Grandparents

Here are pictures of Baby Addies' grandparents, above my Dad Bill and below my Mom Betty, holding her for the FIRST TIME!!! What a long time coming! Baby Addie is the first grandchild on my side so this is a new adventure for my parents. She is already so loved!

Paul holding her the first time

Here is Paul holding our baby girl for the first time! I was so tickled to see him hold his baby girl. :)

Shortly after delivery

Here I am shortly after delivery. This is for all my curious friends. I was all smiles holding my baby girl! Of course! :)

Addison....

Addison's Daddy changing her first diaper! What a good job! We know there are many more dirty diapers too come!

Mrs. Becky, the nurse who got to deliver our little girl! She came so fast the doctor didn't have time to deliver her. Mrs. Becky was awesome!!! There were only two of us delivering at this time. She delivered at 4:31 am and I delivered Addison at 4:32 am!!! The reason she got the doctor was because her baby was crowning and Addison wasn't quite yet so they 'assumed' she would deliver before I would....we all know what assuming will get ya! When little Addison was ready to enter this world she was ready and that was for sure!!! Thanks Mrs. Becky!

First few photos....our first family photo +.....

ADDISON'S BIRTHDAY!!!

August 21, 2008, Thursday, at 4:32 am we welcomed our new baby girl, Addison Grace, into our family!!! This is her first picture. She is of course absolutely beautiful. It seems like we have waited so long to see our baby girl, but then again it seems like it went by so fast! She weighed 7 pounds 1.4 ounces, 18 7/8 inches long, and has blonde brown hair. We couldn't be happier and she couldn't be more perfect....of course!!! We are so blessed. For all those curious about my labor, I started noticing that I was having regular '"pains" radiating from my back to my stomach at 6:30 pm Wednesday that were consistent and started getting closer together. By 12:37 pm my water broke at home in bed! Off to the hospital we go. I got admitted at ~1:30 am and was ~3-4 cm dialated. By 3:30 am I was 10 cm and pushing!!! No epidural or any drugs of any sort! Proud me! I never freaked out for all of you who know me so well...believe it or not! At my surprise my body was doing what it needed to do...go figure, all those worries and fears of mine! By 4:32 am Addison came into the world head and arm first! All I remember saying is "My baby girl, my baby girl! I just had a baby!" What an amazing rush. :)

38 wks + 1 day

Look at that belly! 38 weeks +! Can you believe that?! Time sure does fly. I have about 13 days from today until my due date! Who knows when she will come! She may come late... I can just breathe a little easier now that I know she is fully developed....but for you who know me know that doesn't stop my worries!!!

My last appointment went well. She has dropped and I can tell by my more frequent bathroom breaks! I have never spent so much time going to the bathroom. I know my former pregger's understand. My belly sticks out further in the front too!

When I take a moment to reflect back on the last nine months I am astonished and amazed. Pregnancy is a geniuine experience that no one can really explain for you until you experience it. It is so amazing to feel someone else moving around inside of your tummy. To know that she relies on me for nourishment and security is an awesome responsibility. I still get surprised at times when I look down and see my growing belly. She has gotten so strong and at times her movements take my breathe! I just can't wait to see her and hold her in my arms. When I look back to the beginning of my pregnancy I thought the morning sickness (which should be called all day sickness) would never go away. When it did (~15 or 16 wks) I started feeling her move. I was so tired!!! During the second trimester I started really growing and showing. Now, here I am in the last few DAYS of my pregnancy and I just look back amazed. I don't know how else to explain it. At times I can't believe here we are...any minute she could decide to come into the world. I wonder will she be here by next week or by the weekend even. It is a big surprise...unless I have an induction of course!

Paul and I are both so excited and can't stop talking about our new addition...obviously! We are getting the car seat ready for the Explorer and our bags are packed. I will keep you all posted! My next appointment is Wednesday......think happy thoughts for me...and Addison!

Jamie's Visit

A good friend of mine, Jamie, that I met in VA Beach and her parents stopped by for a quick visit on their way to AZ! Jamie and I worked together and that is how we met and became good friends. She is going to be persuring a graduate degree from University of Arizona in Tuscon. I know she will do well. She is very intelligent and dedicated. I wish you the best Jamie!!! I am so glad you got to stop by! Your parents are absolutely wonderful. It was also nice seeing a familiar face.
You can definitely tell now-a-days that I am huggo preggo! I am one day shy of being 37 weeks in this picture.

Completed Fence

Puppies hanging out

Finishing the fence....

