3, 4 & 5 Days Old!!!

THREE Days Old

Olivia is my little love bug- she cuddles right up to anyone and curls up into a little ball when you lay her on your chest. She weighs 6 lbs. 13 oz. right now and is the tiniest little thing!


Great Grammie Morgan ("GG") and Great Grandpa Morgan came for a visit. I forgot to get a picture with Grandpa though!!!

All ready for bed: p.j.'s on, all washed and clean, fed....but WIDE AWAKE!!!

Okay- there's a yawn!!!

Olivia's been sleeping well at night (as long as she's snuggled right next to me!) She won't sleep more than 15-20 minutes in her bassinet...but right now I need all the sleep I can get and I love snuggeling with her! I may have to pay the price later, but we keep trying every night too to see how long she'll sleep in her bed. She usually wakes twice (which I'm up for about an hour to an hour and a half each time).

FOUR Days Old

Today I had to venture out into the world for the first time with 2 children! I had a Drs. appointment and I needed a few necessities at Wal-mart. Since the closest Wal-Mart is 20-25 mins. away I had to do it in the same day! I'm still establishing nursing so this proved to be a crazy experience with Olivia wailing in the store because she was soooooooo hungry (the bottle I brought had too fast of a flow so she couldn't get a good latch on it) and I'm standing in THE LONGEST line EVER!!! The lady in front of me had so much stuff and honestly, if I were her I would have given up my spot! Brady was in the cart asking "WHY, WHY, WHY" and wanting to help with EVERYTHING, I'm rocking Olivia in my arms trying to calm her and feeling horrible that she was so hungry! My back was KILLING me (not to mention other areas) and it was so hot I was dripping with sweat!

I'd say that I wouldn't venture out again any time soon but Monday I have other things that must get done and Friday my mother-in-law and sis-in-laws come so we'll be running crazy ALL OVER THE PLACE!!!

Anyhow, here's Olivia after we got home and she was fed, changed and happy again!

FIVE Days Old

WOW! One week is almost over- I am cherishing every moment that I get with Olivia. I saw a friend's baby the other day that is almost a month and she is so big to me compared with my newborn! I just want Olivia to stay tiny forever!

Olivia JulieAnn Graf- July 21, 2008

Monday, July 21st was a beautiful day for our family as we welcomed in our new little girl! She was born at 3:01 on her daddy's birthday!!! Weighing 7 lbs. 2 oz. and measuring 20 inches long. She is a sweet little baby who loves to cuddle! We've already nicknamed her "snork" because she makes funny little snorting noises! What a blessing it is to have her as part of our growing family!

Our birth experience: I had to be induced with Olivia as I was a week and a day overdue. It ended up being such a blessing that I am so grateful for because I was GroupB Strep positive and needed to have intravenous antibiotics for at least 4 hours before having her. After the broke my water at 1:30 p.m. I went right into hard labor and had her within an hour and a half! So if I had gone into labor on my own I wouldn't have been given enough antibiotics and Olivia could have been a very sick little girl! I thank a wise Father in Heaven for protecting our little girl!!!

Olivia was born very fast! My nurse went to go get my doctor when she was having a hard time keeping track of Olivia's heartbeat. I had just asked for an epidural because I was having hard, fast contractions and back labor. When my nurse came back with my doctor a few minutes later my doctor said, "Wow, Hannah! Are you feeling like you need to push?! " I said, "YES!!!" She checked me and said, "You're ready, let's push with the next contractions!"

It was that fast! I had my mom and Chris there helping me and encouraging me while pushing and we all experienced Olivia's natural birth together! They immediately laid her on my chest and I fell in love with my sweet little girl!

Isn't it amazing that we brought this beautiful girl into the world? What a miracle!!!

Daddy's- they think they have it hard! Chris fell right asleep after he met and held Olivia! We woke him up so he could see her being washed and weighed though!

She didn't like being all naked and cold!

First bath- she loved having her hair washed and brushed by my mom!

All snug as a bug in a rug! Now Daddy gets to hold her and tell her he loves her!

