First Day of School

Well, we have 3 years before kindergarten, and I thought that was a little early for a formal preschool. (Maybe next year!) So instead, I heard about this great little program run by the school district for kids 3-5. So, when Harrison turned 3 we decided to start. I have him in 1-2 sessions a week and so far he has loved his first week. He was a little shy and quiet during all the singing, but loved to color and loved centers!
Mommy even got out of bed the first day to see how it all works. It was up to Grandma Ward on day 2.
Here's to hoping that school is really as exciting as he thinks it is.

A Week of Birthday Celebrations

Well, Harrison turned three this week and I was planning on having a little friend's party for him to celebrate, but alas, my plans changed a few weeks back with bed rest. So we settled for 3 different days to celebrate his birthday at home. First, Grandma Ward was here helping out (thank goodness) and decided to give Harrison his present before his birthday so we could enjoy it one night.
He loved opening his first present and loved watching the new Lion King movie.
Then on his birthday, I made my first venture out of the house and we went to playgroup at a park by our house. Grandma got to chase him around while I got to sit back and watch him play. Then we had a picnic lunch. It was a fun morning.
When we got back from the park, Harrison "helped" Grandma make his cake.
He did better putting the sprinkles on!
Then with Daddy on Skype, we got to open some of his presents. He got new shoes and a dump truck from his Willerth Grandparents and family.

And I managed to finally finish his super hero cape that had been a long time in the making. He also got some Cars stuff and a new water bottle.
After presents, we had a Spaghetti dinner which Harrison picked and sang Happy Birthday to him. He did a great job blowing out his candles.
Then on Saturday, when Daddy was home, he got another present.
He got 2 new trains to play with and he and Daddy spent most of the weekend playing with trains and building new tracks.
Saturday was also Grandma Ward's birthday so we were able to take a little time from Harrison to celebrate her. We had a great cook out and enjoyed some time together. Grandpa sent some awesome flowers. They smell amazing!
Jeff made a great cake and we all enjoyed the rest of our weekend together.
Happy Birthday!

To My Angel Boy!

Dear Harrison,

Three years ago today I looked into the eyes that would change my life forever. Your presence has made my life so much better. You came a little later then we wanted you too, but when you got here you were worth the extra waiting. You were so healthy and calm and just wanted us to hold and cuddle you. You were a great sleeper and never did more then whimper when you needed something. You brought such a calmness and sweetness into our home. Your daddy and I can't imagine life without you.
You have taught me so much and helped me to grow in ways I never thought possible. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, but until you were here, I didn't really know what that meant. You helped me to learn patience and unconditional love. You have helped me to learn what true joy is as I have watched you grow from a little 8 lb, 5 oz baby, into a 33 lb toddler! You have grown bigger, not just physically, but mentally as well. You have quite the little personality and although you keep me on my toes all the time, you make life fun and exciting! I love watching you discover what the world has to offer and I love that you help me stop and enjoy the little things. Like the flowers along the sidewalk or the bugs in the grass. I love that you can remember all the lines in the movie Cars and get so excited to watch it again and again with me. I love that you copy what I say when I read books to you now and how you "let" me play with some of your toys! I love our games of hide and seek when you tell me where you are hiding. I love to color, cut, paint and do projects with you. I love that you made potty training so easy and quick. I love that we get to learn together. I love your laugh, your smile, and all your different emotion faces that you have been working on lately.
I love that you have been so patient with all the changes and travels in our lives and that you have been so excited to welcome a baby sister into our family. I am glad you have been able to adjust and give up some of your mommy time so that baby sister can get here safely!

Harrison, you are truly a blessing to me and all those you meet. I hope you enjoy your special day my little angel baby! I can't wait to see all that you teach me as you are learning what it is like to be 3!

Love,
Your Mommy

29, 1, 5

Take your pick of numbers...

29 weeks pregnant today with baby girl! This is a picture of her little face. Chin is on the left side and forehead on the right a little lower. I think she has Harrison's nose.
And here is me and 29 weeks...
1 week on bed rest and I am still trying to make the best of it. I can sit up and do some little things so I have read almost 2 books, read lots of books to Harrison, finished a 400 piece puzzle-with help- (see below) and am working on a few craft projects that are pretty simple but time consuming. So here is my chance I guess.
5 more weeks of bed rest to go. My Dr. said they would take me off at 34 weeks and see what my body does from there. Let's hope we last a little longer then that, but who knows what this little girl wants to do.
In the mean time, Harrison is trying to enjoy himself with some outside play time while I watch from my chair and also a lot of train track building and race car tracks in our house. Luckily Grandma Ward is here to keep track of the little guy and do everything around the house! Thanks so much and we love you Grandma!

Scary Weekend

I will start by saying, I am never complaining about pregnancy again! I thought my pregnancy with Harrison was hard. He was big and moved constantly and I was so uncomfortable. But after it taking us so long to get pregnant this time around, I decided that I was going to be positive and look at the blessing that being pregnant is! Well, this little girl is making that very hard. First of all, she is really low so all the pain in my hips and legs and back started very early. Well, working out seemed to help a lot with that and I was able to stay positive. It was getting hard for me to chase around Harrison too, but such is life and he was learning to deal.

Well, then last weekend, we got the scare of this pregnancy. I started having a lot of pain Friday. Trying to just chalk it up to the fact that I did a lot (walking, a yoga workout, laundry, cleaned my bathrooms and swept the floors and then just chased around Harrison) and so I spent the evening resting and decided to go to bed early. Well, after a very un-restful nights sleep, I got up in the morning only to find that my pain was coming not just as cramps but as very regular cramping and pain. To me, that said contractions, so I called the Dr. Saturday morning and they told me to head to the hospital. So, Jeff is out of town working and I think, should I bring Harrison and make him wait while they probably run some tests, give me some meds and wait in the hospital for a few hours or should I find someone to watch him for the rest of the morning for me. I went with finding someone and I was so glad to have such wonderful friends. A dear friend came by, picked him up and then offered to drop her kids and Harrison with her husband and come with me. I figured I would be fine and in and out of there pretty quick, so off she went with Harrison and off I went to the hospital.

I quickly realized at the hospital that this wasn't going to be quick. They hooked me up to some machines and after a few tests and time on the machines decided that I was having a lot of contractions and although they weren't putting me into labor yet, they very likely could start. So, start the drugs. A simple pill right? WRONG! A pill that I take every 6 hours for 48 hours while I stay in the hospital so they can monitor the baby's reaction as well as my contractions. So, now we are talking 2 days in the hospital! Crazy! So, Jeff books a flight home, Harrison spends the rest of the day (and night)-Thank you Allen Family!! with friends and Jeff gets to me late that night. I won't go into all the details, but after pills and shots, the contractions were under control and baby girl was doing great (so happy she didn't decide to come at 28 wks!). Another reason I am never going to complain about pregnancy...keeping her in is so much better for everyone!

I got home this morning and will now spend the next 2-3 months on bed rest. Which is actually a better option I think then delivering a preemie, so I am going to do my best to obey my Dr. and stay on bed rest. Thank goodness for a wonderful mother in law and mother, family and amazing Relief Society Friends in Houston who are all stepping in to help. I don't know how or if I will ever be able to repay everyone, but I hope that I can be of service to others just as I am now the receiver of service! Now, I just need to pray these contractions don't start up again until at least 38 weeks!
Jeff snapped this keeper in the hospital! Harrison brought his race cars to keep me entertained! What a sweet boy and a trooper through all of this (and it is only the beginning).
Now I just need to find all the different things I can do while in bed and sitting down!