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Family Portrait

We did manage to get a good picture with all three of us. James was in a milk-induced coma and very patiently waited as we got the camera set up, the lighting issues resolved, and then took the pictures. Thank goodness Grandparents Howell were here to help out and suggest a re-try or this may not have happened for a long time.


We got a good Howell Family Portrait with Grandma and Grandpa too. We will miss having them around; Grandma really made a difference helping keep the laundry going and helping us remember that we should eat and Grandpa was instrumental (hee hee) in upgrading our apartment's electronic status and in keeping James soothed when he was fussy.


James is getting more and more alert. He is a little thinker.



We took him on our favorite walk on Friday. Unfortunately, we think we'll have to wait awhile before going again as all the bumps didn't seem to agree with him later.


He continues to adore his daddy.

Yawn.... a nap does sound good, doesn't it?

A present for Charity.

James and I have been thinking for a long time about what we can get Charity to show our love and appreciation for all she does for us. Ok, I have probably been thinking longer than James on this, but I solicited his help anyway.

After thinking a little, we decided that the time was right to invest in something that Charity has wanted for a long long long time--a digital piano. (James took notes and implemented his cousin Julianna's posing tutorial for this picture.)

While my wife collapsed peacefully into an exhaustion-induced nap, grandpa and I snuck to the music store and picked up a Yamaha that was on sale. It was a good deal at a good time. After several attempts at trying to fit the box into a 96 Camry, we finally gave up and took it out of the box.

Ahhhh! There's a piano on my face!

I put the piano together while Charity watched in anticipation for me to finish. Here I am making sure the book stand is set to the exact angle for maximum anthropometric efficiency:

As we were putting it together, my Dad read the user's manual and discovered some extra features that we didn't know the piano had. The result was a very happy Charity.

As Charity sat down and started playing, James woke up from his nap and wanted to know what was going on in the next room. I carried him over and laid him on a chair next to Mommy playing some Bach. He was instantly mesmerized by the music.


On another note... or another variation on the same tune of late....James continues to charm.
This is another picture of James with Grandma Howell that I think is pretty adorable:

One Week

MONDAY:
On Monday James discovered what real hunger was. He decided that he did not like it, not in the least. He made his opinion known to us, his parents, and we did our best to meet his demands. After eating his fill he flopped onto his daddy to be burped. This is what he looked like after belching to his daddy's and my delight. (In future belching will probably not get the same positive reaction so he should enjoy it now while he can.)

TUESDAY:

After he discovered hunger he must have determined never to feel it again because he went on a feeding frenzy. He ate every hour on the hour for thirty minutes at a time from sometime Tuesday until Wednesday morning. Can we say ouch? Can we say sleep deprivation? So for those of you who may have wondered why I wasn't up to visitors, didn't return calls quickly, and was antisocial in general, now you know.

WEDNESDAY:

Happily, James decided that he was not going to starve and went to a much more reasonable schedule of eating about every two to three hours on Wednesday. We were very ready to leave the hospital at that point.

Daniel packed up the room and I got ready to go. We sat waiting on the bed for the nurse to come in so we could pounce.

"When can we leave?"

"Don't you want to stay for lunch first?" (more on hospital food should be written at a later date)

"No? Well then I'll get your paperwork together and get a wheelchair for you."

We made it home without misshap. I have never seen Daniel drive more carefully. It was cute to see him be so cautious and so light on the brakes and gas. This is not normal but I could definitely get used to it. :)

He dropped us off at the apartment and went to fill my prescription for pain medication. I fed James, again, and we sat down surrounded by my fortress of pillows. I must have completely passed out because the next thing I knew James was gone, Daniel was home, and I was completely disoriented. Daniel had found me sitting upright with my head at a very awkward angle on my chest, asleep. He put James down and knowing I hadn't slept much, left me to sleep. He sat still too long and passed out too. Needless to say we were both exremely disoriented when we woke. James was the only one who was serenely unaffected as I groggily scrambled to piece together exactly what was going on.

That evening Grandma and Grandpa Howell arrived from Virginia. They will be staying to help out and visit through next week. James loves them already.

THURSDAY:

James had his first visit to the pediatrician this Thursday. He got his first shot and as Daddy so eloquently put it "He took it like a man." He didn't cry hardly at all and it's a good thing too. Mama, that's me, was the anxious one as they waited for the nurse to come and it would have been difficult for her if he had been more affected by it. He weighed in at a healthy 8lbs 15oz at the pediatrician's office, apparently having gained half a pound from his last weigh-in at the hospital. It just goes to show that he is a very efficient eater.

