Hello Harper,
Well its been a week since you were born! You're adjusting to life outside of the womb pretty well. I don't know if it was because we were more anxious with Madison being first time parents but you seem a lot easier than her. You pretty much sleep all the time unless you're hungry at which point you wake up, eat, and then go back to sleep. Really the only time you cry is when we change your diaper or outfits. So keep it up!
After your delivery I had been eyeing this posh hospital suite next to our tiny room. It had a sitting area, a lot more space, and most importantly a fold out couch for fathers to sleep on (versus the reclining chair of our room). Well my secret desires got rewarded and for the last night of our hospital stay we got moved over to that bigger room. While that couch was by no means comfortable it certainly was nicer to sleep on than the chair. Your Mom got a nice 3 hour nap that night while you and me watched the Blackhawks beat the Wild. The hospital didn't get the channel the game was on but through the magic of internet streaming I was still able to watch it on my laptop. What a wonderous world you have been born into - we have the ability to watch anything virtually anywhere as long as there's an internet connection.
Monday morning we got the clearance to head home so we packed up our stuff, filled out all the discharge paperwork, and got you loaded up into your car seat for the first time. You are so tiny! It was hard to get the straps to go around your shoulders. I drove us home at a little under the speed limit - slowest drive ever! But you gotta be safe with Harper on board.
My parents were here all week so they got lots of time to hold and cuddle with you. You are a little cuddle monster. You just love to snuggle up on my chest and go to sleep. My mom and dad passed you back and forth all week.
On Friday I came down with the flu - which sucks on many levels. Just having the flu is not fun but then I had to be quarantined in a guest bedroom so I didn't infect anyone (you especially). So I haven't really been able to see or hold you for the past 3 days. Your Mom has been super busy with both you and Madison since I'm unable to help. My parents helped a little but they left yesterday to go see Aunt Erin. Last night Mimi spent the night to help with Madison but your Mom said she was pretty tired still. Only slept 3 hours. I'm feeling a little better today so hopefully I'll be good to go tomorrow cause I have to go to work and Madison has to go to Daycare. With both of us out of the house hopefully your mom will have plenty of time to catch up on rest.
Love,
Dad
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Welcome Harper Marie!
8:08a today you came into this world Harper! You were 8lbs 6oz and I believe 20" long.
Your Mom and I were up bright and early at 5a this morning to get to the hospital by 6a to start the check in process. Thankfully your sister slept through us leaving and didn't wake up GiGi and the Colonel until around 6a. We got into the hospital and had to fill out some paperwork and then we were led back to the recovery room where your Mom got to switch into her "awesome" hospital gown and start getting all sorts of tubes and wires attached to her to monitor her vitals. Meanwhile I pretty much got to sit there and do nothing. That is the job of a father prior and during delivery - sit there.
A little before 8ish they wheel your Mom into surgery to get her drugged up and then shortly after I get called in to the OR. By this time I had donned a hair guard, surgical mask, and white body suit to keep the environment sterile. It was a look that, when she saw it later, made Madison say "Daddy why are you wearing that - you're not a doctor". The C-section seemed to take a little longer than last time but they got you out and over to the nurses station to get a little cleaned up. This time they had me come over to see you immediately and once again I started to get teary eyed. Something about having children really makes me emotional I guess.
They moved me and you back to the recovery room while they finished sewing your mother back up. There they did the measurement thing and did your initial shots. Unlike Madison's birth they did all this stuff in the same room that your Mom would be brought back into after surgery so she didn't have to sit around in a bed waiting for me to bring you to her. She came in and I brought you over to her - it was love at first sight for all of us.
They had our private room ready for us a little while later and we moved in and gave the grand parents the ok to come meet you. The first to arrive were my parents along with your big sister Madison. She was a little shy at first but warmed up to you very quickly. She laughed when she touched you for the first time and soon was demanding to hold you over and over again. She loves Baby Harper! She held you and then you made it around with my mom and dad. While they were still here MiMi and Boompa showed up as well and it was a full house in this tiny little room. You were passed around over and over to everyone and nobody could stop talking about how much hair you had. Eventually it was time for you (and me and Mom) to sleep so everyone went back home.
After everyone left we've just been sitting around sleeping when we can and trying to get you to eat. You slept at least an hour in my arms while your Mom got a little rest and now you're over there eating like a champ.
Looks like two more days of hospital living for us. I'll see if I can't blog a little more while we're here.
Love you!
Dad
Your Mom and I were up bright and early at 5a this morning to get to the hospital by 6a to start the check in process. Thankfully your sister slept through us leaving and didn't wake up GiGi and the Colonel until around 6a. We got into the hospital and had to fill out some paperwork and then we were led back to the recovery room where your Mom got to switch into her "awesome" hospital gown and start getting all sorts of tubes and wires attached to her to monitor her vitals. Meanwhile I pretty much got to sit there and do nothing. That is the job of a father prior and during delivery - sit there.
A little before 8ish they wheel your Mom into surgery to get her drugged up and then shortly after I get called in to the OR. By this time I had donned a hair guard, surgical mask, and white body suit to keep the environment sterile. It was a look that, when she saw it later, made Madison say "Daddy why are you wearing that - you're not a doctor". The C-section seemed to take a little longer than last time but they got you out and over to the nurses station to get a little cleaned up. This time they had me come over to see you immediately and once again I started to get teary eyed. Something about having children really makes me emotional I guess.
