One last one

I guess our internet will be off tomorrow? I was surprised that it was on today and that it is still on. I thought I would just post a few more pictures. Today we went to Kohls. I decided that I should buy a pair of "between" pants. I really don't want to be wearing maternity jeans any more (although they are SO comfortable and I really like them...they would be perfect in "real" jeans). Sad to say I did not find any that I liked and I got really frustrated. Brian's find of the day was 6 wine goblet glasses for $2. Why not? He wanted these bug zapper rackets. They looked like little badminton rackets that will kill bugs by zapping them when you hit them. I guess it is just more fun than using a fly swatter. Besides...who knows if you really kill them with a fly swatter the first time or just knock them out? This thing would put an end to that question. Sadly, we left the store without them.

Chilling with Daddy after church


She does these full body yawns that don't look comfortable. In fact, she usually lets out a cry after one. :(

Just relaxing during a diaper change. So cute


On mommy's lap.

She knows she's cute :)

Erg

So the people who have the wireless router are moving tomorrow. We will be sans internet for a while...just so you know why we aren't posting. We shall continue to take pictures however. :)

So funny little incident. I told Megan it needed to go in the blog, because if I read it, I would probably laugh.

So last night, and pretty much all day yesterday, Claire was being little Miss Fusspants. She's droop her eyes, and real nice and sneaky like make us think she was asleep. So I'd stop bouncing her and a couple of minutes later she's fuss and stretch and wake back up, and if I didn't start bouncing her again she'd start crying. It was like clockwork.

So after a full day of that, we're getting ready for bed, and I'm bouncing her next to the bed and Megan says our nighttime prayer. In the middle, she says "And we're thankful for Claire...in all her glory" and I swear to you not 1 second after she said that we hear "frrrrrrrp" and she drops a big one in her diaper. Well, I mean, she's tiny, so she doesn't poop that much, but I'm speaking in relative terms here people. Anyway, we both burst out laughing in the middle of the prayer due to her impeccable timing, and so I thought I'd share that little gem with you all.

More pics...bored of them yet??








You know, we need to throw up a variety of pictures, because I was just going through those ones Megan just put on the computer, and she's zonked out in every one of them. We need to get some fussy pictures or something up on here so you know we're aren't making some of this stuff up.

So my mom left yesterday. I cried. Thanks mom for everything. I can't imagine what it would have been like if you weren't here. I love you!! It's a good thing that they will be back here in two weeks. Yay! I can't wait to see everyone at Aspen Grove AND Brian's parents will be there too for the baby blessing! Double yay!

Brian got back from Washington on Wednesday. We got the apartment! And it's on the bottom floor. I'm glad that I wont have to carry groceries and a baby up a ton of stairs...although it would probably help get rid of some of this extra weight. :-/

Claire has slept pretty much all day. She gets kinda fussy at night. Not too bad but.... And she didn't sleep very well last night. Around 5 she got up and I thought she would never go back to sleep. So...tomorrow we are getting up earlier and we are going to try to keep her up as much as possible so maybe she will sleep more. Other than that, not much going on over here. So I guess I shall put up some more pictures :)

Uh huh

So I love my little girl. She is so much fun! She is such a good little baby too. Last night she went to sleep at midnight and woke up at 5! Whoo hoo! She likes sleeping in the amby bed starting off and it keeps her asleep for a while but I can not get her to go back in there without waking up! BUT if I just put her next to me she will fall right back asleep. It is a good thing we have a king size bed. I don't want this to be a forever thing but it beats walking up and down the room over and over for an hour while I gaze jealously at Brian who is dead to the world. (He would get up and rock with her if I woke him up...sometimes I just feel bad doing it). I also hate it at night that I have to wear my glasses. It's hard to see and they don't fit right. Oh well.

