Dear Baby Holler,
Today I am thankful for so many things. To say that I am blessed is a ridiculous understatement.
I am so grateful for Daddy, my family that I love so much, our beautiful happy life, and of course, little wonderful squirmy you.
There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about how lucky Daddy and I are and how grateful I am to God and the universe for finally choosing us for you. There is not a day that I don't have at least one or two moments that make me tear up thinking about HOW MUCH I love you. It takes my breath away to think about the second we'll finally get to meet you. Which I'm also so grateful for, because that moment is only about a week and a half away.
I'm off to prepare some good food to put down the hatch for you.
Happy Thanksgiving, Harper....You have no idea how much you already loved.
Mommy
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
2 WEEKS FROM TODAY!
Dear Baby Holler,
I cannot believe it! The first thing I thought when I woke up this morning was that in exactly 2 weeks from today, Daddy and I will be getting ready to go to the hospital to get you on the outside with us! I am SO EXCITED I can hardly stand it! I've been acutely aware that we're getting so close, but we are truly down to the wire and it's almost too much excitement and anticipation to handle - sometimes I think I might burst from it!
Speaking of bursting - I'll go ahead and show you what a big girl you are at 37 weeks!
I had my 37 week checkup on Friday and it turns out that you are starting to get ready to make a break for it....So I'm a little curious to see if you'll visit us beforehand, but my mom never had her babies before her due date, so that makes me think you and I will follow suit. It's okay if you can't get packed up and moved out before December 2nd. That's right around the corner, and we can wait for your eviction:)
I have been really emotional this week, and one thing I've been fretting a little about is what is going to happen in our household with the baby that came before you....Frankie. He is so used to basically doing whatever he wants, and I am completely guilty of being a total softie with him because MOST of the time, he is such a sweetie. Also, with Daddy gone so much, he is my little buddy. But he has bad habits- like he sleeps in the bed with us and makes a lot of noise - barking when he hears something outside or wants in or out of the bed. And on occasion, he has peed or pooped on the carpet upstairs when left unattended- Daddy and I think that he can still smell the dogs that lived in the house before we lived here, and he is marking the carpet. Either way, we have had the carpet professionally cleaned and also purchased our own steam cleaner for spot treatments. So that's the background on Frankie, and I've worried about how all his "behaviors" are going to coincide with your sleep and habits, and ultimately, I don't want you crawling on the floor and coming into contact with a Frankie "surprise" because he marked a spot. Or worse, because he's mad about all the attention you're getting.
I'm equally happy and sad to report that all of this anxiety has been solved. Frankie solved everything yesterday. You see, I walked into your room, like I always do, and I was HORRIFIED to find a tiny yellow pee spot on your beautiful light pink Pottery Barn Kids rug that I was so proud to buy you. To say that I had a total emotional breakdown that he did that to your precious rug is an understatement!!!! I was so upset with him, and I worked all morning trying to use cleaner and the steamer to get the stain out, and I pretty much cried my face off the whole time that he would do something so AWFUL to me!
So that was the final straw, and even though he is sweet and adorable and I love him to pieces, you are more important now, and I'm actually not even sad to tell you that Frankie got himself a one-way ticket to living downstairs only. He is banned from upstairs. I have blocked off the stairs, and set up shop for him in the laundry room downstairs, and that is the living arrangement from now on. He will not sleep with us, he did not sleep with me last night. And that is how life in the Holler household will be - done and done.
I don't feel bad for him. I'm actually glad that he made the decision for me!
So that's our update from the outside, Baby Girl! We are ready for you- Daddy comes home tomorrow night, my hospital bag is packed, and Frankie lives in the Laundry Room. We're totally ready!!!!
We love you!
Mommy
I cannot believe it! The first thing I thought when I woke up this morning was that in exactly 2 weeks from today, Daddy and I will be getting ready to go to the hospital to get you on the outside with us! I am SO EXCITED I can hardly stand it! I've been acutely aware that we're getting so close, but we are truly down to the wire and it's almost too much excitement and anticipation to handle - sometimes I think I might burst from it!
Speaking of bursting - I'll go ahead and show you what a big girl you are at 37 weeks!
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| You are FULL TERM in there! |
I had my 37 week checkup on Friday and it turns out that you are starting to get ready to make a break for it....So I'm a little curious to see if you'll visit us beforehand, but my mom never had her babies before her due date, so that makes me think you and I will follow suit. It's okay if you can't get packed up and moved out before December 2nd. That's right around the corner, and we can wait for your eviction:)
I have been really emotional this week, and one thing I've been fretting a little about is what is going to happen in our household with the baby that came before you....Frankie. He is so used to basically doing whatever he wants, and I am completely guilty of being a total softie with him because MOST of the time, he is such a sweetie. Also, with Daddy gone so much, he is my little buddy. But he has bad habits- like he sleeps in the bed with us and makes a lot of noise - barking when he hears something outside or wants in or out of the bed. And on occasion, he has peed or pooped on the carpet upstairs when left unattended- Daddy and I think that he can still smell the dogs that lived in the house before we lived here, and he is marking the carpet. Either way, we have had the carpet professionally cleaned and also purchased our own steam cleaner for spot treatments. So that's the background on Frankie, and I've worried about how all his "behaviors" are going to coincide with your sleep and habits, and ultimately, I don't want you crawling on the floor and coming into contact with a Frankie "surprise" because he marked a spot. Or worse, because he's mad about all the attention you're getting.
I'm equally happy and sad to report that all of this anxiety has been solved. Frankie solved everything yesterday. You see, I walked into your room, like I always do, and I was HORRIFIED to find a tiny yellow pee spot on your beautiful light pink Pottery Barn Kids rug that I was so proud to buy you. To say that I had a total emotional breakdown that he did that to your precious rug is an understatement!!!! I was so upset with him, and I worked all morning trying to use cleaner and the steamer to get the stain out, and I pretty much cried my face off the whole time that he would do something so AWFUL to me!
So that was the final straw, and even though he is sweet and adorable and I love him to pieces, you are more important now, and I'm actually not even sad to tell you that Frankie got himself a one-way ticket to living downstairs only. He is banned from upstairs. I have blocked off the stairs, and set up shop for him in the laundry room downstairs, and that is the living arrangement from now on. He will not sleep with us, he did not sleep with me last night. And that is how life in the Holler household will be - done and done.
I don't feel bad for him. I'm actually glad that he made the decision for me!
 | |
| I originally took this photo to send Daddy because I though he was being so sweet....But do you know what he's laying there thinking? "Hmmmm.....I can't wait to get up and go pee on Harper's pretty pink rug....Good times...." |
So that's our update from the outside, Baby Girl! We are ready for you- Daddy comes home tomorrow night, my hospital bag is packed, and Frankie lives in the Laundry Room. We're totally ready!!!!
We love you!
Mommy
Friday, November 9, 2012
36 Weeks!!!!
Dear Baby Holler,
In just about 3 weeks, you will finally, FINALLY, be here!!!!
I have neglected the blog because, much to my surprise, the past few weeks have completely flown by, and I haven't had the time to post anything. I had expected for the third trimester to drag on forever, but it definitely hasn't! The good news is, we are pretty much totally ready for you. In a week, you'll be full-term, and Daddy comes home 2 days after that, so I give you permission to come anytime you want after that. I think you'll find it a lot more fun out here than inside there, so I'm hoping you'll consider coming out to see us on your own, and that we won't have to evict you on Dec. 2nd.
As a matter of fact, as cozy as you think it is in my belly, I think you're really going to enjoy your nursery and feel pretty at home in there! It's finished - we just need you:) I really love how peaceful it feels in there, and Daddy and I both like to just go in there sometimes for no good reason at all and look around for a minute. We love it, and it makes us so excited for you to get here!
See? We're all ready for you! And wait until you see your wardrobe! And your accessories! I wanted all of your things to be as cute as possible, and here's a quick sneak peek of an example....Your pacifiers!
And finally, one of the reasons that you're *just about* considered full-term is because you are BIG! According to my favorite pregnancy app, this is what you have going on:
Yeah, you're 6 whole pounds! You're officially a Big Girl! So apparently, that's what you look like inside, and here's what you look like from the outside:
So that's our update from the outside, Baby Girl! Don't be shy, okay? We're ready for you whenever!!!
Love,
Mommy
In just about 3 weeks, you will finally, FINALLY, be here!!!!
