Happy Birthday Amelia May; 3-23-10

 This might get a little long but I wanted to record the details of Amelia's birth before I forget!  We were much anticipating Amelia to come early because she was measuring a little big at each appointment.  When my due date came and went I was definitely a bit disappointed. We previously scheduled an induction for several days after my due date just in case she didn't arrive on her own in time.  I was afraid she would get to big for me to have her naturally.  Well, the due date came and went and it was apparent I would need to be induced.  This worked great for my parents and Dan's parents- they were already planning on coming and having a set time did make things easier. Monday night, before we went into the hospital for the induction at midnight, Dan and I had dinner with my parents and his parents. It was such a fun time to have both sides of the family all there together celebrating!  They even had the restaurant bring a birthday dessert for me and the baby!  That night before they headed off to bed and Dan and I off to the hospital- they gathered around me and prayed- what a special time!  Now I was really getting nervous and anxious- I really didn't want to be induced because I knew it made labor harder and the contractions faster and I had wanted to try to go without an epidural.  Dan and I spent some time talking- dreaming about the future. He was such an encouragement to me- kept me focused.

Dan and I arrived at the hospital at 12:01am that Tuesday morning and by about 1am I was all hooked up and the pitocin was started.  When they hooked up the monitors I was already having regular, strong contractions- ironic that my labor was starting naturally when we arrived at the hospital. (Earlier at dinner- I was not having contractions at all!)  At this point I was about 3cm dilated. Several hours later in the morning, after several viewings of While You Were Sleeping, the contractions were coming hard and fast- about every 2-3 minutes. I would switch from the bed, to the rocking chair to the birthing ball. The birthing ball was by far the most comfortable so I planted myself there and debated getting an epidural.  The nurse checked me and confirmed I was 4cm at this point so I could get one anytime.  I put it off several times really trying to endure and hold out as long as I could.  The Dr. would be coming soon to break my water and I knew things would only get harder after that.  Finally, I decided to get the epidural- I did not think I could handle that intense pain every 2-3 minutes for who knows how many more hours.  It's a good thing I did get the epidural since Amelia just took her sweet time. The epidural was started and the Dr. broke my water.  The nurse told us to get some sleep while we could. So Dan and I slept/rested for about 2 hours.

 The Dr. came back at lunch to check me again and I was at 6cm.  He came back again in the late afternoon and I was at 8cm!  My parents and Dan's parents were not going far at this point. Problem was only half my cervix was gone- so they tried to turn me to get the baby's head to press on the other part and baby girl didn't like me being on that side.  So they sat me straight up in bed, increased the pitocin and we waited. Finally around 7:30 or so they said I was ready to start pushing.  My Mom was on one side of me and Dan was on the other.  I pushed for about an hour which the nurse said was really good for a first time Mom. They brought in a mirror so I could see the "progress" since I couldn't feel anything.  You could already see she had a head full of dark hair (that is one thing I was hoping for!)  Once the Dr. got there I only pushed once and then a small push and she was born at 8:49pm! She was 8lb 3oz and 20.5 inches long. Dan was yelling something about our baby girl and her name. My Dad and Dan's parents were waiting right outside the door and had cracked the door open to hear everything.  They could hear Dan yelling and they heard him say Amelia's name. A nurse soon discovered them all crowed outside the door and fussed at them.  All I remember was Amelia's strong cry when they placed her on my chest and I just cried. They took her over to the side to clean her up and check her out while I was stitched up (just a small tear). Dan went out to tell the new grandparents Amelia's name and discovered they had already heard it :)

 Once Amelia and I were all cleaned up, the grandparents flooded the room.  They passed her from one person to the other- all admiring her head full of hair and commenting on who she looked like.  It was such a special time to share with all of them! Then they took some pictures of Dan and I with our sweet baby girl.  After so much excitement, a wave of exhaustion overcame me when the room was quiet a little while later.  Amelia and I had our first lesson in breastfeeding (we did well by the way) and then they gave her a bath.


She was finally here!  All I could do was stare at her in wonder and praise God for this special miracle he blessed Dan and I with.


Our first family photo

Amazing husband, father, & coach!

Grammy & Pa Pa Thomas

Grandma & Grandpa Aleshire

She is finally here!

Proud Daddy!

38 weeks! 2 weeks to go (give or take)

I can't believe I am already at 38 weeks. At times, it seems like the time has flown and at other times I am just so ready to hold my baby girl.  The closer it has gotten the more and more I am ready for the pregnancy part to be over and the mommy part to officially begin! 