It's been so nice having my mom here. Brian left today to go find us a new home in Washington. They have these new "affordable" apartments that were just built. It's based on income and we shall qualify based on our 2007 income. Whoo hoo! They are 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments with dishwashers and washers and dryers if you don't mind paying an extra $25 a month. $25 is CHEAP for what I would be willing to pay for a washer and dryer. We do SO much laundry now for Claire. Blows my mind sometimes how much she goes through. Anyway, he is also going to look at some other places to rent but I think these apartments are a LOT cheaper and they are right in the middle of town so he wouldn't have to bike very far. I hope they have a playground or something nearby that I can take Claire to. But he is gone until Wednesday and I don't know what I would have done if my mom wasn't here. She has been a lifesaver for me. I cry just thinking about her leaving on Thursday. I don't want to cry now so I will just post some pictures of my favorite subject!


Brian thought this was funny. She is usually very good in her car seat unless she is hungry. She doesn't like the pacifier at all.





















She loves to sleep over the shoulder. I have no idea why this is being underlined and I have no idea how to make it not underline so sorry.
















Stretching after a nap. She is so funny to watch when she wakes up. She usually starts smiling too. SO CUTE.















She loves to sleep with her hands under her chin. Kinda like mommy.




















She is getting so big! I took her to her pediatrician on Tuesday so she was exactly a week old, and she had gained over a pound! Crazy considering that they just want babies up to their birth weight at 2 weeks. She was 7'7. Must be because she wants to nurse ALL THE TIME!

McEwan Look-alike Meter

I tried it twice with two different pictures! Maybe I will try again when she is a little older and see what happens. I can't tell you how much we love our little girl. :)

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

My Birth Story

On Monday, May 5^th, I went to my appointment with the midwife. My due date was on May 3^rd, so she started talking about the possibility of inducing labor since they can not continue my care if I am over due too long. I did not want to be induced so I let her strip my membranes. That was not a comfortable experience. She said that the baby was not straight in the birth canal. She could feel an ear while she was doing it. !!

After my appointment we went bike shopping for Brian with my mom. I was cramping and bleeding but nothing much was happening. Brian bought his bike and my mom and I went shopping. When Brian got back we went on a walk. When we were starting back I started cramping. It started getting so I did not want to walk through them. When we got back home we decided to go out on what may have been our last date before the baby. We went to “Color Me Mine” and painted some pottery for the baby. It was really fun.

We got back around 10:30 and I went to bed around 11:30. Around 1:00 I woke up feeling contractions but went back to sleep. By 2:00 I could no longer sleep and woke up my mom and we started timing contractions. Around 5:30 they were 45-1:00 minute long and only about 3-4 minutes apart and we decided to go to the hospital. I was trying to stay very relaxed and using my hypnobabies suggestions. We got to the hospital at 6:00 and they admitted me to the triage. When they checked me I was 3 centimeters dilated. The midwife on call started me on antibiotics and after an hour I was at a 4. They decided to admit me and we called the doula. Our doula was out of town and the backup was already at a birth so we got the backup to the backup (Megan) and she was AMAZING. When she got there she started me walking up and down the hall over and over again. Anytime a contraction came on I would put my arms around Brian and Megan would put counter pressure on my hips. We also tried sitting on the toilet. Not fun.. The midwife on call (Sue) came and checked me at noon. She asked if I wanted to know where I was and I said only if it was good news such as a 7 or 8. Ha. She didn’t say anything and in my mind I told myself that I was at least a 6. J After I asked what I had been. My mom told me that I had only been at a 5. I am glad I didn’t know that because I would have been very disappointed. At that point I started losing control a little and I kept saying that I did not think I could do it anymore. Megan told me to just get through one at a time and that my endorphins would kick it up a notch if I could just last 20 more minutes. It actually was 40 minutes but I put on my birthing day affirmations and completely zoned out. Sometimes the doula or the midwife would try to talk to me and I would be in the middle of a contraction but they could not tell because they were watching me and not the computer. I asked to be checked again so I got into bed and I was at an 8. I just staid in bed. I was so tired that I was falling asleep in between contractions and completely zoning out during them. I asked to be checked again and she said 9 ½!! I started to get my sense of humor back and it wasn’t very long before I looked up and told Sue that I needed to poop. That got everyone hustling to get everything ready for baby. I wanted a squatting bar and they hunted one out of storage. I pushed for a while that way but my legs started to get really tired. Megan got on the bed behind me and I put my feet on the bar to push. They also brought out a mirror so I could see her crowning. That made me push harder! I only pushed for maybe 30 min and she came out! They hustled her to the respiratory therapist and I just bawled. I couldn’t believe I had my baby! She was just beautiful. Didn’t have a cone head at all. They finally finished with her and I was so glad to hold her.

