December to Remember

Bruce and Taylor started the month off celebrating Aunt Sheila's 50th Birthday! Kaitlyn and I had a baby shower to attend for some friends of mine from Oklahoma, so we couldn't make both. Pictured below is Judy (Bruce's mom), Sheila (the birthday girl), Uncle Roger, Uncle Bill and Stacey.

Andrea, Jackie (Andrea's mom), Lindsey and I went out to Four Day Weekend Improve and dinner for Lindsey's last night out as a single gal. I felt kinda bad about our plans for Lindsey, but with the time frame, holidays and Andrea and I being new mom's it made for some challenging planning. We had a great time though.

Lindsey made a stunning Bride! Her wedding day came up so quickly. The chapel was absolutely beautiful and it was decorated for Christmas which was that much prettier. December 18th was her parents anniversary. What better way to start a marriage than to model after one that lasted so long. Jeff and Lindsey both come from parents who were still married to one another. That's rare these days and I think, and hope, that dedication they have seen will make their marriage that much stronger!


Below is a picture of us after Lindsey and Jeff's wedding. I love this picture! Great friends doesn't even do it justice --it's more like extended family. I can imagine us, years later when our kids are grown and we're all still hanging out, looking back and smiling on what a great day that was and how happy we all are.



One more exciting thing happened on Lindsey's wedding day! Kaitlyn's first tooth appeared. By the next morning -- her 2nd tooth appeared! "All she wants for Christmas was her two front teeth!" Guess that's what she told Santa and that's why she was giving him the 'thumbs up' in her picture! She turned 5 months on the 22nd. She was 24" long now and 12.5 lbs. She's learned to give the best slobbery kisses :) And LOUD -- she has alot to talk about and wants to be heard!

There's lots of creativity around our house. Taylor loves projects and Tyson is so artistic. The two of them spent some time developing a puppet show just for us! Tyson designed the characters and Taylor wrote the script! Another example of how creative Tyson can be is shown below. I told him about the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Art Contest where each age group can win $50-$150 and the over all winner can win $500. He whipped out this drawing in about 5 min. The rules of the contest were pretty strict. The drawing had to be mounted to a board the exact size of the drawing, pencil drawings had to be spray fixed, a removable address label had to be affixed to the lower corner with their name and age and the entry form had to be attached to the back completely filled out and turned in to the Star-Telegram by 5:00 on Dec 11th. By Dec 17th, we got an email for Tyson saying he was a FINALIST!!! His drawing has been selected and he has been invited to attend a luncheon where he will find out how he placed! His drawing will also be displayed at the Stock Show -- so watch for it if you happen to go!


Kaitlyn's first Christmas and it snows Christmas Eve! Bruce headed out early that morning to the lease in Bowie and shot him a doe. He said they probably had 4 inches out there when they left. Sure does make for a pretty picture!

Christmas Eve, we ventured out to Bruce's mom's to have Christmas over there. The roads were getting a little dangerous so we took the side streets there. Normally his family all gathers at his grandmother's house that evening too, but with the weather, that was cancelled. We still stopped by though to wish Grandma a Merry Christmas before heading back home.

The snow didn't stop Santa from stopping by our house though. Santa left Taylor a bike and Kaitlyn a bouncer. She's juuusst about ready for it. If we put a pillow beneath her, she likes it for just a few minutes. She'll be going to town in it in no time though.

Kaitlyn is alot like her mother when it comes to mornings. Bruce and Taylor both like to spring from their beds early. Kaitlyn and I would rather take our time and wake up nice and slow! Even when Santa has came to visit!

Christmas morning

Stocking my mom made for Kaitlyn. Hopefully we'll have Taylor's custom made stocking ready for next Christmas -- maybe even one for Bruce!

The road conditions did prevent us from making it out to Bruce's dad's like normal Christmas morning. They had come over earlier that week to see Taylor open her presents. We made it out there the day after Christmas to celebrate with them.

The kids all had a blast having snow ball fights and building snowmen. The snow in Fort Worth wasn't quiet as good for building as in Mineral Wells.

