Lydia Anne

Well... after four and a half months later... we're here to say.... it was a baby GIRL!!!  I still cannot believe it!  I felt so sure I would have another boy... but Hank's prediction was correct. 

My due date was Saturday, March 24th. 

I had my last doctor's appointment Thursday, March 22 and during that appointment I was only dilated 2cm or so.  So, the doctor said if I didn't go into labor naturally, they wanted to induce me a week later.  I DID NOT want to be induced.  I knew I would be anxious knowing that on a specific date I would go into labor and I also had heard being induced could make the process so much slower than natural labor.  What I really wanted was for my water to just break and go into labor one day like when I had Grady.  I had even asked my chiropractor was there anything that could help bring on labor naturally and he said there were some pressure points stuff they could do.... or even some massage therapists could help bring on labor.  If that's what it would take, then I planned on trying that before I went a whole week longer. 

Grady and I ran some errands while we were in town that day and came home.  I put Grady down for his regular nap, ate some lunch and finally reclined back in bed to read a book and relax. 

No longer than ten minutes after I sat down.... I literally heard and felt a "pop" on lower left side of my abdomen.... and my water broke!!  I called Hank at work and told him and he headed home to get us. 

Everything went so smoothly.  I did ask for an epidural, but the anesthesiologist was busy with other patients and in the operating room.... that I hate to wait extra long.  I went through the whole process "naturally" (which means screaming, writhing and other things I will not mention) until I finally was given the epidural 45 minutes before the baby was born.  Poor Hank... he was run ragged giving me cold cloths on my forehead and neck, giving me the oxygen mask (so I wouldn't pass out!), ice chips, etc, etc, etc. 

At around 12:00 AM... it was time to push and our wonderful Dr Morales was there! 

Exactly eight hours of labor later, at 12:17 AM.... our sweet baby girl was born. 

And of course... she was just PERFECT!!!

She was 7 lbs, 13 oz.

And here is our little burrito at home, just a few days old.... she loves being swaddled....

And so quickly.... she has grown and changed...

Six weeks old

Two and a half months old

Four months old

She is such a blessing and such a precious little baby.... so calm and sweet.  She slept with me most nights until she was a few weeks old, and then we started letting her sleep in her swing... she loves to be swaddled and have the swinging motion.  And she sleeps through the night and might get up only once to eat!!  So, we're all going to get extra rest while we can!  She can co-sleep more when we transition her to her crib.  She has been so alert... it's crazy!  This little girl doesn't let anything get out of her sight!  She is giggling so much now and holds and grabs everything.  She also wants to sit up so badly (she loves her Bumbo seat).  I cannot believe how quickly she is growing and changing.... it goes by too fast. 

I still cannot believe we have a baby girl!!! 

Did We Share The Good News?

I cannot believe that it has taken me this long to actually post our good news... I mean.... I'm only about 27 weeks late in doing so.  But, if you were to see me... there is no hiding it... this little baby is definitely there!!

We don't know yet if it's a boy or girl.... and most likely we're not going to find out.  It was so much fun waiting to find out when I was pregnant with Grady and so far we're heading down the same road.  The only advantage at this point would be so we could paint the nursery, but honestly... that hasn't been important enough yet to find out the sex of the baby. 

I think Grady understands to a point what is going on, but I'm sure he will be in a state of SHOCK when the baby gets here.  So far he will pat my stomach and every now and then try to lift my shirt to say "hi" to the baby.... and a few weeks ago he patted my stomach and said, "baby, be safe".  Ha!  When I ask him if he wants a baby sister or baby brother he says, "baby sister"..... sure kiddo.... we'll see. 

This is me a couple of weeks ago... and the happy big brother... who is just always happy to have his picture taken!! 

