The Salmon Family: July 2012

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Big Things...

So, if you're on Facebook, you've probably already saw that I uploaded this video... and maybe even clicked on it to watch in it's entirety. As I was going through folders and folders and folders of pictures last night to update the blog, I came across this little gem. I seriously don't remember taking the video- I blame a brand new baby and loss of sleep.... Hattie was about 8 days old in this video, and Lucy was, well, not quite 3. Anyway, watching this video made me laugh out loud... and cry, just a little...

Maybe it's because I'm the mommy but there are so many little "moments" in the short clip that just hit my heart in just the right way:

* the look of absolute PRIDE in Lucy's face just being able to hold her little sister

* Lucy's giggle...10 years from now, I will miss that "little girl" from-the-gut giggle,

I just know it

* Hattie's scrunched up "newborness." Let's face it- newborns aren't the most exciting things to videotape, so all those little squeaks and scrunched up faces are some of the first things we forget when they start to grow...

* When Lucy calls her "honey" Melt. My. Heart.

* Just the say Lucy says "safe." Watch her lips- it's "sthafe." Oh, and "lipsth," as in, "Her lipsth are berry beautiful." Not only 4 months later- and that little "lisp" is already gone.

Sigh.

* Nose-pinching aside, I love watching Hattie fall asleep in her sister's arms, and the way Lucy just quietly watches her for a moment... just kind of taking it all in.

Too often we're quick to pull out the video camera for the "big" things- opening presents at Christmas, blowing out birthday candles, end-of-the-year dance recitals... and I guess this little video of "not much" is one of my absolute favorites.We have a quote in the hallway of our house that reads "Enjoy the little things in life- for one day you will look back and realize those were the big things."

Touche'

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Fun with Hattie

Just like our Christmas cards, I took a million and one pictures to try and get "just the right one" to use on Hattie's birth announcement. I've always felt really strongly about NOT using "sibling" pix... after all, it's her BIRTH announcement- pretty much the baby's moment to shine, right? So, one afternoon while her sisters napped, I fed her, stripped her down, and clicked away! Here's some of the pictures that didn't make the cut!

See the "fog" in front of her face in this one? I am convinced Great Gramma was there, helping me take pictures...

Know how hard it is to keep a just-fed baby awake?

LOVE this one... but it wasn't in focus... Grrrr!

Um, yeah... it was about here I thought about adding the bow...

...and the finished product:

The rest of March kind of passed in a blur. We were lucky that Maggie's spring break from 4K coincided with the first week of Hattie being home. It gave us some time to relax, sleep, chill, and just kind of adjust to our new "normal." The girls were AWESOME with the baby- very attentive and helpful, but also respectful of her space. I think it helped a lot that they have each other- once the "newness" of the baby wore off and they realized she really didn't "do" anything- they had one another to fall back on for entertainment while mom was left to tend to the baby!

Oh, did I forget to mention that Gramma officially "retired" in February?

Perfect timing with all those new grandbabies, no?

Heading Home!

Hattie was born around dinnertime on a Thursday. Friday was a quiet, relaxing day....with a pretty yucky snowstorm in the evening that kept most of the visitors away. By Saturday morning, I was up, showered, and READY. TO. GO. HOME. by, like, 6:30 am. :)

The best part about your third baby is that they kind of glide over all those lovely discharge instructions when you leave.... been there. Done that. Let's get going.

Oh, and Gramma and Papa had bought tickets to Disney on Ice for the five "big" grandkids for Christmas... for the 3/3 show. So.... Hattie and I got home, got the big girls dressed and ready to go, and the three of us had a very quiet, calm, and peaceful homecoming day. It was heaven. :)

Hattie- all snuggled in and ready to go home!

Big girls- ready for Disney on Ice!

Hattie checks out her new digs

Hattie and dad... just chillin.

Hattie Irene

Just a few pictures from the hospital...

And she's heeeere!

February 29, 2012 came and went. No baby. Whew!

March 1, 2012, however, was a bit of a different story.

Hattie Irene Salmon was born at 4:51 pm, weighing 7 lbs. 1 oz (the smallest of the 3 girls!) with a head of crazy brown hair. She's perfect and cool and fits right in our family like she's been here all along....

Tired!

Gramma was there for Hattie's birth. It was an amazing experience to share with my mom....and one I know she treasured as well. I think Hattie and her have a pretty special bond because of it!

Lucy meets Hattie for the first time... Not looking too certain...

Proud big sisters!

Maggie goes in for a closer look...

We are a family of FIVE (and look at how excited the girls are!)

2 Months of Randomness....

January and February seemed to fly by. Maybe because it was a mild winter and we weren't cooped up in the house. Maybe because we were busy with school and work and life. Maybe it was because we had a million and one things to accomplish before #3 made her arrival.... Either way, the 8 weeks of January and February zoomed right past us!

In early January, we got to welcome our newest cousin, Hunter Crawford Sichmeller. He was the second of three new grandbabies/cousins on the Sichmeller side in the span of 4 months (Leo William Sichmeller was born the first week of November- and ours will make #3!) At the end of the month, all the Sichmeller family came

together to celebrate our "Christmas."

February brought Valentine's Day and, well, nothing else really- other than the dreaded "Leap Day!" A March 6 due date made a "Leap Year" baby a possibility... and it was quite nerve-racking for momma!

Anyway- here are some random pictures from those 8 weeks!