Grandma Shields and Grandpa Ostler Come and Stay

About a week after my mom left, we were blessed to have Michael's mom come down.  She is incredibly active and always made my mornings nice and peaceful by taking Laila for bike rides, hikes, and to the park.  She loves being a grandma and my kids are blessed to have her.

^I love how he's holding onto her

^Grandma Shields help us get passports for the two kids.  So excited to have these "happy" faces in their passports...

^She finished this beautiful blanket for Harrison

^While Grandma was here, we went to the children's museum.  So much fun!

Laila with her Grandma.  Playing with shapes and climbing the giant treehouse

^While Grandma was here, Laila started swimming lessons

We are so grateful we had her to ourselves for a week.  It was nice to go on some adventures, have someone play with Laila and even babysit so we could go on a date baby free!

A few days after Grandma Shields left, Grandpa Ostler came to town to meet our sweet Harrison.  He found a great airfare and we are grateful he did!  I cannot believe Harrison is my parents' third grandchild!  

^He squeezed in a few Spring Training games.

^Spoiled Laila by getting her some princess jammies and clothes

Grandpa knows how to push high!

Grandpa with two of his grandbabies

We enjoyed the perfect outside weather

My Ostler grandparents came up from Yuma to meet Harrison.  Four generations! 

We loved walks in the wagon...

...And eating peanuts

Grandpa got Laila a stuffed monkey that she loves!

I loved being outside watching baseball with my TWO kids and my dad.  It was fun having him here! 

Camille and Grandma Ostler Come and Stay

These past two months, we've had a whirlwind of welcomed visitors.  It has been so nice to have so much help as we tradition to having two babies and it's been great to be able to have so many adventures.  Camille was our first visitor.  She came a few days before Harrison's birthday.  She was such a great help as I was in the hospital.  She stayed with Laila so Michael could be with me.  She also stayed a night in the hospital so that Michael could stay with Laila.  I'm so grateful I didn't have to worry (more than usual) about Laila being taken care of.  Here are some of my favorites with her:

^Celebrating Camille's birthday

^Wonderful dishwasher

^Laila's dance partner extraordinaire

^She earned her naps.  We appreciate naps around here.

^Happy, wonderful aunt!

Camille left a day or two after my mom got here.  I don't know what it is about a girl having her mommy there, but it's just wonderful.  And my heart absolutely melts hearing my daughter call my mom, "mama." (Grandma) My mom makes cooking and cleaning seem so easy.  She was constantly doing one or the other.  A few of my nesting checklist items didn't get finished because I knew that my mom would do it for me when she got here.  I'm blessed to have her as my mom. 

Two of my favorite people

Train ride

Horsey ride

Making cookies

Getting Valentine presents from Mama & Papa Ostler

Michael had the privilege of having THREE Valentines this year.  He made an amazing dinner for me, my mom, and Laila (and himself.)

We loved having them.  Utah feels a lot further away when we have to say goodbye to family.

One Month...

My little boy is one month old today!  What a great month it has been.  Life is too good for sleep, right? ;)  Harrison is a sweet baby.  He works pretty close to clockwork.  He starts fussing/grunting every 2-4 hours to eat.  He is a quick little eater and if he doesn't have the hiccups, he sleeps pretty well at night. He is already trying to lift and control his perfect little head. We had his wellness check today and he weighs 9 lbs 6 oz.  (He's gained over 2 pounds!) And he is 21 3/4." I feel like all the mommy cliche's feel more real with him.  I saw how fast Laila grew and now a month has already zoomed by with Harrison.  I'm really enjoying just snuggling and holding him as long as I can.  I love that he's here.  I love that he is healthy.  I feel so blessed.  He has captured my heart!

A couple of weeks ago, we got some great pictures taken by my friend, Alisha.  She's a great photographer.  You should look her up- www.alishakathleenphotography.blogspot.com
Here are some of my favorites of favorites:

Harrison Michael Shields

Our little boy is officially here.  It has certainly been an interesting pregnancy.  Overall, he and I have been healthy which we are extremely grateful for.  However, at his 20 week ultrasound where we found out he was in fact a HE, we also found out that I had something called Placenta Previa.  Those are fancy words that mean that my placenta was blocking the cervix.  Usually the placenta will move out of the way, but in my case, it didn't.  This was hard news for me to take at week 28.  If it didn't move I would have to have a csection to prevent the placenta from possibly rupturing as the baby tries to come out.  If it ruptured, I could bleed out or baby could have been put into shock.  The news just scared me.  Thankfully, as I prayed, I was reminded over and over again to trust in the Lord.  I am also very thankful for modern technology that was able to catch this situation.  My placenta did not move. So at about week 34, we scheduled our csection for February 3.  I cannot begin to tell you how weird it felt for me to be picking the day my son would be born.  But on the other hand, it was VERY nice knowing exactly when he would get here and being able to plan accordingly. Now here's a photo unload of our little boy's special day.

Early February 3, we head to the hospital.  Ready or not...

Michael loved the outfit he got to wear in the OR.  Mine wasn't as glamorous...

Me getting to hold our sweet boy in the recovery room.  I cannot begin to tell you how weird a csection felt after having a vaginal birth with Laila.  No contractions or hours of labor.  Pretty sweet.  Being awake for a very real surgery and feeling all sorts of weird tugs and pressure as they safely got my baby out.  Pretty weird.

Here is our perfect little boy-  Harrison Michael Shields. He was born at 7:22 AM and weighed 7 lbs 2 oz.  He also had the longest finger nails I have ever seen and way more hair than his sister. :)

Thankfully, Aunt Camille could be down here the week I was in the hospital.  She did a great job taking care of Laila so that Michael could be with me.  This is one of my favorite pictures.

I cannot even begin to describe how DARLING Laila is with her brother "Harr-son" She beams when she sees him and softly touches his head, then kisses him.  Absolutely MELTS my heart. 

Our family of FOUR:

Loved being able to FaceTime and chat with so many family members.  Here's Harrison meeting his cousin, J.

Friday, we came home from the hospital.  Many naps followed...

My mom also got into town on Friday.  No matter how old I am, it sure feels good to have my mommy nearby.

Harrison is a sweet, calm baby.  We love having him home safely with us.

Love these three.

Laila's been pretty patient when it comes to me needing to take care of Harrison.  Most of the time, she will snuggle up somewhere close to me and wait while I feed. Or distract herself with a show on the iPad.  

My guys...

Alert and darling.

More kisses for Harrison...

He loves to have a hand by his face.

Super stretch!

Can't get enough of his little face

I have the best view.  Harrison in my arms, Laila on my legs.  It's a good life.

So much love doesn't seem possible!

Feeling very blessed in this house.