The Sweet Life

Gotta Love a Giveaway!

2010-08-31T18:52:00.004-05:00

Have I mentioned that I love Caden Lane? I fell in love with their nursery bedding and it just keeps getting better. They've really expanded their line to fun things like towels, bibs, spill mats, blankets, diaper bags, on and on. And they recently added their new Boutique Collection.

As if I needed another reason to love Caden Lane, they are having a giveaway! Today is the last day to enter so hurry up and get those entries in. You can find more information about their contest on their blog: www.cadenlane.com/blog. My fingers are crossed!

There was a tree.

2010-08-23T20:39:00.006-05:00

Once upon a time there was a tree, key word being was. Earlier this year we picked out a tree for Harper. It was a beautiful Chinese Pistache and we planted it in the backyard and cared for it. We loved our new little tree and we have a wonderful memory of picking it out together as a family. I thought I had blogged about picking out the tree but I couldn't find it, oh well. Short story is we rode around the nursery on a golf cart with a dead battery and almost had to walk back and Harper pooped her pants. We changed her in the trunk of Judy's car. To onlookers it probably looked bad but I tell you what, it just might be the most convenient place to change a diaper. Anyways, Harper's tree didn't make it. Blame it on global warming and our 100+ degree summer but the poor thing just couldn't survive. It's quite sad really. There it sits in our bare backyard with a few brown shriveled leaves still hanging on for dear life. I would take a picture but it's too depressing (and it's getting dark). Good news is that the tree had a warranty and we are going to pick out a new one this fall and have it planted in it's place. If they'll let us, we will keep the old tree and cut it up to be used as wood for our chiminea and have some sort of cremation ceremony.

In honor of our fallen tree, here is Harper's favorite song on the VeggieTales Backyard Party CD.

The Green Grass Grew All Around

There was a tree (There was a tree) 

A pretty little tree (A pretty little tree) 

The prettiest tree (The prettiest tree) 

That you ever did see (That you ever did see)  

Oh, the tree in a hole 

And the hole in the ground 

And the green grass grew all around, all around 

And the green grass grew all around  

Now on this tree (Now on this tree) 

There was a limb (There was a limb) 

The prettiest limb (The prettiest limb) 

That you ever did see (That you ever did see)  

Oh, the limb on the tree, 

And the tree in a hole 

And the hole in the ground 

And the green grass grew all around, all around 

And the green grass grew all around

Now on this limb (Now on this limb) 

There was a branch (There was a branch) 

The prettiest branch (The prettiest branch) 

That you ever did see (That you ever did see)  

Oh, the branch on the limb, 

And the limb on the tree, 

And the tree in a hole 

And the hole in the ground 

And the green grass grew all around, all around 

And the green grass grew all around  

Now on this branch (Now on this branch) 

There was a nest (There was a nest) 

The prettiest nest (The prettiest nest) 

That you ever did see (That you ever did see)  

Oh, the nest on the branch,  

And the branch on the limb, 

And the limb on the tree, 

and the tree in a hole 

And the hole in the ground 

And the green grass grew all around, all around 

And the green grass grew all around  

Now in this nest (Now in this nest) 

There was a egg (There was a egg) 

The prettiest egg (The prettiest egg) 

That you ever did see (That you ever did see)  

Oh, the egg in the nest, 

And the nest on the branch,  

And the branch on the limb, 

And the limb on the tree,

 and the tree in a hole 

And the hole in the ground 

And the green grass grew all around, all around 

And the green grass grew all around 

Now in this egg (Now in this egg)

There was a bird (There was a bird) 

The prettiest bird (The prettiest bird) 

That you ever did see (That you ever did see)  

Oh, the bird in the egg,

And the egg in the nest, 

And the nest on the branch,  

And the branch on the limb, 

And the limb on the tree, 

and the tree in a hole 

And the hole in the ground 

And the green grass grew all around, all around 

And the green grass grew all around  

Now on this bird (Now on this bird) 

There was a feather (There was a feather) 

The prettiest feather (The prettiest feather) 

That you ever did see (That you ever did see)  

Oh, the feather on the bird, 

And the bird in the egg,

And the egg in the nest, 

And the nest on the branch,  

And the branch on the limb, 

And the limb on the tree, 

and the tree in a hole 

And the hole in the ground 

And the green grass grew all around, all around 

And the green grass grew all around

6 months

2010-07-23T22:09:00.005-05:00

Stats

Weight: 15 lbs 3 oz (31%)

Height: 26" (59%)

Head Circumference: 42 1/2 cm (50%)

Good news is her head is in better proportion to her body and she's growing in length. Bad news, the doctor assured me it's really not bad news, is that she's dropped in percentile in weight. I was assured she's perfectly healthy and not to worry but I can't help but fear she's not eating enough. I'll just tell myself she has a really high metabolism.

Shots

Same 3 as last time, she took them like a champ and seems to be feeling just fine. Her next appointment is in 4 months and the best part-no shots!

Eating

This month we started rice cereal and she's also had oatmeal. She's done very well with both so after getting the ok from her doctor, we tried carrots tonight. She did very well and ate them all up! Back when Rachel and Finley stayed with us, Rachel showed me how to make food for Harper, and by make food I mean cook it, puree it, and freeze it in ice cube trays. It made me feel really good knowing the carrots I was feeding her were organic with no added preservatives, sugar, or salt. And they actually taste (and look) waaaay better than jarred baby food.

Tricks

Rolling over both ways like a pro. She actually prefers to be on her tummy now which is a bit of a surprise considering she wanted nothing to do with it for a long time. One downside to this new trick is that it has made diaper changes a bit more challenging.

She can manage to get the pacifier in her mouth when we hand it to her.

She's discovered how to turn herself around in her jumper and she actually plays with the different components rather than staring at herself in the mirror and river dancing. Lately, she's discovering how to entertain herself whether it's with toys or her hands and feet.

She continues to excel in swim lessons and it makes me so happy that she enjoys the water because I do too!

Just in the last few days she's been working on her m's. She watches me and presses her lips together and says mmmmm. Occasionally she manages to add the 'a' at the end and we get what sounds like 'ma'. Yesterday, James is my witness, she said 'ma-ma'. Of course James was in her face making her laugh when she did it so she may be slightly confused. Nonetheless, we are very proud of her!

One of her new favorite toys is Zeke. Whenever he enters the rooms, her eyes light up and she's glued to him. I tried sitting her down on the ground within reach and she had no fear and went right for his mouth. He didn't seem to mind and he just licked her hands while she squealed in delight. She also gets a kick out of grabbing his ears. It's great to seem them bonding. I will work on getting this on film, it's so cute!

Harper and her cousin Bella taking a ride on Zeke.

Harper's Half Birthday

2010-07-19T15:47:00.006-05:00

6 months ago today, on January 19, I remember waking James up to tell him I was having contractions and that I was going to take a warm shower to relax but not to worry. And then when I told him he should probably get ready to go to the hospital he insisted on taking a shower too. As we drove to the hospital through the frozen fog at 3:30 in the morning, I don't think either of us knew what to expect. I remember calling our families on our way to the hospital telling them not to hurry, it will probably be hours before anything happens and we would call them later. In the back of my mind, I thought I would be sent home and we would come back the next day for my scheduled induction. Thankfully, they got ready and headed to the hospital.

