Garrison Paul Christensen was born.....

Friday July 27th at 2:45 AM. He's officially a week old now! He's hands down the sweetest little dude in the world. The labor was long, he was a giant, he had his head tilted back, chin up, making it longer and harder, and he was born around 26 hours after I went into labor. What a guy eh? He was named after Clay's grandfather, whose last name is Garrison and Clay's father whose name is Paul. Not sure what his nickname will be. My uncle's name is Gary so we're not going that route, maybe Garris? He really is the best baby. Eats like a champ, doesn't fuss unless there's a reason, nurses and falls right back to sleep during the night. Just a good baby. His hair is a different color from all the other babies. It's like a golden blond. Not reddish like Adric's, not light brownish like Frank and Cass's, but like a golden color, really shiny. And he's got big ole cheeks too. Love that. So without further adieu, here's a couple pics of the sweetie pie:

Thanks to Katie at designer digitals for the frames on the pictures.

So I'm biased but he is cute eh? lol! At first we didn't think he looked much like the other children but in the last few days he's really starting to look like them.

It's funny how children don't really "get" what babies are going to be like. None of the children did. They all had these ideas of what the baby was going to be like. Adric would constantly talk about how the baby was going to play PowerRangers with him. And when we got home from the hospital, the first day Cassie says "I'll watch him for you Mom if you want to rest (what a sweetie huh?) I won't let him crawl off the porch or anything" HEHE. Crawl off the porch? So we explained that he um.. can't crawl let alone be on the porch. Funny how kids are. But they've adjusted quickly to him being here. Cassie keeps telling me that it's hard work taking care of a baby. At least SOMEONE gets it :) Adric's funny cause he sings the ABCs and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to the baby whenever he starts to cry. I think it's because I used to have him sing to my belly every day and he would always sing the ABCs. The interesting thing is that the baby actually does stop crying while he sings. I suppose if you heard the same song for months it would be a comfort when you're out of the belly. Cassie's gotten good at rocking the bassinet.

Oh the bassinet. Man have we scored on some stuff while my mom has been here. First we found an awesome Peg Perego (expensive!!) stroller with the carseat that snaps in for SOOO cheap. And if you know me, the country girl in the small house in the woods, cheap is cheap. It was brand new basically. And I think it was the day before the baby came, we went to a consignment store and found a Peg Perego stroller that folds flat and is a bassinet with zippered sides, etc. It rocks. With all my other babies I used a bassinet stroller. I put the babies in there whenever they fall asleep and then you can roll them around the house when you change rooms, etc. I don't know what I would have done if the Lord hadn't brought us that bassinet stroller. I can't imagine living without it now. Where would I have put that baby when he fell asleep? lol. Anyways, it was super cheap then was like 30% off for their sale. We laugh because I never have super nice things, and suddenly we have a Peg Perego everything. Holy Cow! I just looked and the carriage/stroller is $479 retail~!! We paid $65 and it's brand now. We paid $60 for the carseat and stroller and the carseat alone is almost $200 so I bet that's close to $400 too! WOW. Paid around $130 for $800 worth of stuff. Crazy! Good on my mom for even knowing what Peg Perego brand was (I didn't lol) and snatching that stuff up. Fun!

I finally got a new one of these:

Thank the LORD! The Canon has been out of commission for months now. We have been using my mom's little old digital camera which takes so-so pictures. But it was all we had when Garrison was born. And yesterday morning I took it out to take a picture, Frankie bumped me, it fell and well... broke. So here we were with my mom visiting, a brand new baby and NO camera! So I decided that whether we are almost totally broke or not LOL Clay needed to go to the store and pick up one of these bad boys. Of course I started calling around and no one had one. Lovely. The last store I called, which happened to be across the street from Clay's work (one would think that would be the first one I'd call eh? Nope, not me) anyways it had just gotten ONE in that day and he would hold it. So thankfully I just today could start taking some good pics. Boy a good camera makes all the difference. I sure wish I wasn't having problems getting into the Lilypad so I could buy a few good Lauren Barden actions for these photos. Good ole enabling Gina has me convinced that I NEED some.

Quickly before we get any further, just because, here's another pic of the cutie patootie.

Such a little serious face huh? He's so funny! I think babies are just the funniest little people on the planet. They crack me up.

I have lots of design stuff to talk about but I'll skip that for tonight. Before I go, I'm going to privilege you to be a witness of a miracle!! What you ask? Well...... I actually........ scrapped a layout. EEK! Who would have imagined that I actually scrap anymore?? I miss it so. It seems that there is just never enough time and if I am going to be on the computer I end up designing. It's hard when you need the money to take time away from designing. But I am making it a priority. Why oh why even do all this at all if I can't preserve memories for my family? Or do something creative just for kicks, without any pressure to make it marketable, etc.? SO.. I scrapped. Layout first, story about it after. K?

No credits yet as A, I don't feel like waiting for this slow computer to open the PSD of this LO that has the credits on it, and B, I have some gallery catching up to do before this one will go in my gallery. But soon....

Anyways, I never feel beautiful when I'm pregnant. Well not until this time. This picture, having to scrap this layout, made me face the fact that for the first time I felt glowing, I felt the beauty that having a little lfe that you just adore with your soul, growing inside of you, brings. And at the end of the LO I thank the little Garrison dude for being the vessel for the change that happened in me. If you're pregnant, feel beautiful.

