Elanor is Here!

She was born in our kitchen, September 22 at 12:40pm after 9 hours of labor. She is 71bs. 11oz. and 20 inches long. We are all doing well and really enjoying getting to know our new little one.

One of Daddy and Hannah's first moments with Elanor . . . .

I love you little sister . . . .

Happy family!

Elanor Zawadi

Waiting for Elanor

So what do we do while we wait for baby sister to make her way into our world?

• I dust at 10:30pm at night to every one's great amusement.
• We make menu plans and Mom does a huge shopping and starts cooking up savory delights in crock pots, and pots and pans on the stove and putting vast amounts of food into freezer bags and then into my freezer . . . . I have the best mom ever.
• My sister drives 12 hours straight and arrives at 3am in the morning . . . . . she hurried here to wait . . . .:) I have the best sister ever.
• We resnap and fold diapers into the newborn size.
• I keep finding laundry to do. (Couch slip covers, boppy pillow covers, bouncy seat cover, new baby clothes, throw blankets . . . .)
• I ask Shawn to fix things around the house that all the sudden I can't stand being broken or squeaky or just "not right" anymore.
• We take some pictures--

• We hang out with good friends . . . .

• We spend lots of time playing, reading and loving on family . . .

• We eat yummy snacks.

• We catch a few brief moments outside between all the rain to blow bubbles and act silly!

• We also rest, take naps, pray together, share heart to heart and in general are just enjoying each other's company as we wait for the precious arrival of our "gift of light" Elanor Zawadi.

We'll keep you updated as the waiting game continues!

Big Sister Love

This is Hannah "talking" to her little sister. She pats my belly, and says "Hi Zawadi!*" She is so excited to meet her little sister! I hope the reality of a baby won't lesson that excitement but only nurture it. I'm praying that they can grow in love and friendship through out their life-- I know my relationship with my sister is one of my biggest blessings.

Here are some books I've found helpful in preparing Hannah for a baby joining our family:

Books for Hannah:

• Big Sister Now. A Story About Me and Our New Baby by Annette Sheldon (also has really helpful tips for parents.)
• Welcome With Love by Jenni Overend (this is the only home birth picture book story I've found! It's a beautifully illustrated, warm and informative book for children whose mothers choose a home birth.)
• What Baby Needs by Dr. Sears (Since I read a lot of Dr. Sears books and do a lot of attatchment parenting, this book is great for Hannah because it shows parents doing a lot of what we do-- baby sleeping in a co-sleeper, nursing on demand, baby in a sling . . . .)
• Hi New Baby! by Robie H. Harris

The next three are books illustrated with photographs of real children and families welcoming new babies into their families. They all are very simple for a young child to understand and provide a solid, sensitive base for discusion of the wide range of feelings an older sibling might experience as a new child comes into their family. They are also very informative to a child about what a newborn is really like.

• The New Baby at Your House by Joanna Cole
• The New Baby by Fred Rogers
• Let Me Tell You about my Baby by Roslyn Banish

Books for Parents:

From One Child to Two: What to expect, how to cope and how to enjoy your growing family. By Judy Dunn

Loving Each One Best: A Caring and Practical Approach to Raising Siblings by Nancy Samalin with Catherine Whitney

Welcoming Your Second Baby by Vicki Lansky

Please let me know if you've read any great books about parenting siblings! I'm all ears!

Well, my mom just came home with a huge load of groceries so I'd better go help her put them away! :)

*Zawadi is Kiswahili for "gift". It has been our in utero name for this child and is now her middle name. My next post may very well be about the birth of Zawadi! I'm hoping . . . . !

I updated . . . .

Hannah's corner for those of you who like to read it!

I am so thankful . . .

and humbled and honored to be married to a man who deeply believes this and lives by it--

September 13, 2009

one thing
having a family and the responsibility of caring for them
trumps all other concerns
dreams cannot be pursued at their expense and truly be anything more than tragic
the most beautiful thing i can ever create
is a secure environment where their dreams can come alive

a man who is committed to this but also has dreams of his own has a burden of balance

shawn brown

He wrote this in an email in conversation with a close friend discussing the pursuit of their dreams. I wasn't really snooping but he didn't know I was even going to read the email. When I read this I just welled up in tears-- it meant so much to me. I feel so lucky and blessed to be so completely loved and to know that he loves our children this much. He is committed to me in ways I feel I really don't deserve. His love is such a mirror to me of the way that God loves me and is my most joyous blessing in life.

I long so deeply for him to also fulfill his artistic deep-rooted dreams and desire to create and produce music. I pray that as our lives under-go big changes in the next few months that these changes will lead him having more time to record and pursue his dream. Please pray for me as I strive to learn how to support him and his dreams in the way that he has so completely supported mine.

Kenya Pictures!

Here is my slide show of pictures from our time in Kenya. Be warned-- it is very long! It takes about 15 minutes to watch, unless you pause it and scroll through the pictures at your own pace. :) Anyway I hope you enjoy it! I don't have time to write a lot of stories and explanations (you know we do have a new baby arriving in approximately a week and half!) so this is what you get. :) Thanks for checking in on us!

Very Belated . . . .

Very Big News . . . .

Most of you already know this, and for one reason or another I just never got this posted (and certainly not because it's not important . . . because it's the best thing that's happened to us this year . . . . ) But . . . .

I'm PREGNANT!

Very pregnant. In fact, baby girl #2 is due in three weeks.

I wish I had my ultrasound pictures to post but they are still stuck on the old computer. However, in approximately three weeks we'll have something much better to post . . . pictures of our newborn! :)

I am so excited, nervous, anxious, joyful, full of anticipation. My mind is full of thoughts and wonder about how our lives are about to change . . . . Will Hannah regress a lot, will her adjustment be smooth or rough, how can I help her? Can I really be a patient, gentle mom to two children when I know I'm going to be so exhausted? What is this new little one going to be like? What will it be like to be a family of four instead of three?

I've been busy consignment sale shopping, washing newborn clothes, reorganizing Hannah's closet and dresser to be "the girls'" closet and dresser, buying and getting ready my home birth supplies, reading Hannah books about newborns and becoming a big sister, reading birth stories and reviewing my birth books . . .

Shrebekawn+ is about to become Shrebekawn+2! We are all waiting with hearts so full of love and anticipation to welcome little sister into our home and family!