Shortly after we arrived at the hospital (45 minutes later), Harper was born and we began our journey as a family of 3. It was love at first sight. I studied her features while she slept, instead of sleeping myself-I didn't want to miss a thing. A yawn, opening of her eyes, her adorable stretches, and the infamous 'Harper Dance'. I couldn't take my eyes off her. At that moment I knew my life had been changed forever.

What a ride the past 6 months have been. We've had sleepless nights, 3 am car rides when nothing else would calm her down, a memorable road trip to Kansas City to meet Uncle Jon and Cousin Bella, our first Valentines Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, 4th of July among other holidays, visits from wonderful friends and family, play dates, and many firsts-first snow storm, first smile, first bottle, first diaper explosion, first time holding her head up, first laugh, first time rolling over, first taste of rice cereal. Every day for the past 6 months has been a first and just when I think I can't possibly love her any more, I do. I'm having so much fun watch her grow and develop, I wish I knew what she was thinking sometimes. Like the other day, she was perfectly content looking at her hands for 15 minutes. She would touch her fingers together and look at the front and back of her hands and slowly bring them to her mouth and back out again. I'm so proud of all that she has accomplished in her first 6 months of life.

Being a mommy so far has been beyond my expectations. We have been blessed with such a wonderful baby. Harper, I love you and I am so thankful God gave you to us! "Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17.

Beautiful memories from 6 months ago today...enjoy!

Happy Anniversary!

2010-07-11T07:25:00.005-05:00

Happy 50th Anniversary to the beloved American classic "To Kill A Mockingbird." And why is this special? The author is Harper Lee, of course! I have been asked if we named Harper after the author, we didn't. She's not actually named after anyone or for anything. At the time, my office was working on a project for the Anthony-Harper school district and I began to like the name. It's unique, not bazaar (pun intended), spelled just like it sounds, no crazy nicknames...yet, though kids can be quite creative, with the middle name Anne she won't be confused for a boy, and it starts with the letter H! For years I have felt left out of the Jost family, and my family for that matter. Judy, Jonathan, James Jost...Kimberly, Kingston, Kyle, HILLARY Koser. I have broken the cycle!

So, happy anniversary Harper Lee and happy 'almost' 6 months Harper Anne.

Pregnancy Journey

2010-07-08T21:13:00.002-05:00

I couldn't resist making a video after I saw Rachel's and Jessi's. It seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant. Sometimes I miss my big belly and 'butterflies', oh and not having to do manual labor and having an excuse to sleep all the time! Those were the days...

Independence Day

2010-07-05T20:09:00.002-05:00

We enjoyed a weekend of BBQ(s), family, friends, and FIREWORKS!

Big fireworks=no problem for Harper which is a good thing considering we have a few closet pyros in the family. As long as I held her close and covered her ears for the bigBIG ones, Harper enjoyed fireworks Saturday and Sunday evening. Her favorites included the never ending fountain, roman candles, and sparklers.

Our freedom isn't free-thank you to all the men and women and their families that have made sacrifices to serve our country, past and present.

(We thought Judy was taking our picture, we didn't realize it was a video at first hence the slight awkwardness).

5 months

2010-06-23T19:44:00.006-05:00

New tricks: Rolling over both ways very efficiently. Harper has turned into a tummy sleeper, funny since until recently she didn’t like being on her tummy at all. When I lay her down in her crib it doesn’t take but a few seconds before she’s flopped over onto her tummy. It’s funny to go into her room in the morning and find her propped up on her elbows looking around smiling from ear to ear.

This week we started rice cereal. At first I gave her small, thinned out amounts. She seemed to like it, so each day I gradually gave her more and used less milk. She only gets cereal once a day, usually in the evenings and I will still nurse her before she goes to bed. It’s fun introducing new foods but at the same time, I wish she would stop growing so fast. Next month we will start the vegetables Rachel and I made when she stayed with us.

Harper is a gymnast. She can get her feet into her mouth, not at the same time though she tries hard! She loves sucking on her toes and when she’s had enough sucking, she just hugs her legs to her chest. This new trick has come in handy during diaper changes, I don’t have to hold her feet up anymore to wipe her tush!

She’s beginning to take out her pacifier and hold onto it. She’s made attempts to put it back in but she hasn’t quite mastered that yet.

Her favorite activities still include her jumper, her swing though I don’t lower the tray because then she can’t get her feet in her mouth and that makes her mad, her bumbo chair and tray-I put her teething rings on the tray and she goes to town, rolling around on the floor, watching baby Einstein videos-My First Signs, and Baby MacDonald.

Celebrating Father's Day

2010-06-20T19:57:00.003-05:00

To celebrate Father's day we went to Stearman with my Dad, my brother Kyle, Rachel, Finley, and the Grimmers. There was a huge fly-in event and the runway was lined with planes and you could check out some of the fancy hangars. We walked around for a bit and had lunch. It was hot but well worth it to see all the planes coming and going. Sunday evening we went to dinner with Gary (James’ dad) and Janet. Dinner was a bit of a disaster but everyone was a good sport, including Harper. I’m thankful to have so many wonderful fathers in my life.

Harper's wild about daddy.

Harper and her Papa Gary.

Tutu

2010-06-12T18:10:00.002-05:00

Since the day Harper was born, I have wanted to buy her a tutu. A pink, girly, tutu. They're super cute, fun to photograph, and completely unpractical. She's just learning to roll over, what makes you think she can twirl yet?

Since the day Harper was born, James refused to buy Harper a tutu (he also won't let me paint her toe nails). They're too girly and completely unpractical.

We are going to have family photos taken this summer by Tim Davis and I've been talking nonstop about wanting to find a tutu for the photo shoot. My manipulation convincing has paid off and James bought her a tutu! A fluffy, soft, hot pink tutu! I'm even more impressed that he didn't cave in and say "just go buy her one" rather he went by himself and picked one out that he approved of. This makes me so happy. Not only is he no longer denying our daughter of living every girl's fantasy of being a baby ballerina, he wanted to give me her that dream himself. A lot of people told me just go buy her one despite him not approving but I don't like going behind my husband's back to get what I want. We can usually come to a compromise and we have learned to pick out battles. By the way, I was going to fight this battle. Next up...painting her toe nails...

Thank you honey for Harper's new tutu!

Pool Rat

2010-06-06T18:21:00.000-05:00

Stearman

2010-06-05T10:08:00.008-05:00

Our new favorite place to visit on the weekends is Stearman Field in Benton. They recently opened a bar & grill in a hangar right off the small runway. The restaurant is simple but well done with airplane parts and memorabilia on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. They are known for their burgers and they have a decent beer selection on tap. Next time we are there I'll take some pictures. There are several private hangars located right on the runway, and there is even a local resident that has a hangar on their property across the street and we've seen them drive their planes over and take off right in front of the restaurant. There is also an outdoor patio and an outdoor stage for live music on the weekends. Every third Saturday of the month they have fly ins for breakfast except for June, it's an all day event complete with a band, skydiving show, and fireworks. Rachel, Sol and Finley will be in town so maybe we can convince them to go for breakfast. Whether you are into planes or not, it really is a neat place to visit.