Ho, Ho, Ho

So.... last week I'm on my laptop looking at photos and doing a few things online and my computer starts having glitches and acting funny and my internet closes out.  I open it back up.  The internet is running fine, then BOOM.... everything gets crazy on my screen and my computer crashes.  Me... being me... I immediately start panicking and sweating and texting my husband at work... saying everything is wiped off my computer, that all of our photos of the past year are gone, all of my documents are gone and what on earth am I going to do?!?!  He of course says it probably can be recovered and we'll have it repaired.... to which I respond.... that if it cannot, it's no different than having a house fire, that all of the memories from the past year are gone and what on earth am I going to do?!?!?!

Two days later, my computer is repaired and I have all of my photos and files back. I hate it when he's right (well, except this time).  And he hates how I freak out.   I yam who I yam.....

So, the real reason for this post was to show Grady cutting down his own Christmas tree.  Wait, let me clarify.  He chose his own tree.... Daddy cut it down.  Trust me, Grady didn't miss any of it though.

Seriously, just give this kid a task... he's all over it.  He looks like this when he takes out the garbage for me...

And he is so proud.  He is such a happy boy... so full of life and personality!!  He really finds joy in everything he does.  We are so blessed!!

I need to get a photo of his tree decorated.  It's the cutest thing!  

Getting Ready for Christmas

This has been a long week. The little man and I have cabin fever. He's had a terrible cold and the weather has gone from hot to rainy to cold to cold and windy.... so I haven't wanted him out at all. But since we have been inside, he's been so sweet to sit and watch cartoons and movies and then do some crafts later in the week. I know he's starting to feel better because his devilish side is coming back out and he's back to being obsessed with playing with his truck and semi toys. He is a little rascal..... :)

Next week is Thanksgiving and we're trying to wrap some things up here in the house to get the living room (construction room) cleared out so we can put our Christmas tree in there again. Hank and I have had the tradition of cutting our tree down the day after Thanksgiving and now that we have children (OK... just Grady and one on the way...) we want to make it a big deal for the kids. This year will be the first year that Grady can have his own tree. Hank and I will have the "Big Kid" tree and Grady and any siblings will always be allowed to have their own little tree that they cut down and decorate any way they want. We are super excited and I think Grady will have a blast with it. Today we started making some decorations for his tree.....

 He made a huge mess and loved painting the pine cones.  Maybe I can bribe him to pick up the rest of the pine cones in our yard if he thinks they are for his tree.....

I found some little felt balls at Target for $1...... gotta love Target....

So we made some miniature trees with ornaments....

We tried to make some clay ornaments with a flour/salt recipe I found online, but it was a FLOP!  They didn't bake hard enough.  So, next week we'll try another recipe I found for a baking soda clay.  Hope that works better.  

Until next time..... Happy Thanksgiving!!

Beach Vacation

 

 

Dear Hank,

Today we've been married four years and I love you more than I did the day I said, "I Do". You have been a wonderful husband and a fantastic father... and I feel so blessed to say that you are MY husband. I prayed to meet someone like you and the Lord truly heard my prayers and blessed ME with YOU. You are my very best friend and I look forward to many more years together... watching our babies grow.... turn into "people" (yuck)... and hopefully, one day, sharing grandchildren together. Maybe we'll be the old couple that others see sitting on the front porch swing holding hands... and they even kind-of look alike (not so sure about that part). Anyway... thank you for being the best husband ever and I love you with all my heart.

With that being said..... could you please forgive me for this???.......

And this?...

And.... this?

I promise that it did not "sit" in the car.... I had the air on FULL blast. I mean, the cupcakes that Grady and I ate didn't look like this... even though we ate immediately... but who's being so picky on timing. And.... the icing is your favorite part anyway... so it will taste the same at least?? I'm sorry. We are supposed to be celebrating how we love each other anyway... not cake. Right?... Right?...

P.S. I love you.

Rascal

Best. Doggie. Ever.

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Christmas Time

This boy loves his bed......





Poor buddy was sick...

Christmas Tree Farm

Beach Vacation 2009