Wednesday, January 26, 2011

A Sneak Peek...

Last week I went over to my amazing friend Nikki's house for an impromptu belly shoot. Nikki has an incredible talent, and an awesome eye for photography, you can see more of her work here and on Facebook here. I had been trying to get some beautiful pictures of the henna I had done at my baby shower the weekend before, but the lighting in my house isn't the best, so in a slight panic, I called Nikki, and thank goodness, she had me come over that afternoon! We were just going to take a few pics of the henna, so I had something beautiful to remember it by, but that quick shoot turned into over an hour of fun shots and hanging out with her and her adorable kiddos! She had a ton of new background drops that I was more than willing to do photo tests with, the first pic is my favorite background, and my sweater matched perfectly! She has such a colorful personality, and it was so much fun to just let her creativity flow that day, Brent and I tell her all the time that we are up for anything, and everything, if she ever wants to try out something crazy, were up for it! and yes, she's the same photographer that shot Brent and my pictures last fall. So, Thank you Nikki!! I love this little sneak peek of pictures you posted, and cannot wait to see the rest!

















Monday, January 24, 2011

32 weeks ultrasound and pregnancy update

This morning I was super lucky to get one final ultrasound to see our baby girl! I was pretty sad last night when Brent told me he had to go out of town for work to cover for someone... he had really wanted to be there today to see her one last time before her arrival, but he's an awesome worker and wont turn down assignments if needed. So off I went to our midwife's office. First up was the ultrasound! It was amazing to see how much baby girl has grown and changed!! She's super pudgy! Part of the reason I had the ultrasound was because at my last 3 appointments my fundal height has been measuring 2 weeks big, so our midwife wanted to see if it was baby, me, amniotic fluid, or just because. Well, Baby girl was approximately 4 lbs 8 oz, according to the machine. The tech mentioned she thought she was closer to 5lbs, but it's hard to tell just from an image and ultrasounds tend to be off. Baby girl has super pudgy cheeks, seen in the face pics below, they are super adorable! Both the tech and I also thought we saw what looked like a double chin... but couldn't tell for sure! She also had really thick thighs, so she's gaining weight perfectly and then some! I wish the tech would have taken a picture of her thigh, it was adorable! The tech also showed me that baby girl has hair! not a ton, but there was some fuzz going on in there, we could see it floating around, which was kinda creepy, but neat because I totally thought she would be bald (I was bald for my first few years I think). 

So here are our baby girl's stats for this ultrasound/week:

Appx. 4 pounds 8 ounces

Heartrate was 147 during the ultrasound, and then my midwife counted 153 about 20 minutes later, but I also heard the heartrate dip on the doppler. Baby girl was much more active during the doppler than the ultrasound, we could barely get her to move on screen, so she was probably sleeping before we woke her up.

Foot length is 3 inches! super long, skinny feet!

Her belly looked awesome! Same with her head/skull, brain, lungs, heart, etc, everything looked to be functioning perfectly and healthy. 


(below) Baby girl's super chubby cheeks! and possible double chin! her arm and hand are curled up below her chin, (look at the pic sideways, it helps to make out the face)


She was opening her eyes and mouth, and the tech tried to get a pic of it, she got the top on a little, which is why it's so dark, hand is again curled under her chin.


Her long, skinny foot!! and perfect toes!


another close up of her chubby cheeks


and a profile picture, she was turning, so it's not great, but you can see her forehead, nose, and mouth, and her holding her hand up by her face again, she really likes to do that, I wouldnt be surprised if thats how she sleeps when she's out. 


Other good things from this appointment ( I wont share the icky, pregnancy stuff...) I'm gaining weight finally!! I'm up 4 more lbs from my last appointment! my midwife is super happy that i'm finally gaining, she thinks I might make it up to between 15 and 20 lbs after all! Heart rate is perfect, not too low like it has been in the past. I passed my glucose test!! which we knew when we didn't get the phone call 2 weeks ago, but my results were 120, which failing is 140+, so yay me! No gestational Diabetes! 