The pilot of this little red one was about our age and his hobby is flying. His plane goes 200 mph and he was doing all sorts of flips and tricks. After a quick stop to refuel, he strapped on his parachute and took off down the runway leaving a trail of smoke.

For $150, you can go up in this one for 30 minutes.

The noise doesn't seem to bother Harper. I think she likes looking at the bright colors and she will watch them land and take off.

Red fish, blue fish

2010-06-04T14:00:00.000-05:00

Harper went for her first swim! I took her to the neighborhood pool with Kourtney and her kids, Will and Parker. There is no documentation of her actual swim, just this 'after' photo. Despite the water being a little cooler than her nice warm bath, she did very well. She was clingy but never fussed. I absolutely adore her swimsuit and she has a cover up to match. She also has a cute pair of sunglasses that I forgot to bring which would have been nice to have (bad mommy). I've been having a hard time finding little swimmers diapers for her size. These are 1. too big and 2. not flattering. So if any mommies know where I could find XS swim diapers, let me know! In July, she will begin swim lessons at the Y. I'm more excited now that I know she likes being in the water. Also, mommy could use a tan!

Kiss and make it better

2010-05-29T10:13:00.003-05:00

Harper is doing very well this morning after her shots, unlike last time. She slept more than usual yesterday afternoon and last night she slept through the night. She got her last dose of Tylenol yesterday evening around 6 and hasn't been running a fever. I'm so glad she's doing better this time, it made me so sad to see her so miserable after her 2 month shots. On tap for today, BBQ at Barry & Paige's to break in their new deck. Yummy!

4 months

2010-05-28T22:17:00.004-05:00

Last Wednesday, May 19, Harper turned 4 months old. Her check up was today and here are her stats:

Weight: 13 lbs. 10 oz/42%

Length: 24 3/4 in/60%

Head: 42 cm/75%

Shots: 3 :(

A few weeks ago, I had to take Harper in to see Dr. Hund because she developed a rash all over her arms, legs, and tummy. Turns out she has Eczema. He prescribed a hydrocortizone cream which we use twice a day. It seems to be helping but I notice if I skip a day, it starts to come back. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to bother her much.

Other milestones:

Rolling over tummy to back

Soft coos are things of the past, she yells! She loves to hear her voice.

She is grabbing for her toys

She likes sitting up in her bumbo chair and jumper. I put them right in font of a big mirror and she goes to town. We've also noticed she doesn't 'jump' on both feet, she alternates feet hopping from one to the other. It's as if she's trying to river dance.

She thinks everything is funny and she has the cutest little laugh, it's my new favorite sound.

She still sleeps through the night and on occasion I catch her waking up and talking to herself for 10-15 minutes before falling back asleep. She’s a hoot.

She loves the tv, is that bad? It’s become a distraction while I’m feeding her so I have to turn it off which stinks because that’s when I would catch up on my recorded shows.

She knows her family. It’s fun to see our parents interact with her because she lights up.

Her leg strength is amazing. While on her changing pad, she lifts her legs up and throws them down. Hard. James calls it the Hulk Stomp.

She’s a drooler. I’m waiting for her to start teething any minute. While we were at the doctors office they gave us a teething pacifier for when she does start.

She’s started to grab for her feet though she can’t quite reach them. If she’s wearing pants, she’ll grab onto the pant legs and try to pull her feet to her mouth. Another reason why I think she’s rolling onto her side, it’s an attempt to get her feet.

Somebody loves me...

2010-05-27T22:09:00.002-05:00

I'm sure there is still someone in Las Vegas that loves Harper but I know someone in Tucson loves her too. Miss you Aunt Jessi.

Babies, The Movie (May 16, 2010)

2010-05-21T12:28:00.004-05:00

I'm really behind on posting so this weekend my goal is to get caught up. A lot has been going on and unless I document what we've been up to, I'll forget.

Once upon a time, last Sunday we took Harper to her first movie at the Warren. I had heard about the Babies documentary and several reviews suggesting that babies would enjoy seeing it because they like watching other babies including reflections of themselves in mirrors. I was a little hesitant taking her and we invited my mom and Judy along for the matinee. Harper is a very good baby and I expected her to do fairly well but I was prepared for her to be hungry, fussy, or sleep through the entire thing but she didn’t. She sat in my lap the majority of the time and actually watched. She was kicking, waving her hands and babbled some. At one point she did get a little squirmy and Judy took her down the stairs and stood with her but she continued to watch the big screen. She did fall asleep right at the end. Now that I know she does well at the movie theater, we may have to start taking her to more movies. I think it’s all in the timing.

As for my thoughts on the movie: I was disappointed. I was expecting some narration or subtitles even. The footage was beautiful and the babies were cute but it left something to be desired. I was also surprised at the family selected to represent America, not what I would have chosen. All in all, I feel very blessed to be raising a baby in America and to have such luxuries as diapers!

Harper in her Sunday clothes, matching bow of course.

Lazy Saturday with mommy. Her Adidas suite is one of my favorite outfits, I'm tempted to go buy another one when she grows out of this one.

Roly Poly

2010-05-17T13:19:00.001-05:00

My baby is going up so fast, too fast! Today she rolled over for the first time from her tummy to her back. Generally, she doesn’t like being on her tummy but the past few days she’s been able to tolerate it. I was at work on Monday and had to run home over lunch which isn’t typical but I also had to drop off more milk for Harper at Judy’s. While I was playing with Harper, I wanted to show Judy how she enjoyed being on her tummy so I flipped her over and within seconds she rolled herself over. In shock, I flipped her over again to make sure she had really rolled over on her own without my help. Sure enough she did it a couple more times before getting tired and frustrated. She obviously wasn’t as excited as we were. Turns out I had my video camera with me but I didn’t think to get it out so I will try my best to catch her doing it again. She's rolled over once since and the other morning I caught her trying to roll over from her back to her tummy. It’s so cute. She kicks her legs in the air and throws them to one side. She doesn’t quite have enough momentum to get all the way over but I have a feeling she’ll figure it out soon...and then she’ll be walking, talking, dating, going to college, getting married, having kids. Woah. I’m not ready for her to grow up yet. Stay a baby forever!

On this day

2010-05-12T19:25:00.004-05:00

May 12, 2009

May 12, 2010

1 year ago today I found out I was pregnant. At the time, I had no idea how much my life would change. We were excited, scared, and a little unsure of what we got ourselves into. Is this really what we wanted? Is this the right time? We have been blessed with an angel and she has made our lives so much brighter. I am overflowing with a love for her I never thought possible. I feel fulfilled, enriched, blessed beyond belief, and thankful to be Harper's mommy. No one could have prepared me for this feeling of overwhelming love. Sure, some days are difficult and exhausting but it's nothing compared to the reward. God knew what he was doing and I am thankful for this precious gift.

Harper's MANY boyfriends

2010-04-26T21:04:00.003-05:00

Against her daddy's wishes, Harper has MANY boyfriends. I guess she got the 'boy crazy' gene from her mommy. Just to clear up who's got dibs, here's a timeline of Harper's dating history so far.

