Show Off

Harper wants everyone to see how big he is now. He wants people to see that he can reach the little rattles that hang down from his Wiggle Worm mat. He also wants you to note how chubby his belly and thighs have gotten thanks to Mommy's high caloric boob juice :)

Look at my hands!!

I video Harper when Tuli has friends over, and they're talking about ESPN and computers :P

Harper even spits up for the camera! What a show off!

Uncle Ari

As promised, here are some pictures of Harper and his Uncle Ari. You can tell from the pictures that Ari loves his only nephew. Although I DID overhear him telling Harper, "It's OK buddy, I'm your uncle...that means you can tell me stuff that you can't tell your parents." Haha

Daddy does a Doodle Video

I love Tuli's "baby voice!"


On another note - Harper James is 11 weeks old today! It's hard to believe that almost three months have gone by since I gave birth to him. Everyday, I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful baby. He only fusses when he's hungry, and he has such a mellow demeanor. I love how he smiles at me, and how he recognizes my voice now. I love that he loves my milk, and that my milk is what has made him a healthy, growing, chubby baby. I love that he doesn't fuss when someone other than me or Tuli is holding him. I love that he is social. I love how he tries to hold his head up. I love listening to his baby noises when he sleeps in between me and Tuli. I love that he looks like both me and Tuli. He's just the cutest baby in the world, and I'm so lucky!

Mr. Popular

Here is a collection of pictures with some of his many admirers:

Aunt Erin

Uncle Derek

Aunt Cathy

Uncle Ray

Aunt Alice

Grammie

Aunt Sarah and Sister Sibyl

Last week at Birth to Three, he weighed in at 10lb, 11ounces. I'm thinking by Wednesday, he'll be 11 pounds!

We also just realized that we haven't taken any pictures of Uncle Ari (above) with his only nephew. I'm disappointed at my camera-happy self. This will be remedied before he leaves to go back to USC tomorrow. Harper has loved getting to know his Uncle Ari (even if he goes to USC, and he brought him an ugly red/gold football). Sibyl has obviously loved having Ari here too because it means there is another set of hands to pet her. We think she is depressed with all the attention Harper gets...

Aunt Sarah has come down the last two weekends to spend time with Harper (and me I think...). Harper loves his Aunt Sarah because she loves singing to him, holding him, and dressing him in cute outfits. I don't think that Harper has been put down for more than 2 minutes all weekend with the barrage of visitors we've had this weekend :)

Naked Time!!!

Wiggle Worm has doubled his birth weight!!!

At Birth to Three yesterday, he weighed in at a whopping 10lbs 2ounces!!! Yayyy!!!!! He has officially grown out of the "newborn" size diapers too, and he's wearing 0-3month baby clothes :)

Smiling for Aunt Missy

Harper and Brooklyn

Here is a video of Harper and Brooklyn (8 month old daughter of one of my best friend's, Cathy). We always joke that we are going to have an arranged marriage for the two of them :) Brooklyn ends up holding and kissing Harper's hand in the video :) I love Brooklyn, and I love Harper so much!

While he's sleeping...

...I have the chance to write more about Doodle.

As of last Wednesday, he weighed 9lbs, 8.5 ounces. I expect that when I get him weighed again in two days, he will be around the 10lb mark. That will mean he's doubled in size! I am so happy he's a happy, healthy baby. Every Wednesday, I go to a class called "Baby Connection" at a center called Birth to Three. It's not so much a class as it is a place for Mom's to hang out with their babies. Moms (and Dads) can bring their babies in, chat with other parents, get their baby weighed, and speak to nurses about any concerns you might be having. Each week, they take a picture of your baby for you to take home. It's a pretty cool place to hang out...

...the only thing I struggle with is seeing all these other mothers breastfeeding their babies. Harper still has no interest in nursing. It breaks my heart. I am continuing to pump milk for him 8-9 times a day, so at least he is getting my milk.

Nobody tells you how hard breastfeeding can be.

Mothers who nurse their babies without any issues don't know how lucky they are.

I want to have that "something" with Harper that only a mother can have with their baby - a connection between the two of us while he nurses.

I know that he knows my smell and my voice. I know he knows I am his mother, and that I love him more than anything else in this world.

I would do anything for Harper James.

I knew I would have a tough battle nursing from the day he was born, due to his low birth weight and prematurity. Now, 2 months later, it hasn't gotten any easier for me or him. I know it's not the end of the world...that it is good he as least getting breastmilk...and that I am a good mother for continuing to hook myself up to the breastpump multiple times each day. I know that most women would not have continued pumping. I believe that most women would have stopped trying all together. The stubborn Aquarius in me won't let me give up hope, and it won't let me stop continuing to try.

My Mom wasn't breastfed, and neither was I. My Mom said I had the same reaction to breastfeeding as Harper does - screaming, crying, clawing...getting so worked up that breathing seems difficult. I have to remember that my Mom is a healthy woman. I was rarely sick as a child, and I still have an emotional attachment to my Mom, even though I was not breastfed.

I have to remember what is important - a healthy Harper, and a healthy Shannon. I know that we are emotionally connected, even though he is not nursing.

Motherhood is a lot harder than I thought it would be.

But, more importantly, it's a lot more fulfilling that I could have ever imagined. He is worth all of the work.

He is changing so much everyday. He's smiling now, and he's able to focus on objects with his eyes a lot better. He loves being sang to. His favorite way to sleep is on someone's shoulder. He seems fascinated by Sibyl - he spends lots of time just staring at her. It's adorable even though Sibyl just ignores him :) He can hold his head up now - he stills bobs around a bit sometimes, but he's getting better neck/head-control everyday. He's still a little wiggle worm - if he's awake, you can be sure that his arms and legs are flailing and kicking sporadically :) He loves car rides.

He's such a good baby.

I love him so much.

2 Months Old Already!!!

HE'S SMILING!!!

I'm so happy that Harper is doing so well...he is thriving, growing and smiling now :) I'm so proud of Tuli and myself for being such good parents, and for raising such a happy baby! Here are some pics from the past week or so...

He loves his Wiggle Worm Mat

And he loves going for walks in the Snuggli :)

He loves his Aunt Cathy

He loves sleeping on Daddy's chest

He loves his girlfriend, Brooklyn

He loves his Aunt Ashley

And he loves his Uncle David and Uncle Max :)

Little Bear :)