Ivy's First Week

Who am I and why am I here?

Doing a-OK with this life thing.

But it sure does make me tired.

Special time with my big sister.

She really wants me to wear shoes.

You may see this look on the catwalk this fall...

My big sister loves to read to me. And I love to listen.

Amelia is adamant that we use Boudreaux's cream for every one of my diaper changes.

Lots of visitors this week -- including my Uncle Josh...

...and my Auntie Livi...

Chillin' with the Winds, 5 days old

Sleeping on my Grams, 5 days old

My Pops came to see me and have a special dinner when I was 6 days old.

I have quite the yawn.

And then there's this other face I make, captured forever for my wedding slideshow...

Daddy love.

Grandmommy love.

Did I mention my big sister likes to read to me?

Ivy's Birth Day

Ivy Aurelia Haws joined our family at 5:35 am on July 19, 2010. Like Amelia, she was born at our home with the support of wonderful BirthCare birth center midwives. Unlike Amelia, she was eager to get here (or Mommy was eager to get her here) -- labor was just a few hours! Ivy was 8 lbs, 5 oz, and 21.5 inches long.

Ivy at a few minutes old

Baby footprints

The weigh-in -- both the midwife and birth assistant were shocked Ivy was so big!

Doing the crawl with her powerful legs

Snuggling with Daddy

Passed out with Daddy a couple of hours after birth

Two of the most important people in this post-birth photo are asleep.

Daddy woke up a few hours later...

And Ivy makes four... "Pedro" meeting big sister for the first time.

Amelia is nonplussed until a big sister present is mentioned...

...which subsequently consumes all of her maternal/sisterly energies.

Ivy meets Grandmommy and Auntie Livi

Auntie Heather holds "Pedro" the baby so she can meet "Pedro" the doll.

Our "Brangelina" photo shoot, with Amelia playing Shiloh, baby doll Pedro playing the part of Zahara, and Ivy standing in for both twins...

Ivy made her entrance just in time for Mommy's friend Carrie to ride the train down from Philly to meet her!

Snuggling with Auntie Mer-Mer

Auntie Lauren dresses Ivy up in her "Happy Birthday Pedro" hat that Amelia and Mommy made for her birthday party a few days prior to try to convince her to show up.

Ivy tries to tie her hat on by herself...

Content little Ivy snoozes after the commotion.

For those curious about her name:

Ivy is an ancient Greek symbol of fidelity, femininity, fertility, and everlasting love; in Celtic tradition, ivy--a hardy evergreen--represented determination and spiritual growth. For early Christians, ivy's need for a support was emblematic of our reliance on God, a reminder to help the less fortunate, and a symbol of everlasting life.

Aurelia derives from Latin and means "golden," which seemed to suit a little girl born at daybreak. Like Ivy, it is also a botanical name of sorts, as we have had a Ming aralia (aurelia) plant since we were married 9 years ago that only becomes bigger and more beautiful each year.

Belly Pics

26 Weeks

32 Weeks

38 Weeks

41 Weeks

And for those who prefer a fully-dressed belly picture, here Mommy is before Daddy's birthday dinner, 8.5 months pregnant