I have neglected the blog because, much to my surprise, the past few weeks have completely flown by, and I haven't had the time to post anything. I had expected for the third trimester to drag on forever, but it definitely hasn't! The good news is, we are pretty much totally ready for you. In a week, you'll be full-term, and Daddy comes home 2 days after that, so I give you permission to come anytime you want after that. I think you'll find it a lot more fun out here than inside there, so I'm hoping you'll consider coming out to see us on your own, and that we won't have to evict you on Dec. 2nd.
As a matter of fact, as cozy as you think it is in my belly, I think you're really going to enjoy your nursery and feel pretty at home in there! It's finished - we just need you:) I really love how peaceful it feels in there, and Daddy and I both like to just go in there sometimes for no good reason at all and look around for a minute. We love it, and it makes us so excited for you to get here!
See? We're all ready for you! And wait until you see your wardrobe! And your accessories! I wanted all of your things to be as cute as possible, and here's a quick sneak peek of an example....Your pacifiers!
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| Your bling pacifier and one of the supercute ones with your name that Aunt Nat and Uncle Aaron got you! |
And finally, one of the reasons that you're *just about* considered full-term is because you are BIG! According to my favorite pregnancy app, this is what you have going on:
Yeah, you're 6 whole pounds! You're officially a Big Girl! So apparently, that's what you look like inside, and here's what you look like from the outside:
 |
| Excuse the pajamas!!!! |
So that's our update from the outside, Baby Girl! Don't be shy, okay? We're ready for you whenever!!!
Love,
Mommy
Sunday, October 7, 2012
31 Weeks - Bump Update!
Guess what? Daddy comes home in 2 days! You and I have been busy after traveling for work last week, and now trying to get your nursery organized and completed....So this will be a short post so we can get back to work!
I have read in a lot of my preg books that as the third trimester progresses, most moms experience a "nesting instinct." Apparently, something makes expectant mothers go nuts organizing and cleaning in preparation for the new baby. I think this is starting to hit me. After all of the lovely things we got at the shower last week, and all of the final things I ordered from Amazon this week to get totally finished - I'm basically the Tazmanian Devil in our house trying to find a place for everything and clean the house so it's nice for Daddy. And while I'm doing everything, I'm thinking about all of the things I need to complete each week for work so that I can not go crazy. But I'm probably going to end up going crazy anyway! I'm starting to feel like you're so close, and so I want to make sure that absolutely everything is done/organized/clean before you're here. I am a procrastinator by nature, but we're basically at a point where procrastination is out of the question. Eight weeks from today, if you haven't graced us with your presence yet, I will be induced. In a little under six weeks, you'll be considered full term. So honestly, you could come at any time after that.
LESS THAN SIX WEEKS! Yeah, that just freaked me out and I've gotta go back into your nursery and get back to work! Aaaaahhhh!
Oh one last thing - Daddy is in charge of your middle name and we're trying the one out in the photo below....What do you think? Daddy's middle name is Michael after the Saint. So he thought it'd be neat if you also had a middle name after a Saint. The church he grew up in was Saint James, so we're testing this out, but I have to say, I'm kind of loving it! It's different without trying too hard...At first I was a little weirded out that it's masculine, but I think it flows, and I really love that Daddy picked it out all by his lonesome:)
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| I had to start labeling photos again for Daddy's sake. He showed this pic to some of our friends and very confidently told them I was 27 WEEKS! So they probably think I'm a huge heifer and I'm mortified. Sigh. I don't know how Daddy is so genius with numbers, but he cannot keep up with how old you are in weeks and months to save his life. |
That's it from out here, Baby Girl! We love you so much!
Mommy
Monday, October 1, 2012
30 Weeks!
We've only got 7 weeks left until you're considered FULL TERM - Woohoo!!! Daddy will be at work from weeks 34-37, and when he gets home, that's when I'm going to start partaking in all of the old wives tales that are said to stimulate labor.
If we can get you to come a couple of weeks early, that would be just dandy! Not because I'm miserable or even THAT uncomfortable, to be honest, but because we're just ready to meet you:) We have all of this little tiny stuff - cute clothes and little diapers and baby skincare that is going to make you smell all heavenly and baby-like....And I'm just ready for YOU. It's like when I've been at someone's surprise party before, anxiously awaiting for them to arrive so we could all jump out and yell "SURPRISE!!!" I just wanted that person to arrive already so the fun and the happiness could begin. That's how I feel about you. I want to kiss the the little feet and hands that keep bopping me in my tummy. And I want to know all about you....Like will you have hair? Who will you look like? And when will you get here? My brain just goes wild with questions about you every day.
Speaking of all of the tiny person stuff that we have just waiting for you to get here and start using it, your awesome Aunt Bri threw me a shower this weekend! It was so much fun:) We played games and had delicious food, and everyone gave you lovely presents...It was a blast! You are very lucky to have such a good aunt....The sooner you get here, the sooner you can meet her!!!
Here we are going to our shower yesterday, our bump update...I don't know how you can possibly get any bigger!
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| 30weeks&2days |
That's another thing I wonder - how big ARE you? We haven't had an ultrasound since 20 weeks, and I know you're a little over 3 lbs now according to baby books, but I still wish I knew exactly what is going on in there. Maybe you are bigger. I just like knowing fun facts about you:) Unfortunately, we won't get to see you again on ultrasound for a while. My doctor said that it will be 35 or 36 weeks before they check to make sure you're not breech and that you're preparing your exit:) I tried to talk Daddy into getting an elective 3D/4D ultrasound, but he wants what you look like to be a surprise. I KIND OF agree with him, but I still miss seeing you. Even though I can feel you squirming around pretty much all the time, so I know you're still in there. Well, obviously. Look at the picture. You're DEFINITELY in there.
Daddy's home next Tuesday, so hopefully that will pass our time very quickly. He always keeps us so busy...We already have a lot planned while he's home, because this is his last time home before you're born. Then next time he comes home from work, we'll be having a baby!
That's it from the outside, Baby Girl. We love you and we're getting so close to touching you:)
Love,
Mommy
Sunday, September 23, 2012
29 Week Update!
Dear Baby Holler,
The last time I blogged, Daddy and I were about to leave for our Baby Moon to Charleston, SC. It was amazing! We had the best time! We spent a lot of the trip talking about you. You were definitely the main topic of conversation...We're just so excited that you're *almost* here!
I wish I had some nice photos to show you, but the problem is that Daddy has to be the photographer most of the time. And as smart as he is, he cannot take a decent photo to save his life. I wanted to have some bump photos in Charleston, but he managed to completely make me look like a huge walrus in every photo, so I don't have any pics of you and I handy. I think there are some on the camera, but I haven't downloaded them yet.
I do have pictures of the souvenir I got you! Daddy and I went to this fantastic Farmer's Market and I found so many little interesting booths! My two favorites were a local candle vendor that uses recycled wine bottles from local restaurants to make candles that are scented with wine. They're called ReWined candles, and I'll definitely be buying more! I also found a really cute local baby clothes store that had a booth there, and all of the clothes are made from organic materials and were super cute...I'll show you! Frankie was really interested in your souvenir, so I put it on him to model it. I think he liked it! If it's this cute on him, I can't wait to see it on you!
In other news, I am pretty positive that you were upside down for a while, with your head in my lungs. I have had a really hard time breathing when I lay down, and my doctor said it's because you were on my diaphragm. I felt a lot of movement this past Thursday, and suddenly I don't have the pressure under my sternum I was feeling, and I can breathe at night! Yesterday morning I woke up and you had hiccups, and I felt them WAY below my belly button, so I know that's where your little head is now! Thank you for being sweet enough to get off of Mommy's lungs!!! It was just GLORIOUS getting to sleep these past few nights!
From today, there are just 70 days until you are scheduled to get here. It's about 10 weeks, but I like 70 days better because it sounds much shorter. You have grown A LOT. I don't know where you are going to put the 3 or 4 lbs that you still need to gain before your arrival. My tummy is already so big!
This is you and me yesterday, on our way to the gym:
We are pretty ready for you! We just have a few more things to get and prepare, but I feel pretty good about where the nursery is at! I finally got the baskets and liners for your cubby so we can throw your stuff in there and keep it organized, and I love how it came out!