First boyfriend: Graham Young
Age: 2 days younger than Harper
First date: 6 weeks
Date consisted of playing on Harper's play mat followed by lunch
Why they're destined to be together: Graham and Harper's mommy had the same doctor and saw each other in the waiting room before each appointment. I guess you could say this relationship began long before they were born. The day we left the hospital, Dr. Feuille came in to release me right before he delivered Graham.

Second boyfriend: Edmund Woods
Age: 1 week younger than Harper
First date: 7 weeks
On their first date, Edmund and Harper went for a walk around the Andover campus while taking very long naps. After their naps, they played for a bit. Harper played hard to get.
Why they're destined to be together: They are both members of the second generation BSC. I couldn't have made it through pregnancy without my friend Carrie by my side. We compared notes, and still do. Edmund is rolling over, maybe he could teach Harper some tricks.

Third boyfriend: Isaac Graham
Age: 1 month older than Harper
First date: 3 months
Harper and Isaac met at the WSU v. KSU baseball game.
Why they're destined to be together: Even though Isaac was wearing the wrong colors, Harper thought he was pretty cute and like her mommy, she has a thing for older boys (sorry Graham and Edmund). Isaac was adopted by his parents, Melissa and Justin (a co-worker of mine). He's a lucky boy to have such awesome parents.

Future boyfriend #4: Finley Scott
Age: 1 year
First date: June 2010
Finley and his parents, Sol and Rachel, will be staying with us for Allie's wedding in June. This will be Harper's first sleep over but we've told her they have to stay in separate rooms. She may have many boyfriends but she's still a lady.
Why they're destined to be together: Harper likes cowboys and how could she resist this?

The best 3 months of my life...so far.

2010-04-19T19:56:00.003-05:00

It's hard to believe 3 months ago, we were in the hospital holding our baby girl for the first time. Our lives would never be the same. She's growing so fast and learning so much. Her favorite toy right now is her hand. She prefers to suck on it over her pacifier, which I'm ok with. She's a drooler like her mommy, and can fart with the best of them. She smiles more every day and mimics our facial expressions. I need to stop buying clothes for her because she has so many but girls are sooo much fun to shop for! Her leg strength is amazing. I keep joking that she'll walk before she crawls. She has no interest in being on her tummy or rolling over but she loves her bumbo chair and jumper. Her hair still sticks straight up, no matter how much I wet it down but I love it. Gives her character. I also can't put the camera down. She's so much fun to photograph and she has so many different facial expressions. Happy 3 month birthday baby!

"Surprised and Confused"

Harper and her puppy, Buddy. A dear friend of mine, Julie from Las Vegas, gave us this outfit. I think it makes Harper look sassy!

Pirate booty! This onsie came all the way from Christina in the Cayman Islands. Cayman is very special to mommy and daddy and we hope to take Harper there soon.

I've got nothin'

2010-04-12T21:10:00.003-05:00

I have run out of things to say. Ok, that's not true. I'm too exhausted to post but I realized tonight I'm a little behind posting pictures. So enjoy the following photos from Easter and picking out Harper's tree, which is one of the coolest gifts. Thank you Gary and Janet! Now every spring, we will take pictures with Harper in front of her tree to show how big it and she have grown. It's a Chinese Pistache and it will be planted this Wednesday-photos to come.

Marking the tree...SOLD!

New tradition of dying eggs on Easter. I'm looking forward to an Easter Egg hunt next year!

Mommy & Harper in her beautiful Easter dress and bow.

Harper looooves Uncle Kyle!

Grandma Maggie and Harper!

Priceless!

Happy Easter

2010-04-02T22:08:00.002-05:00

Happy Easter from our little Easter bunny.

Thank you Ana for the cute bunny towel.

Shots

2010-03-27T11:35:00.003-05:00

At Harper's 2 month check up, which was actually at 9 weeks (you have to be technical with their age, a lot happens in 1 week to these little bodies) she got her first round of shots. She did receive 2 in the hospital within hours of being born but I don't count those because I didn't have to suffer through them with her.

I hate shots. They make my palms sweat and my stomach turn. I usually pass out which surprisingly never once happened while I was pregnant, maybe I'm getting over my fear. But I was so nervous going into Thursday's appointment. I've heard different stories of how babies react so I was prepared or at least I thought I was. Before receiving her shots, I gave her the doctor recommended dosage of infant Tylenol and fed her half a bottle of 'liquid gold'. She was so happy cooing and kicking for the doctor and nurse and once the physical routine was over, I knew what was coming next. Poor Harper didn't. They laid her on the table and I cupped her head in my hands and kissed her forehead. Once the first needle went in her face turned bright red, her mouth opened and nothing came out for a few seconds and then I heard the most blood curling scream! She got 3 shots total and as soon as the nurse finished, I picked her up and held her to my chest. She eventually calmed down and she finished her bottle. I thought we were in the clear...thought.

She fell asleep during the car ride back to the office and slept soundly till about 6 that evening...when she woke up screaming. I assumed the Tylenol had worn off so I gave her another dose. That evening we went out to eat and though she fussed a little bit by the time we got home she was sleepy. The following day, Friday-our mommy-daughter day, she did alright but she did have a few outbursts. Like in the middle of grocery shopping at Target. Things took a turn that evening. She suddenly became very unhappy and refused to nurse, take a bottle or pacifier which is unlike her. I took her into her room to rock her thinking maybe she was just worn out. That's when she threw up. James grabbed the thermometer and yep, she had a mild fever. We immediately gave her a dose of Tylenol and changed her clothing and wiped her down with a damp face cloth. She eventually stopped crying and nursed and went to bed. Last night she slept 8 hours. I nursed her this morning when she woke up and she went right back to bed. She's still sleeping...

Poor baby, I hope she has a better day today.

State of the Baby

2010-03-25T17:42:00.003-05:00

Harper Anne Jost

Age: 9 weeks 2 days

Weight: 11 lbs 4 oz

Height: 23"

Head cir.: 39 1/2 cm

Eating: Plenty

Sleeping: 7 hours at night

Favorite game: Playing on her play mat and kicking Mr. Alligator

Bunny slippers courtesy of Aunt Jessi

Trip to Kansas City

2010-03-24T20:24:00.006-05:00

This past weekend we went to Kansas City to celebrate Judy's birthday with Jon and Bella who flew in from Nashville. We stayed on the Plaza and had a wonderful time together. Jon and Bella met Harper for the first time and we experienced a rare spring snow. Despite being cold, it was beautiful. Selfishly, I wish Jon and Bella would move back to Kansas. Maybe some day...

Here are a few snapshots of the weekend. Enjoy!

Bella seeing Harper for the first time. Minutes after this picture was taken, Harper blew out her diaper in true Harper form. At least she waited till after we got out of the car.

Bella really wanted to hold Harper, so finally when it was just the three of us I positioned Bella and laid Harper in her lap. I told the others and within minutes, cameras were out and we snapped this great daddy/daughter photo. Priceless.

The snow forced us inside so we found a mall and Ga'ma took the girls on the carousel ride.

I was on a mission to find the girls matching outfits.

World's best cousin.

Awwww.

