10 Months Pregnant!

Our due date has officially come and gone and we're still waiting on a certain someone's arrival this 40th week.  The extended gestation gave us time to get things done I didn't think we'd get to.  My parents came in last week and have joined the forces in prepping and then some.  It's so nice to have all the g-parents in one city pitching in!  We even got to freezer meals and cleaning the couch upholstery.  No more cat dander!  I can officially sit on both sides of the couch and still breathe.

But on to what you really came here to see:  ginormo belly photos.

And a bonus pic from our maternity shoot just because:

We're nearing the point where there are some health concerns for the baby if we go too much past 41 weeks (starting Sunday/Monday).  We'd really rather not have to induce and are praying that the little guy makes his entrance into this world soon, and for peace with whatever final decision is made.

Random trivia for the week (from this Sunday's sermon):

Did you know that there are 365 "fear not"s in the Bible?  That's one for every day of the year!

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:9-11  

June/July ReCap and the Beginning of August

June 30th

Book Shower in Gruene

(27 Weeks) 

David showed up just in time to open his present and carry the rest to the car.

28 Weeks

29 weeks

Visit from Karen and Lindsay

(Too much eating and site seeing to take pictures :)

30 Weeks

Rice U. Lied. -  Grad school actually started this weekend with a 12 hour orientation.

My parents came into town to help me finish VBS decorations and do some chores.

Too tired fo photos.

31 Weeks

VBS.  Exhausting but fun.

Pro photos taken by Jessica of Ella-Fante (one of our wedding photographers who luckily lives here in Houston!) just a couple of days before our second wedding anniversary.

www.ella-fante.com

32 Weeks - 2 years Married

San Antonio Shower with our St. Paul Family

33 Weeks

My best friend of 20+ years, Allison, drove in from central TX this week (while David was at his Rice immersion week) to help organize the nursery.  Somehow it's ready to go and a complete disaster zone in there.  Photos pending.

34 Weeks

Pediatrician picked!!

Shower hosted by my WOW Bible Study group.  

(Photos on Mother-in-law's camera.  Posting TBD.)

Marathon nap Sunday.  No photos.

What else have we been doing?  Extreme nesting, of course.  The office is finally nearly put together after 2 years of marriage.  Closets have been cleared out, organized, house vacuumed from ceiling to floors, and David, as I mentioned before, has been working on group assignments, reading a ton of case studies and going to class (1.5 credits done! 50.5 to go) for his MBA program since July 21st.  David's birthday was celebrated during VBS prep week and orientation.  We saw the new Batman movie for his birthday on his birthday, and we have now entered the every week phase of O.B. appointments.  

We have three appointments, including this weeks', scheduled and then we're a couple weeks out from our due date.  The baby is doing very well and I'm feeling pretty mobile and complaint free.  Yes, rolling over in bed takes a combined act of extreme will power and super human strength, but, amazingly, I have people ask when I'm due and I still feel shocked people can tell I'm pregnant.  Yes, we have mirrors in our house.  I just don't feel ginormo.  My biggest third trimester worry was that I would have back pain since I already have back issues.  I had one week (around VBS) that was not great, but since then no complaints.  Apparently sleeping with 5 pillows does the trick.  The blessings keep on coming, and we feel so blessed to have the support and love of so many friends and our families to help us prepare for our Little Guy.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Week 25

Happy Father's Day!

Our big events this weekend included a special little girl's first birthday party, a 5 hour "Prepared Childbirth" class at the Motherhood Center here in Houston (would definitely recommend this class), Father's Day breakfast at 7 a.m. before band practice (at Cracker Barrel), a visit from D's parents and our niece and nephew this afternoon, and a dinner out with our favorite soon to be ex-pat at Gringo's.  Presents came on Friday (clothes for Little Boy including a "My Daddy Rocks" onesie with guitar graphic) when David got home from a second very long week (to me) in Arlington, TX for work.

"Get that remote off me!"

Here's our Ninja Baby practicing his moves this morning:

 

   If you focus on the ends of the remote you can see he means business!

Third Trimester just around the corner!

