Sunday, April 10, 2011

McKay is here!

Our sweet

McKay Joseph Harmon arrived at 3:41 AM, Tuesday March 29th. He weighed 7.1 lbs and was 19 3/4 inches long, and has a good bit of dark hair! The labor and delivery went so well...I was so wanting to do it naturally and feel so blessed that it all worked out!! (More on that later :) But he honestly could not be any more perfect so far...eats well, sleeps well, and hardly makes a peep. The worst he's done is pottied out of his clothes three times in one day. Really I think he hasn't woken up to the world yet (he was two weeks early) so we'll see how these next few weeks go! But honestly, the best part has been watching Robbie, Bree and Gabe...they ADORE McKay! Bree and Gabe get so excited every time "he wakes up" to eat and both are constantly asking if they can hold him. Bree is feeling quite confident (a little too confident maybe?!) in burping him and carrying him around...though I try and have her only do that when Gabe isn't watching! But she is such a wonderful helper. And Gabe can't get enough. He's the one that has surprised me with how much he loves his brother! He wants to hold him for so long and is always saying, "watch this Ma-tay!" as he jumps off the couch or something. There has been so much love in our home these past two weeks...I know the sleep deprevation will hit soon, but I have been feeling SO good and am so grateful for this precious little life that is blessing our family. I feel like I am so much more relaxed with this one and am enjoying him SO much! And watching Robbie with him...wow. He is amazing. By the time we eat dinner, get Bree and Gabe to bed, do the dishes, and finish some laundry it is late and we are both exhausted...but then he'll take McKay and give him a bath and sing to him and get him ready for bed. The other night as he was about to bathe McKay I said, "Honey you go relax, you haven't stopped since you got home." He said, "No way! I love this. The evenings are the best part of my day." I don't know what I did to deserve such a man. He is amazing. So far #3 has been the easiest transition...but we're only 14 days into it :) so I'll check back in a few!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Ahh ya baby!

Every time I complain about how lame it is to feel like I am not doing anything productive being on bed rest, Robbie (and my mother :) tries to convince me that I am really doing the most productive thing any woman could be doing...incubating and growing a baby. Though I know it's true it hasn't made me feel any better...until I saw this picture. Ahh ya baby. Now I feel better :)

AND, at my doctor's appointment this morning he said that next week I can go off of bed rest since I'll be 37 weeks (which is full term)!! So only 10 more days! When I told Bree she clapped and squeeled with excitement! It's amazing how much more doable it is when there is an end in sight! And sorry that Top 10 Worst things list was so negative...I still feel bad for even posting it! But thanks for all of the helpful and happy comments!

Monday, March 7, 2011

~Musings of a mommy on bed rest~

Yes, it is true. It's day #33 of being on bed rest and let's just say it's been a roller coaster. It's amazing how many girls after learning that I am on bed rest have told me about when they were on bed rest, and for many of them far longer than I. It's been nice feeling like I'm not alone in this, and if they did it for FOUR months, I can do it for two, right? Bree and Gabe have been little troopers. Bree is surely the sweetest little girl on the planet: Getting a washcloth to wipe hers and Gabe's mouths, helping Gabe get his shoes, getting a diaper and wipies for me to change Gabe, getting them a snack, being so sweet to her brother...and almost always helping with "Oh sure mom!" and a happy attitude. Gabe has had a harder time dealing with mommy on the couch, but in his own sweet way has been such a good boy. He will be getting ready to go to a friend's house or something and will ask, "Mommy come too?" And I'll say, "I can't, remember..." and he'll say, "Doctor say no." And then cheerfully say, "Bye mommy!" as he runs out the door. And of course the #1 husband I have has been amazing...couldn't be more perfect. Honestly. I am so grateful for him, and honestly this would be so much harder if he didn't already help out so much anyway!