Brent and I also took the hospital tour last week, and I will fully admit I did NOT like L&D. It totally freaked me out! I got the dizzy, clammy, hot, going to pass out feeling while touring the room and the floor... it was way too sterile and white and uncomfortable for me. I seriously am planning to labor at home until baby girl's head is about to come out if I can... I did not like the room there at all... On the other hand, the recovery/maternity side was much more relaxed and pleasant. Calming, soothing colors on the walls, browns, creams, tans, with color accents in the decor, very relaxing and nice compared to the total hospital feel of the other side. I think i'll be fine in recovery, I don't plan to be there very long if I can help it. I do realize things happen that might be out of my control, but I like to think of the positive, and positive to me is a less than 24 hour stay :) 

Last week also marked the start of our birthing class, which I cannot believe I have not blogged about yet! We LOVED it! I do have to mention first... a work friend of Brent's recommended the class to us, He and his wife took it with their first child a couple years ago and felt so much more prepared than other couples we had talked to that took hospital classes, they ended up with a C-section, but were ok and informed and knew how to handle the situation when it came time. They just had their 2nd baby last week (Congrats to them!!) I have yet to hear how it went, but the class instructor was their doula! So all through our class, she referenced them and how she was at home laboring currently and if she got a call she had to go, but that the husband insisted she not cancel the class because Brent and I were in it and he didnt want us to miss! :) 

It was a pretty cool class, even if we were 20 minutes late due to my flight being delayed... not fun, but we just missed the introductions mostly. We went over our wishes for a perfect labor and delivery experience as a class, and then from that master list, we as a couple picked the top 10 things we wanted, Our list?
  1. Supportive environment
  2. Successful goals
  3. Comfortable environment/partner/staff/ positions/etc.
  4. Relaxed everything
  5. Strong support from my partner (Brent) and Midwife and nurse, and my ability to stay strong physically throughout the labor and delivery.
  6. Calm and peaceful environment, dim lights, light music, maybe a favorite movie on the tv, etc.
  7. Relatively quick/ timely labor and delivery, no stalling, not too fast either though.
  8. Accepting, of what is happening, what might happen, and if interventions do need to happen 
  9. Encouraging environment, encouragement from Brent if I start to falter or get tired, that I can do it and have this baby naturally, and without medication, and without interventions. 
  10. Privacy from nursing staff (minimal when necessary) and friends and family...
    * This is the part where I should mention Brent and I have decided to not allow visitors... were still debating the family thing. I really don't want people coming to the hospital to see me or the baby, and I would rather have them come by once were home and settled in. There are just too many things going on at the hospital to be comfortable if someone shows up for a visit... I don't want to have to worry about not having a top of if i'm breast feeding, or if the baby is sleeping, or i'm sleeping, or etc... but we would love visitors once were home and settled in after a week or two. The what if's are there too, as in, what if I labor all night, and want to sleep all day, visiting hours will be over. What if I don't do well during labor, and am having a rough recovery? What if the baby is having a hard time feeding, I want to give her my full attention and not stress or worry if someone is there. There are just too many what if's that we wont know until they happen... We also want to spend the first day as just us, a family, Brent, myself and baby girl. The bonding that happens those first few hours is incredible and we want to have the fullest amount of that special time possible.
Also, We've been informed that the time of year may hinder any visitors... Were heading into heavy flu season, and they will not allow most visitors during flu season, it kinda goes on lock down around there I guess. They are pretty serious about it too, my midwife declined the flu shot (as she does every year) and has to wear a face mask EVERY DAY for her rounds and while she's in the hospital... just in case! last year she had to wear it from November through April, because the season was so bad (she never got sick), I smile every time she walks in the room for my appointment, because she's got her mask on :)

We really did love our first class, and cannot wait for number 2 tomorrow night! Oh, and the night after our first class, we went out to dinner at Bittercreek and ran into another couple from the class! They recognized us, and we sat in the parking garage entrance talking for almost half an hour! I look forward to seeing them again this week and getting to know them, they seemed like a pretty cool couple. Brent and I hope to make several new friends in this class, or at least I would like to make some new mom friends, with babies the same age as ours, it would be nice to have a play group right off the bat. 


Friday, January 21, 2011

More fun shower photos

My grandma is one of the most creatively talented people I know! A few months ago I found a book of crocheted animals, and brought it to her hoping to get a few adorable animals for our baby girl that she could chew on, play with, snuggle, and have forever. She gave me these for my shower, and I LOVE them! She also finished a few more animals before I left back home, including an awesome punk rock zebra, a monkey and a lion with a crazy mane! I'm hoping she'll make another set for me in some bright awesome colors. I'm so lucky to have such a great grandma who already loves our baby girl so much to do something special and unique, just for her! She's such a blessed baby already! 


My beautiful sister put together these beautiful floral arrangements for the table at the shower. She's so talented!!! I love how bright the colors are, and how fun they look! 


On Friday before the shower, I went to my Cousin Jamie's (pictured with me below) home for a Henna party! We both had our bellies decorated and her little girl also had her leg done. It was so much fun hanging out with her! we don't get to see each other often, but when we do it's always a great time. 


A close up of my henna'd belly! LOVE!


