Flower Power!

Hey Friends and Family!

This update should come with a surgeon's general warning.  Because this is seriously the cutest video ever.  You have been warned.

When we first found out that we were pregnant, we signed up for email updates on the pregnancy through BabyCenter.  Each week they would alert us to what fruit/veggie that our growing baby was most like in size, and let us know what we should be eating, pregnancy tips, etc.  Then, once Harrison was born, we started getting emails about his growth and development, including suggestions about activities that we could do to help him learn about the world.

This week one of our assignments was Flower Power.  We were supposed to get some flowers or go visit a greenhouse or nursery.  It was important to get flowers with bright colors.  Then we were supposed to introduce them to the baby, and help him interact with them in all of the ways that he could: see the flower, smell the flower, touch the flower and hold the flower.  Challenge accepted.

The first time we did Flower Power, we had a blast.  So, the second time, we grabbed the GoPro (thanks Dad!) and got it on film.  Here is the result.  I dare you to try and watch this without smiling.

Happy New Year!  Flower Power!
-Nate, Justine and Harrison

One Month Old!

Dear Friends and Family,

Hope this finds you well!  As the Holidays approach, we are spending some time reflecting on what we are thankful for.  I am thankful that, although I am still not adult enough to remember to grab a towel before I take a shower, we have successfully kept an infant happy and healthy for a full month!  Achievement unlocked!

Its actually strange to think that he's only been here a month, and to reflect on how much he has changed.  The first week or so wasn't overly interactive, he slept most of the time.  Now he is much more awake.  It's amazing to watch him watch things.  He can track things with his eyes now, which he definitely couldn't do before.  Also, he has started smiling with intention!  We can't make him do it, but when we have morning time we can sing and talk to him and he will smile at us.  It pretty much makes my heart melt.   Even at 4 a.m., which is impressive.

Oh hey! Did I wake you? Listen, while you're up...

His umbilical cord fell off at about two and a half weeks.  We were pretty excited, because it meant that we could finally bathe him!  Here he is, looking dubious about this whole thing.  Turns out that he HATES baths.  HATES them.  So now Daddy has to bathe him, fast, and Mommy goes into the other room because the crying stresses her out.  Recently he made a pee-fountain during diaper change time, and peed in his own ear.  We explained to him that ear-pee meant an immediate bath, but we're not sure he's made that connection yet (though a second pee-fountain while in the sink did make a connection with Grandpa Graham's toiletries bag).

Maybe if I hide in the corner bath time will go away?

We love all the expression that he does with his hands.  He has only recently begun to move with intention, so we're sure that none of these were planned.  But here are three adorable photos of pretty impressive hand coordination.

The Sleeper Thinker

Look out ladies!

Harrison confirms that feeding time rocks

For his birthday, we decided to make him a cake.  But then we decided that he was little, so he didn't need a whole cake.  And what would we make it out of?  Why, the only thing he can eat of course!  So we set about making him a milk cupcake.  With a candle.  After all that work and planning, he seemed unimpressed.  Good thing that even his unimpressed face is adorable!

Kids these days! So ungrateful for their flaming frozen milk

Now that he is awake more often, we are certainly having more fun with him.  We read to him in the mornings and in the evenings.  He loves music, and we're working on our duets.  We're dressing him up in adorable clothing.  We were getting him ready for his one month photos a few days ago, and got the photo below.  Very 'Risky Business'.

"Take those old records off the shelf!"

This blog post, Harrison is going to grow up to be a CEO.  He's already got the outfit, and the devil-may-care posture.

No pants necessary on casual Friday

And we'll leave you with one adorable photo for the road.  Sending you kisses from the Bells!
-Nate & Justine

Baby Harrison™ FAQ

Hello Friends and Family!

So, it has been just over two weeks since our Baby Harrison arrived, and things have been both hectic and fun!  People have many questions about this new arrival, so we're presenting the Bellhaven Baby Frequently Asked Questions:

How are we sleeping?
Certainly less than before we started this journey, but overall more than during the pregnancy.  Harrison wakes up somewhere between four and six times a night, and we are splitting the time into three hour shifts to try and give each other a break. Most of the time we get up, change him, feed him and burp him, and then he falls back to sleep.  Sometimes there is an adventure, like last night.  All of my feedings were normal - Nate's were not so much.  The first outing Harrison gave him some surprise pee.  The second he burped up all over himself and Nate's robe.  Then this morning he overloaded his diaper while relaxing in bed, and we had to change both him and the sheets.  Some days have more laundry than others.  We love our new washer and drier!

What is our favorite part about being a parent so far?
Mom: I love mornings.  Most of the time he wakes up around 8:30 to start the day, and we bring him into bed with us.  I generally spend the next hour or so just staring at him.  He loves faces, so for a while he will just stare at one of us, then the other.  He likes contrast, so he spends a lot of time looking at the ceiling fan, or at the light out the window.  I am enchanted by everything that his face does.  He makes little cooing noises, and a noise that sounds a bit like a horse's nicker.  Nate says he is going to be great a barnyard sounds when he is a bit older.  Here is a photo of morning cuddles:

Dad: Enjoying the ridiculous faces and sounds he makes. He's a great sleeper during the day but he'll have brief periods of wakefulness where he nickers and squirms. Often one or both arms will suddenly shoot into the air in a clenched fist, like a defiant protester. In fact, you can spot his tiny raised fist in our first family picture. Even when he's working up a really good cry, it's hard to not be delighted in the effort he expends. He takes a couple breathless seconds to wind up, turns bright red all over, and then looses a shuddering wail that just makes me want to laugh and kiss his face. But mostly I love the serene closeness we share when he curls up in my arms and falls asleep on my chest.

How are the animals taking things?
Pretty well, in general.  Juno couldn't care less.  She is almost totally deaf now, so the crying doesn't even wake her.  The only time they interact is when they are both supervised on the bed.  She did go and lay down by his feet last night, but for the most part they exist in different worlds.  Hannah is, as always, a guard.  She spends most of her time sitting facing away from wherever Nate, Harrison and I are, keeping watch.  Sara is mostly excited about the baby.  She really really really wants to lick him, which we haven't allowed so far.  She is also a little needier than normal, as if she wants to be reminded that we will still love her too.  We do our best to split our time, and she seems more content.  The cats just ignore him.  He hasn't met the barnyard yet, we'll probably wait until spring for that.

How is Justine healing?
Better than expected!  I have 6 weeks of lift restriction where I am not supposed to lift anything heavier than Harrison, but other than that I feel great.  The incision is so precise that it didn't even scab.  Actually, I think the labor and pushing itself did more damage, but I cured the migraine it left me with by spending a few wonderful hours at the wellness massage center.  All in all I'm basically pain free, very mobile, and haven't needed anything stronger than an Ibuprofen since the first day home.  A+, would c-section again.

What can we do to help/what do you need?
Diapers.  The pediatrician said that if he wasn't wetting six diapers each day, then we should call because he wasn't getting enough to eat.  Turns out that's really not a problem.  Harrison regained his birth weight in 5 days, and has been expanding ever since.  And while he wasn't exactly small when he came out, he must be growing fast because he's already out of Newborn clothes and into Three Months.  We weren't prepared for how many diapers this monster goes through in a day - we go through a sleeve of 35 in about two days.  Also, if you're local and you wanted to swing by with dinner that would also be much appreciated.  We'll be here.

What do we think will be his future profession?
So far?  Bodybuilder.  Check out these guns:

More questions?  Send them our way!
Love,
-J&N