So for anyone who is curious about life on bed rest, I compiled a Top 10 Best and Worst List. (Let's be honest, I wouldn't be showing a truthful picture if I just highlighted the Top 10 good things!) So here is goes:

Top Ten WORST Things About Being On Bed Rest:

10. Finishing your "To Do" list (of all the things from like the past year I haven't been able to to finish!) and then wondering what else I can do that is productive...Robbie jokingly suggested starting an online business to make us some money (ummm, only half jokingly...he told me about a friend of his whose wife did that when she was on bed rest "and made them a ton of money"...I started trying to think of some ideas but it didn't take me long to think about what time I could spend on it after the baby comes?! Ha, I was feeling pretty productive until he suggested that!)
9. Having to look at stuff left out all over the house, not being able to pick it up or cook for my family or clean, but trying to remind myself that if I over do it and end up in labor my baby will be in the NICU and I will be sorry!
8. Watching moms, friends, and my husband do EVERYTHING!
7. Having an emotional breakdown after 1 month and realizing that I still have 1 month to go...and it seems like eternity!
6. Taking anti-contraction medication that makes you feel like you had "coffee on steroids" (that's seriously how the doctor described it!) and being all shaky with a head-ache!
5. Yearning...dying to go for at least a walk outside!
4. Wanting to do something to thank all of the people who are helping me but not being able to come up with anything other than measly thank you cards!
3. Feeling like every muscle in my body is turning to mush, trying not to think about all of the extra weight gain sitting on my rear all day, and thinking about how hard it is going to be getting back in shape!
2. Hearing your child say when grandma is trying to help, "No! Mommy help me!" and not being able to (and then hearing her carry him away to the bath screaming!).
1. Bascially the feeling that your emotional well being is slowly declining and you don't have any control over it!
Phew! Oh that was pretty negative. Sorry. But now, the
Top Ten BEST Things About Being On Bed Rest:

10. Having some time to do all of those things I have wanted to do for the past year! (Like Gabe's 1st Year baby book, plan and organize food storage, file and organize all the bill records and stuff in the filing cabinet (don't worry Robbie got it down for me), get everything planned and ready for baby to come, write some letters I have been feeling prompted to write, planning family holiday traditions, read some books, catch up on my blog, etc...)
9. Getting to take naps.
8. Doing a meaningful scripture study every day.
7. Getting totally caught up on the news! I love feeling like I am informed (even though I know after baby #3 comes it may be a really long time before I have time to read the news again!).
6. Catching up on family and friends' blogs (that I haven't looked at for so long!)
5. Seeing SO many people who are willing to help: take my children, bring meals, calling, sending texts, and checking up on me...it's been unbelievable.
4. Being able to actually answer my phone when friends and family call.
3. Learning to let things go (like what Bree is wearing when she goes out the door...this morning it was a black skirt, dark pink shirt, different shade of pink with cream polka-dots button-up sweater, white tights with a huge hole on the shin and a dirt mark on the other leg, silver shoes, and a wooden beaded necklace from the West Indies...at least we got her hair done.)
2. Having my kids return from playing somewhere or being out with grandma or something and come running through the door towards me on the couch, "Mommy we're home!" and giving me the biggest hugs like they haven't seen me for days :)
1. Gaining a new appreciation for how much I love to be a mom who gets to dedicate all of her time to her family and home. How much I love to help my children, cook for my family, exercise, have a clean house, and be normal! (Honestly I think after this baby comes out I will just cry when I can pick up Gabe and hold him...or when I first get to go running...)

Yes, it has been a roller-coaster. But I must remember:
D&C 58: 3-4

"Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
For after much tribulation come the blessings..."

And my favorite by Elder Wirthlin:

"If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be the times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead to times of greatest happiness."

So for the next month (or less?) I'm going to try and focus on the Top 10 Best Things about this bed rest challenge :)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

~My January Babies~

My sweet BREE ELIZABETH

Sunshine to all she meets.

January 23rd, 4 years old now...

My little girl is not so little any more!

She is a kind friend, and a loving big sister.

She loves dolls, barbies, dance class, and dress up.

She loves to run fast, can ride her bike without training wheels, jump off of tall things, and wrestle with her brother.

She loves to paint, do play-dough, and sketches everyone and anything.

She knows and can write all her letters, and is starting to sound out words.

She sings like an angel, dances all around the house, and loves to help mom cook.