Okay, off to finish cleaning the kitchen and going to bed. Well cleaning the kitchen, taking a bath, then nursing the baby, then going to bed.  Ack it's already 10 o'clock.

Oh and on a side note, (man this is getting LONG) for a while I worked on and planned seperating the blogs into three blogs. I have my homeschooling one and then was doing the homesteading one. In the end, it's just too much. And I kept finding that I wanted to put the same things on some of the blogs. I had friends reading this blog, family members reading the homeschooling blog and I wanted to tell stories to both. It is a chore. So everything is going to be here. So I will be talking about chickens and gardens, homeschooling, scrapbooking, putting work previews here, telling stories about the children and just being myself in all the ways that I am me, here. So yay look forward to some chicken pictures in the next few days :)

A big thanks to some like Kirsty, Sonya and CD who were always thinking of me, praying for me and wondering how I was doing. Love you guys!

Comments

[soniecat]

SOOOoooooooooooooo glad you're back. And Garrison is SOOOOO gorgeous!!! Thank you for sharing him with us!!

[lauren]

oh...congratulations girl! we've been talking about you over at DST wondering how the whole labor/delivery/baby thing was going. i'm so glad to hear from you.

and, i would love to hear about your homeschooling and homestead(ing?)!

warm hugs
lauren

[Aja]

Yay, Kim! He's a doll baby! Congratulations! I love your layout, too. It's really beautiful! :)

[KirstyB]

Ohhhh, Kim!! Garrison is adorable!!! Congrats mama!! :) 26 hours of labor??...holy smokes!! But so worth it!! You're making me baby hungry...or at least wishing we were close by so I could hold him!! :)

That layout is beautiful!! You are just glowing in that photo!! I'm glad you took the time out to scrap for YOU!! I'm working on a layout of me right now...I never do...I hate to be in front of the camera...but I guess when my kids look back, they SHOULD be able to see photos of the crazy lady who was always in THEIR face with a camera.

Glad to see you back!! We really have missed you!! Can't wait to see more pics with your new lens (you lucky duck)!! And new goodies in the store!!

HUGS!! :)

[amy]

HE IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!! HUGE HUGE HUGE congrats & welcome to the world, Garrison!

hey - email me pls about TLP stuff!

[Sarah]

Congratulations, Kim. He is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!

[Kylie]

Congrats he is just the sweetest little babe! Love that LO of you pregnant you look fantastic - happy, healthy and glowing I am so pleased for you all, congratulations!

[Kim]

Congrats on your new little one! He's a doll!

[Miki Ferkul]

Aw, he has to be one of the most BEAUTIFUL newborn babies I've ever seen Kim!~ And I don't make that compliment lightly either. Very nice name you chose too~
Congrats Kim and family! Enjoy your new blessing!
~miki

[Martha~aka~Krash]

Kim!!!!! Remember me?? lol! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! He is absolutely beautiful:) Makes me want another!! Well, ok, i'll be honest here and say ALMOST makes me want another;) You were GORGEOUS in your page..........again my heartfelt congratulations!!

[Kelly]

Congrats on your new little man! Garrison (love the name btw!!!!)is absolutely beautiful!

[Laura]

Congratulation Kim. Your new little one is adorable. He is one of the prettiest newborns I've ever seen. I love the name Garrison!! Don't shorten it - I love it just the way it is :)

[fshinggrl (Jackie)]

Congratulations! He is adorable!! He is so adorable & cute! Super name! Perfect for the little prince!

[fshinggrl (Jackie)]

Congratulations on your little prince! He is adorable! Love the name you chose!

[Megan (meganmecrazy)]

He is SOOOOOOOOO ADORABLE! OMG! I'm in love! Congratulations on your precious little baby boy!

[Gina]

Oh goodness! He is so cute Kim!!!! Congrats! :)

[Dawn]

Congratulations Kim!!!!! He is soooo adorable and I absolutely LOVE his name!! You look so beautiful in your layout and it's great! Again, Congrats on that beautiful baby!

[Alice]

Congratulations! Garrison is absolutely adorable & one of the sweetest babies I've seen!

[Crystal]

Awwwww congratulations he's gorgeous, you must be so proud.
Hugs Crystal xx

[Laurie Garza]

oh Kim- he is just adorable!!!! What a little miracle- Praise God!!!

I have been praying for you and hoping everything was ok- thanks so much for updating us.

I'm glad you were able to get those good deals AND the new lens- the Lord provides- huh?!!!

Gorgeous LO too- AND you looked beautiful too, but I'm glad you felt that way too. :)

God bless- and give little Garrison a hug from me. :)

[Michelle-mimsmom]

Congratulations on your new little blessing- he is just a doll! Look forward to reading more posts from you- I've missed them. And can't wait to see what you've been designing.
Take care and enjoy that new little one!

[Angel]

He's gorgeous! Congrats!!!

[Shawna Taylor]

Congrats Kim!! Welcome to the world little Garrison! He is just too sweet!! Love the pregnancy LO too btw, you looked great!!

[Marci]

Congratulations on the arrival of your baby. Isn't it wonderful how the Lord provides for his own? Marci

[jan]

congratulations! your son is beautiful! :)