New Addition: Colette Scott Cleavland

The Cleavland Family welcomed their baby girl, Colette, on the last day of summer! We chatted with Jordan and Scott about the sweet way they shared the news with their family and friends, their favorite things about parenthood so far, and more…

Photo: Bri Lyons

Our Family

Scott, Gunner and Colette. This is my family. Pinch me because it still doesn’t feel real that we welcomed the most precious baby girl to our family just four short weeks ago. 

On Sharing the News

Sharing the news of this pregnancy was very private and intimate. The day Boston IVF called us to say “you’re pregnant” is a phone call we will never forget. After a four year infertility journey, fighting our hardest fight, Colette Scott Cleavland was the one we were waiting for all along. 

Scott and I shared the news with our family and closest friends by showing up at their doorsteps with cupcakes. A card that read, “Made with love and a whole lot of science. Arriving Fall 2021 - Our double rainbow baby”. The added surprise was the pink frosting inside the cupcakes that we recorded each of them biting into to share the news that it was going to be a baby girl. It was so private and special to share that moment over and over again with our closest supporters and biggest fans! 

On Pregnancy Cravings

During this pregnancy, I craved fruit (kiwi, peaches and apples) and lemonade. Oh, and crispy chicken! Mind you I hadn’t had chicken in over five years and all of a sudden my mouth was watering for crispy chicken tenders! 

Photo: Bri Lyons

All about Colette

Colette Scott Cleavland was born on the last day of summer (four weeks early at 36 weeks) weighing 6lbs 2.5oz and 18 inches long at Albany Medical Center.

We did not decide on her name until she was born. We knew we liked the name “Colette” but wanted to make sure it fit her. I loved the idea of “Scott” as her middle name after her dad. We did not tell a single soul, not even the doctors and nurses at Albany Med, until she was here and in our arms. Colette Scott Cleavland was the name of our miracle baby. 

Colette shares mommy’s big lips and chubby cheeks and she has daddy’s eyes and chin. Her blonde peach fuzz we both take credit for! 

Some Family Favorites

My favorite thing about Colette so far is her little smirks and grins. They come anytime, day or night, so you always have to be paying attention because it’s so worth it when you see it. It melts me every time. I’ve been told that we share the same smirk which makes it even more special. She is pure bliss. 

Our favorite things to do with Colette include walks around the neighborhood with big brother Gunner (our 12 year old chocolate lab), coffee runs to Kru Coffee, going to Gramma and Opah’s house for dinner, and slow dancing in her nursery to a country radio station - the same radio station we listened to as we welcomed her into the world. 

On Parenthood

My favorite thing about parenthood thus far has been falling in love with my husband all over again. Scott was the absolute best support system during labor, our stay in the NICU, and now life at home with Colette. It has been effortless for him. The pride and love radiating for his girls is something that I’ve ingrained in my mind and never want to forget. 

I love the person that I have become since having Colette in my arms. The years of waiting have made me feel confident in the mother I am today. I was a mother long before Colette was here and I’m so proud of the warrior that infertility pulled out of me. Brave moms raise brave babies.

Some Advice

Our advice for new parents is simple - appreciate. 

I remember when there was silence because she didn’t exist. I remember the messiness of life in an endless loop of infertility, heartbreak and grief. Now I’m on my hands and knees folding premie onesies instead of praying for a miracle. This life is beautiful. She makes it so beautiful. We are the luckiest parents in the world. We love you Colette Scott. 

For the ones still in the waiting - you are seen, you are loved and you are so worthy.

hide-ad

Special thanks to Glens Falls Hospital for making this series possible!

You’ve been planning for this moment for 9 months, but the team at The Joyce Stock Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital has been preparing for over 30 years. While each birth is unique, their exceptional care stays consistent.   You'll be supported 24/7 by a specialized care team that puts you and your family’s needs first.  

Expertise. Compassion. Dedication.  The reasons more babies are born at The Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living.

New Addition: Rhys Thomas Williams

The Williams Family welcomed their baby boy, Rhys Thomas, on June 6th! We caught up with them to find out their favorite things about parenthood so far, the significance of his name, and more…

Photo: Bri Lyons

Tell us about your family!

We’re Hillary and Thomas Williams and we just welcomed our son Rhys to the family. We both grew up in the Midwest but moved to the Northeast about 10 years ago. We’ve lived in Queensbury for three years now and love it! We moved to this area when Thomas took a job at Glens Falls Hospital as an Emergency Medicine Physician. Hillary started a Massage Therapy practice in Glens Falls which is currently on pause while she takes maternity leave but will return early next year.  

On Loving Where You Live

We love all of the outdoor opportunities in this region - some of our favorites are mountain biking at Gurney Lane, running and walking on Rush Pond trail, kayaking on Glen Lake, skiing at West Mountain and Gore, and escaping to the Adirondacks. When we’re not playing outside, we like to sample the local breweries and restaurants and walk around City Park.

Photo: Jessie Casey

On Sharing the News

I gave a onesie to my husband as our 1st wedding anniversary gift! We then surprised our parents with ‘Grandma/Grandpa Est. 2021’ mugs and an ultrasound photo.

We were too excited to wait until the birth to find out the gender so we found out early that we were having a boy. Instead of a gender reveal, we slowly told our friends individually.

All About Rhys

Rhys Thomas Williams was born on June 6th, 2021 weighing 9 lbs, 2 oz and measuring 21.5 inches.

We both have ties to Wales and wanted a name that reflected our ancestry, which is how we decided on Rhys.

Rhys has his mom’s eyes and his dad’s hair. Rhys was born 5 days late, so he’s already taking after his father!

Photo: Jessie Casey

Some Favorites So Far

His hair! There’s already so much, it’s fun to see his different styles.

It’s also been fun to watch his personality slowly develop and we’re betting on whether he says ‘momma’ or ‘daddy’ first.

As far as activities, we’ve been enjoying our family walks on Rush Pond.

On Parenthood

Our favorite part of parenting is finding out which weird thing will capture his attention next; today it is the ceiling fan, tomorrow who knows! So far the biggest challenge has been trying to decipher his baby language and figure out what he wants.

Looking Ahead

We are so excited to be able to take him on our adventures - skiing at West Mountain (hopefully next winter!), biking the local trails, climbing at RockSport, and camping in the Adirondacks.

Some Good Advice

Two of the best pieces of advice we’ve received are:

1. ‘The days are long but the years are short’

2. Never turn down help.

And our best advice: keep the burp cloths handy!

hide-ad

Special thanks to Glens Falls Hospital for making this series possible!

You’ve been planning for this moment for 9 months, but the team at The Joyce Stock Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital has been preparing for over 30 years. While each birth is unique, their exceptional care stays consistent.   You'll be supported 24/7 by a specialized care team that puts you and your family’s needs first.  

Expertise. Compassion. Dedication.  The reasons more babies are born at The Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living.

New Addition: Elselina Alice Meijer

We got to know Amy Troelstra Meijer in a My Glens Falls story last month, and this month, we’re thrilled to share her family’s newest addition - Elselina! Hear about the significance behind her beautiful name, the way Amy shared the news with her husband Lodewiek, and more below…

Photo: Nicole Starr Photography

Tell us about your family!

In our family we have my husband Lodewiek Meijer, myself Amy Meijer, our almost four year old WIllem and then Elselina who just turned three months. Of course our doggies are a part of the family too - Aubree, our 10 year old rescue, and our five year old miniature schnauzer, Nova. My husband is an engineer working at a Dutch based company with Global Foundries and I’m currently a stay at home mom trying to adjust to the mom of two life while getting back into a new normal routine. As a family we enjoy doing anything and everything outdoors. With Lodewiek and myself having a Dutch background, we LOVE to bike the bike trail or just around town during the nicer months. Willem really loves to go to Crandall Pond and feed the ducks. We also love to go hiking, whether it be in the Adirondacks or just local trails. During the winter months, having Crandall Pond as a skating rink really made our winter more enjoyable!

On Sharing the News

Having this baby as an IVF journey was so much different than my pregnancy with Willem in every way, even with the pregnancy announcement to everyone. Our family and friends all knew that we were going through IVF and knew how timed it was, so people were waiting in anticipation for the "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" each round.

I told Lodewiek by dressing Willem up in a "big brother" shirt and giving Willem the pregnancy test to bring up to Lodewiek while he was working from home. I filmed the whole thing. Lodewiek looked at Willem and had no idea what Willem was handing him at first, but then he realized what was going on. I think I caught him off guard since he was in the middle of his work day. Lodewiek looked at me and nodded "yes?" and I just started crying and kept nodding "yes!" and he gave me a huge hug!

As for my parents, his parents, and our siblings, since they knew around the time we should be finding out we just called and told them. Same went for our friends. The IVF process really isn't romantic!

My best friend from college happened to be in the area a couple weeks after we got the good news and I shared it with her and her family when they came over to our house to visit (she screamed with joy)! We of course did a Facebook announcement after the 12 week mark (it was a black onesie with a black tutu which said "My little black dress" and the onesie was surrounded by the hundreds of needles I used throughout my IVF journey).

We did a blood test at the 10 week appointment at our IVF office to test for genetic abnormalities and in that was also a gender test. We found out the gender when I was pregnant with our son, and we did want to know the gender of this baby as well (we are the planning type). We were going to be over the moon no matter the gender, but were even more excited to see the word "GIRL" in the email from our favorite nurse at our doctor’s office.

As for a gender reveal, since we knew so early on what we were having, when we told our families we told them we were expecting and what the gender was all-in-one. When my two best girlfriends here in town and I celebrated my birthday (COVID style), I wanted to tell them what we were expecting. Earlier that week we had found out the gender, so at my celebration I brought over confetti cannons filled with pink confetti in them and had them shoot them off to reveal what we were having - a moment I will never forget. They both have girls and I was so excited to be raising my little girl with theirs!

Photo: Nicole Starr Photography

On Finding the Perfect Name

As soon as we found out it was a girl, the hunt for names started! We knew we wanted to stick with a Dutch name, but also honor both of my grandmothers. My paternal grandmother's name is Elske (she goes by Ellen here in the United States), and my maternal grandmother's name was Elizabeth, so something that started with "El" was what we were looking for.

Of course, when you're pregnant, the first questions people always ask are "do you know what you're having?" followed by "have you picked out a name?". So when I was pregnant with our son, my husband and I came up with a "code name" we would call the baby by, because we wanted to keep something special and secret between just the two of us. So we did the same this time too. Her codename was "Elsa." In the beginning it was because we had no idea what we were going to name her, but then we just kept calling her by it. Yes, Elsa as in the movie Frozen (our son's favorite movie at the time). We also thought it was cute because, after all, she used to be frozen (IVF - yes, we are those people; jokesters! With something as serious as IVF, you have to laugh and live a little too)! Any time we would tell someone her code name and our little joke, we would follow it by "but don't worry, that's not really going to be her name." Everyone would sound a little disappointed and say "oh, but we really like that name." So we got to thinking, we wanted to keep that as a nickname for her, but what Dutch name would fit that nickname? Many nights, and I mean many nights, we stayed up going back and forth between Dutch names that would fit all of our stipulations and we stumbled upon Elselina (only 20 women with this name). At first it was between this spelling and Elseline, but ultimately Elselina is what won. Elselina translates to Elizabeth in English. As for the middle name Alice, it was my maternal grandmother's middle name and the middle name of my paternal grandmother's first born (who unfortunately only survived 10 days - Elselina was actually born on that little girls birthday as well). It all seemed to fit into place.

All About Elselina

Elselina Alice Meijer was born three weeks early on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 1:18pm. She weighed 8 pounds, 13.1 ounces and measured 19 inches.

So far we love everything about Elsa! She is just a dream baby! She smiles all day long, sleeps through the night and is an excellent eater! We are cherishing this time because having a "threenager", we know what comes next!

Our favorite thing to do together is just be together. With life starting to get back to normal, things are opening up, and activities happening more, we have become busy. So being able to just be together as a family of four is great. We also love bringing her to see family and friends, she is a favorite of my grandmother. I just love when we visit my grandmother and she says, "Now, bring me my baby," - it makes me tear up a little!

She looks like me when I was a baby with her strawberry blonde hair and big blue eyes. She gets her curly hair from my husband and her easy going demeanor from him as well. The extreme happiness and smiles all the time, I say she gets that from my dad!

