We Have A Baby

I doubt I'll ever be a consistent blogger.   A lot has happened since I last blogged.  The most important (and exciting) is the arrival of our daughter!  She arrived in perfect health weighing 7 lbs and 21 inches long.  And she is beautiful, though we are biased.  So far we think she has my eyes, nose, forehead, cheeks, and her dad's hair (exactly the same in his newborn pics), chin, long fingers and his feet.  She is long and skinny, and she is the sweetest little girl.  So far I am getting plenty of sleep, though that is just as much due to her love of sleep as it is to Michael's willingness to bring her to me and take her back to bed while I feed her in my sleep and he makes sure I don't roll on top of her.  And a huge shout out to my mom who stayed for a week and took care of my every need.  I may or may not have displayed the emotional outburst of a small child when she left.  She'll be back this week.

Here is a brief, non detailed account of her birth:
My parents came into town one day before her due date, my mom thought I was showing signs of impending labor.  I had my 40 week checkup one day after my due date- no progress for 3 weeks!  I was pretty discouraged.  The Dr. wanted to induce in 6 days.  If you didn't know, my plan was to attempt natural, unmedicated birth.  So, we worked out a deal with my Dr. to give me a few bonus days.  My parents went back home the next day, thinking we had an entire week before her big arrival. That night at 3 am my water broke in my sleep.  A very small percentage of women have their water break at the beginning of labor and even then its usually a "trickle rather than a gush" as I have read many times.  Well, I am not average.  It was a gush.  I woke Michael up, and we cleaned.  I wasn't having painful contractions yet, so, after calling my parents (who had only been home about 8 hours) we went back to sleep.  About 4 hours later we arrived at the hospital.  The Dr. asked if I was planning on having an epidural, I said no, and he said "good, because I don't think you have time"  She was born about 3 hours later.

Shower

Lucy Kate is having a few little celebrations given in her honor, the main event, however was a few weeks ago.  My friends hosted a shower for us, and it was the most beautiful shower I've ever been too!  They put so much thought into every little detail.  How blessed we are! (Photo credit- Callie Granderson).  If you are observant, you will notice a lot of these decorations if I post pictures of the nursery- isn't it so thoughtful that the shower decorations were also gifts to be used in her nurser.  Like I said- they thought of every detail!

Guest sign in- they wrote a note for Lucy on the frame, and another for me to read when I need some encouragement. 

We played games. 

I got to sit in the audience for a while- I hate being the center of attention.

Eventually I did have to take center stage.  Luckily, Ang was up there with me, taking notes. 

Claira stayed busy putting the books and clothes on display.  

Lucy Kate's library. 

The hostesses- minus Katy and Taylor who will making the long journey to Fayetteville this fall.  Hopefully Lucy Kate cooperates and is here to greet them!

College friends. 

The Gifts.  This doesn't even scratch the surface.  We are well supplied with baby goods. 

My family.  All of this women drove up from central Arkansas just for the shower. 

My grandmas.

Lucy Kate's grandmas.

Four generations of women right here. 

Lucy Kate's (great) aunts.  

Some of her new threads. 

Michael (in the background) came at the very end.  We used his muscles to load all of the goods into the car.  I should have taken a picture of how stuffed my car was.

Not sure how this is out of order.  This punch was awesome!!  Melissa found a recipe with my favorite fruits, but added lemonade- a well known pregnancy craving.  I could have had the entire bowl on my own...maybe I did, not sure how many refills I had.  

Maternity Photos

As my baby gift, my friend Callie did our maternity photos for us!  She also was my shower coordinator and project nursery motivator, and baby registry advice-giver.  She is excited about this baby!
We went to the apple orchard at Prairie Grove Battle Field Park.  If you read my blog last fall, you may remember a failed attempt at picking apples in an orchard, this is the very same orchard.  Mystery solved- apples are ready to be picked in August, not October, but it made a great setting for the photos.
These are not all of them, just some of my favorites.  Callie did a great job!  (Taken at 33 weeks.)

Getting Ready

A lot has happened since my last post.

I finished classes!  I have now taken all the classes I need to complete my MAT and have passed all of the Praxis exams.  All I have left is student teaching, which I am planning on doing next fall.

Michael went to China.  His good friend, Clint along with Clint's wife, Miranda were directors of a summer camp for orphans.  I didn't get to go because I was finishing class and am too pregnant for such an adventure.  Michael loved it, of course, and has lots of pictures to show it.  I thought about posting about this before or while he was gone, but I didn't want any weirdos to know I was home alone.  It was the second longest we have been apart, and we barely got to talk at all, I sure missed him! I did, however, overcome the fear of staying home alone- though I wouldn't really want to do it again.  I was only alone 4 of the nights he was gone, and I thought about making plans to stay elsewhere, but I thought since I am about to be parent, I am not supposed to be afraid of things like that, so I did it! And I am alive to tell about it.  

We hope to adopt from China one day.  If we were already allowed,  I bet that this little lady would have come home with Michael.  

My dear friend, Callie (of Callie Granderson Photography)  took our maternity pictures.  I'll dedicate a post to those later.

I had my first, and biggest baby shower.  It was amazing!  All of my friends did so much work to make it perfect!  - Also, post to come on that later.

The nursery is finished- with the exception of hanging some things on the walls.  - Once, again, post later.

Now, I am just spending these last few weeks (approximately 5) getting ready for Lucy Kate!  Lots of running errands and house projects.  I know at some point I should rest so I am ready physically, but for now,  I just can't!

Pregnancy has still been really easy for me so far.  Everything is moving along just as it should.  The only symptom that I have consistently is forgetfulness.  Some people call it pregnancy brain, in my case, I will just call it stupidity.  I cannot remember a thing.  And my brain is slow, basic math- nope, remembering names of people I know really well for years- nope, remembering how far along I am- nope.  Here is a great example- I put 3 contacts in one at, at one time!  I won't go into details, but it really happened.

I have to do a plug for Farm Box Delivers.  I have been advertising it to all of my friends.  We found a Living Social deal for this website and decided to try it out.  Its all locally grown, produced, farmed, etc produce, meats, dairy, bread.  You order on their website and they deliver it to your doorstep- free delivery!  I wasn't sure what I wanted to order, so we did the "small box" of produce, which is an assortment of their in season produce.  It was no small box, and it was a great value- even if we didn't have the living social deal.  Check out our box!

Here it is! Right off the door step.

This is what I found upon opening the box. (all for $30 w/o the living social deal)

Washed and ready to be enjoyed.

And because you are probably curious, a belly pic.  This is at 34 weeks, taken last week.