Social Butterfly

2010-02-27T12:28:00.004-06:00

To keep my sanity, we try to get out of the house as often as we can and while I can't document every occasion, here are a few photos we've taken recently out and about:

At Gama's surprise birthday party. Sleeping...

Visiting daddy at the Andover Y Bikeathon. James rode 100 miles and Harper came to cheer him on. Rhonda, you can't tell but she is wearing her Livestrong shirt!

Harper meeting her friend Alisa Turk (2 mo.). Amy, Leslie, and I got together with the kiddos to catch up. Harper and Alisa were due about the same time but Alisa came 4 weeks early. Check out all that hair! Harper is jealous.

Mommy and Harper at Deanna's birthday party at Yia Yia's. Harper slept the whole time. Before we know it she'll be throwing mashed potatoes and banging silverware on the table demanding MORE MILK!

Harper and daddy ready for bed. You would think all the partying would have her worn out, quite the opposite. She sleeps through most outings and wakes up when we put her in her PJ's. Here she is plotting to stay up till 3am like most nights. That little stinker!

I'm back!

2010-02-20T18:10:00.004-06:00

This is my excuse for not blogging the last month (or so)-

Isn't she precious? We think so! I can't believe Harper is already one month old. I wish I could slow down time because it's already going by way too fast. Each day it seems she has a new expression or sound. It's obvious she knows who I am when she looks at me, I love the bond that we share. Despite being sleep deprived, we are doing well. She really is a good baby, if only she could get her nights/days straightened out. Currently, she likes to be awake late at night into the early hours of the morning but then she'll sleep for 5-6 hours. A friend recommended reading Baby Wise to help her establish more of a schedule so I've started reading it and today was day one. Basically, the idea is to have 2 1/2-3 hour cycles consisting of eating, playing, napping except for at night we are to feed her and put her to bed without play time. I think our biggest struggle will be keeping her awake for play time after her feedings because she typically falls asleep during her feedings and it's very difficult to wake her. She takes after her daddy, he can sleep through anything (including Harper's 2am wake up calls). Thankfully, we've had a lot of support from family, friends, and neighbors who have come over to watch Harper so I can shower, run errands, and do basic house chores. We've also been able to get out of the house quite a bit with trips to Target, church, going out to eat, and Shocker basketball games. I may be exhausted but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Being a mommy is AWESOME. It's also time consuming so while I'm busy being a mommy, I'll try to do a better job of keeping the blog updated. Until next time, here are some more photos (since that's all you really want anyway)!

My favorite! 3 days old.

Chubby cheeks! 1 1/2 weeks.

2 1/2 weeks.

Like father, like daughter. 3 weeks.

Pretty in pink. 3 weeks.

Introducing Miss Harper Anne Jost

2010-01-22T10:27:00.000-06:00

Week (or two) in review

2009-12-28T19:26:00.007-06:00

Highlights from the last 2 weeks:

36 week Dr. appointment went well though I was not dilated and still measuring 2 weeks big. Not that I was disappointed by any means, at the time we were still trying to get the nursery ready and pack my hospital bag.

Carpet has been installed, Kyle has moved downstairs, and the nursery furniture arrived. The room has come together very quickly but it looks great! The rocker won't arrive till the end of January and I have yet to put anything on the walls but we're getting there.

BSC Christmas party 2009 was a small gathering this year but it's always good to see everyone and catch up. Jessi was also in town so I got to spend some time with her, twice.

Courtney, Rhonda, Hillary, Amy, Katie

And then came Christmas! The Jost family, Judy, Jon, Bella, James, and I, lit the Christ candle and read scripture at the Christmas eve service. Considering we hadn't really practiced much and we were dealing with a 3 year old it went really well! I have the service on DVD if anyone wants to see it. Christmas Eve we had Christmas at the Koser's complete with our traditional fondue dinner. This year Judy, Jon, and Bella joined us. We also acknowledged this was James' 11th Christmas fondue dinner with us. One of the highlights of the evening was the chocolate fountain malfunction. It was still good though!

Note: I look huge!

The following morning we celebrated Christmas with Judy and we got new point and shoot cameras and Bella was entertained with her new baby doll and doll house. The rest of the day we spent eating, napping...eating some more, and we had a great game of mexican train dominos with my parents too. It truly was a wonderful day and James and I feel so blessed to have such great families.

Saturday we had Christmas with Gary and Janet. As always, we had a wonderful meal and assortment of cookies, Grandma's famous chocolate chip cookies included! I managed to take a 36 1/2 week photo with their electric blue Christmas tree, it's so beautiful!

I couldn't resist, the cutest lil' crack I've ever seen!

And that brings us to today-I had my 37 week appointment and I have started to dilate! It will probably be another week or two but we're ready. Bags are packed, pack n' play is in the bedroom, her bed is made, all the clothes and blankets have been washed. They say time slows down in the last few weeks but I feel like I've been in fast forward mode. It won't be much longer now!

35 weeks and growing

2009-12-14T21:00:00.005-06:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words which is a good thing because I'm too pooped to post. I'm feeling pretty good though and I'm looking forward to a weekend at the spa thanks to Gary and Janet, what a great birthday gift!

Wednesday James will be celebrating his 29th birthday. One of the things I love about James is the fact that he may only be a year from turning the big 3-0 but he's still a kid at heart. When I look at him, I still see the fun loving boy I met 12 years ago and who would have thought 12 years ago I was going to marry that boy? Well, 4 years ago this Thursday I married that boy and he has grown into a loving husband and soon to be a father. What a journey we have been on together and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for our family.

October 15, 2004

December 17, 2005

Picture Day

2009-12-10T17:59:00.005-06:00

Wednesday was picture day at the doctor for Baby J. She wore her birthday suit-naturally!

Look at those chubby cheeks! She gets them from her mama.

Profile of her head. Poor thing is all squished up in there!

They estimate her current weight to be 5 lb 9 oz which is very normal. I'm still measuring 3 weeks big though they say I'm "all baby". I think we can expect her to arrive closer to her due date but we'll still be prepared. Painting is underway in the basement, doors and trim arrive tomorrow and will be installed the beginning of next week, carpet arrives Thursday, and nursery furniture will be delivered Friday afternoon. Whew, we're getting closer!

Thankful

2009-12-02T18:22:00.007-06:00

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, a few days late, I am thankful for many reasons this year and here are just a few.

I am thankful to be back in Wichita near our families and to have a beautiful home. We celebrated 1 year of home ownership on November 21st. For all your real estate needs, contact Maggie Koser. She's the best Realtor anyone could ask for, and I'm lucky enough to call her Mom!

Ready for Christmas!

I am thankful James and I both have jobs.

I am thankful for our healthy little girl arriving in January, or December, whenever she decides to make her grand appearance.

I am thankful for our families and many, many friends who share in our excitement for the arrival of Baby J and those that have 'showered' us with wonderful gifts and lots of love! James and I feel so blessed to have such amazing friends.

Thanks Victoria!

Because of previously mentioned families and friends, I am thankful our basement is almost finished just in time for the arrival of Baby J. Many hours have been spent cleaning, packing, insulating, wiring, painting, constructing, house sitting-we couldn't have done it without you!

Before

Almost done! Kyle hard at work.

