Avery's story

Monday, October 25th, was my due date and also my scheduled induction date. We were scheduled to be at the hospital at 4am- what an early morning. I was afraid that I would not sleep well Sunday night due to my anxiety of all the "unknowns" of labor and delivery. I've never had a broken bone, an IV or any other need for medical attention other than the annual shots and having my blood drawn. SO, the fact that I was about to have an IV, epidural and give birth all at once had me completely freaked out. I had worked myself up so much on Sunday night that I thought for sure I would not sleep... I was wrong. I slept great!! My alarm went off at 2:30am and I showered and got ready for the big day.

{40 weeks preggo- just before leaving for the hospital}

Chris and I left the house just after3:30am and arrived at the hospitalat 4. We went directly to our delivery room and I was changed and filling out paper work within minutes.

{Checked in and ready for the day!)

At this point I was still 3cm and 90% effaced. I was started on pitocin at 5:10am and the contractions started coming every three minutes, but the pain really wasn't too bad. Chris and I actually spent the next few hours watching The Office on our laptop. :) My amazing doctor, Dr. Graham, came in at 7:45 am and broke my water.... within minutes my contractions were much more intense and before she even left my room I was ordering my epidural. Yes, I have a very low pain tolerance!! When the anesthesiologist came in to start my epidural I got really nervous and started shaking... I seriously couldn't stop the shakes, but boy was I a happy camper once the epidural kicked in. It was weird not being able to feel my legs and having to have Chris and the nurse rotate me from side to side every 30 minutes.

{Post epidural and feeling good!}

Our family arrived not long after I got the epidural and it was so great to have their love and support. Around 10:00 am I felt the need to be turned onto my left side. Chris asked the nurse to come in to help rotate me and when she got there she felt the need to check me again. I was already 10cm and the baby was almost crowning. She immediately called the Dr and told me she thought I would be pushing within the hour. Chris and I were shocked!! All of the nurses and even the Dr. had told me they expected it wouldn't be until mid afternoon that I would be ready to push.... well, I was pushing by 10:30 and Avery was born at 11:04!!

{First family photo}

I honestly feel like I had the best labor and delivery and of course the epidural helped a lot. :) Avery is such a huge blessing to us and we are so in love with her. God has trusted us to be her parents and we pray every day that He will guide us through this amazing journey. She is a miracle and we are so grateful for her.

{Family meeting Avery for the first time}

Due Date/Induction Date

Monday is my due date!!! I can't believe that 40 weeks has finally arrived. I have absolutely loved being pregnant, but these last 2 weeks have gone by so slowly. Chris and I are so anxious to meet our little girl and to finally be able to hold her in our arms. I think I may have mentioned in my last post that my dr doesn't want me to go past 41 weeks due to increased risks for the baby. Sacred Heart (the hospital I will be delivering at) only performs elective inductions Monday thru Thursdays. As of this past Wednesday all induction appointments were full and my dr told me she would call me if anything came available. Well, on Friday afternoon I got a call from the nurse saying that Monday morning is the only time available and basically, I could take it or leave it. Well, of course that was like dangling a carrot in front of a rabbit... After much prayer and consideration, Chris and I decided that Monday would be the best option for us rather than hoping something else opened up. Over the last day we have learned that Monday is really an answer to prayer and we have been shown that God's hand was definitely in this situation. He is so GOOD!! Monday works best for Chris' work schedule as well as my dad's and father-in-law's schedule. If we had waited for an appointment later in the week then some of our immediate family would not have been able to be there on the day that she was born. Again, GOD IS GOOD! He works in ways that we cannot always see and for that I am so grateful. Please keep Chris, baby and me in your prayers on Monday. Pray for a healthy baby and a smooth delivery. Pray for safety for me and the baby and that I won't be too nervous going in on Monday morning. I've never broken a bone, or needed surgery so the thought of having to have an IV and epidural and the many other things that I am about to experience makes me a little nervous. I just keep reminding myself of the wonderful outcome at the end of it all! We will definitely keep you all updated over these next few days. We can't wait to share our little baby with you!

