A baby story!

So here's hopefully the QUICK version of how our little guy got here!

We checked into the hospital at about 6:45 am ... I was hooked up to the pitocin by about 9:00 am - and Dr. Joseph came by shortly to break my water! (Did I mention I almost passed out/threw up when the nurse missed my vein putting in the IV)...

At 10:00 am we got to move to a BIGGER room ... and I was dialated to 2.5 cm. I got my epidural at 10:30 ... after feeling several painful contractions. My blood pressure dropped to 71/53 ... so I again almost passed out - but we got that under control and I was good to go!

By 12:00 (noon) - I was dialated to 4.5 cm ... 12:45 - 7 cms - and 1:00 I was COMPLETELY dialated -so 5.5 cms in 1 HOUR - PRETTY Fast!

After waiting to get the doctor there ... and about 5-6 pushes our little boy was here!

A BABY "PLAN!"

I went to the doctor yesterday - and I AM actually dialated to 1 cm! By the time I got home from the doctor - and 4 hours of contractions - surely I'm at least at a 2 NOW! Dr. Joseph said I would definitely be ready for my scheduled ...

TUESDAY, APRIL 28th INDUCTION DATE!

The baby could obviously come before that... as I thought he just MIGHT last night! Jonathan and my mom are both 2 hours away ... so no running on the treadmill at least until Friday afternoon! So that's that for our baby "plan" -- if you can have a plan!

Please feel free to put in your guesses about:

weight, length, time born, date (if you think other than 4/28), hair color, and initials.

One or two of you may have an advantage -- as I've suggested a name or two - but we still are far from deciding! He will have a name within a few minutes of his birth ... that's the plan at least!

I'll try and do a fun LITTLE prize for whomever comes the closest!

Just 6 days or less - and you'll be seeing another boy in our family... we can't wait!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ...

A favorite picture from the weekend ... Benjamin reading to Jonathan Sunday morning before church ... our new ward starts at 1:00!

We spent this past weekend at our new house in Cumming, GA. I don't want to say HOME -- because it definitely didn't feel like home yet! The blow-up matresses we borrowed from the Winn's were PERFECT though - and definitely beat REALLY camping out on the floor! It was fun to celebrate Jonathan's birthday ... and be together for the weekend. I was able to buy a few things and get the house a little in order for when we move next Month. Here are a few birthday pictures:

Benjamin helping put the candles on...

Benjamin and Jonathan blowing out the candles ...

(and YES ... that is SMOKE from the 29 candles!!)

Jonathan helping BENJAMIN open birthday gifts!

All in all it was a WONDERFUL weekend. Benjamin had a great time at his cousin Mary's ... thanks a 100 MILLION Sarah ... and Joanthan and I were able to go to the Temple before the baby arrives!

HAPPY EASTER!

Here are a few of our Easter Festivities! We asked the Easter bunny if he would come LAST night ... which he kindly did! We thought we'd do all of the fun stuff today - and try and focus on the Savior tomorrow. Aside from cleaning up the yard (see Tornado post) - we really had a WONDERFUL day!

We dyed Easter Eggs for Family Home Evening this week ...

The Easter Bunny came this morning...

Easter Egg Hunt at our house ...

I just LOVE egg hunts!

A night to remember ...

Well we feel very blessed today! Last night - at about 10:50 - as Jonathan and I were finishing up a movie - Jonathan had just checked the weather on the radar and got up to look out the back door. As he opened the door - things were quiet. He then went to look out the front windows and as he processed that the TORNADO was HERE ... he started yelling my name ... the Tornado was literally ON us. Jonathan grabbed Benjamin out of his bed and we jumped in Benjamin's toy-filled closet. Within about 20 more seconds - the tornado was gone. The tornado was classified at EF-1 (winds between 86 and 110 mph).

Needless to say - we feel very blessed that it was a "lighter" tornado - and that we were "safe throught the storm". I've been wanting to light this lamp for awhile -so I thought what a perfect opportunity! Benjamin doesn't remember ANYTHING ... which is probably a blessing as well.

This was one of the few pictures I took last night -- this was part of our "for sale sign" that ended up on our BACK deck.

This is one of the 4 trees that went down in our backyard - Kirk Mitchell was quick to offer to come over and help Jonathan get it cut down and out of our yard ... THANK YOU!

