Mommy's Helpers

One of the best parts about having a new baby and living far from family is that when they come to help, they get to stay awhile. We were lucky enough to get special time with Nini, Mama Mary and Auntie Katy in the weeks after Kiran's birth. Lance got to bond with his family and I got to share this exciting and scary time with people who were here to help me!

Nini got here days after Kiran was born and gave us all lots of much needed love and TLC.

baby massage and hair combing on the play mat

Mama Mary arrived and got to see how much Lance has grown and watch Kiran develop during his first weeks...

and last, but DEFINITELY not least, my oldest sister Katy was here to help me while Stef was in Florida. She left her own two kiddos for the very first time to fly all the way over to support me with mine. She knew just what to do at all the right times- she wore Kiran in the Baby Bjorn all over town so that I could be with Lance, played with Lance so that I could feed Kiran, etc. We had more time together than we've had in years and it was one of the biggest gifts I've had in awhile. Sharing motherhood with my sisters and being able to ask for all kinds of advice while watching them love my kids is such an amazing gift!
Thank you to all three wonderful mommies who helped this mommy through the first weeks of our family's new addition. We love you!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Hospital Photo Shoot

Life Savers

In my last post about Kiran's birth, I left a lot of the details out- but here I am a month later finally ready to fill them in!
Lucky for us, our great friends Mel and Rob were in town anticipating Kiran's arrival and ready with open arms to help us when then time came. On Wednesday, the day before they were set to leave we were all feeling slightly disappointed that there had been no action in the labor department and they were probably going to miss the big moment (again). Mel and Rob missed Lance's birth by one day the last time around!
Anyway, that afternoon I had my weekly Non Stress Test at the hospital and Mel insisted on coming with me even though I told her they were super boring and I would be home soon. Rob stayed home with Lance and Mel and I headed to the hospital. Thank God she was there because this time around, the test did not go as anticipated. One minute we were chatting away and the next Kiran's heart rate dropped into the 60s for several minutes and suddenly I was on oxygen and both my doctor and Stef were on their way. Needless to say, it was super scary and I was completely unprepared. Mel kept me calm and took diligent notes as I rattled off all the things I had left undone and gave her ridiculously detailed instructions on what to do with Lance. As soon as Stef got there, she rushed home to finish packing our hospital bag, brought it up, gave me a huge hug and in her excited and thrilled way reminded me that aside from all the tubes that had been hooked up to me and the fact that I couldn't stop shaking, I was about to meet my baby!!
Mel and Rob took fantastic care of Lance while we were at the hospital and got him all psyched up to meet his baby brother. What a relief to know he was in such loving hands!
Mel had the chance to be with me when I was wheeled in to Kiran's bedside and waited patiently outside the window taking pics and smiling the whole time.
I really don't know how to describe the gratitude I feel to Mel and Rob for making it a point to be here during such an important time, and for giving us exactly what we needed when the time came. Thank you, thank you, THANK you. All of the Harmelings love you guys so much!!