Doctor Appointment

Chris and I are so excited that we will be meeting our little girl very soon! I'm officially 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant leaving 5 days to go until our due date! I have been going to the doctor on a weekly basis for nearly a month now and I've been making progress towards labor, but I'm thinking this baby is nice and cozy in her current home and that she really isn't in a hurry to come out! I went to my 37 week appointment with little hope that I would be progressing any and found out that I was actually 1.5 cm dilated and 80% effaced (thinned out). I couldn't believe I was already making progress at 37 weeks! I think this got my hopes up though and when I went in for my 38 week appointment I found out that I had only dilated a half a cm and everything else remained the same. After getting my hopes up that she might come early I went into today's appointment knowing that nothing has changed. Sure, I've had a lot of braxton hicks contractions, but they always seem to subside after a few hours so I'm through getting my hopes up. Right? Well, at my 39 wk appointment today I learned that I am now dilated to 3cm and 90% effaced. The doctor says that the baby is very low and anteriorly placed... so it really is just a waiting game. We talked about our different options and decided to hold off on inducing until after I've reached my due date. I'm getting impatient and am so ready to meet and hold my baby girl, but I also want to try to go into labor on my own and experience that part of this process. My due date is this coming Monday October 25th and I'm sheduled for one more doctor appointment that morning. We will induce somtime next week if baby doesn't come on her own. It's so exciting to think that by next weekend we will have our baby in our arms!! Of course, I'm still hoping she comes in the next day or two. :)

We will keep you all updated!!!

maternity sneak peak

Saturday morning was an early one... the sound of my alarm ringing at 5:30 am startle me, but quickly I was aware that we had our maternity photo shoot in just a few hours. Being that I was 37 weeks and 5 days pregnant, I waddled my way into the shower and quickly got ready for the day. Chris and I drove an hour to Aly's Beach where we met photographer, Cassie Olimb. Cassie brought along her friend/photography partner, Megan. We spent about an hour feeling like the papparazi was following us. HA! It was so much fun and I am so glad that we were able to document this special time in our lives. Thank you Cassie for such wonderful memories!

To see more pictures from the photo shoot click here.

Belly Picture

Here is the belly just one day shy of 38 weeks....

37 weeks and 6 days

posted just for you, Aunt Sheri!!! :) Love you!!!

Nursery Pics!!

A lot of you have been asking for pictures of the nursery for quite some time now... well, today is your lucky day!! The only things lacking are wall decorations and a rug... other than that- the nursery is ready for baby A!

The girl has more clothes and shoes than her momma... and blankets galore! :) She has been blessed, that's for sure!

Walk it out....

I just might have to try this if baby A decides she is nice and cozy in mommy's belly and doesn't want to come out!!

Pregnancy update

I went to the doctor on Wednesday the 15th for my last ultrasound and another follow up. It's crazy to think that the next time I see that sweet baby girl she will be outside of my belly and in my arms!! Unfortunately, Chris wasn't able to go with me this time due to his patient load BUT my mom and sister were able to go. I think they really enjoyed getting to see baby A in action. She was moving all over the place and yawning a lot! Her heartbeat was strong and measured 155 which is her norm. The main reason for this last ultrasound was to be sure that she is in the right position for delivery (head down, bottom up!) and she was!! The doctor also wanted to check her weight to be sure she is growing at the correct pace. She weighs 4 pounds 5 oz and is in the 23rd percentile for weight at this stage in the pregnancy. I'm hoping this means that she will be a small baby... speaking of which- my Dr. made her prediction today as to when baby will arrive and how much she will weigh. Drum Roll Please.... Dr's guess is that she will weigh 6 pounds 5 oz on October 15th. I'm liking her prediction and am only wishing that I had asked her how accurate her predictions are!!! ha!

All this time I've been thinking our little girl will be bald when she is born... but it looks like she may have some hair on that head after all! (can't wait to see how much she will have!)

This is the last picture we will have of her precious face until she is born! She is definitely more plump than the last time we saw her, which is a good thing! It also looks like she is running out of room in there!

Nursery update: As some of you may know, Christopher has really been working hard on the baby's dresser. The dresser we are using in the nursery was actually the dresser that was in MY nursery 25 years ago. This dresser has been through a lot. Amanda and I both used it as infants and toddlers and then it became a storage unit in our playroom for nearly 18 years. When Chris and I got married my parents let me take the dresser with me to Augusta. Chris and I brought it to Florida and put it in our guest room. The dresser was white during all of these years, however, the furniture in our guest bedroom was black, so of course we painted over the white to make it black! Well, a year later Chris took on a new experience and stripped off the black and white paint and then stained the dresser a dark brown to match the crib and bookcase that are now in the baby's room. This was a HUGE undertaking and he learned a lot through this project. I realize that he did this for me and the sentimental value I held in that dresser and I am so very thankful. I'm know there were times that he wished we had just bought a new dresser, but he kept working to make it absolutely perfect for his girls. He literally spent every free minute he had working on this dresser and the transformation is amazing. Thank you, Christopher, for the hard work, dedication and love you put into this dresser for our little girl. It's absolutely perfect!!

