Annie Kathryn is here!

Annie arrived at 2:25 pm on February 26. She weighs 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and is 19 and a half inches long. Mom and Dad are super excited. Feel free to come by and see us in the hospital if you're in town!

Getting Close to That Time

Hi friends, family, and blog stalkers,

I think we are getting close to that time . . . I am pretty sure I am in early labor and hoping we will have a baby girl later this weekend! Please be praying for us during this exciting time. The Gent will post an update when he can, but there's no wi-fi at the hospital so it may be a few days.

Love,
AbbasGirl

40 Week Watch

Just back from the doctor . . . again. Hopefully no more of these weekly appointments!

Our baby girl is doing great, though the Gent and I had a momentary scare when it took the doctor longer than usual to find her heartbeat. Even though I'd been feeling baby move all morning . . . still scary! Turns out the doctor just didn't have his doppler low enough on my belly. Her heartbeat is strong and it was definitely reassuring to hear it!

For the women out there who will want to know: I am 60-70% effaced and 3 cm dilated. Baby is at +1 station, which means she is very low in my pelvis (yay, less pushing!). Doctor says he doesn't make predictions, but doubts I'll make it to my next appointment. He also told me based on the progress I've already made, labor is more likely to go quickly than slowly, so not to dawdle around too long once I know I'm actually in labor.

Hoping to have baby pictures to post for you soon!

39 Week Watch

Well, I'm back from the doctor. Baby is healthy, I am healthy, so we just keep waiting. She'll come whenever she is ready (but I told her I am ready now . . . ). I'm having lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions, I've started dilating, and I lost a pound this week instead of gaining. Who knows whether that means anything or not. I'll keep you posted!

To Do Before Baby List

I started working on this list two weeks ago. I'm almost finished . . . might need more projects if baby is late!

The Gent – get TDAP vaccine (happening Wed)
Wash all baby laundry (check)
Straighten and organize closets and cabinets (check)
Baby announcement list (check)
Make and freeze extra meals (check)
Pack for hospital (check)
Finish artwork in nursery (check)
Create dog-care sheet and post to fridge (check)
Pedicure (happening today)
Haircut (happening tomorrow)
The Gent – write will and set up trust (in progress)
Scrapbook (will start Wed, after I host my last dinner party for a bit)
Bake and freeze bread (will do if I can find space in the freezer!)

Nine Month Photo

The dress has gotten a little shorter in front, but it made it through to the finish line! Oy, finish line! Can't believe our little girl will be here sometime in the next few weeks!



Now for a few random thoughts on pregnancy.

I've been reading up on birthing books and infant care; we'll see how this works in real life. I am excited about natural childbirth and working with my body, to give birth the way God designed me to.

I want to wear "real" clothes again.

I still walk five days a week, practice my yoga, and keep up with light weight training. My doctor said keep going as long as I feel like it, so that's my plan. I've had very few pregnancy aches and complaints thus far, and I'm attributing that to staying active.

Three things I've been waiting nine months to do:
- Drink a glass of champagne. And a margarita. I am thinking the first time the Gent and I go out on our own (thanks in advance, grandma) it will be for Mexican food and a margarita. With salt. YUM.
- Whiten my teeth. Doc was on the fence about whether it is safe to bleach your teeth while pregnant.
- Put a corn remover pad on corn that developed in my first month of pregnancy.
(I know, great stuff here - but aside from all the joy of having a newborn, these are the three things I'm excited to do!)

The closer we get to baby's arrival, the more excited I am about her birth and the less excited about the fact it will be in a hospital. My obstetrician and pediatrician have signed off on the birth plan, so hopefully I will get most of what I want out of the experience and be able to avoid some of the routine hospital protocols.

The thing I am most worried about is spending 48 hours in the hospital after our baby girl is born. I know I'm going to be tired and all, but seriously, what am I going to do for 48 loooooooong hours in a tiny hospital room!?! I'd rather be at home in my own bed. Argh. I should have a better attitude about this, I know.

