What a difference a week (or two) makes!

Introducing...

Sawyer Matthew Harker

Born April 23rd at 1:09 am

7 pounds 11 ounces

20.5 inches

I know he's almost 2 weeks old as I'm finally getting around to posting this but it's been a busy time!

My wonderful friend, Sarah S., who is also a photographer, took pictures at Sawyer's birth. Plus, she did an awesome recap on her blog, so go here for some great pictures and details:

Sarah's Blog

Bed Rest Musings

Friday, I unexpectedly went into the hospital for tests and monitoring and was finally released on Sunday afternoon with instructions for strict bed rest. I have "bathroom and meal privileges." Fun, huh?

So today, Matt took Quinton to the sibling tour of the hospital that I set up a couple of weeks ago. Matt said the tour guide was surprised to see a daddy accompanying their child on the tour during the middle of the week...just one of the perks (and blessings) of being unemployed right now!

Matt sent me this cute picture of Quinton during part of the tour. The siblings even had the opportunity to change the pretend baby's diaper.

I have to say this picture was a birght spot in my otherwise S-L-O-W day on the couch!

When Quinton came home, he was all cuddly with my tummy, talking to his baby brother and telling him how excited he is for his baby brother to come out. This has been such a great experience for our family and makes bed rest bearable!

Our Budding Artiste!

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed in our library's newsletter that there was a call for art submissions from the 12 and under crowd to be showcased in a children's art show. It could be just about anything...a collage, drawing, painting, sculpture, photo...whatever your kid desired to enter. I thought this would be great for Quinton since he loves to draw, sculpt and paint!

After reviewing Quinton's portfolio, however, I realized he's actually an accomplished photographer, you know, for a 4 year-old, I mean. I'm not too shy about letting Quinton use my digital camera here and there and he's actually taken some really interesting pictures. It's kind of fun, too, to see the world from the lens angle of a 4 year-old.

Quinton and I spent a little time one afternoon just wandering around the backyard and neighborhood taking pictures and I really loved on of his shots and submitted it to the art show. Yesterday was the "reception" for the art show artists, complete with apple juice, donut holes and chocolate crayons. Talk about kid-swanky!

Here is Quinton accepting his art certificate.

When we arrived at the reception, there were several members of the volunteer group that made the show possible and a couple of parents of fellow artists. When we arrived, we told them Quinton's name and asked where we could find his photo. This was the cute part because once the volunteers realized that it was Quinton who submitted the only photo in the art show, they all complimented him on his photo. Even the other parents commented on how great the lighting and composition of his picture turned out.

For Quinton's part, he really played it cool...until he noticed the chocolate crayons!

Here is Quinton's photo amongst the other art work:

The close-up of Quinton's photo:
It was such a fun experience and the volunteers were so encouraging, I think we might enter the art show every year!

Matt and Quinton riding home from the library.
I took the picture from the car...have I mentioned I am 35 and a half weeks pregnant and walking home several blocks sounds like an act of torture at this point?

Introducing...

He may not be born...yet, but he is too cute for words, according to me, Matt and Quinton!

Can you see the squishy cheeks on this little boy?

I can hardly wait to start kissing on them!

I thought this was a really cool dual view of our little boy...the 2D of his profile with the 3D of his face.
It's amazing to me that technology can show so clearly what this little boy looks like!

Just like the song Kip sang:
I love technology,

but not as much as you, you see...

But I STILL love technology...

Always and forever.

A Great Weekend for Bugs & Bunnies!

Matt has been ITCHING to take Quinton camping this year so this being the first nice weekend, he packed up the car and his little buddy and off they went to Starved Rock, a state park about 2 hours away near Utica, Illinois.

Luckily, I was able to stay home and gestate, peacefully, while watching some chick flicks.

Here is Quinton squished in between ALL of the equipment needed for an overnighter!

This is Quinton hanging out, waiting for breakfast near the campfire.
Quinton informed me that Matt made some delicious cinnamon rolls in the dutch oven...FANCY!

I suppose this is a hike they went on Saturday morning when it was a little rainy.

Easter morning, Quinton was so excited to find that the Easter bunny had left candy eggs hidden all over the house! Quinton at one point exclaimed, "MOM, HE PUT ONE IN MY CROCS!" Quinton kept chuckling about this the rest of the day.

Can you tell he's excited?

And what's an Easter breakfast without jelly bean pancakes?

I don't know but we sure did enjoy these colorful morsels!

We had such an unseasonably nice Easter Sunday here that we decided to have a picnic for lunch in between General Conference sessions for church.

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

Not that I was hoping for an Easter surprise to be born yesterday but I'm hoping this little boy will do me a favor like his older brother did and come a teeny bit early because my feet are getting B-I-G!

Happy Birthday to Some of Our Favorite Ladies!

Happy Birthday!

We wanted to say Happy Birthday to Matt's mom, Wanda!

And to my grandmother, Dorothy!
We love you both and wish we were there to help you blow out ALL of those CANDLES!

April Fools - Chicago Style!

Yesterday was BEYOND gorgeously warm and sunny!

Chicago set a temperature record with a high of 83 degrees, which meant that we were warmer than Miami, San Diego and Honolulu! How's that for awesome?

The only thing is that after surviving at least 6 Chicago winters, I know it's too good to be true! I wouldn't put it past our weather to have a blizzard in June, so we made the most of yesterday's weather, even if it did seem like nature's own April Fools joke!

Our friends invited us to the beach for the afternoon. It sounded VERY odd since only last week we were bundled up but it turned out to be the perfect place to spend such a glorious day.

Don't these kiddos look happy to be outside and playing in the sand???

Quinton loves to make rock "co-wections"and yesterday, he was in rock heaven!
This is Ethan R., he and his sister are twins and they are so adorable. Their mom and I are two days apart in our pregnancies but she's having twin girls, so I'm betting she'll have her babies before I have junior! At least I hope so, for her sake!

Here's Holland R., she looks like a supermodel in this picture with her cute hair blowing in the wind.

After the beach, we hit McDonald's for dinner and Quinton was so excited about the Dragon toys since we saw the movie last weekend and he LOVED it! He looks pretty awesome in the viking happy meal hat and his Star Trek shirt!

So Mother Nature, bring on the snow! Yesterday AND today are worth it!