-weDvnXCbYTh-mkRRqUFuWpfB1w819FPAzmhcmW65KJ7k15ArkZT8oCUun3qthiPYlxydQcvLsj_lWl04crvAGGiyXC91etlh3AKvZ1ENQY9XugjoNiBEcQHFQFU1tYiE/s1600/IMG_4147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzilyPaB1ynw-weDvnXCbYTh-mkRRqUFuWpfB1w819FPAzmhcmW65KJ7k15ArkZT8oCUun3qthiPYlxydQcvLsj_lWl04crvAGGiyXC91etlh3AKvZ1ENQY9XugjoNiBEcQHFQFU1tYiE/s400/IMG_4147.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Breakfast with Ethan - tractor spoon, playdough, and toys at the table.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFM7oflz-tGlQ02FtFblScOe2eiRRh5Zxxnpf7aQwy66ykeo-aEbIH-BqZyCi5Ty3-PGBEFFoSmITSaDHdgl2BdifrT5tnF16RsZOCXfhRXySDhdUmE4ws-ig21rjBnIr30PB7ie2IoM/s1600/IMG_4165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFM7oflz-tGlQ02FtFblScOe2eiRRh5Zxxnpf7aQwy66ykeo-aEbIH-BqZyCi5Ty3-PGBEFFoSmITSaDHdgl2BdifrT5tnF16RsZOCXfhRXySDhdUmE4ws-ig21rjBnIr30PB7ie2IoM/s400/IMG_4165.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Welcoming SPRING! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrDe8Ivk4ItRLOfAvXQjr48ZIYQ1ZGyWPD8vJPoYVLU0jYtI6XcMUrM_PfLxGOnl3EvzLMZTJcgi0KLTiJ4b663yqrj8beqBZeED_LyGMHpDRWi9UWDQhwhIV5qkGI6DD-726iC8dKwQ/s1600/IMG_4177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrDe8Ivk4ItRLOfAvXQjr48ZIYQ1ZGyWPD8vJPoYVLU0jYtI6XcMUrM_PfLxGOnl3EvzLMZTJcgi0KLTiJ4b663yqrj8beqBZeED_LyGMHpDRWi9UWDQhwhIV5qkGI6DD-726iC8dKwQ/s400/IMG_4177.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ltmjjOt8lDZFiWJoNkimCmFt-TaMN9IdEXtADVdYLPd7ENmOIPiYjU2cuoMGjX0ZCboQIRLqbIb39BEe7bG8AN0i-Xow0yrqN55yVtKbqmXaPaHFKpQhO6sfAJL0HPLi0et_TWdqlSc/s1600/IMG_4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ltmjjOt8lDZFiWJoNkimCmFt-TaMN9IdEXtADVdYLPd7ENmOIPiYjU2cuoMGjX0ZCboQIRLqbIb39BEe7bG8AN0i-Xow0yrqN55yVtKbqmXaPaHFKpQhO6sfAJL0HPLi0et_TWdqlSc/s400/IMG_4166.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UwkKbdy-vNnpvMWJm8p0TtkaAVoGxbPrTZ_MAB0PXIsGr43VcYs036E57wMBTdp6QyH303mmphq1wG87dJMr0tz0M-uh3IUEemyGNOooRwlGAUOCanIRlXyHO_VLyUIBn1E4ZpiiCsY/s1600/IMG_4167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UwkKbdy-vNnpvMWJm8p0TtkaAVoGxbPrTZ_MAB0PXIsGr43VcYs036E57wMBTdp6QyH303mmphq1wG87dJMr0tz0M-uh3IUEemyGNOooRwlGAUOCanIRlXyHO_VLyUIBn1E4ZpiiCsY/s400/IMG_4167.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04gfoaT5xpBhu94oDWpDD-3Y6Zou1pcR8_U366G2xfZP6JHVKPqiRS3IOFxHBnLnf23EbjT__uqL85xvFQRQy5UaZWVDG9em6CFrEm4T_YRykRsOeYGTzs2hGH3x0ocewpyn0vJ_83T0/s1600/IMG_4168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04gfoaT5xpBhu94oDWpDD-3Y6Zou1pcR8_U366G2xfZP6JHVKPqiRS3IOFxHBnLnf23EbjT__uqL85xvFQRQy5UaZWVDG9em6CFrEm4T_YRykRsOeYGTzs2hGH3x0ocewpyn0vJ_83T0/s400/IMG_4168.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By this point we graduated from sleeping propped up on the sofa with Harper on my chest to cosleeping in the bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Ethan loved coming into our bed in the morning to say good morning to Harper. I was a little surprised that he never questioned why she was in our bed and not her crib. He never asked to sleep in there too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BoJvY6vispTK65_EpqfxDLofpfoekKTAj5mzMTav0olOG-Zi8cy54T3WIwXWBIcKurCv0_q5_5UqQtdb-V_nkd601S2prJqIbhoAz3bHHEbQjZW5UOFlH5vHn0h50msedOitYkgsCM8/s1600/IMG_4174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BoJvY6vispTK65_EpqfxDLofpfoekKTAj5mzMTav0olOG-Zi8cy54T3WIwXWBIcKurCv0_q5_5UqQtdb-V_nkd601S2prJqIbhoAz3bHHEbQjZW5UOFlH5vHn0h50msedOitYkgsCM8/s400/IMG_4174.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidC7SIdnLoc0nJDOEbpAbOb_TC_pRUEm7-klQP3CpEh4lSnIHbaURfL7KhdIFC9jp8FcL3FbmiN64IzzDCwi-JkYushNJUF9tA4Tczc_NMUpDntHx2v_k9ttshfS1EU2Bu6MPxsdSr3VA/s1600/IMG_4184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidC7SIdnLoc0nJDOEbpAbOb_TC_pRUEm7-klQP3CpEh4lSnIHbaURfL7KhdIFC9jp8FcL3FbmiN64IzzDCwi-JkYushNJUF9tA4Tczc_NMUpDntHx2v_k9ttshfS1EU2Bu6MPxsdSr3VA/s400/IMG_4184.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I loved these pants!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzWDta82zU0rRdMm2_exxPo3Glusyw9PrLMMONu8iVoYbjxcjpQe5SYrzYd_hsXWn68JRvmQ74jYxgnucQmoDwLKq-D-TwXUORZ37o6LZAtLX7OfJTkatBcMGPLpf8F-Jo2ImmJPQcMg/s1600/IMG_4195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzWDta82zU0rRdMm2_exxPo3Glusyw9PrLMMONu8iVoYbjxcjpQe5SYrzYd_hsXWn68JRvmQ74jYxgnucQmoDwLKq-D-TwXUORZ37o6LZAtLX7OfJTkatBcMGPLpf8F-Jo2ImmJPQcMg/s400/IMG_4195.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harper and I made a daytrip to Ikea with our friend Kasey (Hi Kasey!). Harper was a great traveler that day! We can't wait to go back. We picked up fun treats for Ethan such as this easel. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROnBBcDXrkTfTcBZ8VAevA9k8yjuNy-uXsVv5ywgo44uRI9qEr41oBjWCrnEtFXWdrrR4o-JVmNTk8RBtHDdia_BzKghlXk-DzLRRjc8eKqSeV-TrVJwMCGpMrnbk_4R2L7Nu2kH1XO0/s1600/IMG_4199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROnBBcDXrkTfTcBZ8VAevA9k8yjuNy-uXsVv5ywgo44uRI9qEr41oBjWCrnEtFXWdrrR4o-JVmNTk8RBtHDdia_BzKghlXk-DzLRRjc8eKqSeV-TrVJwMCGpMrnbk_4R2L7Nu2kH1XO0/s400/IMG_4199.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harper's first bottle of breastmilk. Ethan was a big helper. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8c5ZUh_i7K_hexN-4t9SI-N2ihl2lHaEElEahbR0N7q0nniLRZ8H2n4lVqzySV-JP3QUpfegcl9Qn1cTLxuY7E2ehUBaHkcnbEEOh1il1StecnHwinrznc2mydrL7mKJ3lU9QUzWarA/s1600/IMG_4202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8c5ZUh_i7K_hexN-4t9SI-N2ihl2lHaEElEahbR0N7q0nniLRZ8H2n4lVqzySV-JP3QUpfegcl9Qn1cTLxuY7E2ehUBaHkcnbEEOh1il1StecnHwinrznc2mydrL7mKJ3lU9QUzWarA/s400/IMG_4202.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then Ethan insisted on having his milk while he helped :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipg0C9YCsT9yUO671Fu0gk1bMN4xYDvdAGTswHqZjY8NnWOifE_wcVX-TM7i9oN10-MLZIFZTzpjrWsCR5GnXrOoCKYN4n6KYRkQPcyJzhPx5A4odParrR24XcQ9rNfOe5If4MWE_HTDg/s1600/IMG_4203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipg0C9YCsT9yUO671Fu0gk1bMN4xYDvdAGTswHqZjY8NnWOifE_wcVX-TM7i9oN10-MLZIFZTzpjrWsCR5GnXrOoCKYN4n6KYRkQPcyJzhPx5A4odParrR24XcQ9rNfOe5If4MWE_HTDg/s400/IMG_4203.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyu-fgJ0ACU7Tw8Wubxox7MJWZguWetzlmQ2fyFnA_6axQy6ZxQ3RJq-wcCz4PdkSp-rTuAcFrYqOaDHeO4rNYMgCT_Urb0XDZTwJfMRyufEI5F2V4m5rAjVdlvBjYA7OjUxquExD4MrA/s1600/IMG_4206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyu-fgJ0ACU7Tw8Wubxox7MJWZguWetzlmQ2fyFnA_6axQy6ZxQ3RJq-wcCz4PdkSp-rTuAcFrYqOaDHeO4rNYMgCT_Urb0XDZTwJfMRyufEI5F2V4m5rAjVdlvBjYA7OjUxquExD4MrA/s400/IMG_4206.JPG" width="266" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She took some of it but took the rest while resting on the boppy. It turned out that Harper was quite particular about bottles (shocker). She preferred them to be perfectly warm (we never figured out the right temp). We were able to skip bottles altogether (more on this later). She's 7.5 months now and we have introduced cold breastmilk in a sippy cup because that is what Ethan took while I was away from him and it was SO easy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusoI8_5_4hHk-3Nji9zOUBmyjFyc2sJ95-PQ3mMB_3pss22KLpd26duVgWpnpQRI2qR1LEu-ox5_hwAxmQSkhI8AylCG5-UAgpb1cysWtn5eTzhr29Ss0eE92h6GukdjLe_9tMjMMBDs/s1600/IMG_4209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusoI8_5_4hHk-3Nji9zOUBmyjFyc2sJ95-PQ3mMB_3pss22KLpd26duVgWpnpQRI2qR1LEu-ox5_hwAxmQSkhI8AylCG5-UAgpb1cysWtn5eTzhr29Ss0eE92h6GukdjLe_9tMjMMBDs/s400/IMG_4209.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I saw this mobile on Amazon's daily deals for $11. One of the best things we bought for Harper. No, it's not pretty but it was a lifesaver! She actually let us put her down in her crib because of it! It's perfect for younger babies with the black and white and contrasting patterns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1N21vT5OmDceBJ_Rze3ao43Zc2tu34al_Oeb48S4bKoV287FitKL3bjb1qZp-DB4Ja6NFJwiZ6cThr1Nm3i8LgvSxyqIuK2MnImxTCItpxaLUYwihKXeiJjIbspJoTyJFXFZejNZOnA/s1600/IMG_4215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1N21vT5OmDceBJ_Rze3ao43Zc2tu34al_Oeb48S4bKoV287FitKL3bjb1qZp-DB4Ja6NFJwiZ6cThr1Nm3i8LgvSxyqIuK2MnImxTCItpxaLUYwihKXeiJjIbspJoTyJFXFZejNZOnA/s400/IMG_4215.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The greatest thing we bought for Harper was a WubbaNub. So great that it probably deserves a post of it's own but I'll include it here. It's like a light weight Beanie Baby attached to a Soothie pacifier. It prevents the pacifier from rolling down when the baby lets it fall out of her mouth. It was a HUGE help. Harper could sit in her seat with her pacifier and I didn't have to run over every 5 seconds when she lost it. It would lay on her chest and she could root around to get the pacifier back in her mouth. This was especially helpful when I was tending to Ethan and didn't have to get up and run to Harper quite as much. It also made the pacifier easier to find in any room and saved us from buying a ton of pacifiers. Harper became attached to this little guy. She holds onto his legs, chews on the tag, plays with the tag, and just loves her froggy! The frog is sewn on to the pacifier so at first we were just washing the pacifier but the frog started to look dirty too so we put the whole thing in with clothes in the washing machine and it turned out just fine. I thought about putting it in a mesh bag before washing but didn't and still, it came out fine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtAdRlnkfdu_OXH-WNoP-cIj7jmY6GkuiRUGhlIA6I2W01gYaA8WQj32RRiMvxrZlXzYk6EZwdj4HJg2_SdQRw0IA3AW9hZ8b-eR7y6bBQI3ophO8pfMq0xp6HgIa09ij0Ceglbmo_oU/s1600/IMG_4263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtAdRlnkfdu_OXH-WNoP-cIj7jmY6GkuiRUGhlIA6I2W01gYaA8WQj32RRiMvxrZlXzYk6EZwdj4HJg2_SdQRw0IA3AW9hZ8b-eR7y6bBQI3ophO8pfMq0xp6HgIa09ij0Ceglbmo_oU/s400/IMG_4263.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think it looks so funny hanging from her mouth!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i> <i> </i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i> </div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-42823774186214746872011-07-16T21:34:00.000-04:002011-07-16T21:34:35.108-04:00Difficult months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZcqzLv4BCxacW0o7Wbe1QU15fIE2opNW6aGEz93cezm41-ZvUmcxMurPIBE9x1nhLQujBenM0DkUXWo_uDcdyzClBEv_d03IMhyphenhyphenMgTEGQLwvz0WCW4d2vSknfuJtct5Ln6kaZwUVkW0/s1600/IMG_3590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZcqzLv4BCxacW0o7Wbe1QU15fIE2opNW6aGEz93cezm41-ZvUmcxMurPIBE9x1nhLQujBenM0DkUXWo_uDcdyzClBEv_d03IMhyphenhyphenMgTEGQLwvz0WCW4d2vSknfuJtct5Ln6kaZwUVkW0/s400/IMG_3590.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>I've started this post and left it in drafts. I need to finish it. Like pulling off a band aide. Only a few months later and I am already thinking that it was easier than it really was. Soon I'll think "oh it wasn't <i>that</i> hard.". Oh, yes, yes it was. Having a newborn is hard. Having a toddler and a newborn is hard. Having a toddler and a newborn who cries, needs to be held/bounced/walked/shhh-ed literally 24/7 or else she cries, who screams in pain, turns purple from crying, and has broken blood vessels on her face from screaming and crying is HARD. And for those who will say "it could be worse" because we heard a lot of that, YES, I know it could have been worse. My child was healthy (for the most part) and we thank God for that. <br />
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I started this blog as a therapeutic tool and for documentation purposes when we were having a difficult time trying to conceive a child. I had been through difficult times before. I knew I would have difficult times again. But I believe that the first few months of Harper's life were perhaps the most challenging months of my life so far - and like I said, I've been through things ...dysfunctional family, hurt, loss, more moves than any child should endure, foster care, etc... but this... this beautiful child... was a challenge. She was in pain and we were so desperate to help her. To help all 4 of us. <br />
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We kicked off the New Year with a screaming baby and in result... a cranky family. January, and February for that matter, were especially difficult. I stopped ALL forms of dairy (yes, even hidden dairy) on12/31/10 and knew that we had a long road ahead of us until all the dairy was out of our systems. I kept soy in my diet and even tried a little soy milk over my oatmeal but quickly realized that was a BAD idea. Harper was in even more pain. I cut soy out of my diet with the exception of soy oil and soy lecithin because typically MSPI babies can handle those two. Harper's bowel movements looked "normal" most of the time. Mucousy stools were one of Ethan's main symptoms but Harper's were rarely mucousy at first (it arrived some later on but not near the extent of how long Ethan suffered from them). Ethan was fussy and cried a lot before I cut out dairy but Harper continued screaming even after mShe was also showing signs of reflux.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFyB9QUK9mSQUWSREnrmkPVpbVM6IAXGQZKv9EX4zRoPDmNuHDVmPoYlHrf8t4YHD0xQbryWDoRA-5OsGP1cGIC7_-xWxS_oE2gSRs6MD5CHM-MhXBFiKi_531dHPE4ZcGMHNZ6OsmTA/s1600/IMG_3660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFyB9QUK9mSQUWSREnrmkPVpbVM6IAXGQZKv9EX4zRoPDmNuHDVmPoYlHrf8t4YHD0xQbryWDoRA-5OsGP1cGIC7_-xWxS_oE2gSRs6MD5CHM-MhXBFiKi_531dHPE4ZcGMHNZ6OsmTA/s400/IMG_3660.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWz8qEBVhrW6McSTbXW5wsdgAP_uAmTl1Eqq2X_8c1-aH2W5HnWCw0XaNVcyrkQkhNMVnyWAqt2SYwE60d5p9sNkP6qJchwzwSTEPTrcBGHkuA7LUgXNqmM-PGJXtJfmmfSuu4KjH9vs/s1600/IMG_3658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWz8qEBVhrW6McSTbXW5wsdgAP_uAmTl1Eqq2X_8c1-aH2W5HnWCw0XaNVcyrkQkhNMVnyWAqt2SYwE60d5p9sNkP6qJchwzwSTEPTrcBGHkuA7LUgXNqmM-PGJXtJfmmfSuu4KjH9vs/s400/IMG_3658.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We tried everything to get her sleep somewhere other than on us - even on her belly for naps. This lasted a few minutes. Occasionally she slept longer - usually when friends came over and could have held her :)</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I'm trying to recall everything by date but I can't. What I recall most is the way my baby girl cried in pain, as if she was begging me to help her. Her body stiffening as she pushed her legs out in pain and frustration, kicking me as I held her. When we finally did get her settled she cried as soon as we pulled her away from our bodies to put her down. Add all day fussiness and crying to the nightly screaming sessions and we were grasping desperately for reasons, for a resolution.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyD2KrlsHPLo0Vys5mkgi43LnxEfRfYcmxV1Y_CQv3Zo9Lruu2Zck9l6w6cnpcoL6evm73cdtRPbNRl9LDQllEegARNK79GHfSSEgQAdmSxzjh_j9bvTQl-FZvlPO-ZVDRhwTM4hAodw/s1600/IMG_3730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyD2KrlsHPLo0Vys5mkgi43LnxEfRfYcmxV1Y_CQv3Zo9Lruu2Zck9l6w6cnpcoL6evm73cdtRPbNRl9LDQllEegARNK79GHfSSEgQAdmSxzjh_j9bvTQl-FZvlPO-ZVDRhwTM4hAodw/s400/IMG_3730.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I wanted pictures of Harper in outfits that we had chosen for her, outfits that I loved on her and I kept waiting for happy times to take them. She was outgrowing everything so we took photos even though she was upset. Reality.</i> </div><br />
During the first week of January I called the pediatrician and took Harper in to be seen. We had a long wait at the doctor's office and Harper cried nearly the entire time. I tried shhhing. I tried the pacifier. I tried nursing her. I tried walking. Bouncing helped a little. Other patient's parents who were waiting commented on how unhappy she was, like I was oblivious to it or something?!<br />
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The doctor suspected reflux and sent us with instructions for Harper to have an upper GI performed the following day. The first bottle she would consume was filled with nasty barium solution. Not only was I sad about that fact but I was also concerned about that setting us on a difficult path. Ethan refused bottles after 4.5 months, resulting in me racing to the daycare every 4 hours while trying to work. Was this going to set us on a path with another bottle-hater?<br />
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Harper took the bottle of barium solution down like a pro. The upper GI showed she refluxed and we were sent on our way. The pediatrician's office called later instructing us to pick up her new medication. Very little instructions were given besides giving her a half tablet of prevacid once a day. WHAT A PAIN. Cut the tablet in half, try to make sure it was perfectly even so that she would have the same amount of medication in her system, dissolve the tablet in water in a syringe, make sure all of those darn little beads get into her mouth (again fear of inconsistent dosage)... I am frustrated just thinking about that process again!<br />
