Babies Come With Hats

Week One with Mr. Eli

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:22:21 -0700

Oh, my beautiful boy. I mean handsome, handsome boy. He’s such a sweetheart. He only cries when he needs something, and even then he’s usually very consolable. He takes a binkie, he nurses very well. He sleeps. I know - let the groans of envy abound - my newborn sleeps. Good 3-4 hour stretches at night.

He started trying to hold up his head on day 2. He is adored by his sisters. Several mornings, they have come in just as I finished feeding him, around 6:30, and both want to have a turn holding him for several minutes. Lessi asks permission to look at him and touch him. I appreciate her being considerate, but have tried to explain that she doesn’t really need to ask. As long as she’s gentle, she is more than welcome to give her brother loves.

Eli Weston Larsen

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 17:52:47 -0700

Came to this earth March 3rd, 2010. 11:32 pm. 8 lbs. 12 oz. 22 1/2 inches long.
I had some regular contractions for several hours in the morning, but they petered out, so when they came back around 4:00 I wasn’t ready to trust them. But around 7:30 after we put the girls in bed, we realized that they were serious. It was the real deal. So we called our good friends whom we had on call, she came over to sleep here with the girls and we then we called the Midwife and she met us at the birthing center at 9:00. We got settled in and Cameron read to me for a bit while I sat in a comfy chair, trying to relax through my contractions. About an hour later, I moved over and sat on the bed so that Cameron could rub my back and talk me through it.
You know that whole idea that the Lord makes you forget how hard labor is so that you’ll have another? So true. I was amazed at how tired/exhausted/sleepy I was even in the middle of transition. And actually pushing that baby out was so hard. Wow. But he arrived safe and sound, promptly taking the opportunity to relieve himself (1 and 2) on his mother. Thanks sweet Boy.
He happily settled down to nurse for an hour, then they got him all cleaned up, dressed and swaddled and he went to sleep. And he slept all night. He is a tired, tired boy and we’re more than happy to let him sleep away. He even slept through his PKU this morning. After that we got him and ourselves ready to go and we got home at about 10:00. We settled in and then brought the girls home at 11:00. Lessi came into the room whispering in anticipation and it was so wonderful to watch their amazement at meeting him. For the rest of the day, they have both been coming up to give him kisses once in a while, and Lessi loved to come up and put her fingers into his little fists for a few seconds and then would go about her Mary way.
Unfortunately it was raining today, so we had no good natural light to take pictures, but here’s what we did manage.

Beautiful Girls and Swan Lessi

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:12:32 -0700

My little ladies looked so loverly on sunday morning, that I had to snap a couple pictures.

Sophie Turns THREE!

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:44:20 -0700

My baby girl is not a baby anymore! On the 16th, she turned 3 years old. *sigh* she’s so grown up! We just had cake and presents at home, and invited Nonna over. I made her a Dora cake of my own design. I think it’s not too shabby for not being a cake decorator AT ALL. Here it is!

Maternity Pics, plus Cherise and Bryce

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:27:54 -0700

I love it when my family comes to visit me! Especially since there isn’t much reason for my family to be up this way, so it doesn’t happen often.
On Saturday, the men folk went snowmobiling (and had a FABULOUS time) and so I got Cherise to snap some maternity pics of me. If I’m gonna be this large with child, I might as well document it!
We also went to about five stores (I spent lots of money, but now I feel like I’m prepared for Baby, so it’s ok). We played a hilariously random game called Killer Bunnies, and we were able to go out to lunch at Red Robin just before they left. It was lots of fun, and as always, we can’t wait to have them back.