November:The Unabridged Version

What an exciting month this has been! Kaitlyn can roll over from left to right and from front to back! She prefers kicking off with her left foot though. She's gotten really strong with her legs. She likes to push off with them and throw herself backwards if she doesn't like the position you have her in.We thought she was getting her first tooth. I thought at the baby showers when I was getting so many bibs, that those would be reserved for when she started eating baby food. Little did I realize that it'd be needed much sooner for drool!! I found a hard, white spot on her gums on the 3rd, but soon after that, it went away. I figured it was a tooth coming up, but the Dr. had some other explanation for it.

Our friends Andrea and Jim had their baby boy, Colt. He was 9 pounds 9 ounces!! What a big boy! He is almost the size of Kaitlyn.

Tori, Tyson and Taylor helped me put up my Christmas decorations the 1st weekend in November. I had to get them up early because, as you'll read, our weekends following were pretty packed! We have 4 trees at the house (I have one more I may put up) Three of the bedrooms have 4ft trees in them. Kaitlyn's is pink. I need to put the "Texas" tree as Taylor calls it in our room. Then the living room has the big tree of course. I got most of the outside lights hung and plugged into the "set your lights to music" device. I still need to get a few lights out side done and the infamous inflatable snowman out too!

Deer season is in full force. Bruce has been burning up the highway between here and his lease. He's gotten one 10 point so far.

Taylor went with him once. He really enjoyed her going with him and spending quality time together. I think Taylor really enjoyed riding the 4-wheeler he got this season. He was proud of her pulling a deer she named Spike back to camp with the 4-wheeler too. Bruce said Taylor was saying "Come on Spike!" "Put your tongue back in your mouth Spike!"

Bruce, Jim and Jeff all went to Lake Whitney for a few days for Jeff's "Bachelor Party." They booked a guided fishing trip and were able to hunt on some public land.

Lindsey and Jeff's wedding is 16 days away! She had a shower on the 14th and we had her one on the 21st. Her wedding has come together so easy it seems. 3 months to plan a wedding isn't much time, but she has it all together!

After Lindsey's 1st shower on the 14th, Kaitlyn and I made a bee-line for Downtown Dallas so Kaitlyn could meet Lauren and David for the 1st time! They were in for her Aunt Pam's wedding, which I was hoping to go to, but I didn't realize it was the same time as Lindsey's shower. Seeing Lauren and David, and Lauren's family was great! They moved to Houston in August. I really miss her being close. Can't wait for David to move her back closer *wink wink*. We really should have taken some pictures while we were there. There just isn't enough time!

After the 2nd shower, we went to Lindsey's for lunch and to visit with Andrea and her kids and Lindsey's mom and aunt. On our way back home, Kaitlyn and I met up with my friend Jonathan, who I used to lifeguard with, from Oklahoma for dinner. Bruce and Jonathan used to go to school together as well. Jonathan and his wife Lindsay are expecting their 1st baby soon too. She is having a baby shower in Euless on Dec 5th that we will go to.

I was really looking forward to my week off at Thanksgiving. I don't know how it happens, but every day of that week we had something going on. Tuesday the 24th was Kaitlyn's 4 month check up. She weighed in at 11 pounds 8 ounces and was 23 inches long.

She's really holding her head up well and she can make the motions for crawling, she just doesn't get very far yet..it's only a matter of time! The dr. told us we could start solids now. I have in my mind that I'm going to make her baby food. I tried making rice cereal. I almost have it flakey enough, but we went ahead and bought a box which should last a while I think.

We delivered two cakes I'd made for a friend at work in Grand Prairie that evening. Wednesday we headed to Mineral Wells for my dentist appointment and so I could get my green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole made before mom needed in the kitchen. I also made a yummy banana pudding. I used a recipe from the Magnolia Bakery in New York City that I visited when I went for New Year's Eve one year.

I gave Kaitlyn her first bite of rice cereal that evening while everyone played poker at mom and dad's. She took it pretty well!

Thanksgiving day we ate at my parents. I smeared a little bit of mashed potato on my finger for Kaitlyn to taste. After lunch, we headed back to Fort Worth to Bruce's mom's to visit with his family for a while.