My support people were totally awesome. Brian was amazing. He was with me every minute. I love him tons!! I could not have done it without them. I was so glad that I was able to have my baby naturally. Hypnobabies rocked! It totally works.

Too many to choose from

Here are some of the very many pictures we have taken of Claire. Enjoy!

Claire Elizabeth

Claire was born May 6th, (her Aunt Lea's birthday!) at 3:07 pm. She weighed 6 lbs 12 oz. She
was 20.5 inches long. She is the most beautiful little girl!! I will be writing out my birth story and posting it. I just wanted to put up some pictures. Hopefully I will be able to post the story tomorrow. Claire is quite the little nurser. :)

Mom's 2-Cents Worth

Megan and Brian have decided to go paint some pottery (don't ask me, I'm not sure what that means exactly). I told Megan I would post these pictures because she is feeling slightly uncomfortable and is actually starting to look at the second hand on the clock (could this be the the real thing????).

Megan looks beautiful and of course she is more than ready to deliver. Brian is, as always, the calming presence in the family. What a great guy!

After shopping at the Outlet Malls all day on Saturday and taking in the great action flick, Iron Man, Megan was still able to smile. What a great gal!

Megan thought she would spend the day Sunday afternoon "jump" starting her labor. It didn't work, obviously, but the cousins had a great time hanging out and jumping with her.

Thanks for having us over M'Kay and Angie, dinner was great and the company, as always, was wonderful.

Monday was spent bike shopping. We went to three different stores and Brian tried at least a million bikes. He would take off on them and be gone for a very long time. We knew he would come back - eventually - because the guy took his drivers license. I was thinking, "Doesn't he think a pregnant wife is collateral enough". Apparently it wasn't.




Brian chose a sophisticated and snazzy bike - along with a very complimentary helmet. He rode the bike home from the bike shop and in the true Forrest Gump mode, did not want to stop. However, dinner was calling so he had to take a break. The bike is now tucked safely in the apartment next to the baby swing, baby crib, car seat, and other baby necessities.

I will be the picture/video taker so I will do my best to get the best pics I can so Brian can post them soon. Let's hope it is soon anyway!

Baby Shower

So this is late but I am finally getting around to post baby shower pictures! An awesome lady from work, Caryl, threw one for me and my friend Cheri. Cheri is due June 7th. It was great because neither of us have too much family around. It was so much fun! Thanks a bunch Caryl! You are awesome!

(My hair is not like that anymore...I cut it. SO much better :)

My aunt Angie, Caroline and Savannah


Angie's mom Judy.


My cousin Brianna and Aunt Della


My old roommates. Dawnelle, Meredith and Christy. Thats Christy's adorable daughter Gabbie and Mere's daughter Alyssa is in the car seat.

Opening presents!

Cheri and my friend Julia and her daughter Alexis. (Sorry I look dumb. I close my eyes in a lot of pictures)

Cheri, Candace (our massage therapist at work), Stephanie and Megan. I miss my nexus friends (although I don't miss Nexus)


Dawnelle and I
It was fun to have a baby shower! Now I just need the baby.

I had my appointment with the midwife today. She stripped my membranes. It weirded me out when she said she could feel an ear. (Sorry if that grosses anyone out) We ran some errands and Brian bought a bike for his graduation gift. (He loves it) We went walking for about an hour and I have been having some cramping/pressure/tightening. It was hard to walk through some of them. Who knows if tonight is the night?! If its not I have another ultrasound/NST tomorrow at 9:30 and then we will head back to the midwife to do it again. They are starting to talk about inducing because they cannot continue my care if I go over 42 weeks. I guess that makes me very high risk. What did women do before all this stuff? Maybe Claire will make her appearance tonight or tomorrow! Cross your fingers!!

Ahem...

So the ticker says 0. Still no baby. At least its fun having my mom here.