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Soothing Harper... Due to her reflux we could no longer bounce her to soothe her. It had worked initially but then she would wake screaming in pain just a few minutes later ... likely due to the bouncing, sloshing milk around, and refluxing up her esophagus. The sound of the hairdryer stopped her from crying and soothed her. The sound machine wasn't loud enough to calm her down. We used it on it's highest volume at night while we slept but it did nothing for her when she was crying. Recordings of a hairdryer weren't loud enough either. Sometimes the vacuum helped. Music did nothing which made me sad because Ethan had loved listening to music from the time he was a newborn. She didn't care for her carseat so car rides were not relaxing for quite some time. The swing, which had been a blessing with Ethan, was not used much during Harper's first 2+ months. It didn't soothe her and we were also fearful that it would aggravate her reflux. <br />
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So, if you can't bounce but have to keep moving to calm a baby, what do you do? WALK. And not just any walk. We had to walk a certain way (I won't even attempt to explain it because I don't know how!) to calm her all the while continue shhsing in a rhythmic pattern or blast the hairdryer. We figured out the walk (and everything else) through trial and error. Every day seemed like a new stress inducing adventure.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUDo22vsvJlMF8xCni3vPYY_fVEaEIDc53hU2uBDmElgTJq_cjIyjNYOiho0egRhDIpRAUv9po85AU7SakRB0lAEDMngETTnUo3ohkBrux9Cq7L0notgkjL3fLVrjs97oNb7bGjLBBtI/s1600/IMG_3580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUDo22vsvJlMF8xCni3vPYY_fVEaEIDc53hU2uBDmElgTJq_cjIyjNYOiho0egRhDIpRAUv9po85AU7SakRB0lAEDMngETTnUo3ohkBrux9Cq7L0notgkjL3fLVrjs97oNb7bGjLBBtI/s400/IMG_3580.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Just under a month old in the Baby K'Tan. I don't have it over my shoulder all the way here but it's very comfortable. This carrier helped me keep my sanity during these difficult months.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAm_ym9m70mtgnwnrPSX8-9k56iYeK5tuk-qEdjEIgfc4XqQczpC9FlZEKV2Or4O8p4jfMT8fIDibX76i9jRCZAHUFfdxG2ipyL69mOP1KVYBNaz2V6M9JVPAQLNN3V9XdRRJmQdl6q4/s1600/IMG_3618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAm_ym9m70mtgnwnrPSX8-9k56iYeK5tuk-qEdjEIgfc4XqQczpC9FlZEKV2Or4O8p4jfMT8fIDibX76i9jRCZAHUFfdxG2ipyL69mOP1KVYBNaz2V6M9JVPAQLNN3V9XdRRJmQdl6q4/s400/IMG_3618.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKz5iHdnOmXAie-nUJzfXxBaE0RpfGKKNac0I9Y0qcjtSPWce7VJQS-O-btlO_yNQ1EuqVWr_MOEQEgDRsrTQZThHjdwJEtrJiDfg5i7sOaACBznhNIE99-hX08cnrcbWOxkjoRohn9U/s1600/IMG_3619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKz5iHdnOmXAie-nUJzfXxBaE0RpfGKKNac0I9Y0qcjtSPWce7VJQS-O-btlO_yNQ1EuqVWr_MOEQEgDRsrTQZThHjdwJEtrJiDfg5i7sOaACBznhNIE99-hX08cnrcbWOxkjoRohn9U/s400/IMG_3619.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwrsb9i5btavNcT18b8Oxp4UFMZyn1jQ5bal4djbLKB6Yr-DF4-9YAs2Gr2DHmmMit0_-HcaWEqqUpt8bm40QSOj-agu89_19lAUWfmWD3Q087NXvVFeFAruE8MLtabw6TKicaHdd4No/s1600/IMG_3744.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwrsb9i5btavNcT18b8Oxp4UFMZyn1jQ5bal4djbLKB6Yr-DF4-9YAs2Gr2DHmmMit0_-HcaWEqqUpt8bm40QSOj-agu89_19lAUWfmWD3Q087NXvVFeFAruE8MLtabw6TKicaHdd4No/s400/IMG_3744.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The morning was Harper's best time. She started smiling and cooing in the morning. She fussed but didn't cry as much in the morning. I was always happy to see morning arrive after the long nights. I slept propped up on the sofa with her on my chest for the first 2 months. I saw the clock on the cable box throughout the night. A few nights we accidentally turned the tv off but not the cable box and I thought it was the time showing but it was really the channel (a channel in the 500's). I was actually disappointed that it was only 3:30am and not after 5am. <i> </i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQwYLkNeBEGX6L41ieanJBSF2ey1N6gS-1Gro10sV4bKRf1iN-t3a4fwEOgewKbuIoFjOO4HlpmAXED86YPhSnpfnQ1JfYKt3C69u4t28_PAtY__BmaFibizCAZbVl9r0MeDVNF5XY2Q/s1600/IMG_3783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQwYLkNeBEGX6L41ieanJBSF2ey1N6gS-1Gro10sV4bKRf1iN-t3a4fwEOgewKbuIoFjOO4HlpmAXED86YPhSnpfnQ1JfYKt3C69u4t28_PAtY__BmaFibizCAZbVl9r0MeDVNF5XY2Q/s400/IMG_3783.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Almost a smile caught on camera! </i><i>The poor dear has a rash all over her face here. We were concerned that it was caused by allergies but her pediatrician knew as soon as he looked at her that it was a heat rash ... from sleeping on us at night!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSFRgEgIr-RAr3KS8k-1yYsH5tGuS3tqe89dxQae12u0kNPZPgF1uoV7AbFHrq8RcKh5c9C1Ghbw-Q8FAfrkCk031W6WvNfkNh4aUR5e1Z1Lq2s_F8cX_ikWjbk70bVpVs12KbiEPsLk/s1600/IMG_3760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSFRgEgIr-RAr3KS8k-1yYsH5tGuS3tqe89dxQae12u0kNPZPgF1uoV7AbFHrq8RcKh5c9C1Ghbw-Q8FAfrkCk031W6WvNfkNh4aUR5e1Z1Lq2s_F8cX_ikWjbk70bVpVs12KbiEPsLk/s400/IMG_3760.JPG" width="400" /></a><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij93Blqt8xFkB_sNUDmtZYDt_oeiXtLtFRYfzq4RCq9XIVV4xd_6t82uUxtsBloO2FqcgFzYTOWhGVsQXFOClehb6f8zYNba9c3AK2wFIs2HCTGYT4IOF1YYPTo3OOjDxKtShb9cYpYzY/s1600/IMG_3789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij93Blqt8xFkB_sNUDmtZYDt_oeiXtLtFRYfzq4RCq9XIVV4xd_6t82uUxtsBloO2FqcgFzYTOWhGVsQXFOClehb6f8zYNba9c3AK2wFIs2HCTGYT4IOF1YYPTo3OOjDxKtShb9cYpYzY/s400/IMG_3789.JPG" width="266" /></a><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This was one of my favorite newborn outfits that she outgrew so quickly. I bought it out while I was very pregnant with her.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i></i> </div>Lunch time was a challenge because it was difficult to keep her asleep on me while I ate, even if I wore her. Sometimes I tried to eat lunch while wearing her and swaying in the kitchen. By late afternoon she melted down and I walked. Most afternoons I put a show on tv for Ethan or set him up with an activity in the living room while I put the hairdryer on in the bedroom for Harper. I walked up and down our hallway so I could watch Ethan and keep Harper calm. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlIW50dJCjbU6aitIrs19rKfd8R-J7pQrU_JtRtkZGRI7qank5TA0NZ3mecR0IWOVpUBwIKQQSS4PH9QH7FuyZK0ZEU0XuEMt52c7GALBxxe7mFZUqFXAUudlb1SboA3APzeKfGw991E/s1600/IMG_3750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlIW50dJCjbU6aitIrs19rKfd8R-J7pQrU_JtRtkZGRI7qank5TA0NZ3mecR0IWOVpUBwIKQQSS4PH9QH7FuyZK0ZEU0XuEMt52c7GALBxxe7mFZUqFXAUudlb1SboA3APzeKfGw991E/s400/IMG_3750.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I have not decided what I will do with the sweatshirt Matt is wearing in this picture. He must have worn it often during this time because whenever I see it, I remember (almost flash back to) how stressed Matt looked as he paced back and forth trying to soothe Harper from her purple crying (some nights she cried so much she turned shades of red and purple).</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> Still, I love the look on Ethan's face in this picture and seeing Matt with our babies.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>There were some evenings that I sat in the bathroom and cried after Matt arrived home from work. Those few moments were the only moments I had to myself. I could hear Harper crying and Ethan trying to get Matt's attention. I wasn't sure if I could handle much more. It was wearing us down. Matt took care of Ethan's bedtime routine while I took care of Harper. We quickly learned that this division wasn't healthy for any of us. We needed to be consistent but give each other breaks. I remember walking around the dining room table, with Harper screaming in my arms, the hairdryer on, and feeling jealous that Matt was snuggled up with Ethan reading books as a part of his bedtime routine. Nights were the worst. After Matt completed Ethan's bedtime routine he came out to help me. We took turns walking with Harper while she screamed, until she fell asleep. We'd often turn the Game Show Channel on with closed captioning since it was easy to watch with the hairdryer on because we had to leave the hairdryer on for a while after Harper fell asleep. If we turned it off too early she woke up crying. It was quite a dance every night. Matt would often be the one to get Harper to sleep. I sat up on the sofa with pillows propped behind me and Matt transferred Harper to me - just so- then we could enjoy a few moments of watching tv or talking before I fell asleep. Sounds dreamy and really, those were the few small moments of relaxation ... with my baby girl snuggled up on me, my sweet boy sleeping in his crib, and my loving husband supporting us. It took HOURS to get to those few sweet moments before I fell asleep. I tried not to worry about how soon she would wake or how long the night would be. Harper woke every 2-3 hours to nurse and have her diaper changed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt-UrPwNylIFEBIa6dVNjS4ln0UcaOklXbQEdGf2XTIwMUnLeTejPIcAm049p9n5LBuRRlVSODOu34HsMa0H76ZBS2gRmbMPRJwlyu0dXf8RljWZnRrDhtNcF97wVaiv39zfSNsqkuPs/s1600/IMG_3616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt-UrPwNylIFEBIa6dVNjS4ln0UcaOklXbQEdGf2XTIwMUnLeTejPIcAm049p9n5LBuRRlVSODOu34HsMa0H76ZBS2gRmbMPRJwlyu0dXf8RljWZnRrDhtNcF97wVaiv39zfSNsqkuPs/s400/IMG_3616.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP0AQ6gj8jF8IC508FfY3aOqeVTGP70leirlbnRMcdDwJPsfxL5yTBESJOExWPLI8-pAdOP5Fm63Bj6YN25W7lbjRZSRl8DZTcppH0edvFKvxfAjBcSEErQsi2aLV7etq8bcsKnw9E3w/s1600/IMG_3617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP0AQ6gj8jF8IC508FfY3aOqeVTGP70leirlbnRMcdDwJPsfxL5yTBESJOExWPLI8-pAdOP5Fm63Bj6YN25W7lbjRZSRl8DZTcppH0edvFKvxfAjBcSEErQsi2aLV7etq8bcsKnw9E3w/s400/IMG_3617.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Finally asleep. Snuggled up with her Daddy while we listened to the hair dryer and watched tv.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>There were days that we listened to the hair dryer on and off for hours. We even borrowed an old one from my mother in law because I didn't want to burn out my favorite hair dryer. It took her a while to get used to the replacement hairdryer. At first it didn't calm her down but she soon adjusted to it. We still had to use my hairdryer to get her to sleep every night but were able to use the quieter one for naps. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57NqZoQB3VXgRKSbvfRI4iq8Mroc0z3-hX6M8CSGTETQRsqKx6EYBQviYIh2f4BXN9zYOEdqnTUPpOk79gFcau52ABOkyuT74_DZGd6WXPVfapiyAeX8HSBy92_f8pZvmp3_oQzMjor4/s1600/IMG_3680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57NqZoQB3VXgRKSbvfRI4iq8Mroc0z3-hX6M8CSGTETQRsqKx6EYBQviYIh2f4BXN9zYOEdqnTUPpOk79gFcau52ABOkyuT74_DZGd6WXPVfapiyAeX8HSBy92_f8pZvmp3_oQzMjor4/s400/IMG_3680.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Each week as a part of our grocery shopping routine we stop and smell the flowers with Ethan. He often chooses a single flower to take home. This yellow rose bloomed so big during some of our darkest days in January. Every time I walked into the kitchen I saw this big, bright, beautiful yellow rose and it made me smile.</i> </div><br />
We saw a slight improvement after starting the reflux medication but then she regressed. We called the pediatrician again who increased her dose to a half tablet twice a day. Oh joy, I get to do that whole process twice a day. Sweet. It didn't matter. I just wanted her to feel better. 2 weeks later we called again. She had improved but still screamed every night. We moved the dosage time up. We scheduled another appointment with her pediatrician. He increased her dosage again and had her stool sample tested for blood. It was positive. We were sent to see a local Pediatric GI and I cut ALL soy out of my diet, hoping that would help.<br />
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Harper fussed, cried, and screamed for a week after her 2 month immunizations. That happened to be the week of our appt with the peds GI. That was a colossal waste of time. He drew pictures of the GI tract, he listed and crossed off possible reasons for Harper's issues, he went on and on and on but took us NO WHERE. Did I mention Harper was having a most difficult week during this appt? Ugh, the man was clueless. He wanted my unhappy child to stop crying so that he could tell me what he DIDN'T think was wrong with her. He told me "you have a very unhappy baby on your hands". Seriously? I live with her 24/7, I know this. This guy tried to tell me that he hasn't seen eliminating dairy and soy from a nursing mom's diet help babies who cannot tolerate milk and soy proteins even after I told him what I eliminated to be able to nurse Ethan. He pushed prescription formula and ended our very long visit with "I haven't seen it work.". Well, I have. We left there with a enormously long list of testing that he thought we should have done, including about 25 stool sample and blood tests and a barium ENEMA on a TWO month old -to rule out a rare disorder that she wasn't displaying symptoms of. Needless to say, we didn't have those tests done and we never saw that crazy man again. Harper had visible blood in her diaper the next day and I panicked. I can look back now and realize that it was likely caused by a small fissure due to the exam. Ugh! <br />
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We sought a second opinion. Fortunately we were able to get an appointment with a Pediatric GI at Johns Hopkins who specializes in reflux. It was more than worth the trip! The doctor we saw listened to our concerns and supported our decision to continue breastfeeding Harper. She made suggestions regarding Harper's MSPI and provided new prescriptions for her reflux. The prevacid solutabs that we had been giving Harper contain lactose and aspartame that may have been irritating her system even more. The doctor suggested a liquid prevacid. From what I've read from others experiences, liquid prevacid did not work for their children but it has worked for ours. I have read complaints about pharmacies not mixing it properly or the flavoring that is added having a negative effect but we have not run into this problem.<br />
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I'll continue the story in my March update because our problems weren't solved completely by February but this post is getting long enough. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bu0lQF0CD4wAsFx57ARVR1a1i3V4Gwn40PzAsA01Y5oVt-abT5FxV7P1-n75EF8bxOetBV9TPfgK9FBdsWqkjQNl2A3ujOdxiMlo6S4jQCkg2KoBpzrPcxSFZCe_UNwI6GYU00a_Go8/s1600/IMG_3629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bu0lQF0CD4wAsFx57ARVR1a1i3V4Gwn40PzAsA01Y5oVt-abT5FxV7P1-n75EF8bxOetBV9TPfgK9FBdsWqkjQNl2A3ujOdxiMlo6S4jQCkg2KoBpzrPcxSFZCe_UNwI6GYU00a_Go8/s400/IMG_3629.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Before I close Jan and Feb 2010 I need to address how my sweet boy, Ethan handled all of this... he was a trooper through these struggles. He has loved his sister from the moment he met her. I will say that a thousand times and still my heart will beam over it every time. He surely was affected by the adjustment of having a sibling and especially by having a sibling who cried all the time but he took it in stride. His catch phrases came to be "baby sister upset" and "baby crying". He even told his teachers at school about it. He often asked me to turn the hairdryer off because it was "weally, weally woud". Ethan showed some difficult behaviors through this but considering the stress that was obviously occurring, no matter how much we tried to keep things normal for him, he did very well. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FfiIRZcCbGrYzXEiV9nkToVAKBdC_Ze1Ro0FP6zC5ZC1lGgdO2jJ5HJxzzEimvUg0qYcxjsPPi8YxPZiMlAqtRJi_srWf6MsZh7dfZs_79qmtf_dexfuioMQfhxFDkPGp46C5JuZ_70/s1600/IMG_3622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FfiIRZcCbGrYzXEiV9nkToVAKBdC_Ze1Ro0FP6zC5ZC1lGgdO2jJ5HJxzzEimvUg0qYcxjsPPi8YxPZiMlAqtRJi_srWf6MsZh7dfZs_79qmtf_dexfuioMQfhxFDkPGp46C5JuZ_70/s400/IMG_3622.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErs_GIB1W644HYwmphvd1ntwir49FX_bi45faqAFijH9wAKVUY31m04MPO2pX9Nav0WvDPAMUs6VriTHk4LtM1W5sKnUAJK0oukCKhsdbYEvE9SGgrQFOSbLm6zfli_esYaLupo1SN2k/s1600/IMG_3675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErs_GIB1W644HYwmphvd1ntwir49FX_bi45faqAFijH9wAKVUY31m04MPO2pX9Nav0WvDPAMUs6VriTHk4LtM1W5sKnUAJK0oukCKhsdbYEvE9SGgrQFOSbLm6zfli_esYaLupo1SN2k/s400/IMG_3675.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnTFouiQNHJ3rKZh8aWbv1_dRcX6OqKI1dN9t-YsqnjbvOhWARiNlY0uhEkqlMRV_rKKDzQe1Ym8jxaez-Pv1if4ItFWRXUc1JRuzKxv9kATTTAbVFEM0SXq_HbHpnff-o5u2wtVFiYE/s1600/IMG_3672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnTFouiQNHJ3rKZh8aWbv1_dRcX6OqKI1dN9t-YsqnjbvOhWARiNlY0uhEkqlMRV_rKKDzQe1Ym8jxaez-Pv1if4ItFWRXUc1JRuzKxv9kATTTAbVFEM0SXq_HbHpnff-o5u2wtVFiYE/s400/IMG_3672.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2fwYc2maxU7pkcflOYR32Xd3Jf3-T-Cqi4N34s-UTnPIQpsmJhVuS7b6MvKa0bLNNL9QNlsQjzMS-rTxjJ_cAlBvoetQQdi63vpWyQY89X_fdWrzV0AAYB0dD9P96BVX9MNquU8gF4s/s1600/IMG_3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2fwYc2maxU7pkcflOYR32Xd3Jf3-T-Cqi4N34s-UTnPIQpsmJhVuS7b6MvKa0bLNNL9QNlsQjzMS-rTxjJ_cAlBvoetQQdi63vpWyQY89X_fdWrzV0AAYB0dD9P96BVX9MNquU8gF4s/s400/IMG_3671.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Fun with Daddy!</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-87646187730007506592011-06-19T09:05:00.001-04:002011-07-16T21:35:09.989-04:00Father's Day 2011Happy Father's Day, Matt!<br />
Each day I'm amazed by your love and the way you father these little ones. <br />
<br />