We've been busy bees starting with a road trip to see Grandma Patton in Oklahoma over Memorial Day weekend.  In case you're wondering, that IS a long drive.  We broke up the first leg by getting into Denton, TX around midnight and then continuing on the next morning.  On the way back we did the full ten hours of driving plus time spent every hour getting out to walk.  The best part of Oklahoma besides getting to spend time with Grandma and meeting one of her sisters and nephew for the first time, was, of course, Braum's.  We hit as many as we could while there (driving to Cushing frequently) and on the way out of OK.

There's always something nice about being away in a city most people have never heard of and would have trouble finding on a map, or at least we think so.  It really makes obvious what is really important in life.  The baby also got plenty of Oklahoma water in him so his roots feel a little more complete.  Oh, yeah.  We've nearly finished telling people in person around here so if you hadn't heard already, we're having a boy!!

Baby's First Trip to GG's house in Oklahoma

To answer the next most frequently asked question:  Yes we have a list of names, he may even be named, but we won't be sharing until he's born. 

Week 23, my laptop met tragedy just as I was about to start editing two photo shoots.  It's officially dead thus the lack of border and correct font in the photos this week.  The good news is that most of what I lost was personal stuff and we have a plan to try and pull the hard drive and get the rest backed up.  Then, we'll take it in and see what can be done with it. 

Week 24 - no photo.  For the last two Saturday nights I haven't slept.  This past Saturday it was because baby boy mistook my stomach for an MMA (mixed martial arts) ring.  It really amazes me that according to averages he's only about 8.5 inches long and a pound and half, but he's strong enough for his kicks, turns and arm movements to feel like he's going to leap out of me a la Aliens movie.  It's not that I didn't expect to feel something like that.  I just didn't expect to feel it before the third trimester.  So, while most were in a R.E.M. cycle at 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning,  I was rocking our little mister trying to get him to settle down after hours of being pummeled.  Luckily, our nursery rocker arrived a couple of weeks ago and it did the trick.  After about 20 minutes he settled down and I was able to sleep a couple hours before we had to be at church at 8 a.m. for band practice (David) and to set up communion (me).  So, needless to say, I was asleep Sunday during the day when we'd usually take a photo.   

I've tried to capture on video some of this pummeling since it is clearly visible from the outside, but with no luck.  It seems he's just as camera shy as Shakespeare.  

Next week we have our 26 week check up and glucose test.  Yuck!  Hopefully the "orange drink" for it is not as bad to get down as I've heard.

  

19 weeks to go!

Recap of the last 5 weeks:

Week 16:  Baby's first all day photography event.  No picture.

Week 17:  Still recovering.  No picture (another Sunday afternoon nap marathon).

Week 18:  Determined to not be 100% lazy.  Cheated with point and shoot:

Week 19 (another quick photo with the point and shoot)

Week 20 (back to business with "real" camera)

Week 20 was a very eventful one.  Monday we celebrated with D's parents.  David got in to both A&M and Rice University's Professional MBA program.  It was tough decision, but we went with Rice.  It's closer to home and work, really close to the hospital (especially important since David will be in class Friday night and all day Saturday prior to or due date on that Sunday just in case our baby is prompt), and he'll have a couple of months off in the summer instead of going all year round.

He'll be starting school in late August exactly one month prior to our due date.

Tuesday we finalized stroller decision (who knew baby stuff would take so much research!) and ate at Cheddar's since we were in Friendswood.  Happy tummy! 

Wednesday - I had tea with Jerry and one of her friends at Flora and Muese and went to my women's Bible study for the first time in about a month.  It was actually the first morning that I got up, got dressed and didn't need a nap.  An improvement!

Thursday we pretty much spent all day at the doctor.  Our OB must have had a c-section or inducement scheduled for the morning.  We got bumped to the afternoon to see him.  We still went in at 8:30 a.m. and had our 20 week ultrasound with the radiology department.  This is the full anatomy scan to make sure the baby is growing at an appropriate rate and everything is forming correctly.  We saw the heart and finally connected the "Jesus lives in our heart" Sunday School statement with actual anatomy.  I wish we had a print out of the heart freeze frame the tech took.  The ultrasound showed a tiny heart with four equally sized chambers and in the middle a perfectly shaped cross.  How detailed God is in His creation!