Her favorite movie is Cinderella.

Her fruit of choice is watermelon...but when it's not in season she loves strawberries and oranges.

Her vegetable of choice is cucumber...and loves when they are cut long and calls them, cucumber popsicles.

If she could pick any snack (besides candy) she would choose frozen go-gurts.

She enjoys testing her limits, and has quite a strong, independent personality.

Bree is the biggest helper around the house! Always willing to run and get me anything I need.

She loves Primary and loves helping daddy read the Book of Mormon each morning.

She says the sweetest prayers, and I think has more faith than anyone in our family.

I am so blessed to have such a sweet daughter! Happy Birthday Bree!

My little angel boy GABRIEL ROBERT

January 26th, I can't believe he is already 2.

He is rough and tough and can hold his own wrestling his sister.

He love balls and horses and trucks.

But he'll play dolls with his sister too :)

He is getting so good at riding his little green bike, and runs everywhere he goes!

He loves to eat...loves to eat...

He is saying more words every day, but my favorite is when he is hiding and pops out of his hiding spot and says, "Here me are!"

He knows most all of his colors, and his shapes...and pretty much every animal!

He loves Nursery and is the first to run and kneel down for family prayer when we call.

His fruit of choice is bananas or blueberries (he would eat them all day if I would let him!).

His vegetable of choice is avacado or edamame. And he can down a V8 in ten seconds flat.

If he could pick any snack (besides fruit snacks...and popsicles) he would choose go-gurts.

His favorite Christmas present (besides his bike) was the car vitamins in his stocking...he carried them around everywhere for a month! Even wanted to sleep with them!

His favorite movie is Toy Story.

He just moved to a "big boy bed" and loves it, so long as his four horses are along side of him when he sleeps.

He tries to do everything his sisters does, and says, "No me do" if you try and help him with anything else.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Oh what a joy! I am so blessed to have such wonderful children. It really is so fun having Bree and Gabe's birthday's so close. They both get so excited for each other and it makes both celebrations even more fun! AND, then we get to have parties for what seems like all week! I love my children and feel more blessed every day to be a mom...and not just a mom, but their mom. I just want to take advantage of this time because I know it will pass so quickly. And to think we'll have another sweet child join our family in just another month or so!
I love this life of mine.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

2010 Wrap Up

Yes, I've been out of the blogging world for a few months, but all for good reasons :) Life is so good!! But has been so busy! Here are some of the highlights from the end of our 2010:

Uncle Kurt's Return from the Helsinki Finland Mission! We were so happy we got to be there to watch him step off the airplane :) He looked so great and though he has an added sense of maturity and growth, he still has his wonderful sense of humor! My sister Lizzy and her husband Dave who live in CT couldn't be there, so we had them on Skype :) Bree had been so excited all day, and had been telling Gabe how much he was going to love Uncle Kurt. Even though she was barely 2 yrs. old when he left, she acted like she remembered him perfectly. She was so diligent about praying for him daily and could not stop talking about him all day. His plane didn't come in until 11 PM, and as soon as she saw him she got a little nervous, and went and hid under the benches! But it didn't take long before she and Kurt were best friends again! Gabe warmed up in no time as well...and as Bree said in her prayers just this week, "We are so grateful Kurt is home!"

NOVEMBER FUN! Our little Bree bird has had a busy Fall! She is LOVING pre-school (and all the fun things they get to make), hiking with daddy is a new favorite, she joined a soccer team and for the most part had a great time (though she is by far the fastest on her team, hopefully the connection between "running fast" and "kicking the ball" will come! I didn't think I would get so into it while watching her! Had to remind myself constantly, "...she's only three years old...she's only three..."), and of course, Bree loves dance :) She is a natural and did such a great job in the Christmas concert! Gabe of course is her biggest fan through it all! He LOVED the soccer games and never stopped cheering, "Ra ra ra ra ra, gooooo Bree!" And you would have thought Bree was the star of her dance class with how excited Gabe was watching! All smiles the whole time :) Such a proud brother!

