sleeping like a baby

I can't help but stare at her all day. I haven't been able to watch TV or read while I am nursing or cuddling her. It doesn't seem right to let even a moment pass unnoticed. Harper no longer has to wear her bilirubin blanket and we are thrilled! She is starting to gain weight and hopefully by Monday she will be back to her birth weight.

our sweet harper

We are so happy to have Harper home. I have wanted to get more pictures up for the last few days, but my time has been spent almost solely on figuring out how to get Harper to eat. Because she was so early, we spent a lot of time in the hospital focusing on this. She had a really hard time latching on. We are still supplementing a bit with formula to try and put some weight back on her. We had our first doctor's appointment yesterday and she was down to 5 lbs 8 oz (a ten percent weight loss) which is concerning. They did a test for jaundice and her levels are up from the hospital. They are going to deliver a bilirubin blanket today. We are grateful for an amazing pediatrician who is being proactive with Harper's care.

I got sad today realizing Harper is already changing. This stage goes way too fast. Poor Brady is in the middle of midterms and it makes me sad that he has to miss even a moment with her. My mom arrived on Monday evening just hours after we got home from the hospital. It has meant the world to me to have her here, especially with Brady being so busy.

We are loving this time together and getting to know our new little girl. I keep looking at her and telling her in awe, "I can't believe you are here." Until very close to the end, I didn't really think I was in labor or believe that she was really coming. Brady and I had talked about how it would be nice if she were a little early so she didn't show up right in the middle of a final. Now I feel bad because she heard us and jumped the gun a little.

I had said before I would miss being pregnant. I do miss feeling her kicks, but now that I get to cuddle and kiss her, I am thrilled to be a mom. Sometimes she will kick her legs while she is sleeping and I recognize the rhythm. I see now what she was doing in there.


I am absolutely loving watching Brady be a dad. He is so sweet. The other night, Harper was sleeping next to him as he was studying. As he read, he was playing with her tiny hands and sometimes would just stop and stare at them and at her. Brady is head-over-heels for his 'Harper girl.'

Going home

She's here!

We'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our family,
Harper Susanna Ashdown.

She was born Saturday morning just before noon and weighed 6lbs 2oz and is 17 3/4 inches long and is doing fantastically well despite being 4 weeks early.

On Friday morning Elizabeth started feeling light contractions and timed them throughout the day. As she was still early we tried a couple of things to get the contractions to subside. By midnight the contractions were 3 minutes apart and our doctor advised us to go into the hospital. Elizabeth did an amazing job during the labor and delivery without any pain medications and Harper stayed really strong throughout. This is in stark contrast to Harper's dad, who cried like a little girl when she was born.

We're ecstatic about her arrival and excited for everyone to meet her in person. In the mean time, here are a few pictures.

My take

Hi,

Remember that post that a few of you commented on just below this one? The one where E gave me credit for taking photos of her ever expanding belly? I thought I'd give you all an account of the photo shoot from my end, in photo form of course. Please enjoy.

Do you see the symmetry in this one? Thats art!

san diego babymoon

Brady and decided to take a little get away to San Diego for part of his spring break. I thought it would be fun and our last chance to go somewhere just the two of us for a while. It ended up being just what we needed. I didn't realize until we were there how much I had missed Brady during his cramped and busy semester. I was so so happy to have him to myself and have his undivided attention for a few days. The weather was nice, although we shared a laugh as we drove out of town, since it was in the 80s in Arizona and low 70s in San Diego.

While we were there, we spent a day at the beach. Although, lounging on the beach on a towel is quite a bit harder (and a tad bit less enjoyable) when you are eight months pregnant. Then we went to dinner and a movie. The next day we went to the San Diego Zoo and that was the highlight of the trip. The first exhibit we saw was the Koala Bears. When we got there, they were all sleeping. They were each curled into the tightest little balls, perched in the branches. I couldn't get enough of it and kept telling Brady "they look just like the baby!" We haven't had an ultrasound since 20 weeks and I have wanted so badly to see her little body and I guess seeing them helped fulfill that desire. We stayed for quite a while and did swing by the exhibit again on our way out of the zoo.

Towards the end of our day at the zoo, we went to the hippo exhibit. From where we first stood, we could just see the snout sticking up out of the water. We started walking around the side of the exhibit and got a much better view looking through glass where we could see the hippo below the water and as she stuck her head out of the water, we could see that too. We watched for a bit and then I realized that it wasn't a rock right next to her face, it was her baby! The mama hippo was standing there, holding her baby in place and they were just resting. The next thing we knew, that baby scooted around her and ventured into water that was way too deep. It's mama followed right behind and would nudge the baby with her nose and then push it up to the surface for some air. Each time the mama would round up her baby and push her up the ramp to safety, the baby would squeeze away from her and start the cycle again. We stayed for quite a while. Clearly, babies are on my mind and I can't get enough of them (even if they're a different species).

weeks away

Our little lady is due to join us in five and a half weeks--although, it could be a little longer wait than that. I try to remind myself that May may come before she does. We are both very excited to meet her and we take turns feeling nervous, excited, and a little overwhelmed at the fact that we are going to be parents. We can't wait for the adventure and to cuddle our little one.

A few weeks ago, Brady took my place behind the camera and we set out to document my belly. He did a wonderful job. Having taken pregnancy pictures of other people, I am happy that we were able to spend some time together capturing mine (and it was Brady's idea).


We found some beautiful spots on campus and Brady was patient as I directed him on some ideas. He took pictures of that, too. I am sure he will have his only take and blog post on our experience including some less flattering images of me pointing him to where to stand.

As I sit here feeling the baby squirming and watch my belly move all around, I know I will be among those who miss being pregnant. It has been such an incredible experience and I have enjoyed every step off the process. But the idea of looking into her little face and really getting to know this little person will surely be even sweeter.


Thank you, Brady, for wanting to take these pictures; for coming to doctor appointments with me; for listening to me talk incessantly about the baby and wanting to feel my tummy when she has the hiccups. Thank you for choosing me and for starting this journey with me. I can't wait.

welcome news

Yesterday was a great day! Brady was offered a summer internship with Deloitte and Touche! We are so thrilled. Searching for an internship has been such a long and arduous process that basically began when Brady started his program last fall. This coming summer has been a big question mark. I am so impressed by how hard Brady worked, how many contacts he made, how many applications he submitted. Another obvious kink, especially for me, was trying to stay calm and be patient while not knowing where we would spend some of the first few months with our new baby.

We're going to Los Angeles! As Brady was considered for the position and he was told that it would be in L.A. we were a little hesitant and not sure how to feel. There have been internship possibilities taking us from Chicago to D.C. to Boise to Phoenix. As we moved to each city in our minds (and on google maps) we would get excited about the different possibilities and what each city would mean and what it would be like to maybe live there. All along, I told Brady I was behind him and would support him to go anywhere. Mostly, I just wanted to know where. And now we know and it feels really great!

The pieces are falling into place. Brady doesn't start until June 27th; two months after the baby is due. I was happily relieved that she will be more than just days or weeks old when we go. We will have some real bonding time for our new little family and time to go to Utah and relax with family and dear friends. I had wanted to plan a time to go home and bless our baby girl and now that can happen too.

Prayers are answered and things work out. It can be a very stressful, frustrating experience not knowing how or when. But I am so grateful that yet again, we have been taken care of. Hollywood, here we come.