So when I got home Friday evening, and showed my mom how amazing my belly turned out, she immediately had me call the Henna Artist, Dagmar, to see if she was available the next day for the shower. Amazing, she was!!! We were so blessed to have her at my shower to decorate all of our guests with beautiful designs. Below is my mom's art, a Grandma flower, the large one on top represents her, then the vine goes down to me, and then another vine goes from my to our baby girls flower, representing the family tree in a way. Isn't it beautiful!!!


My henna'd feet :)


and hands, already peeling off


Mom letting her henna dry, she didn't want it to come off at all, it was so sparkley and fun!



* ok, small disclaimer before I share some of these photos... I was talking through most of them, so if my face looks funny at all, it's probably because I was talking. :) 

( Below) Adorable onesie with a turtle on it that says "Snappy Dresser!" so cute!


Shocked at the beautiful quilt that Tia Renee made for baby girl!! Thank you Aunt Renee!!


Cute little capri pants and tee for when she goes to Cali in May, I hope it's hot!


Being told about the afghan that Aunt Merilyn crocheted for our baby girl, beautiful! 


Another cute little outfit!


This was Brent's favorite book when he was a baby, Thanks Grandma Beth! (from baby girl)


Trying to keep things somewhat organized after the shower, before having to pack it all into suitcases... I managed to bring home all of the clothes and soft stuff (including the amazing crib sheets my mom bought us!!) in mom's huge suitcase, I should have taken a picture of the suitcase... it really is ginormous!! the smaller stuff and toys went into a large box which we shipped, and there is still more at my parents house that mom will be bringing over with her next weekend when she visits for my Boise shower. We are so blessed!


Thank you again to everyone who was able to come share my special day! Baby girl already appreciates all that she has been blessed with, and I cant wait to be able to use some of the awesome gifts we received!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

A shower for the baby

This past weekend I flew home to Auburn to celebrate my baby shower! It was so wonderful visiting with friends and family, and I am so thankful that they were all able to attend and celebrate with me! I have to brag a little... It was a pretty awesome shower! I am so thankful for my mom and sister for throwing it for me!

 THANK YOU MOM AND PAM!!!


(Below) Party guests enjoying the festivities! One of the fun things they did was decorate onesies for baby girl to wear when she arrives. It was so fun seeing all the creative ideas, and I cant wait to take pics of her in all the cute outfits! 


Cupcakes!!! Mom spent Friday afternoon baking, and then Friday night her, Pam and myself decorated! Mom picked up a fondant kit and we made all the adorable flowers ourselves. It was so much fun and didn't take long at all!


Love the colors and how pretty the flowers turned out!


Mom's little party favors, adorable little tins with flowers filled with mints, just a little 'Thank You' for coming.


The delicious spread! Mom is such an awesome cook, all the food was a big hit!


Cute little hanging decor, whats a shower without some sort of streamers?!


Pammy, Sarah and I, She's kinda like a sister ;)


Dagmar, the Henna artist we had at the shower. She was a huge hit! and we'll totally admit she probably made the shower! 


Pammy's Henna Stars on her arm, and I still cant figure out who's arm has the flower on it... Mom's?


Sarah sitting down for some henna with Dagmar


The beautiful peacock she had on her hand. Dagmar does everything freehand... a true artist!


Katie P. working hard on her adorable onesie! 


Aunt Sue and Aunt Cheryl decorating their onesies


All the decorated onesies hanging up to dry


Party Balloons and Onesies!


Thats all for now, The photo uploader is maxed out, so keep checking back for another post on the rest of the shower and the fun things we did to celebrate baby girl, including pics of my henna'd belly!! 



Saturday, January 8, 2011

Posting Fail

So I realize I havent posted much lately... I'll keep this quick but I'm going to work very hard this week to get a few new posts up. I really dont have any excuse other than we havent done much. Brent has been working out of town a lot, so weekends are packed full of 'us' time and getting caught up on his laundry. so i'll post this fun pic today, taken on my Droid phone, 


Which now seeing in on the blog I realize it's not such a great picture... but isn't Lilly so darn cute!! She snuggles with the belly any chance she can get. She even sleeps at night sometimes draped across it if i'm on my side, or snuggled up next to it in bed, All the while our baby girl loves her purring, and kicks ferociously back at her, the kicks get harder if she stops purring. It's so sweet, and I truly hope Lil reacts this positively to an actual baby in the house, I like to think one day they could be best friends. 