My mom- Grammie Morgan, who was able to be there for the birth! She was a wonderful help. I love you mom! It's so special and bonding to share something like this with the woman who gave birth to you and brought you so humbly into the world.

After a few hours my Dad and Andrew came up to see us. Andrew had watched Brady for us and Grandpa brought Brady to the store to buy some balloons- one for him and one for Olivia! He walked in so happy and proud with the baloons clipped to his waistband!

We had talked so much about Olivia coming into our family so Brady came right up to the bed and crawled up to see her! I asked him what he thought and he said, "She's good!" Then, without skipping a beat, he said, "I'm soooo excited that Olivia is born because now I can open my present!!!"

Brady and I had gone shopping to pick out some special things that he could give to her and he chose a ladybug blanket and stuffed animal for her. We'd had it on the kitchen counter ready to bring to the hospital for weeks and we also had a gift bag for him, so that's why he was so excited! He had been a VERY patient big brother so we took the time to open some gifts to him from mommy and daddy and some from Grandpa and Grammie. He got lots of special things to play with down at Grammie and Grandpa's house and was so excited!

Then he opened Olivia's gifts and "showed" her what he got for her! It was a great way to make him feel special and connected to the experience. He wanted to hold her and kiss her and has done a very good job of playing quietly and listening to mommy and daddy!

Our little family!!!

"Good job Mommy!!!"

One proud Grandpa! My dad- Grandpa Morgan

My little brother, "Uncle Andrew"

The next day my mom came over with Brady to visit us. The hospital gave him a little cake so he could wish Olivia a happy birthday! We all shared the cake and then he had some time playing games and taking a walk with daddy.

The hopspital treated Chris and I to a candlelight dinner on our last night. It was lovely and gave us a chance to be alone together. Chris had steak and I had salmon and it was topped off with THE MOST SCRUMDIDILYUMPTIOUS CHOCOLATE CAKE I've ever had!

Today Chris had to go back to work and I got to come home with Olivia!

She is now three days old.

Happy Birthdays to Dad and Chris (and Olivia?!?!)

Many of you may be wondering if Olivia has made her grand entrance into the world...much to this mother's dismay she HASN'T!!! I thought my dad had "cursed" me because he kept telling everyone that I was going to have her on his birthday (July 19th)!!! So far no changes...I am scheduled to be induced on Chris' birthday (July 21st) so either way it looks like next year we'll be having a triple birthday!!!

Chris' dad's birthday is also in July (the 26th) so it's a very busy week in the Chris & Hannah Graf family!!!

In spite of being hot and a week overdue my mom and I pulled together a family party for Chris and my dad.

Here's my dad with his new Boston Red Sox hat for his birthday. Brady was excited because now he "looks like me!!!" (Brady's words because he wears his Red Sox hat everywhere!)

Chris went out and picked out his birthday gift from me- an awesome baseball glove that he used today in his company baseball game! Too bad they didn't win, but he didn't drop a ball!!!

Brady gave Daddy tickets to bring him to go see WALL-E together and some peanut M&Ms (Daddy's favorite)

And for dessert the birthday boys has strawberry shortcake (Dad's request) and ice cream cake (Chris' request) and both home-made, might I add!!!

Speaking of Memory Lane...

You Know You Grew Up In The 80's or Early 90's If:

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.

2. You played with Pound Puppies.

3. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.

5. You wore a bodysuit (I actually stuffed mine with silly putty one time...during the day it dried up and started falling out in little pieces all over my desk! Talk about trying to explain that away!!!)

6. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.

7. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom

8. Two words: Hammer Pants (and I know you know the dance too)

9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"

10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars...and spokey-dokes or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect

11. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales" (Woo ooh!)

12. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.

13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.

14. You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the big screen..and still know the turtles names.

15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school. (And who didn't love Carmen San Diego?!)

16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.

17. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House) (Millions of times!!!)

18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it. (to top it off, did anyone have a bedazzler? If so, Oh I envy you!!!)

