One month old today & a quick visit from Nan & Pere yesterday

I managed to get out for a run yesterday - my first one since Vivi was born - and it was oh so nice to move freely and quickly and to be outdoors! While I was out enjoying myself, my mom and dad called to say that they'd like to stop by for a quick visit before attending a performance of Mozart's Requiem at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts here in Jacksonville. So, it was a doubly-nice day - I got to exercise and see my parents too! Just in case you're wondering, Vivi will call my mother (Rachel), Nan (which is a family name for Grandmother), and my dad (Roger), Pere (which is French for grandfather).

It's also been a nice weekend for Steve too - who also got a run in - because he hasn't had to work this weekend and isn't headed to the airport anytime this week either! Life is quite different now that Vivienne's here; it's a quieter, simpler life and we don't get out as much but we eat well (I really do love to cook!) and strangely enough, I honestly think we're taking better care of ourselves now that we're not cramming the weekend full of activities. For now, I think we're quite content to spend our free time at home and we have no plans to travel for some time yet. Luckily, we live close enough for most of our family to visit us with only a short drive required on their part and lots of our friends are understanding of what its like to have a newborn and are making plans to visit us at our home.

This weekend began the Parade of Homes and I am hopeful that we can make a trip to St. Johns County one afternoon this week to see some of the homes featured - who knows, maybe we'll find a home that we'd like well enough to purchase! Rusty & Shari - one of the couples we know that live in St. Johns County - are coming to visit us next Saturday afternoon and I think we may head over to the Riverside Arts Market (http://www.riversideartsmarket.com) and perhaps grab a bite to eat outdoors at The Brick or at European Street. I can't wait for their daughter, Skyler, to see Vivienne. Skyler is 4 and is a fun-loving, sweet, imaginative girl. I was still quite pregnant the last time we visited with them, and when we arrived at their house Skyler came running up asking "where is the baby?" - later that day she informed me that Vivienne would be black! I found this to be hilarious and tried to explain to her that babies generally look like their parents and since Steve and I are both caucasian, Vivienne would not be black. Skyler persisted in her belief though so I am curious as to (1) whether she'll remember what she thought and (2) if she'll be surprised at all to see that Vivi is not black after all!

A quiet Easter Sunday

Since Vivienne is only 3.5 weeks old today, she's not been cleared by her pediatrician to attend church yet (we have to wait until she's 6 weeks old to take her out "in public"). So, our Easter Sunday has been a very quiet one this year. Steve and I both commented how much we missed attending the sunrise service on the St. Johns River that has been our tradition for the past few years, and we plan to be a part of it again next year - provided we still live in the same neighborhood.

That's right, we've been throwing the idea around of moving out of Duval County and into St. Johns County in order to (1) be in a better school district, and (2) have more room in our home for Vivienne and all the accoutrement which will most assuredly be growing at an exponential rate as she gets older. But, seeing as the housing market is struggling to come to life - this big move may or may not happen in 2009. We'll see. For now, we love our house and our neighborhood and Vivienne is not of school age, so there is no big rush and we're happy to wait until the "time is right" to put our house on the market.

Steve is seeing the end of a brief, but intensely busy-time at work. He had to cut his paternity leave short in order to return to work to get started on an annual report for one of his clients, and he's had to work late quite a bit and has gone out of town overnight twice in the past two weeks, so I am really looking forward to the completion of the report for this client. Luckily, Steve's mom, Marylee, has been staying with us during the week - I don't know what I would've done without her! - so I have had help caring for Vivienne during this time. Yeah for terrific mother-in-laws!! Marylee is the best! : )

Speaking of great moms, my mother, Rachel, came over for a brief visit yesterday to bring us the Christening gown that her mother handmade for her when she was a baby so we can use it for Vivienne's upcoming baptism. (No, we haven't set a date with the church yet, but I'll be sure to let everyone know as soon as we do!) My mom also took some photos of us and was kind enough to give me a wonderful (and oh so very much needed) backrub. It took three attempts to give me the backrub (baby interupptions) but my mom was patient and persistent enough to make it happen. Gotta love moms! I've got to come up with some extra special gifts for Mother's Day this year!

Vivienne's finally here!!!

Our darling girl has finally arrived and we couldn't be happier!  Our first week at home has consisted of lots of snuggling and kisses intermixed with feeding the baby, changing diapers, admiring just how cute Vivienne is in her various outfits (and taking photos), and trying to sleep when we can.  My mother, Rachel, was with us for the first few days at home and was a great help with cooking, cleaning and taking turns holding Vivienne - it was a blessing to have her with us and a time we'll always treasure.  Steve's mom, Marylee, arrives tomorrow and we anticipate a wonderful visit with her as well.  I'll be posting more pics soon but I've gotta run, its time to feed this lil angel : )

The waiting is the hardest part

So, Vivi's estimated due date has come and gone and we're just playing the waiting game now.  I can hear this voice in my head that sounds like Bob Barker from The Price Is Right saying "Vivienne Harris, come on down!!" but apparently she is not listening.  I've joked all along throughout my pregnancy though that since this child is mine, she'll be late!  We saw the doctor yesterday and they performed an ultrasound to ensure that Vivienne is still doing well and that my body is still providing a good environment for her and found that she's doing just fine and can hang out happily in "Hotel Mom" for a while longer without any trouble.  So, we're waiting - somewhat impatiently, but with no major complaints. We'll keep you all posted on any big news!

