Eat, Sleep, Poop... (repeat)

We're in the zombie stage right now... locked into life according to Haley's rhythm of eat, sleep, poop... eat, sleep, poop... eat, sleep, poop... We try to do the same, without quite so many poops. Aiden is being a wonderful big brother. He's very helpful but also realizes that he needs to be careful around his newborn sister. I'm sure it's not easy living with severly sleep-deprived parents but he's making the best of it.


Haley's had her first outings already at one week old... we went to the Friday "concert on the green" in town yesterday because it was such a gorgeous night to be out, and she did fine... slept through the entire thing while Aiden and his friends played baseball and soccer and we talked with other parents while enjoying the music. And today we spent a good part of the day at Quechee Gorge... went on a short but steep hike down the gorge trail to the river, had a picnic lunch and ice cream, and rode the train at the VT Toy Museum with Aiden. Haley also slept through most of that. Quechee was crawling with tourists (ourselves included, I suppose) so it was interesting finding a discreet place to nurse Haley! But we managed and had a great day. Tomorrow, more adventures... as Aiden would say.

British Soccer Camp

This whole week Aiden has been at "British Soccer Camp" every morning. I'm still not sure why it's "British" ... I haven't been there myself (Andy, HaPa, and Grandma have taken him so far since I can't drive yet) but all the coaches do apparently have british accents and so are apparently from England. But then shouldn't it be "British Football Camp"? Almost every town around here hosts a week of British Soccer Camp at some time during the summer, so you can take your pick as to where/when you want to go. I'm guessing it's a sort of traveling organization that you arrange to come to your town, like the circus or a carnival. Just as entertaining, but less tacky.

Anyhow, Aiden's been loving it. They don't play actual soccer games at his level, just learn skills through fun games and drills. Andy was impressed at how well the coaches do at keeping it fun and keeping the kids' attentions. Today Aiden learned how to head the soccer ball, which he was so excited to tell everyone he encountered about. Next summer he can join a kindergarten league and play actual games... that should be even more like herding cats...

Haley is Here!

Haley a few minutes after birth

Dad prepares for the surgery room

On Friday at 2:10 in the afternoon, our little Haley Kulis Deegan arrived...finally! One day before my actual due date! She was 7 lbs, 12 oz and 21 1/4 inches long. Since I had a c-section we had the mandatory 4 days at the hospital- we tried to think of it as the 'spa' where people cater to your every need, bring you medication to make you feel groovy, and take your baby away to the nursery if you want so that you can get some shut-eye, but that illusion only lasts so long and by day 4 we were chomping at the bit to get out of that place! Too many people constantly verifying your last name and birthdate, asking what your pain level is on a scale of 1 to 10, and offering conflicting advice about how to care for your baby. Adios.









Before we left the hospital HaPa, Grandma, big brother Aiden, Micah, Becky and Phoebe all visited to meet Haley. Phoebe is almost exactly a month older and at nearly 10 lbs looked huge compared to Haley. It's so startling how much difference only a few days makes at this point.

We are settling in at home and things are going well so far. No sleep yet (it doesn't seem like Haley will win any awards in that department) but she's eating like a champ and gaining weight so we're happy with that. Aiden even gets to feed her some pumped milk every once in awhile and he's turning out to be every bit the great big brother we knew he would be.

New Deck & First Visitors!

We just finished having our deck re-done. Completely re-done, since it wasn't done correctly to begin with and the original structure was not in any way attached to the concrete footings. The posts had slid almost off several of the footings, and you could feel the old deck swaying when Aiden ran across it (not good). Since we knew we had to start from scratch anyhow, we took the opportunity to expand the footprint and make our new deck a more livable and generous outdoor space. And, thanks to the speedy contractors, it was done in 2 weeks and finished before baby Haley makes her arrival. Double bonus.


Our first visitors for dinner on the new deck arrived last Friday- Micah, Becky, Phoebe, Mom, Dad and Sable! Quite a crew considering they only stayed a few hours (M, B & P on their way to Lake George, and M & D just to drop off Sable) but we were so happy to finally meet little Phoebe! I'll take it as an encouraging sign that Aiden seemed fascinated in every aspect of what Phoebe was up to (feeding, diaper changes, sleeping, sneezing, hiccups)... he was very excited to hold her and once we got him set up with his hand supporting her head, he declared, "I can feel her BRAIN!" Hmm... I think having a newborn and an almost 4 year old is going to make for some interesting commentary...

Aiden took this picture of his Grandma & Phoebe

Another Aiden photo...he's getting pretty good!

Stubborn Already!

Baby Haley seems determined NOT to come out, despite the utter incompetence of my cervix. It's been over a week since the doctors removed my cerclage stitch and .... nothing. She's got an ultimatum of next week though, when we have a scheduled c-section one day before my actual due date. Apparently induction is not an option when you have already had one previous c-section, so we will go with the flow and do whatever is best and safest for her arrival. I'm feeling remarkably good... much healthier and stronger than I did several weeks ago when I first got off bedrest, so trying to enjoy these last days of relative freedom while they last.

Wednesdays at New London Farmer's Market

So MANY berries....

As we wait for the big day, summer marches on... we have been on raspberry picking excursions, spent lots of time at Elkins Beach, gone dragonhunting, and Aiden even had his first "date" (chaperoned, of course) to the theatre with his friend Molly to watch Little Red Riding Hood. The Red Barn Playhouse in New London puts on different plays for kids (and adults) all summer long, and I'd been wanting to take Aiden for awhile now. The kids were not sure what to make of this 50s "sock hop" musical verision of Red Riding Hood, but Christine (Molly's mom) and I thought it was cute!

Aiden and Molly at the Barn Playhouse

Aiden w/ Black Tipped Darner
Dragonhunting in the bog

A couple more shots...

A Wedding in Parishville

OK... still no baby. We are officially at "full term" though and anticipating the beginning of labor at any moment. Just to be on the safe side (I know Micah was born in Potsdam Hospital, but with our complications I'm not taking any chances) we had to decline a trip to our Parishville, NY farmhouse to attend the wedding of my cousin Ben and his fiance Kristin. The farm is such a perfect and beautiful place for a wedding (at least according to my taste... I'm sure many women would prefer otherwise, but I'm with Kristin) so it was a real bummer to miss this great family celebration. But we sent along a mini delegate from the Deegan Family in our stead... Aiden had been chomping at the bit to have another "sleep over" with HaPa and Grandma, so we decided that it would give everyone peace of mind if he went to the wedding with them. Mom & Dad are our primary plan for Aiden-care while I'm in labor and we're busy in the hospital, and seeing that P-ville is 5 hours away and has spotty cell reception at best, well.. it just made sense.

And he had a wonderful time! When he got home we heard all about the cousins he got to play with (some familiar and many not), the special treats (wedding cake, red-white-and-blue cupcakes), the dancing until 10pm... quite an adventure for a 3 year old! These photos tell at least part of the story... obviously we did not take them personally, so a big thank you to cousins Brenda, Jeni and Sue for the pictures!

Hapa and Aiden having pizza the day before the wedding

Ciara looking exceptionally cute!

Indeed, Ben and Kristin did have an absolutely perfect day... cloudless indigo blue skies, the sweeping green meadows and the freshly painted farmhouse all dressed up for the occasion. We're sorry we missed it, but so happy for them to begin their journey with such a great day!

Aiden and Grandma; Ciara and Jayden in the meadow

Aiden and Ciara by the big cottonwood

Ceremony on the back porch

The wedding party

Aiden getting a little sleepy during the ceremony

Some meadow wildflowers for the girls... come'n get 'em!