And finally, we had our maternity shoot on the beach a few weeks ago with Jamie Lauren Studios. She did an awesome job, and I'm excited to get the prints in to put in your nursery! Here is a little sample of one of my favorite photos:
So that's it from the outside, Baby Girl!
Daddy and I love you so much and we get more excited about meeting you every single day!!
Love,
Mommy
The last time I blogged, Daddy and I were about to leave for our Baby Moon to Charleston, SC. It was amazing! We had the best time! We spent a lot of the trip talking about you. You were definitely the main topic of conversation...We're just so excited that you're *almost* here!
I wish I had some nice photos to show you, but the problem is that Daddy has to be the photographer most of the time. And as smart as he is, he cannot take a decent photo to save his life. I wanted to have some bump photos in Charleston, but he managed to completely make me look like a huge walrus in every photo, so I don't have any pics of you and I handy. I think there are some on the camera, but I haven't downloaded them yet.
I do have pictures of the souvenir I got you! Daddy and I went to this fantastic Farmer's Market and I found so many little interesting booths! My two favorites were a local candle vendor that uses recycled wine bottles from local restaurants to make candles that are scented with wine. They're called ReWined candles, and I'll definitely be buying more! I also found a really cute local baby clothes store that had a booth there, and all of the clothes are made from organic materials and were super cute...I'll show you! Frankie was really interested in your souvenir, so I put it on him to model it. I think he liked it! If it's this cute on him, I can't wait to see it on you!
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| Dress and bow from Urbane Living in Charleston, SC |
In other news, I am pretty positive that you were upside down for a while, with your head in my lungs. I have had a really hard time breathing when I lay down, and my doctor said it's because you were on my diaphragm. I felt a lot of movement this past Thursday, and suddenly I don't have the pressure under my sternum I was feeling, and I can breathe at night! Yesterday morning I woke up and you had hiccups, and I felt them WAY below my belly button, so I know that's where your little head is now! Thank you for being sweet enough to get off of Mommy's lungs!!! It was just GLORIOUS getting to sleep these past few nights!
From today, there are just 70 days until you are scheduled to get here. It's about 10 weeks, but I like 70 days better because it sounds much shorter. You have grown A LOT. I don't know where you are going to put the 3 or 4 lbs that you still need to gain before your arrival. My tummy is already so big!
This is you and me yesterday, on our way to the gym:
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| 29weeks 1day! |
We are pretty ready for you! We just have a few more things to get and prepare, but I feel pretty good about where the nursery is at! I finally got the baskets and liners for your cubby so we can throw your stuff in there and keep it organized, and I love how it came out!
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| The Cameron cubby from Pottery Barn Kids and your new baskets and liners! |
And finally, we had our maternity shoot on the beach a few weeks ago with Jamie Lauren Studios. She did an awesome job, and I'm excited to get the prints in to put in your nursery! Here is a little sample of one of my favorite photos:
Daddy and I love you so much and we get more excited about meeting you every single day!!
Love,
Mommy
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Dang it, Daddy!
Dear Baby Holler,
You and I have done a pretty good job of keeping active and going to the gym. It's hard, and every week it gets harder. I am filled with dread, procrastination, and hatred. The elliptical trainer is a torture device, and I feel pretty sorry for myself because I never see a SINGLE other pregnant person at the gym. I also feel sorry for myself because I have still managed to gain weight all over, especially in my legs (I HATE THEM!) and I shudder to think of what I would look like if I listened to all of the pregnant advice I've been given that encourages me to "Just enjoy it! You'll lose it later!" I would apparently be 5'4 inches tall AND 5'4 inches wide! My body just wants to be fat so bad - but the gym keeps you and I from being pregnantly obese:)
The other reason we have to stick to our regimen of 4 times a week at the gym is DADDY. You see, you probably won't ever appreciate this, but Daddy is a pretty hot guy. And he is very fit, and VERY active at the gym...I really would have appreciated it if he could have let himself go a little since I am pregnant and gaining weight - It really would have taken some of the pressure off me! But noooooo. Daddy continues to sweat, lift, and harden his 6-pack:
Some may not care what Daddy does, but it's really hard to watch him walk around with his shirt off, his biceps bulging and his abs chiseled. I don't want to be his fat wife, even if I am pregnant, so off to the gym you and I have to go. We have to make sure that the only thing getting a lot bigger is YOU....And you totally are:
You and I have done a pretty good job of keeping active and going to the gym. It's hard, and every week it gets harder. I am filled with dread, procrastination, and hatred. The elliptical trainer is a torture device, and I feel pretty sorry for myself because I never see a SINGLE other pregnant person at the gym. I also feel sorry for myself because I have still managed to gain weight all over, especially in my legs (I HATE THEM!) and I shudder to think of what I would look like if I listened to all of the pregnant advice I've been given that encourages me to "Just enjoy it! You'll lose it later!" I would apparently be 5'4 inches tall AND 5'4 inches wide! My body just wants to be fat so bad - but the gym keeps you and I from being pregnantly obese:)
The other reason we have to stick to our regimen of 4 times a week at the gym is DADDY. You see, you probably won't ever appreciate this, but Daddy is a pretty hot guy. And he is very fit, and VERY active at the gym...I really would have appreciated it if he could have let himself go a little since I am pregnant and gaining weight - It really would have taken some of the pressure off me! But noooooo. Daddy continues to sweat, lift, and harden his 6-pack:
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| STOP IT ALREADY, DADDY! CUT US SOME SLACK!!! |
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| He doesn't even have a TINY bit of fat to pinch when he's sitting! NOT FAIR! |
Some may not care what Daddy does, but it's really hard to watch him walk around with his shirt off, his biceps bulging and his abs chiseled. I don't want to be his fat wife, even if I am pregnant, so off to the gym you and I have to go. We have to make sure that the only thing getting a lot bigger is YOU....And you totally are:
So even though we're supposed to be getting bigger, we're not supposed to be getting fat. And I guess we should be glad that Daddy is so healthy, even if his perfect body puts pressure on us to hold it together as we waddle next to him.
(Sigh). See you on the elliptical at around 5:30pm today, Harper....Dang it, Daddy!!!!!
Love,
Mommy
Sunday, September 2, 2012
26 Weeks!
Dear Baby Holler,
We're officially past the 6.5 month mark! This is our last week in the second trimester, or "mester" as Daddy calls it. Next Friday, we'll be in the third tri- woohoo!
This morning we had our maternity shoot on the beach, and I'm pretty excited about seeing the proofs in a couple of weeks. Daddy was not super thrilled about the early schedule, as the hair and makeup artist was at our house this morning at 5am...But I promised him we would go to The Pelican Grand for breakfast right after, which is the resort that we got married at. Everything is always phenomenal there, and so that bribery worked and he was very cooperative this morning. We took lots of photos, and then relaxed on the veranda at the Pelican and had the best breakfast that I can remember. Good times!
We leave this Wednesday night for our Baby Moon in Charleston, SC. That will be our last vacation without you! We are spending the rest of the week there, and on top of relaxing and just enjoying the beauty of Charleston, we're also scouting out neighborhoods to see where we want to live...You have no idea, but Daddy and I are planning on moving there in the next year or so. Many, many things have to happen before we leave Fort Lauderdale, but it's a definite that we'll be a family there by next Christmas. On one of the first dates that Daddy and I ever had, he told me that after being stationed in Charleston with the Coast Guard for a few years, he felt like that was his home, and that he would raise his family there. At the time, I had no idea that I would be that person he made a family with. I was just the person he brought out on the town and drank top shelf margaritas with at Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar in New Orleans (where we met!). So here we go...We're building our family, and about to set up our life in the place that Daddy's heart has always been:)
Speaking of Daddy, you should know that he passed his Chief Mate/Master's License test. He now has the highest level of license that anyone in charge of a sea vessel can have. As of Friday, he is officially a Chief Mate (second in command to the Captain), and after just another year of sea time, he'll be Captain and in charge of the entire oil rig. That test was a gigantic accomplishment. We are SO proud of him. SO proud!
And one other bit of important info to share...I had a doctor's appointment on Friday, and we actually were able to schedule your induction date, which is very exciting! I will be induced on the evening of Sunday, December 2nd, due to Daddy's crazy work schedule. So hopefully you'll make your appearance on December 3rd, and then you can spend some time with Daddy before he has to ship out:) And of course, if you want to come a week or two before that, then that's FINE with us too! We're ready for you!!!
