I ain't too proud to brag

Excuse me while I brag for a minute.  I have the most amazing husband.  This isn't a new realization for me.  I've known this to be true since he married me 2 years ago.  However, it has become even more real to me since Harper came along. 

One of the greatest words of advice that we received before we got married came from Steve & Renee' Moldrup...when you have kids be sure to make each other the first priority and your kids second.  We totally agreed with them and even talked about it again during my pregnancy.  I will admit that in the two and half weeks Harper has been with us, it has been hard for me to put that advice in action.  I'm not sure if it's because my days are consumed with her needs, but by the time Derek gets home he is not always first on my list.  Derek, however, has been amazing at it.  He has cared for me so well, whether it be taking care of tasks around the house, taking the last shift with Harper so that I can get a little bit of sleep, or just telling me how proud he is of me.  Sickening, isn't it?  Don't get me wrong, there are still those things he does that drive me crazy, but it makes it really hard to focus on those when he tells me he's thankful that I'm the mother of his daughter. 

If I were to be honest, I would admit that there are times when I think that I don't deserve a man like him.  I think that is why it melts my heart so much when I see the way that he looks at Harper or when he tells her how beautiful she is.  I am so thankful that she will grow up knowing that she is beautiful and deserves only the best that God has for her.  Who knew that a man with a mohawk and tattoos would be the best thing that ever happened to my life?

Thank you God for this man.

Who'da thunk it?

 In our conversations about Harper and what she would look like, Derek and I wondered if she would be a toe-head (white/blond hair) like he was or have light brown hair like I had.  Never in any of our conversations did we say anything about the possibility that she would be a red-head. 

There is a history of red hair on both sides of our family.  My dad and paternal grandmother had auburn hair (they're both grey now).  Derek has some distant family members that had red hair.  Even Derek's beard is red when he grows it out.  But both of us have naturally pretty dark hair.  Certainly our kids would too.  What a surprise it was to us when our sweet little girl came out with red hair!  See.....

Who'da thunk it?  Isn't she gorgeous?  Our sweet little red-head.  I wonder if it will stay red or if it will darken as she gets older.  Can't wait to see!

She's finally here!

This is Harper, as my friend Robin said, praising the Lord that she's out!

Harper Bleu Raulerson

8 lbs. 7 oz. 21" long

May 9, 2011 5:27 pm

Where on Earth do you begin after experiencing one of the most beautiful, surreal, awe-inspiring moments of your life?  We have prayed and prayed for Harper and now having her here next to me is unbelievable!  The past several days have blown by in a bit of a fog, but after getting some much needed sleep, I feel like I am finally coming out of it. 

The labor process was rather easy (thank you Epidural) and I only pushed about 30 minutes before she joined us.  I have had so many visions of what that exact moment would be like (maybe I've watched too many Baby Stories on TLC) and I will say it was nothing like I expected it would be.  I'm not sure if I was just so focused on pushing or caught up in what in what people were saying around me, but it was almost like an out-of-body experience when I saw her for the first time.  I couldn't believe that she was mine!  Derek and I kept looking at each other, reassuring one another that it was all real.  Other than Derek, my mom, Derek's mom and my older sister, Susan, were in the room with us.  There was a lot of celebrating going on for sure! 

As much as I love sitting and staring at her, I love watching Derek sit and stare at her even more.  He has certainly fallen in love with her and my heart swells watching him with her.  He is going to be an amazing dad.  I thank the Lord daily for blessing me with such a kind, loving, self-less husband.  My new prayer is that one day the Lord will bestow the same blessing on Harper.  I can't wait to see how she changes over the next few weeks while trying to appreciate every moment as they come.  I'll do my best to share as many of those moments as I can capture.

Harper didn't come on Mother's Day, but she did arrive on another special day...my mother-in-law's birthday!  I think I have officially won the "Best Gift by a Daughter-in-Law" award. 

More pictures to come soon.  These will have to do for now...



Love this. 
(It looks really red here, but her hair is actually strawberry blond. )



Donna, my mother-in-law, and my mom, Linda.

My sister, Susan.

Harper's first bath.

 

Happy Due Date Day!

Harper Bleu Raulerson

When we were told last September that our due date was May 7th, it seemed sooooo far away!  How could I possibly wait that long to meet our little girl?  And now, here we are, May 7th and I'm still having to wait to meet her.  Thankfully, it's only for a couple more days.

The past 8 months since we found out we were pregnant have gone by so quickly.  It's hard to believe that the time has arrived.  As much as I can't wait to meet her, I will miss being pregnant.  At least most of what it means to be pregnant!  I won't miss the constipation or Siatic back pain.  I apparently won't have to miss the stretchmarks or exhaustion because those will stick with me.  I will miss the way that Derek talks to her through my tummy as if she's right there.  I'll miss seeing the way my body changes because of the way she is changing.  I'll really miss the closeness between the two of us; being able to feel her move inside me, having that experience that noone else does.  But enough of that sappy stuff, could she get here already?

We go into the hospital tomorrow afternoon (Happy Mother's Day!) to begin the process of inducing labor.  If the first plan of action doesn't work, I'll start Pitoscin bright & early Monday morning.  Sometime within the next 48 hours, I will officially become a mama!  I seriously can't wait.

We'll post pictures on here for all to see as soon as we can.  Stay posted...