First days home

We are home. With our son. OUR SON. That is an incredible statement. One that continues to fill me with wonder and joy.

Watching my husband become a father is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful things I could imagine.

This week we have four generations in this house.

Aunt
Grandmother
Great-Grandmother

At least 500 times a day I pinch myself. Can this be real? Can I be this lucky, this blessed? Then I look into my son's navy blue eyes and know that I'm not dreaming.

Our son is here

Asa Allen Murray Richardson
March 27, 2009 4:55 am
7lbs 11oz 20 inches long

I am still (and imagine I will forever be) overwhelmed with love and joy. My heart swells to infinite proportions as I gaze into the eyes of my son. So this is heaven....

Last photo of his first home

Moments after birth
Father and son

Taking in the world

Snacking

Big yawns for the little man

Life with mom and dad

Proof

I somehow managed to paint my toenails last week - I still can't really believe the laws of physics would allow. But here you have it, undeniable proof!

As the belly grows

Well, here we are at the end of this pregnancy and the beginning of the next journey - parenthood. How the time flies....

I decided to put this up now, as it seems we could have this baby at any moment. The midwife and doctor have both recommended moving the original due date of April 1st to March 26th (whatever that really means) due to all these "prelabor signs" (again, what does that mean?). So, fingers crossed, here we go.
13 weeks
15 weeks
17 weeks
19 weeks
21 weeks
23 weeks
24 weeks
26 weeks
28 weeks
30 weeks
32 weeks
34 weeks
36 weeks

With our new due date I'm about 38 today....and counting. We shall see when this little one comes.

The snow is melting!

I think it's spring. Or, at least, it's very close. I have never been more thankful for the sunshine, for temperatures above 50 degrees, for flower buds and shoots of green. It's a miraculous sight after all the consuming whiteness of SNOW.

(double click for larger image)

The baby's room

Even though the new little one won't be spending much time in here until he or she's a bit older, it's been fun to paint and decorate and set up furniture in the extra room down the hall. We certainly have the space, so why not fill it with lovely baby stuff?

This is the fantastic (albeit VERY difficult to build) dresser/changing table that was a gift from our wonderful friend Kim (Hi Kimmy!). It is a spectacular addition to the room and I absolutely love it. I think at some point in the future I will paint something on it, though I haven't quite figured out what yet...

All the packs of tiny little clothes. They hardly fill one and a half drawers.


New additions to the tree. Our friend Drew had mentioned that he though the tree had a "creepy feel" to it, what with all the witch-finger-like branches and the stark design. So I've added a few blue birds to lighten the mood a bit. I think I'll end up adding even more as I really like the airy playfulness it brings to the wall. (Hint - you can double click any image to view it larger, all the better to check the details with.)

In keeping with the bird theme we have going I pasted a bunch of pictures of birds from old children's books that I bought at the local thrift store. I still have some work to do on this part, but I'm really liking the idea. I especially like the antique-ish pages from some of the books.

This last addition I really like. It reminds me of my dad and all the butterfly hunting we used to do. He still wears a butterfly pin that we "caught" with our homemade net on the brim of his hat. Monarchs are his favorite and I must say I really like the way this one turned out.

More to come, including an actual baby!

Winter is upon us

Actually, it's been here for quite some time. It's just that I am only now getting around to posting a few pictures of it. I'm afraid my interest in photography (at least outdoor, nature photography) has waned a bit this winter. Because, you see, it's really. Effing. Cold. But here is what I have thus far...

The amazingly large icicles hanging from the front porch. This photo does no justice, they are at least 4 feet long and, I'm assuming, quite deadly.

The back yard

Steve keeps warm after Christmas day.

The happiest snow shoveler. Ever.

The path through the front yard to the car.

More deadly icicles, these ones not quite as large.

How we keep warm.

Snow, snow and more snow. With snow in tomorrow's forecast. I must admit, it is stunningly beautiful. From a safe distance. Which is inside, by the woodstove.