The main question I get all the time: how am I feeling?  Overall I am feeling good- besides the being uncomfortable all the time part. I have been having contractions off and on and they do seem to be getting stronger.  At our last Dr's appointment I was 1-2cm dialated and 50% effaced.  The doctor said it could be anytime.  My bag is packed and the baby's room is officially all ready! (pictures below)  My fingers have been slightly swollen for several weeks now ( you may have noticed in the pictures that I will wear my wedding rings on a chain around my neck).  My feet get swollen if I am up on them for awhile. Dan has to help me put on socks now and at home I am usually barefoot or wearing my slippers.  I feel like I run to the bathroom all the time and getting up and down from a chair or the couch has become a chore.  At night, I toss and turn from one side to the other (which is a chore in and off itself) because my hips get achy. Luckily the bad heartburn has gone away mostly- now that she has dropped some.

Amid all this, I am very blessed to have such a "easy" pregnancy.  I have not had any complications or issues that other women I know have had to deal with. God has been so good to us and we thank him every day for this wonderful blessing growing inside me.  Although I wish she would make her appearance sooner than later-I am trusting God's timing that she will come when she is good and ready!


Our church had a very sweet fellowship for me on Feb. 28th- my last day. They were sad to see me leave my position but excited that I want to be a stay-at-home Mom. They are really looking forward to meeting our baby girl too! Dan is enjoying his work-he has gotten to do some exciting new projects. Now I have been cleaning up our house, washing little baby things, and resting/slowing down. 

when you enter the baby's room- this corner is just to the right

Her name will be put above the crib later this week- although I can't post any pictures of that until after she is born :)

Her crib all ready to go!

 

The inside of the crib

 

The other wall has the changing table/dresser right by the closet door

 

the adorable matching valance- with the cute butterfly rod we found a Lowe's

 

This little dresser used to be teal, purple and gold- I painted it all white and added new purple daisy knobs for the drawers

Baby things

Sorry I'm playing catch up here-I wanted to get you some pictures of the great things we received from our friends. Our church just overwhelmed us with a great shower full of all kinds of goodies and then Dan's work gave us a shower and we received even more great things for our baby girl.  Here are a few of the things that stand out!

 

 Bunny security blanket- I have a feeling we might need another one of these is baby girl gets attached!

  

Adorable Swimsuit with matching hat! I can't wait to see her in this during the summer :)

  

I just love this picture frame! I hoping to get at least Dan and my pictures in there this week and get it hung up!

  

A lady at our church makes these special bears- it is made to be written on by people that come to visit the baby at the hospital.

  

Our baby girls first Easter basket!  I'm hoping I can get a picture of her with the basket, or in the basket, or maybe beside the basket!

  

 The new dresser/changing table that I found on craigslist for a great deal!  Everything is almost ready!

Valentine's Day

This year we had a very special Valentine's Day- the last with just the two of us! We ended up going to the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel and eating at "Dinner in the Diner". Our table was perfect- a quiet candlelight table with a great view- very romantic! We ate wonderful food-we both got the sweethearts surf and turf. Afterward, we took a ride in a horse drawn carriage around downtown Chattanooga.  As you can tell- it was really cold!  Probably in the upper 30's or low 40's I think.  Dan also surprised me earlier in the day with a bouquet of daisies (my favorite), a bear, chocolate, and a bouquet of roses!   The next morning, I was also surprised with heart shaped pancakes!  He is such a sweetheart!

The restaurant was actually in an old train car- very nostalgic.

 

 

Kinda hard to see- but Dan is strong like Superman; he is pushing the train!

  

 All bundled up for the horse drawn carriage ride!

Prenatal/birthing class and Church Baby Shower

This past Saturday, Dan and I attended a prenatal/birthing class given by a labor and delivery nurse from the hospital.  She covered everything from contractions (real and Braxton-Hicks or practice ones), a normal delivery, interventions (vacuum, forceps, episiotomy),  C-section (emergency or planned), induction and all that goes with that, breastfeeding, mom and baby care, and more.  At the end of the long day we got to take a tour of the hospital and see exactly where everything will take place. I have been to this hospital to see new babies of our church members- but this time I saw everything through new eyes! I feel better about the "unknown" now.

This past Sunday our church gave us a baby shower.  Dan and I spent the whole time opening gifts from our generous friends.  Unfortunately, our camera was having issues and a lot of the pictures did not come out well. In the next week, as we continue to put away all the new goodies for baby girl, we will take pictures and post them.  I tried to find a few pics that came out better to give you a glimpse of the fun time we had opening gifts for our baby.

 

Beautiful cakes made by a mom in our church.

 

Diaper cake- creatively made by a soon-to-be Mom in our church.

