Aubrey Ann is here!!!

Hello to our blogger friends, this is Greg.
I was excited to create my first ever post, then I forgot to bring the camera home with me ( I didn't feel like staying and sleeping on the purple fake leather chair, so I came home tonight).

Our little girl weighs in at 7 lb. 15 1/2 oz. She is 19" long. Not too bad on total time at the hospital. She was born at 4:31 pm, and Andrea did great.

Most importantly, Aubrey is healthy, mom is healthy, and this Dad thinks she is one cute kid.

We had fun with the kids meeting her, as well as all of her cousins tonight. Thanks to all of our family and friends for the love and support, we sure feel loved. And for those of you who know him, Dr. Drake did another awesome job.

Okay, I am out for now, look for the pics soon.

Greg

Last one

Here's the last pregnancy photo. We got in to the hospital tomorrow morning (if they have room when we call at 6am), and I will be pregnant no longer! Yeah!

The Growth of Aubrey (and me!)

I started at 12 weeks, and took photos every month. The last two were only two weeks apart at 36 and 38 weeks. Funny how what you wear affects how large (or small) you appear. I look huge at 32 weeks! I'm glad I did it, though. Kind of fun to see the progress.

A February Baby

At my appointment this morning, Dr. Drake decided to induce me on the 25th, that's a week from today! I'll be at about 38 1/2 weeks. I am 2 cm dilated, 75% effaced, and at station "zero." The reason stated on the paperwork for induction is "baby large for gestational age." He feels good about doing it a little early, and I'm totally ok with that, considering my worries about having another big baby (Joel was 9 lbs. 4 oz and 10 days early) and the tearing issues I've had with both kids. Actually, I'm very excited and relieved to know she'll be coming soon. It would be nice if Aubrey decided to come on her own this next weekend before Monday, but we'll see. It's a good thing I'm not going all the way to my due date because I gained another 2 pounds in six days! And if you really want to know (Leah), I've gained 32 lbs with this one so far. :)

36 weeks

I am now 36 1/2 weeks along, which means I have only 2 or 2 1/2 more weeks to go! I made it to my appointment yesterday after being sick for a week with another sinus infection and the nasty flu bug that's been plaguing so many we know. Everything was fine. I passed the weight I was when I had Joel, but I'm not quite to Kari weight yet. I am only 1 cm dilated, but the dr. said, "that head is way down there!" I'm glad to know my waddling has increased for a reason.

Prepared

Ok, she can come now. I just finished her quilt, raised the crib mattress, replaced the boy bedding with girl bedding, put up the mobile, and got all the clothes washed and in her dresser and closet. I made another Ikea run this week (the last one for a long while) and finally got both kid rooms organized to my satisfaction. Not much left on my to-do list!

Oh, and just so you know, the ladies at the beach last weekend did the the "needle" test (never knew what that was before-pretty crazy) and the results were a girl. Phew! :)

34 weeks

Had another appointment today. I never get tired of hearing our baby's heartbeat. It's exciting every time. Everything is fine, medically speaking. I don't exactly feel "fine" physically, but that's totally normal at this point, so oh well! I just have to remind myself that I can't do as much as I'd like to for the next month. The to-do lists that I so love to make and check-off need to be shorter. This may or may not be the last time I have the privilege of having a tiny life growing inside me, so I need to enjoy it as much as possible. (I still say a fourth is an option, but Greg says three will be perfect.)

Nesting

This week I've been working on getting Aubrey's room ready for her. I didn't want to paint the room, so I'm working purples in to make it more girly. Joel's still taking naps in the crib, so it has all his "stuff" in it. I still have some work to do in her room, and I need to finish her quilt, but we're getting closer to being ready. I know I'm feeling ready for her to be out! Still another month, though. I'm hoping it speeds by.
The name wall hanging was my latest project. My sister-in-law gave me the idea (and most of the materials). Thanks, Michelle!

Another Big One?

Just had my 32 week appointment and talked about my worries about delivering another big baby. I've had recovery issues with both kids--enough said. After the doctor measured me and saw I'm measuring bigger/further along than I actually am, he said he'd induce 7-10 days early if all is well. So, Aubrey could be born in February, maybe the 27th, 28th, or 29th (hopefully not the 29th, though, because I'd feel bad if she only had a birthday every 4 years). I'd prefer to go into labor on my own as I have with the other two, but I also don't want to be pushing out a 10 pounder either. Joel was 10 days early and he was 9 lbs. 4 oz. This stuff is just not an exact science. Maybe Aubrey is deceiving us all and is going to be a petite 7 pounder--I highly doubt it, since it feels like there's a big, strong baby in there, but it's possible.