I will have to find a picture of the dresser when it was white....

We painted it black when we moved to FL.

This is what the dresser looked like after Chris stripped of all of the paint. What a job!!

The finished project!!!

I've been feeling more and more pregnant over the past few days and weeks.
--I'm no longer able to run... in fact, I haven't been running since I hit 30 weeks. However, I'm still getting my cardio in on the ellipitical at least 3 days a week. It's great because I can increase the resistance and it really gets my heart pumping. I even took my firt group yoga class on Monday. That's right... 34 weeks preggo and taking yoga. I think the instructor was a little nervous that I was in there b/c she gave me a quick lecture in front of the class about the things I can and cannot do- plus she mentioned she was really glad there were nurses in the class!! I enjoyed the class, but to be honest- some of those moves are just plain uncomfortable with such a large belly!!!
--My last day of work was on September 9th and I am absolutley loving my free time! I get to sleep in and then spend the day getting this house and the nursery ready for our baby girl. I can take my time doing these things which is great considering I tire easily. I'll do one thing (vacuum, for example) then lay on the couch for a while before going on to my next project. It's absolutely fabulous! I do need to add that I really admire those women that work up until their baby is born. I know it is so exhausting and I was only working part time. I don't know how they do it!
-- Just in the past week I have noticed swelling in my hands and feet- ok, and even in my face. and sleeping is getting pretty uncomfortable. In fact, I woke up in the middle of the night two nights ago and had to get up and eat. I was starving!!

Well, that was quite a long post. Sorry about that, but thanks to you faithful readers out there for always checking in!! Love you!!!

The Bump at 34 weeks

I am 34 weeks preggo today!!! I can't believe that our little girl will be here in just 6 weeks- give or take. I have a Dr. appointment on Wednesday, so I'll be sure to update you all again then. Here is a picture to hold you over until then. :)

The bump at 32 weeks

Bailey and the Bouncer

This weekend we (and I do mean Chris with a little of my help) put together baby A's swing, bouncer and diaper genie. Here is a video of Bailey learning the new sights and sounds of the bouncer.

a pregnancy first

Chris and I felt baby A's hiccups last night!! We are so anxious to meet our baby girl... just 8.5 weeks!! She has been moving a lot lately and seems to like kicking me in the ribs, but I don't mind. :) I am going to miss feeling her move inside my belly once she is here but I honestly cannot wait to hold her in my arms!!!

3D ultrasound pictures

Today marks week 31, which means we're officially down to single digits!!! We had our 3D ultrasound this afternoon and it was so much fun! Baby A didn't cooperate very much and decided to sleep through most of the appointment, making it difficult to get a good picture of her entire face. We do have several profile shots which include her foot by her forehead. Apparently she is getting a little squished in there! Here are just a few of the pictures that we have of our sweet baby girl!

Baby A with her foot resting on her forehead!! She has cute little toes though!!

She knew we were trying to wake her up and thought she would show us some attitude by sticking her tongue out at us. ;)

Is that an Archer nose, or what??

She definitely has her daddy's lips, too!!

FL Baby shower and weekend fun

This weekend has been so much fun! I had my last baby shower on Saturday and a lot of my family came into town for the festivities. On Wednesday, my Aunt Sheri and cousins Vanessa, Erin and Morgan drove up from Miami for a small vacay. Aunt Sheri and my mom have been best friends since they were babies. They grew up together in Miami and stayed close even after my mom moved to Ga in highschool. Aunt Sheri and her family mean the world to me and they really are family to me. I wasn't able to see them on Thursday due to my work schedule, but was able to spend all day Friday with them. We all went to see the movie The Switch which was really cute. After the movie Vanessa, Erin, Morgan, Amanda and I went to the beach for a few hours before getting ready for dinner. Throughout the day on Friday the rest of the family arrived. Dinner on friday night was so much fun and full of family, laughter and catching up over Mexican food. Here is the whole gang after dinner...

The Irelands, Archers, Bowers, Nana, Aunt Tara, Aunt Debbie, Shelley Ward and Vanessa Rueda.

Erin, Shelley and me

My wonderful husband :)

"The Kids" : Vanessa, Adriane, Shelley, me, Chris, Amanda, Erin and Morgan

Nana and her girls: Vanessa, Erin, Amanda, Shelley, Nana, me and Morgan

The parents to be with the grandparents to be!!