19. L.A. Gear....need I say more? Guess, B.U.M., "No Fear," ...

20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM" in Kindergarten. (She's Truly Outrageous.)

21. You remember reading Tales of a fourth grade nothing and all The Ramona books.

22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON , WAX OFF"

23. You wanted to be a Goonie.

24. You even wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe) (At my school the COOL thing was florescent socks with penny loafers! Uggg!!!)

25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.

26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.

27. You took lunch boxes to school (with a thermos!)

28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.

29. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.

30. You LOVED and made your own tie-dyed t-shirts.

31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.

32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.

33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.

34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes. (weren’t they the cutest!?)

35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"

36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up" 37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates. (Happy Wheels- those were the days!!!)

37. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.

38. Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Debbie Gibson, Madonna...oh these women knew how to sing!

39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.

40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.

41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.

42. You remember Popples.

43. Don't worry, be happy!

44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks. (or a bandana tied to my leg…lol)

45. You wore your socks scrunched down

46. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that. (I didn’t personally but the older kids did =)

47. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.

48. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"

49. You remember watching Rainbow Bright and & My Little Pony Tales

50. You thought Doogie Howser was cute (and soooooo smart!).

51. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.

52. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...

53. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved ByThe Bell," The ORIGINAL class. (I actually scheduled my piano lessons so that I never missed an episode…lame!!!)

54. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.

55. You just sang those words to yourself.

56. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.

57. Homemade Levi shorts…(the shorter the better)

58. You remember when mullets were cool!

59. You had a mullet! (yes I did…oh my gosh, did I just admit that!?)

60. You still sing "We are the World"

61. You tight rolled your jeans.

62. You owned a bike with a banana seat. (Mine was purple with a unicorn! Oh I was so proud!)

63. You loved “Free Willy” and wore the medallion that came with the movie!!!

64. You used to feel so cool when you had a “snackable” for lunch (this didn’t occur often- my parents were “cheap”…but I can’t say much because I’d never buy these for my kids!!!)

65. You had big hair and you knew how to use it. (Need I say more than permed bangs?)

66. You owned a Baby Alive and took her everywhere!

67. Your family was SO COOL when they got their first VCR!

68. Punky Brewster- was that not THE GREATEST show of all time?!

69. "Captain Planet, he's our hero! He's gonna take polution down to zero!!!....With our powers combined..." (Okay, am I really the ONLY dork who watched this?)

70. Lightning bolts, stripes and your intials shaved into your brothers and cousins hair?

71. Velcro sneakers...(If Rachel or Nels is reading this have a good laugh for me=)

72. "French bikinis"- the ones that have a HUGE hole missing right in the middle of the front AND back of the bathing suit- did they run out of fabric? Yeah- I had one of these...

73. Was it EVER REALLY cool to wear boxer shorts (as a girl) and then have your jeans low-ride? Yeah- this was not a flattering time for me...

74. Colored elastics on my braces

75. Pop rocks- mmmmmm

76. I was "all that and a bag of chips!"

77. "Ew, like- Gag me with a spoon!"

78. Full House- NEVER missed an episode- and Uncle Jessie was SO HOT!

79. McGyver and Quantum Leap were the great "crime/thriller" t.v. shows of the day

80. It was such a priviledge to have chocolate milk!

81. Getting a trampoline was like a child's ultimate dream come true!

82. Atari and the captivating worlds of Frogger, Tetrus and PacMan!

83. Sugar cereals came out big like "Cocoa Puffs," "Fruity Pebbles," and "Honeycomb." But you weren't ever going to be good at sports if you didn't eat your "Wheaties!"

84. I was crushed when "Young Riders" left t.v.

85. We ate at the Ground Round for a penny per pound!

86. Any other Trekkies out there?

87. Frilly "clown" shirts, big hoop earrings, and spandex

88. Did anyone else "grow-up" on Ramen, "Schwann's" and "Sam's Club specials?"

89. I thought records were so "ANCIENT" compared to my cassettes!

90. I was in love with Tom Brokaw

91. Who remembers those "tv. remotes" that were a box hooked to your t.v. (the cord only stretched so far) and there was a sliding bar that allowed you to choose the channel...if that's not ghetto then I don't know what is!!!

