The Second Month

 

I can't believe that Tess is already 2 months! This past month has been a little calmer than her first one but we still did a lot while I was still on leave.

Clayton and I got out the play mat/piano that was given to us at one of the baby showers. Tess loves to look around and see what is going on around her. We thought the play mat would be perfect, it took her a little bit to figure it out but once she did she loves laying on it and looking around playing with the toys hanging down and most of all looking at herself in the mirror.  

  

Here is a clip of her playing...

Tess started sleeping in her crib, I thought it was going to be a disaster but I think she was ready to get out of her cradle and be in her own room. She is sleeping pretty well and she will even put herself back to sleep if she isn't wet or hungry.

Lexi is still a big fan of the baby, she likes to lay right next to her. Lexi is a little anxious to have Tess old enough to play, she has tried to give Tess toys for her to throw, we keep telling Lexi no but if we don't throw it I guess she thinks Tess is the next best thing!

 Tess has done quite a bit of lounging around. Whether on her daddy or in the boppy or on her mommy. One good thing about this kid is that she can usually sleep anywhere. 

 A couple of weeks ago we went to an Astros game. Tess did great, she only got a little fussy and then went to sleep and was fine till we got home.  

Tess met her first friend, this little girl was so intrigued by her. She didn't really watch the game. All she really wanted to do was look around and look up at the lights. She was pretty tired the next day.

Tess got baptized...

Tess was baptized on August 11th at Strake Jesuit at the Chapel onsite. Fr. Lahart performed the ceremony, he also married Clayton and I.

Before the ceremony we got a three generations picture. Tess was really interested in everything else and didn't want to look at the camera.

Here are some pictures of before the ceremony and during it. My mom made Tess's baptism dress out of her wedding dress. I wore a portion of her veil when I got married and the lace on her dress matched the veil. The dress was amazing.

My brother, Matt is Tess's Godfather. He flew in from Tampa so he could be here for the ceremony. Clayton's cousin, Meredith is Tess's Godmother. She stayed an extra day in town so she wouldn't miss the event. She left to go back to Lubbock very early the next day.

A few of Tess's great-grandparents were able to make it down for the baptism.

And just for fun.. this is what happens when a bunch of people are taking pictures all at once. We are all not looking at the same camera.

Newborn Pictures

We decided to get some Newborn shots done the week after Tess came back from the Hospital. They came out pretty cute. One of my favorites is her smiling in the Owl hat.

We also incorporated Clayton's job in the pictures. She is so cute sitting on top of his helmet.

All of these outfits have been passed down through the Braun family. At one point in time my sister, myself, and now Tess have all worn these pieces.

Road Trip

Clayton was playing soccer in the Firefighter Olympics again this year so we decided to make a road trip out of it. The tournament was outside of Dallas so we stayed with his parents. We were able to stay up there for a week. I wasn't able to go to any of the games but another HFD wife was able to take some pictures and sent them to me. His team didn't do as well as in past years but they ran the tournament differently this year and not a lot of teams were happy.

Tess was able to meet all of her great-grandparents. Tess's GG and GPa saw her just about everyday we were in town. Grandpa Conn and Vicki also stopped by and so did Mammaw. We had a poker tournament while we were in town and there were a whole lot of Harris's in one place. GG and GPa were the big winners.

Tess turned one month old while we were there. We had to take a one month photo. She is laying on her dog that lives at the Harris house and every time we visit she is going to get her picture taken with it. While we were there she also helped me play some Skip-Bo. She also supported the Rangers one night.

I guess Lexi was not getting enough attention and needed to be some body's baby. She stayed in Mona's lap for a while. She has the act down, she will go around the room acting like she gets no attention until someone will pet her. You cant blame her for trying.

We had a lot of fun in Dallas!

Hanging out around the house

Tess and I spent a lot of time at home after we came back from the hospital. My mom stayed with us the first week and made things so much easier. When Clayton and I were tending to the baby she would do all the little stuff around the house. Also she would take our little girl in the morning and allow Clayton and I to get some more sleep. I don't know how we would have survived the first week without her.

We had a bunch of visitors but weren't able to get pictures of most of them. Tess is usually a very alert baby. Some days she goes all morning without a nap and then will cat nap in the afternoon. Here are various pictures of Tess and a couple with her PawPaws.

My brother flew in and was able to see her all three days he was in town. One of my coworkers gave her this adorable robe and after one of her baths I put her in it. She still has some room to grow.

Tess has moments where she sleeps like me and then sometimes she sleeps like her daddy. She has moments where she likes to be swaddled and then some when she doesn't. Her attitude changes day by day, I wonder where she gets that from :)

Ever since we brought her home from the Hospital Lexi has claimed her as her baby. In the beginning she would not leave the room that Tess was in and if she didn't think that we were doing something fast enough she would come and get us or hover to make sure we were tending to the baby. If she was weary of a visitor she would be right next to them if they were holding the baby or she would get between them and the baby if someone else was holding her. She has calmed down a little bit but she still doesn't like to be away from Tess.

My mom took pictures of Tess's first bath at home. Just like the hospital she was not thrilled that she was wet. Since the first couple baths she has warmed up to them and actually some what likes them now.



Tess Elizabeth Harris

Tess Elizabeth Harris was born on June 20, 2012 at 1 PM. She weighed 6 pounds and 10 ounces and was 18.25 inches.

  Clayton took these first couple of pictures and one of the nurses took our first picture as a family of three.

Clayton was actually able to carry her from the OR to our room. He got in a little bit of trouble because he lingered so our families could see her and the nurse made him come down to the room immediately.

We had a lot of family that were able to be there when she was born. Both sets of grandparents and both aunts. My brother was able to fly down a couple of weeks later to see her.

Tess did not enjoy her first bath. The nurse kept looking back at me to make sure I was not about to jump out of bed and take my little girl. I still couldn't feel my legs at the time so there was no way I was going to be jumping any where. I also think the nurse might have been a little confused since she gave our girl a mohawk.

Various pictures of everyone hanging around the hospital. I think the one with all my family on their phones is hilarious. Sending out pictures to everyone they know.

I was very blessed and only had to stay in the hospital for around 48 hours. Baby girl was also ready to get home.



37 Weeks

I can't believe I am already 37 weeks. The time has gone by so fast and it feels like yesterday when we were sitting in the doctor's office finding out I was pregnant.

We finished up Tess's Room the other weekend and both Clayton and I are glad it is done. I absolutely love her bedding and how the wall decals worked out. Now we just need a little girl to put in the room and we will be all set.

Clayton and I are very blessed and had three wonderful baby showers. My mom and my sister threw the first one back in April. I know I am late at posting about the shower but it was a lot of fun. The shower had a tea party theme and my mom and my sister did a wonderful job at getting everything ready for the shower. I can't wait for Tess to wear her My uncle is hot and single bib, I think she will be sporting it at a lot of family dinners. :)

My work also threw us a shower. I picked a day that Clayton wasn't working so that he could come and enjoy the fun. We got a lot of great stuff, especially our travel system which included Tess's infant car seat. We had a lot of fun and I am very blessed to be able to work with some really great people. 

 Clayton's cousin also threw us a shower during Memorial Day weekend. We had a lot of fun catching up with old friends and family.


I know this post is short and sweet but I needed to cram a lot in on one post. Hopefully the next post will be able Tess's arrival and hopefully it won't be too long before I am making that post.