Silas Anthony Wille's arrival

So the story of Silas Anthony Wille's birth begins on March 17th (St. Patrick's day).  I had been having some cramping all day as I prepared colcannon potato skins for our corn beef and cabbage dinner at our friend's Angela & Jason's house.  Since I never went into "normal" labor with Harper, I was convinced it was nothing.  We went over to the Gregory's house around 1:00 p.m. and the laughter and "is it labor or not" analysis ensued.  Around 3 or 4 o'clock, my "cramping" became more regular and we started timing it as we attempted to play pinochle.  At 5:00 I called my doctor and they said to continue to keep track.  At 6:00 p.m. my contractions (we finally felt certain they were contractions) were happening every 5 minutes.  We decided to put Harper to bed at the Gregory's house (she felt comfortable there) and head to the hospital.  We arrived and were admitted around 9:00 p.m.  I was 3 cm dilated.  2 hours later, they broke my water and the real pain began.  I labored another 2 hours without an epidural and then I caved.  I rested and then started pushing at 6:00 a.m.  3 hours of pushing later, and Silas Anthony  took his first breath of SoCal air.  He was born at 10:03 a.m. weighing 7 lbs, 15 oz and measuring 21 inches in length (just like his daddy when he was born).   It was way hard, but way worth it!

    

We had Silas at Hoag Hospital; a.k.a. Hotel Hoag, hence this ocean view.  Not bad at all.

Harper was so excited to meet the baby.  She came in with a ballon and a smile!

Our first family story-time

We caught Harper reading Silas a book.  So freakin' cute!

2 weeks after Silas was born, we ventured out for an Easter party with our Long Beach Mom's Club group.  Harper had a great time at her first egg hunt and I loved chatting with the other moms.

We also ventured out, later that week, with all our friends from ballet to the Irvine Railroad park. Harper and her best friends, Leah and Grace, loved the train ride, hayride and egg hunt.

As Silas approached his 3 week birthday, Grammy came for a visit.  She loved playing with Harper and holding Silas.  It was so nice to have her help so that both kids could get some individual attention.

Egg dying with Grammy

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Harper exploring her easter basket

We hid the eggs we dyed for Harper to find.  She loved it!

We had a few days between grandparent visits so walked down to explore the Long Beach Grand Prix.  Harper was fascinated by the fast cars.  We really want to buy tickets next year...it looked like so much fun.

Nene and Papa were next up on the grandparent tour of visitors.  We started our visit with a trip to Schooner or Later (our favorite breakfast diner featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives).  Yum!

Harper amazes us every day with her abilities at the park and the words that come out of her mouth.

First family picture

Harper loves singing along with the ABC song on her laptop.

See Belle in the background...thank you Aunt Andrea...her new favorite doll

Papa feeding Silas while mom and dad enjoy a much needed night out

Raspberry snack outside with Papa

A trip to the Grove in L.A.

Party in the front yard

Sunning with Nene

While Nene and Papa were visiting, we visited Nene's sister, Aunt Helen.  Her kids, Patrick's cousins were there too.  Lots of photo ops.

Harper breaking the law talking on her phone while driving.

Harper's first ponytail

Our trip to the Science Discovery Center with Nene and Papa

Driving the zamboni at the Science Discovery Center 

Big girl clip-on earrings

Playing the blue rhythm sticks at Elmo class

With all the grandparents, we continued our normal routines, Elmo class on Wednesday morning followed by the park, ballet on Thurday...also followed by the park, and preschool on Friday.  Ballet is a fan favorite.  To watch Harper figure out how to get her body to move and imitate the teacher is absolutely heartwarming.

We were just as surprised Silas was invited to the party

Winter in SoCal

As we anxiously awaited the arrival of the new baby, we filled our days with lots of activities.  

Harper can be super girly one minute and super rugged the next.  This was a girly moment of nail painting.   

We visited the Santa Ana Zoo several times this winter.  It was the perfect size for a 2-year-old with a cool playground, a choo-choo, and a carousel.  Harper loved our visits an I loved the naps that followed.

Harper also reached the age (2+) where the aquarium is finally interesting.  She squealed with excitement at every new display.

We attended story-time at our library and the one in Seal Beach.  She has more friends in Seal Beach so that is the one we frequent.

This is one of the many cool shadow paintings all over Belmont Shores (our neighborhood).

Mother's Beach park is way cool and provides hours of fun.  Harper has become quite the climber there.

One Saturday morning we decided to drive to Venice Beach and bike to Santa Monica along the beach.  We played at the Santa Monica Pier and went for Harper's first ride on a ferris wheel.  She tripped and fell as we were walking back to our bikes and still recalls this every time we see a ferris wheel.  (Remember, I'm writing this, like 5 months late, so the fact that she still recalls it is hysterical to us.)

Grammy came for a visit to help out while Patrick traveled to London for business.  We visited the Santa Ana zoo, went to ballet and played at several parks.  We wore poor Grammy out.  But we think she had fun!

It actually got cold enough for Harper and daddy to wear hats and gloves on their morning run.  Harper loves "running" with daddy and requests it during the day by saying, "Daddy home go running.  Go beach park.  Cookies."  Daddy does bribe her with cookies and dark chocolate salted almonds.  ()H's hat was mine when I was a little girl.

Harper's art wall before chalkboard paint...

Harper's art wall after chalkboard paint.

Ready for ballet.  Thursday's are our favorite days.  Harper loves ballet class and playing at the park afterwards.  I love the mom's in the class and laughs we share while the kids play.

Harper got a big girl bed so we could use the crib for the new baby.  We moved her in well before the baby arrived so it felt like an exciting new step that had nothing to do with the baby.  It worked, she loves her bed and going through the drawers below it.  :)

Harper loves to make popcorn with daddy.  She also likes to eat it like daddy...can you say crumbs?!

Harper painting one of her masterpieces.  She requests "my paint" most days as we're lying down for a nap.

Daddy and Harper having a "party" in the living room.

We have made some great friends down here in Southern California, but we feel especially lucky to have met and connected with Angela & Jason Gregory and their 2 girls.  The 3 girls love each other and Patrick & I love the whole family.  We often get together for dinner and on this night, the girls were bathing together so we could put them to bed and play cards.  Hysterical fun was had by all the entire night.

Harper in a very rare state...sick and watching TV for more than 10 minutes.

We also ventured to the L.A. Zoo.  It was large and hilly, but once again, the carousel was a big hit with Harper.

Harper "doing work"sending an email to "Leah and Grace".

Still not pedaling but Harper loves walking her tricycle on our sidewalk.

Hee's H having a "party" outside on our front lawn.