~THANKSGIVING in UTAH~ Snow snow snow! Oh Bree and Gabe loved the snow...not to mention Robbie was in heaven as well. He loves to plow the driveway! (And yes, Gabe is in a pink snow suit...but we can't be too picky when we don't have any snow stuff!) The kids loved the carriage ride, the Christmas lights, and Thanksgiving at the ranch was awesome! (Unfortunately we didn't get many pictures there.) AND we got to spend a little time at Opa Rollie and Oma Phyllis's! I love my sweet grandparents and love that any time we are there our time is filled with music of some sort. Bree and Gabe love them! But of course the best part of being in Utah is cousins! Gabe couldn't get enough of baby Summer (sometimes we'd have to break him away from holding on to her!), and Bree and Grace were by each other's sides most of the time, laughing and running non-stop. So fun! Thank you Grammy and Grandpa for such fun!

~CHRISTMAS~ Then in no time at all we were back in Utah for a Christmas we have been waiting for...the first time the Henderson family has been together in EIGHT years!! Each of our missions have overlapped...I went to Hungary starting in 2003, Michael left for the West Indies in 2004, Lizzy left for Croatia in 2005, and then Taylor left for Russia in 2006 (then Lizzy came home and at least there was only one missionary out at a time, not two!), and then Kurt barely missed Taylor as he left for Finland the end of 2008. So this Christmas was a gift for our sweet mother...all of her children home at last! It was such a blessing to have that missionary spirit in our home though, and we all made such amazing memories, learned so much, and are each SO grateful we had the opportunity to serve! But oh Christmas was such a blast! My mom had the most delicious meals planned (and each of the girls got to plan a breakfast...nice work ladies! They were all delish!) We did a fun service project, played outside, the boys played golf (it wouldn't be a trip to St. George without a round of golf!), and we even had a mad game of Around the World ping pong (I even won a round!). The only damper perhaps was our fault...Bree and Gabe had the flu the weekend before we got there, and the Robbie came down with it the day before...we offered not to come, but Grandma Carrie said no way! Alas, after an amazing German meal on Christmas Eve, Kurt, Taylor, Michael, Rachel and Lizzy all woke up in the night with some variation of the flu...needless to say opening presents wasn't quite the same with half the family passed out on the ground! Oh I felt SO bad! Fortunately by the end of the day everyone was feeling much better, and we still had a fun filled three days afterwards :) A Christmas to Remember, that's for sure! Thank you mom and dad for such an amazing time! I LOVE YOU FAMILY!

All in all our 2010 ended with a bang. What a wonderful year!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

It's a...

BOY!! We are SO excited! Bree of course since she knew I was pregnant has been very vocal about wanting a girl. But Robbie and I always say, "but it could be a boy" and have referred to the baby as he OR she. Last week when we found out Bree didn't have school today, and my appointment was in the morning, Robbie said we should all go together! So we have been talking about it all week long and this morning Bree informed us that she, "would be happy if it was a girl or a boy." And boy was she! It was the cutest when the doctor said, "Well it looks like it's a boy!" Bree started jumping up and down and squeeled with delight. I am so happy that Gabe will have a little brother and that hopefully we can get some more boy stuff around this house :)

And just to report, Bree had a successful soccer game last week! I was amazed actually at how into it I got though...there was this girl on the other team that was really good, super fast and scoring like crazy. Well, Bree is actually really fast (fastest on her team by far) and I was like, C'mon! You are faster than her, go take the ball away! Then I'm like, oh gee mom, she is 3 years old and hardly even has a grasp around the concepts of the game yet! Funny.

Fall is upon us and I am glad becaue most all of my maternity clothes are for winter! We can't wait for Thanksgiving in Provo and just hope there is some snow for Bree and Gabe to play in! We got out the winter hats and gloves today for our morning walk (I know we're in AZ but it was chilly!) and they were SO excited...Gabe wanted to wear his all day :) I'm so grateful for my beautiful children who make me laugh every day. Tonight at dinner Robbie asked them what their favorite boy name was for the baby and Bree said, "Kee" and Gabe said something even more weird. But as we were talking about names I felt my first kicks! Three in a row! It was like, "Hey I know you guys are talking about me!" We can't wait for this sweet baby to join our family!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Where does the time go!