92. Getting FREE cds from AOL in the mail and having the time of our lives "surfing" the internet for 30 WHOLE MINUTES!!!

93. Having short hair, long hair, wavy hair, bobbed hair, permed hair, crimped hair...and what about "Sun in" anyone try that and actually get good results?!

94. Thinking that by the year 2000 we'd be living like "The Jetsons"

95. Hopscotch and jump ropes

96. I remember when having a walk-men was IT! Never mind when the shockingly AWESOME disc-men came out- but "i-pods" (do people have any creativity anymore?) Honestly, the way my young women are hooked up to their i-pods is like it's a life-sustaining IV or something....I just don't get it!

97. "Miss Susie had a steamboat..."

98. What ever happened to wholesome family shows like "The Cosbys?"

99. What were those "Gotta Have One Or You're NOT Cool" binders called? Oh, Trapper-Keepers?!

100. "I LOVE (insert name here)" all over EVERYTHING!" In sixth grade my "boyfriend" and I "broke-up" and to get hime back I had another friend deliver him a "secret" letter (you know, those kind folded up into a heart or a square?) and it said: "Joey, please forgive me and take me back. Without your love I'm like a candle without it's flame!"

Oh my gosh- could I really be so lame!? (For those of you who know me well and are nodding your heads, I think that you are just as lame! Yeah, that's right, I told you last, no I told you last! Not it! ....)

Hope this was a fun stroll down memory lane- post any further "MEMORIES of the 80's and 90's!!!"

Strolling Down Memory Lane...

Do you remember when?

Here are the rules.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll be sure to write one about you... either on your blog, in my comment box, or I will email you back!

Can't wait to hear ♫♪ Memories.. of the way we were...♪♫

Diaper Bags....Got One That You Love?!

Okay, so I NEED a diaper bag!!! I can't find one that I like anywhere that is cute, versatile and budget friendly. If you have a diaper bag that YOU LOVE or know of a great site/store to get one PLEASE let me know!!! Pictures are also welcome =)

39 Weeks- a.k.a. "Stick a fork in me- I'm done!!!"

I know I sound like a big whiner- I'm still a week away from my due date- but honestly, when I've been dialted, effaced and dropped for 3 weeks, it's like: "hello little girl!? What are you waiting for!?" I've got EVERYTHING done! I sat down to watch t.v. the other night and felt so strange because I had no little projects to work on!!!

I hope the next blog post I do is of a happy healthy baby and mommy (with baby on the outside!!!)

HAPPY 4th of JULY WEEKEND!!!!

This year we thought we'd try something new and went to a local seaport town called Bath to watch their parade. It was on the lame side-Idaho sure knows how to celebrate the 4th better than Maine! But Brady had fun picking up candy and waving his little flag. We were also nicely co-ordinated; chris wore blue, Brady wore white and "olivia" and I wore a red and white top. But of course none of our pictures of us came out good (you know, double-chins, blinking etc.) so you'll have to take my word for it that we were looking mighty fine!!!

Here are some of the better parade participants:

This guy's name is "Oakie" and he's the mascott for a local milk company here in Maine called Oakhurst Dairy. He's cute, right?!

The Boat "parade" This here is one of the small tug boats.
The Boston Red Sox boat!

After the parade we walked around for a little bit, ate some fried dough and then headed home for a few hours. Later in the evening we headed into Freeport, the nearest town to where we live, also home to L.L. Bean and enjoyed a concert in the park followed by fireworks.

The concert was by Toby Lightman, an up and coming pop rock singer who is much like Colbie Caillat. We really liked her mellow music and she has a great voice! These pictures are from the web as are the fireworks because ours definately weren't THIS cool!!! Hope you all had a great 4th of July celebrating our countries freedoms!