Saturday was shower day and let me tell you.... it was absolutely wonderful. Aunt Tara and my sister, Amanda threw this shower for me and Baby A. It was held at Another Broken Egg in Sandestin. The food was wonderful and the decorations were so beautiful and fun! Several of mine and Chris' work friends were able to come and two of our church friends came also. I am so blessed to have this group of ladies in my life and am thankful for each and every one of them. Each person holds a special place in my heart and I am blessed to have them in my life. Thank you all for the wonderful gifts you showered me and Baby A with. I am so ready for her to be here so that we can put all of the gifts to use!

My sister-in-law, Adriane and me showing off our baby bumps before the shower. I am 30 weeks and 5 days and Adriane is 26 weeks and 3 days (I'm guessing on the days for her). She is having a BOY and we are so excited for our babies to play together!!

Adriane and me with our mother-in-law, Cheryl

This is my friend Kim, who is due just 4 weeks before me. She does not know what she is having-- I couldn't do it! Chris and I met Kim and her husband, Jordan back in January at church. Jordan is in the Army and we are sad to say that they will be moving on Monday to Washington State. Please pray for them as they drive across the country over the next 6 days with Kim being 35 weeks pregnant. We will miss these two so much, but are looking forward to visiting them on Washington sometime after the kiddos are born! :)

The Premier Rehab girls! Gwen, Lauren, Marie, Bri and Christine are all a part of the company that Chris and I work for. Gwen's husband is the regional manager, Lauren and Christine are physical therapists, and Marie, Bri and I all work the front desk at the therapy clinics in Ft. Walton. I have loved getting to know these ladies over the past year and look forward to many more memories with them!

The OA girls!! Elizabeth, Brandi, and Jeri also work for Premier Rehab and are the ones that I work closely with. We all work in the same clinic and I absolutely love them! Elizabeth and Jeri are physical therapists and Brandi and I work the front desk. I am going to miss seeing these girls on a day to day basis when I leave, but am thankful for the year that I have had working with them. The friendships we have made are special to me and I am so glad they were able to be a part of the shower.

My mom's side of the family- each one traveled a great distance to celebrate baby A and I am so grateful for their love and support. Family has always been important to me and I love these ladies more than they know.

Mom's immediate family: Her mom and sister in the front and Shelley, Amanda and me in the back. We are missing Jessi (Shelley's sister) and her baby girl in this picture. Jessi just had her daughter less than a month ago and they live in Pennsylvania and were unable to make it. We missed you Jess and Ana Lynn!

Dad's family: His sister, Tara and mother Judy. I'm glad dad was there at the end of the shower to be in this picture. It means so much to have these pictures to look back on and remember the wonderful times we have had as a family. Love you all!

This monkey matched the monkey on the invitations!! How adorable is that!??!

Aunt Tara gave me the most beautiful and meaningful bracelet. It has three different jewels on it and each represents my growing family. The bracelet has my birthstone, Christopher's birthstone and Baby A's birthstones on it. It is absolutley gorgeous and every time I look at it I tear up. This time in my life is so special and I am so in love with my husband and our little girl. This bracelet will always be a reminder of how important my family is to me. Thank you Aunt Tara!!

Such a creative gift from Aunt Sheri, Vanessa, Erin and Morgan. I pulled this out of the clothes hamper they gave to us.

Aunt Mandie stocked Baby A's closet with lots of BAMA clothes for her first football season!!

Baby A's first swimsuit!!! Thanks for the beach bucket full of swimsuits, sunglasses and cover ups, Shelley!!!

The daddy to be was showered with gifts, too!!

The oh so creative diaper cake from Aunt Sheri, Vanessa, Erin and Morgan. I LOVE IT!!

After the shower we loaded up the cars and all of the family came back to mine and Chris' house to see our house and the nursery. We unloaded the gifts and hung out talking for a while. Amanda and Shelley went through our baby names book and had everyone trying to guess baby A's name. Chris and I are holding strong and refused to give in to the pressure. Sorry guys!

Saturday night we all went to dinner at McGuires to celebrate my cousin Shelley graduating Sonography school. We are all so proud of her and the hard work and dedication that she put into school. She is FINISHED!!! Congratulations, Shell!!! We love you!

The balloon guy at McGuires made Shelley a special lady bug graduation hat!

Morgan got a penguin and Erin got a flower!

Shelley surprised when her dessert came out and we all sang to her!! Even the booth full of guys behind us joined in the song!

The last "kids" picture before we all said goodbye.

I know this post was super long, and thanks to those who stuck through it to the end. As I said before, this weekend was so much fun and we made so many memories together. I love my family and friends and am thankful for all of you!!