Bruce's dad and step-mom have been married 25 years and were renewing their wedding vows at the Church on Sunday. I had to bake cakes for the small reception following so I wanted to bake them in Mineral Wells so I didn't have to travel as far with them.
Their ceremony was very nice. Bruce Sr had arranged everything as a surprise to Lisa.

(pics to come)

Bruce's mom and step-dad also celebrated their 25th anniversary at the 1st part of the month by taking a trip to Tennessee.

So here we are to December already. Kaitlyn and I woke up to SNOW this morning!!! I, against my better judgement, had to take her out to see her very 1st snow! Just uncovered her long enough to snap the pictures.

I think I will start one of my New Year's Resolutions early. I'm going to try and NOT be so busy. I look forward to spending the evening watching Kaitlyn and spending every moment of quality time with her I can. I told Bruce that over Christmas break, I hoped that we didn't have as much running back and forth to do. Most important, it cuts into my time with Kaitlyn and it really messes up our schedules!

Kaitlyn said she had her Christmas wish list all made out so she needed to go visit Mr. Claus - so we did!

I'm not sure if you can tell in this picture, but she's giving a thumbs up! Couldn't have staged that if we wanted to!

PS .. I love when she giggles!

November

Kaitlyn has started November off with some exciting news! She rolled over today!!! All by herself on the couch. Then she got a little frustrated that she couldn't do it again. At least til a little later in the evening.

I also forgot to mention that she's weighing about 10.5 lbs and measuring 21.5 inches.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! !


We started this month off in Palo Pinto at Bud's Birthday Bash. He had a fishing themed party where everyone wore crazy fishing hats!



Lindsey's going to town on her wedding plans. She already bought her dress, had it altered and had her bridal portraits made! We spent one saturday getting some really fun and creative bridal pictures that I can't wait to see. She has had the easiest planning I think I've ever heard of! Showers have been planned, invitations ordered...it's all coming together!

Kaitlyn is just busy busy drooling and grabbing her feet. She gurggles back and forth with you and is starting to think spit bubbles are the best thing! She definetly likes your full attention for some interesting conversation! She's even begining to giggle.


There's nothing better than when you're holding her and she puts her head down on your shoulder and you feel her sweet little baby breath on your cheek.


Here we are at 3 months and our first Halloween. She's just now starting to wear 0 to 3 month clothes. Aunt Sharon gave us Tori's costume she wore when she was little. Kaitlyn says "Hoppy Halloween" to everyone!

Bruce and I spent Halloween at home passing out candy. I think this is the first year he's been home on Halloween since we've been together. Last year we were at the deer lease for opening day the next morning.

We also had a shower for Andrea a little earlier this month. Colt should be here anyday and we can't wait!!!

Bittersweet September

My computer had been out of service for a while so I'm behind on blogging some. I could have ten blog entries this month that I'll try to write about all in this entry to get caught up!

We'll start off with a little quiz: Can you guess how much it costs to be care flighted from PK Lake to JPS?? (you'll have to read this all to find the answer)

I started the month off with my last follow-up appointment which I begged Dr. Gardner to find something wrong with me. Who knew it would be so hard to return to work??? I have really enjoyed my time off being with Kaitlyn. I never imagined being able to set and stare at something or someone in such amazement and awe for so many hours day after day.

The Wednesday before my first week back I just sat and cried thinking how hard it was going to be to leave her. It probably didn't help that I was also watching the last of last season's Gray's Anatomy where they leave you thinking everyone one died!

We spend my last weekend of maternity leave in Mineral Wells visiting and then Monday, Labor Day, we rode with Bruce Sr. and Lisa to visit Bruce's grandmother and family in Vernon. That was a quick trip but a really good visit. Kaitlyn had a chance to meet her other great-grandmother and some great aunts and uncles along with several cousins.



Tuesday was back to work. Bruce took the day off to stay home with Kaitlyn. He and Jim-Britt had a Daddy-daughter day with Kaitlyn and Sadie. Meanwhile, at work, I think I had quit crying by 10:30 unless someone asked me how I was doing. While on maternity leave, I was offered a new position at Grand Prairie, so I did have something new and exciting to come back to...including an office with a door. Like Lyle said --that's something around there. They also hired another lady, who I met my first day back and probably made quiet an impression, since she asked me how motherhood was! I warned her she'd have to ask me later as tears filled my eyes.