Photo: Nicole Starr Photography

On Parenthood

My favorite part of parenthood so far with both kids is the way our son is with his little sister. The love those two already have for each other is so pure and genuine. Any time she hears his voice, her whole face lights up in a huge smile and he is always wanting to help when it comes to "baby sissy."

The biggest challenge so far is having to deal with all the toddler tantrums of our son while trying to care for a newborn at the same time. Also, going shopping with two is so much harder than going with just one!

What I'm looking forward to doing most with Elsa is going on family vacations and experiencing the world together like we have done with her big brother. Most of all, I look forward to having her meet her relatives (mostly Lodewiek's immediate family) in Holland.

Being a parent has taught us a whole new level of being patient that's for sure. They do say you will find a love for your child that you have never known before, and that is extremely true. The love we have for these two kids is so great!

How have we changed since becoming parents? Well, we no longer go out on dates, heck, pre-covid we would go out twice a year; our anniversary and his company Christmas party. We were used to going out every weekend. Our television time went from reality TV to Paw Patrol and Power Rangers. Can we remember the important things we learned in college? No, but we can tell you all the Paw Patrol characters!

Some Good Advice

The best advice that was given to us is to enjoy even the bad times, as nothing lasts forever and before you know it, they are moving out of the house. Cherish each moment.

My advice for new parents is the same, enjoy every minute. It will seem to drag on, but when you look back at photos, you will realize how quickly time really goes and you can never get those precious years back.

hide-ad

Special thanks to Glens Falls Hospital for making this series possible!

You’ve been planning for this moment for 9 months, but the team at The Joyce Stock Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital has been preparing for over 30 years. While each birth is unique, their exceptional care stays consistent.   You'll be supported 24/7 by a specialized care team that puts you and your family’s needs first.  

Expertise. Compassion. Dedication.  The reasons more babies are born at The Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living.

New Additions: Madden Jane & Kollins Rose Payne

Tonight, we’re sharing not one, but two new additions! The Payne Family welcomed their adorable twins, Madden and Kollins, in January, and they’re sharing their reaction to finding out they were having twins (surprise!), and all about life with four little ones below…

We are John and Kate Payne. We welcomed twin girls, Madden Jane and Kollins Rose to our family on January 13th, 2021 which also happens to be our wedding anniversary.

In addition to the twins, we have an eight year old daughter, Mia, and a two year old son, Jack. Our hands are certainly full but so are our hearts!

John and I both grew up locally and just recently bought a home in Glens Falls. John owns and operates a local moving company, Moving Made EZ, and I’m a Certified Surgical Technologist at the New York Eye Surgical Center in Wilton.

We love everything about our small hometown. We are walking distance to the bike trail, local shops and restaurants, and a short drive to Saratoga. We love to hike and spend summers on the Lake with family and friends. 

On a Surprise Pregnancy

We had originally planned on Jack being our last baby but then Covid happened and, well, so did the twins!

I found out I was pregnant in May and there wasn’t a special, well thought out pregnancy announcement. I hadn’t felt good for about a week, so I took a test, walked downstairs in total shock, looked at John and said “I’m pregnant”! He laughed and thought I was joking.

Fast forward to mid July at my first OB appointment. I was laughing with the nurses about our surprise Covid baby and casually mentioned I felt a little larger this time then my previous pregnancies. The second she put the wand on my belly I saw two circles....TWINS! I was alone because of Covid so I immediately drove to John’s office to share the news. We were both speechless. We called our family and close friends and put up a pregnancy announcement on Facebook that night!

We knew from the first scan that baby A (Madden) was a girl but it took a bit for Kollins to cooperate so we could tell the gender!

All about Madden and Kollins

Madden Jane was born at 10:29am on January 13th, 2021 weighing 4lbs 12.9oz and measuring 17.5” long. Kollins Rose was born at 10:31am weighing 5lbs 14.9oz and measuring 18.25” long.

The names were tough to decide on and we changed them a few times. We just wanted something kind of original and unique! Their middle names are family names though. 

The girls are complete opposites, looks and personality wise! Kollins is our vocal, blue eyed spunky baby and definitely favors my husband looks wise. Madden is our teeny, more quiet, brown eyed girl and looks like my side of the family! The girls spend a lot of time on the go keeping up with all of Mia and Jack’s activities. 

On Parenthood

Although a surprise, the girls are such a blessing. We love our insanely hectic, beautiful, chaotic life with four little ones and wouldn’t change a thing (except for maybe an extra hour or two of sleep)! People always tell you to enjoy every moment because they go so quickly....it really does fly by! Our advice to new parents is to soak in the moments, even the hard ones because they’re only little once!

Proud older siblings Mia and Jack

hide-ad

Special thanks to Glens Falls Hospital for making this series possible!

You’ve been planning for this moment for 9 months, but the team at The Joyce Stock Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital has been preparing for over 30 years. While each birth is unique, their exceptional care stays consistent.   You'll be supported 24/7 by a specialized care team that puts you and your family’s needs first.  

Expertise. Compassion. Dedication.  The reasons more babies are born at The Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living.

New Addition: River Marnette Linendoll

The Linendoll Family welcomed their adorable baby girl, River Marnette, in January! We caught up with them recently to hear all about what they’re loving about life with River so far, the significance of her name, and a few words of wisdom for parents-to-be. More below, with beautiful images by YM Photography.

We are Gerry and Christine Linendoll. We’re currently based in Queensbury and we both grew up in Gansevoort and went to South Glens Falls High. We welcomed our daughter River Marnette on January 13, 2021, but for us our story began a long time before that. 

We met in middle school and “dated” when I was 14 and Gerry was 16. Though that didn’t last long, we met again my sophomore year in high school at a Silverstein concert and became best friends very quickly. We spent the next couple years having so much fun with our group of friends. One day that all changed and 13 years later we are happily married with our little girl and 2 dogs (Lilly, our chihuahua and Ember, our pit bull husky mix). 

We love everything about living where we do. I am Adirondack obsessed. We love hiking, kayaking, and doing anything outside. When we are not staying active outside as a family or taking care of our girl, Gerry is usually coding for his business Switchback Web or slinging pizza in the air at Mama Mias in Saratoga, and you can catch me serving at Downtown City Tavern.

On Sharing the News 

When we found out we were pregnant we were very surprised and very excited. Knowing our families have been waiting for this, we bought some cute shirts and went over to tell them. My mom noticed right away, but my Dad — not so much. We got him a new #1 grandpa mug and he responded, “Oh nice, but I’m not a grandpa”.

Gerry’s mom took a little bit of nudging (lots of moving, straightening our shirts) and eventually I gave her a card that said Baby Linendoll 2021. Gerry’s dad knew before we even came inside. 

We planned our gender reveal party and found out as soon as we could. I had a feeling from day one she was going to be a girl. I even dreamed about her being a girl — so weird how mothers just know!

All About River

On January 13th at 3:42 am (exactly on her due date), we welcomed our 6lb 13oz 19in long baby girl River Marnette Linendoll. Perfect in every way. We decided on the name River before she was even a thought. I have always wanted my daughter to have a unique name. Gerry is a 4th, so if she was a boy it was going to be baby Gerry. Her middle name, Marnette, was my great grandmother’s name, who I was lucky enough to have until I was in my 20s. She lived until she was 103, so I knew I wanted my daughter to have a piece of her legacy. 

River is honestly my twin. She looks like her momma and has her daddy’s laid back attitude. Not bothered by a thing.

We are so blessed. She has brought so much joy to our lives in her 3 short months of life. 

On Parenthood 

Becoming parents has changed our lives. It has taught us to be patient, not only with the baby and the day-to-day, but with each other. I have learned that being late isn’t the end of the world and the dishes can wait to be washed — it’s fine if River is happy. Making time for our family always comes first. We have become the best versions of ourselves and we were truly meant to be parents. 

Words of Wisdom

The best advice I have received is the same advice I will always give. “Don’t worry about everything everyone tries to tell you about being a parent. Do what’s right for your baby and your family and everything will work the way it’s supposed to.” Also, “Nap when the baby naps”. 

hide-ad

Special thanks to Glens Falls Hospital for making this series possible!

You’ve been planning for this moment for 9 months, but the team at The Joyce Stock Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital has been preparing for over 30 years. While each birth is unique, their exceptional care stays consistent.   You'll be supported 24/7 by a specialized care team that puts you and your family’s needs first.  

Expertise. Compassion. Dedication.  The reasons more babies are born at The Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living.

New Addition: Maximus Sawyer Paddock

The Paddock Family welcomed their adorable baby boy, Max, in October! We caught up with them recently to hear all about what they’re loving about life with Max so far, what they’re most excited about doing with him in the future, and the challenges of welcoming a little one in the midst of the pandemic. More below!

Photo: Images by Holly Ann

We are the Paddock family – Derek, Amanda and our newest addition, Maximus! (Max for short.) We also have two fur babies, Wally and Georgie. Wally is a 3-year-old bernedoodle and Georgie is a 2-year-old bichon mix.

Derek and I are both Queensbury graduates. We lived in Boston for several years prior to moving back to the area in 2015 to be closer to family and friends. Currently, we live in an apartment in Saratoga while our forever home is being built in Moreau.

We love this area and all it has to offer. We enjoy hiking and exploring new trails with our pups (and next spring, Max!) We also have a lot of family and friends in the area and we enjoy hosting them when we aren’t in the middle of a pandemic.

On Sharing the News

Our news wasn’t exactly a secret. A few years ago, Derek underwent chemotherapy for lymphoma (he’s doing great now) but that meant we had to use IVF to conceive. We definitely relied on the support of our friends and family throughout that time so it wasn’t a surprise when we shared that the process was successful.

We found out the gender as soon as we were able. I am a financial advisor and Derek is a CPA so we are both planners. I had a feeling from the very beginning that Max was a boy, though.

We did not do a gender reveal because of Covid, but we did send our parents poppers to open that let out blue confetti. It was still fun!

Photo: Images by Holly Ann

All about Max

Maximus Sawyer Paddock was born on October 9, 2020 at 11:36am weighing 7 lbs 7 ounces and measuring 20 inches.

We had heard the name Max on a tv show we had watched much earlier in our relationship. We always liked it and it just stuck.

We love everything about Max! He already has a big smile and is very vocal – we love watching him talk and smile at his toys under his play gym. He is much more alert now and is starting to notice everything around him – including Wally and Georgie - and it is simply amazing to see him start to discover the world.

Lately we have been snuggling and listening to a lot of Christmas music. We have also been enjoying walks in the stroller through our soon to be neighborhood in Moreau with the pups in tow.

Everyone says that Max looks like me (Amanda). He definitely has my lips, nose and smile. That being said I see a lot of Derek in him too – mostly from the nose up and a lot of his expressions.

Photo: Images by Holly Ann

On Parenthood

Our favorite part about parenthood is how much he loves us. We are his favorite people and his whole world right now and that is a really cool feeling. 

The most surprising part of parenthood for us is how natural it has come. We never considered ourselves ”baby” people and they always made us a little nervous. We don’t feel any of that with Max. 

We’ve definitely become more selfless since becoming parents. Everything we do and all the decisions we make have Max at the center of them. Having him during this pandemic has also taught us that being a parent involves making hard decisions. While we are dying to share him with all our friends and family, we’ve had to put that on hold until it’s a bit safer to do so, and telling our loved ones this has not been the easiest thing.

Photo: Images by Holly Ann

On the Future

We can’t wait to see what interests he shares with us (if any) and what new things he starts to enjoy that we get to learn about through his eyes. We are also excited to see Max start to interact more with our original babies – the dogs – and bring them all on a family hike!

Photo: Images by Holly Ann

Some Good Advice

The best advice someone has given you? 

Having a routine is important!

Your advice for new parents? 

It sounds cliché, but enjoy every minute because it really does go incredibly fast. Also, don’t buy a lot of newborn size clothes because he grew out of them in about two weeks haha!

hide-ad

Special thanks to Glens Falls Hospital for making this series possible!

You’ve been planning for this moment for 9 months, but the team at The Joyce Stock Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital has been preparing for over 30 years. While each birth is unique, their exceptional care stays consistent.   You'll be supported 24/7 by a specialized care team that puts you and your family’s needs first.  

Expertise. Compassion. Dedication.  The reasons more babies are born at The Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living.

New Addition: Georgia Louise Mansman

What did you do this summer? Well, Natascha Pearl-Mansman gave birth to a beautiful baby girl AND opened a doughnut shop - no big deal ;) We caught up with Natascha of Darling Doughnuts and her husband Joe to find out all about their newest addition, Georgia Louise. Read on for their sweet story, including how they shared the news with family (hint: with a doughnut pun, of course!).

