Lovely Rainy Day

There probably aren't too many Seattle residents who love the rainy weather as much as Jeff and I. We needed to run some errands yesterday, and it was raining pretty hard (Seattle is usually only covered with a light misty drizzle). The picture to the left is one that we took while running errands. He was sleeping peacefully for about five minutes into our first stop when he became upset. I wore him during the rest of the errands. It is our mutual preferred method, and I am starting to love the Moby Wrap even more than the Baby Bjorn. I just feel so close to him in the wrap - as if I'm holding him vs. carrying him in a backpack.

Because of the hard rain, I decided to do something I haven't done in a LONG time... I wore real shoes! This may not seem exciting to you, but it was great for me. My hands and feet started to swell pretty badly as early as week 20 of pregnancy. I took my wedding rings off around week 24 and started to exclusively wear flip flops around the time that I went out on bedrest (not that I went much of anywhere except the doctor's office) at the end of July. My shoes had been tight and uncomfortable for quite some time before that. It has been over 2 months of being sans shoes, so putting them on for the first time in awhile was an odd experience. However, I'm seriously looking forward to the day that I can wear my rings again. I'm almost there, but my doc said that it isn't uncommon for it to take extra time because of breastfeeding. So, it was a nice rainy day, and Harper was such a patient baby.

Below is a picture of Harper during some tummy time yesterday. It's one of our new favorites.
S

A Gulp of Bittersweet

I adore Seattle. Jeff and I coincidentally (and individually) have wanted to move up here for the longest time. It was a dream come true when we finally did. We love the striking greenery of the Emerald City, and the friendliness of the entire area. We love the lakes, the rain, and the people we've met. It has been a great year and a half. It's hard to believe it's only been that long, since Seattle rapidly became the home of our hearts.

We made a tough decision during this past week or so. We've decided to move to Utah. The decision was entirely made with our family in mind. We would love to stay, but it makes sense to move from a financial standpoint, as well as the advantage of having so much family in Utah. Work has presented Jeff with an opportunity to transfer his job (since they're closing his department in Bellevue), and my job location is quite flexible, so I can transfer as well. Though my heart is somewhat heavy to leave this place, I know that it will mean better care for Harper, and more time with him. Thus, the big gulp of bittersweet... We were even sad to say goodbye to my OB and her nurse yesterday during my 6-week post-op/postpartum appointment. They were disappointed that we're moving, as we've developed a special bond over the last year.

I know the riskiness of promising that any home is or isn't permanent. At age 18, I thought I'd only live in Arizona for a few years, then move up to Washington - but I was there for eight (long, hot) years. Jeff and I thought we'd be here in Seattle for a very very long time, but it looks like we'll be leaving just shy of two years. I'd like to say that we'll be back after about five years or so, but only time will tell. They say everything changes when you have a baby... and that includes the degree of sacrifices and compromises you're willing to make. Honestly, it is all worth it.

S

Happy 1 Year Anniversary!

It's hard to believe it's already been one year since we got married! We remember it as if it were yesterday, but so much has happened between now and then. Winning the lottery, buying Bill Gates House, and...oh, well none of thats stuff has happened yet, but even better things have. It's hard to imagine how amazing it is to have a child until you actually have your own. It's the most amazingly wonderful thing in the world and Harper is such a beautiful boy, it's just incredible. Shauna is the best mother (up there with our own Mom's! Hi Mom's), it's so fun to watch her interact with Harper and how he can be screaming in my arms one moment, and soothed and sleepy in hers the next. Having a baby has been harder than I ever thought it would be, and even harder for her after I went back to work and she's taken over the midnight feeding and diaper dealings. She's wonderful at it and I'm constantly amazed at how effortlessly she makes it all seem. Although I do think that she's secretly telling Harper to save all his really stinky diapers for when I'm holding him :)

We still constantly daydream about the beach house and going back some day (preferring sooner than later haha). The next time we go back, it will be with Harper and we'll have so many things to show him and have him experience for the first time, just like we experienced together our first visit.

It's been the best few years of my life, and there's one reason why. She's the most beautiful, caring, funny, smart and most wonderful person I know. She's my wife and the mother of our beautiful baby boy and I couldn't imagine life without her. Thanks for everything wonderful that you do Shauna, I love you. Here's to year 1 and the unlimited possibilities that the next years hold.

Happy Anniversary my heart,

Your two men, Jeffrey and Harper

Naptime

Harper will be one month old on Saturday the 20th, though he is technically 4 weeks old today! During the last doctor visit, we received relieving news that he finally gained weight! He's finally back up over his birth weight at 8 lbs 8 oz. He hadn't been gaining weight, so we were worried. He was only 8 lbs 0 oz during his previous appointment 4 days prior. We're so thankful that we hit that important milestone. We'll continue to work on chubbing up our little one.

Jeff's family came for a great visit this past weekend! We did some fun tourist-type activities, but more importantly, they got to meet Harper! They were expecting him to be bigger, but I guess it is easy to forget how teeny tiny newborn babies are. It was wonderful having them here. With their visit as well as my mom's, its made me wish even more that we could live closer to family.

Harper's pediatrician has us on a rigid feeding schedule because of the problems he's had gaining weight, but it is going well overall. I'm trying to sleep when he does, but it can be tough during the day except for a few naps with him here & there. We've had a tough day today, as he's been pretty fussy. I love those precious moments when he sleeps so peacefully. Sometimes, he lightly snores (I swear, he learned it from his daddy)! Even when things get stressful or difficult, I do my best to enjoy this time we're sharing together. I know I'll miss it so much when I have to go back to work.

S

Sprout's Due Date

Today was the doctor's given due date for our beautiful angel to enter this world. However, Harper is two weeks and three days old today. During these past weeks, I have often meditated on the thought that this little guy would probably still be wiggling around in my belly if we had not done the elective early c-section during my 37th week. I am so thankful for this time we've spent as a family so far. It is difficult to imagine being pregnant still. I'm sure Harper has mixed feelings on belly vs. outside world. As you can see in this picture, he still loves to curl up into a seemingly impossible small jelly bean during cuddle time - just as if he was still warm and cozy in the refuge of my tummy.

So yes - everything does change when you have your first baby. I expected life to be totally different, and it is. What "they" don't tell you, is that it isn't just your life and priorities that change... what changes the most is your heart. Of course I expected to love our baby... but I didn't expect to feel so completely engulfed in incomparable ardor.

S

Original of the Species

It's been a while since the last post and this one felt overdue. Of course this lapse in posting is due to Hurricane Harper, which made landfall on casa de Gunnell 2 weeks ago, crews are still working (usually in the middle of the night) to clean up some of the chaos. Of course, it's wonderful, cuddly wuddly chaos, but chaos nonetheless.

So Harper turned two weeks old on Wed. the 3rd, which is craziness in itself. You can definitely tell he's gotten bigger though, a whole 4 ounces bigger, although it seems like more. He's sleeping better than he used to when we first got home, but still not making it through the night. This of course, is wishful thinking, but if Shelly can do it at two weeks so can Harper! It feels like such a blur of time since he was born, while also feeling like it was just yesterday. He's still the coolest little guy we've ever met, hence the name of this post(plus it was the last song we listened to on the way to the hospital and feels very fitting for the lil' dude).

Have to give a shout out to Shaunas' mama Claudia for flying up to stay with us for a little over a week, helping clean, spending time with Harper and making muy deliciouso Lumpia and Pancit! Remind us to post a recipe if you don't already have it, it's very tasty!

Also looking forward to Mom, Dad, Shelly and Jared coming up to see Harper as well! Hopefully he gets a chance to meet all his grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and MooShu's soon!

J