The kids and I had a little photo shoot to wish you a happy day! They adore you (so do I).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9ahQYPIWp6hKhBNB_NCtAXP3Uq8i4pRsysUnJPmHO9Pif9QqtKyEJzj_LrW7lXsnR0FDTi-zqg7TDeCc3Op_XLXZBlsyytvyUReut7FHyd3bE0ettss8Cqs1FSoe7sdbrwoE6yP1J0E/s1600/IMG_5908-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9ahQYPIWp6hKhBNB_NCtAXP3Uq8i4pRsysUnJPmHO9Pif9QqtKyEJzj_LrW7lXsnR0FDTi-zqg7TDeCc3Op_XLXZBlsyytvyUReut7FHyd3bE0ettss8Cqs1FSoe7sdbrwoE6yP1J0E/s400/IMG_5908-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKttQbYcrmUZjod8eNyRMlcdPLtex9H67a_9eV5VuDtQEP0EVzrsLSgoS24p8FKj95nZaLw7l4fTtNA_KeNp-fxDlvqvvV2tB8lh54lkdjgvHWBXeMdaBxva8VsBhiCewABX25A4ESt50/s1600/IMG_5909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKttQbYcrmUZjod8eNyRMlcdPLtex9H67a_9eV5VuDtQEP0EVzrsLSgoS24p8FKj95nZaLw7l4fTtNA_KeNp-fxDlvqvvV2tB8lh54lkdjgvHWBXeMdaBxva8VsBhiCewABX25A4ESt50/s400/IMG_5909.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WMTf8p3p7cp63FYThyxjUal8t7pfzx0c0s4xYu_lvHxoF_vpdJA4L9fhfLHNnJFM1TR09AmGTVZ7Dqylgehb8rr95dE_Wz1gX5ew5g5slHNt7ASQGXZFxqis5Bm6oHyHWXqn4ZTFQWY/s1600/IMG_5916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WMTf8p3p7cp63FYThyxjUal8t7pfzx0c0s4xYu_lvHxoF_vpdJA4L9fhfLHNnJFM1TR09AmGTVZ7Dqylgehb8rr95dE_Wz1gX5ew5g5slHNt7ASQGXZFxqis5Bm6oHyHWXqn4ZTFQWY/s400/IMG_5916.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWN4bpBB1P_oWK_z3Yc1IyQjNvrdJoiGuliUcSwjKup-b3xAE5Vmv7wkbn2sPkHTziZxkw1PsKrm8C5Gug2SzPGAmeLD-n2yzlHeT6dlsp-IPVo93xouGyH9plbftqihdZYxhyiI7KHF0/s1600/IMG_5914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWN4bpBB1P_oWK_z3Yc1IyQjNvrdJoiGuliUcSwjKup-b3xAE5Vmv7wkbn2sPkHTziZxkw1PsKrm8C5Gug2SzPGAmeLD-n2yzlHeT6dlsp-IPVo93xouGyH9plbftqihdZYxhyiI7KHF0/s400/IMG_5914.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan is really into making silly faces right now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-ZbAcoJPrsUepB3Z6gMO2aSXcdD3UYFm0Yawk97UNujWyWYjoljCKK7MkjCs3RlTr0mvkN19lYpB_MxhOmwQpYJgSVz4uy-YLPOdkhzj6Nri2-2QtNJXyxwK2HNoBaJEsN3fv20sMSs/s1600/IMG_5913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-ZbAcoJPrsUepB3Z6gMO2aSXcdD3UYFm0Yawk97UNujWyWYjoljCKK7MkjCs3RlTr0mvkN19lYpB_MxhOmwQpYJgSVz4uy-YLPOdkhzj6Nri2-2QtNJXyxwK2HNoBaJEsN3fv20sMSs/s400/IMG_5913.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt3cyolZjkLI28UrWmdQbebasTNVS_LE1QaVEf4HxyVZaYHvlMyT8dRv4rKBvolYYOrGMwzuiyU7E6LGREDTt2xS09WYQ8eATN3lDBqKgg-TtBkQqixIVNwke6EniXvKpR86CwnA7qJs/s1600/IMG_5910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt3cyolZjkLI28UrWmdQbebasTNVS_LE1QaVEf4HxyVZaYHvlMyT8dRv4rKBvolYYOrGMwzuiyU7E6LGREDTt2xS09WYQ8eATN3lDBqKgg-TtBkQqixIVNwke6EniXvKpR86CwnA7qJs/s400/IMG_5910.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These are classic Ethan... he closes his eyes when you ask him to smile :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXKux6jLq6_bz-3ouQU1vvjIaf82iwDHUyTBFvu8LTZfFEGlcTZBIzFFYfvzkfx8TeKVQ8ffYFPkm5buekzsjMQ85rp3wtpn_kdfUAFIe4uIeWBeNZrefw8xq62QfUqWyaeV1oRBSBFU/s1600/IMG_5932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXKux6jLq6_bz-3ouQU1vvjIaf82iwDHUyTBFvu8LTZfFEGlcTZBIzFFYfvzkfx8TeKVQ8ffYFPkm5buekzsjMQ85rp3wtpn_kdfUAFIe4uIeWBeNZrefw8xq62QfUqWyaeV1oRBSBFU/s400/IMG_5932.JPG" width="273" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOHJDZLLxQqj9_-2irVZSVWBZcY4fHzfg5OKWZPeZnGCFK-BylYvrHAk9LrYV0Tq2vCl_FeNO8Bz-AD4D3LFWhle6E3tkG-Jkc-rP2kCRnS3X8TEfXka7Ds8-2hT_eGZCrbw4PgOvi-U/s1600/IMG_5928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOHJDZLLxQqj9_-2irVZSVWBZcY4fHzfg5OKWZPeZnGCFK-BylYvrHAk9LrYV0Tq2vCl_FeNO8Bz-AD4D3LFWhle6E3tkG-Jkc-rP2kCRnS3X8TEfXka7Ds8-2hT_eGZCrbw4PgOvi-U/s400/IMG_5928.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9yTy0v1ERWv0_ZMqRB2YvDsNL9HxvvKlVvVZqWN2iTwx3RfQwORMii94qNlI_eFWSGTJRZSjquTFrmxswvYG1r0kMb83MOZ3IsmpIw2SthbJEPCy6IPPKRy0LjL_MEITDRmTbjL96e4/s1600/IMG_5922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9yTy0v1ERWv0_ZMqRB2YvDsNL9HxvvKlVvVZqWN2iTwx3RfQwORMii94qNlI_eFWSGTJRZSjquTFrmxswvYG1r0kMb83MOZ3IsmpIw2SthbJEPCy6IPPKRy0LjL_MEITDRmTbjL96e4/s400/IMG_5922.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mzW8wAu2jx_ZspJqAa5qF3COBgmC6lH7FZkxWkiP5kJln_irljQIVftB1A6_e2A4WexkftbhweV5438Xtlh3QIPI8X9nfN5rURjLYX3Zt0lJrNj0-SkTQma7x3QluexSlXFHHJUS40U/s1600/IMG_5920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mzW8wAu2jx_ZspJqAa5qF3COBgmC6lH7FZkxWkiP5kJln_irljQIVftB1A6_e2A4WexkftbhweV5438Xtlh3QIPI8X9nfN5rURjLYX3Zt0lJrNj0-SkTQma7x3QluexSlXFHHJUS40U/s400/IMG_5920.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw1TS4sooUCYAtUXIWMVpxwWr1GRlUj5KZwLx6t6OtppwhBFAALG0J7queGKZ8Mj_UZLCUID7_m5WFH4zh21wHzF4WEmJat1LuAD7TXa69V4yUDlxEUmN0rKxe4f1XpewTb7Q9dMEf7Y/s1600/IMG_5921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw1TS4sooUCYAtUXIWMVpxwWr1GRlUj5KZwLx6t6OtppwhBFAALG0J7queGKZ8Mj_UZLCUID7_m5WFH4zh21wHzF4WEmJat1LuAD7TXa69V4yUDlxEUmN0rKxe4f1XpewTb7Q9dMEf7Y/s400/IMG_5921.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYFspkIM-rjdDKzQRqQfv42s5ChxR6mtRDdbryMptbgFNK1OpGbMIwllLkkkET__hjsAofVy7Q2LRdF4qpLt51kz5_H64gqCHvQznUOsf4o8tdgwRot4vy4C3mMgPh7JziArJ_2vVAjA/s1600/IMG_5931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYFspkIM-rjdDKzQRqQfv42s5ChxR6mtRDdbryMptbgFNK1OpGbMIwllLkkkET__hjsAofVy7Q2LRdF4qpLt51kz5_H64gqCHvQznUOsf4o8tdgwRot4vy4C3mMgPh7JziArJ_2vVAjA/s400/IMG_5931.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Harper loves props.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sG2W3GeOUhNkZsPfA1Hp7-6pTPRwDJYoel0VRInXEtspMSxNI4ORq58EgEST1MNTUZaf0GeoXfooPGtyfsl9EurdsJ_JF1FEnwSroNyJrj6O7rOjlKo8G-bhyPGrrDBt53sPTGH1fvg/s1600/IMG_5933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sG2W3GeOUhNkZsPfA1Hp7-6pTPRwDJYoel0VRInXEtspMSxNI4ORq58EgEST1MNTUZaf0GeoXfooPGtyfsl9EurdsJ_JF1FEnwSroNyJrj6O7rOjlKo8G-bhyPGrrDBt53sPTGH1fvg/s400/IMG_5933.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYFspkIM-rjdDKzQRqQfv42s5ChxR6mtRDdbryMptbgFNK1OpGbMIwllLkkkET__hjsAofVy7Q2LRdF4qpLt51kz5_H64gqCHvQznUOsf4o8tdgwRot4vy4C3mMgPh7JziArJ_2vVAjA/s1600/IMG_5931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Look at how bored she looks without them :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFKu8Y3nlY_o5WYum58_FaFVK-rrK8F9tg6zIxwreACSAfacg2Q_aDaUFFWtRj3ZSdCaQILsBQLEp5azpxxUVjOCofQpapPHlNEvux6jOiAI29t1Mv2H0jG2LYb7-7JqC7Lp1DzSitYE/s1600/Harper+Father%2527s+Day+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFKu8Y3nlY_o5WYum58_FaFVK-rrK8F9tg6zIxwreACSAfacg2Q_aDaUFFWtRj3ZSdCaQILsBQLEp5azpxxUVjOCofQpapPHlNEvux6jOiAI29t1Mv2H0jG2LYb7-7JqC7Lp1DzSitYE/s400/Harper+Father%2527s+Day+2011.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made one of these with Ethan for Matt's first Father's Day too (2009)-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwB7NPLcR5u_ALWLKRAQJvchVaKzpAF3lDkvTphOVL06dJ9a7Ri6fLHpHKPvRJnndsPD2IlQVxKS9P599E2ShO-grNGEbvlg4FX7a2rOubBQo_eW4alNLj4MCbnmSoOVp28zFEVOtgBY/s1600/First+Fathers+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwB7NPLcR5u_ALWLKRAQJvchVaKzpAF3lDkvTphOVL06dJ9a7Ri6fLHpHKPvRJnndsPD2IlQVxKS9P599E2ShO-grNGEbvlg4FX7a2rOubBQo_eW4alNLj4MCbnmSoOVp28zFEVOtgBY/s400/First+Fathers+Day.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-52859527417024167912011-06-08T21:10:00.000-04:002011-06-08T21:10:17.041-04:00Baby girl is SIX months old - already?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFI-v-HRPy_TVmy_Psask3th83GYQI50-Op1hekWVjGTZ2Z-u3wSmC-xWwIR8CQDaEs43fSFp0OQWre-MZUPVUnqZdDNWiaClfOjavqLRv_q28KoCU-I4r_Ng7LcCdeCnIqiGPBmuzqA/s1600/Harper+6+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFI-v-HRPy_TVmy_Psask3th83GYQI50-Op1hekWVjGTZ2Z-u3wSmC-xWwIR8CQDaEs43fSFp0OQWre-MZUPVUnqZdDNWiaClfOjavqLRv_q28KoCU-I4r_Ng7LcCdeCnIqiGPBmuzqA/s400/Harper+6+months.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The days are long but the years are short.<br />
I'm taking a break from my updating of the past 6 months to post this. To be honest, it's hard for me to write about the first few months of Harper's life. <br />
Tonight Matt and I talked about how we wish we could freeze this time in our lives for a while. Ethan is almost 2.5 years old and Harper is 6 months old and it is FUN! I feel like it's our reward for the difficult times.C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-72822805994797146492011-06-02T15:05:00.000-04:002011-06-02T15:05:11.570-04:00December 2010 - continued<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78mX3rppj0oEzVTZO8mQBQqyvSRwyd9g_rS1hgFGuSJNF-MtQe3gF1QkHpVf6fZWB6Mpe-zIULKQ4ljuMI-jOyyFR900ZY2T8FB1Kr365Es0knWs3A_pNFQoVNpqanIl3Gc2N-vR-WgU/s1600/IMG_3106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78mX3rppj0oEzVTZO8mQBQqyvSRwyd9g_rS1hgFGuSJNF-MtQe3gF1QkHpVf6fZWB6Mpe-zIULKQ4ljuMI-jOyyFR900ZY2T8FB1Kr365Es0knWs3A_pNFQoVNpqanIl3Gc2N-vR-WgU/s400/IMG_3106.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>I love the way he loves her.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i> </i> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Most of December 2010 is a blur. A blur of sleep deprivation and adjustment for all four of us. Harper slept unbelievably well the first two nights of her life... a four hour stretch, a five hour stretch... we were amazed and thought she was going to be our "easy baby". </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On our first night home from the hospital we slept about 15 minutes out of every hour. We put Harper down in the bassinet asleep and minutes later she was awake and crying. We kept trying. We tried elevating the bassinet. We thought maybe she was cold and swaddled her with warmer blankets. We tried the swing. NOTHING worked BUT holding her. She seemed so uncomfortable. So, in order to get some sleep we slept propped up with her on our chests (Back then I never thought that this would continue for months). We took shifts holding Harper while we slept.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhSRkygxXyrjTlwT_nWB1wYr7rwHDVs1u8okbJVERp-ChDRO83bQHKiuGc4h1WF4PEpz8cHHdI7xVty7zTod2HBprdtNFFsifJNc5rQQNyYIyZSBRL3s1kJKEm9sC4N66npW7IT1rTok/s1600/IMG_3394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhSRkygxXyrjTlwT_nWB1wYr7rwHDVs1u8okbJVERp-ChDRO83bQHKiuGc4h1WF4PEpz8cHHdI7xVty7zTod2HBprdtNFFsifJNc5rQQNyYIyZSBRL3s1kJKEm9sC4N66npW7IT1rTok/s400/IMG_3394.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>Curled up on my chest, where she liked to sleep.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My milk arrived (sounds like I had it delivered) the day we were checking out of the hospital. I suffered severe engorgement the first week of nursing Ethan and thought this time would be different, but it wasn't. I had forgotten how painful engorgement was. I tried to manage it as best as I could and contacted the lactation consultant for additional suggestions. The first week home was spent managing pain, nursing around the clock, and trying to sleep while holding Harper and sitting up -- which translates into not really sleeping at all. Matt calls it "airplane sleep". You're asleep/dozed off but uncomfortable and aware of what is going on around you. While we were awake we were keeping up with a busy almost-2-year old boy, planning for Christmas, and admiring our sweet little girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbnw13F8udIyKcDLM8zXr9Moy8aObpZ1crrvPiO22wzGJd9mI34FDQyfxSJh29cR6iawWR9MnpF-CZx9o8ORQ7DaSgiXP0X0zl1p4QDHFyv4h_HT7gmiejP9SqX6LZPzazCw-anv8sW0/s1600/IMG_3167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbnw13F8udIyKcDLM8zXr9Moy8aObpZ1crrvPiO22wzGJd9mI34FDQyfxSJh29cR6iawWR9MnpF-CZx9o8ORQ7DaSgiXP0X0zl1p4QDHFyv4h_HT7gmiejP9SqX6LZPzazCw-anv8sW0/s400/IMG_3167.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>One of the photos we used for our Christmas card.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSae4G8JKmut072N6X0ErPO7FAAAIKOHa4rU_i6xhjuCHSUmI44Yuuw9ynRXt4j8vAX3uQsHFyx_9395d3H5YKjr-T2MkGlSjEy7Ub11pVTBb30g4NW5YwM46_0W0-QFxR88IQYtFdII/s1600/IMG_3178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSae4G8JKmut072N6X0ErPO7FAAAIKOHa4rU_i6xhjuCHSUmI44Yuuw9ynRXt4j8vAX3uQsHFyx_9395d3H5YKjr-T2MkGlSjEy7Ub11pVTBb30g4NW5YwM46_0W0-QFxR88IQYtFdII/s400/IMG_3178.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>Legs still curled up. I love that!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5stvTO-Ep2ALIYADzs_-fr1kTmBKQI-3EX0lR75AcAsk0VJcnBy2pPzsNxKE4quSSpJ2oMdDh9Z7ApSYX1yaP2lBx6m7GARH84ySvdHvV4TycJ0CZMdUvUM1aQRPbEZn-udrxpU5RwEE/s1600/IMG_3174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5stvTO-Ep2ALIYADzs_-fr1kTmBKQI-3EX0lR75AcAsk0VJcnBy2pPzsNxKE4quSSpJ2oMdDh9Z7ApSYX1yaP2lBx6m7GARH84ySvdHvV4TycJ0CZMdUvUM1aQRPbEZn-udrxpU5RwEE/s400/IMG_3174.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>My dreamy baby girl</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aNlQDEEDlrVokccrGlFsWzkV_qIRfVnoqhCT6KIXf_pgcI66eQ8qDVPz6ZlLeua-6DADU4dgIWyLShjBNXkH9GSkU3DAe6ZcPCO5u31tI9U-JpQnDAFF9DT2SMdsgBHRujfgiaOcZNk/s1600/harper+birth+announcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aNlQDEEDlrVokccrGlFsWzkV_qIRfVnoqhCT6KIXf_pgcI66eQ8qDVPz6ZlLeua-6DADU4dgIWyLShjBNXkH9GSkU3DAe6ZcPCO5u31tI9U-JpQnDAFF9DT2SMdsgBHRujfgiaOcZNk/s400/harper+birth+announcement.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>Her birth announcement from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PinchOfSpice?ref=pr_shop">here</a>.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Harper was 3 days old for her first doctor appointment. It was the first time we drove with two kids in the backseat of our car. It felt so surreal. The check up went well. Our pediatrician talked to us about Ethan's adjustment. Ethan was a doting, loving big brother already. It concerned Ethan when Harper cried. The doctor suggested that we continue tending to Ethan's needs first since having a sibling is one of the most difficult life adjustments.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCWVd-y9bdWCcSMKkn1tWgUecahOnlTJVZrZ1Fp9REXU7tp_3p8vct6wQs8yKfXK6IDV0H-KR0sdUE5dtJ_Pq46jYAK4swtuiePswjzObEnbjN-BB7LshqQgOuGlc76VB2jtC8SESe24/s1600/IMG_3118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCWVd-y9bdWCcSMKkn1tWgUecahOnlTJVZrZ1Fp9REXU7tp_3p8vct6wQs8yKfXK6IDV0H-KR0sdUE5dtJ_Pq46jYAK4swtuiePswjzObEnbjN-BB7LshqQgOuGlc76VB2jtC8SESe24/s400/IMG_3118.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>3 days old. You should see how small those socks really are.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfkiDUMPW9ypVBRA0FnCV3cn-VFt8rM6DdvWUvyr4NJ35s6nDBk8o14GAIF8S7s5s2MopSpBIqgEkSG-UQ63ZnuSxIwuh-PTN5UdFmo9I6rO13Oi48wzcbmSxorNDXYUwZ9xOBoX6hFg/s1600/IMG_3127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfkiDUMPW9ypVBRA0FnCV3cn-VFt8rM6DdvWUvyr4NJ35s6nDBk8o14GAIF8S7s5s2MopSpBIqgEkSG-UQ63ZnuSxIwuh-PTN5UdFmo9I6rO13Oi48wzcbmSxorNDXYUwZ9xOBoX6hFg/s400/IMG_3127.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>Recovery, adjusting, trying to make life as normal as possible for this little guy.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There will be so much to remember about December. I keep thinking about how much Ethan grew and how it seemed like overnight. He seemed much older when we came home from the hospital with Harper. In fact, that time was one of the last times we heard him call me "Boppy"... his way of saying mommy for the past few months. I wish we had a recording of it. It was cute.<br />
<br />
Just as it was with Ethan's first week, as soon as my milk came in so did my tears. I cried very easily for a few days and was overly emotional. Fortunately it didn't last long and I had been down that road before so I wasn't as concerned. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Less than two weeks into this new adventure and things became more difficult. It seemed like as soon as I wasn't in pain anymore, Harper was. She cried often and seemed uncomfortable. Harper hated her carseat so she cried for the first 15-20 minutes of any car trip. I climbed into the backseat and hovered over her carseat to nurse her. I'm sure it was quite a site! I never had to do that with Ethan. We would just pull over for me to nurse him but now we didn't want to make trips in the car any longer for Ethan who was anxious to get where we were going. It just seemed easier for me to nurse her instead of stopping, getting her out of her seat, entertaining Ethan, etc. <br />