Thursday was also Mother's Day in Mexico.

Happy Mother's Day Mexico!

The top blob is baby's face.

We were told the summary of the ultrasound report was in one word "perfect".  The baby and my stomach are on track in measurements for a 7.5 lbs birth weight.  What a relief!  I did tell him how big I was at birth and after a, "Wow," he bumped the estimate up to 7.5 - 8.  The baby currently weighs 12 oz.  Heartbeat still at 164 bpm.  

Friday we celebrated cousin Jane's 70th birthday at Sylvia's Enchiladas and got to the car just before the thunderstorms hit.  Our baby mattress also arrived Thursday!

Saturday night we celebrated al fresco with Lindsay at Backstreet Cafe.  She turned the big 2-9 again on Friday!  According to my companions, the Sangria and Blackberry Mojitos there are really good.  I can vouch for the bib lettuce salad and pecan crusted chicken.  We also went to the Chocolate Bar for ice cream afterwards.  Couldn't mess with tradition and get restaurant dessert!

Today the men of Epiphany cooked all the moms a pancake breakfast while Pastor Jon gave a presentation on his recent trip to the Holy Land.  Baby received a communion line blessing today.  Pastor Jon didn't reach for a wafer for me first but instead made the sign of the cross in front of the baby bump and said his usual blessing the pastors use for the little kids.  After a great service, we headed to BJ's Brewhouse and lucked out with getting seated right away.  Afterwards David's parents came over to see our new (month old) tree and the little bit of progress we made on the nursery.

All during the week I received roses. Monday from David & Wednesday from one of the ladies in Bible study (they were that happy to see me.  haha), and Sunday all moms got a rose in church. I also got a card from the baby and a million dollar bill from David along with a cross for the nursery, Aggie bandaids  for the next time I gash my toe open (long story), and a birthstone angel pin (Saphire for September).

I had a very happy mother's week.  Poor David set the bar way to high for next year!

Of course, with David in grad school for the 9th month and an 8 month old keeping me on my toes (we both crawled and walked early) I think I'll be overjoyed with him home long enough for me to take a nap!

Happy Mother's Day!!

15 Down!

I remember reading somewhere that "you may start to show around week 16." You know, when you move from a little thick around the middle to people guessing you're pregnant.

As the last post pointed out, I surpassed that a long time ago, but the "proof is in the pudding".

He we are near the end of week 15. Can you tell I'm pregnant? (haha)

Happy Easter!

Some of you may be looking at this photo thinking, "Yeah, right. You're totally sticking out your stomach for a greater affect."

Well folks, I'm afraid that's the old scoliosis rearing it's ugly head because I was tired. Here's an outtake where I'm clearly standing up straight. I think it's the best representation of "the bump" we captured.

I know the tone of my writing might suggest otherwise, but I'm actually quite happy to be showing early. I'm one of those weirdos who was ready to go buy maternity pants the day we found out we we're pregnant. Why aren't all pants made with that much elastic, sigh.

Fun Photo Fact: Does that blue doily on the wall look familiar to anyone? It was part of our wedding centerpieces! The pearl necklace I might have last worn on our wedding day (I always forget to accessorize), and the flower on it was a shower gift decoration from someone special.

Other week 15 events:

-Baby Movement Felt!-

I actually first started feeling the baby during week 14. It happened so fast and so infrequent, though, that I thought I was making it up in my mind. I woke up Palm Sunday (April 1), rolled over, and felt a microscopic butterfly fluttering away in my tummy. The rockin' and rollin' really picked up during church. I think the baby moved to kicking inward during the week because I felt movement less and less. Followed by my first why can't I feel the baby move mini freak out. Our Easter Bunny gift this morning was even more movement. The baby likes sermons and hearing Daddy play in the church band the most, especially today when David took his acoustic kit to church for the outdoor service.

