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.
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