Mini House Makeover

We have many plans for this house that involve at the very least new siding, at most an addition. We'd like to do both of those at once, but until we can afford it, the house looks pretty drab. In fact, we get lots of siding salesmen knocking on our door reminding me that we need new siding. Four years we have lived in this house, complaining about the faded shutters and general ugliness. So one day I got the bright idea to freshen up the outside just a little...and after we had finished, Nick and I both looked at each other and wondered why on earth we didn't think to do this before.

We repainted the shutters and added some color to the doors! The "before" photo was taken a couple years ago, so new landscaping has made a big difference as well. Anyway, I think I can live with this for awhile now. Until it's time for new siding, this will do!

Blooper!

While trying to make a nice little video for Willa's Aunt Angie to see while she's at work, Willa did what she does best!

She did it!

Willa slept through the night last night...yeah!!! From 10:00 pm - 5:30 am. We are very grateful for a FULL, uninterrupted night of sleep. Looking at that last sentence, I can't believe I'm at the point in my life where I consider 10 pm - 5:30 am a full night's rest...but hey, I'll take it.

Of course, we woke with a start when the alarm went off and ran in there to make sure she was still breathing...

I don't expect this every night just yet, but a couple times a week would be nice. Way to go Willa!

Officially parents

I think we have been officially initiated into the world of parenthood.

This is the worst we've had so far.  And this was one of my favorite onesies...hope the stain comes out!

No more cankles!

I meant to post this a few weeks ago, but I'm a slacker.  I'm enjoying my normal sized ankles again!  And the fact that I got a pedicure and now my feet don't look so gross.

Yes, that's the big news of the last few weeks.  That and I can get my wedding ring on again, but it's still a little too tight to wear.  I suppose I have more weight to lose.

Willa meets (some of) her family!

Willa has now met Grandpa and Grandma Van Veen, Grandpa and Grandma Pierson, Aunt Angie, Great Grandpa and Grandma Voss, Great Aunt Nancy and my cousins Lisa, Jessica and Julie.  Looking forward to more family coming up to see our little girl!  Willa has so many cousins on Nick's side, she has no idea!

Other news this week...we have been getting out and about!  We did a little shopping in Saugatuck on Monday, went out to eat a few times and went to the Coast Guard Festival on Friday afternoon.  It feels good to go do stuff again, walk at nearly my normal speed and for more than 5 minutes!  Willa LOVES being outside and we are having fun using the new stroller.  Glad it's summer!!

All dressed up right before one of our outings:

Welcome to the world, Willa!

Our little bundle of joy has finally arrived!  After one failed induction on July 10, one reschedule from July 14 to July 15...I was more than ready!!!  The rescheduling of the second induction was awful...I cried...but then I went and saw Harry Potter with Nick, which I wasn't expecting to be able to see in the theater.  :oD

Went in at 7:30 pm July 15 to be induced for the second time, and this time it worked!  They didn't even need to give me Pitocin, so that was great...I must've been close to going on my own.  Also, BIG kudos to the nursing staff at Holland Hospital.  They were fantastic...especially Jaclyn, who was with me through the worst of it.

So after 11 hours and one epidural (a gift directly from heaven, with an angel administering it) Willa Anne Pierson made her big debut into this world at 7:29 am at 7 lbs. 13 oz., 20" long.  She looks AMAZINGLY like her daddy...I will have to scan in a 5-day old picture of him that his mom gave me with his baby book.  It is nearly identical!

Enjoy the pics!  I'm avoiding posting the NEW newborn ones where her head and face are all squashy.  ;o)