Pumpkin Patch

We took our annual pumpkin patch picture. It was a little different having two to capture. And getting both of them to smile at the same time was practically impossible. Karen, Katy and Laura met us there to help out, but for some reason Landon was being unusually not smiley. Beau right away grabbed a wagon and loaded the first pumpkin he could lift into it. And then he had to wheel it everywhere we went. He also spotted an owl statue and was so excited as you can tell by this picture!

Love my boys!!

Harrison Beach Week

This year was interesting juggling two kids at the beach. With Landon being so young, he was pretty much held all day by everyone which was nice.

Even though we went only a couple of months ago, when I think back, it seems like forever ago. We took our usual after church group picture. Travis and I, for the first year, successfully made dinner for our night without any arguments! Beau, on the other hand, tried to pick a fight with anyone in a 5 feet radius. It was pretty stressful for me having him beat up on the other kids so we tried to focus on him having one on one time with me and/or Travis. We went out one morning before everyone made it out to the beach and took him kayaking. He was pretty scared to get on the kayak, but he did it! Once we were out on the ocean, I don't think he moved a muscle, but we saw dolphins and he enjoyed looking for fish. I think he was out of his element and with just having a brother and extra family in town was still learning to cope. I also think he's a little like me where he needs his time alone and can only handle big groups in small doses so sharing a house with so many people he just didn't know how to act. He has since dropped the rude attitude thankfully!

We had a splash contest and a big foot howling contest. There was also a night crab hunt that Beau got to participate in this year. He loved it! Also there were a lot of late nights watching the olympics.

Landon's First Bite

We finally gave Landon some cereal! I kept forgetting to get cereal at the store so we are only about a month late than when we first gave it to Beau. Despite his face in this first picture, he ate it all and seemed to like it. With every bite though, he would make this funny face. And towards the end he was more interested in Daddy's hand and the spoon! Beau was really excited to help mix it and give him his first bite.

Beau also helped record it on our video camera, although he acted like he was taking pictures instead. We've got to work on his video recording skills. He is too used to the camera.

Beau's School

Beau started "school" a couple weeks ago. It's just an arts and crafts class through the rec center that focuses on letters and numbers, but we call it school. He is always excited when it's the day to go! He says it's time for high school today! Not quite, Beau! These are pictures from the first day.

Where I've Been

I think it's safe to say it's been a little while since I updated this blog. My excuse? I had a baby. And it's taken me awhile to adjust. It has been hard and challenging for me and I finally feel like I have my head above water. I'm slowly starting to feel like myself again and enjoying the things I used to. Like taking pictures and talking about it.

I'm also not a big fan of newborns. I like that very short period at the very beginning where they sleep all day and can go anywhere. I don't like the next stage where they seem to always be fussy as you learn their schedules, the things that they like and don't like. I like when we can get into a rhythm, when their personality starts to show and you can interact with them. I think we have finally achieved the stage I like, whew!

I don't want to miss writing down the funny, little cute things that he's been doing lately. He is a HAM! He loves attention and is the easiest boy to get a smile from or a giggle. He always has to be looking at me which is a blessing and a curse. Which is why he's on his side in these pictures. I kept trying to get him to lay flat on his back so I could get a profile shot (I've got a similar one with Beau at this age and I wanted to replicate it), but he kept rolling towards me.

He's started to find his voice-a high pitched squeal. He will be happy, squealing away and Beau will yell "Mommy, Landon is crying"! Beau is very attentive towards Landon and is already concerned with how much he sleeps because he enjoys just having him watch us play. He often says he doesn't want Landon to take a nap when I say I'm going to put Landon down. Beau loves giving things to Landon and I'll often find a hidden treasure somewhere near him or in his seat. What Beau doesn't like though, is if Landon starts sucking on whatever he's given him. He'll yell, "stop sucking on it, Landon!" and he'll rip it away from him. Ohhh, just you wait Beau!

Just look at this kid! He can't get enough of his feet. He sucks on them all day long!

I guess old habits die hard...

because he's been doing these moves since the womb...

One Week

Landon Turner Harrison

Born May 19th, 2012 at 5:21am

8 lbs 4 oz

20 1/2 inches long

It's been one week since we welcomed sweet, baby Landon into this world. It definitely didn't go how I thought, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. I assumed I would be induced at least a week after my due date since that's what happened with Beau and I hadn't been progressing at all. 