Photo: YM Photography

I’m Natascha Pearl-Mansman and I live with my husband Joey Mansman, our two beautiful daughters Clementine and Georgia, and our two cats Oliver and Mischa close to downtown Glens Falls. I own Darling Doughnuts in Saratoga, and Joe manages a retail store in Albany and plays and records music with his band (Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band). I love that we live in walking distance to schools, shops, parks, and playgrounds, and are able to enjoy so much of what Glens Falls has to offer without even having to get in the car - when the weather permits of course. Both Joey and I have lots of family close by, and we live in a duplex apartment next to Joe’s brother, his wife, and their child - so we have excellent neighbors! If and when we are able to purchase a house someday I’d love to stay right in our neighborhood. 

Photo: YM Photography

On Sharing the News

Funny story - my mom was asking if we were thinking about having another child, but then said we should wait since it would be a really inconvenient time with my store opening - and I said, well that’s funny because I’m actually pregnant now! The universe has a really interesting sense of humor it seems, and we ended up opening the store just a few weeks after Georgia was born. When I told Joe he didn’t seem surprised since he said he had seen prenatal vitamins in the bathroom - but I was still taking them since I was still nursing Clementine at the time! 

Photo: YM Photography

On Finding Out the Gender

When I was pregnant with Clementine I was convinced we were having a boy, so it was a big surprise when they told us we were having a girl! We had only agreed upon a boy’s name, and Joe was in California for work at the time, so I called him from the office and gave him the news. This time around I just knew we were having another girl, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when it was confirmed at my ultrasound. Joe was unable to attend most of my appointments during this pregnancy because of Covid, but was able to support me during the birth - which at one point seemed uncertain with all the new regulations! Being pregnant during a pandemic was nerve-wracking to say the least - but I was thankful for all the extra time we got to spend together before Georgia was born. 

Because I was pregnant during lockdown, we didn’t have a gender reveal or shower or anything, but I did share the news with our friends and family in the best way I knew how - with doughnuts! I made letter doughnuts that spelled ‘oh baby!’ with a ‘dad’ doughnut, a mini doughnut for Clementine, and a ‘pregnant’ doughnut for myself - with a pun ‘our family is getting a hole lot bigger’. 

Photo: YM Photography

All about Georgia

Georgia Louise Mansman was born on July 3, 2020 at 10:20pm after less than 5hrs of active labor. I was not expecting such a quick birth as I was in labor with Clementine for 36 hours! The nurse had just left the room for a moment when I suddenly knew it was go time - Joe hit the emergency button and no less than 8 people immediately came rushing in and Georgia was born barely a minute later. She was 6lbs 3oz and 18” long. Everyone thought she’d be born on the 4th of July but she surprised us all! 

I love how much of a personality she has already, and how different she already is from Clementine. It’s amazing to me that two babies that I’ve grown and birthed could be complete opposites of each other. 

Honestly, my favorite thing to do together is nap! I only have one day off from the shop each week, so on Mondays the girls and I stay in our pjs all day, order takeout, and if I’m lucky we all take a nap! 

On Naming Georgia

Joe and I have very different tastes in names, but we both liked the idea of a name that could be shortened to ‘Jo’ as a nickname. He didn’t like Josephine and I didn’t like Johanna, and somehow we stumbled upon Georgia and it just felt right! 

Photo: YM Photography

On Parenthood

My favorite part of parenthood so far is just how much joy it brings to our daily lives. It reminds me of that scene from The Grinch where his heart ‘grows three sizes’ - I feel like my heart has grown with each baby and I’m filled with so much love for them. The most challenging thing has been trying to juggle all of the responsibilities - between the two kids, two cats, the apartment, our jobs, and everything else it’s hard to find any time for ourselves - and let’s just say there’s more than one pile of laundry waiting to be folded laying around! 

Being a parent has taught me that I’m capable of so much more than I ever thought possible. It’s motivated me to follow my dreams, work harder, and set a good example for them. Since becoming a parent I’ve definitely became more confident in myself, and more able to live in the moment and appreciate the little things. 

On the Future

I’m most looking forward to watching the girls grow up together - they’re going to be quite a pair! They’re three years apart so right now they don’t have a whole lot in common, but when they’re older that difference in age won’t seem so big. Clementine is always saying that her baby sister is her best friend, and I hope it stays that way! 

On Good Advice

The advice to ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’ is something I used to roll my eyes at - when Clementine was a baby her naps are when I used to get work done around the house. But this time around on the rare occasion that both girls are sleeping, you can bet that I’ll be sleeping too, the laundry can wait! 

My advice for new parents is just to really hold on to these moments - being a parent is incredibly hard but so rewarding at the same time, and they grow up SO fast. Also - don’t be afraid to ask for help! I relied so much on the wisdom of my parents and friends who were already parents to get me through - whether it was answering my silly questions (is this normal poop??) or giving me a shoulder to cry on (if you’ve had a baby with colic, you know!).  

A Dream Night Out

Admittedly chances for a night out are extremely rare these days, but if we were able to I’d love to walk down to Farmacy and dine outside before it gets too cool out! The food and service are always excellent, and now that I’m not pregnant anymore I could even enjoy a cocktail! 

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first touch with your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Gavin Tate Hutter

This week, The Hutter Family shares their sweet new addition, Gavin Tate, and the beautiful journey that brought them together from across the globe.

Tell us about your family!

Hello there! I'm Cynthia and married to Kyle. We’re both 40ish and met as teenagers while attending the same church youth group down on Long Island. We were married 21 years ago and moved upstate to South Glens Falls in 2003. Together we have built an incredible life!

We have 6 children… Hannah (23), Rachael (20), Moriah (19), Elisabeth (17), Landon (9) and Gavin Tate (2). We are blessed to live in such a beautiful area. I always compare our Lake George summer living as a “postcard” and our Adirondack winters as a “snow globe”. As we raised our family, we made many memories camping locally with trips to Moreau Lake or day trips to Sacandaga. Tubing on the Battenkill River is also a fun favorite! Since the girls are so close in age we tried to do things that would include all of them.

Someone told me years ago that if you blink, you might miss their growing up years.  That is so true. Now they’re teenagers and our 2 oldest have moved out. The older I get the more I realize that the saying is true - the days are long but the years are short. Our kids are our greatest treasure and the greatest legacy we leave. 

On Adoption

When our girls were very young we began parenting children in need through the local foster system. In the last 15 years we have had many children come through our home.  Through our agency, Berkshire Farm, we are trained to work through trauma with the children in our care. We foster mostly infants and toddlers but even the youngest of babies has shown trauma related to abuse and neglect. Our desire was to make a small difference in our corner of the world by being a safe haven for these little ones until reunification. Throughout our foster care journey we have loved on babies who have Down syndrome, autistim and who are medically fragile.

The question we get most is, “How do you love them and then give them back?”. People tell us all the time that they could never do it. But that’s exactly what these babies need - someone to love them through their storm and emotionally invest in their lives, no matter what the outcome is. Adoption is always a possibility when there’s a foster baby in the house but to ensure we were able to make another little one a family member FOREVER, we chose the route of international adoption. 

The Journey to Gavin Tate

In November of 2018, a friend of a friend shared a picture of a bald baby boy. The baby was listed on Reece’s Rainbow, which is a website that shares special needs children that are available for international adoption. In the picture, the baby had a smirk on his face as if he knew a secret. The description on his listing said “Male. Down syndrome. Born 2018. Malformations of cardiac septa.” All I thought was that he couldn’t be more perfect. I stared at him for days. There was something about him. I showed Kyle the picture of “Calvin Henry” (name used to list him) and told him my intent to bring him into our family. Kyle’s initial reaction was a resounding no.

It took two months (and lots of prayer) to convince Kyle that this boy was indeed a Hutter. We committed to adopt “Calvin Henry” in January of 2019. With a $35,000 ransom, we began to brainstorm ways to fundraise. It was then that we realized we are blessed with an amazing community here in South Glens Falls who rallied around us in support of our adoption. Friends and businesses put together a spaghetti dinner with a 50/50 raffle and silent auction. We held two cupcake fundraisers and local restaurants generously held Dine to Donate nights where a portion of their sales were donated to our adoption fund. We also applied for grants. It was incredible that throughout our adoption process we were never held back from lack of funding.

The paperwork for international adoption is overwhelming. The information you have to provide makes you very transparent and they dig into every aspect of your life. We had to compile a home study and have fingerprints and background checks. They use a fine tooth comb going through finances to make sure we could provide for another child. It took us five months to complete our home study then an additional three months for our “golden ticket” which is USCIS approval. All these papers together is called a dossier. Once our dossier was complete we sent it to Ukraine to be submitted.

In February of 2020 we flew to Ukraine to meet our boy and formally accept his referral. It was an incredible feeling holding him for the first time. He was living in an orphanage in Kyiv, Ukraine. This baby, born all the way on the other side of the world was destined to be mine. We returned to NY after a week in Ukraine and waited to hear about next travel dates for court to make him ours forever. Then the COVID-19 pandemic began and borders closed. Our court date in Ukraine was reschedule 3 times due to the prolonged quarantine. While we waited, we prayed for his health, safety and that he’d remember how very much he was loved by us. On June 15th the borders finally opened again. We traveled back to Ukraine for court and on July 7th, 2020, Gavin Tate Hutter became ours forever. We brought him home on July 18 to a neighborhood waiting with open arms to meet this boy they’d only seen in pictures. 

On Life with Gavin

Now that he is home, like childbirth, the pain of waiting is a distant memory. He has acclimated to family life incredibly well and he is thriving! Gavin is social and loves to wave to everyone he meets. We are thrilled to watch him experience life in America. He has only been home for 3 weeks and he’s already mimicking sounds and using sign language to communicate.  And that smile that we saw in that first picture? We see it more and more every day. 

This baby boy, born and abandoned due to a diagnosis of Down Syndrome now has a mama’s arms to hold him and a daddy’s shoulder to ride on. He has four sisters and a big brother that adore him. He is no longer an orphan but a beloved son, cherished brother, grandson and nephew. 

We can never erase his first 2 1/2 years that he spent in the orphanage but we can hope that from this day forward we help him embrace life and enjoy the front row seat we have to seeing redemption first hand. Adopting one child won’t change the world, but for that child, the world will change.

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first touch with your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Evie Rosemary McDonald

The McDonald Family welcomed their sweet blue eyed baby girl, Evie, in May! We caught up with them recently to hear all about what they’re loving about life with Evie so far, how the big brothers are adjusting (spoiler alert: they’re the best helpers!), and what it’s been like welcoming a little one in the midst of the pandemic. More below!

Photo: ser.en.dip.iti photography

Tell us about your family!

Hello from The McDonald Family! I'm Alissa, my husband is Matt, and our kids are Bennett, Brooks, and Evie. Matt and I attended the same school from elementary school all the way through college, but we didn't officially meet until our early 30's when we were reintroduced by mutual friends. Matt came to pick me up at my shop in downtown Glens Falls, and our first date at Davidson's felt like dinner with an old friend. We both grew up in South Glens Falls, and we haven't gone far! As much as we love dreaming about moving to warmer weather, there's something pretty special about being here with friends and family. Our hobbies have changed recently since we can't do some of the things we used to love to do, but we've been taking the kids on short hikes and spending a lot of time at the pool!

On Sharing the News

This pregnancy didn't have the same celebrations and fancy Pinterest-themed milestones as my first two. Between being busy with two toddlers and being stuck at home during quarantine, things weren't exactly typical! In our close-knit family, I couldn't keep it a secret long. We didn't have a fancy announcement this time. We had Bennett blurt it out at a family dinner!

My sisters each have two boys and a girl, so we all wondered if the pattern would continue. I don't think it was a coincidence that the pattern did continue. In October, my favorite person in the world, my Grammy, passed away-- and that's when I knew I'd have a girl. I knew in my heart that this little girl was her gift to me. 

All about Evie

Evie Rosemary was born on May 27, 2020 at 2:16pm weighing 8lbs 13oz and measuring 22 inches.

We were really stuck on a name for her! It was just a few weeks before she was due, and we'd piled the kids in the car to go for a drive. Bennett loves to ask questions in the car. He was asking me to spell a few of the names we'd mentioned to him. He asked me to spell Evie, which was one of the names on our list. As I spelled out E-V-I-E,  I realized it was a nod to my maiden name, Bevivino. That's how we knew it was definitely our favorite!