That weekend was Taylor's Birthday. She turned 11 on the 14th. She had an 80's skating party and had a really good turn out. Even her 1st little crush of 5th grade (or maybe it was the last little crush of 4th grade) Harrison showed up.



Taylor's birthday and Jeff Casey's birthday are on the same day so Lindsey called and asked me if we wanted to meet them for dinner in Weatherford at Montanna's for his birthday. Jim, Andrea and Sadie were there and Kathy, Jeff and Lindsey along with Bruce, Taylor, Kaitlyn and Myself. Little did we know, but we really weren't meeting for Jeff's birthday, we were meeting so Jeff could show me a picture on his phone of him and lindsey fishing!!
Jeff FINALLY popped the question! I think we all knew it would happen one day. I am so excited for them! I always know it's meant to be when I cry tears of joy and happiness for the love two people can share. I did cry tears of joy for them -- and I cried a little of sadness too since we lost Lindsey's dad a year ago this month. Her wedding will be a joyous day, but it will be hard with Duke not there in body...he'll definitely be there in spirit and I'm sure something quirky will happen for him to let us know his presence. He has a way of doing that. Right after I'd selected the ladybug theme for Kaitlyn's nursery, Kathy was going through some more of Duke's things and ran across this little gold lady bug pendant. Wherever did he find this and why would he have kept it? And what made Kathy and Lindsey find it right then I'll never know. You'll notice on the white bow I had Kaitlyn wear in her 1 week pictures, the lady bug pendant is on that bow. That bow is from Lindsey and it can be worn later as a garter when Kaitlyn marries.

I've never missed someone as much as I do Duke. He passed away on mine and Bruce's 1st Wedding Anniversary. I don't have one memory that doesn't involve a lot of laughter! I miss him so much that I still can't think of him without getting tears in my eyes. I think the saddest part is knowing the loss that Lindsey and Kathy have experienced. I often wonder about the things he would have said or witty things he may have come up with when I was pregnant or what he'd think about Kaitlyn! When I was in 2nd or 3rd grade, I was over playing at Lindsey's house. I can't remember where Lindsey was in this story, but I was pestering Duke. He was setting in his chair watching TV. The chair was in front of a dividing wall that separated the kitchen/dining room from the living area and another room. Duke was an avid fisherman and he happen to have his fishing gear layed out. I grabbed and opened a bag of "scented worms" and snuck around the back of Duke and held the bag over his nose. I think I won that round of pestering!! The smell on the bag stayed on his face and from that day on I was known as Wormy and his new name was Stink Bait. Duke often called Lindsey Squinsly. The day Kaitlyn was born, Lindsey was there holding Kaitlyn and Lindsey decided that Kaitlyn's name should be Squirmy! She and I both agreed that that fell right in line with what Duke probably would have said --Squinsly and Wormy and now a Squirmy. Funny thing about that story is a few days later My dad was holding Kaitlyn and said to Kaitlyn "you're just a little squirm worm." As old as the story is about mine and duke's nicknames, I'm not sure if my dad knows that story..and he certainly didn't know we'd already named Kaitlyn Squirmy.

Anyway, so leaving the restaurant that night hearing Lindsey and Jeff's exciting news brought about alot of emotion. Then my phone rang and it was a friend from work telling me that another co-workers daughter had passed away. The lady I work with, Annette, had a daughter a little older than me and she was pregnant at the same time I was. Annette would tell me how her daughter was doing and we'd share pregnancy stories and Annette told me what an easy birth her daughter had and how wonderful her little grand baby was. The day I came back from maternity leave, Annette saw me and asked how I was doing --I of course started to get tears and just had to keep on walking. Annette said she understood. She was telling me how her daughter just had problems with her appendix and had to be in the hospital for a week so Annette got to stay and help with the baby and as happy as she was her daughter was home and doing better, it was hard to leave that precious baby. Friday of that week, we both talked about how excited we were to leave work and go hold our babies! Annette was heading to her daughters to spend the weekend. So I knew when I got that phone call which daughter it was. How heartbreaking!! This woman had been married 8 years and just had the happiest moment in life with this little 3 month old girl. I never met Jolyn, but through Annette, I felt like we had a lot in common. I went to the funeral and for not knowing Annette's daughter, I came away from that funeral knowing that this woman had lived life and loved life! She kept journals of her adventures and feelings --and isn't it something to know now that those very journals will be the window for that precious baby to know her mother.

