Meet James

We had a baby.

James Roman Morris

5/4/12

11:41pm

20.5"

He has dark hair like his daddy.

Tiny lips like his mommy.

I have lots of pictures of him. They are much better lit and you can see more of his sweet little face.

But I picked this one because it already seems like an old memory; it seems so long ago when we were in that sweet little hospital room, spending our first night as a family. James in his little plastic crib sleeping. Husby snoring on the couch. Me in bed with a big, fat, love-drunken grin on my face, thanking God for safely delivering James, and me, through our labor day.

As I have said many times before,

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."

God is great. 

Miranda Kathleen

Holy Cow! She's a week old already!

8lbs, 7oz of beautiful baby girl to Kristin and Adam! 

Miss Miranda arrived on her due date. 

My sister's water broke at home.

9 hours of labor.

One hour of pushing.

Great latch.

Cute cheeks.

Long fingers.

Ten toes.

Some girls have all the luck.

(Now if only her cousin would come out and say hello...)

Plain City Party Time

My final shower was hosted by my Olentangy Pediatric Dentistry crew. 38 weeks pregnant. Big as a house. Buffett at Der Dutchman.  Pouring rain and blowing wind. Priceless.

TONS. OF. FUN.

But these ladies know how to have fun. I am already firmly aware of this.

To support this point, here are some ghosts from Christmas Parties Past...

Hygienists with the mostest!

Oh Pattie...what would I do without you?

Good looking AND they have chickens at their house! So jealous...

Dr. Jeff is one with the animals.

Fun times in the Milton Basement! Punch!

Laura wins all the time at games of skill and games of chance. Luckiest girl I've ever met.
And she can open locked doors with credit cards. #Churchcamp!

Rosie and her man!

Barb and her LRC bucks!

The Original OPD Crew, back when it was just two ops, two benches, and a man with a plan...with three good ladies helping him out. 

And just hanging around the office:

They have been simply amazing to me the past nine months. They are forever asking me how I feel, if I'm too tired to add in a patient, to rest. Katja has had more practical advice on natural labor and delivery and breastfeeding than a lot of the books I've read. And I'm pretty sure (FAIR WARNING: T.M.I. ahead!) that Baby MoMo commenced his existence the night of Liz & Paul's wedding. This crew, and Dr. Jeff, too, are simply the best folks to work around that I could have ever asked for. It isn't easy being 9 months pregnant in any situation, but being a pediatric dentist has to be one of the more challenging jobs to perform in such a state. The OPD gals made it easy. Really, I looked forward to coming into work on Mondays and Wednesdays!

My "tan pants" on my last day before maternity leave.

We really do a lot of work, too. For reals. 

Here's a sample of some of their good baby advice:

 Rosanna: "Those Lean Cuisine meals have waaaay too much sodium for you and your baby. Have some more cookies."

Of course I needed a Coach diaper bag, Dr. Jeff? You are crazy to think otherwise! Poor Alana has it soo tough...

Katja and Laura. Alles gute, Kati!

Laura: "Maybe his middle name could be Rafiki. Or Raekwon." (Husby and I want a middle name that begins with the letter R.)

All the girls after lunch

Look at all the decorations Laura put together

  Angie: "Don't worry, Dr. Kara, little boys can be in pageants, too." (I am still laughing at that line!)

Shannon: "In Germany, you'll be lucky if they pop you a Tylenol after your labor and delivery. Get the drugs, sister." (Shannon's first baby was born in Germany.) 

Another great Shannon line: "It used to be, out in the fields, you'd deliver next to whatever crop you were planting or picking, tear the cord with your teeth, and then just keep on working." I laughed so hard when she said this. What a visual. In all reality, there is some truth to it, and it was a great concept for me getting through the last weeks of work. 

Does your trainer know your eating that, Shannon?

 Pattie: "Just remember, Kara, during labor, say to yourself, 'The sky is blue and the grass is green. You'll get through it.'"

Oh, Pattie, what would I do without you? Wait, didn't I already say that?

Fruit basket from Dr. Jeff! So good! Especially the chocolate ones. :) 

All in all, I can't complain one little bit about working and being pregnant, much to the kindness of the OPD crew. And THEN they got me a Coach diaper bag for crying out loud!

 I know baby MoMo is already missing the sounds of high speed drilling, fussy two year olds, and the beep of the pulse ox. 

See you in a few weeks, y'all! Get the doorknob monkey ready!

The Shower of the Century

I wish I had more pictures from this wonderful occasion. My dearie friends Megann and Liz did everything and more.  There were over 25 guests! And a gazillion cookies and games and presents and three different kinds of milk and fresh flowers and handmade invitations and lots of love abound. 

A "Cookies and Milk" themed shower. What could be sweeter?

Even the notoriously picky eater, Lisa, found a yummy to smile about!

