Here's a link to our birth announcements . . . coming soon to a mailbox near you.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZM2bhk5cMmLng&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
She's here!
At 7:11 am on Tuesday, July 19, our lives were changed forever when Harper Anneliese arrived. Although she was 5 days past her due date, was she ever eager to meet the world. We will spare you the details of birth, as some people are not comfortable hearing words like contraction, pushing, etc. You can ask us to tell you the story, and we will gladly fill you in, as we love sharing our experience. We will say that she came quickly (less than 1 hour after being admitted to the hospital), and that both Mom and Harper did very well.
Harper is now 3 weeks old, and we're just now getting to the point where we have moments to breathe and update things like a blog. I try to post photos occasionally on facebook, but in between feedings, naps, cuddle sessions, etc., it is difficult to keep things up to date.
How are we doing? We're adjusting to the typical new-parent experience of less sleep, a schedule that is not our own, etc. We've been very blessed to have a lot of family and friend support helping us out and making sure we are eating well. Overall, I can say that Eric and I both are overwhelmed with love for Harper and the miracle of creating new life. This is definitely the most life-affirming experience of my life thus far.
We'll do our best to keep you posted on how things go. Stay tuned....
Lots of love from
Haley, Eric and Harper
Harper is now 3 weeks old, and we're just now getting to the point where we have moments to breathe and update things like a blog. I try to post photos occasionally on facebook, but in between feedings, naps, cuddle sessions, etc., it is difficult to keep things up to date.
How are we doing? We're adjusting to the typical new-parent experience of less sleep, a schedule that is not our own, etc. We've been very blessed to have a lot of family and friend support helping us out and making sure we are eating well. Overall, I can say that Eric and I both are overwhelmed with love for Harper and the miracle of creating new life. This is definitely the most life-affirming experience of my life thus far.
We'll do our best to keep you posted on how things go. Stay tuned....
Lots of love from
Haley, Eric and Harper
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sitting around . . . waiting for our lives to change
Today is July 13. Our due date is July 14. We know that less than 5% of babies are born on their due date, so we have no expectation for tomorrow. But, it's been so interesting the last few days to know it really could happen anytime.
Up to this point in life, most of our "big" moments have been well-planned. Or, if they were not that well planned, there was a definitive start or end date. This big event has a tentative date, but we have absolutely no control of when it actually will manifest.
Eric and I are typically "do-ers". We like to be active and make things happen in our lives. It's a novel situation for Eric and I to be playing such a waiting game for one of the most significant events in our lives.
For now, we're just trying to get lots of rest and relaxation, enjoy the present moments, and honor the process.
Stay tuned.......
Up to this point in life, most of our "big" moments have been well-planned. Or, if they were not that well planned, there was a definitive start or end date. This big event has a tentative date, but we have absolutely no control of when it actually will manifest.
Eric and I are typically "do-ers". We like to be active and make things happen in our lives. It's a novel situation for Eric and I to be playing such a waiting game for one of the most significant events in our lives.
For now, we're just trying to get lots of rest and relaxation, enjoy the present moments, and honor the process.
Stay tuned.......
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Becoming. . . .
The process of pregnancy is one of preparation, anticipation, and growth. The months have passed quickly, and while we may not appear "ready" in the realm of having all the stuff washed, folded, organized, etc., we have felt much more emotionally connected to this process in recent weeks. In the time of one year, we've gone from "if we ever have children" to "we'll see if it happens that we have children" to "OMG we're going to have a child" to "we'll be excited to meet our child in July" to now "we are going to meet our child in a couple weeks!"
As much as pregnancy is a physical process, it's also a huge emotional, mental, and spiritual process as well. I (Haley) took most of the day last Sunday to go on a "pre-motherhood" retreat. It ended up being a bit more exciting than I planned as Speedbump and I got caught up in a thunderstorm and were thoroughly soaked in the course of 30-40 minutes. But, it was a lovely day. Work is busy right now with new student orientation, and our evenings are filled with birth classes, social engagements, and just trying to stay on top of things around the house. I needed some time to get away from my to-do list, reflect on this major change happening in my life, and just "be" in my sanctuary - the mountains.
For my retreat, I ventured to Lory State Park right outside of Fort Collins and went on a 2 1/2 mile hike. It was a great day: moving slowly along the trail, stopping to rest when needed, and just listening to the birds, the breeze, and myself. I also took my journal and got some writing in.
Along the way, I reflected on what becomming a mother means to me so far. Obviously there will be additional thoughts to this in the coming weeks we we get to experience birth and meeting Speedbump, but for now, this is what has "become" during pregnancy:
1) Becomming a mother is a leap of faith - I truly believe bringing a child into the world is the single most hopeful experience of my life to this point. I could not do it if I didn't believe the world is ultimately good, people are ultimately good, and that the future can be amazing. There are so many uncertainties out there, but with faith in the universe, God, and the power of the human spirit, I believe Eric and I can do this.
