The Hospital Stay

After Liesl's super speedy exam room birth, there was no need to move into a labor room so the nurse just moved us over to recovery.  I felt pretty amazing right from the get go so we called my mom so she and Miriam could come up and visit.  

While they were at the hospital, Liesl got her first bath.  She wasn't a fan but she has since warmed up to the idea.

 

 

My mom took our first picture as a family of four.

And then Owen got some pictures of me with my girls before my mom took Miriam down to her house for the next two days.

It was really fun to have my mom and Miriam visit in the morning.  We had the rest of the morning and afternoon to ourselves before people started coming again around four.  During our visitor lull, I took a shower and made myself all beautiful (and then forgot to get any pictures like that!!), Liesl had her hearing tested and we attempted a nap but Owen and I were both too wound up and full of adrenaline to sleep.  Oh well, we had fun chatting the day away without Miriam interrupting for crackers or whatever else. 

Owen went with the hearing specialist during Liesl's hearing test and I'm really glad he did!  She was having a hard time getting the sensors to stay put on Liesl's head because of all her beautiful hair.  She said when that happens they have to shave the hair away so they can do the test.  Owen's reply was something like, "You won't be shaving my baby!  Forget that idea!"  The nurse got the picture and figured out a way to make it work.  :)

We forgot to take pictures of all our other visitors from the evening, but I know some exist because my brother, Kurt, took some while they were there.  We loved having so many friends and family come to see us.  My visiting teacher, Katie Williams and her temporary partner, Tiffany Sorensen came first followed by my sister, Heidi, and her girls, Amber and Brianna.  Then my friend, Nikki came and she even brought us dinner.  We had already eaten the hospital's "special" steak and shrimp dinner that they give to maternity patients and spouses, so we saved it for lunch the next day.  Good thing too!  Who thinks about lunch for when they get home from the hospital?!  Apparently not us.  My brothers, Kurt and Jeremy both showed up with their families at the same time.  We had quite the crowd in our room!  Then they left and we were all to ourselves again for the rest of our hospital stay.  

A Winter Project

My mom is a serious quilter.  Like big time serious.  I have inherited her love of quilting and often this leads to fun mother-daughter projects.  As a Christmas present from Owen's parents I was given a charm pack for a project that my mom was also going to do.  So, after Christmas we got to work.  We got all the cutting and piecing done quickly during a couple of Miriam's naps but still had the quilting and binding to do.  My mom finished quickly since she doesn't have little kids running around her feet anymore.  My project took about a month! 

When I finished I snapped some pictures to blog about, but then I put my little quilt away and I forgot about it.  So, now that I'm back in the game, here's a picture:

Isn't it cute?!  I love it!  It almost makes me wish Christmas were coming soon so I could hang it on my wall.  Almost. 

Hippity Hopscotch

Since it's still "winter" here and both Miriam and I have a serious case of cabin fever, we decided a fun game of hopscotch was in order.  But with wet sidewalks and blustery winds, outside was a no go.  So we improvised with some tape and sticky notes.  It was a blast!  Miriam loved jumping from number to number.

And destroying it when we were finished.

So, although we're having to get a little creative during this last stretch for spring, at least we're having fun!

The Hunt

On Saturday, my mom held her annual Easter party with the grand kids.  Since it was conference weekend, we had to squeeze all the fun into the two hour break between sessions.  It made for some very exhausted adults once it was over, but I think that happens every anyway!  We started with pizza, then the kids dyed eggs and worked on a craft project.  While they were doing the craft, the Easter Bunny's Helper (Owen) hid the eggs downstairs.  It was just too yucky outside to have a "real" hunt.  Miriam had fun either way though!

She did really well hunting eggs this year.  She would spot an egg and snatch it up to keep in her bag (we forgot her basket).  We hardly even had to help!

Check out that cheesy smile!

Dear Mother Nature,

You must have missed the memo.

Here, I'll resend it.  I'd be happy if you'd cooperate.

Sincerely,
Sick-of-winter-and-ready-for-spring!

One Month

Our little Liesl girl is one month old now.  She is a really good baby with a very mellow personality.  She is a grunter, and rarely cries unless she's really worked up over something.

Four weeks old

One month old and such a beauty

She's a great sleeper already and is well on her way to a very predictable sleep pattern.  Lately, she's been waking up only once or twice at night to nurse and then falls right back to sleep *knock on wood*

One week old

 Almost three weeks -- swaddled like a burrito!

She has started to smile now and I love it!  She's showing early signs of "talking", so I guess I'll have two little girls with the gift of gab.  I think I'll need some ear plugs in a year or two.  ;) 

A sweet half smile

Liesl is growing so quickly!  She is definitely on the tail end of all her newborn-sized clothes.  But if I were really honest, I don't want her to grow up just yet so I've been stretching that size as long as possible.  I suppose it's inevitable so I should just give up.  We know she is at least 10 pounds now but her last accurate measure was 9 pounds 15 ounces on Tuesday, March 30th.
 

 Four weeks old  -- Her legs and waist are now fat enough to fit into the cloth diapers great, although we started putting her in them when she was about two weeks old.  The diapers were just a little big then.

She enjoys being snuggled and held so she spends plenty of time in the wrap.  She loves it in there and I love that I can have my hands free while holding my babe!

This is the awesome wrap sling I made. 

Miriam has done really well with the transition and doesn't seem jealous.  If anything, she loves Liesl too much.  She always wants to hug and kiss "baby Measle" and we are always trying to keep Miriam off the baby so she doesn't smother her. 

She is a beautiful little girl.  We love her so much and feel very blessed to have her in our family.
 

 Two weeks old

Easter Testimony

I know my Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ lives!  He came to this earth to fulfill Heavenly Father's plan of Happiness, wherein we can live with Him again.  Jesus Christ lived a perfect, sinless life as our exemplar.  I know He suffered in Gethsemane and then died on the cross.  More importantly, I know He did this for me out of pure love.  I know He was resurrected three days after His death and because of this, I too, will live again after I die.  His love is perfect and the Atonement provides hope, comfort and strength for me.  I am forever indebted to Him and am grateful for the gift He has provided me and my family.  This is what I know.

He is Risen

 Artwork by Greg Olsen