So finally, here's our latest bump update! 26w2d...Our last one in the second trimester....Peace out, second tri!
Yeah, I know I'm wearing the same outfit as last week...But I had to wear something tight to show off the belly for the maternity shoot, and I was too lazy to change when we got home:)
That's it from the outside, Harper doodle! We love you!!!!
Mommy
We're officially past the 6.5 month mark! This is our last week in the second trimester, or "mester" as Daddy calls it. Next Friday, we'll be in the third tri- woohoo!
This morning we had our maternity shoot on the beach, and I'm pretty excited about seeing the proofs in a couple of weeks. Daddy was not super thrilled about the early schedule, as the hair and makeup artist was at our house this morning at 5am...But I promised him we would go to The Pelican Grand for breakfast right after, which is the resort that we got married at. Everything is always phenomenal there, and so that bribery worked and he was very cooperative this morning. We took lots of photos, and then relaxed on the veranda at the Pelican and had the best breakfast that I can remember. Good times!
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| A fed and content Daddy hanging out at The Pelican Grand... |
We leave this Wednesday night for our Baby Moon in Charleston, SC. That will be our last vacation without you! We are spending the rest of the week there, and on top of relaxing and just enjoying the beauty of Charleston, we're also scouting out neighborhoods to see where we want to live...You have no idea, but Daddy and I are planning on moving there in the next year or so. Many, many things have to happen before we leave Fort Lauderdale, but it's a definite that we'll be a family there by next Christmas. On one of the first dates that Daddy and I ever had, he told me that after being stationed in Charleston with the Coast Guard for a few years, he felt like that was his home, and that he would raise his family there. At the time, I had no idea that I would be that person he made a family with. I was just the person he brought out on the town and drank top shelf margaritas with at Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar in New Orleans (where we met!). So here we go...We're building our family, and about to set up our life in the place that Daddy's heart has always been:)
Speaking of Daddy, you should know that he passed his Chief Mate/Master's License test. He now has the highest level of license that anyone in charge of a sea vessel can have. As of Friday, he is officially a Chief Mate (second in command to the Captain), and after just another year of sea time, he'll be Captain and in charge of the entire oil rig. That test was a gigantic accomplishment. We are SO proud of him. SO proud!
And one other bit of important info to share...I had a doctor's appointment on Friday, and we actually were able to schedule your induction date, which is very exciting! I will be induced on the evening of Sunday, December 2nd, due to Daddy's crazy work schedule. So hopefully you'll make your appearance on December 3rd, and then you can spend some time with Daddy before he has to ship out:) And of course, if you want to come a week or two before that, then that's FINE with us too! We're ready for you!!!
So finally, here's our latest bump update! 26w2d...Our last one in the second trimester....Peace out, second tri!
Yeah, I know I'm wearing the same outfit as last week...But I had to wear something tight to show off the belly for the maternity shoot, and I was too lazy to change when we got home:)
That's it from the outside, Harper doodle! We love you!!!!
Mommy
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Nursery Sneak Peek
Dear Baby Holler,
Daddy delivered on his promise to get your decal tree up in your nursery over the weekend...I have to say, you need to give him tons of baby kisses and cuddles when you see it, because it is beautiful and he was super patient getting it on the wall just perfect. We are really lucky to have such a sweet Daddy:)
We still have lots to do in the nursery to finish it, such as put up the curtains, and I'm still waiting on your rug to come in....But overall, I think we've made some progress and I'm pretty excited about it!
The only bummer is that your name decal is too dark of a pink, and it's hard to see on the walls, but the super awesome seller I purchased it from on Etsy, a shop called Modern Walls, is sending me another name decal in light pink! So I'm excited that she was so accommodating and even though I picked out the dark pink, she is still sending a light pink replacement free of charge. I'll definitely be using her again in the future!
Okay so here we go....Without further ado, YOUR TREE:
This is the view of the whole nursery as you walk in....We REALLY need curtains and a rug!!!
And finally, I ordered you the most beautiful and soft blanket from Pottery Barn Kids...It's one of my favorite purchases for you so far! The inside of the blanket is crazy soft sherpa, and even Daddy threatened to swipe it since you're not using it yet, and use it for himself.
So that's what we have so far....Hopefully, we'll get everything finished before Daddy leaves, but since we are heading out on our Baby Moon next week to Charleston, SC, I'm not totally sure. Either way, we have a good start!
That's it from the outside, Harper!
We love you, and we hope you love your nursery!
Love,
Mommy & Daddy
Daddy delivered on his promise to get your decal tree up in your nursery over the weekend...I have to say, you need to give him tons of baby kisses and cuddles when you see it, because it is beautiful and he was super patient getting it on the wall just perfect. We are really lucky to have such a sweet Daddy:)
We still have lots to do in the nursery to finish it, such as put up the curtains, and I'm still waiting on your rug to come in....But overall, I think we've made some progress and I'm pretty excited about it!
The only bummer is that your name decal is too dark of a pink, and it's hard to see on the walls, but the super awesome seller I purchased it from on Etsy, a shop called Modern Walls, is sending me another name decal in light pink! So I'm excited that she was so accommodating and even though I picked out the dark pink, she is still sending a light pink replacement free of charge. I'll definitely be using her again in the future!
Okay so here we go....Without further ado, YOUR TREE:
Next up, we have the changing table/dresser....I may do a collage of other prints around the one I currently have up there....
I LOVE the Cameron wall units from Pottery Barn Kids, and I really wanted to get you one, but they are pretty expensive! Fortunately, I lucked out and found one on Craigslist for a REALLY good deal! Daddy also hauled that upstairs and into your room- remember you owe him lots of baby kisses!! I don't have all of the things I want to put in the wall unit, such as cute baskets with pink liners to organize your stuff, or books and frames for the shelves, but you can get a general idea...
 | |||||||||||||||||
| Just giving a special shout out to Cousin Wyatt to thank him again for the super cute pink Humpty Dumpty! |
Here is the name that came out too dark of a pink....To be replaced soon with the light pink! And that's Daddy's Lazyboy recliner that he demanded be a part of the nursery. We girlied it up with a cute pink pillow just to drive him nuts;)
This is the view of the whole nursery as you walk in....We REALLY need curtains and a rug!!!
And finally, I ordered you the most beautiful and soft blanket from Pottery Barn Kids...It's one of my favorite purchases for you so far! The inside of the blanket is crazy soft sherpa, and even Daddy threatened to swipe it since you're not using it yet, and use it for himself.
So that's what we have so far....Hopefully, we'll get everything finished before Daddy leaves, but since we are heading out on our Baby Moon next week to Charleston, SC, I'm not totally sure. Either way, we have a good start!
That's it from the outside, Harper!
We love you, and we hope you love your nursery!
Love,
Mommy & Daddy
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Daddy's Home & Bump Update!
Dear Baby Holler,
Daddy's home! YAY!
I just got through doing "Show and Tell" for all of the things that came in for you while he was gone...And tomorrow he's going to finish the wall stuff in the nursery! I can't wait for it to be finished!
He's off to nap, and I'm off to cook (red beans and rice with sausage - YUM!), but I just wanted to post a quick bump photo because you're getting so big, even day to day!
25w1d:
Happy Saturday, Harper!
Love,
Mommy
Daddy's home! YAY!
I just got through doing "Show and Tell" for all of the things that came in for you while he was gone...And tomorrow he's going to finish the wall stuff in the nursery! I can't wait for it to be finished!
He's off to nap, and I'm off to cook (red beans and rice with sausage - YUM!), but I just wanted to post a quick bump photo because you're getting so big, even day to day!
25w1d:
Happy Saturday, Harper!
Love,
Mommy
Friday, August 24, 2012
Happy Friday Surprise!!! The Hurricane is Bringing Daddy Home Early!
Dear Baby Holler,
Daddy's on his way home! He wasn't supposed to come home until late Monday night, and you and I have to be in Orlando on Tuesday for work, so we weren't going to see him until Tuesday night. But today, he texted me and gave me the best Friday surprise ever when he told me that he'll fly home tomorrow to get ahead of the bad weather! I am jumping for joy! I've never been so grateful for a hurricane!
Typically, when Daddy is about to come home, I clean the house and buy tons of groceries, and just all around try to make everything perfect and tip-top for him. This surprise return means that you and I have a lot to do between now and 3:30 tomorrow! My nails are a mess, there's a TON of laundry we've been ignoring, and there are zero groceries in our fridge.