I feel great, energized, and ready for L'il Bit to be here soon!

Mom and I finished the artwork for the nursery. I love this Scripture verse and pray it over baby's life: "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me." Psalm 138:8.

Our First Ever Baby Guessing Game

We thought it would be fun to play a little guessing game with our blog readers (and maybe encourage some of those silent readers to come out and participate). If you want to enter our first ever baby guessing game, leave a comment below! Take a guess at:

1. what baby's name will be
2. what day she will be born (we'll count days as 24-hour periods, from midnight to 11:59pm)
3. how much she will weigh

We'll see who gets the closest. Maybe there will be a prize for the winner. ;) Good luck!

Nursery Time

Ta da! I love it. Practically everything in our little girl's room has a story. My mom made all the bedding, curtains, rocking chair cushions, basket liners, etc. I couldn't find anything I liked, so we ordered fabric samples and then Mom went to town! Didn't she do an incredible job?! (although I think she may be secretly hoping the next baby is a girl, too, so she doesn't have to make boy bedding, ha!) The rocking chair was my great-grandmother's. It was in my nursery when I was a baby. The dresser was in my dad's room when he was a little boy, and then was passed on to me. The wicker pieces were in my room when I was growing up. The crib is new, a gift from my parents. The changing table is the only piece of furniture the Gent and I bought (at a flea market).


The frame on the dresser was handmade by a friend and given to us as a shower gift. Soon it will hold a favorite photo of our L'il Bit!


I love this. The baby dress was worn by the Gent's Pawpaw when he was just a little boy. I painted the frame white (was dark wood) and modpodged a green polka dot scrapbook paper for the background. A special thanks to Granny for loaning it to us! I love all the family ties and history spread throughout the nursery.


The only thing I haven't finished yet is the artwork above the changing table. Obviously. It won't be white much longer, I have some ideas floating around.


This cross-stitched sampler was also in my room when I was little. Mom made it. The lamp was a gift from my mom's best friend - it was in her little girl's nursery way back when!


Basket of blankets, ready to go! One was the Gent's dad's when he was little, one was a gift from my grandparents, made by my great-aunt, the afghan was crocheted by my great-grandmother, and the pink one in the front is new, a shower gift.


The doll cradle and little rocking chair were also mine when I was little. Mom made new bedding and the Gent gave them a fresh coat of paint.


Her book collection is growing, but I am sure there will be more! The Gent and I love books and we can't seem to stop buying them. There are several more memories arranged on these shelves. The cross and pink piggy bank were gifts from my grandparents. The silver piggy bank was in the Gent's nursery when he was a little boy. The silver cup was in mine.


A peek into her closet. Think she has enough dresses? :) (Probably not . . . ) She has several new things that were gifts from family and friends, and lots of dresses that were mine when I was a baby. I am sure she will be one well-dressed little girl!

The Birth Plan

This birth plan is intended to express the preferences and desires we have for the birth of our baby. It is not intended to be a script. We fully realize that situations may arise such that our plan cannot and should not be followed. However, we hope that barring any extenuating circumstances, you will be able to keep us informed and aware of our options. We appreciate your support.