Has it really been over a month since I've been on here?! Crazy! It's been a full and fun month here at the Harmon home. Here are a few highlights:

On our way to Provo for Robbie's brother's wedding, we spent a week in St. George! We enjoyed a wonderful General Conference, got to cheer on my brother Taylor in the St. George marathon (Go Tay!) and wanted to watch Sarah's last soccer game...but it got rained out :( we were SO bummed. The kids had a BLAST playing in the play room, on the trampoline, playing with the cat, feeding Sarah's dog Chooky, and Opa Ralph even came down while we were there! It's always a treat to see him since we hardly ever get to. And at 92 we treasure every time! He just LOVES Robbie :)

Then we went up to Provo where Robbie's brother Tanner married the wonderful Kassi Anderson. They were married in the Mt. Timpanogos temple by her grandfather. Everything turned out beautifully...after a week of rain, many prayers were answered when we had a clear sunny day for the pre-ception, and the day of the wedding was so nice too! We're so happy for Tanner!!

And then we got to spend the week after just playing! (Well, Robbie had to work every day, but could play in the evenings!) The highlight (as always) was the ranch... Gabe absolutely LOVED the horses. He couldn't get enough of feeding them...as you can see almost his entire hand is in the horses mouth, and he would squeel with joy!

He LOVED the four-wheeler, the scooter, and grandpa's truck. Such a boy! And it was so fun watching him. Bree loves it all too, but this was Gabe's first time being old enough to really enjoy the ranch.

Bree loved spending time with her cousins Grace and Summer, her grandparents and aunts and uncles...but for some reason, Uncle Adam just has a special place in her heart. And when he is around she only wants to be with him!

Bree loves being a princess at Grammy's. With so many fun dress ups and girly things, she is in heaven. (So fun...at Grammy's house :)

Gabe was a little bit of a stinker however...if I even left the room he would cry out, "Mommy! Mommy! And start crying if I didn't answer immediately. I don't know if he was afraid I was going to leave him or what, but it sure made it hard, especially since he wanted nothing to do with anyone else :( It comes with the age I guess, and living away...but boy was it hard! He was a little like that in St. George too. So sitting with Grammy to read a book was BIG! Hopefully Thanksgiving will be better!

Halloween was...halloween. We had fun and all, but after a ward party the weekend before, and then Bree's preschool halloween party, I was all halloweened out. I tried for a few days to just let the kids have candy when they asked so that it wouldn't be a big deal...but after six or seven peices and I said that was enough Gabe would lose it. It was like they never have candy or something! Well, ok, so at my house they don't. But they have other sweet things! So Friday all the candy suddenly was "gone" and we were done with Halloween :) On Sunday the kids didn't even know the difference :) But the best part about that weekend was a surprise visit from Grandma Carrie, Grandpa Lon and Sarah! They worked it out with Robbie and got in late Thursday night and he left the from door open and they just slipped in and slept in the guest room which is right by the front door. Friday morning about 6 we went out with the kids for breakfast, the kids were sitting on the bar stools and I went to get the cereal, I came around the corner and screamed when I saw them! It was the BEST surprise ever!! They hadn't been here since we've lived in Arizona and I had so been wanting them to come. And the best part was, Gabe was a completely different grandchild. He sat on grandpa's lap, went with them places, let them help him...and didn't care about mommy :) It was the best.

I was so excited too because they got to come to Bree's first soccer game! Well, I was excited until we were there. As you can see, the lack of nap that day and all the excitement didn't prove helpful to her soccer skills...yes, my child cried the entire time. We tried everything. Don't you hate when you are the mom that people are feeling bad for!

It was so much fun having them here though. I decided it's totally different having family here than being there. Though just being around family is great, letting them be around the kids when they are in "their" element is ideal :) We can't wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas! More fun in Utah!

AND...I guess I haven't posted anything about being pregnant yet?! I won't say much, but we're 18 weeks along and we find out next week what we are having! So expect another post soon!

Harmon's Haven