Merry Christmas to All!

Merry Christmas Everyone! We continue to celebrate our first Christmas with little Helena today with my dad and Bert coming down for a visit today. We'll head over to my sister's for a visit and see her newest addition, little Emerson Marie.

We hung out with Jen's side of the family yesterday and everyone did very well. Santa brought me the skateboard I asked him for. (That's right, 34 years old on a skateboard. I 've still got it. I didn't fall at all yesterday) and Jen got her own camera to help document the Raising Helena Project.

We wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year and hope to see who we can at some point this year!

Remember all new pictures will be posted to http://picasaweb.google.com/sfranklin3000/RaisingHelena#.

Testing, Testing...Is this thing on??

I know it has been a LONG time since my last post, but we have been settling in with little Helena and I have to tell you, she is wonderful! We could not have had a better child (so far!). She has been sleeping all night since the 2nd week or so. Those of you that also have newborns..SORRY!

Jen is still at home with Helena and not working. It is a bit complicated and sad, but it is giving Jen the opportunity to stay at home full time with Helena, and we are just dealing with it. I am doing everything I can to fill the gap. I have taken on several freelance opportunities that keep me working at night. At least I am working at home and can spend time with the family when needed.

We celebrated Helena's baptism on 12/7/08. The whole family got together on Sunday to help us celebrate. It was a great afternoon.

I have also created a web photo album on Picasa with the hopes that I can at least keep that up to date with whatever spare time I can muster. It is streaming to the slideshow on the right and the link is http://picasaweb.google.com/sfranklin3000/RaisingHelena#.

I promise to get posts up more frequent.
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No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth.
~Robert Southey

Brad and the Baby

Here is a little clip of Drunkle Brad and the baby (I don't think he was drunk at the time...fairly sure).

3 weeks and counting

Helena celebrated her 3 week "birthday" on Thursday. She and Jen got back from Emerald Isle on Tuesaday after giving daddy a few days at home by himself. The beach was a wonderful break for us all and we seemed to make a turn for the better while away. Jen and I attended a wedding on the beach, where I promptly had to take her home 30 minutes into the reception! All's well, she and Helena are really starting to bond so I can't blame her at all.

Helena is eating well and giving mom and dad at least 6-7 hours of sleep a night. Like her mom, she loves to sleep. The doctor has given us a clean bill at this point.

I would have posted more pictures, but my camera was dead for 2 days while away. It was fixed on my last day there and I captured a few shots. More will be posted when I get them from other cameras that were there.

I have also posted a few pictures from around the house with a few visitors over the past few weeks.

Getting there

Just a quick line before we hit the 11PM feeding...
Jen (and the rest of us...extended family included) have had a rough few days. I am happy to say I believe we are pulling trough the toughest of the first (of MANY) phases. Jen has gotten a good bit of rest and Helena is feeding much better. We hope to be a bit more sociable this weekend and are starting to establish a pattern. I will update everyone later, but for those of you I have reached out to, we are having some fun now.
Take care.
>>S<<

More Pictures

Fine, Fine!! I have nothing else to do but post new pictures. I barely have time to take any new ones....OK, you know I have some new ones.

UPDATE: After a gassy start to the morning we headed to the doctor to receive a clean bill of health and some great advice on how to deal with the gas! Armed when her new knowledge, Jen got a great feeding in (gas free we hope) and is down for a nap. Poor thing hasn't slept in days. I have a few minutes to update this, make a few changes, and post a few new pics, so here are a few from the first bath (WOW, FUN!!), visitors, and me just screwing around.

Update 9.1.08

Good morning -
I just wanted to update everyone while I had some time. Again, mom sleeps while Helena and I blog. The first two night really could not have gone any better (for me at least). Jen has been up a few times for feedings and I have changed a few diapers (smells like one is needing changing now).

Helena has slept well between feedings and a lot during the day and is eating regularly. To some of you this may be very boring news and to others quite exciting, but it is all I have for now...

Gotta run, the smells getting worse. It's either her or the cat boxes I haven't changed since we got home from the hospital.

Until next time...