I love being a boy mom, but oh my goodness...there is something special about a girl. I've been waiting my whole life for this! From the adorable outfits to the bows to her sweet smile, there's so much to love. Her dad and big brothers adore her too. We snuggle all day long. I wear her in a carrier for most of the day because she likes to stay close!

My mom and sisters say she looks like me, but she has Matt's blue eyes, and maybe his hair color. We can't tell yet! But I think she has my feisty personality.

Photo: ser.en.dip.iti photography

On Parenthood

My favorite part about the third baby is watching Evie's big brothers with her. They are always asking to help, and they're right by her side when she cries. It's so sweet watching them take on the big brother role already. The most challenging part is being away from friends & family during a time when we'd normally be leaning on them a lot more than usual. We haven't been able to share her quite as much this time around. Selfishly, I love the extra time to have her all to myself, but I'd love for her to be able to be around the whole family more often. 

Since becoming parents, life is definitely different! With three toddlers, there's not a lot of downtime. But we've learned some of life's greatest moments happen in the day-to-day. Whether we're laughing at something one of the boys said, or we're running around trying to keep up with them, we know we'll someday look back on these days as the best.

On the Future

I can't wait to watch her grow up alongside her brothers. We're getting ready to move into a new house that has plenty of space for everyone to run and play along with a great big treehouse in the backyard. I can't wait to watch the 3 of them making memories in our new home.

Words of Wisdom

The best advice someone has given us? To find time every day for yourself! Matt and I each have our alone time. He goes mountain biking, I read. We each need some time to recharge so we can fully show up for our kids and for each other.

And our advice for new parents - as tired as you are, stay up when the kids go to bed or get up before they get up in the morning. Enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or stay up late working on a project. You need your adult time, too!

Just for Fun

What are the top products that got you through the first few months?

Happy Baby Carrier, SwaddleMe Swaddles, Freshly Picked Backpack Diaper Bag

If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter at home, what would you do?

We'd go to Craft on 9 for a beer, pork belly sandwich & fries! (Can you tell I've been dreaming about this?)

By the way…

I noticed some of the new parents in this series thanking the nurses at Glens Falls Hospital, and I'd like to echo that. I was very nervous about giving birth during a pandemic, but they made everything as smooth and safe as possible. Every nurse, midwife and doctor answered our questions and took the time to ease our fears. We would like to especially thank Natalie, our delivery nurse. She stayed by my side the whole time except when she had to run out to get water for me (about 100 times) because we couldn't leave the room. She was the absolute sweetest, and I'll never forget her!

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first look at your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Larisa June Fountain

The Fountain Family welcomed little Larisa in April and she couldn’t be sweeter! This week they’re sharing the sweet way Marisa told Josh she was pregnant, some great advice for new parents, what they love about running their business in Glens Falls, and lots more!

Tell us about your family!

We are Marisa and Josh Fountain and we just welcomed our baby girl named Larisa June Fountain. She was born April 23rd of this year.

We are from and live in Queensbury, both graduates of Queensbury High. We are the owners of Sweets by Marisa, which is located at 217 Dix Ave, in Glens Falls. We have been open three years this past May. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 we are temporarily closed, and were unable to celebrate our anniversary with our amazing customers. Josh also owns 518 Auto and Cycle, which is a mobile automotive, marine and power sport electronics company. Both of our businesses have also been winners of Best of the Region the last two years. 

We love the area that we live in and our community. We have had so much support for our business and also for our new addition to our family. The Adirondack region has always been special to us. The local events such as the Balloon Festival, LARAC, and Taste of the North Country are all favorites of ours. One of our favorite things to do is have dinner at locally owned restaurants - Mikado and Craft on 9 being our two favorites. During the summer, we enjoy spending as much time as we can outside and on the Lake. Fall being my favorite time of year, we decorate our home with mums and pumpkins from The Garden Barn while enjoying their amazing cider donuts.

Our family is very big into the holidays. Christmas is a special time of year for us. We decorate our home, watch Christmas movies, and love driving around looking at the Christmas lights. It's a special time with our customers at Sweets by Marisa as well. We have our signature Grinch cupcakes that not only the kids love, but the adults do as well. And we get to help our customers bring their ideal sweets to their homes. Each year we have done our Christmas Eve dessert box, which is an assortment of our cookies, fudge, and eclairs, as well as our decorate your own sugar cookie box. Families have such fun decorating their cookies together. Our customers send us photos of them enjoying each other while decorating, and of course their finished art work. Owning not only one, but two businesses in our area has really brought us close to our community and we are forever grateful. 

Sharing the News

When I found out I was pregnant my husband was working. A few years ago I had made a box of cards that said “Open When”. One of those cards was an “Open when I tell you I'm pregnant” card, so when Josh got home, I walked out of our bedroom holding the envelope in my hands, as he turned around to talk to me, it was the first thing he saw. We couldn't have been happier with the news. 

Telling our family was one of the most exciting moments for us. We did a little something different for each of our parents and my sister and his brother with signs and sayings. They were ecstatic when we shared the news. It had been something everyone had been waiting very patiently for.

Our friends were not expecting this news. With Josh and I running two businesses and being on the go all of the time, they thought it would be a while. We made Christmas ornaments, that read Aunt and Uncle, with their names on them. Everyone was so happy!

We did find out the gender and had a gender reveal party at our home. All of our family and friends came to enjoy the exciting news with us, and my Uncle who is from Hudson Falls, but now lives in Missouri was able to Facetime with us during the reveal so he wouldn't miss this special moment. We popped a large black balloon in our backyard that had pink confetti inside. My husband had no doubt in his mind that it was a girl, and of course he was right! 

Josh, Marisa, and Larisa Fountain (photo provided)

All About Larisa

Larisa June was born on April 23, 2020 weighing 5lbs 12.5 ounces and measuring 17.5 inches.

I wanted to name her after myself but Josh wouldn't let me - haha. So we decided on Larisa. Her middle name is after my grandmother, June Allen, who passed away the week before I found out I was pregnant.

Larisa already has such a personality. She smiles and makes all kinds of faces. She doesn't really cry, she will only fuss when she is cold, wet, or hungry. We couldn't have asked for a better baby. The amount of hair she has is one of her most popular traits that everyone notices immediately. That she gets from me, I had a lot of hair as a baby. She resembles me quite a bit, but has Josh's eyes and mannerisms. She loves sleeping with her hand behind her head, or straight back above her head, which is one hundred percent her dad.

We have been very fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time together as a family. We take daily walks together, set aside time for Larisa to have tummy time, and I'd have to say bath time is our favorite right now. She loves the warm water and having her head massaged. 

On Parenthood

Our favorite thing about being parents so far is watching Larisa grow. She has changed so much since she was born, and we are a part of her growth and learning. She is the best thing that has ever happened to us. The most challenging part of being parents so far is getting things done around our house. Not because we are tired, but because all we want to do is spend time with her, and we catch ourselves just staring at her while she sleeps because she is so cute! 

Being a parent has taught us that a lot of things that we thought mattered really don't. She is now the most important part of our lives and we will do everything we can for her. Becoming parents has changed our responses to many different things. At night when we are sleeping, as soon as she moves or makes a noise we are both awake. We also just somehow know what each of her fussy cries mean, and what she needs at that moment.

We are looking forward to so many different stages of her life, but currently the one we are looking forward to the most is when she hugs us for the first time.

Words of Wisdom

The best advice we have gotten so far is to always listen to what she has to say at every age. No matter what it is. If we give her our full attention and listen to the little stuff, as she gets older she will still come to us and talk to us about the big stuff. Nothing your child says is unimportant. 

Advice that we would give to new parents is that the more relaxed and calm you are, the more relaxed and calm your baby is. Babies pick up on stress and tension, which then may make them start to get fussy. Now of course this is easier said than done sometimes, so make sure you always take a little bit of time every day for yourself. 

On Newborn Essentials

We have a swing that is also a bassinet, and it has three features such as laying flat, being propped at a slight angle, and then it is also able to sit her up. It has been amazing for us. Larisa will sleep and just relax in hers with no problem. 

Our Diaper Genie is something we would absolutely recommend to parents. It saves you from constantly taking your garbage out, even when the bag isn't full. 

Our Bottle Sterilizer is our favorite tool. We don't have to worry about boiling our bottles, we are able to stick her bottles in the sterilizer, turn it on, and they are done in ten minutes! 

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first kiss given to your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Elliot Maeve Sterrett

The Sterrett Family welcomed their adorable daughter, Elliot, in April! Tonight, they’re sharing the sweet birthday tradition that served as a way to tell their family the happy news that they were expecting, their favorite (social distancing friendly) things to do as a family so far, and what their ideal parents night out looks like once we’re on the other side of the pandemic.

Tell us about yourselves!

Hi! We are Luke and Makenzie Sterrett. Our daughter Elliot Maeve is one month old. She is our first baby and we are so in love with her. Luke and I met in college in Maryland and recently decided to move back home to be closer to my family and to take advantage of everything the Adirondacks has to offer. We have two cats, Renwick and Marshall, and we live near Crandall Park in Glens Falls. 

Sharing the News

How did you share the news of your pregnancy with your husband and family?

I am terrible at keeping secrets, especially from Luke. I woke up early to take a pregnancy test and left it in the bathroom for Luke to find while I anxiously waited downstairs for him to wake up. When he came downstairs, he asked "Does this mean we're pregnant?" I think he was in shock. We were both so thrilled and could hardly wait to tell our families. We told my family at my birthday in September. We have a tradition of going around the table at dinner and saying our favorite thing about the birthday person. Luke took his turn last and said his favorite thing about me was that I was going to be a great mom...in April! We had to wait a little bit longer to tell his family in Maryland since we wanted to share the news in person. Elliot is the tenth grandchild on his side and the first one on mine! 

Did you find out the gender prior prior to giving birth?

We did not find out the gender and it was the best surprise of our lives. Luke wanted to find out so I had to remind him to look away at our ultrasounds, though honestly we had no idea what we were looking at. I thought it was a girl almost the entire time except the last month for some reason. I didn't have any cravings or any of the wives' tales signs of either gender, just a lot of dreams about a baby girl. 

Photo courtesy of Makenzie Sterrett

All about Elliot

Elliot Maeve was born on April 14, 2020 at 7:20 am weighing 8 pounds 8 ounces and measuring 21 inches. 

How did you decide on a name? 

We both really liked gender-neutral names. We also liked that Elliot has a few nicknames (Elle, Ellie). Luke really liked the middle name Mae and I wanted something completely different so we compromised on Maeve, which we both love.  

What are a few things that you love about her so far? 

The cuddles, the new baby smell, seeing her change everyday, all the sweet noises she makes, her tiny toes - we're just obsessed. 

How about some of your favorite things to do together? 

Even though we are quarantined we have still been able to sit outside with my family (at a social distance) and enjoy walks around the neighborhood. Most of all, we are loving this extra time at home to cuddle her and soak up all these newborn moments.

Have you noticed any similarities - physical or personality - to the two of you? 

We think she looks more like me as a baby (except much cuter) but she has the calm and relaxed demeanor of her daddy. We also think she will be tall like her dad based off her long legs and feet. 

On Parenthood

What has been your favorite part (and biggest challenge!) of parenthood so far?

Our favorite part of parenthood so far has been getting to know little Elliot and watching her grow everyday. We still can't believe how lucky we are! 

The biggest challenge has been the fact that her grandparents, aunts, and uncles haven't been able to hold her yet due to the quarantine. FaceTime is great but we can't wait for our family and friends to finally meet her in person. 

What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Elliot to your family?

We can't wait to share our favorite activities with her: hiking, camping, traveling, exploring downtown. We are also so excited to learn her personality, teach her anything and everything, and watch her grow. 

What has being a parent taught you?

Neither one of us realized how much our parents went through. We have definitely become more appreciative of our parents. Our relationship has changed a lot since becoming parents. Watching each other take on the role of parent has caused us to fall in love all over again.

What is the best advice someone has given you? 

Take care of yourself first. Its not easy to do but it really is so important to make sure your "cup is full". When you're taking care of someone so precious you need to be at 100%. 

Do you have any advice to share for new parents? 

Well we are still figuring it all out but something that I am glad I started is journaling every day. Some days its just a few bullets and others its full pages, but it has been really nice to go back and read all those little moments from mid-pregnancy until now. My mom did the same with me and my siblings and she recently gave me one of my journals to read. It's so special to read about those early moments of my life from her perspective.