Harper started crying for hours every night. The crying turned to screaming. Everyone who I talked to reassured me that this was "normal". A "witching hour". In my heart, I knew it wasn't normal. I was in denial though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BxnNYpLYpHOjRnRia0C3txAxA82_jFkEk6nW69OGszAFGjP2MRdkw47AKHBrtAlOAGYYKjMa0JxtJhfHBLjxN6HXbKa9-HRmvy_sVTAC7DvJ2MC4ZqE0lEJ7VS7FoWV8gobfQx_SRUQ/s1600/IMG_3134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BxnNYpLYpHOjRnRia0C3txAxA82_jFkEk6nW69OGszAFGjP2MRdkw47AKHBrtAlOAGYYKjMa0JxtJhfHBLjxN6HXbKa9-HRmvy_sVTAC7DvJ2MC4ZqE0lEJ7VS7FoWV8gobfQx_SRUQ/s400/IMG_3134.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>One of the first, of many, Daddy+Daughter photos that I love.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We decided that we wouldn't travel for Christmas Eve. I was sad to miss out on time with my extended family but I knew it was best for our family to be close to home. I was worried about exposing Harper to any possible illness and she wasn't traveling well. It would have been too much. Listening to Harper scream for the 15 minute trip across town from my in-laws to home on Christmas Eve was enough for us to know that we made the right decision. She was a sweaty mess, gasping for breath between cries.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTDytZxIrKFu-EcZGPRKBobA7B-D7aua1Vptn7Nx8g44gmDPlk3VocNRQ9S7jZgSJQMlxsX-Lo-6RdUkFY4NiOnOBIQLBuLVn_pMdgLWSGPEUO7xEKPiJpTc0N6CNFz4IMKXpFxHgTeY/s1600/IMG_3378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTDytZxIrKFu-EcZGPRKBobA7B-D7aua1Vptn7Nx8g44gmDPlk3VocNRQ9S7jZgSJQMlxsX-Lo-6RdUkFY4NiOnOBIQLBuLVn_pMdgLWSGPEUO7xEKPiJpTc0N6CNFz4IMKXpFxHgTeY/s400/IMG_3378.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>Poor, sweet baby so upset.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4HCT-gveWOD5seu6l2FTG32V5yId3XA6LTpZJdJ7zh1MxRfqzxvbONN3NHDR1HlojqnJ8vtfxZbt8XPFXgPB1l88qfrROmTWS6CiH59qFSnmF60cG3FbOl_Y2RGBDbu3t7b_-JKFB9o/s1600/IMG_3310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4HCT-gveWOD5seu6l2FTG32V5yId3XA6LTpZJdJ7zh1MxRfqzxvbONN3NHDR1HlojqnJ8vtfxZbt8XPFXgPB1l88qfrROmTWS6CiH59qFSnmF60cG3FbOl_Y2RGBDbu3t7b_-JKFB9o/s400/IMG_3310.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERNSTZ4LYKav22zY6WdPe4pxsrh0goQxqOWsaHo9CegRLTC9lJlpNIi1cw3CkuATM9qt7UTIbnavXD_YpA1noLd698XV9FK-FKc2c3BQ9C0iP9HPzay_4syWIGroKkvkndOIIHoFjnf0/s1600/IMG_3357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERNSTZ4LYKav22zY6WdPe4pxsrh0goQxqOWsaHo9CegRLTC9lJlpNIi1cw3CkuATM9qt7UTIbnavXD_YpA1noLd698XV9FK-FKc2c3BQ9C0iP9HPzay_4syWIGroKkvkndOIIHoFjnf0/s400/IMG_3357.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>I hope to do another post on cloth diapers but here Harper is in a Kissaluv size0/KL0.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxWFWIhtwyk4lPTFKsNEjnojzCAI2vxmwkVj6K7gq1cbscQNJbckS732CJ4alGNOEngjXb3RnzdADEnajrlIeCgXiDwTyX6VeeFvdMsWJGp4kXgsTlDvkxQPLjqMBDu14CTQpPKR88Vo/s1600/IMG_3420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxWFWIhtwyk4lPTFKsNEjnojzCAI2vxmwkVj6K7gq1cbscQNJbckS732CJ4alGNOEngjXb3RnzdADEnajrlIeCgXiDwTyX6VeeFvdMsWJGp4kXgsTlDvkxQPLjqMBDu14CTQpPKR88Vo/s400/IMG_3420.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>Proud big brother on Christmas Eve.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83tPePVAt165I3eRhByC1Y-ZmE97hxZM6ajfiCLoiC2Wq2sH4MIT0KcEQjECo95BWq1PGxryQuFvd9Dm4hq7tKKcVTx7ax1kV2hq53UC-odDrUeqjEg7ik4c4p3TKK7TsI4rqEhtFcig/s1600/IMG_3422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83tPePVAt165I3eRhByC1Y-ZmE97hxZM6ajfiCLoiC2Wq2sH4MIT0KcEQjECo95BWq1PGxryQuFvd9Dm4hq7tKKcVTx7ax1kV2hq53UC-odDrUeqjEg7ik4c4p3TKK7TsI4rqEhtFcig/s400/IMG_3422.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>Squishy hugs</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao1uewmO_-sJ7Z7ihJDS-InQGnL33Jr6Pu8WLYCfBQO0FeJmOyR6Z1UtWKfzxYR5hB51tTtP7hZQgZCZWws9KoV-moiK6Veqh-P9HECS5kzol-Tql9n-fdWJS7aRhptb07nbHv8IIXMU/s1600/IMG_3423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao1uewmO_-sJ7Z7ihJDS-InQGnL33Jr6Pu8WLYCfBQO0FeJmOyR6Z1UtWKfzxYR5hB51tTtP7hZQgZCZWws9KoV-moiK6Veqh-P9HECS5kzol-Tql9n-fdWJS7aRhptb07nbHv8IIXMU/s400/IMG_3423.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJJKpZCNKhArkpItR0N4QNL6h0D2SDc2gJy0V7d4ta0c0WEHpiNYeQ0Gv5ic_rIC4WXPoiF-4roYYNss8oqzz9G1vPkGTLSf-XjYCvboBDhD7RJAH5ZYcwD1lfirjobzNcu99DhKVg0k/s1600/IMG_3426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJJKpZCNKhArkpItR0N4QNL6h0D2SDc2gJy0V7d4ta0c0WEHpiNYeQ0Gv5ic_rIC4WXPoiF-4roYYNss8oqzz9G1vPkGTLSf-XjYCvboBDhD7RJAH5ZYcwD1lfirjobzNcu99DhKVg0k/s400/IMG_3426.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4lGS8CK4gvnwcYegQ3-w4T0wv-8TJgDE_LtZgf-zhxuV0deVLcvYabF_yQ0bo-Zen8ZOSSA8KGSAjb5kaxiW98oRk7uX1OKp7JnZxxs6nzBZs6BtOR-cdgjpYgjSXcfXLA7-GX5IPfM/s1600/IMG_3427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4lGS8CK4gvnwcYegQ3-w4T0wv-8TJgDE_LtZgf-zhxuV0deVLcvYabF_yQ0bo-Zen8ZOSSA8KGSAjb5kaxiW98oRk7uX1OKp7JnZxxs6nzBZs6BtOR-cdgjpYgjSXcfXLA7-GX5IPfM/s400/IMG_3427.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>Outfit was a gift from her grandmother. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ethan woke on Christmas morning at 4am, not because he was so excited about Christmas but because he was sick. Runny nose. Exhausted. Tantruming. The presents sat under the tree, unopened for hours. I don't think he even noticed them. Harper had a tough day too. This was one of the first times we learned that the bathroom fan helped soothe her. There we were, on Christmas, huddled into our small hall bathroom with the fan running, holding our sweet newborn daughter so she wouldn't cry. Matt and I laughed and said "Next Christmas will be better/easier". In the spirit of being honest and documenting this for reality sake and not sugar coating it, I'll post these pics. These are not the photos I expected to take on Christmas morning but it is what it is... Don't worry, the day improved and there are happier ones too...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6LtnVRp8CDbX9WJYeWDPHduIRcF-xbm0RXYZeZNdM3Df731G-dg2KvqJH4zAxYDHHtBOPLRmq9nYrzHiKY4LG8Mif4UQmLZucqY6OjE2wYN7NTB45Mypn75_7U5dLTZitlstIM4aRds/s1600/IMG_3441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6LtnVRp8CDbX9WJYeWDPHduIRcF-xbm0RXYZeZNdM3Df731G-dg2KvqJH4zAxYDHHtBOPLRmq9nYrzHiKY4LG8Mif4UQmLZucqY6OjE2wYN7NTB45Mypn75_7U5dLTZitlstIM4aRds/s400/IMG_3441.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>Poor Ethan tantruming.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt846kRddfd9kRU3DBx4pUWd1URAc3Db6ac3ER_Q3KLu2cwAH6zWt_l76M-aFIRzmWsAC2yioh7duq_2KUKcA-_KcQeLeIIveP_Q2PaSRN1jbP4NUbzBCKVRE6tP9v8-nTzosM4mswNC0/s1600/IMG_3442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt846kRddfd9kRU3DBx4pUWd1URAc3Db6ac3ER_Q3KLu2cwAH6zWt_l76M-aFIRzmWsAC2yioh7duq_2KUKcA-_KcQeLeIIveP_Q2PaSRN1jbP4NUbzBCKVRE6tP9v8-nTzosM4mswNC0/s400/IMG_3442.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>Exhausted.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu9k-Dvx9hfM6x0K5lzez4_uwbliNz4eIsfFCb_fUr0jZ5iIeyIGJf0d8O-GDDZGTrvIE4U0k3lyu8tTqA3EMo_yynymFA4IRODHGn-OdiPlItO5kzwRAxJIoicKfKuqzLw5BuMve7eg/s1600/IMG_3474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu9k-Dvx9hfM6x0K5lzez4_uwbliNz4eIsfFCb_fUr0jZ5iIeyIGJf0d8O-GDDZGTrvIE4U0k3lyu8tTqA3EMo_yynymFA4IRODHGn-OdiPlItO5kzwRAxJIoicKfKuqzLw5BuMve7eg/s400/IMG_3474.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>There, that's better.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEY9rLMv1nvh7_Q-mIIabKCoxsKvK95oYroOC1EDqJU91aJ4wwUOtLsEWt9DV8V0lGQTY9eGD6kpNnMLd9iRub0Rh8L1x0y1LLW9SXjBfIXpKDvP-wfErDL1bSuxlAB4Ic86pRjKPBZ8/s1600/IMG_3497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEY9rLMv1nvh7_Q-mIIabKCoxsKvK95oYroOC1EDqJU91aJ4wwUOtLsEWt9DV8V0lGQTY9eGD6kpNnMLd9iRub0Rh8L1x0y1LLW9SXjBfIXpKDvP-wfErDL1bSuxlAB4Ic86pRjKPBZ8/s400/IMG_3497.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHowiD6hGXV2336ADoaEf0pV2QMev7GR1kDBHsx2yO6VbMUMghxRsQmmqxkHAtqnrvdm3hUfv6NaQzuQFnCZp3XC2rutyCpb1_KytF7Yzuxe_4HGUTPX51nQbpCLbOZRvqJz9mtIYndk/s1600/IMG_3501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHowiD6hGXV2336ADoaEf0pV2QMev7GR1kDBHsx2yO6VbMUMghxRsQmmqxkHAtqnrvdm3hUfv6NaQzuQFnCZp3XC2rutyCpb1_KytF7Yzuxe_4HGUTPX51nQbpCLbOZRvqJz9mtIYndk/s400/IMG_3501.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>Working hard playing. I love him.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUXsqGh1C-M2LscKvu_-99kuEu05hYbE4XGWqv7X8OcjU26_QE5lCnAy4rC0Mr_0IZqLi02YRKBzbwivouWkigMqS6U8_4JKjLJN7QZ2hliZlpL0NywWGZR4UefRgq02VkrfTUpTkJOI/s1600/IMG_3506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUXsqGh1C-M2LscKvu_-99kuEu05hYbE4XGWqv7X8OcjU26_QE5lCnAy4rC0Mr_0IZqLi02YRKBzbwivouWkigMqS6U8_4JKjLJN7QZ2hliZlpL0NywWGZR4UefRgq02VkrfTUpTkJOI/s400/IMG_3506.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>Look at that sweet baby curled up into her momma.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikomJqkd4F_Ch2IYH0Hj6tYNXFdO4yWmRGgfW_xvXoKH2V4JZv855tGEpFEHxdTPn6Zl03A0t5zC0Px5fn1l-unLh4yaa36XozarJjz1AMAAW84RpEgVbMX0MI3OT_CYgfGui2wPAgGMQ/s1600/IMG_3483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikomJqkd4F_Ch2IYH0Hj6tYNXFdO4yWmRGgfW_xvXoKH2V4JZv855tGEpFEHxdTPn6Zl03A0t5zC0Px5fn1l-unLh4yaa36XozarJjz1AMAAW84RpEgVbMX0MI3OT_CYgfGui2wPAgGMQ/s400/IMG_3483.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>Baby toes on Christmas morning</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwxkJnQEoqBhkJJ87F53B0oRj9U3ZWAFXTbwzJh6m2dUMl-rqeAxhuYw7NKvwvVPwBPsoUqmZo2-cb_miEcTTyFY0IFB3Hbft3OAxii2JRu1qxPozrlr6G7dqjg049b2ppwHEmRLzXu4/s1600/IMG_3443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwxkJnQEoqBhkJJ87F53B0oRj9U3ZWAFXTbwzJh6m2dUMl-rqeAxhuYw7NKvwvVPwBPsoUqmZo2-cb_miEcTTyFY0IFB3Hbft3OAxii2JRu1qxPozrlr6G7dqjg049b2ppwHEmRLzXu4/s400/IMG_3443.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>Harper's First Christmas ornament from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheNestingSpot">here</a>. She was fantastic to work with!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvVQRFtsKYoQfJIqRbKUi6yY55rWIDLhSNT2qauIIkJ3_0ZECVcNZ9rkT1S6FyWaT_wMhyphenhyphentes8oHOEzTJBQMDjTPouxZcjX8340pf8hUPeICowqyW_f1nB6t7PB0CnX1BeVYUuTnG5cE/s1600/IMG_3523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvVQRFtsKYoQfJIqRbKUi6yY55rWIDLhSNT2qauIIkJ3_0ZECVcNZ9rkT1S6FyWaT_wMhyphenhyphentes8oHOEzTJBQMDjTPouxZcjX8340pf8hUPeICowqyW_f1nB6t7PB0CnX1BeVYUuTnG5cE/s400/IMG_3523.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl59RVBDX6r6jQ2FKiEffSxxPCM1YnIiXoI3CaAOypK3bbPRTdhYSwbZpMiwUm8DJgRr897r_ox9GAWu8NKlVVJu77sEdiyVtLS5mrJ5_A4hjJuaNBRa31VJ-Im0XZADRNoC7YQLnO6qU/s1600/IMG_3527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl59RVBDX6r6jQ2FKiEffSxxPCM1YnIiXoI3CaAOypK3bbPRTdhYSwbZpMiwUm8DJgRr897r_ox9GAWu8NKlVVJu77sEdiyVtLS5mrJ5_A4hjJuaNBRa31VJ-Im0XZADRNoC7YQLnO6qU/s400/IMG_3527.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"> <i>Ethan didn't want any more pics taken by the time it was my turn to sit with them.</i><br />
<i>Our neighbor knit Harper those adorable booties! A very sweet gift. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzML5Dj_2LgbYXXuPdRaB5b0FTRAAlOcEtYH2MHwBe43Rbv4oa5psHtO0c-FbpDvDKKBSPzz6iAXhefLoJgzvHZK1IhUnALRy2mwD961SNtmIL84FqkUXbG4fD4Gw24TXG2_N0Z3KMRw/s1600/IMG_3550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzML5Dj_2LgbYXXuPdRaB5b0FTRAAlOcEtYH2MHwBe43Rbv4oa5psHtO0c-FbpDvDKKBSPzz6iAXhefLoJgzvHZK1IhUnALRy2mwD961SNtmIL84FqkUXbG4fD4Gw24TXG2_N0Z3KMRw/s400/IMG_3550.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJtbLcQARsBnx2X32A3QfApEyzxQ_oSaaUjtmS6swId9f_tNkr2uFn7p1BXL3nmys5olvGpJ3gRzujdXjhwAVINzx_VMBe_VYqiv-Qdx6lQP1mYpAydFcRGNBDvzijVjG3be5ihd_r0U/s1600/IMG_3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJtbLcQARsBnx2X32A3QfApEyzxQ_oSaaUjtmS6swId9f_tNkr2uFn7p1BXL3nmys5olvGpJ3gRzujdXjhwAVINzx_VMBe_VYqiv-Qdx6lQP1mYpAydFcRGNBDvzijVjG3be5ihd_r0U/s400/IMG_3551.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXhAXg0dPS487rZaXuIZRwXpOfwhM3OffPaH-HjQD1VSlfNQ6UJJzAmEaNaQVqFj6RFfceNRFWHh08h9RHZNMqYLb-sVeb_kiSFhE3GIBJMtmakXiZ9qVrkyHuB-eFHclqB6vegtOm_4/s1600/IMG_3552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXhAXg0dPS487rZaXuIZRwXpOfwhM3OffPaH-HjQD1VSlfNQ6UJJzAmEaNaQVqFj6RFfceNRFWHh08h9RHZNMqYLb-sVeb_kiSFhE3GIBJMtmakXiZ9qVrkyHuB-eFHclqB6vegtOm_4/s400/IMG_3552.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kMGc1gtlvzxrDLiCXCf-OOhMKeAVklAHtAiyrji3lmubBd2Z4sFPH1mdU2hY1oZWPOsnDSQDVVzLFWokVN5P4bIYR-0xxKmaHDwdxOK3NgaItLOb6g0yYfvPsTE6AdCjMW64mZml300/s1600/IMG_3561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kMGc1gtlvzxrDLiCXCf-OOhMKeAVklAHtAiyrji3lmubBd2Z4sFPH1mdU2hY1oZWPOsnDSQDVVzLFWokVN5P4bIYR-0xxKmaHDwdxOK3NgaItLOb6g0yYfvPsTE6AdCjMW64mZml300/s400/IMG_3561.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">I wrote this post over a month ago but am just now getting to publish it... 6 months behind on updating still. I'll get caught up eventually. </div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-82724031027820085382011-05-02T18:43:00.000-04:002011-05-02T18:43:18.237-04:00And they meetWe decided that Ethan and his sister would first meet in our home. We had concerns about Ethan seeing me in a hospital bed, a strange setting, and then having to leave while Harper and I stayed there. That decision meant I wouldn't see Ethan for two days (I hadn't been away from him for that long!) and I missed him terribly but I'm glad that we made that decision. We thought it would be best for Ethan. He enjoyed time with his grandparents, continued going to daycare on Wed and Thurs, and his schedule remained consistent. Matt went home every evening to spend time with Ethan and put him to bed. <br />
<br />
On Friday morning we got up and ready to check out of the hospital.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivx0USfknWRAuqSNr8yZTS0vm0CJvFbPEYkwf51WMAfIkQIuO3O06_tYMgsuJfEP3eSwx5S5RqHmPzMHjIR-fbUcnUEg6pIcrkeLX5X1b-P1YL3L9QCcMgevFeJUvhSDh4nJRRauQOY9g/s1600/IMG_3064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivx0USfknWRAuqSNr8yZTS0vm0CJvFbPEYkwf51WMAfIkQIuO3O06_tYMgsuJfEP3eSwx5S5RqHmPzMHjIR-fbUcnUEg6pIcrkeLX5X1b-P1YL3L9QCcMgevFeJUvhSDh4nJRRauQOY9g/s400/IMG_3064.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1GN3FNBwKc1HvRyegf0NMKCOTl3G3N6QUGcCz2x8gdmkAxDdaSPT8QNY73FOz0raa9zyg1eRpvBB8csEDaGuX11hVx6dcI8Ba50GpFXCfCMOGHEUr4s0Bi7EBC_SStNFjOu_DxwI_mA/s1600/IMG_3075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1GN3FNBwKc1HvRyegf0NMKCOTl3G3N6QUGcCz2x8gdmkAxDdaSPT8QNY73FOz0raa9zyg1eRpvBB8csEDaGuX11hVx6dcI8Ba50GpFXCfCMOGHEUr4s0Bi7EBC_SStNFjOu_DxwI_mA/s400/IMG_3075.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Dressing our girl in her coming home outfit. We were afraid that she was going to be too big for it since it said "up to 7lbs" but she fit well even though she was over 8 pounds.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiGh5EJpPlAG0-vpEE0rRqkHarUlxuq2SNFysJMJsli3GjNz4FAsaFIMEHqMWMoeNbN2bKTQLMQQK2wD9wXWSjSeT3zalLYcBCjDaT9vtN3oZKH3mmNxXw3arlt1ycrWvHrUtW0718v0/s1600/IMG_3077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiGh5EJpPlAG0-vpEE0rRqkHarUlxuq2SNFysJMJsli3GjNz4FAsaFIMEHqMWMoeNbN2bKTQLMQQK2wD9wXWSjSeT3zalLYcBCjDaT9vtN3oZKH3mmNxXw3arlt1ycrWvHrUtW0718v0/s400/IMG_3077.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYHsoSH_pR2EN9m-ysAouvHrkJSPOg6tYw8guau966YX2lfrrfVFeFIHjz7UrK_Bqt2W4udHMvUqG90vWt9gJIr7KpGa2QDBPkmvcFMErBfaPe2a-ZEYYMMKXpC1Z2PkiK1UL4dg3KT8/s1600/IMG_3081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYHsoSH_pR2EN9m-ysAouvHrkJSPOg6tYw8guau966YX2lfrrfVFeFIHjz7UrK_Bqt2W4udHMvUqG90vWt9gJIr7KpGa2QDBPkmvcFMErBfaPe2a-ZEYYMMKXpC1Z2PkiK1UL4dg3KT8/s400/IMG_3081.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Unhappy about getting dressed.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7vqttbc_act2Q0voSishZd0xAB49NLDhCQA6oLnsmneycw8Q8HVp5EUx2EEYPlARpz-21-6cH3Yk177yxIV01ujgaPPUMul_69bkWbt20BcGmCaCUzfB8c0vXZBbfJetnVFRAZ2INns/s1600/IMG_3082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7vqttbc_act2Q0voSishZd0xAB49NLDhCQA6oLnsmneycw8Q8HVp5EUx2EEYPlARpz-21-6cH3Yk177yxIV01ujgaPPUMul_69bkWbt20BcGmCaCUzfB8c0vXZBbfJetnVFRAZ2INns/s400/IMG_3082.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrYdNKIga4FJlx_h86pyPEkF8Eeqfm6w821XhboMRSgdo6Hw4tbwvGVftyFr74-8CrzlEaEwOVt2WkEE82wt8s3FW4n-HUBnF6f6hovRthhVOjki7t2ZfK9IiefVUpAGoL9Sx_N0iy6g/s1600/IMG_3083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrYdNKIga4FJlx_h86pyPEkF8Eeqfm6w821XhboMRSgdo6Hw4tbwvGVftyFr74-8CrzlEaEwOVt2WkEE82wt8s3FW4n-HUBnF6f6hovRthhVOjki7t2ZfK9IiefVUpAGoL9Sx_N0iy6g/s400/IMG_3083.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Time to take her home and help her grow.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was anxious on our drive home. Anxious to see my boy. Anxious for my babies to meet. Anxious to start our lives together as a family of four. I was nervous about it all too. How were we going to handle TWO? The first snowfall of the season started on our drive home, just a dusting, and it brought a peaceful feeling to it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ethan was waiting for us. I never imagined how excited he would be about meeting his baby sister. He loved her from the moment he met her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2qP_KojKWQJ9hpCcNlpz6RU1ZbGV9WYOXuvsVt2XdY4slKDV5KwG-POmt4FBjo0LCI04KWPWSoZVwzXHp-0D2QlxpqbSwM8M5eTf3AxAj-Q-Fq5q3DC9h5wjI1H1qG2EeyY0twLm04c/s1600/IMG_3087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2qP_KojKWQJ9hpCcNlpz6RU1ZbGV9WYOXuvsVt2XdY4slKDV5KwG-POmt4FBjo0LCI04KWPWSoZVwzXHp-0D2QlxpqbSwM8M5eTf3AxAj-Q-Fq5q3DC9h5wjI1H1qG2EeyY0twLm04c/s400/IMG_3087.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYynoGvakO8IxQ6oKLuKDMnsY3qFNSoixE0dFSB-UZGpRClMpkQwie8fCbcTPVbxIIPBIJrfh1EtnUVAQuUvSUWPJWU_jEKeUWcd7Y-bOfI_p5uhgQFwqwK4huBV3O0szAwNcCWYPsy4/s1600/IMG_3091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYynoGvakO8IxQ6oKLuKDMnsY3qFNSoixE0dFSB-UZGpRClMpkQwie8fCbcTPVbxIIPBIJrfh1EtnUVAQuUvSUWPJWU_jEKeUWcd7Y-bOfI_p5uhgQFwqwK4huBV3O0szAwNcCWYPsy4/s400/IMG_3091.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOy5ru7hfM4N5h9u_9srq9ik7mDVPL23rWzJ9byfl0Xa19Zf2ZHRrO-nVGPOn39eNiExYzhgrK474R4tKCJ29HdBUNyB3uOfLxFJLlcDCicrN4g31HpbiNW6uMa3Xh2Quk7KHH_godX8/s1600/IMG_3093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOy5ru7hfM4N5h9u_9srq9ik7mDVPL23rWzJ9byfl0Xa19Zf2ZHRrO-nVGPOn39eNiExYzhgrK474R4tKCJ29HdBUNyB3uOfLxFJLlcDCicrN4g31HpbiNW6uMa3Xh2Quk7KHH_godX8/s400/IMG_3093.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The first thing he did was poke her nose and Matt named it "booping" her nose. Something Ethan continued. </i> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb1LxaTrhagiJ3zc0jiUM9N9vdbp_P5LVStcOw4sMcgxpCDK0LAlMZvzu3J4-qbPtDfCdXKRnGZlgAvMec7Gi71I1wAeQPE8fXeXOZ76DtHcufDt9yo8btjyxMvpK7C5me3eqVhdXPhk/s1600/IMG_3094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzb1LxaTrhagiJ3zc0jiUM9N9vdbp_P5LVStcOw4sMcgxpCDK0LAlMZvzu3J4-qbPtDfCdXKRnGZlgAvMec7Gi71I1wAeQPE8fXeXOZ76DtHcufDt9yo8btjyxMvpK7C5me3eqVhdXPhk/s400/IMG_3094.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8Q_AB_gdddD1kbrN5ubClVKxViPKfDexPVbVV-_rMSU9rAUx4Q6JIYYeBdywv6djeLePej8-D_6HbWoKdY8NvNB6dIzfwc205ZnHhB6ToXa06EPkdVAVjth0DNqIi0J8k1uilBL3taY/s1600/IMG_3096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8Q_AB_gdddD1kbrN5ubClVKxViPKfDexPVbVV-_rMSU9rAUx4Q6JIYYeBdywv6djeLePej8-D_6HbWoKdY8NvNB6dIzfwc205ZnHhB6ToXa06EPkdVAVjth0DNqIi0J8k1uilBL3taY/s400/IMG_3096.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoad3tRjKB5wTJLh8GnYDW_JRPRZxrwX8e8NxJ9eXtKeI4xTq7emu88seb4zs7AVlWKLM8XIVAbi_B-P4H4DsdyoJwrLjWOuUqWPD7nvlTZfk5PnzweLV4f1NUw_pbRyfvdBxs36XNbsw/s1600/IMG_3100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoad3tRjKB5wTJLh8GnYDW_JRPRZxrwX8e8NxJ9eXtKeI4xTq7emu88seb4zs7AVlWKLM8XIVAbi_B-P4H4DsdyoJwrLjWOuUqWPD7nvlTZfk5PnzweLV4f1NUw_pbRyfvdBxs36XNbsw/s400/IMG_3100.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>First photo of our family of four.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-21429370817981243812011-05-02T17:16:00.000-04:002011-05-02T17:16:00.682-04:00December 2010 - pre-HarperThe first 7 days of December were split between wanting baby girl to arrive and wondering if we were ready. There was so much to do but I was in no shape to do any of it. I was so large and uncomfortable. I didn't sleep well due to insomnia and contractions. I woke for hours every night, ate a bowl of cereal, got caught up with the DVR, and waited to see if contractions continued. Now I look back on that time fondly...Just me and baby in my belly who was kicking away... it was so quiet. I'm glad that I had that time.<br />