-Baby Went On His or Her 4th Photo Shoot-

Baby is also preparing for first event photography next Saturday. A Quinceneara! A first for me too!

-Baby's Second Birthday Party-

Grandad Harmon and Uncle Larry both turn a year older this month.

-The Dr. Says it's a Boy!-

Don't get too excited. That's not an official announcement. The doctor this time is our family Doc as in David's eldest sister. Boy is her official guess. She has a boy and a girl and a PhD so I wouldn't be surprised at all if she was right!

If that wasn't enough "quotation marks" for you, check back next week. We're going to try and keep up the photo journaling of the baby changes weekly.

-D, T, ? and S

April 2, 2012

First Comes Love

Tiffany: "Will you drive 4 hours to be my Christmas Party date... you know, since we do that every other weekend anyway?"

David: "Sure!!"

PDMS Christmas Party 2008, Arlington, TX

Then Comes Marriage

July 31, 2010, San Antonio, TX

THEN COMES...............

The Sweetest Irish Setter EVER!

William "Shakespeare" Harmon

Rescued 12/9/10

Houston Humane Society, Houston, TX

And then "sooner" rather than later:

Baby Harmon, 8wks 3days

February 16, 2012, Pearland, TX

In the words of Tim and Eric's Spagett, well, "Spagett!!"

We are 3-1/2 months along (the start of week 15 plus or minus a day) and really starting to get to the point where not even tunic tops and well disguised maternity pant waist bands can hide it. My (Tiffany's) mom was ALL belly as they say, and it is becoming pretty apparent I will be too. On a super well fed day I look at least a month more pregnant than I am.

Here's hoping, though, that we end up with a normal sized baby:

David

7lbs 7oz.

19.5 inches long

And not a two month old at birth!

Tiffany

8lbs 13.25 oz

21 in. long

We'll find out sometime around September 24th!

This blog (or another website yet to be determined) will be the only place we'll post updates and photos. So, be sure to create a bookmark!

We've considered our news and photo sharing options in regards to the pregnancy journey and photos of the baby, and have decided we will not be posting about it or the baby on Facebook. We kindly request that everyone would also share without using Facebook.

In other news, David has officially been promoted to Manufacturing Engineering Manager, is in the process of applying to grad school (MBA), and our baby is due the same week he is supposed to be attending Oil State's 4 day long yearly planning meeting scheduled in San Antonio. It's not going to be a dull year!!

-David, Tiffany, ?, and Shakespeare

Christmas Letter 2011

TOP 11 FOR 2011

1. Oregon Trail Vacation

We flew into Casper Wyoming, where David lived in the late 80's and Tiffany's Granny lived during her newlywed years, and drove to Seattle making stops along the way including The Museum of the Rockies, a Buckle store Tiffany designed, Hell's Half Acre, Thermopolis, and Butte, Montana (with no luck finding any slightly lewd tourist t-shirts). This was during Easter week, and we enjoyed a lovely Easter morning service in the historic FUMC church where the Harmon's attended when they lived in Casper.

2. David joined our church band in April/May.

We started going to the new, sister church, Epiphany Lutheran - Missouri City, of our Pearland church around February. David joined the band (drums) after we decided to start going there full time.

3. Spring H.S. Senior Sessions

Tiffany traveled to San Antonio and Spring,TX to photograph two special senior sessions. She realized she really LOVES senior sessions!

4. H.S. Graduation & Birthday Celebration at Harmon BBQ

We enjoyed a weekend in San Antonio celebrating Tiffany's cousin Brittany's H.S. graduation. We also celebrated Uncle Jimmy's (Tiffany's - we have two!) birthday at Harmon BBQ (no relation) in Cibolo, TX .

5. Visit from Jason & Kendra

Jason, Kendra, and their kiddos came for a visit in June. We celebrated three family birthdays and had a party or trip just about every day of the week that they were here.

6. We celebrated our 1st year of Marriage and David's Birthday.

Our cake was still delicious. Thank you Cakes by Cathy in San Antonio!!

7. Shakespeare turned Two and we helped with Vacation Bible School in August.

David played with the band and Tiffany took photos and put together slideshows for each day.