Photo courtesy of Makenzie Sterrett

Just for Fun

What are the top products that got you through the first few months?

- Solly Baby Wrap

- SwaddleMe swaddles

- Owlet Sock 

If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter at home, what would you do?

It’s kind of hard to imagine a "night out" at the moment, but drinks at Common Roots and dinner in downtown Glens Falls would be amazing. 

One more thing…

We really want to thank the nurses in The Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital! Giving birth during a pandemic was scary and we weren't sure what to expect. Every nurse was so amazing and they took such great care of all three of us. 

Thanks Sterrett Family, and welcome Elliot!

P.S. Check out more from our New Additions series here.

P.P.S. Have a new addition to share? Email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com or contact us here.

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first smile from your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Lindsey Whiting Brunelle

The Brunelle Family welcomed a baby girl to their family back in November, and they’re sharing their story this week, including the beautiful story behind Lindsey’s name, a fun alternative to a gender reveal, and a few of the many things they can’t wait to do with her as she grows.

Tell us about your family! 

Hello, we are The Brunelle Family - Kris, Kealy, and Lindsey! Kris and I were born at the Glens Falls Hospital Snuggery. I graduated from Glens Falls, and Kris graduated from Hudson Falls. We left the area after high school and came back years later. We met in Glens Falls, bought a house, and got married 3 years ago. We have two dogs, Columbo and Kona, and two cats, Mya and Velcro. The newest addition to our crew is Lindsey Whiting, born November 9th, 2019. We love to travel, see new places, and eat good food! 

Sharing the News

How did you share your pregnancy news with your family and friends? 

Finding out about our pregnancy and sharing was both a difficult and joyous occasion. Previously, we had a miscarriage, then tried to have a child for almost 2 years and tried a month of IUI. Finally, we decided to stop “trying” and signed up to be foster parents. A month and half later, my friend told me that I was “glowing”. So, in shock, in the middle of the same night, I took a pregnancy test. I woke up Kris from the bathroom with screams of joy.

Because of our previous experience, we told our friends and family in waves, then announced it on Facebook after our 20-week ultrasound. With our parents, we gave them special gifts; my parents got books on "How to babysit a Grandma" and "How to babysit a Grandpa" by Jean Reagan. Kris’s parents received mugs that said “Recently promoted to Grandpa” and "Recently promoted to Grandma".  

Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl?

I didn't want to know and Kris wanted to know, so we didn't find out. Luckily the ultrasound technician listened to me and had to keep Kris from peeking. On the 20-week ultrasound, Kris thought he could tell that it was a boy. I initially thought girl, but everyone thought I was having a boy because of how I was carrying. So I wasn’t so sure! 

Instead of finding out the sex, we did some betting on our baby! We had a Jack & Jill style baby shower, but the guys and gals did their own thing, except for the baby pool. It was $10 to guess the height, weight, sex, and birthday. The winner got half of the pot. Not many people guessed girl! The winner of the pot didn't even guess girl, but she came the closest with the height, weight, and birthday. 

Photos courtesy of Kealy Brunelle

All about Lindsey

Lindsey Whiting Brunelle was born at 8:13pm on November 9th 2019. She weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. 

How did you decide on her name? 

Both her middle and first name have great meaning and significance to us.

When we got married, Kris requested that I change my last name to Brunelle. I didn’t want to, however we agreed that I could have the ultimate decision making power in naming our firstborn. Therefore, I decided the middle name would be Whiting, for my maiden name, which is also my middle name now. Our daughter gets to have her mom and dad’s family as a part of her name.

The story of her first name still makes us cry. Lindsey’s namesake was my best friend and her godmother, Lindsey Skellie, a Glens Falls alum and long time resident. I picked a few names for a boy and girl beforehand, but we weren’t sure. We both needed to see the baby. Nine days before our daughter was born, my best friend Lindsey passed away from cancer. She joked several times before her death that we should name her Lindsey if the baby was a girl... I told her the name was too popular for me to choose it. As soon as we saw that the baby was a girl, we both cried, looked at each other, and knew her name was Lindsey. It took us some time to tell our family, friends, and even the nurses, her name. 

What are a few things you love about her so far? 

I love that she has her own personality, even at a few months old. I also love that she's wiggly and loves to make noises since birth. Kris loves that she has not been colicky. He also loves that she is inquisitive. 

What are some of your favorite things to do together? 

Lindsey is already an extrovert and traveler; she loves to be out of the house seeing new places and meeting new people. I love to take her for walks up the bike path or in the mall to do errands, even if it's the just the grocery store (before the pandemic, of course). She also loves music so we rock out to music as a family. Kris likes to watch Jack Harmon videos on YouTube and learn the alphabet. He loves to cuddle her before she goes to sleep every night.  

Any similarities to the two of you? 

She doesn’t wake up well like Kris. She loves to babble and talk like me. She is a very busy baby, always moving even when you're holding her, which is a lot like Kris when he was a baby. She looks a lot like me but has Kris' eyes, but Kris thinks she has my eyes. She loves to eat, which is like the both of us! She already has some of my facial expressions!

On Parenthood

We’d love to hear about your favorite part (and most challenging part) of parenthood thus far.

Our favorite part of parenthood is watching Lindsey learn and change: day to day, week to week, month to month. It's crazy how quick babies change and grow!

At first the biggest challenge for me was figuring out what Lindsey needed when she cried. Everyone tells you that "you'll figure it out", but until that point, it's so difficult! Kris's biggest challenge was adjusting to infant sleep patterns! 

What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Lindsey to your family?

As we said, we love to travel. We can't wait to take her new places and on new adventures with us. We went to NYC earlier this year and she loved it: all the busyness and people, so many things for her to look at. Also, Kris can't wait to show her how to do new things, like to read or work on cars.

What has being a parent taught you? 

With the challenges we had becoming parents, we are blessed and happy for every single moment we have with Lindsey, even the difficult ones. It has taught us the importance of sleep and how to live on a few hours of sleep. It has also taught us to make time for each other; we try to do date nights weekly even if it's just eating dinner at home without Lindsey. Also it taught us to give yourself some grace. You're not perfect and you're going to make mistakes, and that's okay.

What is the best advice you’ve received on parenthood? 

Onesies are made to be pulled off past the waist, not over the head! That made the world of difference when we experienced our first "blow out". 

Creating a routine or schedule is very important; do it as early as you can. Make it work for you and your family, not how it "should look". 

Don't buy just one style of pacifier or bottle. Get samples of different types of bottles and pacifiers (you can get free ones from joining baby registries at stores like Target, Walmart) because some babies, like ours, are super fussy. 

Do you have any advice to share for new parents? 

If you can't figure out why your child is crying, put them down. Sometimes they need alone time.  

People will try to give you so much advice. It's okay not to take it! Do what works for you and your family, but is also safe for the baby. On that note, find a doctor you like, trust, and aren't afraid to ask questions, even the "silly" ones. 

Just for Fun

What are some of the products that got you through the first few months?

1. A Graco swing/bouncer combo - the swing was useful when she was gassy and I needed a break from rocking them to sleep; the bouncer is very useful now because she loves the vibrations. 

2. A white noise machine helps so much in the beginning and created a bedtime routine. 

3. If you are breast feeding or thinking of breastfeeding, get a good pump, like Medela or Spectra, right from the beginning, because you never know when you will need it. 

4. Swaddles that transition into sleepsacks - the Halo sleepsack was great because we are still using it after she needed to be swaddled. 

If you could have one night out (post-pandemic) with a trusted babysitter, what would you do? 

We like to go out for drinks or just cook dinner at home just for the two of us.

Congratulations Brunelle Family and welcome Lindsey!

P.S. Check out more from our New Additions series here, and if you have one to share, email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com!

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first ­­­­snuggle with your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Luca Anthony Romano

The Romano Family welcomed Luca in March and gosh aren’t they just the cutest family?! We caught up with them this week to find out how the transition to parenthood is going, hear about the adorable way Gabby shared the news with Tony that she was pregnant, and get some great words of advice to share with other new parents.

Tell us about your family!

Hello!  We are the Romanos - my name is Gabby and I married my high school sweetheart, Tony. We welcomed our first child (who is a bit hairy!) - our dog Henry (Hank) Romano in 2018, and most recently our first human child on March 1st of this year. We are both originally from South Glens Falls, NY but moved to Queensbury in 2018 after falling in love with the schools and close knit community. Our favorite family time is spent with weekend road trips, guessing the real antagonist on Dateline and testing the amazing restaurants in the 518. 

Sharing the News

How did you share your pregnancy news with your husband, family, and friends?

On the eve of my husband’s birthday, I decided to take a pregnancy test because we had been trying and I figured why not?! To my surprise it was positive! I gifted my husband a onesie that read “hello daddy” in a box labeled “I can’t wait to meet you”. That birthday gift will always be a tough act to follow!

To share the news with our family and friends, we invited them to dinner and our dog Henry had the pleasure of sharing the news with a “puppy book” full of photos of Henry and a page at the end with Henry wearing a bandana that so sweetly read “I’m going to be a big brother”.

Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right? 

Although the surprise of the pregnancy was mine to share, my husband actually found out the gender first and surprised me with an entire room of blue balloons. 

Everyone but me thought the baby was a boy! I didn’t have any inklings per say but a dream years prior of a little girl opening all of the Christmas gifts. Maybe a girl down the road but for now I am outnumbered and couldn’t be happier.

Photo courtesy of Gabby Romano

All about Luca

Luca Anthony Romano was born on March 1, 2020 at 12:03 PM weighing 7 pounds 8 oz and measuring 20.5 inches.

How did you decide on his name? 

Luca came from a city we saw on our trip to Florence, Italy which is actually Lucca but we preferred Luca. Anthony is my husband’s first name and his grandfather’s middle name so certainly a very special name in our family. 

What are a few things you love about him so far? 

What’s not to love? His sweet little toes, amazing baby smell, etc. We just love everything about our sweet boy but his beautiful smile is so wonderful. We have to work for it but oh man is it worth it. 

How about some of your favorite things to do together? 

While the quarantine has made this season of life not what we expected, it has made family time so much more valuable. We’ve learned to appreciate just being together, cuddling up and watching movies and staring at our sweet baby and every new noise and expression he makes.

Does he have any similarities to the two of you? 

Right now Luca looks a lot like Daddy from an overall perspective and has Momma’s smile and eyes.

Photo courtesy of Gabby Romano

On Parenthood

What is your favorite part and the biggest challenge about parenthood thus far?

The best part of parenthood is watching your child grow and develop. Each new milestone is major and brings us so much joy!

The biggest challenges are just the endless worries that come with parenthood. We’ve Googled more in the last 8 weeks than high school and college combined. 

What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Luca to your family?

We are so looking forward to new adventures with Luca, traveling and experiencing new traditions.

What has being a parent taught you?

Being a parent taught us how much we truly love each other and were made for one another. I can’t imagine raising babies with anyone else.

I also think we are more confident than we were before becoming parents. There’s something so empowering about raising a child.

The best advice someone has given you? 

“Soak it in” short and sweet but true. Drop the laundry, answer that call or message later, the kitchen will eventually be clean but those sweet snuggles are irreplaceable. 

Do you have any advice you’d like to share with other new parents?

You’re amazing and everything your baby needs. Your baby is so loved and that’s all that matters. 

Some advice for loved ones of new parents: I know your first instinct is to share every nugget of wisdom you’ve acquired with your experience but also remember that every baby is different and what that new mom and dad need the most is support. When you are asked to share in this special time with new parents save those nuggets of advice for the time they are needed the most and instead share your encouraging words and a reminder that they are doing an amazing job…and a hot meal or two is ALWAYS welcome. :)

Photo courtesy of Gabby Romano

Just for Fun

What are the top products that got you through the first few months?

1. Our son loved his swing! 4 moms is compact and quiet, highly recommend. 

2. We tried approximately eight thousand swaddles…maybe not, but it felt like it! Love to Dream was the best because it allowed Luca’s arms to be near his face like he preferred but also kept him snug so he didn’t startle himself awake.

3. Lou Lou and Company gowns are amazing. They are incredibly soft, allow for easy diaper changes and were created by a NICU nurse in Utah. We love their products.

4. This one is more for parents, but the Nespresso Espresso machine kept us going after those sleepless nights. 

If you could have one night out (post-pandemic!) with a trusted babysitter at home, what would you do?