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I just remembered how Ethan said "Boppy, Ow" because I said ow/ouch often. Baby girl was putting a lot of pressure on me so walking was painful. I don't want to be in that discomfort again but I wish I had a recording of Ethan saying that. It was cute and he doesn't call me Boppy anymore. He stopped calling me Boppy (the way he said Mommy) in December.<br />
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I had the most amazing pedicure just a few days before delivering Harper. My feet were swollen balloons.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb8VUC8kO0T7P96yfeqbiVq_GpWN_YTafpSNiAc6OhSJbRBz7yMpn8srndqv3fW6wYz-3d8AeOXW3TKF8VkMUEYgasaxmaiJemVW2JW_EC29dqIy07oB7qODWOHOt-lC6hx1g-hsN2TQ/s1600/IMG_2937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb8VUC8kO0T7P96yfeqbiVq_GpWN_YTafpSNiAc6OhSJbRBz7yMpn8srndqv3fW6wYz-3d8AeOXW3TKF8VkMUEYgasaxmaiJemVW2JW_EC29dqIy07oB7qODWOHOt-lC6hx1g-hsN2TQ/s400/IMG_2937.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Ethan thought my toes were pretty, despite the swelling.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued preparing for Christmas by taking photos of Ethan in his Christmas outfit for our card:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0BJw2qtCmX4gBb32XIllMbV8C-t7PZIjz3WY1a44ZvGW_as6YD30rkBy26zaBLsiNBdaUo4uW7w8ayFb3Mvk0HYAxWDpFPmOx5D6t0tLrm3YV9-Fd0BOG7SqvL8mJpdBXUbWeemAUSM/s1600/IMG_2968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0BJw2qtCmX4gBb32XIllMbV8C-t7PZIjz3WY1a44ZvGW_as6YD30rkBy26zaBLsiNBdaUo4uW7w8ayFb3Mvk0HYAxWDpFPmOx5D6t0tLrm3YV9-Fd0BOG7SqvL8mJpdBXUbWeemAUSM/s400/IMG_2968.JPG" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_owVa0yw0QDILofNeQR10iIPV8vladboRQX2vHN1F5GVwuSTZ-4dIW11TYtLnwC9YvqmSpl46dFcXApos-zc2lwUolyJ4xj2EWSdmjNyxJeNEVC1bMzAQjhCoLaKcsNG9o_uSaYsNDg/s1600/IMG_2974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_owVa0yw0QDILofNeQR10iIPV8vladboRQX2vHN1F5GVwuSTZ-4dIW11TYtLnwC9YvqmSpl46dFcXApos-zc2lwUolyJ4xj2EWSdmjNyxJeNEVC1bMzAQjhCoLaKcsNG9o_uSaYsNDg/s400/IMG_2974.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> Ethan laughing at his silly daddy</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxkwbHBN6xDLIGV3Y4z5eToItRLRDlBoQUxbpn0VwxQU_4hfYsWAeKuTZgEebZ05i0GmAyEROcoaQt3ttXr7uxv46sV4di4-nLRdn8CVCy0cEX3IRiweaMgIXJuHIbucJXCiVk2tY21o/s1600/IMG_2977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxkwbHBN6xDLIGV3Y4z5eToItRLRDlBoQUxbpn0VwxQU_4hfYsWAeKuTZgEebZ05i0GmAyEROcoaQt3ttXr7uxv46sV4di4-nLRdn8CVCy0cEX3IRiweaMgIXJuHIbucJXCiVk2tY21o/s400/IMG_2977.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Matt convinced Ethan to wear his winter hat by telling him it was "awesome". Then Ethan called every thing awesome.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i> </div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-38520557956492622862011-05-02T16:50:00.001-04:002011-05-02T16:50:37.246-04:00Recovery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few hours after delivering Harper we were taken to our recovery room and spent the next few days getting to know our little lady. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSht9-qUxOyGuVuXoStjOLUKipZtUzA6mLn9uO0Dg2Sx50rVbJqwI4sDBGhd-_wX4zyUhoCQQbpL0MQFCUa-uYynZ3-3XLYSwbCvofYF7ZSwr1ZDZEt_K9sDZNljScksXiFTfP8-X6sOU/s1600/IMG_3041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSht9-qUxOyGuVuXoStjOLUKipZtUzA6mLn9uO0Dg2Sx50rVbJqwI4sDBGhd-_wX4zyUhoCQQbpL0MQFCUa-uYynZ3-3XLYSwbCvofYF7ZSwr1ZDZEt_K9sDZNljScksXiFTfP8-X6sOU/s400/IMG_3041.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QQ2ceDq28SSergh3g980wO2UVXVUIOuK-MzMwuLfXWuKtXjkm3nikPPWjTwFMpone4qQ6IvBWb2gWkAeSkX3KCVUhcYSlgkpeQS3Nadd5ykZpSJtgRJ1OFEhj5P9d9wSmECuYrTHeQ4/s1600/IMG_3051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QQ2ceDq28SSergh3g980wO2UVXVUIOuK-MzMwuLfXWuKtXjkm3nikPPWjTwFMpone4qQ6IvBWb2gWkAeSkX3KCVUhcYSlgkpeQS3Nadd5ykZpSJtgRJ1OFEhj5P9d9wSmECuYrTHeQ4/s400/IMG_3051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijis2-NIH-biKB_H_2ca_xacclL589VjvN8_MlU6Da-M2PpeREvtxWKDDA-mc9wxvD1mGU0Dv9OO4W0sV36pL0WutNND1b3YJOvfQOKatDMyhNDyTC3iBhi2ea8ITGyIFt74GEpQpbTnk/s1600/IMG_3054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijis2-NIH-biKB_H_2ca_xacclL589VjvN8_MlU6Da-M2PpeREvtxWKDDA-mc9wxvD1mGU0Dv9OO4W0sV36pL0WutNND1b3YJOvfQOKatDMyhNDyTC3iBhi2ea8ITGyIFt74GEpQpbTnk/s400/IMG_3054.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Uxx3Z-cRQ5CB7LVyu6HZ6z7UgScc1WMm4tRtpXLJtAVL-RZepIuH1R6pZNjqVsSl0IF8V1myubSV0Z0tKY8_MBK4Pqj0_ZNDGJYSe5_ORprwowaoLMVJ2ku4hDce2884sWLh5RPspk4/s1600/IMG_3067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Uxx3Z-cRQ5CB7LVyu6HZ6z7UgScc1WMm4tRtpXLJtAVL-RZepIuH1R6pZNjqVsSl0IF8V1myubSV0Z0tKY8_MBK4Pqj0_ZNDGJYSe5_ORprwowaoLMVJ2ku4hDce2884sWLh5RPspk4/s400/IMG_3067.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3F20jQi_64tPWVdYRJATUI_fzD8UFRmu27boQkR5AK-4KzDPsVHG5PhVvBwsk8cSrOAKQY7hWoJ4xFiVQuUHCVU5d1MPUMjAMtK0s_ab8qPrlc4jFPyNSphIQdMuE7NvnfIrC_g6V72c/s1600/IMG_3063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3F20jQi_64tPWVdYRJATUI_fzD8UFRmu27boQkR5AK-4KzDPsVHG5PhVvBwsk8cSrOAKQY7hWoJ4xFiVQuUHCVU5d1MPUMjAMtK0s_ab8qPrlc4jFPyNSphIQdMuE7NvnfIrC_g6V72c/s400/IMG_3063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were so torn over names. We knew that we loved the name Harper but we didn't commit to it until we were about to be discharged from the hospital. Other names we considered were Claire, Cara, Charlotte, and Maggie, which Matt threw out as an option at the last minute... until I reminded him that was our dead cat's name! We chose Harper Sullivan and have been so pleased with our choice. She is a Harper. Sullivan was my grandmother's maiden name. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recovery was more painful this time. I remember uterine contractions while nursing during the days after delivering Ethan but they were much more painful this time. I felt like I was in labor again every time I nursed Harper and even in between nursing sessions. While in the hospital the nurses, midwives, and lactation consultant said that it was very common for these contractions to be more painful with each recovery and more painful after delivering bigger babies because the uterus has been stretched out further so it has more work to do to go back down to normal size. I didn't need anything more than ibuprofen to help ease the pain of recovery after delivering Ethan. This recovery required something stronger. I remember telling friends who came to the hospital to visit to remind me of my current state if I start talking about having another baby in a year or two. </div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-86533070783526148702011-04-18T10:03:00.000-04:002011-04-18T10:03:44.128-04:00Harper's arrival - birth storyI posted in my November 2010 recap that I continued having consistent contractions that eventually fizzled out. This continued until the end of my pregnancy with Harper. I'd often wake at night due to contraction pains and timed them, only to have them come to a complete stop a few hours later. Some of the contractions were simply discomfort while others brought dull pain. They seemed to progress one particular time - to the point that I emailed my girlfriends to keep them updated & told them that I thought I was in labor, only to have gotten our hopes up for nothing. I even had Matt come home early from work one Friday afternoon because my midwife felt my contractions at my appointment that day and predicted that I would have my baby within 24-48 hours. (Our girl arrived 5 days later.) I often wonder what Matt's boss and coworkers thought... is this her first baby? Does she not know what labor feels like?... since he returned to work on Monday... still no baby. Everything was different this time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL-f04gLKUjlVtO0KTdzKe6w6kAImvNxvWUmDdlxWvcubstgpZlmFe3ZJAHHiePWuCT7vngxsEHgv0py21fzOXKRZ4iPCeG2mjny0j7wDEgbtuU-l6jRkTnqqXt0CWJPPeX_ECpZvH2k/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL-f04gLKUjlVtO0KTdzKe6w6kAImvNxvWUmDdlxWvcubstgpZlmFe3ZJAHHiePWuCT7vngxsEHgv0py21fzOXKRZ4iPCeG2mjny0j7wDEgbtuU-l6jRkTnqqXt0CWJPPeX_ECpZvH2k/s400/IMG_3006.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Just a few days short of 40 weeks pregnant</i> </div><br />
I woke on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 with more progressive signs of impending labor. I'll spare the details. My contractions were consistently every 10 minutes. Every other contraction brought dull pain. I went to my eyebrow waxing appointment that morning and had fun announcing to the ladies that I was in labor. I had Matt come along to my appointment to see my midwife that day, just in case she sent me to labor and delivery. Midwife, Cindi, offered to strip my membranes and I agreed, but it was painful so I had her stop. I was 2cm dilated. She said that she wasn't going to send me to labor and delivery just yet because I wouldn't be able to eat there and it could take all day and evening for my labor to progress. I was happy with her decision because I knew it was early and I felt laboring at home would be more comfortable. I was happy to be able to spend the rest of the day at home, relaxing, contracting, and thinking about delivering this baby. I remember enjoying a milkshake and wondering if I would be able to continue drinking those after baby's arrival... wondering if she would have milk and soy issues like Ethan.<br />
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My contractions were 8-10 minutes apart around 4pm but still only every other one was painful. My labor pains progressed through the evening. I tried to hide my pain during Ethan's bedtime routine so that I didn't scare him. I don't think I could fully grasp that this was the last evening with Ethan as our only child. He seemed too little to be a big brother. As we kissed and cuddled him good night we told him that his Nama and Narnold (his grandparents) would be here in the morning. After our goodnights I reviewed what I had written out as Ethan's routine for his grandparents to follow while they cared for him. I prepared it in a word document and printed it when I was on bedrest. I wanted his days and nights to be as familiar as possible while we were at the hospital. I made adjustments to it as the months went on ... the type of cereal he ate for breakfast changed, he sat at the table like a big boy now, the tv programs he preferred to watch changed. I reviewed my hospital packing list one more time and added those last minute things like my camera and our Flip video camera (although we had it, there is no video footage of either of my children's births and I'm ok with that. We just didn't think of it.).<br />
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By 8:30pm I was having painful contractions but they were still 8-10min apart. I decided to page the midwife on call. Midwife, Pam, called and I was so happy to hear her voice. I had hoped to see her during my labor or delivery. She suggested that I wait to go to the hospital until all of my contractions were 5 minutes apart (unless my water had broken, but it didn't). By 10:30 I was in serious pain and my contractions were 5-8min apart (every other one was 5 min apart). I called the midwife again and we discussed my options. She could tell that I was in pain but she was concerned that I wasn't dilated enough to be admitted to the hospital. If I had arrived and was less then 4cm dilated, they would have monitored me but there was a chance they would send me home if I didn't progress to 4cm quickly. She also said that "practice labor" can be very painful sometimes and if I wasn't progressing then it could have been ANOTHER false alarm. I knew my contractions were way too strong to be false labor. We decided to wait it out at home. Matt and I tried to nap in the living room but I couldn't really sleep through the pain so I kept monitoring the contractions and clock. At midnight I decided to get up and walk. As soon as I did that my contractions jumped to every 5 min apart. I called the midwife back, Matt called the grandparents to come over, and we got ready to leave. My contractions quickly went to every 2-4 minutes. Matt raced us to the hospital! I don't remember much about the drive to the hospital. I was in pain and focused on breathing through the contractions.<br />
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Once we checked in to the hospital, my first question for the nurse was "is anesthesiologist here?". I knew I would want an epidural and remembered that it took an anesthesiologist 2 hours to get back to the hospital when I was in labor with Ethan. There was not one there and they couldn't call one until I was checked in, had an iv bag of fluid, and had blood work completed. Thankfully the nurses worked quickly to get this all started. My contractions were much more intense than they were with Ethan. I was 4cm dilated.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4sk6KxBFHsVn7GHoCloQEwuXZWmY9OfAhOD6xa9OhyphenhypheneHo7aCV14lCUN6vTIXWEZa28-OMZkptEfmQGcyzLE8p8vnmNz1PqDsLlII-CtRnIBVK2VAhHobO4JaHx0PpPD9WTZaoO32Nck/s1600/IMG_3010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4sk6KxBFHsVn7GHoCloQEwuXZWmY9OfAhOD6xa9OhyphenhypheneHo7aCV14lCUN6vTIXWEZa28-OMZkptEfmQGcyzLE8p8vnmNz1PqDsLlII-CtRnIBVK2VAhHobO4JaHx0PpPD9WTZaoO32Nck/s400/IMG_3010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The anesthesiologist arrived at 3:10am. Matt was asked to leave the room so he went and sat in what would be our recovery room. He was there for much longer than anticipated because there were complications. The nurses and doctors think that I had a bad reaction to the epidural. My blood pressure dropped and so did baby girl's heart rate. I was given medication to get my BP back up, oxygen, warm blankets, etc. They closely monitored baby's heart rate and eventually had to put an internal heart rate monitor in, which left her with a little scar on the back of her head. There was a lot of tension in the room during this time, but no one said much to me. I was very cold, tired, and not sure what to do because it was difficult to stay awake. I remember seeing my blood pressure drop to 66/33 and another doctor coming in to give me more medication. Once baby's heart rate and my blood pressure were back to normal and the room was calmer I realized the epidural didn't fully take effect. I could still feel pain on one side of my body. It happened to be the side where I pulled a groin muscle earlier that week while getting into my car (yes, just by the simple act of getting into my car!). Every time they checked me or the baby I felt pain from that pulled muscle. I also still felt contractions but not as intensely. <br />
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Once Matt was able to come back into the room we caught up and decided to try to get some rest since I still had some progress to make. I couldn't sleep because the blood pressure monitor continued to go off and the beeping was annoying. The nurse came in often to check it and turn the beeping off. She helped me get adjusted and I rested for a little while. Midwife Pam came in to check me again and they decided to break my water. That was probably the strangest part of either of my labors. My water broke on it's own when I went into labor with Ethan. I expected the same to happen this time but it was much different. Pam had a difficult time breaking my water and said that it was one of the most difficult ones she's ever had to break. My labor progressed quickly after that. There was a shift change and Midwife Cindi was now on call.<br />
