a post-Harriet Josie

Josie still likes to do all of her usual Josie fun stuff...like read by the fireplace.
















...and model her new long underwear!

Big sis and lil' sis

Josie is excited to be a big sister.

















Here's one of the first pix showcasing the proud big sister with her little sis. It took Josie a few days to warm up to the newest member of the household.















At first, this was her reaction to Harriet's crying.

















Here's an early picture where I managed to at least get them together.
















Josie came to visit Harriet in the hospital on day 2, but didn't stay for long.

Scenes from Harriet's first days

Here's a rare shot of Harriet awake.

















She's a great sleeper.

















Here's a sort of in-between awake and asleep shot. She's wearing her "Squeeze Me" ducky ensemble here.
















Harriet even sleeps as we prepare her to go on her first trip to the doctor.










Did I mention she's a good sleeper?

Harriet heads home.

48 hours is the new standard hospital stay length for a C-section, so on Wednesday, December 8th we said goodbye to the UofM Mott Children's Hospital (where we had great care, by the way). I'm happy to be going home and possibly even more happy to have recently showered, even if I did forget a comb.





Harriet is bundled up in the hat that my coworker knit for her (thanks, e!) and a fleece onesie--this will be her first taste of the outside and it has gotten cold in Michigan! Harriet tried to delay the inevitable by promptly needing a diaper change as soon as we had her all ready to go.






Finally made it home...just in time for the holidays.

Introducing...Harriet Jane!

She's finally here! Harriet Jane Simpson was born on Monday, December 6th, at 11:02 am. Here she is resting after making her debut. As a friend noted, she's already making the "Call me" sign. She must have been too tuckered out at that point to take calls.






Here's one of her first pix...she is not happy to have been pulled from her peaceful cocoon...she probably would have liked to stay in there even longer, but it was getting on close to 42 weeks in the oven and it was time, like it or not. And no, we have no idea where in the family tree she got that gigantic chin dimple from.






She weighed in at 9 lbs, 9 ozs and was 21.5 inches.











Once I heard that, I was fine with having had a C-section.

Thanksgiving Weekend

A rainy, windy trip to Westgate on Wednesday...









































Running down the driveway on Thanksgiving morning, before Grampa and Grandma's visit...




















Modeling the sweater Nana made after dinner....



















On Friday, we took Josie to her first movie ever- a showing of Bugs Bunny cartoons at the Michigan Theatre...
























On Saturday, we did our part to boost holiday sales by purchasing this penguin hat at Sam's Clothing.
























Still no baby sister!

My Joke Falls Flat

Today, while walking downtown , we saw a Mercedes-Benz, just after Josie told me a story about a moose.

Me: You know what kind of cars moose drive? Moose-cedes Benz!

(pause)

Josie: No, they drive Toyotas.

October-November in Ann Arbor

Halloween Around Town

Josie-Cat at the business school...




















at the soccer game...



















and on the porch.

Wolverine kitty

Jack took Josie to her first Michigan Women's Soccer game yesterday (on Halloween). It was a little chilly, but this maize and blue hat worked well underneath the kitty cat ears.

We'll post a few more pix from Halloween soon.

Some Autumn Activities

Reading...





















Painting at school...






















Driving to Chelsea with Nana and Ratta:























Watching squirrels eat the woodpecker food:





















Dumping the sand out of your shoes after a long day at school:























Getting ready for Halloween:

Touring the Parks of Ann Arbor

Josie and Celia in Gallup Park:












































Josie trying out the new playground equipment in Wheeler Park:




















Celia in Hunt Park:























Josie and Dress-Up-Cat in Hunt Park:

Pumpkin Patch of Horror

We took Josie to a pumpkin farm last weekend. At first, she was kind of scared of the hayride tractor...




















But then she got used to it and enjoyed the ride.

Experimental music appreciation

When Josie's music table runs low on batteries, it starts making very strange songs. Josie's comment: "Mine is freaking out!"

Hello Autumn (and Kitty)

Josie sports her new Hello Kitty hat on a blustery, chilly first Saturday in October.