We're in the single digits now

Well, as of last Sunday, we're 9 weeks out from Vivienne's due date and I can hardly believe she'll be arriving so soon. Steve and I managed to get the nursery furniture assembled and in place during the holidays and its starting to come together now. I'll post photos once the bedding arrives and its all "prettied up." Steve and I went on a babymoon just before Christmas (google it if you've not heard of the term before) to Charleston, S.C. and had a wonderful time just being together, exploring the city and eating some fantastic low-country cuisine. We spent Christmas Day in Gainesville with Steve's family and it was great fun to watch our niece, Julia, open her presents. She's not quite old enough to grasp the whole concept of Christmas just yet (she's only turned one at the end of November) but she did like opening her presents. Eliora, my sister Helene's daughter, experienced her first Hannukah and you can see a photo on their family blog at: http://teamsinger.blogspot.com/ - no posts just yet, but I am sure they are forthcoming soon. Vivienne's other cousin, Skyler, (my older sister Pam's son) was up for a visit just before Steve and I left for S.C. and Pam, Skyler and I spent a fantastic day together at the Jacksonville Zoo. Skyler is 7 years old now and he is quite the accomplished motorcross rider! He rode his bike at the Ocala motorcross track and even "caught some air" - as much as I know he's enjoying himself, it does make me glad to be having a girl because I am sure my hair would all turn gray from worry if I had a little boy who was as adventurous as Skyler is!

I wrote a while back that the consulting work I had been doing had "dried up" but its back on again and I am working part-time through the end of January so I am feeling stretched thin for time again these days, but am managing thus far and keep reminding myself that (as long as Vivienne doesn't arrive early like her cousin, Eliora, did) I'll have all of February and a week into March to wrap up any loose ends of household projects I want to accomplish pre-baby. Wish me luck!

Hope you all have a wonderful 2009 and I'll keep you posted on our family as things happen!

Happy Thanksgiving and hello to our (new) niece, Eliora Ruth Singer

Our niece, Eliora, is just adorable and I've really enjoyed my visit with Helene and Adam this past week.  I have learned a tremendous amount about caring for a newborn and breast feeding just by watching and being present during this first week of Eliora's life.  I'm hoping it'll make my first week with Vivienne a little easier, knowing what I can expect and what the challenges may be.

My mom made a 19-pound turkey yesterday, with Kashi & apple stuffing, and a sugar-free apple pie for a belated - but nonetheless special - Thanksgiving dinner.  Helene and Adam will have lots of turkey to eat during the next week (as well as some other dishes my mom made extra of, so they'll have leftovers).  Steve went to my parents house for Thanksgiving and had a good time spending the day with everyone there and eating all the good food they had (especially the sweet potato side dish my mom had made ahead of time).  He also took a road trip with his long-time friend, Alan Bishop, to Tallahassee to watch the Florida-FSU game (so glad the Gators won!) and I am glad he's had some down-time and had fun since he's been working so much leading up to this long holiday weekend.

My mom and I are headed back to Florida tomorrow and while it will be nice to be back home and I have tons of errands and work (CPE coursework) to do when I get back, I'll miss being able spend so much time with family.  I look forward to seeing Helene, Adam and Eliora again in the spring when they come to visit for Vivienne's baptism!  I don't have a date for that yet, but will post it as soon as I can coordinate it with our church.  Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend! : )

Oh Baby!

I'm off to Chapel Hill, N.C. to see my sister and her husband who have just had a baby girl and I can't wait to meet this new little girl and find out her name! They've kept it a secret and I'm glad the big reveal day is finally here!!  My mom and I are driving up from Florida so we should get there sometime this evening and will be spending Thanksgiving up in N.C. which will be bittersweet because I'll be glad to spend time with my mom and sister, but I'll be away from Steve and the rest of our family for the holiday.

I'm glad that I had the opportunity to visit with Steve's family last weekend and celebrate little Julia's first birthday in Gainesville, FL at Coffrin Nature Park.  Steve and I got to spend some time by ourselves yesterday when we attended the Jaguars / Vikings game  - the Jags lost but the day was so beautiful (classic Florida winter weather) and the company so nice (yes, I adore my husband to the point of ridiculousness!) that it was a perfect day nonetheless.  We went out for a turkey dinner last night at Ted's Montana Grille since we wouldn't be sharing the Thanksgiving holiday together and that topped off the day nicely.  I can't recall the last time that I was away from Steve for as many days as I will be on this trip to N.C. so it feels a little funny to be heading off for 6 days, but - hey, I'll survive, right?? ; )

I'll write again and post pics of my new niece when I get them - maybe next week!