Monday, Monday...

The big news story today is Hurricane Sandy, set to hit the East Coast today. To all my friends who in the storm path, please be safe!  We're all watching and praying for you!

Closer to home, we made it to the polls this morning to cast our ballots.  Civic duty:  Check. 

Where to start (again)?

I've been encouraged to start blogging again, but I have to tell you - I'm not too excited about it.  I feel like it's just another thing on my to-do list.  But here's a (re-)start anyway.

I can't believe that it's been almost a YEAR since I've blogged.  Whoa.  That means it's been almost a YEAR since Harper was born, and let me say - what a year it has been! 

I'm not going to go back and recap our entire year.  That is just too daunting of a task.  

So here we are, a few days before Halloween.  Last night Harper and I went to our church's Fall Festival.  It was an overall good time.  

I baked these beauties to share.  I have to admit, they were tasty!

We dressed Harper as Mickey Mouse.  I didn't get a great picture of him, so you'll have to tun in next time to see the ridiculous cuteness. :)  We're tagging along with our neighbors to their Fall Festival next week.  

I'll leave you with a couple of recent photos of the little one.  

Plans and Babies Don't Mix

WELL, a lot has happened since my last post.  Let's back up a few weeks.

We hired a photographer and met with her on Oct. 22nd to take some maternity photos.  She was great!  Here are a few of our favorites.  (Please note that all these photos are copyright Stephanie Shirley Photography - please do not copy.)

Many thanks to Stephanie!

After the pictures, we continued to get things ready for the baby's arrival.  My due date was Nov. 23rd, but I was convinced that we wouldn't have a baby until after Thanksgiving.  Lesson #1 of Parenthood: things don't always work out the way you plan. :)

We had a regularly scheduled weekly doctor's appointment on Tuesday, Nov. 8th (37 weeks, 5 days), and during the ultrasound the doctor discovered that the amniotic fluid was low.  She recommended that we induce that very day.  Needless to say, we were a little unprepared for that news!  She told us to go home and get our hospital bag (not yet packed!), eat lunch, and check into the hospital.

Dan and I were both a little shocked.  We each called work to let them know that we would not be back for a while! :)

We were all checked in and settled in our room by 1:30 pm that afternoon.  Things progressed very slowly until about 5 am the next morning when the baby decided he was ready to be born!  The doctor just barely made it in time to deliver at 7:03 AM on Wednesday, November 9th (exactly 2 weeks early).

We are happy introduce Harper Tritz Hollingsworth!  He weighed 6 lbs 2oz and was 18 3/4" long.

The following 3 photos are again copyright Stephanie Shirley Photography.

The next couple of days were a whirlwind.  We checked out of the hospital on Friday afternoon.  Harper and I were both healthy and happy to go home!  We've spent the last week enjoying our new little family member.  Here are some highlights from Harper's first week of life.

Sleeping at the hospital.

getting ready to go home...

all set in the car seat.  I think he looks like he's ready for a roller coaster ride.

Hanging out with Dad at home.

After his first sponge bath.  He didn't really love it. :)

Monday (5 days old) - first doctor's appointment.  He was a champ and already regained his birth weight!

These last two are my favorites.  He loves to make little faces!  I could watch him all day long.

We'd like to thank all of our friends and family who have sent us messages of congratulations, flowers, gifts and meals this past week.  We absolutely love our little Harper!

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe that we have less than 6 weeks left until this little one joins our family.  We are both getting excited!  The nursery is starting to get full.  And messy.  

And it seems strange to see one of THESE in our car!!

 I'm still feeling pretty good.  Starting to get tired by the end of the day, but other than that, I can't really complain.  This pregnancy has really been a blessing.  Here I am at 34 weeks.

(Almost) 30 Weeks

I can't believe that Wednesday will mark 30 weeks pregnant!  It is suddenly going waaaaayy too quickly!  :)

The little one is kicking up a storm these days.  I'm finally starting to look and feel pregnant. HA!

Here is a photo taken at 28 weeks.

It's starting to feel real!

So many requests for photos lately..... where to start?

Nursery furniture!  It arrived today, and even the room is still empty of decoration, it sure is strange to see this kind of stuff in our house!  :)

(puppy not included)

crib

dresser/changing table

end table

And why not?  a baby bump picture.  This was taken last week in San Diego (22 weeks along).

for Jenna

I did a photo shoot for two great families in our ward a few weeks ago.  I've been promising a sneak peak for too long.  Here are two of my favorites.

More to come, I promise!!