We are pleased and proud to announce the arrival of Samuel Eskesen McPherson
Samuel on his first day
Samuel arrived January 27th at 12:38pm, weighing in at 7lbs exactly and 19.5″ long. We are absolutely overjoyed to have him with us! Beatrice is a great big sister and we’re enjoying these first days as a family of four.
Family of Four
It’s official! We’re at 39 weeks! What a miracle you are, sweet Baby McPherson 2.0. I can hardly wait to meet you. I feel like I’m more excited to meet you than I was with your sister. I think that’s because I already know how sweet and amazing it will be to have a newborn in the house and before she arrived it was all just unknown. Trust me, I loved her right away just as I love you and there are still plenty of things I don’t know. I love you, your Daddy loves you and you have a whole big family who loves you and is excited to meet you!
I’m definitely huge these days. My belly is really big. Yesterday at school, I was cleaning up art supplies and got paint on my shirt, but didn’t realize it for a bit because it was on the underside of my belly. Oh how silly! I’m not going to lie, I’m looking forward to having my regular clothes back, but it has been quite a blessing to see you grow and watch you move.
Yesterday, I was feeling as if you were choosing an early birthday, but today you’ve been happy as a clam. Everything is all set for ya! I had a fun girls’ day with your sister today. It was mostly our usual errands, but we also stopped at Starbucks for a treat and to read some books and then we had our photos taken at the photo booth in the mall. We also went to Bath and Body Works and smelled the candles. She loves scented items! It will be different to have a boy with us all day, but we’re both excited for you to be part of our routine!
Well, 2.0, you are officially full-term! Hooray! We are very, very thankful that so far you seem to be doing well. I’m feeling like Gigantor the Gigantic, but that’s to be expected.
37 Weeks
I was feeling some contractions last weekend, which really got us motivated to get things ready for you! And naturally, once your Daddy finished painting your sister’s new bedroom, you settled right down and seem to have made yourself comfortable for the long haul. I’m just fine with that! While I am feeling really, really big and don’t hate the idea of being unpregnant, we are all sick with a cold these days and I’d rather you wait until we’re all feeling better. Also, this cold has been waking your sister several times a night with coughing fits and frankly, she wakes up everyone else. It would be better for you if we’re not all completely exhausted when you arrive.
Tonight, you followed our hands with your little fist, just like your sister did when she was in the womb! It was very exciting to have you interact with us! What an adventure parenting has been so far!
I’ve been strongly urged to eat a high protein diet these days. Since we don’t eat a ton of meat around here and I’m still the same cheapy-cheap-o, I haven’t been eating steak each night. BUT I have discovered two new favorite ways to enjoy quinoa! Here they are:
Quinoa Hash:
1 cup quinoa, cooked
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 handful mushrooms, chopped
4-5 leaves of kale, stem removed and chopped
Sautee the onion and garlic. Add the mushrooms and sautee until soft. Add the kale and a splash of water. Cook until the kale is bright green. Add the quinoa. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
What? Not enough protein? Add an egg!
Prefer something sweeter?
Quinoa Porridge:
1/2 Cup cooked quinoa
2 Tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted
6 dried apricots, chopped
Milk and cinnamon to taste.
Cook the quinoa. Put it in a bowl and top with the almonds and apricots. Pour milk and cinnamon over the top. Enjoy!
We are getting close to the end of this pregnancy! Oh boy. I don’t know how we’re going to manage with two little ones in the house, but we sure are excited to meet our sweet baby. This week’s photo was taken just before we left for Jonathan’s company Christmas party. I like this dress, but it took two strategically placed safety pins to ensure I didn’t have a wardrobe malfunction at the event!
At this point, things are really starting to um, relax (thanks, relaxin!) and I sometimes try to go from sitting to standing and feel a bit like my hips will come out of joint. It’s all very silly, really. So far, I’m still feeling well and little 2.0 seems to be doing the job of growing and squirming. Bring on the late-pregnancy fat face, the aches, the heartburn, the leg cramps! Every symptom brings us closer to full-term! I was hoping to avoid the fat face this time, but with the amount of water I consume each day, it seems this will be inevitable. At least it’s not forever! Little 2.0, we have so much to be thankful for and you are one of those things! Keep growing! We love you!
We have made it to the thirties! Hooray and Praise the Lord!
At 30 weeks, 2.0 is estimated to be around 3lbs or the size of a head of cabbage. So far, 2.0 seems to be growing at just the right pace, though measuring larger than Beatrice did at this stage. Since she was 8lbs, 12oz at birth, I’m not expecting to have a tiny baby. We’ll see!
30 Weeks!
We are very excited to meet you, Little One! You don’t have a name yet, but we’re working on that. For now, 2.0 and Newbie seem to be sticking. We’ll make sure that isn’t the official name on your birth certificate though, okay? You seem to have a keen sense of hearing and especially enjoy it when you can hear your Daddy or Sister talk. You either love or hate the sound of the mixer (your sister loves it because she knows it’s a sign that treats are coming. I’m pretty sure you’ll join her ranks soon!). You have moved into the head down position, which means your little feet are right under my ribs. In the mornings, you like to try to roll around a bit and use my ribs for leverage. You are strong and I love it! I am so very thankful for each little kick that I feel and your Daddy loves to watch you move! Your sister has started to ask to hold you, which means she lifts up my shirt and puts her hand right under my belly button. Then she gives you a kissy. You are one loved baby! I’ve got your clothes all sorted and ready to be laundered and things like diapers and bath soap are ready and waiting for you. Keep growing in there! We’re not in a hurry! You are just a miracle and we are thankful that the Lord continues to do His great work in your life!
And in other news, I had my hair cut today. I’m so glad to have it a little shorter and more styled!
Well, for some (most?) of you, this is not big news, but it hasn’t been on the blog yet, so I thought I’d make an official announcement of it:
Daddy and Bea make the big announcement
Yes, Beatrice is a Big Sister! Baby McPherson 2.0 (or just 2.0 or “Newbie”) is due February 4th! Yes, we do know this child’s gender….but we’re going to wait on sharing it here for a bit. So far, things seem to be going okay and Beatrice already loves patting my belly, her belly and Jonathan’s belly. She also has her own ideas for baby names!