• We are hoping for an unmedicated birth, with as little intervention as possible, and hope to have a nurse who supports and believes in unmedicated births.
• I understand that the baby and I must be monitored, but I prefer it to be done as little as possible. According to the ACOG standards is fine.
• I am not planning on using pain medication or an epidural. Please help me avoid them. Please do not offer pain medication; I will ask for it if I want it.
• I wish to drink clear and light colored fluids if I feel thirsty.
• I prefer a heparin lock to an IV. Please place heparin lock when doing initial blood draw.
• I would like to be able to change positions and labor outside of the bed, even if my water has broken. Also, I may want to push and deliver in alternative positions such as squatting, side lying, or using a squat bar. I prefer to use people for leg support.
• I would like to be able to take a warm shower for pain relief.
• I would prefer not to have my water broken; I prefer it to break on its own.
• Please help me avoid an episiotomy! Please use compresses and perineal massage to help avoid tearing.
• We are donating our baby’s cord blood to the public cord blood bank. My husband does not plan to cut the cord.
• Barring complications, please place the baby directly on my abdomen (skin to skin) after the birth. I would like at least one hour with our baby, undisturbed, to bond and breastfeed.
• We do not want our baby to go to the nursery at all. If the baby must be taken to the nursery, my husband will accompany the baby at all times.
• If our baby is a boy, he will not be circumcised.
• Our baby is to be exclusively breastfed--please do not give artificial nipples of any kind.
• If a cesarean delivery becomes necessary, please allow my husband to remain with me for my surgery and my doula to wait for me in my recovery room. My husband will stay with our baby until we can be reunited. Please allow me to breastfeed as soon as possible.

Eight Month Photo

I feel baby moving around all the time and I love it. I can't wait to meet her in just a few more weeks! We have finished up most of our shopping and the nursery is almost complete (two art projects to go) and then I will post pictures, I promise.

I am definitely thinking seriously now about labor and delivery and life with a newborn and (gulp) parenting. We've gotten the doctor's approval on our birth plan and are starting to think through some other practical things - finding someone to take care of the dogs while we are at the hospital, adding baby to our health insurance, stocking the freezer with some healthy meals.

It is so easy to get caught up in all the doing, I'm trying to intentionally take time to rest and enjoy these last weeks of pregnancy. I like to sit in the nursery and talk to our baby girl, read her a book, pray for her.

I was reflecting last night on how thankful I am for this new little life. A year ago I was elated over a brand new pregnancy, our Noel, and so excited about what 2010 would bring. It certainly didn't turn out the way I thought it would. There was pain and grieving. And pleading with God to help us conceive again when the time was right. I remember reading and re-reading passages in the Bible where women interceded with the Lord for a child. I was especially drawn to the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel.

I spent the spring praying for a baby and it felt like the waiting went on forever. Looking back at that bittersweet time, I see how it drew me closer to the Lord and taught me more about trusting Him, leaning on His everlasting arms, drawing strength from Him and not from my circumstances. When I found out in June that I was (finally!) pregnant again, I was ecstatic and nervous and a million other things. Most of all I was (and am) so thankful to God for this new little one. I pray every day for her - that she will continue to grow strong and healthy in my womb, that her delivery would be uncomplicated, that God would give me wisdom as a new mother, and that she would come to trust in Jesus for herself.

P.S. Happy 2011, y'all!

P.P.S. The dress still fits! Wonder if it will make it through the nine month photo?!

Shower Time

The wonderful ladies who I volunteer with in dog rescue work threw a baby shower for us this weekend! I had a great time catching up with them in person (we usually "meet" over email), eating girly food (like hummus and pink cupcakes), and getting ready for baby. This little girl may be a wee bit spoiled by so many goodies. ;) A big thanks to my fellow volunteers and friends!

Baby Pictures!

We had a doctor appointment today, and our big 4D ultrasound! Baby is healthy and growing - she's a little over two pounds now. We have tons of pictures of baby in utero. Here are a few of my faves.

Whose face does she have, mine or the Gent's? (the bubbles you see are the umbilical cord)


Sticking her tongue out at the "camera"


She had her hand up by her face most of the time. I already knew it was there. I keep feeling it poking me!


Her hand holding onto her foot. She's does prenatal yoga in the womb.

Seven Month Photo

28 weeks today, hello third trimester! Honestly, I hadn't thought much about getting to this part of pregnancy. The first trimester I was worried about another miscarriage and the second trimester I was just glad not to be sick anymore. Now it is sinking in that in just 12 more weeks there's going to be a baby girl in the adorable nursery that is being created! And I'll never sleep again! And how is this whole natural childbirth thing really going to work!

