One Month Old

Weighing in at 8 pounds 11 ounces, Kit is beginning her second month of life 2 lbs bigger and 2 inches longer!

Her sister is also 2 inches taller lately because she insists on wearing cowboy boots everywhere.

Getting in Touch with our Feelings

Yesterday, Elsie tells me that she is "very enthusiastic" about playdough.

She then tells me she is "very mad" about having to eat her dinner--she would prefer fish sticks for every meal. She told me that she wanted to be by herself to be mad.

Next, she tells me to come back in the room because she is "happy again."

We are trying to figure out what person, book, or show put her in touch with her feelings. We're not quite sure if it is a good thing.

Low Tech

So, we are having computer issues and will be blogging without photos for a while. No fun, I say. All is well though--Kit is a sweet sweet baby and Elsie is a champion big sister. We'll have to come up with more words without the pics.

Big Sister Elsie

Every morning for the past week, Elsie's first words to us are about her "baby sister":

• Where is baby sister?
• Can I hold baby sister?
• I kiss baby sister.
• What baby sister doing?

Her enthusiasm is heartening especially after a sleepless night when her parents are more than aware of where baby sister is and might not feel so sweetly toward her at that given moment. Elsie has worn her big sister T-shirt on loan from Emma Pace and her big sister jacket embroidered especially by Addie. She brought big sister cookies and pictures to school for show and tell. She tells everyone she meets "I have a baby sister." We hope that the positive feelings continue after Grammy leaves and Daddy goes back to work and the sharing really begins in earnest.

St. Pat

My mom has been here for over a week now spoiling us while we try to care for our new one. David is now talking of adding on a cottage for her out back so she can continue to keep stocking the refrigerator and cooking him dinner. She really is a saint and we can't thank her enough!

Family Portraits

It was a joyful beginning for 2009, especially with so many grandparents around.

Baby Portraits



Now I know why there were so many more pictures taken in Elsie's first year: they don't do much and you really can't help yourself and they seem to change daily. Kit is one week old already and we are enjoying getting to know her.

So, to catch you up on the new year's happenings... I started feeling some form of contractions New Year's eve but didn't think they were of consequence--we went and had a lovely dinner at the Martins. On New Year's Day, after a decent night's sleep, I awoke feeling definite contractions eight minutes apart about 7am and they became more intense and closer together over the next few hours. Elaine headed over to care for Elsie, and Mom and Dad headed down from Atlanta. We got to the hospital at 9:30 or 10 and my doctor was on call, and she confirmed that not only would I be having a baby, but most likely, in true Howells/Harvey fashion, I'd have a baby by lunchtime. And after brief labor (thank you, good birthing genes), she arrived at 12:22pm. I was a celebrity at the hospital for having her so rapidly and my doctor suggested I could have an army of little ones or investigate surrogacy. Relieved and delighted to have our healthy little girl, we were still trying to adjust to her early arrival. Mom, Dad, and Elaine brought Elsie over to meet her sister at 4 or so that afternoon and we had a very sweet visit.

The next day, Friday, we were able to go home early after Kit was given the A-OK by her pediatrician. Ann and Roy came over from Alabama to meet their new granddaughter and visited for the weekend. It was a good thing Kit was here to soothe these Bama fans after the bowl loss.

Happy New Year!






We were thrilled and surprised to welcome Katherine Ann Thompson to the world at 12:22pm on Thursday, January 1, 2009. Kit was 6 lbs, 13 ounces, and 19 inches long. Elsie seems to like her so far, and we are home and doing well. More pictures and text to come soon...