In a World of Bloggers, I'm Still a Scribe at Heart

It has been brought to my attention that I have become boring in my postings. Harper's baby blog has quickly turned into a scrapbook of pictures, but between having a new baby, football season and the events of the banking industry (read: my job), I haven't had the inspiration to let my fingers do the walking on the laptop.

Harper certainly provides inspiration, but instead of "blogging" I am keeping a written journal for Harper. I don't write in it everyday, but whenever the mood strikes or when there's something I'd like to share with Harper - or when I just feel like telling her I love her - I write her a little note or story about something she did or something going on in our lives. Those thoughts and musings are between she and I though...it's our own little father/daughter thing and not intended for anyone to read but Harper. I hope to continue writing to her and I hope to give her the journal(s) as a special gift one day. We'll see. As much as she's changing every day, I'm bound to burn through some ink.

For now...more pictures.

Three Weeks

On the one hand, these last three weeks have flown by - seems like we just left the hospital yesterday. On the other hand, three weeks is pretty much nothing in the scheme of things. But no matter which hand you choose, you're holding a dirty diaper.

Harper's good nature is still with us, she's tolerating Robbie's and my "we'll figure it out" attitude and is definitely getting more active and alert everyday. Unfortunately, her favorite active and alert period seems to be from 5 to 8am most days......5am comes awfully early after that 1am feeding. We're hoping to readjust her schedule soon. (Who am I kidding; there's no such thing as a schedule to this kiddo.) But when this baby sleeps, she's absolutely dead to the world. You could drive a wailing firetruck (or a rabid Auburn fan screaming at Tony Franklin) through her room and she wouldn't stir.

So far we've taken a few mini outings with Harper - she's been shopping (obviously loved it....definitely my daughter), out to lunch a few times, walking on the trail and of course to Starbucks more times than we can count. We're starting to wonder if Starbucks smells more like home to her than our house. What did new parents do before Starbucks was invented??? I particularly love to sit close to the folks using the Starbucks internet as their office - the looks of horror when we approach are priceless.

Next week Harper's in for some excitement - a trip to the beach with Giagia and I (might as well break her in early). Of course, we might be riding the lawnmower to get there if Atlanta doesn't stock up on gas, but get there we will!

Well Deserved

Dos Semanas

Pics

Editor's note - she won't wear another Auburn outfit until Auburn can get a first down. Hope the outfits still fit in 09!

It takes a village

Hello family and friends! It's Elizabeth this time (Robbie is currently taking a well-deserved nap with some SEC football after a week of being super dad.) Seriously, he's johnny on the spot with dirty diapers, tummy time and Biscuit duty. It's incredible. I just wanted to thank everybody for their phone calls, emails, gifts, prayers and thoughts this week. We're so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends to welcome this little one into the world.
And I especially want to thank my parents for making this week so much easier - understatement of the century. They arrived in Atlanta last Friday afternoon (after a sleepless night that started at 10pm when I called wondering if six hours of contractions MIGHT be something to take seriously....) and didn't leave until this morning. In the meantime, they served as personal chef, lawn man, gardener, laundress, grocery shopper, dishwasher, chauffeur, cleaning lady, dog walker, florist, decorator, host and hostess, manicurist, advice givers and babysitters, yet my dad still managed to get a full week's work in and my mom didn't miss a single interview with McCain/Palin - and I think they even changed a few diapers. Now that's dedication. Harper is one lucky girl to have such a wonderful Giagia and Papa and I have a lot to live up to as a mother (and some serious laundry/ironing skills to acquire.)

Perhaps we worked them a bit too hard though - I tried not to take it personally when they left tire marks on the driveway as they peeled out at 6am today, mumbling something about getting back to Memphis in time to have the cars washed. Mels, Rich and Ryan, we sincerely apologize, but after this week we're betting they hire help for you instead of taking on all the manual labor when your babies are born!

Harper's had a wonderful first week. She's sleeping a ton (even at night), which we're certain won't last. She changes a little bit each day and makes the most entertaining faces. Our favorite time is just after she's eaten, when she passes out like a drunk gorilla, limp as spaghetti. It never fails to make us laugh. She even stayed with my parents for a few hours yesterday while Robbie and I went to lunch to celebrate my 30th birthday.

She's a patient model for the zillions of photos we've already taken and seems to tolerate my constant dressing her up with laid back amusement, a personality trait she could only have inherited from her daddy. We really couldn't have asked for a better baby - and she's the cutest thing ever to boot!

A Successful 1st Week

First week was a good week. Certainly some adjustments being made, but overall, the three of us are hanging in there. We are constantly switching back and forth from a zone to a man-to-man defense, trying to stay one step ahead. But you know how that goes...Harper pretty much makes the rules at this stage in the game. It's her world, the rest of us are just living in it ;)

And yes...yesterday we played dress up. She digs it.

Picture Post...get used to em.

Love This Picture

Busy Monday

Today has been a busy day for little Harper. She successfully made it through her first pediatrician's appointment and handled things fairly well. We left the hospital Sunday with Harper weighing 8lbs 1oz (after being born at 8.11), but today she was up a little to 8.3. Still a ways to get back to her birth weight, but we're ahead of schedule according to the doc.

Also, Harper has some extremely long finger nails and since we can't cut them for 2 weeks, she had her first manicure today courtesy of her GiaGia. It was interesting to say the least...but it worked. Thanks GiaGia!

Lastly, we took a run through Target. Not very exciting, I realize, but strange to be out for the first time with our offspring in a buggy.

Leaving the hospital and heading home

We left the hospital Sunday afternoon and made it home. Things are going fairly well...we're just trying to figure it out as we go. Elizabeth and Harper are both doing very well.

Visitors to the hospital

Many thanks to our friends and family who came to visit!

We appreciate all the calls, emails and beautiful flowers.

Momma and Harper

Game Day

It's game day. Couldn't not dress her in her first game day outfit.

Starting to open her eyes

Harper Sophia - 9/5/08

She's HERE!!! Harper Sophia was born at 6:08am est on the 5th. We've been up for a little more than 24 hours so the next few posts could be completely incoherent.

Click here for pictures.

Harper weighed 8lbs 11 oz and is 21 inches long and came extremely FAST. She and Elizabeth are doing GREAT!

It's Game Time

So...as I write, Elizabeth is in labor. Her water broke around 1am est and we arrived at the hospital around 2. It's a little after 4am as I type and things seem to be moving along.

Keep Elizabeth and Harper in your thoughts and prayers.

It's Worth a Shot - UPDATE

Never went (see previous post). No baby yet. That is all.