So you and I need to get crackin' and get ourselves and the house in order!
Woohoo! At this time tomorrow, we'll be a complete family again!
Sleep tight in there, Baby Girl....Tomorrow is a big day!!!
Love,
Mommy
Daddy's on his way home! He wasn't supposed to come home until late Monday night, and you and I have to be in Orlando on Tuesday for work, so we weren't going to see him until Tuesday night. But today, he texted me and gave me the best Friday surprise ever when he told me that he'll fly home tomorrow to get ahead of the bad weather! I am jumping for joy! I've never been so grateful for a hurricane!
Typically, when Daddy is about to come home, I clean the house and buy tons of groceries, and just all around try to make everything perfect and tip-top for him. This surprise return means that you and I have a lot to do between now and 3:30 tomorrow! My nails are a mess, there's a TON of laundry we've been ignoring, and there are zero groceries in our fridge.
So you and I need to get crackin' and get ourselves and the house in order!
Woohoo! At this time tomorrow, we'll be a complete family again!
Sleep tight in there, Baby Girl....Tomorrow is a big day!!!
Love,
Mommy
Monday, August 20, 2012
6 Months Pregnant! T-Minus 15 Weeks Until We Meet You!!!
Dear Baby Holler,
Sorry I have been such a slacker with blogging. You and I have been very busy lately...Daddy was home for a little while, and then after he left it has been like my brain has exploded trying to get ready for all of the things that need to be done before you get here. It is so crazy to say it, but we are 6 months along! Holy crap! Exactly 15 weeks from today is when we are expecting my doctor to induce me. 15 weeks!!!!
The amount of things that are required to support a baby has made my head spin. I have been diligently researching what I'll need for you, and in the typical fashion of a high-maintenance first-time mom, I'm doing everything I can to make sure you have the best of everything:) I have a hard time denying you of anything, and lucky for us both, Daddy has a hard time denying either one of us anything, so needless to say- I think you'll be pleased with the setup we have for you when you get here:)
When Daddy gets home, he is going to put the tree decal up in your nursery for you. I was so excited to get it hung, but I tried to just stage it on the wall with tape to see where I wanted it all to go exactly, and I couldn't even do that. It was all crooked and a total hot mess. Daddy is Mr. Projects and Tools, and if he hangs it, it will be perfect because he'll use all this stuff that makes red lines on the wall or something. He won't just stand on a ladder with some scotch tape and "guess-timate" like Mommy does:)
My latest obsession is your nursery, and I have some good ideas. I don't want to spoil the completed unveiling, so I'm going to just show you this teaser of a super cute print I bought to frame and put on the wall above your changing table...As soon as I saw it, I had to have it! It pretty much sums up how Daddy and I feel about how lucky we are:)
So I'll be hard at work finishing your nursery over these next few weeks! Daddy comes home a week from today. He is going to freak out when he sees how huge you are! You are about 13.5 inches long from head to toe, and you weigh 1.5 pounds! It shows too!
I took a 6 month photo but I'm not posting it because I was wearing the same skirt that I had on in my last photo, and Daddy made fun of me for wearing my "candy cane skirt" again! So I'll post a 25 week photo in a few days, and I'll try to wear something else!
Oh whoops! I do have a non-candy cane skirt photo from 6 months...But we are in our pajamas - haha!
See how huge you're getting? I haven't wanted to know how much weight I'm gaining, because I didn't want to let it totally stress me. But I think I'm going to ask the next time I go for an appointment, just out of curiosity. I hope it's not a number that makes me cry my face off:)
That's it from the outside, Big Girl! We love you:)
Mommy
Sorry I have been such a slacker with blogging. You and I have been very busy lately...Daddy was home for a little while, and then after he left it has been like my brain has exploded trying to get ready for all of the things that need to be done before you get here. It is so crazy to say it, but we are 6 months along! Holy crap! Exactly 15 weeks from today is when we are expecting my doctor to induce me. 15 weeks!!!!
The amount of things that are required to support a baby has made my head spin. I have been diligently researching what I'll need for you, and in the typical fashion of a high-maintenance first-time mom, I'm doing everything I can to make sure you have the best of everything:) I have a hard time denying you of anything, and lucky for us both, Daddy has a hard time denying either one of us anything, so needless to say- I think you'll be pleased with the setup we have for you when you get here:)
When Daddy gets home, he is going to put the tree decal up in your nursery for you. I was so excited to get it hung, but I tried to just stage it on the wall with tape to see where I wanted it all to go exactly, and I couldn't even do that. It was all crooked and a total hot mess. Daddy is Mr. Projects and Tools, and if he hangs it, it will be perfect because he'll use all this stuff that makes red lines on the wall or something. He won't just stand on a ladder with some scotch tape and "guess-timate" like Mommy does:)
My latest obsession is your nursery, and I have some good ideas. I don't want to spoil the completed unveiling, so I'm going to just show you this teaser of a super cute print I bought to frame and put on the wall above your changing table...As soon as I saw it, I had to have it! It pretty much sums up how Daddy and I feel about how lucky we are:)
 |
| This great print and more can be found at http://www.etsy.com/shop/enduringarts?ref=seller_info&atr_uid=0 |
So I'll be hard at work finishing your nursery over these next few weeks! Daddy comes home a week from today. He is going to freak out when he sees how huge you are! You are about 13.5 inches long from head to toe, and you weigh 1.5 pounds! It shows too!
I took a 6 month photo but I'm not posting it because I was wearing the same skirt that I had on in my last photo, and Daddy made fun of me for wearing my "candy cane skirt" again! So I'll post a 25 week photo in a few days, and I'll try to wear something else!
Oh whoops! I do have a non-candy cane skirt photo from 6 months...But we are in our pajamas - haha!
 | |||
| See the fan behind me? Yeah, I can't breathe at night because of my pregnant sinuses from a certain baby girl, so I need hurricane force wind on me while I sleep! Small price to pay though:) |
See how huge you're getting? I haven't wanted to know how much weight I'm gaining, because I didn't want to let it totally stress me. But I think I'm going to ask the next time I go for an appointment, just out of curiosity. I hope it's not a number that makes me cry my face off:)
That's it from the outside, Big Girl! We love you:)
Mommy
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I Heart Harper Dance Parties!
Dear Baby Holler,
Ever since I started feeling you move, I have joked to Daddy that you have Dance Parties in my belly. I won't feel anything for hours and hours, and then you go nuts doing all your moves at once. You really seem to be having SUCH a good time in there!
I've been dying to be able to feel you from the outside, mainly so that I can get Daddy to feel you. Last night, right when he fell asleep, a particularly violent Dance Party ensued. I placed my hand on my belly, and within a few seconds BAM! BAM! BAM! You connected with my hand! I got so excited, I even woke Daddy up (he went to bed early because he has to wake up early and take the next part of his big work test...Whoops!)...So Daddy put his huge warm hand on my belly, and that must have startled you, because then you played Freeze and wouldn't move. Granted, Daddy didn't give it very long in his half-awake state, and within seconds of him removing his hand, you were at it again, nailing me! He missed out!
The coolest thing about it is that it means that you are getting bigger and stronger, and that's why I can feel now from the outside...Obviously, that makes Daddy and me very happy! You're getting to be a Big Girl!
So please do me a favor... Please kick Daddy. He complains that I am "hogging" you, and that I get all the fun with you. It's sort of true. I'm going to keep inviting him to Harper Dance Party Times and I hope that you'll get used to his big hands and you won't be shy anymore about whopping him a few good times...It would mean everything to him:)
So we'll try again tonight, okay? Just remember: Kick the BIG hand!!! That's Daddy!
We love you, Baby Girl!
Mommy & Daddy
Ever since I started feeling you move, I have joked to Daddy that you have Dance Parties in my belly. I won't feel anything for hours and hours, and then you go nuts doing all your moves at once. You really seem to be having SUCH a good time in there!
I've been dying to be able to feel you from the outside, mainly so that I can get Daddy to feel you. Last night, right when he fell asleep, a particularly violent Dance Party ensued. I placed my hand on my belly, and within a few seconds BAM! BAM! BAM! You connected with my hand! I got so excited, I even woke Daddy up (he went to bed early because he has to wake up early and take the next part of his big work test...Whoops!)...So Daddy put his huge warm hand on my belly, and that must have startled you, because then you played Freeze and wouldn't move. Granted, Daddy didn't give it very long in his half-awake state, and within seconds of him removing his hand, you were at it again, nailing me! He missed out!