2) Becomming a mother gives me wonderful amazement for my body - Throughout much of my teen and adult life, I've pushed my body to do many things and take me many places, and I am so very thankful for it. However, this experience is unlike anything else I've ever done, and I am in constant awe of the physical process of growing a human inside of me. It's so freakin' amazing!
3) Becomming a mother fills me with feelings of connectedness to family and important women in my life - I've always had strong relationships with my family and feel so lucky to have amazing life-long friends. However, pregnancy brings women together in a way that I would have never understood prior to this experience. I view pregnancy and the upcoming birth almost as a spiritual rite of passage - something that unites me to my mother, grandmother, and all the other important women in my life who have gone through this process.
4) Becoming a mother has been an exercise in values clarification - I always felt like before I could become a mother, I had to know myself well. Waiting until 31 to have a child has enabled me the time I've needed to experience a lot of things and really develop myself. I feel good about where I am in life now; who I am, what I believe and value. Thinking about raising a child leads me to thinking about what's most important to me AND what will be the most important things I want to teach and pass along to Speedbump.
5) Becoming a mother has helped me recognize my limitations and realize I can't do it all - Ok, so Eric would argue that I still have a long way to go in this area. I definitely agree that this is going to be a tough journey for me. I've always been able to juggle a lot, but I've had to slow down a bit these last few months, and I know I won't be able to pack as many things into my day as I have in the past when Speedbump arrives. It will require setting priorities and being ok with the unknown. These are great lessons I look forward to experiencing to a greater depth in the coming months and years.
As much as pregnancy is a physical process, it's also a huge emotional, mental, and spiritual process as well. I (Haley) took most of the day last Sunday to go on a "pre-motherhood" retreat. It ended up being a bit more exciting than I planned as Speedbump and I got caught up in a thunderstorm and were thoroughly soaked in the course of 30-40 minutes. But, it was a lovely day. Work is busy right now with new student orientation, and our evenings are filled with birth classes, social engagements, and just trying to stay on top of things around the house. I needed some time to get away from my to-do list, reflect on this major change happening in my life, and just "be" in my sanctuary - the mountains.
For my retreat, I ventured to Lory State Park right outside of Fort Collins and went on a 2 1/2 mile hike. It was a great day: moving slowly along the trail, stopping to rest when needed, and just listening to the birds, the breeze, and myself. I also took my journal and got some writing in.
Along the way, I reflected on what becomming a mother means to me so far. Obviously there will be additional thoughts to this in the coming weeks we we get to experience birth and meeting Speedbump, but for now, this is what has "become" during pregnancy:
1) Becomming a mother is a leap of faith - I truly believe bringing a child into the world is the single most hopeful experience of my life to this point. I could not do it if I didn't believe the world is ultimately good, people are ultimately good, and that the future can be amazing. There are so many uncertainties out there, but with faith in the universe, God, and the power of the human spirit, I believe Eric and I can do this.
2) Becomming a mother gives me wonderful amazement for my body - Throughout much of my teen and adult life, I've pushed my body to do many things and take me many places, and I am so very thankful for it. However, this experience is unlike anything else I've ever done, and I am in constant awe of the physical process of growing a human inside of me. It's so freakin' amazing!
3) Becomming a mother fills me with feelings of connectedness to family and important women in my life - I've always had strong relationships with my family and feel so lucky to have amazing life-long friends. However, pregnancy brings women together in a way that I would have never understood prior to this experience. I view pregnancy and the upcoming birth almost as a spiritual rite of passage - something that unites me to my mother, grandmother, and all the other important women in my life who have gone through this process.
4) Becoming a mother has been an exercise in values clarification - I always felt like before I could become a mother, I had to know myself well. Waiting until 31 to have a child has enabled me the time I've needed to experience a lot of things and really develop myself. I feel good about where I am in life now; who I am, what I believe and value. Thinking about raising a child leads me to thinking about what's most important to me AND what will be the most important things I want to teach and pass along to Speedbump.
5) Becoming a mother has helped me recognize my limitations and realize I can't do it all - Ok, so Eric would argue that I still have a long way to go in this area. I definitely agree that this is going to be a tough journey for me. I've always been able to juggle a lot, but I've had to slow down a bit these last few months, and I know I won't be able to pack as many things into my day as I have in the past when Speedbump arrives. It will require setting priorities and being ok with the unknown. These are great lessons I look forward to experiencing to a greater depth in the coming months and years.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
32 Weeks!
Wow, 32 weeks have passed since Speedbump came into being. It's so crazy to think that we'll get to meet Speedbump in about 2 months. The pregnancy has gone by incredibly quickly, and I'm sure the next few weeks will go even faster.
We hope to update our blog more often now for those of you curious about our growing family. Stay tuned for more updates about our preparations, our musings, and the bit arrival!
Love,
Haley and Eric
We hope to update our blog more often now for those of you curious about our growing family. Stay tuned for more updates about our preparations, our musings, and the bit arrival!
Love,
Haley and Eric
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Supporting us in our Transition. . .
Eric and I have been encouraged by the enthusiasm, well-wishes, and support of all of our family and friends as we’ve announced our journey into parenthood. Not one person has said “what in the world are you thinking?” which has been reassuring to us and our potential as parents.