They moved me and you back to the recovery room while they finished sewing your mother back up. There they did the measurement thing and did your initial shots. Unlike Madison's birth they did all this stuff in the same room that your Mom would be brought back into after surgery so she didn't have to sit around in a bed waiting for me to bring you to her. She came in and I brought you over to her - it was love at first sight for all of us.
They had our private room ready for us a little while later and we moved in and gave the grand parents the ok to come meet you. The first to arrive were my parents along with your big sister Madison. She was a little shy at first but warmed up to you very quickly. She laughed when she touched you for the first time and soon was demanding to hold you over and over again. She loves Baby Harper! She held you and then you made it around with my mom and dad. While they were still here MiMi and Boompa showed up as well and it was a full house in this tiny little room. You were passed around over and over to everyone and nobody could stop talking about how much hair you had. Eventually it was time for you (and me and Mom) to sleep so everyone went back home.
After everyone left we've just been sitting around sleeping when we can and trying to get you to eat. You slept at least an hour in my arms while your Mom got a little rest and now you're over there eating like a champ.
Looks like two more days of hospital living for us. I'll see if I can't blog a little more while we're here.
Love you!
Dad
Friday, May 1, 2015
The Night Before
Hey Harper,
We're less than 12 hours away from meeting you now! I'm writing this at 9:50p Friday 5/1 and the c-section that will deliver you is scheduled for 7:30a tomorrow morning. That means your Mom and I will be getting up around 430-5a tomorrow morning. You're not even out yet and you're already making us wake up super early.
My parents made the drive up from Augusta yesterday. It was my Dad's first day of his retirement. The guy really knows how to celebrate - driving 13 hours northward. We spent today getting your sister used to them and filling them in on the Madison care routine. They'll be handling her while we're in the hospital with you. Hopefully it goes well. We're not entirely sure how Madison is going to handle no longer being the only child in the house but thus far she's been excited about your arrival. Today she told your Mom that she was going to color your hair purple and her hair pink when we came home. I've been having dreams in which you come out of the womb with black hair but certainly not purple...
With us so close to meeting you it's a bit strange - last time we were a lot more anxious but since now we sort of know what we're doing I think that helps us with the nerves. We still don't know how hard its going to be taking care of two kids. The routine we have right now, while not perfect, is at least consistent so I know approximately how much sleep I'm going to get every night. With little baby you all that goes out the window and you're going to be waking us up at all hours of the night. I only hope that Madison will keep sleeping so we don't have to deal with two kids up in the middle of the night.
I apologize for not blogging as much for your pregnancy as I did for Madison's! I really got busy with my new job and didn't have as much time at work to just sit and write about your mom's pregnancy. Good that I'm busy at work again but not so good for your baby blog. For the most part the pregnancy was pretty easy. Of course I wasn't the one carrying you around for 9 months so your Mom might beg to differ. I know she's definitely ready for you to be out. She's been having trouble getting comfortable on the bed and sleeping through the night.
Well I should probably get to sleep now since I have to get up soon and go to the hospital. I'll bring my laptop so I can write up your actual delivery and first couple days of life. Hopefully. If you give me a chance to sit back and type.
Love you and can't wait to meet you tomorrow!
Dad
We're less than 12 hours away from meeting you now! I'm writing this at 9:50p Friday 5/1 and the c-section that will deliver you is scheduled for 7:30a tomorrow morning. That means your Mom and I will be getting up around 430-5a tomorrow morning. You're not even out yet and you're already making us wake up super early.
My parents made the drive up from Augusta yesterday. It was my Dad's first day of his retirement. The guy really knows how to celebrate - driving 13 hours northward. We spent today getting your sister used to them and filling them in on the Madison care routine. They'll be handling her while we're in the hospital with you. Hopefully it goes well. We're not entirely sure how Madison is going to handle no longer being the only child in the house but thus far she's been excited about your arrival. Today she told your Mom that she was going to color your hair purple and her hair pink when we came home. I've been having dreams in which you come out of the womb with black hair but certainly not purple...
With us so close to meeting you it's a bit strange - last time we were a lot more anxious but since now we sort of know what we're doing I think that helps us with the nerves. We still don't know how hard its going to be taking care of two kids. The routine we have right now, while not perfect, is at least consistent so I know approximately how much sleep I'm going to get every night. With little baby you all that goes out the window and you're going to be waking us up at all hours of the night. I only hope that Madison will keep sleeping so we don't have to deal with two kids up in the middle of the night.
I apologize for not blogging as much for your pregnancy as I did for Madison's! I really got busy with my new job and didn't have as much time at work to just sit and write about your mom's pregnancy. Good that I'm busy at work again but not so good for your baby blog. For the most part the pregnancy was pretty easy. Of course I wasn't the one carrying you around for 9 months so your Mom might beg to differ. I know she's definitely ready for you to be out. She's been having trouble getting comfortable on the bed and sleeping through the night.
Well I should probably get to sleep now since I have to get up soon and go to the hospital. I'll bring my laptop so I can write up your actual delivery and first couple days of life. Hopefully. If you give me a chance to sit back and type.
Love you and can't wait to meet you tomorrow!
Dad
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)