The coolest thing about it is that it means that you are getting bigger and stronger, and that's why I can feel now from the outside...Obviously, that makes Daddy and me very happy! You're getting to be a Big Girl!
So please do me a favor... Please kick Daddy. He complains that I am "hogging" you, and that I get all the fun with you. It's sort of true. I'm going to keep inviting him to Harper Dance Party Times and I hope that you'll get used to his big hands and you won't be shy anymore about whopping him a few good times...It would mean everything to him:)
So we'll try again tonight, okay? Just remember: Kick the BIG hand!!! That's Daddy!
We love you, Baby Girl!
Mommy & Daddy
Saturday, July 21, 2012
5 MONTHS!
Dear Baby Holler,
We did it! We're at the halfway point! This past Friday marked 20 weeks, or five months for us. That's pretty exciting! You are the size of a cantaloupe, and there's really no denying that I look totally preg now. I am really happy to have graduated from just looking like I ate too much pizza and beer. I think you can really even tell from the front now, not just the side....
In other news, Daddy came home! He was really excited that your an obvious bump now, and he can't stop touching my belly and talking to you...We also had our 20 Week Level 2 Ultrasound, and everything checked out great and you look wonderfully healthy! It was such a cool ultrasound because they had to measure every part of your body- your brain, spine, chambers of your little heart, etc. So Daddy and I got to watch you for a while...As usual, you were a wiggleworm, and the tech had a hard time getting all of her measurements. But that was okay because we got to see you for longer while she had to wait on you to move your arm out of the way of whatever body part she needed:) At the end of the ultrasound, the tech even switched the machine on to 3D/4D and we got to see your face - kind of. I've always thought those 3D/4D pics were kind of creepy, and the tech explained that the reason they look so weird and lumpy is because babies are usually moving around in there, and it distorts the image. I'll put up my favorite photo of you from the u/s...It's your profile, which I just think is so adorable:
And the best 3D/4D image, where you look the least lumpy:
Daddy has been studying for a big test for his work, which he'll take this upcoming week...He's working really hard to be the best at his job that he can be so he can take good care of us. When he's through with that this week, he's going to set up your nursery for you! I am so excited, and he actually is too! He is funny because he is so in love with you that it makes him really excited about a lot of things that I would not expect him to be excited about. Today he went with me to go "test-drive" the stroller that I have become obsessed with for you. He was just as involved in testing it out as I was, and it was so cute to watch him push it around the store. You have a VERY good Daddy, Baby Holler. Even if he isn't able to be around as often as I am, he makes up for it when he's here by being so loving and just all-around fabulous:)
That's it from the outside, Harper!
We love you!
Mommy and Daddy
We did it! We're at the halfway point! This past Friday marked 20 weeks, or five months for us. That's pretty exciting! You are the size of a cantaloupe, and there's really no denying that I look totally preg now. I am really happy to have graduated from just looking like I ate too much pizza and beer. I think you can really even tell from the front now, not just the side....
In other news, Daddy came home! He was really excited that your an obvious bump now, and he can't stop touching my belly and talking to you...We also had our 20 Week Level 2 Ultrasound, and everything checked out great and you look wonderfully healthy! It was such a cool ultrasound because they had to measure every part of your body- your brain, spine, chambers of your little heart, etc. So Daddy and I got to watch you for a while...As usual, you were a wiggleworm, and the tech had a hard time getting all of her measurements. But that was okay because we got to see you for longer while she had to wait on you to move your arm out of the way of whatever body part she needed:) At the end of the ultrasound, the tech even switched the machine on to 3D/4D and we got to see your face - kind of. I've always thought those 3D/4D pics were kind of creepy, and the tech explained that the reason they look so weird and lumpy is because babies are usually moving around in there, and it distorts the image. I'll put up my favorite photo of you from the u/s...It's your profile, which I just think is so adorable:
And the best 3D/4D image, where you look the least lumpy:
Daddy has been studying for a big test for his work, which he'll take this upcoming week...He's working really hard to be the best at his job that he can be so he can take good care of us. When he's through with that this week, he's going to set up your nursery for you! I am so excited, and he actually is too! He is funny because he is so in love with you that it makes him really excited about a lot of things that I would not expect him to be excited about. Today he went with me to go "test-drive" the stroller that I have become obsessed with for you. He was just as involved in testing it out as I was, and it was so cute to watch him push it around the store. You have a VERY good Daddy, Baby Holler. Even if he isn't able to be around as often as I am, he makes up for it when he's here by being so loving and just all-around fabulous:)
That's it from the outside, Harper!
We love you!
Mommy and Daddy
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Post Birthday Wrap Up
Dear Baby Holler,
Just wanted to take a quick minute to show you the present that Daddy got me for my birthday:
They are beautiful blue topaz and diamond David Yurman earrings! Blue Topaz is your birthstone, and even though it was already my favorite non-diamond stone, I love it even more because it actually means something to me now:) You will see when you get here that Daddy is a FABULOUS gift-giver, and that is why I always hit him up for birthday presents! Some mommies might think they don't really need or want anything, but I'm all for a gift from Daddy!
Even though Daddy is super-awesome with gifts, I still also always get a gift for myself...This year, I splurged and bought you and I both something lovely....It's this beautiful baby sling from Comfy Joey and I'm so excited about it....I have eyed it forever and I can't wait to wear you, all the while looking mega cute together like this mommy/daughter duo:
And finally, you and I got out of the house today and ran some errands...I stopped in an accessories store, and purchased this really cute red and white fedora, and I had to take a picture because I noticed how you were poking out, and I thought it was so cute...So here's you, me, and my new fedora:
Now we are exhausted and will be glued to the couch for the rest of the evening with Frankie.
Happy Saturday, Baby Girl!
Love,
Mommy
Just wanted to take a quick minute to show you the present that Daddy got me for my birthday:
They are beautiful blue topaz and diamond David Yurman earrings! Blue Topaz is your birthstone, and even though it was already my favorite non-diamond stone, I love it even more because it actually means something to me now:) You will see when you get here that Daddy is a FABULOUS gift-giver, and that is why I always hit him up for birthday presents! Some mommies might think they don't really need or want anything, but I'm all for a gift from Daddy!
Even though Daddy is super-awesome with gifts, I still also always get a gift for myself...This year, I splurged and bought you and I both something lovely....It's this beautiful baby sling from Comfy Joey and I'm so excited about it....I have eyed it forever and I can't wait to wear you, all the while looking mega cute together like this mommy/daughter duo:
And finally, you and I got out of the house today and ran some errands...I stopped in an accessories store, and purchased this really cute red and white fedora, and I had to take a picture because I noticed how you were poking out, and I thought it was so cute...So here's you, me, and my new fedora:
Happy Saturday, Baby Girl!
Love,
Mommy
Friday, July 6, 2012
A Birthday Preg Post
Dear Baby Holler,
Today is Mommy's Birthday! Normally, I don't really care too much about my birthday...I mean, 21 was the significant birthday so that I could drink alcohol (legally), and every birthday after that pretty much was an excuse to have 1 million and 4 margaritas and/or glasses of wine. So basically, I had 10 good years of that, for a total of 10 million and 40 margaritas. I definitely got my fair share in! Other than margaritas and wine, I only really get excited about presents from Daddy. I'll never not care about my birthday enough to not ask for a present from Daddy. That's just how it's going to be.
My 30th birthday was also significant, because that's when I pretty much freaked out on Daddy, because we weren't even engaged yet, and I wanted to be married and have you and your brothers/sisters all on the outside with us by the time I was 35. When I turned 30 and Daddy had still not put a ring on it (we had been together for 2 years), I have to say, I almost killed him. That was not a good time in Mommy's life. And it is actually a miracle that Daddy made it through that time and is still alive and well. A true miracle, Baby Holler.
Who would have thought, that just 2 birthdays later, I would have you!
So this year, on my 32nd birthday, even though I can't have margaritas and wine, I am the happiest I've been in as long as I can remember. I already have the best gift I could ever have, and that's little tiny you growing inside of me, tickling me throughout the day with your Baby Holler Dance Parties. It seems like a REALLY good time in there....
