Elizabeth Anne is here!

Born 12/19/2006 at 10:45 AM, Elizabeth weighed 7 lbs 1 oz (actually .5 oz, the only time in her life she'll let anyone round up), and was 20 inches long. Mom and baby are well. In fact, mom made them take out the catheter, pain drip to the C incision, and IV all within 24 hours. 26 hours after surgery, she was in the shower. She's been up today with many visitors.

Just Go Into Labor Already!!!

Matt is basically begging me to go into labor. I don't know how to explain to him that it is not my choice when I have this baby, I mean despite a c-section I had to work with the doctor's schedule too. Anyway I think he wants me to have the baby now so that he gets out of work a few days earlier than originally planned and so that he doesn't have to do the "Honey Do list" I have made for him. I probably want to have this baby more than he does anyway. But it looks like I will have to wait it out until Tuesday when the c-section is scheduled.

Elizabeth Anne if you want to come now just let me know the normal way and I'll be happy to call the doctor and head for the hospital. Just give me time to find someone to watch your brother and sister though. That's all I ask. Or you can just change positions and make it less painful for me and then I will happily wait until Tuesday.

One Of My Favorite Christmas Memories

As a child we would put out our stockings and go to bed. The next morning we would have to find where Santa hid our stocking. One year Santa hid it in plain sight from the upstairs banister. I remember being able to see my stocking and some of the presents left to me but because my mother wanted her coffee we had to wait. It was torture but it made the wait all the more exciting to me. It is also probably what made it so memorable. By the way, that year I received a Cabbage Patch Kid horse which I named Snowball.

Keep Up the Work

Since school started in the fall I have been trying to work with Gabriel on writing his name. The other day I noticed that all the other kids wrote their names on their letters to Santa. Gabriel and one other boy were the only ones who did not. This bothers me despite the knowledge that everyone progresses at their own rate. I really feel that he can do this but just isn't trying. I mentioned it to Matt and they sat down together and Gabriel got excited with trying to write his name. Now he is trying to learn to write his name so he can show his dad he can do it on Christmas Day. It's frustrating that I couldn't accomplish this. I feel like I tried everything, but I guess he just needed his dad's encouragement. Now he gets out the writing tablet on his own and practices without even being asked. Way to go Matt!!!

Thank You, Matt!!

I mentioned it just once and that was all I had to do. Thank you for coming home and cleaning the basement with the kids after a long day at work. It means a lot to me that I won't have to crawl around on the floor picking up toys, styrofoam and trash that have been left around. It also means a lot to me that I will have more time to put my feet up and enjoy the last few days of my final pregnancy.

Thank You!!!

Christmas Thoughts and Quotes

Christmas Is Coming

Christmas is coming,
the geese are gettingfat,
Please to put a penny
in a old man hat;
If you haven't got a penny
a ha'penny will do,
If you haven't got a ha'penny,
God bless you.

Things to do before the 19th

1. pack bag for hospital - done
2. wash car seat cover - done
3. install carseat in van- done
4. clean house before Monday when Mom gets here.
5. charge batteries for camcorder -done needed it for tomorrow Christmas program
6. pack camera and camcorder - done
7. make sure we have extra batteries for camera - done
8. make a list of kids' schedules, food preferences, and routines for mom - it was asked for so I am working on it-done
9. go over email list with Matt for after baby is born-done
10. wrap the last of Christmas presents- done
11. get haircut (Thursday)- done
12. get pedicure and manicure (Saturday)
13. put together and deliver class treats - done
14. give teacher presents - gave to another parent to wrap since we went in together on them- done
15. find time to relax

Another Pregnancy Complaint

I think I must have pulled a muscle or something in my belly. Not sure how I did it but it hurts no matter what I do. It could also be the way the baby has decided to sit the last couple of days and no pushing will get her to move over. This may just be a omen of things to come. Stubborn girl. If it weren't for not having help with the kids I think I might just be begging the doctor to take her today.

Christmas Thoughts and Quotes

Angels and shepards, birds of the sky,
Come where the Son of God doth lie;
Christ on the earth with man doth dwell,
Join in the shout, Noel, Noel.

Anonymous

Braxton Hicks Contractions

I've been having some pretty painful Braxton Hicks contractions for the past week. Matt is on pins and needles expecting to take me to the hospital anytime now. I think the baby is just trying to make me more uncomfortable than I already am, but that's beside the point. But I have decided it might be a good idea to go ahead and pack our bag for the hospital stay just in case. I also need to make sure we have plenty of batteries for the camera and that the camcorder is charged with a fresh tape and ready to go. It would be just good planning. Matt was astounded that I hadn't already done all this with as much nesting as I've been doing. I have just been putting it off. If I don't pack the baby will wait until the surgery date. Right?

Long Over Due Pictures

I have finally downloaded pictures dating back to Halloween. The pictures also include Matt's trip with the kids to Knoxville during the Thanksgiving weekend. The kids visited Santa Clause and their Great Granny while they were there and also visited with Matt's parents and his sister's family. So just click on flickr and enjoy the slideshow.

Christmas Thoughts and Quotes

Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts: the gift of God to man- his Son; and the gift of man to God- when we first give ourselves to God.

Vance Havner

Our Date Night

Last night the kids had their first babysitter, who is a 12 year old girl that lives three doors down from us. Gabriel and Abby did just fine with us leaving, in fact we were pushed out the door by them. Matt kept waiting for a phone call and I barely thought about it except to talk about the kids, babysitters, and such. We had fun but they were my friends and most of the men were doctors which Matt found was hard to get into a conversation about surgery, the hospital, etc. But it was fun for us to get out of the house and my hope is that we can do it more often now that we have found a babysitter.

Babysitter

I called and lined up the kids' first real babysitter today. We have been invited to a party Saturday night December 9th and it's an adult only party. It's one I would really like to attend and so I found us a babysitter. She lives down the street from us and Matt is aquainted with her dad through work. I'm nervous about it but think everything will be fine and we will only be 10 minutes away if anything should happen. It's just the first time the kids' will be left alone with someone other than family. I was bound to do it sometime and now is the time. Anyone have any advice for me?

First of December

Today is the first of December so we have begun our advent calendars. Yes, we have several ways of counting down the days until Christmas. Gabriel has a Playmobile calendar that we will do with him as well as a sticker scene of the manger we received from MOPS, I really like the fact that it has scriptures that go along with it. Abby has the same sticker scene and a wall hanging of the manger scene, when we did it today she said, "Again, again!!" I will do the advent tree myself with some help. Next year I think I will wrap a Christmas book for each day and count down the days that way, I got that idea out of a magazine in the doctor's office the other day. I really want to instill the true meaning of Christmas in my children. I think it's important. The thing I am going to miss the most this year is the Christmas Eve service. I have always loved the music and the togetherness it brings to me. But we will have our new addition and have family present.

Christmas Thoughts and Quotes

Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.