I am thankful for our Sunday morning fellowship group. They were an unexpected blessing when we decided to move back to Wichita and I think in a way it's God's cherry on top. We have enjoyed the growth and encouragement this group brings to our lives.

On the same note, I am thankful for my girls bible study, another unexpected surprise. These girls inspire me to be a more Godly woman and wife.

I am thankful for my husband who puts up with me, or I put up with him...depending on the day. Either way, we are each other's biggest fans and I look forward to many more years of being thankful together!

James, in his happy place.

2 for 1

2009-11-21T08:45:00.006-06:00

Who doesn't love sales? I, for one, love them and for my readers, today is your lucky day. I have two post worthy events.

First, this past Thursday I got the seasonal flu vaccine on my own free will by myself. Consider it step one in getting past my fear of needles. During the pregnancy I've had lots of practice with getting blood drawn, at times once a week, but those don't count. I didn't WANT to get my blood drawn and Gary's nurse, Nancy went with me every time to keep me distracted. I'm so proud of myself for being such a brave girl. I did ask for a sticker though, it was Jasmine which is kinda funny because James' favorite disney movie is Aladdin.

Then, Friday afternoon I had my first braxton hicks contraction. It happened at work and at first I wasn't quite sure what it was but I quickly recalled our childbirth class and began to breath through it and sure enough it eventually went away. It wasn't extremely painful but was certainly uncomfortable. Fire up the engines, my uterus is officially in practice mode! There is one possible explanation why my body decided to kick into gear, my co-worker Terri had her baby Wednesday night and yesterday I went to visit her and meet sweet Kenadee. I think Baby J was jealous of me holding and cooing over Kenadee that she needed to make her presence known. Don't worry princess, you're still my favorite little girl! As I held the 2 day old baby I couldn't help but think that will be us in 2 short months...

A lot to learn

2009-11-18T08:40:00.003-06:00

Apparently I should have done more research before getting pregnant. We had a 6 hour childbirth class this past Saturday and going into it I was expecting to feel a lot better about this whole labor thing. I was wrong. I didn't realize getting an epidural meant inserting a tube into your back and leaving it there which makes sense so they can regulate the 'good juice' but all this time I thought an epidural was a scary long needle they used to inject the 'good juice' and then it came out. Save yourselves from telling me it's not a big deal, you can't see it, you forget it's even there, it's far less painful than the contractions, the joy of seeing your baby for the first time will make it all go away...I believe all that. It's a mental thing for me. It makes me nauseous just thinking about it. When the time comes, I'll just put on my big girl pants. James, you owe me big time!

Also, for anyone out there in marketing/graphics, I've found a job for you. It seems Lamaze could use some updated material. I can't believe they're still showing births from the 80's and their presentation material is just as outdated. I was really disappointed. If I was going to sit through a 6 hour class at least make the presentation pleasing. I'm sure the information was great but I couldn't get past the visuals.

Early?

2009-11-13T08:38:00.002-06:00

Late, often. On time, if you're lucky. Early, never.

At my checkup this week I was told to 'be prepared'. Duh, I'm having a baby of course I need to be prepared but she was serious about something. As I laid there while she measured my belly which should be near 30 cm, I noticed it was taking her a bit longer than usual to get the reading and then she said "Well, if I squish (very technical) it down, I can get you to 33 cm". She then looked at me and asked if I've had my baby shower yet. No. Then she asked if the nursery was done. No. She had my attention now. Checking the baby's position, we found her head down and very low. Good news is that she wasn't engaged and I'm not having contractions, even mild ones. Her advice was to be prepared by 36 weeks "just in case" she arrives early. That's Christmas folks! I'm sure they tell that to everyone but now there is a sense of urgency to get things wrapped up and ready.

I guess the pep talks about arriving in December have been working but we'll see. I'm probably doomed to go 2 weeks past my due date now but by 36 weeks I will be prepared. All I care is that she is healthy. Early, maybe.

30 Weeks

2009-11-10T20:47:00.003-06:00

Drum roll please...

I am 30 weeks pregnant! Where has the time gone? Up until now, time has flown by and I kind of wish it would slow down. I want to enjoy my pregnancy a little longer before things start to get really uncomfortable. A co-worker is due any day now and each day before I get to my desk, I stop by to check on her. Today there were tears in her eyes when she told me 'I just want her to come out!' She is exactly 2 months ahead of me and it's been so helpful to have someone to compare notes with. Selfishly I'm not ready for her to have her baby because that means she's going to leave me to carry out my last 2 months all by myself.

In honor of being 3/4 of the way there, we broke out our new Cocoa-Latte maker. Our friends Barry and Paige introduced us to this slice of heaven and James surprised me with it this weekend. It's the simple things that make me happy. And marshmallows. It's great for entertaining so guests are welcome.

Last, but not least, I purchased the crib bedding! I gave up on the idea of making it myself. I was putting myself through too much stress and was forced to make too many decisions so I went the easy route. Some may call me lazy and to you I say "I'm pregnant". I'm really happy with the decision and now I get 1 more hour of sleep each night. That's HUGE! Seriously though, it's one less thing to worry about and I can check it off my mile long to-do list. Slowly but surely things are starting to get done around here and it feels good.

Nothing and everything to say

2009-11-02T19:32:00.002-06:00

I've put off posting for far too long. Several times I've thought to myself "self, I need to write a post about that" but then I get distracted, or tired, and I forget. So here are the highlights and not so highlights of the past week:

1. My Grandma, Mom's mother, Lois passed away peacefully in her sleep Oct. 21st. She was 98 years old and lived a long, fulfilled life. We traveled to Kansas City last Monday for her burial and it was a picture perfect day, except I didn't take any pictures. Very fitting for such a lovely woman.

2. My Uncle Ben flew into Wichita from southern California for the funeral and it was great seeing him. We don't get to see him enough and that's too bad. I think if we had mountains for his wife to climb, they would visit more often but Kansas is flat and not as fun as Peru, the Grand Canyon, or Hawaii.

3. Our basement project is coming along. Over the weekend, we got the electrical roughed in. The plumber will be here Friday and drywall will go up starting November 16th-just in time for Thanksgiving. The plumbing and electrical will be completed the first week of December and we can start the trim work and painting and finally...carpet. It still seems like there is a lot left to be done but I choose to remain positive.

4. I had my 28 week appointment last week and the dreaded glucose test. While I passed, I found out my blood sugar levels are REALLY low. The prescription-eat more snacks high in protein and cut back on carbs. I'm pretty happy with this diagnosis considering the other extreme is diabetes.

5. We finished our baby registries over the weekend. It was touch and go but we made it through without tears, meltdowns, or "it's your fault I'm pregnant". Overall I think we did pretty well registering for what we NEED rather than unnecessary items. We did however register for a nightlight/soothing sound/mp3 player which I thought would come in handy. I'm getting very excited for upcoming showers and getting things ready for baby.

6. Lately, I have had fears of going into labor early to the point where I'm loosing sleep over it. I'm not sure why, nothing indicates that I will but I constantly run through "what if" scenarios. Thankfully, we have 2 very supportive families who would be there for us to help us out. Still, it is a very real fear and I need to constantly remind myself to chill out!