What a dream! We would probably head to our favorite spot, Lake Placid, and enjoy Smoke Signals after an afternoon wandering through their local shops. 

—————

Thanks so much, and congratulations Romano Family!

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first touch with your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Phoebe Margaret Fowler

This week we’re catching up with our pals Will and Katie Fowler and their adorable daughter, Phoebe! Read on to find out the fun way they revealed their pregnancy to Will’s family, how they decided on Phoebe’s name, and lots more below!

Tell us about your family! 

Hi! We are the Fowlers! My name is Katie, my husband Will and I recently welcomed our first child, Phoebe Margaret Fowler, on June 30, 2019. Will and I were both born at Glens Falls Hospital and have lived in the area all our lives. We met after coming home from college and knew we wanted to stay here to start our family. A few years ago, we bought a house about a mile from downtown and love being so close to everything (especially our friends and families!).

Sharing the News

How did you share your pregnancy news with your family and friends?

We actually waited about four months to tell our family and friends, because I had a miscarriage with our first pregnancy. We know it’s a sensitive topic that most people keep private, but I wanted to take this opportunity to let other mamas know that it’s more common than most people think. Talking to other families who had been through the same thing helped us process it, so I want others to know that they aren’t alone out there! When I got pregnant for the second time, we allowed ourselves to be cautiously optimistic, so when we finally did share the news, we wanted to make it special. We actually filmed my parents’ reaction, so that’s a touching memory we’ll cherish forever. And now we’re so blessed to have our little rainbow baby!

Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right? 

We did not find out! We both love surprises...but to be honest, we also tried to figure it out at every ultrasound. I was convinced we were having a boy, but Will has four sisters, so he had a suspicion another girl was on the way.

Did you have a gender reveal? If not, did you do anything special to share the news?

We didn’t have a gender reveal, since we didn’t know, but with Will’s family, we revealed our pregnancy during a game of Family Feud (Will’s family is obsessed with game shows). Survey says…we’re having a baby!

Photo courtesy of Will + Katie Fowler

All about PHOEBE

Our sweet girl was born on Sunday, June 30th at 1:56 AM. She weighed 8 lbs. 8.9 oz. and was 20 inches long. 

How did you decide on her name?

Our most favorite thing to do together is birdwatching. Will’s sisters got us into it a few years ago and we were instantly hooked. One of the first times we went birding together, we saw a little, fluffy brown bird that cheerily bobbed it’s tail—the Eastern Phoebe. We thought it was a really cute name that you don’t hear all that often and that was that! Her middle name, Margaret, is for my Grandma Peggy (who just celebrated her 65th wedding anniversary last week!). 

What are a few things you love about Phoebe so far?

Um, everything! I love how she gently tugs at the back of my hair when she’s sleepy. I love how she shrieks when she gets excited, especially when she sees me walk in the door after work. I get so excited I echo her squeals too! Will loves how she wakes up every morning with a giant grin on her face and when she looks deeply into his face like she’s trying to memorize it.

What are some of your favorite things to do together?

Phoebe loves to show off all of her physical abilities! Rolling, bouncing, sitting up, and (almost) standing. She’s working on crawling in every direction but forward. Phoebe is such a calm baby, it’s so easy and fun to take her out and about; to visit friends, hang out with family or go birding! Will loves to watch Syracuse basketball games with her because she gets really excited when Dad jumps up and cheers.

Any similarities - in appearance or personality - to the two of you? 

When she was first born, we both thought she looked a lot like me. But Will’s physical traits are slowly starting to appear. We both have blue eyes, so we were happy to pass those along. Her hair (what little there is) gets more and more reddish everyday, so we think she might end up being strawberry blonde. She’s very social, like Will. She’s pretty stubborn, like both of us. And she’s also very serious most of the time, which she definitely doesn’t get from either of us.

Photos courtesy of Will + Katie Fowler

On Parenthood

What’s your favorite part about parenthood thus far? How about the biggest challenge or most surprising thing? 

My favorite part of parenthood so far is being her everything. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to meet all her needs and calm her down when no one else can. My biggest challenge has been going back to work. We are beyond fortunate to have my mom take care of Phoebe full time, but it doesn’t make me miss her any less each day.

What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Phoebe to your family?

We can’t wait to hear her squeaky little voice! It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves, but we can’t help but get excited thinking about what interests she’ll have, talents she’ll possess and all the things she’ll teach us about ourselves, too.

What has being a parent taught you?

I didn’t think I could love Will any more than I did, until I saw the way he looks at Phoebe. In terms of lessons learned, becoming parents has given us both an entirely new respect for our own parents. So thanks mom and dad...and sorry for all the grief!

How about the best advice someone has given you? 

It sounds really cliche, but the best advice we received was to enjoy every moment. These first 7 months have flown by in a heartbeat. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day bustle of diapers and laundry and work, but we have to stop and constantly remind ourselves that they’re only little once!

And your advice for new parents? 

Don’t compare yourselves to other parents! There are so many baby blogs and conflicting opinions out there that it’ll make your head spin. It’s easy to feel like you aren’t doing enough or aren’t doing it right. You know what’s best for your baby and your family!

Photo courtesy of Will + Katie Fowler

Just for Fun

What are the top few products that got you through the first few months?

• What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff

• SwaddleMe

• A good white noise machine (portable ones are great!)

• Fischer-Price Sit-Me-Up (when you just need to put her down for a second!)

If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter, what would you do?

We’d probably go to our favorite downtown spot, Raul’s, for margaritas and tacos (but of course, we’d have to check The Weekender first, to see what’s going on!)

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first touch with your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Diana Caroline Grogan

Lauren Grogan and Michael Plank welcomed their adorable daughter Diana this past fall, and we were so happy to catch up with them to hear all about her (and hang out with their sweet son Harvey!). Read on to find out about their experience with home birth, the significance of Diana’s name, and some great advice for new parents!

Tell us about your family! 

We are Lauren Grogan and Michael Plank and we live in Hudson Falls.  Michael and I have been married for 10 years, he is the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Hudson Falls and together we founded Underwood Park Crossfit in Fort Edward.  Our first daughter, Aliza Dayenu, was still born at 23 weeks in June of 2013. That loss was a profound and transformative event for our family, and it echoes through our life today in some very beautiful ways.  A year later, our son, Harvey Michael Plank, was born. He is now a wonderfully sweet and silly 5 year old who always makes us laugh and impresses us with his intelligence and sensitive heart. He also adores his new sister, Diana Caroline Grogan. As a family we love to sing and have kitchen dance parties. We also like to spend our free days outside and our nights at SlickFin Brewing Company.

Sharing the News

How did you share your pregnancy news with your family and friends?

This pregnancy was very planned, and I was pretty sure our plan had worked well before the test confirmed it, so there was no big reveal for my husband.  We chose to take our time telling family, until I accidentally mentioned it in a totally unrelated conversation with my mother-in-law! So there was no big reveal there either, just some quick happy phone calls once the cat was out of the bag. Harvey also had a great time announcing our news, he even told a few people before we were ready! It was nice to tell people a few at a time, like breaking off a little piece of our joy and sharing it in a bunch of intimate moments over the course of a few months.

Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right? 

Harvey always referred to the baby as ‘she.’ A week before our ultrasound, we talked to Maureen, a woman from our church who’s ability to predict the sex of a pregnancy is legend in our town. She has never been wrong, but she told us it was a boy! At the ultrasound, it was clear that it was a girl and Harvey reminded us that he’d known all along. Maureen said she might retire from predictions.

Photo by Kelli Evans Photography

All about Diana

Diana was born at our house on October 29th, 2019 at 11:55 AM. She weighed 8lbs 15oz and was 21 inches long.

How did you decide on a home birth?

This was our second planned home birth, with the same midwife who helped us welcome Harvey, Kathie Breault with Sage-Femme midwifery. She is now an extension of our family, a true wise woman whose advice I deeply value and seek often. This time we had our friend, Kelli Evans, photograph the birth and the pictures she took are a stunning capsule of the emotional event. My water didn’t break until the moment Diana was born, which is unusual and a fascinating thing to see captured in photographs.  Labor was hard, I was physically and emotionally drained. But Michael is the most supportive partner and we make a great team. Just like her sister and brother, Diana was born into her father’s hands. There was a moment right after she was born, before they put her on my chest, when I was so happy to see her and relieved to be finished laboring. I reached for her, and in one of Kelli’s photos, you can see Diana’s hands stretched toward me too. 

Photo by Kelli Evans Photography

The first time we chose to plan for a birth at home, it was about redeeming some of the hard parts of my first birth and having a team of people caring for me who treated me like the healthy person I was.  This time, I just couldn't imagine doing anything different! I appreciate having the agency to make choices for myself combined with the knowledge and care of birth experts. Receiving care in my home during the days after she was born was so wonderful, I was well looked after and didn't have to leave the house until I wanted to!

Tell us about her beautiful name!

A few years ago we were on a family trip to Manhattan and the weather was awful.  To escape the rain, we went to The Met. We stepped into one particular hall, full of light from its glass ceiling, and in the center was this dramatic statue of a woman holding a bow and arrow (bow hunting is a favorite pastime of Michael, and many people in my family) I read the description, and it was a statue of Diana, the Huntress.  I thought that would be a beautiful name for a daughter some day, which surprised me because at that point I was definitely not thinking about having more kids! Over the next few years I would see her from time to time in different works of art. Diana is the roman goddess of the moon and the hunt, she is almost always depicted with a bow and often a stag or hound.  I love that imagery, and by the time we were thinking of having another child, I knew that this name had worked its way into my heart. We went back to the museum this summer and told Harvey about his sister’s powerful name. Her middle name is Caroline after my mother-in-law, and her last name is Grogan because it’s my last name and I like it!

What are a few things you love about her so far?  

I am really loving this newborn stage!  The experience of having done it already makes it much easier for me to enjoy. I’m not as anxious and I know I won’t be sleep deprived forever, so I’m able to relax and soak it all in.  She is deliciously squishy right now, I love her chubby baby rolls!

How about some of your favorite things to do together? 

She goes everywhere with me, so we do it all.  She has been to several meetings, and last week for the first time I wore her while I gave a presentation.  I also wear her when I walk to school to pick up Harvey, and I just love the connection we have when she is snuggled in to me. We’re also settling in to a weekday morning routine that I really love: I get my coffee before she wakes up and then we hang out in bed. I feed her, we snuggle, she lays on her stomach for some strength training (baby CrossFit). The rest of the day I may need to focus on other things, but that first hour is just for us.

Any similarities to the two of you? 

She most strongly resembles her brother, it’s really fun!  She is calm and content, which is more like my husband, but she has a wildcat scream that she uses to get her point across and that’s definitely my style.

Photo by Kelli Evans Photography

On Parenthood

What’s your favorite thing about being parents?

I love watching them learn and seeing their personalities emerge.  Harvey is learning to read at lightning speed and we get these fascinating glimpses of how his mind works as he learns and applies new skills. Diana finally figured out how to get her thumb into her mouth after many weeks of diligent effort. I’m looking forward to learning about her personality, the ways that she is similar to Harvey and the things that are unique to her.  

What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Diana to your family? 

Having another girl is pretty fun!  I’m excited for floral print everything and it’s been fun to put her in some dresses that I wore when I was a baby.  We are also pretty sure we are finished having kids, so I am excited to take in all of her milestones, knowing that it will be our last time experiencing them as parents.  

How have you changed since becoming parents? 

I think being a parent makes you a better person, because your kids are always watching. They see and imitate everything we do, so there is a pretty strong incentive to be the best versions of ourselves, and to own it when we fall short of that goal (often). You do so much to shape their worldview when they are little, it’s a huge responsibility and also an incredible opportunity to think critically about what you value.  It can be exhausting to have to explain literally everything to them, but I have articulated so many things that I previously did not have words for. I think I know myself better because of that.

Photo by Kelli Evans Photography

We’d love to hear the best advice someone has given you? 

The most helpful thing for me is when other women affirm how I am feeling: that it’s hard, lonely even boring sometimes when you have a young baby and it’s ok to not love every minute.  Also the geniuses at babysleepscience.com taught me how to help my baby sleep and that changed my life.  

How about your advice for new parents? 

Nothing lasts forever! Most people think of this as a negative, but I think it’s comforting to know when you are in the trenches that it’s a short season of life. And don’t buy anything!  Take all the hand-me-downs you can get and save your money for date nights. The best thing you can give your child is happy parents.  