Brent and I have a busy weekend, so i'll try to remember the camera and get some fun things posted over the next few days. Next weekend should be pretty awesome, it's me first baby shower ever!!! I am so excited and blessed by my family and friends to have this celebration being thrown for my baby girl and I. I'll be sure to remember the camera next week, I'll be in Seattle for the first shower, so hopefully traveling will go smoothly with a baby on board, it's been a few months since I've been on a plane. Happy Travels!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I realize it's been awhile... I was reminded of this while home this week and my mom logged on to see if I had posted... nope, I was visiting family :) Brent and I made the long trek home on Christmas eve, 7.5 hours in the truck with a pregnant wife made for a bit longer of a trip for Brent... but he did well with the threats of me wetting his seat if he didn't stop soon at a restroom... Thankfully, the trip there had clear roads and blue skies most of the way. We did encounter some dense fog through the Blues in Oregon and down into Pendleton, so dense and cold that the ice would cake onto the truck antenna and it would whip back and forth until the ice was gone... only to start accumulating again moments later. We packed up and were on the road by 5am, I think 4:45am actually... and pulled into Auburn right about noon, not bad at all. It gave us enough time to get everything unloaded at my parents into our cozy little camper, our home away from home for the week, and then head up to his parents for Christmas eve celebrations. Unfortunately, I forgot our camera at home.... I was so sad, but Brent's parents gave me a Sony HD Video/camera for Christmas, It's pretty awesome, although i'm still learning how to use it. I was able to take some pictures on it, but not many... I'll get them uploaded soon and share them if they turned out alright. 

Christmas Morning we woke up to my dad and Abby barking at his "HO HO HO" in a funny voice outside the trailer... She wasnt sure what to think of the weird guy making weird sounds she wasnt used to, lol, but apparently we were being waited on inside, because I hardly had time to yawn before I was sat on the couch and handed things to start opening... Christmas morning at the Thomas' is rip and tear... Albeit a delayed rip and tear, but for the most part, gifts get passed out so everyone has a few, then those get opened and so on... It was a pretty awesome Christmas, for both Brent and I, we are so blessed to have such awesome families. The best present of the morning though, that went to my mom... for sure. She opened up a little blue box from this little place called Tiffany's, and there was a beautiful silver keychain inside. On that keychain? an even more beautiful brand new key fob to her brand new 2011 Dark grey Audi A6!!! My dad totally surprised the crap out of her, it was awesome for her to go through the facial expressions and realize what it was, and that it wasnt her old fob on the keychain... and for her to rush out back and open the garage door and "are you serious???!!!" followed by curse words (my mom does NOT curse...) then for her to scream when she sees my dad waving in the backup camera/navigation system... I think that moment made Christmas perfect and wonderful for all of us... not just her. The story of how that car came to be is quite hilarious as well... but I dont think it's mine to share. 

Brent and I had 5 different Christmas' to attend this year... which made for a very busy week, but it was so nice to get to see most of our family, and some of our dear friends. We also made it to the extended edition of Breakfast club this year, something that Brent did in high school once a month with all the boys from Young Life... it's the extended edition because almost all of the guys are married, and some have kids... several more are expecting their first babies this year, and there was one special announcement that there were actually 3 pregnant wives there, not just 2 :) I cant wait to go back next year and see how much 2011 has changed the club, Its sure to be an awesome year!

Speaking of 2011... Can you believe it's here?! I went to bed at about 10pm... this pregnant lady does not stay up late anymore, But Brent woke me up right at midnight to give me a hug and kiss and snuggle me back to sleep, He did have to kick the pup out of his spot in bed though, she had made herself nice and cozy that night in bed with me, under the covers even, keeping away the cold for me. Brent and I stayed the last couple nights at his parents, and had a great breakfast send off with the family Saturday morning. It was such a great week, and it's weird to think it was our last Christmas as just us... just the two of us, because next year we'll have this baby girl, and we'll be starting our own traditions, even if she'll only be about 9 months, It will still be so much fun to have a baby at Christmas, I told the family that next year Santa will be coming around again, so we'll get to leave out cookies and milk and all, it's going to be so much fun! 

So now we are home, the house is a mess with things needing to be unpacked, we are tired and recovering from a long week, but we are happy to be home. We missed Lilly, she stayed home last week, and she slept with us last night in bed, waking me up to cuddle her about 3 times in the night, she has been following us around all day also, which is pretty cute until I trip over her... It's going to be a long week getting her enough love to make up for a week gone. Brent is already packing up to head to INL again next week, So, it will be several more quiet lonely nights here, but the week goes fast (most of the time) and he'll be back home before I know it. 

Speaking of Brent and work...

  HE IS OFFICIALLY A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER!!! 

We got a call from his boss last week informing him that he passed his PE exam and is now a PE! He can get his seal anytime now, we came home to an official letter with his new number and seal info. He is so excited, and I am so proud of him! He worked so hard for this, and does an awesome job at work, he loves what he does and is so happy to not have to take the test again lol. I'll be sure to take a picture of his fancy PE stamp when he gets it. 

so Congrats Brent, I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished!!!

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