Paul decided to rely on a more expensive piece of equipment this time to get the job done. By Friday evening he had all of the post holes dug and cemented. If he hadn't of gotten this equipment he might have still had been digging holes! Our neighbor Dan came over Friday night to help pour concrete. They didn't get done until dark! Then Mike who is Paul's sponsor at work came by Saturday to help out. By Sunday Paul just finished up putting the rest of the fence post thingys on and cleaning up.

More Empathy Belly....

Belly to Belly! All smiles... I love my husband! What a good sport! He doesn't look too bad with a baby belly!

Back to Back! This really was a lot of fun. Now that Lamaze is over we are on our own. We can officially say our baby is due this month now that it is August! Can you believe that?!?! Time sure does fly. It seems like we just found out that we were pregnant. It goes to show you to really enjoy each and every moment. 29 more days until my due date.....which we all know babies do not like to always come on or near their due dates! There have been bets that I will go into September...you know who you are! We will find out....

Just a quick update on my last appointment at 36 weeks...baby looked good. Still head down...thank God! The doctor said that it doesn't look like I will have her soon....soon being before my next appointment on the 13th. That is crazy we are now talking days! I have been having Braxton-Hicks all the time now.... my stomach gets VERY tight! She still likes to wake up at 3 or 4 am! I thought I was suppose to get to sleep my third trimester! It feels like quite the opposite, but hey, as along as my baby is moving around and happy so am I! I have been craving sweet stuff more and more. I have been bad and been giving in a little more now than I did before. I am surprised I gained only 4 pounds this last month....I was worried it'd be more like 10! Sonic and Dari Queen are way too close to my house!!!

I am starting to feel like I just want to get the pain over with so I can just hold her and see her....maybe I am starting to come to terms with it....maybe! I would like to say a quick thank you to all my former pregger supporters out there...you know who you are! I have some very dear friends and am very blessed. You all mean a lot to me! Not much longer and you won't have to put up with the crazy preggo stuff!

Using proper body mechanics....

trying to figure out how to pick up a pen....correctly!

Laying down properly....and telling the instructor that his wife does not do this correctly!

Empathy Belly....

Last night was "Empathy Belly" night at Lamaze. It was our last night so it was fun to do as a final hooray! As you can see Paul here all smiles, his bladder is hanging out. Those guys last night had issues with the bladder! I think the velcro was bad. How funny! All of us preggers got a good laugh out of the dads-to-be!

For those of you who really know my husband here he is strutting his stuff belly in tow! He was Mr. Funny Man. He volunteered to go first to get it over with, but if you ask me I think all of the guys had way too much fun this belly!

Belly clothed! Mr. Poser!

Puppy Time

I had to put these two pics in here. I thought the top one was too cute. Paul and Alley having some snuggle time. Then both girls, Alley and Isabell, having some play time! You can't say he doesn't love the puppies too!

The newest project....

is a fence! Everyone that knows Paul knows he likes projects. He sure has his work cut out for him on this one. The soil here in Missouri is very rocky! It was not a fun time for these guys digging down 3 foot into rocky soil! In the picture above we have our kind neighbors, Will and Jamie, giving a helping hand. We appreciated all of their help! I will blog more pics when the fence is completed.

Profile....

Here is my profile at 34.5 weeks. Everyone keeps telling me it looks like she is dropping! We will see tomorrow when I have my appointment. I have been having more contractions and my stomach gets hard as a rock. Practice makes perfect, right?!

Baby Belly at 33 weeks

Here we (Addison and I) are at 33 weeks! I am starting to wonder how much bigger I can possibly get! The doctor says 10 more pounds, but that is hard to imagine. But my baby girl is growing good and is average size so that is all that matters is that she is right were she needs to be. 48 days until my due date. Each day I am trying to come to terms with labor being soon in my future.

We started Lamaze last week! That was interesting to say the least. The men get to wear an 'emapthy belly' our last week...oh, and yes I will blog pictures so don't worry!!! The bellies actually weigh 35 pounds, have metal balls inside to roll around, and there is a tube were they can insert warm water into a bladder so the men can get an idea what it feels like when the baby sits on our bladder all of a sudden! I can't wait for that! This Thursday we talk to an anesthologist...oh, me. I hate needles! I have to say it has been nice meeting other couples who are in the same situation as us...its almost like a bond because you understand what each other is going through. I feel bad for those whose husbands are deployed and will miss the birth.

My next appointment is July 30 so I will keep everyone posted on that. Take care all!