New pictures...

Well, all this talk about my picture a day project made me start thinking that I should share some of the pictures I've taken this month. Of course, I have quite a few of Adam, so you can see how much he's grown. Just this week alone, he met Roberta's son, Zachary, for the first time, had a impromtu photo session in a new outfit and even had one of his cute smiles captured by Yasmeen on our camera finally. Hope you enjoy...

Project 365...

So did anyone get inspired to start their Project 365? I've miraculously been keeping on top of it and have just printed this week's batch of pictures. Needless to say, they are very Adam-centric, but can you blame me...he is the newest thing happening around here these days :-) It's not too late to get on the bandwagon. Even if you just take pictures and don't scrapbook (GASP!), it'll be such a treasure to look back on years from now.

As for the ease of making pages, well...the divided page protectors can be found at A.C. Moore and the downloads for the inserts are available for FREE at http://beckyhiggins.com/blog/ under FREE 365 Download on the right hand column. Here is a sample picture of what a layout will look like when it's done...so easy and fun to do! I'll post an example of mine soon...

Growing like a weed...

Hey Everyone,

Well, I just got back from Adam's 1 month appointment and he is doing great. He's currently 11 pounds 1 ounce, and gaining steady ground on the competition. He's doing all the things a healthy 1 month old should be doing and we are racing to keep up with him. Sleep still alludes us, but we must be getting used to it because we are only cranky for part of the day-LOL!

The girls are back in school and none too thrilled about it. Yasmeen's teacher leaves on the 13th for maternity leave and she's sad to see her go. Leena can't wait for the year to be over. She tells me almost every day she doesn't want to "leave" me and Adam to go off to school each day. So sweet, but considering all the schooling years she has ahead of her, I hope she changes her mind soon.

As for me, time seem to moving ahead at warp speed and staying still at the same time. In addition to f/t mommyhood, I have several upcoming projects that are looming in the near future. The first and most important is to take my recertification exam for my Physician Assistant certification sometime this year. I can't wing it, so that means taking time to prepare for the test AND get in my CME hours all at the same time. On another front, I've also been asked to consult for a local craft store that will be converting into a scrapbooking store over the next couple of months. Preparing for the grand re-opening will take yet another chunk of my time, but it's something I'm excited about. And if all that activity isn't enough, I've decided to take part in a fun exercise as part of my goals for 2009. It's called Project 365 and involves taking a picture a day for a year and arranging them into a time capsule of sorts in a scrapbook that will document the everyday moments in a year that may go unnoticed. Check out http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/ for more info in this month's issue. I've even gotten my sister to join me in my journey. I'm sure in 10 years I'll look back at the year 2009 and be grateful that I documented all those little things that would otherwise surely be forgotten.

Well, I've gotten my scrapbooking mojo back and have been putting pictures into a few layouts that I had put together before Adam was born. Here you'll see his first pictures in the layout entitled "Welcome Adam". I've also started fooling around with Adobe Photoshop Elements and just love making photo collages (makes any precious scrapping time I might have much more productive).

Well, he's to another busy month...hope everyone has a productive and healthy 2009!

Janet

Happy New Year!!

Well, we've started a new year and it's looking like it's going to be a great one. First and foremost, we have our baby boy home safely and that is something we have been looking forward to a long time. Today also happens to be his 1 month birthday--HOORAY for Adam! He is growing so quickly and has apparently surpassed the 10+ pound mark already and he isn't due for another weight check for a few more days. Check out his photo shoot from just today below!!

This year, we went over to Aileen's house on NYE as usual, but between the baby and the girls fighting off colds, we couldn't make it to midnight for the traditional run outside and noisemaking fest we usually take part in. Nevertheless, when we got home, we did manage to stay awake until midnight to see the ball drop and even took our first family of five "portrait" (even if it was in our pj's).

