Pictures from early maternity leave

May 2013

Since my mom was in town to help out while we adjusted to being a family of four, Hank got to play hookie from school for a few days. Here are a few shots of the kiddos from the first part of my maternity leave.

Rockin' his bed head at the breakfast table

Sleeping Izzy

Izzy comes home and Mother's Day 2013!!

After a short and uneventful stay in the hospital, we brought Izzy home and tried our best to settle in to our new routine. Thankfully, my mom made it down to Louisiana a few days after Izzy was born. I still don't know how she did it with everything else that was going on at the time.

I laugh at this picture because it is the first picture that we have of Hank and Izzy together. I had high hopes of getting one of those adorable pictures in the hospital of Hank meeting his brand new baby sister but that just wasn't in the stars for us. Hank was very stubborn and wanted nothing to do with Izzy in the beginning.

If I remember correctly, Hank was not too fond of sharing his May-mee.

Izzy and her May-mee

Hank getting a little extra attention with a trip to  Swirl Berry

Our little jaundice baby getting a little Vitamin D while Hank plays at the playground.

\

First smile caught on camera :)

For Mother's Day, we hit up our favorite brunch buffet at the Booker Lewis House, and then Bill took us on a long tour of the outer-skirts of Leesivlle, Louisiana in search of a body of water to hang out at. I'm rolling my eyes at this because this was not my vision of Mother's Day, but I appreciate his effort.

Julia Isabelle Ferguson

End of April to May 2, 2013

Bill and I had been going back and forth between two names for our baby girl since the day we found out that we were pregnant. Bill came back from the field at about 2 AM on Saturday, April 27th and said "I decided what we're going to name her - Julia Isabelle." This was one of our top picks. I love this name, and we've actually had it picked out for years. "Julia" is after my grandmother on my mom's side - Julia "Judy" Nan Gettinger - a.k.a Garmie to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "Isabelle" - simply because we love the name.

My dad called at some point later that Saturday morning and told me that Garmie was taken by ambulance to the hospital. I talked to my mom a few hours later - Garmie had a massive stroke. She was surrounded by our loving family until she passed away in the early hours of April 28th.

I was not able to make the trip home for Garmie's funeral since I was due on May 4th. Thanks to technology I was able to Skype in to view the service and listen to incredible eulogies delivered by numerous family members and friends on May 2nd.

I headed back to work following the service, but I only lasted an hour before my water broke. Gross. Bill met me at the house. We loaded the van, picked up Hank from daycare, dropped him off with some friends, and then headed to the hospital. A few hours later, Julia Isabelle Ferguson, arrived...only hours after our amazing Garmie had been laid to rest.

I must have had the epidural at this point because I look pretty comfortable...

In memory of my Garmie, here are a few pictures of her with Hank.

Hank with Garmie (left) and Aunt Mary Lou (right)

Let's play catch up...

I realize that I am way behind....fifteen-plus months to be exact. I am going to do my best to catch up...month by month. Bear with me because it might take me a bit, but I love looking back and watching Hank grow on this blog and want to be able to do the same with Izzy.

April 2013 Photostream

April is Month of the Military Child and the daycares on post do a great job with a variety of activities throughout the month.

Nothing better than ice cream and getting to wear your pajamas to daycare for "Pajama Day"

Super-proud of his $1 garage sale find - lights and sounds work great!

FRG fun at the bowling alley

Cheese face! (covered in chocolate)

What little boy doesn't love military static displays?!

Daddy was in charge on this morning, and Mommy was not amused when she came home from work later that day and found this mess. Daddy thought Max would clean it up for him, but apparently he didn't leave Max enough water to eat a whole box of dry Cheerios.

Happy birthday, Daddy!!