Another cool thing is that I hit 18 weeks today with you, or 4.5 months for people who need to keep it simple (DADDY). You are slowly but surely revealing yourself, and I'm starting to look like maybe I have a little person in there instead of like I went wild at the Chinese Buffet. I'm sure in the next few weeks, you'll be front and center!
So here we are, Baby Girl, at 18 weeks (4.5 Months)!
Thank you for being my Birthday Buddy! You are the best thing that ever happened to us, and the best gift I could ever ask for (but I'm STILL also expecting a gift from Daddy!)..
We love you, Harper!
Mommy (&Daddy)
Today is Mommy's Birthday! Normally, I don't really care too much about my birthday...I mean, 21 was the significant birthday so that I could drink alcohol (legally), and every birthday after that pretty much was an excuse to have 1 million and 4 margaritas and/or glasses of wine. So basically, I had 10 good years of that, for a total of 10 million and 40 margaritas. I definitely got my fair share in! Other than margaritas and wine, I only really get excited about presents from Daddy. I'll never not care about my birthday enough to not ask for a present from Daddy. That's just how it's going to be.
My 30th birthday was also significant, because that's when I pretty much freaked out on Daddy, because we weren't even engaged yet, and I wanted to be married and have you and your brothers/sisters all on the outside with us by the time I was 35. When I turned 30 and Daddy had still not put a ring on it (we had been together for 2 years), I have to say, I almost killed him. That was not a good time in Mommy's life. And it is actually a miracle that Daddy made it through that time and is still alive and well. A true miracle, Baby Holler.
Who would have thought, that just 2 birthdays later, I would have you!
So this year, on my 32nd birthday, even though I can't have margaritas and wine, I am the happiest I've been in as long as I can remember. I already have the best gift I could ever have, and that's little tiny you growing inside of me, tickling me throughout the day with your Baby Holler Dance Parties. It seems like a REALLY good time in there....
Another cool thing is that I hit 18 weeks today with you, or 4.5 months for people who need to keep it simple (DADDY). You are slowly but surely revealing yourself, and I'm starting to look like maybe I have a little person in there instead of like I went wild at the Chinese Buffet. I'm sure in the next few weeks, you'll be front and center!
So here we are, Baby Girl, at 18 weeks (4.5 Months)!
Thank you for being my Birthday Buddy! You are the best thing that ever happened to us, and the best gift I could ever ask for (but I'm STILL also expecting a gift from Daddy!)..
We love you, Harper!
Mommy (&Daddy)
Friday, June 29, 2012
Daddy's little girl post
Dear Daddy's little girl,
Mamma doesn't know I'm breaking into her blog account to be able to write to you. Hello. This is my first post to the blog only because mamma never offered me the opportunity to write to you. First of all, I Love You! I'm working away from home out in the big Gulf of Mexico. I'm doing my best to make sure our family has the best life possible. I don't think mamma always understands that because I'm gone half the year.
I'm really excited to get home and put your room together. I got you a really nice bed that I have put together for you. Mamma ordered you some tree decal to put up on your wall so she can hang monkeys from or something. She likes to call you a pink monkey for some odd reason. Sometimes I think she forgets your a real little person. I think it's the pregnancy brain syndrome she talks about whenever she does something wrong like not put chemicals in the pool.
I think we decided to name you Harper. I hope you like it. It's a strong name. I'm going to take real good care of you and your mamma. I hope you are excited to meet us. Your mamma is beautiful. Her birthday is this week. She asked for some earrings but I got her something she is going to be so surprised about and love.
I hope you enjoy your little home with mamma for the next few mesters. She's taking real good care of you.
I love you
Daddy
Mamma doesn't know I'm breaking into her blog account to be able to write to you. Hello. This is my first post to the blog only because mamma never offered me the opportunity to write to you. First of all, I Love You! I'm working away from home out in the big Gulf of Mexico. I'm doing my best to make sure our family has the best life possible. I don't think mamma always understands that because I'm gone half the year.
I'm really excited to get home and put your room together. I got you a really nice bed that I have put together for you. Mamma ordered you some tree decal to put up on your wall so she can hang monkeys from or something. She likes to call you a pink monkey for some odd reason. Sometimes I think she forgets your a real little person. I think it's the pregnancy brain syndrome she talks about whenever she does something wrong like not put chemicals in the pool.
I think we decided to name you Harper. I hope you like it. It's a strong name. I'm going to take real good care of you and your mamma. I hope you are excited to meet us. Your mamma is beautiful. Her birthday is this week. She asked for some earrings but I got her something she is going to be so surprised about and love.
I hope you enjoy your little home with mamma for the next few mesters. She's taking real good care of you.
I love you
Daddy
Thursday, June 28, 2012
You Make Me So Proud...And Relieved
Dear Baby Holler,
I felt my first touch of parent's pride the first day I saw your heartbeat.
You were only 6 weeks and 2 days old, basically just a little nugget. At first, I was just so relieved that you HAD a heartbeat...I had been so worried about you. And then the ultrasound technician told me that even though your heart had only started beating a few days prior, you were already thundering away in there at 132 beats per minute. I knew from reading my pregnancy books that this was at the absolute tip-top of the healthy heartbeat range for babies in the 6th week. I was so proud of you for being so strong! I practically wanted a bumper sticker that told the world how healthy you were at just 6w2d: "Proud Parent of a 132bpm Baby!"
At 12 weeks, we had the NT scan, which as I mentioned before, checks all of your measurements to see if anything points to the possibility of an abnormality, such as Downs Syndrome. While I was SUPER relieved that you measured perfect, I knew that I wouldn't be totally worry-free until I had completed the 2-part bloodwork that is paired with the NT scan results to give you a final assessment, or a grade of health, if you will. I had the first bloodwork at 12 weeks, and then had to wait 4 long stupid weeks until I got the second round at 16 weeks. I finally got the call that your results were perfect, and so basically you got an A+! Extreme relief kicked in, and I was also so proud of you for being a fighter...For being so healthy. I asked the nurse what your Down's Syndrome risk is, and she said 1/10,000. And again, I was proud of you for being so healthy. I had been so worried - not necessarily that anything would be wrong with you - but that the test my come back with results that were not so much in our favor, and that I'd be faced with scary choices like doing an amnio (which carries a small increase in the chance of miscarriage)... But I am so proud of you for scoring so well on your test and not making me face those hard choices. And of course, your Daddy and I are just so happy that you're healthy.
Daddy was actually never worried. But you're inside of me. And I'm your Mommy. So it's my job to pretty much worry about you in there constantly. You share my blood, my food, and you rule my heart. You're all I think about, and my primary thoughts all the time are centered around getting you here as healthy and happy as possible.
Next week is my birthday, and you are the best birthday present I could ever have. That did not stop me from requesting earrings from Daddy (like I'd let him off the hook!), but they're your birthstone (blue topaz!), so that makes it okay!
That's it from the outside, Harper....
We love you,
Mommy (&Daddy)
I felt my first touch of parent's pride the first day I saw your heartbeat.
You were only 6 weeks and 2 days old, basically just a little nugget. At first, I was just so relieved that you HAD a heartbeat...I had been so worried about you. And then the ultrasound technician told me that even though your heart had only started beating a few days prior, you were already thundering away in there at 132 beats per minute. I knew from reading my pregnancy books that this was at the absolute tip-top of the healthy heartbeat range for babies in the 6th week. I was so proud of you for being so strong! I practically wanted a bumper sticker that told the world how healthy you were at just 6w2d: "Proud Parent of a 132bpm Baby!"
At 12 weeks, we had the NT scan, which as I mentioned before, checks all of your measurements to see if anything points to the possibility of an abnormality, such as Downs Syndrome. While I was SUPER relieved that you measured perfect, I knew that I wouldn't be totally worry-free until I had completed the 2-part bloodwork that is paired with the NT scan results to give you a final assessment, or a grade of health, if you will. I had the first bloodwork at 12 weeks, and then had to wait 4 long stupid weeks until I got the second round at 16 weeks. I finally got the call that your results were perfect, and so basically you got an A+! Extreme relief kicked in, and I was also so proud of you for being a fighter...For being so healthy. I asked the nurse what your Down's Syndrome risk is, and she said 1/10,000. And again, I was proud of you for being so healthy. I had been so worried - not necessarily that anything would be wrong with you - but that the test my come back with results that were not so much in our favor, and that I'd be faced with scary choices like doing an amnio (which carries a small increase in the chance of miscarriage)... But I am so proud of you for scoring so well on your test and not making me face those hard choices. And of course, your Daddy and I are just so happy that you're healthy.