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My blood pressure dropped again so they decided to turn the epidural off. I felt a lot of pain and pressure. Before I knew it, it was time to push. I was so thankful because I was ready for this labor to be over and was more than ready to meet my baby girl. The two wonderful nurses and Cindi prepared the bed and supplies for delivery. I couldn't believe that we were about to meet our second baby. The memories of seeing Ethan for the first time flooded my mind. Matt stood by my side, set the camera nearby, and prepared to hold one of my legs. I could feel the baby's head crowning and I remember thinking about how strange and painful it was. I wanted to push but I was afraid of tearing like I did with Ethan. Cindi encouraged me to let those worries go. I pushed while I was on my side. It was much more intense and painful than Ethan's delivery, obviously because I had less of the epidural. It was one of the most physically draining experiences I've ever had. I was so relieved when her head came out and they told me that I could stop pushing for a moment. I didn't think I could continue until it seemed like both nurses, Cindi, and Matt were helping me push. Within 20 minutes of pushing, my baby girl was here. They brought her to my chest and we marveled over how BIG she was! We couldn't believe it - we said "she's huge". She had rolls ALREADY!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3uK9dQwa8Lf2g1uiH1HslSdgkNmM9uCq60avXCIqvp3iTpeW9J6y9nXFJHo7OGrpRHFO-DFRN5WYVnfkaaDyzTrydWpLZ7Llvd0ER9VJ_Amh_HLfJzsD_4QfSuZMNaHRBZBifIgcfAw/s1600/IMG_3012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3uK9dQwa8Lf2g1uiH1HslSdgkNmM9uCq60avXCIqvp3iTpeW9J6y9nXFJHo7OGrpRHFO-DFRN5WYVnfkaaDyzTrydWpLZ7Llvd0ER9VJ_Amh_HLfJzsD_4QfSuZMNaHRBZBifIgcfAw/s400/IMG_3012.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFHExAXDCjulaURK5P3zL_TbKudGkQB4xOgC6oBXPDpM8xQpe5eYnQ545lF7zJui2MsStM2OirIBDnK88G4UL8T1aafCBnvB80FO4LRpGlE0mLrMZuVxvQXEP7hAs3UvvkJewNuUN5Pc/s1600/IMG_3013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFHExAXDCjulaURK5P3zL_TbKudGkQB4xOgC6oBXPDpM8xQpe5eYnQ545lF7zJui2MsStM2OirIBDnK88G4UL8T1aafCBnvB80FO4LRpGlE0mLrMZuVxvQXEP7hAs3UvvkJewNuUN5Pc/s400/IMG_3013.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq8OsB0ym5m8MrhkJvQ3-xh8HeRDN8OVnFq4qVl36Ix8v5Aio9526UIzUcwNXZRGd6TNG5qFhThLFOumRj5vUTSUOlW8Q9Q8lul9llfjbELkEYJ2PJ6fhlyDQI9SR-A7LcEv0cHJyuzw/s1600/IMG_3014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq8OsB0ym5m8MrhkJvQ3-xh8HeRDN8OVnFq4qVl36Ix8v5Aio9526UIzUcwNXZRGd6TNG5qFhThLFOumRj5vUTSUOlW8Q9Q8lul9llfjbELkEYJ2PJ6fhlyDQI9SR-A7LcEv0cHJyuzw/s400/IMG_3014.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTiyInJ-d85TMUEictNgshh9JI-4hbyIpf43GcVwBqnyc3hwDJeZmdVeac0GuP4AMoJONWAbeTDIKM5dOreYPi0HLxSLeFaf2vWChauMx_2pTuYSGWYRXLaIcG28pxsoki0UOL1qriEM/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTiyInJ-d85TMUEictNgshh9JI-4hbyIpf43GcVwBqnyc3hwDJeZmdVeac0GuP4AMoJONWAbeTDIKM5dOreYPi0HLxSLeFaf2vWChauMx_2pTuYSGWYRXLaIcG28pxsoki0UOL1qriEM/s400/IMG_3016.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div> I cuddled and kissed her. I noticed that she wasn't crying. She was gurgling. The nurses tried to clear the mucous out of her throat but told us that the doctor wanted to see her. They didn't weigh or measure her in the room. I felt like they whisked her off. Matt went with her. Cindi and the nurses were concerned that I had a clot. I was in a lot of pain and this period of time is not as clear to me. I was given pitocin and I can't remember if it was because I was bleeding a lot or if my uterus wasn't contracting enough or both. They suggested that I take some pain medication.<br />
<br />
Matt returned and shared that our girl was just fine. She came down the birth canal so fast that there wasn't time for the mucous to be squished out of her lungs so she had to have it suctioned out. She passed her meconium before her birth. They weighed and measured her in the nursery. She was a whopping 8lbs, 9oz and was 21 inches long.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Dalhur0uGhzz_GtIe7ee8o9VYeCW9Ntrm92d9rGG6EZxKVYNzZVmk-5mlaKxCavB1kOqXh6wOocTjkDdOxi8iriyxhsKEqOzxUgXreRfY90agFfbu-OaBr_3zCnGgBepv8AA4UD1oM8/s1600/IMG_3021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Dalhur0uGhzz_GtIe7ee8o9VYeCW9Ntrm92d9rGG6EZxKVYNzZVmk-5mlaKxCavB1kOqXh6wOocTjkDdOxi8iriyxhsKEqOzxUgXreRfY90agFfbu-OaBr_3zCnGgBepv8AA4UD1oM8/s400/IMG_3021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSirHAZJJK1bfdkTRZE6YTkFPdUKVXHvP_skW2zDlQz3LBEm3YbZi35PR_A1lq-tHx37r0B_8btRjxCe5oQKS8SCvHIS5dW1gW0KGYY-cdFCb1nIr0xWFEzobqfuhoUCf6D70w_fWqjfE/s1600/IMG_3022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSirHAZJJK1bfdkTRZE6YTkFPdUKVXHvP_skW2zDlQz3LBEm3YbZi35PR_A1lq-tHx37r0B_8btRjxCe5oQKS8SCvHIS5dW1gW0KGYY-cdFCb1nIr0xWFEzobqfuhoUCf6D70w_fWqjfE/s400/IMG_3022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gtW_7PaVfNalH5wGg3ZBj49dL48bXnTba0btk-5VWMVs5HDTCodrrMBSgJ8dlxWETFUCtBbyEa7ol3FQBSPqcOjDHQwE4GvXAuoxY4tejWmPM-o4pcAWrsnOvh3vdG9-N-pmnNBVYaU/s1600/IMG_3029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gtW_7PaVfNalH5wGg3ZBj49dL48bXnTba0btk-5VWMVs5HDTCodrrMBSgJ8dlxWETFUCtBbyEa7ol3FQBSPqcOjDHQwE4GvXAuoxY4tejWmPM-o4pcAWrsnOvh3vdG9-N-pmnNBVYaU/s400/IMG_3029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFSsHiXrN1qMot1h_8oAi3ZR3iXQENQx32yTjittR1R5_K4n6mLQTtaanN2zu6YCbAT-7FxMoVQyczGmPJyeNyMFWiXf6BK3w_VBBWHS8nV91IInNKWmNv6YWvqK_ipcwlUqRBTvYm7Y/s1600/IMG_3038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFSsHiXrN1qMot1h_8oAi3ZR3iXQENQx32yTjittR1R5_K4n6mLQTtaanN2zu6YCbAT-7FxMoVQyczGmPJyeNyMFWiXf6BK3w_VBBWHS8nV91IInNKWmNv6YWvqK_ipcwlUqRBTvYm7Y/s400/IMG_3038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I want to kiss and squeeze those cheeks when I look at these pictures!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Harper Sullivan, my baby girl, I love you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-13465032736118592182011-04-08T16:37:00.000-04:002011-04-08T16:37:30.368-04:00November 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE6EKcmsTv3a388hzkNKH25OX6HWOAMKcrNFUb4UM7bkTG0yRFMhL_P6xkU1dgHBEofPTniFhymmIUncy_F0TqyZAAmEeJzlgchGXM9nXF3n7C01NTl6WVwJFI68TzXx1hkmO-_Vv1GE/s1600/IMG_2696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE6EKcmsTv3a388hzkNKH25OX6HWOAMKcrNFUb4UM7bkTG0yRFMhL_P6xkU1dgHBEofPTniFhymmIUncy_F0TqyZAAmEeJzlgchGXM9nXF3n7C01NTl6WVwJFI68TzXx1hkmO-_Vv1GE/s640/IMG_2696.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
My modified bedrest status continued half way through November. We were anxious to play in all of the leaves in our new front yard. I set up a chair and watched Ethan golf through the leaves.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOTqsBltu1tuIy08dQjWPDYu_qUbI9QlRswzjyyq6UwIfxoUN9BCZswX-4l2wC1tSWGz6KtpTzHUhx_nY_TbaZHftxa6kt7qun3YNenf_PRl6FZ0UQc6dx3k10ByiKpTk_8g_ynnuL2c/s1600/IMG_2699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOTqsBltu1tuIy08dQjWPDYu_qUbI9QlRswzjyyq6UwIfxoUN9BCZswX-4l2wC1tSWGz6KtpTzHUhx_nY_TbaZHftxa6kt7qun3YNenf_PRl6FZ0UQc6dx3k10ByiKpTk_8g_ynnuL2c/s400/IMG_2699.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Here you are baby girl, right there with us! Happy 4 month birthday today. I promise I'll update this blog to include posts about you.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2xv9p_QnTZ1OuV5sFdnKkQgq1KZGecuQb6tUofTTZZ6O-Ebp6nBRQE-yCJM6ekVc6D4otyWsUxbzStMB9n_YZ8iGmSL_o6K_rSdRZV8fmXA1LycfP7eafjOKfxuF5iGpeIWmwlj6-BU/s1600/IMG_2714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2xv9p_QnTZ1OuV5sFdnKkQgq1KZGecuQb6tUofTTZZ6O-Ebp6nBRQE-yCJM6ekVc6D4otyWsUxbzStMB9n_YZ8iGmSL_o6K_rSdRZV8fmXA1LycfP7eafjOKfxuF5iGpeIWmwlj6-BU/s400/IMG_2714.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Lining up his shot :)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQzkyPvwHG7iTD3O-3SsWPEC28M9SeFVgd58ve_NfYAyZtAF7uOIbOTfWbR_-J5v9B-TnsyCLOgs7LMvtk2FQFwOw46Tol_bKTHGQzYTS_TRjqvI1vU7Uns0RDip-sKedOxyaV2dO5ug/s1600/IMG_2706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQzkyPvwHG7iTD3O-3SsWPEC28M9SeFVgd58ve_NfYAyZtAF7uOIbOTfWbR_-J5v9B-TnsyCLOgs7LMvtk2FQFwOw46Tol_bKTHGQzYTS_TRjqvI1vU7Uns0RDip-sKedOxyaV2dO5ug/s400/IMG_2706.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjes4O_PvV0_1MRapvesgyx0vvPNNsqFdIbr5D4WSe2UW3u4WIoOZLF-TCM5DIrXncmIUe4XiWBiCNoipVxug22o4y1q5YgRXZdalffD2R2ZAa93kMBiBLCgl5Qfxc3b8ieuJmVds_gQ/s1600/IMG_2686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjes4O_PvV0_1MRapvesgyx0vvPNNsqFdIbr5D4WSe2UW3u4WIoOZLF-TCM5DIrXncmIUe4XiWBiCNoipVxug22o4y1q5YgRXZdalffD2R2ZAa93kMBiBLCgl5Qfxc3b8ieuJmVds_gQ/s400/IMG_2686.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i> </i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A day of raking and playing in the leaves:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIXWYJbkqZwv8O16JObnTsOHCQBYyV6byLpPTZYBpigQADhKr3WQosBwDKHelrLGk16iPHG_Em3I0J-Et7X522cevbS-n0CXO_Z5H6MIAbLM635VGf0ZLyZNHs91ESKnivxGK8fVhg_Y/s1600/IMG_2782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIXWYJbkqZwv8O16JObnTsOHCQBYyV6byLpPTZYBpigQADhKr3WQosBwDKHelrLGk16iPHG_Em3I0J-Et7X522cevbS-n0CXO_Z5H6MIAbLM635VGf0ZLyZNHs91ESKnivxGK8fVhg_Y/s400/IMG_2782.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPAll2uNkp1IUTY3flWYrSMoQdpJijwEenTa_WKr4qEuC_VVKz4zoDHnsvY1cwCtF8t7OlMdewqCWudhLfToBovVMgE43J8bY1gyXM4BPvmTzXYHGHFH13fQUFa3PXAx05tPeAjXQT6c/s1600/IMG_2812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPAll2uNkp1IUTY3flWYrSMoQdpJijwEenTa_WKr4qEuC_VVKz4zoDHnsvY1cwCtF8t7OlMdewqCWudhLfToBovVMgE43J8bY1gyXM4BPvmTzXYHGHFH13fQUFa3PXAx05tPeAjXQT6c/s400/IMG_2812.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUTSsd-lH0i0lm4iHlfnN1Z4qsT0k0IABQ5CnJt245qjsf_ojPks1OM4iW4jYdWVnMpZ2gL5T7L1zz7dRihIdyz09hn4oo_cACH69nwD9LxPl2mnJ-AizPb1KwyJxxAKSknDmTCTD2JM/s1600/IMG_2813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUTSsd-lH0i0lm4iHlfnN1Z4qsT0k0IABQ5CnJt245qjsf_ojPks1OM4iW4jYdWVnMpZ2gL5T7L1zz7dRihIdyz09hn4oo_cACH69nwD9LxPl2mnJ-AizPb1KwyJxxAKSknDmTCTD2JM/s400/IMG_2813.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIe-2-DhJ_15sR4WbfSjH3EgtNfpnYKsRQGfL1ZP41jRFbp_gJVfIdNCsIcK74yOyWmVm8NLDo-dZyU5WtLZs5qLOUmgnifAXdfBlxBEThDUvTEs5bXqL9KVrJ-maSOJtfSBU7zPSL1Eg/s1600/IMG_2779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIe-2-DhJ_15sR4WbfSjH3EgtNfpnYKsRQGfL1ZP41jRFbp_gJVfIdNCsIcK74yOyWmVm8NLDo-dZyU5WtLZs5qLOUmgnifAXdfBlxBEThDUvTEs5bXqL9KVrJ-maSOJtfSBU7zPSL1Eg/s400/IMG_2779.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>He looks so tiny here.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mid-month I was released from bedrest and the medication to stop contractions. We didn't know if baby girl would arrive within days or weeks. We had concerns about having a premature baby and said a lot of prayers. I continued having random contractions. Some were consistent for hours then fizzled out. My hospital bag was packed and we decided that we were ready whenever she was. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlx8TaWCbA7PqMlF_PFIPLVMbM8ri6tF-LW-LePclbMeeGv4oSHLeM1cvCM9qObrROCVbGKmRxd_MKmzD9yZvlWNQ-k4zPoob0LG3974-L4UbLqRoZo_qly2Qq_9_xfChTLEDLsFtkLXw/s1600/IMG_2828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlx8TaWCbA7PqMlF_PFIPLVMbM8ri6tF-LW-LePclbMeeGv4oSHLeM1cvCM9qObrROCVbGKmRxd_MKmzD9yZvlWNQ-k4zPoob0LG3974-L4UbLqRoZo_qly2Qq_9_xfChTLEDLsFtkLXw/s400/IMG_2828.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We started preparing the nursery.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzAzYYTfY0QfGLf6HkULbrPCu7ukz1DwYMAO4Ip_KC4FrzdX8fQzHsqYH5WdWQxEbwcbU_zg65PNB6gOjI7XMyOjeoJHyNpvfPQTSsSuui07uvHP3GWBxlblELZWFIiKAr2bTIHnuzvM/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzAzYYTfY0QfGLf6HkULbrPCu7ukz1DwYMAO4Ip_KC4FrzdX8fQzHsqYH5WdWQxEbwcbU_zg65PNB6gOjI7XMyOjeoJHyNpvfPQTSsSuui07uvHP3GWBxlblELZWFIiKAr2bTIHnuzvM/s400/IMG_2846.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie56CrvjTEnqFI-_qauJYYhmMrcyToblFyYQ8Aw0rROo-WSfoaA7xaY2FMDDlq_82WE4QTYFqMbSBj5zccgz_tMHT40jL80IfPYjX7TzxkSRcWTjznZkqFj4ZpT5RNdyDZa4jsJ9DY9F8/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie56CrvjTEnqFI-_qauJYYhmMrcyToblFyYQ8Aw0rROo-WSfoaA7xaY2FMDDlq_82WE4QTYFqMbSBj5zccgz_tMHT40jL80IfPYjX7TzxkSRcWTjznZkqFj4ZpT5RNdyDZa4jsJ9DY9F8/s400/IMG_2848.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtVOr489P1WSivThUHKnwFN13_BWmgCPv4EeAvbCHWM6onb36oOn14dJUYJxCO3p4Fo1b2DnfkBf9xu4YvXM2Xwc3mOCgm_SFt0_oXk9oW8mJkQSf9w2c5ZYZQLejtwPqjRgR9sfar3o/s1600/IMG_2849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtVOr489P1WSivThUHKnwFN13_BWmgCPv4EeAvbCHWM6onb36oOn14dJUYJxCO3p4Fo1b2DnfkBf9xu4YvXM2Xwc3mOCgm_SFt0_oXk9oW8mJkQSf9w2c5ZYZQLejtwPqjRgR9sfar3o/s400/IMG_2849.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I grew...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjSDGeImNSQBsisC9oAu0urDTw2JJIFB-QARfq7bPlxlypP0TfSFvPShWybTaBjJCKQEtpApgXwvGJx3-lotibq9cLtkMJHYruY4k7KrNUN1Y031of5_0hQH5uSWczbxv_affJlwv1iU/s1600/IMG_2827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjSDGeImNSQBsisC9oAu0urDTw2JJIFB-QARfq7bPlxlypP0TfSFvPShWybTaBjJCKQEtpApgXwvGJx3-lotibq9cLtkMJHYruY4k7KrNUN1Y031of5_0hQH5uSWczbxv_affJlwv1iU/s400/IMG_2827.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhdT9XqwH5Vm-wRZCJAbIxQGLe9IjcyXpIV3Xjekn2BkyvVOJ5IsaO3kfe0hPQ9_U-LkziM5R5v2wD8fpU1clTHWETMa5nTm4UYqvWlW9nK4nkWBc6MX5X5Re-SlclaXv8EEvAgD-sjc/s1600/IMG_2840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhdT9XqwH5Vm-wRZCJAbIxQGLe9IjcyXpIV3Xjekn2BkyvVOJ5IsaO3kfe0hPQ9_U-LkziM5R5v2wD8fpU1clTHWETMa5nTm4UYqvWlW9nK4nkWBc6MX5X5Re-SlclaXv8EEvAgD-sjc/s400/IMG_2840.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> And grew...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v-0DzBJpcC9PitAuGOCjvz7lHaO6BdTRx5R06eAxzrO0oAMj7xdsfRJwuoXcADZgSZK_7Nk3Mu9SEvQDX-9-JYqAOKXs78VfH6aSPx0qTLfzYMxBS9ImljQh56r1oADA2-LqKtNwqZ8/s1600/IMG_2837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v-0DzBJpcC9PitAuGOCjvz7lHaO6BdTRx5R06eAxzrO0oAMj7xdsfRJwuoXcADZgSZK_7Nk3Mu9SEvQDX-9-JYqAOKXs78VfH6aSPx0qTLfzYMxBS9ImljQh56r1oADA2-LqKtNwqZ8/s400/IMG_2837.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And grew... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6Vs3L8f_N2bqHos0Jzfwr4xPB11CSlBWOmN-7euxp_F2q3Q2XrEr7MQqsPasWfkflmomFcOtCJU11TQtNcagN85tTs0koSOy8hHpx9ANGTGXCzvQ-_u-qW-opQF2Wap1wY_89WjUd3U/s1600/IMG_2865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6Vs3L8f_N2bqHos0Jzfwr4xPB11CSlBWOmN-7euxp_F2q3Q2XrEr7MQqsPasWfkflmomFcOtCJU11TQtNcagN85tTs0koSOy8hHpx9ANGTGXCzvQ-_u-qW-opQF2Wap1wY_89WjUd3U/s400/IMG_2865.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDs92Tht2Bkop5t7L5K6uoDIg7ihwafO6tvK88JVmfYz3wzPjBKQPkXMCqzwxHHAFie-RZAwOn-LzVL3DlENYgHdoo6J7Nt01xsoHTWXiLpnmcnUUbJN_oVC-V8XexEEeNvmiWuwMuIzA/s1600/IMG_2883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDs92Tht2Bkop5t7L5K6uoDIg7ihwafO6tvK88JVmfYz3wzPjBKQPkXMCqzwxHHAFie-RZAwOn-LzVL3DlENYgHdoo6J7Nt01xsoHTWXiLpnmcnUUbJN_oVC-V8XexEEeNvmiWuwMuIzA/s400/IMG_2883.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ethan was very cute about my belly. I often wonder what he thought about it and how much he grasped when we told him there was a baby in there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0Yafx4uwk_XZmmKTa0IVXE3QQTHuRI_B6nI99axSTyTZChcjyjoikBRWCMu4wjjWafQIqoB0KG9ESfCZdvnilaVadZdfRi0pO8-sTOIIMJ2B4-F0QLTyPlfzfryLct1nX4y1XAqCzGU/s1600/IMG_2887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0Yafx4uwk_XZmmKTa0IVXE3QQTHuRI_B6nI99axSTyTZChcjyjoikBRWCMu4wjjWafQIqoB0KG9ESfCZdvnilaVadZdfRi0pO8-sTOIIMJ2B4-F0QLTyPlfzfryLct1nX4y1XAqCzGU/s400/IMG_2887.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighgdGSF3fFwPfIheEOYZk_DSn_RkB8rMX_xWyxQAzFMHhfwjBcbUScqYBfOdLcFulPTh_HEN-mOoxpWgROwOHlHNI5YDo5UNaUUEgs4iixg8JfhtBaCZyllwcpo7WqLJvS53M59cp45o/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighgdGSF3fFwPfIheEOYZk_DSn_RkB8rMX_xWyxQAzFMHhfwjBcbUScqYBfOdLcFulPTh_HEN-mOoxpWgROwOHlHNI5YDo5UNaUUEgs4iixg8JfhtBaCZyllwcpo7WqLJvS53M59cp45o/s400/IMG_2898.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We celebrated Thanksgiving but poor Ethan had a fever and didn't eat very much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSRkPcOOepyVeA632Qrp-wyxMQDbg_qitZp_-XGLxlyhNzdmh9yLTiEgNX73U4snHDFSVjxnBHULd2rTtGl7IYvuaQGF9LLDBSnnpRkKzKd3GfIoKqxCxwBS3LWP5NnPT8VF9HMT4TzI/s1600/IMG_2870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSRkPcOOepyVeA632Qrp-wyxMQDbg_qitZp_-XGLxlyhNzdmh9yLTiEgNX73U4snHDFSVjxnBHULd2rTtGl7IYvuaQGF9LLDBSnnpRkKzKd3GfIoKqxCxwBS3LWP5NnPT8VF9HMT4TzI/s400/IMG_2870.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvIqBs6Xht8rh9CRQ6l26khXJr8qgVwQVjlxmaaXl60inFTTMhf81ot2I8emgA73qqtMzYtQfWR2Cj3ufJr_oWE5TBwALUcECV71roeO2703oIir3tmdDv7mWdQ_nUsidBh2LXMx020w/s1600/IMG_2909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvIqBs6Xht8rh9CRQ6l26khXJr8qgVwQVjlxmaaXl60inFTTMhf81ot2I8emgA73qqtMzYtQfWR2Cj3ufJr_oWE5TBwALUcECV71roeO2703oIir3tmdDv7mWdQ_nUsidBh2LXMx020w/s400/IMG_2909.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TiuIafFMP01-S0LcWv3It6o95eqk4ZLoWkFHX11SnTTHn_SvrL-4gdtFkAbdJC1VQ8_Cw_8EnOJk_CPFi98qGcv4NWV1tOAIy6u8tFMD3HeXkCpASZbe51PfZJHNKE8LBA4M8DuwlwQ/s1600/IMG_2916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TiuIafFMP01-S0LcWv3It6o95eqk4ZLoWkFHX11SnTTHn_SvrL-4gdtFkAbdJC1VQ8_Cw_8EnOJk_CPFi98qGcv4NWV1tOAIy6u8tFMD3HeXkCpASZbe51PfZJHNKE8LBA4M8DuwlwQ/s400/IMG_2916.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">except a little jello (a new treat for him).