Happy Thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving was unlike any other for us. Usually we are jumping around from place to place trying to squeeze in as much family as possible...or we spend the day with the Harris family up in Michigan. However, since Sydney was only one week old, we decided it would be best not to expose her to the many many family members that would want to admire, touch and hold her. Basically...we are trying to keep all the nasty germs out there...exactly where they are... OUT there and not here.

So, thanks to my Gram, we had our own turkey dinner at home. She graciously offered to make us turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing to which my mom added her famous broccoli casserole. We had quite a feast for the four of us.

The day was different...I was a bit emotional about the fact that we were "alone" on thanksgiving but I was equally emotional about how much we have to be thankful for...especially this year. With the new birth of Sydney, I was just overwhelmed at how grateful I am for her and Gavin and their health. For Chad, and how lucky I am to have a husband that is so attentive to our family. God has been very good to us this year and our Thanksgiving dinner for four was a perfect was to celebrate.

Getting ready to eat.


Our feast.

How Sydney enjoyed the meal.

Thankful for a baby sister.

Me with my two turkeys.

How Chad and Syd "watched" football.

Such a snuggler.
The after affects of the tryptophan.

Big Brother

As I mentioned in the last post, Gavin was unable to come to the hospital to visit which was so disappointing. Since the moment she was born, I just wanted to share her with her big brother and see them together. We had to wait until I came home from the hospital but it was a precious special moment all the same. Gavin was very excited to see his Mommy and quite enamored of this little baby in our arms. He wanted to hold the baby and has since shown some concern when she cries, loses her paci or doesn't know where she is. However, since we've been home, he has also shown some concern when others are holding her and not paying him enough attention. The first week has been...challenging with Gavin.

However, it felt so good to have our family together and finally have both my babies home with us. I look at the two of them and am so overwhelmed at what God has given us. My aunt wrote to me "Just think...God allows us to assist in the creative process every time a child is born." He has now allowed us to do that twice and to see them together is amazing.

The big introduction.

First kiss from her big brother.
He was being very gentle....

and a bit cautious...

and VERY inquisitive.
Later that day he held her some more realizing that definitely got some attention.
First family photo.
We're now equal parts...two parents...two kids. Crazy.

Come One, Come All

With a c-section, you are in the hospital for 3 LONG days and nights. So there was ample opportunity for plenty of visitors to come admire our sweet baby girl. However, the one visitor we really wanted to see wasn't allowed...because of the H1N1 pandemic, no person under the age of 18 was allowed in any patient care rooms. That meant Gavin wasn't able to come see us or his new baby sister. However, we had plenty of family and friends come to see her and love her up in the hospital....which proves to be only a taste of the love headed her way in the future.

Sydney's first visitor....Grandpa Tom.

Sydney Jude...with Grandma Judy...Sydney will always know her middle name is from someone very special who loves her very very much.

Grandma Harris.

Snuggling with Grandpa Harris.

Auntie Heather and Uncle Kyle.

Great Grandma Dody.

Great Grandpa Wendy.

Uncle Chad and Auntie Lorien.

Welcome to the World Baby Girl

On November 19, 2009 at 8:05 am we were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Sydney Jude weighed in at 8 lb 3 oz and 21 1/2 inches long. We still can not believe we have this precious little girl in our arms.

I was scheduled for a c-section but as luck would have it, the night before I found myself waking up pretty regularly from midnight on with contractions. When we got to the hospital, the drs confirmed, yep I was definitely in labor so scheduled day or not, she was coming on the 19th. We took it as a sign from God...our baby was ready.

The surgery went great and we were so anxious and excited...then they told it was a girl and we could NOT believe it. The whole pregnancy, Chad was saying girl and deep down I felt like it really could be a girl but we never thought in reality it would be. We were so excited and so shocked.

She's perfect. She's healthy. She's ours. We are so blessed.

first photos of baby girl.

first time in mommy's arms.

she nestled right in...felt like home to her.

chubby cheeks.

and a double chin to go with those cheeks.

daddy's little girl.

sweet Sydney.

awwww...not happy.

love this little face.

hearing test...PASSED!!

the three of us...but not quite complete.

getting a little qt sleep with daddy.

cannot believe the pink tag--I'm a Girl!

dressed up and ready to go.

Headed home with baby girl.

39 Weeks Down....

....None To Go.

So tomorrow Baby Harris is coming into this world ready or not. I am officially 39 weeks tomorrow and hence have a scheduled c-section set for early early am.

Today ends a lot of things...

