Nursery Glimpse

Ok - so the nursery is definitely not complete... but it's in progress. Presently, Harper sleeps in her bassinette, wherever we are. In the living room during the day and our bedroom at night. So, her crib isn't set up in the nursery. We still have a twin bed in there. If you want to come visit, please do! :) Once Harper moves into her crib, the bed will go downstairs. The crib and our glider will navigate into the nursery and it will be complete! :) I will post "real" pictures at that time.
Here are a few pictures from my cell phone of the room. I'll post better pictures once we have it done, done.

Curtains: I had bright pink curtains purchased, but not used at our wedding. I bought the fabric and my Grandma added it to the curtains to match her bedding and the embroidery hoops on the walls. I made the pennant from left over fabric from her bedding and the hoops.
Blue bird night light - Target on sale for $3.29.
Lamp - originally from my parents, repurposed for Harper's room.
Bird house - from my church baby shower, from Michaels.
Green basket - from Target (holds Harper's head bands/ribbons!)
Piggy Bank - Home Good, on sale for $4.99
Dresser - my Great, Great, Great Grandpa's dresser given to me by my Grandma after she refinished it.

Grey canvas - $1.20 from thrift store, painted grey. Will have Harper's foot prints on it this weekend! :)
Bird house - from church baby shower, from Michaels.
"LOVE" - from thrift store, $.50. Painted blue.
Books - (amazing books, for any of you parents or parents-t0-be out there!). From a jbfsale (jbfsale.com). Bought by my mum for Harper!
Stacking rings - Melissa and Doug, Home Goods $3.99
Shelf - thrift store (3 purchased, $8 total)
You can see the quilt my Grandma made for Harper hanging on the back of the bed (matches the curtains).
Jeremy and I painted the trees on this wall.Shelf (again from thrift store, purchased with two others)
Fabric hoops - bought from thrift stores for approx $4 total
Wooden drum - Melissa & Doug, jbfsale, $3.99
"DREAM" - Home Goods, $1.24 on sale!
Green bird - Kirklands, $2.99 on sale
Changing table - purchased with matching crib from neighbor (along with swing and high chair)
Baskets - Target
Baby mobile - Photo mobile from Target.com, $9.95, flowers from Michaels for $.49 eachDiaper stacker - made by my Grandma with fabric I purchasedBook shelves - Ikea spice racks, $2.99 ea
Canvas sayings - made by me, original canvas set bough from Home Goods for $4.49 on sale
Green picture holder - Home Goods, $6.99This book is a MUST for new dads! Jeremy has scoured through it like no other! It's totally written for a man. Thi is how the intro is worded: "Congratulations on receiving your model. Before accepting your new baby, make sure all parts listed on pages 16-22 are in tact and in working order. If they are not, please contact your child's care giver immediately." One chapter is labeled "How to select and install a pacifier." :) It lays out everything from changing a diaper, swaddling a baby to feedings... it's fabulous! :)

Post Baby - 2 Weeks

Here I am, post baby 2 weeks. Not normal, but definitely not preggo any longer! I haven't weighed myself yet (no place to do so!), but I'm a bit scared to. Not sure what I weigh, but I'm sure I lost plenty with shoving an 8 lb 1 oz baby out of my vagina! It really is incredible how much water weight you loose instantly. Any bit swollen I was my last bit of being pregnant was almost instantly gone once Petal was delivered. Even within a day, I no longer had any sign of kancles, my face seemed almost back to normal and I felt sooo much better! As soon as I weigh myself, I'll let you know how much I have left to loose! I can't wait to work out... oh how I've missed it!!!

Harper's Newborn Pictures

Oh my love bug, you are gorgeous! Mommy can't help but fall a bit more in love with those chubby cheeks, rolly legs and bright eyes every time I look at you! Ms. Cari Dugan took pictures of you at two weeks old and I just cannot choose a favorite!Your smile that charms all who see! Daddy holding you, Mommy calming your tears.

Little owl hat! Why so serious? This one's Daddy's favorite!

Those eyes! They're sooo intense already. And, you're getting a double chin and chunky cheeks.. I want to kiss them all the time!Daddy has NO idea what he's in for!