Mohammed and the girls have been home for almost 2 weeks now since it's Winter Break for the girls. I begged Mohammed to postpone his time off with us and the baby until the girls were home so that he could lend a helping hand when I needed it most. It's been such a big help and I am grateful he had some time to take off and spend with us. We didn't do any of our usual Winter Break outings this year, but we did manage to get out together every once in a while and go shopping or out to eat. Titi Aileen even spent a little one-on-one time with Adam and let the rest of us go out to a movie on Christmas Day (note: go see Bedtime Stories-it's fabulous!). Otherwise, life with a newborn these days definitely moves at a much slower pace, but that is OK with me!

So as we wrap up 2008 and head into 2009, I wish everyone a very healthy and happy New Year and hope that you are all blessed with good friends, family and love all around.

Hugs,
Janet

A sleeping Prince...

Well, Adam is 3 weeks old today and he is adjusting to life outside the womb fairly well. He was officially due on 12-21 (this last Sunday), but instead of being born, he was experiencing his first bath. He sleeps a LOT during the day and is doing all the things an infant is suppossed to be doing-eating, eating, eating, pooping, and of course, sleeping. He is very much an easy going baby, unless we take too long to change him or feed him...then his squeaks and coos turn into full blown screams. He tends to get really red in the face when things aren't going exactly his way, but that just makes him all the cuter. Amazingly, when the sun sets (usually around 8pm) he miraculously awakens and is bright eyed and bushy tailed from his restful day. Sometimes he peeks with just one eye open to see if there is still any light outside, and if there is, he'll go back to sleep. Looks like he's training to be a night owl like Mommy. However; once the lights dim, he loves to hang out and take in the world around him (after a marathon eating period of course). Big sisters, Yasmeen and Leena, are loving him more each day and often argue about who gets to hold him first when they get home from school. He is such a sweet, little boy and we are so grateful to have him safe and sound at home with us. Happy Holidays, everyone!

He is here!!

Well, It's over a week since Adam was born and I am finally home and recuperating well. We went into the hospital for a scheduled c/s on 12-3-08 and went into the O.R. on time and had Adam at exactly 7:14pm (much to my anxious relief). He weighed in at 7-14, too, so that was kind of cool. He measured 19 3/4 inches and let out a very discrete cry upon entering the world. His apgars were 8/9. He is so sweet and my precious little miracle. We are so grateful to have him safe and sound in our arms and excited to be back home (those hospital beds are awful!!). Although I've had my share of pain post-op, Adam is worth every little bit. He's a quiet baby, sleeping most of the day (although somehow Daddy and I don't manage to sleep much at all) and waking once the sun goes down. Nursing is going well, although it seems Adam has a hearty appetite and I hope I can keep up with the demand! We are so grateful for his presence in our family and happy to share our joy with you. Here are some pictures of our newest addition!!

A Whole Lotta Paintin' Going On...

Well, today I am officially 36 weeks and just 10 days away from D-day! To celebrate another weekly milestone, I decided I wanted to have the girls paint on my belly. I got the idea from an episode of "A Baby Story" I'd seen a while ago and thought it was a great way to remember this time in our lives. It's especially important since this is the last pregnancy for our family and we are just so excited to meet this little guy on his way--Inshah Allah. The girls really got into it, and Mohammed even joined in the fun. Leena drew a pumpkin and a sun and wrote "I love Adam" on my belly. Yasmeen also drew a pumpkin and decorated her "side" of my belly with polka dots. Her message read "I *heart* Adam". There's no doubt about it, we love Adam and we haven't even officially met him!! Even Daddy put his mark on my belly by drawing a face smack in the center of all the designs. It had big red lips and "angry" eyes--to commemorate his feeling that this pregnancy has made me a little cranky these past few weeks...but what does he know :-) Between my GROOOOOWING profile, lack of comfortable sleep, anxiety over my pre-term contractions and worries over Adam's safe arrival, who can blame me if I'm not as jovial as in days past???? Well, at least we laughed quite a bit tonight and made some memories that hopefully Adam will see one day and laugh at too! Here are some pictures we'd like to share (some of the others won't make it on here-LOL!):