Daddy was actually never worried. But you're inside of me. And I'm your Mommy. So it's my job to pretty much worry about you in there constantly. You share my blood, my food, and you rule my heart. You're all I think about, and my primary thoughts all the time are centered around getting you here as healthy and happy as possible.
Next week is my birthday, and you are the best birthday present I could ever have. That did not stop me from requesting earrings from Daddy (like I'd let him off the hook!), but they're your birthstone (blue topaz!), so that makes it okay!
That's it from the outside, Harper....
We love you,
Mommy (&Daddy)
Sunday, June 24, 2012
4 months Pregnant! And Pregnant People Problems....
Dear Baby Holler,
This past Friday, you and I hit 16 weeks, or 4 months. This sounds like a long time! It's really only 3.5 months that you've been in there, because the first 2 weeks of the cycle before you decided to bless us with your presence gets counted too:) I'm really glad that you weren't in there during those first 2 weeks because Daddy and I went to New Orleans for Aunt Lulu's wedding, and I did a lot of things that were not Baby Holler friendly! One day, when you are older, I will tell you about a place called Bourbon Street...
So you and I have been a team for 4 months, and the most exciting thing about that is that it's a lot easier for Daddy to say "Four months" whenever someone asks him how far along I am, instead of him squirming and blubbering and trying to remember how many weeks I am, only to come up with an answer such as, "She is in her second Mester." That's right, Baby Holler. He can't even say Trimester, he just gets so confused. So now we can just alert him when we hit a new month, and he is home-free for the next 4 weeks because all he has to remember is one number and the word "month." Let's hope that works out better for him.
In other news, I saw this video on YouTube that is a spiff of the tv show called "16 & Pregnant," and it's called "32 & Pregnant." It's important to note that Mommy is only 31, but I digress...The point of the video is basically that new Moms in their 30s are usually pretty established, and we have a whole different slew of problems to worry about...Watch the video to see, but I had to laugh because I'm getting wrapped up in similar life-or-death Pregnant People Problems- such as if the smallest size Baby Uggs will still be too big for you for your newborn photo shoot that I just booked with the best baby photographer in town!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPGEEE_1dLw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
That's all for now...
We love you, Harper!
Mommy
This past Friday, you and I hit 16 weeks, or 4 months. This sounds like a long time! It's really only 3.5 months that you've been in there, because the first 2 weeks of the cycle before you decided to bless us with your presence gets counted too:) I'm really glad that you weren't in there during those first 2 weeks because Daddy and I went to New Orleans for Aunt Lulu's wedding, and I did a lot of things that were not Baby Holler friendly! One day, when you are older, I will tell you about a place called Bourbon Street...
So you and I have been a team for 4 months, and the most exciting thing about that is that it's a lot easier for Daddy to say "Four months" whenever someone asks him how far along I am, instead of him squirming and blubbering and trying to remember how many weeks I am, only to come up with an answer such as, "She is in her second Mester." That's right, Baby Holler. He can't even say Trimester, he just gets so confused. So now we can just alert him when we hit a new month, and he is home-free for the next 4 weeks because all he has to remember is one number and the word "month." Let's hope that works out better for him.
In other news, I saw this video on YouTube that is a spiff of the tv show called "16 & Pregnant," and it's called "32 & Pregnant." It's important to note that Mommy is only 31, but I digress...The point of the video is basically that new Moms in their 30s are usually pretty established, and we have a whole different slew of problems to worry about...Watch the video to see, but I had to laugh because I'm getting wrapped up in similar life-or-death Pregnant People Problems- such as if the smallest size Baby Uggs will still be too big for you for your newborn photo shoot that I just booked with the best baby photographer in town!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPGEEE_1dLw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
That's all for now...
We love you, Harper!
Mommy
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
What is the name of the person I am crazy shopping for?
Dear Baby Holler,
Since we found out that you're a little pink monkey, we've went nuts over two things: 1.) Your name, and 2.) Shopping for you!
Daddy and I have read tens of millions of baby names by now, and the one that I loved from the start was Harper. But we nixed it pretty early because it started and ended with the same sounds as our last name. And we didn't want to name you something that you would hate us for.
But, it kept nagging at me. I started to think Harper Holler sounded cute and very celebrity-famous-person-changed-my-real-name-to-this-for-my-acting-career-like. I ran it by Daddy again. He thought a minute. "It doesn't flow.." he said. Dammit!
A few days later, still nagging at me. I couldn't find a name I liked better than Harper. And my eyeballs were falling out of my face from searching name lists. I ran it by Daddy again..."Are you SURE Harper Holler doesn't work?" He thought a minute. "It's grown on me a lot. I actually think it's really cute together." BOOM!!! Daddy's on board!!!!
We were toying with the name Avery as well. But let's face it, Avery is no Harper Holler.
I have also been poring over middle names, and Daddy and I really like Harper Sophia Holler. So right now, it's looking like that's the name you'll hear 1 billion million times in your life:)
Now, onto your wardrobe that children across the globe will be envious of... Here's a small sample just to get you excited about being born a baby fashion icon:
Uggs... Tan to match mine, and pink...well, because you're a fashion icon.
Also, Daddy wears fancy jeans (ok, so do I, just a different designer), and I found a super tiny mini version of Seven For All Mankind jeans at the Nordstrom outlet...So you and Daddy can match!
We couldn't resist leggings with a little tutu attached from Baby Gap:
I also found these RIDICULOUS cute hats on Etsy, since Daddy and I both love hats, and even Daddy was like, "Yeah, she definitely needs those...". They're going to be so cute for your newborn pics!!!!
Are you excited yet, Harper????
And finally, here's what you and I looked like at 15w1d, on our way to SHOP at Baby Gap for you (Daddy picked you out some good stuff!):
Daddy left today for 3 weeks...Booooooo!!!! He had to go back to work so we can keep shopping:) It's just us girls for a while...
That's today's update, Baby Harper Holler!
Love,
Mommy
Since we found out that you're a little pink monkey, we've went nuts over two things: 1.) Your name, and 2.) Shopping for you!
Daddy and I have read tens of millions of baby names by now, and the one that I loved from the start was Harper. But we nixed it pretty early because it started and ended with the same sounds as our last name. And we didn't want to name you something that you would hate us for.
But, it kept nagging at me. I started to think Harper Holler sounded cute and very celebrity-famous-person-changed-my-real-name-to-this-for-my-acting-career-like. I ran it by Daddy again. He thought a minute. "It doesn't flow.." he said. Dammit!
A few days later, still nagging at me. I couldn't find a name I liked better than Harper. And my eyeballs were falling out of my face from searching name lists. I ran it by Daddy again..."Are you SURE Harper Holler doesn't work?" He thought a minute. "It's grown on me a lot. I actually think it's really cute together." BOOM!!! Daddy's on board!!!!
We were toying with the name Avery as well. But let's face it, Avery is no Harper Holler.
I have also been poring over middle names, and Daddy and I really like Harper Sophia Holler. So right now, it's looking like that's the name you'll hear 1 billion million times in your life:)
Now, onto your wardrobe that children across the globe will be envious of... Here's a small sample just to get you excited about being born a baby fashion icon:
Uggs... Tan to match mine, and pink...well, because you're a fashion icon.
Also, Daddy wears fancy jeans (ok, so do I, just a different designer), and I found a super tiny mini version of Seven For All Mankind jeans at the Nordstrom outlet...So you and Daddy can match!
We couldn't resist leggings with a little tutu attached from Baby Gap:
I also found these RIDICULOUS cute hats on Etsy, since Daddy and I both love hats, and even Daddy was like, "Yeah, she definitely needs those...". They're going to be so cute for your newborn pics!!!!
Are you excited yet, Harper????
And finally, here's what you and I looked like at 15w1d, on our way to SHOP at Baby Gap for you (Daddy picked you out some good stuff!):
Daddy left today for 3 weeks...Booooooo!!!! He had to go back to work so we can keep shopping:) It's just us girls for a while...
That's today's update, Baby Harper Holler!
Love,
Mommy
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