Although uncertain about the carseat to begin with, he made peace with it and slept very well in it for a good portion of that day after his visit to the pediatrician.

FRIDAY:

On Friday the weather was beautiful. Spring seems to have arrived with James. The trees are blooming and the grass is a lovely shade of green. We went for a short walk around the apartment clubhouse and pond. James tried out his sling and approved of it by promptly falling asleep for the duration of the walk. I might add that it was a very slow walk as I am more at a shuffle while I heal up from the c-section.

SATURDAY:
Daddy went of various expeditions with Grandma for needed groceries/supplies. Daddy later went with Grandpa to look at electronic gadgets and dream of HD TV's. James and I napped on and off through the day, in between multiple feedings of course.

We also tried to get some good pictures of all three of us together. No real winners so far but we are going to keep trying. It's sort of hard to get all three of us looking in the same sort of direction. Perhaps once we have more of a settled routine for ourselves and aren't so sleep deprived.

Daniel took this one later in the day and it is one of my favorites. Eventually we'll get one with all three of us in it.:)

SUNDAY:
James has been very good to me on this day of rest. I was able to rest for a two hour stretch this afternoon while his daddy and grandpa were at church. It has been nice to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle choir and to reflect on this first week of motherhood, fatherhood, and new life.

We are so blessed.

More Adorable Pictures

James Vernon Howell

A beautiful baby boy joined the family of Daniel and Charity Howell on April 13, 2008 at 3:19 PM. He is a (very) healthy 9 lb 7.5 oz, 21 3/4" inches long. He is named James Vernon Howell after our mother's fathers; honoring both our mothers and our forebearers. Both mother and baby are doing fine.

A Walk By the Canal

It was a beautiful day yesterday and we went on a lovely walk. I wanted to share some of the beauty of the day with all of you.

In addition to geese, we saw ducks, cardinals, robins, blue jays, turtles, fish, a snake, a chipmunk, squirrels, dogs, and a few of their humans. (Oh, and an assortment of spiders, beatles, and flying bugs.) It was a very nice day for a walk.

Still no baby.

We are waiting patiently for the baby to come. Baby, on the other hand, is very comfortable and warm in his little nook it seems. Rest assured, as soon as anything happens, we will let everyone know.

In the mean time, I'll share with you a neat little fact we found out. Scientists believe that amniotic fluid actually has a flavor depending on the things that the mother eats. They think this is why babies from around the world seem to be pre-acclimated to foods that other babies would have trouble with. Cool, huh?

Is baby going to have an affinity towards marshmallow cardboard puffs? No, because Charity hasn't touched the stuff, leaving me with the burdensome task of eating them (Update: I think I am passed the halfway mark, now).

What about steamed broccoli? Perhaps. If we weren't so judicious, we would probably be eating upwards of 10 lbs a week. Yum.

So, we'll see. There seems to be an equal probability that baby will not like any of these foods while being breastfed. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to have all the broccoli myself.

Howell Said Playlist

Great Expectations

Well, I've made it to week 38 and am half way to 39. I never expected to be pregnant this long but it has really been a blessing. I've had the time that I needed to get things together for the baby, to serve my family, and even to attend a baby shower put together for my benefit.

It was a lovely party and I was amazed at how many people came. I've since washed all the adorable outfits and put blankets, books, and toys in their proper place. Daniel has put up a shelf for me to put supplies on and we are set to go. Anytime... really.

I keep waking up thinking "How about today?". I think about what the date is and figure out what kind of mathematical pattern it makes. Then, if it is a pattern that I like, I tell my belly that it really would be a good day, if he's up to it. I even sang the 'Happy Birthday' song to my belly yesterday in the hopes of helping the him decide he wanted to come out and have a birthday party.

I suppose this is just the beginning of me learning patience with my children.:)

Happy April to You

I just wanted to post to let you know that life really is good. Matt's family has received many offers of help and, however the lease issue gets resolved in the end, it is wonderful to know that it is one less thing they need worry about. There is so much that goes on in life. It is so good to be alive. I have been very blessed to see so many people willing to serve one another. In the midst of any crisis we tend to get to see the best and the worst of people. I'm not sure how to best sum it all up but I want you to know that I have been strengthened by the experience. I also hope that any that read this can be too.

Sigh....I need to work on my ability to articulate what I am feeling. Gratitude. Awe. Peace.

I am sure that there will be messages given in conference this coming weekend that will express what I am trying to say much better. I am looking forward to hearing the word of the Lord and having the opportunity to sustain His prophet.

More very good things to look forward to.:)