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We decorated our house for Christmas. Ethan was in love with "black trucks" at the time, so the 2010 ornament I ordered him suited this stage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66_u7T_qJ8m0TVp2s379J9w4AvO_ykMEmBjc9xjjX_OLHsqWekeb7D6mdbHyneF2HahyAzyDFBPKK7Og3ODgSoZcxmvQomfmifYVIJxn8TOZgVI_MtlsAtYs81cU-62QuouQzQjIcw6M/s1600/IMG_2925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66_u7T_qJ8m0TVp2s379J9w4AvO_ykMEmBjc9xjjX_OLHsqWekeb7D6mdbHyneF2HahyAzyDFBPKK7Og3ODgSoZcxmvQomfmifYVIJxn8TOZgVI_MtlsAtYs81cU-62QuouQzQjIcw6M/s400/IMG_2925.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CPLJtsuw5mfUOdE0QI17aL7W9igs8xKo9mZ9YwOfJdU5haa7ktqQlmL_FNIimCLDo-r3Wu1PHOn2RpFG7FtRGP0elZgvrVfwM-mjvlrTyywbaMU7PWVCU1k7QsLXHerfeyH9DkVQft4/s1600/IMG_2926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CPLJtsuw5mfUOdE0QI17aL7W9igs8xKo9mZ9YwOfJdU5haa7ktqQlmL_FNIimCLDo-r3Wu1PHOn2RpFG7FtRGP0elZgvrVfwM-mjvlrTyywbaMU7PWVCU1k7QsLXHerfeyH9DkVQft4/s400/IMG_2926.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Despite continued contractions, baby girl wasn't ready so we continued to grow together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswNPAcDseRMUFEUNPXmTROBlBD_uX6utty7yeNhZfd-C1tOP69mfVwhOtCoL2hhWcmZ1c24Q7pG7BSU4KdQddOs4YbIWrVzW4X2x_B6OZLmtU1Sk7dPOiRExXODGMYqdGD6jnN2jb1ts/s1600/IMG_2928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswNPAcDseRMUFEUNPXmTROBlBD_uX6utty7yeNhZfd-C1tOP69mfVwhOtCoL2hhWcmZ1c24Q7pG7BSU4KdQddOs4YbIWrVzW4X2x_B6OZLmtU1Sk7dPOiRExXODGMYqdGD6jnN2jb1ts/s400/IMG_2928.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0OG2DMHjVT27v3Tdl6VDvIPJuRrPl_YjuqJCENLBI7VK8WoSNYY2C0LWbf-peoFNrl8TBFch6P8SKvpS4iGXPWKT7mNXZm5j9tk3k2RsEb-5fk5BVzH3dzvwirqZoKdvDM7sHlD0rbw/s1600/IMG_2929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0OG2DMHjVT27v3Tdl6VDvIPJuRrPl_YjuqJCENLBI7VK8WoSNYY2C0LWbf-peoFNrl8TBFch6P8SKvpS4iGXPWKT7mNXZm5j9tk3k2RsEb-5fk5BVzH3dzvwirqZoKdvDM7sHlD0rbw/s400/IMG_2929.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeEnlKf9OqRDiBLGeSAkiPNIxGZZlctDDKW192Id4XESXY_fVgigXDSWT2KdHNgwR2DmdmyT0YljWy6H9w9lxK8_EGMFqMGfCrmSMVdKtiFtXeraEPNCW0V9P1MklwMKoMnTs3_dAn54/s1600/IMG_2931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeEnlKf9OqRDiBLGeSAkiPNIxGZZlctDDKW192Id4XESXY_fVgigXDSWT2KdHNgwR2DmdmyT0YljWy6H9w9lxK8_EGMFqMGfCrmSMVdKtiFtXeraEPNCW0V9P1MklwMKoMnTs3_dAn54/s400/IMG_2931.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was 39 weeks pregnant in these photos. Our new house doesn't have a good mirror for self-belly-pics. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-23769457241272503902011-04-08T14:36:00.002-04:002011-04-08T14:37:21.606-04:00October 2010October 2010 was full of fun activities, some difficult times, change, hope, and prayer.<br />
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We weren't sure if our move was going to take place but we spent time packing, just in case.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4ZkqcLDK6um2cD0almdjQsUTrLgQBWD-5isOm1m4_hOpJl3g3V3R7Femk6Lc4DjU32Ws651Vm-t_qPxXJsCYhGYQmCEZAq6K2Seg4lLDD5a_7Ek-WW-W_6FvThDYFjsqcsMxSKkhPU4/s1600/IMG_1444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4ZkqcLDK6um2cD0almdjQsUTrLgQBWD-5isOm1m4_hOpJl3g3V3R7Femk6Lc4DjU32Ws651Vm-t_qPxXJsCYhGYQmCEZAq6K2Seg4lLDD5a_7Ek-WW-W_6FvThDYFjsqcsMxSKkhPU4/s400/IMG_1444.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took an online photo course to try and keep my mind off of the stress. The weekly assignments were fun, I started to explore what my camera has to offer when it is not on AUTO, and I plan to take another in the future. It probably wasn't the best time to take the course but I needed that distraction. I'm sure I was quite a site - crouching down to get shots with my big baby belly!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8JmTsO2bHpO_botcYrMP3cedcTej24kIjvsLZ7Mt-PvrUYz3_EFiJaFF3uRE6o9dLaK1ytOdpDP4xMEQQzrOOENticgdoD_yy1PgPdNaEsezD9VeWNLloGWE912ILHcBhnieLh3_Ms4/s1600/Day+2+Simple+object+-ChristinaV.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8JmTsO2bHpO_botcYrMP3cedcTej24kIjvsLZ7Mt-PvrUYz3_EFiJaFF3uRE6o9dLaK1ytOdpDP4xMEQQzrOOENticgdoD_yy1PgPdNaEsezD9VeWNLloGWE912ILHcBhnieLh3_Ms4/s400/Day+2+Simple+object+-ChristinaV.JPG" width="400" /> </a><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This was taken to represent our soon-to-be Family of FOUR!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUX0P4VgU5PErxnorc9I5xg3mFKJEQNZSSU8fbkdhglmFNOdwCbkryApF4Yep2UhVEMJPi0UpP7hPwOt7C2O3d4C0liQif0NISmOHb1rUI3KnlkbJFRnW8b1GXfbfs9zbjSq86e3uREY/s1600/My+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUX0P4VgU5PErxnorc9I5xg3mFKJEQNZSSU8fbkdhglmFNOdwCbkryApF4Yep2UhVEMJPi0UpP7hPwOt7C2O3d4C0liQif0NISmOHb1rUI3KnlkbJFRnW8b1GXfbfs9zbjSq86e3uREY/s640/My+Day.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This represented a day in my life - driving to clients and errands, I can't live w/o my chapstick, I'm addicted to my laptop, and spying on Ethan while he naps (look at that bum in the air! I love it!).</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CAX5bP9hukZtIPffgJR2A6pDFqoQPicQ7wGATWj_SI7JAQYA9j2x9VNy4pdX45gwccfKSqSSuGANa7vENPBURNMeGg5tDrw9h4oQlBvyGqFO1SG_sywPXmelaXDdr1wXf-u4gt8nyWg/s1600/Shoot+where+you+are.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CAX5bP9hukZtIPffgJR2A6pDFqoQPicQ7wGATWj_SI7JAQYA9j2x9VNy4pdX45gwccfKSqSSuGANa7vENPBURNMeGg5tDrw9h4oQlBvyGqFO1SG_sywPXmelaXDdr1wXf-u4gt8nyWg/s640/Shoot+where+you+are.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This was "shoot where you are". Obviously we were at the park where the harsh sun was a challenge for me. It was still SO hot in October and at 30+ weeks pregnant, I was ready for the cool down of Fall.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We signed Ethan up for his first swim class and it took place in October. He loved it. We walked into the pool area and Ethan immediately started leaning out of Matt's arms towards the pool. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTimlzO0WOLOSJJ_5rsgoCtmnMhmmMQAAt4hObHhdld1MRiMagxnrYYPEpSTfVXviQ7adoaLA16DzO8wr9NYjmL2reInqxkDIBmgczolkPw-nFvT3on8wdJyNHNg7TTnShb2nubCQ6ne8/s1600/IMG_2060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTimlzO0WOLOSJJ_5rsgoCtmnMhmmMQAAt4hObHhdld1MRiMagxnrYYPEpSTfVXviQ7adoaLA16DzO8wr9NYjmL2reInqxkDIBmgczolkPw-nFvT3on8wdJyNHNg7TTnShb2nubCQ6ne8/s400/IMG_2060.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> He showed little hesitation in Matt's arms while gaining confidence and skills in the water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKP5pmTWjGIGOBeaIL-DuaqluocI4HnqBdNP-XpVN-MOf_4wiFXXa04ZzDvsloyUdPLzS2HVFCyEAxi8uBvF38Ji39YGcpBc7zi2lHMIBtpzIUgdJ3MphB5L9UnTdEw6pS8bGrgkFh-0/s1600/IMG_2104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKP5pmTWjGIGOBeaIL-DuaqluocI4HnqBdNP-XpVN-MOf_4wiFXXa04ZzDvsloyUdPLzS2HVFCyEAxi8uBvF38Ji39YGcpBc7zi2lHMIBtpzIUgdJ3MphB5L9UnTdEw6pS8bGrgkFh-0/s400/IMG_2104.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelW8r2nWZUlVfkb0r2QuGmxBUcKIqjkMDBJaYpSNWDNM6YrQWV7jK4beGFhSiByROoLeb6RS_BVv8l53qU4cSrIo6lS0zIJRkChgRHwAwyhxrZl3wL9NEpfVJDgAPrEllSCl_qcEXyLc/s1600/IMG_2105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelW8r2nWZUlVfkb0r2QuGmxBUcKIqjkMDBJaYpSNWDNM6YrQWV7jK4beGFhSiByROoLeb6RS_BVv8l53qU4cSrIo6lS0zIJRkChgRHwAwyhxrZl3wL9NEpfVJDgAPrEllSCl_qcEXyLc/s400/IMG_2105.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsfs2nmckuIWX4R5C-Z9WUqkxCzvfVWRu4Z33Kiijhsj0xs2D3d2BoSfPeU6ChGcRVgl3sG63LegEgNPn2ceqjtrLWO8ySNvxjp8rUJxqj71donxleNenl0vOB51PLtsCh8brRs_brvM/s1600/IMG_2120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsfs2nmckuIWX4R5C-Z9WUqkxCzvfVWRu4Z33Kiijhsj0xs2D3d2BoSfPeU6ChGcRVgl3sG63LegEgNPn2ceqjtrLWO8ySNvxjp8rUJxqj71donxleNenl0vOB51PLtsCh8brRs_brvM/s400/IMG_2120.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethan loved the "slide". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We did Fall things like visiting the Fun Fort at Paulus's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingGEJGGqA_G_VBQEIrUYSw4y94Agh-FVqej6uSSc3WzZHG9YWEOjshDXde-ugcnb0QNjGbV3Id81_7HwPROT35e4Y1qxPeEcAQ1EoP3J0uw-2eWQLC60IptGUQqDj2Us3qwTH8CVofQs/s1600/IMG_2158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingGEJGGqA_G_VBQEIrUYSw4y94Agh-FVqej6uSSc3WzZHG9YWEOjshDXde-ugcnb0QNjGbV3Id81_7HwPROT35e4Y1qxPeEcAQ1EoP3J0uw-2eWQLC60IptGUQqDj2Us3qwTH8CVofQs/s400/IMG_2158.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HtTh68pdpb4F7GjEZwgXAhQdSDRURcN7oRTnt3tetYiS1RuUd6tnaB8ezSZedqhdbFM0-9ceQNZmGZE7WLCqvdLvMcVBRLCuF9iOhDYimxRyQIzg-UFjqp_PP4fclrt9auPRiqV9JRU/s1600/IMG_2264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HtTh68pdpb4F7GjEZwgXAhQdSDRURcN7oRTnt3tetYiS1RuUd6tnaB8ezSZedqhdbFM0-9ceQNZmGZE7WLCqvdLvMcVBRLCuF9iOhDYimxRyQIzg-UFjqp_PP4fclrt9auPRiqV9JRU/s400/IMG_2264.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjropcwTMP46xlBjHeqKzN00CM3k5_hS0jtn-B8zEv7a9e8VVu3AXBN6B-GdVpN44U5Ml3we8PDhG2qytUJiF5mo5TgTR2diUSO1ITtZvO8YKmrHCUpYkkhBqqL9AIsBOw3r6Dy_MX0v8A/s1600/IMG_2252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjropcwTMP46xlBjHeqKzN00CM3k5_hS0jtn-B8zEv7a9e8VVu3AXBN6B-GdVpN44U5Ml3we8PDhG2qytUJiF5mo5TgTR2diUSO1ITtZvO8YKmrHCUpYkkhBqqL9AIsBOw3r6Dy_MX0v8A/s400/IMG_2252.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We met friends for an evening out (also documenting my 30th week of pregnancy with baby girl)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBEgQKJeBGgudhbcuTKkHttWEsPQ6qTmst5VjbHA8fhvoPBAwZOZSKDdKGzqNGabEIMcEF8oG8ipkWEgv7JBQen3eTAy2VMm3_3xEyPny2FbDeX7Ycku1fYpcnkaGrVoIX3dtNk1sfE4/s1600/IMG_2135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBEgQKJeBGgudhbcuTKkHttWEsPQ6qTmst5VjbHA8fhvoPBAwZOZSKDdKGzqNGabEIMcEF8oG8ipkWEgv7JBQen3eTAy2VMm3_3xEyPny2FbDeX7Ycku1fYpcnkaGrVoIX3dtNk1sfE4/s400/IMG_2135.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We FINALLY settled on both houses and moved!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CrtFDcbdPfwxd6AJx8G0kxkl-5bC9nyDBiTFARJly7maOP1GjxJtBiikny3L7LPeDIlmN4b7418PK62OVuQIZedRNjTVzhuRdPgvLJp5CelcD4FE0tQYZZe3OF-k2_8mbc6cdX_jiuM/s1600/IMG_2475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CrtFDcbdPfwxd6AJx8G0kxkl-5bC9nyDBiTFARJly7maOP1GjxJtBiikny3L7LPeDIlmN4b7418PK62OVuQIZedRNjTVzhuRdPgvLJp5CelcD4FE0tQYZZe3OF-k2_8mbc6cdX_jiuM/s400/IMG_2475.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Matt was excited to do some yard work while I watched from inside </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfJfOWKfAODzDKaTpXQ87iEmfV3_c5W5v8Q2SEIP9Y3nsdU3lXxeutQkD2Lz0JOb8miE754Awh8XZEsyCZisxC5IeFCzvx_mjsn3nCAhyNl5nj89abO_Tvs2bxHzGALOzk_EqbwpddZ0/s1600/IMG_2481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfJfOWKfAODzDKaTpXQ87iEmfV3_c5W5v8Q2SEIP9Y3nsdU3lXxeutQkD2Lz0JOb8miE754Awh8XZEsyCZisxC5IeFCzvx_mjsn3nCAhyNl5nj89abO_Tvs2bxHzGALOzk_EqbwpddZ0/s400/IMG_2481.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We visited the pumpkin patch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBLSRjSDrlg8aS7FJWsW7GY3_pTkE1_q1fGDbOJVmmOk7OPPvULk0RHkrs0AokqFmh2yOpGAaDgSOa1dnb5HEs2VpJnM10h0P3gGs-DM48QH2Cdqmh2BNDXvw_qY43WpvId03CFMFjFg/s1600/IMG_2531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBLSRjSDrlg8aS7FJWsW7GY3_pTkE1_q1fGDbOJVmmOk7OPPvULk0RHkrs0AokqFmh2yOpGAaDgSOa1dnb5HEs2VpJnM10h0P3gGs-DM48QH2Cdqmh2BNDXvw_qY43WpvId03CFMFjFg/s320/IMG_2531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoqdnAsF5VYaVAc34npujwffqMO664xcrfTovlg8kptNgHbu-EasYrRZQN5dTLaDt7smlqH1sOBOjX6X3DpvAob5OhvigCwCGNBkoCYYGfX3LXKTpfhZVTqPaVF73kZY4vjJceA-ATas/s1600/IMG_2543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoqdnAsF5VYaVAc34npujwffqMO664xcrfTovlg8kptNgHbu-EasYrRZQN5dTLaDt7smlqH1sOBOjX6X3DpvAob5OhvigCwCGNBkoCYYGfX3LXKTpfhZVTqPaVF73kZY4vjJceA-ATas/s400/IMG_2543.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWnnVUr51lH8QWiUbIF9nSS5_jaqZnAmRFPIccFHE6Z_oAWGK3msgUlRU5ovs0i2_1OFnwSuswFWTKoFr9gDiABUIVr1RyXhyphenhyphendCw1JYSHB5Ostk5EOveManxC0K4aT68mIXiYDcskGho/s1600/IMG_2544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWnnVUr51lH8QWiUbIF9nSS5_jaqZnAmRFPIccFHE6Z_oAWGK3msgUlRU5ovs0i2_1OFnwSuswFWTKoFr9gDiABUIVr1RyXhyphenhyphendCw1JYSHB5Ostk5EOveManxC0K4aT68mIXiYDcskGho/s400/IMG_2544.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjturjxUFLCDLXO-lvP4iRx6eHUfzmxTnKCAdcPAJUbsjqkPNOXhCYA3KsD0LZRT2bgJn-LRkmP-i1337FYpnGU67y2k_0tD6-SfIfBXza8itWzsTvahM-y5XwFR7UJgjQp8M_cAiuITew/s1600/IMG_2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjturjxUFLCDLXO-lvP4iRx6eHUfzmxTnKCAdcPAJUbsjqkPNOXhCYA3KsD0LZRT2bgJn-LRkmP-i1337FYpnGU67y2k_0tD6-SfIfBXza8itWzsTvahM-y5XwFR7UJgjQp8M_cAiuITew/s400/IMG_2588.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpblz7GWJIBFI5o1eGfBnkrRwpNSdvLF9XFP0ME5cC6baVGCA_UBNjNC8GbLAfyP7GOTVOUL3ouuVHc6lVUX0QjGNsChdmRjvBfuqIrDDC-Ufi0102nO-ZJWhTCRMp2YXhhNNQE8M7sc/s1600/IMG_2554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpblz7GWJIBFI5o1eGfBnkrRwpNSdvLF9XFP0ME5cC6baVGCA_UBNjNC8GbLAfyP7GOTVOUL3ouuVHc6lVUX0QjGNsChdmRjvBfuqIrDDC-Ufi0102nO-ZJWhTCRMp2YXhhNNQE8M7sc/s400/IMG_2554.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Less than a week after our move I started having preterm contractions. After a non-stress test at my doctor's office confirmed that I was continuing to have contractions, I was sent to Labor and Delivery for monitoring. Matt rarely has out of town trainings anymore but of course he did on this particular day. I was frantic to get a hold of him but he couldn't answer due to a meeting. Matt couldn't make it back in time to pick Ethan up from school. We arranged for Matt's mother to pick Ethan up and keep him until Matt returned home that evening. I was given two shots of medication to stop my contractions, sent home with the same med in a pill form, and instructions for modified bedrest. Modified bedrest included time off of work, no unpacking, no unnecessary walking, etc. The medication made me feel ill so I spent a lot of time on the sofa and in bed. I needed to get out of the house and since the doctor specifically said "I don't want to see you out walking around Target" I rode in those motorized buggies!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTR3f5zcJMjDM7U-kfV2IEb1yKCS27jMDdesS3hIVUoIrUtql4appCVOoJMT2X477zhhQKND87zBpmqyKNEIdrrSHImVKuXdqxgm317P2t2HNpB47x2DOZQ-_kMXOJ7UBCmbYIkSlYOU/s1600/IMG_2649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTR3f5zcJMjDM7U-kfV2IEb1yKCS27jMDdesS3hIVUoIrUtql4appCVOoJMT2X477zhhQKND87zBpmqyKNEIdrrSHImVKuXdqxgm317P2t2HNpB47x2DOZQ-_kMXOJ7UBCmbYIkSlYOU/s400/IMG_2649.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHFuowi7cOfhrDfbRpABF6cO1_qzvV5BBxAEm0A2dKQZ-YfOmiO4eksn4uhDr5jcGJRd2RV7AiZssVT9QdoCip_r7O1g-2lrOVLIGAt6VmjrlQNlr8SImc6tRZrN6mKLRZ2HjIEfXRcg/s1600/IMG_2654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHFuowi7cOfhrDfbRpABF6cO1_qzvV5BBxAEm0A2dKQZ-YfOmiO4eksn4uhDr5jcGJRd2RV7AiZssVT9QdoCip_r7O1g-2lrOVLIGAt6VmjrlQNlr8SImc6tRZrN6mKLRZ2HjIEfXRcg/s400/IMG_2654.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ethan loved the beeping they made when in reverse.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally, (whew, October was a long month and we had a lot going on!), we celebrated Halloween!<i> </i>Ethan was a sweet, little puppy dog this year. We met friends for dinner and a little trick-or-treating. We didn't go far since I couldn't do much walking but it was just enough for Ethan to get some special treats (I ate most of them due to his milk allergy - at least that how I justified it).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCM6gcrdvi6Jp32Ws9tlTwLD9Tskdww-OweJcSqoiarGXdR2vD7OvNuDytiCDO1yjjDWekPyXjZ_cmiFCUwNPverAnM1hCxuTbw1HPoQ5PRW8CA4X7nrqByP8CGFyMl7qaDoOWGXBL3M/s1600/IMG_2615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCM6gcrdvi6Jp32Ws9tlTwLD9Tskdww-OweJcSqoiarGXdR2vD7OvNuDytiCDO1yjjDWekPyXjZ_cmiFCUwNPverAnM1hCxuTbw1HPoQ5PRW8CA4X7nrqByP8CGFyMl7qaDoOWGXBL3M/s400/IMG_2615.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkdaO47czS1gpLbPbNr1v3syCo-LzXLwH6EEObotVG3QafKWkzG_HmDIyYTEfrrRpg9KSGGgFBYRAveMI8saO7xKU2oCdhwXFbI2SP7frUc4Nij98HhemGRYcRc6SZfmHpnhtP4NUMOA/s1600/IMG_2614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkdaO47czS1gpLbPbNr1v3syCo-LzXLwH6EEObotVG3QafKWkzG_HmDIyYTEfrrRpg9KSGGgFBYRAveMI8saO7xKU2oCdhwXFbI2SP7frUc4Nij98HhemGRYcRc6SZfmHpnhtP4NUMOA/s400/IMG_2614.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I loved the way the little tail wiggled when he walked.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjd65qdUOwNltpt83ItDKEwnIY2O-B4dOpqzwKhgSk1GI5q1lXjW31p9iGqFzwIObCPiFvxJLalWPo8FFkody1m6MozRZMrnavljDWCi6HLiMvDhw_uy97CNLWze_qCimws8AYfof-Nok/s1600/3+of+us+on+halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjd65qdUOwNltpt83ItDKEwnIY2O-B4dOpqzwKhgSk1GI5q1lXjW31p9iGqFzwIObCPiFvxJLalWPo8FFkody1m6MozRZMrnavljDWCi6HLiMvDhw_uy97CNLWze_qCimws8AYfof-Nok/s400/3+of+us+on+halloween.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hLfYVmro4bRH9FwqGDowJzTtmcNie_euZHaLSFLsPUV0-XvBfNDtkjLl2IWYUsI0OCDvzRMFiGoyEmA7WfaQL226ah0wpF12MpDAkAwMgSwkDWKn0jEubsxrQ2wfDL5lO-gY_92AayI/s1600/babybelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hLfYVmro4bRH9FwqGDowJzTtmcNie_euZHaLSFLsPUV0-XvBfNDtkjLl2IWYUsI0OCDvzRMFiGoyEmA7WfaQL226ah0wpF12MpDAkAwMgSwkDWKn0jEubsxrQ2wfDL5lO-gY_92AayI/s400/babybelly.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i> </i> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-3287794113348206032011-03-12T17:36:00.000-05:002011-03-12T17:36:17.527-05:00September 2010<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We were supposed to move in September but we kept getting delayed by the guy who was buying our townhouse. