Monthly Archives: August 2013

Harper Is Here

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Our beautiful Harper Paige arrived one week ago today.  Here we are settled at home and she is already 1 week old!  The pregnancy although slow some days especially towards the end as it became harder and harder to do things went by very quickly.  I really wasn’t nervous about delivery until the night before.  Once dinner was over and my food restrictions for the cesarean started, was when the idea of surgery and this baby being taken out of my belly really started to feel completely real.  The surgery and the recovery this time around was very different in a lot of aspects from two years ago when I had the girls.  Starting with the time I was actually in the operating room, I was completely out out it this time.  I kept falling asleep during the procedure and all day long I couldn’t keep my eyes open for the life of me.  The first delivery I knew exactly what was going on and was so into everything including wanting lots of pictures to document that first day.  This time not only could I not keep my eyes open for pictures, but also I was SO swollen and puffy that I didn’t want my picture taken.  The IV’s and the meds were not kind to me this time.  Regardless, I delivered a beautiful baby girl who weighed a whopping 9 lbs and measured 21 inches!  We were expecting big but closer to the 8.5 pound range and certainly not 21 inches.  She also had a full head of dark hair, which I shouldn’t have been surprised about considering I too was also born with a full head of dark hair; however, we were surprised because the girls didn’t have a ton and since no technician ever mentioned her hair in a sonogram as they did over and over again for Emerson, I think Justin and I were both expecting a bald baby.  Here are some of our favorites of our beautiful baby girl. 

This time around I think the recovery from the C-section in the hospital was a little easier.  I don’t know if it was I knew what to expect or if the pain really just wasn’t as bad this time.  I tend to think the latter but it was realistically probably a combination of both.  The nursing staff was better this time around than the first and I definitely got out of bed a little quicker this time and was using the bathroom on my own and walking the hospital hall ways much quicker on my own this time around as well.  We also only stayed at the hospital two nights this time versus three the last and even the last time we considered staying a fourth night.  
This time we were ready to go home and felt I would be more comfortable and get more rest at home since people are always coming and going in the hospital room.  This time around we also put Harper in the nursery twice each night we were there allowing us to get a little more sleep than the first time.  And doing so did not affect her feeding.  Harper took to the breast right away in the recovery room which I was very happy about because neither the girls did and part of me thought the chance for recurrence was high.  Either the staff brought Harper back when she was hungry or Justin would go pick her up in the nursery. 
 
The girls came to visit twice when while we were there.  My parents brought them the first afternoon and they each gave Harper a lovey.  In return Harper gave them each a big sister book.  Avery took to Harper right away; Emerson was a bit more hesitant….exactly as we all expected.  The girls came again Tuesday morning with my mom and again briefly in the afternoon with Justin and my dad.  Justin went home with the girls for a few hours while my mom stayed with me in the hospital for a few hours before Justin and the older girls returned to the hospital.  Once again Avery couldn’t stop loving on Harper and Emerson while still somewhat hesitant started to want to participate a little more.  Here are Avery and Emerson getting ready to take pictures with baby Harper.

Late Wednesday we brought Harper home!  

Where as I think I was pretty overwhelmed with bringing the girls home, I was super excited about bringing Harper home to join our family. The first night she slept decently and pretty much has most nights since.  I certainly get up to nurse her every few hours but she nurses very quickly and goes right back to sleep, something neither girl did.  I am strictly nursing her which is quite different than bottle feeding expressed milk to the girls.  Even though I did nurse the girls some later on I still pumped so I constantly knew how much my output was, how much the girls input was, and my breasts were always emptied regularly.  Often Harper only nurses on one side since she nurses so quickly.  I know she is getting enough because of how much she pees and poops but I can’t help but feeling like I want more to come out of my boobs partially for relief and partially because I am scared it will affect my supply.  That is something that I am going to have to mentally work out in my head.  

Believe it or not we are already feeling fairly settled in.  Justin had to go back to work today, which neither of us were looking forward to.  It certainly helps having my parent’s help, but it certainly also helps in the difficulty factor having one baby versus two. 
 
We’ve had a few photo sessions since we have been home.  Here are some of our favorites thus far. 
We are so happy to welcome Harper Paige and become a family of five!

Avery and Emerson Are TWO!

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This weekend the girls celebrated their 2nd birthday.  It’s hard to believe that they are already 2!  It feels like I was just on bed rest getting ready to have these girls and here I am 38 weeks pregnant about to have another.  

Last year we had a big rubber duck theme 1st birthday party that I spent months in advance planning and buying rubber duck theme everything.   This year as much as I wanted to have a party for the girls, Justin and I decided it was probably not the best idea to have one incase I had the baby early or in the event I didn’t, I would be 38 weeks pregnant and even if I intended on a small party, we both knew I would end up going overboard.  So we decided we would just celebrate as a family.  UNTIL…a week before their birthday, I started feeling somewhat guilty and wishing that we were doing something SO 6 days before the Saturday of their birthday weekend, we invited 4 of our family friends with kids over for a low key brunch celebration.  Two of the families couldn’t attend so it ended up just being the Brophy’s and the Niday’s in addition to my parents and two elementary school aged girls from the neighborhood, which actually turned out great.  The Brophy’s were the first to arrive followed by the Nidays.  We took some pictures of the men followed by some pictures of the ladies. 

Followed by some family shots…YES, I AM HUGE…

We ate quiche from Pie Gourmet, chicken nuggets from Chic Fil A, and fruit salad made by mommy. Next we sang Happy Birthday and the girls blew out the candles on their princess cake.  

Then we opened presents.  They received princess dolls with matching princess outfits and play food for their kitchen, all of which they LOVED! 

Sunday was their actual birthday and we started the birthday celebration with gifts.  When the girls came down the stairs, their baby doll high chair and baby doll cradle (gifts from my parent’s awaited them). 

They had fun playing with them for a little bit before Emerson headed to the family room to get a new diaper when she noticed the tent and tunnel birthday present from Mommy and Daddy.  Avery was quick to follow in her direction and the both of them had a great time exploring their new tunnel and tent. 

After playing with our gifts for a little bit, the girls ate breakfast and got dressed, and then we headed to Kid Junction with Grandma and Grandpa.  It was like a mini version of the Children’s Museum in Baltimore. The girls first played in the Pizza Parlor. 

Next they made their way to the grocery store where they had a great time shopping!

Then they made their way to the slide area where first they were in the little kid play area but it wasn’t long before they wanted to check out the big slides so Daddy stepped up to the occasion and was chasing both the girls around the same time. 

Emerson also tried out one of the token rides and was petrified but she held on the entire ride and made it through without a tear.  Avery didn’t want any part of it. 

After spending a second round shopping in the grocery store, we took the girls to Bonefish Grill for lunch.  The girls were pretty tired and each one of them had to be taken out of the restaurant for a few minutes at one point during the lunch, which was actually a first for us. After lunch, the girls sat on the bench with grandma and grandpa and took a few pictures.

I think we all took a birthday nap when we got home and then when the girls woke we had round two of presents.  My parents gave the girls pots/pans and dishes for their play kitchen.  Justin and I gave the girls a doll doctor play kit and doll accessories.  Then we had our second cake for the weekend, an ice cream cake from Cold Stone. 

We really did celebrate all weekend long and Mommy even continued the celebration each night for a few days until the leftover Princess Cake was gone.  The girls really did have a great birthday weekend.  I still can’t believe their 2!  And to think next year, which will likely be here before we know it, will likely be a joint birthday party for two 3 year old and one 1 year old!