Good thing I have Christmas to distract me for a while. :D

If you were wondering how much I've grown, here you go:



I wonder if this non-maternity dress will make it through months eight and nine? I have a maternity back-up for when the time comes.

November Date Night

To opera night at the symphony! The Gent and I are really enjoying our season tickets (and we got a great deal). And since we live right in the city, we're a mile from the theatre. Fabulous. Yay for great dates.



Lil Bit loves music. She was dancing all around at worship team practice last week (especially to the drums). And whenever the timpani played at the symphony, she was kicking so much I thought she was trying to keep time to the music. (Ummm, sweetheart, if you really want to learn the drums Mama will support you, but maybe we could start with an instrument that is a little quieter?)

Six Month Photo

Just ignore the funky shadows - you get the idea of how I'm growing (thankfully it is all in front so far!). We had a checkup yesterday, pretty routine, heartbeat is strong and I am not developing gestational diabetes, yay. I have gained 13 pounds and I've never weighed this much in my life, but I keep telling myself it is all for a good cause. And I'm enjoying indulging in hot chocolate or ice cream in the evenings. I am loving being pregnant and embracing my new shape (but the old one will come back, right? at least mostly?). I love feeling our little girl dancing around in my tummy. So far, she loves the symphony best, although she is pretty active at football games, too.

The Gent and I are signed up for childbirth classes in December and January, working slowly on the nursery (with the help of my Mom - thanks, Mom!), and interviewing doulas and pediatricians. I think we'll be ready by February. :)

I am feeling great, other than some back pain, but my yoga helps a lot with that. My second trimester must-haves are:

Shiva Rea's Prenatal Yoga DVD (since there are no classes here)


Low-rise leggings from Old Navy (I refuse to wear panels, at least for now. Old Navy has a great line of maternity low-rise pants that I am loving.)


Breyer's Oreo Ice Cream

Nursery Sneak Peek

I couldn't find any nursery decor I liked. So Mom ordered a million (slight exaggeration) fabric swatches and we started planning.

So many fabric swatches . . . this is after we narrowed it down from 50 to about 10.


Decisions, decisions . . . what do you think, Mom?


The winners! Now Mom and I have lots of sewing to do.


Cute changing table we found at a flea market/antique mall.


For the record, the Gent approved all our choices. :)

Five Month Photo

Told you I've grown. Lil Bit is growing, too. :)

Time to give in and buy a few more maternity clothes.

Baby is a . . .

. . . girl!!! She is growing right on schedule and wriggling all around. I haven't felt any movement yet but I sure could see it on the screen! She didn't want to show us her face but she wasn't shy in the important area. :) There are a couple of 4d pictures, too, as a sneak peak. We'll have a big 4d ultrasound at 28 weeks.

Profile - we saw her sucking her thumb but it didn't get captured in this shot


Spreading her legs for the world to see. We'll talk about that after she is born, ha! But for now we were thankful for the view.


Here she is!


Look at those cute little legs. I hope they'll be chubby!

Next Monday

Our big ultrasound is next Monday! Do you think we are having a boy or a girl? Vote in the poll to the right and we'll see if the majority wins. :)

A Day of Remembrance

Saturday would have been Noel's due date. I didn't want to be at home, so the Gent and I went to my "happy place."



I love the beach. It is my peaceful place, a place where I remember that God is vast and yet personal, and where I can be close to Him and just rest in His presence.

Thankfully, it wasn't a sad day at all, but a day to reflect on God's goodness in blessing us with Noel's short life, and with this new baby, too. I just kept remembering these words from a dear friend. "love you sweet friend...enjoy your time at the beach and rest knowing that our God is Faithful in every circumstance! You are His precious child; and so is Noel, who is safe and whole in our Father's arms tomorrow, and every day."

There are still difficult days and I know the pain will always be there. Yet I know that God is indeed faithful, at all times and in all circumstances.



Now for a couple more photos.

This is on the pavilion looking out over the beach, before we headed out to dinner.


And, yes, I totally wore my bikini. Who knows when I'll get to again?