I went in to my 39 week check up and I had no change. So last Friday we went about our usual business. We had Little Gym in the morning, then played in the water fountains outside at the shopping center, got some lunch, rode in a train around the shopping center, went home and napped, and then started making pizza for our usual Friday dinner. I usually have it cooked by the time Travis gets home, but I had ran out of cheese so I had to wait for Travis to get home before I could finish the pizza. While Travis and Beau were playing I finished putting on the toppings and popped them in the oven. Eleven minutes later the timer went off and I bent down to get the pizza out of the lower oven, when I felt something release. Travis was convinced that I had just peed my pants, but I know what that feels like (since that happens more than I would like) and I knew I hadn't. I continued to leak fluid as we ate dinner so we talked about what to do next. I knew we had to go in and soon so we packed everything up as quickly as we could and dropped Beau off at his cousins house. I was packing a backpack with my things and Travis was packing a backpack with Beau's clothes. Beau saw each of us packing and started yelling, "where's Beau's backpack?!" Travis got his little backpack and he started frantically filling it with toys! He completely filled it up with as many toys as he could and then he was ready to go. As we were walking outside I watched him take his binky out of his mouth and jam it into his backpack. He seemed like such a big boy.

We finally made it to the hospital and got down to business. I took a long time to progress so they started me on pictocin. Hours and hours later, when the doctor checked me she said he had turned posterior. She was able to turn him and then we were ready to go. They started preparing everything and they started handing things to Travis to put on. Turns out the doctor wanted him to deliver the baby! He got into position and I did one push and he was out! It was super quick! I do think he helped launch himself because I kept feeling him kick my ribs. Quick delivery made for a perfectly shaped head though!

Beau was so happy to see his baby brother! Beau has been such a big helper and truly cares for and loves Landon. Whenever Landon starts to cry or whimper, I hear the pounding of little footsteps running as fast as possible to where Landon is to see if there is anything he can do. His favorite thing to do is put the binky in his mouth. I love my boys so much!

We've been busy taking advantage of having Travis home by setting up the nursery (thought we had two more weeks) and doing fun things as a new family of four.

Here are a few more pics of Landon.

9 Months

4 weeks left!!! I can't believe it! I had a doctor's appointment on my 36 week mark with an ultrasound to check everything. Turns out Too Buddy is giving us something else to worry about. He is head down, but he's diagonal. His little bum is up under the right side of my ribs and his little head is tucked nicely into my left hip. I always wondered why I constantly felt him digging into that hip and not much movement on the other side. Now I know why! I've got another ultrasound scheduled this week to see if he's moved. Then it's on to manually trying to move him and if that doesn't work, then C-section. Come on little guy, MOVE! It's not like he has far to go so we'll see what happens. I've been trying to coax him to the other side by lying more on my right. Sometimes I feel like he's moved, but then I'll feel him back to his usual spot again. Wish us luck!

UPDATE: I had my follow-up ultrasound yesterday and the baby had his head on the other side! So it seems like he is just going back and forth and my doctor thinks that he will eventually even out. He's not even that much off centered. Phew, I hope that's the case!

My Little Talker

Beau has turned into quite the talker around here and such a copy cat. He's been copying the last one or two things that I say, among numerous phrases and sayings. I love to hear him talking. He is learning so much and has a genuine sweet spirit.

Some of my favorites...

Dodie - Dory (from Finding Nemo)
I dove you - I love you. He'll say, 'I love you Mama' and then I'll say, 'I love you Beau' and then he'll say it again as, 'I love you Mama Beau' or just 'I love you Beau'.

I found it!
There it is
There they are
Owhyyyyyy?
Hey-O - Hello
Habit - Ribbit/Frog
Another...car, bus, etc.
Hini - Wendy
Calf - Giraffe
Where's Beau?
What's down there?
Package guy - UPS or Fedex trucks
Wee - Playground
Come on!
What is this Mommy?
Carzan - Tarzan
Waffles today
Guess what...Emi's house, Grandma's house

If he wants to take something with him and wants to know if it's ok, he says 'with you?'

He is starting to understand that there's a baby in Mommy's tummy and he often asks to kiss it. Melts my heart!

8 Months

We are in single digit countdown! It's weird to say that I'm due next month! But...if I go late, I can easily have this baby in June, so it might not be as soon as next month.

I'm finally on some thyroid medication and I'm feeling pretty good. It's either the medication or that nesting instinct finally kicking in. Whichever one it is, I'll go with it.

I'm not looking forward to it heating up. I bought my first maxi dress and I may end up wearing it every.single.day! So comfortable and no adjusting every time I get up.

Happy Easter 2012

We had a fun Easter this year! Beau did a great job collecting eggs and did an even better job at eating all of his candy. We were able to participate in 3 egg hunts throughout the week.

Here are some pictures from the first one we went to.

Looks like his mind is hurting from imagining all the candy the eggs are containing!

We had an egg hunt at Grandma & Grandpa Harrison's house. Too bad he's been waiting all winter to get in a jump session on their trampoline and that seemed to trump all the easter egg hunting.

If he could see an egg then he would be willing to take a break from jumping and put it in his basket.

Then it was back to jumping!

Unfortunately, the gnats were out in full force and it wasn't that much fun being outside. I guess they were bothering Beau's ears so when he wasn't jumping, he was covering his ears to keep them safe.

Happy Easter!