I think the hardest part about death is, it is just so final. There is no negotiating or reasoning with it when the time comes. It's abrupt.

When Annette returned to work she came to me and told me she needed to know what "modern" mothers do since she would be helping to raise her granddaughter Landry Grace. I told her about babycenter.com and how you could get almost any answer on that site. How to find things on Craig's list, how to get pictures printed at Shutterfly (as I found out her daughter was the "family historian" with pictures and keeping them organized), incline sleepers and thumb sucking vs pacifiers, boppies, to mirrors that go on your seat in the car so you can see what the baby is doing. I told her later though that the main thing modern mothers did was wonder how their mother's did it, so not to worry too much -- she must have done something right. One of Jolyn's Aunts read some excerpts from the journals she kept. One entry was about what a fantastic mother Annette was. How Annette was always there for her and what an admiration Annette was for her daughter. That must be the ultimate compliment to know your daughter thinks of you that way. I know I think of my mother that way and I hope I can be that for my daughter too.

Did you know that baby powder isn't supposed to be used anymore on babies because it's toxic to their lungs?? And giving a baby water may contain more lead than toys that are being recalled and a baby's kidney's can't process water like it should therefore the water can become toxic. (However, I do give Kaitlyn a small syringe full of water to cure her hiccups. Works like a charm!) You're not supposed to microwave formula or milk as it can break down the nutrients in addition to just being too hot. Just a few little things our mothers probably did that are on the "do not do" list now. Did you know too, that there is a monitor that you place underneath the mattress the baby sleeps on that monitors movement. If the monitor doesn't sense movement in 20secs it will sound an alarm. So, if you baby sleeps better on their stomach, like Kaitlyn does - especially when her acid reflux was so bad, you could sleep them on their stomachs and not worry so much about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Kaitlyn turned 2 months on our 2 year anniversary on September 22nd. She had to get 3vaccine's. 2 of those were shots and the polio was taken orally. She did so good this time with the shots! Just cried a little. I read somewhere that if you apply pressure to the place they're going to give the shots, that it reduces the pain. Not sure if that's all true, but it seemed to help this time. Maybe the nurse was a little more gentle too! She weighed 9lbs even and was 20 inches long. She's very alert and smiles ALL the time! She's cooing and making all kinds of sweet little noises! She doesn't have to go back to the Dr until the end of November.

We also celebrated Bruce's grandmother's 81st birthday in Glen Rose. I think her actual birthday is my dad's birthday too! The picture below has most of Grandma's kids. Then a picture with some of their kids. And then a picture with most of the Great Grand Kids.



I have been writing about how hard it was to go back to work. It really stinks I can't be at two places at once. I really like my new job. It keeps me busy and I'm learning alot. I think I'm able to go back to work and not be miserable all day though because of my AWESOME day care solution. Judy, Bruce's mom keeps Kaitlyn several days a week and Gloria, a friend of mine in Grand Prairie keeps her the other days. Bruce drops her off when she goes to Judy's. It's so nice knowing that someone is looking forward to keeping your child. That whoever is keeping your child is doing it because they want to not because they have to. I know in the mornings, when I drop Kaitlyn off at Gloria's, that I can leave happy knowing that Gloria looks forward to keeping her and meets me at the car even in the mornings to see her and help us get all our stuff in! I love knowing what a special place in Kaitlyn's life these people will have. I know I remember going to a lady named Barbara's. I remember eating oatmeal cream pies there and I'm still friends with some of the other kids that went there. Although Kaitlyn is the only baby at both places, I think that's the perfect scenario right now. Thanks to picture texts too so I can see what my sweet baby girl is doing when I'm away!