7. I don't have any photos to share with you...yet. I'm working on it which means hopefully my posts will become more frequent. So I apologize to my readers for letting you down. If you're longing for more visually stimulating posts, I suggest you check out the blogs I follow (to the right).

28 weeks (almost)

2009-10-25T14:45:00.003-05:00

If I keep growing at this rate, I'll be a Goodyear blimp!

I don't think this picture does the bump justice, in reality I'm much larger (at least I feel much larger). With a little less than 3 months to go, I'm feeling pretty good but I know changes are just around the corner. Big changes. I'm starting to get a little nervous about finishing our basement and setting up the nursery in time. The furniture is on order and will be arriving soon, James and I just started our registry, and if I didn't have enough to do, I've decided to have the bedding made-at least the bumpers, skirt, blanket, and drapery. I have the fabric picked out and a friend has offered us her bumper inserts from Pottery Barn. I hope it turns out like I have it pictured in my head but just in case, I have a plan B: order the bedding online from Caden Lane. I fell in love with this bedding but felt it was a little pricey which is why I thought having it made would be more economical. At this point I'm not so sure.

(Image property of Caden Lane.)

So there you have it. A new picture and quick update. Shout out to Rachel who finished her 4th marathon today-congratulations! Even more impressive, she gave birth only 6 months ago. You're my hero.

Babymoon

2009-10-23T21:20:00.007-05:00

In some of the pregnancy books I'm reading, they suggest taking a babymoon in the second trimester so the first weekend in October, James and I went back to Washington, D.C. to attend Ana and Trustun's wedding. As a bonus, we also got to spend time with Rachel, Sol, Finley, and Victoria. Despite our trip being waaaay too short, we had a great time. I had forgotten how much I loved living in the DC metro area. Transportation is so convenient and I miss my favorite restaurants-Sweetgreen & Chadwicks (just to name a few). In the short time we were there we visited old town Alexandria (our old stomping grounds), went to a BEAUTIFUL wedding, a K-State watch party (they won!), ate Rachel's pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, went baby gear shopping, and babysat Finley.

Something else to note-James and I are terrible at Rock Band. Just ask Sol. Terrible!

A few pictures from the wedding:

The best co-workers I've ever had, Greg & Ana.

ABA gang-Todd, Greg, Julie, Hillary, Kimberly, James

Trustun & Ana Connor

Zeke found Jesus today.

2009-10-15T18:52:00.002-05:00

And ate Him.

I don't know what causes Zeke to do this. Hunger, boredom, anger towards James and I for leaving him home all day by himself. I do feel bad for him though. Perhaps if I become a stay at home mom, Zeke wouldn't destroy our material possessions. Problem solved, I'm putting in my two weeks notice tomorrow! (just kidding)

growing belly...shrinking brain

2009-10-14T19:43:00.004-05:00

I've heard that as the baby grows, she will get in the way of the bladder, stomach, lungs and other organs south of my neck but I swear she's causing my brain to shrink! I've been so forgetful lately and it takes me longer to process information. I suppose I can't blame my forgetfulness completely on the baby, I've worn myself out mentally and physically this week.

First of all, thank you to everyone who has been praying for my Dad. Last Wednesday he went in for a scheduled heart cath and we learned he needed triple bypass surgery. They scheduled the surgery for this past Monday and kept him in the hospital to monitor his medications. He was very strong leading into the surgery but Monday morning, I could tell reality was setting in and he let his softer side show-which made me a puddle of goo. The doctors said to expect a lot of pain and grogginess the first couple days out of surgery-I think they sugar coated that slightly. It's been tough to see him the past few days in so much pain and discomfort. As of tonight they still have the drainage tube in from his chest and lungs and they're hoping that can come out tomorrow assuming the drainage stops. In addition to the pain, he hasn't been able to sleep and still doesn't have an appetite. He ate more tonight than I've seen him eat since Tuesday morning so that's a good sign. I just hate seeing my Dad like this. He's supposed to be the strong one! If you think of it, please continue to pray for him. We hope he will be released this Saturday.

And if that isn't enough 'grey' news, I haven't seen the sun since last Wednesday. It's cold and rainy and while I normally enjoy this weather, I miss the sun.

In brighter news, James' brother Jon and lil' munchkin Bella are visiting this weekend. It will be great to see them and spend time with family. I think there is pumpkin carving in the plans which makes me extremely excited. Pictures WILL be posted!

**I just realized I forgot to mention what prompted this post. I did some grocery shopping tonight on my way home from the hospital and I left the ground beef at the checkout. Completely ruined my dinner plans! I've NEVER done that. Ugh.

25 weeks

2009-10-06T21:42:00.003-05:00

Time for a new photo-

I didn't realize how much I've grown in the last 3 weeks. In addition to a growing belly, I've had a harder time moving around. I feel slightly winded after a flight of stairs (I work on the second floor of our office and do this multiple times a day), getting comfortable in bed requires a bit more maneuvering, and bending over to do laundry is becoming more of a chore. But complaining aside, I'm still feeling great and with each day we're closer to meeting our little girl!

A match made in heaven

2009-09-30T18:47:00.003-05:00

Chips and salsa.

Cookies and milk.

Fall and hot apple cider.

Chris Mann and Glee. I've told several friends about Chris and if you haven't heard him sing yet, search him on itunes (EP released not too long ago) or go here. He's a very talented singer/song writer from Wichita and everyone needs to tell their friends about him. Turns out he's been doing some writing for Glee-a fantastic new show on Fox. If you're not familiar with the show, my friend Rachel sums it up pretty well. Shame on you if you're not watching. Last week's episode featured one of his songs "Somebody to Love."

A match made in heaven.

Sucker Punch

2009-09-21T18:21:00.004-05:00

Last night, James' boss had a few of the directors over to watch the Cowboys/Giants game. I'm really not a NFL fan, I LOVE college football though. I have a had time watching athletes who get paid millions of dollars and complain about not making enough and some of them (not naming names) abuse dogs. Not cool. Zeke doesn't think so either.

That's not the point of the story, this is: Adam and his lovely wife Kelly have a 4 year old son who is non-stop. Really, from the minute we walked in the door he was bouncing off the walls. I laughed when Kelly said "can you tell he's an only child and we don't have many visitors." At one point Caden got out his bowling set and he asked me to take a turn. I don't quite remember the sequence of events but I'm pretty sure I beat him. Playfully, he turned to me and punched me right in the belly. Granted it wasn't hard at all, I poke my belly harder than he hit it but the look on his parents' faces was priceless. Kelly had to explain to him that pregnant women have babies inside their tummies and you can't hit them. It was completely innocent and I thought it would make for a good post.

Moral of the story: Zeke is cute and don't punch pregnant women in the tummy.

Belly button

2009-09-14T18:08:00.005-05:00

In celebration of being 22 weeks pregnant today, I am gifting you a new belly photo-enjoy!

In other news, I'm loosing my belly button. It's starting to disappear and will soon become an outie. I've always thought belly buttons were awkward and I've never understood why we have them or what purpose they serve. Perhaps some of you more intelligent readers could enlighten us. For the first time (and probably last) I will expose my bare belly.

Long Overdue

2009-09-13T20:33:00.003-05:00

Whew, it's been a big week but I couldn't leave you hanging without sharing the following highlights of our last week.