 

A special gift for Dan- the pouch has "Dan's Diaper Service" written across it. It came with diapers, gloves, tongs, masks, clothes pin, and a few other necessary diapering things for "Dad". 

 

We have very creative and talented people in our church. This is a homemade bear that comes with a special permanent marker. The bear is to be taken to the hospital so everyone that comes by to see the new baby can sign the bear.  The word must of gotten out that I like purple- a lot of things we got are purple including the darling fabric of this special bear. 

 

This one is a little blury- but shows some cute bibs we received.

 

This picture came out clear but it's hard to tell what the gift is- well its a rainforest mobile that hangs on the side of the crib. It plays music and has lights and moving animals.

 

This is one of the most unique gifts we got- a bunny security blanket/lovey.  It has a bunny head with long ears made of a fleece type material.  The blanket that hangs down is the fleece material on one side and silky on the other side.  The moms at the baby shower were jealous and were asking where it came from. I can just imagine our little girl dragging this sweet bunny around the house and sleeping with it :)

34 weeks/ Preparation for baby girl

Last week we had our regular check-up and everything is going well! I am measuring just right-although everyone keeps pointing out how BIG my belly is getting.  Trust me, I know.  Next week we will have another regular ultrasound to see how the baby is measuring. Then I start going to the doctor every week!  We are excited about a prenatal/birthing class this Saturday.  The class is supposed to cover everything from relaxation techniques, stages of labor, breastfeeding, and even a tour of the hospital.  Then Sunday, we have the baby shower that was postponed from last week. It's going to be a busy but fun weekend.

34weeks! We plan to hang the quilt up over the dresser/changing area on the other wall. We purchased the letters to spell out baby girl's name and those will hang with ribbon on the wall over the crib.  I am probably going to do the decoupage technique with fabric for the letters- but you won't be able to see that part until she is born.

We have received a couple of fun packages this week as well.  The first was from my brother and his wife who have a baby girl that was born last March 21!  So the cousins will be almost exactly 1 year apart!  They sent all kinds of goodies including a nice baby medicine set- I never would of thought to have that on hand until I needed it.  Good thing for friends and family that have experience to give us advice and what we will need.

 

 

The other package from Target came courtesy of a family in our church- they ordered the rest of the things that match the bedding set. Unfortunately it was an online only product so I wasn't sure if anyone would do that- I was so tickled to open it up and see the valance, diaper stacker, mobile and a crib sheet!  As soon as we get the new mattress I can set the crib all up! I can't wait!

I have seen our cat Lily investigating all the new baby stuff several times.  She is very good at investigating! :)  Well this past week, I have found her trying out some baby sleeping places- I guess she is just giving her paw of approval that they will be comfortable for the baby. I've heard that you should put balloons in the crib to keep the cat out and scare the cat away from being near the crib.  I definitely don't want the cat jumping up in there when the baby will be in there- not good.  This was the first time I caught her in the crib- I will have to buy some balloons!

The bassinet is in our master bedroom- which Lily is not allowed to go in due to Dan's allergies.  The door sometimes gets accidentally left open and I have found her twice in the past couple of weeks all curled up under the canopy in the bassinet.  She knows she is not supposed to be in the room so its hard to get a picture of her before she runs out. 

Snow Day 1/29/10

We unexpectedly got about 4 inches of snow!  Bittersweet for us though- we love snow and enjoyed playing in it but because of it our friends and family could not travel in for the baby shower (which ended up being postponed anyway).


Our new house with the first beautiful snow this year!

Dan built his first real snowman. I didn't get to help too much because it was hard to bend down and work around my growing belly!

Dan was very focused and serious at first- then he went back to being silly as usual! :)

The final product . . .

I did get to help with the scarf and the face . . . so I posed with the snowman as well.  I am 33 weeks pregnant at this point- wearing two coats. The longer coat is a maternity sweater/knit type that is pretty warm and covers my belly well.  The outer coat is the waterproof winter jacket- but it doesn't fit over my belly.  Hard to see in this picture- but my whole winter ensemble looks pretty funny.

Our dogs just loved the snow! It didn't seem to bother them one bit!  Here you can see Marcie waiting to play fetch and Rocket is in the background- he is always ready to herd!  Daisy was at the vet recovering from her hip surgery so she missed out on playing in the snow.

What might our baby girl look like?

Here are some pictures of Dan and I when we were first born.  After seeing the 3-D ultrasound pictures of our baby girl's sweet face people have been commenting on who they think she looks more like.  Now with these pictures of how Dan and I looked as infants- what do you think?

This is Elizabeth's hospital picture

This is Dan's picture from the hospital (I believe)

This is Elizabeth at about 3months old or so.

Dan at around 3 months old or so.