I also have a new appreciation for working moms and breastfeeding moms..and especially working breastfeeding moms. I didn't realize how many hours it takes to breast feed. I read somewhere where it can easily take up to 8 hours a day to nurse and have enough to send the kids off to daycare. One morning I was getting the bottles from the refrigerator and one bottle fell and the lid broke! Now I understand that expression: Don't cry over spilled milk. Cause I sure wanted to cry!

On the 24th, Taylor and I went to the Taylor Swift concert with my friend Angela and her daughter Alexis. Alexis' birthday is in September too so this was our birthday present to the girls. That was really a great concert! The girls had a blast and Alexis didn't know that's where we were going until we got there! Taylor said that was the best day ever. She told Harrison she liked him, he told her he liked her too and the Taylor Swift concert! She thought all the love songs were about Harrison. So cute--not sure her daddy thinks so!
What a busy busy month! I can't believe it's fall --deer season, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas coming up soon. What a fun time to have a baby. This month has been bittersweet. A lot to be thankful for and to look forward to. Like I have said before, tomorrow is unimaginable to me, but it seems like the real fun is just beginning!

Care flight bill from Bruce's 4th of July incident: $18,391.00! Pocket Change.

August

My sweet baby girl is now one month old. Time passes so quickly. I have loved every second of it and would not trade it for the world! She is smiling often and holding her head on her own a lot. We had a doctor's appointment yesterday and she is now 7 pounds 4 ounces and 19 inches long. She's gained a pound since her last appointment three weeks ago. (Speaking of her last appointment...I should probably mention that at each appointment, they have you take off their clothes and put on a fresh diaper so they can weigh them. As Taylor and I were taking Kaitlyn out of her seat at that first appointment, you could hear the reason she'd be in need of that diaper change!! As I was changing her and reaching for the new, clean diaper, Kaitlyn had this really funny way of telling me she wasn't quiet finished yet, by pooping all over the front of my shirt -- projectile style!! I think you could probably hear Taylor laughing throughout the dr's office! I had a nice yellow-mustard looking stain all over my white shirt! Thanks Katie! Also, after we got back home, I started noticing this extra shirt laying beside Kaitlyn's changing table in her room. Not a shirt Kaitlyn's size, but a shirt Taylor's size!! I guess Taylor learned a lesson at that appointment: You don't want to stain a good shirt and you might want to have another shirt on hand in case of emergency!) I don't thinks she's lost any hair either like everyone was predicting. She also got her 1st Hep B shot at the doctor's. This big mean nurse came in with a needle that I think was big enough to go through her little leg. The nurse jammed it in her leg and poor little Kaitlyn, who was in such a good mood before, started screaming and didn't stop for some time - Bless her little heart!!

The picture below was at her one month check-up. I think she was dancing, doing the "sprinkler" until that nurse with the shot got there!

Kaitlyn has a sonogram scheduled today at Cook's Children's Hospital. The doctor thinks she has Acid Reflux because occasionally she'll have milk shoot out her nose. It may have happened once during feeding, otherwise it is always a good while after she's done eating. Bruce and I ran to Target the other day to do some much needed grocery shopping and two buggies later and almost finished, she had a pretty good little episode. Babies are nose breathers for the first few months so when the milk comes through her nose, it's as though she's suffocating until she can get it to clear. While we were at Target was the worst. It took her some time it seemed to get the milk to come out. I couldn't get her out of her car seat fast enough. Then on the way home, she spit up quiet a bit too. We were at a red light so Bruce jumped out and into the back seat. Spit up is one thing, but this whole nose bit can be really scary. Especially when she really doesn't cry about it and you never know when it's going to happen. She sleeps great at night. I stay awake wondering when and if it's going to happen again. In fact, I've started sleeping with her on my chest so if she's struggling, I'll know. However, last night she did sleep in her bassinet most of the night. I have noticed that lying on her back, she fidgets and fusses and doesn't sleep as long. I have began propping her up on her side and she seems to sleep a lot better that way. The doctor said that was fine.

I'm sure that the sonogram will give us some answers. The doctor did prescribe some medicine. Which, when we got it, the instructions said to give her a teaspoon. That seemed like a lot for such a little girl. When I spoke with the doctor she said 'Gosh no!" Just 1 ml is what was supposed to be on there!