Photo by Kelli Evans Photography

Just for Fun

What are the the top 3-5 products that have gotten you through the first few months? 

Dry shampoo and a soft sided carrier, I like the baby k’tan, my husband likes the moby.  And a Haakaa breast pump! I didn’t have this with Harvey and it’s a game changer, especially to use on the opposite side while Diana is nursing.

If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter, what would you do? 

Sleep! I guess I wouldn't say no a nice meal, but I’d want it in bed. 

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first look at your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Rory Mahoney McCarthy

Brendan and Emily McCarthy recently welcomed their sweet daughter Rory in October, and we were so thrilled to catch up with them recently to hear all about her! They’ve shared the sweet significance behind her middle name, a helpful resource for sleep training, and lots more below!

Photo by Taylor Doyle, courtesy of Emily McCarthy

Tell us about your family! 

Hi! We are Brendan & Emily McCarthy. We have one daughter, Rory. She is 3 months old. We both grew up here and recently moved back to be closer to our families. We live on the east side of Glens Falls. 

Brendan likes to attend hockey games with his parents, dine at Raul’s and enjoy beers at Common Roots. I love the Crandall Library, the Adirondack Balloon Festival and taking neighborhood walks. 

Sharing the News

How did you share the news of your pregnancy with your husband and family?

When I found out I was pregnant I immediately called my mom; I wanted to be with her right away. She came over and we just sat in awe & excitement & talked for a few hours, and then I drove to Brendan’s work, telling him I was just coming for lunch. He was very surprised and not completely convinced. He said, “That’s great! But let’s make sure the doctor confirms it.” Ha! 

We were pregnant at the same time as my brother and sister in law, so that was really fun! 

Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right? 

We didn’t find out the gender beforehand, we wanted to be surprised. We both thought we were having a boy, and were thrilled with a girl. She is our dream come true.  

Photo by Taylor Doyle, courtesy of Emily McCarthy

All about Rory

Rory Mahoney McCarthy was born October 21, 2019, at 10:01 pm. She measured 6 lbs. 10 oz. and 18.5 inches long. 

Such a cute name! How did you decide on it? 

Rory was the only name we could both agree on, and luckily it was gender neutral. We thought it sounded nice with our Irish last name, too. I (Emily) chose the middle name, Mahoney, in honor of my beloved grandparents. I thought if I was ever worried about her, they would be her guardian angels in heaven. 

What are a few things you love about her so far? 

Everything. Brendan loves her hair, her smile, her laugh, and the way she looks at her Mommy. I loves her little baby sounds, when she gets excited about anything, her smell, her giggles, every smile, every moment. 

How about some of your favorite things to do together? 

I love to sing Disney songs to her, read books, perform puppet shows for her with her stuffed animals, and dress her up in all her adorable clothes for daily photo shoots. Brendan does all the grooming - from hair to nails! We love giving her baths together because she smiles and coos. We like to take her out anywhere and she enjoys the stimulating, big, wide world. 

Any similarities - physical or personality - to the two of you? 

She certainly has her Daddy’s hair. She receives so much attention for it! She looks just like Daddy’s baby pictures. People have commented that she resembles both of her grandmothers. 

Photo by Taylor Doyle, courtesy of Emily McCarthy

On Parenthood

We’d love to hear your favorite parts about parenthood thus far? And the most surprising thing? 

Brendan says Rory has brought new meaning to “home” and he can’t wait to come home from work every evening. I love how close parenthood as made our little family. We work pretty well together as a team. 

We both think adjusting to the sleep schedule in the beginning was the biggest challenge. 

The most surprising thing about parenting is how fast time truly seems to fly by.

What are you most looking forward to with the new addition to your family?

Taking her on hikes and getting outside even more after winter. 

I grew up across the street from Crandall Park and I have so many wonderful memories playing at the playground, sledding and skating on the pond with my Dad. I can’t wait to take her to all these same spots. We can’t wait to play with her in our backyard.  

What has being a parent taught you? How have you changed since becoming parents? 

As a Mom, I now see my own parents so differently. I think, “Wow, you’ve been through all of this many times!” (They raised 5 children). My respect, love and admiration for them has grown even stronger somehow. And I don’t say it enough, so shout out to them!   

What’s the best advice someone has given you? 

Our sister-in-law, Katie Fowler, is a clinical nurse educator at Glens Falls Hospital, and she recommended we take an online sleep training course for newborns entitled, “Taking Cara Babies.” We credit Rory’s successful sleeping schedule to this. The program has truly been a lifesaver! 

Would you like to share some advice for parents-to-be?

We both recommend taking all the classes available to new parents offered at Glens Falls Hospital. 

Brendan: Don’t be ashamed to take advantage of NYS Paid Family Leave. I enjoy the time I’ve taken off to spend with her and would never do it any other way. We are fortunate to live in a state that affords us this opportunity. 

Emily: Hire a professional photographer for the early newborn days. You will cherish those photos forever! 

Just for Fun

What are the top products that got you through the first few months?

• The Hatch Baby Rest Night Light & Sound Machine

• The Solly baby wrap

• Tiny Love Magical Tales Black & White Gymini (playmat)

• Spectra 9 Plus portable breast pump and a hands-free pumping bra

• Swaddles

If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter, what would you do?

Dinner & a movie! We’re simple : ) 

By the way…

We’d like to say “thank you” to our families and friends for all their love and support at this wonderful time in our lives. We love you!

—————

Thanks Emily and Brendan and welcome Rory!

P.S. Check out more from our New Additions series here.

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first kiss given to your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Vivian Arcangela Forcier

This week, we’re excited to catch up with The Forcier Family (you’ll recognize Maura from MinkyMink and Mike from Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery!) and their adorable new addition, Vivian Arcangela! Read on to find out where Maura found out that she was expecting, the story behind Vivian’s beautiful name, and some lessons learned from parenthood thus far.

Photo courtesy of Maura Forcier

Tell us about your family! 

We are The Forcier Family! Maura, Michael & Vivian (born Oct 20th). We have two dogs, Phoebe & Cody. We lived in Glens Falls for 5 years, but we just recently moved to a house with 12 acres in Queensbury. My husband Mike built a walking trail (Maura's Mosey) on our property, so one of our favorite things to do is walk on the trail with the whole clan! 

Sharing the News

How did you share your pregnancy news with your husband, family, and friends? 

I actually took a pregnancy test in the LAX airport bathroom. I was visiting my brother in LA and as he was driving me to the airport to catch my flight home, I made him stop at the drug store at 4 am to buy a pregnancy test. Once I got to the airport, I took the test and when it turned positive, I couldn't stop laughing. I laugh when I'm nervous. The person in the stall next to me must have thought I was a nut ball. I held onto the news the entire trip home and told my husband the second I walked through the door! I couldn't keep the secret any longer! 

When we told our family, we had a gathering at our house. We told everyone to get together to take a group photo. Instead of saying "cheese" on the count of three to take the photo, we shouted "Maura's Pregnant," and my mother in law started screaming and crying! It was so funny. We have it on video if anyone wants to see! 

Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right? 

Yes, we found out the gender at our 20 week ultrasound. Both of us thought we were having a boy because I was carrying low. But, to our sweet surprise, we had a little girl! To be honest, I was pretty relieved because my husband was rambunctious as a kid and I was nervous about having a boy first! 

Did you have a gender reveal?

We had a small gender reveal party with just our immediate family. But, Mike and I knew the gender beforehand. It was important for us to have our moment together at the doctor's office. We didn't want to be put on the spot during one of the biggest moments of our lives. It was really a gender reveal for our family. We had both of our sisters hit a baseball filled with pink powder. Everyone was stunned when the pink dust flew through the air...except both of our Dads! They called it! 

Photo courtesy of Maura Forcier

All about Vivian

Vivian was born on 10/20/19 at 3:49am, weighing 7 lbs, 8 oz, and measuring 18 inches long.

How did you decide on her beautiful name?

Vivian Arcangela Forcier - The whole time I was pregnant, we couldn't decide on a name. I liked the name Maren and Mike wanted Vivian. We had a few complications during her birth. She had the cord wrapped around her neck, causing her to lose oxygen. She ended up having to go to the Albany Med NICU (she is 100% healthy, don't worry!). Before they whisked her away in the ambulance, the Doctor asked what her name was. Mike told them Maren, because he knew that is what I wanted. I instantly started balling because he let me have the name that I wanted which meant a lot to me. Before they left, they let me hold her for 5 minutes. That was the first time I was able to get a good look at her. As I stared down at her, she looked like such a classic beauty and I knew that Vivian was her name. She needed a name that was regal. 

Vivian's middle name is Arcangela (pronounced Are-Con-Gel-Uh). I'm sure you've never heard that before! It's Italian and is my Mother's name as well as my Great Grandmother's name. My Husband's cousin, Kate Hogan told us that she should have a name that means something to us. We chose Arcangela as her middle name because my Mom is a strong, smart and caring woman. I want Vivian growing up with those same qualities. I think as she gets older, she will think about her Grandma and be proud of the fact that she was named after such an amazing woman. 

What are a few things you love about Vivian so far? 

I love Vivian's smile! She is such a smiley, happy baby in the morning and seeing her bright eyed and bushy tailed as I pick her up out of her crib makes my heart melt. She is on the verge of laughing right now. She makes this high pitched squeal if we make funny faces at her and it's the best sound in the world to me. I have a video of her squealing and I watch it all the time when I'm at work. 

What are some of your favorite things to do together?

It's kind of embarrassing! But, we can't do too much outside yet since she is only 12 weeks old. So, right now, my favorite thing to do with her is to put music videos on the TV and dance together. I put her in this thing called a "Boba Wrap" (so I can wear her) and we shake our groove thang! I'll dance in front of the mirror so she can see herself and she will start squealing! Yesterday, we danced to all the good early 2000's tunes...like Nelly, Missy Elliot & Britney Spears. My husband always teases me though and changes the music to the Grateful Dead or Warren Zevon because he says he wants her listening to good music! I look absolutely insane, but it's pretty hilarious and fun. 

Any similarities - physical or personality - to the two of you? 

She has dark hair like me and it sticks straight up on the back of her head like Alfalfa. Right now, she has blue eyes like my husband. But, her eye color could change. Once babies are 6 months old, their eye color is permanent. Her looks are changing every day though. Sometimes I think she looks just like my husband and other times, I think she looks just like me! It's hard to tell who she will resemble more. Personality wise, she is a little chatter box, so she gets that from my husband. Thankfully, she is a great sleeper, which she inherited from me! 

On Parenthood

We’d love to hear your favorite part about parenthood thus far…and the biggest challenge?

My favorite thing about being a parent so far is seeing Viv change and develop. It's cliche, but she is growing so fast and I love seeing her personality come out. I also love snuggling with her. When we put her to bed, my husband reads a book while I feed her. We snuggle together for a while and it makes my heart full. 

The biggest challenge for me right now is feeling like I have to get it all done. I own MinkyMink downtown, so between running the business and taking care of Viv, the dogs, the house, etc, it's been a juggling act. My husband and I are starting to get more into the groove of it all and working on our time management skills, but it's definitely not easy! I'm lucky that our families live close by and help us a lot. 

What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Vivian to your family? 

Creating our own family traditions with Vivian. Once she is able to walk, we plan on doing a family snow shoe every Christmas morning. My husband wants to do an annual family camping trip. Obviously that will be down the road, but I'm looking forward to spending time together as a family and making memories. 

What has being a parent taught you? How have you changed since becoming parents? 

Childbirth was the hardest thing that I have ever gone through. Because that was so hard, I feel like I can literally do anything, so it's taught me that I'm a force to be reckoned with. My priorities have changed since becoming a parent. My main goal in life right now is to be the best Mom to Vivian. So, I don't worry about petty things anymore, because who has time to sweat the small stuff when you have a baby to care for?

What’s the best advice someone has given you on parenthood so far? 

Don't compare yourself to other parents, everyone's journey is different. Do what's best for you and your family. 

Care to share some of your advice for new parents?

It's impossible to do it all. Accept help when people offer it and ask for help when you need it. 

Photo courtesy of Maura Forcier

Just for Fun

The top products that got you through the first few months? 

Sleep Swaddle, Burt's Bee's Booty Cream and the Snot Sucker.

If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter, what would you do? 

I would hit the slopes at Gore Mountain with my Husband and then apres ski at Bar Vino in North Creek. 