- being pregnant
- my "baby" being a 36 in 2 year old
- our family of three
- the freedom of toting around a single child
- sleeping through the night
- only loving one child more than I can imagine.

Tomorrow begins a lot of things...
- the life of my second child outside its comfy little spot in the womb
- being a Mom of two/family of 4
- Gavin as a big brother
- a whole new balancing act
- breastfeeding, sleep schedules, burping, questions, sleeplessness
- loving another child & filling an already full life with so much more love.

We're excited and nervous. Nervous about surgery...about health...about the unknown. Excited to have this kicking little knobby-kneed (well it feels that way) child out of my belly and in my arms to snuggle and kiss and love.

Whatever this child is...boy or girl (dying to know!!)...its God's gift to us and I know that if this baby can bring into my life just a portion of what Gavin has brought me, then it is going to be amazing and we will be so richly blessed.

Just Because

this kid is cute.

The Belly

38 weeks 4 days

My belly has become an entity of its own. I kid you not. I told Chad the other day, it is to the point where people gawk and when they now ask when I am due, it is more an exclamation like they want to follow it up with "it must be tomorrow!" So...I am taking a cue from my friend Carrie who posted her top 10 at 39 weeks....things people have said that they basically should have kept to themselves (many of which she will find familiar). Here it goes in a countdown fashion:

TOP 9 at 39:

9. You are just all belly aren't you?

(Why yes it appears that way but there is more to me than that).


8. It looks like you have a basketball under your shirt.

(Yep, and it pretty much feels as hard as one as I try to bend over).


7. Ooohh, it must be hard carrying him around like that. (in reference to my 2 year old son).

(Yep, its not comfortable but unless you plan on taking him out of my hands right now, I don't have a choice so seriously, move out of the way to I can put him down sooner).


6. You are really getting big.

(Generally that happens when you are growing a human inside of you but thanks for letting me know).


5. Do you need help? You look like you are out of breath.

(That's because I AM!! - There is no more room in my body for this child!)


4. So do you think its twins? Its an awfully big belly...

(It's not twins but thanks for making me feel even more insecure about how fast I am growing).


3. You don't even look pregnant from behind.

(With this one, I can't complain...it really is a compliment that I am not huge all over and probably this is the one I do hear and have heard the most consistently...in fact, it should be on the list of the "nice things people say" except for one thing. Said by people I know, it is kind and complimentary. However, in public it is often prefaced with a look of SHOCK accompanied with a gasp or a very audible WOW! I have had many a stranger react so startled when I turn around that they MUST comment on the size of my belly and how they had no idea until I turned around and BAM! there I was. Nicely put people.)


2. You are already WAY bigger than you ever were with Gavin. (said to me as early as 6 months)

(And you are way bigger than you were last Christmas...at least I have an excuse).


1. You are so small....(20 minutes later)...You know what I said earlier? Yeah, I take it back, you are not small at all.

(Excuse me, did you just take more time out of your day to correct yourself and to tell me that you take back the NICE thing you said?? Are you kidding me? Why didn't you just let it go? Now instead of making my day, you have topped as my #1 most inappropriate comment. Way to go.)


All that being said...thank you to all of you who have been complimentary during my pregnancy whether you meant it or not...telling me I am small and cute and glowing and beautiful. Those comments are what cancels out all the others. As I have always said: flattery will get you everywhere with a pregnant woman...well, at least this one.

The Greatest Show On Earth

This past weekend we took Gavin to the Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus and he LOVED it. We got there early to see some animals and clowns and etc which was quite overwhelming but the real hit for him was when the show started. This kid couldn't take his eyes off of all the lights and action. He was completely enthralled. I wondered if he'd get antsy for a two hour show but not a chance. He took turns on Grandpa's, Daddy's and Uncle Chad's laps and loved every minute. He waved to the animals and the people, exclaimed WOW when something happened and of course partook in lots of circus treats. It was a super fun outing and he enjoyed every minute of it. Checking out the preshow from the best vantage point.
Creepy clown.
A show favorite--the elephant.
Watching with amazement.
That's a whole loaf of bread people.
Sitting with Uncle Chad and Auntie Lorien.
Daddy and Uncle Chad got roped into the action--they are getting their instructions: "have fun, but this is a live show, things do go wrong."
Their participation? Musical Chairs.
So enthralled and clapping along with the rest of the audience.
More fun.
Pic is blurry...but priceless.
Gavin & Harry were laughing it up together.
Like I said...a favorite.
It is "The Greatest Show on Earth"
CONFETTI!!
Loves his wizard hat.