I remember being nervous that morning. I don't usually get nervous, and I don't mind being the center of attention.  In fact sometimes I rather like it...shocker, I know! I was getting really bashful, surrounded by all that kindness. When Liz and Megann started putting up all the cool decorations --pom poms from the ceiling, paper straws and lanterns--well, I had to take a little break in my room to calm down. I hot rolled my hair to distract myself, for crying out loud. So random.

Hey its me and a diaper wreath! 

Fortunately, I kept my emotional cookies together and there were only a few happy tears at this shower, specifically:

1. Upon opening my dear, wise friend Cecilia's THREE crib sheets. Cecilia and her sage advice about jobs, life, and crib sheets have served me well for almost five years. She is a real smart cookie. And makes fantastic apple butter. And also is an amazing pediatric dentist. Specicially, on the crib sheets, you need three, and should layer them all on the bed with a waterproof mattress pads so you don't have to redress the bed in the middle of the night! Brills.

2. Holding the handmade quilt from bestie, Megann for the first time. It is so soft and beautifully made. I have lovingly held it in my hands many times since April 1st.  I can't wait to take a naked newborn picture of our little man all cuddled up in it.

3. Seeing the "onesie garland" across our mantel. I didn't take it down for days. Same goes for the diaper wreath. Liz, you are amazing and creative and I can't wait to steal those ideas when someone I really care has a baby shower!

Some other moms came up for the day, too. 

It was one of the best days ever. Ever. 

Ever. 

Thanks. And may life smile back at you through the camera lens, too.

Not So Much a Shower, but a Torrential Downpour

Not one, but five baby showers.

That's the generosity equivalent of Monsoon season.

The first was my mother's and sister Kelly's doings. A surprise day of fun in Perrysburg for Kiki and me. We were bestowed with lots of diapers, toys, clothes, "spa products" -- aka Johnson's Baby Wash and Lotion -- and a manicure at the Venetian! Not only did I get one of the better manis of my life there, mom's nail tech was wise enough to scold her in his Vietnamese accent to "Stop picking at your pinky nail or I will be very angry the next time you come in here" as his lady coworkers nodded simultaneously in agreement. Oh mom and her neuroses about her wonky tooth and stumpy pinky fingernails. The woman has 9 healthy fingernails and yet that one looks like it came out of Chernobyl.

My perfect mani...back when my rings still fit...

On of many gift packs of diapers & wipes!

Eston's Cake. No P-burg party is complete without one.

Monday morning decaf and mani looking fresh as a daisy!

***

My second shower was a HUGE SURPRISE, hosted by dear high school bestie friendie, Amy. This shower could be described as "Pregnancy Hormones Get the Best of Kara" as I sobbed hysterically through most of the night. Only happy tears. I'm not talking about a cute weepy moment; no, this was the "ugly cry" usually reserved for episodes of Oprah and "A Baby Story." Nine of my high school friends hauled their cookies up to Powell from the Fort to celebrate babies, lasagne, and delicious Italian soda.

Twas a great night. No pictures of me because my eyes are all swollen shut. Not cute.

***

But guess what WAS cute? The surprise shower from my night clinic buddies at Children's! And this, after me being so grumpy and ungrateful during those 12-hour Tuesday shifts.  So undeserving.

Most of the night clinic gang! Love 'em.

I love Rhonda, too. Can't wait till Baby MoMo is old enough for her to babysit.

Happy to report the Morris family did not waste a SINGLE leftover cupcake! 

Tiffiene, master of ceremonies!

Break room all decked out for Baby MoMo.

It was a great night. We still had to see patients, which was fine, because there was lots of queso dip to enjoy in between...

Highlights from Shower #4 - "The Shower of the Century" and #5 "Plain City Party Time" up next! Stay tuned!

Go, Kiki, GO!

My little sister, Kristin, is simultaneously pregnant with her first munchkin, just like us in the Morris family. Her due date is April 24, which means if all goes as planned, Baby Miller is going to win the arrival race by a nose. It may even be a photo finish.

(Kiki and the lovely Eliza)

As the app on my phone tells me, we are both 39 weeks preggie.

Except she is still coaching track and field at Ft. Loramie Jr. High School. She has practice every night after work, then meets on weekends! I can barely work up motivation to walk to the mailbox...

And this on top of working full time.

And going for long walks with her doggie, Fiona.

And writing the promptest thank you notes humanly possible. Puts me to shame.

While I am just content to enjoy all the pie and Doritos I can procure.

Its a sprint to the finish, Kiki! Get your stopwatch out! You can do it! I love you and am so proud to be the big sister of such a beautiful mommy-to-be.

When I Don't Know What to Say...

...God always has the right words.

Isaiah: 40:28-31

Do you not know? 
   Have you not heard? 
The LORD is the everlasting God, 
   the Creator of the ends of the earth. 
He will not grow tired or weary, 
   and his understanding no one can fathom. 
He gives strength to the weary 
   and increases the power of the weak. 
Even youths grow tired and weary, 
   and young men stumble and fall; 
   but those who hope in the LORD 
   will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; 
   they will run and not grow weary, 
   they will walk and not be faint.


More posts to come this weekend! Promise! Stay tuned!