Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A Baby Story


During my entire pregnancy I was obsessed with watching the TLC show A Baby Story. Before pregnancy you probably couldn't have paid me to watch an episode, but for some reason, watching women go through everything from getting an epidural to having triplets by c-section, made me feel a tiny bit more prepared for what I might endure. So, here is my very own Baby Story.

On Wed March 24th we went to the hospital thinking my water might have broken (more like sprung a leak). The nurses tested me and said it had so they admitted me to labor and delivery that day. Well, apparently I was not very far along in the whole labor process, so they hooked me up to medicine to induce labor. After only 20 minutes the baby's heart rate dropped to a very low number and the nurse came running in, turned me on my side, and put an oxygen mask on me. Later we talked to the doctor and she recommended c-section because the baby wasn't responding well to labor so we decided to schedule the c-section. I was wheeled into the OR and about an hour later Gracie was born! She was born 7 pounds 7 ounces and 19 inches long. She was born wide eyed and alert with a beautiful head of dark hair. Jonathan brought her over to me to see her for the first time and my heart melted. She was perfect. Praise God for this little blessing! Here is the picture that captured the wonderful ending to an unexpected drama-filled birth.


I can't believe she has changed so much already! Here are a few more pics from the hospital.


Sunday, March 28, 2010

Beyond Words

As most of you know we welcomed our sweet baby Gracie into this world on March 24. She weighed in at 7 pounds 7 ounces and 19 inches. There are some things in this world that you know will change you forever. This is that for me. As I am sitting here writing this blog I am overcome with gratefulness. Gratefulness to the countless nurses and doctors who lovingly took care of us and Gracie over the last 4 days, the awesome friends and family who have been there to support, encourage, and pray for us, the most amazing husband a girl could have who exhausted himself taking care of Gracie and me in the hospital and who will spend his life exhausting himself for us, and to my Savior who has given me the sweetest family I could have ever dreamed of. As I write this, my precious husband is passed out on the couch after a long night and my baby is sleeping next to me making the sweetest noises that literally melt my heart. I think Jonathan said it best when we were coming home from the hospital yesterday, "I am so full of love, I feel like my heart is going to explode."

Here are a few pictures of our sweet baby girl in the hospital.

Her sweet little smile

Daddy and daughter relaxing

This is her little "mean mug" face she does sometimes when sleeping.

Here we are leaving the hospital with our precious bundle of joy!

More pics to come...

Sunday, March 21, 2010

"I stand, therefore I pee"

Seriously, it is getting ridiculous how many times I empty my bladder during a 24 hour period. Gracie is definitely dancing on my bladder during this last trimester. I can't believe that I only have 9 more days until my due date! I'm down to single digits! It has been such a crazy ride. The first trimester was rough and seemed to drag on; the second trimester was awesome and flew by; and now, the end of the third trimester seems to be taking FOREVER! When will Gracie decide to come? Well, until then, I'll just continue to empty my bladder 25 times a day and marvel at how huge my ankles are! Cankle City!!!!



Wednesday, March 17, 2010

I'll Show You Miserable!


Well, we did it! We finally moved into our new rental house. It is a wonderful home in a great neighborhood and most of the unpacking and organizing is finished (thanks to the greatest sets of parents in the world)!!!! (I will be posting more pics of the house later) Gracie has so patiently waited to make her appearance which we are thankful for, but also now extremely ready for. I have had such a wonderful pregnancy and amazing responses and encouragement from everyone (family, friends, and strangers)...until last night! Jonathan and I and my parents went to Logan's Road House for dinner after a lot of unpacking. Well, the chicken i ordered came to me undercooked. The manager came by to apologize for the raw chicken they tried to serve me and then asked me how far along I was. Before I had a chance to answer, she proceeds to tell me how miserable I look. "How far along are you, because you look MISERABLE" were her exact words! I just looked at her stunned. Does she not realize I am 9 months pregnant with crazy hormones raging inside?! After she left and I swallowed my pride we all laughed at how apparently horrible I look and how you never, never, ever tell a pregnant woman (or any woman for that matter) that they look miserable! Not the best service I have ever received at a restaurant!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Oh So Kissable!


We had our 37 week OB appointment today and got a sonogram of Gracie. She is healthy, a little on the small side (Praise God), and she is a cutie! I can't believe we got to see her today. The sono tech gave us a free 4D sonogram which confirmed her as a girl and also showed her sweet little features: 6.5 pounds, chubby cheeks, pug nose, and full, pouty lips. The tech kept saying "look at those lips!", "where did she get those lips?". We are so excited about meeting her and kissing those amazing chunky cheeks and those sweet kissable lips!


Wednesday, March 10, 2010

"A moment in my tummy... a lifetime in my heart."


Well, I have had a few people ask me to post some maternity pictures. Here are a few pics Nicole took of me during the last snow day we had. I had no intention of taking maternity pictures, but Nicole thought I would regret not taking them, so she dressed me up in her clothes (very snugly I might add) and we went out in the freezing cold and took fun pictures in the snow. We had a lot of fun and I am thankful for the pictures. :o) Thanks Nicole for documenting this special time for me. 3 weeks to go!!!!!





I just had to add a picture of Jonathan with the Yoda snowman we made that day.


Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Smash the Cake!


We had the opportunity to photograph Cooper, one of the cutest 12 month olds in the world! He was such a joy to work with and his precious little personality was so much fun to capture. He turned one on March 2nd, so his mom scheduled a "smash the cake" session with us. For those of you who don't quite know what that is here are a few sneak peaks from the photo shoot.

Here's Cooper just getting started.

Cooper getting messy!

Cooper's sweet little "cafe face"

I am getting so excited for the all the photo shoots I am going to put little Gracie through. Let's just hope she cooperates half as well as Cooper did!