1. Last Saturday we took a road trip up to Manhattan with our wonderful friends Barry and Paige for the K-State home opening game against UMass. We had awesome seats on the 50 yard line and the weather couldn't have been better AND the Cats won! Several of the partners at my office have season tickets that occasionally they don't use so hopefully we'll get to see them play a few more times this season. It's fun to think that next year we'll be taking our Baby Wildcat to the games too!

2. Probably the most exciting news of all, James felt our baby kick. Thursday evening, after consuming large amounts of chocolate, we settled into bed for the night and she was the most active she's been yet. I had doubts that James could feel her but he tried anyway and sure enough, she put on a show. It was a very special moment, one I never want to forget. I try to get ready for bed 30 minutes earlier just so I can lay there and feel her move-it's my favorite time of day now.

3. We purchased the nursery furniture! Such a big commitment but I feel so much better. Last weekend James and I drove all the way to Tiny Tykes Furniture on the west side. I highly recommend going there-best kept secret in Wichita. It's a family owned business and the owner was extremely helpful and was willing to negotiate with us. I couldn't be happier with our decision. Deciding on the furniture was a very emotional experience for me. As soon as we saw the crib, we knew it was 'the one.' I would even go as far as comparing it to finding my wedding dress. Is that weird?

So much going on in our lives right now but I'm loving every minute of it. We feel so deeply blessed and thankful for all that God has provided. Whoever and wherever you are, take a moment to reflect upon the blessings in your life, both big and small, and be thankful!

Flirt

2009-09-03T21:57:00.002-05:00

Baby J isn't even out of the womb and already she has two crushes. The first being Finley Scott-he's older and might be one of the cutest babies I've ever seen. The second being Baby Woods who is also still in the oven but judging by his parents, he'll be one cool dude. Congrats Carrie and Cory on your wonderful news!

Mission Accomplished

2009-09-02T17:46:00.004-05:00

If I wait to post until I've downloaded photos, this blog would never happen. I'm terrible at remembering to take pictures to begin with and then it takes weeks, sometimes months, to download them. So, I've decided to post anyways and post the pictures later. Something is better than nothing, right? Also, since we're talking about pictures-taking pictures of my belly is awkward. I feel so strange having a profile picture taken not to mention the cheesy smile. James hates taking them too. I'm growing by the minute it seems so we'll work on getting over the awkwardness. You're welcome.

UPDATE: Photos added!

All of this...

For this. Me at 20 weeks, half way along. Zeke is not pregnant. He is 7.

Now onto our weekend adventure shopping in Kansas City. We set out Saturday morning with the goal of finding maternity clothes, nursery furniture 'browsing', and shoe shopping for James. Along the way we also looked at girl clothes and found an awesome store, Janie and Jack. It's difficult to anticipate sizes and figure out seasons so we didn't buy anything but now we know where to go. I was very successful in the maternity clothes department (and shoe department)! We also checked out Nebraska Furniture Mart and found a crib we liked. We still need to look here in Wichita too. Best part of the trip-eating at Five Guys for lunch. Heaven.

Sunday I spent the day cleaning out/re-organizing my closet. I packed up my summer clothes and a few fall things that I would not be fitting into for a long time and replaced them with my new elastic wardrobe. Don't get me wrong, I love all my new clothes but it's sad to see some favorites go. Thank goodness maternity fashion has changed over the years!

thinkPINK

2009-08-27T14:57:00.005-05:00

It's official...we are having a baby girl!

The sonogram went well and we saw her in action waving her hand, stretching out her arms and legs and we got the all important bottom shot confirming she is in fact a she. Sonogram pictures will be posted soon.

I won't lie, I think James and I were a little surprised. I really thought it was a boy so it took a while for it to sink in and for James he still may be trying to digest the news. None the less, she will be daddy's little girl and he is going to be a great father teaching her all about sports and hunting...and then I will take her shopping! I suppose we should start the college and wedding funds, I already feel poor! But she will be worth it.

Now begins the name game and all important nursery decorating though we need to finish our basement and move our current tenant out of the soon to be nursery. Lots to do in the coming months and we will need lots of help. So if you or anyone you know is an electrician, can hang drywall, painter, carpenter, etc. we could use you! Seriously. Call me.

For your viewing pleasure, enjoy:

Laying on her side with her hands up by her face.
Laying on her back with her hand up.
One foot. Two foot.
Touching her cheek.

Could it be?

2009-08-25T17:55:00.005-05:00

I am 99.9% sure I felt the baby move today! It happened at the office around 2 pm and lasted for about 45 minutes. It felt like a light 'thumping' and it was all over my belly. It was so light though, I really had to concentrate otherwise I probably wouldn't have known it was happening. Very exciting, especially since our sonogram is this Thursday! James and I are both very anxious to discover the sex of Baby J-myself especially because I found the diaper bag I want.

It's the Lexie Tote from Fleurville and they sell them here in Wichita at Marshmallow Kisses, which I am in love with. They have everything baby and all of their things are so cute! All we need to know is boy or girl!

I am being summoned by my dear husband...must be time for dinner! More later if there is time (and energy).

18 Weeks

2009-08-17T20:56:00.001-05:00

Stearns & Foster side sleeper pillow - $59.99, Laura Ashley body pillow - $19.99, getting a good night's sleep...priceless. After weeks of nagging back pain, several friends suggested trying a body pillow. I should have listened sooner. Disclaimer - James, this does not mean you are exempt from being my personal masseuse. I thought back pain was only associated with carrying a baby in the 8th and 9th months, boy was I wrong. I'm crossing my fingers I'm not experiencing early stages of sciatica. Another trick I learned - using a donut cushion at work. Sitting at a desk all day was making matters worse so a fellow mamma-to-be let me in on her secret.

Aside from the back pain, I've been feeling great the past few weeks. My energy levels are coming back which means exercise is becoming more regular, my belly is starting to form a nice 'bump', and in less that 2 weeks we will know whether or not Baby J is a he or she! James has a very scientific theory when it comes to predicting the gender which I'm sure he will share with you all.

Lastly (my eyes are getting heavy as I type...) another milestone to note - I wore maternity jeans for the first time. I purchased them from Baby Gap a few weeks ago because they I found out they were no longer going to carry maternity clothes. I got a great deal on them and I knew that I would eventually get a lot of use out of them. After a few weeks of wearing the Bella Band with my regular pants I gave in...and they were AMAZING! Did I really need to wear them? Probably not but they are my new favorite pair of jeans and will be for the next 4 1/2 months. The Bella Band will probably work for a few more weeks but I should probably start investing in some work clothes. We've planned a shopping trip to KC next weekend with my mom and Judy, perfect timing. Other items on the list: nursery furniture & accessories, diaper bag, and Five Guys. What more could a pregnant woman want!

Here we go...

2009-08-15T10:35:00.001-05:00

I did it. I started a blog. I've been saying for weeks now that I wanted a way to record the happenings of our family, especially with a baby on the way. But it's not all baby, okay mostly it is, but consider it a glimpse into our lives. So stay tuned, I can't guarantee every post will be life changing but it's our life changing so enjoy!

Love,

Hillary, James, Zeke, and Baby J