One week!

Isabella, today you are one week old!  It has been such an amazing week getting to know you even better. You are such a sweet and happy newborn. You only cry when we change you and when you are hungry. Your sleep habits are ah-mazing. You only wake up once in the middle of the night to eat which really makes for a happy mommy. I know the first week is the honeymoon phase so I am trying to soak it all in. Your umbilical cord fell off today and we had your newborn pictures made. You and Isaiah both did great. I cannot wait to see the final product. At your well visit this week you had dropped to an even 7 pounds. You eat 1.5 ounces per feeding and eat every 3-4 hours. I love you sweet girl and I already wish I could slow time down just a little bit!  

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Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Happy BIRTHday Isabella

We went to the hospital at 6am on Friday, January 24. Shortly after I met the nurse that would cheer me along through the day (funny thing we actually cheered together in high school). It's always fun to go through natural labor in front of someone you haven't seen in 15 years. Hahahaha seriously though, she was GREAT!  

At 8 am we started pitocin to get things moving along. Mike and I played a game of scrabble, took pics, listened to music and chit chatted to pass the time.  I also ate lots of ice chips. It was like candy!  

I was 100% sure Isabella would be here by lunch time so when noon came and went and my contractions were still tolerable I started to get irritable. By 1 o'clock I figured we were in for a long night. My nurse noticed that little sweet pea had fallen asleep so I hooked up my mask and got some fresh oxygen. Finally by 2 o'clock I could tell things were picking up. I walked around the room between contractions and mike offered up some fabulous hand and foot massages during contractions. By 3 I was having intense contractions and really hoping things kept moving along at a good pace. At 4:15 I told mike to call the nurse because it was go time. 

About 45 minutes later we had our sweet, beautiful, perfect and TINY baby girl. She only weighed 7 lbs and 8 oz and 21 inches long. (Isaiah was 9.5 lbs big difference)!  

I have to mention this part of the story because we all got a good laugh. During my last contraction (which no one thought was going to be the last) the doc had turned around to get a towel or something. I had heard someone mention I may be pushing for a while. I disagreed. One more push and little bit FLEW out. My doctor caught her with one hand. We were all really surprised and once I knew she caught her it was all we could do but laugh. Good thing she has "cat like reflexes" (her words). 

While we waited in our delivery room my parents brought Isaiah to meet his sweet new sister. He was so excited and I was so happy to see him. 

Isaiah got to catch a ride on my rolling bed with me and Isabella and we headed from the 1st floor to the 4th floor. It was a fun ride and he was so proud. 

Once we got settled and finished visiting with Isaiah and my parents they headed home and mike's family came to visit. 

We were all three so tired so we ate some yummy Wendy's and called it a night. Momma needed a cheeseburger after all that work!  

We stayed in the hospital until Sunday which was nice for me since I knew Isaiah was going to keep me busy once I got home. 

It was a great experience and the staff at Methodist Germantown was amazing. We are so glad Isabella Jane is here. Happy and healthy!  

(More pics to come soon these were just from my phone, I have not dumped my camera yet). 

39 weeks and a recap

We are nearing the finish line and this mommy cannot wait!  I will be honest, this has been a rough pregnancy. I spent the first 15 weeks struggling to keep food down (morning, noon and night). I also had crazy headaches and needed two naps a day. The second trimester brought lots of relief from the actual sickness but I was still pretty tired. When you have an active toddler you just keep trucking along. I was so glad that he started school this year. I have exercised the majority of my pregnancy (I think I only missed five weeks total: vacation, colds, exhaustion and slipped disk in my neck were the causes for those five weeks). I really think keeping at it in the gym helped me keep up with Isaiah. The third trimester brought about a whole new level of exhaustion and by early December I got a slipped disk in my neck. I spent a week in bed and began physical therapy. After three weeks of therapy my range of motion returned to my neck but I noticed weakness in my left hand shortly followed my numbness. I am exhausted!  The last 8 days have been filled with contractions and false alarms. All of this to say, I still have a smile on my face because every day is one day closer to meeting the newest member of our family. I can't wait to see who she looks like and get to know her personality. Come on baby girl!  Mommy is READY to hold you and snuggle you. 

False alarm. 

39 weeks. 

I have worked hard to eat healthy and guzzle my water. This week I am splurging!  Sorry doc!  

Nursery Progress

I have decided this nursery may always be a work in progress, just like our home. However, at 38 weeks and 5 days I have decided for now it is done. I love how it all came together. Now we just need a baby!  Hurry up Isabella!  

I wanted to paint the rocker but we never got around to it. Also in search of a taller lamp for the side table. 

Build-a-Bella-Bear

With Isabella's due date quickly approaching I decided to take Isaiah to build-a-bear so he could make her a special gift and bring it to the hospital on her BIRTHday. My friend Emily shared this idea with me and I loved it!  I fully expected to come home with a blue dinosaur dressed in camo but I was ok with it. I decided that this was Isaiah's special gift and he could make it the way he wanted it. 

Step 1 :  choose your animal. Much to my surprise Isaiah looked ALL over for the "pink teddy bear". 

Step 2:  add a voice box. Isaiah chose the "giggle" box so he could "make bewwa laugh!

Step 3:  choose a heart and stuff your bear. When Isaiah picked the heart I asked him if he wanted to hold it and say a special prayer. He said yes, love his little heart. "Dear God, please keep Bewwa safe and help me be a good big brother. Amen". 

Step 4:  give your bear a bath (this was his favorite part)

Step 5:  dress your bear. Isaiah went with the LOVE shirt. So fitting if you ask me. 

Step 6:  birth certificate time 

Step 7:  box up your bear (and let mommy pay $$$$) 

Off we go!  Isaiah is ready to meet his little sister.  Notice the pink magic wand he added. I asked him why and he said "to make her stop crying". Wow, I hope that thing really works!  

Cousin Love

Uncle Bubba and Bryant have been in town visiting and we have been loving our time with them. So glad they are moving back soon. Isaiah loves playing with his cousin.  We missed Aunt Amber but can't wait to see her in March. 

Mike and bubba even got in some brew time.