—————

Thanks Forcier Family, and welcome Vivian!

P.S. Check out more from our New Additions series here.

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first smile from your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Owen James Germain

We were thrilled to catch up with The Germain Family this week, who recently welcomed a new addition - their adorable son Owen James! Read about the significance of his name, get a peek into Kelli’s journal entries on what she loves about motherhood, and hear the best advice they’ve been given on parenthood so far…

Photo courtesy of Kelli Germain

Tell us about your family!

Ian and I became a family of two on September 10, 2017 in Charlton, NY, at our wedding on his grandfather’s 150-acre farm that we then called home. Since then, our family has grown to include our fur baby, Sadie Bear—a 105-pound Italian Mastiff—and our newest (and proudest, and littlest!) addition, Owen James Germain. We welcomed him into the world on June 26, 2019, and he is our joy. Every single day.

While our home is in Burnt Hills, NY and extremely close to my husband’s family, we spend a heck of a lot of time up north. I’m a proud partner at Sidekick Creative, a design firm right here in Glens Falls, and our beautiful studio in The Shirt Factory is truly my home away from home. My husband’s personal home away from home is our Adirondack backyard—he is an avid rock and ice climber, and loves hiking, fishing, and any activity involving outdoor adventure.

Sharing the News

How did you share your pregnancy news with your husband?

After having that gut feeling that I was pregnant (sure enough, I was!), I just couldn’t keep it bottled inside. I called my husband immediately who was just leaving work, and was crying and hardly able to get words out. He asked if something was wrong, and I choked out “no just get home!” He hardly finished pulling in the driveway when I ran outside bawling tears of joy and excitedly waved the test in front of his face. It was such a sweet and proud moment for us, and we just clutched each other in the middle of our front yard for what seemed like an eternity!

Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right? 

I did find out Owen’s gender—I knew I wouldn’t have the patience to wait it out, and really wanted to decorate the nursery and envision what life would be like with our new addition. I was really convinced he was going to be a girl for weeks! I admittedly had always dreamed of having a little girl, but being a boy mama is exactly who I was meant to be. 

Did you have a gender reveal? If not, did you do anything special to share the news? 

We did not—we were actually pretty private with this pregnancy and just let the news trickle out slowly and organically. But if we’re lucky enough to have a second little one in the future we will definitely want to have a gender reveal celebration!

Photo courtesy of Kelli Germain

All about Owen

Owen was born on June 26, 2019 at 10:55 am weighing 7 lbs 6 oz and measuring 19.75 inches.

Even though I live 45 minutes away from Glens Falls, I knew I wanted to give birth at The Snuggery. My mother actually passed away in Glens Falls Hospital twelve years ago on her birthday, and I wanted Owen’s first breath to be where my mother had taken her last. It is a choice that meant more to me than words can describe.

I truly feel that I need to share with our local community that I had an absolutely amazing pregnancy and birth experience through Hudson Headwaters’ 90 South location and The Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital. My care, on every level, exceeded all of my expectations. I had quite a few complications at birth, and the team made me feel empowered, strong, and truly heard through the entire process. Just had to put that out there, and say a public thank you.

We love his name - how did you decide on it? 

Owen James has a really special significance to us. After brainstorming and narrowing down lists of names, we decided to give our boy a name in honor of each of our individual families. James is the middle name of my father and brother, and Owen is the first name of Ian’s grandfather who is no longer with us as well as his Uncle who we lovingly refer to as Buddy (ironically, a nickname that Owen has since picked up as well from many family members!).

A few things you love about Owen so far? 

I actually kept a journal of things I love about Owen—here are my favorites from when he was one month versus five months.

One Month: 

“You make the world seem right.”

“Your little baby bird ways—your noises, your lips like a beak, and how you stretch like you’re emerging from an egg.”

“How your hand tucks into your cheek when you sleep just like your ultrasounds.” 

“How uneven your hair is—you’re totally rocking a mullet right now.” 

“The look your Pop gets in his eyes when he holds you.” 

Five Months: 

“How you recognize me from across a room.”

“Your coy look—you’re such a flirt with the ladies!”

“Your excited little squeals and bursts of energy.”

“Your giggle that just makes my heart so full it’s about to pop.”

Your favorite things to do together? 

I often joke that Owen is my “human accessory”—I adore toting Owen around doing the everyday things in life. Going for a Target run and to the grocery store is newly fun and exciting, because Owen is so smiley, social, and curious. I often wear him in a wrap facing the world, and he just loves taking everything in and seeing so many faces out and about. My two favorite parts of the day are first thing in the morning when we have “family cuddles”—including our huge, sweet Sadie—and seeing Owen splash around in the tub at the end of the night. We’ve already had a few Adirondack adventures with him, and I can’t wait to check off some more hikes once he’s walking around.

Any similarities - physical or personality - to the two of you? 

He loves to smile, which is apparently something I also do a lot of! His curiosity and attention to detail already makes me think that maybe he will follow in his mama’s footsteps and be a designer one day. Physically, he is exactly like Ian—he has a long and lean little body, huge hands (climber in the making?!), and literally can’t sit still. Just like his Pop!

Photo courtesy of Kelli Germain

On Parenthood

Your favorite part about parenthood thus far? The biggest challenge or most surprising thing? 

My favorite part of being a parent is my insane connection to Owen. It’s like his world just centers around me, and there really is no other feeling like it. When I laugh really hard, he just can’t help but laugh in response, and when I’m sad he gets very subdued. Even though he’s his own physical body after nurturing him in my own body for 9 months, I still feel so intrinsically connected to him. It’s my favorite phase of life I’ve had so far. No doubt parenthood comes with its challenges—and some of the hardest ones, at that—but the rewards are indescribable. 

What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Owen to your family?

I am so looking forward to when he begins to communicate with words—he’s already baby babbling up a storm, and I just want to know what’s going on in that little growing brain of his! I am really looking forward to how he continues to mold me into a better person. He makes me strive for more in every aspect of my life. 

What has being a parent taught you? How have you changed since becoming a parent? 

It’s amazing how true it is that a baby changes everything. In just six months, Owen has taught me more about myself than I’ve learned in years. I’m paying a lot more attention to defining my values, because it’s going to inform how I parent as time goes on. Slowing down has been huge for me. I’ve always juggled a million things, and now there is physically not enough time in the day to do them all. Now, I am way more intentional about the way I spend my free time because it’s so much more precious. 

What is the best advice someone has given you? 

“I’m sorry, I just can’t”. End of story. No explanation. I am naturally a people pleaser and want to say yes to everything. A close friend’s mama told me this, and it’s helped to rid me of some serious mom guilt and realize it’s okay to just say no. There are so many new boundaries that naturally come with being a parent, and life is filled with many more logistics. And people really do understand!

Your advice for new parents? 

• The first night home from the hospital is the hardest. 

• After the first three months, you’ll look back and wonder how the hell you managed all the sleepless nights. But you find the strength—somehow, someway. 

• Time will never be the same—a very strange combination of way too fast and also relishing in the smallest of moments. 

• Parenthood is not at all how you imagined it! 

• And, most importantly, you’re doing a GREAT job. 

Photo courtesy of Kelli Germain

Just for Fun

The top products that got you through the first few months?

• Halo Sleep Sack

• Gripe Water

• Medela Breast Pump

• The entire Kiinde milk storage system and bottles

• Nose Frida Snot Sucker

• Swaddle Me By Your Side Sleeper

If you could have one night out by yourselves with a trusted babysitter back home, what would you do?

Take a road trip to Lake Placid—a place filled with dear memories for both of us—for a night to reflect and reconnect away from our beautiful definition of being parents. 

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first ­­­­snuggle with your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

New Addition: Emma Claire Vooris

We’re so thrilled to kick off our New Additions series on Glens Falls Living, featuring - you guessed it - the newest little additions to our little city! And what better way to kick it off than with our sweet niece, Emma Claire, who was born in July! Read on to find out the funny way Bill and Erin found out they were expecting, what parenthood (of two!) has taught them, and a few of their must haves for the first few months.

Tell us about your family!

We are the Vooris family and we recently became a family of four! My name is Erin and my husband's name is Bill. Our son Sam just turned 2 in November and we welcomed our daughter Emma in July. We have lived in Glens Falls for the past five years and couldn't imagine living anywhere else! We fell in love with the area right away and knew this is where we wanted to start our family. We love the small town neighborhood feel with easy access to all the shopping, restaurants, and family friendly events downtown. One of our favorite things to do as a family is put the kids in the stroller and walk downtown for coffee on Sunday mornings with our dog, Oliver.

SHARING THE NEWS

How did you share your pregnancy news with your husband / family / friends?

My husband actually found out that we were expecting before I did! Long and funny story short - I had taken a pregnancy test and forgot about it in the midst of getting our then 11 month old ready for the day. Bill found the positive pregnancy test and shared the exciting news with me!

Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right?

We found out the gender of our son ahead of time and we knew we wanted to do the same this time around too! Both Bill and I felt very strongly throughout my pregnancy that we were having a girl. I was much more sick this time around and my pregnancy overall was very different than it had been with our son.

Did you have a gender reveal? If not, did you do anything special to share the news?

We threw a large gender reveal party when we were pregnant with our son. It was so much fun, but this time around we decided to keep things a bit more low key. We had a cake made from our favorite bakery, Lake George Baking Company, with pink frosting inside to share the news with our family that we were expecting a girl! 

Photo by Bella Baby Photography

ALL ABOUT EMMA

Emma Claire was born on July 5, 2019 at 7:56 am at the Joyce Stock Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital! She measured 20 inches long and weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces.  

We love her name - how did you decide on it?

Both Bill and I like more classic, traditional names. Emma is a name that we have always really liked, but there were a few others in the running - we had to meet her first before deciding! When we saw her for the first time we both just knew that we wanted her name to be Emma.

What are a few things you love about Emma so far?

Emma is a very easygoing and happy baby - she is always smiling! We love a lot of things about her, but our favorite thing right now is that she is a wonderful sleeper!

What are some favorite things to do together?

Emma loves to be outside so we have enjoyed many family walks with her, either downtown or through Crandall Park. 

Any similarities - physical or personality - to the two of you? 

Emma has Bill's dark hair, his nose, and his smile. Everyone says she looks just like him! According to my parents I was an easygoing baby and a great sleeper, so she may take after me in that regard.

Photo by Bella Baby Photography

ON PARENTHOOD

What’s your favorite part about parenthood thus far?

Our favorite thing about parenthood since welcoming Emma into our family is seeing her with her big brother. She loves to watch him play and smiles at him all day long. He gives her high fives, helps entertain her during tummy time, and kisses her goodnight. We are looking forward to watching them grow up together and (hopefully!) become great friends.

How about the biggest challenge or most surprising thing?

The biggest challenge we've faced since having Emma is simply having two very young kids who both need a lot of attention - and usually at the same time! We try very hard to make sure that we are spending quality time with each of them and also together as a family. Things were hectic at first, but we've gotten into a good groove with both of them now and feel like we know what we're doing...most of the time.

What has being a parent taught you? How have you changed since becoming parents?

Becoming parents has given us a deeper understanding of the value of family. We love passing down and starting new traditions with Sam, and now Emma. We've become more selfless and much more patient since they came along. We also drink significantly more coffee now than we used to!

What’s the best advice someone has given you?

The best advice we received before having Emma was, "Every baby is different." It is so true! We thought we knew pretty much everything after having our son, but Emma is a completely different baby and it has been a very different experience. 

Do you have any advice you’d like to pass along for new parents?

Our advice for new parents would be to ask for and accept help! Let someone cook you dinner, or hold your baby so you can take a shower, or pick up milk at the grocery store for you. It really does take a village and we are so lucky to have a great one.

JUST FOR FUN

The top products that got you through the first few months?

Lillie Baby Carrier - super helpful for when Emma wanted to be held but I needed my hands free to do something with Sam.

Fisher Price Swing - Emma loved napping in it as a newborn.

Thule Double stroller - I think we used this every day throughout the summer and fall. It was so nice to be able to get all of us outside for some fresh air!

Pottery Barn Play mat - Emma loves to play on this and it gives me time to get a few things done or do something with Sam.

If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter, what would you do?

We would definitely go out for a (most likely early!) dinner and drinks at one of our favorite downtown restaurants. We love Morgan and Co., Raul's, and farmacy!

—————

Thanks Vooris Family, and welcome, sweet Emma!

hide-ad

The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.

At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first touch with your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!