Headband and flower: Oh Baby! in the Galleria
Hat: Sarah Morphew-Ussery
Photography: Cari Dugan Photography or Blog

Harper Kendall Menz

Introducing Harper Kendall Menz!

Born January 6, 2012 at 5:46 AM

8 pounds 1 once, 20 ½ inches

Mommy labored for 8 hours and pushed for one hour. You came out sideways! Is that setting a precedent for the future? The doctor told Mommy she would have only pushed for 30 minutes had you been positioned right. Mommy's water broke around 2 PM at work eeek! She went to the doctor’s office, the hotel for work and finally home. Mommy took a shower while Daddy got everything ready. Daddy and Mommy finally got to the hospital at 5:30 PM. There was an emergency and we were brought to a delivery room instead of intake. Mommy found blood on her delivery bed YUCK! and the nurse switched it out. Daddy and Mommy walked for three, one hour periods to start Mommy’s labor. Daddy played on the iPad while Nana slept and Mommy tried to get through her contractions. Auntie Cari brought Hank to see you born. He slept until after you made your appearance! Auntie Mandy photo-documented Mommy’s labor and your delivery so Daddy could focus on being with Mommy while she pushed. Nana and Cari were great coaches as well. Mommy proudly labored and delivered you without an epidural or any pain medicine. Overachiever! You screamed bloody murder when the nurse took you from Mommy’s chest to check your vitals… until Daddy started talking to you. I believe you two fell in love at that moment. Grandpa Ken came to visit you right after you were born. Grandma Cindy came a few hours later. Papa and Auntie Gracie came that night because Gracie had school. She was very tired because she stayed up all night to pray for Mommy and you, as you made arrival. You became the perfect baby instantly. Eating within 30 minutes of birth, sleeping long periods, cuddling up to Mommy or Daddy. You smiled at Mommy the day after you were born. Every doctor and nurse thought you were gorgeous, but Mommy already knew that. Mommy told Daddy she didn’t think she prayed hard enough because you looked like a baby version of him but cuter. Daddy changed all of your diapers in the hospital. He was a charm! (AND he cleaned our entire house when we got home!!!) Daddy and Mommy teared up when we got to bring you home from the hospital. Daddy stopped at “our” Starbucks in the Galleria… such a symbol of our life together. (Daddy bought Mommy coffee there after their first date.) Daddy’s a sweetheart, just don’t tell anyone!
You had LOTS of visitors!

Nana, Papa, Gracie

Grandpa and Grandma

Auntie Cari, Uncle Nick, Jackson, Emilie, Claire and Henry

Mandy and Austin

Tracy and Elizabeth

Anthony and Lesley

Kyle, Bailey and their nephew

Samarah and Brian

Darren and Lesley

Kate and Louis (and Zachary too)

Danny, Beka, Issak, Zakary, Madeline and Eli...

You’re popular already!

I cannot wait to begin our journey together, my love bug. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. I’m blessed to call you mine.

I call you healthy, whole, wise and happy.

We believe:

You ARE smart.

You ARE beautiful.

You ARE important.

You ARE special.

You ARE the best!
courtesy The Help/Mrs. Rachel Burchfield/Daddy and Mommy revisions

Weekly Update

Now that's we are "overdue"... short and sweet – I don’t have much time today. J

How far along? 40 Weeks
Total weight gain: holding steady at 28 lbs this week.
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Stretch marks? Hoping for the best!
Sleep: rare occasion
Best moment this week: reaching my due date. Hoping for Petal’s arrival quite soon.
Miss Anything? Too many things to name today.
Movement: Dancing Queen!
Food cravings: a good cabbage roll… maybe more so just for sentimental sake…?
Anything making you queasy or sick: I’ve been quite nauseous lately, but that’s probably just the end of pregnancy.
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: 2.5 cm dilated, bleeding, cramping, 100% effaced, membranes are nowhere to be found.
Symptoms: aches, pains, crabbiness, tiredness, stress, lack of sleep… shall I continue?
Belly Button in or out? Flat.
Wedding rings on or off? Same
Happy or Moody most of the time: Crabby the last two days. Ugh.
Looking forward to: Petal’s arrival. Sleep (even if it’s interrupted, it would be existent).