Getting bigger

We're 32 weeks now. When I saw this photo, I couldn't believe I was really that big. :) Greg says I am. I asked. I'm wearing a more loose and "flowy" top (excuses, excuses), but yes, I'm looking quite pregnant. I'm feeling quite pregnant, too. Maybe only 6 or 7 more weeks?

31 Week appointment

Everything's good. They got the results back from the lab, and I don't have gestational diabetes. Hooray!

Aubrey is quite lively. I never have to wonder if she's ok in there. She makes her presence known often, day and night. It kind of makes me wonder what kind of a baby she'll be. Joel was a wild one inside and was a pretty easy baby. Kari wasn't as wild but was colicky (the doctor's only explanation for her unhappiness and persistent screaming) her first 4 1/2 months of life. We'll see about this one!

Happy

I can eat chocolate again! The three days with no sugar were more difficult that I care to admit, but I followed the diet. The lab test was long, a little painful, and just no fun, but as I sat there for 4 hours watching other people come in for tests (some quite elderly and others obviously in poor health), I found myself feeling thankful for my pregnancy and good health. No word yet on the results. I think I'm fine.

So sad

I failed the glucose screening test for gestational diabetes, as in totally flunked, not just a point or two over, so now I have to do the long test on Monday morning at the lab. We have all these yummy goodies in the house from Christmas, and I can't eat any of them! That's why I'm so sad. I have to follow a special (healthy) diet for the next three days before the test, and while the diet itself isn't bad, the fact that I can't have any chocolate is terrible! I love my sweets.

I thought maybe if I blogged about it, I be more likely to be good and not cheat. I really do want to have accurate results, so I need to be strong! The other thing I'm not excited about is I can't eat for 12 hours prior to the test, and since the test itself is 3 1/2 hours long, I won't be able to eat until almost lunch. (That's a near crisis for a pregnant lady.) In the grander scheme of things, this really is just a small inconvenience, and writing these words has made me feel better already. I can do it!

No Weight Gain

Yep, it's true. I went to my 28 week appointment yesterday, and I had gained no weight. It made total sense, though, because I've had the flu. The stomach flu is never fun, but it's worse when you're pregant. This is the second time in two weeks that I've been sick, and I have to take this opportunity to say what a wonderful, understanding, and caring husband I have.

Greg has been a trooper through it all. Monday night he checked on me often as I lay on the bathroom floor. He called the doctor and drove to the pharmacy in the middle of the night to get the anti-nausea medication. He had lots of work he needed to get done Tuesday, but he wrote emails and made phone calls so that he could stay home with us that next day. He took care of the kids the whole next day and evening, all the while checking in on me, giving me medicine, and making sure I had everything I needed--and he did all this on less than 2 hours of sleep.

I am so grateful to have a husband who loves me so much and keeps his vow to "love, honor, and cherish in sickness and in health." He is a devoted husband and father, and I love him very much. Now, just pray that he doesn't get sick from taking such good care of me!

28 Weeks

We got Joel in the photo this time. Joel's saying "hippo," and I'm not sure what Kari's doing.

We ARE Baby Blues

One of our favorite comics is Baby Blues, and with the addition of baby Aubrey, our family will look very much like the McPhersons. The similarities are rather uncanny. The dad and oldest daughter, Zoe, have red hair, the stay-at-home mom and little boy, Hammie, have brown hair. They have a baby girl named Wren. The kids are a little more spaced out than ours are, but it's pretty much going to be our life in a few months. If you're a parent of small children, or have ever been a parent of small children, you'll relate. It's great!

One third to go

I am officially in the third trimester with this baby! Yeah!

Thanks, Kari

Today as we were unloading the dishwasher:

Kari-- "Mommy, you have to grow bigger so baby Aubrey grows healthy and strong, right?
Me--"Right."
Kari--"Well, Mommy, don't grow too big, ok? Because then you wouldn't fit in the kitchen. "

24 Weeks

Had my regular every-4-week appointment today. Everything's great. Aubrey was moving all around when the doctor was trying to listen to her heartbeat. I gained another 4 lbs, same as last month. It seems that I'm on track to gain not as much as I did with Kari but more than I gained with Joel. Oh well!

Bumping around in there

Feeling good these days. However, by the end of each day I move like an old person. The joints and ligaments in my hips don't feel so good, and various ordinary movements send shooting pains down my legs. I don't really mind those things so much, though, because I'd rather have that than feel sick and miserable all the time. Baby Aubrey Ann (I think that might be her name--still no official decision on a middle name, but I'm leaning that way) is kicking and moving a lot these days. I started working on her quilt, so she'd better be a girl!