8. Mini Trip to Maryland.

We spent a couple of days with Kendra and Jason while their house was still for sale. David had fun helping Kendra with minor house repairs while Jason was at work. We enjoyed a berry picking excursion and playing with the kids in their house one last time.

9. DeFRAINapaLIUza.

Jason & Kendra dropped us off in D.C. for my cousin Josh's wedding to the lovely Julie Liu. We enjoyed three days of celebration activities including their beautiful wedding and reception on Saturday, and brunch with the Uncle Danny & Aunt Sara at the Kennedy Center the next morning which happened to be their anniversary!

10. Fall Activities at Church

We started teaching Sunday School for 1st-4th Graders and Tiffany joined the Alter Guild.

11. Tiffany turned 24....

for approximately the 5th time.

Love,

The Harmons

Christmas Letter 2010

Merry Christmas & a blessed New Year from our home to yours!

2010 has proven to be an eventful year full of surprises and new adventures. We had a wonderful Christmas last year visiting all of Tiffany’s family in San Antonio and then flying to Tulsa to spend Christmas - Take 2 with David's parents and G-ma in Drumright, OK. We returned to SA in early January for Tiffany’s dad’s belated birthday and David asked him for permission to marry Tiffany. This was followed by asking the big question in early February!

Then the wedding planning ensued. We went back and forth on eloping (surprise! Wouldn't have guessed that would you? ;)) and finally settled on a small, July wedding with family and a handful of long time friends invited. We honeymooned in Norway where David's family spent most of the 1990's while David’s dad, Richard, worked for Conoco. We spent half our time in the city and the other half in a cottage on an island near Stavanger graciously lent to us by family friends who took very good care of us while we were there!

August and half of September were spent unpacking and then the craziness of starting Tiffany’s photography business ensued. Part of my plans when I (Tiffany) left my position at Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Houston in June, was to officially start my photography business this fall.

(Insert shameless plug for business here :)

I've been blessed with busyness this fall with school photography for Trinity Lutheran School & Children's Center as well as a couple "normal" portrait shoots during October & November. I've had my website up for over a year ( www.tiffany-r.com) and have recently added a blog for it (www.tiffanyrogersharmon.blogspot.com). I have a few more shoots for the school in the spring and hope to expand on Maternity Shoots & High School Senior Portraits as well.

As for now, we are looking forward to taking a break for the rest of December to focus our attention back on our home and our new 16 month old Irish Setter we adopted on the 7th of this month. He (Shakespeare) has had a sad life so far being rescued from a puppy mill and then locked up in kennels almost all of his short life. He is definitely a new project, but it has been a pleasure for us both seeing him open up the past week as he figures out that he has a forever home and we are here to lavish lots of love and attention on him. He's becoming a very happy boy and we're seeing more happy faces than sad or scared.

Video of Shakespeare seeing his new toy from Aunt Nika for the first time here:

http://vimeo.com/17851733

David has had another great year as the inventory control manager for Oil States Industries. Two unfortunate rounds of lay-offs at the beginning of the year left gaps in his department. After company wide restructuring, he gained a couple of new employees who have added their strengths to his great team. He continues to love his job and the challenges it brings. In his spare time, David continues coming up with projects for his cars and I continue coming up with projects for him :). He still enjoys drumming and is working on broadening his guitar playing skills. He has also enjoyed tutoring a friend's daughter this fall in math. She's really smart to begin with and taking a course beyond her grade level. We've enjoyed reports that she has one of the two highest grades in her class.

In 2011 we look forward to an Oregon Trail road trip (fly into Wyoming fly out Seattle) and visiting friends and family this fall in the D.C. when we attend my cousin Josh's wedding to the delightful Julie who is a restaurateur

http://www.scionrestaurant.com

Hopefully, we'll finally get to eat at Scion when we're there!!

(I like to plan my travels around food.)

It is our prayer that 2011 will be a wonderful year for you. Even if it brings challenges, may you be blessed with a positive outlook and comfort from the Prince of Peace.

Sincerely yours,

David, Tiffany (& Shakespeare)