On a brighter note, my mother in law gave us a rocking chair that Kaitlyn loves. We have it in Kaitlyn's room and when I'm up in the middle of the night or early in the morning, it's nice just to set there and rock her and look around her room seeing all of the clothes and blankets, and other items and think of all the people that have given her these items and made her room as great and well stocked as it is. It's funny how I can remember that the blanket I'm holding her with came from one of my nieces, or the diaper station on the dresser came from two ladies at work along with some plastic dishes that I know are stored in the bottom drawer. Speaking of well stocked, I think we're about to graduate from some of the new born diapers to size one before too long. I still have a whole case of new born diapers left. The only thing I've had to run to Baby's R Us for has been a mirror so I can see her setting in her car seat when I'm driving and an extra little head support for her car seat.

I have one more full week before I have to go back to work. I'm really not looking forward to that since I can seem to fill my days just setting and watching her every breath. I know Bruce's mom is looking forward to getting to keep her though as well as Gloria, my friend that will keep her some as well. Bruce's mom lives close to Bruce's work and Gloria lives close to my work so either way, neither of us will have to be too far from her at any time. I think I should mention to Gloria to make room in her garage so that I can park my car in there if I decide to sneak away from work, no one will no I'm there! Ha Ha.

Also, Taylor has started 5th grade! I was looking back at pictures when she started 4th grade. Man has she grown!! She has been such a huge help this summer with the baby! She lets me nap and she gets Kaitlyn each morning and changes her diaper and gets her dressed. I know she can't wait til Kaitlyn is a little older so she's easier to handle and more fun to play with. Speaking of Taylor being such a big help -- She even learned to mow the yard and loved it!

Taylor, Kaitlyn and I are all blessed to have such a great man in our lives!! Bruce has been great at helping with things around the house and being so patient with me learning to nurse and what not. Especially with the start of a new school year, he's been working real hard at work and putting in a lot of overtime. I hope both of the girls get their patience from him. I know Kaitlyn is for sure taking after her daddy in the looks department. She has a lot of his features I think and the prettiest curly hair when it's wet which I think will be just like his when he was little.

Bruce and I also had our first night out. We attended the Def Leppard, Cheap Trick and Poison concert with my 16 year old nephew Mark and my brother. We left Kaitlyn with my sister and I'm pretty sure I called her every hour if not more. Although the concert was fun and we had a lot of friends that went too. I'm pretty sure I don't have to attend anything else where I have to leave her again --other than work and that's just because we have bills to pay.

I will try to add some more pictures to this post -- so check back!

1 week

My baby girl is a week old already! I hope they all don't pass this quickly, but something tells me they will!

She's precious! She sleeps most of the time and I have to get her to wake up to eat. I hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying that!

Here is a little preview of the pictures we had taken this evening:

Special Delivery

My last post at 12:28am on July 22nd ended with: "Tomorrow we get to finally meet Kaitlyn Elizabeth!" Little did I realize just how quickly "tomorrow" was going to get there! I guess, technically at 12:28, it already was the tomorrow I was talking about. I had been on the pitocin drip maybe an hour at that time. Between 12:30 and 1:30, Taylor had made her bed and gotten to sleep; Bruce was working on settling into his bed and finished up posting his updates to facebook. Just as he got settled, I announced I think my water had broken. We called the nurse in and she didn't think so at first, but then agreed. Starting right then I began strong contractions --every minute on the minute! They gave me some pain medication through my IV (I'm thinking demerol and something else) that mainly made me extremely sleepy. I couldn't tell it was doing a thing for pain. Next thing I knew, I had an oxygen mask on a several more nurses. The oxygen mask made it really hard to breathe during the contractions so I kept taking it off. The nurses and Bruce kept yelling at me to keep it on for the baby. I really didn't understand what all was happening. Apparently, each time I contracted, Kaitlyn's heartbeat would become very faint. I couldn't be given an epidural because that lowers your heartrate anyway, which we couldn't do since Kaitlyn was having problems. They thought the umblical cord was wrapped around something or was being affected during the contractions. The nurses had called in Dr. Gardner. She arrived about 3:30. She told me that we needed to do a c-section, which by this time, I was only aware that I wanted this over asap and I wanted the nurses to quit jacking with my bed everytime I was contracting. They didn't wast anytime getting me prepped and into the OR. Once I got in the OR they gave me a spinal block which was FANTASTIC! I finally didn't feel any pain and the other meds they had me on made me sleep through everything for the most part. I woke up to the sound of some healthy lungs and a beautiful, perfect little tiny angel weighing in at 6.1lbs and 18.5 inches long. A head full of thick black hair, long eyelashes and a beautiful complexion as everyone has seen now either in person or all of the pictures taken by her very proud daddy and other family and friends. I did hear them say at one point that she wasn't breathing on her own very well, but that was only for a moment due to the medicine I was on that had passed to her.