Along with the support and encouragement, we’ve also been humbled by others’ willingness to provide us with “baby stuff”. If you know us well, you know that we strive to live simply. We also know babies need “stuff”. We have received multiple offers of used baby “stuff”, which we hope to take advantage of. We also know there are items we will need that have not been offered. For this reason, we are compiling the following list of baby needs. We are choosing not to do a traditional registry, but we do have one and you can view items we need and check off what you are providing for us.
Our registry can be found at www.myregistry.com Search for Haley Richards or Eric Richards. We know the list if fairly vague, but please mark off any items that you purchase so that we don’t receive 15 containers of diaper wipes and nothing else.
Please don’t feel obligated to purchase a gift. We also welcome and encourage homemade gifts or gifts of service.
**In an effort to minimize the impact our child will place on the environment, we encourage slightly used items from garage sales, thrift stores, etc. for things that can be passed down. These items are marked with a * on the list. Obviously, diaper wipes, lotion, etc. are not in this category (gross!)
• Meals – after Speedbump arrives, you can support us with delicious and nutritious meals to satisfy us while we adapt to our new family member
• Share a talent – are you an expert scrap-booker and would like to help us document Speedbump’s first month? Can you teach Speedbump about bugs and plants (Pete?) Would you like to help us preserve vegetables from our CSA?
• Nursery monitor
• Diaper wipes (compostable would be cool, but any work)
• Diaper cream / ointment
• Infant bath tub
• Hooded towels*
• Washcloths*
• Baby shampoo
• Baby lotion
• Baby manicure set
• Digital thermometer
• Snot sucker – bulb syringe
• Mirror to see Speedbump in the car*
• Pacifiers
• Bottles (glass bottles or BPA-free plastic preferred)
• Onsies (gender neutral)*
• Socks*
• Hats*
• Swaddling blankets*
• Burp cloths*
• Footless pajamas (bundlers)*
• White noise machine or small CD player*
• Waterproof changing pad for changing table*
• Toys to entertain baby (if plastic – PVC free please or naturally finished wood or washable cloth fabrics)*
• Hand sanitizer
• Portable changing pad for changing diapers on the go*
• Hooter Hider – nursing shawl*
• Bopee covers (gender neutral)*
• Mittens to prevent scratching*
• Used baby books or copies of your favorites*
• Crinkle toys*
I’m sure there will be more or additional specifications, so also check our registry for updates.
Once again, we are so thankful for the blessings of your support.
Love, Haley, Eric, and “Speedbump”
Along with the support and encouragement, we’ve also been humbled by others’ willingness to provide us with “baby stuff”. If you know us well, you know that we strive to live simply. We also know babies need “stuff”. We have received multiple offers of used baby “stuff”, which we hope to take advantage of. We also know there are items we will need that have not been offered. For this reason, we are compiling the following list of baby needs. We are choosing not to do a traditional registry, but we do have one and you can view items we need and check off what you are providing for us.
Our registry can be found at www.myregistry.com Search for Haley Richards or Eric Richards. We know the list if fairly vague, but please mark off any items that you purchase so that we don’t receive 15 containers of diaper wipes and nothing else.
Please don’t feel obligated to purchase a gift. We also welcome and encourage homemade gifts or gifts of service.
**In an effort to minimize the impact our child will place on the environment, we encourage slightly used items from garage sales, thrift stores, etc. for things that can be passed down. These items are marked with a * on the list. Obviously, diaper wipes, lotion, etc. are not in this category (gross!)
• Meals – after Speedbump arrives, you can support us with delicious and nutritious meals to satisfy us while we adapt to our new family member
• Share a talent – are you an expert scrap-booker and would like to help us document Speedbump’s first month? Can you teach Speedbump about bugs and plants (Pete?) Would you like to help us preserve vegetables from our CSA?
• Nursery monitor
• Diaper wipes (compostable would be cool, but any work)
• Diaper cream / ointment
• Infant bath tub
• Hooded towels*
• Washcloths*
• Baby shampoo
• Baby lotion
• Baby manicure set
• Digital thermometer
• Snot sucker – bulb syringe
• Mirror to see Speedbump in the car*
• Pacifiers
• Bottles (glass bottles or BPA-free plastic preferred)
• Onsies (gender neutral)*
• Socks*
• Hats*
• Swaddling blankets*
• Burp cloths*
• Footless pajamas (bundlers)*
• White noise machine or small CD player*
• Waterproof changing pad for changing table*
• Toys to entertain baby (if plastic – PVC free please or naturally finished wood or washable cloth fabrics)*
• Hand sanitizer
• Portable changing pad for changing diapers on the go*
• Hooter Hider – nursing shawl*
• Bopee covers (gender neutral)*
• Mittens to prevent scratching*
• Used baby books or copies of your favorites*
• Crinkle toys*
I’m sure there will be more or additional specifications, so also check our registry for updates.
Once again, we are so thankful for the blessings of your support.
Love, Haley, Eric, and “Speedbump”
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)