This was some of the trash in our yard - if you can see a black "blob" on the fence - that was our 2 doors down neighbor's BRAND new trampoline ... which was 100% mangled.

* The top picture is of the BIG oak tree that thankfully fell into the woods - bringing down several other trees as it fell.

Little or big trials - including this moment have brought us closer together as a family.

A Beach Wedding!

This past weekend we went to my friend Ansley's wedding (a highschool best friend!) We enjoyed spending time together as a family at the beach ... watching Conference and going to all of the wedding festivities! The wedding on Saturday evening was PERFECT -- and you will see the most beautiful clouds! Here are a few weekend favorites!

Still a BOY!

Well... the little guy (without a name) is still a BOY! I had a sonogram yesterday and everything looked great. He measured in the 63rd percentile -and they guessimated that he weighs around 5 lbs and 13 oz. - which if he comes in 4 weeks will put him AROUND the 7 pound mark - just PERFECT!

Everything else looked great - and he is even in the right place. We are still looking at the LAST week of April for me to be induced -I will find out a "DATE" in two weeks at my next appointment. Until then ... I'll try to keep up my 30 minute run on the treadmill and pack the house to stay in shape!

Here's a 35 week prego picture ... he still sits VERY high - just like Benjamin!

Just words...

So this post is JUST words - because I still have NOT taken a REAL prego picture. Not that I don't want to - I just feel bigger and BIgger and BIGGER! But I WILL TRY TRY to do it and update everyone on the baby after I go to the doctor on Tuesday!

Jonathan took his FINAL board today. Hopefully all went well - but you have to WAIT for your score to come in the mail ... why can't they just TELL you! I'm sure Jonathan did GREAT though! Hip Hip HOORAY!

The next few weeks will be BUSY! Jonathan will be mostly working in Atlanta ... and hopefully WE should be able to go to my highschool friend Ansley's wedding in Florida ... which I will find out from the doctor on Tuesday as well!

We will have a sonogram on Tuesday of the baby - as I was measuring a little small at my last appointment. I've still gained plenty of weight -- I'm trying to stick to what I gained with Benjamin (around the 20 lb. mark)- so far I'm exactly on track with what I gained per week with him -- let's hope I can stay on course for the next 4 weeks. The plan is for me to have the baby the LAST week of April so that I will be able to ATTEND Jonathan's graduation instead of chancing it. In the meantime - I'm packing boxes, training the new scheduler for work ... and getting ready for Easter and Jonathan's birthday and the baby!! Lots to do but it will ALL be worth it in just a few short weeks!

I will keep everyone posted on our latest and greatest adventures!

Going de Cumming...

Our next Home!

Yep ... we are MOVING to Cumming, Georgia - where Jonathan will work in Alpharetta and Suwanee! We are very excited about out new home which we will be renting for the next year! It is a little bigger than our home now - and there is a pool and tennis court in the neighborhood ... and sidewalks ALL around! Hopefully I can get some use out of that tennis court after the baby comes!

Family Room with a GAS fireplace (not electric!)


Family room and french doors to the office ... and stairs up to the bedrooms!


Our home will have 4 bedrooms and 2 & 1/2 bathrooms ... and will have a REAL living room, dining room, family room and an "office" which I think we are planning to use as our little playroom! FINALLY! (And a BIG walk in closet!!) We are SO excited. We will start moving stuff April/May ... but officially move-in after Jonathan graduates and we have a new little guy to take with us!

Kitchen ... although there is a microwave where that vent is ... and a BIG pantry!


The upstairs ... the boys rooms will be on one end ... and ours on the other!


We will miss all of our friends in Grovetown ... but we are excited for our next adventure in life!

Hot Atlanta!

Things are looking up for us to move to Atlanta! Jonathan has been able to work at the dental office this week that he will most likely be working at starting in June! He/we have a few more questions ... but we are planning to move in late May after the baby comes! We've started looking at homes to rent in the Alpharetta/Cummings/Suwanee areas of Atlanta - which is the NORTH part of Atlanta! I've had to learn a little more Atlanta geography! We are really excited and know that the Lord continues to bless us with the best opportunities in this life! We'll keep everyone posted on the baby... graduation... our new address and everything in between!