The original plan for getting me induced slowly and breaking my water Wednesday morning didn't really work out as planned. Kaitlyn couldn't wait any longer to get here! Recovery in the hospital was very easy and every nurse was super nice and most helpful. The first night I kept Kaitlyn in the room until 4am and she only fussed a few times. The 2nd night she was in the nursery between 2am and 5am. We had a lot of visitors. Everyone is excited about our little blessing. Taylor is the best big sister ever! She stayed with us 2 of the 3 nights (even though she missed staying one night --she got back early the next morning) and she stayed busy changing diapers, making sure everyone signed in and had their picture taken. Taylor has a special way of getting Kaitlyn to open her eyes and stop crying as soon as Taylor gets Kaitlyn in her arms. For being confined to a room for a few days, we all did really well I think.

We got to come home Friday afternoon around 3:00. Kaitlyn's first night at home went really smooth. She slept most of the time, even some in her crib. Feeding is a little challenging but she and I are both learning and doing better.

We recieved alot of nice flowers, messages given to the hospital for us and one of our cousins, Amanda, had taken the pictures already posted online and created a wonderful photo album that she brought up on Thursday!!

We did get out of the house today for about an hour to take Kaitlyn to meet one of her Great-Grandmothers. She'll be 81 this year and Kaitlyn makes her 28th grand/great-grandchild. We didn't tell her we were coming and she was very excited to see us!

Kaitlyn's Arrival

Dr. Appointment

I guess that was my last prenatal appointment. The sonogram showed that I was losing fluid and the dr. said I was dialated to a 2. She decided since I was losing I needed to be induced!!

I was figuring maybe friday since she said sometime this week...that turned out to be at 10:00 tonight!! So here we are, in the hospital --all bedded down for the night. I'm hooked up to the pitocin to start this process slow and steady! We'll see how that works out.

Tomorrow we get to finally meet Kaitlyn Elizabeth!

Nesting

Six days until the original due date! (Although, the date given after one of the sonograms was August 2nd.) I think I have fallen into the "nesting" phase, as they say happens. Last weekend, I made sure all of our laundry was done and then some, vacuumed and cleaned the carpets and even organized our closet. We'd been on the run so much during the last few months, that nesting or not, I really just needed to catch up. My sister and I also enjoyed an afternoon of manicures and pedicures. I also got my hair cut!

Kaitlyn's bedroom is ready and waiting for her -- as well as her vast wardrobe!

Bruce has been nesting as well I think. He's also been doing some house cleaning (which he's pretty awesome at doing that anyway) and washing our cars inside and out. (which I think must be why it finally rained today!) Here's some pictures we took on our way home today:

Bruce, with the help of Jeff and Jim, started getting his own items in order before Kaitlyn gets here. Early "nesting" for Hunting season. We can't bring a new life into this world without a suitable deer blind right!?!
Taylor and I have packed our bags for the hospital and Kaitlyn's is packed too! We also have been working on a very important project for all of our visitors at the hospital and those that come over afterwards. Some people hand out cigars and some hand out candy-bars with special labels. Taylor and I have been doing bottle duty! Not baby bottles, but bottles for celebration! We'll be handing out little wine bottles with Kaitlyn's Grandpa's homemade wine. He bottled all the wine for us and Taylor and I have been labeling, tying ribbons and putting the shrinks on.

I have another dr's appointment Tuesday with a sonogram! Can't wait to see how things are shaping up! The one area I still need to "nest" for is the kitchen -- need to grocery shop and THEN...I think we'll be all ready!