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I decided to get my hair cut and bring it back to it's natural color.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWR5c4XPGY1uGILOUiEfwNBm6mrzCr5uK_H7wvS9ej4swnRPJ2oJEa4qqj7pBnECpkjLI6zgJKAcNscl7imo1Teq2VCDUpxaQ1_yCB1QTEeMeyjy-Jg3ws_1oyjopL6kshILYe9T9EIE/s1600/IMG_1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWR5c4XPGY1uGILOUiEfwNBm6mrzCr5uK_H7wvS9ej4swnRPJ2oJEa4qqj7pBnECpkjLI6zgJKAcNscl7imo1Teq2VCDUpxaQ1_yCB1QTEeMeyjy-Jg3ws_1oyjopL6kshILYe9T9EIE/s320/IMG_1333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I also thought that maternity skinny jeans were a good idea, even if maternity and skinny seem like an oxymoron. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVw2pKN9vHtWYG0bNhXiPegtdIpTYQz4rC4XbLbNrm7SpwjOXM7KAe-WXQN8h9pMBuTRwzplPPqTuN2GP9QTmtRP7cs_vLVOp1WCXbQGQ8sfhSHF7AHbXvps9drhYgP1ozlcjIwApY0o/s1600/IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVw2pKN9vHtWYG0bNhXiPegtdIpTYQz4rC4XbLbNrm7SpwjOXM7KAe-WXQN8h9pMBuTRwzplPPqTuN2GP9QTmtRP7cs_vLVOp1WCXbQGQ8sfhSHF7AHbXvps9drhYgP1ozlcjIwApY0o/s320/IMG_1339.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">26 wks pregnant</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ92RPciM9lH3rD6au3ceDtw_qfJeRj7aiw0Mv8TAtfCEFbw-F0ZB2hIKJs-X5UxpzI7Io2r3NdMa2zmciw77l9PS43FJnfuukH4HlCBX6bQkUaaU8y2j0q8tQhUXJHvaHaYUmXxTTnmo/s1600/IMG_1385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ92RPciM9lH3rD6au3ceDtw_qfJeRj7aiw0Mv8TAtfCEFbw-F0ZB2hIKJs-X5UxpzI7Io2r3NdMa2zmciw77l9PS43FJnfuukH4HlCBX6bQkUaaU8y2j0q8tQhUXJHvaHaYUmXxTTnmo/s320/IMG_1385.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">27wks</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ethan passed his soy challenge!!! This was our first challenge at the allergist's office. FOUR HOURS in a small room with a toddler. We were prepared for the worst but Ethan did fantastic. He was such a champ. He loved the little bits of soy milk they gave him, was interested in getting his pulse-ox checked, and enjoyed all the new toys mommy and daddy brought to keep him busy.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">His first treat was a graham cracker!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbe5FlgrO_mAOBnbAz2spUx8ChwMpOI3J9_Ay6v0-ODAVg9qLcgn_jLf7i8HvNijomv6GG2kGewRl6EYFR1WCoqYhj60Fxj5GPjc1YO-4jRTtvnNO0wQEYje9O-fkyHvU2ku-5uFHv3o/s1600/IMG_1390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbe5FlgrO_mAOBnbAz2spUx8ChwMpOI3J9_Ay6v0-ODAVg9qLcgn_jLf7i8HvNijomv6GG2kGewRl6EYFR1WCoqYhj60Fxj5GPjc1YO-4jRTtvnNO0wQEYje9O-fkyHvU2ku-5uFHv3o/s400/IMG_1390.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We went apple picking for the first time. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgDlx9rYIgOpe7bOuo1ZpFpAuqX_XvxL-wWlfpmNEWIL75YBZS-I5trJn8TTSBOlCWGKKwwlUrjMCMMEtvMMXgs5qHGYfn1P-4AtQZba25oliUfwUxzbhNm_uJLmIwld192YUfieoO4M/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgDlx9rYIgOpe7bOuo1ZpFpAuqX_XvxL-wWlfpmNEWIL75YBZS-I5trJn8TTSBOlCWGKKwwlUrjMCMMEtvMMXgs5qHGYfn1P-4AtQZba25oliUfwUxzbhNm_uJLmIwld192YUfieoO4M/s400/IMG_1539.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oUDLtTSPk6DuwN-_R6rfry-XBzWpIHqtwtTMDGRS2NY0854Udlw6k3qL8ISVMPQ-wZMoHcKvSg0AQpwJdATJVsbxAd0JhrN8iuHiIFJ_AAXqeztSENwfPUgjh6RH5EGCzQAbDT1WJNY/s1600/IMG_1556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oUDLtTSPk6DuwN-_R6rfry-XBzWpIHqtwtTMDGRS2NY0854Udlw6k3qL8ISVMPQ-wZMoHcKvSg0AQpwJdATJVsbxAd0JhrN8iuHiIFJ_AAXqeztSENwfPUgjh6RH5EGCzQAbDT1WJNY/s400/IMG_1556.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJQ9h5hAAe3sBLwdn0BhCRewzoJfqPFVvuSXxNmydn9ykLiJK61fKNrZ892iA6yKypzqeBjqMlOyBmVX34Z5reCi-hoT8fVEJo5wNAuH0lCUeI3rRfU8AIx9nbgAvz-sdJCTJ5W4tfi0/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJQ9h5hAAe3sBLwdn0BhCRewzoJfqPFVvuSXxNmydn9ykLiJK61fKNrZ892iA6yKypzqeBjqMlOyBmVX34Z5reCi-hoT8fVEJo5wNAuH0lCUeI3rRfU8AIx9nbgAvz-sdJCTJ5W4tfi0/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPE-Dy6iqQowZSg_dRxf8ZXHXaFXEHuhTcsECOTpOHYWg2ryEsJ8Y7fmBFAb1AbU8eBEo5gswDHEppjVdoENPjJB0OLLGXNKxi5rSVrLHdkwnnzEawuOKOR1osf1axiW5F7xTnNWS62c/s1600/IMG_1580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPE-Dy6iqQowZSg_dRxf8ZXHXaFXEHuhTcsECOTpOHYWg2ryEsJ8Y7fmBFAb1AbU8eBEo5gswDHEppjVdoENPjJB0OLLGXNKxi5rSVrLHdkwnnzEawuOKOR1osf1axiW5F7xTnNWS62c/s400/IMG_1580.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">We bought Ethan his first toy golf club and he was in love. You should see it now - duct taped to hold it together but he still plays with it daily.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vAuzG-BuFRhKtfFkE2ZfmO94PEORloHSpIhzil1-6opnPW_z2B-YTnltHfBCOlBN_8qS7ZpDr8BFPgFRrzvLLxwoLWRAPPNjXvgAMVbpXX_scp_jQ3nTntd9Mx4tTnlgaqfGUf-bhyphenhyphen8/s1600/IMG_1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vAuzG-BuFRhKtfFkE2ZfmO94PEORloHSpIhzil1-6opnPW_z2B-YTnltHfBCOlBN_8qS7ZpDr8BFPgFRrzvLLxwoLWRAPPNjXvgAMVbpXX_scp_jQ3nTntd9Mx4tTnlgaqfGUf-bhyphenhyphen8/s400/IMG_1631.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-46671500088780614412011-03-12T15:32:00.001-05:002011-03-12T15:33:15.324-05:00August 2010In August we had the inspection completed for our new house.<br />
We attended the wedding of a dear friend.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPh0jy4HdNsJ-zrBBVaJMO4lv0W9oKrDVGQHqXQ0s_Ch9XRjpE-e3gD8w09YVRVflcISeSgNRORYNfUmtBCo_acJ2FdYPUlPWtaE7IjOHTn3u2N3D4xqE-cD8pwtwkr7j3zBfIU0l13s/s1600/IMG_0965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPh0jy4HdNsJ-zrBBVaJMO4lv0W9oKrDVGQHqXQ0s_Ch9XRjpE-e3gD8w09YVRVflcISeSgNRORYNfUmtBCo_acJ2FdYPUlPWtaE7IjOHTn3u2N3D4xqE-cD8pwtwkr7j3zBfIU0l13s/s320/IMG_0965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46JUCxsbcdkBHUZUkgV9mwCiSbhwmQRTClbIHyGhaonvu3on42vWpw5xFTE_rExpV8IlNLcxES_uNwsZ1rI62dWZpKyBiMTu7OyRKes5QQVrYOCdrL0xKLTWkdlpzOB8HNDOlHAImoak/s1600/IMG_0977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46JUCxsbcdkBHUZUkgV9mwCiSbhwmQRTClbIHyGhaonvu3on42vWpw5xFTE_rExpV8IlNLcxES_uNwsZ1rI62dWZpKyBiMTu7OyRKes5QQVrYOCdrL0xKLTWkdlpzOB8HNDOlHAImoak/s400/IMG_0977.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKD0sr-ndndwzLtCH9sEpkBQss4VSFdNZwrQQaLX0xbBVv2ETX9vAGL4zLBV4iIXj65PSmURaGhkJMSEzon2PmSOrDi9JJYe9tMT85jf2t-gV6mPlKhjK9OawFHw6IzxByECgFXujSdIE/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKD0sr-ndndwzLtCH9sEpkBQss4VSFdNZwrQQaLX0xbBVv2ETX9vAGL4zLBV4iIXj65PSmURaGhkJMSEzon2PmSOrDi9JJYe9tMT85jf2t-gV6mPlKhjK9OawFHw6IzxByECgFXujSdIE/s400/IMG_1054.JPG" width="266" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKD0sr-ndndwzLtCH9sEpkBQss4VSFdNZwrQQaLX0xbBVv2ETX9vAGL4zLBV4iIXj65PSmURaGhkJMSEzon2PmSOrDi9JJYe9tMT85jf2t-gV6mPlKhjK9OawFHw6IzxByECgFXujSdIE/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">22 weeks pregnant</a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My favorite memory from this summer was playing in the rain with Ethan. We splashed in puddles, ran around like crazy, then raced inside to dry off and cuddle under blankets.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PsyTnHSJjdiqfRlnBp-LCETCoourrcS5IKMgrJHhq3APQUs0kySS91YH7zsIkKVQSAIp0VF4MVui95skfqWuELX_XEPscVqNQ9L4g1NycYXctFQXp4KJHm5PJbbydFkEjNO7BJjNHP4/s1600/IMG_1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PsyTnHSJjdiqfRlnBp-LCETCoourrcS5IKMgrJHhq3APQUs0kySS91YH7zsIkKVQSAIp0VF4MVui95skfqWuELX_XEPscVqNQ9L4g1NycYXctFQXp4KJHm5PJbbydFkEjNO7BJjNHP4/s320/IMG_1113.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKr-HuPdyNBysbg7C34B9LzxfjHQ5We9R4nASzwEkZeCUZg8LmU86DGg-rdLLJBcdGgUS4preGt4iwd5eFC9QLDOWiN5xufN5gDtG2vGPeolWu2OaDL7XCmF4tqbbzEwIO_5PIG4xwi0/s1600/IMG_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKr-HuPdyNBysbg7C34B9LzxfjHQ5We9R4nASzwEkZeCUZg8LmU86DGg-rdLLJBcdGgUS4preGt4iwd5eFC9QLDOWiN5xufN5gDtG2vGPeolWu2OaDL7XCmF4tqbbzEwIO_5PIG4xwi0/s320/IMG_1117.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">August was a busy month but we soaked up as much time outside as we could.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74x4DnQAI06BXJeeTJT9_BzWYWaHM1urSOGKUBOp8vJKqmbJ9HHd9liEIIxs3YbZk6ez4JtsPaRvBQ_NGaNzAXBbtV3uxhXe0bu65JuE9u37Mi02c9Sae_MeUn-5HdY_Kb7IuVSc7MaY/s1600/IMG_1250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74x4DnQAI06BXJeeTJT9_BzWYWaHM1urSOGKUBOp8vJKqmbJ9HHd9liEIIxs3YbZk6ez4JtsPaRvBQ_NGaNzAXBbtV3uxhXe0bu65JuE9u37Mi02c9Sae_MeUn-5HdY_Kb7IuVSc7MaY/s320/IMG_1250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZLhf8DdWR7CgkQkYI2GvA_oWUTGjR87T73H_uByq5jbeEMJcAW0eXsa0ThkEDPwLqmK_20uEOKPfahRjqjafy3iF9A8sLhMeAsottsgC7VKXzm38XydPFuEZsjXWNQKoJhNSldaLAzY/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZLhf8DdWR7CgkQkYI2GvA_oWUTGjR87T73H_uByq5jbeEMJcAW0eXsa0ThkEDPwLqmK_20uEOKPfahRjqjafy3iF9A8sLhMeAsottsgC7VKXzm38XydPFuEZsjXWNQKoJhNSldaLAzY/s320/IMG_1248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And stopped to smell the flowers. It's one of Ethan's favorite things to do at the grocery store and market.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vOXpWzLOBezA-wnh6-n2a37WLUjiU524Wt-bwbFY_2PUX0s9cLt5i_oR0LeFwVGKCSeAt628XfZ1TkCeY4kNBhh1e3neymMvLsE1bJJnbWPU699cB4JX8YClKblk7YAADh6gHziVZUQ/s1600/IMG_1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vOXpWzLOBezA-wnh6-n2a37WLUjiU524Wt-bwbFY_2PUX0s9cLt5i_oR0LeFwVGKCSeAt628XfZ1TkCeY4kNBhh1e3neymMvLsE1bJJnbWPU699cB4JX8YClKblk7YAADh6gHziVZUQ/s320/IMG_1291.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We started packing for our move. Ethan saw me mark a box, ran to get his crayons and made his own marks on the box!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuzr406ZEq1mUmHeEI4AwkPyy8p5_uIRcgDjTMLgYM5HZ64Ed3VzXzEZiqdL7Ps5ftGNmarARsvEhspPupnBLWbbypem5_7IdSm1mlYt1n5pHL5OnrprLrZy7FhvLA6wQ372OmGjfBVM/s1600/IMG_1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuzr406ZEq1mUmHeEI4AwkPyy8p5_uIRcgDjTMLgYM5HZ64Ed3VzXzEZiqdL7Ps5ftGNmarARsvEhspPupnBLWbbypem5_7IdSm1mlYt1n5pHL5OnrprLrZy7FhvLA6wQ372OmGjfBVM/s320/IMG_1306.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-15810437591575410602011-03-12T14:48:00.000-05:002011-03-12T14:48:24.162-05:00July 2010<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In July we learned that our baby to be was a <a href="http://fortheloveofbobb.blogspot.com/2010/08/its.html">girl.</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We later learned that thankfully, she did NOT have a cleft lip. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ethan enjoyed playing outside, especially with the hose:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28KoYJOe4idbcflWHMGw5E4i7rbkLddugbLm6W1Mhls8x4cfjlWJ18-Y_3tURpL2wMEnd0EnEvGwLNB51U3zAP9sU-idDLT3BCkWVOto9IdXoScBhZUWS3TusvLF1NcVU98GxQweOiNI/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28KoYJOe4idbcflWHMGw5E4i7rbkLddugbLm6W1Mhls8x4cfjlWJ18-Y_3tURpL2wMEnd0EnEvGwLNB51U3zAP9sU-idDLT3BCkWVOto9IdXoScBhZUWS3TusvLF1NcVU98GxQweOiNI/s400/IMG_0838.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">He also fell in love with his new basketball hoop (scored, like new, at a yard sale for $10).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1f5RaNEdM8pDKRF55oYX6skkYpuwlyU6RShQ88DRCTHG3PC4klRRCD9DHHSRhV48XITEaw_AEHQVIH1WD7TxIEAg8q3ubJe7mzH-NuJz5Bz-SOQOAaiDiebAiQz32TrCeXwohmhaiiv0/s1600/IMG_0852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1f5RaNEdM8pDKRF55oYX6skkYpuwlyU6RShQ88DRCTHG3PC4klRRCD9DHHSRhV48XITEaw_AEHQVIH1WD7TxIEAg8q3ubJe7mzH-NuJz5Bz-SOQOAaiDiebAiQz32TrCeXwohmhaiiv0/s400/IMG_0852.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">He had another allergist appt and we learned that he was no longer allergic to wheat. We trialed wheat at home and it was a success! He started eating Frosted Mini Wheats cereal with milk in the morning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYG0QDhujz8Zz858ci0luRU6gfQwQD_dhaET9eUnWtCTQ7B50akU60XZBRZKRu05_WjOZJrJL54-vah3Q6VeH760UAfYbcWk0ChVMe6zbmcSwJcF-p98g-ooaRCkwe0TqUpZADYk53_E/s1600/IMG_0736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYG0QDhujz8Zz858ci0luRU6gfQwQD_dhaET9eUnWtCTQ7B50akU60XZBRZKRu05_WjOZJrJL54-vah3Q6VeH760UAfYbcWk0ChVMe6zbmcSwJcF-p98g-ooaRCkwe0TqUpZADYk53_E/s400/IMG_0736.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">After his allergist appt. He did really well with the bloodwork.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvjTlkdBQCDMOjPSYobQh2oH1i4mNzVF_krIQikh7eo7QhvGVpkHx7wyNeo8wCjzaftg9buGZwH8oUvyqfEaaHRFJfF-9yfaobbboDu45iJKjJHbRT3Ww272AeWm2EuJqwyHWA6sWQFo/s1600/IMG_0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvjTlkdBQCDMOjPSYobQh2oH1i4mNzVF_krIQikh7eo7QhvGVpkHx7wyNeo8wCjzaftg9buGZwH8oUvyqfEaaHRFJfF-9yfaobbboDu45iJKjJHbRT3Ww272AeWm2EuJqwyHWA6sWQFo/s400/IMG_0911.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Having fun making a mess with his cereal</span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080014976735067222.post-76009981854293985572011-03-12T13:45:00.001-05:002011-03-12T13:46:23.829-05:00Our MoveWe joke with friends who know the details of our home selling and buying process this year. It was insanity. First of all the decision to sell our townhouse and find a single family home was a difficult one. The market wasn't great. We knew that our potential profit was minimal. We loved our house and neighborhood. BUT we needed more room. We found out that we were expecting our 2nd baby just weeks into our search and that not only changed our search criteria, but also put a stricter time frame on the process.<br />
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So, our townhouse was for sale. The constant keep it clean and ready for showings was tough, especially while pregnant and taking care of Ethan. We had a few offers, 2 competing offers, 1 seller backed out, and we let another out of her contract because she still had her house to sell when we found another buyer. Our eventual buyer ended up causing delays to our closing date that sent me into a pregnant panic and rage. There were times, even just days before closings were scheduled, that we didn't think it was going to happen. We had settled our hearts to accept that we would wait another year to move if we had to. We didn't know if we would welcome another baby while living in our townhome or shortly after we moved into our new home. Our real estate agent, friends, and family listened to several of my breakdowns along the way. My heartfelt thanks again to those supporters.<br />
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It took us 6 months of touring houses to find one that we felt had potential to be our home. We put offers on a couple but walked away when the sellers counter offered because we knew they weren't meant to be ours. We finally found our house and discovered that the sellers were difficult to deal with. There was drama over simple requests, discovery of things that should have been listed in the disclosure, and fear that they would put the house back on the market when we ran into the delays caused by the buyer of our townhouse. <br />
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Everything finally fell into place and we moved in October. I was 32 weeks pregnant. Ethan was 20 months old. He amazed us with how well he did with the move. The first thing he did when we walked into our new home was stomp around on the hardwood floors. He loved it! We expected him to ask to go "home" but it seemed like he knew he was already there.<br />
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We encountered more stress with utility transfers, specifically Verizon. If we didn't love Fios so much we would have switched to another company. I cannot even begin to explain the issues we ran into because of Verizon. I spent more than 13 hours on the phone with their representatives and managers over the course of 3 weeks trying to fix the mistakes. It was a nightmare. Our appliance deliveries also caused issues and stress. It took more than 5 visits to our house to get everything installed but not without damage to our new refrigerator and newly refinished hardwood floors. I'm certain our floor guy was horrified to learn that the floors were scratched and gouged within a week of his hard work being completed. It seemed like it was always something. The new hot water heater cost how much and was still making that noise? Why wasn't the heat pump working? The plumber rescheduled. The roofer didn't show. We paid a bill but didn't change the payment to the new account number so our bill looks as if it wasn't paid! Ugh!<br />
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And then ... I started having preterm contractions and was put on modified bedrest. I'll save that for another post.<br />
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This was an incredibly stressful time for us but I'm glad that we can look back on it now with a lighter heart. Although there is much work to be done, we know we made the right decision. There are still boxes and we have barely done any updates, but we've been a little busy with these two beauties, who have much more room to run and play inside and outside of our new home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9YBEdZ8hIb6hyphenhyphenoWx7qPFC3GJdlUQy8x-oPo_WbZHXB4Wq9Z71pOLb_MtCsOhCb3eX_DOeFA0wG8RwUquM9Cz0j4M8SVnssozvvqZ4PLf0fd4rIgPuTwc7r367-TvL1DHlmbVtTMtoWo/s1600/IMG_4231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9YBEdZ8hIb6hyphenhyphenoWx7qPFC3GJdlUQy8x-oPo_WbZHXB4Wq9Z71pOLb_MtCsOhCb3eX_DOeFA0wG8RwUquM9Cz0j4M8SVnssozvvqZ4PLf0fd4rIgPuTwc7r367-TvL1DHlmbVtTMtoWo/s640/IMG_4231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>C and Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05332924419765398867noreply@blogger.com0